Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to say a few words about the fiscal year 2017 Financial Services Appropriations Act.

I have been privileged to serve on the subcommittee since the beginning of the 114th Congress. I first want to commend the excellent work of Chairman Crenshaw, who will be retiring at the end of this Congress, Ranking Member Serrano, as well as the staffs of both the majority and the minority.

Unfortunately, I will have to oppose this bill on final passage for a number of reasons. For example, I know that it is not the most popular or even the most politically wise thing to defend the Internal Revenue Service, but it does not make any sense to complain about the work of the IRS and then slash its ability to function by cutting its budget $246 million below the FY 2016 level and $1.4 billion below the President's budget request.

Severe budget cuts have led to fewer audits, longer appeals, delayed refunds, and poorer service for the American people. It has also led to billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, money that could be used to repair our Nation's infrastructure or reduce the deficit. Instead, the cuts have only served to line the pockets of tax cheats, people who can't be audited and have collection by the Internal Revenue Service.

Taxpayer Services, however, does get funding at the amount requested, which is a positive step for turning around the IRS' customer service issues. At the very least, it is encouraging to see the Congress taking the first steps to improving customer service and tax compliance-- resulting from unfair and unnecessary political attacks on the agency-- but now they are taking it seriously.

I am also concerned that the FY 2017 Financial Services Appropriations Act contains a number of contentious policy riders that will hinder the government's ability to do its job. First of all, the bill unnecessarily micromanages the District of Columbia's budget and its laws, restricting home rule and the ability of the District of Columbia to manage its own finances.

Also, the Federal Communications Commission is prohibited from implementing its popular net neutrality rules until all lawsuits contesting the rules have been resolved. The Commission has carefully tailored these rules to ensure approval by the courts, and the provision simply delays the implementation of consumer and small business protection from unscrupulous business practices.

The bill severely undermines the Affordable Care Act by prohibiting funds to implement the individual mandate and the transfer of funds to the IRS for the use of implementing the Affordable Care Act.

Additionally, the bill inhibits corporate transparency by blocking the Securities and Exchange Commission from requesting information on political contributions by corporations.

Finally, it continues to prohibit individuals traveling to Cuba for educational exchanges outside of a degree program. That policy is a relic of the last century, and it has absolutely no part in today's globalized economy.

As I said, I cannot support the FY 2017 Financial Services Appropriations Act as it currently stands. While we are still in tough economic times, this bill contains too many harmful policies and does not allocate the resources in a way to grow our Nation's economy.

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