No images? Click here USDA Launches Pandemic Response and Safety Grants Program – Warehouses Eligible On October 6th, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the details of the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to food processors, warehouses, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against COVID-19. Eligible companies can apply for grants up to $20,000 to help mitigate pandemic related expenses related to workplace safety (examples: PPE and sanitation), market pivots, retrofitting facilities for worker safety, transportation, worker housing and COVID health services. GCCA worked closely with USDA to ensure that warehouses are eligible to participate in the program and NAICS Code 493120 - Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage is specifically included. Warehouses must qualify as a “small business” to participate. The SBA designation for refrigerated warehousing is less than $30 million in annual revenue. It is important to note that only refrigerated warehousing and storage for food products are eligible under this code. More details are available in the grant announcement. GCCA warehouse members in the United States are strongly encouraged to learn more about the program and consider applying, if eligible. The deadline for applications is November 22, 2021. OSHA Sends Vaccine ETS to White House On October 12th, the U.S. Labor Department sent a draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding vaccines and testing to the White House for review. The ETS, driven at President Biden’s direction, would require companies with more than 100 employees to ensure that all of their employees are either vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID. The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is responsible for reviewing the rule before it is finalized. If the Administration follows the same process as the recent healthcare ETS, the language of the rule will not be made available to the public until it is finally published. The process can sometimes take months to complete but given the Administration’s desire to finalize the ETS quickly, it is expected that the review will be expedited. Once the White House completes its review, OSHA would then be able to publish the ETS. It is anticipated that the rule would go into effect immediately, but it is likely that companies would be given some period of time to come into compliance. GCCA is engaging with the Administration and coalition partners to communicate concerns and suggestions related to the ETS as the process moves forward. In addition the ETS, the President Biden has issued and Executive Order requiring all federal contractors to vaccinate their employees without a testing option. GCCA legal partner Jackson Lewis recently presented a webinar on the Executive Order. GCCA members interested in learning more about the federal contractor requirements can request free access to the webinar by clicking HERE. Congress Agrees to Short Term Debt Ceiling IncreaseOn October 12th, the House of Representatives passed legislation to the increase in the nation’s debt. The Senate passed the measure on October 7th. While the short-term deal avoids an unprecedented debt default with less than a week to spare, Congress must work to achieve a longer-term agreement before the new debt limit is reached, likely in December or January. In addition to the debt ceiling, Congress continues to work through issues related to the bipartisan infrastructure bill, budget reconciliation and annual appropriations to fund the government, scheduled to expire on December 3. GCCA Continues Advocacy on 199A Deduction PolicyOn October 12th, GCCA joined with coalition partners in sending a letter to Congressional Leaders expressing concerns with the Small Business Tax Fairness Act (S.2387). The legislation proposes phase out limits for 199A deductions that will exclude a significant number of small businesses from this important deduction. The 199A deduction was intended to create some parity between the tax rates for C corporations and the tax rates for pass through entities. Pass through entities are already facing a significant disadvantage by the fact that, while the lower C corporation rates set in 2017 are permanent, the 199A deduction will sunset at the end of 2025. To significantly lower the phase out, while also retaining the 2025 sunset will be extremely harmful for a wide swath of small businesses, many of which are still struggling to survive and recover from the pandemic. This is part of GCCA’s ongoing efforts to address a variety of concerning tax proposals currently being considered in Congress. Read the letter HERE. If you have not yet participated in our grassroots campaigns, but would like to take action to oppose the PRO Act or oppose the harmful tax hikes in the American Job’s Plan, click the Take Action tab above now.
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