[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 101 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

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                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2490) making 
     appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United States 
     Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and 
     certain Independent Agencies, for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2000, and for other purposes:


  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Chairman, I include the following letter for printing 
in the Record:

                                       Department of the Treasury,


                                     Internal Revenue Service,

                                    Washington, DC, July 15, 1999.
     Hon. William J. Coyne,
     Committee on Ways and Means,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Coyne: As the House considers the Fiscal Year 2000 
     Treasury, Postal Service and General Government 
     Appropriations bill, which includes the Internal Revenue 
     Service (IRS) budget, I want to urge your support for full 
     funding for the IRS. Adequate funding for FY 2000 is critical 
     to the success of the Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 
     (RRA), passed almost unanimously a year ago. As you know, 
     that legislation established 71 new taxpayer rights 
     provisions and mandated an entire new direction for the IRS.
       I understand that on July 13, 1999, the Full Appropriations 
     Committee approved an amendment to trim approximately $240 
     million from the Subcommittee mark, including approximately 
     $135 million from the IRS (approximately $139 million from 
     the President's budget request). While I can appreciate the 
     new budget constraints under which the Committee must 
     operate, I am gravely concerned that a cut of $135 million 
     will seriously jeopardize the IRS's ability to implement its 
     reform effort mandated by the Restructuring Act.
       A funding reduction of $135 million would:
       Severely restrict, if not completely impair, IRS' ability 
     to deliver on the Restructuring and Reform Act mandated by 
     the Congress in 1998. Every aspect of the agency's commitment 
     to reorganize the organization, improve customer service and 
     taxpayer rights would be in jeopardy.
       Constrain the ability to implement the initiatives so 
     critical to changing how IRS delivers on customer service and 
     improves its treatment of taxpayers and focus on taxpayer 
     rights. For example, the cut would result in reduced plans to 
     deliver better telephone service and tax assistance in 
     Spanish.
       Require reduced staffing levels in order to free up the 
     funds necessary to implement congressionally mandated RRA 
     requirements. IRS staff has already been reduced 14% (or 
     15,600 FTE) since FY 1993--thereby continuing the rapid 
     decline in exam, collection and criminal tax compliance 
     operations.
       Reduce finding for the Electronic Tax Administration 
     program, thereby jeopardizing the Congressionally mandated 
     goal of 80 percent electronic filing by the year 2007.
       Impair the creation of operating units to help specialized 
     groups of taxpayers including small businesses and ordinary 
     wage earners.
       Delay implementation of important taxpayer rights 
     initiatives.
       I sincerely hope that the $135 million will be restored so 
     that the IRS and Congress can achieve its mutual goal of 
     meaningful IRS reform. I look forward to continuing to work 
     with you and the rest of the Congress to ensure that the 
     American people have the modernized revenue service that they 
     deserve.
           Sincerely,
                                              Charles O. Rossotti,
                                                     Commissioner.

     

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