Steve Buyer: “I rise in support of H.R. 1376, the bill to extend tax benefits to our brave American military personnel serving in…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1376, the bill to extend tax benefits to our brave American military personnel serving in support operations in Yugoslavia. Historically this benefit has been applied to designated combat zones. Let me be very clear. I recently accompanied Secretary of Defense Cohen to his recent trip to headquarters Aviano and Ramstein air bases in Italy and in Germany. I came away from that trip with a couple of very stark realities. One, Europe is at war, and the American service personnel are in it. American brave men and women are engaged in combat. They do not need the burdens of the administrative and bureaucratic Tax Code while serving on the battlefield, even though that battlefield is through the air power only at this time. Currently these benefits are applicable to members of the military serving in Bosnia. However, the geocoordinates that have been applied for operations in Bosnia do not apply to Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and the Adriatic Ocean and Indian Ocean. Although this legislation is included in a tax relief package, in reality it is a quality of life issue.”