Afternoon come everyone. Americans deserve a tax code that is fair, flatter, and simpler. It gives them back their time and gives them more of their paycheck. They deserve a tax code where the special tax breaks and loopholes are closed, where washington understands, this is your money, not theirs, and Congress Asked now so americans can simply keep more of their hard earned dollars. That is what the ways and Means Committee did today, deliver fair, flatter, simpler tax codes that grow jobs, grow paychecks, and lets you keep more of what you earn. Work that thehe ways and Means Committee did. We know we have more work yet to be done, but this is an historic step, and we look forward to sending this bill to the house and ultimately to the president s desk. I want to introduce the chairman of our tax policy subcommittee who, along with others, has played a critical role, chairman peter roskam. Roskam the activity today is about the future. What this committee has done, it has said, lets shed a tax code that belongs in the past. This is a tax proposal that is forwardleaning. Proposal that is aspirational. This is a tax proposal that invites americans to say, you know what . Im ready for prosperity. Im ready for opportunity and im ready for a bright future. This is an important step today. Our next steps would be to fully engage other members of the house of representatives, but there is a spring in our step as we think about this great debate because we have one of two choices. We can either defend the status quo and you heard some defense of the status quo earlier on in these past four days. We fundamentally reject that. Other you can lean forward and say lets get about creating real growth for real people in our congressional districts. Mr. Brady thank you, peter. Im now proud to introduce the chairman of the Budget Committee whose hard work cleared the way for tax reform and whos been such an advocate for our families and our Small Businesses, chairman diane black. Mrs. Black thank you, mr. Chairman. What a thrill it is to be here today. Our tax code is 31 years old. Its full of complexity. It is full of things that people dont understand even to be able to fill out their own form. As has been said, we promised we would have a tax code that is fairer, flatter and simpler and today we rolled out a plan that meets those very promises that we made. People, 90 of the people will be able to fill out their tax form on a simple postcard side. In my district it will mean in the state of tennessee that 20,000 jobs will be created with additional amount of about 2,200 in the familys pocket. And so we have done what we promised to do and im very proud. I know we still have more work to do, but we have done what we told the American People that we would do and this is going to really give a jolt to our economy. Mr. Brady and finally im proud to introduce a new member of our committee to go along with so many others that brought fresh ideas as a Small Business person, as a family man, Carlos Curbelo of florida. Ms. Curbelo thank you, mr. Chairman. Today such a historic day i asked the chairman to let me say a couple words in spanish so that everyone throughout our country and beyond knows about the work weve done here. [speaking spanish] thank you, mr. Chairman. [inaudible] mr. Brady thank you, carlos. Ill take questions now. Reporter [inaudible] mr. Brady so im excited the senate has released its tax reform plan because we came together with President Trump on a unified framework, we are all shooting toward the same target. Will there be some differences . Of course. Thats the legislative process. We welcome that. Were eager for them after the house passes for them to approve their bill as well, to work out and find Common Ground and send it to the president s desk this year because americans have been hurting far too long and struggling with this tax code. They deserve something better. [inaudible] mr. Brady yes, we do have a joint committee on taxation score. It is well within our 1. 5 trillion budget number and well be glad to release it. Thank you, all, very much. Now, todays house and ways house ways and Means Committee markup on the tax bill. This fourhour, 45minute Committee Meeting ends with a vote approving the republican bill. It begins with Committee Chair kevin brady. Might i request information on how we intend to proceed today, when we will see the managers amendment, and will there be sufficient time to digest the document understanding we are going to , and becausevote of time constraints and the obvious view we hold on this side that we want time to be able to take a look at what is in the managers amendment based on what has happened as of monday evening . It appears likely that we will, at the schedule and pace, see the managers amendment and then professionally react to it. The second question, based upon what we have seen this morning, is there a possibility for republicans to have seen and read and devoured the managers amendment . As we laid out, we are convening today to finish the democrats amendments. Yesterday, you indicated there were five or six more. We will consider those. We will then take up the under theamendment 1. 5 trillion budget reconciliation, and we will conclude this markup later today. As i said yesterday, even though it is beyond regular order, we will provide you that managers just as soon as practical and give you a chance to analyze it, but we will, as we do with your amendments, we will take it up in a timely basis. Are there further amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute . Ask unanimouse to consent to have two letters put into the file, one is from the county of napa regarding the tax treatment of fire victims, and one is from the California Hospitals Association that explains in very good detail how the tax bill before us hurts not only the hospitals and california job growth and the economy by messing with the ability ofthe hospitals to build not only new hospitals but to retrofit old hospitals, something that, as mr. Nunez knows, is a huge problem. Theres more costs associated with retrofitting the hospitals then there is equity in the hospitals in california. Mr. Chairman . Yes, mr. Blumenauer . I have an amendment at the desk. I reserve a point of order. Toi ask the gentleman continue. While the clerk is chairman , mr. Mr. Chairman . Mr. Blumenauer . While the clerk is distributing, i would like to acknowledge you gave me a letter this morning in reference to the issue that i raised on monday, and you indicated that there would be an opportunity before we adjourn to be able to explore this with mr. Bartel and others. Absolutely. Im asking to have distributed to the committee a copy of the exchange that i have had over the last four days that talks about this being a problem i should have done it monday. Every Committee Member should understand what is going on. I would like that to be available to each Community Member before we get into a discussion. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I withdraw my point of order. The gentleman withdraws his point of order. The general men from oregon is recognized for five minutes on his amendment. How many minutes, mr. Chairman . Three minutes. You shouldve taken the first offer. I try to play straight with you, mr. Chairman. The gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Before the time start, mr. Chairman, may i ask for some items to be submitted to the record . Sure. They are from the hill magazine, titled, Congress Turns its back on american workers. From the American Wind Energy association, house reneges on tax deal, puts american jobs at risk. Along with that, a map showing the distribution of all the major Wind Facilities across the country, and the final map that demonstrates that every Single Person on this Committee Comes from a state that has Wind Manufacturing elements. Without objection. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I have been quite frustrated as was evidenced yesterday. Frankly, i find this whole process and embarrassment, as we dive into this hopelessly misdirected bill. Despite the best experts, pollsters, writers, lobbyists that money can buy, this bill is going to give heartburn to every person who supported it for the next 36 months. I am going to focus in my remaining time on one of the worst examples of the failure of process, the inability to set priorities, and keep faith with what most of you would claim would be a core republican value , treating taxpayers and consistentlysiness and honoring our word. If you make a deal, honor it, especially if they are acting on this promise. Those of you who went to law school know that this is first year law school. There are remedies when you pull out of the deal except if you, are dealing with republicans in congress. I have been working on wind energy since 1999. This was an industry that congress started, because when it began, it wasnt costeffective. We were dealing with new technologies. We were a step behind other are. Ries, and we still those of you who have been to china and looked at what they have done with wind energy know that this is not a static process. We went through boom and bust because congress refused to give a steady,ry predictable path forward that they can count a pound come to scale. And some of you and many other republicans who worked with me and our side of the aisle to have that predictable path, to stop the boom and bust and get the shortterm extensions. On a bipartisan basis, we thatiated a path forward would actually phase out the subsidy. We gave them five years to do that, to be able to follow through on this promise. Energy industry, thanks , nowe part we have done employs over 100,000 americans in all 50 states. 500 american factors. This is why the Renewable Energy sector now employs more people than gas and oil, more people than coal, and wind is an important part of that