We find ourselves here today to, once again, address a group of tax provisions that need to be made permanent, this time for the sake of those who give to and ultimately benefit from charitable organizations. Every day, selfless Americans nationwide decide to donate in support of an array of causes, be it finding a cure for cancer, helping underprivileged children succeed in school, or simply providing a meal and shelter that, for some, is hard to come by. Countless Americans dedicate their liv... Read more

Many of us know the joys and responsibilities of being a parent. We spend years ensuring our children have the skills and education to reach their full potential as they grow and enter adulthood. Many of these everyday responsibilities parents face can and often do increase tremendously when they have a child with a disability. Today, we have an opportunity to ease some of those challenges. The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, commonly known as the ABLE Act, will allow those with disabil... Read more

As we all know, there is a series of tax provisions that routinely expire that Congress must then renew, typically extending them for one year retroactively and one year prospectively. Congress routinely extends these policies without offsetting the revenue loss. This on-again, off-again style of legislating on a temporary basis is a terrible way to make tax policy. Hardworking taxpayers deserve to know whether these tax policies are going to be there year in and year out on a permanent basis. ... Read more

This November, I am proud to celebrate National Adoption Month and also National Adoption Day, an important time to recognize those wonderful parents who have adopted children in need of a permanent, loving home. It’s also a time to remind ourselves of the thousands of children across the country who still remain in foster care, waiting for a family to call their own. Earlier this year, I was honored to recognize Midland County Probate Judge Dorene Allen as the 2014 Angel in Adoption award reci... Read more

I would like to take this opportunity to offer praise of and appreciation for my friend and former colleague Congressman Phil Crane. I had the honor of serving alongside Phil on the Ways and Means Committee for many years, allowing me to witness first hand just what an exceptional leader he was. Phil was a true conservative that strived for real solutions that worked for all Americans near and far. Never shying away from the tough conversations, Phil was a leading reformer, pioneering significa... Read more

Every day, honest hardworking men and women are struggling. Far too many families haven't seen a pay raise in years, and many have lost hope and stopped looking for work entirely. H.R. 4, the ​Jobs For America Act, will strengthen the economy by creating more jobs with higher take-home pay. The House has already passed dozens of bipartisan solutions that will break down burdensome regulations and promote policies that allow businesses big and small to do what they do best - grow, innovate and h... Read more

If one thing has been consistent about the Obama Administration – it is the failure of its economic policies. The President’s economic policies make it harder for American families to get by every day: A record number of Americans are unable to work, and those who can find work are unable to secure full-time work and instead are forced to accept only part-time jobs. This last quarter the economy actually shrunk, and real wages – what Americans use to pay their mortgages and put their kids throu... Read more

Today, more and more Americans are pursuing the dream of earning a college degree. But for many, realizing that dream is getting more difficult. Tuition prices continue to climb, making it harder for Americans to plan for and afford a higher education. Worse yet, our broken tax code makes it harder than ever to pay for it. Currently there are 15 complicated, and at times, overlapping education provisions that include over 90 pages of IRS instructions. Students and parents alike are already jugg... Read more

I rise in support of this legislation, which is designed to prevent sex trafficking of youth in foster care, encourage the adoption of more children from foster care, and increase child support collected to support children, among other important purposes. Subcommittee Chairman Reichert will discuss the provisions designed to prevent sex trafficking, and I will focus my comments on the important adoption provisions. I have spent much of my professional career promoting adoption of children by lo... Read more

The American people are the most charitable people in the world, donating money, food and clothing in times of need. Their donations ensure that charities and foundations can help individuals and communities across the country. There are numerous provisions in the tax code that encourage giving, and the bill we have before us today, H.R. 4719 – the America Gives More Act – ensures that some of these provisions are made permanent, so individuals, businesses and farmers can donate and give back mo... Read more