On the recordApril 19, 2016
I thank the gentlewoman from South Dakota. Yesterday marked the deadline for all Americans to file their 2015 taxes, and Americans from all walks of life disclosed some of their most private information and handed over their hard-earned dollars to the government. With this in mind, last week I was proud to introduce legislation prohibiting the use of funds by the IRS to target citizens for exercising their First Amendment rights. Americans have seen Federal agencies abuse their power, and the IRS is one of the worst offenders. The IRS has specifically targeted conservative groups simply for being conservative. This is a direct violation of the First Amendment. My bill preserves the integrity of the First Amendment by ensuring its protections are never compromised by unelected Federal bureaucrats. Specifically, H.R. 4903 protects Americans by prohibiting use of funds by the IRS and its rogue bureaucrats to carry out government abuse on citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. I can think of nothing more despicable than persecution for beliefs. Tax day is stressful enough with the Tax Code we have in place. The IRS has no business in striking fear into the hearts of Americans for expressing their strongly held beliefs and convictions. The Constitution is the law of the land, whether the IRS likes it or not.…
Source
govinfo.gov




