WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the House selected Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) to serve as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Upon his selection, Chairman Brady released the following statement.

“It is an honor to lead this talented committee as House Republicans continue to advance Speaker Paul Ryan’s pro-growth agenda.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running, to take real steps toward creating a tax code built for growth, reforming welfare, saving Social Security and Medicare for the long-term, restoring patient-centered health care, and expanding America’s ability to sell our products around the world.

“These are the big ideas America is hungry for. I look forward to engaging members of the House, regardless of party, to achieve these goals. I have a great deal of respect for Ranking Member Sandy Levin and am eager to continue the hard and historic work of the Ways and Means Committee.”

Brady will follow now-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) as leader of the oldest committee of the United States Congress with sole jurisdiction over federal tax laws. Brady, a ten-term member from The Woodlands, Texas, has led two of the committee’s key panels—health and trade—and is the top House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee.

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