[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18953]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       H.R. 693, MILITARY DEATH GRATUITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2003

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 7, 2003, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Members can see beside me 
and behind me are photographs of men and women who have died in 
Operation Freedom; and the reason I come to the floor with these 
photographs, I do not want us as Members of Congress to ever forget, 
not that we ever would, the high cost of freedom, because someone has 
given a life to ensure that the American people as well as the people 
of Iraq can have the freedom that we in America are guaranteed by our 
Constitution.
  The reason I wanted to come to the floor is because many of my 
colleagues, as well as people throughout this country, do not realize 
that each and every family that has a loved one killed in the military 
receives what is called a death gratuity. It is a small amount of 
money, I do not think it is enough, but it is a check for $6,000. What 
makes it even worse than the amount is a tax on part of the $6,000.
  In the 107th Congress, I introduced legislation to eliminate the tax, 
and let me say that the House did its job in a bipartisan way and 
passed the legislation, sent it over to the other body and they failed 
to act on that legislation. Because of that, Mr. Speaker, families 
throughout this country, actually 292 military families, had to pay a 
tax on the death gratuity they received on the death of a loved one 
serving this Nation and possibly fighting for freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, if the other body does not pass this legislation that we 
have sent over there again this year, meaning 2003, very possibly in 
2004 there could be as many as 200 to 300 families in this country that 
will receive from Uncle Sam a notice that they owe tax on the death 
gratuity. I think this is unacceptable. I think it is deplorable that 
any family that would give a loved one to serve this Nation who has 
given their life to protect freedom would next year receive a tax 
notice from Uncle Sam.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that is unacceptable. I think the other body 
needs to do its job and pass legislation to ensure that in the year 
2004 the families who lose loved ones serving this Nation will not have 
to pay a tax on a $6,000 death gratuity. I think we as Congress must 
ensure that the families who have lost those loved ones will not be 
asked by Uncle Sam to pay a tax on the small amount of $6,000 for that 
loved one who has given their life. I close by encouraging the other 
body to do its job and not leave this fall and not have passed this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I close as I always do in my district, I ask God to 
please bless our men and women in uniform, I ask God to please bless 
their families, I ask God to please bless the families who have lost 
loved ones, I ask God to please bless the House and Senate that we will 
do what is right in the eyes of God, I ask God to please bless the 
President of the United States that he will do what is right in the 
eyes of God, and I ask three times, God please, God please, God please 
continue to bless America.

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