Ellen Tauscher: “I rise in support of the Taxpayer Relief Act and to celebrate the balanced budget agreement. The balanced budget…”

“I rise in support of the Taxpayer Relief Act and to celebrate the balanced budget agreement. The balanced budget agreement that we are voting on to implement this week will eliminate the deficit and strengthen the foundation of our economy. It will also put more money in the hands of the American taxpayers through the child tax credit, the HOPE scholarship plan, and reductions in the capital gains tax rates and greater protection from estate taxes. Most importantly, this agreement provides tax relief in a fair and equitable manner. Working families in America who deserve the child tax credit will be eligible to receive it. Middle-class families struggling to save enough money to put their children through college will qualify for the HOPE scholarship plan, and increased protection from estate taxes will protect more families from unaffordable tax bills when they inherit a small family business or farm. At the same time, reckless and unaffordable tax cuts have been dropped in this agreement, protecting the budget from exploding deficits in the future. The balanced budget agreement provides a sensible path toward eliminating the deficit and providing tax relief. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the balanced budget agreement, and I encourage my colleagues to support it as well.”