Gibbs Introduces Legislation for Amish Community Regulatory Relief

Press Release

Congressman Bob Gibbs (OH-07) introduced two bills this afternoon to provide relief for Amish workers and members of other religious communities for whom some federal regulations violate their religious beliefs.

The Religious Exemptions from Social Security and Healthcare Taxes Act allows Amish employees of non-Amish companies to waive Social Security and Medicare taxes from being deducted from their paychecks. While working for an Amish company, those deductions can be waived but if their employer is not Amish owned, those tax payments would have to be recouped when their annual taxes are filed. The legislation provides a better process so Amish employees no longer have to worry about whether they'll get those taxes back when filing their annual returns.

After introducing the Religious Exemptions from Social Security and Healthcare Taxes Act, Congressman Gibbs released the following statement:

"For those in the Amish community who do not participate in Social Security and Medicare upon retirement, they should not be forced to pay those taxes and claw them back during the annual filing period. This bill will help simplify the process so Amish workers have peace of mind and will not have to worry about whether they'll get their payments back when filing their taxes every ye

The Protecting Religious Exemptions for Amish Communities and Households (PREACH) Act allows Amish persons and others for whom their religious beliefs prevent them from possessing photo identification to use another state-certified form of identification to legally purchase a firearm through federally licensed firearms dealer.

Regarding the PREACH Act, Congressman Gibbs said:

"The lack of photo identification for those in the Amish community ultimately serves as a roadblock to their ability to exercise their constitutional rights. This situation creates a unique problem in which those practicing the Amish faith find it difficult to legally purchase a firearm without a photo ID, even though they have sufficiently proven their identity to the state. The PREACH Act will fill this regulatory gap that inadvertently stifles those for whom a photo ID is against their religious beliefs and allows them to enjoy their constitutionally protected rights."

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