Not linked on Ron Paul’s Congressional Website.
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, June 18, 2009
2009 Ron Paul 71:1
Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce
the Evacuees Tax Relief Act of 2009,
legislation providing tax relief to those forced
to abandon their homes because of a natural
disaster. This legislation provides a tax credit
or a tax deduction, depending on the wishes
of the taxpayer, of up to $5,000 for costs incurred
because of a government-ordered mandatory
or voluntary evacuation. Evacuees
could use the credit to cover travel and lodging
expenses associated with the evacuation,
lost wages, property damages not otherwise
compensated, and any other evacuation-related
expenses. The tax credit is refundable
up to the amount of income and payroll taxes
a person would otherwise pay, thus ensuring
working people who pay more in payroll than
in income taxes are able to benefit from this
tax relief. The credit is available retroactive to
December of 2007, so it is available to Hurricane
Ike evacuees, as well as those who
evacuated because of Hurricanes Gustav and
Dolly.
2009 Ron Paul 71:2
Just last year, the majority of my district, including
my home county, was subject to mandatory
evacuation because of Hurricane Ike.
Therefore, I have firsthand experience with the
burdens faced by those forced to uproot themselves
and their families because of a natural
disaster. Evacuees incur great costs in getting
to safety, as well as loss from the storm damage.
It can take many months, and even
years, to fully recover from the devastation of
a natural disaster. Given the unpredictable nature
of natural disasters such as hurricanes
and tornados, it is difficult for most families to
adequately budget for these costs. The Evacuees
Tax Relief Act helps Americans manage
the fiscal costs of a natural disaster.
2009 Ron Paul 71:3
Madam Speaker, with the 2009 hurricane
season now upon us, it is hard to think of a
more timely and more compassionate tax relief
proposal than one aimed at helping families
cope with the costs associated with being
uprooted from their homes, jobs, and communities
by a natural disaster. I hope all my colleagues
will show compassion for those forced
to flee their homes by cosponsoring the Evacuees
Tax Relief Act.
