“This term, my 13th, will be the last,” he said when he appeared before the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce in his district.
“As you may not know, because Republicans limit the committee’s leadership to six years, I can not chair the Ways and Means Committee in the next session when Republicans regain the House majority,” Brady said. “Did it go in?” Honestly, some. ”
His departure will open a race to replace him in the panel, a sought-after position among lawmakers. Rep. California’s Devin Nunes is the committee’s second-ranked Republican, though the top leadership positions are not strictly determined by seniority.
Brady, who turned 66 on Sunday, is a traditional Republican known for his support for low taxes and free trade, his comfortable personality and his love of baseball.
He became chairman of the tax panel at the end of 2015, when Paul Ryan left to become House Speaker. Brady was a key player in the 2017 tax cuts, which lowered tax rates, especially for businesses, and which has since overshadowed budget debates in Washington. He also takes a leading role in the fight against the government against President Joe Biden, which will undo much of the legislation.
Brady won re-election last year – representing a solid Republican section of the suburbs north of Houston. However, the population explosion around Houston over the past decade means that Republicans, who have full control over the redistribution, are likely to make significant changes to the new congressional map for the 2022 election.
Brady tried to avoid speculation about his decision.
“Every time you retire in Washington, DC, some are eager to assign a motive,” he said. “Given the times, I’m sure some will say, ‘It’s Trump’s fault,'” he said, adding, “nonsense.”
“I am proud to have worked with the president and legislators of both parties to redesign America’s broken tax code, reform the IRS, accept the new trade agreement between America and Mexico, reform America’s retirement system, the unfair Obamacare mandate to end its harmful taxes and surprise a historic national ban on medical bills. ‘
In a statement, House Ways and Means chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) Called Brady’s impending retirement “a loss for both the Ways and Means Committee and Congress.” ‘
“Brady and I have been able to overcome ideological differences time and time again to work together on behalf of the American people,” Neal said.
Steve Shepard contributed to this report.