[DOCID: f:hc20ih.txt]





108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 20

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the earned income tax credit 
  is a program of critical importance designed to assist the working 
                                 poor.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2003

 Mr. Pascrell submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the earned income tax credit 
  is a program of critical importance designed to assist the working 
                                 poor.

Whereas the earned income tax credit is a major Federal effort to assist the 
        working poor;
Whereas the earned income tax credit is intended to offset the burden of the 
        social security payroll tax on low-income workers and to encourage low-
        income individuals to work;
Whereas those eligible for the earned income tax credit are working families 
        with 2 or more children earning less than $34,178 annually, families 
        with one child earning less than $30,201 annually, and individuals 24 
        years of age or older, making less than $11,060;
Whereas the latest statistics show that of the 17,200,000 households nationwide 
        that were eligible for the credit about 12,900,000 claimed the credit;
Whereas of the $23,500,000,000 available from the earned income tax credit, only 
        $20,900,000,000 was used as a result of incomplete participation; and
Whereas the 4,300,000 eligible households that did not claim the credit did not 
        receive $2,700,000,000 of credits in which they were eligible: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the earned income tax credit is a program of critical 
        importance designed to assist the working poor; and
            (2) the Internal Revenue Service and Members of Congress--
                    (A) must be fully aware that not all eligible 
                workers take advantage of the earned income tax credit, 
                and
                    (B) should take steps to increase the number of 
                qualifying residents who claim the credit.
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