H.R.1986 / 111th Congress

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other purposes.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 21, 2009

Repeals provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 eliminating the estate tax and related carryover basis provisions (thus restoring such tax after 2009).

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the estate tax unified credit to $4 million; and (2) reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40%.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Childers, Travis [D-MS-1] · D–MS

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Marshall, Jim [D-GA-8]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 21, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Apr 21, 2009
Introduced in House
Apr 21, 2009
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 21, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1986 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1986, 111th Congress: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1986

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-04-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1986/BILLS-111hr1986ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1986 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1986 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1986, 111th Congress: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1986

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-04-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1986/BILLS-111hr1986ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1986 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1986 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1986, 111th Congress: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1986

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-04-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1986/BILLS-111hr1986ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1986 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1986 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1986, 111th Congress: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax, increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $4,000,000, reduce the maximum estate tax rate to 40 percent, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/1986

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-04-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr1986/BILLS-111hr1986ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1986 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.