Irs Fails to Serve Americans Held Hostage

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, there has been a sharp increase in hostile and adversarial nations kidnapping American citizens and holding them for ransom. While these Americans are being held hostage, the last thing that they and their families need is more bureaucratic red tape here at home.

The fact that the IRS has been charging these hostages with late fees and penalizing them for failing to file their tax returns is yet another sign of the agency's failure to serve the American people.

It is time for the House to pass the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which will address this issue and support these Americans during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

An equally important component of this bill is that it would revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that support terrorist groups like Hamas. No organization that supports terrorist groups should have tax shelters here in the United States.

It is time to stand with our allies and Americans. We need to pass this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. Celebrating President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

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Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, 161 years ago today, President Abraham Lincoln stood before a group of soldiers, citizens, and elected officials to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

His words offered a chance to reflect on the terrible cost that this battle had brought to Gettysburg, to the soldiers who had fought there, and to our Nation that was strained by years of a devastating Civil War.

Here in Congress, I have the honor to represent Gettysburg and the Gettysburg National Military Park. Today, the park does incredible work to tell the story of Gettysburg and to preserve the memory of all those who fought during this historic battle.

Please join me in remembering the words of President Lincoln: ``That this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth.''

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