Washington, DC— Thursday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted “Yes” on H.R. 88, the combined Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018 and Taxpayer First Act of 2018, which passed the House 220-183. Amongst other things, the bill delays many of Obamacare’s more egregious taxes that drive up health care costs and protects churches from losing their tax exempt status for engaging in normal political speech in the regular course of their activities.

Congressman Brooks said, “Today’s vote delays or repeals some of Obamacare’s most egregious taxes on health care that, in turn, drive up health care costs. One delayed tax, the Medical Device Tax, is a 2.3% excise tax on medical devices sold in the United States (wheelchairs, devices for amputees, and the like). Another, the Health Insurance Tax, taxes health insurance providers, thus forcing insurers to raise health insurance premiums to cover the higher cost of health care. The Cadillac Tax is a monstrous 40% tax on high quality health insurance plans that actually acts to encourage employers to give their employees cheaper and lower quality health insurance! Each of these Obamacare taxes is counterproductive and makes it harder for Americans to pay their medical bills. I am pleased to have the opportunity to vote to repeal or delay them.”

Brooks continued, “Another positive in the bill is its elimination of IRS restrictions on churches’ free speech rights. Specifically, this bill rolls back the prohibition against churches engaging in political speech. No church should be at risk of losing its tax exempt status because it expresses political views in the regular course of its long-held religious beliefs and activities. This is particularly true when a church’s expression of its political views is nothing more than its expression of religious values and views that have been the underpinning of its religion for thousands of years. Taken further, this bill eliminates the possibility the IRS, under a liberal president, will target churches for political retribution, like Obama’s IRS did when it targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups. Reducing the federal government’s intrusion in American’s daily lives is always a winner.”

H.R. 88 is supported by key conservative and religious groups:

Americans for Tax Reform

Family Research Council

FreedomWorks

National Taxpayers Union

Americans for Prosperity 

Home School Legal Defense Fund

Archdiocese of New York

Archdiocese of Washington, DC

American Association of Christian Schools

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Washington, DC— Thursday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted “Yes” on the House Amendment to H.R. 695 that provides $5.7 billion in border wall funding and avoids a presidential veto and government shutdown. The House passed wall funding on a 217 “aye” to 185 “nay” vote, thus sending H.R. 695 to the Senate. Republicans supported wall funding and border security by a 217 to 8 margin. All 178 Democrats voted against wall funding and border security. No Democrat voted “aye.”

Congressman Brooks said, “Illegal aliens are a scourge on America that flood across America’s borders with impunity. America must stop this arrogant and dangerous defiance of American sovereignty! Each year, thousands (and perhaps tens of thousands) of American citizens are dead because of murders, vehicular homicides, and drug overdoses caused by illegal aliens and their related drug cartels. Quite frankly, I don’t understand those elected officials who put political power, their own egos, and illegal aliens over the interests of American citizens. It may sound cold but it is true. These elected officials have the blood of innocent and dead Americans on their hands.”

Brooks continued, “In places where the U.S. has a border wall, illegal crossings are far less frequent that in places where we don’t. It’s not rocket science. While a border wall will not stop all illegal aliens, it will dramatically cut the flow and save American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars that are now diverted from struggling  American families to support illegal aliens.”

Brooks continued, “Some estimates peg the number of illegal aliens currently living in the United States as high as 22 million,[1] and estimates are that illegal aliens cost American taxpayers $116 billion annually.[2] That’s $300 in additional taxes each man, woman, and child in America is forced to pay in local, state, and federal levels for people whose first act on American soil is to violate American law. $5.7 billion is a small investment when you think we could save $116 billion a year simply by securing our border and building the necessary wall.”

Brooks continued, “Far too many illegal aliens have taken American jobs and suppressed American wages. What’s more, far too many illegal aliens have committed crimes against American citizens. Only a few months ago Mollie Tibbets was murdered by an illegal alien in Iowa.  In my home county of Madison, illegal aliens murdered a grandmother, and then brutally murdered her young, innocent granddaughter.” 

Brooks concluded, “Open-borders Democrats are more committed to illegal aliens than they are protecting American citizens. As for me, I stand with American citizens. I want border security. I want the wall. It helps saves American lives. It helps saves American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars at a bargain price of a relatively paltry $5 billion.”

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[1] Federation for American Immigration Reform, The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers, September 27, 2017.  https://fairus.org/issue/publications-resources/fiscal-burden-illegal-immigration-united-states-taxpayers

[2] The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States: Estimates based on demographic modeling with data from 1990 to 2016, September 21 , 2018. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0201193

Washington, DC— Thursday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted “No” on S. 756, the First Step Act of 2018, legislation that releases violent criminals from prison early, making Americans less safe and more likely to be victims of violent crimes and drug overdoses.

Congressman Brooks said, “The Senate version of the First Step Act is a step backward. My experience in law enforcement taught me early on that strong enforcement of criminal statutes and tough penalties for criminal conduct help keep dangerous criminals off the street. To be clear, I joined 359 of my House colleagues in voting ‘Yes’ on the House version of the First Step Act, which did not include dramatic cuts in criminal penalties and early release provisions for violent criminals. It is only a matter of time before the verdict on this legislation is rendered: more crime, more crime victims, and more dead Americans. To cite but one major flaw, S. 756 as amended CUTS penalties for gun use during the commission of violent crimes. That is nuts! Further, this soft-on-crime bill even provides for early release of offenders who commit sex crimes, assault law enforcement officers, commit hate crimes, and assist with jailbreaks.”

Brooks continued, “Many major, national law enforcement groups strongly oppose this bill including but not limited to the National Sheriffs Association, the Major County Sheriffs Association, the Major City Chiefs Association,[1] and the National Association of Police Organizations.[2] In sum, this bill makes America a more dangerous place to live. According to FBI annual ‘Crime in America’ data, violent crime has fallen sharply over the last quarter decade in America.[3] Why? Because, as every law enforcement officer knows, the greater the penalty for violation of criminal laws, the greater the deterrence and the less the crime. Further, stiff criminal penalties keep violent repeat criminals off the streets and in jail. The Senate-amended First Step Act kicks violent, repeat offenders out of jail much quicker than under current law. Reform efforts should focus on reducing crime and apprehending suspects. This bill does none of that.”

Brooks concluded, “The bottom line is, at a time when fatal drug overdoses plague our nation, Congress has irresponsibly passed legislation that increases the likelihood that even more fatal drugs will be imported into America by illegal aliens and foreign drug cartels.  Let the record show, I voted against this irresponsible, soft-on-crime, and dangerous legislation.”

In a letter to Senate leadership, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Major County Sheriffs of America said, “The current draft of the First Step legislation remains troubling to the leaders of law enforcement. Sheriffs are elected solely to protect our communities, and Police Chiefs have taken an oath to protect the public. We feel unless the changes recommended below are enacted, this legislation creates a high-risk path for dangerous criminals with gun crime histories to early release from prison. This amounts to a social experiment with the safety of our communities and the lives of Sheriffs, deputies and police officers in the balance. Please know that we did not come to this conclusion lightly. We have been working diligently with the Administration to correct these inequities. It is our hope the Senate will listen to the nation’s elected Sheriffs and the Chiefs of Police of our nation’s most populous cities.”

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[1] https://www.sheriffs.org/NSA-MCSA-and-MCCA-Oppose-FIRST-STEP-Act-0

[2] http://www.napo.org/washington-report/latest-news-updates/congress-set-pass-first-step-act-bill-barr-nominated-attorney-general-napo-meets-fema-law-enforcement-liaison-napo-protects-blue/

[3] http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/30/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/

Washington, DC— Wednesday afternoon, the United States Senate passed by unanimous consent Congressman Mo Brooks’ (AL-05) bill, H.R. 6513, to designate the United States Postal Service Office located at 1110 West Market Street in Athens, Alabama, as the "Judge James E. Horton, Jr. Post Office Building.” Judge Horton bravely issued an order setting aside the jury’s guilty verdict and ordered a new trial for one of the “Scottsboro Boys” in 1933.

Congressman Brooks said, “I’m pleased the United States Senate unanimously passed my bill naming the Athens Post Office for Tennessee Valley luminary, Judge James E. Horton Jr. Now, the only remaining hurdle for the bill to become law is presidential signature, and I encourage President Trump to sign the bill.”

Brooks continued, “Judge Horton took a stand against extreme racial prejudice that risked and ended his judicial career. For championing blind justice and for his bravery in the face of intense pressure, Judge Horton deserves the posthumous honor of having the Athens, Alabama Post Office named for him. It is appropriate that his legacy be held up as a guide for future Tennessee Valley generations.”

Brooks concluded, “While this bill wouldn’t have passed the House and Senate if it weren’t for the support of key Congressional colleagues, Judge Horton’s descendants and Limestone County community leaders were the driving force behind this bill. Their efforts meant the difference, and I’m grateful for their assistance and insight without which this bill would not be heading to President Trump’s desk.”

A life-size statue of Judge Horton and a historical marker were erected in October 2017 on the Limestone County Courthouse square. Click HERE to read more about the statue and marker.

Judge Horton’s full biography is attached.

Click HERE for Congressman Brooks’ November 29 news release on House passage of H.R. 6513.

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