FreedomWorks Applauds Passage of RESPECT Act

The Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act passed the House this evening on suspension. FreedomWorks Vice President of Legislative Affairs Jason Pye released the following statement:

"The RESPECT Act codifies administrative changes made by the Department of Justice more than two years ago to rein in the Internal Revenue Service’s abuse of civil asset forfeiture. Several innocent business owners saw their livelihoods put in jeopardy by this form of government overreach. As we’ve already seen on forfeiture restrictions, an administration can undo basic reforms with the stroke of a pen, which is why it’s so important to codify these changes into law. We hope that Leader McConnell brings this bill to the floor for a vote."

"Even with the passage of the RESPECT Act, Congress has a lot of work to do on forfeiture reform. Four amendments to the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act have been submitted to the House Rules Committee to address forfeiture. The amendments offered by Reps. Justin Amash and Warren Davidson are the strongest, restricting adoptive seizures and eliminating the profit incentive in federal forfeiture laws."