Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Child tax credit continues to '10

By MAC COLLINS
Congressman

On Thursday, the House passed the All-American Tax Relief Act of 2003 (H.R. 1308). This bill builds on the Jobs and Growth Tax Act Of 2003, signed into law in May, and restores many of the provisions eliminated by the conference committee from the President's original request.

Specifically, H.R. 1308 will ensure that the increase of the child tax credit to $1,000 will be available to tax payers through 2010. Without this change, the child tax credit will be reduced in 2005. Additionally, H.R. 1308, eliminates the marriage penalty in the child credit. The phase-out thresholds of the child credit create a marriage penalty for married couples with incomes over $110,000. Millions of children are denied the child credit because of this penalty. This bill eliminates the marriage penalty by raising the phase-out threshold for married couples to $150,000.

Other provisions of H.R. 1308 provide tax relief and enhance tax fairness for members of the Armed Forces, suspend the tax-exempt status of designated terrorist organizations, and provide tax relief for the survivors of astronauts who die on space missions.

Legal Reform

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to protect consumers and business owners from unscrupulous attorneys. With my strong support, the House passed the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 (H.R. 1115) by a 253 to 170 vote.

The act would end the current practice of trial lawyers who "venue shop" state courts for class actions seeking the court which they believe will most likely give them a favorable decision. This measure would mandate federal court treatment for class actions suits with more than 100 plaintiffs from multiple states or where the award sought is more than $5 million.

In addition to ending many of the abuses of our state courts, this legislation also includes the Consumer Class Action Bill of Rights, which would end many of the abuses that attorneys often commit against their clients in class action cases. In class action suits, lawyers often keep large portions of settlements for themselves, leaving class members with virtually nothing, such as $1 off coupons in the well-known Blockbuster case. In some cases class members have actually lost money.

FAA Reauthorization

On Wednesday, with my support, the House passed H.R. 2115, the Flight 100, Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 418 to 8. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration through 2008 and provides assurances that all the taxes and revenues coming into the aviation trust fund from passengers and airlines are used specifically to address airport improvements and air traffic control modernization efforts.

Protecting Our Nuclear Waste

On Friday, I signed a letter of support for the continuing development of the Yucca Mountain, Nevada site as a repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and its 1987 amendments require the Department of Energy to locate, build, and operate a specially designed underground disposal facility for used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.

There are two nuclear plants in the state of Georgia, the Hatch Plant in Baxley, and the Vogtle Plant in Waynesboro, which together house 1,665 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel.

Locating this dangerous material in one, isolated location will make it safer and more cost-effective to guard from terrorists than storing it in scattered locations throughout the country.

In the wrong hands, this material could be used by those intent on spreading fear to create a radiological or "dirty" bomb. While not a nuclear weapon, a dirty bomb can spread dangerous radioactive material over a large area, causing significant fear and economic damage.

Additionally, prolonged exposure to this material can result in a significantly increased cancer risk or, in cases of extremely high exposure, result in radiation sickness and even death.

While nuclear power supplies an estimated 26.7 percent of the electricity generated in the state, and is a cost-effective and safe way to meet our energy demands, care of the products used in this production must be taken to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

Happy Birthday USA

Friday morning at Fort McPherson, Governor Sunny Perdue and I participated in the 228th birthday celebration of the U.S. Army. This celebration recognized the Army's history, traditions, and service to the nation.

The Army's birthday theme this year, "At War and Transforming," took on special meaning following Operation Iraqi Freedom and continuing Army operations in the global war on terrorism.

The ceremony acknowledged American soldiers, active duty, National Guard, and Reserves, who are currently deployed around the world performing critical national security missions while the Army transforms for the future.

Gov. Perdue and I thanked the soldiers, retirees, veterans, and their family members for their service to Georgia and the nation.