Turner pushes for long-term reauthorization of Health Coverage Tax Credit

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) called last week’s markup and passage of a taxpayer relief bill by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee insufficient and asked members to instead support his long-term tax-credit reauthorization proposal.

“Although I am pleased the Health Coverage Tax Credit will be extended, we need to continue to make strides towards a long-term reauthorization,” Rep. Turner said, adding that the “committee passage of this bill unfortunately falls short of providing long-term reassurance to eligible workers.”

Rep. Turner said the committee on June 20 approved the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019, H.R. 3301, to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program for an additional year.

The HCTC program — which is available to any-aged, eligible workers, their spouses and families who lost jobs due to work facility closures or foreign trade and have become Trade Adjustment Assistance Certified — is slated to end on Dec. 31.

The congressman urged House members to instead support his bipartisan Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2019, H.R. 1939, which Rep. Turner sponsored on March 27 with cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to reauthorize the tax credit for another five years.

“We must provide reassurance to vulnerable workers and families that qualify for this provision,” said Rep. Turner.

If enacted, H.R. 1939 would permit eligible individuals to remain in the HCTC program past its termination date or upon leaving the program, according to the lawmaker’s staff.

H.R. 1939 also is under review by the House Ways and Means Committee, while H.R. 3301 advances to the full House for action.