Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Colonel Tom Akers of Eminence, Missouri, on his induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, a well-deserved honor that reflects a lifetime of extraordinary service, achievement, and dedication to our Nation.

Born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, Tom Akers exemplifies the values of hard work, perseverance, and patriotism that define our state. After earning his degree in applied mathematics, he served our country with distinction as an officer and pilot in the United States Air Force, demonstrating the leadership and commitment that would become hallmarks of his remarkable career.

In 1987, Tom Akers was selected by NASA to join its astronaut corps, beginning a chapter of service that would place him among the pioneers of America's space program. Beyond his accomplishments in orbit, Tom Akers has served as an inspiration to countless young people across Missouri and the Nation. His

journey from the small town of Eminence to the frontiers of space demonstrates that determination, education, and service can open doors to extraordinary opportunities. His achievements have brought great pride to the people of Missouri, particularly those in the Ozarks who have followed his career with admiration.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame honors individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on our Nation's space program, and Tom Akers is unquestionably deserving of this recognition. His dedication to scientific discovery, national service, and the advancement of human spaceflight has earned him a place among the most distinguished astronauts in American history.

It is my privilege to recognize Colonel Akers on this significant achievement, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on his induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and in thanking him for his many contributions to our Nation and the state of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8873) to recover unclaimed pandemic-era unemployment compensation funds held by financial institutions or escheated to State unclaimed property administrators, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act led by my Ways and Means colleagues Representative Beth Van Duyne and Representative Tom Suozzi.

As the lead sponsor of this legislation, Representative Van Duyne has been shining a spotlight on the fraud epidemic, even from her earliest days serving on the Ways and Means Committee.

Unemployment insurance benefits are a target-rich environment for fraudsters.

According to the Government Accountability Office, between $100 billion to $135 billion in COVID-era unemployment benefits are estimated to have been taken by fraudsters using eligibility loopholes and stolen identities.

Of that money, a Department of Labor Inspector General investigation found that nearly $1 billion of fraudulent COVID-era unemployment benefits is currently frozen and being held in financial institutions across the country. At one financial institution, the highest balance on a single card is $76,000. At a second financial institution, it is $56,000.

The statute of limitations for prosecuting COVID-era unemployment insurance fraud has already begun to expire, limiting the amount of money law enforcement can return or the number of criminals that they can bring to justice. Time is of the essence to recover the money stolen and rightfully owed to taxpayers.

This bipartisan bill establishes a new Federal task force to work with States to return the fraudulent unemployment benefits sitting in banks to American taxpayers.

The task force will develop model processes and guidance necessary for States to reclaim funds in a cost-efficient way, issue guidance to financial institutions on the legal path for returning funds, and establish due process protections for claimants whose identity was stolen as part of the crime.

Additionally, the bill doubles the statute of limitations for COVID- era unemployment insurance fraud prosecution from 5 to 10 years. As of last year, the Department of Labor reported more than 150,000 open complaints, and the Department of Justice had more than 1,648 open investigations regarding pandemic unemployment fraud. Prosecutors need more time to hold criminals accountable.

Every day Congress waits to pass this bill is another day that another fraudster will get away with stealing money that rightfully belongs to taxpayers and individuals in need.

The Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act passed 41-0 out of the Ways and Means Committee. This bill has also received the endorsement from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers' Compensation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to provide a similar level of support and advance this to the Senate and President Trump's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Committee on Ways and Means was able to come together in bipartisan unity and bring this important piece of legislation to the floor.

The American people expect Congress to root out the fraud in the critical social safety net so many rely on, including unemployment insurance.

To date, only $6 billion of stolen UI benefits have been recovered.

It is shameful that these benefits were stolen from vulnerable Americans in the first place. It will be equally shameful if Congress doesn't pass the bipartisan bill, recover the fraudulent unemployment benefits we know are sitting in banks, and prosecute more fraudsters.

I thank all of my colleagues, but especially the leaders of this bill, Representatives Van Duyne and Suozzi, for their leadership in fighting fraud.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5347) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the availability of appropriate collection types for quality reporting under the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act led by Committee on Ways and Means members, the Subcommittee on Health Chairman Vern Buchanan and Representative Jimmy Panetta.

As the lead sponsor of this legislation, Congressman Buchanan has been a strong champion for ensuring that our healthcare system is focused on the right outcomes--including improved patient health through chronic disease prevention--rather than Washington paperwork mandates.

This bill ensures that complex reporting requirements do not overwhelm healthcare providers or distract them from their primary job, caring for patients.

Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs, are groups of healthcare providers who are responsible for improving patient health and reducing spending through value-based care. More than 500 such ACOs, comprising nearly 700,000 medical providers, cared for over 12 million Medicare beneficiaries just last year. In their 14-year history, ACOs have saved taxpayers $12 billion.

ACOs are required to submit data on patient outcomes and operations, known as quality measures, to the Federal Government to track their performance and determine their shared savings.

The current system for reporting quality measures is labor intensive. Some ACOs use as many as 15 different electronic health record systems to track and report this data. One health system spent $5.6 million and 100,000 staff hours on reporting in a single year.

Digital reporting could ease this burden, while potentially saving $14 billion

in national health costs and investing resources in better care.

However, the lack of guidance disrupts operations and means digital reporting has yet to lighten the load for many medical providers.

This bipartisan bill provides stability for quality measure reporting and flexibility for smaller provider practices. It also establishes a pilot program for digital reporting to determine best practices.

This policy is particularly helpful for over 12,000 small, rural, or independent providers who are committed to lowering costs and improving patient outcomes but often lack the sophisticated software needed to comply with the digital reporting regime.

Medical providers should not waste precious resources and man-hours on reporting data to Washington bureaucrats when the need for patient care is so great. This bill ensures that ACOs can put quality patient care first.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), the vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill before us today was approved with total support by Ways and Means Republicans and Democrats. The purpose of value-based care is to implement solutions to some of this Nation's most pressing health challenges, including the high cost of care.

Digital reporting of quality measures holds the promise of relieving the administrative costs associated with accountable care organizations. However, that potential does not do doctors, patients, or taxpayers any good when the rules and timeline for digital reporting of quality measures are uncertain.

Ultimately, this bill keeps medical providers at accountable care organizations focused on providing better healthcare at a lower cost. That eliminates the potential distraction of complying with new digital reporting requirements that are yet to be finalized.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and its special connection to Rolla, Missouri. Known as ``The Mother Road,'' Route 66 has long been central to Rolla's identity as a transportation hub, strengthened by its location between St. Louis and Springfield.

Route 66 was first paved through Rolla in 1928, earning the city the distinction of being the ``Inaugural City'' of the final pavement project. Originally running through downtown, Route 66 brought new life to the area through increased commerce and tourism. As automobile travel expanded in the 1940s, the route became a symbol of American prosperity, fueling significant economic growth in Rolla as new businesses emerged to serve travelers.

Though Route 66 was eventually replaced by Interstate 44, portions of the original roadway remain in Rolla and across the country, preserving this historic landmark for future generations. Today, Rolla proudly celebrates its Route 66 heritage through preserved historic areas, local attractions, and community events like the annual Route 66 Summerfest. In recognition of this milestone, the Mayor of Rolla has proclaimed 2026 the ``Route 66 Centennial Year,'' honoring the city's longstanding role along the route.

It is my privilege to recognize the enduring connection between Route 66 and the City of Rolla, and I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating this iconic piece of American history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the songwriters of Jason Aldean's hit song ``Try That in a Small Town.'' Neil Thrasher, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, and Kelley Lovelace created a song that deeply resonated with millions of Americans, highlighting the all-American spirit of patriotism and resilience found in small town USA.

When ``Try That in a Small Town'' was released in 2023, the song made waves across the country, eventually reaching No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. At a moment when division and hate seemed to dominate discourse, this song sparked conversations about American patriotism when we need it most. Thrasher, Allison, Kennedy, and Lovelace used their storytelling talents to bring people together across generations.

Beyond the success of this single song, Neil Thrasher, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, and Kelley Lovelace have each built careers that have left a true mark on modern country music. Their music has climbed charts and become an integral part of the all-American way of life. More importantly, each of them brings a deep appreciation for honest storytelling that captures the voices and values of our great Nation.

Together, these four songwriters embody the heart of American patriotism. Their collaboration on ``Try That in a Small Town'' reflects the same integrity and passion that define this country. Their songwriting embodies what country music does best--tell the truth about who rural communities are and what we stand for.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1333, I call up the bill (H.R. 8872) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act, introduced by my Ways and Means Committee colleague Representative Mike Carey.

With an annual price tag of over $16 billion, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is a sizable investment and plays a critical support role for families who have fallen on hard times. A core tenet of the program is promoting self-sufficiency through work, a goal I know many of us see as a cornerstone of a successful welfare system.

Unfortunately, right now, there are major weaknesses in the TANF program that make it ripe for waste, fraud, and abuse. Despite the billions of dollars flowing through TANF, it is one of the few Federal programs we have that is not required to account for improper payments.

Additionally, investigations and reporting conducted by the Government Accountability Office found that the 78 percent of TANF spending that goes toward non-assistance activities lacks guardrails to prevent abuse and misuse of these Federal resources.

With instances of fraud occurring at an alarming rate across multiple government programs at the Federal, State, and local levels, Congress must act. That is why the Ways and Means Committee has held hearings and conducted critical oversight to determine what solutions will protect taxpayers and the families who should be benefiting from programs like TANF.

The Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act is a straightforward piece of legislation that addresses four key areas of concern, reflecting priorities of four members of the Ways and Means Committee.

The lead sponsor of this bill, Representative Carey, has fought to keep States from sitting on TANF funds while families struggle. Right now, States are holding on to nearly $8 billion in funds because there are no spending deadlines holding them accountable. This legislation requires that States spend down their TANF funds within a 3-year window.

Representative Arrington, the chairman of the House Budget Committee who is a leader in the fight to rein in waste, fraud, and abuse in government, has championed a provision within this bill that finally requires the Federal Government to track and report instances of improper payments. This reporting is crucial to ensuring that policymakers and the American people know if tax dollars are being spent as advertised.

With her understanding of how States often repurpose TANF funds to cover unrelated gaps in State budgets, Representative Tenney has worked to ensure States only use Federal TANF resources to supplement, not replace, State and local spending.

Thanks to the leadership of Representative Adrian Smith, who has worked to ensure TANF funding is actually going to those truly in need of assistance, this bill includes a provision that establishes an income threshold of 200 percent of the Federal poverty line, which is $62,000 for a family of four, to ensure States are targeting TANF spending to give more to those who are truly in need.

These policies defend against the abuse and misuse of taxpayer dollars and improve the integrity of the TANF program to better support those it was created to serve.

I am grateful for the leadership of the members of the Ways and Means Committee who have made weeding out waste, fraud, and abuse in our Federal welfare programs a priority.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the chair of the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois.

Madam Speaker, before I yield to the gentleman from Ohio, I just have to say that it is reckless to say on this floor that someone has stolen anything when they have never been criminally charged for anything. That is very, very bad for any Member of Congress to say that to a regular, everyday American who has never been charged with anything. Democrats should be ashamed.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, waste, fraud, and abuse have no place in our government and certainly no place in programs meant to provide critical assistance to our Nation's most vulnerable.

The Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act is a targeted and timely piece of legislation that protects the American taxpayers' hard- earned money and ensures that resources get to families who are truly in need of our help.

I appreciate my Ways and Means Committee colleagues for the time, attention, and work that they have contributed to this reform effort, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7432) to amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to improve coordination with Federal housing assistance programs for youth who have experienced foster care, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7432, the Fostering the Future Act, bipartisan legislation led by my Ways and Means Committee colleagues, Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore.

This is a historic moment for this committee and this House. What we have before us is the first comprehensive modernization of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood since its creation in 1999, nearly three decades ago.

Foster youth are one of the most vulnerable populations in our country. Before I came to Congress, I served as an attorney for neglected and abused children and have seen firsthand the challenges so many of these youth face.

Every year, nearly 16,000 foster youth age out of the system. Nearly 35 percent experience homelessness by age 21, and 70 percent are expectant or parenting by age 21, double the national average. Only 56 percent obtain full- or part-time employment, and possibly as few as 69 percent earn a high school diploma or GED. This is a system in desperate need of attention and reform.

Today, we are giving our Nation's foster youth a fighting chance at independence in adulthood. Following committee hearings and direct consultation with youth who spoke about their personal and real-world experiences, the Ways and Means Committee thoughtfully wrote these reforms designed to improve outcomes for our Nation's transitioning foster youth.

I want to give special thanks to our Nation's First Lady, Melania Trump, who has been an outstanding champion for foster youth through her Fostering the Future initiative. Truly, she is a voice for the voiceless.

Last month, our committee sat down for a roundtable with the First Lady and foster youth leaders who have actually lived through this system. I am proud that this bill codifies key priorities from the Fostering the Future of American Children and Families executive order championed by the First Lady, ensuring that these reforms are here to stay.

In direct response to the feedback raised by foster youth, including Seth, a 21-year-old from my district in Missouri, this bill improves connections to housing programs so foster youth aren't left to age out onto the streets.

Chairman LaHood, a longtime leader on expanding access to housing, and Representative Gwen Moore championed this provision to ensure housing stability remains in reach for young adults during a very vulnerable time as they transition to independence.

We also incorporated the feedback of Jaydan, a former foster youth from Texas, who spoke at our roundtable about the importance of increasing the value of the education and training voucher. Thanks to the leadership of another Texan, Representative Moran, and Representative Chu, foster youth will now have greater academic support when pursuing a postsecondary education.

The Fostering the Future Act expands flexibility in Chafee's education and training voucher program, with feedback from youth like Kimberley in Missouri and Raven in Ohio, so young people can pursue short-term workforce programs and apprenticeship opportunities to earn a high-paying job or receive remedial education to earn their high school diploma, reforms prioritized by Representatives Max Miller from Ohio and Dwight Evans from Pennsylvania.

Youth who age out of the child welfare system often lack permanent connections to family and face unique barriers that can make transitioning into independence difficult. We heard directly from a foster youth from Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis' home State of Illinois, Jocelyn Fettering, who shared with us at our roundtable the importance of improving access to legal services.

To break down further barriers, we have included a thoughtful initiative from Representatives Yakym and Davis to connect expectant and parenting foster youth with evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting services.

Representative Yakym is building directly upon the great work of his predecessor, the late Jackie Walorski, leveraging existing resources to help these young adults build healthy, stable families.

Finally, a provision led by Representatives Mike Carey and Gwen Moore updates the core mission of the Chafee program to prioritize lifelong connections, mentors, and permanent support networks. Representative Carey has been incredibly outspoken about the importance of mentorship, and this step ensures these young people have real-world relationships to help them achieve lasting independence.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), who is the sponsor of this legislation. Mr. LaHood, as the chairman of our Work and Welfare Subcommittee, has been a tireless champion for America's foster youth and a leader in advancing these long overdue reforms.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, aging out is not a plan. Every young person who has experienced foster care deserves a real shot at the American Dream, and they should not be left without any support at a very vulnerable time.

I am very proud of the years of work that went into this legislation: from all the Members of the Ways and Means Committee; from Mr. Davis, who has shown his passion and love for the foster youth; to Darin LaHood, the chair of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee; and all the different Members who had different pieces of legislation within this one bill.

The Fostering the Future Act is built on the direct feedback of foster youth, caregivers, and community organizations on the ground.

The stories we heard at our roundtable with our First Lady and at committee hearings from courageous leaders like Seth, Kimberley, Jaydan, and Jocelyn were the key drivers behind these successful reforms.

I also applaud the First Lady for her relentless focus on advocating for the most vulnerable and propelling these reforms forward.

This entire effort earned the endorsement of over 150 national, State, and local organizations, alongside hundreds of foster youth and caregivers. It passed the Ways and Means Committee with a unanimous, bipartisan vote. Supporting our foster youth is not a partisan issue. It is an American responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6506) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the period of limitations on filing a claim for credit or refund during collection action proceedings, to prohibit the crediting of overpayments against disputed tax liability during such proceedings, and to expand the jurisdiction of the Tax Court, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6506, the Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues, Representatives Nathaniel Moran and Terri Sewell.

A recent Supreme Court decision will make it more difficult for American taxpayers to challenge the IRS in court when the agency seeks to impose levies over an alleged tax liability. Right now, the taxpayer can lose the opportunity to dispute the agency's actions simply by procedural technicalities.

This bill enhances taxpayer rights by making collection proceedings more taxpayer-friendly. By protecting deadlines, safeguarding refunds, and ensuring fair judicial review, these changes are all for the benefit of the taxpayer.

Mr. Speaker, as a former county judge, Representative Moran is leading the charge through this legislation to restore taxpayer rights and ensure that Americans can have their day in court. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, every taxpayer deserves the right to dispute IRS actions taken against them. We have a judicial system in place that exists to protect that right.

Unfortunately, as the system stands today, the IRS can circumvent taxpayer rights, abandon judicial review, and impose penalties on individuals who will have no real way to challenge what the government claims.

Due process must be protected for all Americans, particularly for those who are facing down a powerful government agency like the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary talent and achievement of Hannah Harper of Willow Springs, Missouri, a proud daughter of the Ozarks who has captured the hearts of Americans across the country on American Idol.

Hannah's journey to the national stage began in Bunker, Missouri where she grew up performing bluegrass gospel music in her family band. Hannah was raised with the values of faith, hard work, and community that define Missouri's 8th Congressional District. Those values have been on full display through her remarkable run on American Idol, where she has advanced from the top 20 to the top 3, earning her place at every stage through undeniable talent and authenticity.

Her performances have resonated with audiences far beyond the Ozarks. During Holy Week, Hannah moved viewers across the Nation with her moving rendition of ``At the Cross''--a testament to the deep faith that has guided her and so many families through life. That performance said as much about where Hannah is from as it did about where she is going.

Week after week, Hannah has proven that rural Missouri produces world-class talent. She has made the Ozarks proud, and she has reminded a national audience of the strength, faith, and character that define the people of this region. I have no doubt that the best is still ahead for Hannah, and Missouri is rooting for her every step of the way.

It is my great privilege to recognize Hannah Harper's extraordinary accomplishments today before the United States House of Representatives and officially proclaim May 6 as Hannah Harper Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to include in the Record an exchange of letters with the Foreign Affairs Committee on H.R. 6903

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, April 23, 2026.

Hon. Jason Smith,

Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for consulting with the

Committee on Foreign Affairs on the text of H.R. 6903, the

Ensuring Children Receive Support Act. I agree that Foreign

Affairs may be discharged from further consideration of the

bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor.

This agreement is made with the understanding that it does

not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the

Committee on Foreign Affairs or prejudice our jurisdictional

prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the

future. I also request your support for the appointment of an

appropriate number of Foreign Affairs conferees to any House-

Senate conference that might occur on this legislation.

I would appreciate it if you could include this letter in

your committee report on the bill or place it into the Record

during Floor consideration. I look forward to continuing to

work together as this measure moves through the legislative

process.

Sincerely,

Brian Mast,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6956) to require electronically prepared tax returns to include scannable code when submitted on paper, and to require the use of optical character recognition technology for paper documents received by the Internal Revenue Service, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6956, the Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance Efficiency Act, also known as the BARCODE Efficiency Act, which is a bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by Representatives Rudy Yakym and Brad Schneider.

Many government agencies have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The IRS is no exception. However, in the case of the BARCODE Efficiency Act, all we are really asking the IRS to do is to adopt technology that has been around for decades.

By requiring the IRS to deploy scanning technology for certain returns and correspondence, this bill will streamline the tax filing process for millions of Americans and go a long way to improving accuracy over the previous method of manually entering data from paper tax returns.

This most recent tax filing season, where Americans saw a historic 11 percent increase in refunds, with the average refund of over $3,200, has just concluded. Had this legislation been in law already, Americans would have gotten back what they were owed even faster.

As a key leader on the Ways and Means Committee's oversight efforts, Representative Yakym has been a strong advocate for improving customer service at the IRS and battling to save taxpayers time and money.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym), who is the co-lead of this legislation and who is a critical member of the Ways and Means Committee fighting for oversight and keeping his eye on the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Many Americans have had to endure frustration and anxiety at the hands of the IRS bureaucracy when it comes to filing or waiting on their tax returns to be processed. Anything we can do to make this process more efficient and user-friendly for the American taxpayer is well worth our time.

If we are reforming our tax code to provide more relief to working families, we should be modernizing our tax agency to get that relief to them as soon as possible.

I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7971) to provide for modernization and technological improvements of services provided by the Internal Revenue Service, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7971, the Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee chair, Representative Schweikert, and Representative Don Beyer.

In 2023, the Government Accountability Office found that roughly one- third of IRS information technology applications and over 20 percent of agency IT software were anywhere from 25 to 64 years old. That means some of the systems in place at the IRS today were in operation before the Apollo 11 crew landed on the Moon.

This bill responds to that reality by imposing much-needed transparency on the IRS and requiring the agency to be more accessible for taxpayers, including folks who are seeking information about the status of their tax refunds or data on how the agency is performing when it comes to responding to taxpayers.

Our Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Schweikert has been a leading voice in Congress on deploying new technology to bring government into the modern era, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), the sponsor of this legislation, who as our Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee chairman is a tireless advocate for embracing new technology to improve services at the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing, though sadly not surprising, that we have to legislate to modernize an agency like the IRS so that its operations are more user-friendly to the American taxpayer, but that is the reality that we are facing.

The Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act pushes the IRS to be an agency more worthy of the taxpayers it serves and more responsive to their needs, whether it is tracking a tax refund, receiving a call back from the agency, or making a payment.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7959) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make improvements with respect to the treatment of whistleblowers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7959, the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by the Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Mike Kelly, and the subcommittee's ranking member, Mr. Mike Thompson.

The IRS relies in part upon whistleblowers who have the courage to report bad actors who are committing tax fraud, tax evasion, and other similar crimes they witness occurring in the private sector.

The IRS Whistleblower Program is one of the many government efforts that is crucial to combat the epidemic of fraud and stop bad actors from stealing hard-earned dollars from American taxpayers. Since 2007, this program has led to the collection of over $7 billion in unpaid taxes.

At a time when it appears we need a comprehensive approach to combating fraud across various government programs, Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chairman Kelly is building on his longstanding commitment to reform and improve the IRS Whistleblower Program to better protect whistleblowers and appropriately reward them for their contributions to combating fraud.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), the sponsor of this legislation and our Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee chairman, who has fought for some time to make these reforms to improve efforts to combat fraud.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, whistleblowers play a critical role in government oversight, whether it be uncovering bad actors within government or, in the case of the IRS Whistleblower Program, alerting the IRS to those in the private sector who are defrauding American taxpayers.

This Congress, the Ways and Means Committee and this administration have made combating fraud a key priority, and I welcome this opportunity to strengthen and impose a key tool in that effort.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6495) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for specific taxpayer notice when information is sought from third parties, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6495, the Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Greg Steube and Jimmy Panetta.

When the IRS seeks information about a taxpayer, the agency should not be able to go behind their back without their knowledge. Yet, right now, the IRS can do just that.

Currently, the IRS is not required to notify a taxpayer who is under review or investigation about what information the agency is seeking; who it may have contacted; or, for that matter, give the taxpayer the opportunity to provide the information themselves. This puts the individual taxpayer in a situation where their privacy, their livelihood, or their reputation could all be unduly harmed.

That is unacceptable. Thanks to Representative Steube--a tireless advocate for the American taxpayer--who has been focused on holding a powerful agency like the IRS accountable, taxpayers will be better protected.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Steube), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Among the supporters of this bill is the National Taxpayer Advocate, the independent organization tasked with helping taxpayers solve problems with the IRS. Their recommendations align with the changes this legislation would enact to strengthen taxpayer rights.

It is not only about protecting a right to privacy but also the principle of fairness that all Americans should be afforded under the law.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5366) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to codify and extend the rules for personal casualty losses arising from major disasters and the rules for the exclusion from gross income of compensation for losses or damages resulting from certain wildfires, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 5366, the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Greg Steube, Mike Thompson, and Jimmy Panetta and named after our late colleague, Mr. Doug LaMalfa, who dedicated his life to public service and was a very strong advocate for helping so many of his constituents whose lives had been turned upside down by wildfires.

The chief sponsor of this legislation, Representative Steube, hails from the State of Florida, which is no stranger to the worst of natural disasters, including hurricanes that have devastated communities there and everywhere.

The bipartisan work that has been done in advancing this legislation speaks to the fact that no community in America is safe from a potential natural disaster. Every Member of this body has had to or will have to at some point respond to some level of devastation brought to the doorsteps of the folks who they represent because of a natural disaster.

This bill appropriately extends an existing provision within the law that allows taxpayers to deduct personal casualty losses stemming from a natural disaster while also excluding wildfire disaster relief payments from taxable income. These are the commonsense measures that ensure Americans recovering from a disaster have fewer tax burdens and more resources to navigate their recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Steube), the sponsor of this legislation, who has been a very strong advocate for recovering from natural disasters, including the citizens of his home State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fong).

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, in 2024, Congress acted to provide critical tax relief for Americans hit hard by natural disasters. The goal was clear: Provide relief to those who need it most.

With this legislation before us today, we have the opportunity to continue ensuring victims of natural disasters, including wildfires, continue to receive the relief that they deserve and the resources they desperately need to recover and rebuild.

I thank Representative Steube for this bill and for his hard work to appropriately pay tribute to our late colleague, Mr. LaMalfa, on an issue that was such a passion for him.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.