Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today we gather as a grieving delegation and as a proud Nation to recognize the life and legacy of our colleague and friend, Congressman Ron Wright. Texas born and bred, Ron worked with and for the people of Texas in some way for the past 21 years. Throughout his courageous battle with lung cancer, his good spirits never faltered, and he remained a steadfast champion of his conservative principles. To many of us, it seemed like Ron never had a bad day. In fact, the last two bills he introduced in Congress protected the unborn and the sanctity of life, something Ron always passionately supported. Think about that. As his life was waning, he was protecting the lives of the innocent unborn. The Texas people have lost a real fighter, and all of us have lost a true friend. Cathy and I and our entire Texas delegation hold Ron's wife, Susan, close to our hearts, and our deepest condolences go out to his children, grandchildren, and staff. Godspeed to you, my friend. You will be missed.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Sergeant Major Jerry Bell, a decorated veteran of the United States Army, who sadly passed away Sunday, January 10, 2021. Jerry Lynn Bell was born May 2, 1943 to parents William Ernest and Mary Adeline (Johnson) Bell in Leon County, Texas. Jerry Bell's entire life has been defined by bravery and selfless service. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his time in the military, he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major and proved himself to be a true American hero, receiving the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals for valor, two Bronze Stars for valor, and an Army Commendation Medal for valor during his service in the Vietnam War as a tanker and helicopter gunner. His nephew, Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr., describes Sgt. Maj. Bell as a ``true warrior who fought with valor and distinction.'' While his military service took him from Alaska to Germany, Sgt. Maj. Bell could not help but return to his home of Leon County. After returning to Texas, he worked for B-5 Construction, the U.S. Postal Service, and was the owner and operator of Bell Alley Gun Shop. Sgt. Maj. Bell was a mainstay of the community. At his gun shop, he did what he loved most, selling guns and working as a gunsmith while sharing thoughts on conservatism, 2nd amendment rights, and religion. While Sgt. Maj. Bell leaves behind a military legacy to be heralded, it comes second to his legacy as a man who placed God first in his life, a man who loved his country and state, and a man who was a devoted husband, father, and great-grandfather. Sgt. Maj. Bell's favorite times were those spent with family at Bell family reunions and Christmas parties at his home in Leona. The Bell family shared their lives with each other and the entire community, making everyone feel like they were a part of this tight-knit family. In the words of his nephew, Cecil Bell Jr., ``On January 10, 2021, as the cold rains fell in Leon County, Texas, the chopping sounds of an Army helicopter landing were heard as Jerry Bell, age 77, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Retired, deployed to Heaven's shore.'' Sgt. Maj. is remembered by his loving wife, Alice Cothron Bell of Leona and a host of loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I join the entire community in honoring Sgt. Maj. Bell for a lifetime of service both overseas and stateside. His service to our nation will never be forgotten.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have worked side-by-side with President Trump to enact historic tax reform, free and fair trade with Mexico and Canada, the repeal of the ObamaCare mandate and taxes, a ban on surprise medical bills, and the first reform of the IRS in two decades. His policy achievements have lifted working families across America. Distrust in America's election system has been growing for two decades and is only growing worse. That is the true threat to democracy. For that reason, I gave unwavering support for President Trump to pursue all legal avenues and investigations. On December 10, 2020, I joined 125 of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in signing the Amicus Brief to the Texas petition to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Texas suit presented election irregularities and advocated the Court hold states accountable for following their own election laws. Unfortunately, the Court refused to review the case. Due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, I am unable to participate in today's proceedings in the U.S. House. If I were, I would remain true to the conservative Constitutional principles of states' rights, limited Congressional power over presidential elections, and the Electoral College by accepting the Electoral College votes as legally certified by each state. Article II of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment are clear. As angry as we may be about this election, we do even more harm if we weaken the Constitution, allow Congress to seize more power to choose future presidents, and undermine the Electoral College. If either party in Congress can simply ignore the elected slate of a state for political reasons, aren't we replacing 150 million votes with 535 in Congress? Doesn't that change ``We the People'' to ``We the Congress''? Democrats in the past have blatantly attempted to overturn elections in Congress and seize more of this electoral power for Congress. It was a violation of the Constitution then, and remains so today. I deeply respect my fellow Republicans who see this issue differently. I worry that if we help undermine the Electoral College out of frustration and anger, we lend fuel to the liberal national popular vote scheme, inevitably we will one day stand on the sidelines as voters in only the largest cities determine our President. Our nation's founders rejected this as dangerous to our nation's governance. I do too. The Electoral College ensures we have a President who is accountable to all the nation, and can be a Republican, a conservative, or a grassroots outsider if America so chooses.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I have been diagnosed with covid-19. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 10 and NAY on Roll Call No. 11.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly withheld. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 9, H.R. 22.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, last fall, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Washington Democrats refused to accept a bipartisan COVID relief bill, insisting instead on more than $3 trillion of absurd policies, from marijuana banking to early release of criminals. Months ago, they even rejected a nearly $2 trillion COVID relief proposal by President Trump. Many Americans knew right then that leading Democrats were sabotaging the economy ahead of the election for political gain. During those crucial months, while Speaker Pelosi stalled COVID relief, thousands of Americans died, tens of thousands of small businesses closed, and hospitals and nursing homes struggled, while millions of Americans were left jobless. In the election, Democrats and Congress paid a steep price for this cruel inaction, with voters giving House Republicans nearly two-thirds of the seats needed to take back the majority. I thank President Trump for signing bipartisan legislation, even with its flaws, that included several separate bills that hitched a ride on the annual funding bill for the government, including COVID relief, a first-ever ban on surprise medical bills, and $328 billion in urgent tax relief for families and local businesses. Madam Speaker, I recognize that today's CASH Act will pass with bipartisan support, Republicans and Democrats alike, and I respect the decision of each Member of Congress. But for me, I worry that this whopping $463 billion won't do what is needed: stimulate the economy or get the jobless back to work. At this point in the recovery, the fact is, it is hard to stimulate a Main Street that is locked down by local politicians. This won't help local restaurants get their workers permanently back or hospitality and convention industries rehire their workers for the long term, and it won't help get energy workers back on the job. Will this stimulate our local economies? Not a lot. What we know is that much of this extra $1,600 will go to pay down credit card debt or savings or even make new purchases online at Walmart, Best Buy, or Amazon. So, rather than merely sending checks to credit card companies, this half-trillion dollars could more than double the number of small businesses and midsize businesses getting PPP forgivable loans to hire their workers and stay alive through the recovery. It could make sure airline workers have secure jobs for more than just a few months and do more to replenish frontline healthcare workers. Madam Speaker, we should be focused on the families that are hurting most, none more than the 8 million Americans who lost their jobs due to COVID. Our top priority, in addition to defeating the virus, is to get them back to work. So far, Congress has already approved more than $20,800 directly to a family of four with one parent out of work. That is on top of their State unemployment benefits. Madam Speaker, if we want to do even more for the jobless, this same huge amount of money today could give every unemployed worker from COVID and their employer a $50,000 incentive to return to work. With this huge amount of money, you could even give the bottom 90 percent of workers in America an income-tax-free year for 2021, a full year where you go to work each day for yourself rather than for Washington. Can you imagine what a no-tax 2021 would do for low-and middle-income families, workers, and the local economy? Or we can simply hold this money back, not hastily spend another half-trillion dollars we don't have, while we assess the impact vaccinations are having on consumer confidence and the unlocking of the economy. Madam Speaker, there are a lot of ways to spend money, if that is the goal. But in my view, let's be smart about it. Let's target assistance to those who need it most. The Committee on Ways and Means should be the place to explore and analyze these options, not just have a bill that spends over $400 billion hastily dropped on us at the last minute. I know, working together, Republicans and Democrats, we can do better to help people get back to work and truly help this recovery. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Schrader).

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, first, let me congratulate the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Neal, for working so closely together on our bipartisan priorities. Ending surprise medical bills when you go to the ER or you have a scheduled medical procedure, ensuring, starting at the end of the next year, for the first time, when you go to that doctor's procedure, you will have a true and honest bill in advance of that. It will be so crucial for so many patients. Madam Speaker, I also thank the chairman for working so closely in a bipartisan way on the COVID tax relief provisions in the first reforms of our temporary tax provisions in 5 years. I applaud Chairman Neal for his work, and I have enjoyed working with him. The previous speaker talked about essential workers, our firefighters, our healthcare workers, others who have done such an amazing job. We had an opportunity earlier this year to help them. President Trump, in his executive order, proposed a payroll tax holiday for nearly 5 months for these workers. That would have meant, for those essential workers, that firefighter, that hospital worker, that nurse, that a family of four would have kept an extra $5,000 in their paycheck throughout the holidays. If we really wanted to help essential workers, our Democrat friends would not have blocked that payroll tax holiday and would have adopted our bill to make sure that those payroll taxes were forgiven. As for State and local governments, they, too--even though I disagree with many of the decisions--deserve our thanks. And, thankfully, because this was the most rapid labor market recovery following a crisis in history and we recovered more than half the jobs we have lost, State and local revenues this year are almost even, down a mere less than 1 percent. Thank goodness Congress came together in the CARES Act to provide more than $150 billion to those State and local governments to be able to address these needs and continue to function. I will tell you, too, that--again, I speak only for myself--the best way to help struggling families is to get them back to work. The best way to save our Main Street is to give our small and medium-sized businesses more help than we have. This bill does neither. I don't believe--I think it is correct when the earlier speaker said this is not a stimulus; it is not. And it does nothing to help get people back to work. I worry that, as we spend another nearly half a trillion dollars so hastily, we are not targeting this help to the very Americans who are struggling the most and need that help. I will also point out that, as I said earlier, Congress has come together to provide a family of four with one unemployed parent, now, just a little short of $40,000 of Federal money in their traditional State unemployment because we knew they were struggling. Now is the time to get them back to work. That is my personal objection to this bill. I urge Congress to pause for a moment to assess the vaccinations over the next few months or year to determine where next we need to weigh in, if at all, on this recovery as we continue to work together to defeat this virus. Madam Speaker, I am honored to be here today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would point out to my colleague that nothing in this bill helps anyone get back to work: not a dime to the 8 million people who are left unemployed because of COVID, not a dime to help our small and medium-sized businesses, not a dime for Main Street. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, you can say a lot about this Congress, but you cannot say we have not worked together and appropriated remarkable funding to help families defeat this COVID, to get back on their feet, and to save small businesses. A good example is that, so far, Congress, both parties, has already approved more than $20,800 in direct cash payments to a family of four with one parent out of work. That is on top of an estimated $18,000 of State unemployment benefits, a little less than $40,000 to help working families survive this COVID pandemic. But, today, we do nothing in this bill to help 8 million Americans who lost their jobs due to COVID. We could double the amount of money that goes to small businesses or midsize businesses so they can rehire the workers and keep them on the payroll to try to survive and ride this out. We don't know yet what the vaccinations will do to consumer confidence or to the lockdowns. Again, I expect a number of Republicans to support this bill. In my view, we would be wiser to assess the impact of the vaccinations in the recovery going forward so that we can target relief to Main Street, to helping get people back to work, and to truly stimulating our local economy. That is where we address the harm that has been done by COVID. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Granger for her terrific leadership on this bill and throughout this session. This agreement is a big, important win for American workers, healthcare providers, Main Street businesses, and families. In this agreement, we have Republican tax relief for American families. We permanently make it easier to deduct high medical costs and lifetime learning costs. We extend for 5 years the tax credit for paid family and medical leave, plus we take it one step further by helping businesses pay off student loans for workers. We have big wins for patients and families together. We end surprise medical bills when you visit the ER or have scheduled medical procedures. We require that patients be given a true and honest bill ahead of a scheduled procedure, and we make it easier to find in- network doctors and providers. In addition to helping patients, we also help our doctors. We increase their pay and stop two-thirds of planned Medicare cuts for certain providers. We also increase doctor pay by over $3 billion and add 1,000 new graduate medical education slots to help train more doctors. We took needed action to improve healthcare in rural areas. It also contains strong antifraud safeguards for unemployment. We offer crucial tax help for millions of Americans and small businesses with another round of stimulus checks, more funds and flexibility for PPP loans. We also include important technical corrections to the new U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement, which will help our economy rebuild from this pandemic. Maybe most importantly, we have big wins in this package to help us defeat the virus once and for all with billions more in funding for vaccines, testing, distribution, and more. This bipartisan solution is so important to the American people. This is a strong and needed package. Its benefits will be felt for years to come. I also want to finish by thanking our committee chairman, Richie Neal, who worked so closely with me and all of our committee members on these wins for the American people. It has been an honor to work with him this Congress. I am also very proud of the work and leadership that Republicans have exemplified throughout this Congress, especially among the Ways and Means Committee. I will gladly and strongly vote in support of this bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I have been unexpectedly withheld. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.J. Res. 110.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly withheld. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236 (H. Res. 512), and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 237 (S. 461). Personal Explanation

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael ``Mike'' Lloyd Meador for his honorable 28 years of public service as Precinct 1 Commissioner in Montgomery County. The Meador family roots in Montgomery County extend back over 100 years, and Mike has carried on the family legacy with his leadership and integrity. Mike was born to W.L. and Poodle Meador in Willis, Texas, and graduated from Willis High School. Staying near his roots, he went on to earn a degree in Accounting from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Always a dedicated member of his community, Mike has served as Montgomery County Commissioner of Precinct 1 since January of 1993. In fact, in December of 2019, Mike was recognized as the longest-serving commissioner in the history of the county. After 28 years in service, Mike announced he will be stepping down from this position in January of 2021. Mike's time in public service has been as accomplished as it has been lengthy, and his exceptional management has helped attract commercial and industrial businesses to the precinct. Under Mike's leadership, several successful developments have been established; two community centers, multiple Justice of the Peace and Constable buildings, 17 baseball fields, and the acquisition of a grant to build a recycling center. Mike's tenure has been defined by honesty, integrity, and humility. He's always prided himself on maintaining an open line of communication with constituents, and remained constantly engaged with those he serves. It's no wonder he was named ``Elected Official of the Year,'' by the Lake Conroe Rotary Club. Mike's involvement in our community extends well beyond his role as commissioner--he is a member of First Baptist Church of Conroe, a lifetime member of both the Montgomery County Fair Association and Friends of Conroe, a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society and an active participant in the Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. Mike's commitment to his community is matched only by his commitment to his family. He and his wife of 50 years, Janie Houser Meador, have three children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I join them all in thanking him for his exceptional service to Montgomery County. Our community has been blessed to have Mike, and I wish him all the best as he embarks on his next endeavor.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I thank the whip for organizing the Special Order. Remind me never to have Congressman McNerney do my eulogy. The crowd would never believe it. Madam Speaker, we are here to honor a remarkable man, a classmate, and a friend of mine for 24 years. We all know, in Washington and across the country, his leadership and energy for the Energy and Commerce Committee and his leadership in the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee. But you may not know his achievements in the heart. He is committed to the Baltic States, in developing and enhancing that relationship with the U.S.; his many years of service on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, traveling back and forth to Europe to lay out and preserve that important relationship; his role serving on the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents; and his service on the West Point Board of Governors. He has an amazing legacy for our country. He has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve things that matter to real people. His 1998 bill signed into law, allowing for biofuel use in Federal, State, and private fleets, has made biodiesel more readily available at fuel pumps across the country. He is always focused on making sure 911 worked for the American people. In 1999, he designated 911 as the universal emergency number in the U.S. for mobile as well as landline telephones and continues to improve on that for our safety and security. He led the bill to require Federal testing of children's booster seats, something every parent can take to heart. Following that, he created a new internet domain, a place where children could go that was safe and secure from predators. It was game- changing. His 2003 law created a placement for heart defibrillators in schools. You can see a theme here: helping real people, helping children, helping families. He continued that work throughout his years on the Energy and Commerce Committee. I can go on and on, but he took on tough issues as well, ones that people never thought could be solved, like the Toxic Substance Control Act, something he worked years for, to build bipartisan support, something that makes our Nation more secure environmentally as well. We all know, since we have nicknamed him Yucca Shimkus for many years, his devotion to trying to find a safe, secure nuclear energy future for America. He didn't do this by himself. He has an amazing family. His wife, Karen, as Steve said, is here today. His three sons, David, Josh, and Daniel, who we watched growing up reading in the townhouse, backing their dad. His heart is never far away from his hometown of Collinsville, Illinois. He is, as you know, a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy. He served over 5 years Active Duty in the Army and then entered the Army Reserves. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. After 28 years of military service, I can tell you, because I was his roommate, when we finished long days at the Capitol, trying to figure out how we get ready for the next day, John was leaving to go to a Reserve training and continuing education, or the weekends on his training as well. He has a devotion to this country that is unbelievable. His service has not just been to his country but to his community. He ran and won his first election for the school township trustees because he wanted to help children in his community. He was elected as Madison County treasurer so he could serve a broader group of constituents. In 1996, he won his first term in the United States House from Illinois' 20th District. Today, he represents the 33 counties of the 15th District. I can tell you, it must be an amazing district because we all know where the largest ketchup bottle in America is located: Collinsville, Illinois. We know his district is the horseradish capital of the world, with the International Horseradish Festival, horseradish food, horseradish fun. I will tell you, he loves his Lord. He loves his family. He has always fretted about how much more he can do to help our church, the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, in which he has worshiped his entire life. Two points, as we finish, for me. You would love being his roommate. He is a man of integrity, of character. He is, every morning, the first one up in the morning, sitting at the kitchen table reading the Bible, sending out those Bible phrases for his friends and colleagues in preparing for his day. He is an amazing teammate, along with classmate and roommate. He and I played in the Congressional Baseball Game now for 23 straight years. He is a baseball player. He has won MVP four or five times. We have lost count. He is the last Member of Congress to hit a home run out of the field, out of the park, on his first to bat in the first year in Congress. He has never hit the ball anywhere close ever since. He was a catcher, a pitcher, and the captain of our team, which doesn't surprise you. He has been the captain of everything he has been involved with his entire life. With this, I will tell how remarkable, how gutsy, this guy is. In 2004 or so, he had open-heart surgery in the spring, which, of course, would mean he would miss his favorite baseball game. We had the Congressional Baseball Game, and the doctor told him he could begin to start exercising 3 months after the surgery. Well, the baseball game happened to be exactly 3 months after the surgery. Another pitcher started the game, was called back to Congress for votes in the Senate, and out of the bullpen came John Shimkus, 3 months after heart surgery, not arthroscopic surgery, the kind that cracks you open. There he was, three up, three down, helping save the game for the Republicans. That is the kind of lawmaker, that is the kind of friend, that is the kind of competitor he is. John is never letting you down. He has always upheld the highest standards for our country, for Congress, and I will tell you, at a time where each day you are told what is wrong with America, John Shimkus is what is right with America. We are so proud of our friend's service, and he will be missed like nobody else. God bless you, John. Thank you.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Dr. Brad Wenstrup for yielding time to me, and I want to congratulate him and Ms. Sewell for their strong, bipartisan leadership on this important bill. I rise today in support of this legislation. The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership creates jobs, promotes American values abroad, and incentivizes beneficiary countries to comply with the economic rule of law, bolstering their development. The CBTPA helps these nations grow and create opportunities for their workers, farmers, and innovators. And in return, it creates a strong market for us to sell our U.S.-produced yarn and fabrics to apparel manufacturers in the Caribbean. The program strengthens our hemispheric manufacturing integration and allows us to compete against China, whose manufacturers certainly don't care about using U.S. inputs. As a result, we can sell our goods to more customers, keep prices here lower, and promote the spirit of free enterprise. The Caribbean countries are our neighbors, and we should work together to improve our region's competitiveness. But we should be here today voting on two trade extensions: the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership and the Generalized System of Preferences. Both of these programs have bipartisan support. Both of them are set to expire this year. And if we extend both of them today, our manufacturers, producers, and consumers would have more certainty right now. In the midst of a pandemic, we should be doing everything we can to offer our job creators certainty, yet Democrats are not including an extension of GSP in today's vote. The GSP program reduces tariffs on thousands of products from around the world. This program saves American families money on everyday products and boosts America's economy. And in my state of Texas, GSP brought our consumers and small businesses over $76 million in cost savings in 2018 alone. The remainder of the Congressional schedule until GSP expires at the end of the year is completely unpredictable. We should not leave GSP on the cutting room floor. GSP deserves to be a bipartisan priority, and I continue to urge House Democrats to act. I strongly support today's bill, and I urge bipartisan passage. But we must continue to work together to get GSP's extension across the finish line without further delay. Our American businesses cannot afford to wait.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Major General Kenneth D. Jones for his 38 remarkable years of leadership and dedicated service in the United States Army. General Jones was born and raised in Brazos County and now calls Iola, Texas home. In 1980, General Jones graduated from Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets' V-1 Vipers. After graduation, General Jones chose to serve his country and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Ordnance Corps. General Jones began his career as a Soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Cold War, later commanding at the company, battalion, brigade, and major command levels. Throughout his career, General Jones spent over 35 months deployed overseas in Southwest Asia. His deployment includes Operations Iraqi Freedom/ Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom/Spartan Shield. During his time in the Army, General Jones also found time to further his education and training, earning a master's degree from the United States War College in 2008. He served in multiple flag officer assignments across the country. After he earned the rank of Army Reserve two-star general, General Jones was promoted to Commander of the 81st Readiness Division in 2017. In this position, General Jones was responsible for ensuring his units--a group amounting to 50,000 soldiers--were fully trained throughout the Southeastern United States region. During his career, General Jones exemplified excellence and service. He has earned multiple decorations in his career, including Legion of Merit Medals, Bronze Star Medals, and Meritorious Service Medals, to name a few. In his civilian career, General Jones worked for Hallmark Cards Inc. for 28 years as a Plant Engineering Manager before deciding to return to his roots in Texas, where he works for the family insurance business in Bryan as the Business Development and Human Capital Manager. It is an honor to celebrate General Jones' leadership and unwavering commitment to our great country. I am proud to join his wife Cheryl, their two daughters, and two grandchildren to thank him for a long, devoted career of service and wish him well as he begins this next chapter of life.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of an incredible servant, John Powell, Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church of New Caney, Texas. After stopping on the roadside to help someone in distress, Pastor Powell was tragically killed when he was struck by a passing truck. Robert Downen, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle, wrote a very touching article about Pastor Powell's life and the example he set for others--one of selfless service. According to Robert Downen's account, Pastor Powell and a friend were driving in Sherman, Texas, when they spotted a car catch fire on the side of the road. Pastor Powell immediately stopped, grabbed his emergency kit bag and rushed to help. Just as he and his friend arrived at the scene, the brakes failed on an approaching semi-truck and it veered toward the group. Pastor Powell took decisive action and was able to push one individual out of the way, saving their life. Unfortunately, the young pastor was unable to get out of the way himself, and was killed. Pastor Powell grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, where he knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue ministry. That desire led him to enroll in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. While at the seminary, he showed his care and concern for those less fortunate and began leading worship services at local homeless shelters. After graduation, Powell took on a challenging assignment and became the pastor of a small Baptist church in the West Texas town of Hamlin. When later reflecting on the lessons he learned during that time, Powell said, ``Success is faithfulness, even when it's hard, even when you want to give up.'' In 2016, Powell and his family moved to the Eighth Congressional District of Texas, where he established the Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Caney. Over the years, Powell grew this small church into a pillar of the community and guided his 140 members to walk in the light of the Lord, and in fellowship with one another. Those who knew Pastor Powell remember him as bright, passionate, and warm-hearted. Many spoke of him as, ``the best man [they've] ever known.'' Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said of Powell, ``In every sphere of life where he had influence, he always wielded it for the betterment of others.'' The Houston Chronicle reported that in Pastor Powell's final sermon before his death, he preached from Psalm 72, saying that, ``in the poor man's distress, Christians might be there'' and asked his congregation, ``How could we pray that God would have compassion on those that need it while not having that compassion on them ourselves?'' To those who knew him, it was no surprise that Pastor John Powell stopped on the side of a road to help someone in distress. He died as he lived-- helping others. He was a man of faith and faithfulness who had compassion for others, and who willingly risked and ultimately sacrificed his own life so that others might live. He was a hero. He leaves a legacy of selfless service and compassion. His life was a true example of Christian love and sacrifice, values that we would all do well to reflect on and try to emulate. Pastor Powell is survived by his wife, Katherine, and their four beautiful children. I join the Powell family, the Emmanuel Baptist Church, and the entire community of New Caney in mourning this tragic loss. May God bless Pastor John Powell.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing the Ways and Means family, as he termed it, together for this important evening. These past few days, our country has taken time to reflect on the life and the legacy of John Robert Lewis, from the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Auburn Avenue. Through streets of the South to the rotunda of the United States Capitol, our Nation has come together to celebrate the life of a man who rose to the occasion to fight for the rights of all human beings. A Congressman for the great State of Georgia and an esteemed member of the Ways and Means Committee, John Lewis was a blessing to our institution. It was an honor of a lifetime to sit next to such giants as he, Congressman Sam Johnson, and others who made their way through the Ways and Means Committee in the Longworth House Office Building. I was lucky to not just sit near John in the committee room, but I realized early this session, as I went to look at my old office in the Cannon House Office Building, that John Lewis was serving there, too. That day I had a big smile on my face as I greeted John, and we reminisced a bit about sharing our offices. Madam Speaker, you couldn't help but smile if you ever crossed paths with him. He was one of the better angels of our nature. He was one of our thousand points of light. The man who walked in the wind to bring equality to America now is walking in the heavens with his creator. We are a better nation and a better people because of him, and this institution and all of our country will miss him dearly. To know John, as every member of this committee will tell you, is a blessing. His life, his career, and his legislative achievements will be studied by future students for generations. It was an honor to have worked on such important issues with him, including the first reforms of the IRS in over two decades and in making improvements to Medicare for our Nation's seniors. It is common knowledge in D.C., and certainly in the Ways and Means Committee, that our room happens to be one of the coldest rooms in the Capitol. But that was not the case when John walked in. His presence alone brought that room warmth, calmness, and reassurance that, if we work together, we all can make a difference. When I look down the dais in the weeks ahead, I will be sad to miss our friend, but I will always be proud to have had the privilege of working with such a remarkable man. Each day he walked in these Halls, we all witnessed, firsthand, his remarkable integrity, his intelligence toward the complex policy issues we debate, and his willingness to work across the aisle if it means Americans will have greater dignity, opportunity, and equal rights. I will tell you, Madam Speaker, if you were poor, if you were born on the wrong side of the tracks, or if you felt powerless, John Lewis was your man. John Lewis would fight for you. God loved this remarkable servant, and I know John is walking hand in hand with God and his beloved Lillian today. Tomorrow, I will be honored to join Chairman Neal to attend his funeral in Atlanta with many of our House colleagues. John, it will be a celebration of your life, a chance for us to honor you and reflect on all the joy, passion, and love you brought to this Congress, to our lives, and to this country. May you rest in peace, my friend, and may God continue to shower you with faith, hope, and love each day. I thank Chairman Neal for having me as part of this dedication today.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and service of Shawn Babendure, a husband, father, coach, U.S. Army veteran and District Chief of the Spring, Texas Fire Department who tragically passed away this week much too young and far too early. A native Texan, born and raised in Houston, Shawri leaves a legacy of a lifetime of service to his community and his country which began when Shawn joined the Champions Fire Department in 1990 while attending Cypress Creek High School. His service continued when he enlisted in the United States Army in 1993. He served honorably and well for nearly four years as a Communications Repair Specialist with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, California, the Army's National Training Center. He distinguished himself as an expert marksman and earned his paratrooper wings. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal for his service. Shortly after his military service, Shawn earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston. Shawn worked in the financial services industry where he served as Vice President of Wealth Management for a global wealth management firm, a position he still held at the time of his death. In 2007, Shawn chose to serve his community once again and returned to public service as a fireman at the Spring Fire Department. Shawn's work ethic and professionalism were evidenced by his promotion to positions of increasing responsibility at the Spring Fire Department where he impressively earned more than ten professional certificates for every facet of fire, rescue and emergency service and rose in rank from fireman to District Chief. Shawn's love for his community and his contagious laughter were hallmarks of his personality and his service and he passed on his care and compassion for others by training and mentoring the next generation of firefighters. I join the entire Spring community in honoring Chief Babendure's lifetime of service and join his wife, Jessica, and their children, Sophia and Harrison, in mourning their loss. Chief Babendure will be deeply mourned and greatly missed.