[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4052]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  VETERANS EDUCATION TAX SECURITY ACT

  (Mr. GALLEGO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, today, veterans who are disabled can get 
their Federal student loan debt discharged. But, unfortunately, the 
Department of Education reports discharged debt to the IRS, where it is 
considered as income for Federal and possible State tax purposes. In 
many instances, having Federal student loan debt discharged results in 
a substantial tax liability.
  That is why I am introducing the Veterans Education Tax Security 
Act--the VETS Act. This bill will ensure that disabled veterans, 
deceased veterans, and deceased members of the Armed Forces are not 
financially penalized when their Federal student loan debts are 
lawfully discharged.
  As veterans ourselves, Congressman Zinke and I both understand the 
importance of putting politics aside to support our soldiers and 
veterans who have risked their whole lives and their families to defend 
our country. They, or their families, should not be penalized when 
Federal student loans are forgiven because of death or disability.
  I thank Congressman Zinke for his support on this issue and look 
forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
champion fairness for our veterans.

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