THOMPSON RELEASES STATEMENT ON SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCKING TAX RELIEF FOR WILDFIRE VICTIMS

Washington - Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, released the following statement in response to Senate Republicans blocking the consideration and passage of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024), bipartisan, comprehensive tax legislation containing his disaster tax relief legislation for wildfire victims:

"In the years since the devastating PG&E wildfires in our community, I haven't met a single person on either side of the aisle who believes it's right to tax victims on the settlement money meant to help them rebuild their lives. Survivors have been through enough.

"While no victim can ever be made truly whole after losing loved ones and cherished belongings, Congress has a responsibility to ensure disaster victims are not taxed on their settlements and to retroactively provide relief for those who have already been unfairly forced to pay. That's why I co-led an historic petition in the House of Representatives this Spring to force a House vote on my disaster tax relief legislation for a second time and pressure the Senate to act.

"I'm deeply disappointed that all but three Senate Republicans voted to block the consideration and passage of the bipartisan, comprehensive tax legislation containing my disaster tax relief bill today. I remain determined to deliver this relief to fire survivors and I will never quit working to make this relief a reality. It's time Senate Republicans step up and help pass my standalone disaster tax bill for victims."

The bipartisan, comprehensive tax legislation voted on today by the Senate contains Rep. Thompson's disaster tax relief legislation and passedin the House on January 31, 2024 with a strong bipartisan vote of 357 to 70.

In addition to the bipartisan, comprehensive tax legislation, Rep. Thompson co-led an effort with Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17) in Mayto successfully advance a discharge petition which forced House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring their standalone disaster tax relief legislation, H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, to the House floor for a vote.

The historic advancement of Rep Thompson and Rep. Steube's petition marked only the third time a House discharge petition has succeeded in the 21st Century. H.R. 5863 passed the House on May 22, 2024 with a strong bipartisan vote of 382 to 7. The Senate has yet to consider or vote on this legislation. Rep. Thompson has urgedSenate leaders Schumer, McConnell, Wyden, and Crapo to bring the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act up for a vote immediately.