The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would provide funds for restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, and small businesses that have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic—but the bill excludes employers that have a wage violation at the time of application.
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Replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The House passed the $55 billion bill in a 223-203 vote on April 7. The measure, H.R. 3807, would provide $42 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which was a grant program that was launched under the COVID-19-related American Rescue Plan in 2021. An additional $13 billion would be available for other businesses affected by the pandemic.
(NBC News)
Exclusion for Wage Violations
An amendment to the bill would exclude businesses from receiving funds under the Hard Hit Industries Award Program if they have a wage violation at the time of application. "Restaurant workers risked their lives and are a critical part of the restaurant industry," Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., told Bloomberg Law in an e-mailed statement. "These dollars should go to businesses who do right by their workers, not those who exploit and steal from them."
Slow Recovery
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