Shelley Moore Capito, August 24, 2004

Parents across West Virginia are sending their children back to the classrooms for a new school year. As the kids board their school buses, it is important to consider the important role families play in our communities, and the role that government can play in supporting and strengthening the family. That's why I want to write this week about important legislation I have worked on to promote our values.

I believe the parents should keep more of the money they earn to help with the cost of raising children. Buying school supplies, clothes, and even a new computer can be expensive, so Congress, with my support, raised the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child. I also introduced legislation to expand the refundibility of the child tax credit to allow more low-income families to take full advantage of the credit.

The tax relief plan also repealed the marriage penalty. Prior to the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, the tax code actually punished marriage by giving married couples a higher tax bill than the combined bill the two individuals would have paid if they were single. Our government should promote marriage, not punish it, so I supported the repeal of the marriage penalty and support efforts to make the repeal permanent. Over 200,000 married couples in West Virginia have benefited from this marriage penalty relief.

In an effort to protect the institution of marriage I voted for HR 3313, the Marriage Protection Act of 2004 that passed that House on July 22, 2004. This bill strips the issue of same sex marriage from the jurisdiction of the federal courts, keeping the federal courts from striking down already existing state laws on the issue. With this legislation, same sex marriage will only be recognized in West Virginia if the elected representatives in the State Legislature choose to recognize it.

School children across West Virginia begin their day with the Pledge of Allegiance, which has been the subject of recent litigation. Two years ago, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the "under God" portion of the pledge was unconstitutional. I disagreed strongly with the 9th Circuit decision and am glad that the US Supreme Court overturned it earlier this year. I am a co-sponsor of HR 2028, The Pledge Protection Act, to strip the Pledge from the jurisdiction of the courts to ensure that no future decision could strip "Under God" from the Pledge and voted for a sense of the House resolution expressing outrage at the 9th Circuit opinion.

Recently, my husband and I sent our last child off to college. As the latest victim of "empty nest syndrome," I urge you to take time to enjoy your young family. There is so much to enjoy and our children grow up too fast. In Congress I will continue to support and promote our families so you have more time to spend with yours.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, represents West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Charleston.