05-24-2006

The Hearing Industries Association (HIA), Alexandria, Va, announces that Rep Melissa Hart (R-Pa) is co-sponsoring the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit (HR 414). She is the 105th HR 414 co-sponsor and the eighth member of the House Ways and Means Committee to co-sponsor the bill. The Ways and Means Committee considers all tax legislation, including the hearing aid tax credit.

Hart says “while the technology to help people with hearing loss is readily available, too many Americans still cannot afford it. This legislation will enable more people with hearing loss to get the assistance they need to improve their lives.”

In addition to Hart, the eight other representatives who signed on to co-sponsor HR 414 over the past month include: Rep. Michael Doyle (D-Pa), Rep Brian Higgins (D-NY), Rep Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep Charlie Melancon (D-La), Rep Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex), Rep Nick Rahall (D-WVa), Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla), and Rep Curt Weldon (R-Pa).

HIA continues to aggressively support passage of the hearing aid tax credit legislation. Hearing loss is one of the few medical conditions for which there is little financial assistance available, despite the documented benefits of amplification for people with hearing losses. Earlier this year, the Better Hearing Institute issued a study confirming that there are economic, as well as psychosocial benefits of hearing aid use as people with hearing losses who use hearing aids earn, on average, $12,000 more in income annually than non-users.

For more information on the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit, visit www.hearing.org/public.