NEC Shares Budget Reconciliation Priorities & Concerns with Senate Delegation
Letter to New England Senators Highlights Cross-Sector Member Feedback
As the U.S. Senate works to finalize its budget reconciliation legislation in the coming days, The New England Council today sent a letter to each of the region’s 12 Senators highlighting some top priorities and concerns for the region. The letter was developed based on feedback gathered over the last several weeks through the Council’s various policy committees and working groups.
In the letter, the Council notes that there are some provisions of the draft legislation released in recent weeks that will benefit the New England region, while also expressing concerns over the potential harmful impact of other provisions.
Specifically, the Council expressed support for:
- Increased funding for Pell Grants
- Provisions to promote investment in rare disease innovation, including the ORPHAN Cures Act
- Investments in Air Traffic Control improvements
- Preserving the 21% corporate tax rate
- Restoration of full Research & Development (R&D) expensing
- Extending and expanding the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit
- Expanding the Low Income Housing Tax Credit
- Provisions to encourage charitable giving
- Expanding access to Health Spending Accounts (HSA)
The letter outlined the Council’s opposition to:
- Medicaid Program funding cuts
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding cuts
- Changes programs that provide financial assistance for education
- Phasing out of Renewable Energy Tax Credits
- Expanding the Endowment Tax for higher education institutions
- Retaliatory taxes on foreign-based corporations
We are grateful to the many members of the Council who provided feedback as this letter was prepared. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Heisig.