House passes Sam Johnson measure to save $7.6 billion in taxpayer dollars
Washington,
May 10, 2012 -
Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 5652) to replace dangerous defense cuts with common-sense spending reductions containing a provision authored by U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) that would save $7.6 billion in taxpayer dollars.
The issue at hand is rampant abuse of the popular refundable child tax credit by illegal immigrants. As IRS rules currently stand, this refundable tax credit can be provided to an illegal immigrant so long as the immigrant is able to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS.
A recent investigative report by NBC’s Indianapolis WTHR uncovered a slew of illegal immigrants who claimed the tax credit for children living in Mexico. To watch the report, click here.
Johnson’s provision comes from his Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, H.R. 1956, which would require tax filers to provide their Social Security numbers to claim the credit. Today, Johnson spoke on the House floor during debate urging Congress to take action today by closing this tax loophole in order to better protect American taxpayer dollars.
To view Johnson’s remarks, click here.
Remarks as prepared:
“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, due to a loophole in the tax code, the IRS is shoveling out billions of American taxpayer dollars to those who are here illegally. The good news is this Reconciliation measure includes a common-sense solution based on legislation I’ve authored that would save $7.6 billion by putting a stop to this.
The provision would stop illegal immigrants from getting the $1,000 refundable child tax credit by simply requiring tax filers to provide their Social Security Numbers. Right now those who are here illegally can get cash from Uncle Sam by providing an IRS-provided tax payer ID number to claim this refundable credit. Illegal immigrants have gone so far as to file tax returns claiming children who do not live in America according to a recent report by NBC Indianapolis’ WTHR.
Mr. Speaker, there really shouldn’t be any controversy over this. The American people are speaking out against this. The Treasury’s Tax IG has spoken out against this. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has spoken out against this. Even the Administration supports the idea of preventing illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits through funding of a verification program.
Mr. Speaker this is a simple fix that by just requiring a Social Security Number will put a stop to the abuse of precious taxpayer dollars. Americans want, need and deserve better protection of their hard-earned money and we owe it to the United States of America to take action today.
I yield back.”
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