NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ENDORSES THE DIGNITY ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Restaurant Association, the leading voice of America's restaurant and foodservice industry, has endorsed the Dignity Act (H.R.4393), adding the support of one of the nation's largest employer organizations to the growing momentum behind the legislation.
Restaurants are a fundamental part of American culture and our way of life. The endorsement comes as restaurant owners across the country continue to face persistent workforce shortages that have constrained hiring, limited expansion, and increased pressure on businesses of every size.
At the same time, Americans expect the continued availability of affordable dining options for themselves and their families. As Congress debates the future of America's immigration system, the restaurant industry's support underscores the growing need for solutions that improve the American dining experience and reflect the realities facing employers across the country.
"America's job creators stand united, and their message is unmistakable. From manufacturers to restaurant owners, the industries that feed America, employ America, and power America's economy agree: America cannot compete in the 21st century with a 20th-century immigration system," said Rep. María Elvira Salazar. "I am grateful to the National Restaurant Association for its endorsement of the Dignity Act. Their support is a powerful reminder that Americans who enjoy dining in restaurants, and the employers across the country who make this possible, are living with the consequences of a broken immigration system every day. They deserve a Congress willing to confront reality and finally deliver results."
“Immigration reform is not abstract policy for the restaurant industry—it is the foundation of a strong restaurant workforce and a thriving U.S. economy,” said Sean Kennedy, chief advocacy officer for the National Restaurant Association. “Protecting today’s employees, modernizing visa programs, and building a forward-looking system will help the restaurant industry grow, create jobs, and continue serving as cultural and economic anchors in every community.”
America's restaurant industry is one of the nation's largest employers and a vital driver of economic growth, but workforce shortages continue to challenge businesses across the country. As demand for workers grows, restaurant owners are increasingly struggling to fill critical positions needed to support growth and serve their communities.
THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGE FACING AMERICA'S RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
• Nearly 16 million Americans are employed across more than one million restaurant and foodservice locations nationwide.
• The industry generates more than $1.5 trillion in annual economic activity.
• More than one in five restaurant workers are immigrants, making immigration policy a critical workforce issue for the industry.
• Nearly one million jobs remain open across the restaurant and hospitality sector.
• An additional 1.6 million workers will be needed over the next decade as industry demand continues to outpace growth in the broader U.S. labor force.
• Full-service restaurants remain roughly 200,000 jobs below pre-pandemic staffing levels.
Nine out of ten restaurants in America are small businesses. Without meaningful reforms, workforce shortages are expected to persist, making it more difficult for restaurants to hire workers, expand operations, meet consumer demand, and continue serving as economic anchors in communities across the country.
The Dignity Act addresses these challenges by creating a stable, legal workforce that provides employers with greater certainty while bringing long-term workers already contributing to our economy into compliance with the law. By pairing accountability with workforce development, the legislation helps meet labor needs while strengthening the future American workforce.
To read the National Restaurant Association's announcement supporting the Dignity Act, click here.
A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR REFORM
Support for the Dignity Act continues to accelerate, bringing together lawmakers, employers, workers, faith leaders, and community advocates behind one of the most broadly supported bipartisan immigration reform efforts in Congress. The legislation is now backed by 40 Members of Congress and nearly 100 national organizations representing major sectors of the American economy and civil society.
Recent milestones include:
✓ Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Endorsement
Read here
✓ National Association of Manufacturers Endorsement
✓ National Restaurant Association Endorsement
✓ Launch of the Dignity Coalition
The growing list of endorsing organizations includes:
A-1 Global Holdings, African American Farmers of California, AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, American Bakers Association, American Business Immigration Council (ABIC), American Families United, American Global Logistics, American Latino Coalition, American Legion, Americans for Prosperity, American Seniors Housing Association, Anti-Defamation League, Arlington Latino Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Christian Collaborative, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Associated Equipment Distributors, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Bethel Consulting Group LLC, Brick Industry Association, Business Roundtable, Center for American Progress, Christian Family Coalition of Florida, Cleaning Coalition of America, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Critical Labor Coalition, Democrats for Life of America, EnglishUSA, Essential Workers Immigration Coalition (EWIC), Evangelical Immigration Table, Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), FWD.us, Global Detroit, Greater Houston Partnership, GROW our STEM Workforce Coalition, Hispanic Construction Council, IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers), IIUSA, ISSA (Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions), Improve the Dream, Jewish Federation of North America, Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada, Laredo Chamber of Commerce, LeadingAge, LIBRE Initiative, Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Migrants Foundation Inc, MIRA USA, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Evangelicals, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Landscape Professionals, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), National Council of Chain Restaurants, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), National Hispanic Construction Alliance, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, National Immigration Forum, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, National Parents Union, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, National Roofing Contractors Association, Nisei Farmers League, Niskanen Center, Pastors Association of south New Jersey, Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA), Power Design, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Problem Solvers Caucus, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), Puerto Rico Builders Association (PRBA), Reshoring Initiative, Repatriate our Patriots, Secure Growth Initiative, SIMBA Chain, Small Business Majority, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SPIE - the International Society for Optics and Photonics, State Business Executives, Steel Tank Institute-Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI-SPFA), Structural Building Components Association, TESOL International Association, Texas Business Leadership Council, Texas Restaurant Association, Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA), Third Way, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. for Success Coalition, United States Hispanic Business Council, United States Immigrant Center (USIC), Vanteo, Walroth-Sadurní Law, WERC, Why Not Act, Woodpack Global, World Relief.
RESOURCES:
One-pager on the Dignity Act, click here.
Detailed summary of the Dignity Act, click here.
Section-by-section breakdown of the Dignity Act, click here.
For the media kit, click here.
Fact sheet on the Dignity Act, click here..
Full text of the bill, click here.