[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HELPING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN

  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I rise today to talk about a bill 
that I will be introducing called the Elimination of the Single Parent 
Tax Act.
  When I came to the Senate, I reflected often on some of the work I 
did in the House. As a Congresswoman, I spent a lot of time in my 
community doing ``Congress on York corner.'' I would go to a local book 
shop or a senior center or a grocery store and meet with folks and 
listen to their concerns. I would try very hard to turn those concerns 
into legislative ideas.
  One of the last ones I did as a House Member was in Warren County. A 
woman said to me:

       Congresswoman, I received a bill from the Federal 
     Government and I need you to do something about it.

  She was very visibly upset. She also said to me:

       This is a bill for $25. I am a single mom and I earn about 
     $20,000 a year. I have 3 boys. The Federal Government is 
     billing me because I receive child support. I cannot handle 
     another bill, and while $25 may not seem like a lot to you, 
     it is to me, because $25 is what I spend for my boys for 
     lunch for a week. Please do something about this.

  I looked into the issue, and I found out it was part of the Bush 
administration's Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. It occurred to me, why 
in the world are we trying to balance the Federal budget on the backs 
of single parents, particularly those who need that money to provide 
for their kids? On average, 30 percent of the income that single 
parents receive is from their child support. So it goes a long way to 
providing basic needs for their kids, whether it is for diapers, baby 
formula, food, education, or health care. So I wrote this bill to 
address this problem. I think it should not be paid by the single 
parents, or the States, and that, in fact, the overhead should be 
covered.
  This penalty raises only $65 million per year. That is a cost I think 
we should include as we begin to look at the Deficit Reduction Act this 
year.
  Interestingly enough, in the Deficit Reduction Act, under the Bush 
administration, they also cut more than $4 billion of incentive 
payments the Federal Government had made to States to help encourage 
them to improve child support programs. This funding is crucial to how 
our single parents provide for their kids.

  As we begin to look at Mother's Day, which is right around the corner 
and it is a time when we all reflect on how much our mothers have done 
for us and how much we love them, I think we as Federal legislators 
should do what we can do to protect our mothers and to stand up for 
them and help them take care of their kids.
  If we can pass this bill, it will make a difference for many families 
in New York State. There are more than 200,000 families who are 
affected by this tax. For example, over 13,000 single parents in 
western New York; over 14,000 single parents in Rochester and the 
Finger Lakes region; over 11,000 single parents in central New York; 
over 8,000 single parents in the southern tier; over 18,000 single 
parents in the capital region; over 7,000 single parents in the north 
country; and over 25,000 single parents in the Hudson Valley.
  Right now there are 27 States across the country that are charging 
this single parent penalty tax. This could make a difference all across 
our great Nation.
  I am going to work very hard with the Finance Committee chairman to 
strike this fee from the Deficit Reduction Act when it is reviewed by 
the committee in the coming months.
  As we reflect on Mother's Day, we have to do our part to make a 
difference for our mothers. One other issue that is near and dear to my 
heart that will make a difference for our moms is the Paycheck Fairness 
Act. If we look at the statistics, it is pretty unbelievable. For every 
dollar a man earns, a woman earns only 78 cents. If you are a woman of 
color, it is even worse. If you are an African-American woman, you will 
earn 62 cents. If you are Latino, you will earn 53 cents. That is 
unacceptable and unfair because when women earn more money, they can 
bring more money home to their families and better provide for their 
kids. All the statistics show when women earn their fair share, 
children have better access to education, health care, and 
opportunities.
  As we celebrate Mother's Day, let's do something for our mothers and 
fight for them so they can protect and provide for their children.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right.

                          ____________________