[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S285-S286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. COLEMAN:
  S. 207. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow 
taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund to support 
reservists and National Guard members; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
assist the families of our reservists and National Guard members. With 
our reservists and National Guard members bravely answering our 
country's call to service, we must do all we can to meet the calls of 
help from those families left behind who are struggling financially as 
a result of their loved ones' wartime service.
  All too often, the families of reservists and National Guard members 
must contend not only with the physical absence of a loved one but also 
with the loss of income that makes paying house, car, medical and other 
bills too great of a burden to bear without help. According to the 
latest available statistics, some 55 percent of married Guard members 
and reservists have experienced a loss in income, with nearly 50 
percent experiencing a loss of $1,000 in pay per month and 15 percent 
experiencing a loss of $30,000 or more in pay a year. With our Guard 
and reservists putting their lives on the line, they should not also 
have to put their families' financial lives on the line due to their 
service.
  In an effort to provide relief to these families, I am introducing 
today the Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members 
Act that would bolster the financial assistance available to these 
families. More specifically, the Voluntary Support for Reservists and 
National Guard Members Act would provide taxpayers the option of 
contributing part of their tax refund to the Reserve Income Replacement 
Program which provides financial assistance to those families who have 
experienced an income loss due to a call-up to active duty. In 2005, 
the IRS issued 106 million refunds that totaled $227 billion with the 
average refund coming in at $2,141.36. Even a small percentage of this 
amount could make a significant difference in the lives of these 
reservist and National Guard families.
  While we can do little to ease the emotional burden experienced by 
families regarding the service of their loved ones, we can at least try 
to give them some peace of mind when it comes to their day-to-day 
finances. These families already have made a great sacrifice to the 
nation, and they should not also have to sacrifice their financial 
well-being due to their loved ones' service. Beyond our gratitude, care 
packages and gifts, we can thank our troops for their service by 
helping to meet the everyday needs of their families who are facing 
financial hardships. My bill would provide Americans a convenient way 
to thank our troops by contributing a portion of their tax refunds to 
give much-needed help to the loved ones of our reservists and National 
Guard members .
  I ask unanimous consent that my legislation, the Voluntary Support 
for Reservists and National Guard Members Act, and the accompanying 
remarks be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 207

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Voluntary Support for 
     Reservists and National Guard Members Act''.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF OVERPAYMENTS TO SUPPORT RESERVISTS AND 
                   NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS.

       (a) Designation.--Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new part:

 ``PART IX--DESIGNATION OF OVERPAYMENTS TO RESERVE INCOME REPLACEMENT 
                                PROGRAM

``Sec. 6097. Designation

     ``SEC. 6097. DESIGNATION.

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual, with 
     respect to each taxpayer's return for the taxable year of the 
     tax imposed by chapter 1, such taxpayer may designate

[[Page S286]]

     that a specified portion (not less than $1) of any 
     overpayment of tax for such taxable year be paid over to the 
     Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) under section 910 
     of title 37, United States Code.
       ``(b) Manner and Time of Designation.--A designation under 
     subsection (a) may be made with respect to any taxable year 
     only at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by 
     chapter 1 for such taxable year. Such designation shall be 
     made in such manner as the Secretary prescribes by 
     regulations except that such designation shall be made either 
     on the first page of the return or on the page bearing the 
     taxpayer's signature.
       ``(c) Overpayments Treated as Refunded.--For purposes of 
     this title, any portion of an overpayment of tax designated 
     under subsection (a) shall be treated as--
       ``(1) being refunded to the taxpayer as of the last date 
     prescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by chapter 1 
     (determined without regard to extensions) or, if later, the 
     date the return is filed, and
       ``(2) a contribution made by such taxpayer on such date to 
     the United States.''.
       (b) Transfers to Reserve Income Replacement Program.--The 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall, from time to time, transfer 
     to the Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) under 
     section 910 of title 37, United States Code, the amounts 
     designated under section 6097 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986, under regulations jointly prescribed by the Secretary 
     of the Treasury and the Secretary of Defense.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of parts for subchapter 
     A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new item:

 ``Part IX. Designation of Overpayments to Reserve Income Replacement 
                               Program''.

       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     2006.
                                 ______