[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 331. Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1628, to 
provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent 
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2017; which was ordered to lie 
on the table; as follows:

       Beginning on page 102, strike line 1 and all that follows 
     through page 104, line 12, and insert the following:

     SEC. 203. EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION OF CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE 
                   HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES OF SMALL EMPLOYERS.

       (a) Expansion of Definition of Eligible Small Employer.--
     Subparagraph (A) of section 45R(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``25'' and inserting 
     ``50''.
       (b) Amendment to Phaseout Determination.--Subsection (c) of 
     section 45R of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(c) Phaseout of Credit Amount Based on Number of 
     Employees and Average Wages.--The amount of the credit 
     determined under subsection (b) (without regard to this 
     subsection) shall be adjusted (but not below zero) by 
     multiplying such amount by the product of--
       ``(1) the lesser of--
       ``(A) a fraction the numerator of which is the excess (if 
     any) of 50 over the total number of full-time equivalent 
     employees of the employer and the denominator of which is 30, 
     and
       ``(B) 1, and
       ``(2) the lesser of--
       ``(A) a fraction--
       ``(i) the numerator of which is the excess (if any) of--

       ``(I) the dollar amount in effect under subsection 
     (d)(3)(B) for the taxable year, multiplied by 3, over
       ``(II) the average annual wages of the employer for such 
     taxable year, and

       ``(ii) the denominator of which is the dollar amount so in 
     effect under subsection (d)(3)(B), multiplied by 2, and
       ``(B) 1.''.
       (c) Extension of Credit Period.--Paragraph (2) of section 
     45R(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
     striking ``2-consecutive-taxable year period'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``3-consecutive-taxable year period 
     beginning with the 1st taxable year beginning after 2016 in 
     which--
       ``(A) the employer (or any predecessor) offers 1 or more 
     qualified health plans to its employees through an Exchange, 
     and
       ``(B) the employer (or any predecessor) claims the credit 
     under this section.''.
       (d) Average Annual Wage Limitation.--Subparagraph (B) of 
     section 45R(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(B) Dollar amount.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(B) and 
     subsection (c)(2), the dollar amount in effect under this 
     paragraph is the amount equal to 110 percent of the poverty 
     line (within the meaning of section 36B(d)(3)) for a family 
     of 4.''.
       (e) Elimination of Uniform Percentage Contribution 
     Requirement.--Paragraph (4) of section 45R(d) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``a uniform 
     percentage (not less than 50 percent)'' and inserting ``at 
     least 50 percent''.
       (f) Elimination of Cap Relating to Average Local 
     Premiums.--Subsection (b) of section 45R of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``the lesser of'' 
     and all that follows and inserting ``the aggregate amount of 
     nonelective contributions the employer made on behalf of its 
     employees during the taxable year under the arrangement 
     described in subsection (d)(4) for premiums for qualified 
     health plans offered by the employer to its employees through 
     an Exchange.''.
       (g) Amendment Relating to Annual Wage Limitation.--
     Subparagraph (B) of section 45R(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``twice'' and inserting 
     ``three times''.
       (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years 
     beginning after December 31, 2016.
                                 ______