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Neal Responds to Mnuchin’s Refusal to Testify before Ways & Means

January 17, 2019

Asks Secretary to Reconsider Decision Given Cancellation of Davos Trip

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) issued the following statement after Department of Treasury (Treasury) Secretary Steven Mnuchin declined the Chairman's request to testify before the committee next week:

"With more than 70,000 Treasury employees furloughed and missing paychecks, I strongly believe Secretary Mnuchin himself should appear before our committee and answer members' questions. Nearly a month into the shutdown and with tax filing season rapidly approaching, the Treasury Department has announced plans to call more than 35,000 employees back to work, but has not provided details about this action to our committee.

"Ways & Means members have been trying for weeks to get answers from Treasury on the department's plans for the ongoing shutdown. With reports of federal workers lining up at food banks and struggling to pay bills, we want to hear directly from top leaders in the Trump Administration. New reports indicate that Secretary Mnuchin's upcoming travel plans have changed, putting him in Washington, DC next Thursday. Out of respect for Treasury and IRS employees, and this committee, I sincerely hope the Secretary reconsiders my request to appear before the committee next week."

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