Neal Opening Statement at Markup of Tax and Trade Legislation

(As prepared for delivery)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Before I begin, this week, an esteemed member of the Ways and Means Staff will head to the Biden Administration to lead textile negotiations for the United States Trade Representative. Katherine White has been a dedicated and diligent staffer, and her work on the frontlines of negotiating USMCA make her the perfect pick for this role. Katie, you will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the best in this next chapter.

Now turning to today's markup. Sadly, today is another rushed, partisan markup of do-nothing, unvetted legislation that had there been a real negotiation could've been bipartisan.

The Ways and Means Committee has a long tradition of bipartisanship, particularly on trade. When Putin launched his unprovoked war on Ukraine, this Committee quickly worked together to suspend normal trading relations. We've worked together on several iterations of legislation to strengthen our relationship with Taiwan. Not only can it be done again, but it should.

To seriously legislate, there must be a real desire for bipartisanship, and putting in the time to send proposals back and forth, seek proper consultation from the many stakeholders, and ultimately, the will to compromise. It always helps to have a pathway into law, which none of these bills have.

Many of the issues before us today are ripe for action, and Democrats have a demonstrated interest, but changing text less than 24 hours before this markup and announcing your changes publicly in a hearing isn't how you win our support.

For anyone who has seen the bill names today, you may be fooled into thinking this slate of bills is tough on China. Let me tell you though, you can't only talk tough. The Majority affords the ability to legislate tough and today's legislation falls far short of what the American people need.

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program was conceived as a bipartisan, developmental trade program, and I've long said that I want to reauthorize GSP, but it must be done with the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Recently, this committee had a major bipartisan accomplishment on tax, which can be unheard of, but it was possible because we paired what my Republican colleagues wanted for business with what we wanted for workers and families. The same approach could've been applied here. Yet this bill is a weak façade for retroactive handouts to corporations with no meaningful consideration given to workers.

Ahead of this markup, I heard from mothers who have lost children to Fentanyl ordered from China and transported by public and private domestic shipping channels right to their homes. And just yesterday, the select China Committee released their report showing that China is actually fueling this crisis. How can the Majority consider their de minimis legislation ready for primetime when it fails to address this? Or what about the influx of gun silencers making their way into Americans' hands from China?

These are major public safety concerns, and we have the power to do something.

We are also living through a pivotal moment for American workers. As companies continue to notch record profits, our workers are reclaiming their rightful place in our economy. Our unions are strong, wages are up, and workers are fighting for the benefits they deserve.

For years, our workers have been asking us to reauthorize TAA, and I just learned of a few new plants closing in districts of members on this Committee. When all you care about is the success and will of big business, you ignore those voices and realities, and can only muster lip-service to workers.

I am pleased that there seems to be some movement from my colleagues on the Inflation Reduction Act. I believe today marks the first time that instead of repealing the legislation, they are attempting to influence its implementation. It's hard to argue with over 270,000 jobs and 520 projects across 47 states and Puerto Rico in less than two years. In President Biden's time in office, we've made unprecedented strides in tackling climate change while growing the clean energy economy.

The Inflation Reduction Act turbocharged our EV and critical minerals supply chains, bolstering domestic manufacturing. Treasury's proposed guidance strikes the proper balance between building out our emerging electric vehicle (EV) market and strengthening our energy security while encouraging diverse and resilient global supply chains. Since President Biden took office, EV sales have more than quadrupled, with over 4.5 million EVs on our roads.

Try as they might, shouting China won't distract the American people from the Majority's inability to legislate. We are on the precipice of another motion to vacate the Republican Speaker, and today's slate of legislation is nothing more than a veneer on getting tough on China by a group that actually has the ability to be tough.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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