NRA calls Raise the Wage Act 'impossible challenge' The National Restaurant Association spoke out Tuesdayon the reintroduced legislation to raise the hourly minimum wage to $15 over the next five years. Photo: iStock Jan. 26, 2021 The National Restaurant Association spoke out today on reintroduced legislation to raise the hourly minimum wage to $15 over the next five year, with NRA Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy stating the measure would pose "an impossible challenge for the restaurant industry" should it become law, according to a news release. Democrats in both houses of Congress reintroduced the measure today. "The Raise the Wage Act imposes an impossible challenge for the restaurant industry. While other businesses on Main Street are starting to see a recovery, restaurants across the country are struggling to stay open amidst indoor dining bans or limits that have been in place for ten months," Kennedy said in the release. "The industry has laid off 2.5 million workers as a result of the pandemic, and 1 in 6 restaurants have shuttered.