Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Chris Pappas, Greg Steube and Gil Cisneros introduced legislation to ensure local chambers of commerce and other nonprofits that support small businesses can receive the federal assistance they need to weather the economic downturn.
Many local chambers, tourism-related organizations and other nonprofits are experiencing financial challenges brought on by COVID-19. These organizations are not currently eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program to get financial support. The Local Chamber, Tourism and 501(c)(6) Protection Act would expand PPP eligibility to include 501(c)(6) organizations with 300 or fewer employees to ensure they can continue supporting main street businesses and local economies.
“Our local chambers of commerce and other regional and state 501(c)6 organizations play a vital role in our communities and have been assisting our small businesses as they navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, these organizations, whose assistance will be crucial to our communities’ local economic recovery efforts in the coming months, were left out of the original CARES Act package. I am proud to continue to lead this bipartisan effort with Congressman Pappas to protect our local economies and create a path to recovery for Main Street America,” Fitzpatrick said.
The legislation has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and numerous other groups.
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U.S. Reps. Brain Fitzpatrick and Annie Kuster introduced legislation to provide $25,000 in either student loan debt relief or education benefits to essential workers and their family members. The Opportunities for Heroes Act recognizes the contributions made by workers such as firefighters and first responders, health care providers, grocery store employees and transportation workers to help Americans through the COVID-19 health emergency.
“Our essential workers put their lives at risk every day to make sure the rest of us are safe and healthy,” Fitzpatrick said. “They deserve all of the help we can provide them. By providing the option to help pay their student loans or continue their education, we can give them one less thing to worry about.”
The Opportunities for Heroes Act is supported by the American Health Care Association, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Transportation Workers Union, American Pharmacists Association, National Grocers Association and NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
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Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Lloyd Doggett introduced the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act. This legislation assures that college emergency grants to students authorized by the CARES Act are not taxed. It expands the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which already helps millions of students pay for the costs of college, with both a short-term expansion of the incentive during the pandemic and long-term improvements to the program.
“Congress must work together to make sure that we provide relief for students pursuing higher education who have chosen to invest in their future,” Fitzpatrick said. “This bipartisan bill will not only provide a short-term boost to education tax credits in 2020, but will strengthen and simplify the American Opportunity Tax Credit going forward — making the credit more student friendly. This legislation also will ensure that emergency financial aid grants provided to students under the CARES Act are not taxed.”
Since enacted in 2009, the American Opportunity Tax Credit has helped millions of students to pay for college, providing assistance with both tuition and other costs not always covered by financial aid, like books and room and board. The credit offers a $2,500 credit against federal taxes for four years, a portion of which is refundable. This legislation would increase the size of the credit for all during the pandemic and increase the portion that is refundable to put the economically disadvantaged, and in particular first-generation college students, on a more even playing field. Assisting students helps families struggling to fund college tuition in this time and will also support the many universities that face their own uncertain future.
