America is #Betteroffnow

Floor Speech

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Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin tonight by offering thoughts and prayers to the communities in the path of Hurricane Florence. My home State of Kansas is no stranger to natural disasters, and we are standing with those who will be impacted in the coming days.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about how we are all better off now. There has been a lot of talk lately about our country's economic recovery. Some of the debate recently has centered around when it started versus how it started. But really, it indicates one thing is real clear, that after years of stagnation, high unemployment, low wage growth, today, there is no denying that America is better off now than we were 2 years ago.

Tax reform and getting government out of the way has helped fuel this economic recovery. For 8 long years, we had an administration working against business growth. Now America has a President and Congress working to grow the economy.

In addition to our economy, progrowth policies have been championed that allow veterans, our Armed Forces, families, and small businesses in every sector and in every community to be better off now.

During this Special Order, I look forward to highlighting all the exciting things happening in my district in Kansas and around the country that are returning America to a place of strength, security, and prosperity.

Throughout the August district work period, I traveled my district discussing how Kansans are better off now thanks to legislation that enhances our economy, secures our community, and strengthens our military.

During the past month, I met with multitudes of small businesses and groups, some of which include: the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce; touring a wind farm in Pratt County; meeting with constituents at Dave's Pizza in Coldwater; learning about services provided at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital; meeting with constituents at Hibbard's Prescription Plus in Medicine Lodge; hosted a town hall for veterans; participated in a roundtable with the Realtors of south central Kansas; celebrated the ribbon cutting of two low-income housing projects in Wichita, one specifically designated for veterans; met with constituents at Tiger Town Pizza in St. John; toured the Golden Belt Feeders in Stafford County; met with constituents at Carr Auto-Electric in Larned; visited the Offerle Co-op; spent a day in Greensburg at the Big Well Museum, the school, the senior center, the art studio, and the media center; discussed the farm bill and several other issues related to our agriculture community as I went to several county farm bureau meetings; spoke at the West Wichita Sunrise Rotary Club; and toured the Textron Aviation manufacturing facility.

I travel home to Kansas every week and during the district work period to hear from constituents. Even though there is more work to do, my latest district work period made it clear, as I spent time in the district, that individuals, families, and small businesses across our State and country are better off now.

From our economy standpoint, the numbers really speak for themselves. The unemployment rate is near an 18-year low at 3.9 percent. Youth unemployment is at the lowest level in 52 years. Female unemployment is at the lowest level in 65 years. Black and Hispanic unemployment rates are the second lowest ever recorded. Veterans recently hit the lowest unemployment in 20 years.

Last quarter, our economy grew at 4.2 percent. For perspective on that, during President Obama's term, the economy only grew at an average of 1.9 percent.

Last month, wages grew at the fastest rate in 9 years; consumer confidence in our economy is the highest since October 2000; and just yesterday, small business optimism surged to the highest level ever recorded, passing the record that was set during President Reagan's Presidency. Jobless claims are at the lowest rate since December 6, 1969, and this summer, the U.S. had more job openings than job seekers for the first time in history.

These numbers are great news for the millions of families across America, but these numbers didn't happen by accident. I look forward to further discussion tonight about how we are working every day to make America better off now.

At this time, I am pleased to yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black).

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Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas, appreciate all of that information, talking about the positive impact that is happening all across America with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

When we talk about are you really better off now, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is one of those great examples of something that has been accomplished over the last 2 years.

The act itself just helped jump-start our economy. It repealed the ObamaCare individual mandate penalty. The standard deduction was nearly doubled, up to $12,000 for single filers, to $18,000 for a head of household, and to $24,000 for joint filers.

The child tax credit for families was doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, and individual along with business tax rates were cut across the board for every tax bracket. That means this year a middle-class family of four in Kansas will keep an extra $2,100 of their hard-earned money in their pocket, money they can use, save for their retirement, save for their children's college education, or maybe go out for a dinner and a movie.

The law also cut corporate rates from 35 percent, which was the fourth highest rate in the world and the highest amongst the developed world, to a competitive 21 percent, encouraging businesses to expand and to reinvest in America again. So far, more than 700 companies around the country have done just that, benefiting millions of hardworking families with bonuses, higher wages, and better benefits.

In Kansas, 24 businesses with more than 700 locations statewide have boosted wages and benefits for tens of thousands of employees.

During the August work period, I was able to visit with employees at some of those companies, including Legacy Bank. Legacy Bank is a community-based bank based in Colwich, Kansas, with roots dating back to 1885. Today, Legacy Bank operates eight branches throughout my district and has 81 employees.

In July, Legacy Bank became one of the latest companies in my district to announce a midyear bonus of up to $1,000 per employee.

In August, I met with employees and the board of directors, who told me the bonuses would not have been possible without the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Also, last month I met with workers from Textron Aviation Facilities in Wichita. In an earlier meeting, Textron officials had said the tax reforms of 2017 have strengthened the environment for aircraft sales in the United States and the outlook remains positive. Textron now has the largest backlog of orders in 8 years, supporting thousands of jobs in our community, which we proudly call the air capital of the world.

Our district is also home to the largest tax cut bonus in the country. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed, Wichita Railway Systems, a railroad car parts supplier, turned their tax cut into $3,000 to $6,000 bonuses for its employees. The Wichita Business Journal reported that these bonuses would have otherwise gone toward corporate income tax and on to the government.

During a visit there, the CEO of the small manufacturing company said employees receiving the bonus would turn right around and invest in the economy, showing how these bonuses not only benefit the workers and their families, but also the entire community.

Other employees who are better off now thanks to the tax cuts include Fidelity Bank, which announced $1,500 bonuses for its 400 Wichita area employees. Cox Communications announced $1,000 to $2,000 bonuses for their 900 area employees. Mahaney Roofing in Wichita has been able to hire more employees thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And Wichita's largest employer, Spirit AeroSystems, announced new investments in technology and training to help the rising demand in 2018.

These numbers show the economic growth and optimism happening in my State and around the country because of tax reform. And, more importantly, behind each statistic are people who are finally better off now.

Recently, my colleague Representative Brad Wenstrup from Ohio pointed out that the critics who proclaim that tax cuts only help billionaires could not be further from the truth. Over $1.1 trillion in tax relief, or 77 percent of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, goes directly to families and small businesses. Over one-half of the 2019 individual tax cuts, or $133 billion, go to those earning under $200,000.

Middle-income families see larger percentage reductions in their taxes than wealthier families. A typical married couple with two kids earning $73,000 would see a tax cut of over $2,000, a reduction in their income taxes of nearly 60 percent.

The bill didn't just help the rich. Under the new tax law, the share of taxes paid by millionaires actually increases from 19.3 percent to 19.8 percent.

Also, when American companies are doing well, workers do well. Just ask one of the 4 million workers who saw a benefit or pay raise due to the tax reform.

I would also like to point out that companies who had previously stashed money abroad are bringing it back to the United States thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our Tax Code penalized companies that did successfully operate overseas, and we wanted to tax them. Our Tax Code wanted to tax them a second time for them to bring their money back home. So, typically, these companies would only bring about $50 billion in earnings abroad every quarter. In the first 3 months of this year, they brought $158 billion back to the U.S. According to Bloomberg, that is the biggest reversal on record since 1946.

In addition, dividends received from abroad totaled $340 billion in the first 3 months of 2018, which is also a record. This money can be put to work in the United States either investing in a new plant, paying for bonuses or salary increases, paying dividends, or buying back stock. But at the end of the day, America is richer because of it, and we are all better off now.

Families from the heartland and throughout our country are also better off thanks to lower utility rates that are a direct result of the tax reform: expanded family savings programs for education and retirement; in efforts to reduce crime in our communities, including human trafficking. We have also invested $2 billion to address school safety and mental health issues. A new Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century is allowing more students to pursue career and technical programs at institutions like Wichita State University Tech.

One of the things that I am seeing as I travel across the district is that we have a drastic shortage of an educated workforce to help fill these jobs, and we wanted to make sure that, in utilizing the Career and Technical Education Act, we get more people to be supplied as welders, auto mechanics, airplane mechanics, electronics technicians, and sheet metal workers.

Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also help promote rural broadband expansion. Last month, I visited with Butler Rural Electric Co-Op, which said they are now able to provide faster internet to residents in rural parts of my district.

In June, the House passed a package of 58 bills to combat the opioid epidemic. This was the most significant effort by Congress against a single drug crisis in history, as we have invested $4 billion to address this epidemic.

Just to talk a little bit about that epidemic, in 2016, 313 people died from an opioid overdose in Kansas, leaving thousands of family members and friends to cope with the loss. In 2018, more than 2 million Americans will suffer from an opioid addiction.

In June, when the House passed the 58 bills, we wanted to focus on this being the most significant effort by Congress to make sure that this drug crisis is addressed and resolved. Last year's spending bill that spends the $4 billion to address this epidemic is being used to help law enforcement efforts, funding new treatment and prevention efforts and increasing inspection and surveillance to stop the flow of drugs into our country.

Human trafficking has become a major problem across the country. This year, House Republicans have passed dozens of bills to fight human trafficking, including the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, and the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, which have been signed into law. As a result, online advertising for commercial sex trafficking has gone down by 60 to 80 percent.

In another area, in May, Congress sent the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 to President Trump. As Speaker Ryan said, terminally ill patients and their loved ones deserve the opportunity, wherever possible, to take advantage of an offer that may provide them a chance for a longer life.

For patients who may not qualify for certain trials or who have tried other options of approved medication, this bill would allow them access to experimental treatments and therapies. After all, it should be their choice of what they do, to help them have that opportunity and the right to try.

The good news doesn't stop with our economy and with our families. Veterans and our armed services have been a priority in this Congress.

This year Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, which revolutionizes healthcare for veterans by streamlining services and ensuring veterans get the care they deserve from the VA or from their private doctor closer to home.

This is the biggest improvement in veterans healthcare in 5 years and will build on the Choice Act to fulfill our promise to veterans by allocating $5.2 billion to pay healthcare costs through the Veterans Choice Fund, expanding eligibility in the VA's caregiver program, and improving healthcare delivery, including telemedicine, mental health support, peer-to-peer support, and mobile deployment teams for rural and underserved veterans for routine and specialized care.

Also for veterans, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act that we passed in Congress is helping establish affordable housing communities for senior citizens and veterans, like the two that recently opened in my district. Last month, I was able to join one of those communities specifically designed for veterans for the ribbon- cutting ceremony.

One veteran who participated told local media:

This is a miracle right here. God has done a lot of miracles in my life. This is one of the top ones.

Since President Trump signed the VA MISSION Act on June 6, 2018, which happens to be D-day, it has helped revolutionize healthcare for veterans by making sure that they get the options, the choices, and the right to the care that they so richly deserve.

We have also focused on: How do we help our Active-Duty military servicemembers?

We passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which invests $700 billion in rebuilding our military. It provides our troops the largest pay raise in 9 years. It supports more aircraft, like the KC-46 tankers from McConnell Air Force Base in my district. It shot down an increase of fees in TRICARE for retirees. It allows former prisoners of war, Medal of Honor winners, and service-connected disability veterans to access the commissaries starting in 2020.

A sad note: There are 22 veterans a day who commit suicide. What we have done is, as Congress, passed five comprehensive bills to address this epidemic:

House Amendment 769 appropriates no less than $225 million for VA mental health and suicide prevention programs;

H.R. 4635 directs the VA to emphasize peer support counselors for female veterans who, among other things, are also at risk of suicide;

H.R. 4173 directs the VA to conduct studies on outcomes and efficacy of the Veterans Crisis Line and report to Congress the results;

H.R. 2345 requires the FCC to coordinate with HHS and the VA in studying the feasibility of designing a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and

H.R. 918 directs the VA to furnish former members of the Armed Forces an initial mental health assessment and mental healthcare services required to treat urgent mental healthcare needs, including the risk of suicide or harm to others.

There are many things that we have accomplished. There are still more things to do.

This week, we are going to vote to give the VA the largest dollar amount in history, which includes:

$206 million for suicide prevention outreach, for a total of $8.6 billion for mental healthcare programs;

$192 million for the inspector general, $25 million above fiscal year 2018, to provide the resources needed to investigate the overwhelming number of allegations being reported with regard to waste, claims processing backlogs, and general accountability;

Fully funds family housing at $1.6 billion, $173 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted levels for the families of those who serve; and

$1.8 billion to homeless veterans programs.

Overall, there are just so many positive things that have been accomplished over the last 2 years when we look at are we all better off now.

I have talked a lot about some of the impacts of the various bills that we have passed, some of the benefits that affect people in my district and people in the State of Kansas.

I have here a list numerous companies throughout the State that have taken advantage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and I am going to read just a few of those and a brief description of what they did.

The Lawrence Paper Company in Lawrence, Kansas, gave $500 bonuses for all 300 employees and spent $5 million for new equipment and expansion at all three locations.

Spirit AeroSystems increased investment in training and technology.

Westar Energy filed a request before the Kansas Corporation Commission to reflect that its electric rates ought to be reduced by the full amount of tax savings from the change in the Federal tax law.

AT&T offered $1,000 bonuses for 1,500 Kansas employees.

Walmart employees at 75 different Walmart stores throughout the State received tax reform bonuses, wage increases, and expanded maternity and paternity leave.

Best Buy, which has 12 locations in Kansas, offered $1,000 bonuses to their full-time employees and $500 bonuses to part-time employees.

And even small businesses like Taco John's, which has 19 locations in Kansas, all full-time and part-time crew members received a $200 after- tax bonus.

Other companies that offered benefits--may not run the normal thought of what you think about--but companies like Waste Management Incorporated, which has multiple locations in Kansas, paid $2,000 bonuses.

I have a myriad of other companies that have taken advantage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that we have implemented, and reflect that not only are they, as companies, better off now, but their employees are better off now, as well.

In closing, altogether these actions have encouraged rapid growth in our economy, security for our families, and support for our veterans and military. Don't get me wrong. There is more to do.

Healthcare premiums increased $4,400 per family from 2010 to 2016. We still have too many veterans needing healthcare and jobs. There is more to do to help small businesses grow, help families save for college or retirement, and support our farmers and our manufacturers.

In the coming weeks, I am glad we will debate tax reform 2.0 to unleash another round of economic growth by protecting middle-class individuals and small business tax cuts from going up in the future, expanding educational and retirement savings options, and supporting entrepreneurs.

But today, I am proud of what we have accomplished thus far because of businesses like BG Products, Inc., based in Wichita, Kansas. The automotive maintenance supply manufacturer was established in 1971 by a group of World War II veterans and automotive industry experts. Over time, BG Products, grew from an idea to an industry leader. Its products manufactured in our community are used and sold in all 50 States, in more than 60 countries, by more than 40,000 shops, dealerships, and technicians.

However, 2 years ago, BG Products was at a crossroads, determining whether or not to expand based on the economy and the climate of government regulations. Following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, BG Products was able to push forward with plans to expand, putting new tax savings directly toward new building projects and jobs.

In July, BG Products represented Kansas in an event honoring products that are made in America. Following their White House appearance, I visited employees at BG Products and toured their 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in El Dorado where we discussed their plans to expand. Finally, on August 24, BG Products broke ground on a 145,000- square-foot edition in El Dorado, investing $24.5 million in our community and adding 21 new jobs.

This kind of expansion would not have been possible without our growing economy. Like BG Products, Inc., today our economy and our country is strong and is better off now.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my fellow Representatives who supported the various bills that we have passed over the last 2 years to help make my district, my State of Kansas, and my country stronger and better off now.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my fellow Members who spoke on the bill today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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