Providing for Consideration of H.R. Salt Marriage Penalty Elimination Act; and Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Denouncing the Harmful, Anti-American Energy Policies of the Biden Administration

Floor Speech

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Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 994 and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 994

Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 7160) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the limitation on the amount certain married individuals can deduct for State and local taxes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the resolution (H. Res. 987) denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes. The resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees.

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Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

House Resolution 994 provides for consideration of two measures, H.R. 7160 and H. Res. 987. The rule provides for H.R. 7160 to be considered under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees and provides for one motion to recommit.

The rule further provides for consideration of H. Res. 987 under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. H.R. 7160, the SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, would bring much-needed relief to hardworking Americans in high-tax States that make the cost of living unbearable.

This legislation is an important fix to our Nation's tax code that will raise the cap for joint income filers, married couples, to $20,000. This legislation makes right a provision in our tax code that is clearly unfair and penalizes middle-class families in many States across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden's reckless spending of hard-earned taxpayer dollars means that American families are already saddled with high inflation. Add to that the exorbitant taxes paid by those who live in States like I do that are run by Democrats who want to take and spend even more of their money.

Many of my colleagues have argued that raising the cap for the State and local tax deductions is just bailing out blue States for their reckless spending and failed policies. However, New York, as is the case with many of our higher tax States, pays far more into the Federal Government than it receives in return, and that money that New York State pays into the Federal Government is invested in States across this great Nation for things like infrastructure, law enforcement, and other essential services.

I can assure my colleagues here today that millions of New Yorkers, including those living in my own district, are painfully aware and routinely against the fiscal insanity perpetuated by Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, just as millions of Californians are deeply opposed to the reckless tax-and-spend policies of Governor Gavin Newsom and Democrats in Sacramento. That is why this legislation before us today is not a bailout for harmful State policies. It is a lifeline to Americans who are feeling the pain of this out-of-control taxation firsthand.

Mr. Speaker, it is common to hear from those opposed to the SALT deduction that this deduction only benefits the very rich. I encourage them to talk to police officers and firefighters living on Long Island in Nassau or Suffolk County or middle-class families living in southern California trying to pay their bills, put food on the table, and ensure their children have a good life. I think you will find that these are the Americans who are in most need of and will benefit the most from this urgent and necessary relief.

Additionally, the rule before us provides for consideration of H. Res. 987, a resolution denouncing the harmful anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration.

On January 6, 2024, President Joe Biden chose to serve his political interests and the interests of the radical environmentalists over the interests and the needs of the American people. His decision to halt the export of American liquefied natural gas only further undermines our economy and further jeopardizes the security of our great Nation.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, has played a crucial role in fostering our Nation's economic growth and energy independence. By putting a sudden stop to its export, President Biden is jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless Americans who depend on the energy sector for their jobs.

Let me be clear: This move by President Biden is nothing more than a stab in the back to the very people who fuel our Nation and who have been world leaders in energy technology innovation that makes our country great.

President Biden's action also emboldens our adversaries like Russia and hangs our allies in Europe, who import 68 percent of U.S. LNG exports, out to dry. The bottom line is this: If we are to ensure our secure future of affordable and reliable energy where the United States and our allies are not dependent on foreign adversaries for our energy needs, then we need to ensure that this Nation remains a leading exporter of LNG.

The President's asinine choice to prioritize the shortsighted goals of radical environmentalists and score political points from the woke mob is being made at the expense of long-term stability and compromising our Nation's economic strength. It is our responsibility here as Members of Congress in this House of Representatives to condemn this profoundly un-American action that is in clear contravention of American interests.

Mr. KEAN of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule providing for H.R. 7160, the SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act.

This crucial piece of legislation is aimed at providing much-needed tax relief to hardworking families across my home State of New Jersey and to many families across the United States.

This bill begins to address the issue of double taxation that New Jerseyans and countless families far and wide have been hindered by for nearly 7 years--7 years too long, Mr. Speaker.

We are trying to bring relief back home for the marriage penalty elimination. This will make an adjustment to the State and local tax deduction, specifically raising the cap from $10,000 to $20,000 for joint returns with adjusted gross income below $500,000.

With this bill, we are acknowledging the economic challenges faced by our neighbors, ensuring that the tax burden is alleviated for those who need it the most.

New Jersey families need tax relief right now, and this specific approach to doubling the joint returns cap is a critical and necessary step to taking the tax burden off the backs of our neighbors.

The economic destruction of the SALT cap spares nobody. It deters young families from purchasing their first home, and it denies seniors the ability to stay close to their roots and near family.

As a result, every industry across our great country suffers, and when that happens, no matter what your ZIP Code or your income, every individual is hurt in some measure.

Let me be clear, this legislation is the floor, not the ceiling, for the SALT relief that we can and must fight to deliver for New Jersey families.

To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we all represent different communities and districts. Let me remind each and every one of us that we all share the honor of representing hardworking Americans who play by the rules and simply want to be treated fairly.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

Mr. Speaker, we just have to keep saying it over and over again: How dare the majority scold us for not fixing a problem that they created. How dare they scold us, and how dare they actually even think about it when they don't want to fix the problem.

The majority's fix needs fixing. Let's move on.

I was flabbergasted when I heard my colleagues say that the Trump tax cuts, which benefited the wealthy, the superwealthy, the millionaires, and the billionaires, were the greatest stimulus ever. They were actually not.

Mr. Speaker, I call Members' attention to a report titled: ``The Biden Tax Proposals Would Correct Inequities Created By Trump Tax Cuts and Raise Additional Revenues.''

Mr. Speaker, what this report shows is that it wasn't the greatest stimulus, indeed, that with the Trump tax cuts, revenue plummeted from the expected.

Those Trump tax cuts are the reason we have the deficits, which is what they always usually complain about.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that today's legislative calendar highlights the very distinct differences in priorities and values between Democrats and Republicans.

Democrats are committed to putting people over politics. We are dedicated to lowering costs for everyday Americans, to raising the middle class, to growing that middle class, and to investing in our communities.

On the other hand, the Republicans don't have much of an agenda other than chaos and trying to win the next election.

The SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act is a Band-Aid on a wound Republicans inflicted on the American people when they passed the Trump tax cuts. It is not the kind of emergency that should be taking up our time when we don't have a budget, when we can't pay our bills in a couple of weeks, and when we have Putin possibly winning the war in Ukraine.

Be that as it may, here we are taking that up and taking up a nonbinding resolution about the President's energy policies that ignore how much we have invested in clean energy, how many jobs we have created in the energy sector, and how we are lowering prices.

That is putting people and our planet first.

Their nonbinding resolution does nothing. Republicans keep taking up our time doing nothing on this House floor. We should be on the House floor this week talking about funding the government.

The American people deserve more than the political stunts and the partisan gridlock that comes out of this wonderful, beautiful people's House. It was in this people's House last Congress that we got so much done.

We invested in our infrastructure, we invested in our communities, and we saved America from the economic catastrophe that we were facing coming out of a pandemic. We did so much then, and we have done so little now. What a contrast.

Be that as it may, in the face of chaos and dysfunction, I and everybody in my Democratic Caucus remain steadfast in our commitment to progress and prosperity for all Americans.

The bills that we will be taking up if this rule passes--if this rule passes, they keep defeating their rules--they won't be doing that. This is a teeny, tiny, little Band-Aid on a big, open wound. This rule is all about politics and not about people.

Let's reject the rule and put people over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Today, we have heard plenty of arguments and weak accusations pushing back on a necessary piece of legislation that provides relief for hardworking, middle-class Americans crushed by an economy racked with inflation and gouged by the failed tax-and-spend policies of State governments like my own State of New York.

These aren't the richest of Americans we are talking about here, these are everyday families who just want to achieve the American Dream in an economy ravaged by skyrocketing costs and State and local governments that play to the whims of the radical left. Congress has an opportunity today to make a straightforward, reasonable fix that will make an enormous difference in the finances and futures of these hardworking Americans in States across this great country.

Mr. Speaker, we also have the opportunity to send a powerful message from this Chamber today to the Biden administration and to the world that Congress does not endorse and, in fact, condemns the President's decision to bring our Nation's LNG exports to a screeching halt.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the passage of this rule.

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