Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5946, the ``United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act.'' H.R. 5946 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the value of any medal or prize money that an Athlete may win competing in the Olympic and Paralympic games. I support this legislation because it would allow athletes to keep more of the hard earned prize money that they rightly deserve from the coveted and honorable medals won during the Olympics and Paralympics. The ``United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act'' is a thoughtful and necessary bill that will assist those who represent our nation in athletic competition. I am proud of the athletes in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games who competed in Rio de Janeiro. Houston, Texas had the great honor of sending two of our own to the Olympic Games; Simone Biles who won 4 gold medals and one bronze in the sport of Gymnastics, along with Simone Manuel who became the first African American woman to win gold in the sport of swimming. The great state of Texas also had Jimmy Feigen won the gold medal in swimming, Townley Haas, Jack Conger and Clark Smith won the gold medal in the freestyle relay, and Michelle Carter, who is also University of Texas alum, won the gold medal in women's shot put. In the Paralympic Games Jazmin Almlie-Ryan represented her nation and the City of Houston in the sport of target shooting. H.R.…”