House bill proposes IRS data science fellowship, sponsored by Rep. Schweikert

A bill introduced by Rep. David Schweikert in the U.S. House seeks to boost IRS effectiveness by bringing in data scientists to help tackle tax administration issues, the U.S. Congress reports.

Designated H.R.7972, the measure was presented on March 18, 2026, during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our summary based on the official bill language and may incorporate explanation for clarity.

The legislation directs the Internal Revenue Service to launch a fellowship program aimed at hiring qualified data scientists to collaborate with tax law experts. The goal is to address new tax administration trends by advancing data acquisition, analytics, and statistical modeling. The IRS Commissioner must set up the program by Sept. 30, 2026, with a minimum of 10 fellows serving terms of 2 to 4 years. A task force will be formed to develop data-based methods for selecting audits and enhancing audit outcomes. The program will undergo periodic evaluations, and Congress will receive yearly reports on the fellowship’s progress and outcomes.

This legislation was introduced solely by Rep. David Schweikert, a Republican from Arizona’s 1st District.

Rep. Schweikert has submitted 22 other bills so far in the current session.

Bills may originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate, except for those involving revenue, which must begin in the House. Once introduced, bills go to committees for examination, where they may be subject to hearings, amendments, and debate before moving to a vote in each chamber. If the House and Senate pass an identical bill, it heads to the president for signing or veto. Congress is structured in two-year terms, each numbered consecutively and split into two sessions. The legislative process and bill records are overseen by the U.S. Congress and published at Congress.gov.

David Schweikert has represented Arizona in Congress since Jan. 3, 2011, following his election to the One Hundred Twelfth and the seven subsequent Congresses. Prior roles include serving in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1989 to 1994, holding a seat on the Arizona State Board of Equalization from 1995 to 2003, and acting as treasurer of Maricopa County from 2004 to 2006.

He is a graduate of Saguaro High School (1980), holds an A.A. from Scottsdale Community College (1985), a B.S. from Arizona State University (1988), and earned his M.B.A. from Arizona State University in 2005.

Data for this article comes from the U.S. Congress. The source information is available here.