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House Passes Bill to Restore Tax Relief for Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations

House Passes Bill to Restore Tax Relief for Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Casualty Loss Dedication Restoration Act, a bill aimed at providing tax relief to homeowners affected by crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite. The legislation, part of the larger H.R. 9500, passed with a significant bipartisan vote of 408-17. Spearheaded by Representatives John B. Larson (CT-01) and Joe Courtney (CT-02), the bill allows affected homeowners to claim the casualty loss deduction for repair costs. Furthermore, it enables these homeowners to retroactively claim the deduction for repairs made starting in 2021. This initiative addresses a long-standing issue in regions like Connecticut, where up to 35,000 homes have been impacted by this structural damage, often leaving families with substantial repair expenses. The bill builds on previous efforts by Representatives Larson and Courtney, who secured IRS guidance in 2017 allowing the use of the casualty loss deduction, a provision that was later limited by the 2017 tax law.

U.S. House Passes National Fraud Enforcement Division Act with Bipartisan Support

U.S. House Passes National Fraud Enforcement Division Act with Bipartisan Support

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.R. 9576, the National Fraud Enforcement Division Act of 2026, with significant bipartisan backing. The measure passed with a vote of 352-72, with nine members abstaining. Republican Representative Brad Finstad of Minnesota introduced the bill on July 2, co-sponsored by Kansas Republican Representative Derek Schmidt. The legislation aims to permanently establish the National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Department of Justice (DOJ). This division already exists administratively, having been created earlier this year under President Trump, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally announcing it in April as part of a broader federal anti-fraud initiative. The DOJ states that the unit investigates and prosecutes fraud targeting taxpayer dollars, government programs, businesses, nonprofits, and private citizens, also coordinating with various law enforcement partners.

U.S. House Passes 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' Bill Advances to Senate

U.S. House Passes 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' Bill Advances to Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the 'AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act,' sending the legislation to the Senate for further consideration. This bill aims to mandate the inclusion of AM radio receivers in all new vehicles. The move comes amidst a push by some electric vehicle manufacturers to remove AM radio from their vehicles, citing potential technical interference from large batteries. However, engineers and proponents of AM radio, such as Dennis Lyle, CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association, argue that such interference can be mitigated. Lyle emphasized the critical role of AM radio, particularly in rural areas where it often serves as the most reliable source of information due to geographical restrictions affecting FM signals. He also highlighted AM radio's importance in the Emergency Alert System (EAS), where stations like WTAX act as primary entry points (PEP) to disseminate critical messages during emergencies.

House Bill Seeks to Credit All Active Military Service Towards Early Retirement for National Guard and Reserve Members

House Bill Seeks to Credit All Active Military Service Towards Early Retirement for National Guard and Reserve Members

Recently introduced House legislation, the Reserve Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 10155), aims to allow all active military service to count towards reduced-age retirement for members of the National Guard and Reserve. Currently, only active-duty periods when a Guard or Reserve member was mobilized on or after January 29, 2008, are considered for early retirement. For every cumulative 90 days of active duty, the retirement-pay eligibility age is reduced by three months from age 60. However, active-component service completed before joining the Guard or Reserve does not count under the current system. The new bill, introduced by Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), seeks to change this by applying active-component service performed after January 28, 2008, but before a service member joined the Guard or Reserve, toward reduced-age retirement. Representative Hamadeh, an Army Reserve captain, emphasized that the bill does not create a new retirement or alter existing eligibility requirements, such as completin...

U.S. House Advances Two Rivers Harbor Dredging Project in Water Resources Development Act

U.S. House Advances Two Rivers Harbor Dredging Project in Water Resources Development Act

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Water Resources Development Act, which includes provisions for the Two Rivers Harbor dredging project. Congressman Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin's Sixth District confirmed the inclusion of this project in the federal legislation. Grothman emphasized that he advocated for the project after hearing concerns from local boaters, businesses, and community leaders in Two Rivers regarding the challenges posed by delayed dredging and the necessity of maintaining harbor accessibility. The last time the Two Rivers Harbor underwent dredging was in 2020. While this legislative step is significant, the full completion of the dredging and associated harbor improvements is not anticipated until 2027 or 2028.

IRS Collection Period for Back Taxes Generally Limited to 10 Years, With Exceptions

IRS Collection Period for Back Taxes Generally Limited to 10 Years, With Exceptions

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally has a 10-year window to collect assessed tax debt, including taxes, penalties, and interest. This 10-year period, known as the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED), begins from the date the tax is assessed, not necessarily the tax year itself. However, this period is not absolute and can be extended or suspended by various events. These events include bankruptcy proceedings, collection due process hearings, pending installment agreement requests, and Offers in Compromise. In rare cases where the government sues the taxpayer in U.S. district court and reduces the liability to judgment, the IRS may have an additional 20 years to collect the debt.

Representative Ed Case Introduces Bill to Limit Congressional Redistricting Frequency

Representative Ed Case Introduces Bill to Limit Congressional Redistricting Frequency

Representative Ed Case has introduced H.R. 10378, known as the Problem Solvers Transparent Redistricting Under Stable Timelines Act. This bill, which currently has 10 cosponsors, aims to restrict how often states can redraw U.S. House of Representatives district maps between decennial census-based apportionments. Under the proposed legislation, once a state establishes its congressional districts after a census and apportionment, it generally would not be permitted to redraw those districts again until the subsequent apportionment cycle. An exception would be made if a court mandates a redraw to ensure compliance with the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution in effect at the time of the last map drawing, or another federal law. If a court-ordered redraw occurs, the new map must alter existing district lines as minimally as possible while adhering to the court's directive. The bill also includes limitations on court challenges, stipulating that a court can only order a new redistricting if a lawsuit chal...

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

Coalition Demands Emergency Congressional Hearing on Student Loan System Chaos

A coalition of 89 national and state labor unions, civil rights organizations, consumer protection groups, and student and borrower advocates has sent an urgent letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees overseeing federal student loans and servicers. The letter demands an emergency hearing to address the widespread chaos and confusion experienced by borrowers over the past year. This situation has been exacerbated by the Trump Administration's implementation of significant cuts to financial aid and student loan repayment programs under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (OBBBA). The advocates included a memo with their letter, detailing borrower stories from the 'One Big Bill' campaign, which highlight skyrocketing payments and persistent servicing issues following the act's implementation. The coalition is seeking immediate congressional attention to the deteriorating state of the student loan system and its impact on borrowers.

IRS Draft 2026 Form 1040 Introduces New Citizenship and Work Authorization Question

IRS Draft 2026 Form 1040 Introduces New Citizenship and Work Authorization Question

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a draft of the 2026 Form 1040, which includes a new question regarding taxpayers' citizenship and work authorization status. This new inquiry asks if the taxpayer, and their spouse if filing jointly, is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an alien lawfully authorized to work in the United States. This question is distinct from tax residency status, which is determined by criteria such as the green card test or substantial presence test. The draft also relocates an existing line concerning a nonresident or dual-status spouse from the Filing Status section to a new 'Other Information' section. Additionally, the draft introduces a new Schedule 3-A, titled 'Federal Public Benefit,' which applies to refundable portions of certain credits like the earned income credit and child tax credit, asking if the filer is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a 'qualified alien.' The IRS has not yet provided instructions on how to interpret or respond to these new questions, parti...

Congressman Kustoff Introduces Bill to Expand Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach

Congressman Kustoff Introduces Bill to Expand Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach

Congressman David Kustoff has introduced H.R. 10512, the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act. This bipartisan legislation, serving as the House companion to a Senate bill by Senators Dan Sullivan and Maggie Hassan, aims to improve employer access to federal tax benefits related to child care. The proposed bill seeks to establish a Business Child Care Liaison within the IRS. This liaison would be responsible for educating employers about the Section 45F child care tax credit and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, as well as facilitating coordination between the IRS, businesses, and the child care sector. A 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted that few businesses claimed the Section 45F credit due to low awareness and the perceived complexity of offering child care benefits. Kustoff has previously supported amendments to this credit, which were incorporated into the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.'

House Passes Legislation Mandating AM Radio in New Vehicles for Emergency Preparedness

House Passes Legislation Mandating AM Radio in New Vehicles for Emergency Preparedness

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which mandates that all new passenger vehicles manufactured in or imported into the U.S. must include AM radio capabilities as standard equipment. This legislation requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule ensuring that these vehicles have devices capable of receiving and playing content from AM stations or digital audio AM stations without an additional fee. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a sponsor of the bill, emphasized that AM broadcast radio is a critical public safety resource, especially during national or natural disasters when electricity and cell service may be unavailable. The bill aims to prevent car manufacturers from removing AM radio as a feature, a trend observed in some electric vehicles and potentially other new models. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) highlighted that AM broadcast stations are specifically designed to withstand major weather events and act as primary entry points for t...

Detroit Free Press

Why you don't want to fall for tribal tax credits scam that seems real

Why you don't want to fall for tribal tax credits scam that seems real

Promoters will encourage a taxpayer to buy the purported credits from an entity they claim is associated with a tribal community. Except it is fake.