The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, arguably one of the most powerful committees in Congress, will host a virtual public hearing this morning (beginning at 9:00 AM) to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. The mix of witnesses scheduled includes Melvin Rodrigue, the current chairman of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors as well as a couple of individual restaurant owners. In addition, however, the committee will also hear from Saru Jayaraman, a Berkeley California attorney who co-founded the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC). ROC, along with sister organizations such as One Fair Wage and others, has long advocated for the elimination of tipped wages and the tip credit. Most recently, One Fair Wage has initiated a host of worker “strikes” against fast food restaurants in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago and elsewhere.