"This sends a powerful message of support to our men and women in uniform, and I am proud of the way we have united in this support.  Now, I am pleased to let you know that next week, I will carry your words and your thanks with me overseas and tell our soldiers how Arkansas is standing behind them. 

"Along with a bipartisan delegation of Congressman from around the country, I will travel to Germany and visit the military hospital at Ramstein Air Base, where many of our wounded soldiers are cared for.  I asked schools in our district to write get-well cards for them, and I am proud to say that I have more than 500 get-well cards from our students to help lift our soldiers’ spirits.

"Over the past few days in Iraq, we have seen our soldiers make great strides in liberating the Iraqi people.  On Wednesday, we all saw the moving scene of Iraqis in Baghdad helping our Marines tear down a statue of Saddam Hussein.   Bit by bit, they are tasting freedom as our troops drive the Iraqi military out of their cities.

"We have made swift progress, but our troops still have quite a fight ahead of them.  I am looking forward to this opportunity to personally thank our troops, and I invite you to do the same.  Please visit my website, www.house.gov/ross, where you can write to a service member and let them know just how proud we are of their dedication, their patriotism, and their sacrifice."

WASHINGTON, DC – Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) Thursday announced that the Internal Revenue Service has created a new section on its Web site containing important information to help ensure members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in a combat zone get all of the tax benefits available to them.  The IRS information can be accessed through Ross’s website, www.house.gov/ross.

“With so many of our service members called to active duty, their families may encounter difficulties here at home when filing taxes without them,” Ross said.  “This new resource provides all information that these military families will need.”

The new section highlights several special tax provisions that apply to those in combat, which can include extensions for filing tax returns and paying taxes and exclusion of some military pay from taxes.

The new Web section includes: 

·        Questions and answers on exclusions, extensions and other tax benefits available to members of the Armed Forces serving in a combat zone. 

·        IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, which covers the special tax situations of active members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

·        Several recent news releases and notices, including Tax Tip 2003-41 – Reservists, New Enlistees May Get Deferral for Back Taxes; News Release IR-2002-18 – Tax Relief for Troops in Afghanistan Combat Zone; Notice 2002-17 – Tax Relief for those Involved in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ross said that the visit to Ramstein was not on the original itinerary, but he requested that the seminar’s coordinators include a visit to the injured soldiers so the congressional delegation could personally thank U.S. soldiers for their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“When I realized that we are going to be able to visit our wounded soldiers, I immediately notified schools in our district so the students could play a part in thanking our troops and helping to lift their spirits,” Ross said.  “I think it will help our children as they learn about Operation Iraqi Freedom in their classrooms, but will also send a powerful message of support to our men and women in uniform.”

Students at Lake Hamilton Elementary in Hot Springs, Coleman Elementary and Watson Chapel Elementary in Pine Bluff, Prescott Elementary, Southside Elementary in El Dorado, and Gardner Elementary in Strong made more than 500 get-well cards on Wednesday. 

During the Seminar, Ross and other U.S. Congressmen will meet with members of the German Bundestag, their lawmaking counterparts in Germany, as well as U.S. and German Ambassadors who have worked to host this event.  Other high-ranking officials include the German Foreign Minister and the Foreign Policy Advisor to Chancellor Schroeder. 

“I am excited about this opportunity to help foster relations between the United States and Germany,” Ross said.  “We will meet with German officials to discuss our partnership in the War on Terrorism, global institutions like the United Nations and NATO, and our trade relationship, among other foreign policy issues.  We will also meet with the U.S. Army European Command based in Heidelberg on a number of military issues.” 

Students at Lake Hamilton School in Hot Springs, Coleman Elementary and Watson Chapel School in Pine Bluff, Prescott Elementary, Southside Elementary in El Dorado, and Gardner Strong Elementary in Strong made more than 500 get-well cards for our wounded soldiers on Wednesday.