A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday that would establish a federal tax credit for film and television productions shot in the United States, an effort to halt the migration of entertainment jobs to foreign competitors.
The proposal offers a base credit of 20 percent on qualifying domestic labor costs, with the potential to reach 30 percent through additional provisions. Crucially, it would layer on top of existing state-level film incentives, not replace them.
Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), a sponsor of the bill, framed the measure as a matter of economic fairness. “If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that’s exactly what this bill does,” Moran said. He rejected the notion that the credit amounts to a subsidy for Hollywood, insisting it is “about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time.”
President Trump endorsed the concept earlier this month, urging Congress to act swiftly. His push was reinforced by Jon Voight, the actor whom Trump designated as a “special ambassador” to Hollywood. Voight cited an Olsberg SPI study released by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) projecting that a federal credit could generate nearly 150,000 jobs annually across the country and drive more than $125 billion in additional domestic production spending over the next decade.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), another sponsor, warned that inaction carries steep costs. “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,” Scott said.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a longtime advocate for a federal incentive, said the current moment represents “the best opportunity in decades to get it done.” The Olsberg SPI report found that the U.S. captured an estimated 34 percent of global film production spending and 42 percent of television production spending last year. Without a federal credit, researchers predict those shares will continue to erode.
International competition has intensified. The number of film and television incentive programs worldwide jumped from 86 to 121 in 2026, according to the report, and 65 countries now offer national-level incentives. The United States has no such national program, though 39 states operate their own film and television credits, which the proposed federal incentive would supplement.
The bill’s introduction comes amid a broader push for bipartisan economic measures, including recent efforts to expand the child tax credit and paid leave. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shown a willingness to collaborate on workforce and family support policies, as seen in proposals like the bipartisan push for paid leave and child tax credits.
While the film incentive has drawn support from the White House and industry figures, it still faces the usual hurdles of a divided Congress. Sponsors argue that the credit is an investment in American jobs and cultural exports, not corporate welfare. With the MPA report providing fresh data on potential job gains, backers hope to build momentum before the legislative calendar fills up.
