Bi-partisan members of the Congressional Direct Selling Caucus sent a letter to leadership in the House and Senate requesting relief for direct sellers in the next stimulus package to be considered by Congress. Led by Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) the letter was also signed by Caucus members Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL). 

The letter requests that future any stimulus packages help direct sellers recover from the global pandemic include:

• A waiver on self-employment taxes for all 1099 filers for one year
• Increase tax credits or allowances for telework or work-from-home expenses (including business startup and operational expenses) that can be claimed by self-employed individuals or companies incurring expenses to enable their employees or contractors to work from home
• Independent contractors accessing temporary expanded benefits under the CARES Act, does not confer employee status in current or future classification proceedings 

Direct Selling Association President Joseph N. Mariano said, “We thank Reps. Hudson and Veasey as well as members of the Congressional Direct Selling Caucus for requesting these priorities in the next stimulus legislation that will help millions of individuals across the United States. Inclusion of these provisions in future legislation will help new and incoming salespeople navigate the negative impacts of the global pandemic.” 

For a copy of the letter please go here.