Patsy T. Mink: “on November 13, 2001, I introduced H.R. 3281, the Travel Stimulus Act of 2001. This bill will allow individuals to claim…”

“on November 13, 2001, I introduced H.R. 3281, the Travel Stimulus Act of 2001. This bill will allow individuals to claim a temporary tax deduction for travel expenses for cost of travel after September 11, 2001, and before September 12, 2001. Mr. Speaker, people are not traveling. In my home State of Hawaii, our beaches and hotels are empty, our economy is floundering, and our workers are being laid-off at staggering rates. The total unemployed as of this date is 27,000. I have introduced the Travel Stimulus Act of 2001, to allow individuals to deduct personal travel expenses for all personal travel to a destination of 500 miles or more from home. These deductions cover the taxpayer's spouse and any dependents and must be used on commercial travel (air, bus, train, boat). The taxpayer may also use these deductions for hotels, meals and other travel costs. Hotels are lowering their prices to try to entice tourists to come and stay. The federal government must do our part to give the public incentives to travel again in order to revive the depressed economies of all states and communities that rely on tourism for their living. The President and my fellow colleagues have repeatedly stated that we must keep America rolling and we must return to some sense of normalcy. Giving these incentives will actually accomplish these feats. I urge my colleagues to support the Travel Stimulus Act of 2001.”