Press Releases

 

 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) continued their fight for Delphi salaried retirees by urging Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen to quickly implement the Health Coverage Tax Credit’s (HCTC) Advance Payment Program. This program is vital for Delphi salaried retirees facing health-related expenses.

“The HCTC passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers and is incredibly important to thousands of American families,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge the IRS to do everything in its power to rapidly implement the HCTC Advance Payment Program and give eligible American families the support that they deserve.”

Turner and Portman have repeatedly fought for the Delphi salaried retirees who had their pensions unjustly terminated in the wake of the federal government’s bailout of General Motors. Just recently, Turner and Portman continued their efforts to obtain information regarding the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s delay in providing final benefit determinations for Delphi retirees. Congressman Turner has been working on this issue since 2013. 

In June of 2015, Rep. Turner’s provision to renew Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) to protect Delphi salaried retirees passed the House as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation.

In November of 2014, Rep. Turner sent a bipartisan letter to House leadership reaffirming their strong support for the passage of an extension of the HCTC as part of a year-end tax extenders bill before the 113th Congress adjourned for the year. 

In March of 2014, Rep. Turner joined a delegation of 28 Members and Senators from across the country in sending a letter to both House and Senate leadership pushing for the extension of the HCTC.

In July of 2013, Rep. Turner introduced legislation that would have provided the Delphi Salaried Retirees and other eligible individuals the choice of continuing within the HCTC program past the program’s termination date, or upon leaving the program.

 

Text of the letter can be found below:

 

 

 

Dear Commissioner Koskinen,

We request an update on the efforts to implement the Health Coverage Tax Credit’s (HCTC) Advance Payment Program, which the President signed into law on June 29, 2015.

As you know, the HCTC helps make healthcare affordable for those receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits or for 55-64 year old Americans whose pensions were terminated and are being administered by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation. The HCTC passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers and is incredibly important to thousands of American families.

These families that depend on the HCTC will be disappointed if the IRS delays in implementing the Advance Payment Program until mid-2016.  Given the complexities of family medical bills and annual insurance enrollment periods, this relaxed timing is causing great concern for Americans waiting for this critical support.  We urge the IRS to do everything in its power to rapidly implement the HCTC Advance Payment Program and give eligible American families the support that they deserve.  

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

 

 

 

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