Tax Relief for Hostages

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stop Terror- Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.

Ryan Corbett, who grew up in my district, has been held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 832 days. It is inconceivable that Americans like Ryan, who endure such brutal hardship, should come home only to face a tax bill or penalties from our government, but that is what the current law prescribes.

Our Tax Code offers Americans held hostage just 1 year of relief before late fees and interest begin to accrue. This bill ensures that those individuals can return home without the added burden of financial fallout, allowing them to rebuild their lives.

This legislation also strengthens our stance against terrorism by revoking tax-exempt status from U.S. nonprofits that provide financing to groups like Hamas. Just as captors holding American citizens should not receive a dime in American taxpayer aid, neither should terrorist sympathizers receive tax relief from our Federal Government.

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