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Congresswoman Miller began by welcoming Michael Ervin, a West Virginian and founder of the Coal River Coffee Company.
“I especially want to welcome fellow West Virginian Mr. Ervin, of Coal River Coffee Company in St. Albans, which is in my district, for making the trip to Washington and getting an earful of how we do business here. It’s entirely different. It’s just so good to hear the voices of businesses owners from my home state to discuss the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and our Committee’s work to extend key benefits for hardworking Americans like Mr. Ervin and his employees. You are all what make this country great,” said Congresswoman Miller.
Congresswoman Miller highlighted the significance of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how it positively impacts everyone from corporations to individuals.
“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was one of the most important policies passed into law in generations, thanks to the work of President Trump and the united Republican governance in the House and Senate. To this day, the positive impacts of a simpler tax code are still being felt. It is telling that Biden and his liberal colleagues in the House and Senate did not repeal any key provisions of President Trump’s landmark legislation and failed to gain the requisite support within their own party to raise our tax rate or strip small businesses of the fairer treatment that the TCJA provided. Lowering our corporate tax rate to a globally competitive 21 percent has been a key driver in drawing investment to our country and allowing our businesses to reinvest in their employees and communities. I strongly support maintaining this rate,” said Congresswoman Miller.
“Any increase to pay for any industry specific handouts undermines the core tenant of the TCJA, and broadening our tax base and simplifying the tax code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was extremely successful at simplifying the code on the individual side as well. In West Virginia, over 97 percent of filers utilize the increased standard deduction included in the TCJA. This means that more families spend less time worrying about their taxes and have more money in their pockets. At the end of the day, families, large employers, and small businesses all benefited from the passage of the TCJA. In West Virginia, only 98% of our businesses are actually small businesses. The 199(A) small business deduction allows for pass through entities to receive a comparable tax rate to larger corporations, allowing small businesses to stay competitive and reinvest in their employees. I look forward to working with a re-elected President Trump, Chairman Smith, and all my colleagues to extend the essential components of the TCJA and spent the next year hearing from our constituents on how to improve on this essential legislation,” said Congresswoman Miler.
Congresswoman Miller asked Mr. Ervin what the possible outcome would have been on his coffee company if the 199(A) deduction had not been extended.
“Mr. Ervin, can you describe what the impact on Coal River Coffee would be if the 199(A) deduction was not extended?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
“Let me just start off by saying, we’ve only existed since this has existed. When I started my company, I was probably considered low income, and to answer Ms. Sanchez’s question earlier, yes, I’m qualified to answer and speak to these aspects. It created an environment for entrepreneurship in a very depressed and economically depressed state. If we lose that deduction, in particular, it will squelch, it will kill that environment. Not only that, there won’t be as much of an incentive to actually start something and take a risk, maybe take a loan, and do the things that are necessary to create economy and that’s what we’re doing is creating economy, creating jobs, doing what the American dream is. Just like my friend over here, his father started their journey in this dream, and that’s what I’m doing. Hopefully, for my children who are sitting in the back of this right now watching this, they can inherit my business someday. If deduction is not extended, were made permanent, which is what I hope, then me and the other entrepreneurs, business owners in 98% of the business in my state, might have to close and that’s why I’m here today,” responded Mr. Ervin.
Congresswoman Miller ended her questioning by asking Mr. Ervin how he has invested in his community.
“How have you reinvested in your company since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
“We help start organizations. We give money towards title league programs in particular. are these bigger corporations doing that? No, they’re not. We give to almost every sporting team that comes to us. We obviously have our program with the recovery network. We help with organizations that integrate folks with disabilities, we employ folks with disabilities. They love being a part of something that is bigger,” responded Mr. Ervin.