Reserve Officers Salute Congressman Paul for Supporting Tax Relief

FOR RELEASE: August 8, 2000

Washington D.C. - The Reserve Officers Association of the United States (ROA) recently honored Congressman Ron Paul for cosponsoring H.R. 3915, the "Reserve Employer Tax Credit Act of 2000." The Act provides a tax credit for employers with workers who participate in the military reserves, and allows reservists to deduct travel-related expenses incurred as a result of their reserve obligations.

Rear Adm. Steve Yusem, National President of ROA, stated, "About half of our total military are National Guard and Reserve Forces. Global deployment of these men and women...means they spend more time away from their civilian jobs, and employer support is critical." The Act provides a tax credit for an employer of up to $2,000 when its reservist-employees are called to active duty.

Yusem also noted that under current law, individual Reserve and National Guard members incur non-reimbursed expenses when fulfilling their monthly reserve obligations. "Many of our reservists spend their own money to attend military training and mandatory reserve drills. They pay for cross-country travel and other expenses out of their own pockets." The Act addresses this problem by permitting reservists to deduct such travel-related expenses on their individual income taxes without meeting limitations that normally apply to itemized deductions.

"I strongly support tax relief for military-reservist families," Paul said. "Reserve members face monthly duty weekends away from their families, as well as the constant possibility of being called into active duty anywhere on the globe. They certainly deserve a tax deduction for expenses incurred traveling to their required training."

"Employers who hire reservists also need tax relief when their employees are called into military service," Paul continued. "They often need to hire temporary help or otherwise attempt to get by without critical employees. The tax credit contained in this legislation is needed to ensure that employers will feel confident hiring reservists."

"Congressman Paul's endorsement of this important legislation demonstrates his commitment to our nation's citizen-soldiers, and his support for a strong national defense," Yusem concluded. "ROA is pleased that he has cosponsored H.R. 3915."