Florida Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) joined forces with Representative Byron Donalds (R), as well as Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner (a non-voting member of the House of Representatives) Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R) to ensure tax relief to the residents of the two entities due to the recent hurricanes (Ian, Nicole, and Fiona).
The bill is known as the Hurricane Tax Relief Act follows the precedent that was established after Hurricanes Irma, Wilma, Dorian, and Michael, which qualified the storms as “purposes of enhanced disaster casualty loss tax relief.”
“The last thing families should have to worry about as they recover from devastating storms like Ian, Nicole and Fiona is a big tax bill. In years past, Congress has worked to make sure that families can get the disaster loss tax relief they deserve following hurricanes, and this good bill follows that precedent,” stated former Florida Governor and now-Senator Scott.
Communities in Florida and Puerto Rico have shown incredible strength in the days, week and months following these storms, and it is critical that we continue to make sure the federal government is working with state and local officials to get resources to those in need,” Sen. Scott stated.
Sen. Rubio mentioned that the Omnibus bill that was passed in the final hour of the Democrat-controlled 117th Congress in December failed to include tax relief for those affected by the recent hurricanes.
“One of the many flaws of the recent Omnibus, which was drafted behind closed doors, is that it did not provide common sense tax relief for families, businesses, and communities that were impacted by hurricanes. I am pleased to introduce this measure to provide much needed support for Floridians.”
Rep. Byron Donalds added that this bill has been a priority due to representing “ground zero of Hurricane Ian’s impact.”
“As the Congressman representing ground zero of Hurricane Ian's impact, it has been my utmost priority to restore our community and ensure the federal government is working to help, not hold up our recovery efforts…This bill provides much needed and focused financial assistance that will undoubtedly alleviate the economic burden of many in my district and throughout Florida and Puerto Rico.”
Finally, Congresswoman González-Colón as the lone Representative of Puerto Rico, stated that “An integral recovery process requires recognizing that residents and businesses have to sometimes use their own resources as part of their response. This legislation provides a timely relief to those who incurred losses in the recent disasters and are now seeking to rebuild their homes and workplaces, especially in the face of increasing costs.”
Representatives Bill Posey (R) and Scott Franklin (R) co-sponsored the bill as well.
