{"id":1476,"date":"2020-12-18T23:15:32","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T23:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rosen-testing.senate.gov\/2020\/12\/18\/rosen-cramer-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-businesses-upgrade-ventilation-systems-curb-spread-of-covid-19-indoors-and-build-consumer-confidence\/"},"modified":"2022-07-13T20:23:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T20:23:26","slug":"rosen-cramer-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-businesses-upgrade-ventilation-systems-curb-spread-of-covid-19-indoors-and-build-consumer-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rosen.senate.gov\/es\/2020\/12\/18\/rosen-cramer-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-businesses-upgrade-ventilation-systems-curb-spread-of-covid-19-indoors-and-build-consumer-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Rosen, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Businesses Upgrade Ventilation Systems, Curb Spread of COVID-19 Indoors, and Build Consumer Confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/b> Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), announced the introduction of their Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act <\/i>(S. 5067),<\/i> a bipartisan bill that would provide a tax credit to businesses and nonprofit organizations that purchase or upgrade their air ventilation, filtration, and purification systems to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, one of my top priorities is to help Nevada\u2019s small businesses manage and overcome disruptions and dangers caused by COVID-19. That is why I am proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation to provide our businesses with a tax credit to upgrade their air ventilation, filtration, and purification systems. By making our indoor spaces safer for customers and workers, we can reduce the spread of COVID, help boost consumer confidence, and keep businesses afloat,\u201d dijo el Senador Rosen.<\/b> \u201cI will continue working in Congress to provide Nevada businesses and entrepreneurs the support they need to not only succeed, but thrive.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMore businesses are going to permanently close if customers don\u2019t feel safe going to them, but there are changes they can make to restore consumer confidence and protect their workers and customers,\u201d said Senator Cramer. \u201c<\/b>Our bill extends businesses and nonprofits a helping hand, allowing them to make upgrades to their facilities that help prevent the spread of COVID-19.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate the boost that Senator Rosen and Senator Cramer’s FRESH AIR for Business Act would give, especially to the small restaurants across the country who are struggling to stay open,\u201d said Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association.<\/b> \u201cRestaurants across the country continue to make improvements to their ventilation systems to ensure the safety of their employees, patrons and other staff, but for many, the cost of these upgrades has been overwhelming. This bill will help make that easier by offsetting some of the costs of those improvements.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs the pandemic drags on, locally-owned franchise businesses and their hard-working employees are struggling to make ends meet. Helping these small businesses navigate this difficult time is paramount for helping protect the health, not only for workers and customers but also for our economy,\u201d said Suzanne Beall, Vice President of Government Relations and Counsel, of the International Franchise Association<\/b>. \u201cIFA supports and applauds Senators Rosen and Cramer for the introduction of this much-needed piece of legislation that will help America\u2019s local franchise businesses during a challenging time.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSmall businesses have been hit particularly hard as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, which is why we must do more to ensure these companies get the targeted resources they need to recover and thrive,\u201d said John Stanford, Co-Executive Director of Small Business Roundtable. <\/b>\u201cBoosting consumer confidence through air filtration and ventilation efforts is one of the best tools available to address the barriers these businesses face as a result of this airborne virus. We are thrilled to support this new and innovative bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Senators Rosen and Cramer to help as many businesses, families, and industries as possible endure the financial hardships caused by the pandemic.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Vegas Chamber appreciates the efforts of Senator Rosen to help Southern Nevada employers create a healthier environment, especially during the COVID pandemic,\u201d said Mary Beth Sewald, President & CEO of the Vegas Chamber. <\/b>\u201cWe support Senator Rosen in introducing this legislation which would provide a refundable tax credit for the purchase or upgrade of ventilation systems.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith consumer confidence being at an all-time low due to concerns of indoor air quality, we must do everything in our power to help small businesses overcome the unprecedented obstacles caused by COVID-19,\u201d said Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce. <\/b>\u201cWe applaud the introduction of this forward-thinking legislation by Senator Rosen and urge Congress for swift passage so we can bring relief to our small business community.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow more than ever, the business community needs all the help it can get and this bill not only offers tax credits, but tax credits while also promoting a safer workplace for employees. This is the kind of win-win help that is easy to endorse. We applaud Senator Rosen for the introduction of this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with her for the benefit of our small business community,\u201d said Peter Guzman, President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce.<\/b>  <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNevada\u2019s small businesses have been significantly disrupted due to COVID-19,\u201d said Ken Evans, President of the Urban Chamber of Commerce.<\/b> \u201cBy providing small businesses with a tax credit to upgrade their air filtration systems, owners and employees can assure consumers that it is safe to frequent their place of business. We are happy to endorse Senator Rosen\u2019s legislation and look forward to working with her to address our community\u2019s needs.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDuring this unprecedented crisis, the Asian Chamber has been working tirelessly to help companies and businesses stay afloat and keep paychecks flowing to workers and families,\u201d said Sonny Vinuya, President of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce. \u201c<\/b>But we can\u2019t do it alone. We need Congress to help businesses respond to the hardships posed by this airborne disease and boost consumer confidence. That is why we are proud to endorse Senator Rosen and Senator Cramer\u2019s bipartisan FRESH AIR for Businesses Act and look forward to continuing to work with them to support our businesses, advance economic growth, and protect jobs.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

BACKGROUND:<\/span><\/span><\/u><\/b> This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the National Restaurant Association, the International Franchise Association, Small Business Roundtable, the Vegas Chamber, the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada Urban Chamber of Commerce, and the Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada, Inc., and the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

el bipartidista Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act<\/i> introduced by Senators Rosen (D-NV) and Cramer (R-ND) would provide a refundable tax credit to businesses and nonprofit organizations that purchase or upgrade their air ventilation, filtration, or purification systems to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Specifically, the FRESH AIR for Businesses Act<\/i> would:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n