WASHINGTON WATCH

On Friday, April 8, Congress adjourned for the Easter and Passover holidays after a busy six-week session that saw a new Supreme Court Justice confirmed, further action against Russia, approval of the FY2022 federal government spending bill, and several big pieces of legislation that had alluded lawmakers (in some cases, for decades) including: anti-lynching bill, reauthorization of the Violence Against Woman Act; postal service reform; and a bipartisan ocean shipping reform bill.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3807, the Relief of Restaurants, and other Hard Hit Small Business Act of 2022. This bill provides an additional $60 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund

While a bipartisan group of senators announced an agreement on COVID relief earlier this week, Congress is now holding up its passage due to partisan bickering over Title 42

This year’s National Small Business Week (NSBW), held May 1-7, 2022, will acknowledge small businesses from across the country for their resilience, ingenuity, and creativity

This past week, the President signed the $1.5 trillion government funding bill with Ukraine aid. The funding bill, which received bipartisan approval, passed the Senate in a 68-31 vote and the House 361-69. This will provide funding through

The SBA Administrator recently announced additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program Borrowers for 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans. The Administrator believes the extended deferment period will provide additional flexibility to small business owners impacted by the pandemic, especially those in hard-hit sectors managing disruption with recent variants and current supply chain and inflation challenges amid a growing economic recovery.

On Saturday, March 6, 2021, NASE CEO & President Keith Hall joined the Small Business Administration for a webinar on the recently announced (see above) changes to the PPP program specific to self-employed individuals. You can view the webinar and the informative Q&A here. Senate Pass America Rescue Plan Setting Up President Biden’s First Legislative Victory

On March 3, 2021, the Small Business Administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for self-employed individuals. The changes include: - Self-employed business owners with no employees will be eligible for a loan equal to their 2019 or 2020 gross income, divided by 12, multiplied by 2.5.

This week the House will take up the Covid relief; the $1.9T includes the following small business provisions: Amendments to the Paycheck Protection Program: ​Eligibility of Certain Organizations

The Biden Administration also announced changes in how the self-employed can calculate the size of their PPP loan. Until now, a self-employed PPP loan applicant would use “net income” (Line 31 on Form 1040 of the Schedule C), to calculate the loan amount. Using net income as the basis of determining loan size dramatically reduces the value of PPP loans for self-employed because it excluded eligible expenses.

Below you will find information and resources for the Paycheck Protection Program, including, guidance for first and second draws and how to apply for PPP Forgiveness. We have included the forms below, but as always, please make sure to visit our NASE’s Covid-19 resource page for the most up to date information.

NASE continues to regularly update its Covid-19 Pandemic resource page to ensure our members have the most up-to-date information as it relates to the pandemic and the resources being afforded to the self-employed. Please bookmark the page.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of caregiving in our society. Many of the organizations that provide support to caregivers, such as nursing homes and schools, will look different than before the pandemic. Employers large and small will need to think about how their employees will balance new caregiving responsibilities with work responsibilities.

In the Senate this week, lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution from U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognizing the week of September 20, 2020 as “National Small Business Week.”

Without enough movement toward a bipartisan deal, the House late Thursday passed a $2.2 trillion package Democrats introduced on Monday — a scaled-back version of the HEROES Act. The bill passed 214-207.

The National Association for the Self-Employed, continues to support our members and the 27 million self-employed business owners from the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. Up to date information related to federal legislation and programs will continue to be highlighted under our www.nase.org/covid-19 webpage.

Bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Stephanie Murphy and John Katko in support of H.R. 6776, JOBS Credit Act, to improve and enhance the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program.

Last week, Congress approved a bi-partisan bill to provide greater flexibility to the Paycheck Protection Program, introduced by Representatives Phillips (D-MN) and Roy (R-TX), the changes address issues that the NASE has advocated for reforming. The changes include:

Prior to Congress adjourning for 2019, the House and Senate passed a government spending bill that included the SECURE Act, also known as the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019,”which has been supported by the NASE.

The NASE supported the appointed of Ms. Carranza, stating, “The new SBA Administrator takes over an agency during one of the most profound shifts underway in the American workforce. Not since the Industrial Revolution has the nature of work in our country undergone such transformative change. As millions of Americans choose self-employment and small business ownership, it is critical for the SBA to support them by promoting access to capital, advocating for further streamlining of regulatory policies and simplifying the tax code.”

On October 31, 2019, voted to approve the rules governing the next steps in the impeachment inquiry. The resolution authorizes the US House of Representatives to begin public hearings and lays out the rules in which the House Judiciary Committee will follow during this inquiry, the vote passed 232 to 196. Two Democrats voted for the measure. Rep. Justin Amash (MI-I), who until this summer caucused with the Republicans, voted with the Democrats for passage of the resolutions. Three Republicans and one Democrat did not cast a vote.

In an op-ed published on Fox Business, NASE President and CEO Keith Hall, continued to advocate for the self-employed to be informed consumers in their purchase of health insurance.

This year the “Small Business Saturday” initiative will celebrate 10 years of connecting millions of Americans to the small, local business in their community.

Chairman Velazquez, Ranking Member Chabot, and members of the House Small Business Committee, thank you for the opportunity to be here today as an invited guest of the committee to discuss the incredibly important topic of retirement security. As president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), our nation’s leading advocate and resources for America’s 27 million self-employed and micro-businesses, I’m here representing our members located in every state throughout the country. For over 30 years, NASE has offered our small business-members a broad range of benefits to help these entrepreneurs achieve success and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. We continue to support, encourage and help motivate millions of Americans who have chosen the self-employment and micro-business ownership path.

• Roller Coaster Midterm Election Ends
• Post Midterm Election Survey!

• The Entrepreneur Vote 2018
• Wayfair Ruling Spurs Congressional Action
• NASE Express Support of Retirement Security Executive Order

• Senate HELP Committee Chairman Alexander (R-TN) Issues Blistering Letter on Rising Health Care Premiums
• House Small Business Committee Passes Seven Legislative Priorities

• NASE Tax Survey Shows Small Business Owners Don’t Understand New Tax Law
• NASE Joins Small Business Roundtable
• President Trump Announces Rescission Package

Take the NASE Tax Survey, Watch NASE President and CEO Keith Hall Testify, and see how the NASE continues to Advocate for Health Reimbursement Arrangements.

• Government Funding Bill Hangs in Limbo
• ACA Executive Orders
• Tax Implementation

• House released the American Health Care Act

• 115th Congress Sworn in Ahead of Trump Inauguration
• NASE’s Katie Vlietstra Comments on Trump Administration Action and SBA nominee Linda McMahon on MSNBC
• Congressional Committee Leadership of Importance to the Self-Employed

• VP Debate
• Government Shut Down Averted...AGAIN
• Overtime Legislation Update

• HRA Bill Advances to US Senate for Approval

• Trump, Clinton win 7 Contests on Super Tuesday
• Nearly 200 Trade Associations Support HRA Legislation
• NASE Joins WE Decide 2016 Campaign

• HRA Legislation Remains Top Priority in 2016
• SBA Chief Council for Advocacy Officially Sworn In
• President Obama Delivers Last SOTU

• New Retirement Tool Launched by Department of Treasury
• Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
• Small Business Saturday is Almost Here! Shop Small, Shop Local

• Bi-Partisan, Bicameral HRA Legislation Introduced, Finally
• Senator Vitter Introduces Health Care Deduction Bill for SE
• Ensuring the healthcare system works for all- Op-Ed (The Hill)

• HRA Legislation Finally Introduced in Senate and House
• BREAKING, Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Issues Independent Contractor Interpretation
• NASE on C-SPAN

• NASE Supports 529 College Savings Plans
• Rep. Paulsen (R-MN) Re-Introduces Independent Contractor Legislation
• HRA Legislation Coming Soon...

• NASE Supports Payroll Cards
• Freelance/Sharing Economy Entrepreneurs Welcome!
• Tax Filing Deadline Approaching!

• Self-Employed Given a Small Breathing Room on HRA Compliance
• Self-Employed and Micro-Business Owners Remain Concerned Over Health Care Costs
• NASE Non-Deductible Dues Portion

• President Releases Fact Sheet on Tax Reform
• NASE Attends High Profile Meetings with Treasury and HHS Officials
• NASE to Release Your Health Care in 2015 Survey!

• NASE Pushes for HRA Reprieve in 2015
• NASE Survey Launches, Your Health Care in 2015
• House Puts Forth $1.1 Trillion to Fund Federal Government

• Tax Bill Passes House
• Open Enrollment - Five Tips from the NASE
• New Chairman for Small Business Committees in Senate and House

• Contradicting Court Rulings on ACA Subsidies
• Cantwell (D-WA) Introduces Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2014
• Congress Adjourns For August Recess

• Senate and House Authorize Differing Funding Plans for Highway Trust Fund
• Economy Shrinks 2.9%
• NASE to Participate in HHS Town Hall with Secretary Burwell

• Senate Minority Leader Supports Working, Home Based Parents
• D.C. Sued Over 1% Health Insurance Tax
• Passing the Health Care Buck

• SHOP Delayed
• Administrator Contreras-Sweet’s Provides Vision
• Is Your State Small Business Friendly?

• D.C. Implements 1% Tax on all Health Care Carriers
• Memorial Day Recess

• Small Businesses Celebrated Across U.S.
• Housing Reform Bill Could Move Through Senate

• Contreras-Sweet Sworn-In as SBA Administrator
• NASE Pushes for Review of Health Care Reform Change to Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)
• House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on Tax Hurdles Faced by Small Business

• NASE Member Charlie Arnold Testifies to House Small Business Community
• House Passes One-Year Individual Mandate Delay
• Senate Small Business Committee Advances Contreras-Sweet Nomination

• Confirmation Hearing for Nominee to Head SBA
• ACA Employer Mandate Delay for Businesses With 100 or less Employees
• NASE Provides Valuable Feedback on Crowdfunding Proposal

• President Addresses the Union
• NASE Supports the Creation of Copper Level Coverage in ACA Exchanges
• House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on SEC Rules on Crowdfunding

• Happy New Year! You Get To Pay More Taxes
• Hardship Exemption Offered for Those Receiving Cancellation Letters
• Likely Change in Leadership on Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

• White House Release Health Care Enrollment Numbers
• President’s New Health Care Proposal is “Bad Policy” and “Short-Sighted”
• NASE continues to research the ACA implementation

• NASE Calls on Congress to Act
• Election Results Are In
• In Case You Missed It: “The More You Know”