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Alaskan Congressman Don Young introduced H.R. 6554 yesterday afternoon which will amend the tax code with regards to the birth of a stillborn child. This bill would mandate that the Internal Revenue Service allow a one time child tax deduction for a child who is stillborn. Currently, the law states that a child born alive qualifies for a full exemption on tax returns even if the child only lives momentarily, however, a stillborn child does not qualify. Being that many states, including Alaska, require that a stillborn child have a burial or cremation once the death certificate has been issued, if a parent is not able to claim the child as a dependant on their tax returns, these costs get paid out of pocket.

"With this bill, I hope to lessen the burden by a small amount on the parents of stillborn children," said Rep. Young. "Many unexpected costs are incurred on these parents and during a very difficult time for them. The difference in the current law is of one breath; if a child is able to inhale one breath then the parents are able to defray the costs of laying their child to rest. If there is no breath, they are not. The pain they feel in these parallel situations is the same so why would we differentiate between how the government treats them? I thank God every day that I have two healthy daughters and fourteen healthy grandchildren, and for those who are not as fortunate, I hope this bill offers them one less thing to worry about."

H.R. 6554 would expand the existing child tax credit laws to include a stillborn child that receives a fetal death certificate issued from that state.

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