A Conversation with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith on Tax Reform

Alex Brill, Paul Ryan, Robert Doar, Kyle Pomerleau| AEI Event

Event Summary

On March 5, AEI’s Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the House, joined House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith to discuss the upcoming expiration and potential extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Following their conversation, Speaker Ryan moderated a panel on tax policy with AEI’s Alex Brill and Kyle Pomerleau.

The event focused on tax reform options and the legislative process. Chairman Smith and Speaker Ryan discussed potential extension options to the TCJA, President Donald Trump’s tax priorities, and the political will behind tax reform, including the ongoing debate between passing one reconciliation bill that includes tax priorities or two bills that separately contain border and energy provisions and tax provisions. After, Mr. Brill and Mr. Pomerleau commented on Chairman Smith’s remarks, discussing the key goals of tax reform, the ongoing debate on the child tax credit, the state and local taxes cap, individual income tax rates, business tax provisions, and international tax policy. The event concluded with additional discussion on how tax policy can spur economic growth and shape the long-term fiscal outlook.

—Aatman Vakil

Event Description

At the end of 2025, key provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire, including the repeal of personal and dependent exemptions, the expansion of the state and local tax deduction cap, and the child tax credit. Other portions of TCJA, including further lowering the corporate tax rate, are up for negotiation as well.

Please join AEI’s Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the House, in a conversation with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith as they discuss the future of tax reform. Following their conversation, Speaker Ryan will moderate a panel with AEI’s Alex Brill and Kyle Pomerleau.

Find more on the event here.