Crapo Statement at Nominations Hearing
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nominations of William Kimmitt to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and Kenneth Kies to serve as the Assistant Treasury Secretary for Tax Policy.
As prepared for delivery:
“This meeting will come to order. Thank you to our nominees, Mr. Kimmitt and Mr. Kies, for being here today. Congratulations on your nominations and thank you both for your willingness to serve.
“Today, we will first hear from William Kimmitt, who is nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.
“If confirmed, Mr. Kimmitt will oversee the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration—or ITA. Importantly, the ITA promotes market access and redresses unfair trade practices. Both functions are critical to American prosperity.
“In terms of market access, American farmers and manufacturers win when they have a chance to compete. ITA helps to facilitate those opportunities.
“Our manufacturing and agricultural industries are second to none and we need to make sure they have opportunities to fairly compete at home and abroad.
“Mr. Kimmitt, given your background, I am confident that you will make important contributions to trade. I look forward to working with you, if confirmed.
“Moving to the other nominee before us today, Kenneth Kies, who is nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department.
“The Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy is the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury for analyzing, developing and implementing federal tax policies and programs. Mr. Kies, if confirmed, will be a vital partner in Congress’ efforts to enact pro-growth tax policy and ensure it is properly implemented.
“My Republican colleagues and I are committed to preventing a $4 trillion-plus tax hike on American families and businesses, and to delivering additional tax relief for middle-class workers and families who have struggled to keep up due to historic inflation over the last four years.
“We are also committed to making permanent the proven tax policy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Making this tax policy permanent will provide the certainty that businesses need to make long-term investments that drive growth, and will also provide the stability that families need as they save and plan for the future.
“Fear-mongering and mischaracterization aside, the generational reforms we made in 2017 strengthened investment, boosted economic growth, increased take-home pay and reduced poverty.
“The TCJA made the tax code more progressive, helped all Americans keep more of their hard-earned money, and fostered a growing economy that powered median household income to an all-time high.
“Permanently extending and building upon our current tax framework is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for working families.
“Mr. Kies’ wealth of experience in the world of tax policy makes him eminently qualified to assist us in this effort.
“Mr. Kies spent a total of 47 years as a tax attorney. His experience covers every aspect of the Internal Revenue Code and, since 1981, he has been involved in every significant piece of federal tax legislation. He also has a first-hand understanding of the legislative process, having served as Chief Tax Counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee and as Chief of Staff on the Joint Committee on Taxation.
“Mr. Kies, if confirmed, I look forward to working with you to deliver on President Trump’s economic agenda.
“Thank you again, Mr. Kimmitt and Mr. Kies, for your time today.”
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