WASHINGTON — In his first major policy address since assuming the top spot at the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) will speak at the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) about the committee’s trade policy agenda for the 114th Congress. In his remarks, he will make the case for how trade improves America’s economy, national security, and… Read more

WASHINGTON — House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) made an appearance on Meet the Press this morning. In his interview with moderator Chuck Todd, Chairman Ryan talked about the committee's focus on an "optimistic agenda for the country." Excerpts from his interview are below.  On committing himself to the Ways and Means Committee: “I decided early… Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, the Commerce Department released the latest estimate for real gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2014. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement upon the report's release. "If today’s report tells us anything, it’s that we still aren’t fulfilling our potential. Economic growth is low and wage growth… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement in support of H.R. 529, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Ron Kind (D-WI) that would expand, modernize, and strengthen tax-free 529 college-savings plans. "The solution to skyrocketing tuition costs isn’t to make saving for college more expensive,… Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL) sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen asking him to explain why the agency recently hired CGI Federal, the same contractor that bungled the rollout of Healthcare.gov. Upon sending the letter, Chairman Roskam issued the following statement. “The American people should know why the IRS spent… Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's comments on trade during the State of the Union address. "President Obama showed a glimmer of bipartisanship last night with his support for growing the economy and promoting job creation through trade agreements and Trade Promotion… Read more

WASHINGTON — Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address. “The President said he wants to work with Congress, and I want to take him up on that offer. But to make real progress, we have to focus on finding common ground—not issues that only divide us. “I was glad to hear the… Read more

Congress last year unanimously closed a loophole that allowed surviving Nazi war criminals to claim Social Security benefits, but that’s where the entitlement reform consensus ends. Now the political left is melting down over a modest budget change that could require Congress to be honest about the Social Security disability program’s fiscal problems and employment… Read more