Press Releases

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Today, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) sent a letter to Department of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig requesting the IRS promptly provide a public briefing on the COVID-19 economic impact payments authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Chairman’s request comes after the agency abruptly canceled a public webinar on the payments that was previously scheduled for April 23.

“In recent weeks, Congressional offices have been inundated with calls from constituents with questions about their economic impact payments,” wrote Chairman Neal. “Among other issues, Americans awaiting payment are wondering if they need to take any further steps. Even those who have received payments have a wide range of questions, including why their payment amount is different than what they expected and how they can resolve outstanding issues with the IRS. In many instances, these Americans need information that only the IRS can provide. Despite Congressional offices’ best efforts to provide helpful information, there sometimes is no substitute for going straight to the source.”

The Chairman asked that the briefing occur within the next seven days and that it be made available to the maximum number of people possible. He also requested that the Treasury Department consider providing other public briefings on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a briefing for small businesses on the availability of relief aid.

Full text of Chairman Neal’s letter is available HERE.

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