[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMPENSATION FOR FIRE SURVIVORS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of 
thousands of California wildfire survivors.
  Following the disastrous wildfires in 2015, 2017, and 2018, a court-
ordered trust was established to compensate survivors for their loss of 
property. These funds are nowhere near enough to fully compensate for 
the loss of a home. Even worse, I have heard from countless 
constituents concerned that the funds they receive from the trust will 
be taxed.
  That is why I, along with Congressman LaMalfa, introduced H.R. 7305, 
to make clear that settlement proceeds like these are nontaxable.
  This legislation is absolutely essential to wildfire survivors, many 
of whom still cannot return to a home on their property.
  The sad reality is that more natural disasters, including fires, will 
happen in the future. It is critical that Congress pass this 
legislation now.
  This bill ensures Americans impacted by disasters do not owe unfair 
taxes.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to include this legislation in any 
omnibus or spending bill moving forward.

                          ____________________