CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). This legislation is the first major overhaul of the country's tax code in over thirty years. Family Research Council (FRC) supported the House passed version of H.R. 1. FRC also announced yesterday plans to score amendments to the Senate version of the bill. FRC did score in favor of the Cruz Amendment. FRC intended to score the Daines Amendment, but it was not offered.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:
“The Senate now joins the House in approving the most significant tax relief for families in more than three decades. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will make it easier for families to thrive and that benefits everyone. Stronger families mean a stronger economy.
“The Senate bill alleviates marriage penalties which are so prevalent in the tax code -- something that’s been advocated for decades by Family Research Council to promote what is the best environment for children. Increasing the child tax credit provides immediate relief for parents and will bolster the economy further as these children become taxpayers one day.
“We supported Senator Daines's effort to apply the child tax credit to unborn children, and are disappointed that procedural hurdles prevented that from happening and also required removal of unborn children from 529 education savings accounts which the House had passed. We think common sense shows that unborn children should qualify for a child tax credit and that moms and dads who begin planning and preparing for their baby should be able to provide for their education as soon as they learn about their pregnancy.
"Passage of Senator Cruz's amendment to allow 529 savings accounts to be applied to homeschooling and K-12 schools is a great victory for the millions of moms and dads who choose to send their child to either a private, religious, or public K-12 schools, or to pay for the expenses associated with homeschooling. We are very grateful to Vice President Mike Pence for breaking the tie vote on this amendment.
“We are confident that when the final bill emerges from conference, that it will also include language repealing the infamous Johnson amendment, a law that has been used by the IRS to intimidate non-profit organizations and churches that speak about policy issues. We are also hopeful the itemizing for charitable deductions will be restored to the final bill.
“Senators Ted Cruz and Steve Daines worked tirelessly on amending this bill to improve it for moms and dads and all their children. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Enzi who shepherded this bill through passage deserve praise for their efforts to help the families with this bill. We look forward to President Trump signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law and giving Americans fuller wallets and freer speech,” concluded Perkins.
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