Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Today’s Senate Vote To Confirm Daniel Werfel To Serve As Commissioner For The IRS

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the Senate’s vote to confirm Daniel Werfel to serve as Commissioner for the IRS. The Senate will also confirm James Edward Simmons Jr. to serve as District Judge for the Southern District of California, and Maria Kahn to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today will be a busy day on the Senate floor. Later this morning, we’ll confirm Daniel Werfel to serve as Commissioner for the IRS. Mr. Werfel’s confirmation will bring important benefits to the American people, because when the IRS is better staffed, more Americans can benefit from the tax credits—significant tax credits—we approved last year through legislation like CHIPS and Science and IRA and other legislation as well.

First, Republicans wanted to cut IRS agents, which hurts the American people because they have to wait longer in line to get help filing their taxes. And it lets the rich get away without paying their fair share of taxes. No ultra-wealthy American should ever pay less on a percentage basis than a nurse or a cab driver. This nomination, plus the addition of IRS agents in the bill, will make it far more likely the wealthy will pay their fair share. As we know, under Donald Trump, auditing the ultra-wealthy went way down while people on the EITC—the Earned Income Tax Credit—making about $40,000 a year, were being audited over and over again. It also makes it more likely that when Americans need help, they won't have to wait hours or days or weeks to get in touch with an IRS agent.

We’ll also confirm today two more exceptional judges: James Edward Simmons Jr. to serve as District Judge for the Southern District of California, and Maria Kahn to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Both Mr. Simmons and Ms. Kahn are remarkable legal minds with impressive resumes. Their confirmations will strengthen our federal courts and help restore Americans’ trust in an independent, impartial judiciary.

I look forward to getting these three nominees confirmed, and thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their bipartisan support.

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