Sewell Opening Statement at Oversight Subcommittee Hearing on IRS Return on Investment and the Need for Modernization
(As prepared for delivery)
Good morning. As the new Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee, I would like to thank Chairman Schweikert for holding this hearing and his warm remarks. I also would like to welcome my Democratic colleagues to our first Subcommittee hearing. I look forward to working with everyone on this Subcommittee on important oversight issues this Congress.
Today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk about the Internal Revenue Service – IRS – and the historic Inflation Reduction Act – IRA. The IRA made a once-in-a-generation investment in modernizing the IRS. The results have been record-breaking. The IRS announced that it collected $1 billion from high-wealth taxpayers due to IRA funding. It dramatically improved taxpayer service, including answering more calls, providing expanded in-person outreach to rural and underserved taxpayers, and simplifying notices and letters.
Yet, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to hamstring the IRS at every opportunity by cutting its budget and IRA funding. This is abundantly clear by the fact that they have rescinded over $20 billion in enforcement funds, and they froze another $20 billion in the previous Continuing Resolution. We need to fix this issue, and slashing funds is not the solution. IRA funding is not an endless piggy bank for the Majority.
Mr. Chairman, I would be remiss if I did not mention the elephant in the room – the faux “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) and its unlawful access of the Treasury’s sensitive payment systems and confidential taxpayer information. DOGE’s takeover of the federal payment system is an egregious invasion of the privacy of every American.
Federal tax law specifically ensures that Americans’ tax return information is confidential. As you know, unauthorized disclosure of this information is a felony. Elon Musk and DOGE should not be rummaging around in the confidential information of private citizens. No one knows what information DOGE accessed or how it was or could be used. Mr. Chairman, we really should have the Treasury Secretary and DOGE before us today, as the Speaker committed to my colleagues and members of this Committee, Congresswomen Moore and Chu.
In closing, I thank the witnesses for being here today. I look forward to your testimony, and I yield back. Thank you.
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