Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2014

Floor Speech

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4719.

The bill before us today includes policies that enjoy broad bipartisan support, and have been passed by this body before with Members from both sides speaking out in favor. Unfortunately, the manner in which they are being presented to us today leads me to oppose this bill.

As we debate this legislation, many of our constituents cannot climb out of long-term unemployment. Our inaction on extending the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program means they will not have access to benefits that support their efforts to search for a new job. The Senate has passed legislation to extend the EUC program, but in the House we have been told that the cost of the legislation must be offset. Today, however, we are being asked to support a bill that will add $16.2 billion to the federal deficit over the next ten years that is not offset. This is a double standard that is unfair to our constituents and does a disservice to the policies we are considering extending here today.

In January 2013, I voted to support a legislative package that extended these three expired provisions: the conservation tax incentive, the IRA contribution provision, and the food inventory donation incentive. The American Taxpayer Relief Act extended these provisions for two years, as did the motion to recommit this bill, which was offered by our colleague from Maryland, Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I was glad to support these provisions in 2013, and in the motion to recommit this bill, because policies to promote charitable giving can help bolster the social safety net that has remained stretched by the lingering effects of the recession. But to attempt to reinforce the safety net in this one area by undermining it in another and refusing to extend EUC is a choice that I am not willing to make.

I look forward to considering these provisions under different circumstances, and for standing up for the importance of charitable giving. This is, unfortunately, not a bill that I can support, and I urge my colleagues to oppose.

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