{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-cosponsors-legislation-permanently-repeal-death-tax", "WESTERMAN COSPONSORS LEGISLATION TO PERMANENTLY REPEAL THE DEATH TAX", "2024-01-19", "2024", "2024-01", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) joined Congressman Randy Feenstra (IA-04) and 162 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in introducing the Death Tax Repeal Act. This legislation would permanently repeal the death tax, which imposes an unfair and costly tax on the transfer of property, land, and other assets from a deceased family member to heirs of family farms and small businesses.\n\nOver 99% of our country\u2019s two million farms and ranches and over 95% of our nation\u2019s small businesses are owned and operated by individuals and families, and this legislation would enable these multigenerational businesses to continue to support their families without having to pay a devastating tax upon the death of a family member.\n\nThe Death Tax Repeal Act enjoys support from 194 organizations.\n\n\u201cIn the aftermath of losing a family member, Arkansans should be able to grieve and continue the legacy of their loved one, without being faced with an onerous tax bill from the federal government just to keep their family business going,\u201d said Rep. Bruce Westerman. \u201cUnfortunately, this is the reality for many who inherit family farms or small businesses after the tragic loss of a family member. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the Death Tax Repeal Act, with overwhelming support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to fully repeal the death tax. Family farms and small businesses are critical to Arkansas, and this legislation will ensure that families can afford to keep their business, and the legacy of their family, alive for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe death tax represents double taxation at its worst. Iowa families grieving the loss of a loved one should not face an enormous tax bill from the federal government just to continue the family tradition of farming or keep their small business open and operational,\u201d said Rep. Randy Feenstra. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead 162 of my colleagues to permanently repeal the death tax, ensure that hardworking families, farmers, and small businesses keep more of their hard-earned money, and strengthen family-owned-and-operated enterprises in Iowa. By fully eliminating the death tax, we can keep China away from our farmland, allow family farms and small businesses to succeed, and encourage the next generation of Iowa farmers and business owners to plant their roots in rural Iowa, support our main streets, and contribute to our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies who spend a generation building up a successful farm, ranch, or small business should be rewarded \u2013 not punished \u2013 by our tax code. Unfortunately, when a loved one passes away, many such families are forced to choose between attending to their grief or the threat of losing their business because of the excessive costs imposed by Washington\u2019s misguided death tax,\u201d said Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. \u201cRepealing the death tax is a necessary step to ensuring that family-owned farms and small businesses across America can continue to thrive and carry on their family\u2019s legacy of hard work. I am proud to support this important piece of legislation introduced by my colleague, Rep. Feenstra, and look forward to continuing the fight on behalf of American family farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have always believed that the death tax is politically misguided, morally unjustified, and downright un-American,\u201d said Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. \u201cIt undermines the life work and the life savings of farmers and jeopardizes small- and medium-sized businesses in Georgia and across the nation.\u201d\n\nFull legislative text can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:46:48Z"]], "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://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-cosponsors-legislation-permanently-repeal-death-tax"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6821230053901672, "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"}