Washington Watch - 4/23/18
HOUSE PASSES IRS OVERHAUL PACKAGE TO PUT TAXPAYERS FIRST
Last week, I joined my House colleagues in working across the aisle to pass two measures – H.R. 5444 and H.R. 5445 – that work to make the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) work better to serve you and to protect your personal information. While it’s my hope that everyone had a relatively stress-free 2017 tax season, I certainly know that was not the case for a number of our neighbors for various reasons. The good news is that last week marks the last time that American taxpayers will ever have to file under the old and convoluted tax code.
That said, even though we’ve moved the needle forward substantially by working to make the tax code one that serves Americans better, there’s still more work to be done to make the code even simpler and more advantageous for American workers competing in a global economy. As you know, I am pushing for even more reforms; reforms that will remove the IRS from a worker’s life forever and make April 15th just another spring day. Yes, I’m talking about H.R. 25, the FairTax. While the reality is that we are not quite there yet, and the IRS continues to play a powerful role in the tax-filing and collecting processes, I hope you’d agree with me that we still can and must take steps to modernize the agency and bring it up to speed with 21st Century technologies and security safeguards so that it can carry out its critical-mission of putting taxpayers first.
While H.R. 5445 was ultimately rolled into H.R. 5444, both bills passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I want to take this opportunity to commend my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee for crafting these important bills as they work in the best of interest of all of our constituents.
As you may know, the last time Congress took action to substantially reform the IRS was over two decades ago when the Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98) became law. While the RRA 98 had good intentions and did result in a number of positive changes, we all know too well that those changes have not kept pace with our rapidly changing technology. H.R. 5444, the “Taxpayer First Act,” would make the IRS modify its appeals, summons, and asset seizure procedures to make the agency work better and more efficiently. Specifically, H.R. 5444 establishes a new Office of Independent Appeals to resolve tax controversies and review administrative decisions in a fair and impartial manner, requires a comprehensive strategy for customer service to be drawn up and submitted to Congress, and would provide a taxpayer whose return has been delayed or otherwise adversely affected due to tax related identity theft to have a single point of contact at the IRS throughout the case, just to name a few of the bill’s notable provisions that work to put the taxpayer first.
On the security and information technology (IT) side, H.R. 5445, the “21st Century IRS Act,” works to modernize the IRS’s antiquated technology and user interface systems. It’s undeniable that the agency’s ageing IT infrastructure not only puts taxpayer’s personal information at risk, but it also makes administering the tax code onerous and hampers taxpayers’ ability to comply with the law. In fact, we all witnessed the IRS experience technical issues just last week which resulted in hundreds of thousands of taxpayers being unable to file their taxes on time. To safeguard against threats and technical lapses, H.R. 5445 provide the IRS with the tools it needs to combat such issues and deficiencies by appointing an IRS Chief Information Officer with operational control of all IT infrastructure for the IRS, requiring the development of secure, individualized online accounts to provide services to taxpayers and their designated return preparers, and requiring the IRS to work with the public and private sectors to protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud.
To that end, until we can work to make the FairTax a reality, the IRS is here to stay. As a result, we must ensure that the IRS can properly function under the new tax code as well as serve taxpayers diligently. I hope you will join me in urging the Senate to take up this IRS reform package because I am confident that we can – and should – do better for the American taxpayer.
- The Hill. House passes series of bills to improve IRS
- Washington Examiner. House approves reforms the day after IRS stumbles
FARM BILL PASSES AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Last week, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 2, the “Agriculture and Nutrition Act,” also known as the Farm Bill, to address the evolving needs of our nation’s farmers and to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – sometimes called Food Stamps – to ensure beneficiaries are encouraged to take on job opportunities and training programs while on the program. While there is not a great deal of farmland in the Seventh District, agriculture is an incredibly important industry for the State of Georgia. In fact, it’s our number one industry, contributing $73 billion to our state’s economy, not to mention we all depend on farmers every day to feed and clothe ourselves and our families. From peanuts and blueberries to cotton and aquaculture, farming of all kinds in integral to the American economy, and the new Farm Bill will support Georgia’s and America’s farmers. I’m proud of the work Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and his committee members were able to accomplish, and I look forward to bringing this bill to the House floor.
- House Agriculture Committee. House Ag Committee Advances Agriculture and Nutrition Act
- The Hill. Future of American agriculture depends on 2018 farm bill
Tax Day 2018 is now behind us, and as we FairTax supporters tend to do, we took it as an opportunity to call others to action. It’s a reminder that this simply isn’t the way things have to be. We know a better way: the FairTax.
The most notable difference between this Tax Day and those in years past is that it marks the last time the American people will file their taxes under the old, broken tax code we’d been subject to for far too long. That is without a doubt a win! The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was a step in the right direction. It’s only one step though. It is also without a doubt not the end goal. Tax reform hadn’t been achieved in more than three decades precisely because it is so difficult to build the needed consensus around big, transformative ideas. That takes time, and patience, and lots of hard work. All of which we FairTax supporters have in abundance.
It’s not an accident that the tax reform achieved last year contains principles embodied in the FairTax. Simplicity, transparency, and an innate acceptance that taxes on businesses are taxes on consumers, which are all tenets of H.R. 25. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady himself has long been a supporter of the FairTax, and don’t think for a second that didn’t matter. The reality is simply that we didn’t have quite the amount of support needed to make H.R. 25 the law of the land at this time. President Trump had a different vision for what he wanted to accomplish, and any reform needs Presidential support to get across the finish line. That’s ok. I believe we’ll get there, and not getting all the way there right now was no reason not to move America as close to the freedom of the FairTax’s principles as we could. That’s why I supported last year’s reform, and it’s why I’m as motivated as ever to keep pushing to make the FairTax – in full – the law of the land.
The drastic reduction in the corporate tax rate within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is one of the best examples of the progress we’ve made in shaping the national conversation surrounding tax reform. Before the FairTax, no one was emphasizing the importance of reducing – or in our case, eliminating – the corporate tax rate as a way of unleashing economic opportunity and lowering the cost of goods and services. That was not only an accepted point of view this time; it was a broadly embraced fact. You and I did that.
The notion that complexity within the tax code and all its compliance costs drive up prices and stifle economic growth is further proof of the impact we’ve already had. It is now simply accepted throughout the Republican conference and within President Trump’s Administration that America must simplify the code, and the bill the President signed into law in December did that. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act absolutely improved a bad situation for American families. I’ll take that progress any day; and I’m eager to come back tomorrow and continue working on furthering the FairTax initiative.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act didn’t override the FairTax, it drew inspiration from it. The FairTax isn’t diminished by the success of last year’s tax reform; it’s further legitimized by it. That’s the message I want to share. Washington often moves slowly, and progress can be tedious, but we’ve made tremendous progress – not just for H.R. 25, but for millions of American families who will benefit from the recent reform and those who will benefit even more from the FairTax.
CLICK BELOW to watch me speak on the House floor about the FairTax!
STRENGTHING THE U.S. RELATIONSHIP WITH TAIWAN
As America’s economy continues to grow and America’s leadership continues to be challenged by foreign adversaries, maintaining our strategic partnerships with steadfast allies like Taiwan is more important than ever. Georgia businesses export half a billion dollars’ worth of goods to Taiwan every year, including poultry and textile floor coverings, and this relationship strengthens America’s position in East Asia and supports good-paying jobs right here in Georgia. That’s why I was pleased to welcome representatives from the Atlanta Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce to our office in Washington, including my friend Maggie Chang who works and lives in Duluth, to continue our dialogue on trade and national security. Their visit was well-timed, since the House Foreign Affairs Committee had a hearing on Tuesday regarding U.S.-Taiwan relations. You can read more about our own state’s connections to Taiwan here, and you can watch the Foreign Affairs hearing here.
CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT: EXPLORING STATUARY HALL IN THE U.S. CAPITOL
During the Spring and Summer, I not only have the privilege of meeting with many constituents back home in Georgia, but many of you also visit me in Washington, D.C. when you and your families come up to see the many monuments, museums, and other sites that our nation’s capital has to offer. If you ever plan on visiting Washington, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My staff and I are more than happy to assist you with setting up tours of the U.S. Capitol and other sites around the District, coordinate tours of the White House, and even recommend some great spots to grab a bite to eat. From planning a trip to Washington, D.C., to opening a casework file, to just learning more about the comings and goings of our nation's legislative body, my office and I are glad to help you out. Click HERE to learn more about visiting D.C. and how my office can help.
This week’s constituent spotlight is about one of the many things you can see when you visit our nation’s capitol.
Andrew from Cumming:
Dear Congressman Woodall, I play baseball in Cumming. Jackie Robinson is my favorite player. I think Jackie Robinson is the most important baseball player in history because he was the first black player to be in the major leagues. I was at the Capitol building over spring break and I noticed there was no statue of Jackie Robinson so I think Georgia should bring in a statue of Jackie Robinson. On my capitol tour our tour guide said if the person was born in your state you can ask for your state to bring in a statue. I discovered Jackie Robinson was born in Georgia so I'd like to request that Georgia should bring in a statue of Jackie Robinson.
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If you ever come to D.C. and take a tour of the Capitol, like Andrew did, you will learn about the many statues of notable citizens on display in the United States Capitol. Established in 1864, the National Statuary Hall Collection is comprised of one hundred statues, two from each state, displayed throughout the Capitol between National Statuary Hall, the Crypt, the Rotunda, the Capitol Visitors Center, and other public spaces. The collection includes figures ranging from George Washington to Helen Keller to Will Rogers. The two statues from Georgia are Crawford Long, placed in the Crypt in 1926, and Alexander Hamilton Stephens, placed in National Statuary Hall in 1927.
Many Georgians know the name Crawford Long from the Crawford Long Memorial Hospital (now Emory University Hospital Midtown) in downtown Atlanta that was named after him in 1931. But what many folks don’t know is that Dr. Long was an influential physician who pioneered the use and development of ether as a surgical anesthetic. Alexander Hamilton Stephens, who was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and John Quincy Adams, represented Georgia in the House both before and after the Civil War. During the war, Stephens served as Vice President of the Confederacy. And even after the war, he continued to serve as a member of the House and as Governor of Georgia.
As Andrew said, each state selects the two statues it displays in the collection, and each state can choose to replace a statue with a new one under two conditions. First, the state legislature must adopt and the governor must sign a resolution requesting to replace one of Georgia’s current statues with that of Jackie Robinson. Second, the statue that the state seeks to replace must have been on display for at least ten years. The good news for Andrew is that both statues have been in the collection for over 90 years!
As your federal representative, I cannot introduce or vote on such a resolution, but I recommend that Andrew reach out to his state senator and state representative to share his idea. Undeniably, Jackie Robinson has been an influential figure in our American history as the first African American to break the color barrier and play Major League Baseball. He was a vocal civil rights activist, and there is little doubt that his contributions to baseball and to the American experience were groundbreaking. Considering Jackie Robinson’s impact on our country, I doubt Andrew will have trouble finding someone in the Georgia legislature who shares his idea.
Thank you again for all your correspondence last week.
GWINNETT COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS!
A lot can happen in 30 years. In the case of Habitat for Humanity’s Gwinnett County chapter, hundreds of homes have been built, and hundreds of families have been touched. When you listen to founder Jan Kennedy talk about the unknowns and uncertainty that existed when she and her team began this journey in 1988, you can’t help but be struck by the prevailing sense of faith and passion that guided these remarkable members of our community. They hadn’t done this before. They weren’t sure exactly how they would move forward and make the vision a reality – but they had the courage to act and to learn as they went. As we can see, they did just fine, and their example is one we can all follow in our own lives. Be willing to take the leap, follow your passion, and most importantly, to serve others along the way. Thank you to the entire Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity team, and congratulations on a wonderful three decades! Here’s to many, many more!
- Gwinnett Daily Post. Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity celebrates 30 years of helping the community
FORSYTH AQUAPONICS FARM TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED
I’ve been fortunate to know Steve and Suellen Daniels for quite some time now, and I continue to be inspired by the work they and so many of our neighbors are doing through Fill Ministries to serve families in our community in need. Recently, I had the pleasure of being invited out to see their latest endeavor and expansion. I toured what will soon be a fully functioning aquaponics farm in Forsyth County that, once completed, will be the largest aquaponics farm in the southeast that is devoted to feeding the hungry, as well as offering job training! If you’re not familiar with the good work of Fill Ministries or Meals by Grace, I encourage you to learn more about the amazing things they’re doing for their neighbors. It all began during the economic downturn when Suellen noticed a need in her community. Children – and families – were suffering from food insecurity, so she decided not only to open her kitchen and feed them, but to help address the causes of the need. Since then, they have outgrown multiple locations, enlisted an army of volunteers, and have fed and assisted tens of thousands! Whether you want to get involved somehow, or if you just want to feel even prouder about the place you call home, it’s worth your time to check out their operation.
Rep. Rob Woodall visits with the Daniels Family at Forsyth Aquaponics
This week the House will consider H.R. 4, the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.” The bill is a five year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that streamlines and reforms the FAA certification and regulatory process, enhances aviation security, improves service for customers, modernizes our airport infrastructure, and works to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems into our domestic airspace. I was so proud to work on this bill with my House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee colleagues, and I’m pleased that it is finally coming to the House floor for a vote.
In addition, the House will consider H.R. 3144. This measure is meant to help promote hydropower usage in Washington State and ensure that Americans have access to cost-effective, clean, and renewable energy sources. I hope that you will tune in to the Rules Committee on Tuesday at 5:00PM to watch the committee debate these two important measures. And as always, you can go to http://docs.house.gov/floor to see a complete list of all the bills that will be voted on this week.
Sincerely,
Rob Woodall
Member of Congress