Good Morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today's hearing. I would also like to thank the Commissioner and all the other witnesses for being here today. This hearing is important. All Democrats agree that no organizations should be targeted because of their political, educational, or religious beliefs. It is important that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operates with integrity and follows a fair process when selecting organizations to audit.
Charities and other exempt organizations are the fabric of our communities. They are our universities, our hospitals, our homeless shelters, and our food banks. These organizations care for the sick and feed the hungry. They educate our children and support the elderly. They give hope and help to those in need. America is stronger because of these organizations. They help us fulfill our promise to care for the least among us, and they set a global example for our friends and neighbors around the world.
Today, there are over 1.6 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States. Overall, less than one percent (1%) are selected for audit. I am pleased to learn that GAO did not find any evidence that IRS employees chose to examine organizations because of their political, educational, or religious beliefs. It is also encouraging to learn that GAO found that IRS' Exempt Organizations employees equated fairness with reviewing organizations strictly by the law. In focus groups, the employees told GAO, “(You should) treat everyone alike, it doesn’t matter who filed the information, it is what they filed." In my estimation, this is the right way; it is the just way.
Again, I thank all the witnesses for being here today. I look forward to hearing more from panels about the audit process for organizations, and how it can be improved. Thank you.
