Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) on July 16 proposed the Healthy Workplace Tax Credit Act to help American businesses safely reopen and restore worker and customer confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s important we reconnect workers to jobs and prevent more business closures,” Rep. Rice said last week. “Our healthy workplace tax credit will support businesses as they reopen by incentivizing them to take extra precautions to protect the health of patrons and employees.”
If approved, H.R. 7615 would provide a refundable tax credit against payroll taxes for 50 percent of the costs incurred by a business for COVID-19 testing, personal protection equipment, disinfecting, extra cleaning, and reconfiguring workspaces, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Rice’s office.
The tax credit would be limited to $1,000 per employee for the first 500 employees; $750 per employee for the next 500 employees; and $500 for each employee thereafter, according to the summary.
“The coronavirus pandemic is impacting every American. As we continue to safely reopen, business owners will have to take unprecedented measures to protect their employees and patrons,” said Rep. Rice. “Keeping Americans safe while getting back to work is a top priority.”
Rep. Rice introduced H.R. 7615 as part of an agenda set forth by Republicans on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee aimed at supporting businesses to safely and responsibly reopen the U.S. economy while also protecting the health and well-being of workers.
“Americans need to see their doctors, go to the store, and work to provide for their families — but they need to do so confidently and safely,” said House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX). “The Healthy Workplace Tax Credit is a key policy in the Ways and Means Republican Returning Safely to a Healthy Workplace Agenda that accomplishes just that. I’m thankful to Rep. Rice for introducing this bill.”