[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ``REVERSE ROBIN HOOD BILL''

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DONNA M. CHRISTIAN-GREEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 1997

  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, the Republican 
tax bill can only be viewed as a ``reverse Robin Hood'' bill, because 
it would hurt hard-working families, aspiring students, and the people 
of the territories of the United States.
  Why is it that the deficit must only be reduced on the backs of those 
of us who are struggling everyday to survive, while those who could 
best afford to contribute more not only get away scot-free, but 
actually get more.
  Mr. Speaker, the people whom I'm privileged to represent are among 
the 15 million who are cut out of the Republican led tax bill. Then, as 
if to add insult to injury, the tax bill further threatens to kill my 
district's struggling tourism industry which provides our economic base 
and on which many Virgin Islanders and residents of other territories 
depend for a livelihood.
  On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands and the majority of 
Americans, I plead with the conference committee, to uphold the 
commitment of the budget agreement, to reject the tax on the domestic 
portion of international flights, and freeze the departure tax for the 
smaller members of the American family at the present level so that we 
can continue to be a refuge for many of those same hard-working 
Americans who visit us for a well-deserved vacation.
  My colleagues, the people of the Virgin Islands survived Hurricanes 
Hugo and Marilyn, but we could not withstand Hurricane airline tax.

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