Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Chair, at first glance, Mr. Kennedy's amendment sounds like a good idea. Of course Republicans don't want administration officials to have a conflict of interest in carrying out their official duties on behalf of the American people. But, in reality, this amendment is narrowly tailored to be a petty jab at the current Secretary of Health and Human Services. Look, people want more cures and lower drug costs. They don't want more cheap political shots. Luckily, the underlying bill, H.R. 3, stands no chance of becoming law, so this amendment means nothing. We do, as Republicans, oppose H.R. 3's government price-setting regime because it will kill lifesaving cures for Americans struggling with the ravages of Alzheimer's and dementia, ALS, Parkinson's, the many cancers we face, leukemia, pulmonary hypertension--all those costly and stubborn diseases. We know, and the Congressional Budget Office has already confirmed, at least 38 fewer medicines and cures the next two decades. The Council of Economic Advisers estimates it will be close to 100 lost cures. Even in the Speaker's home State of California, the California Life Sciences Association, those small firms that do three-fourths of our clinical trials to bring new drugs to America, they modeled the gentlewoman's bill and said nearly 9 out of 10 of the drugs that they would be working on would never come to market if this Democratic drug bill becomes laws. We think, rather than kill cures, you should accelerate it. Because when you look at the ravages to these families and our loved ones, really the costliest drug is the one that never gets developed. That is what we strongly oppose. For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Chairman, let me talk about the underlying bill here. I was on the Ways and Means Committee when we worked with President Bush to create the first affordable drug plan for seniors. Then-leader Pelosi and Democrats tried their best to kill it. They all voted against it. The gentlewoman famously predicted that creating the part D drug program for our seniors would end ``Medicare as we know it.'' Can you imagine how many seniors' lives would have been lost if Democrats had succeeded in stopping the affordable Medicare drug program that 43 million seniors have come to depend upon? Nancy Pelosi and Democrats were dangerously wrong then. Can Americans afford the pain and lost lives of our loved ones when they are dangerously wrong again? We oppose this amendment, and we oppose the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Chair, this is a good amendment. It would require H.R. 3 include a provision requiring each drug ad on TV to include the list price of the drug. I support this policy; Republicans do, as well. It is just a simple way to increase openness in healthcare, transparency that patients are, I think, searching for. In fact, this bipartisan approach is already in the Republican bill in front of us today, H.R. 19. I don't know why it was rejected in the initial Democrats' bill. I think perhaps it was written in secret. It was all partisan measures. We know, at the end of the day, it is deader than a doornail. But I think, after that is done, after impeachment--I don't know how many years that thing goes on and wastes our lives. But after all that foolishness is done, I hope our Democrat friends will come back to the negotiating table so we can work on more commonsense, bipartisan ideas like this one. Despite my strong opposition to H.R. 3--it is such a cruel and false choice to force people to choose between lower drugs and lifesaving cures for Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, and so many cancers; that is just wrong--I do support this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support it, too. And I hope the gentlewoman from Iowa will continue to demonstrate her support for more openness by also supporting the bipartisan H.R. 19 when it comes to a vote later today. Let's vote. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), one of our new members of the Ways and Means Committee who is really thoughtful on healthcare.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield myself 1 minute. Madam Chair, the Republican alternative to Lower Cost, More Cures Act is based on both parties working together. In fact, we were doing so until Speaker Pelosi blew this up with H.R. 3, written in secret, without any Republican input. Our bill contains 36 different provisions that passed unanimously out of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Madam Chair, 17 provisions that passed out of the House of Representatives also with bipartisan support; 28 different provisions that passed out of 3 different Senate committees with bipartisan support, and 21 of these provisions from the Grassley-Wyden Drug Pricing Package. When this partisan bill dies, H.R. 3, we Republicans will be ready to take up these bipartisan measures because we agree--Democrats and Republicans--we need to lower drug prices, and we need to accelerate these cures. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Patients or politics--that is really the choice we have today when we vote on these different drug pricing bills. There is a path forward that chooses politics. This path takes a partisan approach and throws away months of Republicans and Democrats working together to lower drug prices. Experts tell us this will delay or eliminate medical breakthroughs and lifesaving cures for American families. This piece of legislation is potentially unconstitutional, one that leads to patient access restrictions while giving more power to foreign bureaucrats to set prices for American patients right here. And at what cost? To save a few dollars in the short term for a dramatically worse landscape in America that discourages science, research, and discovery. So I think of Representative Kelly's young girl, Mattie Stuart, St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania. She has a Facebook page, Mattie's Followers. Go to that page. Understand how patients are waiting for us, for those new cures. I think of my friends in my neighborhood. We had a neighbor who died from a rare brain cancer. I have another who is fighting a glioblastoma; another neighbor, a very dynamic friend, who is now struggling with Parkinson's; two friends who have died from ALS; and my friends, acquaintances, coworkers who they or their parents struggle with dementia and Alzheimer's. This bill, from Speaker Pelosi, in my view, just rips hope, robs hope from people waiting and praying for those cures. There is no way there are not fewer cures. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to $1 trillion will be taken away from research and science and revenues that are invested in drugs and new discoveries. Some say, well, the drug companies--and everyone seems to hate them-- but the drug companies can just not do as many ads, can just shift some money around. But let me put it in perspective. Drug companies could not spend a dime on any advertisement for the next 25 years; they couldn't make up what is taken from this bill. We could zero out National Institutes of Health for a quarter century. That is what $1 trillion in research and discovery investment does. You are in denial if you don't know there will be fewer cures-- whether it is 38, whether it is 100, whether it is something in between. No one can tell us that cure that is lost won't be the one for Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, or for cancer. This is the path Republicans reject. We believe that is too high a price to pay for this bill, because we think there is a bipartisan road right in front of us that we can take together, one that chooses patients and their needs. And I am convinced Democrats believe, with us, that we can do both. I believe, with goodwill and good ideas, we can do this Lower Costs, More Cures Act. It sets out what Chairman Richie Neal and I set out to do in February of this year. We wrote that now is ``the time to take meaningful action to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S.'' We said we are committed to working together to end this cycle while preserving access to lifesaving innovations. I believe we can do that. I believe the solution isn't in H.R. 3. That is as dead as can be. I think the solution is H.R. 19 and working together to fine-tune it even better by accelerating, not killing, lifesaving medical cures; by doing what we have already said is bipartisan: driving out-of-pocket costs down; expanding health savings accounts; deducting medical expenses; letting people use their FHAs more; saving seniors by redesigning part D; forcing drug companies to justify their increases, to pull that curtain back on how they price those drugs; everyone along the system, making them, forcing them to pay more of the drug burdens in Medicare part D. And together, we can tell families suffering from Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, cancer, and so many other illnesses that we are committed together to finding a cure. My vote today will be on behalf of patients. It will be on behalf of bipartisan solutions. It will be cast with the hope that a future cure for cancer can be discovered and developed right here in America, sooner rather than later. I know my Republican colleagues will join with me in that fight as well, and I ask my friends, my Democrat colleagues, to do the same. Let me be clear on that. I think there are Democrats who have come here to solve problems but find themselves boxed out by the Speaker's top-down approach. My simple request is, join us in fighting for a bipartisan solution, H.R. 19, no matter how you will eventually vote on H.R. 3. Send a signal that it is not too late for the Matties of the world. It is not too late. We can deliver a bipartisan win for lower drug prices and that cure we all pray for for our families and loved ones. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), who is a dynamic member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, why should patients have to choose between affordable medicines and a lifesaving cure for Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, or cancer? Why should parents with sick children be forced to wait longer for the newest breakthroughs that can save their lives? Why should Americans face shorter lives because the costliest and most painful drug is the one that is never created? At the depths of Nancy Pelosi's drug bill is a dangerous tradeoff of lower drug prices in the short term but fewer lifesaving cures in the future, and not just a few cures lost, but many, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office and the Council of Economic Advisers, up to 38 cures lost, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and up to 100, according to the CEA. The California Life Sciences Association predicts nearly 9 of 10 new drugs would never be available--never--from their research and small biotech companies if the Pelosi bill becomes law. This is a cruel and false choice, which is why this bill would quickly die with no real bipartisan support in the Senate. As Republicans, we believe we need to do both, lower drug prices and accelerate new lifesaving cures. Our bill, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, lowers out-of-pocket costs for Americans by cracking down on overpriced drugs and empowering seniors to choose the right place to get medicines, which can cut the cost of chemotherapy in half, pulling back the curtain on those who set drug prices, forcing drug companies to justify their increases and list their prices in their ads. We accelerate, not kill, lifesaving medical cures. We permanently make it easier for Americans to deduct high medical expenses from their taxes. We allow them to use their health savings accounts for over-the- counter medicines, including feminine hygiene products, and save seniors over $300 each year on their medicines in the popular Medicare prescription drug program. All of these proven ideas are bipartisan. All of these can be passed by Congress. All of these can be signed by President Trump this year if Democrats abandon their partisan games and recontinue what was our bipartisan work that got shelved for the Pelosi drug bill. I will finish with this. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, we in the Republican Congress joined with President George Bush in 2003 to create an affordable drug plan for seniors. At the time, Speaker Pelosi and Democrats tried their best to kill it. She famously predicted that trading the crucial part D prescription plan for the elderly would end ``Medicare as we know it.'' Can you imagine how many seniors' lives would have been lost if she had succeeded in stopping the affordable Medicare drug program that 43 million seniors have come to depend upon today? Nancy Pelosi and Democrats were dangerously wrong then. Can Americans afford the pain and risk when they are dangerously wrong again? Madam Chair, we have an alternative that lowers costs and accelerates cures in H.R. 19. That is the solution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), who is a small business person who has always offered quality healthcare for his workers.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), one of our key members on the Ways and Means Committee.

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), who is one of our leaders in technology in healthcare.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Johnson for yielding me time, and I thank him for his leadership for that great State. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition--to be clear--not to the underlying bill. I strongly support the education provision; the one that would strengthen historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. In fact, that provision has passed this House with, I believe, unanimous support. But I do rise in opposition to the dangerous precedent set by the tax provision included in this bill. I don't believe taxpayer rights should be trampled in this process. The Senate, as you know, airdropped an unrelated $2.5 billion provision that threatens taxpayer privacy and creates a dangerous opportunity to potentially misuse our private tax information. The bill, for the first time, now authorizes new large-scale sharing of previously protected taxpayer information. With hundreds of contractors, thousands of educational institutions, and other bureaucrats, in many cases, without taxpayer consent and, potentially, without the safeguards that protect it. The scale we are talking about here is huge. We are talking about at least 31 million individual disclosures of taxpayer information every year and hundreds of thousands a year after that. This would be the third largest disclosure of taxpayer information for non-tax purposes in the history, second only to the Census and the Affordable Care Act. It doesn't have to be this way. We have another option that pays for this bill but protects taxpayer information. And why is that privacy so important? The IRS has more information about you than almost any other agency in the Federal Government. They know how many kids you have, how much money you make, whether you have a home office, you bought a hybrid car. They know how much money you donate; they know your marital status. That kind of information is valuable. Almost every Federal agency would like access to it. More importantly, a lot of bad actors would like to have access to it. And out of this bill, these bad actors could have access for many years after you go to school. We know Watergate the hearings revealed a White House attorney who had tried to use IRS information to target political enemies. And administrations have tried to do this for farmers, unsuccessfully. Congress recognized this vast amount of private information could be abused, and we acted to protect it. Those protections ensure taxpayer information is kept confidential unless it meets certain exemptions. Over the years, we have added exemptions and we have deleted them, but every time Congress has carefully considered the cost and the consequences of those actions. But this bill's amendment is being rushed through the House without that appropriate care or consideration. Today, when you file a form for a loan or a repayment or all that, you fill out that information, or you download the taxpayer information. That will be blocked. No more can you do that. So in the future, these millions of records will be out in the nether lands for years after you graduate from college. And as you know, once your data is out there--the horse is out of the barn--you can never get it back. Mr. Speaker, so I rise today in opposition to this bill, basically to ask, ``let's pause.'' Let's pause this play, which we all support, replace this privacy risk with another pay-for we can all agree on while more work is done in this measure.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in celebration ofthe 50th Anniversary of the Montgomery Fire Department in Montgomery, Texas. From its inception in February of 1969, the Montgomery Fire Department has protected and served the entire Montgomery area-- approximately 232 square miles--in the Eighth District of Texas, including the Cities of Montgomery, Dobbin, Walden, and Bentwater. This area was originally covered by two fire departments, the Montgomery and the Walden Volunteer Fire Departments but the two merged in 1982 to keep up with the growing population of the county. As more and more people came into the area, more fire stations were built in Walden, Cape Conroe, the City of Dobbin, and Montgomery. In1989, in response to growing demand for their services, the Montgomery Fire Department hired its first full time firefighter, and in 2001 they opened another station in Bentwater that housed both volunteer and full-time firefighters. Today, the Montgomery Fire Department has five manned stations and an administrative building. Their full staff includes a Fire Chief, four Battalion Chiefs, 51 full-time firefighters, and 25 part-time or volunteer firefighters. The Montgomery County Fire Department employs the use of three booster trucks, five pumpers, three tankers, and one All-Terrain- Vehicle. This equipment allows the fire department to respond to fires, car accidents, and any other emergency or natural disaster in Montgomery County. Under the leadership of Fire Chief Brian Edwards, the fire department serves Montgomery County by offering not only protection from fires and other emergencies, but education and prevention. It's incredible to see just how much they've grown these past 50 years. I would like to thank the Montgomery Fire Department for half a century of service, and congratulate them on a job well-done. The entirety of Montgomery County is grateful for their service and keeping our community safe. Congratulations on 50 prosperous years, and we look forward to 50 more.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Parish in New Waverly, Texas. St. Joseph Catholic Church, now a celebrated place of worship, first began as a small gathering for planter families who formed the Waverly Emigration Society. In 1869, Father Orzechowski officially formed the Parish of St. Joseph. The parish met at various farms until 1877 when they opened the first church--a small box building only 20 by 30 feet. The land they built the church and school upon was acquired for the modest price of one dollar. In 1892, as the parish expanded, a second building was constructed to make room for the growing congregation. This building, designed by Tom Lawandorski, was much larger and more ornate than the first. Mrs. Catherine Ripowski donated trees from her property to aid with construction. The longest serving priest was the adored Father Bily, whose tenure lasted 19 years. Under his leadership, the church still in use today was built. The gothic style building was designed by architect L.S. Green and took three years to finish. At its opening, it was deemed the finest church in the South. In 1909, four years after the opening of the third church building, St. Joseph's school was built on the property for 160 students. Since its opening, the church has been restored and repaired, but the welcoming community atmosphere and the parishioners' enthusiasm for worship has remained constant for the last 150 years. As St. Joseph's Catholic Church celebrates a century and a half of worship, I thank them for creating a welcoming space dedicated to bringing people together to worship The Lord. Congratulations on 150 years, and may the next be just as prosperous.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of two important events in November: Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and National Adoption Month. Pulmonary hypertension was first brought to my attention by my dear friend Jack Stibbs, whose daughter, Emily, had PH. Because of her early diagnosis and his terrific leadership, Emily has been able to lead a relatively normal life and recently graduated from college and married. However, not all patients are as fortunate as she. That is why the work of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association is so important. Their efforts to increase awareness and research across Federal agencies are making a huge difference in lives across the Nation. I am proud to represent the PHA Lone Star Chapter in The Woodlands, Texas. November is also National Adoption Month. This is a cause I hold close to my heart because it is thanks to the miracle of adoption that I have my incredible family today. During this month, we recognize and thank the adoptive parents, dedicated professionals, and the faith-based organizations that work tirelessly to provide our Nation's children with love and support. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in raising awareness and saying thanks to these two great causes.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, the impeachment and removal of the President is a serious matter. At its heart, it lets a small, partisan group in Washington overturn the will of the entire American people. Above all, Americans believe in fairness and, when accused, the right to due process. This sham impeachment offers neither. It is secret. It is partisan. It is being conducted behind closed doors to hide information from the American people, all with one goal in mind: take down President Trump by any means necessary. I will not legitimize this unprecedented and unfair charade with this vote today. Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Schiff long ago abandoned the due process and fairness that was guaranteed during the Clinton impeachment. I know because I was here in Congress for it. There is simply no cause for this impeachment inquiry--none. It is shameful to create a constitutional crisis for purely partisan reasons.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Oak Ridge Baptist Church in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas. Five families came to Oak Ridge, Texas from First Baptist Church in Conroe with the mission of building a sister church. The Suggs, Greer, Atherton, Pringle, and Allbrights families founded their church in the Tamina Community Hall on Robinson Road on October 22, 1967, with only 50 members in attendance. In just two years, Oak Ridge Baptist Church grew to 253 members, and in 1969 a building off I-45 was dedicated to being their new home. After many wonderful years in that building, they finally settled into a more-permanent church facility on May 6, 2007. The congregation celebrated this move by marching from their temporary residence at Vogel Intermediate School to their new home on Hanna Road. Fifty years have passed since the opening of their first building, but Senior Pastor Dr. Galen Cooper continues to keep the mission of the original five families alive, by connecting individuals throughout Oak Ridge, Spring, and The Woodlands through faith and community. He works to not only bond families, but to also create a truly supportive fellowship within the church. For the congregation of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, worship extends well beyond the walls of their church building. Members are taught to bring their faith into every aspect of their lives. Through programs including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Gideon's International, Operation Christmas Card, and more, the congregation strives to better serve and improve their community based through their strong faith and welcoming values. These churchgoers not only support their brothers and sisters in Christ in Texas, but around the world. In fact, Oak Ridge Baptist Church has partnered with the Eastern Baptist Convention in Cuba to establish churches and a School of Music. Missionaries are also laying down Christian roots in Lithuania and Mexico. This year, Oak Ridge Baptist Church celebrates half a century of worship and fellowship, and I am proud to join their congregation in celebration of their Anniversary. Congratulations on 50 years, and I hope the next 50 will be just as fruitful.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Mark Lehman for his twenty plus years as a distinguished advocate for Texas property owners with Texas REALTORS. Shortly after earning an accounting degree from the University of Texas, Mark pursued a career in public policy and has held a presence in Texas politics ever since. Throughout his professional career, Mark has worked in multiple positions at the national, state, and local political levels. Mark served in the Texas Legislature as the Chief of Staff for Texas Senator Florence Shapiro, and then worked as the Campaign Director for now-U.S. Senator John Cornyn's successful race for Texas Attorney General. Upon joining Texas REALTORS in 1998 as Director of Governmental Affairs, Mark brought a unique expertise that eventually ascended him to Vice President of Government Affairs in 2004. Mark has become an outstanding leader for the company as he was responsible for over 120,000 members in the association. With over two decades of experience with Texas REALTORS, Mark has admirably served many Texans by advocating for private-property rights, providing reliable information, and has gained respect among the Houston community. Leading up to the historic passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Mark played a significant role in gathering support for this monumental legislation in the Houston area. He also spearheaded oversight on economic analysis that showed the positive impact tax reform would have on Texas property owners and American workers and families across the country. Not only did he work hard in Texas, Mark also led a team to Washington, D.C. to inform lawmakers on their most up-to-date research and findings-data that was instrumental in giving America a new tax code. In 2018, Mark was inducted into the REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame--a testament to his hard work and success in the real estate field. Outside of his professional career, Mark is also an avid writer. He publishes two blogs, the first is a political blog simplifying the legislative process for his readers, and the second is a personal, faith-based blog interwoven with his own family history. After twenty years of hard work, I am proud to join Mark's colleagues and friends in celebrating his well-earned retirement. Mark, thank you for all you've done for our community. The Houston community has been blessed by your accomplishments, and I wish you well as you begin your next chapter.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today l rise to recognize and remember the life of a remarkable member of The Woodlands, Texas community, Roger L. Galatas, who passed away on August 29, 2019. Although he called Montgomery County home for the last 50 years, Roger was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 21, 1935. After graduating from Louisiana Tech in 1957 with a degree in geology, Roger served in the United States Air Force as a meteorologist. After three years of service, he began working for Humble Oil & Refining, which later became Exxon Mobile. A year later, he met his wife Ann on a blind date, and they married three months later. The two eventually made the move to the great state of Texas, where they settled down in the city of Conroe to raise their two children. In 1979, George P. Mitchell offered Roger a job, and for the next 20 years, Roger served as President of The Woodlands Operating Company, L.P., a position he only retired from after the company was sold. During his time with the company, he played a key role in creating iconic landmarks in our community, including the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Lake Woodlands, The Woodlands Hospital, and the John Cooper School. Roger was a firm believer in the vision of The Woodlands as a master planned community, and helped form ``George's Coffee Club''--a group focused on planning the future of the township. His love for The Woodlands even inspired him to venture into the literary world, and his book, ``The Woodlands: The Inside Story of Creating a Better Hometown'' was an insider's look into the history of his beloved hometown. Passionate about education and family values, Roger served two terms as president of the Conroe ISO School Board. His favorite past-time was reading to the third grade class at the local elementary school, which was later renamed Galatas Elementary in his honor. Though his legacy in The Woodlands is secured for decades to come, none will miss Roger more than his incredible family. He is survived by his children, Susan McLean and Bob Galatas; son- and daughter-in-law, Richard McLean and Carrie Galatas; and four grandchildren, Mason McLean, Molly McLean, Max Galatas, and Grace Galatas. While the community mourns this tremendous loss, we also celebrate Roger's remarkable life and remember his lasting legacy of groundbreaking innovation. He was an inspiration to all who met him, and I join his family, friends, and the entire Eighth District of Texas in honoring his wonderful life and endless devotion to our community. Roger, you will be greatly missed.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Texas. On September 16, 1844, Rev. Z.N. Morrell, Thomas Horsely, and Rev. Benjamin Fry established the First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Texas. The early congregation met in the Dean School House until their first building was constructed on the corner of 13th Street and Avenue J, where the church still stands today. The President of Baylor University, Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, preached the opening ceremony sermon. Legendary Texas figure General Sam Houston and his wife were among the first members of the First Baptist Church. In fact, a swimming pool at Houston's residence was used by the early congregation for baptisms and church ceremonies. In 1891, the congregation built a second building for worship services, which stood until 1924 when the congregation decided to construct an elegant four-story, red-brick church with tall white pillars and stained glass windows on the second floor. In a terrible tragedy, the new church building caught on fire in 1954, and congregation member and college student James E.V. Davis lost his life. Thankfully, members of the congregation were able to save church records, nursery furniture, an organ, and even some pews. The church then held services in a local high school auditorium until the fourth and final church building opened on December 11, 1955. In 1985, the First Baptist Church added a new Family Life Center, which offered sporting facilities, locker rooms, a kitchen, and a parlor to it's members. For the past 175 years, The First Baptist Church of Hunstville, Texas has stood as a reminder of the meaning of community and resilience. Please join me in celebrating this momentous anniversary, and remembering the people whose desire to worship created a rich history of knowing, following, and sharing in Christ.