WASHINGTON – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) joined House Speaker Paul Ryan and GOP Leadership for a press conference today to discuss how Kansas’ 4th district and America are better off now. Last night, Rep. Estes led a special order on the U.S. House of Representatives floor to highlight efforts to grow the economy, provide security for families, and support veterans and the military. Accomplishments cited included the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, efforts to end human trafficking and the opioid epidemic, the VA MISSION Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act.
“Throughout August, I traveled our district and met with small businesses, farmers, veterans, and families. Although there is more to do, my latest district work period made it clear: our economy and people across our state and country are better off now,” said Rep. Estes. “Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 25 companies in Kansas with more than 700 locations statewide and thousands of employees have boosted wages and expanded, and a middle-class family of four will keep an extra $2,144 of their hard-earned money. Other initiatives have allowed our communities to be safer, veterans to receive better health care, and troops to see their highest pay raise in nine years. There is more to do, but this is good news for our state and country.”
Economy is Better Off Now
In his remarks today and from the U.S. House floor, Rep. Estes touted America’s strong economic indicators including unemployment near an 18-year low, the highest consumer confidence in our economy since October 2000, last month wages grew at the fastest rate in nine years, and the U.S. has more job openings than job seekers for the first time in history. Last quarter, our economy grew at 4.2 percent. During President Obama’s term, growth averaged 1.9 percent.
Rep. Estes credited the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for jumpstarting America’s economy by doubling the standard deduction and child tax credit, eliminating the individual mandate penalty, and cutting individual tax rates across the board. This year, a middle-class family of four in Kansas will keep an extra $2,144 of their paycheck. Cutting corporate tax rates from 35 percent, the fourth highest rate in the world, to 21 percent has allowed more than 700 companies around the country to expand and boost wages. In Kansas’ 4th district, Rep. Estes pointed out that Legacy Bank, Textron Aviation, Wichita Railways Services, Fidelity Bank, Cox Communications, Mahaney Roofing, Spirit AeroSystems, and BG Products have all announced bonuses or increased investments due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Families are Better Off Now
Rep. Estes said families throughout Kansas and the U.S. are better off now thanks to expanded family savings programs for education and retirement, investments in rural broadband access, and efforts to reduce crime in communities. This year the House has passed bills to end human trafficking, including the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, and the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act which have been signed into law. As a result, online advertising for commercial sex trafficking has gone down by 60-80 percent. Congress has also invested $4 billion to address the opioid epidemic and in June, the House passed 58 bills to combat the epidemic. This was the most significant effort in Congress against a single drug crisis in history.
Veterans and Military are Better Off Now
This year Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, which revolutionizes health care for veterans by streamlining services and ensuring veterans get the care they deserve from the VA or their private doctor closer to home. In addition, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act passed in Congress is helping establish affordable housing communities for senior citizens and veterans. Last month, Rep. Estes attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of those communities specifically designed for veterans in Valley Center.
For our Armed Forces, the National Defense Authorization Act passed this year provides our troops the largest pay raise in nine years, invests $700 billion to rebuild the military, supports KC-46 tankers for McConnell Air Force Base, and funds CH-53K and more F-35s, which helps local manufacturers like Spirit AeroSystems and Globe Engineering.
"All together, these actions have encouraged rapid growth in our economy, security for our families, and support for our veterans and military," Rep. Estes continued. "We know there is more to do. That’s why later this month, I am glad we will debate Tax Reform 2.0 to unleash another round of economic growth. But today, I’m proud of what we have accomplished to make Americans better off now."
Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.
