Smith staffer updates county board

McCOOK, Neb. — Val Jansante of U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith's office provided Red Willow County Commissioners a brief report highlighting Smith's recent activities and priorities, noting that Smith is chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade, which is in turn part of the Ways and Means Committee.

Efforts he mentioned included:

• the Small Business Dependent Care FSA Opportunity Act: This bipartisan bill aims to help businesses with 100 or fewer employees provide financial assistance for dependent care, such as daycare, summer camps, and after-school programs, offering up to $5,000 per year.

• EPA and E15 Fuel: Smith advocates for lifting restrictions on year-round E15 fuel sales, despite opposition from the President, to help stabilize fuel prices.

• Employer Reporting Improvement Act: This bill aims to enhance employer privacy by eliminating the need to submit employees' and their spouses' social security numbers, allowing electronic IRS submissions, and providing employers notice before IRS penalties for non-compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

• the “Keep Your Hands Off Our Home Appliance" Bill: This bill addresses regulations on household appliances such as gas stoves.

• Nursing Home and Daycare Red Tape: Smith is working to cut red tape affecting nursing homes and daycares, which have been closing down due to regulatory burdens.