Larson Among Bipartisan Ways and Means Members Who Met With Trump

Statement

Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01), member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Social Security, released the following statement after meeting with President Trump along with bipartisan Committee members to discuss the need for tax reform that focuses on the middle class.

"In today's meeting on tax reform, we made clear that our goals remain revenue and distributional neutrality. The President assured us that tax reform would benefit lower and middle income Americans and also make U.S. companies more competitive and fuel economic growth. We don't want a repeat of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, where it was advertised that tax cuts were for everybody, but in fact, those at the top did well and those at the bottom received minor relief. If we are to generate real growth for our economy, we must implement tax reform that comes from the middle out and not from the top down. It was encouraging to hear the President express his willingness to work in a bipartisan manner on tax reform.

"We discussed the two issues that would come through the Ways and Means Committee, tax reform and infrastructure. I spoke with the President about a robust infrastructure package citing the conditions of the Hartford and East Hartford levees and the need to replace the I-84/I-91 interchange in Hartford with a tunnel system, which would ease congestion and be a boon for commerce along the Hartford riverfront. The President agreed there would be a robust infrastructure package as he has long said that the nation's infrastructure is a priority for his office. Democrats raised the concern that the plan should be paid for up front so that we don't leave a debt for future generations to pay. It is my belief that tax reform is an opportunity to both raise the revenue for an infrastructure plan and build up the middle-class.

"I was pleased to hear that the President will be going to Puerto Rico Tuesday, and that he is directing his efforts towards the relief and recovery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He understands that more funding will be needed to help our fellow Americans," said Larson.

The Ways and Means Committee will be taking up tax reform in the coming weeks. Larson feels there is potential to link the efforts in a bipartisan effort in order to lower taxes and rebuild our country's infrastructure. Earlier this month, Larson held a press conference with Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Democrat Peter DeFazio (D-OR) in Hartford where they announced their support of the I-84/I-91 tunnel proposal in person.

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