Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), a veterinarian involved deeply in health care issues.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have remaining?

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Brat) to speak about health care and the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. In a moment, sir, yes, sir. So if you would like to close, we will follow.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Yes, sir.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Frightened--in the days before this health care law was brought to the floor, Democrats were meeting in the White House in secret, cutting special deals, trying to find a way to pass this bill because they were frightened that if they did it in the public, out where the people could see what they were creating, that they would fail. The night they brought it to the House floor, they were frightened that the American public would know what was in it. They brought it to the floor, and literally no one on this floor knew what was in this bill. They were frightened about what the American public would believe. Since it has passed, frankly, too many Americans are frightened by what they have been exposed to, which is forced into health care plans. They had good ones in their business, and now, they are forced into ones that cost more, the deductibles have soared, and they can't see their local doctor or go to their local hospital or even pay for medicines for their children because of this health care plan. Democrats at the time didn't allow a vote on any other alternative-- no ideas, no options--because they were frightened the American public could see there is a better way. The question today, Mr. Speaker, is: Can we do better? Can we do better than this law? Yes. It has helped some but has hurt so many more. Today is about taking the first step to allowing a better option for American families, providers, and patients by first repealing this controversial and troubling law and then bringing to the floor-- directing our committees to bring a better idea to the floor so that the American public has a chance for real, affordable health care that is directed toward them--not Washington--that goes with them from job to job and State to State, home to raise a family or to start that small business, one that is tailored to them, not Washington. Mr. Speaker, this law is about not top down, but bottom up; and it is long overdue. I support and strongly urge repeal of the health care law and passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), a businessowner who has provided health care to his workers and is a leader on the Ways and Means Committee.

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

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer), one of the new Members of the House of Representatives.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about 56, 56 times we have voted to repeal or defund this bill, but think about the hundreds of times this White House and our Democrat colleagues have tried to force tax increases on families and small businesses. How many hundreds of times have they tried to force global warming mandates that only drive up energy costs? How many hundreds of times did they force red tape down our local businesses so that they can't possibly survive? How many millions of people have been forced into the health care plans they don't want and forced into higher monthly premiums, higher deductibles, and they can't see their doctor or their hospital or their provider? Mr. Speaker, these numbers matter. We can do better. Mr. Speaker, we are ready to close, so if the ranking member would like to proceed, I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), a new Member of Congress and a former State legislator who helped lead the fight against the damage caused by the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Walters), a businesswoman and former State legislator who understands the harm of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 596, legislation to repeal the President's controversial and expensive health care law, a law that put 159 Federal agencies, commissions, and bureaucracies in between you and your physician. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives again acts to repeal the costly mistake known as the Affordable Care Act. In the years since the law's passage, too many Americans have discovered the reality behind the President's promises. Americans lost plans that they liked and wanted to keep. They saw their premiums soar, and their deductibles, and they discovered their family doctor was suddenly out of network and unaffordable. They saw their hours reduced at work, and hiring slowed as a result of the law's $1 trillion in new taxes. They realized that, under the law, more work doesn't necessarily mean more pay. They saw their tax dollars risked on insurance organizations that are now failing. They tried, frustratingly, to navigate the complicated health care site to get help buying what turned out to be more costly coverage. And soon, millions of unsuspecting Americans may learn that errors beyond their control could leave them on the hook to the IRS. Today's action is not simply opposing the Affordable Care Act. It is about standing up for our families, patients, small businesses, and local health care providers who have been hurt by this law. The American people deserve better than this. We need to start over, and that begins with the full repeal of the President's health care law. But we can't just stop there. We also have to continue to advance our own patient-centered solutions to the problems in health care, solutions that actually lower the cost of health care; to make our current system more fair; to protect the most vulnerable; and put our crucial safety net programs on a path to sustainability for the long term. I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, that this bill will allow us another opportunity to put forward these ideas, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Ways and Means be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2591) to amend certain provisions of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Congressman Paulsen, thank you for allowing me to join you tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor our late colleague and friend, Bill Frenzel, who faithfully and with great distinction served his constituents in Minnesota for 20 years and, I would say, served his country for a lifetime. As you can tell from my accent, I am not from Minnesota. I am from Texas. I had a chance to meet Bill when I started on the Ways and Means Committee where I now serve with Mr. Paulsen, who is one of our, frankly, most respected members, and his predecessor, Jim Ramstad, as well, all following in the Bill Frenzel mold. When I started on Ways and Means, I just came quickly to appreciate his willingness to share his vast wealth of knowledge on trade issues, big and small. Even though he was no longer an elected official, I was always struck by Bill's just endless willingness to give of himself, of finding ways to advance the cause of free trade and economic freedom throughout the world. I think it is important to note that historically in Congress, trade has always been a bipartisan issue, Republicans and Democrats working together; and throughout his career, Bill's constructive work across the aisle exemplified the best of this ideal. Everyone knew he was open to new ideas, was a straight shooter, respected others, and worked hard to get people to come and arrive at a consensus. Quite simply, Mr. Speaker, Bill was elected to do a job, and he just wanted to get things done. And, boy, did he get things done in the trade world. From working on GATT, the Uruguay Round, normal trading relations with China, NAFTA, and helping set the foundation for the World Trade Organization, Bill was at the center of the trade world as a respected Member of Congress and as a thought leader on international trade when he retired from public life. The truth is Bill Frenzel believed in economic freedom. He believed in our right to buy, sell, and compete around the world with as little government interference as possible. He believed families should have choices, but no government anywhere should decide what is on that grocery shelf and what price you paid for it. That was your choice. That was your economic freedom. He knew that while America was free, we would see so many ``America need not apply'' signs around the world; and he knew if we tore them down and gave our American businesses and workers--our Minnesota businesses and workers--a chance to compete, in fact, we would not just grow customers around the world, we would grow jobs here at home. So his leadership on trade, his fingerprints on all things trade can be found not only here in the United States but in foreign capitals around the world where his counsel was sought by many and he was respected by all. Mr. Speaker, Bill's contributions to our Nation and to this body will always be remembered, and he leaves a towering trade legacy on which we can all build economic prosperity for generations to come. I hope his family understands how special he is that so many of us who you may not have known before, we all consider ourselves Bill's fans and friends.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to celebrate the life and achievements of our late former colleague and friend, Congressman Phil Crane of Illinois. My memories of Phil are twofold. First, I will remember Phil's kindness to me as a junior Member of Congress doing my best to earn a seat on the Ways and Means Committee. As a much more senior Member, Phil was incredibly busy with his many responsibilities but he made time to talk to me, advise me and help me in any way he could so that I could join him on the committee. I have never forgotten the example he set for me during that exciting time and in turn, I have tried to do the same for our junior colleagues who talk to me about their interest in joining the committee. And of course, I remember and respect the strong intellectual legacy he leaves behind as an early leader of our conservative movement in the United States. It was his well-informed and carefully thought out philosophy that shaped his career as an academic, elected official and presidential candidate. Near and dear to his heart was the principle of free trade which he embraced with great enthusiasm. As a champion of free enterprise, Phil Crane understood the link between trade and open markets in advancing free institutions. In his farewell speech to this Body, he noted how trade offers the opportunity for personal contact between peoples that nurtures democratic values, and presents people in all countries with an opportunity to build a better life. He devoted himself to advancing this notion of the power of the marketplace as a catalyst for change around the globe and worked tirelessly to create opportunities for U.S. growth and high paying export-oriented jobs for U.S. workers. During his tenure in the House, Phil was Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee for a number of years before becoming Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee in 1995. His leadership was formative in trade legislation enacted over two decades. In his position on the Ways and Means Committee, he led the effort to pass the legislation implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993 to foster the integration of the U.S., Canadian and Mexican economies to promote growth in each member country and enhance overall North American competitiveness in the global market. Phil Crane then led the effort in 1994 to pass the implementing legislation for the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which established the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the global legal framework we know today that governs multilateral trade and effective trade dispute resolution. For many years, he championed legislation to promote growth and combat narcotics trafficking through the Caribbean Basin Economic Recover Act and the Andean Trade Preferences Act. He also advanced legislation renewing the Generalized System of Preferences, which promotes development through trade-led economic growth in developing countries around the world. Phil Crane understood the way these preferential trade programs advanced a more open economic environment where U.S. firms could compete, while creating legitimate economic opportunities for people in nations struggling to overcome poverty and abject circumstances Later, as Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, Phil Crane was successful in the passage of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, which contained several significant component parts. Among them were the African Growth and Opportunity Act, legislation Phil authored to open a meaningful framework and dialogue for trade relations with sub- Saharan African countries; and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, which he sponsored to grant Caribbean countries NAFTA parity treatment in the U.S. market to avoid an unintended consequence of Mexico's preferential access under NAFTA. As Trade Subcommittee Chairman, Phil Crane also led the effort to Normalize trade relations with China, which established a predictable framework for trade relations between our countries through China's membership in the World Trade Organization. He also championed the Normalization of trade relations with numerous former Communist countries following the fall of the Soviet Union, including the opening of trade relations with Vietnam for the first time after the war, to help lock in market reforms in these countries. Phil Crane was also influential in advancing the Trade Act of 2002, which authorized the negotiation of the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), as well as the U.S. free trade agreements now in effect with Colombia, Peru, Singapore and South Korea. The final negotiation and implementation of these landmark agreements after his departure from the House stand as a lasting testament to the path that Phil Crane forged for U.S. trade relations in the world. A champion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and its predecessor the U.S. Customs Service, Phil Crane understood not only the agency's law enforcement and security mandate, but also the important role the agency plays in supporting our economy through trade facilitation. He was a proponent throughout his tenure as Trade Subcommittee Chairman of funding customs modernization efforts, such as the Automated Commercial Environment (known as ACE), which is now operational. Throughout all of these efforts, Phil worked tirelessly to advance opportunities for U.S. growth and high paying export-oriented jobs for U.S. workers. In this process, he also spearheaded legislation for hundreds of miscellaneous tariff bills designed to further the competitiveness of U.S. firms in the global market by eliminating import duties on products used as inputs in U.S. manufacturing that could not be acquired from U.S. sources. Through such legislation and other bills which facilitated the opening of overseas markets to U.S. exports, Phil promoted U.S. workers and their ability to compete in markets around the world. Fundamentally, Phil Crane understood the importance of trade to the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs. He also saw the economy as an important force for change in our world in advancing democratic institutions and economic freedoms overseas, while promoting high-paying export-oriented jobs here at home. His legacy on trade is with us today and will be felt by generations to come.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume to close. The bill began with an open letter to stakeholders, as Ranking Member Levin said. Following our bipartisan call to action, we received over 70 comments in response to our letter asking for specific recommendations to improve care for seniors. There were three central themes that stakeholders urged us to pursue, and they are very simple: One, create a common measure set with standardized data to assess the quality of health care, the way it is delivered; Two, carefully research and study Medicare's post-acute settings to inform future payment and delivery system reform; And then third, place an emphasis on informing the patient and team of caregivers during the discharge planning process in order to more effectively coordinate care. The IMPACT Act achieves these important objectives. Support for IMPACT comes from hospitals, nursing homes, home health care providers, leading quality groups like the National Quality Forum, and leading beneficiary advocates. I would like to highlight a few: From the National Home Care and Hospice Association: ``We are very supportive of the goals behind the IMPACT Act and fully support the development of a uniform patient assessment and discharge planning process.'' From the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, which represents rehab physicians: ``The presence of these quality measures will ensure that patients are receiving the best possible care in the most appropriate setting.'' Finally, from the National Coalition on Health Care, which represents many Medicare beneficiary organizations: ``With this information, payers, providers, consumers, and family caregivers can work together to identify the best care setting for each individual, and policymakers can begin the challenging work of implementing broader reform to Medicare's post-acute system.'' On behalf of Chairman Dave Camp, I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Levin, and his staff for all of their good work and thank Senator Wyden and Senator Hatch in joining us in this bipartisan, bicameral effort. It is time to support our seniors and improve the Medicare program on which they rely. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of the bill under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4994) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for standardized post-acute care assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed), a key member of the Ways and Means Committee and a champion for affordable health care.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the IMPACT Act. This bill has a clever name and it will do what it says; it will have a positive impact on the Medicare program. Much work has been done to investigate how to improve care for seniors, and last June, the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing on care delivery after a hospitalization, or what we call post- acute care. Much like the IMPACT Act, the hearing was bipartisan and focused on post-acute reforms that the President advanced in his annual budget. It has been over a decade since meaningful changes have been made in the care of Medicare patients after hospitalization is paid. We have recently made progress. Site-neutral payments for long-term care hospitals and a value-based readmission program for nursing homes have been signed into law. These changes are a positive step in the right direction. Talks of broader reform have been ongoing as concerns of the impact of the solvency of the major source of funding for this care, the Medicare hospital insurance ``HI'' trust fund, persist. The Medicare trustees have explicitly told us the trajectory of spending from the HI trust fund is unsustainable. The trustees' current estimate is that the HI trust fund will be insolvent by 2030. Since 2008, the trust fund has been spending more money than it has been taking in. No wonder the HI trust fund has not met the trustees' formal test of short-range adequacy since 2003. This is a major problem. The HI trust fund is a ticking time bomb. The IMPACT Act is not the full solution, but it is a vital step on the path toward the solution. The IMPACT Act lays the foundation for future reform. The act establishes standard data and metrics across all of Medicare's post-hospitalization settings, including nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. This important information will allow Congress to make future reforms armed with the facts. We all owe it to the seniors across America to catapult the Medicare program into the 21st century, and that is exactly what this bill does. Caring for our seniors after they are in the hospital is important, and we need to ensure the trust fund is solvent to allow us to continue to provide this care to our children and grandchildren. This is just plain, good, commonsense policy. I am voting in favor of the IMPACT Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor Mike Hopkins, Sr. He came into this world right outside the Texas state line on September 16, 1944, but became a Texan just as soon as he could. Elizabeth Marie & David Flinnoye Hopkins raised a man who was a Texan deep in his heart--a man who leaves behind a legacy of achievement and purpose that his children embody. Mike's son worked in my Washington, D.C. office and only left us to return to Texas to continue his education and start his family. Clearly he was raised right by a father who considered serving his community not just a necessity, but an honor. Mike's personal philosophy of ``Pass-It-On'' has led many across our state to do the right thing. Because a person's legacy is all about the foundation they built with their heart and their spirit, to do the right thing for the right reasons with integrity and character From Mike's early days in Galveston, to his studies at Texas A&M University, his service to our nation as a proud Marine, and then a community-minded business man, those who knew him and learned from him were blessed to have a true visionary as a mentor and a friend. Many didn't know Mike was the personal driver for General O.R. Simpson. With hard work and determination, he went from Marine to barkeeper to successful businessman. You don't win by giving up. Mike believed you won by outworking the other guy and using your head. Those who knew Mike knew his three A's of success: Ability, Aptitude and Ambition. On July 14, 2014, Mike Hopkins, Sr. passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Brenham, Texas. Nina, his wife of nearly four decades was right by his side. He leaves a strong legacy at Mike Hopkins Distributing Company and at the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas. Our thoughts are with Nina, Holly, Mike Jr., and his grandson Tyler.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was called away yesterday, July 29, 2014, for an important meeting along with local officials at Southwest Key, a shelter in my district for youth that crossed the border illegally. I would like to submit my votes on the matters considered by the House in my absence. For rollcall vote No. 458, ordering the previous questions on H. Res. 693--the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4315--21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, I would have voted ``yea.'' For rollcall vote No. 459 on adoption of H. Res. 693--the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4315--21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, I would have voted ``yea.'' For rollcall vote No. 460 on Amendment No. 2 by Rep. DeFazio (D-OR) to exclude scientific information published solely in internal Interior Department publications from the definition of ``best available science,'' I would have voted ``nay.'' For rollcall vote No. 461 on Amendment No. 3 by Rep. Holt (D-NJ) to strike a provision which includes all data submitted by State, County or Tribal governments as ``best available science,'' I would have voted ``nay.'' For rollcall vote No. 462 on Rep. Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) Motion to Recommit H.R. 4315 with instructions, I would have voted ``nay.'' For rollcall vote No. 463 on passage of H.R. 4315--21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, I would have voted ``yea.'' For rollcall vote No. 464 on H.R. 4809 to reauthorize the Defense Production Act, to improve the Defense Production Act Committee, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the leadership of Congresswoman Jenkins' on such an important issue for families. We have two young boys. It is expensive raising kids--it just is--all across America. I don't care what you make or where you live. This is about making it a little easier to raise your children. You have heard today that everyone is for the child tax credit except, of course, when they have to vote for the tax credit. Then you hear every excuse in the world. Let's look at what this bill does: First, it makes permanent this child tax credit so people can count on it. It is indexed for inflation, so that means, when your dollar buys less and less, you shouldn't be punished by Uncle Sam because inflation is going up. It is so families can more closely keep up with the real costs of raising their kids. It eliminates the marriage penalty so Uncle Sam doesn't punish you--so the Federal Government doesn't punish you--simply because you are married and are raising your children. We think it is important that married couples who are struggling to raise families aren't punished by Uncle Sam, and it makes sure more Americans can take advantage of this. Here is what it doesn't do: It doesn't include the same failed stimulus programs the White House brought down upon America. As you know, we were promised the economy would be roaring. America normally bounces back from tough economic times, but not this time. This is the worst economic recovery in more than half a century. To President Obama's unfortunate example, the worst economic recovery in this President's lifetime is his economic recovery. We are missing almost $1.5 trillion out of our economy. We are missing jobs for 5.8 million people. To put that in perspective, if the President had, like an average President, just led a C-grade type of recovery, everyone looking for work in 44 States could have a job today. Also, as a result of this very weak recovery, do you know what a family of four in America is missing each month from its wages? $1,120. That is $1,120 that should be in a family's pocketbook to pay the rent or utilities or food or all of that. It is missing today because of this poor recovery. Some people say let's stay the course and do more of it. This bill says, no, let's change course and get people back to work, and let's help them raise their children. The final point I would make is of this provision, including the key antifraud provision by Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. What we know is that billions of dollars each year are being sent to people whose children don't exist. Their children don't exist. Some of the children live outside the country. Others aren't eligible for this at all. Yet Washington sends them a check--your hard-earned tax dollars. They are people who don't deserve this. Congressman Johnson's provision says you will actually give us the Social Security number--an accurate one--of that child you are seeking the help for so that we make sure the money goes to those who are eligible for it. I don't understand sort of the pro-fraud lawmakers who say we don't need to do this, and we don't need to save those dollars. The truth is, for as hard as you work for your money--for the dollars that are out of your paycheck each week or each month--and for what you pay on April 15, your money should go to help people who deserve the help, not to children who don't exist, not to families who don't exist. This is a critical part. It saves billions of dollars. Let's help families raise their children. Let's help our tax dollars go to the people who actually need them, and let's save some money for Uncle Sam. This bill deserves our support.