Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained to cast my votes on time. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 235 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236. personal explanation

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and thank Dr. Don Stockton for his tireless service and unwavering commitment to the students and employees of the Conroe Independent School District. A graduate of both Purdue University and Texas A&M University, Don Stockton began his career in education as a math teacher in Lafayette, Indiana, but just two years later, Don found his way to Conroe lSD, where he continued to teach math and coach at Conroe High School and Travis Junior High School. Over the course of seventeen years, Don served throughout Conroe lSD: working as the Assistant Principal at Oak Ridge High School, the Assistant Principal and Principal of McCullough Junior High, the Assistant Principal and Principal of Knox Junior High, the Principal of The Woodlands High School, and the Interim and Assistant Superintendent of Schools. In 2003, Don was appointed Conroe ISD's Superintendent of Schools--a posting he has held for fifteen years. Under his leadership, Conroe ISD has reached new levels of success and earned countless performance and achievement awards--becoming the largest school district to ever be named Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency and one of only three school districts with the highest academic achievement rating eight years in a row. Throughout his time in Montgomery County and the Greater Houston Area, Don has used his talents to serve his community in both Conroe ISD and a wide variety of educational and civic organizations. These tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dan's hard work and passion for service have earned him the title of Superintendent of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and many other community and public service awards. Don dedicated his career to making a difference in his community that reached far beyond the classroom, and thousands of students, families, educators, and staff have been changed for the better due to his efforts. I am proud to join his wife, Kara; his daughter, Brooke; his friends; and his colleagues in thanking Don for his career of service and wishing him the best as he begins his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Michael K. Baker, the Chief Clerk of the Committee on Ways and Means Committee, who recently left the Committee staff after seven years of dedicated service. Michael began his Congressional career as an intern under then Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp. Michael shortly joined the Ways and Means Committee staff and served as Clerk over the past seven years under Chairman Camp, Chairman Paul Ryan, and myself. During his time with the Committee, Michael has overseen too many hearings to count and markups involving transformational tax, trade, and health care legislation. But at the end of markups that often stretched long into the night, after the crowds had gone home, you could find Michael back at his desk faithfully entering votes and statements into the record. His dedication to the legislative process and commitment to serving the American people is an essential part of the Committee's work. We simply could not have done all we have been able to achieve in recent years without his dedication and hard work. Some markups, especially those stretching late into the night and involving dozens of amendment votes, would be particularly challenging for someone in Michael's position. But he was always undeterred. At those moments he would turn to those close to him to remind them--with a half-serious, half-joking smile--``We do not have to do this. We get to do this.'' I truly believe the lives of all Americans are better because of Michael's service at the Committee. I know I speak for all Members and staff of the Committee on Ways and Means when I say we greatly appreciate all of Michael's dedicated effort. We thank Michael for a job well done and we wish him every success in his bright future.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Barbara Bush. Our country mourns the loss of a truly incomparable First Lady. For many of us, Barbara Pierce Bush is the original ``thousand points of light'' by her urging, her applauding, and, at times, insisting that we should all live up to higher standards when it comes to family, honor, and duty. Barbara Bush deserves to be honored because of her dedication to making our world a better place, specifically, through her work as an advocate for adult and child literacy. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the leading advocate for family literacy in America, will continue her great work to give children and parents the skills they need for a brighter future. I had the honor of representing Texas A&M at College Station when the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library was dedicated. It is a remarkable library in so many ways, as is President Bush and the First Lady. But it was, to me, remarkable how much time and access the President and Barbara Bush gave to the young people of College Station and the region, bringing in leaders from around the country and the world; having deep discussions about freedom, about faith, about family, about leadership and service, all the things that made the Bush family so special. One time, early on a Saturday morning, I was driving up to College Station to interview our applicants for West Point and the Naval Academy and the Air Force and Merchant Marine. We were doing it at the Corps of Cadets Center at Texas A&M. It was really early on a Saturday morning. So we were on 290, and I am not really paying attention. I look up and I see this bluish green car just up ahead of me, and I notice the license plate says: ``Read 1.'' I thought, Read 1; that is amazing. So as we drive past her--I may have been pushing the speed limit a bit--I noticed that famous white hair, and it was Mrs. Bush driving up to the library on a Saturday morning for some work or the other, probably focused on family literacy. The Bush family is simply adored in Texas, and especially in the Houston region, for so many reasons. I had a chance, as Congressman Culberson talked about, to be able to follow on the Ways and Means Committee, the seat that President Bush once held, that Chairman Archer once held, and now that I have the privilege to hold. So I always feel like I have a duty to uphold his standards, his legacy, his commitment to honor and duty on our committee as well. When I won the seat on the Ways and Means Committee, President Bush reached out to say: Congratulations. Come down and visit. Then, when I was fortunate enough to succeed now Speaker Paul Ryan to chair the committee, his office called again and said: Come down. The President wants to visit about Ways and Means issues. So I got a chance to visit with Mrs. Bush and the President, my good friend Chase Untermeyer, and others. We talked about tax reform and trade issues and Social Security and Medicare. Mrs. Bush was in the thick of things in those discussions, and that is my last memory of being able to visit with her in person. Anyone who didn't leave a conversation with her better than when you started probably wasn't paying attention to the conversation. So we are blessed. It is a remarkable legacy she leaves for her family, for Texas, for the United States and, really, for the whole world. So, surely, Heaven rejoiced as Mrs. Bush joined her Saviour, pearls and all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for blessing us with such a remarkable woman with a remarkable life and a remarkable family. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a resolution honoring the life of First Lady Barbara Bush. Resolution Honoring the life of First Lady Barbara Bush Whereas Barbara Pierce was born on June 8, 1925, in New York City; Whereas Barbara Pierce became engaged to George Herbert Walker Bush and, while awaiting his return from combat during World War II, supported the war effort by working at a nuts and bolts factory in Port Chester, New York; Whereas Barbara Bush was married to President George H.W. Bush for 73 years, and together they had 2 daughters, 4 sons, 17 grandchildren, and 8 great-grand-children; Whereas as Second Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush became a passionate champion for family literacy and published ``C. Fred's Story: A Dog's Life'', which raised $100,000 for Literacy Volunteers of America and Laubach Literacy Action; Whereas, in January of 1983, Barbara Bush joined the board of the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and worked with Dr. Louis Sullivan to help raise $10 million for the school's first capital campaign; Whereas First Lady Barbara Bush founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989, and over the course of 30 years raised more than $110 million to support family literacy programs in every State across America; Whereas while serving as First Lady, Barbara Bush visited facilities for AIDS victims and held infected babies and hugged adults, and in so doing, helped erase the stigma of that disease; Whereas, in 1991, Barbara Bush and other advocates worked for the passage of the National Literacy Act of 1991, which created the National Institute for Literacy and permitted the use of libraries and other municipal property as evening literacy centers for adults; Whereas after leaving the White House, Barbara Bush continued to support a broad range of important organizations and causes, including AmeriCares, the Mayo Clinic Foundation, the Leukemia Society of America, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Boys & Girls Club of America; Whereas three primary schools and two middle schools in Texas have been named for Barbara Bush, along with an elementary school in Mesa, Arizona, the Barbara Bush Library in Harris County, Texas, and the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine; Whereas Barbara Bush shares the rare distinction with Abigail Adams of being both a wife to, and mother of, a President of the United States, and is also the mother of a Governor of Florida and a Governor of Texas; and Whereas Barbara Bush was a truly great American, First and Second Lady of the United States, literacy advocate, author, mother, and ``Ganny'': Now, therefore, be it: Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) extends its sympathies to the family of Barbara Bush; and (2) honors the life of First Lady Barbara Bush and her contribution to the United States of America.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Culberson not just for his leadership of this special tribute to Barbara Bush, but for keeping the legacy of President Bush and the Bush family alive in the eastern region in the district that he represented. Mr. Culberson has now worked his way up into such a key position for our region, our State, and our country, advancing space in such a major way for the world, in my view, and then leading the effort for Hurricane Harvey relief, a record $146 billion for Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Irma, and some of the wildfires in California, all of which are the largest amount of disaster recovery and really the first prevention funds to help rebuild the levees and the dams, and all that can prevent these floods. I thank the gentleman for his leadership in that.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of the Nucor Corporation's Vulcraft Steel Plant in Grapeland, Texas. In 1946, a small steel fabrication company, the Vulcraft Corporation, was founded in Florence, South Carolina. For sixteen years, the company grew and prospered, ultimately transforming into an exclusive manufacturer of steel span joints, before the Nuclear Corporation, a company tracing its roots to the founder of Oldsmobile, purchased its facilities in 1962. After expanding its steel manufacturing operations to facilities in Nebraska and Alabama, Nucor, previously known as the Nuclear Corporation, made its move to the Lone Star State on April 1, 1968, when it opened a fourth steel plant in Grapeland, Texas. With this foundation, Vulcraft's operations expanded to three additional states and two production facilities in Canada. Despite experiencing such massive growth and success in business, Vulcraft maintained its high levels of customer satisfaction and standards of excellence. In fact, Vulcraft is known worldwide for exceptional safety standards, high-quality steel products it manufactures, and the commitment it has made to producing environmentally friendly products. Look no further than Vulcraft's Grapeland facility for proof that the company is dedicated to serving its customers and its employees. Since its foundation in 1968, Vulcraft Grapeland has tripled in size, and it continues to serve as a beacon of success and excellence in our community. Notably, Vulcraft and its parent company, Nucor, are now looking to use their years of experience, successful business practices, and high standing in the steel industry to advocate for free trade policies and the safety of men and women in the workplace. On April 1, 2018, Vulcraft celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its plant in Grapeland. I am proud to join the men and woman of Vulcraft, and the entire Eighth District of Texas to recognize this significant mile-marker and their continued success.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), and I ask unanimous consent that she may control that time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on H.R. 5444, currently under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 831, I call up the bill (H.R. 5444) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modernize and improve the Internal Revenue Service, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today we are taking the biggest and boldest steps in 20 years, to redesign the IRS with a singular focus, taxpayer service. This bill will redesign the IRS for the first time in two decades. It refocuses the agency to live up to its mission of putting taxpayers first. Finally, it will rein in its enforcement powers to prevent future abuse. There are two important pieces of legislation being considered before the House today, H.R. 5444, the Taxpayer First Act; and H.R. 5445, the 21st Century IRS Act. These bipartisan bills, the product of 2 years of work by the Committee on Ways and Means, will make the IRS a truly taxpayer-first agency in a number of different ways. First off, this bill puts an emphasis on customer service. We are requiring the IRS to submit to Congress plans to restructure the agency to improve efficiency, enhance cybersecurity, and better serve taxpayers. This will guarantee that the IRS is living up to its ``quality service'' motto, while holding the agency accountable if it fails to meet these standards. In addition, our legislation encourages the IRS to adopt commonsense customer service features commonly seen in the private sector, such as a call-back option. Secondly, we are overhauling the IRS' enforcement tools so families and small businesses can't have property seized without fair notice and due process. Over and over again, we have heard stories from across the country of absolutely tragic abuses of power by the IRS. For example, we heard from Andrew Clyde, who served three combat tours in Iraq. Then he came home and opened a successful small business in Georgia, only to have the IRS unfairly seize $950,000 from him. Our legislation prevents outrageous enforcement abuses like this to protect American taxpayers from unfair seizures. Thirdly, the Taxpayer First Act reminds the IRS they are not just an enforcement agency, they are also our tax administrator. That is why this bill changes the title of the IRS chief from Commissioner to, more accurately, Administrator. Additionally, and this is important, Mr. Speaker, we are shifting the burden of proof back onto the IRS when examining taxpayers. This legislation establishes an Independent Office of Appeals within the agency to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair and impartial review of disputes they may have with the IRS. It shouldn't take a Freedom of Information Act request to see what evidence the IRS is bringing against you. This legislation will require that the IRS provide you with your own case file prior to any review of your dispute with the agency. It puts taxpayers on a level playing field, which is where they deserve to be. In the 21st Century IRS Act, we are revamping the IRS' nearly ancient technology and better positioning the agency to proactively combat cyber threats. Right now, IRS technology is so outdated that some systems date to the 1960s, and fax machines are still used for some official communications. This bill modernizes the IRS and ensures the agency is accountable for the billions of dollars in IT that it spends each year. Lastly, the 21st Century IRS Act enhances the agency's ability to combat identity theft tax refund fraud by strengthening the IRS' partnership with States and with cybersecurity experts. This bill requires the IRS to practically partner with States in the private sector that effectively combat identify thieves trying to steal our refund. I want to thank Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Lynn Jenkins and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member John Lewis for their tireless work on this important bill. With the new Tax Code, it is time for a redesign of our tax agency. This bipartisan legislation truly refocuses the IRS to make it a taxpayer-first agency. Finally, Mr. Speaker, before I turn over the floor, I would like to recognize a good friend and trusted policy adviser, and by every measure, one of the very best to ever serve the Ways and Means Committee in the House, Mr. David Stewart. David began his congressional journey in 2000, when he came to intern for Ways and Means Committee member, Congressman Phil English. Over his career as a staffer, David became a trusted voice on policy for Speaker John Boehner, for Speaker Paul Ryan, and, 2\1/2\ years ago, for me, when he joined the Ways and Means Committee as staff director. This past year, with David's steady leadership and immutable resolve, we were able to pass the first tax reform in a generation, which has boosted our economy and helped so many American families. David's focus has always been on making lives better for all Americans, and I stand here to today to tell him: Job well done. David is a selfless public servant. He sacrificed so much time away from his family--his wife, Betsy, and his daughters, Grace and Poppy-- and yet he has served his nation so well. To say David works hard is an understatement. Once, when he was asked how many hours he worked per week, David replied, simply, with, ``A lot.'' This also shows David's wit and his wry sense of humor that has always made busy days brighter. His dedication to mastering intricate policy is unmatched, and I know, Mr. Speaker, I speak for all members and staff of the Ways and Means Committee when I say: Thank you, David, for your service to the House and the Committee on Ways and Means. You will be greatly missed around here, my friend. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, April 12, 2018. Hon. Kevin Brady, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Brady: I am writing to you regarding H.R. 5444, the ``Taxpayer First Act''. There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Financial Services. In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill the Committee on Financial Services does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 5444 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerly, Jeb Hensarling, Chairman.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a good friend, a trusted policy adviser and by every measure, one of the very best to ever serve the Ways and Means Committee and the House, Mr. David Stewart. David began his Congressional journey in 2000 when he came to intern for Ways and Means Committee Member Congressman Phil English. Over his career as a staffer, David became a trusted voice on policy for Speaker John Boehner, Speaker Paul Ryan, and two and a half years ago to me when he joined the Ways and Means Committee as staff director. This past year, with David's steady leadership, and immutable resolve we were able to pass the first tax reform in a generation that's boosted our economy and helped so many families. David's focus has always been on making lives better for all Americans, and I stand here today to tell him job well done. David is a selfless public servant, who has sacrificed time away from his family-- his wife Betsy and his daughters Grace and Poppy and has served his nation well. To say David works hard is an understatement. Once when he was asked how many hours he works per week, David replied simply with ``a lot.'' This also shows David's witty and wry sense of humor that has always made busy days brighter. His dedication to mastering intricate policy is unmatched. I know I speak for all Members and staff when I say: Thank you, David for your service to the House and to the Committee on Ways and Means. He is going to be greatly missed around here.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Michael and Frances McDougal of Conroe, TX, and congratulate them on their 50th wedding anniversary. In 1964, Michael and Frances first met on the campus of Southwestern University, where Michael was pursuing a career in law and Frances was working to become an elementary school teacher. Despite their many personality differences, the two spent four years growing closer together, and on April 6, 1968, the two were finally married. Soon after, Michael began to pursue his law degree at Southern Methodist University, and in order to support her husband's dream of becoming an attorney, Frances began teaching in Dallas, TX. Together, the two thrived during this difficult time, which culminated with the birth of their first child, Heather, and the grand opening of Michael's first law office in 1971. Even with the stress of a new business and an infant child, the two stuck together. Michael worked long hours to ensure the success of their new business, and Frances split her time between teaching and helping in the law office--all while raising a baby girl. In 1972, the young family relocated to North Houston in order for Michael to begin serving under the District Attorney in Conroe, TX--a community they quickly adopted as their home. Michael and Frances welcomed the birth of their first son, Christopher, in 1976, and the birth of their second son, Kevin ``Ryan'', in 1979. The family took full advantage of living in their community--taking up horseback riding and becoming active in their church's congregation. Ultimately, Michael rose to the level of Montgomery County District Attorney before opening his own firm with his son Ryan--McDougal and McDougal Law Firm. Frances continued teaching and, after her own fight with cancer, she found herself heavily involved with FAITH Fighting Cancer and volunteering with Memorial Hermann Hospital. Despite their successful careers and tireless community service, Michael and Frances have always made their family the center of their life: their three children, Heather, Christopher, and Ryan; their son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Audrey; and their seven grandchildren, Lindsey, Travis, Ashley, Callum, Cadence, Abigail, and Max. Michael and Frances McDougal's relationship serves as a perfect illustration of what a strong marriage and even stronger family should be. I am proud to join Michael and Frances' family, their friends, and the entire Eighth District of Texas in recognizing their 50th wedding anniversary and congratulating them on this momentous milestone in their relationship.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Eleni Marie Roumel for her dedicated service to the House of Representatives and specifically to the Committee on Ways and Means. Eleni has been with the House Office of General Counsel since October 2012, during which time she has provided invaluable counsel to House Members, Officers, and staff on a variety of legal issues. She has vigorously defended the institutional prerogatives of the House, and greatly assisted the Committees in fulfilling their important constitutional oversight roles. Of special importance to the Committee on Ways and Means, our staff came to rely on her expertise and guidance in connection with many of the Committee's investigative and oversight activities, as well as in connection with the Committee's interactions with the Executive Branch. Eleni was a trusted advisor on many aspects of the Affordable Care Act, and worked tirelessly to ensure the Committee's investigative efforts in overseeing the enforcement of the law were successful. Eleni has been instrumental in the Committee's efforts to combat Executive Branch overreach and vindicate the House's Appropriations Clause authority. In addition, Eleni has exemplified the role of counselor to Committee staff as someone who was eminently reliable, knowledgeable, creative, and genuinely a pleasure to work with. She will be greatly missed. This month, Eleni will continue her distinguished career of public service by commencing her new role as Deputy Counsel to the Vice President of the United States. Eleni served the House with great distinction, and we know she will serve the Vice President with that same level of distinction. On behalf of the many Members of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee staff, who benefitted from her insightful counsel, I say thank you. We extend to her our very best wishes for her continued success.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1625, showing the text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, before the House for debate today includes tax provisions, including technical corrections to tax legislation enacted prior to 2017. These tax technical corrections are important to provide clarity to taxpayers and to the administration of the law. As Ways and Means Committee Chairman and Ranking Member, I and Richard Neal asked the staff of the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation to make available to the public a technical explanation of the tax provisions of this legislation. The technical explanation expresses the Committee's understanding and legislative intent behind the tax provisions of this legislation. It is available on the Joint Committee's website at www.jct.gov. It is document JCX-6-18, Technical Explanation of the Revenue Provisions of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1625 (Rules Committee Print 115-66).

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Mitchell and Congresswoman Mimi Walters for arranging this Special Order to highlight the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I am excited to be joined by our Texas colleagues. Texas is a big winner, like many States, because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They estimate it will create 81,000 new, good-paying jobs in our State alone. But that is not just our State. You see huge job gains in California, New York, throughout the Southern States, throughout our Midwest area, and throughout our manufacturing regions. This historic tax reform is making a real difference for our families and our workers. We all know about tax relief for our small businesses, the first ever 20 percent small business deduction in history. The bill will be a write-off on day one in new investment in plants, equipment, software, and technology. People know that we made our companies more competitive so they can compete and win all around the world, especially here at home. I get excited about what we did for families, lowering the tax rates at every level. So whether you made $20,000 or $520,000, you keep more of what you earn. We doubled the standard deduction so few people have to itemize. We doubled the child credit and quadrupled how many Americans can actually use it. For the first time, all middle class Americans are going to get help raising children. We are doing away with the AMT except for households up to $1 million. What that means next year is, instead of 5 million Americans getting caught up with that double tax, it is about 200,000, a fraction of what it is today. What I really love are the stories. I was in Home Depot the other day, on Sunday. Apparently, we are redoing our bathroom. So my wife was looking at samples, and a woman came up and introduced herself. Her name is Pam. She is a small-business person. She redoes furniture, repaints, and all that, but she works at Home Depot to make ends meet. She introduced herself and said: Thank you. I get $184 more every paycheck. Maybe that couple thousand dollars doesn't mean much in Washington, but for my family, it really means a lot. Thank you for that. Donald from Willis, Texas, saw the benefits of this law in his pay stub. He said: My Federal tax deducted from my paycheck went from 12 to 9 percent. Yes, I am very happy. Mr. Speaker, because of tax reform, Texans are excited for a strong and growing economy. Larry from Spring, Texas, said: As a 78-year-old retiree working part time, even a small difference in take-home pay is welcome. I am delighted to see the spur to overall economic activity that should benefit all, locally and nationally. Every day, I hear stories like this: people receiving raises and bigger benefits at work. And we did, simply, the Code. As Congressman Mitchell pointed out, under the new Tax Code, next year, nearly 90 percent of Americans will be able to file their taxes using a simple postcard-style system. That is fairness. That is growth. That is increasing jobs and paychecks. I want to thank my colleagues from Texas joining us here tonight for their critical role in passing this historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Without this support, it wouldn't have happened. I also thank Congressman Mitchell and Congresswoman Walters for arranging this Special Order and continuing, as they did during the debates, informing people of the tax reform plan. I thank them for playing such a leadership role.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill to renew the Generalized System of Preferences program for 3 years. I thank Congressman Reichert for his leadership of the Trade Subcommittee and the good work that Mr. Pascrell has done as well. This program, known as GSP, is incredibly important for the competitiveness of our local businesses and our local workers. It helps our families and our communities by reducing tariffs, which are essentially taxes, on products that many of us use every day. Through GSP, we secure tax-free access to thousands of products from around the world. Last year, this saved American businesses more than $865 million. In Texas alone, our local job creators saved more than $76 million. Of course, this is money that our businesses can instead use to hire more workers, to expand, and innovate. But, really, think about what it means for families. Think about that single mom in the grocery store carefully reading every price tag so she can stretch every dollar to the max. For her, GSP makes everyday essentials more affordable, as well as the occasional treat that saves money. It provides her with real peace of mind. GSP delivers all these benefits in an accountable way that doesn't hurt American workers or businesses. I thank all the Members who worked on this important pro-growth, pro- family bill; in particular, our Ways and Means Committee members: Congressman Neal, my ranking member; Congressmen Reichert and Pascrell, our Trade Subcommittee chairman and ranking member; and Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who has been an outstanding leader in this effort. Now, let's pass this bill, provide certainty for our job creators, and deliver the tax relief that American families deserve.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership and hard work on this effort. For over a year, the Ways and Means Committee has been leading efforts to advance smart, focused solutions to improve Medicare for the American people. A number of these solutions are included in the bill before us today. These policies take action on three primary goals: First, expanding access to high-quality care; Second, increasing efficiency in the way we deliver care--a key goal that will help patients better receive the care they need when they need it; and Third, incorporating healthcare technologies that are focused on patients, such as telehealth, and eliminating barriers to coordinating care. This means providing new tools to patients that healthcare providers can use to better access care and deliver it and, at the same time, reducing red-tape burdens that now make it harder for our local doctors to provide the high-quality care our Americans deserve. So many of these provisions have support from Republicans and Democrats, and for good reason. These are smart, targeted improvements that will go a long way in helping Medicare patients in Texas and, frankly, throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the members of our committee and throughout the House who have worked on these provisions. Improving and strengthening Medicare for the long term is a major priority for the American people. With this bill, we have an opportunity to take meaningful steps toward this important goal. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the Members for their hard work and leadership on this important issue. Particularly, I want to express my gratitude to Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Larson for their dedication to improving the representative payee program. This is a very important bill that has strong bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control that time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today we have an opportunity to take action on bipartisan legislation to help those receiving Social Security. This bill, led by Congressmen Sam Johnson of Texas and John Larson of Connecticut, the chairman and ranking member of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, takes actions to improve the representative payee program. Today, when someone on Social Security is not able to manage their own benefits, the Social Security Administration will assign them what is called a representative payee. These are individuals or organizations that have a vital responsibility to be helping some of our most vulnerable people on Social Security: children, seniors, and folks with disabilities. The payee receives benefits on behalf of these Americans, and they are required to use the money to fulfill those needs. Here is the problem: The Representative Payee Program just isn't working the way it should. As the Committee on Ways and Means has learned from the work of our Social Security Subcommittee, the Social Security Administration has serious challenges knowing when someone needs help managing their benefits and also in making sure that those who provide that help are doing a good job. This puts some of our most vulnerable receivers of Social Security at risk, and that is completely unacceptable. We have a responsibility to fix it. That is why this legislation is so important. With this bipartisan bill, we can make the representative payee program more effective and more accountable for the Americans who depend upon it. This bill strengthens oversight; it increases protections for those on Social Security; it reduces burdens on families; and it puts greater focus on the needs of Social Security families, giving Americans more of a say in selecting the payee of their choice and, more importantly, ensuring they have a payee they can trust. Although our committee did not mark up this bill, we have held multiple subcommittee hearings on the issue and meetings among Members from both sides of the aisle. We have heard from stakeholders about the challenges they face. This bill is a long time coming and is going to make important, much-needed changes to the representative payee program. To further solidify the committee's understanding and our legislative intent, I am sending the Acting Commissioner of Social Security a letter signed by myself and Congressmen Richard Neal, Sam Johnson, and John Larson. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record this letter which transmits a technical explanation of the bill. We have asked the Acting Commissioner to make that letter and technical explanation available on the agency's website. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, February 5, 2018. Nancy Berryhill, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration Baltimore, MD. Dear Acting Commissioner Berryhill: The attached document outlines the Committee's understanding and legislative intent of H.R. 4547, the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018, in lieu of a Committee Report from the Committee on Ways and Means. We ask that you make this letter and attached document publicly available on the agency's website. In 1939, Congress first authorized the Social Security Administration (SSA) to make benefit payments to another person or organization--called a representative payee--in cases where a beneficiary is not capable of managing their own benefits. Reports from government watchdogs and stakeholders have raised repeated concerns about how the SSA administers the representative payee program. H.R. 4547 takes important steps to address these concerns. Over time, the SSA's payee monitoring program has strengthened, adding both statutory and discretionary on-site reviews to oversee payee performance, and leveraging predictive models to focus additional reviews on the highest- risk payees. Most payees also file an annual report of how the benefits were used, but it has become clear that the accounting form is not an effective protection, with little misuse identified from the submissions. H.R. 4547 builds on the current framework by requiring additional on-site reviews and improving the effectiveness of reviews by requiring state Protection and Advocacy systems to conduct the reviews on behalf of the SSA. We expect this legislation will allow the SSA to greatly expand reviews of payees and better focus oversight on the highest-risk payees, while eliminating the burden of the accounting form for certain family members, who will remain subject to review under the predictive models. In addition to strengthening oversight, H.R. 4547 takes important steps to address the serious shortcomings with payee selection. This bill makes sure that individuals with significant felony convictions and those who have a payee themselves cannot serve as payees. The bill also allows beneficiaries to designate their preferred payee in advance and requires the SSA to assess the appropriateness of the order-of-preference list it uses to select payees, particularly in cases where there is a change in payee. By strengthening oversight of payees as well as the safeguards around who may serve as a payee, these commonsense provisions in H.R. 4547 make much-needed improvements to the representative payee program to protect vulnerable beneficiaries. Sincerely, Kevin Brady, Chairman. Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member. Sam Johnson, Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security. John B. Larson, Ranking Member, Subcomittee on Social Security.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4547) to amend titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act to improve and strengthen the representative payment program, as amended.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4547, currently under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you can tell from the previous speaker how eager our Democratic colleagues are to shut down this government: Get the votes to keep this government open because we won't provide them; get the votes to keep funding our military and security, but we won't provide them; get the votes to provide healthcare long- term for our children and families, because our Democratic colleagues won't provide not one vote; get the votes to delay the damaging impact of ObamaCare taxes, the health insurance tax, the Cadillac tax, and medical device; you get those votes, Republicans, because we are not going to give you even one of them. These taxes are so damaging to our families, to our workers, and to our job-creators, it is sending jobs out of America overseas. Get the votes, Republicans, because we claim we support this, we just won't support it with our votes. It is regrettable because these are bipartisan issues, and politics are shutting this government down. I urge my Democratic colleagues to stand with Republicans on behalf of children, and families, and workers. Keep this government open.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather, I am unavoidably prevented from voting on today's legislation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 23, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 24, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 25, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 26.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather, I am unavoidably prevented from voting on today's legislation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 20, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 21, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 22.