Congresswoman Michelle Steel introduced new legislation March 1 that seeks to incentivize businesses to improve their ventilation systems to reduce the transmission of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. The legislation, called the Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act, offers participating businesses the chance to get a tax credit in exchange for modernizing their ventilation systems. The bipartisan bill is co-authored by Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA), and bicameral due to it having a companion measure in the senate introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). The will help keep small businesses on their feet during what is an unusually tough time to stay in business, Steel said. “Independently owned restaurants and small businesses are the backbone of our local economies,” Steel said in a prepared statement. “They have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic, with prolonged lockdowns leading to almost 50 percent of small businesses …