April 16, 2008
1:12 PM

Third Annual Veterans Business Conference in El Paso

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January 31, 2008
4:28 PM

Raising awareness of Earned Income Tax Credit in El Paso

In an effort to ensure El Pasoans are aware of the Earned Income Tax Credit as tax season gets underway, please note this press release Congressman Reyes sent out today. There is also a link below to a brochure by the El Paso Coalition for Family Economic Progress that lists free tax preparation assistance sites in El Paso. These services are available across El Paso in both English and Spanish.

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Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, is proud to join with the El Paso Internal Revenue Service office and the El Paso Coalition for Family Economic Progress on "Earned Income Tax Awareness Day" to help increase awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) among potentially eligible El Paso taxpayers.

"The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the largest tax credit programs available for working families," said Congressman Reyes. "There are estimates that many more taxpayers nationwide may be eligible, but aren’t aware of it and therefore don’t receive the credit they deserve. For eligible filers, this credit will help stretch their income and reduce their taxes.

"I applaud the work of the El Paso IRS and our community partners in helping get the word out about this federal tax credit and providing free tax preparation services for El Paso families," said Congressman Reyes.

According to the IRS, over 103,000 residents of El Paso County claimed $250 million in EITC funds in tax year 2006. The EITC is worth up to $4,716 per qualifying individual or family.

Created by Congress in 1975, the EITC is a refundable credit for working low-income families. The program helps offset Social Security taxes and provides an incentive for work. It is the federal government’s largest benefits program for working families. In the 1990s, Congress transformed the program into a major component of federal efforts to reduce poverty, and it is now the largest anti-poverty entitlement program.

EITC Eligibility
To qualify during the 2007 tax year, taxpayers must have had investment income of $2,900 or less and earned income and adjusted gross incomes (AGI) under:

• $37,783 ($39,783 married filing jointly) with two or more qualifying children;
  
• $33,241 ($35,241 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child; and
  
• $12,590 ($14,590 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

Click here for the EITC page on IRS website.

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December 18, 2007
4:40 PM

Texas Monthly Talks

Last month, Congressman Reyes sat down with Evan Smith, the editor of Texas Monthly magazine to tape an episode of Texas Monthly Talks, the magazine’s weekly television show that airs on PBS across the state. As you can see from Smith’s introduction of their show, which was posted on their website, their conversation ranged from immigration to the issues Congressman Reyes deals with as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Excerpts from Smith's introduction:

By some estimates, as many as twelve million people are in this country illegally, living and working and raising their families among us, so much a part of our communities that we’ve come to take it, and them, for granted. We know, because the doomsayers and demagogues tell us, that our borders are too porous, that our homeland isn’t as secure as it should be, that our American way of life is under assault. And yet there’s another side to the story, one focused on the long tradition of immigrants of all kinds coming to America in search of opportunity and contributing in so many ways to this great melting pot of ours, and on the economic development made possible by an unfettered flow of people and commerce, and this week’s guest is only too happy to tell that story. For more than twenty-six years, Silvestre Reyes worked for the U.S. Border Patrol...

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Following the 2006 elections, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi named Congressman Reyes the chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence. The 63-year-old finds himself at the epicenter of power and policy-making in Washington at a time when experts on the thorny immigration issue are more in need than ever, and loudmouths who know nothing, of which there are many, need real schooling; in him, fortunately, we have someone who is more than capable of providing it.

The show aired on Sunday, December 8 on KCOS in El Paso. If you missed it, you can watch it online on the KLRU website: http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/archives/reyes/intro.asp

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December 11, 2007
3:25 PM

Democrats fighting for your pocketbooks

Economic performance statistics for the month of December 2007 show that over the course of the Bush Administration, the median household income has decreased by 0.3% while the poverty level has increased by 1.0%.  Furthermore, only 6 million jobs were created throughout Bush’s presidency, compared to 22.7 million new jobs under the Clinton Administration.

The statistics, provided by the Democratic members of the Joint Economic Committee, paint a disappointing picture of Republican fiscal governance.  Over 18 years, the past three Republican Presidents created $4.14 trillion in deficits, which starkly contrasts to the $67.7 billion surplus accumulated under the Clinton Administration.

Under President Bush, home foreclosures have skyrocketed, and the price of health insurance, gas, and college are rapidly increasing.  These costs strain today’s hard-working families in El Paso and across America, and pass the buck to future generations. 

Democrats have taken a stand against fiscally irresponsible policies and demanded accountability.  Democrats have restored responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules to reign in the uncontrolled spending that occurred under Republicans.

Throughout the 110^th Congress, an emphasis has been placed on passing legislation that creates jobs, reduces college costs, and increases competitiveness.  Though we currently face numerous economic challenges, rest assured Congressman Reyes and his Democratic colleagues are working to create a more economically secure, prosperous America.

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December 11, 2007
1:22 PM

Math and science - America falling behind

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