Diane Black

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 51 for final passage of H.R. 4547, which took place Monday, February 5, 2018, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. As a cosponsor of this bill, I would have voted Aye had I been present.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include the following into the Record. Declaration of Mothers: A Proclamation and a Pledge for the Preservation of Liberty & Virtue As the mothers and primary Makers of the Homes of America-- the molders the future of our nation--we declare that the liberty and freedom of all people begin in the home and that a nation is but a magnified home. The values and virtues taught within the family will determine the values and virtues of the nation as a whole. We recognize the sacred role of mother as the heart of the home and home as the heart of society. The liberty of each individual begins in the home and parents are, first and foremost the primary teachers and protectors of their children in a free society. Properly constructed social, religious, and governmental institutions are designed to support and strengthen the family unit not replace it or regulate it. No association or government organization can replace the family no matter how well-intentioned or well- designed it may be. The privilege of living as a free people in a free society is dependent on being a people of faith, virtue and patriotism--the three pillars of liberty--and these attributes are best developed and nurtured in the home. Each generation has a responsibility to instill a love of liberty and virtue in the heads of the next generation. We affirm that ``All men and women are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, [receiving] their just powers from the consent of the governed.'' To secure the blessings of liberty, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America created a written constitution under the inspiration of Almighty God. The preservation of this sacred document and trust is dependent upon each generation, who bears the stewardship of safeguarding the constitution and teaching their children the rights and responsibilities associated with the noble cause of liberty and keeping the Republic. Every individual is born with intrinsic dignity that is inherent to each member of the human race. All men and women have the right to liberty, self-determination and self- governance. The individual's responsibility of work, education, and industry are crucial elements of self- governance in society and the preservation of human dignity. The rights of a free people are protected and preserved through honorable, virtuous, leadership which invokes the nobility inherent in all men and women. Successful leaders in the home and family govern by correct principles, teach by example and stand for self-evident truths and liberty sustaining principles. As the lessons of history clearly demonstrate, we recognize that freedom is fragile. It is a rare and prized possession and requires constant care and vigilance for its preservation. Living as a free people does not come instinctively; principles of freedom must be studied and applied. Home and families with mothers who nurture and teach these principles produce leaders who honor and hold sacred the intrinsic dignity of the individual and inalienable rights endowed to all people. To safeguard the liberty and enhance the future of our children and grandchildren, we affirm our commitment to ``stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made us free'' that ``government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.'' Declaration of Independence. Galatians 5:1. Gettysburg Address.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires doctors and nurses present during an abortion to properly care for a child who survives it. It is an oath that we take to save lives. Imagine that, Mr. Speaker. A doctor must give the same care to a baby born alive after a botched abortion that they would give to a baby born any other way at the same gestational age. We are talking about saving living, breathing human beings, human beings that were formed in the image of their Creator with inherent dignity. I am appalled when my friends from the other side of the aisle say it would endanger a child to take them to a hospital and to actually call for emergency care where all of the services are provided in an ambulance and take them to a hospital where they would have the best chance to survive. As a grandmother and a nurse, it is utterly appalling that we have to pass legislation to save babies that are left to die. Whether or not we agree that life begins at conception--and I truly hope that one day we will--this bill is merciful, it is humane, and it is just. Abortion is brutal for both the mother and the child, and providing care for babies who have survived this horrific practice should never be a question. No one should be against this. We all should gather together and say that if a healthcare professional does not help to save the life of that baby that is born of a botched abortion, they should be held criminally liable just as they would for any other life that they refuse to save.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, this is truly a monumental day for the American people. During my 7 years here in the House serving on the Ways and Means Committee, we have studied, considered, and outlined the sorts of reform that could benefit the American people. As a conferee for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, I am proud that we kept our promise of providing tax relief for hardworking, middle class families and making the Tax Code simpler and fairer for all. It has been more than three decades since our Nation's tax system has been modernized, and this is finally the day to change that. I want to remind my colleagues that the process began long before this year. When passage of the budget provided the key, our ideas for conservative tax reform were finally unlocked and could be pursued for real tax reform. Without question, this conference report reflects our shared conservative principles. The conference agreement addresses the heavy tax burden weighing down hardworking Americans and holding back job creators. It brings simplicity to the Tax Code. It helps low- and middle-income Americans see more of their hard-earned dollars in their paychecks. It empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to continue opening, operating, and expanding on Main Street. With every major legislative effort, there will be critics. But the critics have it wrong. The truth is that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act delivers relief at every income level and protects more hard-earned dollars from taxes. For the average family of four, this legislation means a tax cut next year of more than $2,000. The point of this exercise is that we are cutting your taxes, plain and simple. I urge my colleagues to stand on the right side of history and support this legislation because the benefits will be felt by all Americans for generations to come.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, this bill would also mean 20,000 new jobs for my State. This will provide a welcome jolt to our economy, which is badly needed following eight lackluster years under the Obama administration. Without question, enacting tax reform is a challenge, but the benefits of seeing it through will be felt for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. We cannot miss this historic opportunity.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his endless hours of work listening to everyday people, listening to small businesses, listening to large businesses, listening to how what we put in this bill was going to affect the American people who, at the end of the day, are going to be the winners. So it has been more than three decades since Congress has worked with the White House to modernize our Nation's very confusing and complicated tax system. Just ask anybody who has filed their taxes on their own. But we are closer to changing that day with H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And with this budget, with the budget passed in both Chambers and following last week's productive markup in our House Ways and Means Committee, tax relief is on the horizon. With this legislation, Republicans clearly recognize the need to do something about our heavy tax burden weighing down the hardworking Americans and holding back job creators. We also recognize the need to bring simplicity to the Tax Code. In our tax reform plan, we will help low- and middle-income Americans see more of their hard-earned paychecks by lowering the tax rates and nearly doubling the standard deduction for individuals and married couples. For instance, for an average middle class family of four, that translates to a $1,200 tax cut. Now, I will tell you, that is real money. We also establish a new family credit that raises the child tax credit and introduces new credits for family members and other dependents. The Tax Code will also become less confusing, making it possible for most Americans to file their taxes on a single postcard. Our plan, rightly, provides tax relief for job creators, empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses to continue opening, operating, and expanding on Main Street. For my home State of Tennessee, H.R. 1 will allow families to see an estimated $2,200 increase in wages. Again, that is real money.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 604, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 606.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, in 30 seconds, I want to once again say thank you to my colleague from the other side. I have enjoyed working with him. This is history. We are going to make history. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in their support of the budget because doing so means that we can truly benefit the American people, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is my extreme honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority whip, who is a wonderful member of our Conference.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I almost can't sit here and not make a comment on my colleagues' budget on the other side of the aisle. All of a sudden, they seem to be very concerned about deficits when, as a matter of fact, their budget assumed almost $1 trillion worth of deficits in their budget. I want to also say that our committee did a really good job in having a balanced budget, and we are, obviously, looking at a budget from the Senate that we are going to be taking up so that we can do tax reform. But they also, in addition to that, had $2 trillion worth of new taxes that they placed on the American people. So all of a sudden, this purity of worrying about these deficits just makes me scratch my head, and about raising taxes on the people when their own plan did the very opposite of what we are trying to do is cut taxes. They added $2 trillion worth of taxes. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Ferguson), a distinguished member of the Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendment to H. Con. Res. 71, the budget resolution for fiscal year 2018. Passing a budget is never easy, and it has, once again, been a challenge this year. But I am encouraged with where we are now, and I am pleased that the Senate did its work by approving a budget, one that we can support in order to unlock tax reform for the American people. Without question, there are plenty of things that I wish were included in what the Senate passed, ideas that the House put forward earlier this month when we approved our budget. For example, I still feel strongly about addressing unsustainable mandatory spending, and that hasn't changed. The growing burden of debt caused by mandatory spending is a real problem that cannot be ignored. We owe it to the American people to do something, to offer serious reforms that ensure government programs are financially sustainable and working well for generations to come, and I think we will tackle this important issue in the future. Really, we don't have a choice. But despite any shortcomings of the Senate-passed budget, I am encouraged that it does reflect the shared priorities of both Chambers. Moving forward with this budget is also supported by our President. I want to remind my colleagues that before final passage last week, the Senate did include numerous provisions previously passed by the House, and I was proud to be involved in those negotiations with the leaders of the House, the Senate, and the White House. For example, the Senate-passed budget creates a mechanism that would permit the Budget Committee chairman to adjust the budget allocations if there is future legislation signed into law that revises the BCA spending caps. The Senate-passed budget also includes numerous improvements to the House budget's enforcement that are designed to strengthen fiscal discipline. Because we worked together to find a common ground, we can move ahead toward tax reform and expand upon the ideas in the conservative framework unveiled last month. Throughout my nearly 7 years as a Member of the House, Republicans have talked about modernizing our outdated and overly complicated tax system, and today, we have the opportunity to take that next big step to unlock tax reform for the American people, fulfilling the promise that we made long ago to our constituents. By advancing tax reform, we can help Americans keep more of their hard-earned paychecks; we can make it possible for most Americans to file their taxes on a simple postcard; we can level the playing field for business and help them compete better globally; and we can empower entrepreneurs and small businesses, encouraging them to create more jobs. This budget acknowledges that our economy is in desperate need of a jolt, and the tax cuts included in the Senate-passed budget hold that promise of doing just that. Put simply, we have the opportunity to make history by reforming our tax system for the first time in nearly three decades. President Trump is with us on this, and I agree that we must move quickly, and that is why I urge my colleagues to pass this budget today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the Senate amendment to H. Con. Res. 71.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mooney).

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 580, I call up the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is now my delight to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), a member of the Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I just must make a comment on what went on in Kansas and the attribution that this was Mr. Laffer's idea. I know Mr. Laffer personally and have had a conversation with him about his plan and suggestion. It was not followed. So I do want to lift up his good name and say that his plan was not followed. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), a member of the Budget Committee.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), a member of both our Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee.