[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 30 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1854-H1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2007
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 976) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide
tax relief for small businesses, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 976
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE; TABLE OF
CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Small
Business Tax Relief Act of 2007''.
(b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly
provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is
expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered
to be made to a section or other provision of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
(c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; amendment of 1986 Code; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension and modification of work opportunity tax credit.
Sec. 3. Extension and increase of expensing for small business.
Sec. 4. Determination of credit for certain taxes paid with respect to
employee cash tips.
Sec. 5. Waiver of individual and corporate alternative minimum tax
limits on work opportunity credit and credit for taxes
paid with respect to employee cash tips.
Sec. 6. Family business tax simplification.
Sec. 7. Denial of lowest capital gains rate for certain dependents.
Sec. 8. Suspension of certain penalties and interest.
Sec. 9. Time for payment of corporate estimated taxes.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX
CREDIT.
(a) Extension.--Section 51(c)(4)(B) (relating to
termination) is amended by striking ``2007'' and inserting
``2008''.
(b) Increase in Maximum Age for Designated Community
Residents.--
(1) In general.--Paragraph (5) of section 51(d) is amended
to read as follows:
``(5) Designated community residents.--
``(A) In general.--The term `designated community resident'
means any individual who is certified by the designated local
agency--
``(i) as having attained age 18 but not age 40 on the
hiring date, and
``(ii) as having his principal place of abode within an
empowerment zone, enterprise community, or renewal community.
``(B) Individual must continue to reside in zone or
community.--In the case of a designated community resident,
the term `qualified wages' shall not include wages paid or
incurred for services performed while the individual's
principal place of abode is outside an empowerment zone,
enterprise community, or renewal community.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (D) of section
51(d)(1) is amended to read as follows:
``(D) a designated community resident,''.
(c) Clarification of Treatment of Individuals Under
Individual Work Plans.--Subparagraph (B) of section 51(d)(6)
(relating to vocational rehabilitation referral) is amended
by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (i), by striking the
period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ``, or'', and
by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) an individual work plan developed and implemented
by an employment network pursuant to subsection (g) of
section 1148 of the Social Security Act with respect to which
the requirements of such subsection are met.''.
(d) Treatment of Disabled Veterans Under the Work
Opportunity Tax Credit.--
(1) Disabled veterans treated as members of targeted
group.--
(A) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 51(d)(3)
(relating to qualified veteran) is amended by striking
``agency as being a member of a family'' and all that follows
and inserting ``agency as--
``(i) being a member of a family receiving assistance under
a food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 for at
least a 3-month period ending during the 12-month period
ending on the hiring date, or
``(ii) entitled to compensation for a service-connected
disability, and--
``(I) having a hiring date which is not more that 1 year
after having been discharged or released from active duty in
the Armed Forces of the United States, or
``(II) having aggregate periods of unemployment during the
1-year period ending on the hiring date which equal or exceed
6 months.''.
(B) Definitions.--Paragraph (3) of section 51(d) is amended
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) Other definitions.--For purposes of subparagraph (A),
the terms `compensation' and `service-connected' have the
meanings given such terms under section 101 of title 38,
United States Code.''.
(2) Increase in amount of wages taken into account for
disabled veterans.--Paragraph (3) of section 51(b) is
amended--
(A) by inserting ``($12,000 per year in the case of any
individual who is a qualified veteran by reason of subsection
(d)(3)(A)(ii))'' before the period at the end, and
(B) by striking ``Only first $6,000 of'' in the heading and
inserting ``Limitation on''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION AND INCREASE OF EXPENSING FOR SMALL
BUSINESS.
(a) Extension.--Subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(5), (c)(2),
and (d)(1)(A)(ii) of section 179 (relating to election to
expense certain depreciable business assets) are each amended
by striking ``2010'' and inserting ``2011''.
(b) Increase in Limitations.--Subsection (b) of section 179
is amended--
(1) by striking ``$100,000 in the case of taxable years
beginning after 2002'' in paragraph (1) and inserting
``$125,000 in the case of taxable years beginning after
2006'', and
(2) by striking ``$400,000 in the case of taxable years
beginning after 2002'' in paragraph (2) and inserting
``$500,000 in the case of taxable years beginning after
2006''.
(c) Inflation Adjustment.--Subparagraph (A) of section
179(b)(5) is amended--
(1) by striking ``2003'' and inserting ``2007'',
(2) by striking ``$100,000 and $400,000'' and inserting
``$125,000 and $500,000'', and
(3) by striking ``2002'' in clause (ii) and inserting
``2006''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31,
2006.
SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF CREDIT FOR CERTAIN TAXES PAID WITH
RESPECT TO EMPLOYEE CASH TIPS.
(a) In General.--Subparagraph (B) of section 45B(b)(1) is
amended by inserting ``as in effect
[[Page H1855]]
on January 1, 2007, and'' before ``determined without regard
to''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section
shall apply to tips received for services performed after
December 31, 2006.
SEC. 5. WAIVER OF INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE ALTERNATIVE
MINIMUM TAX LIMITS ON WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT
AND CREDIT FOR TAXES PAID WITH RESPECT TO
EMPLOYEE CASH TIPS.
(a) Allowance Against Alternative Minimum Tax.--
Subparagraph (B) of section 38(c)(4) is amended by striking
``and'' at the end of clause (i), by inserting a comma at the
end of clause (ii), and by adding at the end the following
new clauses:
``(iii) the credit determined under section 45B, and
``(iv) the credit determined under section 51.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to credits determined under sections 45B and 51
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2006, and to carrybacks of such
credits.
SEC. 6. FAMILY BUSINESS TAX SIMPLIFICATION.
(a) In General.--Section 761 (defining terms for purposes
of partnerships) is amended by redesignating subsection (f)
as subsection (g) and by inserting after subsection (e) the
following new subsection:
``(f) Qualified Joint Venture.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of a qualified joint venture
conducted by a husband and wife who file a joint return for
the taxable year, for purposes of this title--
``(A) such joint venture shall not be treated as a
partnership,
``(B) all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and
credit shall be divided between the spouses in accordance
with their respective interests in the venture, and
``(C) each spouse shall take into account such spouse's
respective share of such items as if they were attributable
to a trade or business conducted by such spouse as a sole
proprietor.
``(2) Qualified joint venture.--For purposes of paragraph
(1), the term `qualified joint venture' means any joint
venture involving the conduct of a trade or business if--
``(A) the only members of such joint venture are a husband
and wife,
``(B) both spouses materially participate (within the
meaning of section 469(h) without regard to paragraph (5)
thereof) in such trade or business, and
``(C) both spouses elect the application of this
subsection.''.
(b) Net Earnings From Self-Employment.--
(1) Subsection (a) of section 1402 (defining net earnings
from self-employment) is amended by striking ``, and'' at the
end of paragraph (15) and inserting a semicolon, by striking
the period at the end of paragraph (16) and inserting ``;
and'', and by inserting after paragraph (16) the following
new paragraph:
``(17) notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this
subsection, each spouse's share of income or loss from a
qualified joint venture shall be taken into account as
provided in section 761(f) in determining net earnings from
self-employment of such spouse.''.
(2) Subsection (a) of section 211 of the Social Security
Act (defining net earnings from self-employment) is amended
by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (14), by striking
the period at the end of paragraph (15) and inserting ``;
and'', and by inserting after paragraph (15) the following
new paragraph:
``(16) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this
subsection, each spouse's share of income or loss from a
qualified joint venture shall be taken into account as
provided in section 761(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 in determining net earnings from self-employment of such
spouse.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31,
2006.
SEC. 7. DENIAL OF LOWEST CAPITAL GAINS RATE FOR CERTAIN
DEPENDENTS.
(a) In General.--Subsection (h) of section 1 is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(12) Certain individuals not eligible for lowest rate.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of an individual described
in subparagraph (B)--
``(i) the amount determined under paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(II)
shall not be less than the amount of taxable income which
would (without regard to this subsection) be taxed at a rate
below 15 percent, and
``(ii) the sum of the amounts determined under
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) shall be an amount
equal to the rate of tax specified in paragraph (1)(C)
multiplied by so much of the adjusted net capital gain (or,
if less, taxable income) as exceeds the excess (if any) of--
``(I) the amount of taxable income which would (without
regard to this subsection) be taxed at a rate below 15
percent, over
``(II) the taxable income reduced by the adjusted net
capital gain.
``(B) Individuals to whom paragraph applies.--
``(i) In general.--For purposes of this paragraph, an
individual is described in this subparagraph if--
``(I) such individual meets the age requirements of section
152(c)(3) (determined without regard to subparagraph (B)
thereof), and
``(II) such individual's earned income (as defined in
section 911(d)(2)) for the taxable year does not exceed one-
half of such individual's support (within the meaning of
section 152) for such taxable year.
``(ii) Special rules for joint returns.--In the case of a
joint return--
``(I) the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse shall be
treated as a single individual for purposes of applying
subclause (II) of clause (i), and
``(II) the taxpayer shall be treated as an individual
described in this subparagraph only if the taxpayer and the
taxpayer's spouse are described in clause (i) (determined
after application of subclause (I)).''.
(b) Alternative Minimum Tax.--Section 55 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Certain Individuals Not Eligible for Lowest Rate.--In
the case of an individual described in section 1(h)(12)(B),
no amount shall be determined under subsection (b)(3)(B).''.
(c) Coordination With Sunset of Provisions of the Jobs and
Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.--Subparagraph
(A) of section 1(h)(12), as added by this section, is amended
by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i), by striking the
period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ``, and'', and
by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) no amount of qualified 5-year gain shall be taken
into account under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) (as in
effect after the application of section 303 of the Jobs and
Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003).''.
(d) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2006.
(2) Sunset of jgtrra.--The amendment made by subsection (c)
shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date
specified in section 303 of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2003.
SEC. 8. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN PENALTIES AND INTEREST.
(a) In General.--Paragraphs (1)(A) and (3)(A) of section
6404(g) are each amended by striking ``18-month period'' and
inserting ``22-month period''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to notices provided by the Secretary of the
Treasury, or his delegate, after the date which is 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 9. TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ESTIMATED TAXES.
Subparagraph (B) of section 401(1) of the Tax Increase
Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 is amended by
striking ``106.25 percent'' and inserting ``112.75 percent''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Rangel) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues know, we passed
overwhelmingly the minimum wage bill. But it got into trouble in the
Senate as they attempted to attach an $8.2 billion tax cut.
I shared the problem that we faced with Mr. McCrery, and we thought
that small business certainly did deserve some assistance, with or
without the minimum wage bill. And we talked, and Mr. McCrery said,
well, if we are going to have a bill, are we going to pay for it? And
let's select what we thought would be the best interests of small
businesses in view of this dialogue that we had with the Senate.
Our staffs got together, gave us several options, and we agreed that
we would increase and extend the small business expense, increase the
work opportunity tax credit to include veterans and disabled veterans,
protect the current benefit of the FICA tip credit, allow small
businesses to use the work opportunity tax credit, and to enjoy the
alternative, to exclude alternative minimum tax, and to simplify the
tax filing system for businesses that are owned jointly by husband and
wife.
We then tried to figure a way to pay for it. And what we agreed to is
to make certain that the capital gains tax cut that was dramatically
made lower for people in low income, that we would prevent people from
transferring the capital stock to their kids who have little or no
income and enjoy a benefit that was designed to assist low-income
people.
Letters commending our efforts were received, it was supported by the
Chamber of Commerce which says that it is going to have a key vote; but
since I don't follow them that closely, I don't know what it means; the
National Association of Manufacturers, the National Restaurant
Association, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, American
Bankers Association, the American Farm Bureau, Federation to Secure the
Industry and Financial Markets Association, the National Federation of
Independent Business, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Coalition.
I urge you to join with me and the ranking minority member in
supporting this legislation, which is supported as well by the Small
Business Association.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H1856]]
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan bill
that has been crafted in the Ways and Means Committee, and I want to
commend the chairman and his staff for working with me and our staff on
the minority side of the committee to craft a bill that really does
effectively target tax relief to those businesses who will be most
impacted by an increase in the minimum wage.
This bill I think does a much better job of focusing that relief on
those businesses than the other body came up with in their version of
this legislation.
It is apparent to me, Mr. Speaker, that the Congress will increase
the minimum wage sometime this year. And with that in mind, I did my
best to work with Chairman Rangel and his staff to create a soft
landing for those businesses that are going to be impacted by that
increase in the minimum wage immediately. Mainly, we are talking about
restaurant owners, small businesses, those people who have more minimum
wage workers on the premises than other businesses. So the provisions
in this bill get right to those particular businesses, these provisions
do.
The tip credit, for example. The FICA tip credit, Mr. Speaker,
provision in this bill is very important for a couple reasons. Number
one, if we don't pass a provision like that and the minimum wage is
increased, these employers will automatically be mandated to pay an
increase in wages. That will be number one. That will hit them right
away. But, number two, they will lose a tip credit for FICA taxes paid
on the amount between the current minimum wage and the new minimum wage
from $5.15 to $7.25. So it will be a double whammy on these small
businesses that have these employees that depend on tips for part of
their income.
And that is why, Mr. Speaker, if you look at the joint tax scoring
sheet on this, it says no revenue effect; because, taken in isolation,
this provision has no impact. But if you join the minimum wage increase
with this bill, which we all know is going to be done, then this ``no
revenue effect'' becomes approximately a $500 million tax cut. So the
effect of this bill would be a net tax reduction for businesses.
Now, when we go to conference, if we get to conference and we get a
bill, and we know that this impact is going to be there, then under the
rules of the House we will have come up with a way to pay for that tax
cut. But as it is right now, the net effect of this bill would be a
$500 million tax cut.
The other provisions, the work opportunity tax credit is not only
extended but it is also expanded to apply to veterans. We think that is
a very good expansion of what is already a good provision in the Tax
Code to encourage people to hire people who have been on welfare, who
have been disabled, and now veterans.
And the other provisions, Mr. Speaker, extended expensing for small
businesses. We increase that to $125,000, we increase the phaseout from
$400,000 to $500,000. That is going to help small businesses
immediately, because some of those have reached the cap for their
expensing. But when this passes, they will get an expansion of that
amount. So they will get an immediate tax benefit this year.
In addition, we for the first time allow taxpayers to claim these
credits against the AMT, so that the AMT doesn't take back what we are
giving them in this legislation.
So all in all, Mr. Speaker, these are very effectively crafted
provisions to help small businesses who are going to be negatively
impacted by an increase in the minimum wage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that so many Members
have travel engagements, I will reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California
for a unanimous consent request.
(Mr. McKEON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the H.R. 976, the Small
Business Tax Relief Act.
Last month, after the new Majority rushed an unbalanced minimum wage
bill to the floor without following regular order and without
opportunity for amendment, I spoke from here and explained to my
colleagues that I believed it was a colossal missed opportunity. Now,
about six weeks later, it's clear that a colossal missed opportunity is
exactly what it was.
From the outset, I joined many of my colleagues in insisting on
protections for small businesses and their workers as part of a
comprehensive minimum wage bill. I thank one of these colleagues, Mr.
McCrery, for his work on the legislation before us. He joined me prior
to our debate last month in introducing comprehensive minimum wage
legislation that provides small business protections similar to those
found in this bill. As a result of our action here today, when we
finally send a final measure to the President, I am confident that it
will look a lot more like our bill than it will the Majority's initial,
unbalanced proposal.
Small businesses create two-thirds of our Nation's new jobs, and they
represent 98 percent of our new businesses. Since they are responsible
for so much of our Nation's recent economic growth. they and their
workers are counting on Congress to consider how any minimum wage
proposal would impact them. And this legislation will help us do just
that.
More than ever, Mr. Speaker, momentum remains squarely on the side of
those who want to act in a comprehensive way so small businesses and
their workers are not left to fend for themselves in the face of a hike
in the minimum wage mandate. And today, we're one step closer to
sending President Bush a final product that doesn't saddle them with
unnecessary burdens at the same time that they are creating most of the
new jobs in our in our growing economy. This bill was crafted with that
goal in mind, and because of that, I urge my colleagues to join me in
support of it.
{time} 1645
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin, a
member of the Ways and Means Committee, for as much time as he may
consume.
Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, this was the product of a
bipartisan compromise in the Ways and Means Committee. That is a good
thing. I am not here to talk about the merits of the bill.
I am here to talk about the fact that this is a suspension of the
rules. Among the things that this rules suspends is the Budget Act, and
this bill has two budget points of order that lie against it, section
303 and 311. So we are, in the early days of this majority, bringing a
bill to the floor that violates the Budget Act. We haven't written the
new budget, and we are violating the current one we have.
As to the new PAYGO system, if the PAYGO rule were in place that we
had before, or the PAYGO rule that was advocated by the Democrat
minority last year would be in place, this would violate their PAYGO
rule. It is convenient that this new, more-watered-down PAYGO doesn't
apply to this, but I think the facts should be known that this bill
does violate the Budget Act in two important ways.
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Garrett) for as much time as he may consume.
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Thank you, and I shall be brief.
Mr. Speaker, as I sit here and read the bill, I consider it a riddle:
When is a tax cut not a tax cut? When it really raises your taxes in
the end?
This legislation, as many tax bills, is masquerading as a tax cut,
when at the end of the day citizens of this country will see their
taxes rise.
The tax cuts in this bill are temporary. The tax increases in this
bill are permanent. There are good parts in the bill. Section 179,
expensing, is a good part; the tip credit, which was mentioned earlier,
a good part.
Portions were left out, as we discussed during the rule, such as
deductions for State and local tax deductions should have been in here.
But even beyond that, even if they were, it is a bad bill, because it
raises your taxes. Business lobby may be out there protecting the tax
businesses, who is protecting the individual taxpayer?
Earlier today, we received a flier from NTU, National Taxpayer Union,
which said, according to the CBO, H.R. 976 would increase net taxes by
providing only temporary tax cuts in exchange for permanent tax hikes.
Furthermore, a memo from RSE indicates similarly. H.R. 976 would
permanently increase taxes on some taxpayers, while others would see
them go down.
This bill was also scored by the Joint Committee on Taxation. So it
is not just my word on it. It is not the word of NTU or RSE. The Joint
Committee
[[Page H1857]]
on Taxation also concludes this bill would yield a net tax increase
over 6 years.
How does this bill hurt the American taxpayer? It hurts the young,
and it hurts the small business. It hurts the young who are between the
age of 19 and 24, those individuals who are just getting out in the
world, starting their own businesses. It hurts the young and the
college student, who may not have lobbyists down here in Washington. It
hurts them. Small businesses, it hurts them as well because they now
have an acceleration in their taxes.
In conclusion, so you can get your flights and what have you to go
back to your taxpayers and explain to them why you raised their taxes,
since 2003, the gentleman, the ranking member, could probably explain
better than I, the tax cuts we have put in place have spurred on the
economy, have spurred on the revenue.
Since October of last year to this year, you have seen a 9.7 percent
increase in revenue because of true tax cuts. What America's taxpayers
need is permanent tax cuts. We do not need permanent tax increases,
which this bill will provide.
I encourage a ``no'' vote on the tax increase bill.
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, the FICA tip credit provision in this bill
is permanent. It is not temporary. It is extremely important, as I
explained before, to restaurant owners and the like. So that is one
provision, a very important provision, that is made permanent in this
legislation. It is not temporary.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
976, the Small Business Tax Credit Act of 2007. This tax relief will
help small businesses continue to grow and hire new workers to improve
our economy. I firmly believe small businesses are the backbone of our
economy and tax incentives are an important tool in helping maintain a
competitive edge in today's business world. By passing this
legislation, we are one step closer to implementation of a higher
minimum wage.
H.R. 976 would help small businesses invest in new equipment and more
easily afford large capital expenses. It extends small business
expensing for one year--increasing both the amount small businesses can
deduct from their taxes and the number of small businesses that can
take these deductions. Qualified property includes farm machinery
equipment and attached farm property, such as automatic feeders, barn
cleaners, single purpose agricultural structures and livestock, to name
just a few. The ability to deduct expenses immediately instead of
having to depreciate them over time improves cash flow and allows small
businesses and farmers to better match income and expenses.
In addition, the bill would simplify tax filing requirements for
businesses owned jointly by husbands and wives, and ensure that small
businesses are fully able to claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and
tip credit against AMT liability.
Again, passing this legislation is critically important to getting
the increase in the minimum wage enacted into law. Raising the minimum
wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years would benefit 13
million Americans including 7.7 million women and 3.4 million parents.
Mr. Speaker, for these reasons I support this legislation and urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 976.
This is a smart bill that is good for workers and their employers.
Representing Queens and the Bronx, I serve a large number of people
who work full time jobs for the minimum wage, and they deserve a raise.
But their employers, like the small restaurants that dot 74th Street
in Jackson Heights should not be hit with a new tax.
This bill will allow congress to start in motion the process of
increasing the minimum wage, while protecting important employer tax
benefits like enhancing the tip credit and expanding and increasing
expensing deductions.
This bill also extends and expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to
encourage businesses to hire people who were formerly on welfare.
Today, we are showing the American people that the Congress works.
This bill is good for workers and business and I urge everyone to
support it.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule
and the underlying bill, H.R. 976, The Small Business Tax Relief Act of
2007.
This bill provides $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small business
owners and is one of the final steps toward raising the federal minimum
wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour.
It has been 9\1/2\ years since the last minimum wage increase despite
widespread support across the country and within the U.S. Congress. And
why? Because of partisan politics, and special interests coming before
the people's interests.
The Democratic Congress promised a change in priorities. And as one
of our first measures of business, Democrats brought a minimum wage
increase to the House floor, which received overwhelming bipartisan
support. The other body has followed suit and we must work to resolve
our differences, which is why we bring this bill before the House
today.
A recent poll showed that 89 percent of Americans favor raising the
minimum wage. The American public deserves--and has demanded--that
raise. With our immediate consideration of this bill, we will heed that
call. Hard-working Americans have waited far too long to receive an
honest day's pay for an honest day's work.
The people's time has come. We have pledged to act in the public's
best interests and we must do so without further delay. Passage of this
rule and H.R. 976 will speed enactment of the long overdue increase in
the minimum wage.
The Democratic Congress also pledged to reach across the aisle in a
bipartisan manner and address the priorities of all Americans. Our
bipartisan effort resulted in the carefully constructed compromise that
we have before us today. This bill isn't about partisan politics, it's
just good policy.
H.R. 976 will help give hard-working families the pay increase they
so richly deserve, and ensure small business owners have every
opportunity to succeed and prosper. And it will do so in a fiscally
responsible manner that will avoid adding to the legacy of debt being
left to our children and grandchildren.
Simply stated, this bill is good for taxpayers, good for business,
good for people, and is just good policy.
Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Rangel and
Ranking Member McCrery for proving that the Ways and Means Committee
can work in a bipartisan way to extend needed relief to our nation's
small businesses.
I am particularly pleased that this bill--the first to be acted upon
by the committee since I became a member--includes a provision that
closely mirrors the Veterans Employment and Respect Act, which was the
first legislative proposal I introduced upon being elected to Congress
in 2005.
Section 2 of the bill before us today extends the Work Opportunity
Tax Credit to include veterans who have developed a service-related
disability and who have been discharged or released since September 11,
2001.
Our military service men and women deserve our utmost respect during
their active service, and our support and assistance during the
sometimes difficult transition back into civilian life. One key
component of a successful transition is the opportunity to gain
meaningful employment in the private sector. Incentives designed to
encourage employers to hire some of the newest veterans--many of whom
are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan--will better enable these men
and women to make a smooth return to civilian life.
I offer my appreciation to the Chairman and Ranking Member for
including this important provision and for making additional changes to
the Work Opportunity Tax Credit that will ensure more businesses are
able to take advantage of it. This will positively impact the lives of
our disabled veterans and citizens seeking gainful employment after a
period of unemployment, welfare assistance, or disability.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, which
includes an array of tax cuts and other provisions that will help the
small businesses that provide jobs for Americans in all sectors of the
economy.
The bill will make it easier for small businesses to invest in new
equipment by extending their ability to count such investments as a
business expense, increasing from $112,000 to $125,000 the amount that
can be deducted from their taxes and expanding the number of small
businesses that can take these deductions.
In addition, the bill extends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, WOTC--
which provides incentives for hiring--and expands it to cover disabled
veterans.
It also will enhance the current tip credit for small businesses, by
maintaining the current tip credit that small businesses take for the
Social Security taxes that they pay on their employees' tips, instead
of allowing it to drop with the increase in the minimum wage. This is
particularly important for many restaurants in Colorado and across the
country.
And it will simplify tax-filing requirements for businesses owned
jointly by married couples and ensure that small businesses are fully
able to claim the WOTC and tip credit against Alternative Minimum Tax
liability.
Mr. Speaker, I think this bill is an excellent example of the good
results that can be achieved when we work together on a bipartisan
basis. It has the support of the Administration and has also been
endorsed by the national Chamber of Commerce, the National
[[Page H1858]]
Association of Manufacturers, the National Federation of Independent
Businesses, the National Restaurant Association.
I have also received a letter of support from the American Farm
Bureau Federation--which I will insert in the Record--noting that
passage of the bill will directly benefit many farm and ranch
businesses. This means it is particularly important for our rural
communities in Colorado.
This is a good bill, and I think it deserves the approval of the
House.
February 15, 2007.
Hon. Mark Udall,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Udall: The American Farm Bureau
Federation supports passage of H.R. 976, the Small Business
Tax Relief Act of 2007.
H.R. 976 extends the enhanced provisions of section 179
small business expensing for one year. Beginning in 2007, it
increases the maximum amount that can be expensed from
$112,000 to $125,000 and the total dollar limit from $450,000
to $500,000.
Section 179 allows small businesses to expense the cost of
qualified property in the year that it is purchased in lieu
of depreciation. Qualified property includes farm machinery
equipment and attached farm property, such as milk tanks,
automatic feeders, barn cleaners, single purpose agricultural
structures and livestock.
The ability to deduct expenses immediately instead of
having to depreciate them over time improve cash flow and
allows farm and ranch businesses to better match income and
expenses. Extending and expanding small business expensing
will offer additional benefits to farm and ranch businesses.
Farm Bureau urges you to vote for passage of H.R. 976, the
Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007.
Sincerely,
Bob Stallman,
President.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 976, the Small
Business Tax Relief Act.
This tax package provides limited, targeted tax relief for small
businesses in a fiscally responsible manner. At a little over $1.3
billion it provides a meaningful level of relief, offset by closing a
loophole that would allow some upper income tax payers to take
advantage of a reduced capital gains tax that was intended to benefit
low income Americans.
In addition to being fiscally responsible, it's fully bipartisan.
Both Democratic and Republican Members had a chance to provide their
input. It was introduced jointly by Chairman Rangel and Mr. McCrery,
and it has been co-sponsored by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of
the Ways and Means Committee.
I am particularly supportive of extending the Work Opportunity Tax
Credit, and expanding the Credit to include veterans who have been
disabled since September 11th, which this bill does.
But mostly, I am supportive of going to conference with the other
body to pass a minimum wage increase. This legislation will accomplish
that. Thirteen million Americans have not had a raise--not even a cost
of living adjustment--in 9 years. In a word, a minimum wage increase is
overdue.
The current minimum wage is so low that an individual working full
time at the minimum wage would make only $10,712--that's 35% below the
federal poverty line for a family of three. I urge all of my colleagues
to support this responsible tax package so we can move onto conference
and providing millions of Americans with the raise they deserve.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 976, the Small
Business Tax Relief Act of 2007. This bill creates immediate
opportunities for small businesses around the country and in western
Wisconsin. Small businesses are the engine of America's economy,
representing more than 95 percent of all employers, creating half of
our gross domestic product, and creating three out of four new jobs
nationwide. If the United States is going to continue to have a strong
economy, we must give small businesses every opportunity to succeed;
H.R. 976 provides the right tax opportunities for positive growth for
small businesses.
Additionally, I would like to thank Chairman Rangel and Ranking
Member McCrery for presenting a bipartisan bill to the Committee on
Ways and Means and to the House of Representatives. With their combined
leadership, I know my first term on the Committee on Ways and Means
will be eventful and successful.
Since coming to Congress, I have consistently supported a range of
proposals to help small firms, including giving help to small
manufacturers through tax relief and the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership; creating a new small business health care tax credit; and
putting the government on a ``pay as you go'' basis to restrain deficit
spending that raises interest rates and restricts small firms' access
to capital.
H.R. 976 follows this tradition by providing $1.3 billion in tax cuts
targeted to small business over the next 10 years. This cost, however,
is entirely offset by provisions that pay for it. The bill's tax cuts
include a one-year extension for deductions on small business expenses,
and it increases the amount of such expenses these businesses could
deduct. It also extends for one year the tax credit for employers who
hire certain disadvantaged workers, and ensures that an increase in the
minimum wage would not reduce the current ``tip credit'' for restaurant
employers. Most importantly, this bill accomplishes these savings for
small businesses within the framework of pay-as-you-go rules.
Most significantly, H.R. 976 includes a provision to help simplify
taxes for family farmers. Right now, if a farm owned by a married
couple files as a sole proprietorship (instead of a partnership), only
one spouse receives credit for paying Social Security and Medicare
taxes. This bill allows both spouses to receive credit for the Social
Security and Medicare taxes they pay while under a sole proprietorship.
Filing for a partnership can be a costly and time consuming process,
and this bill allows both spouses the security that comes with Social
Security and Medicare benefits, without the extra burden.
Specifically, I know this provision will greatly benefit family
farmers in western Wisconsin and around the country. This
simplification will allow both spouses running a farm to receive credit
for the taxes they pay, and ensures that in the event of a tragedy, or
simply in old age, both of them are taken care of.
Small business is critical to economic strength, building America's
future, and helping the United States compete in today's global
marketplace. I urge my colleagues to vote for this common sense bill so
we can support our most important economic driver, the small business.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the
Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007. I commend my colleagues on the
Ways and Means Committee for working in a bipartisan way to reach an
agreement on provisions that will not only help small businesses grow
and thrive, but will provide small businesses with incentives to hire
disadvantaged workers. Not only that, it will not pass any costs onto
our children.
The most important thing that will come out of passing this piece of
legislation today, is that it will ensure that we finally pass a
minimum wage increase. As I have said before, we have waited far too
long--10 long years--to give our working poor a pay raise. We should be
ashamed of that delay, but I am proud that we are taking that important
step to restoring dignity and fairness for our minimum wage earners.
This minimum wage increase will help millions of our brothers and
sisters, mothers and fathers.
My fight in Congress is the fight against poverty. We must do more
for working families, for families who are playing by the rules and
still cannot get ahead. I just don't understand how people survive
under these circumstances. We cannot stand by and watch millions of
people continue to fall into poverty. This minimum wage increase is not
the end, but the beginning of our fight against poverty in this nation.
Passing this legislation today will smooth the path to the passage of
the minimum wage increase. This bill is also a symbol of how much we
can accomplish to help hard working families when we work together,
across the aisle--Democrats and Republicans. And I look forward to
continued progress in the fight against poverty in the 110th Congress.
Mr. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Small
Business Tax Relief Act.
Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy, and I am
pleased that today we are considering a few common-sense provisions
that will lessen the tax burden our small businesses face.
I am especially supportive of the language that will have a direct
impact on the restaurants in my district. The bill will allow
restaurants in Las Vegas and across the country to continue claiming
the full tip credit despite any increase in the federal minimum wage.
I strongly support increasing the minimum wage and was proud to vote
in favor of legislation this House passed as part of the Democratic
majority's first 100 hours. I am hopeful that passing this bill will
help move the process along in order to achieve this important goal.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule
and the underlying bill H.R. 976, The Small Business Tax Relief Act of
2007.
This bill provides $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small business
owners and is one of the final steps toward raising the federal minimum
wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. It has been 9\1/2\ years
since the last minimum wage increase despite widespread support across
the country and within the U.S. Congress. And why? Because of partisan
politics and special interests coming before the people's interests.
The Democratic Congress promised a change in priorities. And as one
of our first measures of business, Democrats brought a minimum wage
increase to the House floor,
[[Page H1859]]
which received overwhelming bipartisan support. The other body has
followed suit and we must work to resolve our differences, which is why
we bring this bill before the House today.
A recent poll showed that 89 percent of Americans favor raising the
minimum wage. The American public deserves--and has demanded--that
raise. With our immediate consideration of this bill, we will heed that
call. Hard-working Americans have waited far too long to receive an
honest day's pay for an honest day's work.
The people's time has come. We have pledged to act in the public's
best interests and we must do so without further delay. Passage of this
rule and H.R. 976 will speed enactment of the long overdue increase in
the minimum wage.
The Democratic Congress also pledged to reach across the aisle in a
bipartisan manner and address the priorities of all Americans. Our
bipartisan effort resulted in the carefully constructed compromise that
we have before us today. This bill isn't about partisan politics, it's
just good policy.
H.R. 976 will help give hard-working families the pay increase they
so richly deserve, and ensure small business owners have every
opportunity to succeed and prosper. And it will do so in a fiscally
responsible manner that will avoid adding to the legacy of debt being
left to our children and grandchildren.
Simply stated, this bill is good for taxpayers, good for business,
good for people, and is just good policy.
Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 976,
the Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007. My family has owned small
businesses in Tennessee for generations, and I understand the unique
challenges these family-operated businesses face in remaining
successful and meeting the needs of their communities. We also
understand their importance in helping fuel the local and national
economies. I am proud of the work we are doing here to support small
businesses as they continue to thrive and give them the assistance they
need to help raise their workers' wages.
It is fitting that this is the first major tax package to adhere to
the new PAYGO rules this House has re-implemented to curb deficit
spending, because ``pay as you go'' is a basic principle that every
small business owner we are helping here today already follows every
day. I am glad that we are following their lead and operating under
responsible business values such as PAYGO.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Rangel and Ranking
Member McCrery for the way they have worked together on this bill. I
have been a part of the Ways and Means Committee for 10 years, and this
is the first major tax bill I know of during that time that has been
reported out of our committee by a unanimous, bipartisan vote. I am
encouraged by that and hope the bipartisanship will continue as we look
forward to the other legislative priorities facing us on the Committee.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, surely the smaller and less complex your
business structure, the less complex your tax filings should be. But
the tax code is so full of complexity that there is barely any room
left for simplicity for even the truly Mom- and Pop-owned business or
the couple who is trying to hold on to the family farm or ranch.
I am particularly pleased that this bill includes a provision to help
husband and wife co-owned businesses that was taken from a bill that I
co-introduced with the now Small Business Committee Chairwoman in the
last Congress and reintroduced this Congress. My simplification
provision has repeatedly been included in the Taxpayer Advocate's
annual recommendations to Congress. Now it will hopefully become a
reality. An additional benefit of this provision is to ensure equity
for wives in these situations by giving both the husband and the wife
credit for paying Medicare and Social Security taxes.
I also support the extension and increase of small business
expensing, which allows small businesses to make significant capital
investments--such as acquiring computer software or farm equipment--and
deduct the total cost from income immediately, rather than depreciating
them over extended periods of time. By reflecting the increasing costs
of doing business, this provision will allow small business owners to
build upon their all-American dreams.
As a result of this bill, many of the small Mom- and Pop-owned farms,
ranches, and businesses that I represent in Texas will find tax season
a little less taxing and a lot fairer. The Committee has shown
restraint in drafting this bill. With the purchasing power of the
minimum wage at its lowest level in 50 years, neither it nor these
modest reforms to help small businesses should be held hostage to the
endless appetite of some for another $8 billion plus in additional tax
breaks.
Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Rangel and
Ranking Member McCrery for proving that the Ways and Means Committee
can work in a bipartisan way to extend needed relief to our Nation's
small businesses.
I am particularly pleased that this bill--the first to be acted upon
by the committee since I became a member--includes a provision that
closely mirrors the Veterans Employment and Respect Act. which was the
first legislative proposal I introduced upon being elected to Congress
in 2005.
Section 2 of the bill before us today extends the Work Opportunity
Tax Credit to include veterans who have developed a service-related
disability and who have been discharged or released since September 11,
2001.
Our military service men and women deserve our utmost respect during
their active service, and our support and assistance during the
sometimes difficult transition back into civilian life. One key
component of a successful transition is the opportunity to gain
meaningful employment in the private sector. Incentives designed to
encourage employers to hire some of the newest veterans--many of whom
are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan--will better enable these men
and women to make a smooth return to civilian life.
I offer my appreciation to the Chairman and Ranking Member for
including this important provision and for making additional changes to
the Work Opportunity Tax Credit that will ensure more businesses are
able to take advantage of it and, as a result, positively impact the
lives of our disabled veterans and citizens seeking gainful employment
after a period of unemployment, welfare assistance, or disability.
Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I think we've done a good job
of balancing small business tax incentives with an increase in the
minimum wage.
Both workers and employers come out winners. And because the bill is
revenue neutral, the taxpayer also wins.
The bill provides a few billion dollars of tax relief in the first
few years while businesses are absorbing the minimum wage increase.
These tax benefits include a 1-year extension of the WOTC, Work
Opportunity Tax Credit, which is a credit for employers who hire the
hard-to-employ.
Eligible workers include those from low-income communities, or those
on public assistance, or veterans who simply need a boost in getting
back into the workforce.
Our bipartisan bill also doubles the WOTC credit for hiring veterans
with service-connected disabilities.
The bill also increases and extends the small business expensing
allowance so that small business owners can write-off capital
expenditures.
A small business owner buying equipment or new computers can
immediately recoup the cost, rather than depreciating the asset over
several years.
And the bill allows businesses to continue to take a full ``tip
credit'' for their tipped workers. Otherwise, with the increase in the
minimum wage, these business owners would lose a significant amount of
the tip credit right away.
I applaud the work of Chairman Rangel and Mr. McCrery who drafted
this bipartisan bill. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R.
976, which will provide tax relief to small businesses, the backbone of
our economy.
It is my hope that this revenue-neutral tax bill will be coupled with
the $7.25 minimum wage increase this House of Representatives passed in
its First 100 hours. We owe it to hard-working Americans to give them a
living wage, as well as provide tax relief to small businesses that
would allow them to continue to grow and play a vital role in our local
economies across the country.
In my hometown of Cleveland, OH, over 95 percent of the businesses
are considered small businesses, employing about 58,000 Clevelanders.
In the State of Ohio, over 490,000 people are employed by small
businesses. These workers and businesses will benefit from the tax
benefits in this bill, allowing them to thrive and reinvest in our
communities.
Let me praise two key provisions in this bill. H.R. 976:
1. Extends and expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The WOTC
provides employers with a tax credit for employing ex-offenders,
qualified veterans, TANF recipients, high-risk youth, food stamp
recipients, and other targeted groups. The credit helps break down many
of the barriers preventing these Americans from getting work. H.R. 976
extends the WOTC, and expands the credit for the benefit of disabled
veterans and residents living in empowerment zones, enterprise
communities, and renewal communities.
2. Extends the Section 179 small business expensing, and increases
from $112,000 to $125,000 (indexed for inflation) the total amount of
expensing allowed. The bill also expands the number of small businesses
that can qualify for the maximum benefit by increasing the phaseout
threshold amount from $450,000 to $500,000.
[[Page H1860]]
Let me also discuss another important provision in this tax bill, and
that is the enhancement of the tip credit. I was recently approached
about this issue by a chef and restaurant owner in my Congressional
District, Sergio Abramof. Sergio owns two excellent restaurants:
Sergio's in University Circle, and Sergio's Sarava at Shaker Square.
Fortunately, H.R. 976 will allow businesses to continue claiming the
full tip credit despite an increase in the Federal minimum wage. That
provision will assist workers and restaurants like those owned by
Sergio, so I am very pleased that we are including it in this
legislation.
H.R. 976 is fair, bipartisan legislation that will allow small
businesses to continue to be an economic engine. I urge my colleagues
to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 976, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 360,
noes 45, not voting 28, as follows:
[Roll No. 102]
AYES--360
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Alexander
Allen
Altmire
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Bachus
Baker
Baldwin
Barrow
Barton (TX)
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd (FL)
Boyda (KS)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burton (IN)
Butterfield
Camp (MI)
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson
Carter
Castle
Castor
Chabot
Chandler
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Cohen
Cole (OK)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Cramer
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
Davis (KY)
Davis, David
Davis, Lincoln
Davis, Tom
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly
Doolittle
Doyle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Edwards
Ehlers
Ellison
Ellsworth
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English (PA)
Eshoo
Etheridge
Fallin
Farr
Fattah
Ferguson
Filner
Forbes
Fortenberry
Frank (MA)
Frelinghuysen
Gerlach
Giffords
Gilchrest
Gillibrand
Gillmor
Gohmert
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Granger
Graves
Green, Al
Grijalva
Hall (NY)
Hall (TX)
Hare
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Heller
Herger
Herseth
Higgins
Hill
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hobson
Hodes
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Hunter
Inglis (SC)
Inslee
Israel
Issa
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jindal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
King (NY)
Kirk
Klein (FL)
Kline (MN)
Knollenberg
Kucinich
Kuhl (NY)
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
LaTourette
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Mahoney (FL)
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Marchant
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul (TX)
McCollum (MN)
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (MI)
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy, Patrick
Murphy, Tim
Murtha
Myrick
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Nunes
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Perlmutter
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Pomeroy
Porter
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rodriguez
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Saxton
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schmidt
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Sestak
Shays
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Sires
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Souder
Space
Spratt
Stearns
Stupak
Sutton
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Towns
Turner
Udall (CO)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walberg
Walden (OR)
Walsh (NY)
Walz (MN)
Wasserman Schultz
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch (VT)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (OH)
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Yarmuth
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOES--45
Akin
Bachmann
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Burgess
Buyer
Campbell (CA)
Cannon
Conaway
Culberson
Deal (GA)
Feeney
Fossella
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Garrett (NJ)
Gingrey
Hensarling
Hoekstra
Jordan
King (IA)
Kingston
Lamborn
Mack
McCotter
McHenry
Miller (FL)
Musgrave
Neugebauer
Pearce
Poe
Price (GA)
Radanovich
Royce
Sali
Shadegg
Sullivan
Tancredo
Thornberry
Wamp
Weldon (FL)
Westmoreland
Wilson (SC)
NOT VOTING--28
Baird
Berman
Boustany
Calvert
Costello
Davis, Jo Ann
DeFazio
Everett
Flake
Gallegly
Green, Gene
Gutierrez
Harman
Hastert
Hulshof
LaHood
Latham
LoBiondo
Lowey
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Nadler
Pence
Smith (TX)
Stark
Udall (NM)
Waters
Wicker
{time} 1710
Mr. CRENSHAW and Mr. SHUSTER changed their vote from ``no'' to
``aye.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the bill, as amended, was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal leave of absence, I was
unable to vote on passage of the Small Business Tax Relief Act, H.R.
976, rollcall vote No. 102. Had I been present, I would have voted
``aye'' on the bill.
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