Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

I cannot support $825 billion in unpaid for, permanent, and piecemeal tax cuts while other critical investments that help our most vulnerable citizens, like the long-term unemployed and working poor, go unmet.

I strongly support extending the IRA charitable rollover, tax incentives for property owners who protect natural resources through conservation easements, tax incentives for charitable contributions of food inventory, and improving the private foundation excise tax to allow a better response to communities during economic troubles and natural disasters, a bill which I introduced.

However, I oppose adding almost $1 trillion to the deficit that will imperil our economic recovery and the well-being of our citizens. I oppose leaving
behind other critical tax provisions that help the working poor, strengthen economically distressed communities, promote affordable housing, help cover transportation costs, incentivize businesses to hire hard-to-employ workers, and assist teachers with classroom expenses.

Many of these bills provide examples of smart Federal investment. For example, in the first 2 years the IRA charitable rollover was available, more than $140 million was donated to support charities, with the median gift just under $4,500.

I strongly support giving food to the hungry and helping the needy. However, I cannot vote in favor of this package of bills because of their fiscal impact and the lack of fiscal responsibility to balanced policy.

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