Washington, DC: Today, following the filing of an amendment by Senators Portman and Brown that would extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for Delphi Salaried Retirees, Congressman Mike Turner sent a letter to Leaders Reid and McConnell urging them to support this bipartisan amendment and the extension of the HCTC.

“For the last year, Delphi Salaried Retirees have been paying out of pocket for their health insurance premiums.

The Health Coverage Tax Credit is critical to helping thousands of Delphi Salaried Retirees, who have already lost so much, afford the health care they need. I urge Leaders Reid and McConnell to support this bipartisan amendment and extend the HCTC.”


Full text of the Letter below:

December 9, 2014

The Honorable Harry Reid                                                                                  

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Dear Leaders Reid and McConnell:

I am writing today in strong support of the amendment filed by Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). 

Having helped thousands of individuals across the country pay for their health insurance premiums, the HCTC is incredibly important to those whose hard-earned pensions and benefits have been terminated.  For example, thousands of Delphi Salaried Retirees have utilized the HCTC following the federal government’s multi-billion dollar, taxpayer-funded bailout of General Motors (GM) that resulted in the elimination of these retirees’ health insurance, life insurance, and up to seventy percent of their individual pensions. 

With such significant portions of their earned retirement benefits lost to the federal government’s majority ownership of GM, many struggle to afford the cost of healthcare on reduced and modest incomes.  These men and women are now spending up to half of their remaining pensions to fund their health care premiums, and will continue to struggle to cover the cost of their healthcare expenses if the HCTC is not extended.

Fortunately, the HCTC has already been considered through regular order and approved by Senate Finance Committee in its tax extenders measure earlier this year.  In fact, this provision was adopted in Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support.  Similarly, H.R. 2783, legislation I co-authored, also has strong bipartisan support. 

It is my hope that you recognize the great need for the HCTC’s extension and will support this amendment when the Senate considers H.R. 5771.  Thank you for your consideration, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance.

 

Sincerely,

Michael R. Turner
Member of Congress