Jason Smith

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Feenstra).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, nearly 400,000 American children today are in the Nation's child welfare system and counting on us to help them secure access to a permanent, loving, and stable home. At the same time, thousands of parents across the Nation are ready and willing to provide that love and shelter for kids in need. However, more must be done to link those children with those families who will volunteer to help. The Recruiting Families Using Data Act will give States the tools and incentives to grow the number of foster families able to care for kids who might otherwise remain stuck in other parts of our welfare system. It is a vote of confidence in the generosity and kindness of potential foster families, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Recruiting Families Using Data Act introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues, Representatives Randy Feenstra and Brendan Boyle. This bill would make a relatively straightforward but needed update to current law to promote State-level recruitment of foster care families. Thousands of loving parents open their homes every year to offer care and support for children in need. By doing so, they provide shelter for children who would otherwise be forced to stay in caseworker offices, hospitals, or hotels. However, many of these same parents, for any number of reasons, stop serving as foster families after only 1 year. In short, there is a dire need for more foster families in our communities. Much of the foster care system is coordinated at the State level, which means we need to enlist the States in helping expand the number of foster families. Under current law, States are required, as a condition of receiving funding, to have a plan in place to recruit foster and adoptive families, but we know, based on an analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services, that many States continue to face challenges. This bill would build on existing law by calling on States receiving Federal funding to develop family partnership plans that lay out their specific process for finding potential foster families and recruiting and retaining them in the foster care system. The legislation also authorizes the evaluation of key data to ensure we identify what efforts have been successful in expanding the availability of foster families. I thank Representatives Feenstra and Boyle for introducing this legislation and for their bipartisan leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this commonsense piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 579) to amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to improve foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention, and for other purposes.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 919) to codify Internal Revenue Service guidance relating to treatment of certain services and items for chronic conditions as meeting the preventive care deductible safe harbor for purposes of high deductible health plans in connection with health savings accounts.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act, introduced by Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan and our Ways and Means colleague, Representative Jimmy Panetta. This legislation provides employers and their employees with greater flexibility to design healthcare coverage options that expand access to treatments for chronic diseases. The chronic disease epidemic has, unfortunately, impacted nearly every family in America and represents a significant share of our healthcare spending. In fact, 90 percent of the $4.1 trillion this country spends each year on healthcare goes toward chronic disease. This is not surprising when you realize that 60 percent of Americans suffer from some form of chronic disease, whether it be heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. So many Americans would benefit from having healthcare coverage that is not only more affordable but more responsive to their needs so that they can better manage their health. Last Congress, the House of Representatives approved a version of this legislation, but unfortunately, we were not able to get the bill across the finish line. However, with President Trump back in the White House, we are moving this bill once again, a bill that further strengthens a policy put in place during the first Trump administration. For the 53 percent of employers that offer high deductible health plans to their employees, they would now be able to improve those options by allowing predeductible coverage of critical chronic care management services, including beta blockers, blood pressure monitors, glucometers, inhalers, and medications and testing to help individuals with high cholesterol. While the bill includes 14 specific services that could be covered, it leaves the door open for the list to be expanded later, as well. By providing flexible coverage options for more people living with chronic health conditions, we can help lower their costs and improve their health and well-being. I thank Representatives Buchanan and Panetta for their leadership on this issue, as well as recognize the work of our Ways and Means Health Subcommittee that held its first hearing this Congress on creating healthier options for families and raising awareness about the chronic disease epidemic we have in this country. As HHS Secretary Kennedy is shining a light on the chronic disease epidemic, the Ways and Means Committee is leading the charge in Congress to examine the root causes and delivering solutions, including this bill before us today. I encourage all of my colleagues to once again provide strong bipartisan support for this effort to address chronic disease. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is long overdue, particularly given the enormous size, scope, and cost of America's chronic disease epidemic. It will put more patients in the driver's seat when it comes to managing their health, and open doors for folks to get the treatments that will not only save them money but improve their well-being. High deductible healthcare plans are already a popular option for employers to offer their workers. Expanding what services can be provided under these plans, specifically to help treat chronic diseases, will only make this a more affordable and useful health coverage choice for patients. I encourage my colleagues to support the passage of the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mr. Arrington for yielding. Mr. Chair, 4 years ago, President Trump left Joe Biden a blueprint for success, and then Democrats proceeded to open our borders, undermine American energy, and spend trillions of dollars on handouts to the wealthy. They created the highest inflation in 40 years that made it impossible for working families to survive. That is why the American people sent Donald Trump back to the White House with a mandate. Now it is up to Congress to deliver on that mandate, to make our economy work again for working families. The economy isn't just numbers on a chart. It is the farmer who wakes up at 4 a.m., the mom or dad working two jobs just to get by, the shop owner figuring out how to keep the store lights on, and the truck driver working overtime. Mr. Chair, let me be clear, a vote against this budget is a vote to raise taxes on low-income Americans. Mr. Chair, $2.6 trillion of the tax cuts in this resolution are people making less than $400,000 a year. Democrats campaigned on not allowing taxes to increase on people making less than $400,000 a year. Let us see if their voting cards show up. Extending the Trump tax cuts will give the lowest income families a tax cut of 15 percent, the highest of any income group. On the other hand, failing to extend these tax cuts means the average taxpayer will see a 22 percent tax hike. The average family of four making $80,000 a year will see their taxes go up almost $1,700. That is 2 months' worth of groceries. Americans need certainty that relief is on the way. Workers need certainty that their taxes won't go up. Mr. Chair, 26 million small businesses need certainty that their tax rates won't rise to 43 percent in a few short months so that they can focus on investing and hiring more workers. Mr. Chair, 2 million family-owned farms need certainty that they won't be forced to sell their farm to pay an increased death tax. They need to know right now if they should be contacting an estate planner for the massive tax hike that is coming. Parents need certainty that their guaranteed deduction of $30,000 won't be cut in half and that their child tax credit won't be slashed from $2,000 to $1,000. Following passage of the Trump tax cuts, wages increased by 4.9 percent, the fastest 2-year growth in real wages in 20 years. Mr. Chair, 5 million new jobs were created. More than 6 million people were lifted out of poverty. Real median household income rose by $5,000. The economy grew a full percentage point higher than CBO's initial forecast, and revenues have remained steady at 17 percent of GDP. Building on President Trump's tax cuts will deliver a new golden age of prosperity: over 1 million new small business jobs each year, $284 billion in economic growth for more manufacturing, and billions in new investments to revitalize our poorest neighborhoods. We will reignite our economy with a return of policies like 100 percent immediate expensing and incentives to make sure R&D is happening here and not being outsourced around the globe. We will deliver on President Trump's commitment to tax relief for tipped workers, help for seniors struggling with inflation, and tax relief for overtime workers. President Trump's policies will spark an economic recovery, and that recovery starts by passing this budget so we can send one big, beautiful bill to President Trump's desk.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 5, I call up the bill (H.R. 33) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources within the United States, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act, bipartisan legislation that will unleash more American manufacturing investment and jobs and help combat China's harmful influence. For too long, America has been too dependent on China. It comes at a high price, as communities across this country lose jobs and live with little hope for the future. It also puts America's national security at risk. This bill before us establishes fair tax treatment for both American workers and businesses operating in Taiwan and puts Americans on equal footing with our competitors around the world. Enacting this legislation will help create jobs right here at home. U.S. exports to Taiwan support 188,000 American jobs, and Taiwanese investment in the United States supports another 21,000. Reducing burdens on Taiwanese investment in America will help aid in building new cutting-edge manufacturing plants staffed by American workers. It will help support our domestic semiconductor and chip manufacturing capabilities, securing strategic supply chains and helping us further move away from China. Citizens and companies from countries like Great Britain, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand and the European Union all enjoy better tax treatment than Americans in Taiwan currently do. That is not right. In fact, the United States is Taiwan's largest trading partner without a tax treaty. Enhancing our relationship with Taiwan will strengthen the U.S. economy and our national security. Instead of leaving critical supply chains in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, we need to be making more goods in America, or in partnership with allies like Taiwan that share our interests, to reduce our dependence on China. This legislation has strong bipartisan support. Last Congress, we took action in authorizing and establishing the first steps in a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan. As we continue to grow our economic relationship together, a tax treaty represents the logical next move. Advancing this legislation to President Trump's desk is the right thing to do for American workers and our economy as a whole. I thank Ranking Member Neal for helping lead this effort and introducing this legislation with me. Today, we are showing the world that American leaders are united in standing up for our workers and businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill to help critical American manufacturing sectors and to protect our national and economic security, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), who is the chairman of the Tax Subcommittee.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran), one of our newest members of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean), one of the newest members to the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym), another new member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the chair of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Hern).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, to continue to rely on China for critical items like semiconductors and chips is very dangerous. There is no reason America can't make those same items. This bipartisan bill will remove unfair tax barriers for American workers and businesses, strengthen our Nation's manufacturing base, and grow jobs right here at home. The United States is Taiwan's largest trading partner without a tax treaty, and that means American workers are at a disadvantage. If the relationship between the United States and Taiwan is to serve as a defense against China, our workers must be on equal footing with one another. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this critical bill that will shift control over our economy away from China and back toward American workers and businesses. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.