Kevin Brady

Last November Democrats looked the American people in the eye and they promised, they promised they would lower gas prices and become energy independent. Instead, gas prices are almost a dollar higher at the pump and America is more…

make no mistake, there are good things in this bill. I think it's important that we address the AMT. It was created in 1969 by a Democrat Congress for the wealthy. Now it's affecting our teachers and our firefighters and just average…

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…

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…

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…

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?

tonight, it is our opportunity to talk about the tax burden that families in America unfortunately must pay. I have enjoyed serving on the Ways and Means Committee because for many years, as I've told my wife, I get to go to work each day…

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…

I see faces of trade myself. I recently did a tour of our manufacturing plants. We have over 300 of them in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas from steel mills to paper mills. I watched the workers on those lines working every day…

there's no question, we need to do a better job of helping people who are laid off from their jobs. Even though only 3 percent of this country's jobs are affected by trade, if it's your job, it's an important one. But when workers try to…

I voted to create the children's health care program, and I believe in it. But let's be honest. These changes are more cosmetic than Dr. 90210. This bill still isn't paid for. It still doesn't cover poor kids first, and it still allows…

It is despicable to have a Member of this Congress accuse this President, any President, of willfully blowing the heads, quote, blowing the heads off our young men and women over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Having a brother who is an Army…

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 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…

But our agencies, the independent agencies, the Government Accountability Office and Joint Tax, make the point attached to this legislation that this program has worked, is working efficiently, and will save U.S. taxpayers more than $1…

Well, it's appropriate that we talk about a $600 toilet seat because, indeed, this bill smells to high heaven. The truth of the matter is you will hear a lot of wild claims made on the House floor today, but in truth the Joint Taxation…

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 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…

I would point out that at the Ways and Means hearings, the Government Accountability Office testified they had looked for but could not find any evidence that the private collection agency selected individuals for the survey based on their…

if you lose your job and lose your home or are forced to sell at a loss, only in America do you get a bill, a tax bill from Uncle Sam for forgiven debt. Having witnessed this during the terrible Texas recession of the 1980s, it is nothing…

it is bad enough that Congress continues to play politics with the war, now they are playing politics with little kids. Despite broad bipartisan support for children's health insurance, this new leadership has settled on a divisive scheme…

this bill does do some good things, no question. It does focus on renewable energy, providing incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles. It encourages energy-efficient homes and appliances in buildings. All of that is very good. We need to be…

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…

for the Record, there is only one party that fought hard to make sure our seniors had life-saving drugs, even though our colleagues across the aisle had 8 years of the White House and control of the Senate and never brought a bill to the…

if we want good jobs for our families, it is no longer enough to buy American; we have to sell American, sell our products and services throughout the world. The good news is that, since January, what we are selling overseas is growing…