From a parent/leader with an autistic child:
POLITICAL ACTION ALERT - Monday, July 16, 2001 To parents
and friends of all developmentally disabled children: Our tax credit bill was introduced
in the Senate by Senator Torrecelli (D-NJ) and in the House by Congressman
English (R-21st PA) the last week of June. The Senate bill is
S.1122, and the House bill is HR.2339. The bills ask for a refundable credit
against tax with respect to education and training of developmentally disabled
children. The Senate version asks for $3,000., and the House version for
$2,000. and the final figure will be worked out down the line. For a complete
text of the bills, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:S.1122:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.2339:
Here is the list of current cosponsors in the House. There
are not yet any Senators listed as cosponsors.
Rep Bryant, Ed - 7/24/2001
Rep Hart, Melissa A. - 7/27/2001
Rep Isakson, Johnny - 7/17/2001
Rep Kildee, Dale E. - 7/17/2001
Rep Knollenberg, Joe - 7/19/2001
Rep Lofgren, Zoe - 7/23/2001
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. - 7/27/2001
Rep Wexler, Robert - 7/19/2001
Rep Wolf, Frank R. - 7/26/2001
Rep Blagojevich, Rod R. - 6/27/2001
Rep Brady, Robert - 6/28/2001
Rep Brown, Corrine - 6/27/2001
Rep Davis, Jo Ann - 7/10/2001
Rep Doyle, Michael F. - 6/27/2001
Rep Fossella, Vito - 6/27/2001
Rep Gordon, Bart - 7/10/2001
Rep Greenwood, James C. - 6/27/2001
Rep Horn, Stephen - 6/27/2001
Rep King, Peter T. - 6/27/2001
Rep Mascara, Frank - 7/10/2001
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 7/10/2001
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II - 6/28/2001
Rep Roukema, Marge - 6/27/2001
Rep Shows, Ronnie - 6/27/2001
Rep Smith, Christopher H. - 6/27/2001
Rep Spence, Floyd - 6/27/2001
Rep Tiahrt, Todd - 6/27/2001
Rep Wamp, Zach - 6/28/2001
***Here’s what we need to do now***
Now it is time to ask all other members of the House and
all the Senators to cosponsor. Contact the Congressman for your district and both
your Senators and urge him or her to cosponsor Congressman English’s and
Senator Torrecelli’s bill to provide a refundable credit against tax with
respect to education and training of developmentally disabled children.
Start with a call to the Congressman for your district. If
you don’t
know their phone number, or aren’t sure who your
congressman is, go
to: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html
, enter your zip code,
then
click on your member’s web site. Ask for the legislative aide that handles tax
matters. Be sure to let them know you are a constituent, and explain how
expensive it is to care for your child, and how a tax credit for
developmentally disabled children is long overdue. Ask the aide to ask the
Congressman to cosponsor HR.2339, and to get back to you and let you know if he
or she will support the bill. If your Congressman is interested, have them call
Laura Eugster at 202-225-5406 in Congressman English’s office.
Next call both your Senators. You can get their contact
information at: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm.
Again, ask for the legislative aide that handles tax matters. Be sure to let them
know you are a constituent, and explain how expensive it is to care for your
child, and how a tax credit for developmentally disabled children is long
overdue. Ask the aide to ask the Senator to cosponsor S.1122, and to get back
to you and let you know if he or she will support the bill. If your Senators
are interested, have them call Kyle Mulroy at 202-224-3224 in Senator
Torrecelli’s office.
If your Congressman or either of your Senators confirms
that they will cosponsor, please let Elizabeth know at cc4@earthlink.net.