WASHINGTON, DC – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today delivered the following closing remarks as the House concluded debate on the Conference Report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

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Chairman Brady’s closing remarks as delivered:

“There is only one fundamental question today – who gets to decide?

“When Americans work hard for their money, who gets to decide what you to do with it? Is it you, or is it some nameless, faceless government worker here in Washington?

“When a family with young children is working feverishly to fund their kids’ future, who gets to decide how they spend their money? Them or Washington?

“The single mom fighting every day trying to get by and give a good life to her daughter, who decrees where her money goes?

“When a Main Street business owner – when they work late into the night and through the weekend, risking every penny they open to reach their dream – who gets that meager profit each day?

“Does it go to you, who earned it – exhausted at the end of a long day? Or is it grabbed by a federal government who doesn’t even know your name – except on April 15th.

“Our communities have watched their companies, jobs, and futures move overseas for too long. Our local businesses, they have been fighting other countries with one hand tied behind their back from an old outdated tax code. They deserve a new tax code that allows them to compete and win anywhere in the world – especially here at home.

“And when they compete and win, who decides where that money goes?

“Today Washington says ‘spend it overseas.’ Our new tax code says ‘bring it home – spend it here in America to grow our jobs, our paychecks, our communities.’

“That’s why this moment is so important.

“Opponents of this tax bill, they don’t really worry about tax cuts for the rich. They worry about tax cuts for you. Because if you spend your money, they can’t.

“If you have the first claim over your earnings, they no longer do.

“And if your dreams come before theirs, everything in Washington changes. Everything.

“Given a choice between the federal government and you, we choose you – hardworking American taxpayers.

“We choose you, the only special interest that truly matters.

“Americans deserve a tax code for new era of American prosperity. We deliver on that promise – because it’s your money.”