Reynolds asks Senate to approve tax relief for veterans, soldiers

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Amherst, at the podium, discusses new legislation passed by the House of Representatives, titled HEART Act, to aid blind veterans, during a press conference at ElderWood Health Care at Heathwood on Monday. He is joined, from left to right, by Merle Schreckengost, president of the Niagara Falls Chapter of the Reserve Officers Association; Al Brusetti, of the Vietnam Veterans Association, Chapter 77; and Robin Pfeil, national councilman of the Department of NY Reserve Officers Association. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Amherst, joined Western New York veterans to applaud the passage of Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007.

The HEART Act included two provisions Reynolds introduced earlier in the year - the Blind Veterans Fairness Act and the Guardsmen and Reservists' Tax Fairness Act.

"Legislation will honor the service of veterans, current members of the armed forces and their families by giving them much deserved tax relief and economic security. The Senate needs to act now," he said during Monday's press conference at ElderWood Health Care at Heathwood.

The Blind Veterans Fairness Act would correct a problem in the federal Supplemental Security Income rules that affects blind veterans in four states - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. These four states provide blind veterans modest annuities in recognition of their service.

Under current federal law, these state annuities actually reduce any SSI payments that blind veterans receive. The Blind Veterans Fairness Act will fix this inequality by prohibiting consideration of state annuity payments made to blind veterans when determining SSI benefits. The bill has been endorsed by the Blinded Veterans Association.

"This has been a long time in coming. I have talked to other recipients and we are extremely pleased that this is finally going through. We appreciate Tom Reynolds' commitment to seeing this pass. It will make a big difference to many veterans. We are very grateful," Ralph Chinelly, a Western New York veteran, said.

The Guardsmen and Reservists' Tax Fairness Act, would lessen the economic hardship on guardsmen and reservists and their families by permanently allowing guardsmen and reservists called to active duty to make penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement funds.

Also, members of the National Guard and Reserves would be permitted to make unlimited repayments within two years of leaving active duty.