[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E172-E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE DATE CERTAIN TAX CODE REPLACEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE LARGENT

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mr. LARGENT. Mr. Speaker, since I have come to Congress, bringing 
fundamental tax reform has been one of my top priorities. While the tax 
reform community is free to debate what the best policy solution is, we 
all must come together and agree that the first step is to scrap the 
current tax code. In the 105th Congress, I introduced the Tax Code 
Termination Act to sunset the tax code which was passed in the House. 
In the 106th Congress, I introduced a similar bill which was again 
passed, this time by a vote of 229-187. The purpose of the legislation 
is to spark the debate and force Congress to take reform proposals 
seriously, and at the very least reauthorize the current tax code. In 
this Congress, I continued the effort by introducing the Date Certain 
Tax Code Replacement Act (H.R. 2714). With an Administration in place 
that is

[[Page E173]]

considering real tax reform, it is more important now than ever that 
the House pass this bill again to demonstrate consistent support for 
bringing common sense to our tax system. As I retire from Congress to 
run for Governor of Oklahoma, it is my hope that this legislation will 
be passed again, and to that end I am turning over sponsorship of this 
bill to a longstanding activist for tax reform, Representative Jim 
DeMint. I urge all reformers to join with Representative DeMint in 
advancing the cause of reform by working to pass this bill.

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