Kevin Brady

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall votes No. 133 and No. 134 on April 26, 2005, and rollcall vote No. 140 on April 27, 2005. On April 26, 2005, I was returning from Texas after attending a Social Security workshop in Galveston with President Bush and on April 27, 2005, I was at the White House meeting with President Bush. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 133, a Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1268, a bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes; I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 134, a Motion to Instruct Conferees on H. Con. Res. 95, the Congressional Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2006; and I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 140, a Motion to Recommit H. Res. 22, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that American small businesses are entitled to a Small Business Bill of Rights

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of serving with Bob Matsui on the Subcommittee on Social Security, and it was a real privilege. You always hope that we will send to Congress men and women of just great decency, who love their country, love their community, love their family so dearly and are willing to give back to all that and do it in such a good, positive way. That is what Bob Matsui stood for and still stands for in my mind. There is a saying that you make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give. By that measure, Bob Matsui had a very rich life because he gave back so much to this body. He gave back so much in his example to other Members like myself, and he truly gave back to his family and his Nation, and I consider it a privilege to have served with him.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Texas Lyceum on their 25th Anniversary. The Texas Lyceum, a non-profit, non- partisan organization, is the foremost incubator of leaders in Texas. The original Lyceum was a grove of trees in ancient Athens where Aristotle educated the leaders of the day on issues critical to the time. Key issues were debated and focused through the lens of enlightenment and character. So, in 1980 when a group of young leaders recently named ``Rising Stars of Texas'' by Texas Business magazine, began exploring the idea of establishing a leadership confederation based on providing solutions to problems in Texas, Aristotle's Lyceum seemed an appropriate model. Tieman H. ``Skipper'' Dippel and an impressive group of founders including: Bud Shivers, Mike Hopkins, Ann Quirk, Jim Windham, John Connally, III, Rob Mosbacher, Ken George, Scott Bennett, and others too numerous to mention teamed with Texas Business magazine and George Kozmetsky to establish this forum which represents the diversity of the state and emphasizes constructive responses to issues critical to Texas. The Lyceum has always endeavored to bring out the best in people and enlighten the next generation to the power of ideas. It teaches leaders to focus on where they are alike rather than how they are different while still valuing the rich diversity of Texas. To accomplish these purposes, the Lyceum conducts quarterly meetings to educate its Directors and other policy makers on the important issues of our times and sends its members back into the community armed with the most up to date information available. The Lyceum also publishes the Journal of the Texas Lyceum, a mainstay for policymakers looking for insightful and thoughtful solutions. Each issue is edited to be in keeping with the Lyceum's philosophy of valuing differing opinions from our state's leaders. This document was invaluable to me and my colleagues when I served in the Texas Legislature. Twenty-five years later, the Texas Lyceum boasts over 600 alumni and 96 current directors. Judging from where Lyceum alumni can now be found it is obvious that the Lyceum has successfully met its goal of educating the next generation of leaders in Texas. The Lyceum should be extremely proud of its accomplishments. From the courtroom to the board room, from farms and ranches to the world of high tech, from medical centers to the oil fields, from education intuitions to houses of worship, and from city councils to the halls of Congress and even the White House, Lyceum alumni are woven through the leadership structures of the state of Texas and this nation. Numerous state legislators, Members of Congress, a sitting U.S. Senator, the current Governor and even the current President of the United States are all Lyceum Alumni. The Texas Lyceum membership reflects the rich diversity of Texas and succeeds because it seeks to identify and prominently promote the unique values of our state that bring us all together as Texans. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in saluting the over 600 men and women who have participated in the Texas Lyceum since its inception in 1980. For a quarter century now the Texas Lyceum has been committed to promoting the stewardship of the values, traditions, resources and diversity that is Texas.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 90, my flight from Texas brought me to the Capitol one minute after the vote was closed. I intended to vote ``yes.'' Stated against:

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to honor and congratulate the Polk County Enterprise on their centennial anniversary, which they are celebrating throughout this year. The Polk County Enterprise has been a faithful banner of news and source of record for generations of residents in East Texas. From a humble founding by young entrepreneur Will West in the fall of 1904 the Polk County Enterprise and its parent company Polk County Publishing has grown to a circulation of over 60,000 including seven weekly and bi- weekly newspapers, three shoppers, and two job-printing operations. Throughout its 100 year history, the paper has had only 16 publishers. Mr. Alvin Holley, the current publisher of the Polk County Enterprise has served in his post for the last thirty years--the longest of any publisher at the Enterprise. I am pleased to report he has no plans to retire anytime soon. Mr. Holley got his start in the newspaper business as a paperboy for the Corsicana Daily Sun. The papers sold for a nickel each, Holley's profit was two cents per paper. That may not seem like much by today's standards--but back then a movie show cost only nine cents. Mr. Holley stayed in the newspaper business--and after high school worked in the newspaper's business office and occasionally was assigned news stories. He was named the advertising manager in 1963 and served there until 1972 when he took a position with the Polk County Enterprise. Two short years later, Holley bought the Enterprise and remains its publisher to this day. Mr. Holley credits his paper's success to the employees that keep the presses running. In a recent interview, Holley estimated that the combined years of service of current employees exceeds 430 years and that the average length of service is 14 years. That says a lot. The men and women of the Polk County Enterprise and Polk County Publishing Company not only love what they do for a living, but also obviously love their community. From the days of Linotype to today's high speed desk top computers, the Polk County Enterprise has covered all of the happenings in East Texas. With a loyal staff and publisher who is just as likely to be caught working at the news desk or delivery bays as he is his private office-- I am confident the Enterprise has many more exciting years in store. Mr. Speaker, our nation's hometown community newspapers have been the trusted source of news Americans have depended on since our nation's earliest beginnings. The Polk County Enterprise has a proud legacy and it is an honor to represent the communities they serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. I urge you to join me in congratulating the Polk County Enterprise on their 100th anniversary.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me. First, let me join others in thanking him for his leadership on the Committee on Ways and Means as chairman for 6 years on the Subcommittee on Social Security, a resident and leader in Florida, which has a number of America's seniors who care so much about this issue. Back in Texas I know that every senior I visited with in the Eighth Congressional District is worried about two things: their health care costs and their Social Security. Prescription drugs, the new technologies are doing just a wonderful job of creating a great quality of life, but it is so expensive. They are worried about getting generic drugs to the market faster so they do not have to pay so much for these pills. They want more preventative services under Medicare so they can detect that illness early and get treatment, prevent it rather than having it occur to them. And they want to make sure they can see doctors they know. All important issues on health care. And they also want to make sure Social Security is there for them, for their children and for their grandchildren, with greater cost-of- living increases, that it is something that they can count on. And for our seniors the great news is they are golden under Social Security. Virtually nothing that can even be contemplated will change for Social Security seniors, and that is the great news. But our goal has to be to preserve Social Security once and for all for every generation. Once and for all, meaning not another Band-Aid, because we have gone through this exercise before. We have raised payroll taxes. We have raised the age, and then in another 20 or 30 years we are right back where we started. Let us solve it once and for all. Secondly, let us solve it for every generation. We know that seniors above 55 are in very great shape with this. But the baby boomers, we know there is not enough funding for them. And the young people today, I just do not see how we take money from their paycheck, a promise to have it ready for them when they retire and we know for certain we cannot deliver on that promise. And one thing we will hear in this debate is we will hear lots of people talking about we are dismantling Social Security, we are making huge benefit cuts, there is a guaranteed risk to personal accounts within Social Security. But what those same Members of Congress will not tell people is that they have their own retirement invested in personal accounts just like the one the President has proposed. In fact, Members of Congress, our staffs and our fellow co-workers invest $15 billion every year, new dollars, into personal accounts. They are invested and grow over time just like the accounts we offer and propose for Social Security. And people back home always ask me, How come these personal accounts are safe and secure for members of Congress's families but all of a sudden they are a guaranteed gamble for us? How come it is good enough for your families, but not good enough for people who pay your salary? It is a great question, and my thought is those who claim that personal accounts are such a guaranteed gamble perhaps ought to lead by example and withdraw from the Thrift Savings Plan and see what happens. My guess is they will tell us wait a minute, that is how I am going to build my nest egg. My question is why do we not allow other Americans, the ones who pay our salaries each day, to build their own nest egg as well? What we are offering for seniors is to preserve it, but for young people we are offering them a choice. For the first time in their lives, they are going to get a choice in Social Security, real dollars in a real account or an IOU in some imaginary government ledger. Real dollars in a real account that build up over time that is theirs, for their retirement, and when they get to 65 they are not begging government for help in Social Security, they are not calling on their Congressman. They are calling on their financial adviser because they built up a nest egg that belongs to them and they have got that power. And the fact of the matter is that back home in Texas, I always ask two simple questions of the people I work with because they really have great questions on Social Security. And I ask them, personally, they are 50, or 60 years old, they are a baby boomer like me. If they could go back, way back when and put all of that money that has gone from their paycheck in a traditional retirement account and let it grow over the years, would they be better off today than they were under Social Security? And invariably they would say, I would give anything to have that money back. Then I ask, if Social Security could have put that money into real accounts, real dollars into real accounts, and let it grow over the years, would Social Security be better off today than the financial mess it is in? And invariably they answer the same way, yes. Why not start now to build the same type of security? We know the right thing to do is to move from this pay-as-you-go system that will just run out of workers eventually and actually much sooner than we all wish, to move it to traditional retirement accounts within Social Security so that young people have real dollars in real accounts so that they can rely upon their Social Security. It is, I think, irresponsible by some to scare our seniors. It is irresponsible to ignore this huge crisis. I call it a crisis because it gets so big so fast. We have got to move now. It costs us $600 billion a year every year we delay, $600 billion. The more we talk, it costs taxpayers. Why not, after decades of gabbing about this, let us come together and solve it? And I think too we have to be responsible for our seniors as well, focusing on their health care, making sure that they have their Social Security guaranteed with real cost-of-living increases. That is what the President's proposal does. And, Mr. Speaker, there are so many great ideas out there that have been proposed by Republican Members. I would give anything if any of our Democratic friends who care about Social Security would just come up with a plan. Just an idea. Just anything. I read this week that they said Democrats will offer no Social Security reform, which is one of the most important issues facing our Nation and our future generations. They have got good ideas, bring them forward. Let us talk about it. Let us work out a solution in a bipartisan way. Let us think beyond the next election. Think about the next generation. I am convinced and optimistic and hopeful we can fix that.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would continue to yield, could I go back to what he said. Did he say there is a Democrat Member of Congress being attacked for being open to working with the President?

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I will tell the Members one thing the chairman has always said is that this is not Republican Social Security, this is not Democrat Social Security, this is not white or black or any other ethnicity Social Security. This is Social Security for Americans, period. We ought to come together as Americans in Congress on this issue and solve that.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 17, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. ``We did not spend a dime around here for the past 10 years. All the spending is yours''? That is not what you told your constituents. I have seen your press releases. You said you secured the road project. You said you championed university research. You said you got that road project. Here is my question: Who are you not leveling with, the voters back home or the people listening tonight?

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), a long-serving Member with strong leadership on the Select Committee on Homeland Security.

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

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Like a mortgage payment, like a credit card payment, we are paying for past decisions by this Congress, some of them decades old. In fact, if we are talking about the past 40 years of control by our Democratic friends, we are talking about raiding the Social Security trust fund, increasing the debt, and in more recent years voting against every bill because we did not spend more. Because we did not spend more. Republicans are standing up for this responsibility. We understand that America took three big hits to our economy on 9/11: the recession President Bush inherited, the attacks of 9/11 that cost us almost 2 million American jobs, and then the technology bubble burst and the scandals from the false economy of the 1990s. America fought back. Republicans fought back with the simple principle: if we want to create jobs in America, leave the tax dollars in America, in our hometowns, on Main Street in our small businesses. By fighting back from a hit that would have sent most countries stumbling to their knees, we are creating jobs, we are increasing revenue to the Federal Government, and the deficit is dropping. But today, the question is, for all those Members who have been so eager to trumpet that press release, so eager to take credit for that spending that they brought home, the question is: Are you going to step up and pay the bills that America and Congress has incurred, or are you going to vote to stop our Social Security checks, stop the retirement checks to our military, stop the Medicare payments so important for the elderly? It is bipartisan, whether you agree or disagree with how we got here. And that is a fair argument. Republicans and Democrats have a different view of this, and that is a healthy one. But regardless of that, if you supported the farm bill, if you supported the road bills, if you supported the water projects, if you supported the road projects, then step up and pay the bill tonight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Some people have a short memory around here. I do believe that reducing the debt, restraining spending is a bipartisan effort. We have to work together. But I recall my friends on the Democratic side, when Republicans proposed a Medicare drug plan of around $400 billion, our friends on the Democrat side proposed a plan of $968 billion. We did not spend too little; they wanted to spend more. When we talked about unemployment extensions, they increased it $30 billion over the Republican plan. It was not that we were spending too little; they wanted to spend more. And when we talked about welfare reform and the need to move people to work, they added $52 billion, my Democratic colleagues, so concerned about the debt. It was not that we were spending too little; they wanted to spend more. And when we are talking about moral obligations, I guess I would ask this: Is it a moral obligation when you trumpet that press release for that new firefighting equipment, for that new road you got, for that new university research, for that farm bill you championed, when you stand for the ribbon-cutting back home, and when you court public approval for spending tax dollars? Do you also have the moral obligation to pay for it? Today, the issue is are we going to pay the bills of America, pay for the spending that has been incurred and take responsibility for our own actions? Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The issue before us is really America's responsibility to pay its bills, to meet obligations that America and Congress, as our Members, have already incurred. Before September 11 and the war on terror, the Republican-led Congress paid down nearly half a trillion dollars in public debt, marking the first time since 1969 that Congress had reduced the national debt. Today, America is fighting an elusive and determined enemy abroad, while working to stimulate the economy and help industry still recovering from the 9/11 attacks. At this extraordinary time, with our Nation's many obligations, the government is nearing the debt limit. If the Treasury cannot issue the debt, the government may be unable to meet many of its obligations, such as the regular investment into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Republicans want to do the responsible thing. As a result, Congress is increasing the debt limit to $8.1 trillion. Holding the line on spending and raising the debt limit are not mutually exclusive, and it is important to remember that. Earlier this year, the House approved a lean, responsible budget that would cut the deficit in half within 5 years, hold the line on spending and guard against Democrats' calls for job-killing tax hikes. Republicans are committed to reducing America's debt through responsible and restrained spending. Congress must meet America's priorities such as Social Security and Medicare. That is why raising the debt limit is so critical. But, in doing so, we can remain steadfast in our quest to eliminate the waste, the fraud and abuse on behalf of all taxpayers and future generations. Mr. Speaker, I do have a bipartisan request. Tonight's measure is an appropriate time to discuss spending and deficits and solutions, but as we debate this and as we make our final vote, let us not punish our seniors, let us not punish our elderly, let us not punish our military just to score political points. If the debt ceiling is not increased, America cannot pay its bills. We cannot meet existing obligations. We will not ultimately have the cash on hand to pay Social Security benefits, military retirement, Medicare benefits, unemployment benefits and other trust fund obligations. As raw as this recent election was, as bitterly contested as it was, with hurt feelings all around, we need to work together as Americans to take responsibility for our bills. Let us not default on our obligations. Let us not stop the checks to our needy who are counting on us. Let us not use our elderly as political pawns in trade for a seven second sound byte back home. They deserve better. We have a responsibility to pay our bills. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the remaining time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 856, I call up the Senate bill (S. 2986) to amend title 31 of the United States Code to increase the public debt limit, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I agree with much of what our distinguished friend from Texas has said; and, again, he has been a long champion of balancing the budget and reducing this deficit. And he is so right, and we all agree: Deficits do matter. They mattered before we got here. They will always matter. But jobs matter, too. Jobs matter, too. We did not ask for the attacks of 9/11 that not only struck the heart of our Nation, they struck two million American workers from the payroll. We did not ask for the recession. It was inherited. And we did not ask for the Enrons and the WorldComs and the technology bubble that not only cost so many workers their jobs but really damaged, I think, everyone's hopes for retirement in the future. How we respond to that challenge, there was a difference, a respected difference. My colleagues on the Democratic side felt that if we kept the money here, if we spend and target different ways, that would move us out of the economy, and that is a fair position. As Republicans, we felt otherwise. We thought if you want to create jobs in small business, leave the money in small business. If you want to create jobs on Main Street, leave the money on Main Street. If we want families to be able to recover and to make ends meet, let them keep more of the hard-earned money that they in the past have sent to Washington where, unfortunately, we have squandered with so many I think obsolete agencies and duplicative programs we would all agree with. But the fact of the matter is leaving the money at home worked. We are creating more jobs, and we need to do more. I think, ultimately, after tonight is over, that is the solution we can agree on: continuing to grow this economy so more people work and they pay taxes and Social Security and Medicare, and then together, working together, identifying all of the wasteful spending, getting the backbone on spending, saying no when it would be easier to say yes, maybe doing without, with one less press release on that project back home, all of which, by the way, we have a responsibility today to pay for those bills and these spending projects. This motion has nothing to do with PAYGO. And I would respectfully say PAYGO as I have seen it really means higher taxes, unfortunately higher spending, and unfortunately fewer jobs. I just respectfully disagree on that. But the fact of the matter is if we keep the economy going, if we will work together on spending restraint, I know that we can balance the budget. I know we can pay down the deficit. But tonight we have a responsibility to pay our bills, to meet our obligations, to keep the checks going to our Social Security recipients, for our military retirees. I would respectfully urge this Chamber to vote ``no'' on commit.

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close. Mr. Speaker, let me first, on behalf of this side of the aisle, join with the Minority Leader in praising the service of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). His grandson ought to be proud of his granddad, his service here, both for our country here in Congress and in Texas where, as a fellow Texan, I can tell my colleagues I am very proud of his service and proud to have served with him. There is something else we share as well. We share a debt in this Nation and we share a responsibility to pay those bills. The debt we face tonight is shared. Eighty-eight percent of this debt occurs from intergovernmental transfers of before the Bush administration. This is debt generated over decades and decades that every Member in this House today had a hand in creating. The solution in the end, after all of the rhetoric is said and done, is going to be to join together for spending restraint, for abolishing obsolete agencies, to eliminating the billions of dollars of duplication, to getting a backbone to say no to projects. And, in fact, we have the opportunity starting in January, maybe tonight, to have a fresh start about working together, Republicans and Democrats, to again balance this budget and to start paying down that debt. But, in truth, the question tonight is much simpler than that. The question is, are we going to pay our bills? Are we going to take responsibility for that press release, that project, that water funding, that university research, all of those things that we have championed and ran on back home, are we going to take responsibility to pay those bills tonight? Or are we going to vote to go into default, to not meet our obligations, to stop our Social Security checks to the elderly or retirement checks and medicare payments? It is time to gather Republicans and Democrats to pay our bills, to look out for our seniors and to vote yes on this debt ceiling. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. BRADY of Texas

Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the city and people of Conroe, Texas, as they celebrate their centennial anniversary. Home to more than 43,000 Texans, Conroe is a vibrant city that embodies the rich heritage familiar to so many pioneer Texas towns. From Isaac Conroe's first view of the acres of lush forests that berthed a thriving sawmill and train stop to the discovery of oil by George Strake that increased the population of the city five times over in just five weeks, every generation has faced its joys and challenges. The fortitude of Conroe's citizens and their leaders has always proven up to the task. This fortitude is perfectly illustrated in the city's response after fires ravaged the fledgling downtown. A fire in 1901 badly burned the business district of the city. The community immediately rebuilt. Another fire in 1911 leveled the same district. This time--as if to dare the fire to try one more time--the people of Conroe rebuilt with brick. The citizens of this community have also proven their willingness to help a neighbor or stranger. During the oil strike of the early 1930's, thousands of able bodied men descended on Conroe looking for work and a way to escape the Great Depression. Lifetime Conroe resident Edith Clanton remembers her mother renting out every room in their home to strangers desperate for a place to live. Today, another generation of business owners, school teachers, community leaders and families are making their home in Conroe. Today, as this city surveys the last hundred years with well deserved pride it will also consider what the future has in store. Mayor J.F. Collier, the first Mayor of Conroe, saw electricity come to Conroe. Today's Mayor Tommy Metcalf is witnessing the spread of another type of current running through this city. New technology, thriving new businesses, residential developments that are the envy of the nation, academically outstanding schools, and a deep respect for the diversity and needs of the entire community are all a part of this new current. They all play a key part in keeping Conroe healthy and strong for the future. Many more bright years are ahead for Conroe. The history of this city reminds us that great things--great cities--start with every day people who live their lives one day at a time, determined to leave things better than how they found them. Mr. Speaker, our nation's hometowns like Conroe, Texas, are what make America strong. It is an honor to represent this community in the U.S. House of Representatives and I urge you to join me in congratulating the City of Conroe, Texas, on their 100th anniversary.

Mr. BRADY of Texas

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 S. 2986, the Senate bill just passed.