Summer 2022 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • 17 Budget Overview | Fall Session Resumes Elections | Tourism Coalition Philadelphia City Council/Mayoral Race Philadelphia Outdoor Dining Pittsburgh City Council Short-Term Rental Legislation Credit Card Competition Act | SBA Sitting on RRF Funds FAST Recovery Act Federal Items Local Items CREDIT CARD COMPETITION ACT In August, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act of 2022. The proposal will bring competition to the credit card network routing market. It would require credit cards to operate on more than one network option to route financial data, which is already required with debit card transactions. Reps. Welch (D-VT) and Gooden (R-TX) introduced the House companion to the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act of 2022 in September. SBA SITTING ON RRF FUNDS This summer, the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to the Small Business Administration after learning they had over $180 million in undistributed Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) money. Subsequently, the SBA announced that it would be working with the Justice Department on a plan to award the rest of the funds. FAST RECOVERY ACT While the FAST Recovery Act is a new state law in California, the National Restaurant Association is urging the industry to take warning. The legislation gives a Fast Food Sector Council of unelected individuals complete authority to set regulations on wages, training requirements, and health and safety standards for national counter-service restaurants located in the state. As detailed in the association’s policy brief, the FAST Recovery Acts hands power over the quick service industry to unelected political appointees without any accountability, which is unprecedented and will create ramifications for the entire industry across the country. PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL/ MAYORAL RACE Philadelphia City Council returned to its session in September with four vacant seats (for now). Four members resigned over the summer to consider running in the 2023 mayoral race. The individuals who have resigned to date include Cherelle Parker, Derek Green, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, and Allan Domb. Councilmembers Helen Gym and David Oh are said to be considering the mayoral race as well. PHILADELPHIA OUTDOOR DINING PRLA’s top priority in Philadelphia is securing a permanent path forward for outdoor dining in the city. Businesses, Philadelphians, and visitors alike love outdoor dining—the association is working hard to assure that all operators have access to the program and that it’s here to stay. PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL SHORTTERM RENTAL LEGISLATION Days after an April shooting at an Airbnb party on the city’s North Side, legislation was introduced to regulate short-term rental properties in the City. Council has held the bill from a vote while it continues to refine the details. •
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