[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E485-E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 2901, TO MAKE PERMANENT VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE MATCHING 
                             GRANT PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
2901, to make permanent the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 
matching grant program.
  The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program assists low-to-
moderate income, elderly, disabled, and limited English speaking 
taxpayers in preparing and filing their federal income tax returns.
  Since fiscal year 2008, Congress has used the appropriations process 
to provide funding for the Community VITA matching grants program for 
tax return preparation assistance.
  But Congress has not authorized the VITA program to receive grants 
through the tax-writing process.
  This bill puts the VITA grant program on more solid, permanent, and 
predictable footing.

[[Page E486]]

  Without this bill, the IRS has administered the VITA grant program 
narrowly, restricting grantees' ability to use grant funds to hire 
experts to train volunteers and perform quality reviews as well as to 
serve as Certified Acceptance Agents.
  As a result, few VITA grantees assist low income self-employed 
taxpayers who file as pass-throughs, or low income taxpayers with 
disaster losses.
  Moreover, few VITA grantees are open year-round or assist taxpayers 
in preparing amended returns.
  This bill will lead to a stronger VITA program that is able to help 
many more low-income Americans navigate the tax filing process.
  I applaud the sponsors of this bill, Representatives Carlos Curbelo 
and Danny Davis for working together on this long overdue legislation.
  As a cosponsor of H.R. 2901, I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on 
this sensible bill.

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