Henry Cuellar for Congress | Proven Leadership for Texas

Delivering Tax Cuts to Texas

Congressman Cuellar believes in lowering taxes for everyday hard-working American families and sparking economic growth to sustain and create new jobs. That's why in 2009 he supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to give average hard-working Americans over $4.2 billion in tax cuts. In fact, 95% of all hard working Americans benefited from tax cuts from the Recovery Act, including 274,000 families in the 28th District of Texas. As a result of the Recovery Act, in 2010 millions of American families and hard-working Texans benefitted from tax returns ten percent higher than in 2009. 

The Recovery Act

One year after being signed into law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has delivered over $19 billion in committed federal funding to Texas and provided over $4.2 billion in tax cuts to hard-working Texas families and individuals. This has no doubt delivered a boost to average, everyday working Texans in the midst of these tough economic times.  

In fact, in Congressman Cuellar's district, over $634 million in federal funding has made significant investments in local infrastructure, transportation, education, health care, agriculture, energy and other community priorities. 

Passed by Congress last year and signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009, the Recovery Act has provided over $99 billion in tax cuts and first-time homebuyer tax credits to 95% of all hard-working families nationwide, including $4.2 billion to working Texans through the Making Work Pay Tax Credit Program. 

Tax Cuts from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009

• Delivered tax cuts to 95% of all hard-working Americans worth $99 billion
• $4.2 billion worth of tax cuts to hard-working Texans
• Over 274,000 families benefited from tax cuts
• Over 3.5 million seniors and veterans received a one-time stimulus payment totaling $250

More Tax Cuts 

• Child Tax Credit: Thanks to the Recovery Act more families are eligible for the Child Tax Credit which can reduce your federal income tax by up to $1,000 for each child under the age of 17
• Earned Income Tax Credit: Increased the EITC credit to a maximum of $5,657 to help qualifying working families who earn modest incomes
• College Expense Tax Credit: More families now qualify for the American Opportunity Credit of up to $2,500 to help families pay for college expenses, this is a $700 increase from the previous Hope Credit

Local Investments to Stabilize Jobs: 

ARRA provided over $634 million in federal funding in the 28th District to local infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, energy and education and $2 billion to Texas education for teach pay raises, new hiring, classroom materials and general education funding to local schools. Plus the Recovery Act helped saved or created 4,000 Texas teaching and education jobs in 2009. 

Local Investments to Stabilize Homes: 

• Homebuyer Tax Credits: ARRA provided first-time homebuyer tax credits up to $8,000, to learn more go to www.irs.gov/individuals
• Military Assistance: Congress provided special housing assistance to military and their families who are relocated for military assignments
• Foreclosure Assistance: Provided special mortgage refinancing and loan modifications for over 940,000 low and middle income Americans, to learn more go to www.makinghomeaffordable.gov