Legislation Update - July 2007

Death tax repeal. Reps. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo., and Bud Cramer, D-Ala., introduced estate tax repeal legislation. Currently, the exemption amount for 2007 is $2 million and the highest tax rate is 45 percent. The tax is eliminated in 2010 but re-emerges with a $1 million exemption and a 55 percent rate in 2011 unless Congress acts. The bill was introduced as H.R. 2380.

Paid sick leave. Congress is considering legislation that would require employers with as few as 15 employees to permit each worker to take up to seven days of paid sick leave. The bill, known as the Healthy Families Act, H.R. 1542 and S. 910, was introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. This legislation, if passed, would alter the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows employees working for an organization of 50 or more employees to take specified amounts of unpaid leave during a 12-month period for the care of a child, parent or spouse who has a serious health condition, or for a serious health condition that prevents the employee from performing his or her job.

Border concerns. In response to ongoing concerns voiced by U.S. agriculture, including the nursery industry, a meeting was held to receive comments on agricultural inspections at the nation’s ports. American Nursery & Landscape Association, along with many other agricultural organizations, continued to raise concerns about the current system and will continue to work with a new task force as it moves forward.

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