[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H9381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
                   SUPPORT THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage 
all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  For the first time since 1986, this is a real opportunity to 
challenge the status quo and simplify the Tax Code.
  For the nearly 82 percent of taxpayers in Pennsylvania's Fifth 
Congressional District who file jointly under the standard deduction, 
they are going to see that nearly doubled to $24,000, up from $12,700.
  According to the IRS, 18 percent of taxpayers in the Fifth District 
of Pennsylvania choose to itemize their tax returns, averaging about 
$21,000 in deductions. Doubling the standard deduction means that low- 
and middle-income families, who have been struggling for a long time, 
will see their tax burden lowered.
  This proposal truly strives to help families keep more of their hard-
earned paychecks. Today we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity that 
we cannot afford to pass up: more jobs, fair taxes, bigger paychecks.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve no less, and I encourage my 
colleagues to support this bill.

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