| | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | With Daniel Lippman HOW RESTAURANTS FINALLY SCORED THEIR RELIEF BILL WIN: With the House voting to send Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan back to his desk for signing , the moment caps off a nearly one-year push by the restaurant industry to secure targeted relief from Congress. The package includes the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6 billion pot of money restricted to smaller operators and franchisees with fewer than 20 locations with fewer restraints on how it must be spent than the Paycheck Protection Program or other aid programs. — The proposal is the result of a push spearheaded by the upstart Independent Restaurant Coalition , a group of independent restaurant owners and operators that came together in a matter of weeks once pandemic-induced restaurant closures began to sweep across the country, as well as the National Restaurant Association, which has long represented the industry in Washington and which sent its asks for the industry to Congress a year ago next week. — "Nobody believed this was going to be a short term problem," Erika Polmar , IRC's executive director, said in an interview this week, adding that chefs and owners determined last March "that we needed a voice as independent restaurant operators in the places where policy and decisions were being made. And so the IRC was born." Within two months of the coalition's founding, the IRC scored a meeting with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, and it has since grown its mailing list to upward of 100,000 people. — The push found allies on the Hill in Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who were the chief sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act, which formed the basis of the restaurant grant program. The proposal was included in the revised HEROES Act, the Democratic-led relief bill that passed the House in October but died in the Senate. — Restaurants' prospects changed when Sen. Chuck Schumer became majority leader, Sean Kennedy , the restaurant association's top lobbyist, said in an interview, calling Schumer "absolutely critical" in making sure the grant program was included in the relief bill after Biden's initial proposal left it out. In a news conference organized by the IRC this morning, Schumer noted that an amendment calling for direct relief for restaurants during a vote-a-rama in February was the first thing he put to a floor vote as majority leader; the amendment passed overwhelmingly, 90-10. — Blumenauer and Schumer in turn heaped praise on the IRC, which Polmar asserted in this morning's news conference is "not going away" as an advocate for smaller restaurant owners and operators, as opposed to the National Restaurant Association, which also counts a number of major chains as its constituents and has "broader" financial interests, Blumenauer said. — "The independent restaurants found their voice" last year, he said in an interview, recounting his interactions with the IRC. "It was the independent restaurants who willed [the proposal] into existence, who did the legwork, who helped us refine the legislation and who provided energy," he asserted. Schumer said this morning that "without the IRC, I don't know if it would have gotten done at all." — Blumenauer and Schumer both predicted that the grant program would need to be replenished at some point, vowing to spearhead that effort, while both industry groups said their focus will now turn to ensuring the grants go out smoothly. JA'RON SMITH REGISTERS TO LOBBY: Ja'Ron Smith , who served as deputy assistant to Trump and deputy director of the White House's Office of American Innovation, becoming the administration's highest-ranking Black official, has registered to lobby. Disclosure filings show Smith will lobby for Meeks, Butera & Israel, the firm formed last year when two other administration officials, Daris Meeks and Jared Stout, jumped ship from Venable to join the shop previously known as Butera, Israel & Becker. — Smith will represent Reform Action Fund, the 501(c)(4) branch of the REFORM Alliance, a criminal justice reform organization founded by rapper Meek Mill whose partners include Van Jones, Robert Kraft, Jay-Z and Daniel Loeb. Smith became a familiar face for the Trump administration on issues involving race, including advocating for passage of a landmark criminal justice reform bill, and was an especially visible presence last summer as the administration mulled its response to protests over police brutality and systemic racism that swept the country. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Got lobbying tips? My inbox is open: coprysko@politico.com. As are my DMs: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | FLY-IN SZN: The world may look completely different than it did this time last year, but fly-in season is in full swing among Washington's trade organizations — only now, they're happening virtually. The Insured Retirement Institute , which represents life insurers, broker-dealer firms, and asset management companies, is wrapping up its annual fly-in today, capping off two days of virtual meetings with 27 members of the House and Senate, according to the group. — FARE, which advocates for food allergy research, is also finishing up its virtual fly-in, featuring appearances from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) as well as FDA's Susan Mayne and NIAID's Alkis Togias. Advocates are also meeting with 212 offices on the Hill, according to FARE, to push for sesame to be labeled a top nine allergen. — Hong Kong activists groups are also holding a fly-in this week, hitting more than 40 meetings with members from 14 states, according to the group Stand with Hong Kong, urging lawmakers to adopt the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which would provide refugee status to Hong Kongers who "participated peacefully in the protest movement and have a well-founded fear of persecution." THE PPP SCRAMBLE: "Banks and other businesses are pressing the Biden administration and Congress to keep the government's largest small business aid program running beyond its March 31 expiration date, warning that struggling employers need more time to obtain the economic lifeline," POLITICO's Zach Warmbrodt reports. — "The crunch comes just days after the Biden administration unveiled new rules designed to help self-employed businesses gain access to the program and qualify for more aid," and as some of the nation's largest banks begin to close their application portals early in order to process existing requests by the deadline. The concerns have gone unaddressed by Biden administration officials and lawmakers who have been focused on Democrats' $1.9 trillion relief bill, which includes another $7 billion for the PPP but wouldn't extend the program." WHAT THE KOCH NETWORK IS UP TO: "The political advocacy group backed by billionaire Charles Koch is pushing forward with its own health-care agenda as President Joe Biden's administration looks to build on the Affordable Care Act," CNBC's Brian Schwartz reports. "Americans for Prosperity, which is part of the libertarian Koch network, told CNBC it is engaging with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to gain support for its plan. Called the 'personal option,' the plan is a collection of policy proposals geared toward the private sector that focuses on tax breaks, expanding health savings accounts and slashing regulations," a contrast to the Democrat-backed public option. BLOCKCHAIN.COM ADDS MESSINA: Jim Messina , a top aide to former President Barack Obama, is joining the board of directors for London-based cryptocurrency firm Blockchain.com, "in anticipation of enhanced regulation from the Biden administration and other governments for its business trading and processing digital coins," Axios' Hans Nichols and Kia Kokalitcheva report. — The company, which "says it does roughly 30% of all bitcoin transactions, is trying to become a key player in the onshore market. It also wants a say in helping develop standards and rules. 'Crypto has been the Wild West, and now it's time for some regulation,' Messina told Axios." FERRERO EXEC WILL BECOME NATIONAL CONFECTIONERS BOARD CHAIR: Paul Chibe , president and chief executive of Ferrero North America, has been named chair of the National Confectioners Association's board of trustees, the organization announced. Chibe most recently served as vice chair. He takes over immediately for departing board Chair Kirk Vashaw, chair and CEO of Spangler Candy Co. | | | — Jillien Flores has joined the Managed Funds Association as managing director and head of U.S. government affairs. She was previously on the government relations team at Vanguard. The trade group also promoted Jennifer Han to chief counsel and head of regulatory affairs. — Janelle McClure has joined the D.C. office of Best Buy as associate director of government affairs, where she will lead the company's advocacy efforts on social justice issues. McClure most recently was legislative director for Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) and is a Debbie Stabenow and Claire McCaskill alum. — Varuna Bhatia is joining ROKK Solutions as vice president. She previously worked at DCG Communications and is a Fox News veteran. — Snap Inc. has promoted Sofia Gross to head of policy partnership and social impact, AdWeek reports. She was most recently public policy manager for political government and nonprofit partnerships. — Former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is joining the board of directors of vertical farming operator Kalera. Per Morning Ag, Perdue toured Kalera's Orlando facility in June and recently invested in the company. — Mara Stark-Alcalá is joining the staff of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), where she'll be working on transportation and appropriations, per Morning Transportation. She was most recently associate vice president of government affairs at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and is a Senate and American Public Transportation Association alum. — Cygnal, the Republican polling and data shop, has made two new hires, Morning Score reports: Chris Lane and Jeff Lewis as directors of client strategy. — Former DCCC Chair Steve Israel is teaming up with former RNC Chair Reince Priebus at Michael Best Strategies, the government affairs shop where Priebus serves as president, according to Playbook. "Israel has been on the firm's board, but is taking on a vastly expanded role there, adding deep connections to the Biden administration," but like Priebus will be a consultant, not a registered lobbyist. — Rajan Kaur is now leading digital strategy for Vice President Kamala Harris. She previously was vice president and chief of staff at SKDKnickerbocker. | | | Gillibrand Masto Victory Fund (Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.))
Red Victory 2022 (Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lead Encourage Elect PAC, Free State PAC, NRSC) | | | Digital Leadership Fund (Super PAC)
Freedom PAC PA (Super PAC)
Kentucky Freedom PAC (Super PAC)
Wilson Project For Florida (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Clause Law P.L.L.C.: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Invariant LLC: Airbus Americas, Inc.
Meeks, Butera & Israel Pllc: Refom Action Fund | | New Lobbying Terminations | | The Policy Group, Inc.: Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians
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