Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), a treasured member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, in the spirit of the holiday season, I accept the motion to recommit.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for pointing out that our bill is paid for, unlike the TCJA, and the pay- for comes from the wealthiest earners. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), a great member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), a great public servant and someone who has partnered with us on a number of important issues.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), someone who has worked tirelessly on this. You couldn't get out of his line of sight. No matter how early I went to the gym, the gentleman would be waiting: ``We have got to do SALT.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins), a treasured member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), a great member of our Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. This bill would temporarily repeal the SALT cap in order to restore fairness in our tax code and provide Congress time to develop more comprehensive tax reform. The current cap on the State and local tax deduction reflects the sloppy and cynical nature of the 2017 Republican tax bill. This bill was hastily rammed through Congress in just 51 days without a hearing, without an opportunity to hear from State and local governments, and without an opportunity to hear from teachers or first responders. Republicans decided from the beginning, from behind closed doors, to include a cap on SALT deductions in order to help finance their tax cuts for corporations and the rich. In my home State, California, average SALT deductions are $20,448. A total of 6.5 million California families, or 35.6 percent of tax filers, claimed the deduction in 2017. The double taxation of earnings people have already paid in State and local taxes inhibit State and local governments' ability to fund even the most vital of programs, including emergency services and public education. H.R. 5377 fixes this problem by restoring the longstanding tax precedent that protects State and local governments' ability to raise revenue to fund these services. And this fix doesn't add a single dime to the deficit. Furthermore, this bill provides tax relief to the middle-class public servants left behind by the Republican tax bill by doubling the out-of- pocket deduction for teachers, classroom expenses, and creating a new deduction for expenses for first responders. In 2017, 354,990 teachers in California claimed the educator expense deduction, and they will all get double under this bill. The short-sightedness of the SALT cap had further consequences for middle-class taxpayers in high-tax States: Capping the SALT deduction diminished the incentive for middle-class taxpayers to claim tax benefits that encourage homeownership and charitable deductions. By limiting the SALT deduction and raising the standard deduction, fewer middle-class taxpayers benefit from taking the mortgage interest deduction and charitable giving deductions. Homeownership is an important way for middle-class families to build wealth. Eliminating incentives for charitable giving undermines local charities that rely on donations from middle-class members of their communities. I think my colleagues from both sides of the aisle can agree that these are the types of behavior we should be encouraging through our tax code. This bill reverses the Republicans' actions to undercut these middle-class benefits to finance tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Finally, this bill isn't about cutting taxes for high earners. This bill is about tax fairness, ensuring that taxpayers are not double- taxed by being required to pay Federal income tax on earnings they pay in State and local taxes and appeals to the core tenets of our federalist system. In the spirit of tax fairness, this bill is responsibly offset by restoring the top marginal rate back to 39.6 percent for the highest income bracket. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to insert in the Record extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy Chu), a great member of our Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider), a great member of our Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I point out that their provision is temporary as well, just not as temporary. Madam Speaker, the National Association of Police Organizations in their letter to us wrote: ``Our members are not just first responders; they are also citizens of the communities in which they work.'' Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from that organization. National Association of Police Organizations, Inc. Alexandria, Virginia, December 10, 2019. Hon. Richard Neal, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin Brady, Ranking Member, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Neal and Ranking Member Brady: On behalf of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), representing over 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers across the nation, I am writing to you to express our full support for the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. Throughout this country, law enforcement officers go to work every day with one goal in mind: to keep their communities safe. In order to achieve this mission, they receive support from the communities they serve, as public safety budgets across the United States are largely drawn from state and local property, sales, and income taxes-- essential investments that give our first responders the tools they need to get the job done. The state and local tax (SALT) deduction has helped support these vital investments at the state and local level. Our members are not just first responders; they are also citizens of the communities in which they work. The fact is that the capping of the SALT deduction is a significant tax increase for many suburban homeowners, including law enforcement officers. This puts them squarely in the range of middle-class taxpayers that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law No. 115-97) was supposed to help. Instead, with the SALT deduction capped at $10,000, many first responders are finding themselves on the wrong end of a tax hike. We support the two-year repeal of the cap and call on Congress to permanently repeal it, for homeowners, for our communities, and for the first responders who work every day to keep those communities safe. Further, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act hit law enforcement officers with another tax increase when it eliminated their ability to deduct work-related out-of-pockets expenses. Like many public servants, law enforcement officers serve our nation and our communities for modest wages and often have to pay for mandatory and necessary equipment and training out- of-pocket. These out-of-pocket costs are significant and a financial burden on officers. NAPO supports the inclusion of the Supporting America's First Responders Act, which would reinstate deductions for certain, significant work-related out-of-pocket expenses for first responders. NAPO stands ready to support any efforts necessary to pass this legislation. Sincerely, William J. Johnson, CAE, Executive Director.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 772, I call up the bill (H.R. 5377) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the limitation on deduction of State and local taxes, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), a leader and a very vocal advocate of this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I just want to point out that the irony of my friend's testimony today, my friend from Texas' testimony, shouldn't be lost on any of us. Remember, it was the Republicans that created this problem with their tax bill. They did a tax bill that benefited corporations and the wealthiest people in the country, and then to say that somehow they are protecting regular folks is really laughable. That tax cut cost us, in the debt, $2.3 trillion. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the USMCA implementing legislation. As a member of the working group, I can tell you how far we have come. The original agreement that was sent to Congress was a total failure at protecting workers' rights, providing access to affordable medicine, and protecting our environment. Further, it wasn't enforceable. The bill we have before us today is the result of tireless work from Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Neal, and the working group members who represented the diverse views of Congress. With gains achieved through our negotiations, this trade deal will set the standard for all future trade agreements. It is enforceable; it protects workers; it helps address serious environmental issues; and it protects access to affordable medicine. Finally, I thank the staff, which worked tirelessly to get us to this day. There were a lot of late nights and a lot of weekends sacrificed to reach this deal. Specifically, I thank the Katherines, Katherine Tai and Katherine Monge; the Trade Subcommittee staff, Alexandra Whittaker, John Catalfamo, Julia Friedman, Kate Connor Linton, Katie White, and Keigan Mull; and from my staff, my trade person, Jennifer Goedke. I commend the Speaker, the chairman, and all the Members who worked so hard to get us here. All of those good things that both sides have been talking about today were not in the first draft that we got from the White House. This is a good bill because we made it a good bill. I ask everybody to support this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I find no pleasure coming to the floor today to consider impeachment. I ran for Congress to represent my community and to serve the country I love. As a combat veteran and having served 8 years on the Intelligence Committee, I understand the threat that foreign actors can play in our elections. Every elected official must dedicate themselves to protecting our democracy. No one should invite a foreign country to interfere with our most sacred act of voting. It was abuse of power by the President to ask a foreign nation to interfere in our election to benefit his personal and political interests and to condition bipartisan, congressionally approved aid on that interference. Unchecked, these actions could lead us down a path that will unravel the fabric of our Nation. Madam Speaker, I am saddened we are here today, but in the interest of defending our Nation, I will vote for the Articles of Impeachment.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Marilyn Elaine Harbord on her 90th birthday. Marilyn Elaine Harbord was born in Turlock, California in 1929 and was raised in Newman, California. She earned her associate degree in Art from Stockton Junior College, a bachelor's degree in Business and Art from San Jose State University and attended graduate courses in Secondary Education at California State University, Chico. In 1985, Ms. Harbord began her public service in the California State Legislature as a legislative secretary for Assembly Member Norman Waters. Her passion and dedication to serving the people of California didn't stop there, as she would spend three years from 1990 to 1993 as a legislative secretary for former State Senator Mike Thompson. In addition to her political advocacy, Ms. Harbord is an active member of her local community. She has volunteered for many local organizations, including those that worked with children, while working at various times as a travel agent in Chico, California, and as a business manager for the advertising and publicity department of Columbia Pictures. She also served as the secretary for the Gold Fields mining corporation in Cameron Park, California. Ms. Harbord is a hardworking professional who dedicated her life to serving the community--and the causes--she so passionately cared about. Ms. Harbord is proud to share her long and rich history in public service with her four children, Nancy, Linda, Kenneth and Janet, along with her eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Her family describes her as a mother and grandmother with an exceptional sense of humor and creativity, which she continues to incorporate in her hobbies, such as gardening and writing. Madam Speaker, Marilyn Elaine Harbord is an outstanding citizen who sought to better the livelihood of our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today.