WATCH: Sen. Schiff Continues Bipartisan Push for Federal Film Tax Incentive, Highlights Benefits of Keeping Film Production in America

Burbank, CA – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s The Story Is with Elex Michaelson to discuss the latest developments in his push to secure a bipartisan film tax incentive following President Donald Trump’s endorsement of its passage. Schiff highlighted the tax incentive’s benefits, emphasizing how the drive for more production will increase job opportunities and economic development. The Senator emphasized his willingness to work across the aisle to make sure this legislation gets bipartisan support and is able to get passed to ensure the future of film production in America and all those who support it. View the full interview here . Key excerpts: On working to make this a bipartisan agreement: […] When I took this office, I said I’m going to try to do two things that are going to be in tension with each other. I’m going to try to get things done, and I’m going to try to fight any corruption, any attack on our democracy. Well, this is something we can get done. And just because it’s this president, if it’s a good idea, I’m not going to oppose it. In fact, I fully support this. As you know, I’ve been working for a federal tax credit for the film and television industry to bring these jobs back to California. And now I think we are very close to making that happen. On the parameters of a federal tax incentive: The basic plan would provide a 15, 20, or 25% tax credit for production that’s made in the United States for film or television. We’ve lost almost all the film industry; it’s gone overseas to Canada, to Britain, to New Zealand, elsewhere. This would help bring that back. We’ve lost a lot of television production as well. It would be overlaid on top of the state tax credits, and the cumulative amount would be equivalent to what other countries are offering. And we want to bring these jobs home. This has been the epicenter of that industry. It’s not just people working industry, but people work adjacent to the industry who are also deeply impacted. The restaurants, the caterers, the dry cleaners-you name it-it affects the whole regional economy. On finding bipartisan common ground: […] You got to look for those areas where there’s agreement. I’ve been able to get a number of bills passed these past couple years by working with Republicans from Mississippi, Florida. Rick Scott, for example, from Florida, and I worked on relief for the victims of fire. That was actually something that brought Spencer Pratt and I together, and that is tax relief for those who have been victimized by these natural disasters. And also if you get a recovery from Edison, that will no longer be taxable income. On prospects of passage this Congress: So, we’ve been in conversation with Republicans for the last two years about trying to move this forward. I think they’ve been in a wait and see. They wanted to know. Does the president support this? Will he get behind it? And now that the president has been so clear and repeatedly that he supports this in a full-throated way, yes, we’re seeing a lot more Republican interest. And I think this is the best opportunity now we’ve had to get this done in really decades. […] We’re hoping that we can get this done before the end of the year, before the election would be ideal. But there will also be a lame duck session after the election, as long as we get it done. But my feeling is, let’s strike while the iron is hot. Let’s try to do it right now. On whom will benefit from the federal film tax incentive: It isn’t about the top-of-the-line actors. They’re going to get paid well no matter what happens and no matter where the film is being produced. What matters is what about the set designers and the electricians? What about the grips? What about the dry cleaners? What about the whole economy? All these 1000s and 1000s of jobs. That’s what we’re fighting to preserve and to bring back. So, it’s not just about what people think about when they think about the industry, which is the movie stars. They’re a small part of this. It’s the everyday ordinary people who made their living this way. ###