[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 187 (Friday, December 7, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S15030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PASSAGE OF VIRGINIA TECH HOKIE SPIRIT MEMORIAL FUND

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the families who 
lost loved ones and to those who suffered injuries as consequence of 
the horrific shootings that claimed 32 innocent lives on April 16, 
2007, on the campus of Virginia Tech. Having traveled to Virginia Tech 
the day after the shootings, I joined with the families and campus 
community in mourning. It is a memory that I carry with me to this day. 
We all greatly admire the ability of those who lost loved ones, and 
those who themselves were injured, to come together to support each 
other.
  In the aftermath of that tragic day, over 20,000 individuals and 
groups across the country demonstrated their overwhelming support for 
the victims and their families with generous financial donations that 
totaled approximately $8.5 million. The Virginia Tech administration 
established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund within the Virginia Tech 
Foundation to accept these charitable contributions. Indeed, all of 
America can take pride in this outpouring of sympathy and support.
  On October 30, 2007, the University officially distributed these 
funds to the 79 families and individuals in accordance with the 
protocols established by the Fund. While no amount of money can truly 
compensate for the loss of life or limb, these payments provide both 
the families of the deceased and the injured survivors with some 
financial resources to help, in some modest way.
  Unfortunately, Federal law was not clear as to whether these payments 
are subject to federal taxation. Congress recognized this uncertainty 
and this week expeditiously passed clarifying legislation that I 
sponsored in the Senate along with Senator Webb ensuring that these 
payments are exempt from federal taxation. The House measure was 
introduced by Representatives Boucher and Goodlatte. Having 
overwhelmingly passed both Houses of Congress, the bill will now be 
sent to the President with every expectation to be signed into law.
  Passage of this legislation could not have occurred without the 
support of several key groups. This October, family members and victims 
came to Capitol Hill to discuss the tragic day of April 16 and ways we 
could help prevent such events from taking place in the future. Later, 
I learned of the plans to distribute payments from the Fund to these 
families and victims. The administration of Virginia Tech along with 
some family members shared with my office in a very solemn and 
respectful manner the tax uncertainty associated with the Hokie Fund 
payments. These same concerns were echoed by accountants in the 
community who had volunteered their time to assist these families and 
victims.
  Having learned of this unfortunate tax predicament, my colleagues and 
I in Congress responded accordingly with swift introduction and 
consideration of legislation to ensure that we provide assistance to 
the families and victims in overcoming this horrific tragedy. Members 
and their staffs worked extremely hard to obtain speedy passage of this 
legislation, and I rise today to thank everyone who made enactment of 
this legislation possible.

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