Smucker: Passing This Budget Means Greater Prosperity and Opportunity for American Families
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-16), in a speech today on the House floor, urged his colleagues to support the Building A Better Americabudget resolution to put the nation on a sustainable fiscal path and lay out the path forward for tax reform that will give American families the opportunity to improve their lives.
During his speech, Rep. Smucker said:
"Consider a constituent that I spoke to this week. This particular constituent is a single father of five in Lancaster County. He asked me if our tax plan means more money in his paycheck. Now, he makes it work today, but it's difficult for him and he could use some help. This is exactly the type of hardworking American we are trying to help with our reforms."
Rep. Smucker's full remarks are below.
(Click the image to watch the video.)
Full remarks
"Thank you, Madame Chair.
"First I'd like to begin by extending my appreciation to you for your hard work – your leadership – over the past few months to get this budget out of committee and onto the House floor.
"The national debt is a staggering $20 trillion. We're handcuffing future generations with what, if we don't take action, will become an unsurmountable fiscal crisis. This budget resolution before us today is a step toward putting our nation back on a sustainable fiscal path. But even more it will lead to greater prosperity and opportunity for American families and generations to come.
"My own experience as a 17-year-old, I had the good fortune to be able to buy a small construction company from an older brother for $1,000 dollars when I was fresh out of high school. And through a lot of hard work and a dedicated team of individuals, we were able to grow that company, employing more than 150 people with family-sustaining jobs – family sustaining wages.
"That's what we call the American Dream. There are countless stories like that. The idea that we can begin with little or nothing, work hard, play by the rules, and achieve our dreams.
"Unfortunately, in today's economic environment, for many, the American Dream seems out of reach.
"That's why this budget is so important. Not only will it put us on a sustainable fiscal path, but it lays out the path forward for tax reform that will give American families the opportunity to improve their lives.
"Consider a constituent that I spoke to this week. This particular constituent is a single father of five in Lancaster County. He asked me if our tax plan means more money in his paycheck. Now he makes it work today, but it's difficult for him, and he could use some help.
"This is exactly the type of hardworking American we are trying to help with our reforms.
"Americans deserve this budget because it lets us pass tax reform to help families like the one I just described.
"They deserve it because too many Americans today do everything right, but still struggle to make ends meet.
"And Americans deserve it because they should have a more honest federal tax code and a simplified filing process that allows them to spend more time with their family, to save for their children's college fund, or to plan for their retirement.
"Passing this budget makes these things possible, and I strongly urge my colleagues in this chamber to support it.
"Thank you. I yield back."