Kevin Brady facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Brady
Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Richard Neal
Succeeded by	Richard Neal
Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
In office November 5, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Paul Ryan Sam Johnson (Acting)
Succeeded by	Richard Neal
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 8th district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Jack Fields
Succeeded by	Morgan Luttrell
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 15th district
In office January 10, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Mike McKinney
Succeeded by	Tommy Williams
Personal details
Born	Kevin Patrick Brady (1955-04-11) April 11, 1955 (age 70) Vermillion, South Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Cathy Patronella ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	2
Education	University of South Dakota (BA)

Kevin Patrick Brady (born April 11, 1955) is an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for Texas's 8th district from 1997 to 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district included parts of northern Houston, like The Woodlands. He decided to retire after the 2022 election.

Early Life and Career

Kevin Brady was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. He was one of five children. His father passed away when Kevin was 12 years old.

He finished high school in 1973. Later, he earned a degree in mass communications from the University of South Dakota.

Brady started his career working for the Chamber of Commerce in Rapid City. At 26, he was elected to the Rapid City common council. In 1982, he moved to Texas. He worked for the Chamber of Commerce in Beaumont, Texas. Then, in 1985, he joined the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce.

Serving in the Texas House of Representatives

In 1990, Kevin Brady was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He represented District 15. This district included The Woodlands and other areas near Houston. He began his term on January 10, 1991.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Kevin Brady speaking about healthcare in 2019.

Kevin Brady served in the U.S. House of Representatives for many years. He represented Texas's 8th congressional district.

How He Was Elected

In 1996, the U.S. Representative for his district decided to retire. Kevin Brady ran for the open seat. He won a special runoff election to become the new representative.

From 1998 to 2008, Brady was reelected many times. He always won with a large number of votes.

In 2010, he faced challengers in the Republican primary for the first time in a while. He won the primary and was reelected easily. He also won his elections in 2012 and 2014 by a large margin.

In 2016, he had a closer election. A former state representative, Steve Toth, ran against him. Toth said Brady made too many compromises with President Obama. Brady won the primary, but it was his closest election victory.

In 2018 and 2020, Brady was reelected again. In 2020, he won with over 72% of the vote. This was his last election for Congress. On April 14, 2021, Brady announced he would retire in 2022.

What He Did in Congress

In 2002, Brady voted to allow the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Later, in 2008, he voted to investigate President George W. Bush regarding the war.

Kevin Brady in 2017.

In 2005, Brady strongly supported the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). This agreement helps countries trade with each other more easily. He also supported similar agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama in 2011.

Brady also proposed a "sunset law". This law would require federal programs to prove they are still needed every 12 years. If not, they could be removed.

In 2012, Brady suggested the Sound Dollar Act. This bill would ask the Federal Reserve to watch the value of gold and the U.S. dollar. It would also change the Federal Reserve's main goal to focus only on keeping the dollar's value stable.

From 2015 to 2019, Brady was the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. This committee handles important topics like taxes and trade.

In 2017, Brady supported a tax plan called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He said it would help everyone. However, some groups found that not all households would pay less in taxes.

Brady and Representative Richard Neal worked together on the bipartisan SECURE Act of 2019. This law helps people save for retirement. It makes it easier for employers to offer retirement plans. The bill became law in December 2019.

In December 2020, Brady was one of many Republican members of the House who supported a lawsuit about the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court did not hear the case.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brady supported giving more money to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. He helped create the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

After the Capitol was stormed in January 2021, Brady said that calls for impeachment could cause more violence.

Committees and Groups He Joined

Kevin Brady was a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. He also chaired the Joint Economic Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

He was part of several groups in Congress, including:

• Army Caucus
• Congressional Missing and Exploited Children Caucus
• Congressional Rural Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional Constitution Caucus
• Congressional Western Caucus
• Republican Study Committee

His Political Views

Taxes

Brady believed that tax policies, like the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, helped the U.S. economy before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare

Brady is against a plan called "Medicare for All". This plan would create a single government-run healthcare system for everyone.

Energy

In 2012, Brady voted for a law to change some policies about coal mining and energy. In 2021, he worried that a new drilling ban would cause many job losses in Texas.

Personal Life

Kevin Brady lives in The Woodlands, Texas, which is a town near Houston. He lives there with his wife, Cathy, and their two sons.