Thank you, Chairman Brady. I’d like to make a few short comments and then I will yield the remainder of my time to my colleague, Mr. Pascrell, to make an opening statement on his resolution. Mr. Pascrell’s resolution would direct the Treasury Secretary to provide the House with the personal and business tax returns and other financial information of President Trump.
Let me refresh everyone’s memories on the facts here. Until recently, every President since Gerald Ford released their tax returns to the American public. President Gerald Ford released a summary of his tax returns. President Jimmy Carter. President Ronald Reagan. President George H.W. Bush. President Bill Clinton. President George W. Bush. President Barack Obama.
Republican and Democratic Presidents. They all released their tax returns to the American people.
This is not a partisan issue. The reason for releasing this information is to avoid conflicts of interest. Tax returns include important information about income and charitable giving and business interests, among other things. And this information is important for the American people to have so they know that their President is always acting in their best interest.
Therefore, I support my friend Mr. Pascrell’s resolution. I believe it’s in our country’s best interest for our Presidents to release their tax returns. And with that, I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Pascrell.
