Washington, DC - Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statements today after the White House announced that the Administration and Colombia have reached agreement on an action plan to resolve outstanding Colombian labor issues: Chairman Camp stated: “I am very encouraged by today’s announcement that the… Read more

Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Committee will hold a hearing on the special burdens that the tax code imposes on individual taxpayers and families and on the need for comprehensive tax reform to address these problems.  The hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Room 1100 of the Longworth House… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement in reaction to the Budget Resolution introduced by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). “The President’s budget proposes to raise taxes by $1.5 trillion and would continue Washington’s seemingly endless spending spree.  The Democrats’ refusal to even acknowledge the… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement upon passage of H.R. 4 – the House-passed 1099 repeal legislation: “The 1099 IRS reporting provision enacted in the Democrats’ 2010 health law quickly became the poster child for a government that is too big, too intrusive and too out of touch with small businesses.  After a… Read more

We have three purposes in today’s hearing. First, to learn about duplication in programs serving low-income children and families. Second, to ask whether, given that duplication, current programs are spending taxpayer money wisely.  And third, to consider how we can do better to help more of our neighbors in need become self-reliant. The most recent data on program duplication came… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Geoff Davis (R-KY) issued the following statement today at the conclusion of today’s hearing examining a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the duplication in welfare and related programs: “Today’s hearing reviewed the scope of duplication in our nation’s key welfare programs.  For example, GAO… Read more

The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is not a partisan political issue. It is an accord in our national economic and foreign policy interests. After the two sides quickly conclude the current negotiations to address outstanding issues, it will be time for Congress to move the agreement without further delay. Let's be clear: Trade is critical to American innovation and economic… Read more

When Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP in 1958, Medicare did not exist.  Dr. Andrus understood that seniors needed access to health insurance and found a solution.   What began as an organization that filled a need not yet met by society has grown and evolved over the last 50 plus years into AARP, Inc. and its affiliated entities.  With the establishment of Medicare… Read more

As Chairman Herger said in his opening statement, AARP was created with the praiseworthy goal of promoting independence, dignity, and enhancing the quality of life for older Americans.  Founded with this goal, it was incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.  This meant that in return for promoting social welfare and the common good, it would enjoy… Read more

I’m glad to see these witnesses here today, and I hope that during the course of this hearing we’ll be able to learn the answers to some questions that I’ve been asking since 2009.  That’s when I made my initial inquiries of AARP representatives to determine why this organization, whose stated mission is to represent the interests of America’s seniors, chose to actively lobby for a… Read more