Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden (D) reprimanding his silence and questioning his lack of support for the Hurricane Tax Relief Act, introduced in March.
The bill looks to ensure tax relief to the residents of the two entities due to the recent Hurricanes (Ian, Nicole, and Fiona). It also follows the precedent established after Hurricanes Irma, Wilma, Dorian, and Michael, which qualified the storms as “purposes of enhanced disaster casualty loss tax relief.”
“This week marks four months of silence since this Congressional delegation wrote to you urging your direct support for millions of Floridians suffering after one of the worst natural disasters in history,” the legislators wrote.
They would also mention, “Your silence on this critical issue speaks volumes to Floridians and their families. Past Congresses and administrations have supported such relief for Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Irma and Wilma, among others, in a bipartisan manner with overwhelming support, and now must do the same for those impacted by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona. This can and should be done as soon as possible and without controversy, as it has been done many times before.”
Although the President has not submitted his support for the bill, Congress hasn’t either.
The latest surrounding the legislation was a referral to the Committee on Finance. Since then, it has been dead in the water.
“As families in Florida and Puerto Rico keep working to fully rebuild their lives, homes and communities, Congress must take the same important action it has after previous storms to provide tax relief for families in impacted areas. 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,” the legislators wrote.
Alongside Sens. Scott and Rubio, The Hurricane Tax Relief Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Scott Franklin (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Anna Paulina-Luna (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner (non-voting member of Congress) Jenniffer González-Colón (R). The companion bill was introduced by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) in the House of Representatives.
