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 “COVID-19 is impacting every American,” said Rep.
LaHood. “As stay-at-home orders begin to ease, businesses and
workers are prepared to take unprecedented measures to get their
livelihoods back on track. Getting folks back to work is essential
to reinvigorating our economy, but it’s critical that we ensure the
safety of workers and customers to prevent additional outbreaks.
This bipartisan legislation will ensure that businesses can take
extra precautions during this uncertain time and keep our
communities safe.”
“As our economy begins to gradually reopen, responsible business
owners will want to do everything possible to safeguard their
workers and customers from COVID-19. I am proud to join Congressman
LaHood in proposing a temporary tax credit to help businesses afford
cleaning services and supplies, which will protect public health and
spur economic activity,” said Rep. Murphy.
There is significant research demonstrating that COVID-19 survives
on surfaces for days unless properly cleaned and disinfected. As a
result, the combination of properly trained and certified cleaning
personnel and cleaning products are critical in helping prevent the
further spread of this virus when businesses are permitted to
reopen. Experts have also estimated that increased cleaning costs
associated with COVID-19 are 50 percent greater than they normally
would be. This number could be even greater for specialized
facilities such as nursing homes or healthcare facilities.
Many businesses lack expertise, products, or trained personnel to
properly disinfect for COVID-19. The Clean Start: Back to Work Tax
Credit would be available for businesses to apply towards the
expense of industry-recognized training and certification,
contracting a cleaning company and/or the purchase of necessary
cleaning products, tools, machinery, personal protective equipment,
and other sanitary-related equipment needed to help ensure a safe
and sanitary environment.
Each business entity including but not limited franchisors or
franchisees, and commercial property owners and management companies
will be eligible for a 50% tax credit of up to $25,000, per
location, up to a maximum of $250,000 per business entity.
Eligible expenses must be made by March 31, 2021 to help offset
increased expenses associated with a potential “second wave” during
the fall or winter.
A coalition of business organizations hailed the introduction of the
Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit.
“We thank Representatives LaHood and Murphy and our association
partners for joining ISSA in supporting this commonsense proposal to
ensure businesses can provide a safe and sanitary environment for
their workers and customers,” said John H. Barrett, the Worldwide
Cleaning Industry Association’s (ISSA) Executive Director. “ISSA
looks forward to continuing to work with members of the House and
Senate to pass a bipartisan stimulus package that includes the Clean
Start: Back to Work Tax Credit to give Americans the confidence and
peace of mind to safely get back to work and revitalize our
economy.”
“Businesses are looking for help and support to reopen. Their
employees and customers want assurances that their facility is safe.
By offering this tax credit this will encourage American business to
have their buildings prepared and will allow people to re-entry into
a safe environment. I commend Congressmen LaHood and Murphy to for
helping businesses and taking on this initiative,” said Matt
Vonachen CEO of Vonachen Group a Building Service Contractor, in
Peoria, Illinois.
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 “Making people feel comfortable going places is
the best way for the economy to get back to something that resembles
normal, investing in cleaning and disinfection is the best way to
make people feel comfortable,” said Paul Senecal, CBSE, Managing
Partner of United Services of America/AffinEco, LLC, an ISSA-member
company based in Illinois. “This tax credit will encourage more
business to invest in cleaning and disinfection.”
“This Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit is a great way to protect
public health and provide support to businesses across the country,”
said Dominique Stumpf, CEO of the National Pest Management
Association (NPMA), a signatory organization on the letter. “NPMA
members are eager to help businesses reopen safely and support this
tax credit as a way to ease the cost of doing so.”
“We are grateful to Representatives Darin LaHood and Stephanie
Murphy for the introduction of the Clean Start: Back to Work Tax
Credit Act,” said Myra Y. Irizarry Reddy, Government Affairs
Director of the Professional Beauty Association, which also
signed-on to the letter. “Members of the Professional Beauty
Association have a heightened sensitivity to properly disinfecting
the salon workspace due to their mandatory educational training. Our
licensed beauty professionals are investing heavily in PPE supplies
and EPA approved disinfectants to ensure the safety of their
clients. This credit would provide much needed assistance to help
our small business owners with the additional unanticipated costs to
maintain a clean salon environment amid this COVID pandemic.”
"As our tenants and customers come back to work, the
number one concern building owners and managers have is their safety
and health. This tax credit will help ensure that commercial,
industrial and other related facilities have the resources they need
to comply with increased cleaning measures, protocols and equipment
even during difficult economic times. BOMA applauds Representatives
LaHood and Murphy for his forward thinking and pragmatic view of our
reentry process as we bring America back to work." - Henry H.
Chamberlain, APR, FASAE, CAE, President and Chief Operating Office,
Building Owners and Managers Association International.
The legislation is also supported by:
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American Hotel and Lodging Association
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Asian American Hotel Owners Association
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Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association
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International Franchise Association
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National Restaurant Association
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North American Meat Institute
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U.S. Travel Association
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American Car Rental Association
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Building Service Contractors Association International
Full text of the legislation can be read
here.
[Congressman Darin LaHood] |
