Rich Neal: “my motion is indeed very simple. It adds two matters to this charity tax bill: tax benefits for our military families…”

“my motion is indeed very simple. It adds two matters to this charity tax bill: tax benefits for our military families and an enhanced child tax credit. Both the Senate and House versions provide much-needed military tax relief, including the expansion of combat zone filing rules and clarification of dependent care benefits, as well as relief for families of as the Columbia Space Shuttle astronauts. But the Senate bill is better in several ways. It would not tax any increase in death benefits, whereas the House bill would; it provides a 10-year extension of tax relief from the gains on the sale of a residence by a military member, whereas the House bill only provides 5 years; and the Senate bill has no limit on the deduction for overnight travel expenses of the National Guard and Reserve members, whereas the House limits this deduction. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our Reservists are being told that 1-year deployments will quickly turn into 2, when our brave soldiers are facing even longer periods of absence from family and home, this Congress should, at a minimum, provide some relief for those families. The delay is inexcusable. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit will add the Senate-passed child tax credit bill. Since June we have debated whether 12 million children in low-income families are worthy of the same enhanced tax credit as children of wealthier families, and one, indeed, that they have already received.”