Video by Senate Republican Conference
PASSING TAX REFORM
American families continue to reap the benefits of the first major reform of the tax code in 31 years. Four million workers received bonuses, consumer confidence hit an 18-year-high, and 102 utility companies have announced that they will cut their rates, saving consumers $3 billion.
THE BENEFITS OF TAX REFORM INCLUDED...
CREATING OPPORTUNITY ZONES
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included the creation of "Opportunity Zones." More than 8,000 low-income communities across the nation have been designated as “opportunity zones” to encourage investment and job creation. Under the program outlined by Senator Tim Scott, #OpportunityZones will bring hope and prosperity to communities across the country that are filled with potential. The final zones are now certified and the Treasury is working on finalizing the rules to give clarity to those looking to invest.
ESTABLISHING PAID FAMILY LEAVE
Also with the passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Senate Republicans passed the first United States, nation-wide paid family leave program. Championed by Senator Deb Fischer (NE), the paid family leave plan offers flexibility for different types of families to meet their needs, whether that's taking care of a child or caring for an elderly parent.
DOUBLING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
DOUBLING THE STANDARD DEDUCTION
SIMPLIFYING THE TAX CODE
AND THE BENEFITS OF TAX REFORM KEEP COMING...
MILLIONS OF JOBS CREATED
Thanks to tax and regulatory relief, the economy is strong and growing with more than 4 million jobs created since November 2016. At 3.9%, the unemployment rate is near an 18-year low. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law, the economy has created more than 1.6 million jobs. There are now more job openings than there are job hunters in the United States.
Republican Conference Chairman Senator John Thune (SD) speaks on the Senate floor about the continuous good economic news.
Record Number of Job Openings
For the first time ever, there are actually more job openings than there are unemployed people who are looking for work. According to the Labor Department, there are now 6.9 million job openings across the country, and only 6.3 million job hunters.
Tax rEFORM DELIVERS BENEFITS ACROSS AMERICA
Companies announce bonuses
Wages are Rising
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GROWING
Senator Pat Toomey (PA) discusses how local businesses in Pennsylvania are seeing the positive effects of tax reform. Businesses are growing and hiring.
SPURRING ECONOMIC GROWTH
HELPING MAIN STREET GROW
SECURING THE JUDICIARY
Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell, Chairman of Finance Committee Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Ben Sasse speak to the importance of judicial nominees. Video by Senate Republican Conference.
RESHAPING THE JUDICIARY
CONFIRMING JUSTICE GORSUCH
June 25th marked the end of Justice Neil Gorsuch’s first full term on the Supreme Court after he was confirmed by Senate Republicans last April. He has authored six majority opinions this term and has provided the key fifth vote in eight cases decided 5–4.
COMMON SENSE HEALTH CARE
PATIENTS GIVEN “RIGHT TO TRY”
Congress passed right-to-try legislation to allow terminally ill patients access to experimental medical treatments not yet approved by the FDA. A patient with a terminal illness is now able to use treatments that have passed the first phase of the FDA approval process.
OBAMACARE’S INDIVIDUAL MANDATE REPEALED
Congress repealed Obamacare’s individual mandate, as of 2019. The Independent Payment Advisory Board, Obamacare’s ineffective and bureaucratic body of unelected officials tasked with recommending ways to cut Medicare spending, was also repealed.
The story of Senator Ron Johnson's (WI) work on making this lifesaving legislation possible for terminally ill patients and their families. Video by Senate Republican Conference.
Senator Tim Scott (SC) explains the individual mandate
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
OPIOIDS CRISIS PASSED
Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental deaths for Americans under age 50. Last year, more than 72,000 Americans died due to drug overdoses, a 1o percent increase from a year earlier – 49,000 of these were related to opioids. In September, responding to the growing opioids crisis, the Senate passed the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018. The bill included proposals to reform Medicare, Medicaid, and family services programs, providing treatment and recovery support services for beneficiaries with substance abuse problems. It increased access to addiction treatment medications.
PATIENTS GIven the RIGHT TO KNOW
DRUG PRICES
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV) talks about the opioids crisis and how it has affected West Virginia and how the Senate is responding. Video by Senate Republican Conference
Senator Susan Collins (ME) speaks on the Senate floor about the bipartisan Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act
EXPANDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES
ALASKANS GIVEN LIFE-SAVING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CARE
For years, the people of King Cove, Alaska have fought for safe and reliable medical emergency access. For decades, the people of King Cove, Alaska have asked for what virtually every other American already takes for granted — a safe and reliable way to access medical care in an emergency. In January of 2018, Senator Dan Sullivan (AK) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) delivered that to Alaskans with Department of the Interior and the King Cove Corp. signing an agreement authorizing the small land exchange needed to construct a short, gravel, life-saving road that will connect King Cove, Alaska to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay.
Department of Interior Secretary Zinke signs the King Cove agreement advocated for by Senators Sullivan and Murkowski
CLARIFYING Water Rights
In August 2018, President Trump signed into law Senator Jeff Flake's bill to amend White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights. The bill specified that settlement funds may be used for the planning, design, and construction of the tribe’s rural water system in Arizona.
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS
REBUILDING OUR MILITARY
Our troops are about to receive a 2.6% across-the-board pay raise, their highest pay raise in more than ten years. Republicans in Congress have made funding our military and protecting the nation a top priority. Earlier this year, Congress agreed to an increase of $165 billion over two years for our military. This is a significant investment in our military and the largest budget increase for defense in 15 years.
CARING FOR VETERANS
President Trump and Republicans in Congress have worked together to provide quality health care for disabled veterans. The VA MISSION Act will put veterans first and allow them to receive health care from doctors in the VA and in their community without having to clear unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. Veterans are also benefitting from a great economy - veteran unemployment is down to 3.8 percent.
Senator Jim Inhofe (OK), Senator Deb Fischer (NE), and late Senator John McCain (AZ) discuss the importance of the Senate passing the National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA). Video by Senate Republican Conference.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Johnny Isakson (GA), speaks to Congress’ renewed commitment to providing the best care to our nation’s heroes. Video by Senate Republican Conference.
MEETING WITH TROOPS ABROAD
CONFIRMING VA LEADERSHIP
PRIORITIZING NATIONAL SECURITY
PUTTING A NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM IN PLACE
Senate Republicans strongly supported the president's nominee for secretary of state and prioritized his confirmation over Democrat obstruction. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has already demonstrated his leadership and effectiveness as our nation's top diplomat by negotiating the historic Singapore summit with North Korea and bringing home American hostages. Gina Haspel, a career intelligence professional, was also confirmed by the Senate and is the nation’s first female director of CIA.
Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Richard Burr (NC) gives closing remarks in support of CIA Director, Gina Haspel
IMPOSING SANCTIONS
- Iran for its ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs,
- Russia for theircyber hacking, corruption, and attempts to influence both the United States andEurope, and
- North Korea for itsuse of convict labor and human rights violations as well as those governmentsand entities who assist North Korea in violating UN resolutions.
In the video above, Senator Cory Gardner (CO) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee discusses the importance of imposing these sanctions.
FIGHTING TERRORISM
The bipartisan legislation's original co-sponsors were: Senators Lindsey Graham (SC), Bob Corker (TN) Joe Manchin (WV), Roy Blunt (MO), Tom Cotton (AR), John Kennedy (LA), James Risch (ID), Mike Rounds (SD), Marco Rubio (FL), Todd Young (IN), Mike Crapo (ID), Richard Shelby (AL), and Ted Cruz (TX).
REFORMING REGULATIONS
STRIKING, STREAMLINING, AND SIMPLIFYING REGULATIONS
Congress passed 16 Congressional Review Act resolutions to repeal or block Obama-era regulations, accounting for $36 billion of the savings. Trump administration actions saved an additional $8 billion in 2017, and $6 billion so far in 2018. The administration’s proposed future deregulatory actions could save more than $175 billion.
Deregulation savings totaling $50 billion broken out by savings from Congressional Review Act resolutions, Trump administration actions, and additional deregulatory proposals
Noteworthy deregulatory actions:
Senator Roger Wicker (MS) speaks on "net neutrality."
Cutting and Simplifying Taxes: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut every tax bracket for individuals and families, letting them keep more of their own money instead of giving it to Washington. The law nearly doubled the standard deduction and simplified taxes for 95 percent of Americans who do not have to itemize deductions.
"Over the past 19 months, Republicans have saved Americans at least $50 billion and 16 million hours of paperwork."
Eliminating the Individual Mandate: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed the individual mandate requiring Americans to purchase and maintain health care coverage or pay a tax. Beginning in 2019, the tax penalty of $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of household income will no longer burden American taxpayers.
Senator Rand Paul (KY) discusses association health plans
ADVANCING Education
STRENGTHENING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Republicans modernized the federal law that supports local career and technical education programs. It sends over $1 billion in grants to states to equip students with knowledge and skills they need to secure high-skill, in-demand jobs in fields such as manufacturing, health care, and business.
Restoring Local Accountability for Schools
Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) speaks about the importance of education reform to produce more skilled workers with Senator Mike Enzi (WY) and Ivanka Trump
ADVANCING JUSTICE
THE JUSTICE SERVED ACT
Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act
In late September, Senator John Cornyn (TX) also introduced the bipartisan Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act. The proposed legislation would exempt human trafficking survivors from paying federal income taxes on civil damages and restitution – because the last thing survivors should expect is to get stuck with a bill from the IRS.
RESTORING REGULAR ORDER
APPROPRIATIONS
The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed every bill out of committee at its fastest pace since 1988. The Senate passed the majority of appropriations bills by the beginning of August, the first time this has happened since 2000.
As of September, the Senate has passed nearly 90 percent of discretionary spending through regular order. With passage of the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education minibus, the Senate passed 9 of 12 spending bills, containing nearly 90 percent of discretionary spending for fiscal year 2019. Restoring regular order to the appropriations process is an important step toward reasserting Congress’ oversight of federal spending.
Senator James Lankford (OK) explains the current appropriations process
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE
Among the important appropriations packages was an agriculture funding bill. In August 2018, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Agriculture appropriations bill. Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee Senator John Hoeven (ND) introduced the legislation and spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of investing taxpayer dollars responsibly and funding programs that provide direct benefits to farmers and rural communities.
INTRODUCING A BETTER FARM BILL
In June of 2018, Senator Pat Roberts (KS) introduced the bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) provides certainty and predictability for rural America. The proposed legislation renews the federal government's major agricultural programs, including crop insurance, farm credit, and conservation. It also renews the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with some modifications to improve efficiency. The bill provides predictability on regulatory issues while making investments in rural communities.
Senator Pat Roberts discusses the importance of the Farm Bill
IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY
FIGHTING SEX TRAFFICKING
In March 2018, the Senate passed Senator Rob Portman's bipartisan Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) as part of a broader congressional effort to stop online sex trafficking and provide justice for victims. It was signed into law in April by President Trump. The legislation was the result of a two-year Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation's inquiry into Backpage.
Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senator Rob Portman (OH) discusses the importance of SESTA
INTRODUCING SCHOOL SAFETY LEGISLATION
In March 2018, Senators introduced the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation to address school violence. The legislation aims to address school violence by funding school security improvements and invest in early intervention and prevention programs to stop school violence before it happens.
Co-sponors of the bill included: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Majority Whip John Cornyn, and Senators Orrin Hatch, Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio, Chuck Grassley, Dean Heller, Bill Cassidy, Shelley Moore Capito, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins.
ANSWERING THE CALL
RETURNING AS A PUBLIC SERVANT
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