Hal Rogers: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. This bill is a bill that we all can support. It provides $21.7 billion for financial…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. This bill is a bill that we all can support. It provides $21.7 billion for financial services and Treasury programs, the Federal judiciary, and small businesses. This total is $1.5 billion below current levels and $2.7 billion below what was requested by the President. Within this allocation, the bill prioritizes funding where it will be best used and makes policy reforms that improve efficiency and accountability. To start with, the bill takes steps to address issues at the IRS, both cutting overall funding and including funding limitations to prevent the IRS from continuing their recent history of bad behavior. In total, the IRS is provided with $10.9 billion. That is $236 million below current levels. This holds the agency's budget below fiscal 2008 levels, forcing the agency to streamline and focus on its core duties. Taxpayer services, however, are maintained at $2.1 billion and an additional $290 million is directed to improve customer service, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity. The bill also includes policy items to correct recent transgressions, including prohibiting funding for a regulation related to the tax- exempt status of 501(c)(4) organizations, which could limit the First Amendment rights of citizens, and prohibiting funds for bonuses unless conduct and tax compliance is considered. The bill also includes provisions throughout designed to make the government work better for the taxpayer.…”