City of Shenandoah honors Kevin Brady

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Retired US Representative Kevin Brady was honored by Mayor John Escoto and the Shenandoah City Council as part of the March 8 regular City Council meeting.

Brady has spent 30 years in the public service of the Woodlands area, first in the Texas House of Representatives and finally as a 26-year member of the US House of Representatives. A native of South Dakota, Brady came to Texas in 1988 for a Chamber of Commerce position in Beaumont. In 1990 he ran for the Texas House of Representatives representing the area of The Woodlands. In 1996, he ran for the US House of Representatives seat of Jack Fields, who had announced his retirement, which also represented The Woodlands area.

Known by his colleagues as always willing to work with members on both sides of the aisle, Brady kept a low profile and his nose to the ground working for the good of his constituents. He was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee where he became the chair of one of the nation’s most important Congressional committees in 2015 and remained until committee chair limits forced him to “simply” become the most senior member of the committee.

During his time in Congress, Brady introduced 12 bills and co-sponsored 172 bills that later became law. Some of his highlights were:

• One of the lead negotiators in the 2015 efforts to end 40-year ban on exporting crude oil outside the US;
• Point man on the Central American Free Trade Agreement;
• One of the leading proponents of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement; and
• Introduced the 2019 IRS Reform as well as the 2019 SECUR Act, reforming the country’s retirement system.

Mayor Escoto commended his dedication of over 30 years to public service. “He didn’t live in Washington, DC. He commuted back and forth to be with us, his constituents, and his family.”

The mayor presented Brady with three gifts for his retirement, all chosen for his life commitments. In honor of his love of baseball, he was presented with a showcase with a red-white-and-blue baseball bat and an original baseball. In honor of his support for the David Memorial connection to SH 242, he was presented with one of the shovels used at the December groundbreaking of the project. And in honor of his love of family, which was helped through the adoption of his two sons, he was named in honor of a $2,500 donation to PACN, Pregnancy Assistance Center North, a non-profit pregnancy medical clinic that offers kind and caring services for women and their partners.

“This gift is very unique and special. But I have to thank you… it has been an honor to serve Shenandoah,” said Brady. “You trusted me. And what I have learned watching this city is that Shenandoah is doing great things. You’ve always punched way above weight.”

Brady had final words for those who honored him. “One of the things I am most thankful for is, more than 20 years ago I was part of the effort, though unsuccessful, to bring water and sewer to Tamina. It was a difficult situation that did not get easier. Shenandoah played a key role in bringing it all together. Tamina is an important part of the past but is also an important part of the future. You did what no one else could do and I want to thank you. I’m very proud of Shenandoah and it will hold a special place in my heart.”