Now that children are back in school and August is officially over, we are now looking ahead to what will undoubtedly be a busy fall here in Missouri and in Washington.

Throughout the last few weeks of traveling around the 3^rd District and visiting with people at roundtables, meetings, events, or on my recent telephone town hall, it is been made loud and clear to me that Missourians desperately want comprehensive tax reform. So, it was fitting that President Trump traveled to Missouri this week to discuss his vision for America’s tax system.

I was incredibly encouraged by the President’s speech and I know the 3^rd District agrees. We must lower our nation’s corporate tax rate and make the tax code for individuals and families simpler, flatter, and fairer. To illustrate just how complex the tax code is, since 2001 the tax code has been changed roughly 6,000 times. That’s more the once a day. How are we as citizens supposed to keep up with that? How are our businesses supposed to grow and create more jobs when so much time and money is wrapped up in satisfying the IRS? It’s no surprise that nearly 90 percent of taxpayers need help filing their taxes.

The President is right to call for such aggressive, meaningful changes. The U.S. has massive economic potential just waiting to be unleashed, and our families and businesses deserve a tax system that is easy to negotiate and allows them to keep more of their hard-earned money. I and many of my colleagues in the House are looking forward to working with the administration to see these changes through.

It was a pleasure having President Trump visit our great state to share his goals for our nation and see how hard-working Missourians live. I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer and each of you have a safe and fun Labor Day with friends and family.