December 10, 2015

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I write to urge your support for H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. CCAGW is pleased that the conferees saw fit to include language from H.R. 235, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (PITFA), in the final reported language of H.R. 644.

The inclusion of PITFA is a boon to Americans who use the Internet for everything from shopping and education to job searches and connecting with each other. Passage of this language will continue to encourage future economic growth in the U.S. and further enhance the spread of broadband access across the nation. According to a study by the American Action Forum, if Congress fails to continue the ban on taxes on Internet access, consumers could end up paying more than $16.4 billion annually in taxes.

The 1998 moratorium on Internet and email access taxes has worked well for consumers across the country, and it has enabled greater access to Internet services and information. CCAGW has consistently supported the continuation of this moratorium and making permanent the ban on Internet access taxes. Keeping the Internet tax-free is critical to continued economic growth, improved education, and increased participation in society.

I urge your commitment to keep PITFA language in the conference report and advocate its quick passage. All votes on H.R. 644 will be among those considered in CCAGW’s 2015 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW