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ISSA Advocacy Recap—Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Introduced in Senate

Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Recap, our regular roundup of the latest public policy issues impacting the cleaning industry. This week’s recap touches on the introduction of a cleaning tax credit in the U.S. Senate, updates to the COVID-19 relief bill currently under consideration, recent changes to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan amount eligibility, and more.

ISSA Supports Bipartisan Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Introduced in U.S. Senate
ISSA thanks U.S. Senators Rob Portman (OH-R) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-D) for introducing the Healthy Workplaces Act (S. 537) to provide a tax credit for critical expenses associated with protecting employees from COVID-19. The association strongly supports this legislation to help workplaces operate as safely as possible. If enacted, the Healthy Workplaces Act would establish a refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50% of an employer’s “qualified employee protection expenses,” such as testing for COVID-19, protective personal equipment (PPE), and cleaning products or services; “qualified workplace reconfiguration expenses;” and “qualified education and training expenses.”

Senate Democrats to Reduce Jobless Aid Boost in COVID Relief Bill but Extend It Another Month
U.S. Senate Democrats have agreed to a change in their US$1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan to reduce the additional federal unemployment insurance payment to $300 per week but extend it through September rather than August, CNBC reported. The proposal also would make the first $10,200 in unemployment insurance benefits nontaxable. Democrats aim to get the bill through the Senate this weekend, then pass in the House, and to U.S. President Joe Biden’s desk before unemployment aid programs expire March 14.

SBA Substantially Increases PPP Loan Amount Eligibility for New Schedule C Borrowers
If you’re a sole proprietor or owner of a very small business, how you calculate the amount you can borrow through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) just got a lot better, according to Forbes. On Wednesday, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released additional guidance on the Biden Administration’s PPP revamp. Now, an Interim Final Rule clarifies that Schedule C filers can use gross income rather than net, as previously specified. They also released new applications for First-Draw Borrowers and Second-Draw Borrowers.

Update on Immigration Reform Legislation
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) recently introduced President Biden’s immigration reform proposal, the U.S. Citizenship Act. The 353-page bill would provide a path to citizenship for various undocumented individuals.

ISSA Government Affairs: Actively Advocating and Advancing Clean
In this new article, ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft writes, “As the spotlight on the cleaning industry increased during the pandemic so has the visibility and interest from policymakers and regulators. The voice of the cleaning industry is now actively being sought and listened to by Congress, governors, regulators, and even the White House. The strength of the industry’s voice, with these key audiences, has never been stronger.”

Other links of interest

• Wisconsin Law Provides ‘Broad Immunity’ for COVID Liability
• COVID Liability Protections for Businesses Pass South Carolina Senate
• Kentucky Senate Backs COVID Liability Shield for Businesses
• Employers Added 379,000 Jobs Last Month, Pushing Unemployment Rate to 6.2%
• Make Your Voice Heard on Capitol Hill – Register for ISSA’s Clean Advocacy Summit