News from Representative Smucker
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IMPORTANT UPDATES from CONGRESSMAN SMUCKER

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This week I had the opportunity to visit the Southern Border and witness the growing crisis. Along with visiting the border, I introduced legislation and have other important updates for you. As we continue to reopen our nation and as more people get vaccinated, we should be sure to follow CDC guidelines.

I enjoy hearing from you and responding to questions from your emails, phone calls, and letters. If you would like to share your concerns or opinions with me, or if you have questions about legislation or specific votes, you can send me an email here.


My Visit to the Southern Border

This week I joined members of the Republican Study Committee on a visit to the southern border. After meeting with Customs and Border Protection officials (CBP), local sheriffs, and leaders, it is clear the failed policies of President Biden have directly resulted in a humanitarian and national security crisis at our border as the number of crossings last month reached a fifteen-year high. Unaccompanied children crossing the border are at an all-time high as well, despite President Biden’s suggestions that what is happening is normal. The fact of the matter is the situation is simply out of control and President Biden’s administration continues to turn a blind eye to this growing crisis.

I call on the president and vice president to visit the border and speak with law enforcement and the CBP officials who have to deal with the mess they’ve made. The local communities need help and so do our brave men and women protecting our border. When will President Biden and Vice President Harris take this crisis seriously? View my full statement on my website. 

Click below for my comments during my border visit. 

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Watch my interview with Barbara Barr at WGAL 8 about my recent trip to the southern border.


Washington, DC Update
This week, I’ve introduced two pieces of legislation. I introduced the Improving Adoption Outcomes & Affordability Act of 2021, H.R. 2375, with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) and Rep. Blake Moore (UT-1). The Improving Adoption Outcomes and Affordability Act would authorize the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to award grants to state or local governments, public or private adoption agencies, and faith-based organizations for the purpose of enhancing medical support services and mental health resources for mothers considering adoption. This legislation also helps bring stability to the drastically fluctuating financial, emotional, and physical impacts of the adoption process by addressing the need for increased awareness around the sensitivity of adoption and providing medical and emotional support for mothers considering adoption from the onset. For more information, visit my website.

Last week, I was joined by 59 of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to IRS Commissioner Rettig urging him to extend for pass-through entities the first quarter estimated tax payment deadline to May 17, 2021, to align it with the new individual tax filing date. In addition to the letter, I introduced legislation to address this issue.

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Small businesses make estimated tax payments based on their previous year’s tax filing. By requiring the first quarter estimated payments before some small businesses may have filed their annual taxes, under or over-payment of their estimated tax liability could result in additional penalties and interest. My legislation would align these two deadlines, preventing unnecessary hardship to small businesses still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided this flexibility to individuals and businesses last year.

A global pandemic is not the time for a punitive approach to small businesses, the backbone of our communities.

For more information, visit my website.

I joined 184 of my colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the National Personnel Records Center to clear the backlog of nearly 480,000 record requests from veterans. Veterans need these records to access important programs and benefits to which they are entitled. We are thankful for our veterans’ service to our nation. While we all have had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, this processing backlog is unacceptable.

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Tax Filing Information
The new filing deadline for your 2020 federal taxes is May 17, 2021. Read more information on the filing extension from the IRS here. Pennsylvania has also extended the 2020 filing deadline to May 17, 2021.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
With three vaccines approved by the FDA, we are closer to returning to our pre-pandemic way of life. Both Lancaster and York Counties have dedicated pages where you can get vaccine information and availability information. Visit York, Visit Lancaster.

If you are a veteran, a spouse of a veteran, or a caregiver of a veteran, in the Eleventh District, you may be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine through the VA. Some vaccines are available at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. Visit their website to learn more.


Congressional Art Competition 
Each year the U.S. House of Representatives hosts the Congressional Art Competition. High school students within a member’s district can submit a piece of artwork and the winning piece is proudly displayed in the U.S. Capitol. To learn more, visit my website.

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Here to Help
If you have any questions or issues with a federal agency, please know that my office is here to assist you. You can call our district or Washington, DC offices for assistance or visit my website for any issue with a federal agency or department.

To stay up-to-date on my work in the district and Washington, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also check out my YouTube page, where there are 100+ videos, many of which are direct responses to your questions.

Sincerely,


Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress

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