Kaptur Votes to Ensure Families Get Their Tax Refunds Without Delay and to Re-Open the Treasury Department and Other Key Agencies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Dean of the Ohio Delegation and Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, yesterday joined House Democrats to pass the FY 2019 Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) appropriations bill to remove all doubt that hard-working Ohioans will receive their tax refunds in full and on time. Each year, about 4,615,383 Ohio households receive an average tax return of about $2,518, which will remain in jeopardy as long as the President and Senate Republicans refuse to end the Trump Shutdown and fully re-open IRS. State-by-state data from the IRS can be found here.

Earlier this week, after House Democrats announced plans to pass this bill, the Trump Administration suddenly reversed its previous announcement that the IRS is unable to issue tax refunds during a shutdown; and stated it will bring back some furloughed employees. However, the only way to prevent confusion and ensure that all Americans will receive their tax refunds without delay is to fully re-open the IRS and bring all IRS employees back to work.

"There should be absolutely no confusion that Ohioans will get their tax refund in full and on time. Of course reopening the government is a first step," said Kaptur. "On Day One of the new Congress, the House Democratic Majority took the first steps to restore certainty to people's lives by passing a complete funding package with Senate Republicans' language to re-open government. Yet, Senate Republicans refused to bring that bill up for a vote. Now, over the coming days, Democrats will take action to re-open all government agencies that are shut by passing individual, bipartisan appropriations bills."

"The President needs to assure those on his side of the aisle who are waiting for his signal, that he will sign legislation to re-open the Department of the Treasury and the IRS as soon as the Senate passes this legislation," continued Kaptur. "House Democrats believe in governing responsibly and will not allow hard-working Ohioans or the American people to be held hostage by the President's reckless demands. We will continue to work to re-open government, and keep our promise to deliver progress for all Americans."

Source: IRS, SOI Tax Stats – State Data FY 2017. November 15, 2018.

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