[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3960-H3962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FLORIDA'S SUCCESS UNDER TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bacon). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2017, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include any extraneous material on the subject of tonight's Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor tonight to host my 
colleagues from the great State of Florida to highlight the successes 
we have seen since passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  With job growth, wages, and labor participation all up since the 
passage of this bill, hardworking Americans and businesses are already 
experiencing the many improvements that are the result of these reforms 
to our Tax Code.
  In its April report, the U.S. Labor Department announced that the 
unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent, the lowest level we have 
seen, Mr. Speaker, in 18 years. The tax cuts and simplification of our 
Tax Code that we passed only a few months ago, along with our 
President's regulatory reforms and progrowth policies, are creating 
jobs and restoring confidence in America's economy.
  Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, we celebrated National Small 
Business Week to recognize the importance of small businesses across 
the country. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and 
create millions of jobs to help Floridians and Americans pursue a 
better future for themselves and for their families.
  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is working for small businesses. According 
to the National Federation of Independent Business, small businesses 
are the most optimistic that they have been in nearly three decades. 
This is no surprise. The reforms in this bill have dramatically 
improved the way that small businesses are treated under the Tax Code, 
unleashing hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts.
  Just last month, Mr. Speaker, I toured Magellan Transport Logistics, 
a service-disabled, veteran-owned logistics company in my hometown of 
Jacksonville, Florida. They are adding at least 100 new jobs in the 
next 5 years and were able to acquire a new 47,000-square-foot 
facility.
  During the tour of the facility, we were told by the company's CEO 
that this expansion is a direct result of the tax cuts that the 
business received from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This is just one 
example of the differences that these cuts are making to improve the 
way of life for countless Americans in Florida and across the Nation.
  I have heard from many small businesses throughout my district who 
are thriving unlike never before because of these landmark reforms.
  As the Representative of Florida's Fourth District, I am proud to 
represent the historic city of St. Augustine. St. Augustine is known 
around the world, Mr. Speaker, as the oldest city in America. It is 
full of unique family and community-owned businesses, including the St. 
Augustine Distillery.
  Located in the site of Florida's oldest ice plant, the St. Augustine 
Distillery's opening in 2014 marked the first time that spirits have 
been distilled and created in northeast Florida since Prohibition.
  As a young business facing more than their share of regulatory 
challenges, the St. Augustine Distillery was relieved, to say the 
least, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. The 
distillery announced shortly after the bill's passage that they would 
be using their savings to make further investments in their employees 
and increase their equipment and inventory, creating new local jobs and 
hiring additional staff to manufacture, market, and sell their 
products.
  Small businesses are an important part of my community and our 
economy, but they aren't the only ones that have been given relief 
under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  Mr. Speaker, last September, northeast Florida was devastated by 
Hurricane Irma. The storm surge was over 5 feet and dropped more than a 
foot of rainfall. Our community saw some of the worst flooding in over 
100 years along the St. Johns River, and many areas are only now 
recovering.
  Because of the Federal tax savings that they received, Tampa 
Electric, Florida Power & Light, and Duke Energy Florida all announced 
that their customers would not receive a rate increase for power 
restoration costs associated with these companies' response to the 
hurricane damage. With the money that they would have paid in corporate 
income taxes, these companies were able to recover the cost of 
restoring power and repairing the damage after Hurricane Irma, which 
has spared thousands of Floridians an increase in their energy bill 
this year.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the many ways that the Tax Cuts 
and Jobs Act has already made a difference in the lives of hardworking 
men and women in northeast Florida and across the State by allowing 
them to keep more of their hard-earned money in their paycheck.
  Tonight, we will hear from a number of my fellow Floridians about the 
great successes of this bill and helping the lives of Florida families 
in our district.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida's First District 
(Mr. Gaetz). He a great colleague of mine on the Judiciary Committee 
and a defender of a strong, booming economy.
  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I cannot say how proud I am to be a Floridian 
taking the floor this evening to talk about the great value that the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is bringing to the folks in the Sunshine State.
  I am particularly proud that Florida was prepared for this uplift in 
the economy as a consequence of the work of Congress. Since Governor 
Scott took control of the Governor's mansion, our State has reduced 
over 50,000 regulations. We have cut taxes over 50 times.
  Folks like my colleague, Mr. Rutherford from Florida, served in our 
law enforcement community and led to safer streets and safer 
communities so that we could grow and prosper in a way that was 
conducive to a family-friendly life.
  For so long, while we had been cutting taxes and fighting for a more 
competitive economic ecosystem, the Federal Government had thrown a wet 
blanket over the economy. With a corporate tax rate that was one of the 
highest in the world, Florida companies weren't able to leverage the 
great talents that were coming out of our State to go and compete 
because the rules were stacked against us as a consequence of bad 
policies in Washington.
  I am so proud that during the 115th Congress we were able to pass the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act so that States like Florida could realize the 
great benefit of conservative leadership.
  In my district in north Florida, where we have got a number of 
hardworking folks particularly in the manufacturing center, there is a 
new sense of economic optimism and prosperity that is sweeping across 
our State and my region.

  The National Association of Manufacturers' 2018 first quarter Outlook 
says that 93.5 percent of manufacturers now have a positive outlook 
regarding the growth of their businesses. This is entirely consistent 
with the feedback I have gotten from manufacturers such as Ascend 
Materials and American Elite Molding, where we are competing with the 
best around the world, and we are winning and growing.
  Manufacturers in my district have said that one consequence of the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is that they are able to reinvest in their 
facilities: buy new, cutting-edge equipment and grow and expand their 
physical plant. This creates jobs and better competition--absolutely 
outstanding.
  Energy cost is something that impacts our small businesses and 
families alike. As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Gulf Power, 
the independently owned utility in my district, is cutting rates so 
that ratepayers will

[[Page H3961]]

see savings of over $100 million. That is $100 million plowed right 
back into the economy in my district, right back at the kitchen table 
at the end of the month. Certainly, it is of great value that we have 
been able to see that result for our families and for our businesses.
  Publix is another great business in our State. They are increasing 
pay for employees, allowing employees to be able to buy into employee 
stock option programs at greater frequency.
  Mr. Speaker, whether it is the largest businesses in our State or the 
smallest, whether it is families that have been prosperous or families 
that are looking to climb that next peg on the economic ladder, I can 
say with great sincerity that the feedback as a consequence of the Tax 
Cuts and Jobs Act has been entirely positive. Folks are more 
optimistic. Ultimately, that will ensure that the State of Florida is 
able to participate in a more competitive and productive economic 
environment going forward.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I had the great honor as a sheriff in 
Florida representing the Florida Sheriffs Association to work with Matt 
Gaetz when he was in the House. I have to tell you, there is no one 
that works harder for the State of Florida and this country now that he 
is in Congress. I just want to thank him for the hard work. He has 
always been a great partner to work with. We had some great successes 
there, and then to come up here and actually be part of the first tax 
cuts and reform in over some 30-odd years was significant.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from north central Florida's 
Third District, Mr. Ted Yoho. He is a small-business owner himself who 
understands taxes and the regulatory burden that businesses face.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the sheriff in a 
neighboring county, for bringing this and putting this on tonight. I 
think it is great that he is doing this because we need to highlight 
the successes that we have had.
  All across the country, America sees the benefits of lower taxes from 
the GOP Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We are hearing about the tax cuts that 
benefit hardworking families and those that are benefiting the business 
community to grow our economy all across the Nation.
  But here in Florida, the average family of four is saving $2,069 due 
to the Federal tax reductions. That is $2,000 they didn't have before 
that they can use for retirement, college, unplanned expenses, or to 
invest back into the Florida economy.
  In addition to the personal cuts to Federal taxes, businesses across 
the country are giving their tax cuts back to their employees in the 
form of bonuses, retirement benefits, family leave, and increased pay.

                              {time}  1945

  We see this in millions of jobs across the Nation. I have never seen 
this before. I am 63 years old. I remember the `86 tax cut when Ronald 
Reagan and the Republicans did it then. This has been so much more 
significant, and the impact on the economy is multiples of that.
  In Florida's Third Congressional District alone, there are several 
businesses--ranging from large corporations like the Walmarts and Wells 
Fargo to the small mom-and-pop businesses, such as The Flood Insurance 
Agency in my district--who are giving back to their employees in our 
local community. The Flood Insurance Agency in my hometown of 
Gainesville, Florida, gave $1,000 bonuses to each of their 17 full-time 
employees. $1,000. That is $17,000 reinvested into our community 
because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that the Republicans passed and 
President Trump signed into law.
  Additionally, CenterState Bank, which is headquartered in Davenport, 
Florida, but has branches in five cities across my district, gave out 
$1,000 bonuses to non-officer employees. These bonuses went to roughly 
700 people across the State of Florida. Let me do my math: 700 times 
$1,000. I believe that is $700,000 being infused into the Florida 
economy because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  Cintas, which has a location in Alachua, Florida, gave all employees 
of over a year of employment $1,000 bonuses and gave $500 bonuses to 
all employees who have worked there less than a year. While $1,000 may 
seem like crumbs to some in Congress, as we heard that day of the 
vote--they are just mere crumbs--we find that that is not the truth 
when we get out to the district.
  These bonuses are invested in the people of Florida, not to mention 
an investment of over $700,000 into the Florida economy. And this is 
just from three businesses listed above, not including Walmart raising 
wages for 67,500 employees--that is just in Florida--or the bonuses 
Lowe's gave to 21,000 employees, just in Florida.
  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is benefiting all Americans. Individuals 
know how best to use the money they earned, not government, whether by 
saving or by reinvesting in their community. By lowering the tax burden 
on working Americans and businesses, we have incentivized hard work and 
investment. When this happens, tax revenues rise and people thrive, not 
only because of a lower tax burden, but also because businesses now 
have the means to reinvest in their employees and in their community.
  When that money goes back to the people, they know how best to spend 
that, not government. It was interesting: As I was touring through our 
district, as we often do when we go back home, I have never had this 
happen--this is my third term in Congress--I was at an event, a ribbon-
cutting, and I had two unsolicited people come up to me, and they 
thanked us for the Republicans' Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This happened on 
multiple occasions.
  One individual came up to me, again, this was unsolicited--we know, 
as Members of Congress, that this doesn't happen often--but he goes: I 
want to let you know that because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act I am 
receiving an extra $120 per paycheck, and I get paid twice a month. 
That is $2,880 in crumbs he is getting.
  Another individual at the same event came up and said--and they 
didn't know each other. This was so neat, because he came up to me and 
he said: I just want to let you know, because of the tax cut, I am 
getting an extra $500 a month, $500 a month times 12 months. That is 
$6,000 a year. He was excited. I was excited for him.
  A local trucking company we went by in the small town of Starke, he 
had out on his billboard: Beginning January 15, all drivers, all 
employees, get a 15 percent pay raise. And when I talked to him, he 
said it was because of the tax bill, the tax reform, that we did. These 
are, again, unsolicited.
  Another individual called me up, he has got an air-conditioning and 
heating contract company, he told me that he gave out an extra $74,000 
in bonuses due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And I had a family member 
who sometimes isn't user-friendly--he is retired--and he called me up 
and said he was receiving an extra $120 a month, and he thanked me.
  Again, some from the other side of the aisle claimed that this tax 
bill was nothing but mere crumbs, mere crumbs, and only benefiting the 
wealthy. The examples I just read off are from the Joe-lunch-box type, 
people out there working every day, five days a week, just the average 
moms and dads who, at the end of the month, are sitting around their 
dining room table wondering if they are going to have more month than 
money at the end of the month. They are realizing that they have extra 
crumbs at the end of the month, and they thanked me. They came up to 
me, they thanked me. They thanked the Republican Party. They thanked 
President Trump for signing this into law. And they thanked us for the 
extra crumbs.
  As I was leaving, one of the individuals--and I had to laugh at 
this--says: When the next election comes up, just remind your 
colleagues on the other side that it is the economy, stupid. And he 
smiled, and that is all he had to say.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman putting this on. Great job.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from 
central Florida, Ted Yoho, and I have had those same conversations with 
constituents back home. The gentleman is absolutely right. They don't 
think it is crumbs. It is very significant in their lives. And I can 
tell you, as a freshman, I was very proud to be here at a very historic 
moment. And I think this Congress can be very proud

[[Page H3962]]

of what was accomplished through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act because it 
is truly impacting on people's lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this time to thank all of my colleagues 
from Florida who joined with me this evening to highlight the successes 
of this historic tax reform.
  Across the Nation and back home in Florida, we have seen the 
incredible impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More than 500 companies 
have announced pay raises, bonuses, increased 401(k) contributions, or 
even lower utility rates. Direct bonus announcements have reached over 
$4 billion across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, that is $4 billion in direct 
bonuses to employees all across this Nation. That $4 billion is going 
back into our economy and into the hands of hardworking Americans 
rather than to the IRS. Folks, this is just the beginning.

  Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, and as my good friend from central 
Florida said, these are not crumbs. These are loaves of bread for 
countless Americans who have been living paycheck to paycheck, unsure 
about how they would be able to feed their families. These reforms, 
which are the largest in over 30 years, are helping grow small 
businesses and breathing life back into the American Dream for so many.
  So I want to, again, thank my colleagues from the great State of 
Florida for joining me this evening to shine a light on these great 
successes for Floridians and for all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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