{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003945/http://vanhollen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365057", "Van Hollen, O\u2019Malley, and Maryland Democrats Support the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) was joined by Governor Martin O\u2019Malley, and Congressmembers Steny Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Donna Edwards, John Sarbanes, and John Delaney on a letter to the leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee expressing support for the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act (S.1187; H.R.2788; H.R.2994).\u00a0 These bills would extend protections set to expire on January 1 that enable homeowners to negotiate a resolution with their lenders on their underwater mortgage loans without the threat of a large tax bill.\n\"While our economy is improving, millions of Americans are still struggling to make ends meet,\" said Congressman Van Hollen. \"We should be helping people get on track with their mortgages, not whacking them with a huge tax bill when they're down. Renewing these protections will go a long way to help families who are working to keep their homes.\"\n\u201cCongress should be doing everything in its power to help hardworking families still struggling to make ends meet as we recover from the recession,\u201d said Congressman Cummings. \u201cThe Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act would renew existing protections that ensure struggling homeowners who receive the mortgage modifications they so desperately need are not taxed for these modifications. Renewal of these protections is absolutely critical.\u201d\n\"Extending the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act will go a long way toward mitigating the long-term effects of foreclosure on hardworking families,\u201d said Governor O\u2019Malley. \u201cWhile Maryland has passed what the Washington Post called some of the most \u2018sweeping\u2019 foreclosure reforms in America, we still have much more work to do to protect the dignity of every home. That's why we must exercise every possible option we have to help families get back on their feet again and foster strong, growing communities in Maryland and across the nation.\"\n\u00a0\u201cThe housing market in Maryland was hit hard by the economic recession, especially in Prince George\u2019s County,\u201d stated Congressman Hoyer. \u201cWe ought to do everything we can to assist struggling homeowners as our economy continues to recover, and extending these homeowner protections beyond January 1 would provide important relief to families here in Maryland and across the country.\u201d\n\u00a0\u201cStruggling homeowners should not be penalized for doing the right thing by seeking a resolution with their lender before they reach foreclosure,\u201d Congressman Ruppersberger said. \u201cWe must do everything we can to help families stay in their homes and off the streets and renewing these protections will go a long way toward that goal.\u201d\n\u201cThere are many homeowners in my district and across the country who continue to struggle with underwater mortgages,\u201d said Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards.\u00a0 \u201cIt is critical that Congress extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act to ensure that they don\u2019t face the additional financial burden of a large tax bill as a result of a loan modification.\u201d\n\u201cMiddle class families who are struggling to stay in their homes shouldn\u2019t have to shoulder the added financial burden of a hefty tax bill,\u201d said Congressman Sarbanes. \u201cIt makes no sense to pursue mortgage modification policies and then tax homeowners because they have successfully reached a mutually beneficial agreement with their bank.\"\n\u201cWe all understand that the progress of the economic recovery has been too slow and the results uneven,\u201d said Congressman Delaney. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so essential that we do everything we can to allow more middle class Marylanders to maintain their hold on the American Dream.\u00a0 I thank Congressman Cummings for his leadership on this issue and his work to help struggling homeowners.\u201d\n\u201cStrong communities are built on the foundation of ensuring that everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home, and the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act would continue to give us the tools we need to help families who are struggling as we recover from this recession,\u201d said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. \u201cWe\u2019re always going to stand with Marylanders who are facing tough economic challenges, and never stop fighting for a better Maryland where neighbors continue to help neighbors, especially in their time of need. Our Congressional delegation are great partners in this effort, and I know that with their efforts and advocacy, we can make this legislation a reality.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003945/http://vanhollen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365057"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9498319122940302, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}