Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led 38 of their colleagues in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles P. Rettig urging the IRS to review the status of the Family Research Council (FRC) as an “association of churches.” They also called on the IRS to determine whether existing guidance is sufficient to prevent abuse of IRS church status.
The letter was sent following investigative reporting that uncovered the FRC’s church status application and subsequent approval by the IRS, according to documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.
“We understand the importance of religious institutions to their congregants and believe that religious freedom is a cherished American value and constitutional right. We also believe that our tax code must be applied fairly and judiciously. Tax-exempt organizations should not be exploiting tax laws applicable to churches to avoid public accountability and the IRS’s examination of their activities,” the members wrote in their letter.
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