Madam Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day, we are reminded of the brave servicemen and -women who have given their lives to defend our country. The families of those who died in conflict, known as the Gold Star families, can never forget these sacrifices. Our country is indebted to these selfless Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice. No amount of financial support can ease the pain of losing a loved one, but veterans' benefits to surviving spouses and children provide an important lifeline during these times of need. The 2017 tax law brought many unintended consequences that Congress is now trying to fix, including a significant increase in tax rates on benefits for children of these fallen servicemembers. This is completely unacceptable. Congress must pass legislation to fix this now so families that have already given so much are not asked to give even more. ____________________
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