Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, due to a scheduling conflict, I was needed in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 79 (H.R. 5003), and YEA on Roll Call No. 80 (H.R. 5932).

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, due to unavoidable scheduling conflict, I needed to be in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 76; YEA on Roll Call No. 77; and NAY on Roll Call No. 78

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Walter ``Wally'' Wilkerson's service to the community as a physician, community leader, and as Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party for fifty-six years. Born and raised in Bryan, Texas, Dr. Wilkerson stayed close to home and earned a Bachelor's Degree in biology from Texas A&M University in 1951. After graduation, Dr. Wilkerson pursued a Medical Degree from the prestigious University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1955. Just one year after finishing medical school, Dr. Wilkerson joined the United States Navy and spent two years as a General Medical Officer. While stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California, Dr. Wilkerson served aboard the USS Hooper Island. In the summer of 1958, Dr. Wilkerson participated in the historic atomic weapon test operation known as Operation Hardtack at Eniwetok Atoll in the southwest Pacific Ocean. When it was time to return to civilian life, he found his way back to home to Texas and joined his family in Conroe. After encouragement from his father, he introduced himself to a local family medical practitioner, Dr. Deane Sadler. After shadowing Dr. Sadler for a day, a simple handshake sealed the deal and Dr. Wilkerson joined his clinic. Over the years, Dr. Sadler, became not only a business partner, but a mentor and a friend. Eager to get involved in the community, Dr. Wilkerson entered the Conroe political scene while working at Sadler Clinic. In 1964, he ran successfully for Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. The following years of leadership and devoted service to the community earned him the nickname ``King Wally.'' Dr. Wilkerson has received several accolades for his effective leadership, vision, and hard work, has been selected as a delegate for multiple Republican National Conventions, and continues to be active in the Associated Republicans of Texas. In 1989, Governor William P. Clements appointed Dr. Wilkerson as a member of the San Jacinto River Authority Board. In 1995, Governor George W. Bush selected Dr. Wilkerson to Chair the Texas Board of Health. In 1996, Dr. Wilkerson retired from family medicine after thirty- eight years of service and dedication to his community. Today, he relinquishes the helm as Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Patty. Dr. Wilkerson is respected by many and has been a faithful friend and source of professional guidance to many. We are thankful he chose to make a lasting difference right here in our community. Our entire community has been inspired by your character, integrity, patience, fairness and optimism. Your principles of freedom and limited government enhance the lives and opportunity for the people we seek to serve. I join the communities of Conroe and Montgomery County in thanking Dr. Wilkerson, and I am proud to join him and his wife Neddie Jane in celebrating this amazing milestone of service and leadership for fifty- six successful years.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, in December Congress addressed a number of expired or expiring tax provisions, commonly known as ``tax extenders,'' by passing H.R. 1865 as part of year-end, FY'20 spending measure. For the most part, these tax provisions were simply extended seamlessly through 2020, which I viewed as a wasted opportunity to create real certainty around these provisions for taxpayers. Additionally, one provision extending a fuel excise tax credit known as the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (AFMC) contained modifications prohibiting the blending of certain categories of fuels in order to claim the credit. These fuel categories had been part of the AFMC and the related Alternative Fuel Credit since both were created in a Surface Transportation bill in 2005, and they had also been extended multiple times since then in past tax extenders bills. The intended purpose of these provisions was to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil and to encourage cheaper, cleaner burning fuels (whether for transportation or other uses). One of the longstanding fuel categories eliminated in H.R. 1865 was liquified petroleum gas. Since enacted, the AFMC had provided a credit to taxpayers for mixtures of liquefied petroleum gas, including propane, and taxable fuel. The modification in H.R. 1865 eliminates the credit for any mixture that includes any type of liquefied petroleum gas. Madam Speaker, I have long been an opponent of retroactive tax increases, and there are currently several taxpayers in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service over whether they can properly claim the AFMC on past tax returns. I will note that the subsection of H.R. 1865 that eliminated the longstanding classes of fuels from the AFMC also contained ``no inference'' language stating: ``Nothing contained in this subsection or the amendments made by this subsection shall be construed to create any inference as to a change in law or guidance in effect prior to enactment of this subsection'' (enactment occurred when H.R. 1865 was signed into law on December 20, 2019). The Congressional intent of this ``no inference'' language is unambiguous--this provision should ensure a fair day in court for taxpayers in legitimate disputes with the IRS over the AFMC.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, in 2009, the majority leader, now Mr. Hoyer, led a formal rebuke of South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson defending ``the rules of the House and enforcing the traditional decorum of the Chamber.'' At the time, Mr. Hoyer said: ``This House cannot stay silent. What is at issue here is important to the House and of importance to the country.'' My parliamentary inquiry is----

Mr. BRADY. Is the Speaker of the House----

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I asked for a parliamentary inquiry, and the question is this: Is the Speaker ripping up the President's State of the Union speech on national TV considered the proper decorum of the House?

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I could not attend the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 14, and YEA on Roll Call No. 15.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the remarkable life of Lilija Grumulaitis and recognize her unwavering dedication to her community and causes closest to her heart. Although a devoted American, Lilija was not born in the United States. Born on February 15, 1938 in Marijampole, Lithuania, Lilija migrated to Germany and Australia before calling America home. Her journey began during World War II when Russian forces attacked Lithuanian cities--making it impossible to live peacefully under communist rule. In 1944, her family sought refuge in Berlin, Germany for four weeks. At the young age of six, Lilija vividly recalls uttering her first words in English to an America soldier at a refugee camp in Wiesbaden, Germany, ``Thank you for my freedom.'' Lilija's family dreamed of moving to America--where she could practice faith and support candidates freely--but at the time, her family had the option to safely relocate to Australia through the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRAA). Many years later, Lilija was able to fulfill her dream to come to America when she married Leonas Grumulaitis. In 1958, the couple arrived at Ellis Island in New York. The pair would go on to live in New Jersey, Illinois and Florida before making their permanent home in Conroe, Texas in 1979. It was in Texas where Lilija would establish a lifelong legacy of service. Seeing a need for representation, Lilija helped establish several civic organizations and was an honorary member of Rotary Club Lake Conroe. With a strong sense of civic duty, she went on to be a strong supporter of both President Reagan and President George H.W. Bush. She was entrusted to gather diverse crowds and encourage others to use their freedom to vote. One of Lilija's proudest moments was on July 26, 1972--the day she became a U.S. citizen. For decades after obtaining her citizenship, the joy of liberty never left her, once stating how inexpressible it was to see the Statue of Liberty years later. Anyone who knows her, knows she never failed to take advantage of the opportunity to thank veterans for her freedom as she had done as a six-year-old in Germany. For years, she expressed her gratitude through Christmas cards to over 200 veterans each year and was a guardian on two of the Lone Star Honors Flights. Lilija is a remarkable patriot and example of how we can best serve our community. While we mourn with Lilija's family, we also celebrate the life, service, and legacy that will live throughout our community. I am proud to join her family, friends, and the Eighth District of Texas in honoring her life and steadfast devotion to the United States of America.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I could not attend the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 13. personal explanation

Mr. BRADY

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

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

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

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice), an outstanding member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a series of statements in support of USMCA, including from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Farm Bureau, who join a host of business, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and small business organizations across America that have been instrumental in getting USMCA across the finish line. U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Congressional & Public Affairs, Washington, DC, December 18, 2019. To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 5430, the ``United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act,'' which would strengthen trade ties that support millions of American jobs. The Chamber will include votes on this bill in our annual How They Voted scorecard. The case for approval of this legislation is strong. First, it would strengthen U.S. trade ties with Canada and Mexico, which are by far our most important export markets. More than 12 million American jobs--in sectors from agriculture and manufacturing to services and technology--depend on trade with our two North American neighbors. They are also the top two export destinations for U.S. small and medium-size businesses, more than 120,000 of which sell their goods and services to Canada and Mexico. The new pact would guarantee that virtually all U.S. exports enter these markets tariff- free. Second, USMCA would modernize North American trade rules. When the North American Free Trade Agreement was negotiated a quarter of a century ago, there was no e-commerce, to give one example; consequently, the agreement did not address this sector. While USMCA falls short in several areas--including in intellectual property, which should not be considered a template for future agreements--its updated rules on digital trade, non-tariff barriers, services, and other areas promise substantial benefits. Third, USMCA would restore certainty to these vital trade relationships. Tariffs and the threat of tariffs--applied to steel and aluminum, autos and auto parts, or applied to pursue non-trade objectives--have imposed real costs on the U.S. economy and dampened investment. Enactment of this new trade agreement would turn the page on this chapter and afford the business community the confidence it needs to invest and hire. Implementation of USMCA would be a boon to U.S. companies and the workers they employ as they compete in our top two export markets. We urge the House to approve USMCA expeditiously. Sincerely, Suzanne P. Clark, President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), Republican leader of the Health Subcommittee and the outstanding leader of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), a champion in manufacturing and the Republican leader of Subcommittee on Social Security.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), who has been a longtime leader in agriculture, on the farm bill, and frankly, we couldn't have gotten this agreement done without him.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), the food, fuel, and fiber capital of the world.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), who is a happy Hoosier and a champion for low tariffs and free trade.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), who is an outstanding new member of the Ways and Means Committee.