COMMITTEE on WAYS and MEANS

Blog

Newspapers across the Country Call on Congress to Put in Trade Promotion Authority

Jan 29, 2015-- As Republicans and Democrats work to put in place bipartisan trade promotion authority, editorial boards from coast to coast are rallying behind the effort. Trade Promotion Authority—or TPA—empowers Congress to set the negotiating objectives when pursing trade agreements with other countries and helps the United States get the best deal possible. Here’s a sampling of what newspapers have had to sa... more

Press Release

Roskam and Ryan Introduce Bill to Stop Political Targeting by IRS

Jan 28, 2015-- WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL) introduced H.R. 599, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2015. The bill would prohibit the IRS from changing the way it handles applications for 501(c)4 status. And it would require the IRS to apply the standard it used before the agency started targe... more

Blog

CBO Director Says Accounting Gimmicks Can't Save Social Security

Jan 28, 2015-- Democrats continue to claim we can fix the looming shortfall in disability insurance by raiding retirees’ Social Security trust fund. But CBO Director Doug Elmendorf poured cold water on those assurances during his testimony before the House Budget Committee yesterday. Rep. Diane Black asked the head of the nonpartisan agency whether the Democrats’ preferred answer would actually work: Rep. Black:... more

Blog

Moving America Forward: Expanding U.S. Trade

Jan 27, 2015-- This afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on United States trade policy, with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. It's an opportunity to explore a critical component of a pro-growth economic agenda: expanding export markets for American-made goods and services. The vast majority of the world’s consumers live beyond our borders, and we need to break down economic... more

Opening Statements

Ryan Opening Statement: Hearing on U.S. Trade Policy Agenda

Jan 27, 2015-- WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) delivered the following opening statement during the Ways and Means hearing on the U.S. trade policy agenda with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. "I want to start by thanking Ambassador Froman. You and your team are doing very important work, and this committee is going to do all we can to make it a success. "Expanding American... more

Press Release

Ryan Statement on President's Plan to Tax College Savings Accounts

Jan 27, 2015-- WASHINGTON — Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the following statement in response to reports that the president is dropping his proposal to tax 529 college savings accounts. Ways and Means member Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) has introduced bipartisan legislation that, rather than tax, would strengthen and expand this tool millions of families use to help save for college. “... more

Blog

Extended Unemployment Benefits Hurt Jobs, New Report Finds

Jan 26, 2015-- In 2013, Democrats argued that ending a “temporary” unemployment-benefits program would hurt families in need. In fact, they called unemployment benefits “one of the best ways to grow the economy.” At the same time, Republicans argued that the extended benefits program was holding back job creation, which is what the unemployed really needed. This program, called Emergency Unemployment Compensati... more