Three things for April 22
1. Biden announces new tax credit available for small businesses
On Wednesday, April 21, President Joe Biden announced a tax credit that would assist small businesses in providing paid time off, allowing employees time to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
This tax credit was authorized as part of the American Rescue Plan and will reimburse employers for up to $500 per day per employee for paid time off related to the COVID vaccination.
“As we move into the vaccination campaign focused on working-age adults, one concern I’ve heard from so many Americans is that they can’t afford to take the time off to get vaccinated or lose a day’s work,” said Biden. “No working American should lose a single dollar from their paycheck because they chose to fulfill their patriotic duty of getting vaccinated.”
2. US reaches goal of 200 million COVID vaccinations
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced his administration’s goal of administering 200 million COVID vaccinations in his first 100 days in office was successfully reached.
Initially, the Biden administration wanted to administer 100 million Americans vaccinations within his first 100 days in office, but this goal doubled due to increased vaccination efforts.
As of Monday, all Americans over the age of 16 are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine.
3. New Tennessee abortion restriction passed by Senate
On Monday, April 19, the Tennessee House passed a bill requiring women who receive a surgical abortion to either bury or cremate the fetal remains. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday and will head to Gov. Bill Lee’s office to be signed into effect.
Supporters of this legislation say the bill intends to protect the dignity of unborn children, while opponents say it intends to put undue financial strain on abortion clinics, according to AP News.
Sen. Janice Bowling said, “this legislation strives to extend the same protection, the same respect and dignity to a deceased surgically-aborted child.”
Anna Flores, a member of Planned Parenthood’s Tennessee chapter, said, “they want to chip away at our rights little by little, hoping we don’t notice until suddenly, our bodily autonomy is gone completely.”
This bill is one of many anti-abortion bills poised to go through the Tennessee legislature this year.
For more information about this bill, click here.
