Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Ferguson), the chief deputy whip and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Federation of Independent Business, the Nation's leading small business advocacy group underscoring how this proposed bill will impose a small business surtax on already struggling mom-and-pop shops across America.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), the ranking member of the Select Revenue Subcommittee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from American Farm Bureau who represents nearly 6 million families and American farmers asking us to reject passage of this bill due to inflation and how this hurts America's farmers. American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, DC, November 16, 2021. Hon. ___ House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the Farm Bureau's nearly 6-million member families, I write to urge you to oppose the Build Back Better Act, a piece of legislation that raises taxes and spends more taxpayer money at a time our country can afford to do neither. Inflation is driving up costs across the economy, and greatly increased federal spending is a contributing factor. Federal policy choices have raised energy prices, leading to higher costs for everything from food to used cars. And yet this legislation will further exasperate that pain through a methane tax on oil and gas. The Consumer Price Index is at a 31-year high, and unlikely to reach historical norms any time soon, having risen 6.2% since this time last year. Inflation is a hefty tax on every American's paycheck. While certain funding increases or newly created programs may, by themselves, be commendable, the totality of the increased federal spending in this bill coupled with the enormously burdensome tax increases leveled on businesses and individuals to pay for it will stifle economic growth and destroy jobs. Ultimately, the result could be the consolidation or sale of family farms and ranches. The legislation also seeks to raise revenue by increasing fines and penalties as much as ten times their current amount for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The missteps of farmers and ranchers when navigating complex, oftentimes onerous regulations and laws should not serve as a funding mechanism. While Farm Bureau does not condone bad actors when it comes to appropriately managing safety, the seasonal workforce, and employee pay on the farm, fines associated with OSHA, FLSA, or MSPA violations should not be determined based on their ability to serve as a pay-for in a partisan legislative process. If enacted, these provisions could put well-meaning farmers and ranchers out of business. While some elements of the reconciliation package would benefit agriculture, the massive amount of spending and tax increases required to pay for the plan outweigh the gains we would see in rural America. Also, the manner in which they were crafted is concerning. The agriculture industry and the committees of jurisdiction have held to a long tradition of bipartisanship that we have seen erode over this past year. We hope this does not negatively impact future farm policy discussions. In addition, the best policy is that which is discussed in an open and transparent manner with input from a variety of stakeholders. Reconciliation has been anything but transparent with billions of dollars not even discussed by the committees of jurisdiction. This should concern all advocates of good and responsible government. The economy is still recovering from the pandemic, supply chains are stressed, and inflation is putting pressure on America's pocketbooks. Now is not the time to put an additional burden on families struggling to make ends meet. After watching months of contentious, partisan debate surrounding the Build Back Better Act, Farm Bureau can only stand in opposition to the legislation. Respectfully, Zippy Duvall, President.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), who is a key member on the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, I have a whole host of organizations, coalitions, patient groups, health advocacy groups, institutions, associations, and small businesses who have vehemently opposed and raised alarming concerns about this bill. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record that list. List of Opposing Organizations Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, Altria; America's Business Benefit Association, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging and Health Groups, Color of Crohn's and Chronic Illness, Communicating for America, Inc.; Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Conservatives for Property Rights, Council for Affordable Health Coverage, debra of America, Global Colon Cancer Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute, International Cancer Advocacy Network, Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, MLD Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, Noah's Hope--Hope4Bridget Foundation, Rare Access Action Project, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, SYNGAPl Foundation, The Ryan Foundation, Taylor's Tale, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), American Bankers Association, American Builders and Contractors, American Chemistry Council, American Dental Association, American Gas Association. American Mold Builders Association, American Pet Products Association, American Soybean Association, American Subcontractors Association, American Trucking Associations, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of Truckstop Operators, SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers, Truckload Carriers Association, Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Associated Builders and Contractors, Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), Business Roundtable, Center for Individual Freedom, Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), Chamber of Commerce, Comcast Corporation, Council for Affordable Health Coverage, National Association of Manufacturers, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Energy Marketers of America, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) The Americas, FreedomWorks, Gas and Oil Assoication of West Virginia, Shale Coalition, Ohio Oil and Gas Association. Global Cold Chain Alliance, Independent Community Bankers of America, Independent Electrical Contractors, Independent Petroleum Association, International Franchise Association (IFA), John Deere, Main Street Employers, Medicare Access for Patients Rx Coalition (MAPRx), Motion Picture Association, National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Realtors, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA), National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), National Infusion Center Association, National Marine Distributors Association, National Mining Association, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, National Small Business Association, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association; National Taxpayers Union, National Tooling and Machining Association. NATSO, Representing America's Travel Plazas and Truck Stops, New Jersey Business Coalition, North American Die Casting Association, Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio Farm Bureau, Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association, Precision Machined Products Association, Precision Metalforming Association, Promote America's Competitive Economy (PACE) Coalition, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Retail Industry Leaders Association, Rheumatology community, S Corporation Association, Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART), SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers, Small Business Council of America (SBCA), Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), Specialty Equipment Market Association, Susan B. Anthony List, Symetra, The Credit Union National Association (CUNA), The Integrated Canada-U.S. Automotive Industries, Tire Industry Association (TIA), United Veterinary Services Association, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Petroleum Institute, Chemical Fabrics and Film Association, Communications Cable Connectivity Association, EPS Industry Alliance, Extruded Polystyrene Foam Association, Flexible Packaging Association. Foodservice Packaging Institute, International Sleep Products Association, Manufacturers Association for Plastics, Processors Motor Equipment, Manufacturers Association, National Association for PET Container Resources, National Association of Chemical Distributors, National Association of Manufacturers, Plastic Pipe Institute, Plastics Industry Association, Plumbing Manufacturers International Polyurethane Foam Association, PRINTING United Alliance, Produce Marketing Association, Single Ply Roofing Industry, Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association, Vinyl Institute American Hotel and Lodging Association, American Resort Development Association, American Seniors Housing Association, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, CCIM Institute, Council for Rural and Affordable Housing, CRE Finance Council, ICSC, Institute of Real Estate Management, Leading Builders of America, Manufactured Housing Institute, Mortgage Bankers Association, NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Nareit, National Apartment Association, National Multifamily Housing Council, REALTORS Land Institute, Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS, The Real Estate Roundtable, Wine Spirits, Wholesalers of America, National Beer Wholesalers Association.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 381.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the chief minority whip of the Republican Conference.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), Republican leader of our Conference.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 357; Yea on Roll Call No. 359; YEA on Roll Call No. 360; YEA on Roll Call No. 361; YEA on Roll Call No. 362; YEA on Roll Call No. 363; YEA on Roll Call No. 364; YEA on Roll Call No. 365; and YEA on Roll Call No. 366.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 342; YEA on Roll Call No. 346; YEA on Roll Call No. 347; and YEA on Roll Call No. 349.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 341.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 338.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unexpectedly withheld. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on rollcall No. 330, and NAY on rollcall No. 331.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I was unexpectedly witheld. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 318.