On the recordJuly 24, 2013
on March 29, 2013, the ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured spilling an estimated 147,000 gallons of oil into Mayflower, Arkansas. Victims of this oil spill are rightfully being compensated by ExxonMobil, but the Internal Revenue Service has said that compensatory payments will be considered taxable income. These families should not have to pay taxes on this disaster relief assistance. The Mayflower Oil Spill Tax Relief Act of 2013 prohibits compensation to Mayflower oil spill victims from being taxed by treating it as ``a qualified disaster relief payment'' under current law. My colleague Senator Pryor joins me in introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Representative Tim Griffin for his support and leadership on the House companion version of the Mayflower Oil Spill Tax Relief Act of 2013. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 1350 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Mayflower Oil Spill Tax Relief Act of 2013''. SEC. 2. MAYFLOWER, ARKANSAS OIL SPILL COMPENSATION EXCLUDED FROM GROSS INCOME.…
