Seniors' Tax Simplification Act of 2011

I thank my good friend from Missouri.

You know, I often talk about kitchen table politics in this well because as Ronald Reagan said in his farewell speech, all good ideas begin at the dinner table. And they do.

Look at this poster. This is a poster that I think really illustrates what's going on in families all across America, including our seniors, and that is, how are we going to pay our bills, and how are we going to move to the future? It's a huge issue, and it's one that this Congress needs to address in many ways.

The U.S. Census says that over 40 million Americans today are 65 years or older, almost 20 percent of our American families. Almost 20 percent of those sitting around that kitchen table. These are an incredible group of people. These are the people who fought in World War II, that created the Greatest Generation. They fought in Korea, sustaining the Greatest Generation. And today, they are now faced with so much anxiety and uncertainty in our Nation.

One of the things that I think we have to do in Congress is to erase that anxiety, whether it's through the financial markets, to ensure that we are putting forth programs that allow our banking systems to work effectively so that they don't have to be concerned with what the cost of banking is going to be or what their financial assets are going to be, to make sure that our businesses are flourishing in this country and are not saddled with unnecessary regulations that constrict them from going forward, to move within the economy. In other words, we have to get our economy moving. It is so important for our Nation, especially for our seniors.

But I think that there are some other things that we have to talk about with our seniors as well. You know, as we sit around the kitchen table and we worry about our bills, they also worry about, not just how they're going to pay their income tax, but the mammoth issue of paying the income tax. And for seniors, instead of having to go to an accountant and use their precious dollars to figure the whole system out, maybe we should pass H.R. 1058, the Senior Tax Simplification Act of 2011. You know, this is a bipartisan bill. If passed, it would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make available a new Federal income tax form similar to the 1040-EZ form for people who have turned over 65. It would make the completion of the Federal income tax return simpler, faster, easier, and less costly for most of our American hardworking seniors.

I think another bill that we have to really look at, and this is the one that I really want to focus the rest of my talk on, is the repeal of the death tax. This is an issue that I've had to personally face in my life. I grew up on a family farm, and there's nothing better than being raised on a farm. It's the best way you can raise a family, and you do a lot of talking at that kitchen table.

When my dad was seeing his declining days, he realized if he didn't do something, hire a fancy attorney at a lot of money an hour, he wouldn't be able to pass that farm along to his kids. So he did some estate planning, but it wasn't enough. And at the end of the day when my father passed away, my brother, sister, and I had to make a collective decision to sell personal assets to just be able to keep that farm because we want our children and our grandchildren to have the same experience that we had.

And I think, how often is this occurring unnecessarily? And it's not just the family farm, it's the family business, whether it is a manufacturing business, whether it's a winery, whatever the business is. If it's a family business, why do we have to worry as we see our declining years how we're going to do some tax structures and pay an insurance plan and whatever else is out there to try to keep a part of it for our children.

It's counterproductive, because in the end the Federal Government may get a piece of money at your death. But that's the end of the money they'll ever get from you or your family.

Ending the death tax won't hurt our economy. It will only improve our economy. And for our seniors that sit around that kitchen table that may be what we call land poor--have a lot of money in the land, but not a lot of money in the bank--they won't be forced to make the same decisions so many of my friends had to make when I went to their family funerals. And they said, By gosh, we're going to keep Dad and Mom's farm. We're not going to get rid of it. They weren't as fortunate as my sister, my brothers, and I were that we had some personal assets that we could use to keep our farm. They had to sell theirs. And what's left, brick and mortar?

It's a serious issue. We need to repeal it. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do this. It will not only move our economy forward, but for our hardworking American seniors it will alleviate that anxiety at the kitchen table.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague from Missouri, Mrs. Hartzler for hosting this Special Order on seniors, a group to whom we owe so much.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, over 40 million Americans today are 65 years of age or older. That's almost 20% of our American family.

These are the folks upon whose shoulders we stad today. They are the ones who have carried us through the good times and the bad.

Today's seniors are an incredible group of people. They have witnessed a lot of history, and, in fact, they have made a lot of history.

They served in World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. They fought and bled on the battlefields of those wars, places such as North Africa, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Pork Chop Hill, Outpost Harry, and Hamburger Hill.

During those wars they built our ships, our tanks, and our planes; they plowed the fields and raised our crops; they manufactured the millions of items necessary to keep a nation at war amply supplied.

Between wars, they built our skyscrapers and our interstate highway system; they developed our space program and landed men on the moon; and, they even invented the first computers.

And, most importantly, while they were accomplishing all these great feats, they also found time to fall in love, to get married, and to have families.

I think it goes without saying that we owe our seniors a huge debt of gratitude. Still, I want to take this opportunity to say to our seniors in this great country, thank you. Thank you for all that you have given and for all that you have sacrificed and for all that you have done for your country and your fellow Americans.

Mr. Speaker, it was with our seniors in mind, and as an expression of gratitude to them, that I proudly co-sponsored three bills of special interest.

The first bill, H.R. 436, is known as the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2011. This bill, which has support from both sides of the aisle, would, if passed and signed into law, amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the excise tax on medical devices.

Eliminating this excise tax would allow medical device manufacturers to better spend that money researching new products. The development of these potential, new medical devices would, ultimately, provide higher health

care standards and lower the costs of health care.

The second bill, H.R. 1058, is known as the Seniors' Tax Simplification Act of 2011. This bill, which also has support from both sides of the aisle, would, if passed and signed into law, direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make available a new federal income tax form similar to Form 1040EZ for individuals who have turned 65 as of the close of the taxable year.

It would make the completion of federal income tax returns simpler, faster and easier for most seniors.

Finally, the third bill, H.R. 1259, is known as the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2011. This bill, like the previous two bills, also has support from both sides of the aisle.

It would, if passed and signed into law, amend the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and a $5 million lifetime gift tax exemption.

Having spent decades working hard to develop and accrue assets, a person should be able to convey those assets, upon his or her death, to whomever he or she chooses, without the heavy hand of the government reaching in to steal a portion.

Estate taxes are especially harmful to farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. They need to be eliminated.

In conclusion, I want to say again to our seniors, thank you.

I also, once more, want to thank my good friend and colleague, Mrs. Hartzler, for facilitating this evening's discussion and focusing on a segment of our society that is so deserving of our time and attention and to whom we owe so much.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today, I am here to lead a very important discussion regarding America's Greatest Generation--our senior citizens.

I have the greatest respect and heartfelt affection for this special group of people. This respect and affection originated with the special relationship I had with my grandparents. I valued spending time with them and loved learning from them. I learned how to catch a fish and golf from Granddad Zellmer, how to clean and cook a fish from Grandma Zellmer, how to ride a horse and milk a cow from Granddad Purdy, and how to crochet and make homemade butter from Grandma Purdy.

Out of the love of my grandparents grew a love and respect for all senior citizens. I believe their wisdom should be sought and valued in our society and that generations should be linked to benefit from each other. As a teacher, I initiated programs to bring young people together with senior citizens, and wrote my master's thesis on it. I can tell you that it's a winning combination. Throughout my life, I have been dedicated to advocate for senior citizens. For over 10 years, I served on the Cass County Council on Aging. I helped raise money for our Meals on Wheels program and for other important programs to help senior citizens.

Now I'm honored to represent and to serve the great people of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, which is home to over 120,000 seniors. You can trust that I will ensure that this cherished generation is never overlooked. There are many challenges facing our Nation's senior citizens: financial stress, health challenges, housing issues, and family difficulties. My Republican women colleagues and I want you to know that we care, that we hear your concerns, and that we are here to stand by you and to fight for you and for workable solutions.

I'm honored to have the privilege tonight of leading this discussion and introducing you to some of the most dedicated women in Congress who, like me, care about seniors and are fighting for you.

I would now like to yield as much time as she may consume to my good friend from just across the State line, a fellow farm girl and my travel buddy back and forth to the Kansas City airport, Representative Lynn Jenkins.

Thank you, lady. I appreciate your great remarks.

Now I would like to yield as much time as she may consume to another farm gal, a fellow friend here, from South Dakota, Kristi Noem.

Thank you, lady, and absolutely we are going to fulfill those promises.

Now I would like to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Texas, Representative Kay Granger, who wants to share a little bit her thoughts on seniors.

Thank you, lady. I certainly share your commitment and the heart-wrenching reality of Alzheimer's disease and our need to focus on it here.

Our next speaker is from the great State of Washington, Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler.

I thank you, Jaime.

I am now happy to yield to my good friend and fellow runner from the great State of Ohio, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt.

Thank you, Jean. Well spoken.

Now I get to introduce the vice chairman of our conference and our good friend from Washington, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Thank you, Cathy.

Now I would like to yield as much time as she would like to my good friend, a neighbor on the east side of Missouri--Tennessee here-- Representative Diane Black.

Thank you, Diane.

Now I am happy to introduce my good friend from the great State of Alabama, Congresswoman Martha Roby.

Absolutely, lady. Thank you.

It is important that we get the truth out and that seniors have an opportunity to hear the truth about our bills and the steps that we are taking to try to protect and defend them.

Now I get to introduce to you my fellow colleague from the great State of North Carolina, Representative Renee Ellmers.

Absolutely. And I know that you would agree that it's a privilege to talk about our seniors tonight, and your background in health care certainly lends a lot of expertise to this issue.

I have another friend and colleague who is from the same great State of North Carolina. And I think it's interesting. I learned something here, Virginia, that you're from Grandfather Community, and we're talking about seniors, so it's appropriate. My good friend, Representative Virginia Foxx.

Thank you so much, Virginia.

Now I would like to yield time to another good friend from New York, Ann Marie Buerkle.

Thank you, Ann Marie.

I now yield to the woman from Wyoming, Representative Cynthia Lummis.

Thank you, Cynthia. I appreciate it.

And now my friend from West Virginia, Representative Shelley Moore Capito.

Thank you, Shelley.

Tonight you have heard from a lot of us, Republican women here in Congress. You've heard our stories and our love and our respect for senior citizens, and our heartfelt desire and commitment to serve and to represent them and to make sure that their rights are protected and that their voice is heard here. You've heard how we have had proactive plans put forth here in the House from our group to address Medicare and to preserve and protect it for the future. You've heard how we care about Social Security, and we're not going to take it away. We want to make sure it is there for future generations.

You've heard of our concerns for Alzheimer's and the other diseases that are ravaging our aging population, and our desire and our commitment to move forward and make sure that those are addressed and that we make sure and find a cure there.

You've heard of how we are listening to the financial challenges that we are hearing from the seniors in our districts and the plans that we put forth to eliminate the estate tax so one generation can pass on their farm or their small business to another generation without the Federal Government taking the property or taking the farm. You've heard our commitment to veterans and to those who have sacrificed so much so that we can stay free. We're going to honor those commitments and those sacrifices.

Lastly, you've heard about our respect for this generation, and we know of their desire to pass on an America to their grandchildren that is just as great and just as promising as the one they grew up in. We are committed to making sure that we rein in our runaway federal spending here, we keep our fiscal house in order as a country, and that that promise is alive and well for their grandchildren. We are committed to moving forward as a group.

We thank you for listening, and we thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this time.

Thank you so much, and thank you for leading this Special Order tonight. It's so important.

You've heard from my fellow women colleagues the discussion we're having about our families, our seniors, Medicare, Social Security, and the importance of operating under a budget. We continue to grapple with these issues because here in the House of Representatives we've passed numerous bills, we've passed the repeal of the President's health care bill, and yet only to go on to the Senate and not be taken up for a vote.

You heard my fellow women colleagues discuss how we've passed 15 bills on to the Senate, including the repeal, with no action whatsoever. The American people are calling for jobs, the American people are calling for a change in our economy, and those bills will take care of that issue. Those bills will set us on a path towards recovery, and yet we continuously play politics on the Senate side. We don't bring these things for a vote.

We're here tonight talking about all these issues that affect our families, again, our seniors. Our seniors are so concerned about what's going to happen in the future. Our seniors have paid into a system their entire life, into Social Security and Medicare. They deserve those benefits back.

As a nurse, taking care of seniors was part of my core health care life, taking care of seniors and ensuring that they're going to receive good care throughout the remainder of their life. And they've paid into that benefit willingly. They paid into that benefit and deserve to get it back. They don't look at Medicare and Social Security as budgetary issues. They look at these as benefits that they deserve, and it is incumbent upon us to make sure that they receive them.

You've heard my fellow women colleagues reiterate over and over again that if you are 55 and older, through our House-passed budget they will not be affected. Anyone 55 and older, no benefit is changed whatsoever, and yet in the Senate that budget is not taken up for a vote.

The American people are looking for answers. The American people know the issue. They understand, because we have made the point over and over and over again, that Medicare, down the road, just a few years down the road, will be bankrupt because of the situation that we're in today.

Seniors are calling my office every day concerned that as Republicans we are going to ruin Medicare for them and that somehow they're going to lose that benefit. I can tell them honestly that is the last thing that any of us as Republicans want to do. In fact, the problem lies with the President's health care bill that was passed in the 111th Congress because, in that bill, a half trillion dollars was taken out of Medicare, and put into place was a 15-person panel, which you've also heard my fellow colleagues discuss, IPAB, Independent Payment Advisory Board. Fifteen individuals, 15 bureaucrats will be able to decide what Medicare will pay for and what they will not, essentially taking away the patient-doctor relationship.

My husband is a surgeon. I don't want my husband to have to sit down with his patients and discuss what they cannot do because Medicare will not pay for it. But that, unfortunately, is the future if we are not able to remove this, if we are not able to repeal, as we have already passed here in the House.

My fellow colleagues are working very hard--very hard--to rescue Medicare from the position that it's in right now because it is doomed to failure. But, unfortunately, this issue has been kicked down the road through previous administrations, through previous Congresses. But we can no longer allow this to go on. We have to address the issue now. And I believe that our seniors understand this. And I believe that if we can continue to give them this message that we are in no way wanting to harm the benefits that they're receiving now or the benefits that they will be receiving if you're 55 and older, we will be able to accomplish that.

But again, the calls that are coming into my office--that I am more than willing and my staff is more than willing to answer these issues-- need to be going on to the Senate. They need to be going to the Senate and asking why these issues are not being brought up. Why are we not voting on these bills? Why are we not passing a budget?

You've heard my colleagues say it's been over 900 days since the Senate has passed a budget. There is no household that can function without a budget, and there is absolutely no business that can function without a budget. Our seniors understand that, too, because they have lived very responsible lives and deserve all of the benefits that we should be providing for them.

So thank you again for holding this very important Special Order. And to those seniors out there, we are working very hard for you, and we will continue to do so.

I thank the gentlelady from Missouri for recognizing me and for facilitating this wonderful discussion that we have tonight in front of us to really talk about our seniors and to talk about the challenges that they face and the promises that we've made to them that we intend to uphold and to keep for the years to come.

I rise to speak on this Special Order with our other Republican female colleagues to discuss a lot of important issues, and I want everybody to know across this country, in South Dakota we have more than the average share of seniors in South Dakota. We have a very high number, and all of us have seniors in our families--grandparents, neighbors, friends who are seniors and live under the programs and policies of this country.

Our seniors have worked hard. They've raised their families. They've raised grandchildren with strong values, with good work ethics that are extremely important to them to deal with a lot of the things that this life may throw at them. They paid into Social Security. They fought our enemies on foreign soil to defend our country and our freedoms. They have built businesses, and they literally have created the fabric of our society in America today.

Our Republican agenda reflects the deep gratitude that we have towards our seniors in this country. We're thankful for the country that they have given us. We're thankful for the values that they have taught us, and we intend to follow through on the promises that we've made to them.

So you're asking me today what are the promises that we've made to our seniors? The first promise we have made is to care for them. That's why we chose to step up and to save the Medicare program. That's why we

didn't choose to not address the problem that we have and the fact that it is going to go broke in less than a decade.

We also did this at a time when we can truly fix the program without impacting seniors who currently rely on the program. Future generations will need that program, and we did offer solutions for that. But our current beneficiaries, all of those who are 55 and older, will not be impacted if we do what the Republicans did this year and fix the program so that it's still around. Nothing will change for seniors under the plan the Republicans have put forward.

We have also made important promises to our seniors who are military veterans. South Dakota has a strong history of military service. Thousands of South Dakotans have stepped up and put their lives on the line to defend this country. Many of them have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for that we'll always be grateful.

Many of them came home wounded or forever changed by the experience. Veterans earned and deserve all of the benefits that they were promised going back to the founding of this great country.

We've worked to protect those programs and protect those veterans and the programs that they rely on. Some in Washington, in the media, try to scare our seniors. They try to scare them by telling them that we're going to get military veterans' pensions and payments and programs, and that we're going to cut the military veterans' benefits.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Despite vicious rumors and whatever the media and Democrats try to say, we are not going to let our veterans down and not follow through on the promises that we have made to them. We will continue to fight for those veterans' benefits.

Finally, we also promised our seniors that we would leave to our kids and our grandkids a nation that is as exceptional as they left us. That means that we're focusing on growing our economy, that we're reducing burdensome regulations that are driving people out of business and overseas. We're empowering small business at the same time, letting them make decisions that the government has no right making, and we're cutting wasteful spending that does nothing but bloat government and crowd out the private sector.

In closing, let me just say that I am proud to stand here with Republican women because we take our promises to our seniors very sincerely and seriously, and I know that we will do our part to uphold all of those promises that we have made.

Thank you for the time.

Thank you so much for having this Special Order tonight. It's so important for us to have the opportunity to speak to America, but particularly to home in on our seniors back home.

Of course, throughout my travels back through Alabama during our district work periods, I repeatedly hear two things from seniors in Alabama: When is Congress going to pass a budget, and How is Congress, with all of our budget woes, going to preserve Social Security and Medicare? And the failure of Congress to address these concerns in an honest way threatens the economic security of America's seniors. Seniors deserve better than empty promises from a government that is broke. They deserve straightforward, honest answers and real solutions.

I, too, like many of the women that have spoken tonight, have a grandmother. I call my grandmother ``Gaga.'' I have to look ``Gaga'' in the eye as a Member of Congress and express to her my sincerity in making sure that we are taking care of our seniors.

We all agree that we're facing a serious budget crisis in Washington. It's been more than 900 days since the Senate has passed a budget. I would like to say this is ridiculous. A budget is a basic financial plan for our country. It is a vision for America's future. Approving a budget is a fundamental task for Congress. What business would operate without a basic budget for 3 years?

Republicans in the House have passed a bold budget plan that clearly addresses some of the biggest financial issues that we face. The House Republican

budget addresses Washington's reckless spending. It is an honest, detailed, concrete plan to put our budget on a path to balance and our economy on a path to prosperity through job creation.

Under the Republican House budget, seniors 55 and older will not be affected in any way. As I think about my grandmother that I have already talked about, I have to reiterate this point. It is so important: seniors and those that are 55 and older will not be affected by our Republican plan. They will not be affected. Their benefits will not change. After paying into the system for years, we made a commitment to those seniors, and we must follow through.

For those of us who are 55 and under, we must take steps to ensure that Medicare will still be available when we retire and available for our children and our grandchildren. This is common sense. We know that without reform and repairs, these entitlement programs simply will not be in existence for us when we retire. Without reform, they will collapse. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office anticipates that Medicare will go bankrupt by 2020. It is clear that these programs are not sustainable in their current form, and actions must be taken before it is too late.

What proposals has this administration put forward to address these concerns? None of us in this room have yet to see a solid plan for action. By failing to address the problem, this administration is failing our seniors. Rather than offering solutions, the administration is continually providing our seniors with misleading information regarding the Republican proposal. Let me say it one more time. Those 55 and older, under our plan, will not be affected as it relates to their benefits.

Washington's failure to enact policies that promote long-term economic growth and balance the budget is creating uncertainty for employers and consumers alike. It is time that Washington get serious and put our fiscal house in order.

There are 15 bills--now 16, after today--waiting in the Senate for action that will put Americans back to work if the Senate will only take that action. Congress must act now. It is what we were sent to Washington to do, and protecting our seniors is a huge part of that.

Thank you so much again for hosting this hour tonight and letting me, on behalf of Alabama's Second District, be a part of it.