The Committee on Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives.
Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committee unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership.
The U.S. Constitution requires that all bills about taxation must come from in the House of Representatives. Since House rules is that all bills about taxation must go through this committee, the committee is very important, as is its Senate counterpart, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.
Recent chairs have included William Reynolds Archer Jr., Bill Thomas, Charles Rangel, Sander Levin, and Dave Camp. On November 4, 2015 Representative Kevin Brady of Texas was chosen to replace Representative Paul Ryan as chairman.
Other websites
Official Committee web site (Archive) House Ways and Means Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov. House Ways and Means Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov.