The news that we did not get the RRF replenishment bill through was a gut-punch to our Wisconsin Restaurant Community. Everybody, including myself and my entire team at the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, are upset and, honestly, scared for the future. Even though we are crushed by the outcome, it was not without a great deal of effort on your part and on ours. I want to share some of the actions and activities that have been part of our ongoing efforts to tell the story of devastation and impact the pandemic has, and continues to have, on our industry. 
 
We knew from the beginning Congress did not fully fund the RRF and replenishment was an uphill climb, but one that was critically necessary. The likelihood of replenishment was always a longshot, but that did not stop us from working to overcome every obstacle we could.  
 
Through your calls, messages, emails and engagement through our action alert system, many thousands of messages had been sent during this fight to that end, I wanted to provide you with a more detailed outline of what and how the WRA and National Restaurant Association have been working on your behalf: 
 

• We kept you updated through emails, alerts, and electronic newsletters primarily sent to the WRA membership 
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• You responded with almost 11,000 messages through our action alert system to Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation asking for RRF replenishment  

 

• WRA held seven virtual and in-person meetings specifically with Senator Ron Johnson and his staff about RRF. This includes an in-person meeting with the Senator with twelve WRA members who flew out to DC to engage with our elected officials on RRF. We also personally expressed our disappointment to Senator Johnson that he did not vote in favor of the much-needed relief desperately needed by our members, whose losses were imposed on them by the government, and not by their own actions. 

 

• WRA held four virtual and in-person meetings specifically with Senator Tammy Baldwin and her staff. Senator Baldwin has been unwavering in her support of our industry and the RRF replenishment efforts. We have personally, in person and on social media, thanked Senator Baldwin for her support on RRF replenishment and efforts to get it passed. 

 

• This does not include the multitude of personal messages we have seen from many of you who have direct contact with our US Representatives and Senators 

 

• We engaged with local media throughout the state on the overall story of the impact on restaurants and the necessity of replenishing the fund 

 

• Through the National Restaurant Association, our lobbyists and industry representatives have been on Capitol Hill with daily meetings and communications with Senate leaders, Senate offices and the White House, urging immediate action.  
   
• It should be noted that even without Senator Johnson’s vote, eight votes from other Republican Senators or from Democratic Senators (who were absent) were needed or the motion was doomed to failure. Our partners at other State Restaurant Associations, plus the National Restaurant Association, have amplified our communication efforts with every Senator in our country. We had bipartisan support for the ultimate bill intent, but the breakdown was how to pay for the fund. 

 
There is no other issue in our history that garnered more action from you, our members. Thank you for your passion and unwavering support of these efforts. We hear you and you can be rest assured that we will continue to fight for our industry in every way possible. We will continue to engage on a host of issues critical to your success and recovery efforts will remain a top focus for us at the local, state, and federal levels. Though RRF replenishment is likely no longer an option, we will continue to fight in any way possible to help our industry survive. 

Kristine Hillmer 
President & CEO 
Wisconsin Restaurant Association ​

​The labor shortage in our industry is a threat to every restaurant as we emerge from the pandemic. While there are no silver bullet solutions, we have been working with legislative leaders on ways to help.
 
Last month, the National Restaurant Association announced the introduction of legislation they've been developing to create a new program to offer the start of a solution. The Essential Workers for Economic Advancement (EWEA) Act would create a new guest worker visa program to help restaurants fill jobs that do not require a college degree. 
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It would be incredibly helpful for Congress to hear that you support this program. Click the Take Action button below to contact your representatives in Washington, DC.