{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.speaker.gov/general/highlights-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-open-conference-meeting", "Highlights from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Open Conference Meeting", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "WI", "Paul Ryan", "R000570", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday, members of the House-Senate conference committee convened in the Capitol for a public meeting on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In case you missed Taxmas, here are the highlights of the conferees\u2019 opening statements:\nChairman Kevin Brady: \u201cWe decided not only what we wanted our tax code to stand for, but who it would stand with. Whether that was Washington special interests or all the workers, families, and local job creators. . . . We chose the American people.\u201d\nRep. Devin Nunes: \u201cAt the end of the day we must simply ask ourselves whether we want to stick with today\u2019s complex, punitive, and unfair tax code. Or take the courageous step necessary to unshackle our economy to the benefit of all Americans.\u201d\nRep. Peter Roskam: \u201cWe are talking about a trajectory that will impact our nation like no other vote that Congress is going to take.\u201d\nRep. Diane Black: \u201cWe\u2019ve been preparing for a long time for this day. . . . We knew this was our year to finally make tax reform a reality.\u201d\nRep. Kristi Noem: \u201cWe have to make sure that our farmers, and our ranchers, and our small businesses can thrive under this new tax code.\u201d\nRep. Rob Bishop: \u201cIt will produce increases in energy, at the same time, it will help cut taxes for average, middle-income American families. That\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do.\u201d\nRep. Don Young: \u201c[We need the] opportunity to advance [our economy] so we can have the real jobs, not the government jobs. . . . This bill does that.\u201d\nRep. Fred Upton: \u201cI\u2019ve personally heard countless stories from folks across Michigan impacted by a tax code that\u2019s outdated, unwieldy, and too often rewards those at the very top at the cost of regular folks.\u201d\nRep. John Shimkus: \u201cI\u2019m hoping that I can finally start sending [postcards]\u00a0. . .\u00a0to my constituents . . .\u00a0for them to file their tax returns on.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.speaker.gov/general/highlights-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-open-conference-meeting"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7201188020408154, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}