{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=FF54EF48-DB8C-4EB9-AB7A-BC2AB0C154DB", "Fischer Applauds Release of Treasury, IRS Guidance on Her Permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", "fischer", "https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Fischer\u2019s Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit is first-ever nationwide leave policy enacted into law; Treasury Secretary recognizes Fischer for leadership\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) issued the following statement upon the release of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance for employers looking to claim the permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit she secured in the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\nFischer\u2019s Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit is the first-ever nationwide paid family leave policy enacted into law.\n\n\u201cThe Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit is a first of its kind policy that gives working families flexibility as they care for their loved ones,\u201d Fischer said. \u201cThe guidance released today gives employers the tools they need to take advantage of this credit and provide paid leave for their employees. Secretary Bessent has been a great partner in getting this done for hardworking Americans, and I thank him for his leadership.\"\n\n\u201cHardworking Americans should not have to choose between caring for a loved one and earning a paycheck,\u201dTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. \u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts permanently expands the federal Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit, giving businesses, especially small businesses, greater incentives to provide paid leave so workers can care for a newborn or other family member or recover from a serious illness without sacrificing their financial security. I appreciate Senator Fischer\u2019s leadership to establish the nation\u2019s first federal Paid Family and Medical Leave policy and to secure its permanent expansion through the Working Families Tax Cuts. Today\u2019s guidance provides employers with the clarity they need to claim the enhanced credit, supporting American workers, families, and businesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe permanent expansion of the credit encourages businesses to provide paid family and medical leave,\u201d IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said. \u201cThe changes enacted by the Working Families Tax Cuts will make more employers eligible for the credit and give them more ways to offer this benefit to their workers.\u201d\n\nTreasury/IRS Guidance:\n\nBeginning in 2026, more employers providing paid family and medical leave that meets certain requirements can take advantage of a general business tax credit ranging from 12.5% to 25% of wages paid to qualifying employees for up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave per taxable year.\n\nEmployers can claim the credit for premiums paid for PFML insurance policies, in addition to wages paid during PFML leave. To help employers apply the new premium-based method, Notice 2026-28 addresses how the premium-based method compares to the wage-based method, how to allocate the qualifying premiums, and how to elect between the premium method and the wage method. Forthcoming proposed regulations will provide broader guidance to address the statute comprehensively and provide certainty to taxpayers.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn President Trump\u2019s first term, Fischer secured the first and only nationwide Paid Family and Medical Leave policy by creating a temporary tax credit in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\n\nLast July, when Republicans were crafting the Working Families Tax Cuts, Fischer made the tax credit permanent.\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cuts also makes several key improvements to the credit, including:\n\nExpanded Eligibility: Employers can claim the credit for employees with six months of service and for part-time employees customarily working 20 hours or more per week.\n\nExpanded Coverage: Employers can claim the credit for insurance premiums paid to provide leave, or wages paid during leave.\n\nState and Local Mandates: Employers can count leave provided under state or local mandates toward the eligibility for this federal tax credit, but not toward the credit calculation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=FF54EF48-DB8C-4EB9-AB7A-BC2AB0C154DB"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6017090529203415, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}