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(November 7, 2007) Gillibrand Votes for Pay Raise and Tax Cut for Troops |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten
Gillibrand voted for HR 3997, The "Heroes Earnings Assistance and
Relief Tax Act (HEART)," and H.Con.Res 162 to urge the President to
lift his objection to the pay raise included in the Defense
Authorization bill.
"Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deserve more than just the
cost-of-living adjustment proposed by the President. They deserve a
raise. While the 3.5% increase that we were able to add to the Defense
Authorization this year is a good start, there is more we must do,"
said Congresswoman Gillibrand. "That is why I am pleased to vote on
both of these today to give our troops something they really need when
they arrive home - higher pay for the outstanding work they've done."
The
Resolution, H. Con. Res 162, sponsored by Iraq war veteran, Rep.
Patrick Murphy, expresses the sense of Congress that the President
should increase basic pay for members of the Armed Services.
The
HEART Act makes tax relief for families of soldiers in combat under the
EITC permanent, including extending the provision to consider combat
pay as earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC). The bill will also make permanent other tax provisions to
relieve economic hardships for military families, like permitting
active duty reservists to make penalty-free withdrawals from retirement
plans and permitting recipients of military death benefit gratuities to
roll over the amounts received, tax-free, to a Roth IRA or an Education
Savings Account.
The bill will also make it easier for thousands
of veterans to own homes by making them eligible for low-interest
loans. It also includes tax benefits for other public servants who face
risk, such as volunteer firefighters and Peace Corps volunteers.
"The
military families in my district have sacrificed more than most of us
can imagine - from mothers and fathers having to run a household by
themselves through their spouse's successive long deployments; to
parents and grandparents that hold their breath while they watch the
news every night; to returning soldiers that have to piece together
their lives upon their return from a war zone," said Congresswoman
Gillibrand. "These bills will especially help those soldiers at the
lowest end of the pay grade whose families are simply struggling to get
by and deserve the financial support that taxpayers can provide them."
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