Ways & Means History
The Committee on Ways and Means, the oldest tax-writing body in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1789, shapes fiscal legislation including taxes, tariffs, and social service programs. Its notable influence is underscored by numerous members who have risen to prominent national offices, including Presidents and Supreme Court Justices.
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Ways and Means Advances America’s Strategic Interests in Africa and Haiti, Expands Medicare Coverage, Fights Fraud, Strengthens Taxpayer Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Ways and Means Committee approved nine bipartisan bills touching on trade, health care, Social Security, and…
December 10, 2025Smith on Interest Rate Announcement: Lower Rates Support Affordability, More Investment, Bigger Paychecks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) issued the following statement after the Federal Open Market Committee announced…
December 10, 2025Chairman Smith Opening Statement: Bipartisan Legislation Offers Targeted Solutions for Real Problems Faced By Real Americans
Ways & Means Committee considers renewal of AGOA and HOPE/HELP for Haiti, Medicare coverage expansion, fraud prevention measures, trade enforcement,…
December 8, 2025Five Key Moments: Hearing on Promoting Global Competitiveness for American Workers and Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee hearing on global economic competitiveness, tax experts applauded the working families…
December 8, 2025Big, Beautiful Success Story: Trump Accounts Give Farm Kids A Stronger Start in Life
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Trump Accounts – enacted as part of the working families tax cuts – give parents a new way…
December 5, 2025Smith Statement on PCE Report: Federal Reserve Should Lower Interest Rates Next Week
Inflation beat expectations and paychecks continue to rise faster than prices. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08)…
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Even in the face of rampant Obamacare waste, fraud, and abuse, Democrats are STILL demanding Congress shovel billions to insurance companies through a broken system.
Rather than doubling down on policies that are driving up premiums, we need solutions that ACTUALLY drive down…
.@WaysandMeansGOP PASSED my Taxpayer Due Process Enhancement Act to protect deadlines, safeguard refunds, and ensure judicial review—all for the benefit of the taxpayer.
Thank you, @RepTerriSewell for again co-leading efforts to improve the Tax Court.
I’m proud that bipartisan legislation I co-sponsored to update outdated laws that tax less-lethal devices our law enforcement uses—like Tasers—as traditional firearms was passed by @WaysandMeansGOP. These antiquated rules drove up costs and delayed police from obtaining newer,…
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ICYMI: The Ways and Means Committee traveled to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California where we heard from farmers, small business owners, and manufacturers about how the pro-growth tax cuts in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill will unleash American economic greatness and deliver prosperity to the working class. ...
Today, the Committee passed several bills aimed at improving the lives of Americans by protecting patients, families, seniors, and taxpayers. ...
80% of tax-exempt hospitals are spending less on charity care and other critical health care priorities than they receive from their generous tax breaks. Rather than investing this money into patient care, they are using those benefits on non-health care activities like virtue signaling, renaming stadiums, or green energy initiatives.
Tax-exempt status was created for organizations that give back to their communities, not spread a woke agenda. ...
Tax-exempt hospitals receive special tax benefits because they have a mission to provide vital care to patients.
More transparency from these hospitals is needed so that taxpayers know what services they are actually providing and why they deserve to receive special tax treatment. ...
The data is clear. Many tax-exempt hospitals, that receive generous tax benefits, take more from the taxpayers than they invest back into the health care mission in their communities, and it isn’t close.
Many tax-exempt hospitals have strayed from their health care mission in favor of non-health care activities, including virtue signaling to woke causes. ...
When the system of benefits serving those with disabilities is overly complex, it can be a disservice to both someone looking for a new job or someone looking to hire or promote an employee.
Providing employers with knowledge and the ability to better navigate the system would benefit both them and those Americans with disabilities who are interested in pursing a new job, new career, or promotion. ...