By Teena Lewis
Last week, Family Values @ Work had the opportunity to advocate for Paid Family and Medical Leave, Paid Sick and Safe Days, and affordable child care face-to-face with Congressman Don Beyer (Virginia), Congresswoman Susan Del-Bene (Washington), and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (Wisconsin) at the Ways and Means Committee Field Hearing in Atlanta, Georgia.
Reps. Moore and Del-Bene expressed their deep gratitude for our attendance and also shared their support for paid leave. Rep. Moore shared her appreciation for the work Ellen Bravo has done in support of paid leave policies.
One of the primary topics of discussion was the need to keep the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 199A of the tax code in place. IRC Section 199A allows individuals, trusts, and estates with pass-through business income to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income (QBI) from their taxable ordinary income. During the hearing, small business owners conveyed their opposition to any changes in the business tax codes. These small business owners also expressed concern that a national paid leave program would impact the budget significantly, resulting in reduced business tax credits and benefits.
The three small business owners from Augusta, Peachtree City, and West Point, Georgia, all gave candid testimony along with Rachel Shanklin, director of the National Women’s Entrepreneurship-Georgia. Ms.Shanklin testified about the need for tax policies and programs that support a thriving equitable economy. Ms. Shanklin’s stance is that IRC 199A should be targeted at small businesses and that a national paid leave program that addresses the needs of working families would take the burden off employers.
Rep. Beyer said that a federal paid leave program would be good for businesses and that a federal paid leave policy improves retention, it’s necessary for folks to start and sustain jobs. Rep. Moore shared that 60 percent of Americans are rent-burdened, and require medical leave and affordable child care. “Georgia has the highest number of sick folks-they don’t come to work if they don’t feel good! They need paid leave,” said Rep. Moore.
