Columbus, Ohio — Tomorrow, Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH) will meet with small business and restaurant owners from across Ohio who rely on seasonal employees for their firms to succeed. They will focus on provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that have prevented them from being able to expand their businesses and hire more staff.

“Small businesses that rely on seasonal workers in Ohio and across the country continue to struggle to comply with the burdensome provisions within the ACA,” said Renacci. “As a small business owner for over 30 years, I know how difficult it can be to navigate our complex tax code and the onerous costs associated with compliance. A bill I introduced this Congress would bring much-needed clarity and flexibility to seasonal employers, allowing them to focus on growing their businesses and investing in their employees instead of devoting their limited resources to deciphering this complicated health care law.”

“In the restaurant industry, employees are our greatest asset. Seasonal and part-time employees can become full-time managers, and managers can become restaurant owners,” stated John Barker, President and CEO of the Ohio Restaurant Association. “For small businesses, like so many restaurants across Ohio, Association Health Plans are a key step toward increasing access to health care for our employees while reducing costs and providing an essential benefit to recruit and retain talented team members. Thank you to Congressman Renacci for his work ensuring smaller companies making up the backbone of American communities get this competitive edge.”

Introduced by Renacci, H.R. 3956, the Simplifying Technical Aspects Regarding Seasonality (STARS) Act, would amend the tax code to exclude seasonal employees from the definition of "full-time employee" for purposes of the employer mandate to provide employees health care coverage.

Read the full bill text here.

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