[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H3977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Porter) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, inflation is a challenge for families. I 
feel it myself as a single mom raising three kids. Historically, the 
standard approaches to reduce inflation are to raise interest rates and 
to lower wages. Some people are calling for these same misguided 
approaches today. This is wrongheaded. Families need lower costs, not 
less money in their pockets.
  We can bring prices down by increasing supply, for example, by 
expanding energy capacity with more green energy. The America COMPETES 
Act, which I supported, will strengthen our supply chains and increase 
our domestic manufacturing of technology.
  We can also bring prices down by cracking down on corporate abuse. We 
can reduce healthcare costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug 
prices, lower grocery costs by increasing competition in the 
meatpacking industry, and stop Big Oil from price gouging.
  These policies will lower costs without lowering wages. We can 
strengthen our capitalist economy and rein in inflation. Families need 
us to address inflation. They need lower costs, not lower wages.


                         Budget Cuts Limit IRS

  Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, the IRS backlog is over 7 million tax 
returns. That is unacceptable. On the Oversight and Reform Committee, I 
am holding the IRS accountable to eliminate this backlog quickly.
  Families need their tax refunds to pay rent and buy food. Small 
business owners need their refunds to keep their doors open. It is 
their money, and the government should promptly return it.
  My office has helped Orange County residents cut through red tape and 
get answers from the IRS. We have helped nearly 500 taxpayers 
collectively recover over half a million dollars. I am proud of these 
wins, but the solution here cannot be individual intervention. Years of 
budget cuts have limited the IRS' ability to operate effectively and 
efficiently.
  IRS employees are working hard. I thank them. But the IRS needs 
resources, and the taxpayers need assistance. Every Congress Member 
should vote to fully fund the IRS. As a taxpayer advocate, I will keep 
pushing to save taxpayers time and money.


                         Clean Energy Solutions

  Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, Orange County is leading the way on clean 
energy solutions. Businesses in our community are spearheading 
innovative technologies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. These 
businesses represent the best of our capitalist economy. They create 
jobs and lead in innovation. I am proud to represent a district that 
ranks among the top five in the most clean energy jobs in the country.
  However, as Earth Day approaches, we must also recognize that these 
cutting-edge businesses face an uneven playing field. Big Oil and gas 
companies have unfair tax breaks and other advantages that inhibit 
competition that we need for healthy capitalism. Long term, this will 
make it harder for our economy to stand up against our global 
competitors.
  The hard work of Orange County businesses that they are putting in to 
develop new and efficient methods of producing clean energy represents 
the best of our capitalist economy. To remain competitive, we have to 
lift up new and innovative technologies.


              Congratulating Neal Kelley on His Retirement

  Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, free and fair elections are the bedrock of 
our democracy. Regardless of their ideology, their identity, or where 
they live, all eligible voters should be able to cast their ballots 
freely and safely.
  In Orange County, the registrar of voters facilitates elections for 
more than 1.8 million registered voters. As chief election official in 
Orange County, Neal Kelley safeguarded equal access to the ballot box 
and protected the integrity of our elections. He innovated to improve 
efficiency and reliability of voting, adopting technology that 
increased transparency and voter turnout.
  He retired on March 10 after 17 years of remarkable service. Neal 
Kelley is a model public servant we can all learn from. On behalf of 
Orange County voters, I congratulate Mr. Kelley on his retirement and 
thank him for his service to our democracy.

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