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Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation to remedy a change in tax code which drastically increased tax burdens on the child survivors of first responders. The tax increase, caused by the 2017 GOP tax bill, was brought to Beyer’s attention by a constituent whose family members, the children of a deceased firefighter, had been hit with such a tax increase.

“Fixing this unfair tax hike on the children of first responders is the right thing to do,” said Rep. Beyer. “This problem with the GOP tax bill, like the enormous tax increases on Gold Star families and many college students, is a reminder of why it’s so important to take the time to get major legislation right. I hope my colleagues will join me on a bipartisan basis to repair the damage to the family members of brave first responders killed in the line of duty.”

Beyer’s bill would undo a provision under the 2017 Republican tax law which caused unearned income of minors to be assessed as part of the so-called “Kiddie Tax,” which was designed to prevent wealthy families from shrinking tax bills by shifting money from trusts and other sources to minors. The same change also significantly increased taxes on some low-income college students and Gold Star families.