Dear Mr. Acosta:
I am writing today to request that you voluntarily provide three years of tax returns as I have requested of all of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and specifically those before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP").
As you may know, in December I called on all of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominees to provide three years of tax returns as part of the Senate vetting process. By voluntarily complying with this request, you ensure that the Committee has an opportunity to fully understand any challenges your financial situation may present to your coming nomination as Secretary of Labor.
Senate Committees that already require tax returns for nominees in their jurisdiction have found they offer an important tool and provide additional information necessary to thoroughly evaluate whether there may be conflicts of interest between a nominee’s finances and the position to which they have been nominated. Moreover, the provision of tax returns has, in the past, been offered as an option to nominees coming before the HELP Committee. In fact, at least three previous cabinet Secretaries have provided tax returns to the Committee as part of the confirmation process.
Please be assured that any tax information that is provided will be handled in the strictest of confidence with procedures and safeguards already utilized by the Senate Finance and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, or would like to further discuss compliance with this request, please contact Beth Stein, HELP Committee General Counsel, minority staff, at 202-224-3254.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
cc: The Honorable Lamar Alexander, United States Senator
