U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) on June 16 applauded the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for including her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit in the legislative text of the Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
“I want to thank Chairman Crapo for working with me to make sure my Paid Family and Medical Leave [PFML] policy is made permanent in the Senate Finance bill,” Sen. Fischer said.
Since securing the nation’s first-ever and only PFML policy in 2017, she pointed out that the policy has helped employers of all sizes offer PFML plans to their employees.
“I’m pleased we are continuing to build upon this important effort to benefit America’s working families,” she added.
In May, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee included Sen. Fischer’s PFML Tax Credit as part of its tax bill, which the full chamber passed and advanced to the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Fischer and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) established the PFML policy, which was included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and implemented in 2018, according to information provided by her staff.
The senators on Jan. 30 introduced the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act, S. 3680, which includes the PFML language included in the reconciliation bill.
Specifically, the bill would make the tax credit permanent; allow the credit in states or localities that either mandate or do not mandate paid family and medical leave; allow employers to claim the credit for a portion of their paid family leave insurance premiums; reduce the minimum employment period eligibility requirement; and require the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service to conduct targeted outreach to employers and other relevant parties regarding the availability and requirements of the credit, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.