Congressman Gonzalez Opposes Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Conference Report

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) made the following statement on the House of Representatives' passage of the Conference Report for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act today. The House adopted the bill by a vote of 227 in favor and 203 opposed. Below is Congressman Gonzalez's statement:

"The desire to reform our tax system transcends party lines and political affiliations – it is something many of us agreed was long overdue. From the beginning, I called on Congressional leadership to come together and negotiate a package that would grow our nation's economy, streamline the tax code, and provide relief to small business owners. I was disappointed to see that the conference report for what should be landmark legislation did not satisfy these criteria, and after careful review, I determined that I could not vote for it.

"As a member of Congress, I have an obligation to support policies that improve the fiscal health of our country and a responsibility to oppose efforts that shortchange the American people. I cannot endorse legislation that would penalize small businesses or result in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or any other vital program that South Texans rely on."

"Furthermore, I am deeply troubled by the new status quo of rushing major legislation through Congress without thoughtful consideration and bipartisan compromise. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject this bill so that we can go back to the drawing board and craft meaningful reforms that benefit American families and small businesses."