[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 97 (Thursday, July 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          A TAX BILL THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES

  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, Democrats want tax cuts and tax relief for 
working taxpaying families. However Republicans in the Congress have 
passed tax bills that shortchange working families and instead shower 
tax breaks to the very wealthy.
  A new Treasury Department analysis revealed that the Republican bill 
is light on relief for working families and heavy on tax breaks for the 
rich. According to the Treasury analysis, only a third of the tax 
breaks, only a third, go to the middle 60 percent of all families. Who 
is that? Families making between $17,000 and $93,000 a year.
  By stark contrast, the Democratic alternative offers those same 
families 66 percent of all of the tax cut relief, and those are the 
working families in this country we want to help.
  Republicans also skimp on the tax breaks for college students in 
their budget. Their bill only gives half of the $1,500 college tuition 
credit for the first 2 years, does virtually nothing for juniors and 
seniors.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why Democrats continue to fight for working 
families. We are going to ensure a tax bill that meets the needs of 
working families in this country.

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