Congresswoman Lee Secures $850,000 Federal Investment to Upgrade Local Tax Assistance Clinics
Increase access for seniors and individuals with disabilities
Watch video of the press conference here
LAS VEGAS – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced an $850,000 federal investment she secured for United Way of Southern Nevada to improve local nonprofits that provide tax assistance to low and moderate income communities. These programs are known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinics.
This new federal investment secured by Lee will support safety upgrades, infrastructure improvements to increase accessibility for seniors and individuals with disabilities, and energy efficiency renovations. VITA clinics have helped bring back $1.3 million to Nevadans.
“No one likes taxes, and I know we’re all happy that Tax Day is behind us, but my office is constantly working with residents who have errors in filing or delays in getting their returns,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Thankfully, we have United Way and their partner organizations working every day to help southern Nevadans avoid tax related problems. Today’s new investment means more Nevadans will get the help they need.”
“United Way of Southern Nevada is proud to celebrate the success of local VITA clinics, who have brought back $1.3 million directly to Nevadans — that’s why this program is so vital to our community,” said Janet Quintero, VP of External Affairs at United Way of Southern Nevada. “It’s because of the support of Congresswoman Lee and the community project funding process that we will be able to offer grants to organizations in need to rehabilitate the spaces where our volunteers work and taxpayers go to receive free tax preparation. These services are life-changing, and our community deserves an experience in facilities that they enjoy and that are safe and accessible for all.”
Congresswoman Lee was joined by Sam Rudd, COO of United Way of Southern Nevada, Janet Quintero, VP of External Affairs at United Way of Southern Nevada, Richard Hogue, Director of the Silverado Tax Coalition, Jodi Mobley, Executive Director of the Nevada Free Taxes Coalition, and Lourdes Orestano Robledo, Consul for Community Affairs for the Mexican Consulate, as well as United Way of Southern Nevada volunteers and representatives from the Internal Revenue Service.
Since coming to Congress, Lee has helped over 7,000 Nevadans and small businesses get the federal benefits and services they need. Lee also hosts an annual tax webinar with local experts to help make filing your taxes easy and stress-free and was named a finalist for the National Constituent Services Award from the Congressional Management Foundation.
In addition to today’s new federal investment, Lee helped fund the brand-new Direct File program that allows Nevada families to file directly with the IRS for free. Nevada was one of twelve states this to year to debut this filing service. Nearly half a million Nevadans qualified for it, and it offered services in both English and Spanish.
###