THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Please be
seated. Thank you all very much. We've come
together today to remember and recognize victims of terrorism, and to
sign a piece of legislation that will provide a tangible measure of
support for their families.
The Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act will provide some tax
relief to families of those killed in the attacks on September the
11th, the anthrax attacks after September the 11th, and the Oklahoma
City bombing. This is a small gesture, compared to the overwhelming
generosity of the American people in times of tragedy. Yet
this will help to extend that generosity because it exempts payments
from charities to victims' families from federal taxes. This
legislation is a bipartisan symbol of the federal government's concern
for families who suffered such great loss.
I want to thank the members of Congress who are here. I
particularly want to thank those who worked on the bill -- Senator
Torricelli of New Jersey; Senators Schumer and Clinton of New York --
and by the way, welcome back to the White House. Senator
Nickles of Oklahoma; Senators Allen and Warner of Virginia; Senator
Baucus of Montana; Congressman Rangel of New York; Congressman Fossella
of New York; Congressman Thomas of California, who couldn't be here;
and all the other members, both Republicans and
Democrats. Welcome back to town, and welcome to the White
House.
We're joined today by families who have lost loved ones in the
great acts of evil. As you draw on faith and personal
strength to cope with your grief, I hope you'll also find comfort in
the knowledge that your nation stands with you and prays for
you. We mourn those whom we've lost, and we face the future
together.
In times like these, we realize both the purpose and the
limitations of government. The government cannot take away
your pain and sorrow. But it can bring the killers to
justice. It can devote its energy and resources to try to
prevent other families from experiencing what you're going through, and
can help remove some of the financial obligations it imposes to ease
your burdens.
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrible crime, and justice was
done. And I can assure each of you that justice will be done to all
those who are responsible for the evil acts of September the 11th.
We've already driven the Taliban from power in Afghanistan, and
we're helping a new government take its place. We've
infiltrated al Qaeda caves. We destroyed their camps. We
will continue to destroy their bunkers and their
hideaways. We've put them on the run, and we'll hunt them
down, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice.
As we wage the war on terrorism abroad, we will also comfort
families deeply hurt by terrorism here at home. The members
of the United States Congress who came together to pass this bill I'll
sign today had one goal in mind, to help ease your financial burdens as
you struggle to cope with the loss of your loved ones.
Many families lost their primary wage earners in the attack on the
Murrah Federal Building, in the attacks of September the 11th, and in
the anthrax attacks after September the 11th. This financial
strain deepens the emotional and psychological impact of the initial
tragedies. The legislation passed by Congress will relieve
the tax burden on families who have lost loved ones. Under
this law, the federal government will collect no income taxes on wages
earned by terrorism victims in the year of their death, or in the
preceding year.
Families of victims killed in the Oklahoma City bombing will
receive a tax refund on behalf of their relatives. Some
death benefits paid by employers will be exempt from federal
taxation. Lower state tax rates will apply to victims of
terrorist attacks, as well as to members of the armed services who have
been killed in combat zones.
And to help insure that families receive as much relief as possible
from charitable organizations, payments from charitable organizations
to victim's families will be exempt from federal taxation.
The Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act is an important example of
our national unity and resolve, and it's my honor to sign it
today. God bless. (Applause.)