What This Bill Does
This resolution expresses Congress's opposition to a proposed national sales tax called the FairTax Act of 2023. It supports passing a different tax cut that would help middle class families while requiring wealthy people and large corporations to pay more in taxes.
Who It Affects
Working families and middle class households, seniors and retirees, people living on fixed incomes, billionaires and ultra-wealthy individuals, billion-dollar corporations, Social Security recipients, Medicare recipients, Medicaid recipients, servicemembers (military personnel), veterans, and law enforcement.
Key Provisions
• The House strongly opposes H.R. 25, the FairTax Act of 2023, which would create a 30 percent sales tax on all goods and services that would raise prices for hardworking families, seniors and individuals struggling to pay their bills (Resolution statement 1)
• The House supports passing a responsible tax cut that would benefit hardworking families and grow the middle class while making ultra-wealthy people and billion-dollar corporations pay their fair share (Resolution statement 2)
• The House opposes using cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or military and veteran pay and benefits to pay for any tax cuts (Resolution statement 3)
What Changes
Not specified in bill text. This is a resolution expressing the House's position on tax policy rather than a law that creates direct changes.
Important Definitions
None defined.
IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 212
Opposing a national sales tax on working families and supporting a tax
cut to benefit the middle class.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 8, 2023
Mr. NICKEL (for himself, Mr. SORENSEN, and Ms. PETTERSEN) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce,
Armed Services, Veterans’ Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned
RESOLUTION
Opposing a national sales tax on working families and
supporting a tax cut to benefit the middle class.
Whereas hardworking families have faced significant eco-
nomic challenges over the past few years, including high
gas prices, rising costs for groceries, and increasing rent
and home prices due to record-high inflation;
Whereas elected leaders should be working to relieve individ-
uals in the United States of the financial pressure at the
kitchen table, and pass legislation that brings down costs
rather than raises prices;
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•HRES 212 IH
Whereas Republicans in Congress have introduced and plan
to consider H.R. 25, the FairTax Act of 2023, which
would impose a new national sales tax and increase the
price of all goods and services by 30 percent;
Whereas, under this legislation, it is estimated that, for a
family in the United States—
(1) the average yearly grocery bill would rise by
$3,500;
(2) the cost of buying a car would go up $10,000;
and
(3) the cost of buying a home would increase by
$125,000;
Whereas the price increases brought on by the FairTax Act
of 2023 would disproportionately impact retirees, seniors,
and those living on a fixed income by raising prices on
individuals whose incomes will remain flat as prices rise;
Whereas this misguided legislation, which places a financial
burden on seniors and hardworking families, also elimi-
nates all income taxes for the ultra-rich;
Whereas in recent years, Republicans in Congress have given
massive tax cuts to billionaires and giant corporations at
the expense of middle class families;
Whereas Republicans in Congress have suggested paying for
past tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy by
cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid;
Whereas Democrats in Congress passed the largest middle
class tax cut in generations through the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 4),
which expanded the earned income tax credit and the
child tax credit, cutting child poverty nearly in half in
2021; and
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•HRES 212 IH
Whereas individuals in the United States deserve real bipar-
tisan tax reform and a simpler, fairer tax code aimed at
supporting the middle class: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
1
(1) strongly opposes H.R. 25, the FairTax Act
2
of 2023, which would impose an effective 30 percent
3
sales tax on all goods and services, raising prices for
4
hardworking families, seniors, and other individuals
5
in the United States working to make ends meet;
6
(2) supports the passage of a responsible tax
7
cut that would actually benefit hardworking families
8
and grow the middle class, while making the ultra-
9
wealthy and billion-dollar corporations pay their fair
10
share; and
11
(3) opposes paying for any tax cuts with cuts
12
to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, or cuts to
13
pay and benefits for our servicemembers, veterans,
14
or law enforcement.
15
Æ
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