Political Quotes

“With this momentum, we can fix a problem for so many heroic families and ensure security for their benefits. I include in the Record a letter signed by 20 veterans service organizations in support of the Gold Star family tax provisions included within the SECURE Act. May 22, 2019. Hon. Elaine Luria, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman Luria: As leaders of the major veterans, military, and survivor organizations, we are pleased to offer our support for H.R. 2481, the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act. Surviving spouses of service members who die in the line of duty and military retirees who die from service-connected wounds, illnesses, or injuries are entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Survivors who paid into the Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP) have a dollar-for-dollar offset of their SBP benefits by the amount of DIC benefits. To avoid the SBP/DIC offset, surviving spouses often sign over SBP benefits to their children to ensure the family receives both earned benefits. Due to a recent change in tax law, known as the ``Kiddie Tax,'' Gold Star families who were formerly obligated to pay 12 to 15 percent in taxes on their earned benefits are now being taxed up to 37 percent, leaving them thousands of dollars in tax debt. This important bill would rightfully repeal the Kiddie Tax and reinstate military survivor benefits to the previous tax rate.…”