[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 134 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE AMERICAN FAMILY TAX RELIEF ACT OF 1995

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of 
the American Family Tax Relief Act of 1995.
  The American Family Tax Relief Act would provide tax cuts where they 
are needed most--to families with dependent children. These families 
have seen their Federal tax burden skyrocket over the years--from 3% of 
their income in 1948 to well over 20 percent today.
  The current tax law is designed to counter a rising tax burden on 
families with automatic increases in the personal exemption to account 
for inflation. These inflation adjustments have not been enough, 
though, to counter the growing tax burden on families.
  The American Family Tax Relief Act addresses this concern by 
providing a $500 tax credit for each dependent child up to age 18. The 
act will provide substantial and valuable benefits to thousands of 
families with children in each State. There are an average of 117,000 
children in each congressional district whose families would be 
eligible for a $500 family tax credit under this bill. That is an 
average tax benefit of $59 million for each congressional district.
  Of course, the benefits to each State are substantially larger. In 
Kansas alone, there are over 650,000 eligible children whose families 
would receive more than $325 million in family tax credits each year 
under this bill.
  Enacting pro-family tax relief, together with balancing the Federal 
budget, are critical to the well-being of the family and the country. 
One of the most important things we can do for our children is to stop 
mortgaging their future--and balancing the budget will do just that. We 
will cease deficit spending and shrink the size of the government, so 
the tax burden on Americans can be reduced.
  When we pass budget reconciliation legislation this year, we will 
substantially reduce the tax burden on families. We will provide tax 
credits for families with children, tax credits to defray the costs to 
adopt a child, and other pro-family measures to increase the amount of 
after-tax dollars in the pockets of American families.
  The introduction of the American Family Tax Relief Act of 1995 is an 
important step forward toward reducing the tax burden on American 
families. I urge my colleagues to join in cosponsoring this bill to 
show their support for children and family. And I thank the groups that 
are promoting this effort, including Concerned Women For America, 
Christian Coalition, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, and 
Traditional Values Coalition.


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