Pictured: NHA President Senator Lindsay with NHA Chairman, Congressman Brady, Commissioner Eversole and NHA Executive Director Carolyn Wright at August Luncheon Congressman Kevin Brady told N HA members that trade is key to the United States’ economic prosperity, and that negotiation of free trade treaties is essential to the country’s growth. President Bush is seeking trade promotion authority to enable him to open up trade, and Brady feels that the President needs this power in order to retain the country’s leading economic role in the global market.
In his comments at NHA’s August luncheon, he said that with only two international trade agreements, America is only slightly ahead of, “those bastions of democracy of Cuba and Morocco.” “It’s like Lewis and Clark days in the world,” he said. Countries are staking claims in trade and the U.S. needs to be in the game. Brady reminded the group of business leaders about NAFTA’s impact to the state. He said that due to NAFTA, in five years, enough new jobs have been created in Texas to fill every seat in the Astrodome twice.
“Trade is key to our prosperity,” he said. “Texas is the second largest and fastest growing exporter.” He cited Ray Perryman’s research that concludes two of every three new jobs in the state are created by trade. “The potential for new jobs is huge. These international jobs pay more than domestic jobs,” said Brady. “Look at China,” he continued, “and what they need to buy and what they have to sell. No state will benefit more than Texas, where we could see as many as 30,000 families benefit from trade with China.” “When you open markets, you open minds,” he said. This provides people in other countries with the “touch and taste” of freedom. “Freedom is our strongest export,” stated Brady.
When asked about the economy, he agreed that the economy is slow, and the country will have less revenue this year than projected. “But,” he added, “we will still have the second largest surplus in American history.” Regarding Social Security reform, he stressed as inevitable a transition to a prepaid retirement plan, and noted that there is no es caping that transition. Brady also responded to a question from an audience member about President Bush’s energy strategy. He noted that the President is taking a three-pronged approach: conservation, new technologies and new supply.
Brady, who represents the 8th District of Texas, has been named to the Ways and Means Committee for the 107th Congress, considered by many to be one of the most powerful committees. He will serve on the Social Security and Select Revenue Measures Subcommittees. As a member of Congress, Brady has focused on international trade, technology, tax re form and closing safe havens around the globe for criminals who flee American justice. He is best known as author of the Federal Sunset Act, and has a special interest in curing Pulmonary Hypertension, an incurable disease that strikes primarily women and young children in growing numbers.
In Congress, Brady has been named a Hero of the Taxpayer, Small Business Champion and a’ Super Friend-of-the-Seniors. He has received the Golden Bulldog Award by Watchdogs of the Treasury, special recognition by Citizens Against Government Waste, and is a perennial winner of the Guardian of Small Business Award and Spirit of Enterprise Award.
