Danny Davis

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I strongly commend Ranking Member Larson and Chairman Johnson on their bipartisan bill to dramatically improve the Social Security Representative Payee program. We have a responsibility to ensure that this system is strong and fair to protect our vulnerable citizens. In addition to the multiple improvements in oversight and quality, I want to thank Representatives Larson and Johnson for including provisions to improve the Rep Payee program for foster youth for which I advocated. Currently, when foster youth receive Social Security benefits because they are disabled or their parent is deceased, disabled, or retired, it is common practice for State child welfare agencies to take the children's benefits for state revenue rather than preserving these funds for the youth' s current or future needs. We have very poor understanding of who serves as representative payees for foster youth and whether they conserve the funds for these youth. This bill requires long-overdue data coordination between the Social Security Administration and state foster care programs. Requiring this data coordination is critical to ensuring that we know who is serving in the important fiduciary role for foster youth. Right now, we have no clear understanding of the number of foster youth with representative payees, whether those payees are state agencies or family members, and whether the funds are conserved for foster youth or used to plug holes in state budgets. Just last month, the Social Security Advisory Board recommended improving the Representative Payee Program related to foster youth. The Board pointed out that state foster care agencies routinely are assigned automatically as the payee without any analysis if there is a better choice available. The Board highlighted that there can be an inherent conflict of interest in designating a state entity as payee given that the interests of foster care programs may conflict with the interests of the foster youth. The data required by this bill will help Social Security better focus on payee determination for foster youth to ensure that the payee will act in the best interest of the child. Further, it will provide data to help us understand how often state agencies are serving in this capacity and how they are using these funds. To advance this understanding, the bill requires a GAO study on minor beneficiaries in foster care and their representative payees. In addition, this bill protects foster youth from overpayment errors made by the state. Under current law, if an overpayment occurs and the state foster care agency is the beneficiary, the foster youth is responsible for repaying the overpayment. This bill includes a protection so that if a state agency is the representative payee and an overpayment is made, the state and not the foster youth is responsible for the overpayment the state received. These improvements are critical to improving the representative payee program for vulnerable foster youth. I am grateful to Ranking Member Larson and Chairman Johnson for working to strengthen the Representative Payee program to protect vulnerable citizens and for including these significant protections and transparency provisions to support foster youth.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures due to family medical reasons. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted No for the following votes: Roll 35, January 19, 2018: On Motion to Table, H. Res. 705, Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, of high misdemeanors; Roll 36, January 19, 2018: On Passage, H.R. 4712, Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act; Roll 37, January 19, 2018: On Motion to Adjourn; Roll 38, January 20, 2018: On Ordering a Call of the House; Roll 40, January 20, 2018: On Tabling Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, H. Res. 708, Waiving a Requirement of Clause 6(A) of Rule XIII with Respect to Consideration of Certain Resolutions Reported from the Committee on Rules, and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules; Roll 41, January 20, 2018: On Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 708, Waiving a Requirement of Clause 6(A) of Rule XIII with Respect to Consideration of Certain Resolutions Reported from the Committee on Rules, and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules; and Roll 42, January 20, 2018: on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 708, Waiving a Requirement of Clause 6(A) of Rule XIII with Respect to Consideration of Certain Resolutions Reported from the Committee on Rules, and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules. I would have voted Present for the following vote: Roll 39, January 20, 2018: On Call of the House. I would have voted Aye for the following vote: Roll 43, January 20, 2018: On Motion to Fix the Convening Time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dear friend, Justice William Cousins, who passed away a couple days ago at the age of 90. Bill was a former member of the Chicago City Council, called an independent alderman; a circuit court judge; and an appellate court justice who always sought fairness. He was a gentleman, a scholar, and a Harvard graduate. I commend him for his public service.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for anchoring this session, and all of those who have come to join in it. I read someplace the other day where there are three men in this country who own as much of the wealth as 50 percent of all the poorest people in this country. If it were not for organized labor, not for unions, and the influence, millions of individuals who are middle class would be working at peon wages. Individuals would not be able to send their children to college, wouldn't be able to own an automobile or a home. So we can never undermine or not understand the value of organization. Many of us in this room enjoy the support of organized labor. You have got to get resources from somewhere. You have got to get money in order to function. If you cannot match what the big megabucks individuals can give to maintain control of our society, how do you expect to change it? So I am simply pleased to join with my colleagues and suggest that nothing is more important in the distribution and redistribution of the wealth of this country than organized labor.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, think of Robin Hood in reverse: take from the poor and give to the rich. When you take away social safety net programs and when you take away Medicare and Medicaid, then it reminds me of Marie Antoinette. When the people had no bread, she said: Let them eat cake. I was opposed to this before it was released, I was opposed yesterday, I will be opposed tomorrow, and I will be opposed next week. It is no good for the American people.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate George and Ruthie Edwards on their 50th Anniversary this Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017. Marriage is one of the oldest institutions ordained by God; and George and Ruthie have proven to have endured fifty years as proof. George and Ruthie married in 1967 before his deployment to the Vietnam War in 1968. Upon his return from war, the Edwards' were blessed with five children; the late George, Jr., Vincent, Tomika, Yul and Corinthia. In addition, George and Ruthie are the proud grandparents of Jasmine, Devan, Danielle, London, Jordan and great- grandparents of Carter & K.T. Edwards. George retired from the Georgia Pacific Corporation and Ruthie retired from the Texas Independent School District. They both are faithful, life-long members of the New Zion Baptist Church, spending countless hours in church-related activities to improve the New Town community. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, eating out at local restaurants and most importantly reading the Bible. With age comes wisdom and with wisdom comes truth. Many years ago I recall some friends saying to me, ``to keep a marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup; whenever you are wrong--admit it; whenever you are right--shut up!'' I am most certain; every married couple understands this philosophy. I congratulate you on achieving this milestone and wish you many years of happiness and joy in the future.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, any way you cut it, with this bill, the rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, and middle class families will get shafted. Thirteen million Americans will lose their health coverage, and people with preexisting conditions can forget it. Then the writers of this bill will be coming after entitlement programs, after Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SSI. We are down to the wire, and no matter what is said, this bill raises the debt, raises taxes on middle-income families, and provides wealthy individuals and corporations with big tax cuts they don't need. It is a sad day for my district; it is a sad day for the State of Illinois; it is a sad day for the United States of America; and I will vote ``no.''

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank Representative LaHood for organizing this opportunity for all of us from Illinois to talk about the greatness of our State. We have had on the floor individuals from very different parts of the State, but Illinois has always had a reputation of having one of the most congenial delegations in Congress any way you cut it. We have always had that during the time that I have been here, and to be able to talk about the diversity. As Representative Krishnamoorthi was making his comments, you could hear the emotion in his voice as he talked about how Illinois had welcomed his family. And that is what Illinois has done. It has welcomed individuals from all parts of the world. Individuals, large numbers of Puerto Ricans who came from Puerto Rico; Mexican Americans; individuals who were immigrants; African Americans, like myself, who migrated from the rural South. No, I didn't grow up in Illinois. I wasn't born in Illinois. As a matter of fact, I was born in Arkansas. Of course, it is the only State in the Bible that Noah looked over his ark and saw. Large numbers of individuals from my State, from Mississippi, from Louisiana, from Texas, from Tennessee, from Alabama, and from other places migrated to Illinois, and especially to Chicago. I have the opportunity to represent what I consider to be the most fascinating piece of geography in North America that is compressed into a political subdivision. My district begins at Lake Michigan. You can't go any further east. It abuts the lake. It is downtown Chicago. It is The Loop. It is the Magnificent Mile. It is Water Tower Place. It is the future's industry. It is the big banks. It is home to corporate America. Major corporations have their headquarters in downtown Chicago. But it also has more hospitals than any other single district in America, which means that it is a health mecca. It also has some of the first of the community health centers, the federally qualified health centers, that were organized, the Mile Squares, the Near Norths, the Martin Luther Kings, Access Healths. It is a fascinating place, but then a part of it is home to Ernest Hemingway. There are more Frank Lloyd Wright structures in my district in a place called Oak Park than any other place in the world. With the exception of a few places, it is the museum capital of the Nation, every kind of entity. But the diversity of its people, some very wealthy individuals, but then the areas that were devastated by the riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. But some of the greatness of people like John H. Johnson, who started, developed, and owned Johnson Publishing Company. Parker House Sausage. We don't do a great deal of farming, but we do a lot of other kinds of things, businesses like Ariel Capital, Loop Capital. These businesses provide an opportunity for others to interact. Great people, I have had the good fortune to just know a whole bunch of young athletes: Isaiah Thomas, Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers, and Darryl Stingley. All of these guys grew up in my district--not just in Chicago, but in my district. I represent the Chicago Bulls. I represent the Bears, the Black Hawks, and a little bit of the White Sox. Unfortunately, the Cubs are a little further north where Congressman Mike Quigley is and represents, but we embrace them also. President Barack Obama lived right at the edge of my district. Chicago, Illinois, is filled with inclusivity. Carol Moseley Braun was the first African-American woman to be elected to the United States Senate from the State of Illinois. Of course, Barack Obama was also elected to the Senate. Roland Burris was a member of the Senate, and Abraham Lincoln. I grew up as a fan of Abraham Lincoln because of the role that he and Illinois played in the abolition of slavery. My mother was a great Abraham Lincoln fan, so as a little boy, I knew every story that you could think of about Abraham Lincoln. The thing that I am most proud of, though, is the inclusivity and the diversification of our State. Representative LaHood has represented and demonstrated what Illinois is all about, and that is bringing all of us together to extol some of the virtues of our great State. I thank the gentleman for his leadership, and I thank the gentleman for his action.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it was really fun interacting with my colleagues and learning about the great State in which we live and have the opportunity to represent. But, Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to vote on the GOP tax plan, I decided that I would grade the bill and look a little bit at the difference between what has been promised and the reality of what is in the final legislation. We were told that there would be middle class tax relief and that nobody in the middle class is going to get a tax increase. We have been looking for it, but instead, after 10 years, millions of middle class taxpayers will be paying more, and the majority of the tax cuts will go to the corporations and to the 1 percent. We were told that it would eliminate tax breaks for the wealthy and that wealthy proponents of the bill will personally take a hit from the GOP tax plan--another failure. This bill and this plan violates every principle and every tenet of economic justice. The vast majority of the benefits go to the large corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. All major tax breaks remain and many new ones have been added, including the insidious new 20 percent deduction for so-called passthrough entities like real estate developers and others. Because of the fact that the new language wasn't in the bill passed by the House and Senate, floor amendments to eliminate the provision will not be permitted. The alternative minimum tax, that safety net designed to thwart clever tax dodgers, is gone. The biological heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is handed over to oil companies for minimal return of Federal tax dollars. We were told that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would be protected, that this was going to be a revenue-neutral tax reform and that the bill would pay for itself--failure again. The trillion-plus dollars in new deficit spending will be blamed on these programs, and pressure to cut them will begin shortly after the new year. We were told that tax cuts will spur economic growth--again, failure. U.S. corporate profits are already historically high, but corporations are not making investments in plants, research, and new technology to grow the economy. What we need is increased demand, higher wages, returning dislocated workers to the economy, rebuilding aging cities, and rebuilding infrastructure to revitalize communities. The redistribution of income away from low-to high-income households reduces consumption spending, which reduces demand. The bill will be disastrous to the work of charitable nonprofits, reducing charitable giving by $13 billion or more, annually, destroying more than 220,000 nonprofit jobs and impairing the ability of nonprofits to address community needs. Repatriating overseas corporate profit will stimulate the economy; that is what we were told. U.S. multinationals currently have $752 billion in taxes on the $2.6 trillion in profits that they are holding offshore. They have already found creative ways to use those dollars here at home without paying taxes. Worse yet, the repatriation provision helps conceal the permanent and growing costs of tax provisions that would lose revenue over the next decade. What is needed is linking tax breaks to specific targeted investment here at home, such as the new market credit, which, as of the end of fiscal year 2016, had generated $8 of private investment for every $1 of Federal funding; created 178 million square feet of manufacturing, office, and retail space; and financed over 5,400 businesses. We were told that we were going to be able to reduce health costs and health insurance for everybody--failure again. The elimination of the penalty for people who go without health insurance will result in some 13 million Americans losing their health insurance. That includes more than 500,000 Illinois residents. Healthcare premiums will rise by about 10 percent in most years, and for the lowest income working families, with 10 million children under 17, there will either be no improvement in their child tax credit or a token increase of $1 to $75. Low- and modest-income working families, with another 14 million children, will receive a child tax credit increase of more than $75 but less than the full $1,000 per child increase that families at higher income levels would receive. We were told that we were going to be able to file our taxes on a postcard, simplify and reduce the size of the Tax Code. That is not going to happen. Final grade, corporations and the 1 percent--the wealthiest people in the country--will win, and the rest of society will lose. For me, Mr. Speaker, that is not an acceptable result. I could never vote for this bill, so count me out. I vote ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, my good friend Timothy ``Tim'' Bradford passed away last week. Tim was a commissioner of the Cook County Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, but he was much more than that. Tim grew up on the west side of the city of Chicago, moved to the south suburbs, and became known as the godfather of politics in south suburban Cook County. He was in love with everybody he met, involved in everything that existed, and I simply express condolences to his wife and family on his passing.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Tim Bradford graduated from Richard T. Crane High School on the Westside of Chicago where he was an outstanding athlete and well-liked student. He secured a job at Western Electric before obtaining and rising to a senior level position at Quaker Oats where he worked for more than twenty-five years. He later became a successful entrepreneur and owned a dock fish feed franchise and had an interest in a St. Louis based Miller Beer distributor-ship. Tim was passionate about life, civic engagement and politics. He served as commissioner and President of the Olympia Fields Park District and Administrator of Rich Township. Tim's greatest legacy will be his service to the community and helping those in need is his passion, his mission. He was a well-respected pillar of the community who made sure that the south suburban community of Cook County was never overlooked. To say that he was immersed in politics would be an understatement. Tim worked around the clock and became known as the Godfather of south suburban politics. He served as vice chair for Cook County Democrats, a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, RichTownship Committeeman, Rich Township Administrator, Matteson Rotary Club, Olympia Fields Police Board and countless other civic organizations, boards and commissions. Notwithstanding all of his external activities and affiliations, Tim was totally devoted to his wife of 51 years, Mary-Ann and all other members of the Bradford clan, his mother, his brothers, his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Timothy (Tim) Bradford was an extraordinary man filled with boundless energy, a great mind and a heart filled with love for his family and anyone that he might meet. Love is patient, love is kind, love is generous, love is Commissioner Timothy (Tim) Bradford.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. James Thomas Esco, who was born in Canton, Mississippi in 1942, which is home to my good friend, Congressman Bennie Thompson, who represents that area. It is also home of The Canton Spirituals, one of the most outstanding gospel singing groups in the country. Mr. James Thomas Esco was born a unique person. He was the 29th child of 30 in a blended family of Mr. Percy Lee and Mrs. Earline Esco. He loved his family and fell in love with his wife's 16 brothers and sisters. He was married to Mrs. Sadie Pearl Esco for 55 years. He was as solid as a rock and a humanitarian with a heart of gold. He was always concerned about and looked out for the well-being of others. He was a hard worker. He worked in a factory and drove a taxi. He brought dignity to any work task which he performed. He stressed the importance of education and taught his children to get the best grades. He adored his wife's 16 siblings and supported them in their endeavors. He instilled in his children and seven grandchildren to be kind, to be respectful of others, to work hard, to get the things you want in life, to be active citizens of the United States, and, most importantly, to know Jesus. These words and this biography were put together by the daughter of Mr. Esco. What a man. What a daughter. What a family. Mr. Speaker, these are the kind of people who I am fortunate to represent, and I am indeed pleased to share them with the rest of the world. With much love and respect, I am U.S. Representative Danny Davis from the Seventh District of Illinois.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in every place that I went yesterday, people asked me: What are you going to say to the conferees? I said that I am going to join with my colleagues and say to the conferees: Help the needy and not the greedy. I am going to say to the conferees: Why give 50 percent of the tax break to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population in this country? I am going to say: Why cut Medicare, Medicaid, and provisions of the Affordable Care Act that have kept millions of people from having the agony, pain, and frustration of not being able to find healthcare? I am going to say: Save the children; save the veterans; save the center cities that are decayed; save the infrastructure; save the safety net; and save America.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters: one from the National Education Association and one from the American Council on Education. November 15, 2017. Dear Representative: On behalf of the three million members of the National Education Association (NEA), and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to Vote No on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), a rewrite of the U.S. tax code being voted on this week. This multi-trillion dollar plan is a tax giveaway to the wealthiest and corporations paid for on the backs of working families and students, and jeopardizes the ability of states and local communities to adequately fund public schools. Votes associated with this issue may be included in NEA's Legislative Report Card for the 115th Congress. Tax plans reveal the priorities of a nation and in a number of respects this one tells working and middle-class families, students, and educators that they must sacrifice in order to further enrich the wealthy and corporations. We oppose the bill as currently crafted for several reasons outlined below. A Giveaway to the Wealthy and Corporations sets up Drastic Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Education Analysis of the Joint Committee on Taxation's estimate of H.R. 1's impact shows that the bill is overwhelmingly skewed to the wealthy. Households with annual incomes over $1 million would receive 16 times the percentage increase in after-tax income as other taxpayers. In addition, 45 percent of the cost of the bill's tax cuts would go to households with incomes above $500,000--less than one percent of filers. Meanwhile, JCT estimates show that taxes would actually increase for filers with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 over the life of the bill. For now, much of the tax cuts will be deficit-financed, but the budget resolution that helped pave the way for this plan previews the next phase: future legislation to cut the growing deficit caused by tax cuts by demanding cuts to critical services that help working people, children, seniors, and others--Medicaid, Medicare, education, and more. In fact, some of this impact will be immediate. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), without enacting subsequent legislation, the tax bill will trigger automatic spending cuts to pay for the tax changes under a ``paygo'' law. The CBO analysis concludes that Medicare would face an FY18 reduction of $25 billion with a remaining $111 billion to be sequestered from remaining mandatory programs. Kansas provides a window into what this approach looks like. In 2012, the state's former governor pushed through similar massive tax cuts to individuals and businesses that allegedly would boost the economy. In reality, Kansas' job growth was anemic and the governor and legislature starved state services. Kansas cut funding for public schools, infrastructure, and other services, and scrambled to close a $350-million budget deficit. After voters spoke at the ballot box, lawmakers reversed course, raising taxes and overriding--in a bipartisan manner--the governor's veto. Rather than rushing forward with a partisan bill, Congress would do well to heed the recent lesson from America's heartland. Eliminating SALT Deduction is a Tax Increase and Will Devastate Education Funding H.R. 1 would eliminate most of the state and local tax deduction (SALT)--taking money out of the pockets of as many 44 million middle-class families across the nation. While the bill hammers middle-class families on this, it oddly preserves the ability of businesses to deduct state and local taxes--yet another example of how the bill takes from working families to provide tax giveaways to those who are wealthier. Eliminating any part of the state and local tax deduction could lead to a tax increase on middle class families and have a negative, ripple effect on the ability of states and local communities to fund public services, like education. That could translate into cuts to public schools, lost jobs to educators, and overcrowded classrooms that deprive students of one-on-one attention. NEA conducted a detailed analysis of the plan to eliminate most of SALT. In total, education funding could take a $250 billion cut over the next 10 years and put up to 250,000 education jobs at risk. It is no secret what is likely to follow if Congress eliminates SALT. If there is any doubt, one need only to listen to what far-right groups like ALEC are saying right now. Their letter about the SALT deduction lays out their plan--to lobby for lower taxes at the state and local level. This means even fewer available funds for students and public education. Turning Popular 529 College Savings Plan into a Voucher-like scheme for the Wealthy The tax plan distorts a popular education tax program for middle-class families by creating a voucher scheme with no income limits that is aimed at benefitting the wealthy to set aside up to $10,000 annually in a tax-free account for private school expenses. Both the Heritage Foundation and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos agree, noting to the Washington Post that the backdoor voucher plan is ``. . . a good step forward . . .'' in allowing public dollars to follow children to private school. Make no mistake. This poorly veiled voucher program will only benefit the wealthiest families who can already afford private school tuition at the expense of our students, communities, and taxpayers. In the end, no matter what form or name a voucher program takes, the impact is the same. This risky voucher program will hurt students and neighborhood schools--where 90 percent of children attend. Elimination of the modest Educator Tax Deduction While offering huge giveaways for wealthy individuals and corporations, the plan inexplicably eliminates the popular educator tax deduction that allows educators to deduct eligible unreimbursed out-of-pocket classroom spending-- books, paper, pencils, and art supplies purchased to supplement meager school budgets--up to $250 annually. The popular plan made ``permanent'' by Congress just two years ago, was claimed on 3.7 million tax returns in 2015. Almost every educator pays out of pocket for school supplies. The most recent study by the National School Supplies and Equipment Association (NSSEA) estimated that public school educators spent $1.6 billion of their own money during the 2012-2013 school year on classroom supplies. An estimated 99 percent of public school teachers spent some amount of money out of pocket for their classrooms, with typical amounts ranging from $500-$1,000. Making College Even More Costly for Families The plan also eliminates the student loan interest deduction. This is bad news for students and families. Under current rules, borrowers paying off education loans can annually deduct up to $2,500 of interest paid on student loans. H.R. 1 essentially raises the long-term cost of attending college by eliminating the deductions for interest paid on student loans. According to the IRS, over 12 million individuals claimed this deduction in 2015. Further, the bill eliminates a provision that allows universities to waive tuition for graduate students. Graduate students would be taxed on the value of that tuition as if it were income, making it almost impossible for many students to afford graduate degrees. In a time of rising college costs and skyrocketing student loan debt, it is unthinkable to take away provisions that assists students and families struggling to pay for college. Eliminating Successful School Construction Bonds Program The Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Program has proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way to help disadvantaged communities address pressing renovation and repair needs in schools. Investors receive a federal tax credit equal to the amount of interest payable on the bonds, thereby relieving local taxpayers and municipalities of the interest burden. A school that is awarded a QZAB may use the funds to renovate and repair buildings, invest in equipment, and update technology which are all vital to student well- being and success. Eliminating this program will only ensure that more and more students will go to school in yesterday's buildings with out-of-date technology and often unsafe, crumbling infrastructures. Putting State and Local Public Pensions Funding at Risk Section 5001 of H.R. 1 could subject certain investment of state and local government pension plans to the unrelated business income tax (UBIT). Investment earnings pay for approximately two-thirds of state and local government pension benefits, which are taxed when distributed to participants. In addition to the revenue lost from the tax itself, subjecting these pension plans to UBIT could pose significant and complex compliance costs that could dramatically affect pension funds. Further, the UBIT will result in a drag on these critically important investment returns, sets a dangerous precedent for taxation of state entities, and will ultimately increase costs to taxpayers. Rewriting the Tax Code Should Not be Rushed In 1986, Congress undertook a yearlong, bipartisan effort to deliberately and carefully rewrite the tax code. Measured consideration should again be taken in understanding the near-term and long-term impacts a tax code rewrite will have on families, communities, and public services. Instead, Congressional leadership is rushing the process and putting forward a bill that further tilts the scale in favor of the wealthy and corporations, and paid for by working families. For all of the reasons outlined above, we urge you to Vote No on H.R. 1. Sincerely, Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Republican tax bill is a dangerous bill that raises taxes on 36 million middle class households; takes healthcare from tens of millions of Americans; skyrockets the cost of health insurance for all Americans, but especially for those who are sick or have preexisting conditions; and directly results in cuts to Medicare and safety net spending next year--all to give corporate special interests immediate, permanent, and monumental tax cuts. Cut, cut, cut is all that I have heard this week: cut the safety net; cut service for the needy; cut service for the physically challenged; cut the poor; cut the homeless; cut Medicaid; cut education; cut out low-income tax credits; cut out new market tax credits; cut out social services; cut block grants; cut student loans. Winter is here. Cut the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. If you live in Chicago, Minneapolis, the Midwest, or the Northeast, without any heat, you are subject to catch pneumonia and die. There is no doubt about it. I can imagine that college residents, hospital administrators, and managers of programs are wringing their hands, wondering what they are going to do. I heard a minister last Sunday at one of the churches in my community asking this, and he said: Pray, organize, vote. Vote against this bill.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Neal for not only yielding to me, but for the tremendous leadership that he has provided throughout this process. Mr. Speaker, as I listen, there is no doubt in my mind that the vote we will take tomorrow is going to be one of the most important votes that I will ever take as a Member of Congress. It is important because I know that it will affect, in one way or the other, every citizen of this country. As I listened to the debate over the last 2 days, I know that America is at a great crossroads, and that we can either go forward or we can go backwards. We can go forward into a new era of job creation, supporting education for all, and keeping the greatest level of healthcare that this country has ever known. Or we can go backwards, backwards with Marie Antoinette-type tax policy that takes opportunity and bread from the middle class, and then say: Let them eat cake. Or we can go forward with a more equitable tax plan, one that promotes infrastructure protection and development by keeping the provisions for State and local deductions, which everybody knows will create jobs, jobs, and jobs. We can go forward by making sure that the access we currently have to quality healthcare will continue. I hear many people talking about what we will get from H.R. 1, what I call the Republican Marie Antoinette tax bill. But let me just mention some of what we will not get that we already have. Teachers will not get the ability to write off the $250 that they spend out of their pockets for materials and supplies for their students. Students will lose $65 billion in Federal funds to help make college more affordable. Senior citizens, as we have already heard, with Alzheimer's will lose the ability to write off high medical costs. Student loan interest can no longer be used. Cities like mine; like Philadelphia; like Detroit; like Gary, Indiana; cities all over the country will not be able to make use of the new market tax credits to rebuild slum and blighted areas. Many of those areas have been laying fallow for 50 and 60 years, where there used to be thriving communities. Historical buildings will be left standing because the tax credits to restore them will no longer be available, losing the opportunity to create jobs and work opportunities for people who are unemployed. Under the bill, any way that you cut it, the middle class will lose and the special interests and the wealthy will again win. I know that we are again being sold the idea of what I call trickle- down economics. Feed those at the top, and crumbs will trickle down to all the rest of society, even though study after study has shown that this does not work. It is nothing more than a theory, far from any basis of truth. I think that we have no choice. When I hear these kinds of discussions, I think of all kinds of things. But I guess what I think most is something that Billie Holiday wrote and sang. She said: ``Momma may have, papa may have, but God bless the child that has got his own.'' And she said: ``Rich relations give crusts of bread and such. You can help yourself, but don't take too much.'' So if you are waiting for something to trickle down, you better remember what she said: `` . . . God bless the child that has got his own.'' One thing that each one of us has is the ability to vote, and I will vote tomorrow. And I will make sure that when I vote, I will vote to represent the thousands and thousands of middle class families who need to have hope, who need to have faith, and who need to believe that when we sing the song ``My Country, `Tis of Thee,'' that we are singing about them, too. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Neal for yielding.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the one thing that I like about the Packers is that the people own them.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Navy Pier and commemorate the beginning of the Pier's second century as a public community resource and treasured Chicago landmark. After 100 years of significant impact, Navy Pier has been reimagined and adopted the new mission: Navy Pier is the People's Pier, Chicago's lakefront treasure, welcoming all and offering dynamic and eclectic experiences through partnerships and programs that inspire discovery and wonder; Navy Pier opened to the public in 1916 and originally named ``Municipal Pier No. 2; Navy Pier was built under nationally-known architect Charles Sumner Frost, based on Daniel Burham's ``Master Plan of Chicago.'' Municipal Pier was the first of its kind to accommodate both the commercial shipping industry and recreation and entertainment for the public drawing over 3 million visitors annually. In 1917 it was adapted to house several regiments of soldiers, Red Cross, and ``Home Defense'' units and served as a barracks during World War I. It was officially renamed Navy Pier in 1927 as a tribute to the Navy personnel who were housed at the Pier during the conflict. From 1941 to 1947, the Pier was leased to the U.S. Navy as a naval training center for 60,000 recruits. One of those pilots who qualified for military service was President George H. W. Bush. Navy Pier was the original home to the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1946 to 1965, and more than 100,000 students attended classes during that time. Dubbed `Harvard on the Rocks,' the University shared the space with the Chicago Police Department's Traffic Division, the North Pier Terminal Company, and several military detachments. The Pier was designated a Chicago historic landmark in 1977; between the years of 1978 through 1982, Navy Pier was host to ChicagoFest, a summer music festival full of food, fun, and festivities. ChicagoFest eventually grew to become the Taste of Chicago, drawing millions of guests to the Pier and spurring millions of dollars in economic impact. The Pier re-opened in 1995 following a $150 million redevelopment having improvements made to nearly every aspect of the three-quarter mile long public Pier. Since that renovation, year-round entertainment, shopping, dining, attractions and exhibitions have positioned the Pier as one of the most unique settings in the world; in July of 2011, Navy Pier, Inc., the newly formed nonprofit entity entrusted with the operation and redevelopment of Navy Pier put forth The Centennial Vision, a framework for reimagining Navy Pier as a unique public space and cultural mecca. The Centennial Vision's purpose is not only to expand the Pier's audience, but to enrich the experience of its guests. The Vision, divided into two phases, establishes a framework befitting Chicago, a world-class city, with a vibrant architectural, cultural, and recreational landscape and includes a 30-year Sustainable Master Plan to address the Pier's long-term environmental impact. With the completion of the Centennial Vision's ``Phase 1'' in 2016, a record 9.26 million guests enjoyed new amenities such as the state of the art Centennial Ferris Wheel, Chicago-centric food experience, redesigned south dock promenade with increased access to the waterfront and recreational boat experiences, and over 245 free public arts and cultural programs. As the Pier now enters ``Phase 2'' of the redevelopment with extensive plans to upgrade the built environment and Pier structures such as the Family Pavilion and Crystal Garden. In 2017, with the completion of 13-acre Polk Bros Park, the new Chicago Shakespeare Theater and expanded Chicago, Children's Museum, the Pier projects to see attendance increase by as much as 26 percent as guests enjoy innovative, free public programming, participatory arts, cultural showcases, and the Pier's sustainable, recreational footprint; and the Pier currently employees over 3,000 individuals, is home to 77 businesses and 5 nonprofit organizations. The redevelopment is expected to generate 1,565 permanent and 1,659 temporary jobs across the city. I am honored to represent Navy Pier and congratulate Marilynn Gardner, President & CEO; Patrick Sheehan, Chief Development and Strategy Officer, the Board of Directors and the multitude of individuals working that make the Pier a fascinating and enjoyable destination. Enjoy this landmark celebration and always remember, ``To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.''

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record letters from: NAACP, National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). Washington Bureau--National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Washington, DC, October 2, 2017. Re NAACP strong support for the Congressional Black Caucus alternative budget proposal. Members, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the NAACP, our nation's oldest, largest and most widely-recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization, I strongly urge you to support the alternative budget proposal as put forth by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) later this week as you consider the budget resolutions for FY 2018. The CBC Alternative Budget responsibly reduces the deficit and at the same time alleviates harm which has been inflicted by the recent austerity measures in a responsible and fiscally sound manner. Furthermore, it proposes significant investments to accelerate our economic recovery and ensures that our recovery is felt in every community, every state and every Congressional District in America. A nation's budget is perhaps the best reflection of the priorities, moral values and the beliefs of its citizens. Our country, for all its assets and riches is facing some crucial problems. No community is free from challenges, including hunger, homeless ness, unemployment, substandard education, crime, a crumbling infrastructure, and home foreclosures. Furthermore, there can be little debate that racial and ethnic minority Americans tend to be disparately affected by these challenges more than any other group. The federal budget cannot cure every dilemma, but it can provide the American people with the tools to begin to address many of these ills. The CBC budget alternative preserves crucial social safety nets, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and TANF and provides money for job creating programs, health care, and veterans programs to help our returning soldiers as they reintegrate themselves and their families into American life. At the same time, the CBC budget alternative closes tax loopholes and generates new income from those who can most afford to pay, thereby reducing the deficit by $2.72 trillion over the next decade. Clearly, the CBC Budget alternative merits your serious consideration and I hope that after a careful review you will agree that it sets our nation on the proper course and establishes our priorities as they should be. Thank you in advance for your attention to the NAACP position. Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Hilary O. Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau & Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a 7th District resident, Ms. Christine Davis who made her transition to be with the Lord on September 30, 2017. Christine Davis was born on December 20, 1934 in Bernie, Missouri to the union of Emmitt Davis and Carolyn Davis, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her son Calvin Davis, brother Robert Davis and sister Darlene Armstread. Christine accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior at an early age under the leadership of Pastor Jesse G. Wilson of Bernie, Missouri. Later she joined Garden of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church--under the leadership of Pastor Johnnie Haynie. She was a proud member of the usher board and president of the Mother's Board. Christine relocated to the West Side of Chicago in the 1950's. She loved her church and was a committed servant in attending worship, until her health prevented her to do so. Christine made sure her wisdom and knowledge was passed to her family. She did everything necessary to help them succeed in life. Christine lived a long and rich life. She will be remembered as a thoughtful, caring and generous person, who will be greatly missed and loved forever. Christine was employed by various jobs and later retired as a caretaker after 20 years of service. She loved spending time with her family and her church family. She prepared many great meals at home, which were enjoyed by all. Her hobbies were cooking, sewing, reading and watching the Chicago Bulls. Ms. Davis leaves to cherish her memories; her sisters Juanita Price, Jean Davidson and Margaret Hawes, her three daughters Elaine Rasberry (Eugene), Tarnesha Hawkins (Stanley) and Lawana, nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. I have no doubt that Ms. Christine Davis lived a fulfilling life and will be missed by all because ``the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, not touched. But are felt in the heart.'' Her family members are in my prayers, and it is my hope that her memory will give them comfort in the years to come

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the CBC alternative budget, and I commend Representative Scott and his staff for the tremendous work that they have done. The CBC budget provides for all of the essentials, including defense and infrastructure, but what I like most about it is that it is focused on job creation, rebuilding our veterans' hospitals, rebuilding infrastructure in our communities, and putting people to work. Mr. Chairman, my constituents need jobs and opportunities to work. The CBC budget focuses on jobs. I strongly support it, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my mother used to say: Right is right if nobody is right, and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong. H.R. 2792 is wrong. It is cruel. It is discriminatory. I strongly oppose this Republican effort to strip low-income seniors and those with severe disabilities of Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI. I join in opposition with over 110 civil rights, disability, and aging advocates who have warned that H.R. 2792's harsh cuts will discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, ability, income, and will further criminalize poverty. I also strongly oppose the majority's decision to condition the reauthorization of our successful home visiting program on this bill's harm to the elderly and infirm. SSI is only available to people who are elderly, who are severely disabled, and who have little or no assets. The typical SSI recipient lives on less than $750 a month. So, by design, H.R. 2792, will only harm very poor, elderly, and disabled people. Within the population of adult recipients of SSI, approximately 83 percent are disabled, one- third are age 65 and older, and two-thirds are age 50 and older. I reject proponents' claims that this bill will only target fugitive felons. In reality, current law terminates benefits for fugitive felons. This bill strikes the current restriction against fugitive felons and, instead, expands the benefit cutoff beyond those who are actually fleeing and encompasses everybody who had some unresolved run- in with the justice system based on allegation, not conviction. I reject proponents' claim that only individuals charged with violent crimes or costly financial theft are affected by this bill. By undermining the constitutional presumption of innocence and depriving individuals of due process adjudication in a court of law, H.R. 2792 magnifies the deep inequities in our criminal justice system based on race, ethnicity, and income. As an African-American man, I am very familiar with the decades of research documenting the racial-ethnic discrimination in our justice system. As an advocate for criminal justice reform, I know the dozens of studies documenting the faulty criminal justice data system on which benefit terminations will pivot solely because this bill removes due process by adjudication. I reject proponents' claim that no one who has a misdemeanor or minor offense will be harmed. No uniform threshold for a felony exists. Indeed, four States--Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey-- have the lowest thresholds in the country, defining felonies as losses of $300 or less, which is vastly different than the $2,500 threshold set in Texas and Wisconsin. This bill cuts off an elderly or disabled person's lifeline benefits for a decades-old offense of $300. Also, we know that courts across the country are criminalizing poverty and raising revenue with fines and fees. Individuals on probation for misdemeanor offenses like vagrancy, shoplifting, and traffic violations get probation and fines or fees. When poor people can't pay these fees, arrest warrants are issued for a violation of their probation. As in the past, H.R. 2792 clearly terminates SSI benefits for such alleged violations without any due process. I urge my colleagues to do what they know is right: stand up for our most vulnerable citizens, honor their most fundamental rights, and oppose H.R. 2792. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).