Chris Van Hollen

I am going to spend a moment focusing on the Wallops Flight Facility, which, as you indicated, is critical to our space and earth science missions.

Thank you, Madam Chairman, and to the Ranking Member. Great to have both of you here.

I mean, obviously if you do not have a bridge going to the Wallops Space Complex, you are in a world of hurt.

We are all thrilled with the fact that that deployed successfully, and we all know a million things had to go right.

I believe that you were committed to doing the very best job you can on behalf of the American people in tough times.

Right. So I mean, but right now, and as I understand it, and the only mechanism, at least via the IRS, is this voluntary, mechanism of filing an SS-8 Form. I mean, you don't take other steps to try to resolve this; do you?

The more people can sort of volunteer into your authentication systems, you know, the better off the overall process, I think, will be.

I want to also take this opportunity to thank you for your service.

I understand the authentication challenges you have got, given the fraud situation.

We cannot allow the super-wealthy to evade the system.

We also know that the agency, the IRS, continues to be underfunded and understaffed.

This is not to prevent innovation in this space. This is, as you say, simply to be able to, you know, collect gains that have been made that--that should be taxed like other gains in the economy.

We just want to make sure that the benefit of your expertise is shared with the rest of the Federal Government.

I commend you for these efforts, and I want to make sure that this subcommittee is working with you to address this issue as fast as possible.

Many of my constituents are frustrated that they are still waiting for their 2021 and 2020 refunds.

Thank you for giving me your commitment and goal in terms of an-end-of-year deadline for the backlog.

I appreciate your initiative in going into underserved communities, I know you have 10 million in the budget specifically for that purpose.

So we need to be able to hire on the spot.

I think we all would agree that somebody contracted with the United States Government should not be tax delinquent.

Right, but you are--these are the wage theft cases you are referring to.

Well, thank you for that distinction between legitimate and important uses of conservation easements, and the abuses that you mentioned.

You have spoken eloquently about the tax gap, and the need to get at it.

As the Chairman of the Committee, I have made IRS funding a top priority, and I want to thank Ranking Member Hyde-Smith, for working together on these issues.

Those who refuse to meet their obligations, or avoid their obligations make everybody pay instead.

The IRS has been consistently receptive to the work of our Committee, and my team and I are grateful to you and your team for your cooperation.