An easy solution that saves billions of dollars

{mosads} 
Specifically, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration concluded that the tax credit provides “an additional incentive for aliens to enter, reside and work in the United States without authorization, which contradicts federal law and policy to remove such incentives.”
 
This is why earlier this year I introduced common-sense legislation to prevent illegal immigrants from bilking the taxpayers billions of dollars.  In May I proposed the Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, H.R. 1956, a bill to require tax filers to provide their Social Security numbers to claim the refundable child tax credit.
 
The non-partisan number crunchers at the Joint Committee on Taxation studied my legislation and determined that it would save $10 billion if the expanded child tax credit expires in 2012 or $24 billion if the expanded benefit is extended as the Administration has proposed.
 
With the dire need to cut government spending, I have a hunch that my common-sense proposal will get a serious look as way to stamp out waste, fraud and abuse.   If you think that illegal immigrants should not bamboozle taxpayers for billions of dollars every year by fraudulently claiming the child tax credit, then call the White House at 202-456-1414.  Tell them that you support H.R. 1956 and that this should be a top priority for the Administration.
 
My tenure on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee helps me better serve the great people of the Third Congressional District, Texas and America.  Introducing and advocating the Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, H.R. 1956, is one more way to do that.  After all, the federal government works for the people – not the other way around.
 
Sam Johnson is a Republican representative serving Texas’s third district.