Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding this morning’s hearing on the taxpayer experience with the Internal Revenue Service. I would also like to thank our witnesses for being here today.
Before we begin, I would like to take a moment to address the Republican tax cut bill. This bill will explode the national debt by $2.3 trillion, and it will cause 13 million Americans to lose their healthcare coverage. All taxpayers expect, demand, and deserve better-much better-than this legislation, which puts politics before the good of the people.
For the sick, the elderly, and the disabled, this bill may mean life or death. For middle-class, working, and immigrant families, this bill will mean an increase in taxes. For students, this bill will make it more difficult to realize the dream of education.
In particular, I am concerned about how this bill will impact the IRS and taxpayer services. We have not had a single committee hearing on the challenge of implementing this bill, or the confusion this bill will create during the tax filing season, which begins in a few short weeks.
Since 2010, Congress cut the agency’s budget by almost $1 billion. I have said time and time again that you cannot get blood from a turnip, and you cannot justify robbing poor Peter to pay billionaire Paul. It is clear that the IRS does not have enough funding, staff, resources, or time to handle these significant changes in tax law.
Throughout the year, this Subcommittee has done good work, necessary work, the people’s work. Mr. Chairman, I hope that we can find a way to work together and give this agency the tools, staff, and resources it needs to serve taxpayers.
This morning, I look forward to learning more today about the taxpayer experience with the agency. The Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics and other IRS partners provide free tax preparation services to low-income and elderly taxpayers. Their insight should guide our work to make sure that taxpayers have more access to quality in-person, online, and telephone services.
In closing, I would like to thank each witness for being here today and for the good work you do to assist taxpayers. I look forward to your testimony. Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing.
