The Relief for Families Act would allow states and localities to use COVID-19 dollars to fund a sales tax holiday on basic items like food and clothing

WATCH: Video of Senator Reverend Warnock speaking on new legislation to lower costs for families

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s (D-GA) legislation to lower the cost of everyday goods for Georgia families and small businesses is deeply popular with Georgians in every corner of the state. The Relief for Families Act, which Senator Warnock introduced last month, would give states and localities in Georgia and across the country the flexibility to use dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act to offset tax revenue lost from a temporary sales tax holiday on essential items. Essentials items that could be included in this sales tax holiday include clothing or footwear, food, diapers, prescription and over-the-counter medicine, feminine hygiene products, items used to prepare for natural disasters and weather emergencies, school supplies, energy-efficient appliances and more. 

Senator Reverend Warnock is pushing to get this bill over the finish line as soon as possible so Georgians can start saving money. Here is what Georgians are saying about this new legislation to lower costs:

WSAV: Sen. Warnock calls for sales tax relief in new legislation

“Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock is pushing a plan to give Georgians and those in other states a much-deserved sales tax holiday. Warnock — a Democrat who grew up in public housing in Savannah — introduced the Relief for Families Act of 2022. It calls for states to be able to use federal COVID relief money to offset not collecting sales tax.

‘“It’s a win, win. It’s a win for the people of Georgia, it’s a win certainly for small businesses and this is money that’s already covered through the American Rescue Plan,” Warnock said. “This will enable our state leaders to have a tax holiday.”

“He says many states still have money available from the American Rescue Plan. Georgia received up to $8 Billion…He envisions three-day sales tax holidays or says states may want to extend the sales tax suspension for longer than that, maybe as long as several months. Warnock acknowledged the cost of just about everything is increasing… in terms of current inflation, Warnock says a sales tax holiday could help those who it the most.”

The Georgia Sun: Warnock introduces bill that could lower costs during inflation

“U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, who is a member of the Senate commerce committee, introduced the Relief for Families Act, which would give states and localities in Georgia and across the country the flexibility to use dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act to offset tax revenue lost from a temporary sales tax holiday on essential items.

“Essential items that could be included in this sales tax holiday include clothing or footwear, food, diapers, prescription and over-the-counter medicine, feminine hygiene products, items used to prepare for natural disasters and weather emergencies, school supplies, energy-efficient appliances and more.

“Georgia received $8.35 billion in total from the American Rescue Plan, with $4.85 billion going to the state of Georgia, $2.07 billion going to counties, and over $1.43 billion going to municipalities.”

WRDW: EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Raphael Warnock introduces proposal for tax-free holiday

‘“Well, I’m hearing from Georgians that these times in which they are clearly feeling squeezed by the rising costs. And I’ve been focused on providing people relief from the day I’ve arrived in the Senate. And today I introduced the Relief For Families Act, which will enable state and local leaders to give the people of Georgia, the people of the Albany area, a tax holiday. This will certainly help the ordinary consumer in their pocketbook or wallet. It will also be a boost to small businesses who are also feeling the pinch, with these rising costs. Working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we hope to get this passed sooner rather than later,” said Warnock…

‘“I am going to fight with everything within me to be sure we get this across the finish line. This is a win-win. This is money we already allocated through the American Rescue Plan, so this is not new money. And I was proud to stand up for Georgia last week, as there were those who were trying to claw this money back. No. And Georgia certainly deserves a lot of credit here. We would have not passed the American Rescue Plan if Georgians had not stood up in the way that they did, and sent me and my colleague Jon Ossoff to the United States Senate. And as a result of that, we were able to pass the American Rescue Plan. Again, this is not new money. It enables local areas like Albany and its leaders to offer a sales tax holiday, while at the same time not costing the state of Georgia any more money or the local municipalities, being covered by American Rescue dollars. This is a win-win all around. And I would hope even in a place that’s so often paralyzed by partisan politics like Washington, that common sense will prevail,” Warnock said.”

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