Senator Britt helps block Schumer's tax bill

Washington, D.C., August 1, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) released the following statement after voting against Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-New York) attempt to rush a tax package through the Senate that most Republicans viewed as being flawed.

"I support several provisions in the tax package, including restoring full expensing of the research and development tax credit and the goal of supporting children and their families," said Sen. Britt. "However, I cannot support ramming through a bill that would have serious unintended consequences. On top of its significant cost, fundamentally flawed pay-for, and weak work requirements, the bill would incentivize more people to illegally cross the U.S. southern border and benefit off of the American taxpayer-all while America already faces a mass migration crisis due to the Biden-Harris Administration's reckless policies. Senator Schumer should allow this bill to go through the Senate Finance Committee, where critical flaws and loopholes can be fixed so we ensure the tax code truly benefits American families and businesses."

Senate Majority Leader Schumer bypassed traditional committee process to force a procedural vote on this tax package without allowing for a committee hearing or debate. He also would not provide assurances of an open amendment process on the Senate floor. Independent Senators Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Joe Manchin (West Virginia) joined with Republicans to effectively kill Schumer's bill.

Both opportunities would have allowed for Senators to negotiate through regular order, consider, and vote on changes to correct the critical flaws in the bill. Furthermore, Senator Schumer has scheduled this bill as the last vote before he sends the Senate home for five weeks.

Senator Britt emphasized that she does support the Child Tax Credit and the benefit it provides to America's working families. She stressed that she opposes the components of the bill that weaken work requirements given that today's U.S. labor force participation rate below the long-term average, it is far from time to reduce work requirements. The legislation also would enable illegal aliens to receive the tax credit – a provision she cannot support.

Senator Britt emphasized that she supports a long-term solution to addressing the three expiring business tax provisions in the bill. When they were originally passed under President Trump, these tax provisions created substantial growth opportunities across the U.S. economy and were important to small businesses in Alabama because they allowed businesses to plan for more than one year. Senator Britt promised to fight to ensure Congress passes a more permanent solution to bring long-term tax relief and certainty to Alabama businesses and working families.

With the Senate poised to go on a five week break for incumbents to campaign, there is a very limited window for the Senate to address this issue, the budget, and the NDAA before the end of the fiscal year on September 30