Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA calls on Congress to reject tax hikes on Main Street businesses as the House of Representative sends the latest text of the Build Back Better Act to the Rules Committee. In a letter with other associations and business groups, NAIFA urges congressional leaders to reject the Build Back Better framework's tax increases on individual- and family-owned businesses.

The Build Back Better reconciliation bill is at a boiling point. Some Washington insiders are saying the House could vote on it this week. Others are skeptical that a final bill could come together that quickly. Either way, it will take considerably longer for the Senate to vote. The rules of reconciliation allow for time-eating “vote-a-rama” amendments as well as up to 50 hours of debate, and it is highly likely opponents of the measure in the Senate will take all that time. But things are hot and getting hotter. Here’s the state of play currently.

NAIFA submitted comments to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding an inquiry by Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC). Both committee leaders are working together in a bipartisan way to examine issues that are of importance to the health, economic security, and well-being of older Americans and their families.

Thursday morning President Biden released a Build Back Better framework and fact sheet outlining his social spending plan. The situation is still very fluid and it’s unknown if the centrists who have opposed previous spending and tax plans will support this version.

NAIFA, along with 100 business and trade associations, sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing “strong opposition to the new tax information reporting regime proposed by the Department of Treasury and under consideration by Congress as part of the proposed reconciliation spending package.”

The reconciliation package now being considered by Congress includes dramatic changes to grantor trusts which are of significant concern to many NAIFA members and their clients, especially proposed changes to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts and the weak, ineffective “grandfather” provisions included in the reconciliation proposal. ILITs have been used for decades to help families of all sizes – not just the rich – address the expenses, income taxes, estate taxes, and gift taxes due at death. Life insurance policies inside these trusts provide the necessary liquidity to family heirs without the death proceeds themselves being included in the deceased’s taxable estate.

NAIFA has joined more than 100 organizations expressing privacy and cost concerns with a Biden administration proposal that would require financial services providers to track and submit to the IRS information on every account with deposits or withdrawals totaling $600 or more annually.

NAIFA strongly supports the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC's) Regulation Best Interest (REG BI) to protect investors and preserve the ability of financial advisors to serve the needs of Main Street USA consumers. The rule is in harmony with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC's) revised Annuity Suitability Model, which requires producers to work in the best interests of consumers during annuity transactions, providing enhanced investor protections at the federal and state levels and discouraging a mishmash of confusing and potentially contradictory laws and regulations.

On September 21, 2021, Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced H.R. 5318. This bipartisan bill will provide much-needed relief for employers seeking to comply with the reporting requirements under Section 6055 and 6056 for enforcement of the ACA's individual and employer mandates. NAIFA believes the passage of this legislation would greatly assist in addressing new challenges employers face under the health-reform law.

NAIFA joined with industry partners in a letter to express strong support for National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment #445 offered by Representative Dean (D-PA), with the support of Representatives Armstrong (R-ND), Turner (R-OH), Perlmutter (D-CO), and Reschenthaler (R-PA).