Agriculture
A local lawmaker is sponsoring a nationwide bill that would support grocery and convenience store workers.
U.S. Congressman Glenn ‘GT' Thompson has introduced the GROCER Act which stands for Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief.
The Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Glenn "G.T." Thompson, R-Centre, on Tuesday, would create a federal tax holiday for employees working in food supply stores during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If enacted, the GROCER Act would exempt grocery and convenience store workers, who make less than $75,000 per year, from paying federal taxes on wages earned from Feb. 15 through June 15.
Some essential employees across the country could get some extra money in their pocket during the coronavirus pandemic.
Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson discusses the Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief, or GROCER Act with WICU in Erie. The bill would establish a federal tax holiday for grocery and convenience store employees from February 15 through June 15 for individuals making less than $75,000 annually. The bill would also provide discretion to the Treasury to extend this benefit for an additional three months.
On Tuesday, Representatives Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Dwight Evans, D-Pa., introduced the Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief Act, or GROCER Act.
The bill would establish a federal tax holiday for grocery and convenience store employees from Feb. 15 through June 15 for individuals making less than $75,000 annually. The bill would also provide discretion to the Treasury to extend this benefit for an additional three months.
According to U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, the dairy industry supports more than 50,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and contributes more than $14 billion annually to the state's economy.
But that industry has come upon hard times.
AGRIBUSINESS REPORT PODCAST – Guest: Rep. G.T. Thompson (PA-R) is a member of the House Agriculture Committee in Washington, DC and talks about the current coronavirus pandemic, challenges facing rural America, and what is ahead for U.S. agriculture.
Congressman Glenn GT Thompson says his vision for the House Ag Committee in terms of policy is to restore a robust rural economy and rebuild rural America.
"That means every farm family is doing well, we need to have rural communities be financially viable and it starts with agriculture," he says. "Number two, my second vision is it's time to repopulate and rebuild rural America."
Thompson, of Pennsylvania, says improving and expanding broadband access will help achieve that goal.