Austin News

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has spoken out against the efforts of Leader Schumer and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden to push through the Tax Relief for American Workers and Families Act without allowing Senators to debate and amend it. Cornyn expressed his concerns about the bill's Child Tax Credit expansion, which is projected to cost over $33 billion in the next three years.

In his remarks, Sen. Cornyn criticized Chairman Wyden for not involving all Senators in the legislative process, stating, “Chairman Wyden has shown zero interest in moving this bill through the Finance Committee and across the floor of the United States Senate, giving all Senators a chance to participate in the process and, hopefully, improve the final outcome.”

Cornyn highlighted his reservations about certain aspects of the bill, particularly the weakened work requirement for the Child Tax Credit. He emphasized the importance of promoting work among able-bodied individuals and expressed concerns about the potential transformation of the Child Tax Credit into a welfare program.

Speaking about the economic implications of the proposed bill, Cornyn warned, “The national debt is increasing by almost a trillion dollars every 100 days, and the permanent tax credit expansion would only fuel the debt crisis we’re facing.” He urged for caution in expanding the tax credit, stating, “We need to pump the brakes on this expansion – this runaway debt train – not stomp on the accelerator, which is what this proposal would do.”

Senator Cornyn made it clear that he will not support moving the bill forward without a fair and inclusive process, stating, “I will not vote to move this bill on the Senate floor until we have a process that allows all Senators to participate, but starting with members of the Senate Finance Committee.” He also criticized the rush to pass the bill without proper debate or amendment, asserting, “The Majority Leader and the Chairman of the Finance Committee want to ram this bill through the Senate without proper debate or amendment, and Republicans must not allow that to happen.”

The Senator's remarks underscore the heated debate surrounding the Tax Relief for American Workers and Families Act, highlighting the need for a transparent and participatory legislative process.