It is about one hour. Look. You cannot have it both ways. You cannotd it said, have it both ways. What i suspect will happen after i get done, as has been the case with every one of the speakers on this side, the gentleman on the other side will say that residence in my hometown will get a tax break of 1000. I would ask the gentleman if he would add to that the amount of by debt that is being borne each one of these families. By the way i have it calculated, it cost a family of four 20,000 for your debt that you are willing to levy against our children and grandchildren, in order to give the richest 1 of the americans a massive tax break. You cannot deny the mass math, that almost all the benefit goes to the people at the top. The top 1 are huge and fisheries. You cannot deny them math that 5400 families will get a massive tax break. And you cannot deny the math that each american will take on additional debt, 20,000 in debt. Membersintrigued came they will work with them to take out egregious elements of this tax proposal. And we get this sort of, yes, i will work with the gentleman. Why did you put it in the first place. Why are you cutting new market tax credits . Why are you cutting historic tax credits in the first place . You just wrote the bill. You just wrote it. Why did you put it in the first place . It makes no sense. It makes no sense. We cant pass debt to our for the at the expense people at the very top. The speaker pro tempore the members should address their remarks through the chair and the gentleman from massachusetts s reserving. Mr. Ross and i will mr. Roskam i will yield myself 30 seconds. It was the Obama Administration that proposed in the 2017 budget for the elimination of the student deduction. So i think the talk needs to walk out of the chamber. Look, at a tax rate of 15 and annual 2,500 above the line deduction is a tax break. We are proposing something greater than that. Lowering the rates and so forth. Lets take the student the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Roskam i yield a minute to the gentlelady from missouri. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from missouri is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Wagner i thank the gentleman. Madam speaker, its about time we get Something Real done for the American People. The people of missouris 27bd district sent me to washington to keep their jobs and keep a little more of their hardearned money. And at long last, we are finally doing just that. I vote yes to fix our broken tax system. I vote yes to help reignite the American Economy. I vote yes to make it a little bit easier for that single mother of two, that firefighter, that teacher, shop owner, family of four, that veteran. I vote yes for bigger paychecks, better savings and a more secure future. I ran for congress to fight for the people of missouri and to ensure that every hard working american can realize their own american dream. I thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Kneel kneel i would like to yield two minutes to the gentleman from from pittsburgh, pennsylvania, conscience of the house, mr. Doyle. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Doyle i rise in opposition to this terrible bill. Many of my colleagues have called it a scam and they are absolutely right. Supporters of this bill has said everyone gets a tax cut. Thats not true, millions of americans get a tax increase, more and more each year. Supporters of this bill have called it a middleclass tax cut. Thats not true, the lions share of the money go to corporation and those making 100 million or more. And what this bill gives to the middle class in one happened takes it away with the other with devastating consequences with households with medical costs, Student Loans or state and local taxes. Supporters claim it will Keep Companies from moving jobs from overseas and create new jobs, raise wages for American Workers. Thats not true. While this bill cuts Corporate Tax rates, it creates new incentives for shipping our jobs abroad. And does anyone really believe that tax cuts for corporations or the rich will trickle down to the rest of us . It didnt work in the reagan administration, it didnt work in the Bush Administration and didnt work in kansas and not going to work today. Make no mistake, colleagues this massive tax cut will increase deficits and the National Debt by trillions of dollars sticking the rest of us, especially our kids, with the bill. Madam speaker, this massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthy, its not a middleclass tax cut, it wont create jobs or raise wages. It isnt simple or reform and wont pay for itself. If we want to increase Economic Growth, lets give a break to the middle class. They will put the money back into the economy. I urge my colleagues to reject this giveaway to the rich and start with a bipartisan bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is no longer recognized. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam my speakers need to ake a decision do they want to lionize Ronald Reagan or criticize Ronald Reagan. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from kentucky. I rise to adamantly dispute this false narrative that this is only intended to benefit the wealthiest americans and does not benefit the middle class. When you hear this fiction from the other side of the aisle. Mr. Barr this bill lowers tax rates on middleincome americans and tax the tax bracket to zero and hardworking americans can take home more of their paychecks. Specifically, the first 24,000 of Family Income will be completely tax free under this plan by slashing our noncompetitive Corporate Tax rate, this will result in more jobs and will deliver average american households a pay raise of 2. 5 . A typical family of four earning 59,000, they will receive 1,182 tax cut. That is not a tax cut for the rich. That is a tax cut for low and middleincome americans. Jared ll benefit people, told me will allow him to have breathing rooms and constituents who are living paycheck to paycheck and would use it to make car repairs or go to a restaurant and i heard from my constituent in lexington named gary who told me it doesnt matter how i plan to use my money. Its my money to begin with. Trust me to spend it in the way it applies to me. And gary, you are absolutely right. Its your money, tax relief is not about handouts but allowing the American People to keep more of the hardearned income that they make on behalf of all of he hardearned people of kentucky. Vote for gary and vote for all of those who deserve to keep more of what they earn. Vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois reserves. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio as he addresses economic issues, congressman ryan. Mr. Ryan i thank the gentleman. The last time there was tax reform, it was 31 years ago. Since then, 96 of Income Growth went to the top 10 of the people in the country, 96 went to the top 10 . The top 1 controlled 90 of the wealth in this country. 63 of average families in the United States of america could emergency. D a 500 we have pensions collapsing. We have communities that have eroded, wiped out. And the republican plan to fix all of this is to go to the 2. 3 e government, borrow trillion and bring it back to the United States and give it to the wealthiest people in this country. Now that is not going to fix a damn thing in the United States. Its not going to help flint or springfield, not going to help youngstown or pittsburgh or gary. Im talking about gary, indiana, will get hammered from this thing. And we have tried this before and many of you were here. President bush did this. Said we are going to cut taxes for the wealthy and lead to growth and wages are going to go up. We had the most stagnant decade of growth since the Great Depression and ended in a complete economic collapse. This economic philosophy stinks. It doesnt work and hammers working class people and to put a little salt in the wound, madam speaker, you keep the deduction that allows the corporation to outsource jobs from our communities to other countries. The only place this bill is going to create a job the only place this bill is going to create a job is in beijing, china. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized mr. Roskam according to the joint committee on taxation, 70 of individual tax relief goes to families earning under 200,000 according to their publication on november 13. I yield one minute to the gentleman from florida, mr. Rutherford. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman recognized for one minute. Mr. Rutherford no one candice pute when i say americas tax code is broken. I rise today to stand with my colleagues in support of progrowth tax reform. Because our tax cuts and jobs act works for the middle class. For too long, a complex tax code, high rate and burdensome regulations have held back opportunities for hardworking families. The tax cuts and jobs act offers muchneeded tax relief for lowincome and middle income americans. It focuses on middle class tax cuts that allow hardworking floridians to keep more of their paychecks so that they can save for their childrens college fund, so that they can invest in their retirement, they can enjoy vacations with their family. Family nose how to spend their money better than the government and this plan allows them to keep more of the money they earn instead of waiting for tax tax returns and deductions to give them their money back this bill is profamily, its probusiness and will give our economy a boost. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Rutherford no one will address our debt more than growth. I yield back. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman in illinois reserves this egentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, well known as a champion of americas middle class, mr. Mcnerney. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mcnerney i want to thank the Ranking Member for his hard work on this hes been a great voice. This is a harmful and decreateful bill, its strictly part deceitful bill. Its strictly partisan. When you do something on a partisan basis its not going to work. Learn from our mistakes. Work with us. There hasnt been a single hear tissue hearing on this bill. Is the public out there confused . They should be because they havent been informed about what this bill does. It was rushed through in one week. It takes more than a week to name a post Office Around here. Whats going on here . No one understands the consequences of this bill but i can tell you what it does, it will greatly reduce taxes for corporate america. Itll reduce taxes for the wealthy. And so where do you think the money is going to come from to pay for Social Security, to pay for our roads and highway, pay for our education, pay for medicare . I can tell you if you havent guessed, its going to come from the middle class. Theres no other way we can pay and say so ill be kind maybe theyre being overoptimistic. Maybe they dont really understand whats going on here. But dont believe it. Youre going to pay more taxes. Going to come out of your hide. When i sit down, the member from nebraska is going to say in my district youre going to get 1,200 more or 1,700 more, no, youre going to pay more. Youre not going to get more money back. In california, six Million People will lose the Tax Deduction the state income Tax Deduction. What does that mean in you pay taxes twice on your earned income. In california, homeowners will get hit hard. I dont see how anyone from california can vote for this bill. Education will be more expensive. Student loans will not be deductible this bill will hurt our nations ability to compete. What does that mean . It means lower pay. It means layoffs. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Mcnerney not one week, we should oppose this bill and start over and do it right. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Roskam its not 1,200 or 1,700, its 1,900 for the median household in californias ninth district. Id like to yield four minutes to the gentleman from missouri, mr. Smith, great friend ofing a cull chuffer and a great friend of small business. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Smith a lot has been said on the floor today about the tax cuts and jobs act by my friends on the other side of the aisle. They think this bill before us will make losers of the American Workers or the American Economy. The truth is the status quo, our current broken tax code, is causing our workers and our economy to lose. Back in Southeast Missouri, ill give you an example you should under the current tax code a machinist in popular bluff, missouri, working 40 hours a week, is fearful to work harder. Because the more money that they make, the less that they will have percentage wise. Under our current tax code. Thats simply not right, madam speaker. Back in Southeast Missouri, a cotton farmer has worked for decades to build his family farm, hoping to pass it on to his daughter. Yet under the current system, his daughter would have to sell portions of the farm or take out a massive loan to continue the family operation. The status quo in our tax code that is rigged against the american taxpayer that cant afford an army of lawyers and accountants and lobbyists to find all the loopholes and bailouts available only to a select few. The status quo are tax rates for businesses that are so high that the American Companies are not able to grow. Hire new workers. Or become competitive with other countries arned the world. The other side of the aisle was arguing to keep a broken tax code that is pushing hard working taxpayers, that is punishing hardworking taxpayers. All of the grandstanding leaves us with one question that needs to be answered for the American People. What do these tax cuts mean for you . It means that the hardworking family in Southeast Missouri will keep more of their paycheck. Instead of being penalized for success, this bill is about employees. Its about wages. Its about getting to keep more of what you earn. For families and couples, the first 24,000 you earn under this bill will be taxfree. You get to keep it. You get to decide how to spend your own money. Not the government. It means that the Small Businesses and family farms wont feel the sting of the i. R. S. And death tax then Tragedy Strikes on their family. It means that lobbyists and special interests become the losers. We close loopholes and handouts that the hardworking taxpayer cant get. We are ending a tax code that isnt built for the everyday american. We are making it simple and fairer. It is it means america can now compete and win again. With this bill we lower the business rate to historic levels. We are making our economy healthy again. And we know from history that a healthy economy takes care of itself. It is more stable and sustainable. It provides for full employment, better job, and higher wages. Former president john f. Kennedy knew this when he said, our true choice is not between tax reduction on the one hand and the avoidance of large federal deficits on the other. It is increasingly clear that no matter what party is in power, so long as our National Security needs keep rising, an economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance our budget just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Roskam i yield an additional 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is reck is recognized. Mr. Smith surely the lessons of the last keck dade are not caused by wildeyed spenders but slow Economic Growth and periodic recession. In new recession would break all deficit records. This bill makes the american worker, the American Family, the american farmer, the american Small Businesses, and the American Economy winners once again. I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on the tax cut and jobs act. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman reserves. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Neal 28,000 people will use the student Loan Interest deduction in missouri number 8 claims nearedly 33 million in deduction. With that id like to yield two minutes to the distinguished gentleman from california, medical man, dr. Ruiz, and congressman, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for wo minutes. Mr. Ruiz thank you, Ranking Member neal, for the opportunity to speak on this bill. The fact is, i do want to simplify our tax code. And i do want tax reform. A tax reform that relieves the burden on our middle class, our seniors, our seniors, our veteran, and our students. Lets just see how this bill fares with the middle class, senior, veterans, and students. So my middle class constituents in california will be double taxed on their income but big corporations will get tax relief. Veterans in my district will find it harder to find work or a home because this bill eliminates tax credits for hiring veterans and harms efforts to end veterans homelessness. Middle class homeowners across california will see the value of their homes decrease by as much as 10 . Students will get hit with the largest relative tax increase in this bill. And seniors will see a medicare cut by 25 billion a year. Thats over 100 billion of medicare cuts over the next four years. 38 million middle class families will see their taxes increase. They always point to this family of four earning 59,000, getting a certain amount of tax cuts but 38 million middle class families will see their taxes increase. All this while giving tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and corporations who shift jobs jeaver seas and raise the deficit by 1. 44 trillion within 10 years. In fact, nearly 85 of the tax cuts in this bill go to millionaires, billionaires and multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas. The with the tom line is this bill raises taxes taxes on the middle class and gives tax breaks to billionaires. This is irresponsible and unacceptable. Eurge my colleagues to oppose this bill and protect medicare, protect the middle class, protect veterans. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is no longer recognized. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Roskam i dont know, madam speaker if youre in californias 36th district and your Median Household Income is 58,000, it looks like a tax cut of 1,090. Im informed that our friends on the other side have more time and my suggestion is that we will reserve our time and let our friends use some of their time to get back in balance. Mr. Neal will the gentleman yield. Nervous to m yield. Neal you want to yield to me. Mr. Roskam madam, the gentleman has more time. Mr. Neal how much time the speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois reserves. Mr. Neal how much time do we have left . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts has 16 1 4 minutes. Mr. Neal we happen to have the nephew of former president kennedy here who will set the record straight on that yet attributed to president kennedy a few moments ook. With that, i yield two minutes to joe kennedy. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Kennedy madam speaker, i thank you and i thank my friend and mentor in the house the dean of our delegation from massachusetts, in neal, for his leadership on this issue and so many others. Im always heartened by the quotes of president kennedy offered by any member of this body. Id like to think theyd seek to emulate him not just on the marginal tax cuts he put forth 50 years ago but also on immigration, civil rights and his stance with russia. But those are issues for another day. The issue today is the vote well take on the floor tomorrow to rewrite an american tax code that will touch every single american life. True tax reform is complicated, cumbersome and deeply personal. But this bill is none of those things. It is a massive, permanent handout to corporations, passed off on American Families. It is a terrifyingly precise attack on patients with chronic illness a heartless roadblock for longterm students and a choice to value inherited wealth more than hardearned income. Its a gift to corporations and the richest among us, its paid for by long nights, doubleshifts and vacations not taken and of hard working American Families sacrificing their hope for a better tomorrow. Youre asking them to fortify your tax cuts and Stock Options with their classrooms, your corporate profits with their roads an bridges, your Balance Sheets with their hardearned retirement and health care benefits. As well as a boost to corporate profits, 80 of the stocks in this country are owned by 10 of americans. Ask yourself who will be the beneficiary of all that money. Thats what this bill does. You heard from my republican friends over the course of the past couple of days about what this will save the average American Family but not about the 36 Million People, family, that ill will that will experience a tax hike. What they arent going to tell you is whats going to happen the moment the bill is passed. Luckily for the american after this bill is done they are turning towards Social Security, medicare and medicaid. The speaker pro tempore the entlemans time has expired. Mr. Kennedy how is that going to save you. And that clause was added. Ask them how much more savings will go to one family. Thats what your bill does. Thats what this bill means and what this bill is about about the values and vision of america about a tax structure that should reflect values of america. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. Mr. Neal i yield two minutes to the gentleman from maryland, well known champion of Civil Liberties and scholar of the law, congressman raskin. Mr. Raskin thank you. As my friends across the aisle prepare their statistics for my district, this last weekend, i want you to come to my district and debate me and several other members of our caucus and im happy to come to your caucus because the American People should be able to be part of this decision. When the majority voted to throw 30 million americans off of Health Insurance plans and celebrated like it was marchedy graw and super bowl. When middleclass americans rebeled, President Trump said they voted for a mean bill and he was right. And like a lamb at the slaughter, they are going for a tax scam now moving through congress with the speed of light. While our colleagues walk the plank for the billionaires and trump tycoons who are laughing all the way to the bank and when we rebel and this tax scam bites the dust, President Trump can call this monstrosity mean but greedy. Puts 1. 5 trillion on americas credit card so the sons and daughters can pay for the rest of their lives for a giant Corporate Tax cut in a riod of record corporate profits. Corporate wealth is owned by foreign investors, 00 billion goes to saudi arabia and china and other foreign investor havens and not go to medicare, medicaid or other public purposes. They move to the tax system so corporate profits moved abroad will give incentives. Somebody tell donald trump because this tax scam puts foreign jobs first. Meantime, 34 million americans get hit with a tax increase. Goodbye to the health care deduction and the loan Tax Deduction and the estate tax which applies only to billionaires in the country, 200,000 families. Where is the democracy . When we had a bipartisan bill in 1986 we took more than two years and passed with overwhelming support. This tax scam has had no hearings, no experts testimony. We need tax reform but dont need a Corporate Tax scam imposed against the middle class. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois continues to reserve. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Neal i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from california, congresswoman waters. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Waters mr. Speaker, i rise today in opposition to h. R. 1, which is just a continuation of republicans relentless attack on working families. This is not a tax plan. It is a tax scam. This president Wont Disclose how he is going to benefit from this tax scam. He has disrespected us all. This tax scam will eliminate the student Loan Interest deduction. It will eliminate state and local Tax Deductions on income. It will restrict the mortgage Interest Deduction. 47 million taxpayers face a tax hike, almost half of any tax cuts will go to the richest 1 . Residents of my state, california, will taste the largest net tax increase totalling 12. 1 billion in 2027 alone. Mr. Speaker, and members, i call on the president of the United States of america to show his tax income, to show his tax plan. He needs to let us know what hes all about and what his taxes are. From the very beginning he said he couldnt show them at the time that he was asked when he was first inaugurated into this presidency. Its time for the president to show us his tax returns rather than coming up with a tax scam asking everybody else to pay up, to pay more and saying this is a middleclass tax cut when it is not. We want to know more about him and his plan. And so with that, my one minute or two minutes this evening is all about sending a message to the president even though i will be cautiononned not to talk to the president. Show your tax return. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair. The gentleman from massachusetts reserves. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Roskam there is a message for californias 43rd district 1,95 at is a benefit of dollars if h. R. 1 is passed into law. Minutes to the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Lahood we have a terrific bill before the house tonight. The people of illinois are unfortunately all too familiar with high taxes and the burden they put on families and our local businesses. At the federal level, things have become just as bad with a tax code that is over 74,000 pages long and riddled with loopholes. Over 30 years has passed since the congress has passed comprehensive tax reform and see the effects of our outdated tax code everywhere. We have stagnant hiring, wages and economy that is holding back our middle class instead of getting ahead. H. R. 1, the tax cuts and jobs act is our chance to change all of this. By simplifying our tax code and bringing relief to every day families. We can jump start the economy and get it back to working for the middle class. The choice before us is a simple one. Do we support this bill and support the middle class or embrace the status quo. I urge my colleagues to come together and vote for this bill. Lets send a signal that we dont stand for the status quo but stand for growth and Economic Opportunity for the American People and bring relief to the middle class. Support this bill. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts. Kneel kneel i yield three minutes to the gentlelady from selma, alabama, congresswoman sewell. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized for three minutes. Ms. Sewell our tax code is a statement of our values and i can tell you that this tax bill doesnt reflect my values nor those of the American People. This bill favors the wealthy over the middle class and corporations over working families and special interests over every day americans. Mr. Speaker, this bill raises taxes for 36 million middleclass americans and carbs a check for 2. 3 trillion worth of debt that will be left to our children and grandchildren. This tax bill gives permanent tax cuts for the corporations and multinationals while making the tax cuts for regular taxpayers temporary. This tax bill preserves certain ax cuts but does away with tax cuts. It eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes and limits the mortgage Interest Deduction and affecting nine million households. The Tax Policy Center estimates that almost half of the tax cuts, 47 of the tax cuts will go to the top 1 , mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this bill just deficient states education, education which is truly the investment in our human capital, our work force. It eliminates deductions for interest on Student Loans and teachers who buy supplies and eliminates lifetime learning clinics and eliminates employer tuition assistance. This bill adds a special tax on the endowments of colleges and universities which will reduce scholarships and increase the cost of college. Cities and towns will be decimated by this bill. This bill eliminates tax incentives such as the private activity bonds and new market tax credits and historic tax credits which affect the ability to build libraries and hospitals, to build roads and bridges and fund infrastructure. These are incredible investments that spur Economic Growth. This tax bill has it backwards. This congress should value its constituents first, not wall street, not special interests. Its constituents first. I urge my colleagues to vote against this tax bill because it doesnt represent the values that our constituents sent us here to this hallow place, congress, to represent. We should be representing them and not the special interests. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. Mr. Roskam do a quick little cleanup. There was a discussion by the gentlelady from alabama where she was talking about teachers for example. Teachers wont be harmed by shifting the status quo because what they are getting right now is 250 deduction which is worth about 37 at the 15 tax rate, receipts they have to keep all year long and apply it at the end and we say dump that. Lets get away from that and double their standard deduction and give them real money. I yield four minutes to the gentlelady from california and ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from texas control the remainder of our time. The speaker pro tempore without objection. I rise to engage the gentleman from texas in a col quee. Tax reform will result in Economic Growth across the country especially in my home state of california. I thank the gentleman for his dedication for this important effort. My home state is uniquely positioned in this tax debate. Due to the liberal tax and spend policies enacted by the california state legislature, my district in Orange County is one of the most expensive places to live in this country. California has the highest personal income tax rate in the country, reaching a crushing 12. 3 . The median home in my district is almost 800,000. California also has the highest gas tax in this country. While this is important to grow our economy, i have some concerns that our constituents might be worse off. As sacramento confiscates more of our paychecks, we must ensure that washington does not put similar tax burdens on our constituents. I ask the chairman of the ways and Means Committee to assure me that we will ensure that individuals and families in my district are protected from such unintended outcomes. I yield to my friend from california, mr. Knight. Mr. Knight if you want to demonize and scare people and yell and scream and raise your hands and you say things that they havent looked into. What i did, is i talked to people in my district and looked at their rates and said lets look at your taxes and i found people in the lower income rate in my district got relief. People in the middle income got relief right across the board everyone we kept talking to, this happened. I would say before you come down and yell and scream and try and scare people on something you might have heard, actually work with your people. It works. Mr. Chairman, if this bill is enacted, it will result in Economic Growth across the country and especially in my home state of california. The lower rates for families, businesses and tax simplicity offered by this bill will provide net tax relief to the middle class and our countrys job creators. It will create a million jobs nationwide and 10 of those in california. I am concerned about how the bill could impact some of my constituents as a result of the high level of income taxes imposed on them by our state government. I would ask the chairman of ways and means, can he assure me that we continue our work and ensure the families in my district are protected from such unintended consequences . And that they will be able to fully enjoy the benefits of this bill . And yield back to the gentlelady. Mr. Brady will the gentlelady yield . Yes, i will yield. Braid bray i want to thank both mr. Brady i want to thank both of you for stepping forward and being such strong advocates for taxpayers. It saves families and businesses almost beyond belief. Our goal is to achieve tax relief for families and individuals across the country, regardless of where you live. And across all incomes. While at the same time unleaving the economic engine of unleashing the economic engine of american Economic Growth. California is the number one job creator under new tax code. So i agree with the gentleman and the gentlelady. There are still some areas where we want to make and will make improvements in this bill. If you will work with us to continue to move this process forward, im happy to commit to work with both of you to ensure we reach a positive outcome for your constituents and your families, as we reconcile our differences with the senate. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from massachusetts is recognize. Mr. Neal thank you, madam speaker. 33 of mr. Knights constituents derive a 16,000 annual benefit from the mortgage Interest Deduction. In the case of the gentlelady, 37 of her constituents enjoy an 18,200 mortgage Interest Deduction benefit. Its my intention to close if there are no more speakers on the other side. Thank you, mr. Chairman. More than anything else, madam speaker, this is, as i opened with, a missed opportunity. We all know whats wrong with this tax code. We could have found areas of compromise, emphasizing the middle class and middle income earners. We understand that the tax code that american corporations use is not competitive now internationally. But we wanted some relief from middle income people for middle income people. Heres where the investment could have taken place. We could have begun an investment in human capital. Youve heard it tonight. Labor participation rates in america, we all should be alarmed by whats happened in the postwar period, where at one time it was 66 and nouts 63. 8 and now its 63. 8 . Its about technology, about globalization, for sure, but its also about skill set. 18,000 Precision Manufacturing jobs in new england go unanswered. The smallest geographic region of the country. The department of labor reported this week six million jobs in america go unanswered. Its part of a skill set issue. And you know what else we need to be concerned about . Two Million People in america are addicted to opiates. Thats what we should be concerned about. And getting them back into the workplace through the trampoline effect where they bounce back up into the mainstream. But thats not what we did. Without any hearings, without any chance for the minority to participate in any terms of substance, we moved forward. I want to say to the last two speakers, theyre sincere enough. Weve heard now four different people come to the well of this house on the other side and say to the chairperson of our committee and a friend, are you going to fix this after the bill leaves here . Four different people asked for a fix. And i want to tell you based on long experience in this house, the path gets more narrow as it leaves this house, it doesnt grow more expansive. It will be harder to fix these things because of the budget score that was embraced. So in 2001, we were promised widespread Economic Growth when president bush took the clinton surplus and offered 1. 3 trillion worth of tax cuts. And would you look at the distribution tables and when you look at the distribution tables, they were right about one thing, everybody did get a tax cut. Then you look at those tables and say, let me examine who got what. Then in 2003, we came back and the president proposed a 1 proposed 1 trillion worth of tax cuts based on the premise of knick growth, which didnt happen of Economic Growth. Which didnt happen. And by the way, in 2004, maybe the granddaddy of them all, repatriation. Were going to repatriate at 5. 25 those holdings offshore. On the premise of job growth. And there was none. We had this opportunity to do this together. Understanding, as i described with worker participation rates, understanding that because of most families now not having large numbers of children any longer, this should have been about Immigration Reform as well, attached to it. We all know skilled workers from overseas are going to be an important part of the American Economy. And we should be embracing that, along with sensible tax policy based upon some relief for the middle class. So instead we are taking away the ability of American Students to deduct interest on their loans, to pay for a tax cut for people at the top. Were taking away a medical expense deduction for people who have alzheimers disease, to pay for a tax cut for people at the top. We are assessing universities and colleges now, a new special tax to pay for tax cuts for people at the top. We could have had this conversation. We acknowledge what president reagan and speaker oneill did. Because it was based upon goodwill and commonality and not needing just a political victory. So day after day they plowed through with 450 witnesses in front of the ways and Means Committee. How many witnesses did we have in front of ways and Means Committee . Zero. How many hearings did we have on this tax bill . Zero. We saw the managers amendment and were given 20 minutes to review it. And i dont mean 25 minutes, i mean 20 minutes. Back to regular order. We should scrap this bill and to those that are vulnerable on the other side, i would not be trusting of the idea that these issues are going to be fixed after you cast this vote tomorrow morning. There will be an opportunity to go back and redo this if the other side would say, lets find a meaningful path to cooperation between the two parties. Thats all were asking for on this side. Include us in this discussion so we might invest in community colleges, vocational education, internship programs, skill set training, and answer the call of globalization. We still do innovation and creativity that far surpasses the rest of the world. Nothing we cant answer in america without those healthy investments we need. Instead when you look at these distribution tables that are proposed as to who is going to get what, taking away alternative minimum tax for the 4 1 2 million families that pay it, and asking students to give up their student Interest Deduction, the estate tax, were repealing it and asking that loved one who has alzheimers, that is being cared for at home, to give up that medical deduction to pay for all of that. It makes no sense whatsoever. But there is an opportunity, madam speaker, to reverse course. In my years here, i could tell you this. Anybody who thinks that the senate, the United States senate, is going to accommodate the wishes, when they see the goal post and the goal line of a handful of members of this house, theyre making a miscalculation. So weve heard tonight theyre going to do something about mortgage Interest Deduction, theyre going to do something about the historic tax credit, theyre going to revisit some of these issues. You know how difficult thats going to be, madam speaker . Thats going to be near impossible. And on top of that, theyre going to go back and try to repeal the Affordable Care act again and take 13 Million People away from their insurance so that we can have a tax cut that further concentrates wealth for a handful of people in america. This is the house of representatives, madam speaker. Not the house of lords. We dont serve here by peerage. Were not entitled to anything here. Most of us come from pretty modest backgrounds. Thats the principle we should be honoring in this tax debate as we discuss who is about to pay what and who the rewards ought to be for the hardworking men and women. And the last note im going to express before i yield back my time, what about those one million veterans who have served us honorably in iraq and afghanistan . New veterans. What about them . Are we going to eventually cut their benefits with Social Security and medicare and medicaid and put it all on the chopping block . As we attempt to further concentrate wealth in america, particularly for unearned income, by the way, thats where were headed. We should honor the skills of those men and women who every day get up and strive and work hard in this country. With a sense of purpose and great patriotism. And thats what we should be acknowledging in this debate. And im looking forward to tomorrow morning when we conclude this debate and spend the two hours discussing more what have weve witnessed here tonight. And there will be more than enough enthusiasm on our side. Theyll be lined up to r. F. K. Stadium to participate tomorrow morning on this debate. Thats how important this is to the future of the American People. And with that, madam speaker, thanks for your courtesy. And i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman reserve his time . Does the gentleman reserve his time . The gentleman reserves. Mr. Neal i think im out of time, madam speaker. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Brady madam speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. Madam speaker, washington is just hilarious. You know, lawmakers back home tell everyone theyre for tax reform. Until it comes actually time to do it. Everyone says they want a fair, flatter, simpler tax code, as long as you keep every special interest provision in this big, fat,s med up tax code. Everyone says they mesotheliomaed up tax code. Everyone says they want fat, messed up tax code. Everyone says they want to help main street businesses, as long as you dont change anything in the tax code. As long as lobbyists win and the American People lose, theyre willing to talk about it. Well, House Republicans are actually acting on tax reform for the first time in 31 years. In washington, you know, they sneer a that at that family of four back home making 59,000 a year. Thats the average household. Under our tax reform, they pay less, 1,182 less that they keep in their pocket. Washington makes fun of that. Thats real money. For families. That firefighter making 48,000 a year, keeps over 1,300. That single mom working hard every day, making 30,000 a year, she has 700 larger refund than she gets today. That main street startup business, working i dont know how many hours, making 62,000 a year, that was my chamber of commerce member right there, that startup business, they keep 3,007 more than they do today. Washington just laughs at that. But its real money for real people. In my district, a family of four making 90,000, thats two teachers, keeps 2,176 more every year of their life. My friends on the democrat side, now they worry about the deficit. I remember first year democrats took control of the house, they doubled the deficit. The second year they tripled it. Third year it went to 1 trillion. And it stayed that way until the American People gave the house back to republicans. So they loved spending money and raising the deficit when they let washington grow. But when its time to grow jobs and paychecks, all of a sudden theyre worried about the debt. The truth of the matter is if we want to keep this debt and deficit going, dont change anything. Keep this slow growth economy, keep spending, guarantee debts will grow, deficits will grow. Were talking about growing jobs, growing paychecks. And getting back to a balanced back to balanced budget by getting this economy moving in a big way. At the end of the day, it is time to end the status quo in washington, d. C. Americans deserve a fair, flatter tax code. One that closes loop holes and ends special Interest Deductions so americans can keep more of what they earn, so their paychecks can rise, so our businesses can compete and win anywhere in the world. Especially here at home in america. And its time our jobs start coming back to america rather than watching them go, our jobs, our research, our manufacturing, our headquarters, our patents. That era is over. It starts with h. R. 1, the tax cuts and jobs act. We will continue this debate tomorrow. Madam speaker, so well continue to deliver tax reform and tax cuts for the a tomorrow the Senate Finance committee continues work on its form of tax reform. On cspan we have live coverage of the house at 9 00 a. M. , as they continue debate on the tax reform bill. A final vote expected in the afternoon. Stay with live coverage, including the final passage vote, scheduled for tomorrow. As the house begins debate today on the