Tax Week

As Americans navigated the complexity of our tax code and faced dealing with the broken and unethical Internal Revenue Service this week, the United States House of Representatives passed four bills to rein in the agency.

Americans are frustrated with the IRS and they deserve to be. Last tax season the IRS failed to answer 8 million calls during tax season yet they handed out nearly 6 million dollars in bonuses to themselves in a five-year period. Additionally, the Inspector General found that almost 1,600 IRS employees avoided paying their own taxes over ten years. How can an agency be responsible for collecting taxes from hardworking Americans when they're not even paying their own taxes? It's unbelievable if you ask me.

The four pieces of legislation the House passed this week include:

H.R. 4890 which requires the IRS to implement a working customer service strategy before they are able to pay out bonuses;
H.R. 1206, the No Hires for the Delinquent IRS Act, which prohibits the IRS from hiring an individual that has seriously delinquent tax debt;
H.R. 3724, the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act of 2016, which prevents the IRS from rehiring former employees fired due to misconduct and;
H.R. 4885, the IRS Oversight While Eliminating Spending Act, to return control of the fees collected by the IRS to Congress.

I told you earlier this week that this legislative package is a good start to restore the faith in the IRS that the American people deserve but it's not enough - and many of you agree. Nearly 80% of respondents to my survey asking if the IRS should be abolished said yes.

I believe eliminating the IRS is one of the best moves we can make to empower all Americans to achieve the American Dream and I won't stop fighting until we have a tax policy to make the IRS obsolete.

From our Nation's Capitol LXII

Monday, April 18, 2016: This past weekend I had the honor of speaking at the First Congressional District Republican Convention as we elected three delegates and three alternate delegates to represent us at the National Convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, in July. First District Chairman John Wood did an excellent job of running the meeting and the interest and enthusiasm of those in attendance was overwhelming as our country draws closer to choosing our next President. I also had the opportunity to attend the 3^rd Annual Sporting Clays Tournament for Coastal Pines Technical College at Dorchester Shooting Preserve. This is a great event for a great cause as Coastal Pines plays an important role in educating and training our work force which is essential to our economic development. Before leaving for Washington today, I have an early morning meeting with my good friend, Dr. Byron Colley, to discuss issues impacting dentistry and health care. Once back in Washington, I meet with Pooler resident Lori Williams and others representing the Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference.

Congressman Carter at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

After our weekly staff briefing to discuss the events coming up this week, I head to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with the Whip Team as we visit with our wounded warriors. The rehabilitation center at Walter Reed is among the best in the world and the orthotics and prosthetics that are made here are unsurpassed. But even more impressive are the wounded warriors themselves. These true American heroes are among our nation’s finest. Although they are facing physical challenges, their attitudes and love for their country are unwavering. To the person, they all just want to get better so that they can get back and join their fellow soldiers as soon as possible. After this humbling and inspiring trip, I head back to the Capitol and to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016: My day starts early as I address the American Optometric Association (AOA) at their annual Advocacy Conference and they honor me with the 2016 AOA Health Care Leadership award. Once back at the Capitol, I head to our weekly Republican Conference meeting where we discuss the agenda for the week. Next, I head to a meeting of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) as we have a hearing on documentation production by government agencies. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to my office for a meeting with the Georgia Rural Telephone Companies followed by a meeting with representatives from Rayonier, including CEO Dave Nunes and Government Affairs Director Mike Bell.

Congressman Carter meeting with Rayonier

Following a skype interview with television station WJCL to discuss funding for renovations and additions to the Federal Courthouse in Savannah, I meet with representatives from the Georgia Beverage Association including my friend Rick Terrell from the Savannah Coca-Cola Bottling company. Next, I meet with the Georgia Optometric Association and then the American Council of Engineering Companies before I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day. Afterwards, I head to a subcommittee meeting of the Committee on Homeland Security where we have a hearing on securing the many energy pipelines that traverse our country. Once back in my office, I meet with the National Association of Nuclear Pharmacies followed by a meeting with the egg producers of Georgia including Dennis Hughes, the General Manager of Dixie Egg Company of Georgia in Blackshear. Following an on camera interview with WRDW in Augusta concerning the President's nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court, I visit with the Girl Scouts of America for their Gold Award Centennial celebration before my final meeting of the day with representatives from the Medical Association of Georgia.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016: My first meeting today is with my colleague and fellow freshman Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) as he is holding a briefing on his trip to Cuba last year. Although I am not involved in this particular presentation, I was on the trip to Cuba with Rep. Emmer and found his experiences while in Cuba to be very similar to mine. Following a meeting with representatives from the start-up company called Blink Health to learn of their app that they hope will lower prescription drug prices, I head back to my office where I meet with representatives from the Investment Program Association. Later, I meet with the National Community Pharmacists Association before doing an on-camera interview with 11 Alive News in Atlanta on drug diversion. Before heading down to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day, I meet with my good friends from the Georgia Farm Bureau, including Pete Waller and former Georgia State Senator Ed Zipperer both of Chatham County. Once back in my office, I meet with Speaker Paul Ryan’s health staff to discuss the Speaker’s health care initiatives and proposed policy.

Congressman Carter with Georgia Farm Bureau

Thursday, April 21, 2016: Today starts with a mark-up of a bill in the Committee on Education and the Workforce followed by a meeting of select members of the Whip Team to discuss work on priority issues facing our conference. Next, I head to a subcommittee meeting of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where we have a hearing on barriers to delisting species on the Endangered Species Act. After our first and only vote series of the day, I head back to my office where I have a number of meetings including one with staff from the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to review the twelve bills that were passed on to full committee this week dealing with opioid abuse.