Kevin Brady

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 of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 397, which is truly unfortunate because I know the authors' goals here are very well- intended. I have worked as a meatpacker; I have worked as a sheet metal worker; and I have worked construction. I know how hard these union families work, both for their wages and for their retirement. It is why Republicans and Democrats agree we are in a multiemployer pension crisis. When there are over 1.3 million workers covered by these union-managed plans whose pensions are set to be drained entirely over the next decade, that is a crisis. These figures only scratch the surface. If we are to look at the bigger picture of every union-managed pension, less than half the promises made by trustees to these union workers are actually funded--less than half. To put it simply, there is $638 billion promised to workers' retirement that is absolutely imaginary. That is wrong. This bill, I think, doubles down on the worst aspects of the pension system that have these workers in a pickle today. Congress has tried to kick the can down the road before. In 2006, Congress waived the required contributions for plans that said: We just can't make the contributions. And what happened? Things got worse for the workers. 2007, plans were $193 billion underfunded. A couple years ago, it had tripled. They were three times worse off. PBGC--they are the Federal insurer of these plans--went from a deficit of $739 million; their deficit increased seventyfold. That is even worse for the workers. So rather than continuing the status quo in today's partisan exercise--and just be honest. Having nine Republicans does not make this a bipartisan bill. And we already know, unfortunately, because it is one party, this bill is dead on arrival in the Senate. Democrats acknowledge it. Republicans do. Even some of the unions do. That is why I think a solution needs to happen this year, getting it to the President's desk so we say: Let's find a bipartisan solution to offer certainty, stability, and accountability and save these union- managed plans. We ought to be working together to ensure that the plans can make good on their promises to our union workers. This means eliminating the various gimmicks some of these plans are allowed to use. Plans have to accurately measure their pension promises in a way similar to insurance companies making those same promises. For example, I don't understand: Why are promises to unions worth only one-third of the pension promises made to workers who are working for a single company? Aren't union workers just as important, and aren't those promises just as important for them as other workers? Equally important, we have folks on accountability. A promise is a promise, and companies need to be on the hook for every pension promise they made to their workers. And so, by the way, do the trustees. Why do we allow the same people to operate the same way and leave the same union workers behind? What sense does that make? And, finally, one of the reasons we oppose this bill is we need to prevent the severely underfunded plans from digging themselves even deeper in the hole under the guise of protecting workers. We have to wall off the contributions that fund these new promises that we know will be broken instead of perpetuating what now is sort of a Ponzi scheme: Retirees are paid out of the contributions that are supposed to fund benefits to younger workers. That is double counting, and that is what gets people in trouble. I believe our union workers deserve better. The companies in these plans deserve better. This bill doesn't make these plans more stable. It doesn't end underfunding. It doesn't make them secure for the long term. And our biggest worry as Republicans, it doesn't solve the problem. So these same workers, years down the road, are going to be in the same problem. We haven't helped them. I think our workers deserve better, which is why I strongly urge all my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill. I give my commitment for the Ways and Means Republicans to work with you, Mr. Chairman, to find a real solution. Our workers really do deserve this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), one of the key members of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), a key member of the Ways and Means Committee, a businessperson, and who funds retirements and know how hard these workers work.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), one of the leaders of our Tax Policy Subcommittee efforts.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), a member of the Ways and Means Committee who, as a State treasurer, has worked with these public pension programs.

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

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Look, it is not enough to do something. We have to do the right thing. We know the Senate isn't going to consider this bill. They have told everyone. There is no one in the Senate predicting this bill will be taken up. The White House certainly won't support it in its current form. But, like us, they believe we need to find a solution. When all is said and done, I know this bill is well intended. I know the author and leader is well intended because I know him. I think this will actually delay Congress from making the progress we really need to on this issue. So, today, after what will be a largely partisan vote, we are going to be forced to start over at step one. I just think union workers and their families, who work incredibly hard every day, that promises to them ought to be kept. And they demand better from us. To solve this issue, we have to work together to get to the root cause, which is that there are lower standards and less accountability for these union-managed plans. That is why the promises to union workers are worth a third what the promises are to workers in other plans. That isn't right. This bill doesn't take any steps to make these failing plans more stable. It won't end underfunding. It doesn't make them more solvent over time for their children, who are working, by the way, in these same companies. Families of these union workers are counting on these plans, and these workers have put their trust in these trustees to make good on their promises. Too many failed, and too many are still failing. The truth is, we are in this crisis today because not all managers, by the way, did a bad job, but too many did. They dramatically overpromised and underdelivered. Will we rely on the same people who created this mess to do the same thing to the same workers they have already let down? It is the workers we worry about the most. I have been on the factory floors with these men and women. They are good people. They care deeply about providing for themselves and their families. They just want their promises kept. What our union workers need is for Congress to come up with a long- term, bipartisan solution now. We will need to start over, Republicans and Democrats working together to develop serious bipartisan reforms. Again, I pledge to our chairman that Republicans are eager to engage, if asked, to try to find this solution--for the first time, if we are asked, to find a solution. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in opposition to the bill from Heritage Action for America, Americans for Tax Reform, and National Taxpayers Union. Heritage Action for America, July 23, 2019. Hon. Kevin Brady, Ranking Member, House Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ranking Member Brady: This week, the House is expected to consider H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (previously known as the Butch-Lewis Act). The bill would essentially bail out over $600 billion in pension liabilities at taxpayer expense without making any reforms to ensure future shortfalls will be avoided. This bill would also set a dangerous precedent for other insolvent pensions, including the $6 trillion in unfunded pension liabilities currently held by state and local governments. Politically, this is not an easy issue for many offices. Every member wants to assure their constituents that he or she is doing everything possible to protect their retirement security. But there are four important considerations representatives should take into account before voting on this bill: 1) Existing policies have allowed pensions shortfalls to grow uncontrollably and must be fixed before any other actions are taken; 2) Private sector workers were promised their pensions by their employers and their unions, not by fellow taxpayers or the government; 3) There are alternative ways to ensure workers receive most or all of their pensions without a taxpayer bailout if action is taken quickly; 4) bailouts set dangerous precedents, create moral hazard, and shield bad actors. Rather than bailing out multiemployer pensions plans through costly loans that will never be paid back, lawmakers should make them solvent by applying some of the tighter rules that govern single-employer pensions (which were 79% funded in 2015 vs. 43% for multiemployer), increasing PBGC premiums, placing reasonable restrictions on growth assumptions, and giving workers a buyout option. Allowing taxpayer dollars to flow to private pensions without even addressing the underlying causes of the shortfall is an irresponsible non-solution to a growing national problem. Heritage Action opposes this legislation and urges all members of Congress to oppose it. All the best, Garrett Bess, Director of Government Relations, Heritage Action for America.

Mr. BRADY. I am convinced we can find a solution. This isn't the right thing for our workers, but there is a right way to help them. We are serious about making that happen. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, on July 12, 2019, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 472; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 473; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 474.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, if this unanimous consent request cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately schedule the Born-Alive bill so we can stand up and protect the sanctity of human life, and I ask for all others to join in that request.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Immune Deficiency Foundation on the occasion of their biennial national conference. On the weekend of June 20-22 more than 1,300 people gathered at National Harbor, Maryland. As part of this conference, over 200 individuals impacted by primary immunodeficiency (PI) met with legislators here on Capitol Hill to talk about important federal public policy issues. The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), which is based in Towson, Maryland, was founded by Marcia Boyle in 1980 after her son, John, nearly died as an infant from a form of Pl. Roughly 40 years later, John now serves as President & CEO of the Foundation as it moves into its fifth decade. IDF advocates for persons and families impacted by PI, which are a spectrum of more than 350 rare genetic disorders in which a person's immune system functions improperly or, in the most severe forms, is missing completely. Persons with PI face higher risk of infection, and even a relatively mild cold can cause severe complications. Some people go years or decades suffering from recurring illnesses before being properly diagnosed, though thankfully today the most dangerous form of PI--Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID-- can be diagnosed via newborn screening. I have been fortunate to work with IDF throughout my tenure in Congress. I was introduced to the organization by my constituent Carol Ann Demaret, who is a longtime member of the IDF Board of Trustees. Carol Ann is the mother of David Vetter, the Houston boy who was affectionately known as the ``boy in the bubble.'' David battled with SCID during the 1970s until his untimely death in 1984. Today, thanks to advances in science and medicine, as well as in public policy, people with SCID and other forms of PI can live healthier and fuller lives if properly diagnosed and treated. As of late last year, all 50 states are screening for SCID as part of their newborn screening program. This means children like David Vetter who are born with SCID will be diagnosed promptly after birth and be able to undergo a bone marrow transplant or even gene therapy to restore the immune system they lack. This is no small accomplishment--I know I speak for the Eighth District of Texas when I say thank you to IDF for their great work throughout the years. For persons with less severe forms of PI, treatment involving immunoglobulin or Ig replacement therapy is vitally important. Ig can be administered intravenously (IVIG) or subcutaneously (SCIG), providing patients and their clinicians with treatment options. Over the years, I have championed legislative efforts to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to immunoglobulin therapies in the comfort of their home. This includes the ongoing Medicare IVIG bundled payment demonstration that we are working to transition into a permanent benefit over the coming years as Medicare rolls out a larger home infusion services benefit. IDF, a true leader of the PI community, continues to support these important access issues as well as other policies to advance care for persons with Pl. These priorities include reauthorizing the successful Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act and supporting medical research and public health programs focused on PI. It is particularly exciting that a number of SCID gene therapy clinical trials are ongoing, and I am most hopeful for and optimistic about continued progress in the field. Madam Speaker, while I could not be in attendance, I am proud to recognize the IDF 2019 National Conference and I look forward to continuing to support the needs of the PI community, I thank them for all they do and I look forward to working with IDF on many more issues in the future.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents what this body can accomplish when we work together across the aisle. It is true that no one gets everything they want, but we put in the effort, we did the hard work, and we talked to each other, and we came together to find solutions on common ground. I am honored to have cosponsored the Taxpayer First Act with my friend from Georgia, Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis. This is the fifth time this bill will pass the House with strong bipartisan support, and I am proud of the House leadership--Democrats and Republicans together--initiated first by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Roskam of Illinois and Mr. Lewis and Ms. Jenkins of Kansas, and now Mr. Lewis and Mr. Kelly. This will be the fifth time this passes the House, which tells you the importance of this legislation, Mr. Speaker. I want to especially thank Chairman Lewis for his commitment to taxpayers and for working with us on behalf of the American people. The IRS should be a customer service agency that focuses on treating taxpayers with respect and dignity. Over the last several years, the Ways and Means Committee held a number of bipartisan hearings to discover what is working and what isn't at the IRS. As we crafted this legislation together to redesign the IRS for the first time in two decades, we focused on improving the relationship between the taxpayer and the agency. We all agree the IRS should prioritize taxpayers' rights and they should be a resource--not a threat--to Americans. This bill achieves these goals. After passage of the Taxpayer First Act, Americans will interact with an IRS that carries out customer service more like our businesses, because this bill will improve the support Americans receive online, in person, and on the phone. This bill takes a number of steps to move the IRS into the 21st century. First, the IRS will have to come up with a customer service plan to better serve taxpayers because no American should fear contacting the IRS for help. We also together rein in the abuses. We are overhauling the IRS' enforcement tools so families and small businesses don't have property unfairly seized. The Constitution guarantees Americans the right to due process and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. In hearings led by Chairman Lewis and others, we have heard stories from across the country of the IRS abusing these rights. Under this bill, that stops. Third, the Taxpayer First Act recasts the IRS as our tax administrator rather than simply an enforcement agency. We will better protect taxpayers from enforcement abuses by creating an independent appeals office. This will give taxpayers a fair and impartial review of disputes they have with the IRS. The bill also ensures taxpayers have the same access to information as the IRS, putting our taxpayers on a level playing field. We are revamping the IRS' ancient technology and better positioning the agency to combat identity theft and cyber threats. IRS employees, as hard as they work, are currently using technology that is severely outdated. Some of it dates back to the 1960s. This bill requires accountability by the IRS for the billions of dollars in funding it is given for IT each year. That accountability extends to ensuring taxpayer information is protected and is safe from cybercriminals looking to steal through taxpayer refunds. This bill also strengthens the IRS' partnership with States and the private sector to combat these threats. Finally, this bill requires the IRS to bring back to Congress the complete restructuring of the agency focused on these principles of taxpayer first customer service, reining in those abuses, and protecting our private taxpayer information, making sure there is a fair appeals process in these disputes with the IRS. Taken together, these reforms will greatly benefit Americans each year during tax season and throughout the year. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 3151, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, this bipartisan bill puts an emphasis on the IRS' better serving Americans and makes sure that it is customer focused. It reins in the abuses, requires the IRS to better protect our privacy, creates an independent appeals process, makes sure that taxpayers are put on the same level playing field as the agency, and requires them to bring back a complete restructuring plan to Congress. I am so appreciative of the work of our Democrat colleagues and Chairman Lewis, especially, coming together again today to support these reforms to the IRS and showing our constituents that we put their interests ahead of Washington. Again, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge support of H.R. 3151, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Steve and Becky Riggle's 50th wedding anniversary. Together, this couple has been a blessing to the Houston area. I am proud to call them my friends and recognize this significant milestone in their lives. Now a seasoned pastor, Steve first became a licensed minister in 1969. Steve and Becky later joined Grace International Churches and Ministries, eventually starting a church in Livermore, California. For almost a decade they proudly served their church and grew the ministry into the largest Protestant church in the city--a truly incredible accomplishment. After years of teaching others about God's mercy, Steve and Becky experienced it first hand. While ministering at a remote prison in the Philippines in 1978, they were attacked and held hostage by four prisoners. The situation escalated when Steve was stabbed seven times and Becky was shot and stabbed multiple times along her arms. Miraculously, through God's grace, the couple was able to leave the hospital and head back to California in just 18 days after the near fatal assault. Becky subsequently had five major surgeries, spent nine months in a body cast, and nine more learning how to walk again. As harrowing as this event was, Steve and Becky held steadfast in their faith, and have since praised God for his mercy for helping them survive and continue to serve. Fortunately, for our community, the Riggle family made their way to the Lone Star State in 1983, where they started the Grace Community Church in Houston, Texas. After many years of growth, Grace Community Church now has four thriving campuses and is the church home to over 17,000 devoted individuals. Steve currently holds the title of Founding Pastor at Grace, and serves as the Senior Pastor at the Grace Woodland's campus. Steve's service to our community does not stop at the pulpit. He also sits on the executive team of the Houston Area's Pastor Council, is a Board member of The King's University, and currently serves as the President of Grace International--a group of 3,500 churches with ministries in over 100 nations. Becky is also incredibly active in our community, and leads a local women's ministry and bible study. A gifted motivational speaker, she speaks at a variety of conferences for women, both across the country and internationally. Steve and Becky's work has truly made our region a better place for the next generation. They have touched the hearts and lives of so many throughout the world. I believe--and I know Steve and Becky would agree--that their greatest accomplishment is their wonderful family, which includes two children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. I am proud to join their family, colleagues, and friends in congratulating them on their golden anniversary. I wish Steve and Becky all the best and here's to many more happy years together.

Mr. BRADY

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, who has been a champion for expanding education savings accounts for Americans.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), a leader who has worked for working moms and our veterans.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I am very proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), a key member of our committee who worked on this legislation.

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize those who worked in a bipartisan way to address the Gold Star issue: Representatives Bacon, Diaz-Balart, Herrera Beutler, Holding, Marchant, Wagner, Waltz, and Wenstrup. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), one of our new members of the Ways and Means Committee.

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

Mr. BRADY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Madam Speaker, how sad it is that some are trying to make this a partisan, petty measure. The truth is, in 2014, in an original draft of tax reform, this provision was included by the Joint Committee on Taxation to simplify the Tax Code and to stop tax loopholes. That draft was praised by my Democratic colleagues, by Mr. Neal, Mr. Kind, and Mr. Thompson. In over 5 years, no one spotted this unintended consequence. When it surfaced, Republicans and Democrats came together immediately and resolved to not just fix it but to make it retroactive. Why make this a petty, partisan issue? Our Gold Star parents deserve better. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.