Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead Of Today’s Vote On Restaurant And Small Business Support Legislation

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding today’s vote on bipartisan legislation that would provide restaurants and other small businesses the aid they need to recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Later today, the Senate is going to vote to move forward to give America’s restaurants, local gyms, minor league teams, and other small businesses a much-needed lifeline to get back on their feet after two years of pandemic.

I thank Senators Cardin and Wicker for their efforts on today’s legislation. Every single component of this bill was drafted with bipartisan input. The benefits would help businesses in every single state in America, particularly those left out of earlier rounds of emergency funding.

We should be leaping into action—leaping into action—to help these places get back on their feet in times of recovery. Restaurants, gyms, minor league teams and small venues are all in the business of providing for their communities; today we should be in the business of providing for them.

Some say that two years after the start of COVID, our restaurants don’t need as much help as they once did. They think that because lockdowns are over, because people seem to be out and about again, it must mean things are going great for small businesses.

That is dead wrong for too many restaurants, especially small family-owned places. Many can’t stay open a full day.

So they can't get their full income and at the same time many of these undertook big loans when they were closed during COVID. Those big loans are coming due. To have banks foreclose on these ongoing businesses that are growing once again, that are employing people once again, would be a huge mistake. This bill is a lifeline to prevent that from happening and keep jobs coming in and keep prosperity coming in.

So that is true for restaurants, it's true or other businesses and we must pass this legislation to keep these vital parts of America's economy and America's social and community life going.

When minor league teams close, entire towns have fewer options for coming together. When theatres can’t open because the businesses they rely on close down, it disintegrates the fabric of our communities.

Restaurants, gyms, sports venues, theatres: these are places where Americans have always come together, and they still need our help.

I urge all of us who have heard from small business owners, imploring us to take action, to support moving forward on today’s bill, and once again I thank my colleagues Cardin and Wicker for their work.

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