Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) released the following statement today on a controversial provision of the Omnibus Bill that allows the chairmen of the Appropriations Committees and their staff assistants to examine Americans' income tax returns. DeLauro is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

“The authority granted in this provision is unprecedented and a complete invasion of taxpayer privacy. This language has no place in legislation, let alone in a massive end-of-year spending bill. Now that this provision has been widely reported on, I am hopeful that it will be removed before the bill is signed by the president.”