NEWS: Sens. Scott, Schiff, Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish a Federal Film Tax Credit to Keep Film and Television Production in the U.S.

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation from lawmakers from film production states follows call for action by President Trump, decades-long push by lawmakers to enact federal credit Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) alongside U.S. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-1) Linda Sanchez (D-Calif- 38), Brian Jack (R-Ga-3), and Laura Friedman (D-Calif-30) introduced new bipartisan legislation to create a federal film tax incentive to keep film and television production in the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would benefit every U.S. state and promote American jobs and spur local economic growth while allowing the United States to compete with foreign production incentives. The bicameral effort follows years of advocacy to create a nationwide tax credit, a push recently echoed by President Donald Trump. “For years, I’ve been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it’s time we get this passed,” said Senator Schiff. “Having worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like ‘The Notebook’ bring us to tears, and films like ‘Forrest Gump’ inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to serve as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America.” In the Senate, this bill is cosponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, this bill is cosponsored by Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15), Judy Chu (D-Calif-28), David Kustoff (R-Tenn-08), and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03). “When a production comes to a community—from rural East Texas to urban New York—that money doesn’t just benefit the production company. It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that’s exactly what this bill does. This isn’t about subsidizing Hollywood—it’s about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I’m proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I’m grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they’ve put into pushing this forward,” said Rep. Nathaniel Moran. “The United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it’s become too expensive to film here. This isn’t about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It’s about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez. “My Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans. Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. I applaud President Trump’s leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal,” said Rep. Brian Jack. “For over a year, I’ve worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans & Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,” said Rep. Laura Friedman. “This bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing.” “Ohio has a rich history in film production, from ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ to ‘The Avengers’ and ‘A Christmas Story.’ Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production,” said Rep. Mike Carey. “For generations, Southern California has been the heart of America’s film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region. But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That’s why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world,” said Rep. Judy Chu. “The film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi. “America is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.” The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would: Spur American jobs and economic development by providing a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. film and television productions with minimum spend of $1 million and where at least 75% of the principal photography days occur within the U.S; Offer 5% bonus credit allowances, increasing the base credit up to a maximum of 30%, for productions in rural opportunity zones and areas impacted by disasters, independent productions, multi-state producers in 10+ states, and producers who show a measurable onshoring of productions; Make the credit available to traditional post-production and visual effects activities when at least 75% of the respective post-production and visual effects production takes place in the U.S; and Support the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits. This bill is endorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), CreativeFuture, Coalition for American Production (CAP), Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) “I want to thank President Trump for bringing national attention to the urgent need for a federal film and television production tax credit and for calling on Congress to act,” said Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight. “I also want to thank Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, Tom Suozzi, and the growing list of supporters, for their work on this bipartisan effort to bring productions and jobs back to the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will restore the American film and television industry, put crews back to work, support productions at all levels, and create economic opportunities in communities nationwide. All Americans want to bring our iconic film industry home, and we can do it by working together to get this important legislation passed quickly.” “The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would deliver a true gamechanger for American creators, workers, and businesses – a federal incentive that supercharges production at home, fuels jobs and growth in local communities, and makes the United States a more competitive destination for the next generation of great film and television. There’s a reason everyone from President Trump to a bipartisan group of members in Congress to studios, unions, guilds, and more want to get this done. Passing this legislation could inject $250 billion into the country’s economy and deliver nearly 145,000 new jobs every year across all 50 states. That’s a story we can write together by enacting this bill, to ensure that more stories are crafted, created, and made here in America. The Motion Picture Association thanks Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, Tom Suozzi for their leadership in support of America’s creative economy,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association . “The Independent Film & Television Alliance is pleased to support the introduction of legislation to establish a federal production incentive for film and television. A federal incentive will help increase U.S. production and create new jobs in states across the country. We thank the bill sponsors for their leadership and look forward to working with them to ensure this new and important incentive can serve as a meaningful catalyst for independent film and television production in the U.S,” said Jackie Brenneman, President & CEO, Independent Film & Television Alliance. “The over 170,000 behind-the-scenes entertainment workers of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) are proud to endorse the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. IATSE has long called for a globally competitive, labor-based federal production incentive to level the playing field for American workers, return middle-class film and television jobs to America, and keep them here at home. This legislation would achieve that goal, addressing the dramatic loss of tens of thousands of American jobs in motion picture production and post-production. IATSE praises Senators Scott and Schiff, and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman, Carey, Chu, Kustoff, and Suozzi for leading this bipartisan effort. IATSE calls on all members of Congress to support and pass this critical jobs bill before the end of the year,” said Matthew D. Loeb, International President, IATSE. “The U.S. entertainment industry should be making movies and TV shows in America with union labor. The Teamsters are proud to endorse the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will give our country the competitive advantage to bring film and TV production back home. Thank you to Senators Scott (R-SC) and Schiff (D-CA) and Representatives Moran (R-TX) and Sanchez (D-CA) for their leadership. Creating good union jobs in America should be a priority for every member of Congress, from every state and political party. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act must get to the President’s desk this year,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President, Teamsters. “The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act i s the most significant legislative effort in a generation to promote domestic film and television production, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports. This moment is the cumulation of years of work by the entertainment guilds and unions, in partnership with the MPA and lawmakers from both parties. The DGA thanks Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Jack, and Friedman for advancing this important bipartisan effort to strengthen domestic production, create jobs, and further build on the critical work already underway through state incentives in California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and elsewhere. We also acknowledge the leadership of Ambassador Voight on this issue. We look forward to working with our partners in Congress, labor, the Administration, and at the studios to get this bill signed into law,” said Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America. “We are pleased to support the film and television tax incentive legislation introduced today by Senators Schiff and Scott along with Reps. Friedman, Moran, Sanchez and Jack. This country must invest in efforts to keep production of film and television, along with the tens of thousands of good union jobs they support, here in the U.S.,” said Michele Mulroney, President, Writers Guild of America West & Tom Fontana, President, Writers Guild of America East. “SAG-AFTRA is proud to partner with our fellow unions, industry and policymakers in a bipartisan effort to rescue the domestic film and television business. The money is being invested, the productions are being made, the jobs are being created — just not in America. This is a jobs bill and that is exactly what our members want to see. We have the infrastructure. We have the crews. We have the talent. Now all we need is a level playing field. We are the storytellers who inform and entertain the world. Let’s get back to doing that right here at home. Thank you Sens. Scott and Schiff and Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Friedman and Jack for championing this critical legislation,” said Sean Astin, President, SAG-AFTRA. “The Producers Guild of America (PGA) represents over 8,400 professionals across film, television, and emerging media and strongly supports the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. Producers are responsible for creating projects, assembling teams, managing budgets, coordinating logistics, and making decisions that guide a production from start to finish – and we want that work to benefit our nation. This legislation helps make it possible for producers to grow this remarkable industry at home and create stable, rewarding work for generations to come. PGA commends Senators Scott and Schiff, and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for proposing action that is essential to ensuring our nation remains the entertainment capital of the world,” said Susan Sprung, CEO, Producers Guild of America. “The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will put us on equal footing with the rest of the world. Congress must act if we are to preserve jobs in this country and grow a quintessential American industry. This bill will make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of professional musicians. Thank you, Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman, for recognizing the essential role AFM members play in creating film and television. The American Federation of Musicians looks forward to this commonsense, bipartisan proposal becoming law as soon as possible,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, American Federation of Musicians. The Television Academy, representing nearly 30,000 television professionals from every state in the country, applauds the introduction of the bipartisan Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. By establishing a stackable, federal production credit for work performed here at home, this legislation gives American crews, creatives, and small businesses the opportunity to keep production local. We applaud Senators Schiff and Scott and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for introducing this landmark bill, and the Television Academy looks forward to working with lawmakers on behalf of our members to see it enacted as soon as possible,” said Maury McIntyre, President and CEO, Television Academy. “We thank Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Scott and Reps. Moran, Sanchez, Jack, Friedman, Carey, Chu, Kustoff, and Suozzi for their leadership on the American Film and Television Production Credit. This is a historic step, the first federal production credit for an industry that sustains thousands of jobs in every state. FilmUSA proudly supports this bipartisan effort and the nationwide economic development it will drive,” said Katie Patton Pryor, President, FilmUSA. “We applaud Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Sánchez, Jack, and Friedman on the announcement of the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. U.S. film and television productions contribute 2.01 million jobs and $202 billion per year in wages to the American economy. Although state incentives have done a remarkable job at attempting to compete with overseas incentives, a federal incentive Is the missing piece that will make America once again a magnet for film and television production. We look forward to working with the Senators and Representatives to help restore this economically vibrant and culturally vital American industry, ” said Ruth Vitale, CEO, CreativeFuture. “The Coalition for American Production strongly supports the introduction of the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. American film and television productions have moved overseas, taking work from crews and the small businesses that make those productions possible. A competitive federal incentive would help bring that work home. We thank Senators Schiff and Scott and Representatives Moran, Sanchez, Jack, and Friedman for listening to production workers and businesses across the country. Their bill recognizes that when a production films in the United States, the benefits reach far beyond the set: equipment rental companies, transportation providers, and the Main Street businesses that supply everything from lumber and paint to hardware, flowers, catering and coffee. CAP looks forward to working with Congress to keep those jobs and businesses growing here at home,” said Brian Papworth, Executive Director, Coalition for American Production. Bill one pager is here. The full text of the legislation is available here . The section-by-section of the legislation is available here . Background: For years, Schiff has highlighted the need to increase film production in America and has continued to build bipartisan support in Congress for his federal film incentive proposal, which would promote American jobs and spur local economic growth by creating additional support for film and television production in the U.S., allowing us to compete with foreign incentives. During his time in the California State Senate, Schiff helped lead efforts to increase film production in California and protect local jobs. Schiff spearheaded efforts in Congress to extend California’s film tax credit, including in 2014 when he led 28 members of the California Democratic delegation in urging the leaders of the California State Senate and Assembly to reauthorize and enhance the tax credit. In 2024, Schiff sent a letter to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics requesting detailed data on the impact of foreign production incentives on the domestic industry. In March 20, 2026, Senator Adam Schiff hosted a spotlight hearing in Burbank California entitled, “Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production” to highlight the importance of bolstering American film production, and tackling the challenges facing the industry from generous tax incentives provided by other countries.” ###