Congresswoman Miller, Chairman Smith Hold First Ways and Means Hearing of the 118th Congress in Petersburg, West Virginia
February 6, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and House Committee on Ways and Means held their first field hearing on the State of the American Economy: Appalachia in Petersburg, West Virginia.
Congresswoman Miller welcomed the Ways and Means Committee to West Virginia and highlighted how small businesses and families had been forgotten by the Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress. Congresswoman Miller discussed how communities, specifically rural communities are struggling in the wake of the reckless spending in Washington D.C.
Remarks As Prepared For Delivery:
“Thank you, Chairman Smith. I would like to start by first thanking our hosts at Allegheny Wood Products and welcoming my colleagues to my great home state of West Virginia. Although there are many challenges we face, I truly believe there is no better place to live, work, and raise a family.
I am excited for the opportunity today to highlight some of the stories of hardworking West Virginians, and the unnecessary struggles they face because of an overreaching federal government. I’d like to especially thank our guest speakers, Mr. Plaugher, Ms. Bachman, Mr. McDade, and Mr. Ward, for taking time to join us today. Your voices are essential for the Representatives here today to fight for policies that empower our constituents.
West Virginia faces so many challenges. This is due to the constant attacks on our energy industry from unelected bureaucrats and uninformed lawmakers which have caused untold damage to our communities in Southern West Virginia. The effects of bad policies has been devastating.
Recently, high gas prices and soaring inflation have left our families struggling to make ends meet. An overzealous IRS has targeted working class Americans. President Biden immediately broke his promise to not tax anyone making less than Four-Hundred-Thousand- Dollars, and this administration has surrendered to foreign countries on international tax negotiations.The President has also failed to devise any coherent trade policy, leaving our exports uncompetitive. It’s almost as if Biden is more interested in shipping our jobs overseas, than our products.
According to the Economic Innovation Group, 48 million Americans reside in distressed communities, where nearly a quarter of the population are below the poverty line and more than a third are out of work. While the national economy showed signs of recovery, it was slow to reach communities like mine that had been hit hardest by the Great Recession. Over a decade later, they are still far behind the rest of the country and now reeling from a new economic crisis. We can't let this happen again.
Today’s hearing provides the perfect opportunity to lay out our case for brighter days ahead under Republican leadership. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was essential for the booming economy we had under President Trump. Unemployment reached 50 year lows, ordinary workers had the strongest wage growth of any group, and businesses stopped leaving the U.S. for low tax countries, thus keeping jobs right here in the United States.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also included important provisions, like creating Opportunity Zones, which have promoted businesses to settle right here in Southern West Virginia. According to a recently released report, Close to half (48%) of all Opportunity Zones tracts had received investment from 2017 to 2020 and even more have since then. In fact, West Virginia saw an increase of over 4,000 total business applications last year compared to 2019. Modernizing and improving the successful opportunity zone policy will be essential to continue driving investment to the communities most in need.
I thank you again for the opportunity to highlight my beautiful state Mr. Chairman. I hope you return soon, and I yield back my time.
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