Kristi Noem

I want to discuss several bills I am working on that I believe are common-sense improvements to the Tax Code.

Today, we are talking about a bill that will bring integrity to the IRS, which will better serve our taxpayers into the future. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).

We have another colleague here on the floor today who serves on the Ways and Means Committee and has diligently worked on IRS issues and has been a leader on bringing some clarity to the situations that we deal with in trying to bring…

I have a friend and colleague here today who has fought daily for years for hardworking taxpayers across America and for his home district. I am proud to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

I am proud to have a gentlemen here to speak on behalf of my bill who has been a strong leader in bringing integrity to the IRS. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).

I didn't understand how we could have a law in this country that would take a family's business away.

I am sitting here today in Congress, specifically just because of the Tax Code.

This was not the intent of the law, to jeopardize them and their opportunities to provide for their families.

Out of the top 11 poorest counties in the nation, I have 5 of them in South Dakota, and they are all my Native American reservations.

But clearly, because they were exempted from the individual mandate, the intent of the law is clear that Native Americans should not face this kind of penalty, especially in areas like I have, in South Dakota, where they are impoverished…

The Federal Government has a trust responsibility to provide health care for Native Americans in the United States and Alaska Natives.

I'm there. Thank you.

I would firmly believe from what we have seen in Iran's previous behavior and their behavior today is that certainly concessions do not work to change their behaviors.

It can be a critical tool for punishing Iran's behavior.

We know that Iran endangers Americans, abroad and here at home, and that their actions have been to spend billions of dollars to fund terrorism over the years.

I don't understand why the President hasn't clarified for us exactly what his intentions are.

I think it is critical that we do not just have this hearing and talk about this.

I believe that a lot of the people in South Dakota face and utilize programs, but yet it is not necessarily lifting them out of the programs and getting the results that we truly do need.

Not necessarily something that Congress can make a decision on today.

What is your biggest challenge that Congress could immediately address that would be a relief to our rural community hospitals?

I have visited many, many of the rural hospitals in South Dakota.

If we have the training in those communities, if we have residencies available, that makes a world of difference.

I represent South Dakota. And I have the entire State. So there is not much in South Dakota that isn't rural and doesn't face a lot of the challenges that you all have been discussing today.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: limitation on use of funds to close or move fisheries…

Instead of encouraging work and taking home higher pay, the programs can create disincentives to work.