The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“FAIRNESS FOR WORKERS ``ON THE ROAD''” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E391 on Feb. 21, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FAIRNESS FOR WORKERS ``ON THE ROAD''
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HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 21, 1995
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the legislation I introduce today, along with Representatives Richard Neal and William Jefferson, restores to 80 percent the business meal deduction for long-haul truck drivers, bus drivers, airline flight crews, railroad conductors, and other federally regulated transportation workers who fall under the Department of Transportation hours-of-service regulations. They symbolize the hard-working, middle-class American who struggles for his or her family, abides by the rules, and deserves fair treatment.
As part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, the business meal deduction was reduced from 80 percent to 50 percent. Though Congress was correct in addressing this provision in the Tax Code, it erroneously assumed that it was going to affect only the so-
called three martini lunches. In fact, the diminution of this deduction has hurt many hard-working, middle-income Americans, especially in the transportation industry, who find themselves away from their homes and families for extended periods of time.
For example, long-haul truck drivers spend over 200 days per year away from home. They eat at roadside diners and truckstops and sleep in their trucks or modest motels. In doing so, they incur the legitimate and necessary business expenses required in their work and do not enjoy the expense-account lifestyles of the individuals originally targeted in the 1993 legislation.
My bill restores some fairness to the Tax Code by reinstating the 80-
percent business meal deduction for certain transportation workers, and I urge my colleagues to lend their support for its enactment.
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