Brooks’ many contributions to his district, the State of Texas, the U.S., and the world include the following:

District

• Lamar Junior College declared a four-year university

• Expansion and financing of the Sam Rayburn Reservoir—the largest freshwater reservoir in Texas

• Authorized the Neches River Saltwater Barrier Project in 1974

• Secured funding for the Port of Galveston and Texas City Port improvements

• Secured funding for the deepening and widening of the Sabine-Neches Waterway

• Approved plans for the Public Health Service Hospital in Galveston and its affiliation with the University of Texas Medical Branch

• Obtained funding for the wastewater treatment facilities in Nederland, Cheek, China, Nome, Lumberton, Port Neches, and Groves

• Obtained millions of dollars in funding for development in the city of Port Arthur and responsible for the development of the area where Central Mall and Walmart are located

• Obtained funding to build the hurricane levee system in Jefferson County

• Obtained funding for the Taylor’s Bayou Flood Projection Project

State

• Secured funding for the Galveston Bay Study and the development of the Wallisville Reservoir

• Secured funding for the completion of the Big Hill Strategic Petroleum Reserve

National

• Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Automatic Data Processing Act of 1965

• Architects and Engineers Act of 1972

• Civil Rights Act of 1991

• Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994

• Authorized legislation to provide flood insurance to businesses and individuals

• Paperwork Reduction Act

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• Completion in Contracting Act of 1994 establishing a Federal Procurement Office

International/Global

• Credited for saving the space program, Brooks was instrumental in obtaining funding to help NASA with the International Space Station

• President, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, 1980-1982

Positions Held

• Chairman of Judiciary, 1989-1994

• Chairman of Government Operations, 1975-1989