[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17240]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        ELIMINATE THE DEATH TAX

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today the House passed a resolution 
urging Congress to eliminate the death tax. The death tax is the wrong 
tax on the wrong people at the wrong time. It punishes those who save 
and invest. It prevents parents from helping their children; and it 
forces many farmers, ranchers and small business owners to sell off a 
lifetime of hard work.
  The House of Representatives has done its job. Last year we voted to 
repeal the death tax, but the Senate has not acted on similar 
legislation. Repealing and reducing taxes leaves more money in working 
families' pockets. When they spend it or invest it or start a business, 
new jobs are created and the economy is benefited. Like a weed in a 
garden, the death tax is not useful, does harm, and needs to be 
eliminated.

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