[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1731-E1732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 19, 2017

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from 
the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Club 
for Growth, and FreedomWorks:

                                  Faith and Freedom Coalition.

       Dear Representative: On behalf of the 1.5 million members 
     and supporters of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, I urge you 
     to vote YES on the Conference Report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts 
     and Jobs Act (TCJA). A vote for this bill is a vote for tax 
     cuts that Republicans have promised and America's hardworking 
     families desperately deserve. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will 
     strengthen families, grow the economy, and create jobs. To 
     that end, Faith & Freedom Coalition will score the vote on 
     H.R. 1 as vote to cut taxes for families and as a vote to 
     begin the process of repealing Obamacare. This vote will 
     appear in tens of millions of Congressional Scorecards and 
     voter guides distributed in over 100,000 churches.
       Since Congress last passed major tax reform over thirty 
     years ago, the tax code has become riddled with corporate 
     giveaways and special-interest provisions that benefit the 
     politically-connected and privileged at the expense of 
     working families. This legislation makes the tax code simpler 
     and fairer, strengthens the family, increase wages, creates 
     jobs, and makes small, family-owned businesses more 
     competitive.
       H.R. 1 doubles the child tax credit to $2,000, makes it 
     available to more families by increasing the income 
     eligibility thresholds, and makes up to $1,400 refundable to 
     lower and middle-class working families. This provision is 
     pro-life, pro-child, pro-family and pro-middle class. 
     Doubling the standard deduction protects more of the average 
     family's income from taxation, keeping more of their paycheck 
     at home rather than sending it to Washington.
       The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also reduces the tax rate on the 
     hard-earned income of small, family-owned businesses--
     creating the lowest tax rate on small business income since 
     World War II. Mom and Pop businesses are the backbone of the 
     American economy and the American family. Over 80% of new 
     jobs are created by Main Street businesses and they need a 
     tax rate that enables them to compete with overseas 
     competitors and Wall Street corporations. These small 
     businesses are often family affairs and are a key component 
     to supporting stronger, more secure families.
       Finally, repealing Obamacare's individual mandate and 
     returning the savings to families is another tax cut for 
     working families. Nearly 7 million American families paid 
     over $3 billion because of Obamacare's individual mandate 
     tax, and 80 percent make less than $50,000 a year. The 
     Obamacare individual mandate is one of the most regressive 
     taxes in the nation, punishing work and savings and hurting 
     those least able to pay. Repealing it is a critical, if 
     partial, fulfillment of the larger promise to end the 
     disaster of Obamacare.
       America's families have already waited too long for tax 
     cuts that let them keep their hard earned dollars and care 
     for their families. We must not fail them. The Tax Cuts and 
     Jobs Act will simplify the code so that it is fairer for 
     families and individuals, while also encouraging the economy 
     to grow, leading to the creation of more jobs and higher 
     wages.
       For all these reasons, Faith & Freedom Coalition will 
     include the vote on Conference Report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts 
     and Jobs Act (TCJA) in our Congressional Score and voter 
     guides as a key vote in the 115th Congress.
       Thank you for considering the views of our millions of 
     members and supporters.
                                  ____
                                  


                                Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

       The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), representing 
     millions of taxpayers across the country, urges the House of 
     Representatives to vote YES for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 
     TPA is encouraged by the final tax reform package crafted by 
     the conference committee. This legislation will provide 
     comprehensive tax relief for millions of Americans.
       The conference report has many positive aspects, including 
     a doubled standard deduction, a 21 percent corporate rate, 
     and a $2,000 child tax credit. This legislation allows the 
     economy to flourish, as small businesses get the green light 
     to expand, hire, and increase wages. Individuals and families 
     will have an easier time saving for education and retirement, 
     with the thousands of dollars in annual savings from the 
     legislation.
       Additionally, the repeal of the Obamacare individual 
     mandate penalty relieves an onerous burden for taxpayers 
     while saving hundreds of billions in exchange subsidy 
     payments. Taxpayers will finally have the freedom to forgo 
     health insurance if they choose,

[[Page E1732]]

     without risking penalty from the federal government. TPA is 
     pleased that the conference committee offers a plan that 
     sharply curtails government while giving power back to hard-
     working Americans.
       TPA urges every Congressman to vote YES on the Tax Cuts and 
     Jobs Act.
                                  ____
                                  


                                              Club for Growth.

      Re key vote alert--``YES'' on Conference Report to the Tax 
         Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1.

       The Club for Growth supports the conference report to the 
     Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1) and we urge all members of 
     Congress to vote YES on it. A vote is expected in the next 
     few days. The vote will be included in the Club's 2017 
     congressional scorecard. This bill is not perfect, but it's 
     still very pro-growth. Some of the more pro-growth elements 
     of the bill include lowering the corporate tax rate down to 
     21%, a new 20% deduction for pass-through businesses, 
     doubling the Death Tax exemption, and moving to an 
     international territorial tax system. The bill also modestly 
     lowers individual tax rates and doubles the standard 
     deduction.
       The Club for Growth urges immediate passage of HR 1. 
     Congress should also begin work on another pro-growth tax 
     bill for next year that addresses other parts of the tax code 
     left untouched by this proposal.
       Our Congressional Scorecard for the 115th Congress provides 
     a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member 
     of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and 
     will be distributed to our members and to the public.
                                  ____



                                                 FreedomWorks.

 Key Vote YES on the Conference Report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 
                                 H.R. 1

       On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact 
     your representative and senators and ask them to vote YES on 
     the conference report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1. 
     This final agreement on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides 
     much-needed relief to taxpayers across the country and to 
     American businesses alike.
       The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers individual rates for the 
     vast majority of taxpayers. In addition, the Tax Cuts and 
     Jobs Act nearly doubles the standard deduction, meaning 
     Americans keep more of their hard-earned money, and doubles 
     the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. This bill also 
     provides relief by doubling the exemption amount from the 
     unfair death tax.
       Pass-through business owners, who file their taxes on their 
     individual tax return, will be able to take a 20 percent 
     deduction. This lowers the tax burden currently faced by 
     pass-through businesses, which, according to the Tax 
     Foundation, employ 70 million people, and promotes fairness.
       America's business community will also see added growth as 
     a result of the policy changes in this bill. The corporate 
     tax rate will be lowered substantially from 35 percent to 21 
     percent, making American businesses more globally competitive 
     and allowing them the resources they need to innovate and 
     create jobs. It also eliminates confusion and complexity so 
     job creators can focus on building their company and hiring 
     working Americans.
       This bill also repeals the harmful ObamaCare individual 
     mandate, a coercive tax on Americans. It's estimated that 80 
     percent of households subject to this tax earn less than 
     $50,000 per year. This is an unnecessary hardship being 
     placed on working Americans. The federal government should 
     not punish individuals who cannot afford ObamaCare's costly 
     health insurance plans or decide it is not the best course 
     for them.
       For these reasons, I urge you to call your representative 
     and senators and ask them to vote YES on the conference 
     report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1. FreedomWorks 
     will count the vote on our 2017 Congressional Scorecard. The 
     scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the 
     FreedomFighter Award, which recognizes Members of the House 
     and Senate who consistently vote to support economic freedom 
     and individual liberty.

                          ____________________