Dear Friend, Independent restaurants are the cornerstone of a livable community. They anchor our neighborhoods and support a trillion-dollar supply chain. For many Americans, the restaurant industry provided them their first job. Restaurants are a powerful economic engine across the country, but especially here in Oregon.  When the pandemic hit, neighborhood restaurants and bars were the first to close and last allowed to reopen. The industry was in crisis and desperately needed economic support.  I worked with dozens of local restaurant owners, chefs, servers, bartenders and others to devise what would become the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. This $28.6 billion grant program helped save more than 100,000 restaurants by providing targeted relief for those most at risk. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was a lifeline, but it alone is not enough. Congress must step up and provide additional support to help the industry recover from the lingering impacts of the pandemic and adapt to our new reality. That's why I introduced the Restaurant Revitalization Tax Credit Act to assist businesses that were approved for but did not receive funding from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.  I am also committed to modernizing the tax code to meet the reality on the ground. Many neighborhood restaurants and bars are transitioning to a service charge model, a move that not only better supports employees but addresses the issues of sexism, racism, and harassment often associated with tipping. A simple, visible service charge fee ensures workers are equally compensated for their labor. I introduced legislation to tax service charges like tips. This provides an avenue within the tax system for independent restaurants and bars to better adapt to a changing industry.  We all have a vested interest in the success of independent restaurants. I have been proud to champion support for the industry alongside celebrity chefs and our very own restaurateurs in Oregon. I look forward to continuing this work even after I leave Congress. We’re all in this together.