[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 110 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E608-E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EMPLOYER REPORTING IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2023

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3801, 
the Employer Reporting Improvement Act.
  This bill streamlines reporting requirements for small businesses 
when it comes to health insurance coverage information.
  This bill will reduce administrative burdens and make it easier for 
businesses to comply with the Affordable Care Act.
  More specifically, it permits employers to electronically file 
certain documents related to employees' health coverage if the employee 
has previously agreed to electronic statements.
  The bill further streamlines reporting by allowing employers the 
option to use covered individuals' full name and date of birth if the 
employer is unable to collect the covered individuals' taxpayer 
identification number.
  Currently, small businesses can be left in limbo by the IRS, 
sometimes for years, without knowing whether they correctly filed their 
health insurance coverage information.
  The Employer Reporting Improvement Act reins in the IRS' ability to 
penalize American small businesses and gives them peace of mind that 
they won't be unfairly hit with a penalty.
  Thanks to these streamlined procedures, small businesses will now 
have more time to focus on running their business, providing 
opportunities for their employees, expanding their business, and 
serving their customers.
  In my home district of Houston, nearly 97 percent of the region's 
businesses are considered small businesses.

[[Page E609]]

  These small businesses employ 44 percent of the region's workforce, 
over 1.2 million employees across the city of Houston.
  These small businesses continue to rise as over 150,000 new business 
applications were filed across Houston last year.
  The city ranks 10th nationally in new businesses per capita and these 
businesses continue to drive the city's economic growth upwards.
  Further, nearly 35 percent of these small businesses with 50 or fewer 
employees are minority-owned and Houston ranks 5th in the nation for 
minority entrepreneurship.
  Small businesses are not only vital for Houston, but for our entire 
nation.
  Across America, small businesses account for over fifty-nine million 
jobs, constituting nearly half of the national workforce.
  Overall, they generate one third of all U.S. business revenue, 
approximately 13.7 trillion dollars annually.
  This bill helps to relieve the burdens of complex paperwork and 
uncertainty on these small businesses and best equips them for success 
in Houston and across the nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3801 and in 
supporting small businesses by streamlining reporting processes.

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