[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                   PROTECTING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS

  (Mr. EMMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, with access to millions of Americans' 
personal information, the IRS is one of the most powerful agencies in 
Washington. Unsurprisingly, the agency has failed to secure that 
information from abuse. That is why I was pleased to see the Treasury 
Department announce it will no longer require certain tax-exempt 
organizations to file personally identifiable information about their 
donors as part of their annual returns.
  While the House has taken steps to limit schedule B disclosures of 
the tax-exempt organizations, the latest announcement from the IRS will 
exempt some 45,000 nonprofits from the reporting rule, including 
conservative organizations, but also unions and social welfare groups.
  Today, one's political views can spark passion, hatred, even refusal 
of service at a restaurant. In an extreme case, your life may be 
threatened at baseball practice.
  Regardless of political affiliation, Americans should feel 
comfortable donating to a cause or candidate of their choice without 
living in fear of reprisal. I applaud the administration's recent 
action and encourage this Congress to join their effort and defend the 
First Amendment rights of every American.

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