Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005

TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 15, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). Pursuant to House Resolution 770 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 5025.

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Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Capito amendment.

As a former FBI agent, we would be asked to get a subpoena to get the records contained in a tax filer's information, even as a Federal law enforcement agent in an agency right next door. Why, because it is the most invasive information the government asks of its citizens. And not only asks, but tells us we must submit. This is information worth protecting.

Any slip, any slide that takes away the faith and comfort and belief in the Federal Government to protect that information is wrong. They have not clearly shown in any way that they can protect this information.

I would strongly urge that we all stand together on this. For those of us who disagree with positions of the IRS or do not disagree, the information does not belong to the government, it belongs to the people. We should do everything in our power to keep it, including keeping inherently governmental functions within the government. At least there is accountability.