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| Congressman Proposes Bill to Help Military Families |
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Geneva) has announced a bill that will create the National Military Family Relief Fund and provide greater aid to military families in all branches of the armed services. Foster recently introduced the bill, H.R. 1175, in the House of Representatives and says he modeled it after the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, which provides a checkoff box for donations on the Illinois tax returns.
"It is imperative that we provide our military families with the support and relief they deserve," Foster said. "During these tough economic times, we cannot leave our heroes and their families behind. This is a solution that also would allow any taxpayer to say thank you to our service members families and provide relief in a common-sense and fiscally responsible way."
Foster's bill calls for a National Military Family Relief Fund to which taxpayers would voluntarily contribute by filling in an amount on their federal income tax forms. The amount for the relief fund would be added to the supporter’s tax bill or deducted from their refund.
Foster says the Department of Defense would administer the fund. Active-duty and veteran servicemen and servicewomen fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their families would be eligible for grants from the relief fund if they are experiencing financial hardship.
Illinois' program, created in 2003, has been successful and has distributed more than $8 million to Illinois military families. More than 35 states have similar programs of their own.
Fosters hopes Congress will approve the measure before the next April's tax filing season.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 04 11 09 by Newsroom |
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