[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4337 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4337

  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals an 
  above-the-line deduction for contributions made to the Armed Forces 
        Relief Trust as part of filing their income tax returns.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 6, 2007

Mr. Shays (for himself, Mr. Edwards, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, 
  Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Goodlatte, and Mr. Carter) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals an 
  above-the-line deduction for contributions made to the Armed Forces 
        Relief Trust as part of filing their income tax returns.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Relief Tax Check-Off for 
Our Armed Forces Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. ABOVE-THE-LINE DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARMED 
              FORCES RELIEF TRUST.

    Section 62(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining 
adjusted gross income) is amended by inserting after paragraph (21) the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(22) Certain contributions to armed forces relief 
        trust.--In the case of an individual, the deduction allowed by 
        section 170 to the extent it does not exceed the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the amount contributed by the taxpayer 
                pursuant to the designation procedure under section 
                6097, or
                    ``(B) $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of a joint 
                return).''.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF OVERPAYMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE ARMED 
              FORCES RELIEF TRUST.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

``PART IX--DESIGNATION OF OVERPAYMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE ARMED 
                          FORCES RELIEF TRUST

``Sec. 6097. Designation.

``SEC. 6097. DESIGNATION.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual, with respect to 
each taxpayer's return for the taxable year of the tax imposed by 
chapter 1, such taxpayer may designate that--
            ``(1) a specified portion (but not less than $1) of any 
        overpayment of tax for such taxable year, and
            ``(2) any cash contribution which the taxpayer includes 
        with such return,
shall be contributed to the Armed Forces Relief Trust.
    ``(b) Manner and Time of Designation.--A designation under 
subsection (a) may be made with respect to any taxable year only at the 
time of filing the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such 
taxable year. Such designation shall be made in such manner as the 
Secretary prescribes by regulations except that such designation shall 
be made either on the first page of the return or on the page bearing 
the taxpayer's signature.
    ``(c) Overpayments Treated as Refunded.--For purposes of this 
title, any portion of an overpayment of tax designated under subsection 
(a) shall be treated as being refunded to the taxpayer as of the last 
date prescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by chapter 1 
(determined without regard to extensions) or, if later, the date the 
return is filed.
    ``(d) Explanation.--The Secretary shall include in the general 
instructions for filing returns by individuals of the tax imposed by 
chapter 1--
            ``(1) a description of the deduction under section 
        62(a)(22) and the designation procedure under this section,
            ``(2) an explanation that charitable contributions to the 
        Armed Forces Relief Trust that are not described in section 
        62(a)(22) are still allowable as a deduction to taxpayers who 
        itemize deductions, and
            ``(3) a notice that the use of funds contributed to the 
        Armed Forces Relief Trust under this section shall be 
        determined by the Advisory Board established under subsection 
        (e).
    ``(e) Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is established an advisory 
                board for the Armed Forces Relief Trust. The members of 
                such board shall be appointed as follows:
                            ``(i) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Finance of the 
                        Senate.
                            ``(ii) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of 
                        the Senate.
                            ``(iii) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
                        of the Senate.
                            ``(iv) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the Senate.
                            ``(v) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation.
                            ``(vi) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of 
                        the House of Representatives.
                            ``(vii) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
                        of the House of Representatives.
                            ``(viii) One individual appointed by the 
                        Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the House of Representatives.
                            ``(ix) One individual appointed by the 
                        President from each of the following: the Army 
                        Emergency Relief Society, the Navy Marine Corps 
                        Relief Society, the Air Force Aid Society, and 
                        the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Relief 
                        Society.
                            ``(x) Two individuals appointed by the 
                        President from 2 veterans service 
                        organizations.
                    ``(B) Term.--The term of each member of the 
                advisory board shall be 3 years, except that any member 
                whose term of office has expired shall continue to 
                serve until such member's successor is appointed. No 
                member shall serve more than 2 3-year terms.
                    ``(C) Appointment of successors.--The appointment 
                of any successor member shall be made in the same 
                manner as the original appointment. If a member dies or 
                resigns before the expiration of the member's term, a 
                successor shall be appointed for the unexpired portion 
                of the term in the same manner as the original 
                appointment.
                    ``(D) Prohibition.--No member of the advisory board 
                may be an employee of the Federal Government.
            ``(2) Chairman; vice chairman.--
                    ``(A) Designation.--The President shall designate a 
                chairman for the advisory board. The advisory board 
                shall not later than its second meeting, by majority 
                vote, designate a vice chairman, who shall perform the 
                duties of the chairman in the absence of the chairman.
                    ``(B) Duties of chairman.--The chairman shall call 
                the meetings of the advisory board, propose meeting 
                agendas, chair the meetings, and establish, with the 
                approval of a majority of the members, the rules and 
                procedures for such meetings.
            ``(3) Operations of board.--The advisory board shall meet 
        semi-annually, for the purpose of providing ongoing advice to 
        the Armed Forces Relief Trust regarding the distribution of 
        contributed funds, policies governing said distribution, and 
        the administrative costs and operations of the Armed Forces 
        Relief Trust. A majority of the members shall constitute a 
        quorum. Advisory board members shall serve without 
        compensation. While performing duties as a member of the 
        advisory board, each member shall be reimbursed under Federal 
        Government travel regulations for travel expenses. Such 
        reimbursements and any other reasonable expenses of the 
        advisory board shall be provided by the budget of the Executive 
        Office of the President.
            ``(4) Control over designated funds.--Amounts contributed 
        to the Armed Forces Relief Trust pursuant to this section may 
        be used by such Trust only as provided by the advisory board.
            ``(5) Audit.--The General Accountability Office shall audit 
        the distribution and management of funds of the Armed Forces 
        Relief Trust on an annual basis to ensure compliance with 
        statutory and administrative directives. The Comptroller 
        General of the United States shall report to the advisory board 
        and Congress on the results of such audit.
            ``(6) Reports.--Within 60 days after its semi-annual 
        meeting, the advisory board shall submit a written report to 
        the President of its action, and of its views and 
        recommendations. Any report other than the semi-annual report, 
        shall, if approved by a majority of the members of the advisory 
        board, be submitted to the President within 60 days after such 
        approval.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of parts for subchapter A of 
chapter 61 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:

``Part IX. Designation of Overpayments and Contributions for the Armed 
                        Forces Relief Trust.''.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall apply to taxable years 
beginning after December 31, 2006.
                                 <all>