Tax bill harms veterans

The Republican tax bill that passed the House hurts veterans, active duty service members, and their families in a number of ways. The bill gets rid of the Work Opportunity Tax credit now available to employers, when they hire a veteran who has a service-connected disability, is unemployed, or receives food stamps. Also repealed is the Disabled Access Credit, which helps small businesses provide access to veterans and others with disabilities.

The bill eliminates the education loan deduction, making schooling more expensive for those who have to take out a student loan to supplement GI Bill benefits. And active duty service members stand to lose from the change to the capital gains tax exemption, requiring residence in a home for five years to be eligible. Military families that relocate more frequently would no longer qualify for this tax break. Because the Commonwealth tax code mirrors the federal Internal Revenue Code these changes apply to tax filers in the Marianas. H.R. 1, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed the House on a party line vote, 227-205.