Hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee - Questioning by Rep. Carol Miller, Hearing on Biden's FY2022 Budget Proposal

Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, during a Ways and Means Committee hearing, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) questioned United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on President Biden's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022. Specifically, Congresswoman Miller asked about Democrats' newly proposed paid family and medical leave program, and the Treasury Department's ability to seek out and address fraud within the program given the rampant Unemployment Insurance fraud that already exists.

Biden's proposed budget is set to subject Americans to an abundance of tax hikes. The American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan are expected to create a second death tax, increase taxes on Main Street Businesses, raise the corporate tax rate, and undo the success of the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As America emerges from COVID-19, higher taxes will only hurt American workers, families, and small businesses.

Read below her remarks as prepared:
As many of my colleagues have raised over the course of today's hearing, we are gravely concerned with many of the promises made over the course of President Biden's campaign, the policies proposed in the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, and the ability of the Department of Treasury to complete its duties effectively.

With our limited time here today, I would like to quickly get to my questions.

Secretary Yellen, in April, Democrats introduced a discussion draft titled the "Building an Economy for Families Act." The proposal would create a new paid family and medical leave entitlement program run by the Treasury Department. Given the massive amounts of Unemployment Insurance fraud that already exists, I am unconvinced about the Department's ability to operate a program of this magnitude and was hoping you could help me understand why this is the right approach.

Does Treasury have field offices that handle claims and appeals and interact face to face with American citizens?

Does Treasury have call centers to handle constituents appeals and benefit determinations?

Does Treasury have access to wage and income data that would be required to determine an individuals' earnings and benefits?

Are there any other comparable programs that Treasury runs that you can point me to?

What kinds of functional and operational expertise does Treasury have to implement a benefits program like this?

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