Kevin Brady

So you are saying it is inaccurate that you have inherited this deficit from both President Bush and the Democratic Congress? That it is not true?

But the economy doesn't send the President spending bills, does it? This Congress sends the President spending bills.

That's what I thought. This bill is a shame and an insult to families who are trying to pay their gas bills.

Well, bring down the map and identify an acre and tell us how much oil is underground and who has refused to drill.

The Democrats claim there's 68 million acres of energy-rich lands that companies are refusing to explore. Sixty-eight million acres. Really. So name one. Name an acre of land where vast reserves of oil are underground and a company refuses…

I would say these sky-high jet fuel prices are caused in part because America is doing less, not more, to take responsibility for our own energy needs. We're blessed in this country with more than a 200-year supply of coal. It is…

One of the reasons this Congress has the lowest approval ratings in poll history is it keeps playing political games instead of solving real problems like energy prices or supporting our troops in Iraq. Today we are doing the same, playing…

I appreciate Mr. McCrery's leadership on veterans issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill on the floor today that will provide additional tax relief to our Nation's veterans, especially those who are seeking to purchase homes…

But to those who not only took in those of Katrina, to those communities that opened their hearts, their churches and their homes and have their own community destroyed, this government and this Congress is saying, ``Forget it. We are…

Absolutely. There have been a number of Democrat colleagues who have traveled to Colombia to see that remarkable progress firsthand, who have assessed it themselves rather than playing the politics of it, and who have been both public and…

Yes. And he told us straight out, because we asked him, he said there is no thread, no direct or indirect thread at all, between the Colombian Government and any murders of anyone, much less union leaders. And he said what you've said…

I think there is a clear philosophical difference between the two parties. As Republicans, we believe what you earn is your money. I think our new majority here believes what you earn is the government's money. I think most of us agree…

I think many of us believe it is right to eliminate the alternative minimum tax. It is a mistake. It is a second tax. It is a wrong tax, and should be stopped today. Many of us believe that should not be an excuse for raising taxes on…

And I know we are having a debate tomorrow on the alternative minimum tax. I think many of us are concerned that this is an opportunity to increase taxes. The alternative minimum tax was a mistake to begin with. It targeted a few wealthy…

And as I understand it, although this proposal will soak the wealthy and the small businesses in America, it also soaks the working-class families, many who make less than $75,000 a year, according to the report released today, will see a…

On top of that, besides letting the President's tax cuts expire, there is a new range of taxes, this mother of all tax hikes, MATH, that adds even more tax increases on top of that, is that correct?

I would point out that attached to the majority's bill that this House is considering today, according to the majority's bill, the Joint Tax Group testifies and asserts that this program, that is working today, will collect $1 billion…

I would remind the Chamber that more than 40 States, not just this administration, more than 40 States, Democrat Governors and Republican Governors, use the exact same type of collection techniques, the same partnerships, to do what is…

I would point out that private debt collection is used by 40 different States, whose Governors are Republican and Democrat, and thousands of local government agencies and organizations, again, both Republican and Democrat. This isn't an…

I would point out it is difficult to have an abusive program when there is 97 percent customer satisfaction and zero privacy violations and zero Fair Debt Collection Act violations. Zero. I point out as far as efficiency, you don't have to…

We are told this bill is fully paid for and is fiscally responsible. But how many times have we seen this same tax break on the floor supposedly paying for another bill? Is it the second time, third time? I don't mind double-counting, but…

I feel strongly that this body ought to try to help equally communities devastated by the exact same hurricane. Our policy ought to be no second-class citizens in recovery and hurricane relief. Treat them equally for the same hurricane.

If the question is did I vote for a housing fund that would turn its back on my communities, well, no, I did not vote for that housing fund.

It is a negligible change for our friends in Louisiana and Mississippi. It is a huge help for the people in southeast and east Texas who have no homes.

Well, let me just conclude with this. One of my communities, Conroe, the veterans and I have worked for a number of years to try to make this a reality. This is great news for our veterans; and, more importantly, I think it is great news…