[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TAXMAN STEALS THE GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, America's best athletes carry the 
banner of Old Glory into the Olympic Games. They are a remarkable breed 
and have dedicated their lives in training to represent Team USA in 
lands far, far away.
  This year is no different as they hit the snowy Winter Games in 
Russia, and they are already doing quite well. As the ``Star-Spangled 
Banner'' plays, they stand on the podium to receive gold, silver, and 
bronze medals--but lurking in the creepy shadows of the medal ceremony 
is the U.S. taxman.
  The IRS wants a piece of the gold even though these medals were won 
overseas. It is absurd that the IRS can levy a tax on these medals. 
These athletes are ambassadors for America. Their medals should not be 
taxed by the IRS. Are some winners going to have to sell their medals 
to pay the taxman? Who knows?
  Congress should pass Congressman Farenthold's legislation this week 
that would keep the greedy hands of the IRS off the medals of the 
Olympians.
  Mr. Speaker, the taxman should not be able to steal the gold, silver, 
and bronze.
  And that's just the way it is.

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