[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

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                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2829) making 
     appropriations for financial services and general government 
     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Chairman, I represent a minority-majority district with 
a large Spanish-speaking population. These constituents work and pay 
taxes just like every Member of Congress. And, even if they are 
undocumented and work, they still pay taxes.
  The IRS National Taxpayer Advocate has found that 6 percent of 
taxpayers do not speak English at home. For many of my hard-working 
constituents, having tax material in their native tongue greatly 
simplifies their ability to comply with the requirements of the IRS. 
This is the essence of good government and good citizenship. Isn't that 
what we want to encourage?
  I commend the chairman for his foresightedness in directing the IRS 
to expand the availability of Internal Revenue Service forms and 
information in Spanish, the second most common language spoken at home 
by 28 million people. Let's face it--our very complex tax code takes an 
accountant to figure out. We could all use a little help.
  Please oppose the Stearns amendment.

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