ADA supports bill offering tax credit to businesses that hire, retain members of National Guard and Reserve

Washington — The ADA is supporting legislation that would provide a tax credit to small businesses that hire and retain members of the National Guard and Reserve.

In June 9 letters to the House and Senate, ADA President Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D., and Executive Director Kathleen T. O'Loughlin, D.M.D., thanked lawmakers for sponsoring HR 1854 and S 1178, the Reserve Employers Comprehensive Relief and Uniform Incentives on Taxes, or RECRUIT Act.

If enacted, the bill would provide tax credits of $1,000 to small businesses for each service member they hire, plus an additional amount based on the amount of days served beyond the member’s 39 days of weekend training and annual training. The credit would also be offered as a payroll tax credit for businesses that haven’t been profitable during the prior year.

“This incentive to hire and retain National Guardsmen and Reservists, among whom are many dentists, is crucial at a time when National Guardsmen are deployed around the world in historic numbers, and when Reservists have been deployed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Drs. Klemmedson and O’Loughlin wrote.

“While businesses proudly employ members of the National Guard and Reserves, small businesses that employ and retain National Guardsmen and Reservists are simultaneously facing the impact of the pandemic and deployment,” they added. “The incentive provided by this bill will counter what might otherwise be a disincentive to hire National Guardsmen and Reservists. Additionally, because members of the National Guard and Reserves will know that employers are incentivized to hire and retain them should they be deployed, this bill may aid in recruitment.”

“The ADA has pledged its utmost support to its members who may be called to active duty, and therefore, is proud to support the RECRUIT Act as part of that effort on behalf of its members and all members of the National Guard and Reserves,” the letter concluded. “Thank you for your leadership on this issue, and for sponsoring this bill.”

Follow all of the ADA’s advocacy efforts at ADA.org/advocacy.