When we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back in 2017, it was a game-changer. As a former small business owner and member of Congress, I saw firsthand how our outdated and overcomplicated tax code was holding Americans back. So we rolled up our sleeves, simplified the code, lowered rates and cut through red tape.
And do you know what? It worked.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped spark a resurgence of prosperity, job creation and business confidence across the country. In my home state of Georgia, families kept more of their hard-earned money. Small businesses started hiring and growing again. Wages went up, job openings surged and for the first time in years, the American Dream felt within reach for a lot of folks.
But today, things feel different.
There’s a growing sense of unease across the country. People are feeling the pinch of inflation, the uncertainty of trade disputes and the lingering effects of supply chain disruptions. In rural communities and suburban neighborhoods alike, Americans are wondering what comes next and whether they’ll be able to afford the everyday goods needed in their households.
That uncertainty is real. And it will only grow worse if Congress doesn’t act to make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.
Key provisions of the law are set to expire this year, including lower tax rates for families and critical tax deductions for small businesses. Letting those provisions lapse would amount to a self-inflicted wound, pulling the rug out from under middle-class families and job creators just as they’re seeking to regain their footing.
During my time in Congress, I heard directly from small business owners in places like LaGrange, Columbus and Newnan, Georgia. They told me that President Trump’s tax cuts gave them breathing room and more importantly, fuel for growth. They hired new workers, raised wages and invested in their communities. Families benefited too thanks to a bigger standard deduction and an expanded child tax credit. That’s not abstract policy — that’s real money in people’s pockets.
And now it’s all on the line.
We’ve already seen what uncertainty does. Consumer confidence recently dropped to its lowest point since 1952. Major sectors of the U.S. economy have struggled with shifting trade policies and market uncertainty. And after weathering a pandemic, supply shortages and rising costs, many small businesses are just trying to keep going.
What helped carry them through? The tax cuts and regulatory reforms that previously gave them a cushion and the confidence to keep investing and growing.
That confidence matters.
When small business owners know what to expect, they plan. They take smart risks. But when Washington sends mixed signals or threatens to undo what’s working, that confidence disappears and so does opportunity.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about common sense.
We’ve seen the jobs created, the wages rise and the economy grow when we empower families and businesses to succeed. Reverting to higher tax rates and burdensome regulations would be a step backward and one we simply can’t afford in today’s climate.
As a former member of Congress, I’m no longer casting votes. But I still care deeply about the future of this country and the families working hard every day to build a better life. I’ve always believed America’s best days are ahead of us — but only if we make the right choices now.
Making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent is one of those choices. It’s a proven policy that delivered results. Locking it in will give families and small businesses the stability they need to thrive in an uncertain world.
Let’s give Americans what they deserve: a tax code that works for them, not against them, and the confidence to dream big, invest boldly and build a stronger future.
Drew Ferguson is former member of Congress representing Georgia’s Third Congressional District and now serves as an advisory board member of the Coalition for an Affordable and Secure Economy (CASE) for America.