Laura Friedman

09/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2026 15:43

ICYMI: Rep. Friedman’s Multi-Year Push to Create a National Film Tax Credit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, September 23, 2026, as momentum builds in Congress behind a national film tax credit, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) released a record of her work to create a national film tax credit and bring film and television production jobs back to the United States.
"I started working on this as soon as I got to Congress. Now, because of the effort we've put in alongside incredible Members of Congress like Rep. Brian Jack and Senator Adam Schiff, we're closer than ever to getting it done," said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). "Sixty-five other countries decided to compete for these jobs, and no single state can outbid a foreign government. These are carpenters, electricians, drivers, and camera operators in all 50 states, and I won't stop until we bring their work home."
FRIEDMAN'S WORK TO CREATE A NATIONAL FILM TAX CREDIT:
  • Built the coalition behind this effort starting in 2025: Variety reported in May 2025 that Friedman was drafting the House bill and recruiting Republicans to build a bipartisan coalition behind it. Since then, she has worked with Rep. Brian Jack, Senator Adam Schiff, Jon Voight, industry unions, studios, producers, and more to make the case for a national film tax credit before the issue had political momentum.
  • Co-founded the Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus in September 2026 with Reps. Brian Jack (GA-03), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), giving the effort a bipartisan home in the House. Release here.
  • Convened a roundtable with the Directors Guild of America Leadership Council in August 2025 on bringing production back to the United States, building on an earlier roundtable with local businesses and community leaders and a rally of entertainment labor unions. Release here.
  • Brought the job losses on the record in the district, joining Sen. Adam Schiff's March 2026 Spotlight Hearing in Burbank, "Lights, Camera, Competition: Promoting American Film Production."
FRIEDMAN MAKING THE CASE IN THE PRESS:
Making the Case Early in 2025:
  • Los Angeles Times, May 2025 - Named Friedman and Sen. Adam Schiff among the lawmakers who had been advocating a national program to put the United States on equal footing with countries offering more generous incentives. Read here.
  • Variety, May 2025 - Friedman said she wanted to refocus the conversation around a national film tax credit, and was drafting the House bill while recruiting Republicans to build a bipartisan coalition behind it. Read here.
  • Spectrum News 1, May 2025 - Friedman said she was already negotiating with colleagues on a national film tax credit to help every state with film production, and welcomed conversations with the administration. Read here.
  • The Hollywood Reporter, September 2025 - Friedman, a former film producer, redirected the tariff conversation to a national film tax credit, arguing it works in California and will work across the country. Read here.
Building the Coalition 2026:
  • NPR, September 2026 - Friedman told Weekend Edition that the country is losing an industry employing people across a wide range of crafts and occupations, and that she wants the United States to lead the world in entertainment and content. Listen here.
  • Los Angeles Times, September 2026 - Friedman said she would put American crews and talent against any in the world, and that productions will come back if they have a level playing field to shoot on. Read here.
  • Variety, September 2026 - Reported that Friedman and Sen. Schiff were among the first to call for federal action to supplement state tax credits. Read here.
  • The Hollywood Reporter, September 2026 - On the caucus launch, Friedman made the case that bringing production back to the United States is not a partisan fight. Read here.
  • Deadline, September 2026 - Confirmed Friedman as one of the members spearheading the effort in the House. Read here.
  • The Washington Times, September 2026 - Friedman called it a major mistake that the United States has nothing to compete with at the federal level. Read here.
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Laura Friedman published this content on September 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 23, 2026 at 21:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]