House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan hits the right policy notes this morning when he focuses on economic growth during the committee’s first legislative hearing of the year, a session under the rubric, “Moving America Forward.”

Realizing the economy’s full potential should be the nation’s top and bipartisan priority. Despite the ongoing economic recovery, most American families today have less income and less economic security than they did prior to the recession. It's imperative that Congress make a concerted effort to develop policies to promote economic growth and once again place this great nation on a trajectory of economic growth and higher living standards.

BRT’s mission is to support economic growth, and we have developed policy recommendations to achieve that goal, including tax reform, expanded trade, immigration reform and fiscal stability.  One of the quickest ways to spur much-needed economic growth is through tax reform. The U.S. tax system desperately needs to be modernized, giving American businesses the confidence they need to plan for the future, invest and create jobs.

Sustaining economic growth will also require addressing long-term budget challenges. The federal government’s long-term fiscal trajectory is unsustainable and irresponsible. Robust growth policies and major spending reforms are badly needed to address these budget challenges. In the near-term, fiscal priorities should be dealt with through regular order, in a predictable and timely manner, to avoid unnecessary disruption to the economy.