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It was another busy week in the House Ways and Means Committee with important hearings on tax policy and the state of our economy. We heard from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in his annual testimony before the committee that the American economy is strong and our efforts at reforming the tax code have been very successful.
As you may know, I recently accepted the top Republican position on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, which writes tax policy for Congress. It’s quite an honor for me because my colleagues and I on this panel represent the first line of defense against higher taxes. According to the U.S. Constitution, any legislation concerning taxes must originate in the House of Representatives and by extension my committee.
Each November, we celebrate National Family Week to reflect on the importance of strong families in our communities. Whether through biological child birth, adoption, or foster care, children need families to provide the care and support necessary to become healthy and productive adults. It has been a cornerstone of my tenure in office to support federal policies which encourage the development of strong families.
Thanksgiving is the time of year we come together with family and give thanks for our many blessings. This year I’m most thankful for our one-year-old son, Zeke, my wife, Andrea, and our endlessly loving family members who support us at every turn. I’m also thankful for renewed economic growth which increases opportunity for future generations of Americans.
Commercial air service is vital to our nation’s economy and this is especially true in rural parts of the country. Regular flights into and out of geographically isolated regions like Nebraska’s Third District provide a lifeline connecting our community to the rest of the nation, which is absolutely necessary to a vibrant economy.
This week, the House of Representatives considered H.J.Res. 2 to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. This would be an important first step toward rectifying our financial situation because we have a long road ahead if we intend to pay back the more than $21 trillion in debt we currently owe.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) to introduce H.R. 5506, the Physician Assistant Direct Payment Act, to allow physician assistants (PAs) to directly bill Medicare.
Statement by Smith: