ATR Supports Sen. Tim Scott Amendment #2759 on Expanded Opportunity Zones & Pension Healthcare Fix

Americans for Tax Reform urges Senators to support Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-S.C.) amendment (S.Amdt.2759) bolstering the One Big Beautiful Bill’s provisions on Opportunity Zones with revenue generated by allowing for overfunded 401(H) retiree pension accounts to be transferred to help pay for active healthcare programs.

Statement in support of Sen. Tim Scott’s amendment from Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform:

“This is amendment is a double-win for conservatives. It further expands a permanent opportunity zone tax cut by offsetting revenue with a positive pension healthcare reform allowing for overfunded 401(H) retiree pension accounts to be transferred to help pay for active healthcare programs. I urge the Senate to support this Amendment.”

Expanded Opportunity Zones: This amendment further broadens the Opportunity Zone provision enacted in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, providing further capital gains tax relief for long-term investment and construction in designated census tracts within all 50 states. ATR has compiled local news reports on the benefits of Opportunity Zone construction.

The amendment expands the eligibility of communities qualifying as opportunity zones by changing the definition of “low-income community” to include a median family income that does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income, rather than the previous 70 percent requirement in the current bill text.

Surplus Pension Healthcare Fix: This portion of the amendment reflects Sen. Scott’s Strengthening Benefit Plans Act of 2025. This proposal allows for overfunded 401(H) retiree pension accounts to be transferred to help pay for active healthcare programs. A 401(H) plan is an employer-sponsored fund for post-retirement medical benefits. By funding these benefits with previously paid contributions, employers would avoid paying additional costs out of pocket.

ATR urges the Senate to support Amendment #2759.