WHEREAS, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, A BUREAU OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, IS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE AMERICA'S TAXPAYERS WITH UNPARALLELED SERVICE BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND AND MEET THEIR TAX RESPONSIBILITIES; AND

WHEREAS, CREATED IN JULY OF 1862, DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND CONGRESS STARTED THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE AND SANCTIONED A TEMPORARY INCOME TAX TO PAY WAR EXPENSES; AND

WHEREAS, IN THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IT IS DECLARED THAT THE TAX COLLECTION AGENCY SHALL “ENFORCE THE LAW WITH INTEGRITY AND FAIRNESS TO ALL;” AND 

WHEREAS, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS RECENTLY COME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY FOR THEIR PUBLIC ADMISSION OF THE AGENCY’S “OVERZEALOUS AUDITS” OF  APPLICATIONS FOR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS BY GROUPS WITH CERTAIN POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, THE ACTIONS OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAVE DRAWN THE IRE OF BOTH THE GROUPS TARGETED AS WELL AS TAXPAYERS NATIONWIDE; AND

WHEREAS, AN IMMEASURABLE LEVEL OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS CITIZENS HAS BEEN BREACHED; AND

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF  REPRESENTATIVES, HEREBY REQUESTS THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION INITIATE AND SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF  A SELECT COMMITTEE - COMPRISED OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES - TO SWIFTLY, THOROUGHLY, AND EXPEDITIOUSLY INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED WRONGDOINGS BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE FORWARDED BY THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CLERK OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THE CLERK OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND EACH MEMBER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.