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UFA Action Alert: Letters and calls needed to Senate Finance Committee to pass S. 552, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Tax Treatment Act Letters are needed now to the US Senate Finance Committee to move S. 552, the Exxon Valdez Tax Treatment Act. The act provides for one time retirement contribution, and longer term income averaging of Exxon settlements. Key committee seats are held by senators with the largest numbers of Alaska fishermen outside Alaska. We can only get this legislation passed if they hear from you and other that you inform of this urgent need for letters. The most effective action is to write and sign a letter, even if handwritten, and fax it to your senator. Do not use postal mail. A telephone call is second best. Fax letters to: Montana Honorable Senator Max Baucus, Chairman Senate Committee on Finance 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510-6200 Fax: (202) 224-0515 Phone: (202) 224-2651
Iowa Honorable Charles Grassley Ranking member, Senate Committee on Finance 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-1501 Fax: (202) 224-6020 Phone: 202) 224-3744
Washington Honorable Maria Cantwell 511 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-4705 Fax: (202) 228-0514 Phone: (202) 224-3441
Oregon Honorable Ron Wyden 230 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 Fax: (202) 228-2717 Phone: (202) 224 5244
Colorado Honorable Ken Salazar 702 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-0605 Fax: (202) 228-5036 Phone: (202) 224-5852
Key Points to include: • Specifically support S. 552, the Exxon Valdez Tax Treatment Act • The Act allows a one time tax deferred contribution to a retirement plan, unlimited up to the amount of the award, that would allow many of those injured by the spill a chance to retire responsibly and with dignity. • The Act provides income averaging between the year the plaintiffs receive a settlement or judgment, back to the year 1994 of the original court decision in Anchorage. • This legislation is not a gift or a handout. Taxes will eventually be paid on any damages awarded when taken out of fishermen’s retirement accounts. • This legislation does not only benefit Alaskans – there are permit holding Alaska fishermen from every U.S. State. UFA Sample Letter to Committee Chair Baucus: http://www.ufa-fish.org/press/2007-2A_S552_Exxon_Exxon_Valdez_Tax_Treatment_Act.pdf Full Senate Finance Committee: http://www.senate.gov/~finance/sitepages/committee.htm We ask that you forward this to anyone you know, especially in the states represented by these senators and others on the Senate Finance Committee. -Mark Vinsel UFA Executive Director
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