[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26258]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     ARMED FORCES TAX FAIRNESS BILL

  (Mr. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, it is outrageous, it is unbelievable, but 
it is true. The House Republican leadership has kept at the Speaker's 
desk, since March of this year, the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Bill. 
Several months ago, they said we could afford to give a $230,000 tax 
break to American citizens living safely here at home making $1 million 
in dividend income; yet the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) say we cannot afford to provide 
modest tax help to brave service men and women, many of whom are 
serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Yesterday, the leadership said we had time to rename three post 
offices around the country; yet we have not had the time to consider 
the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act. Why? Because it is paid for by 
closing the Benedict Arnold loophole that lets American citizens 
renounce their citizenship to keep from paying taxes.
  It is shameful the Republican leadership seems to be more interested 
in protecting Benedict Arnolds than in helping our service men and 
women.

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