Niki Tsongas: “Tomorrow the House will vote on H.R. 1, the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans say will support…”

“Tomorrow the House will vote on H.R. 1, the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans say will support America's middle class. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Middle-income Americans will receive, at best, one-fifth of the promised benefit of these tax cuts. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, H.R. 1 will raise taxes on 36 million hardworking middle class American households. It scraps benefits our families depend on, like the student loan interest and medical expense deductions. Imagine, in a time when access to higher education is critical to a family's economic well-being, making it even more expensive. This legislation was written behind closed doors, in secret, without Democratic input and without any hearings. Mr. Speaker, a bill to overhaul the Tax Code, the results of which will affect every American for decades to come, deserves open and transparent consideration. I urge my colleagues to work together to instead craft a tax reform bill that truly lifts up the middle class and invests in our future. ____________________”