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“REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--PROTOCOL AMENDING THE TAX CONVENTION ON INHERITANCES WITH FRANCE, TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 109-7” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S12460 on Nov. 7, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--PROTOCOL AMENDING THE TAX CONVENTION
ON INHERITANCES WITH FRANCE, TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 109-7
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on November 4, 2005, by the President of the United States: Protocol Amending the Tax Convention on Inheritances with France, Treaty Document No. 109-7; I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time, that it be referred, with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The message of the President is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith for the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification a Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Estates, Inheritances, and Gifts, signed at Washington on November 24, 1978 (the ``Convention''), signed at Washington on December 8, 2004
(the ``Protocol''). Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect to the Protocol.
The Protocol provides a pro rata unified credit to the estate of a French domiciliary for purposes of computing U.S. estate tax. It allows a limited U.S. ``marital deduction'' for certain estates if the surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen. In addition, the Protocol expands the United States jurisdiction to tax its citizens and certain former citizens and long-term residents and makes other changes to the treaty to reflect more closely current U.S. tax-treaty policy.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification.
George W. Bush. The White House, November 3, 2005.
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