The letter begins in traditional fashion.

Dear Colleague:

We write to ask you to cosponsor H.R. 2213 to permanently extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). After receiving a five-year extension as part of the PATH Act in 2015, WOTC is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

“Dear Colleague” letters are a traditional form of Congressional correspondence. Members often use them to encourage fellow legislators to support, cosponsor, or oppose a bill. (see Wikipedia, “Dear Colleague letter (United States”)

Just such a letter was sent this week from the office of Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA 5th District), entitled “Please join us in co sponsoring H.R. 2213 to permanently extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).” Co-authored by Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY 23rd District), Thompson’s letter points out several impressive facts about the WOTC program:

• Since 1996, WOTC has helped more than 24 million people move into the workforce and off public assistance.
• WOTC is cost effective. In 2018 alone, it saved the federal government $16.7 billion in TANF, SNAP, Medicaid and housing subsidies. Add to that amount several billion dollars more in matching state payments.
• More than a dozen well known organizations support making WOTC permanent. To name just a few: the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the US Chamber of Commerce, National Restaurant Association, Society for Human Resource Management, American Staffing Association and many more.

If passed by the US House of Representatives, there are like-minded US Senators already supporting a similar Senate Bill.

Congressmen Thompson and Reed end their letter with a call to action.

“We urge you to cosponsor H.R. 2213 to permanently extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which helps move people from public assistance to sustainable employment.”