Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D–RI)
Senator Whitehouse has been one of the most consistent voices calling out the offshore tax racket. In 2023, he introduced the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act, designed to close loopholes that allow corporations and billionaires to park profits in places like the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg.
He didn’t stop there. In Budget Committee hearings, Whitehouse blasted the 2017 Trump tax law for rewarding offshoring, calling it “an America Last policy.”“You don’t have to break the law to cheat the country. These tax havens were built by design—by people with lobbyists.”
—Sen. Whitehouse, Senate Budget Hearing, 2023
Legislation Introduced: Senator Whitehouse has introduced the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act, aiming to crack down on offshore tax evasion by the super-rich and close loopholes that allow profits to be shifted to tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
Public Statements: He has criticized the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) for incentivizing offshoring jobs and profits, labeling it an “America last policy.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D–MA)
Warren has made corporate inversions and offshore dodging central targets of her reform agenda. She’s publicly condemned companies that renounce their U.S. citizenship to avoid taxes, and she’s pushed for a Real Corporate Profits Tax that would eliminate the incentive to shift earnings offshore in the first place.
She’s also grilled Treasury nominees and industry executives on why the IRS isn’t doing more to pursue high-end tax avoidance.“We should not be handing out tax breaks for corporate games that hurt American workers and starve public services.”
—Sen. Warren, Senate Finance Committee, 2021
Legislation Introduced: Senator Warren has advocated for ending tax incentives that encourage offshoring, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, and has proposed the Real Corporate Profits Tax to ensure large corporations pay taxes on profits reported to investors.
Public Statements: She has denounced corporate inversions and called for closing loopholes that allow corporations to dodge taxes by renouncing their American citizenship.
Senator Bernie Sanders (D–VT)
Sanders has spent decades railing against corporate tax avoidance and demanding repatriation. In 2016, he pointed to U.S. multinationals owing over $620 billion in unpaid taxes on offshore profits. In recent years, he’s introduced legislation to end deferral of foreign income taxes and make offshore and domestic profits subject to the same rates.
“There is something profoundly wrong when giant corporations stash profits overseas and pay zero in federal income taxes—while kids in this country go hungry.”
—Sen. Sanders, Senate Floor Speech
Legislation Introduced: Senator Sanders has introduced bills to end deferral of foreign income taxation and to ensure that corporations pay the same tax rate on offshore income as they do domestically. Global Financial Integrity+7Truthout+7Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky+7
Public Statements: He has highlighted that U.S. multinationals would owe substantial taxes on offshore profits if they were repatriated, emphasizing the need to close these loopholes.
Congressional Leaders Making Waves
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
A long-time advocate for tax fairness, Rep. Doggett has co-introduced the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act alongside Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. This legislation aims to eliminate incentives for U.S. corporations to shift jobs and profits offshore, addressing loopholes that allow multinationals to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. ITEP
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL)
In December 2024, Rep. LaHood introduced a bill to modernize the tax system for Americans living overseas. While primarily focused on individual taxpayers, the bill reflects a broader interest in reforming aspects of the international tax code to ensure fairness and efficiency.
Policy Experts and Advocacy Groups
Kimberly Clausing
An economist and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Clausing has been a vocal proponent of international tax reform. She advocates for policies that prevent profit shifting and ensure that multinational corporations pay taxes commensurate with their economic activities.
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
ITEP continues to publish research highlighting how current tax laws enable corporations to avoid taxes by shifting profits offshore. Their analyses support legislative efforts to close these loopholes and promote a more equitable tax system.
International Developments
OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework
The OECD’s Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) has been instrumental in promoting a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%. While the U.S. has shown ambivalence, the framework represents a significant international effort to curb tax avoidance by multinational corporations.