{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398915", "Upton Applauds Passage of Landmark Tax Reform Legislation", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today applauded the passage of landmark tax reform legislation, H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. \r\n\u201cThis historic tax reform package will lower individual income tax rates except for the top bracket, simplify the entire code, create jobs, and boost our Southwest Michigan economy,\u201d said Upton. \u201cIt will specifically help Michigan middle-class families by increasing the standard deduction and expanding the Child Tax Credit. The current tax code is indefensible. I haven\u2019t met a single person or visited a single small business that thinks the status quo is acceptable. The time for tax reform and relief is now \u2013 and we are delivering on our promise. Bottom line: This tax plan will put more money in the pockets of Michigan families and I\u2019m hopeful we can get something to the president\u2019s desk before the end of the year.\u201d\r\n\u201cI want to applaud Congressman Upton for helping get this important tax update through the House,\u201d said Chris Heugal, president of the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce in St. Joseph. \u201cThese actions will help improve our local small business community and overall economic environment.\u201d \r\n\u201cThe State of Michigan has made extraordinary strides to attract business,\u201d added Rob Cleveland, president of Cornerstone Alliance, the economic development agency for St. Joseph. \u201cToday\u2019s passing of the corporate income tax reform legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives makes the country more competitive and will benefit Michigan as we continue to win more industry.\u201d \r\n\u201cThe greatest force for changing the lives of Americans is jobs,\u201d concluded Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, the economic development group in Kalamazoo. \u201cThis tax reform will create more and better jobs for Americans and reignite the American dream.\u201d \r\nAccording to a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act will lead to the creation of an additional 29,168 jobs and raise after-tax incomes for Michigan middle-class families by more than $2,000. See more tax reform numbers here.\r\nAmong many important provisions, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lowers individual tax rates to Zero, 12%, 25%, and 35% and maintains the top rate of 39.6%.\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Roughly doubles the Standard Deduction \u2013 from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples.\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Establishes a new Family Credit \u2013 which includes expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $1,600 for each child. \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Preserves the Adoption Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Preserves the deduction for charitable contributions and the home mortgage interest deduction and protects the first $10,000 in property tax deductions. \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reduces the top tax rate on pass through business (small business) to no more than 25%.\u00a0 \r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax. \r\nThe Tax Cuts & Jobs Act is supported by groups such as Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayer Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, National Retail Federation, American Trucking Association, Consumer Technology Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, and more.\u00a0 \r\nLearn more about tax reform here.", 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": ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398915"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7608318701386452, "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"}