Upgrading Apollo-era IRS Computers and Counterfeit Laws

This episode of Congress in Context explores a day of legislative urgency and high-stakes political tension following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. In the House, lawmakers focus on "commonsense" modernization, passing the BARCODE Efficiency Act to digitize paper tax returns and the Counterfeit Notification Act to enhance real-time information sharing between Customs and Border Protection and private industry. Meanwhile, the Senate is embroiled in a heated debate over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, with leadership trading accusations over a "pickle" of a shutdown that has left the Secret Service and TSA workers operating without certain pay. The program also examines the bipartisan push for the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act and significant tax relief measures for disaster victims and sexual assault survivors, all while both chambers prepare for a historic joint address from His Majesty King Charles III.

Congressional Record Analysis of the following dates:

April 27, 2026

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/browse-by-date

Bills

• H.R. 4930 (Counterfeit Notification Act): Allows Customs and Border Protection to share real-time data with businesses to intercept counterfeit goods.
• H.R. 6956 (BARCODE Efficiency Act): Requires the IRS to use scannable codes and optical character recognition for paper returns.
• H.R. 7971 (Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act): Mandates an IRS service dashboard for wait times and expanded callback technology.
• H.R. 7959 (IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act): Enhances privacy and provides interest on delayed awards for tax whistleblowers.
• H.R. 6495 (Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act): Requires notice to taxpayers before the IRS contacts third parties like banks.
• H.R. 5366 (Doug LaMalfa Act): Codifies tax relief for casualty losses stemming from major disasters and wildfires.
• H.R. 2347 (Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act): Ensures sexual assault settlement damages are excluded from taxable income.
• H.R. 5334 (SEED Act): Allows early-childhood educators to claim the educator expense tax deduction.
• H.R. 6903 (Ensuring Children Receive Support Act): Mandates passport revocation for individuals with significant child support arrears.
• H.R. 6431 (NO BOSS Act): Expands self-employment assistance programs to encourage entrepreneurship for the unemployed.
• H.R. 227 (Clergy Act): Permits clergy members a window to opt back into Social Security coverage.
• H.R. 8364: Authorizes the increase of the mandatory retirement age for Capitol Police officers to 65.