Paul Promotes Pro-Family Legislation During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

FOR RELEASE: September 22, 2000

Washington, D.C. - Earlier this week, Representative Ron Paul addressed his congressional colleagues to ask their support for his efforts assisting families with children suffering from cancer and other terminal illnesses. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so Paul took the opportunity to address Congress about the impact of child cancer on American families.

"I know we all agree that few Americans are more in need of help than families dealing with a child's serious illness" Paul stated. "Apart from the emotional devastation cancer and other terminal illnesses bring to families, the financial impact is enormous. These families are forced to devote all of their financial resources to paying for medical care and related expenses. Often one or both parents cannot work because they must attend to their sick child. This is why I introduced legislation to provide tax relief for families with seriously ill children."

The Family Health Tax Cut Act (H.R. 4799) provides a $3,000 tax credit to parents caring for a child with cancer, another terminal disease, or any serious condition requiring long-term care. The Act also provides a $500 per child tax credit to working parents for routine health care expenses. Similarly, Paul has introduced legislation (the "Cancer and Terminal Illness Patient Health Care Act") which would exempt adults facing cancer or a terminal illness from the payroll portion of income taxes.

"As an OB/GYN physician specializing in women's health issues, I have seen the impact of breast cancer and other terrible diseases on families in my district," Paul continued. "The tragedy is even greater when a child has cancer. Congress should take this opportunity to support compassionate legislation which reduces the tax burden on families with sick children."

Paul said the bill would be particularly helpful for parents whose employers cannot afford to provide them with health insurance: "Many employees, especially those in lower-income positions, do not receive health insurance from their employers. They must struggle to provide adequate health care for their children, and the burden is magnified when a child is stricken with a serious illness or physical disability. Congress should ease their burden by lowering or eliminating their income tax bill."

"Working families with a seriously ill child should use their resources to care for the child, not to pay the tax man," Paul concluded. "It is hard to imagine a more compassionate action this Congress can take than to reduce taxes on families struggling to provide health care to an ailing child. I call on Congress to support the "Family Health Tax Cut Act."