September 24, 2004

BONILLA HONORED BY SENIOR CITIZEN GROUP

WASHINGTON, DC – One of the nation’s leading senior citizen groups has honored Congressman Henry Bonilla for his long-time fight against the death tax.

“It’s a distinct honor to bestow the Benjamin Franklin Award upon Congressman Henry Bonilla for his efforts to abolish one of the most burdensome taxes,” said 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

The estate tax, commonly referred to as the “death tax,” forces many Americans to pay as much as 60 percent of their savings, businesses or farms in taxes when they die. In order to pay these large tax bills, many families are forced to liquidate assets and sell businesses and farms that have been in their family for generations. 

“No section of the tax code is more unfair and more dangerous to our entrepreneurial spirit than the death tax,” said Bonilla. “Repealing the ‘death tax’ is the right thing to do for American families. The death of a family member should not be a taxable event!”

In addition to the Franklin Award, Bonilla also earned the 60 Plus Association’s top honor, the Guardian of Seniors’ Rights Award, for his efforts to protect Social Security and Medicare.

“Senior citizens have no finer friend in Congress than Representative Henry Bonilla,” said 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin.

The 60 Plus Association is a non-partisan, eleven-year-old group that relies on 4.5 million seniors for support. The group publishes a scorecard on issues affecting the elderly.
“I’m honored to work for the senior citizens of my district – and proud to have earned this award. The real celebration will begin when we abolish the death tax once and for all,” said Bonilla.

Bonilla has represented the 23rd district of Texas since his first election to Congress in 1992. He is chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the Defense and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees.