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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Many Texas families are confronting financial |
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hardship as recession grips our nation, making it vitally important |
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that all those eligible take advantage of the federal Earned Income |
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Tax Credit; and |
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WHEREAS, Enacted in 1975, the EITC is a federal tax program |
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that provides a credit on income earned to working families of low |
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to moderate means; each year, the EITC helps more than 450,000 |
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Texans while injecting billions of dollars into the economy; and |
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WHEREAS, The EITC can be worth up to $4,824 for families whose |
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members worked in 2008 and earned less than approximately $38,000; |
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workers not raising children can also qualify if earnings fell |
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below about $13,000; the average EITC refund in the Lone Star State |
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is approximately $2,000; and |
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WHEREAS, In order to claim the credit, an eligible worker |
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must file a tax return, even if that individual did not earn enough |
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money to be required to file; although tax forms may seem daunting |
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and commercial preparers may be costly, low-income citizens can |
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take advantage of free filing help from such sources as the |
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IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and |
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Community Tax Center sites throughout Texas, which can be located |
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by calling the 2-1-1 system; and |
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WHEREAS, Nationwide, more than 23 million eligible families |
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and individuals claimed EITCs worth over $44 billion in 2007, but |
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millions more failed to file; the Department of the Treasury is |
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partnering with other agencies to raise participation in the |
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program and is reaching out to educate the public with such |
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initiatives as its third annual EITC Awareness Day; and |
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WHEREAS, For a family struggling to pay medical bills, stave |
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off foreclosure, or keep up with household expenses, Earned Income |
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Tax Credits can be a crucial lifeline; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2009, as Earned Income Tax |
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Credit Awareness Day in Texas and urge all citizens who may be |
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qualified to explore their eligibility for this program and claim |
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any credits they have earned. |
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Villarreal |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 193 was adopted by the House on |
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January 28, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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