MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union to host press conference with Congressman Steven Horsford as he introduces the TIP Improvement Act in Congress
Las Vegas, NV - Culinary Union will host a press conference on Wednesday, February 18th with Congressman Steven Horsford as he introduces federal legislation (TIP Improvement Act) to eliminate taxes on tips and end the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.
WHO:
*Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union
*Diana Valles, President of the Culinary Union
*Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV-04)
*Culinary Union members who make tips
WHAT: “Pass the TIP Improvement ACT” press conference with Rep. Horsford
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 12:00pm-12:30pm.
Livestream: Facebook.com/Culinary226.
WHERE: Culinary Union HQ (5241 Spring Mountain Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89146).
WHY: For over 30 years, the Culinary Union has fought for fair wages, defeated efforts to implement a sub-minimum wage in Nevada (and six other states), and advocated for fair taxation on tips for hundreds of thousands of workers in Nevada. Now, it’s time for the entire nation to follow Nevada’s lead to eliminate the sub-minimum wage, ensure that workers receive a fair wage, and end taxes on tips (permanently) so one job is enough for workers to support their families.
The Culinary Union applauds Congressman Steven Horsford for his leadership by introducing the Tipped Income Protection (TIP) and Improvement Act, in response to Culinary Union requests to implement fixes to the current “No Tax on Tip Policy,” and urges its swift passage in Congress.
The Tipped Income Protection Improvement Act would do the following:
*Eliminates the federal tipped minimum wage.
*Increases the deduction cap from $25,000 to $50,000 for joint returns.
*Requires the taxpayer (or at least one spouse on a joint return) to include a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to claim the deduction instead of a Social Security Number.
*Adds safeguards to prevent misuse (such as tips must be paid by a person who is not related to the individual and the individual may not have an ownership stake in the business that employs them for the tipped position).
*Treats automatic gratuities as qualified tips for individuals working in hospitality, food and beverage service, and cosmetology if the amount would otherwise qualify as a tip, if it is a mandatory or suggested charge under a uniform employer policy, and the full amount is received by the employee or distributed through lawful tip pooling under state or local law.
*Removes the current December 31, 2028, sunset and make the deduction permanent.
*Applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
The TIP Improvement Act legislation that Congressman Horsford is championing will uplift millions of workers, including many in Nevada, by eliminating federal income taxes on tips and ending the sub-minimum wage.
Eliminating taxes on tips and ending the $2.13 sub-minimum wage, along with going after big corporation’s price gouging on food, gas, and housing must be part of an overall program for elected leaders to tackle the high cost of living for working families. It's outrageous that many companies across the country still pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 an hour.
Congressman Horsford understands the unique struggles and challenges that hospitality workers face daily. His firsthand experience working alongside these workers for a decade at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas uniquely positions him to lead on this vital legislation, which will benefit nearly 6 million workers nationwide, particularly those making less than $37,000 a year.
Hospitality workers have a voice in Congress with Senator Jacky Rosen and Congressman Horsford, who are former Culinary Union members, along with Congressional representatives Dina Titus and Susie Lee who have also previously joined the original TIPS Act legislation as co-signers, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto who has been a leader on this issue in the Senate.
Culinary Union urges all elected officials in Nevada and across the country to join in supporting this crucial pro-worker TIP Improvement Act legislation.
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ABOUT CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 120,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members, and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latino/a, Black, AAPI, immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.
The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 60% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latino/a, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.
Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry, and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting and winning for working families in Nevada for 90 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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