The House Ways and Means Committee on June 21, 2018, approved a batch of bills on various topics under its jurisdiction, including the "Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act of 2017" (H.R. 3500) and the "Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act of 2017" (H.R. 519).

Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) said H.R. 3500, which would prohibit IRS from rehiring any employee removed for misconduct or whose employment was terminated for cause, was approved in the last Congress and since modified. The bill was approved by voice vote.

H.R. 519, to modify the tax exemption requirements for mutual ditch and irrigation companies under section 501(c)(12), was also approved by voice vote. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) said the bill is not sufficiently understood and deserves a hearing.

The Committee also approved by voice vote:

— H.R. 4952, "To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and submit a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality increases in the determination of blended benchmark amounts under part C of the Medicare Program";
— H.R. 6124, the "Tribal Social Security Fairness Act of 2018," to allow Indian tribes to enter into agreements with the Commissioner of Social Security to obtain Social Security and Medicare coverage for services performed by tribal council members;
— H.R. 6084, the "Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act," to require the Social Security Administration to provide a single point of contact at the agency to any individual requesting a new Social Security number due to identity theft or who is dealing with identity theft issues related to their Social Security benefits;
— H.R. 6138, the "Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Transparency Act of 2018," to provide for ambulatory surgical center representation during the review of hospital outpatient payment rates under part B of the Medicare program; and
— H.R. 6142, the "Reducing Drug Waste Act of 2018," to authorize a study on how to reduce drug waste.

See the bills and related materials.

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