A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "COVID-19 Commuter Benefits Distribution Act," allows for one-time distributions from certain transportation fringe benefit accounts. Employees can receive a qualified payment from these accounts during a specific 6-month period starting on the date the Act is enacted. The payment amount is limited to the highest balance held in the account between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2023. These payments are considered part of the employee's gross income for that taxable year. The Act also ensures that these specific payments do not affect the status of other payments from the account.
Yes
- Scored +5
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
The bill provides middle-income employees access to previously set-aside funds through one-time distributions.
- Scored +2
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill allows employers to facilitate a one-time distribution of benefits to their employees.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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One-time payments from accounts: The bill allows employees to receive a one-time payment from their specified transportation fringe benefit accounts (Section 2(b)). This provides access to funds that were previously set aside for transportation purposes.
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Flexible access to historical balances: The payment can be up to the highest balance held in the account during a specific period between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2023 (Section 2(b)). This allows people to access amounts that were available during those years.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Taxable income implications: Any qualified payment made from the account must be included in the employee's gross income for the taxable year in which the payment is made (Section 2(a)(1)). This means the distribution will be subject to income tax.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides middle-income employees access to previously set-aside funds through one-time distributions. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill allows employers to facilitate a one-time distribution of benefits to their employees.
- 6/24/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Andrew GarbarinoRepublican · New York
Nick LaLotaRepublican · New York
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York