The road ahead for tax reform

The road ahead for tax reform After a busy week of discussions and compromise, Senate Republicans backed up a major promise to the American people by passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act early Saturday morning. The bill now advances to a congressional conference committee, which will reconcile any differences between the Senate's version and similar legislation passed by the House last month. This process—an indispensable component of American democracy—will ensure that all voices are heard and that the final product sent to President Donald J. Trump later this month is the bill's strongest version yet. The President applauds the Senate for its work and looks forward to signing this momentous tax cut into law in time for Christmas. Click here to read the full statement on the Senate vote. What President Trump will tell Utah today President Trump will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, today to deliver an important message at the State Capitol. In April, the President ordered an extensive review of all large federal land expansions made since 1996 under the Antiquities Act—a 1906 law intended to safeguard national monuments that's become a pretext for massive federal land grabs. That report will be released this week. When the President goes to Utah today, he will lay out his proclamation to modify the boundaries for both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments, explaining how certain past abuses of the Antiquities Act have harmed local communities. It's an important decision worth illuminating clearly. Here's what the President's proclamation does: Corrects past federal overreach Protects objects of national significance and prioritizes public access Facilitates infrastructure upgrades and maintenance Ensures tribal cultural use Protects hunting and fishing rights Here's what it doesn't do: Sell public lands wholesale Close or shrink national parks Drill for oil in national parks Leave tribal artifacts or fossils unprotected Watch the President's speech live at 3:30 p.m. EST today. December update on the President's nominations On Friday, President Trump sent 12 nominations to the Senate for approval, including Jeffrey DeWit of Arizona to be chief financial officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, James Williams of Utah to be chief financial officer of the Department of Labor, and Mark Schneider of the District of Columbia to be director of the Institute of Education Science at the Department of Labor. Last week, President Trump nominated respected monetary economist Marvin Goodfriend of Pennsylvania to become a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. View the full list of nominations here. Photo of the Day President Donald J. Trump boards Marine One | December 2, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) POTUS TODAY President Trump is traveling to Utah today, where he will meet with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before giving remarks at the Utah State Capitol this afternoon. COMING UP The President will host Senate leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House tomorrow, while Vice President Mike Pence travels to Capitol Hill to join the Senate Republican Policy Committee's weekly lunch. On Wednesday, the President will hold a meeting of his Cabinet at the White House. Special Note The Spring 2018 White House Internship Program is now open for applications through January 12. Read more about the program and apply—or pass the link along to someone who can!—here.