Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-15

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT

HealthcareEconomyTaxesForeign PolicyTrade

Context

On 2026-04-15, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) delivered a floor speech titled "WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT" in the Senate. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered the economy, taxes. It referenced legislation including S1748, S1749.

Full Text

WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1748-S1749] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on tax day, not a single American would say that tax day is their favorite date on the calendar. Republicans, however, seem to think today will mark an inflection point in their political fortunes. Evidently, they haven't been paying much attention. When Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, they promised Americans that their tax refunds would grow [[Page S1749]] by a thousand dollars, on average. Well, the results are in, and the massive tax relief Republicans promised has turned out to be a dud. Refunds, on average, have changed only by a third, about $350, and Americans need every penny they can get, but a couple of hundred dollars doesn't go very far on a tax break when the average American family will pay an extra $2,000 on tariff taxes and $740 this year to fill up their tank. That is right. Donald Trump's war in Iran alone has wiped out any tax refund Americans will see this year. Let me say that again: Donald Trump's war in Iran alone has wiped out any extra tax refund Americans will see this year, and that is not including all the increases they are paying because of tariffs and higher electric bills and what they are doing to healthcare. No wonder only one in four Americans believe the One Big Beautiful Bill is helpful, only one in four. That means there are some Republicans who don't like it. Seven in ten Americans, meanwhile, say they are still paying too much in taxes. Seven in ten Americans say they are paying too much in taxes while the ultrawealthy aren't paying their fair share. And they are right. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill has been a dud for working families, but millionaires got a $300,000 tax cut. Big corporations got a tax cut of $65 billion. Republicans want to call their bill a working- and middle-class tax cut, but truth be told, it should be called a massive giveaway to the ultra-ultrawealthy. The lion's share of the benefits go to those at the very top, while inflation and Trump's war has eviscerated any shred of benefit felt by the rest of Americans. That is not tax relief. That is not tax relief. That is a brazen betrayal of working Americans. If Republicans think that rebranding their toxic bill will make Americans forget the economic pit that Trump and the Republicans pushed them into, they will be sorely mistaken. ____________________

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WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S1748-S1749] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUT ACT Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on tax day, not a single American would say that tax day is their favorite date on the calendar. Republicans, however, seem to think today will mark an inflection point in their political fortunes. Evidently, they haven't been paying much attention. When Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, they promised Americans that their tax refunds would grow [[Page S1749]] by a thousand dollars, on average. Well, the results are in, and the massive tax relief Republicans promised has turned out to be a dud. Refunds, on average, have changed only by a third, about $350, and Americans need every penny they can get, but a couple of hundred dollars doesn't go very far on a tax break when the average American family will pay an extra $2,000 on tariff taxes and $740 this year to fill up their tank. That is right. Donald Trump's war in Iran alone has wiped out any tax refund Americans will see this year. Let me say that again: Donald Trump's war in Iran alone has wiped out any extra tax refund Americans will see this year, and that is not including all the increases they are paying because of tariffs and higher electric bills and what they are doing to healthcare. No wonder only one in four Americans believe the One Big Beautiful Bill is helpful, only one in four. That means there are some Republicans who don't like it. Seven in ten Americans, meanwhile, say they are still paying too much in taxes. Seven in ten Americans say they are paying too much in taxes while the ultrawealthy aren't paying their fair share. And they are right. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill has been a dud for working families, but millionaires got a $300,000 tax cut. Big corporations got a tax cut of $65 billion. Republicans want to call their bill a working- and middle-class tax cut, but truth be told, it should be called a massive giveaway to the ultra-ultrawealthy. The lion's share of the benefits go to those at the very top, while inflation and Trump's war has eviscerated any shred of benefit felt by the rest of Americans. That is not tax relief. That is not tax relief. That is a brazen betrayal of working Americans. If Republicans think that rebranding their toxic bill will make Americans forget the economic pit that Trump and the Republicans pushed them into, they will be sorely mistaken. ____________________