Daines in Senate Finance Committee: The Working Families Tax Cuts are Putting More Money in Americans’ Pockets

• April 15, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with CEO of the Internal Revenue Service Frank Bisignano in a Senate Finance Committee hearing about how the Working Families Tax Cuts provide historic relief for hardworking Americans as well as the importance of Social Security survivor payments.

Watch the full exchange HERE.

Daines on how the Working Families Tax Cuts are a win for Americans:

Daines: Well, it is Tax Day, and thanks to Republican leadership, President Trump's leadership, and the work of this Committee in fact, we passed the largest tax cut in history and I'm proud of that. Said another way, we stopped the largest tax increase in American history, and I'm proud of that fact. As we're having these debates about affordability, which we understand, one way to help the American people make life a bit more affordable is put a little more money in their pocket through tax relief. We championed the No Tax on Tips, permanent relief for small businesses, permanence in the estate tax, credits to expand school choice, and the New Markets Tax Credits, some of the things I personally worked on to push across the finish line. These provisions enable families, enable farmers and ranchers back in Montana, enable our Main Street businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars at a time when they need it. In fact, recent IRS data has confirmed that. We're about 45, 50 percent through the filing process. And guess what? We're seeing refunds going up. Somewhere around 11 to 13 percent already. Montanans are receiving over $3,500 more in their average refund. And that's a significant increase from last filing season. I know our friends across the aisle have had some consternation with the fact that we stopped the largest tax increase in American history. There's been some fearmongering, claiming that changes that we put in place that is actually putting more money in the pockets of the American people is actually creating a disaster for filing season, which just isn't true. And we'll talk more about that. You've streamlined customer service, and we're getting these refunds through. And thankfully, at the end of the day, that's all a means to an end. That is putting more money in the pockets of the American people. Mr. Bisignano as we see the data that's showing the opposite of some of this fearmongering, can you tell me how we've ensured that a successful filing season and how we've helped millions, millions of Americans receive their highest refund ever?

Bisignano: What you all did is exceeding expectations. More than 80 million Americans have had refunds, that's the most ever.

Daines on Social Security survivor benefits:

Daines: One of the challenges we faced is the fact that 45 percent of children in the United States never claim the benefits of a surviving Social Security payment benefit. We see that in Bighorn County in Montana. Child beneficiaries make up 11 percent of all Social Security recipients. That's four times higher the statewide average. So, we have rural states like Montana and these communities that are facing barriers to access. We're failing to reach all eligible children. In addition to the personal hardships these children have, too many of them face financial hardships by not receiving their duly owed benefits. My last question, and I'm done here with my time, given your dual role as IRS CEO and Social Security Commissioner, do you commit to working with my office on this important issue and ensure that all eligible children across my state receive these benefits they're entitled to?

Bisignano: Yes.

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