[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E846]]
                    TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, today marks a date that is familiar to 
most Americans: April 17th is the deadline for filing taxes. Like most 
Americans, I too can now breathe a sigh of relief because my tax return 
has been mailed to the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.
  This year we were fortunate enough to have more time to file our 
taxes due to the normal tax day falling on the weekend and the 
Emancipation Day Holiday in the District of Columbia on Tuesday. While 
many filers will benefit from this extra time, millions of Americans 
will still ask for extensions to file due to their inability to 
understand the complicated tax regulations.
  I am committed to a tax system that is fair to all Americans and to a 
system that is ``tax-payer friendly.'' This is why I support efforts to 
simplify the tax code by closing loopholes, which will reduce the 
compliance burden. By simplifying our current code, we can increase 
compliance, and ensure our long-term fiscal stability. It is our duty 
to protect taxpayers and to provide a ``user-friendly'' government.
  For this reason, I support H.R. 1677, the Taxpayer Protection Act of 
2007. This Act requires the IRS to notify taxpayers of incidences of 
identity theft; prevents the wrongful use of one's name; permits the 
IRS to withhold information from the companies offering refund 
anticipation loans that are considered predatory; and gives taxpayers 
more time to collect money that was wrongfully held by the IRS. This 
legislation would help to protect taxpayers from unlawful acts that at 
times can be hard to detect.
  Each year millions of families expect to receive money back from the 
government. However, they deserve to be receiving more; America's 
families and workers need tax relief. It should be a priority for 
Congress to assist families with the cost of childcare and long-term 
health care, eliminate the marriage penalty, help small businesses, and 
help Americans save for higher education and retirement. We need to 
develop a refundable tax credit for workers who earn reasonably low 
incomes. This is very important to helping the American people.
  As a member of Congress it is our duty to ensure that taxpayers are 
being treated fairly and equally within our tax system. As the 110th 
Congress moves forward, I will work with my colleagues to ensure that 
this goal is achieved.
  That is why I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1677, the 
Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007. I want to thank Congressman Rangel and 
Congressman Lewis for introducing this vitally important legislation.

                          ____________________