According to a press release on January 19, 2016, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) announced that the Committee will hold its first hearing of the year Tuesday, January 26, 2016.

The hearing will focus on pro-growth policies that will help create jobs, increase paychecks, and expand opportunities. The Ways and Means Committee’s priorities for 2016 largely follow those already laid out by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI), who wants the committee to focus on reforming the tax code, repealing the Affordable Care Act, opening trade possibilities, and reforming welfare programs.

According to George L. Yaksick, Jr., Walters Kluwer News Staff, earlier in January, speaking at an event in Washington D.C., Brady called for a “fairer, flatter, simpler tax code.” He added that he wants to close unspecified loopholes and ease the tax burden on small businesses. Brady has also indicated that he will oppose higher taxes on U.S. energy production.