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From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!
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In case you missed it, I am thrilled that Congress passed the largest overhaul of the American tax code in more than thirty years this week.
This historic tax relief legislation will deliver a tax cut of $2,059 to the average American family of four earning the median family income of $73,000.
The legislation lowers individual rates and nearly doubles the standard deduction. Doubling the standard deduction will be huge for the more than 207,000 individuals and families in the First District who use the standard deduction.
The legislation also continues to allow Americans to write off state and local taxes, preserves the mortgage interest deduction, expands the medical expense deduction, continues and expands the deduction for charitable donations, and provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also supports Americans familes by expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000, preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and preserves the Adoption Tax Credit.
This legislation also lowers the corporate tax rate and delivers significant relief to small businesses.
Thanks to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, hardworking Americans are already seeing the positive benefits.
After we passed this legislation, AT&T announced they will give bonuses of $1,000 to more than 200,000 U.S. employees and said they would invest $1 billion in the United States.
Comcast announced they would give $1,000 bonuses to more than 100,000 employees who are not in executive roles.
Fifth Third Bancorp announced it would raise its minimum wage and give out bonuses to 3/4 of its employees this year.
Wells Fargo will also raise wages and announced a plan to give $400 million to community and nonprofit organizations next year.
And this is just the begininng.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will invigorate the economy and I can't wait for you to see how this historic legislation will help hardworking Americans and our economy.
For now, there are three important dates to remember:
New Year's Day: You will have a new tax code.
February: Look at your paychecks, becuase you will see tax relief.
April 15: You will for the last time file your taxes under the antiquated, burdensome system. |
| From our Nation's Capitol CXLIV |
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Monday, December 18, 2017: On Saturday I had the honor of attending the Wreaths for Warriors Walk at Fort Stewart. The goal of this annual event is to place a Christmas wreath at the tree of each and every fallen soldier along the Fort Stewart Warriors Walk in a solemn memorial service. After a beautiful ceremony honoring all of our fallen warriors, I was honored to be able to place a wreath at the foot of a tree dedicated to a Fort Stewart soldier who was killed this year while serving our country.
Rep. Carter participates in the Wreaths for Warriors Walk at Fort Stewart |
Later that afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending a retirement party for Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler. Mayor Fowler is retiring this year and, although he is leaving the city in good hands with Mayor-elect Russ Carpenter, his leadership will be missed. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for all of your dedicated service to Richmond Hill. I also had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with Sheriff Wilcher and the fine members of his team. This morning I’m in Jacksonville and I stop by First Coast News where I do an interview to talk about tax reform and the upcoming week in Washington. Next, I head to another Jacksonville station, WJXT News 4, where I am interviewed by my good friend Kent Justice, as we talk about a number of different things, including the opioid epidemic. Afterwards, I head to the Jacksonville airport for my return trip to Washington. Once back at the Capitol, I speak to the Skidaway Island Republican Club via Skype at their True Perspectives meeting. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting followed by a special called GOP Member Conference where we are brought up to date on tax reform. I finish my day with our first and only vote series of the day in the House Chamber and afterwards deliver a one minute tribute to Dr. Lester Johnson, who passed recently. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017: I start this morning with a meeting of the Doctors Caucus where we discuss Medicare reimbursement for physician services before heading to our weekly GOP Conference where we have a very intense discussion on the Friday deadline for government spending. If we do not pass a funding bill by midnight on Friday, the government will shut down and, while we are all in agreement that we do not want that to happen, there is much disagreement on what should and should not be included in the spending bill. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and then return to my office for our weekly staff briefing. At 1:50 p.m. our second vote series of the day is called and it is a big one for during this vote series we are voting on the Conference Report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Congressman Carter on Fox Business |
In 1986, at the signing of the last significant tax reform our country has seen, President Ronald Reagan said “the impossible became the inevitable.” Today, by a vote of 227-203, we did the impossible and passed the most significant tax reform our country has witnessed since 1986. Under the leadership of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), we have delivered on a promise made to all Americans. Once I’m back in my office, I have a facetime interview with WTOC in Savannah after which I head to Statuary Hall where I have a live TV interview with Fox Business to discuss tax reform and the spending bill. A link to my interview can be found here. Next, I head to the Russell Rotunda on the Senate side of the Capitol where I have an interview with WJCL in Savannah and end my day by returning to the House Chamber for our third and final vote series of the day.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017: After we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act yesterday afternoon it went over to the Senate where they voted on it at 2:00 a.m. this morning. Although they passed it, they had to make a few minor changes and, because of those changes, we have to vote on it again today before it can be sent to the President for his signature. My morning starts with a radio interview with Scott James in Valdosta to discuss tax reform after which I have another radio interview, this time with Laura Anderson and guest host Demere Bishop in Savannah, to discuss the same subject. Afterwards, I head to my office where I film a video. Next, I head to our first vote series of the day and a short time later return to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day where we pass the Conference Report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for the second time and send it to the White House for the President’s signature.
Rep. Carter with Reps. Loudermilk, Ferguson, and Allen at the White House |
Afterwards, I join other members of both the House and Senate as we head to the White House and join President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet officials in a press conference celebrating the passage of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Once back at the Capitol, I have a phone interview with the Savannah Morning News to discuss the tax reform passage before heading to a specially called GOP conference meeting to discuss a funding extension package. Our third and final vote series of the day is next and afterwards I deliver a one minute tribute to Flemington Mayor Sandra Martin for her over 30 years of public service. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Thursday, December 21, 2017: I’m at the White House early this morning as I am assisting constituents from Savannah gain access to a tour. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and then back to my office for a series of meetings with staff. Our second and final vote series of the day is next and we pass a funding extension package to get us through the middle of January of next year as well as a disaster relief supplemental spending package to help hurricane victims in Florida, Georgia, and Texas as well as wildfire victims in California. My last meeting of the day is with Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Chairman Rep. Grep Walden (R-OR) and E&C Health Care Subcommittee Chairman Mike Burgess (R-TX) to discuss upcoming legislation that will be coming through the committee. |
| Votes in the House this Week |
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| Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.
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