Federal Bill of the Month — January 2025: FAIR PREP Act
Sponsors: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.)
96/H.R. 451 – FAIR PREP Act
The Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs Act of 2024 (FAIR PREP), introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) would end the unauthorized Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Direct File program. It would also prohibit the IRS from preparing tax returns in unauthorized instances.
The IRS Direct File program, launched by the agency remains an inherent conflict of interest. Fiscally, it costs taxpayers five times more than commercial software. The agency has shown its willingness to manipulate studies, ignore mandates, and push ahead regardless of congressional authorization.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — October 2024: Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency Act
Sponsors: Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.)
H.R. 10050 – Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency Act
The Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency Act (PhACT Act), introduced by Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) auditing practices.
PBMs’ lack of transparency and accountability is costly for taxpayers and businesses. If is for these reasons, among others, that the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is pleased to make the Pharmacy Audit and Compensation Transparency Act (PhACT Act) its Bill of the Month for October 2024.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — September 2024: Saving Privacy Act
Sponsors: Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.)
S.5242 – Saving Privacy Act:
The Saving Privacy Act (SPA), introduced by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), would scale back the Federal government’s ability to surveil Americans’ financial records and information.
Specifically, it would repeal the Bank Secrecy Act’s suspicious activity report (SAR) and currency transaction report (CTR) reporting requirements. It would repeal the Corporate Transparency Act and bolster Fourth Amendment warrant requirements in the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978. Additionally, it would repeal the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) database and require congressional approval for establishing new databases containing identifiable information of U.S. citizens.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — August 2024: PROTOCOL Act
PROTOCOL Act – To Harmonize Broadband Deployment and Funding Maps Between Agencies
Primary Sponsors: Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.)
PROTOCOL Act:
This bill, as introduced by Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) enhance and align the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Deployment Locations Map with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Infrastructure Funding Database. By aligning these maps, PROTOCOL would provide a searchable and filterable database for national broadband investments.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — July 2024: IRS Overreach Prevention Act
Sponsors: Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Penn.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), and Steve Womack (R-Ark.)
H.R. 9109 – IRS Overreach Prevention Act:
The IRS Overreach Prevention Act, introduced by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), would require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to end the Direct File pilot program.
The IRS’s Direct File pilot program, which lacks Congressional authorization, is an inherent conflict of interest and costs taxpayers five times more than commercial software.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — June 2024: Secure Payments Act
House Sponsors: Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Mike Flood (R-Ne.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), and Bill Posey (R-Fla.).
Senate Sponsors: Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mt.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).
Secure Payments Act:
The Secure Payments Act, led by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) and Sen. Ted Budd (R- N.C.) would require the Fed to complete a full quantitative impact study on the proposal’s effect on consumer costs and the economy. Mandating that the Fed complete this study will prevent it from rushing proposed changes to Regulation II.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — May 2024: Debt Per Taxpayer Information Act
H.R.8372 – Debt Per Taxpayer Information Act
Sponsors: Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Ron Estes (R-Kan.) and Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.)
INTRODUCTION:
The Debt Per Taxpayer Information Act would require public documents, including taxpayer W-2 forms, presidential budgets, and concurrent budget resolutions to include the gross federal debt and debt per taxpayer.
This advancement in transparency will highlight the nation’s fiscal state and allow Americans to engage in debate over how much debt with which the government is saddling them. It is for these reasons, among others, that TPA is pleased to make the Debt Per Taxpayer Information Act, introduced by Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Ron Estes (R-Kansas) and Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) its Bill of the Month for May 2024.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — April 2024: Government Spending Oversight Act
S.4036/H.R.8009, the Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024
With over $34 trillion in outstanding national debt, the federal government has a responsibility to ensure its programs do not fall victim to waste, fraud, and abuse. Inspectors General exist for this purpose. The Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024 would enact a successor to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and task it with identifying fraud within all federal programs. It is for these reasons, among others, that TPA is pleased to make the Government Spending Oversight Act of 2024, introduced by Sens. Gary Peters and Mitt Romney, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, its Bill of the Month for April 2024.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — March 2024: Appropriations Transparency Act
H.R.7584, the Appropriations Transparency Act of 2024
Introduced by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.)
The Appropriations Transparency Act of 2024 would require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide cost estimates for all appropriations bills reported out of committee, subjecting appropriators to the same fiscal transparency standards as other committees.
To rein in runaway spending and national debt, members must understand more than the nominal topline figures when it comes to annual spending measures. It is for these reasons, among others, that TPA is pleased to make the Appropriations Transparency Act of 2024 from Rep. Grothman its Bill of the Month for March 2024.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — February 2024: The FDA Modernization Act 3.0
H.R. 7249, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0
Introduced by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
Millions of animals are being needlessly killed and significant taxpayer dollars are wasted on the mandated animal-testing process. This is especially heinous considering that 90-95 percent of drugs that succeed in animal testing later fail in human clinical trials. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publish a final rule implementing the FDAMA 2.0.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — January 2024: Invest in Child Safety Act
Invest in Child Safety Act
Introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), alongside Reps. Don Bacon (R-Ne.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).
Online abuse of children must be met with well-coordinated, swift justice that protects potential victims, prosecutes perpetrators, and preserves Americans’ civil liberties. The Invest in Child Safety Act from Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Don Bacon, and their colleagues, authorizes $5 billion, spread throughout the web of law enforcement, towards the goal of striking this delicate balance. It is for these reasons, among others, that TPA is pleased to make the Invest in Child Safety Act its Bill of the Month for January 2024.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — December 2023: Defense of Property Rights Act
Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Bill of the Month for November 2023 is H.R. 6785, the Defense of Property Rights Act, introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.).
Background:
Derived from English philosopher John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government (1689), the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from being “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
For many years, this right has been encroached on through the courts and in executive branch rulemaking. For example, the 2005 Supreme Court case, Kelo v. City of New London, essentially removed the “public use” clause from the 5th Amendment, allowing government to seize the property of one private property owner on behalf of another private entity.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — November 2023: Defense Spending Oversight Act
Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Bill of the Month for November 2023 is H.R. 6187, the Defense Spending Oversight Act, introduced by Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Cory Mills (R-FL). Inspectors General across the nation are the first line of defense for taxpayers, and their important work often achieves rightful restitution for misused funding and prevents future issues. Understanding the benefits relative to costs associated with stamping out waste, fraud and abuse is critical for the DoD to prepare its annual budget and Congress to appropriate effectively.
Background:
Pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-452), the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) prepares a semiannual report on its activities to inform the Department and Congress.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — October 2023: Modern Worker Empowerment Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Bill of the Month for October 2023 is H.R. 5513/S. 3018, a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the standard for determining whether an individual is an employee, and for other purpose, introduced by Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), and Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), alongside Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and John Thune (R-S.D.). This legislation would safeguard independent workers’ right to work freely as contractors rather than employees.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — September 2023: No Budget, No Pay Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for September 2023 is the No Budget, No Pay Act, introduced by Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.), with 7 other Democrats. This legislation would prohibit pay for members of Congress if they do not agree to a budget resolution by April 15th of every year, and do not pass each of the 12 appropriations bills by the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1st.
Background:
The budget process has been mired in a slush of enumerated, implied, and outright assumed powers, such as impoundment authority and line-item veto power in the late 20th century.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — August 2023: Broadband Buildout Accountability Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for August 2023 is the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), alongside a diverse group of members. This legislation would make actions or decisions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Background:
The BEAD Program was authorized $42.5 billion as a part of the $65 billion authorized for broadband infrastructure under the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, P.L. 117 58).
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — July 2023: Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for July 2023 is the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, introduced by Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). This legislation would repeal the statutory requirement for military services to submit an annual list of unfunded priorities to Congress.
Background:
Unfunded priority lists (UPLs), formerly known as unfunded requirement lists, are reports that every U.S. military service, COCOMs, and the MDA annually submit to Congress pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §222a and 10 U.S.C. §222b.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — June 2023: Red Tape Reduction Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for June 2023 is the Red Tape Reduction Act, introduced by Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.). This legislation would codify five deregulatory executive orders (EO) to reduce the amount of regulatory red tape and rein in the federal government.
Background:
On January 30, 2017, then-President Donald Trump issued EO 13771, which required any Executive agency or department proposing a new regulation to simultaneously propose two regulations to be removed. The EO also required that new regulations result in a net-negative cost, either saving taxpayer dollars or requiring no new funding.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — May 2023: Cutting Paperwork for Taxpayers Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for May 2023 is the Cutting Paperwork for Taxpayers Act, introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.). This legislation would make interest accumulated on delayed tax refunds tax-exempt.
Background:
As of May 13, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reported 4.2 million unprocessed individual tax returns. While this is significantly down from the 23.5 million unprocessed returns in 2021, the agency is still struggling to fulfill its critical functions.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — April 2023: Save Local Business Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for April 2023 is the Save Local Business Act, introduced in by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Rep. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.). This legislation would bring franchise businesses and staffing agencies regulatory certainty by clarifying the definition of joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Background:
During the Obama, Trump, and now Biden administrations, rulemaking through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has continuously left Main Street businesses in flux regarding the determination of employment relationships between employers and contractors.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — March 2023: Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for March 2023 is the Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act introduced by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), with companion legislation offered by Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). This legislation would require federal agencies to conduct a thorough review of programs that are unnecessary, defunct, or duplicative. Additionally, agencies are tasked with identifying those that could merged with other programs to promote efficiency, and programs that could be more effectively managed by another executive entity.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — February 2023: Protect Farms from the SEC Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for February 2023 is the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, introduced by Sens. John Boozman (R-Ar.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.). This legislation would prohibit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring agriculture-sector registrants to report the Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continued in the commission’s climate disclosure proposal.
Background:
Following President Biden’s May 2021 Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk (E.O. 14030), the SEC announced in March 2022 that it would propose a rule entitled The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” (87 FR 21334).
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — January 2023: TRUST In Congress Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Bill of the Month for January 2023 is the Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Chip Roy (R-Tx.). This legislation would enact restrictions on members of Congress trading stocks while serving in public office.
The history of congressional stock trading dates to the nation’s infancy. In 1789, members of Congress and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (William Duer) used insider knowledge from the department and the Funding and Assumption Act of 1790 to buy state-backed war bonds, which would later triple in value when they were absorbed by the federal government.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — June 2022: Six Penny Plan
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Bill of the Month for June 2022 is the “Six Penny Plan” budget introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). This plan is currently the only budget proposal before Congress and would lead to a fully balanced budget for the nation in just five years’ time.
For some background, Sen. Paul introduced a plan in 2017 that would merely have frozen government spending at then-current levels for five years. It would have required zero cuts. Had that plan been adopted, the federal budget would have balanced come this year. However, it was not and the next year, in 2018, Sen. Paul introduced his “Penny Plan” which would require a one percent reduction to balance the budget.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — May 2022: Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2022
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s bill of the month for May 2022 is S. 4115, the Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2022, introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). This legislation would prevent Congress from being able to pay for discretionary spending projects by diverting money from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF).
In 1984, Congress established the CVF with the simple goal in mind of helping those victimized by crime in the United States. The CVF is funded solely via money collected from perpetrators during investigations or settlements. These fines and penalties collected by the federal government involve no taxes levied against the broader tax base.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — April 2022: Federal Student Loan Integrity Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) bill of the month for April 2022 is H.R. 7058, the Federal Student Loan Integrity Act, introduced by Reps. Bob Good (R-Va.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.). The bill would prevent the Secretary of Education from continuing to unilaterally extend the student loan repayment moratorium associated with the current state of emergency. For roughly two years now, the coronavirus emergency declaration and the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act have given the Department of Education authority to suspend repayments on outstanding federal student loans. This moratorium has been extended a number of times since, with the latest scheduled to last until August 31st of this year.
Read More>>
Federal Bill of the Month — February 2022: Bipartisan Ban on Congressional Stock Ownership Act
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is proud to announce a new initiative, the Bill of the Month (BOTM). The BOTM is meant to highlight congressional efforts that help taxpayers and consumers. The BOTM for February is S. 3631, the Bipartisan Ban on Congressional Stock Ownership Act, introduced by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), as well as its House companion (H.R. 6678) introduced by Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.). The bill would – as its name suggests – prevent members of Congress from engaging in investment activities, which present clear conflicts of interest.
Read More>>