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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Air Force Association Calls on Congress to Follow Through with Promise of
Tax Fairness
Washington, D.C., October 22, 2003—The Air Force Association (AFA) joined
Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX), the Military Officers Association of America,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Bar Association, the American Foreign
Service Association and the National Military Families Association in urging the
House Leadership to send H.R. 1307 to the President for his signature.
“The United States Congress did the right thing when it unanimously passed the
Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act,” said AFA Executive Director Lt Gen Don Peterson,
USAF (Ret.) during a press conference in the Rayburn House Office Building. The
bill has yet to be sent to the White House, however, due to minor differences in
the House and Senate versions of the bill.
The bill covers a wide range of tax issues aimed at improving the quality of
life of our men and women in uniform:
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Under current law, individuals may exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 if
married filing a joint return) of gain from the sale of a principal
residence as long as they reside in the property for two of the five years
preceding the sale. H.R. 1307 would allow military and Foreign Service
personnel to count time spent away from their home on military orders as
time spent in-residence when determining the capital gains tax.
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Members of the Guard and Reserve would be allowed to deduct drill-related
travel and lodging expenses when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
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Currently, only half of the $6,000 death gratuity paid to survivors of
uniformed service members is tax free. H.R. 1307 would exempt the entire $6,000.>
“AFA has received an unprecedented volume of correspondence from our members on H.R.
1307 seeking fairness on these issues,” said Peterson. “Now is the time to let our
men and women in uniform know that we appreciate the sacrifices they and their families
are making in defense of freedom.”
The Air Force Association has called on its 136,000 members to contact their
Representatives and Senators and urge them to pressure the House Leadership to
finalize the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act and send it to the President. AFA has
also taken action through The Military Coalition, a group of 35 military/veterans
service organizations representing 5.5 million members of the uniformed services.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ladd Everitt (703) 247-5847, email:
leveritt@afa.org
The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian
organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it
plays in the security of the nation. AFA has more than 250 chapters nationwide and
overseas, and more than 136,000 members.
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