July 31, 2019

Dear Friend,

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump. This historic legislation lowered the income tax rates for families and businesses across the nation. In Mississippi and across America, more take-home pay has enabled families to save money and plan for the future. Scores of companies have used their tax savings to invest in their operations, expand, and create more jobs. This game-changing legislation, combined with regulatory reform, has also made it possible for companies to share their tax savings with employees in the form of added benefits and bigger paychecks. A record-setting economy, combined with the lowest unemployment rate in 50 year, is proof that tax reform is working.

The next step to bring more relief to Americans is to modernize the Internal Revenue Service. This month, H.R. 3151, the Taxpayer First Act of 2019, was signed into law. This bipartisan legislation requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement reforms that will give top priority to the rights and protections of the taxpayer. The agency is required to submit a modernization and restructuring plan to Congress in 2020. To read the full text of the bill, please click on the link.

Frank Fairley, owner of Fairley Wealth Management in Southaven, said the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act has made a huge difference with their customers, "Most of the small businesses in my network appreciate the cuts," Fairley said. "I am also glad to know that there will be more consumer protections required of the Internal Revenue Service. The agency needs to modernize their web presence and make it more user friendly, as should other federal government websites."

ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE

House Small Business Committee Passes Package of Bipartisan Bills to Advance Veteran Entrepreneurship

As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am pleased to announce that five bipartisan bills to create more opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs are one step closer to becoming law. After thorough study, testimonies from witnesses, and listening to our constituents, these bills have passed out of committee. We are committed to making sure our veteran entrepreneurs gain relief from government red tape through commonsense legislation. I am proud to be the lead sponsor for H.R. 1615, the Verification Alignment and Service-Disabled Business Adjustment Act. This bill combines the verification process for veterans offered through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), making it easier for service-disabled veteran small business owners to open and operate a business. To read the full text of the bill, please click on the link.

Stopping Bad Robocalls Act

There is nothing more annoying than repeatedly receiving phone calls or text messages from callers using automatic telephone dialing systems with an artificial or prerecorded voice. Mississippians and all Americans should not have to endure this harassment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has regulations in place to penalize violators, but rapidly changing spoofing techniques needs to be addressed with additional rules and penalties. The House passed, with my support, H.R. 3375, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act of 2019. This bill would give the FCC more authority to target and fine new and repeat offenders. To read the full text of the bill, please click on the link.

assisting our vietnam veterans

It is an honor to be able to assist our veterans who answered the call to serve America. Recently, Vietnam-era War Veteran Michael Judd (Iuka) reached out to our team to apply for a medal as a participant of Operation New Arrival. In 1975, Mr. Judd was among 100 members of the 411th Military Police Company who were assigned to assist in the evacuation of 130,000 Vietnam refugees out of Saigon and into Fort Chaffee, AK. This challenging mission was a success. For this great accomplishment, President Carter awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal - a medal most did not receive because they had already been discharged by 1977.

From top left: Ron Morin (IL), Kenneth Cox (MS),
Edward Klobuchir (PA), and Dave Kempas (OR)

40 years later, members of the 411th formed a Facebook Group and discussions began to get the medal. Their commanding officer, Col. Nicholas J. Hun, U.S. Army (Ret.), joined the effort to help them file the necessary paperwork to prove their participation in Operation New Arrival. I am pleased to report that Mr. Judd received the requested awards he applied for. Our team was also able to assist eleven members of his unit. We will always remember their courage and bravery serving our great nation.

While we can't promise a similar outcome, it is our goal to do all that we can to assist veterans with the services we provide. For more information, please click on the link.

corridor v - a boost for economic development

Good infrastructure is an essential component to enhance economic development efforts in Mississippi. The cooperation of federal, state, and local officials has enabled our great state to attract numerous companies which provide jobs and improve the quality of life. Last week, Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, and I were pleased to announce the award of a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) $52.4 million grant to build an 8.3-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 76.

This will close the gap between Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi in Blue Springs, Mississippi, and the Toyota-Mazda plant in Huntsville, Alabama. Additionally, this highway construction project will pave the way for other First District industries to more expediently transport products to their customers. To read more details about this project, please click on the link.

congratulations to the tanglefoot trail!

Photo Courtesy: TanglefootTrail.com

Mississippi is fortunate to have a wide variety of recreational attractions which provide for great family fun. The Tanglefoot Trail, located in the First District, has been inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)! Mississippi's 43.6 mile rail-trail offers a scenic ride, run, or walk through Chickasaw, Pontotoc, and Union Counties. Thousands of visitors have enjoyed the Tanglefoot Trail since it opened in 2013. We are proud to see the national spotlight shine on this Mississippi gem!

introducing bobby simmons

I am pleased to introduce you to Bobby Simmons, a University of Mississippi rising junior and summer intern at our Washington, D.C., office. Bobby, the son of Stacy and Kim Simmons, is a 2017 Tupelo Christian Preparatory School graduate. He is majoring in International Studies with minors in Intelligence and Security Studies and Russian. In June, Bobby began his six-week internship with work around the office, running errands for staff, and giving guided tours with constituents. "I have enjoyed working with Rep. Kelly's team and assisting them with their duties," Bobby said. "Giving a tour is the highlight of my day!"

For more information about our internship program, please click on the link.

from the hill - pictures

Sweet Potato Farmer Jamie Earp

Christina Steube (Oxford) and Hanna Stiglets (Gulfport)

Alliance of Specialty Medicine representatives
Gretchen Kimble, ASCRS (Madison) and
Dr. Jason Stacy, AANS/CNS (Tupelo)

SMA Daniel A. Dailey

David and Josh Ashley (Jackson)

Canopy Children's Solutions CEO
Dr. John D. Damon

Radiance Technologies, Inc., CEO William Bailey, Jr.
and William F. Stiers

Shelia Smith, National Science Teaching Association
District VII Director, (MS, LA, AR) and Mississippi Science
Teachers Association Pres. Dr. Joe Sumrall

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, H.E. Abdulaziz
Kamilov, and Senator Sodiq Safoev, the First Deputy
Chairman of the Senate of Uzbekistan and Major Amanda
Villeret, State Partnership Program Director of
the Mississippi National Guard

Jimmy, Hayden, Jennifer, and Madeline Williams (Oxford)

Scott Walker, CEO, Mississippi Economic Council, Mike
Pepper, Exec. Director, Mississippi Road Builders'
Association, Hunter Fordice, President, Fordice Construction
Company, and Steven Warren, President,
Warren Paving Company, Inc.

Trent Lott Leadership Institute students Kristy Want,
Catherine Li, Don Fruge, Mason Bay, and
Amanda Barnett

Mark Elliott, Director of Military & Veterans affairs
for JPMorgan Chase & Company

Mississippi Homelessness Response and Housing
Agencies representatives Marika Baliko, Jarrett
Frierson, Rory Weal, Bethany Latham,
and Hannah Maharrey

H.E. Amb. Sidique About-Bakarr Wai Wai,
Amb. E & P to the U.S.A. from the Rep. of Sierra
Leone, Sheku Mesali, Deputy Chief of Mission
Rep. of Sierra Leone, Alfred Jamiru, Advisor to
the Sierra Leone Amb., and John Coleman, Advisor
to the Sierra Leone Amb.

Dawn and Hannah Blankenship (Saltillo)

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Executive Director Greg Michel, Senior Attorney
Bill Dreher, and Strategic Advisor Bryan Oliver

American Soybean Association Board of Directors
Mississippi member Willard Jack and Mississippi
Soybean Association President Gip Carter

LaRue Peters, LCI Industries Inc. Plant Manager -
Mississippi, and friend, Laurie Phillips

Mississippi FFA Association members Katie Barnes,
James Carpenter, Hayley Hines, Anna Grace
McKinney, and Oscar Martinez

For more photos from a week in pictures, please visit my Facebook Page.

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Member of Congress