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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020
______
speech of
HON. JOHN LEWIS
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3351) making
appropriations for financial services and general government
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other
purposes:
Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3351, the
fiscal year 2020 Financial Services and General Government
Appropriations Act.
Let me begin by thanking Chairman Quigley and Chairwoman Lowey for
their leadership on this important bill. I would also like to recognize
their staff for reaching out and listening our concerns and priorities
in this bill.
The Federal Government shutdown, changes to the tax code, and
difficulty accessing experts increases IRS casework in many District
Offices, including my own. As the chair of the Ways and Means Oversight
Subcommittee, I believe it is critically important that Congress
restore desperately needed funding for the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS).
For many years, the National Taxpayer Advocate underscored the
necessity of providing the agency with the resources, staff, and tools
it needs in order to improve taxpayer services. Although Congress needs
to restore the agency's funding to at least $12.3 billion, I believe
that this bill finally moves the agency in the right direction.
I would also like to reiterate my appreciation for the Appropriations
Committee's support when the House considered the Taxpayer First Act.
As you know the Taxpayer First Act, which the House and Senate adopted
earlier this year, is the most important improvement to taxpayer
services in a generation. We worked hard to correct misinformation that
our bill would tie the hands of the IRS and hurt taxpayers' options.
During a time when there is so much tension and rush to judgment, our
coalition remained thoughtful and fair.
As you know, Mr. Chair, the Taxpayer First Act resulted from years of
bipartisan hearings, roundtables, and a public comment period on the
draft bill. This legislation authorizes $30 million dollars in matching
grants for the popular Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which
helps low and moderate-income taxpayers complete and file their taxes.
The Taxpayer First Act also protects certain low-income taxpayers from
the private debt collection program, and authorizes desperately needed
new initiatives to protect and serve taxpayers, who are victims of
identity theft. I hope that this bipartisan, bicameral bill will become
public law in the near future.
In closing, I would also like to recognize the Chairman's hard work
to remove problematic policy riders from the FY20 House bill. I know
that it was not easy, and I thank him and his staff for taking the time
to consider our concerns. I offer my strong support and commitment to
continue working with the Chairman and the Subcommittee so that this
critical agency receives the funding and guidance so that the IRS may
provide the highest quality, timely and secure taxpayer experience.
____________________
