Rob Portman: “I am here on the floor to talk about some of the steps that Congress should take in response to the coronavirus…”

“I am here on the floor to talk about some of the steps that Congress should take in response to the coronavirus pandemic. I am going to start with talking about the legislation that the majority leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, introduced yesterday. One of the aspects of it that hasn't gotten much attention and that, I think, is very positive and a very effective way to get the economy moving in a safe way is with some tax legislation. These are tax credits and tax deductions that help to encourage the hiring of new workers but that also do so in a safe way. These are the kinds of things that make a lot of sense and that have a lot of bipartisan support and appeal, so I think it should be part of whatever final package we end up with. The goal of these tax incentives is to say that we want people to reenter the workforce but to do it in a safe and sustainable way. For example, in the McConnell proposal is legislation I have introduced, called the Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act. It is very simple. It says there will be a credit on the employer's side of payroll taxes against qualified employee protection expenses and workplace reconfiguration expenses to ensure employers can afford additional safety measures. As I travel around the State of Ohio, I see the Plexiglas dividers. You have probably seen those in offices where there are more open settings. You see it in a lot of retail places now.…”