This furlough will harm administration and hurt the agency's ability to detect and fight fraud.

The Republican budget proposal for the IRS, as passed by the House Appropriation Committee would cut $600 million from the agency.

Any serious discussion of energy policy and tax reform must begin with fully funding the agency.

The agency collects between $4 and $7 for every $1 of funding.

The Republican plan to cut $600 million from the agency's budget will further damage its ability to administer energy and other tax credits.

This resource is critical to our future.

There seems to be no sense of urgency to help get Americans back to work.

However, I must express my disappointment that we are not gathered here to discuss the most pressing issue of the day, the ongoing debt ceiling negotiation.

It is not something that we should sweep under the rug or in some dark corner. We should face it, and face it head on.

I have been here for almost 25 years, and attended many hearings. But this has been one of the most painful.

The agency needs more funding, more money, more staffing, more resources. It is that simple.

Republican budget cuts are being used to put the Social Security Administration in a very bad light.

The truth is that the agency's overpayment rate is extremely low.

I believe that we need to fund the agency. Republican budget cuts harm beneficiaries, harm taxpayers, and harm the Social Security Trust Fund.

If nobody is ever punished for doing something bad or even chastised, they are just going to do more of it.

I must say that I am troubled. I am concerned by the current path of this Committee.

Can I add something, Mr. Chairman, because it is an interesting line of questioning. There is a point we might want to put out in the open and I think if you would use your experience and the experience of other committee members with the…

The earned income tax credit... encourages and rewards work and gives dignity to people who work hard each and every day.

Who is next? What else is on your list?

Now, tell me. I want each one of you to tell me, and tell Members of the Committee, what do you say to American families struggling to make ends meet who hear that their taxes are going up, to go up so multinational corporation can get a…

For the past 10 years or so, we have seen an increased willingness to shift the burden of government on to the middle class and the working poor. This give me great concern. And, in my estimation, it is not right, it is not fair, and it is…

The Republicans have made many arguments to support today's attack. Republicans blame pension plans for State budget shortfalls. This is not true.

They paint teachers, firefighters, librarians and nurses as villains in their quest to widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

Our neighbors are not the villains. They are not the cause of the current economic situation.

Thank you, Chairman Boustany, for holding this hearing.