Jason Chaffetz: “I thank Chairman Issa for his unyielding support in pursuit of good government. And I thank him for his support of this…”

“I thank Chairman Issa for his unyielding support in pursuit of good government. And I thank him for his support of this piece of legislation moved forward. I also thank Ranking Member Cummings, in working with him and his staff, and certainly with Representative Speier, who also shares his passion of making sure that contractors are held responsible for their actions. Mr. Speaker, today, tens of millions of individuals and corporations all across America will file their Federal tax returns and pay back any money they owe the Federal Government. However, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there will be some who fail to meet this obligation and simply refuse to pay the taxes they owe. This legislation, H.R. 882, the Contracting and Tax Accountability Act, has a very simple purpose: to prohibit companies with serious delinquent Federal tax debts from doing business with the Federal Government and receiving new Federal contracts. Since Federal contractors draw compensation and funding from taxpayer dollars, we must ensure that they are complying with existing laws and paying their own taxes. Mr. Speaker, just last month this legislation passed through the Oversight and Government Reform Committee by voice vote, and it is identical to legislation that also unanimously passed the committee last Congress. Going back a little further, Mr.…”