[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5655-H5656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               TAX REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Reichert) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, Friday marked 6 months since the tax 
reform bill was signed into law. Since that time, we have seen 
increased paychecks, greater investment, and new job opportunities 
across the country.
  My colleagues and I on the House Ways and Means Committee talked 
about how best to overhaul our Tax Code. Our goal was always the same: 
to get our economy booming again.
  In Washington State, where I am from, we are already seeing this boom 
and the positive impacts of tax reform: employee bonuses, savings on 
utilities, increased wages, and 401(k) matches.
  They are people like a young woman in Seattle, for example, who was 
able to afford a new car, thanks to some extra money in her paycheck 
each month; or, the mother from Woodinville, Washington, who has been 
helping her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild make ends meet while 
they were living paycheck to paycheck. With tax reform, her son is now 
taking home more money, which helps them provide for their family much 
easier.
  Tax reform is not only resulting in more take-home pay, but it is 
making a difference in the workplace, too. Companies are creating new 
retail and manufacturing jobs and increasing wages and benefits. The 
Boeing Company is increasing investments in workforce development, 
facilities and infrastructure improvements for employees, and 
charitable giving.

  But it is not just the employees of big companies who are seeing the 
benefits. Our local, family-owned businesses are seeing lots of good 
come from this new Tax Code.
  Another example is a delivery driver from Kent, Washington, who works 
for one of these small, local companies. He shared that just 2 weeks 
after the tax reform bill passed, his boss gave everyone in that 
company a raise.
  These are encouraging stories from real people living real lives 
across Washington State. They are hardworking people who see 
substantial benefits, thanks to tax reform.


                     Respect and Love Your Neighbor

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to change topics just for a moment, 
if I can, and address an issue that is invading all across the country 
and our communities.
  I was in law enforcement for 33 years before I came to Congress, and 
my job

[[Page H5656]]

was to keep people safe and bring people together. I see that as my job 
here in Congress. This is my 14th and last year. I am not running for 
re-election.
  Some people in this body call themselves leaders. A title does not 
make you a leader, Mr. Speaker. It is the actions that make you a 
leader. I believe that true leaders lead from the heart. I believe that 
leaders have the heart of a servant. I believe that when I got elected 
to this office, my job was to serve the people of the Eighth District 
of Washington and to put their needs before my needs.
  Mr. Kelly here and I are friends. He comes to work every day putting 
my needs before his. I do the same. We formed a friendship, a bond, and 
we want to be honest with each other. Honesty is okay. But honesty is a 
moment in time. We need integrity and consistent honesty.
  Servanthood and integrity is what this country should be built upon, 
that is what leaders are, not calling for each one of us to say, you 
are not welcome here anytime, anyplace, anywhere. That is not 
leadership. That is division.
  Leadership, heart of the servant, integrity. That creates a team that 
we all want to be a part of. That gives this country the opportunity to 
be the leader of the world. You can each do that across this country, 
Mr. Speaker--we can all do that--by being leaders in our community. 
Beginning in the White House. Beginning from that Oval Office, speak 
with civility. Beginning here in Congress, speak with civility. If you 
are a member of a State legislature, speak with civility. Serve with 
the heart of a servant.
  Mr. Speaker, it is simple: respect and love your neighbor.

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