[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8164-H8168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA IS #BETTEROFFNOW

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin tonight by offering 
thoughts and prayers to the communities in the path of Hurricane 
Florence. My home State of Kansas is no stranger to natural disasters, 
and we are standing with those who will be impacted in the coming days.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about how we are all better off now. 
There has been a lot of talk lately about our country's economic 
recovery. Some of the debate recently has centered around when it 
started versus how it started. But really, it indicates one thing is 
real clear, that after years of stagnation, high unemployment, low wage 
growth, today, there is no denying that America is better off now than 
we were 2 years ago.
  Tax reform and getting government out of the way has helped fuel this 
economic recovery. For 8 long years, we had an administration working 
against business growth. Now America has a President and Congress 
working to grow the economy.
  In addition to our economy, progrowth policies have been championed 
that allow veterans, our Armed Forces, families, and small businesses 
in every sector and in every community to be better off now.
  During this Special Order, I look forward to highlighting all the 
exciting things happening in my district in Kansas and around the 
country that are returning America to a place of strength, security, 
and prosperity.
  Throughout the August district work period, I traveled my district 
discussing how Kansans are better off now thanks to legislation that 
enhances our economy, secures our community, and strengthens our 
military.
  During the past month, I met with multitudes of small businesses and 
groups, some of which include: the Wichita Regional Chamber of 
Commerce; touring a wind farm in Pratt County; meeting with 
constituents at Dave's Pizza in Coldwater; learning about services 
provided at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital; meeting with constituents 
at Hibbard's Prescription Plus in Medicine Lodge; hosted a town hall 
for veterans; participated in a roundtable with the Realtors of south 
central Kansas; celebrated the ribbon cutting of two low-income housing 
projects in Wichita, one specifically designated for veterans; met with 
constituents at Tiger Town Pizza in St. John; toured the Golden Belt 
Feeders in Stafford County; met with constituents at Carr Auto-Electric 
in Larned; visited the Offerle Co-op; spent a day in Greensburg at the 
Big Well Museum, the school, the senior center, the art studio, and the 
media center; discussed the farm bill and several other issues related 
to our agriculture community as I went to several county farm bureau 
meetings; spoke at the West Wichita Sunrise Rotary Club; and toured the 
Textron Aviation manufacturing facility.
  I travel home to Kansas every week and during the district work 
period to hear from constituents. Even though there is more work to do, 
my latest district work period made it clear, as I spent time in the 
district, that individuals, families, and small businesses across our 
State and country are better off now.
  From our economy standpoint, the numbers really speak for themselves. 
The unemployment rate is near an 18-year low at 3.9 percent. Youth 
unemployment is at the lowest level in 52 years. Female unemployment is 
at the lowest level in 65 years. Black and Hispanic unemployment rates 
are the second lowest ever recorded. Veterans recently hit the lowest 
unemployment in 20 years.
  Last quarter, our economy grew at 4.2 percent. For perspective on 
that, during President Obama's term, the economy only grew at an 
average of 1.9 percent.

[[Page H8165]]

  


                              {time}  2000

  Last month, wages grew at the fastest rate in 9 years; consumer 
confidence in our economy is the highest since October 2000; and just 
yesterday, small business optimism surged to the highest level ever 
recorded, passing the record that was set during President Reagan's 
Presidency. Jobless claims are at the lowest rate since December 6, 
1969, and this summer, the U.S. had more job openings than job seekers 
for the first time in history.
  These numbers are great news for the millions of families across 
America, but these numbers didn't happen by accident. I look forward to 
further discussion tonight about how we are working every day to make 
America better off now.
  At this time, I am pleased to yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee 
(Mrs. Black).
  Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, long before 2017, our Tax Code had become 
broken, complicated, and outdated. It no longer worked for our families 
or our businesses. We needed to rebuild confidence in our private 
sector and provide release for families. We needed to bring back 
America's competitive edge by giving job creators freedom from 
punishing high taxes. And when tax reform was signed into law last 
December, we accomplished that.
  In our bill, we doubled the standard deduction and lowered the rate 
for individuals, which means that parents and families are keeping more 
of their money in their pockets.
  We also dramatically reduced the tax rate for small businesses so 
they can invest in the people who keep their businesses moving. And now 
we want to make those cuts permanent.
  The Tax Foundation estimates that implementing permanent relief will 
create 1.5 million new jobs and increase our GDP by 2.2 percent. 
Permanent tax cuts will continue to encourage the economic growth that 
has put our Nation back in the front of competition. It will give 
taxpayers room to breathe when it comes to saving for life's unexpected 
challenges or emergencies, and it will allow our families to save money 
by expanding access to new and existing savings vehicles for their 
children's education.
  That is what tax reform is all about: allowing taxpayers to keep more 
money in their pockets so that they can choose what to do with their 
money. Americans know how to spend their money better than the 
government does. It is as simple as that.
  I am proud of our accomplishments, because it means people can 
breathe easier and with confidence. But we still have work to do to 
ensure that our Tax Code remains competitive, innovative, and better. 
Tax reform is boosting our economy, and we want to add to that 
momentum.
  So, with the bill that the Ways and Means Committee is working on, we 
have an opportunity to bring permanent certainty to millions of 
Americans, and we intend to do just that.
  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Olson).
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my dear friend from Kansas 
for letting me share with the American people the stories from home, 
Texas 22.
  My home county, my home district is on the verge of coming close to 
900,000 people. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has changed all of their 
lives in a dramatic and very important way. Texas 22 is better off now. 
My home county, Fort Bend County, Texas, is the most diverse county in 
America; 140 languages are spoken all over Texas 22.
  Every time I am home, I ask people what they think about lower tax 
rates for their families, a 21 percent corporate tax rate, full 
expensing of their expenses in the same year, and an end of the death 
tax. They say the same thing over and over; 140 languages become one 
language, and that language is pure Texas.
  Quote from back home:

       I like these tax cuts.

  Are they good?

       Dang straight. I reckon I can buy a new pickup truck, 
     provide healthcare for my employees who have back pains 
     because their wallets in their back pockets of their Wrangler 
     jeans are so darn heavy they are twisting their spine.

  Mr. Speaker, these Texans say:

       I can't understand how Democrats in the U.S. House can call 
     these tax cuts mere crumbs.

  Crumbs. Back home, they are puzzled: How can these Democrats be so 
out of touch with America? How can my family keeping our money be such 
a bad thing?
  But one old boy Texan in Meadville, Texas, solved this problem. He 
said:

       If the money I get in my pocket from keeping my money is 
     crumbs, I am fixing to be a world record holder in the 
     Guinness Book of World Records. I will have a mound of crumbs 
     as big as a Texas icon, Enchanted Rock.

  That rock is 640 acres big and stands 525 feet above the terrain. 
That is a dang big pile of crumbs.
  Gary Allred owns Rosenberg Tractor right there in Fort Bend County. 
He has had that up and running for 32 years. Being in the tractor 
business, agriculture, lots of ups and downs: One year it rains; the 
next year it doesn't. One year it is hot; one year it is cold.
  The big city is coming his way. We are growing dramatically in 
southeast Texas. All this growth has made his land very, very, very 
valuable. He knows if he has to sell his land sometime in the future, 
land that has been in his family now for almost 50 years, he will have 
to pay a death tax; and maybe his daughter, his son, his grandsons, his 
granddaughters won't have his dream, their tractor company in their 
possession.
  But Gary knows now he no longer has to worry: the death tax is dead. 
That is because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He said:

       I have guys coming in, customers, looking to buy a new 
     tractor and all the farm implements that go with them.

  He is worried because he is a hay farmer, piles and piles of hay. He 
is worried because these so-called crumbs he will get will be so huge, 
they will block out all of his hay crops. That is a big, big, big pile 
of crumbs.

  Mr. Speaker, the final crumb story I have, again, is from an icon 
from Richmond, Texas. His name is Andres Novoa. He owns La Cocina 
Mexican restaurant. For every crumb of the Mexican food he makes, he 
sells, he gives two crumbs back to his local community.
  He has the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in all of Fort Bend 
County. He raises thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars for 
causes like Meals on Wheels in Fort Bend County. He has raised enough 
money to buy two vans for Meals on Wheels. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs 
Act, he can buy another van, a third van, for Fort Bend County Meals on 
Wheels.
  These Texans are all excited. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2.0 is coming 
quickly. That means this great law will be permanent. It will be more 
competitive. And guess what. We will have more and more records in Fort 
Bend County of piles and piles of crumbs for the Guinness Book of World 
Records.
  Americans are better off right now, and they will be better off in 
the future.
  Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas, 
appreciate all of that information, talking about the positive impact 
that is happening all across America with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  When we talk about are you really better off now, the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act is one of those great examples of something that has been 
accomplished over the last 2 years.
  The act itself just helped jump-start our economy. It repealed the 
ObamaCare individual mandate penalty. The standard deduction was nearly 
doubled, up to $12,000 for single filers, to $18,000 for a head of 
household, and to $24,000 for joint filers.
  The child tax credit for families was doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, 
and individual along with business tax rates were cut across the board 
for every tax bracket. That means this year a middle-class family of 
four in Kansas will keep an extra $2,100 of their hard-earned money in 
their pocket, money they can use, save for their retirement, save for 
their children's college education, or maybe go out for a dinner and a 
movie.
  The law also cut corporate rates from 35 percent, which was the 
fourth highest rate in the world and the highest amongst the developed 
world, to a competitive 21 percent, encouraging businesses to expand 
and to reinvest in America again. So far, more than 700 companies 
around the country have done just that, benefiting millions of 
hardworking families with bonuses, higher wages, and better benefits.
  In Kansas, 24 businesses with more than 700 locations statewide have

[[Page H8166]]

boosted wages and benefits for tens of thousands of employees.

                              {time}  2015

  During the August work period, I was able to visit with employees at 
some of those companies, including Legacy Bank. Legacy Bank is a 
community-based bank based in Colwich, Kansas, with roots dating back 
to 1885. Today, Legacy Bank operates eight branches throughout my 
district and has 81 employees.
  In July, Legacy Bank became one of the latest companies in my 
district to announce a midyear bonus of up to $1,000 per employee.
  In August, I met with employees and the board of directors, who told 
me the bonuses would not have been possible without the Tax Cuts and 
Jobs Act.
  Also, last month I met with workers from Textron Aviation Facilities 
in Wichita. In an earlier meeting, Textron officials had said the tax 
reforms of 2017 have strengthened the environment for aircraft sales in 
the United States and the outlook remains positive. Textron now has the 
largest backlog of orders in 8 years, supporting thousands of jobs in 
our community, which we proudly call the air capital of the world.
  Our district is also home to the largest tax cut bonus in the 
country. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed, Wichita Railway 
Systems, a railroad car parts supplier, turned their tax cut into 
$3,000 to $6,000 bonuses for its employees. The Wichita Business 
Journal reported that these bonuses would have otherwise gone toward 
corporate income tax and on to the government.
  During a visit there, the CEO of the small manufacturing company said 
employees receiving the bonus would turn right around and invest in the 
economy, showing how these bonuses not only benefit the workers and 
their families, but also the entire community.
  Other employees who are better off now thanks to the tax cuts include 
Fidelity Bank, which announced $1,500 bonuses for its 400 Wichita area 
employees. Cox Communications announced $1,000 to $2,000 bonuses for 
their 900 area employees. Mahaney Roofing in Wichita has been able to 
hire more employees thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And Wichita's 
largest employer, Spirit AeroSystems, announced new investments in 
technology and training to help the rising demand in 2018.
  These numbers show the economic growth and optimism happening in my 
State and around the country because of tax reform. And, more 
importantly, behind each statistic are people who are finally better 
off now.
  Recently, my colleague Representative Brad Wenstrup from Ohio pointed 
out that the critics who proclaim that tax cuts only help billionaires 
could not be further from the truth. Over $1.1 trillion in tax relief, 
or 77 percent of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, goes directly to families 
and small businesses. Over one-half of the 2019 individual tax cuts, or 
$133 billion, go to those earning under $200,000.
  Middle-income families see larger percentage reductions in their 
taxes than wealthier families. A typical married couple with two kids 
earning $73,000 would see a tax cut of over $2,000, a reduction in 
their income taxes of nearly 60 percent.
  The bill didn't just help the rich. Under the new tax law, the share 
of taxes paid by millionaires actually increases from 19.3 percent to 
19.8 percent.
  Also, when American companies are doing well, workers do well. Just 
ask one of the 4 million workers who saw a benefit or pay raise due to 
the tax reform.
  I would also like to point out that companies who had previously 
stashed money abroad are bringing it back to the United States thanks 
to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our Tax Code penalized companies that did 
successfully operate overseas, and we wanted to tax them. Our Tax Code 
wanted to tax them a second time for them to bring their money back 
home. So, typically, these companies would only bring about $50 billion 
in earnings abroad every quarter. In the first 3 months of this year, 
they brought $158 billion back to the U.S. According to Bloomberg, that 
is the biggest reversal on record since 1946.
  In addition, dividends received from abroad totaled $340 billion in 
the first 3 months of 2018, which is also a record. This money can be 
put to work in the United States either investing in a new plant, 
paying for bonuses or salary increases, paying dividends, or buying 
back stock. But at the end of the day, America is richer because of it, 
and we are all better off now.
  Families from the heartland and throughout our country are also 
better off thanks to lower utility rates that are a direct result of 
the tax reform: expanded family savings programs for education and 
retirement; in efforts to reduce crime in our communities, including 
human trafficking. We have also invested $2 billion to address school 
safety and mental health issues. A new Career and Technical Education 
Act for the 21st Century is allowing more students to pursue career and 
technical programs at institutions like Wichita State University Tech.
  One of the things that I am seeing as I travel across the district is 
that we have a drastic shortage of an educated workforce to help fill 
these jobs, and we wanted to make sure that, in utilizing the Career 
and Technical Education Act, we get more people to be supplied as 
welders, auto mechanics, airplane mechanics, electronics technicians, 
and sheet metal workers.
  Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also help promote rural 
broadband expansion. Last month, I visited with Butler Rural Electric 
Co-Op, which said they are now able to provide faster internet to 
residents in rural parts of my district.
  In June, the House passed a package of 58 bills to combat the opioid 
epidemic. This was the most significant effort by Congress against a 
single drug crisis in history, as we have invested $4 billion to 
address this epidemic.
  Just to talk a little bit about that epidemic, in 2016, 313 people 
died from an opioid overdose in Kansas, leaving thousands of family 
members and friends to cope with the loss. In 2018, more than 2 million 
Americans will suffer from an opioid addiction.
  In June, when the House passed the 58 bills, we wanted to focus on 
this being the most significant effort by Congress to make sure that 
this drug crisis is addressed and resolved. Last year's spending bill 
that spends the $4 billion to address this epidemic is being used to 
help law enforcement efforts, funding new treatment and prevention 
efforts and increasing inspection and surveillance to stop the flow of 
drugs into our country.

  Human trafficking has become a major problem across the country. This 
year, House Republicans have passed dozens of bills to fight human 
trafficking, including the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex 
Trafficking Act, the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign 
Authorization Act, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, and the 
Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, which have been 
signed into law. As a result, online advertising for commercial sex 
trafficking has gone down by 60 to 80 percent.
  In another area, in May, Congress sent the Trickett Wendler, Frank 
Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 
to President Trump. As Speaker Ryan said, terminally ill patients and 
their loved ones deserve the opportunity, wherever possible, to take 
advantage of an offer that may provide them a chance for a longer life.
  For patients who may not qualify for certain trials or who have tried 
other options of approved medication, this bill would allow them access 
to experimental treatments and therapies. After all, it should be their 
choice of what they do, to help them have that opportunity and the 
right to try.
  The good news doesn't stop with our economy and with our families. 
Veterans and our armed services have been a priority in this Congress.
  This year Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, which revolutionizes 
healthcare for veterans by streamlining services and ensuring veterans 
get the care they deserve from the VA or from their private doctor 
closer to home.
  This is the biggest improvement in veterans healthcare in 5 years and 
will build on the Choice Act to fulfill our promise to veterans by 
allocating $5.2 billion to pay healthcare costs through the Veterans 
Choice Fund, expanding eligibility in the VA's caregiver program, and 
improving healthcare delivery, including telemedicine, mental

[[Page H8167]]

health support, peer-to-peer support, and mobile deployment teams for 
rural and underserved veterans for routine and specialized care.
  Also for veterans, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act that 
we passed in Congress is helping establish affordable housing 
communities for senior citizens and veterans, like the two that 
recently opened in my district. Last month, I was able to join one of 
those communities specifically designed for veterans for the ribbon-
cutting ceremony.
  One veteran who participated told local media:

       This is a miracle right here. God has done a lot of 
     miracles in my life. This is one of the top ones.

  Since President Trump signed the VA MISSION Act on June 6, 2018, 
which happens to be D-day, it has helped revolutionize healthcare for 
veterans by making sure that they get the options, the choices, and the 
right to the care that they so richly deserve.
  We have also focused on: How do we help our Active-Duty military 
servicemembers?
  We passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which invests $700 
billion in rebuilding our military. It provides our troops the largest 
pay raise in 9 years. It supports more aircraft, like the KC-46 tankers 
from McConnell Air Force Base in my district. It shot down an increase 
of fees in TRICARE for retirees. It allows former prisoners of war, 
Medal of Honor winners, and service-connected disability veterans to 
access the commissaries starting in 2020.
  A sad note: There are 22 veterans a day who commit suicide. What we 
have done is, as Congress, passed five comprehensive bills to address 
this epidemic:
  House Amendment 769 appropriates no less than $225 million for VA 
mental health and suicide prevention programs;
  H.R. 4635 directs the VA to emphasize peer support counselors for 
female veterans who, among other things, are also at risk of suicide;
  H.R. 4173 directs the VA to conduct studies on outcomes and efficacy 
of the Veterans Crisis Line and report to Congress the results;
  H.R. 2345 requires the FCC to coordinate with HHS and the VA in 
studying the feasibility of designing a three-digit dialing code for a 
national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; 
and
  H.R. 918 directs the VA to furnish former members of the Armed Forces 
an initial mental health assessment and mental healthcare services 
required to treat urgent mental healthcare needs, including the risk of 
suicide or harm to others.
  There are many things that we have accomplished. There are still more 
things to do.
  This week, we are going to vote to give the VA the largest dollar 
amount in history, which includes:
  $206 million for suicide prevention outreach, for a total of $8.6 
billion for mental healthcare programs;
  $192 million for the inspector general, $25 million above fiscal year 
2018, to provide the resources needed to investigate the overwhelming 
number of allegations being reported with regard to waste, claims 
processing backlogs, and general accountability;
  Fully funds family housing at $1.6 billion, $173 million above the 
fiscal year 2018 enacted levels for the families of those who serve; 
and
  $1.8 billion to homeless veterans programs.
  Overall, there are just so many positive things that have been 
accomplished over the last 2 years when we look at are we all better 
off now.
  I have talked a lot about some of the impacts of the various bills 
that we have passed, some of the benefits that affect people in my 
district and people in the State of Kansas.
  I have here a list numerous companies throughout the State that have 
taken advantage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and I am going to read 
just a few of those and a brief description of what they did.

                              {time}  2030

  The Lawrence Paper Company in Lawrence, Kansas, gave $500 bonuses for 
all 300 employees and spent $5 million for new equipment and expansion 
at all three locations.
  Spirit AeroSystems increased investment in training and technology.
  Westar Energy filed a request before the Kansas Corporation 
Commission to reflect that its electric rates ought to be reduced by 
the full amount of tax savings from the change in the Federal tax law.
  AT&T offered $1,000 bonuses for 1,500 Kansas employees.
  Walmart employees at 75 different Walmart stores throughout the State 
received tax reform bonuses, wage increases, and expanded maternity and 
paternity leave.
  Best Buy, which has 12 locations in Kansas, offered $1,000 bonuses to 
their full-time employees and $500 bonuses to part-time employees.
  And even small businesses like Taco John's, which has 19 locations in 
Kansas, all full-time and part-time crew members received a $200 after-
tax bonus.
  Other companies that offered benefits--may not run the normal thought 
of what you think about--but companies like Waste Management 
Incorporated, which has multiple locations in Kansas, paid $2,000 
bonuses.
  I have a myriad of other companies that have taken advantage of the 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that we have implemented, and reflect that not 
only are they, as companies, better off now, but their employees are 
better off now, as well.
  In closing, altogether these actions have encouraged rapid growth in 
our economy, security for our families, and support for our veterans 
and military. Don't get me wrong. There is more to do.
  Healthcare premiums increased $4,400 per family from 2010 to 2016. We 
still have too many veterans needing healthcare and jobs. There is more 
to do to help small businesses grow, help families save for college or 
retirement, and support our farmers and our manufacturers.
  In the coming weeks, I am glad we will debate tax reform 2.0 to 
unleash another round of economic growth by protecting middle-class 
individuals and small business tax cuts from going up in the future, 
expanding educational and retirement savings options, and supporting 
entrepreneurs.
  But today, I am proud of what we have accomplished thus far because 
of businesses like BG Products, Inc., based in Wichita, Kansas. The 
automotive maintenance supply manufacturer was established in 1971 by a 
group of World War II veterans and automotive industry experts. Over 
time, BG Products, grew from an idea to an industry leader. Its 
products manufactured in our community are used and sold in all 50 
States, in more than 60 countries, by more than 40,000 shops, 
dealerships, and technicians.
  However, 2 years ago, BG Products was at a crossroads, determining 
whether or not to expand based on the economy and the climate of 
government regulations. Following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, BG 
Products was able to push forward with plans to expand, putting new tax 
savings directly toward new building projects and jobs.
  In July, BG Products represented Kansas in an event honoring products 
that are made in America. Following their White House appearance, I 
visited employees at BG Products and toured their 400,000-square-foot 
manufacturing facility in El Dorado where we discussed their plans to 
expand. Finally, on August 24, BG Products broke ground on a 145,000-
square-foot edition in El Dorado, investing $24.5 million in our 
community and adding 21 new jobs.
  This kind of expansion would not have been possible without our 
growing economy. Like BG Products, Inc., today our economy and our 
country is strong and is better off now.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my fellow Representatives 
who supported the various bills that we have passed over the last 2 
years to help make my district, my State of Kansas, and my country 
stronger and better off now.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my fellow Members who spoke 
on the bill today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H8168]]

  

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