2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations And
Coronavirus Relief, Which Extended Child Tax Credits. In December
2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the second portion of the FY2021 Omnibus
Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief package which would include,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "a number of tax provision
extenders, including for earned income and child tax credits and
employer tax credits for employee retention and provision of paid
leave." The vote was on concurring in Senate amendment with portion of
the amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 359-53 and
sent to the President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 251,
12/21/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
133]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Expanding Child Care Tax Credits In Order
To Help Parents Go Back To Work During The Coronavirus Pandemic. In
July 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "make emergency fiscal 2020 supplemental
appropriations in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency for
grants to support family care services and infrastructure and expand
certain tax credits for individuals and employers related to child and
dependent care. The bill would provide $850 million for Health and
Human Services Department social services block grants for states to
provide family care for essential workers, including to pay family care
providers, set up temporary government-operated care services or
reimburse workers for the costs of care. It would also provide $10
billion in emergency appropriations for HHS child care infrastructure
grants to states to construct or improve child care facilities,
prioritizing facilities that primarily serve low-income populations,
children under five years of age and children of essential workers, as
well as facilities that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot
reopen without making required safety modifications." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 250-161. The Senate took
no substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 172,
7/29/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7327]
Accoridng To The Congressional Budget Office, The Tax Credits
Would Cost $179 Billion. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"House Democrats muscled through $229 billion in tax breaks and
appropriations aimed at shoring up and reopening child care services
shuttered by COVID-19 that American families will rely on as they
head back to work [...] The second bill (HR 7327), which passed
250-161, would cost $179 billion, according to an estimate from the
Congressional Budget Office. The costliest provision at $91 billion
would expand and make fully refundable the child and dependent care
tax credit. The credit currently covers up to 35 percent of the
first $3,000 of expenses per child or other dependent, capped at a
total of $6,000 in expenses [...] The House-passed bill would
increase the maximum child care and dependent credit to 50 percent,
while doubling the amount of eligible expenses." [Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/20]
The Bill Made The Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit Fully
Refundable, This Making It Available To Low-Income Families.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The child and dependent care
tax credit would also become fully refundable, which 'will make the
credit available to low-income families for the first time' said
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, D-Calif. She added that increasing the income
threshold brings 'meaningful' assistance to middle-income families."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/20]
Republicans Opposed A Tax Credit That Helped Pay For Household
Employees Who Can't Provide Services During COVID-19. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans also took issue with a tax
credit Democrats would offer to cover pay for household
employees who can't currently provide services in the home due to
COVID-19. House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal, D-Mass.,
said the credits would help families retain domestic workers in the
interim until lockdowns are lifted, but the GOP argued the provision
was a handout to rich families." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Providing $50 Billion For Child Care
Stabilization Block Grants In Order To Help Parents Go Back To Work
During The Coronavirus Pandemic. In July 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Child Care Is Essential Act that would, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "establish and provide $50 billion in emergency
appropriations for Health and Human Services Department child care
stabilization block grants to states. It would require HHS to award such
funds to states within 30 days of the bill's enactment. Under the
bill's provisions, state agencies that administer existing child care
block grants would make subgrants to child care providers affected by
the COVID-19 public health emergency to cover payroll and other
operating costs, including to reimburse costs prior to the award and to
account for increased costs due to the emergency, such as implementation
of practices related to social distancing, limited group sizes and
sanitization." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 249-163. The bill never became law. [House Vote 171,
7/29/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7027]
The Bill Provided $50 Billion In Emergency Funding To Child Care
Providers So That Parents Couold Get Back To Work. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "House Democrats muscled through $229
billion in tax breaks and appropriations aimed at shoring up and
reopening child care services shuttered by COVID-19 that American
families will rely on as they head back to work. The first bill
(HR 7027) would provide $50 billion in emergency funding to cover
providers' expenses and help them reopen or stay open."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/29/20]
Republicans Objected That The Grants Could Be Used For The Fixed
Costs Of Daycare Providers, Unlike Other Relief Programs Such As The
Paycheck Protection Program. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Republicans objected that unlike other business relief programs,
like the Paycheck Protection Program, this emergency funding would
not only pay for salaries and everyday expenses but could also be
used for the fixed costs of daycare providers." [Congressional
Quarterly, 7/29/20]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021,
Which Extended And Expanded Paid Sick And Family Leave Tax Credits For
Employers Through September 2021. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted
against concurring in the Senate amendment to the American Rescue Plan
Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand
and extend through September 2021 paid sick and family leave tax credits
for employers." The vote was on concurring in the Senate amendment to
the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote of 220-211 and
sent to the President and ultimately the bill became law. [House Vote
72, 3/10/21;
Congressional Quarterly,
3/10/21; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
1319]
The American Rescue Plan Extended The Families First Coronavirus
Response Act Through September 30, 2021, Which Allowed Eligible
Employers Who Choose To Offer Paid Leave Benefits To Receive Tax
Credits. According to MVP Law, "On March 18, 2020 the Families
First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law in
response to the coronavirus pandemic. The FFCRA mandatory paid leave
requirements expired on December 31, 2020, but the tax credits
continued for employers who chose to voluntarily offer the leave
through March 31, 2021. [...] The FFCRA still remains optional to
eligible employers, those with fewer than 500 employees, but expands
the program through September 30, 2021. This means that any eligible
employer who pays the FFCRA paid leave benefits will continue to
receive dollar for dollar tax credits." [MVP Law,
4/6/21]
The American Rescue Plan Would Not Mandate Paid And Emergency
Family Leave, But It Incentived Small And Medium-Sized Businesses To
Provide Paid Leave Through The Families First Coronavirus Response
Act And Pandemic-Related Reasons. According to SHRM, "Like the
last stimulus package passed in December, the American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA)---signed into law March 11---doesn't require Families
First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) paid and emergency family
leave. But ARPA does extend and expand the FFCRA tax credits,
incentivizing small and midsize employers to provide paid time off
for FFCRA and new COVID-19-related reasons." [SHRM,
3/15/21]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations And
Coronavirus Relief, Which Extended Paid Leave Tax Credits For
Employers. In December 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the second portion
of the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief package
which would include, according to Congressional Quarterly, "a number of
tax provision extenders, including for earned income and child tax
credits and employer tax credits for employee retention and provision of
paid leave." The vote was on concurring in Senate amendment with portion
of the amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 359-53 and
sent to the President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 251,
12/21/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
133]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted For Extending The Paycheck Protection Program
From March 31 To June 30, 2021. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for a
bill which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend the
authorization for the Small Business Administration's Paycheck
Protection Program from March 31 to June 30, 2021. It would prohibit the
SBA from accepting new PPP loan applications after May 31, 2021." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 415-3, thus
sending the bill to the Senate. The bill ultimately became law. [House
Vote 80, 3/16/21;
Congressional Quarterly,
3/16/21; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
1799]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021,
Which Granted $50 Billion For Small Businesses, Including Assistance
For Restaurants And Funding For The Paycheck Protection Program. In
March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the Senate amendment
to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide $50 billion for small business
assistance, including $28.6 billion for restaurants and $7.25 billion
for the Paycheck Protection Program." The vote was on concurring in the
Senate amendment to the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a
vote of 220-211 and sent to the President and ultimately the bill became
law. [House Vote 72,
3/10/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/10/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1319]
The American Rescue Plan Approved Additional Funds To Support
Restaurants and Business To Remain In Operation. According to The
Washington Post, "The stimulus bill approves additional money to
help schools reopen, allow restaurants and businesses to stay
afloat, and assist state and local governments trying to meet their
financial needs." [The Washington Post,
3/10/21]
The American Rescue Plan Reserved $7.25 Billion For The Paycheck
Protection Program And Permitted Nonprofits To Apply To The Program,
Including Advocacy Groups And Some Limited Lobbying Groups.
According to NPR, "The bill includes $7.25 billion in new money for
the small-business loan program known as PPP and will allow more
nonprofits to apply, including groups that engage in advocacy and
some limited lobbying. It also allows larger nonprofits to be
eligible." [NPR,
3/11/21]
The American Rescue Plan Reserved $15 Billion For The Small
Business Administration To Establish A Grant Program For Food And
Drinking Establishments. According to NPR, "The Small Business
Administration will get $25 billion for a new grant program for
'restaurants and other food and drinking establishments.'" [NPR,
3/11/21]
The Grants For Food And Drinking Establishments Were Up To $10
Million Per Establishment And $4 Million Per Physical Location, Up
To 20 Locations. According to NPR, "Grants will be up to $10
million per entity and $5 million per physical location, with a
maximum of 20 locations." [NPR,
3/11/21]
The American Rescue Plan Reserved $5 Billion For Businesses With
Revenues Under $500,000 In 2019. According to NPR, "The
legislation sets aside $5 billion of the total money to be targeted
to businesses with less than $500,000 in revenue in 2019." [NPR,
3/11/21]
The American Rescue Plan Included $1.25 Billion For The Shuttered
Venue Operators Grant Program. According to NPR, "The legislation
includes another $1.25 billion for the Small Business
Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program." [NPR,
3/11/21]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations And
Coronavirus Relief, Which Provided $325 Billion To Support Small
Businesses, Including Paycheck Protection Program Loans. In December
2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the second portion of the FY2021 Omnibus
Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief package which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide approximately $325 billion for small
business relief, including $15 billion for grants to live performance
venues and $284 billion for a second round of Paycheck Protection
Program loans. It would modify the PPP to make expenses paid for by
loans tax deductible and establish set-asides for very small businesses
and community financial institutions. It would terminate after 2020 and
rescind unobligated amounts for certain Federal Reserve emergency
lending facilities created during the pandemic." The vote was on
concurring in Senate amendment with portion of the amendment. The House
agreed to the motion by a vote of 359-53 and sent to the President and
ultimately became law. [House Vote 251,
12/21/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
133]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted To Extend The SBA Paycheck Protection Program
Through December 31, 2020. In May 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "extend and modify the Small Business
Association's Paycheck Protection Program. Specifically it would allow
loans to be issued through Dec. 31, 2020, and allow expenses to qualify
for loan forgiveness through the earlier of 24 weeks after a loan is
granted or Dec. 31. It would decrease from 75 to 60 percent the amount
of funding that a recipient must use for payroll costs to qualify for
loan forgiveness and eliminate a prohibition making recipients
ineligible to defer 2020 employer payroll taxes." The vote was on a
motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 417-1. The bill later passed in the Senate by voice
vote and was signed into law by the President. [House Vote 114,
5/28/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/28/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7010]
The Bill Lowered The Amount Of PPP Loans That Small Businesses
Must Use For Payrolls And Extend The Time In Which Borrowers Could
Use The Loans. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House
passed a bill to cut small businesses more slack in how they use
coronavirus lifeline loans by and overwhelming margin Thursday. The
bill would amend the Small Business Administration's so-called
Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to
companies affected by COVID-19 that need not be repaid if the money
is used for payroll and some fixed costs, like rent. The measure
would lower the amount of a loan that must be used for payrolls and
give borrowers more time to use them." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/28/20]
The House Bill Provided More Flexibility Than The Senate Bill,
Which Extended The Timeline To 16 Weeks Rather Than 24, And Did Not
Loosen The Payroll Spending Requirement. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The House-passed bill is different from a
bipartisan measure the Senate tried to 'hotline' on May 21 before
leaving for that chamber's Memorial Day break, but it ran into
unknown objections. That bill (S 3833), backed by the bipartisan
leadership of the Senate Small Business Committee, would have only
lengthened the time period to use the loans from eight weeks to 16
weeks. That Senate bill would not loosen the existing 75 percent
payroll spending requirement. But it would allow businesses to spend
the money on personal protective equipment and other
infection-preventing investments, provisions that aren't in
the version passed by the House." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/28/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Requiring The SBA Make Information Related
To The Paycheck Protection Program Publicly Available And Searchable
Online. In May 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for the TRUTH act that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "require the Small Business
Administration, within 30 days of enactment, to make certain information
related to the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster
Loan Program publicly available and searchable online. Specifically, it
would require information on any program disbursements of over $2
million, including to identify recipients and lenders or intermediaries
and to describe the decision-making process for such disbursements. It
would also require information on the amount of assistance provided to
small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals, women, and veterans. The bill would also effectively
separate the authorization cap for the Paycheck Protection Program from
other SBA 7(a) small business loan guarantee programs." The vote was on
a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House rejected the
motion, which required a two-thirds majority, by a vote of 269-147.
[House Vote 113,
5/28/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/28/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.6782]