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Axne Requests Summary of COVID-19 Assistance Available to Constituents

MAY 11, 2020

Axne Requests Summary of COVID-19 Assistance Available to Constituents

DATED MAY 11, 2020
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May 11, 2020

The Honorable Steven T. Mnuchin
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20220

The Honorable Charles P. Rettig
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20220

Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig:

Thank you for your continued work in helping Iowans, and all Americans, work to recover from coronavirus (COVID-19). We have only just begun to invest into our communities, and I know we have a long road to recovery ahead. I am writing to request a funding summary from your agency that details what has been allotted to help Iowans recover from COVID-19.

As you are aware, Congress passed and the President signed into law four supplemental funding bills that will provide direct assistance to our citizens, businesses, community, health systems, and more. Much of the funding authorized by Congress was given broad discretion by each Secretary to distribute rather than traditionally funding plans which provide line by line requests for how much funding should be allocated.

I firmly believe that in order to be good stewards of taxpayer funding, we must have transparency and accountability when it comes to where tax dollars are being spent. I have heard from many constituents who have not yet received assistance which was provided under these bills. While I appreciate the speed with which the Internal Revenue Service began getting rebates out to Iowans, there have been numerous questions that have arisen. As I brought up in my letter on April 27, the lack of a phone line has created significant difficulty for my constituents in getting information about when they may receive assistance.

It was our Congressional intent that every dollar is used to support and benefit those who are suffering the effects on COVID-19. That is why it is so important to ensure a transparent process that allows Americans to see where these funds are being used and spent.

I look forward to working with you and your agency to ensure Iowa communities, businesses, and families have the resources they need to stay healthy, safe, and stay afloat. That is why I am seeking answers to the following questions:

1) Please provide for me 1) the total number and dollar amount of Economic Impact Payments sent to Iowans, in addition to any other assistance provided by the four COVID-19 related bills which has been distributed to Iowans by the IRS.

2) Please include a) which programs are available under your agency for individuals or businesses to use for COVID-19 assistance, b) where are the website links and relevant application information, c) who is the Agency Point of Contact (POC) to submit a question or request to, and d) who is the correct POC that my office should speak with to ensure funding is allocated to those most in need?

3) Please outline each program, grant, loan, or other funding measure that has been provided to Iowa and a summary of what each program, grant, loan, or other funding measure is for.

4) While I understand you may be unable to share information regarding individual taxpayers and the assistance they received, please share as much detailed information about the categories of taxpayers who have received coronavirus assistance (and those who may still be waiting) as possible.

5) Please also provide the number of pending Economic Impact Payments expected to be sent to Iowans. If there are additional pending decisions which would provide funding to Iowa, please provide this information as well as expected dates of those decisions or disbursements of funds.

6) If there have been denials of assistance, please provide me with information on the reasons for those denials and the frequency of these denials.

Given the nature of this request, please respond back to my office upon receipt o f this request with the expected timeline of your full response. You may contact Will Binger in my office at Will.Binger@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-5476.

Thank you for your work on behalf of Iowans and helping our communities respond to COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Cindy Axne
Member of Congress

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