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From the Desk of
Representative Byron Donalds
My Solution to the Hurricane Ian Qualified Loss Dilemma
by Congressman Byron Donalds
rom January 2021 through January In a normal Congress, provisions are always made to list the
2023, Democrats possessed complete most recent natural disasters as “major disasters” on the Internal
F control of the federal government. Revenue Service’s (IRS) Form 4684. Once listed on Form 4684,
With Joe Biden serving as President taxpayers are able to deduct qualified disaster losses on their
of the United States, Nancy Pelosi taxes without 10% adjusted gross income or itemized deduction
serving as Speaker of the U.S. House of limitations. This did not occur last Congress. As a result, the people
Representatives and Vice President Kamala who were most in need come the 2023 tax season were left in an
Harris serving as the Democratic tiebreaker unacceptable predicament. My office even reached out to the IRS
in the U.S. Senate, Washington Democrats for guidance, but their response was no better. They told us that no
were able to push through trillions of dollars one in our region was eligible for additional tax relief because the
in reckless inflationary spending bills. limitation waivers were not extended in recent legislation during the
As a Freshman Congressman, I was shocked at how Speaker last Congress.
Pelosi ran our chamber. In a legislative body that was set-up Once the House of Representatives was released from Pelosi’s
to promote dialogue, the free flow of ideas and a collaborative, abnormal, ineffective, and damaging stranglehold in 2023, I took
member-driven approach to crafting legislation, Speaker Pelosi action on behalf of our community. I introduced the Hurricane Tax
chose to run the 117th Congress by dictate. In any previous Relief Act alongside U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to address this
Congress and under our current House Republican majority led by issue head-on. We immediately gained the support of Sen. Marco
Speaker McCarthy, all members of Congress are allowed to submit Rubio (R-FL), Del. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Rep. Scott
amendments to legislation regardless of party affiliation. This is Franklin (R-FL), Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart
called an open amendment process and ensures that the concerns (R-FL), and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in our legislative fight.
of the minority party are heard. Under then-Speaker Pelosi, this Our bill will provide enhanced disaster loss tax relief to those
process did not exist. Pelosi would bring bills to the floor of the affected by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona. Specifically, with
House of Representatives for vote without any Republican input. respect to individuals in these affected areas, the bill modifies the
For these two years, Pelosi and House Democrats introduced deduction for personal casualty losses in the hurricane disaster
bill after bill named after seemingly important and necessary areas to eliminate: (1) the requirement for losses to exceed 10%
policy proposals such as infrastructure or inflation reduction but of adjusted gross income to qualify for the deduction, and (2) the
bastardized the original intent of each proposal by backloading requirement to itemize. The legislation mirrors what has been done
them with various progressive policy agenda items that never would for previous hurricanes and natural disasters. Previous legislation
be able to pass on their own. For example, the House passed an enacting these provisions has been put in law as recently as 2020.
environmental bill that did not reduce inflation and included many Upon passage, victims of Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona will be
of the Green New Deal’s policy proposals but named it the Inflation eligible for this additional tax relief.
Reduction Act. The Hurricane Tax Relief Act is a commonsense proposal
The negative repercussions of Pelosi’s flagrant disregard for with bicameral support, a strong roster of cosponsors and will be a
Republican input came home to roost during the past hurricane tangible solution to this dire problem in our community. I am proud
season. Despite finding room to fund drag story hours, far-left to be your advocate in the halls of Congress and will continue to
“anti-racist” oral historians, a Muslim jazz series, the development fight hard on your behalf in order to ensure that we all are treated
of non-binary teenage writers and a transgender dance studio in her fairly by the federal government.
spending bills, Pelosi completely ignored Southwest Florida in our
time of need. Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona wreaked havoc and
consequently resulted in catastrophic property damage and loss.
CONTACT MY OFFICE
Collier County Office Washington, DC Office
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 105, Naples, FL 34112 1719 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 239.252.6225 Phone: 202.225.2536
14 Life in Naples | May/June/July 2023