[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E865-E866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INTRODUCTION OF THE VERIFY IT ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. STEPHEN LEE FINCHER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. FINCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my bill, the 
Verify It Act, which requires Federal agencies to provide notice to 
American families that they owe a debt to a Federal agency and verify 
the debt is a legally enforceable debt.
  Mr. Speaker, by introducing this bill people will not have their tax 
refunds seized without proper notification and justification. Federal 
agencies have the right to try to collect debt that is owed to the 
government; there is a legal process that must be followed before any 
action can be taken. Each Federal agency must provide 60 days notice to 
the debtor. This notice requires a written notification of the nature 
and amount of the debt, the intention of the agency to collect the debt 
through administrative offset, and an explanation of the debtor's 
rights. If the agency is unable to collect from the debtor, the debt 
can be referred to the Department of the Treasury for administrative 
offset. Through its Treasury Offset Program (TOP), the Treasury reduces 
or withholds certain payments, often a Federal tax refund, to 
individuals who owe debts to the government.
  Mr. Speaker, the legal process to collect outstanding debts from 
Americans owing money to the Treasury is simply not being followed. As 
reported by the Washington Post, Federal agencies are collecting 
delinquent debt without providing proper notice or that the debt being 
collected was incurred by the person the Federal agency claims owes the 
debt. It appears that in certain cases, Federal agencies are collecting 
money from children in order to pay the outstanding debts to the U.S. 
Treasury their parents incurred. What legal reason or law gives a 
Federal agency the right to collect a debt from a person when the debt 
is incurred in someone else's name? How many years is this 
Administration going to go back to collect debts? How can the 
government justify collecting debts from the children of deceased 
parents?
  This bill is all about transparency and accountability. My 
legislation will ensure that Americans are given proper notification 
and have time to dispute the debt. This legislation will ensure every 
Federal agency determines the debt is legally enforceable and restore 
the 10 year statute of limitations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to 
support me in passing the Verify It Act, in order to ensure American 
families and taxpayers have trust in their government and policies 
implemented.

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