[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 184 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H9379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT

  (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the fact that 
the American opportunity tax credit is going to become a permanent law 
as part of the tax extenders package. I introduced, as the prime 
sponsor, this legislation many years ago as part of the economic 
recovery efforts.
  It has provided well over $20 billion to millions of families, a 
$2,500 tax credit in which 40 percent is refundable. Over the next 10 
years, the Congressional Research Service suggests that well over $60 
billion will be provided to families to help meet higher education 
costs.
  So I want to just take a minute to pause and reflect on the fact that 
the work that we do here can, in fact, impact many, many lives. I want 
to thank my colleagues for their initial support of this program and 
for, today, our efforts that will be successful to make it permanent, 
along with the earned income tax credit and a number of other very 
important tax credits for American families.

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