The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 20, 2006

Fact Sheet: Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006

     Fact sheet President's Statement on Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
     Fact sheet President Bush Signs the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
     Fact sheet In Focus: Jobs and Economy
     Fact sheet In Focus: Health Care
     Fact sheet en Español

Today, President Bush Signed The Tax Relief And Health Care Act Of 2006. This Act will extend tax relief for millions of American families and small businesses, and add momentum to our growing economy. It will maintain key tax reforms, expand our commitment to renewable energy resources, make it easier for Americans to afford health insurance, and help open markets overseas for our farmers and small businesses.

The Tax Relief And Health Care Act Will Continue Economic Progress In Four Key Ways

  1. The Act Will Extend Key Tax Relief Measures That Are Critical To Expanding Opportunity, Continuing Economic Growth, And Revitalizing Our Communities. We are extending the deductibility of tuition and higher education expenses to help more Americans go to college and compete in the global market. We are also extending and modernizing the research and development tax credit to keep our Nation leading the world in technology and innovation. By allowing businesses to deduct part of their R&D investments from their taxes, this Act will encourage American companies to pursue the innovative products, medicines, and technologies of the future.

  2. The Act Will Help Expand And Diversify Our Energy Supply. The Act will increase America's energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, a key goal of the President's Advanced Energy Initiative. To encourage the development of new sources of energy, it will extend tax credits for investment in renewable electricity resources including wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy. The Act will also encourage the development of clean coal technology and renewable fuels like ethanol, and it will help promote new energy efficient technologies.
  1. The Act Will Help Open New Markets For American Goods And Services Around The World. It authorizes Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Vietnam, which will soon join the World Trade Organization. The Act also extends a series of programs with other developing nations to give duty-free status to products they export to the United States. By encouraging a system of free and fair trade, we can create better-paying jobs for American workers and farmers, provide new opportunities for entrepreneurs, and help lift entire nations out of poverty.

  2. The Act Will Help Make Health Care Affordable And Accessible For More Americans. This Act will bring Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) within the reach of more Americans. HSAs allow people to save money for health care tax-free, and to take these accounts with them if they move from job to job. This Act will raise contribution limits and make the accounts more flexible, let people fund their HSAs with one-time transfers from their Individual Retirement Accounts, allow people to contribute up to the annual limit of $2,850 regardless of the deductible for their insurance plan, and give them the option to fully fund their HSAs regardless of what time of year they sign on to a plan.

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