OHIO VALLEY YEARLY MEETING - PEACE TAX MINUTE

approved eighth month, 2002

Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting (Quakers) joins with other U.S. Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends to express our support of those who are conscientiously opposed to war taxes, in keeping with our more than 350 year religious witness for peace and our historical peace testimony that: "We do utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatsoever." We ask that our elected officials support and work for the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act ( currently HR 1186 ) as a way of recognizing our deep commitment to peace and social justice. We thank Representative John Lewis for 'introducing this legislation and ask all U.S. Congressional Representatives to join in co-sponsorship of the bill.

HR 1186 will allow legally defined conscientious objectors to pay 100% of their taxes into a separate fund that will be used only for government spending that is not for a military purpose: The level of contribution to this fund will be annually entered into the Congressional Record, and information about the fund will be published in both the tax return form and the instruction booklet. The apportionment powers of Congress will not be restricted while relief of suffering will be granted to tens of thousands otherwise not able to earn above the taxable level of income or otherwise forced to refuse payment of taxes.

Approved August 4,2002