I am just puzzled by this logic that the minority is concerned about a provision that expires in 4 years. They are worried about that today, but yet they are not worried about the loss of buying power for hardworking American families starting next year. They are willing to give up helping families next year, and they want to debate an issue that we aren't going to even address for another 4 years. As it relates to their charge that this in some way helps the wealthy, I would like to point out that a foundational principle of the Tax Code is that it should be, at worst, neutral toward the decision to get married. It should not be a deterrent. Certainly, it should not make taxpayers worse off merely by making the decision to marry and start a family. Marriage is beneficial to society and something that we have and should continue to encourage. Removing the marriage penalty is about one thing, and that is fairness. This is especially true for today's two-earner households where both spouses have to work just in order to make ends meet. Congress has had the wisdom to remove the marriage penalties from many other parts of the Tax Code, including the standard deduction. A deduction for married couples is twice the amount for single filers, and in tax brackets the income range of 10 to 15 percent brackets for couples is twice that of individuals, as it should be.…
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I thank the chairman for yielding, wish the chair happy birthday, and I would like to honor the Congressman from Indiana, Congressman Young, for his leadership on this important issue. This effort to change the employer mandate definition…
I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem).
In closing, this bill is about fairness and about providing relief to all hardworking Americans just as the administration keeps giving to businesses. It is about leveling the playing field for the millions of individuals and middle class…
I see no other speakers, so I am prepared to close. Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I have one Member who is in transit, but let me say a few things until he gets here. {time} 1445 I have been in Congress for 25 years, and I have listened to…





