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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
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