Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak against H.R. 23. The funding provided through the Inflation Reduction Act is an important step to address the lack of resources for the IRS so that they could do their job.

How many of us have called the IRS and been on the phone waiting for hours only to be told that you were being transferred to yet another department and also continue to be waiting?

Over the past year, the IRS has already been cut by 15 percent, and more cuts means more delays and lack of services for our constituents. As Representative Neal said, the IRS failed to collect over $500 trillion last year alone because of lack of resources, lack of compliance, and the targeting of those people who are less fortunate through the EITC compliance. They have been hurt.

Mr. Speaker, this is about tax compliance. This is also about racial equity and fairness. Historically, African Americans have been disproportionately audited by the IRS due to their claims of EITC. I ask for fairness and equity and ask for my colleagues to vote ``no'' against this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source