[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE MARRIAGE TAX 
                                PENALTY

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, with Federal taxes at an all-time high, 
Congress has, I think, a moral obligation to provide some relief to the 
American people. While there are several tax cut proposals that are 
being debated in the House, I believe one deserves immediate attention. 
That issue is the marriage penalty.
  Under current law, 21 million couples, 21 million couples are 
required to pay an additional $1,400 a year in taxes simply because 
they are married. This ridiculous policy is undermining the institution 
of marriage, and making it harder for working families to get ahead.
  I have introduced legislation that addresses this problem by 
increasing the standard deduction provided to married couples so that 
it equals twice the amount of the deduction provided to single 
taxpayers. It should make sense.
  This commonsense proposal would provide some relief from the marriage 
penalty, inject some fairness into the Tax Code, and strengthen working 
families. I urge my colleagues to support it.

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