WASHINGTON, DC – International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) International President Matthew D. Loeb traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with federal legislators at the start of the 119th Congress to advocate for the legislative priorities of IATSE members and the broader entertainment industry workforce. During his trip, President Loeb met with the following elected officials:
- Senator Adam Schiff (CA)
- Senator Raphael Warnock (GA)
- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16)
- Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)
- Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30)
- Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)
- Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37)
- Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
- Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29)
- Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-38)
President Loeb’s conversations centered on three of the most pressing issues IATSE members face at the start 2025: 1) the urgent need for federal disaster relief for IATSE members impacted by the ongoing threats and devastation caused by the Los Angeles area wildfires; 2) the necessity of including the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) in forthcoming tax legislation, so IATSE members can once again deduct their equipment and business expenses from their taxes; and 3) the imperative for Congress to consider creation of a federal film tax incentive to level the playing field with countries that have escalated their federal incentive and subsidy structures to lure film and television productions, and the myriad jobs they create, from the United States.
“Fighting for the betterment of IATSE members lives and work doesn’t stop at the bargaining table,” President Loeb said. “Some protections need to be legislated, rather than negotiated. My goal with this trip was to inform our allies in Washington what needs to be done to help our members recover from disaster, lower their cost of living, and keep film and television jobs from going overseas. I thank each member of Congress for the productive meetings and for their insights on how we can move the ball forward on these critical issues.”
President Loeb also attended a reception at the AFL-CIO welcoming new pro-labor members of the 119th Congress, where he spoke with IATSE-supported champions such as Reps. Laura Gillen (NY-04), Josh Riley (NY-19), John Mannion (NY-22), and Emily Randall (WA-06), among others.
The IATSE Political/Legislative Department will continue to reinforce the messages conveyed by President Loeb during his visit. The union will fight to ensure that any federal disaster aid to Southern California is unconditional because playing politics with victims trying to recover and rebuild their lives is nothing short of depraved. IATSE will push Congress to lower the cost of living for entertainment workers by including PATPA in tax legislation expected later this year, correcting an oversight that has taken money out of the pockets of middle-class IATSE members since 2017. Finally, IATSE will relentlessly advocate for a competitive labor-based federal production tax incentive and any other policy measures aimed at keeping film and television jobs in America.