[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FEDERAL ESTATE TAX SHOULD BE REPEALED

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to speak about my 
first bill and to implore my colleagues to repeal the Federal estate 
tax. This tax hits millions of families and small farm and business 
owners.
  This unfair tax for too long has been burdening people of this 
country at one of the most difficult times in their lives, at the time 
of the death of a loved one. It forces them to sell assets just 
inherited by them so they can pay unreasonable sums to the Federal 
coffers.
  Mr. Speaker, numerous people across the country stand to lose family 
farms and businesses that they have worked their entire lives to build. 
Faye Givler, owner of Steckel Printing and employer of 94 people in 
Lancaster, PA, stands to lose her life's work with this tax. Her 
children, just because of this tax, stand to lose it all.
  Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous. With 65 cents of this tax going to 
enforcement and compliance, what sense is there in inflicting such 
stress on Americans who work hard to build their children's future? 
This tax threatens that simple dream. I urge my colleagues to repeal 
this unfair tax.

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