Amarillo Gazette

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) and Senator Ted Cruz (TX) introduced the Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act to assist individuals and livestock producers in recovering from the wildfires that affected the Texas Panhandle earlier this year. This bill aims to designate any relief-related income received due to the wildfires as tax-free.

Jackson stated: "While the flames that swept the Texas Panhandle earlier this year may finally be extinguished, the destruction caused by this historic disaster will remain for years to come. I am committed to making sure the farmers, ranchers, and communities affected by these wildfires have every resource possible to help in their recovery, including making common sense changes to the tax code to allow individuals with losses from the wildfires to focus on rebuilding their lives without worrying about the tax implications of relief they may have received. I am proud to lead this legislation to ensure that any assistance received by affected individuals due to this devastating disaster is used to rebuild homes and livelihoods, not to pay Uncle Sam."

Cruz added: "I am proud to work alongside Rep. Jackson to introduce common-sense tax relief measures to help communities in the Texas Panhandle recover from the historic wildfires earlier this year. This disaster destroyed livelihoods, homes, and over a million acres of land across the Panhandle. Our legislation ensures Texans devastated by the wildfires receive needed tax relief to help recovery efforts."

Kent Bacus, Executive Director at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, commented: "The Texas Panhandle wildfires have highlighted the need to fix our tax code to provide much-needed relief to cattle producers. The Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act, introduced in the House and Senate, would allow taxpayers to exclude from gross income any disaster relief payments received from federally declared wildfires in Texas. This legislation will bring much-needed relief to the multitude of cattle producers and rural communities who have been negatively impacted by recent wildfires in Texas. NCBA thanks Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Ronny Jackson for leading this measure and calls for swift congressional passage."

Russell Boening, President of Texas Farm Bureau said: "Texas Farm Bureau thanks Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Ronny Jackson for continuing their work in Congress to help panhandle wildfire victims in their recovery efforts. Providing flexibility in the U.S. tax code to maximize federal disaster assistance will tremendously help many farm and ranch families impacted by catastrophic wildfires. TFB appreciates Sen. Cruz and Congressman Jackson for their steadfast support and looks forward working with Congress enacting commonsense legislation."

Carl Ray Polk Jr., TSCRA President said: "As we continue refining our approach wildfire prevention mitigation response need impactful legislation Rep Jackson Sen Cruz done offering practical solutions real problem ranchers landowners."

Ben Weinheimer, President & CEO of Texas Cattle Feeders Association said: "Texas Cattle Feeders Association supports this bill thanks Congressman Jackson Sen Cruz continuous efforts assist those impacted Texas Panhandle wildfires bill commonsense approach preventing what could become tax disaster resulting wildfire disaster Settlement payments disaster assistance like most insurance should not considered income Neither should literal 'fire sale' cattle because producer's pasture destroyed subject capital gains."

The full bill text can be found here. This legislation is supported by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

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