Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, after listening to the comments of Chairman Smith and my Republican colleagues, it is pretty clear to me that they don't intend to stay the course, the course that led to 1,400 convictions. It appears that they really intend to prosecute everybody, the whole group, everybody involved. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Democratic colleagues for their thoughtful comments and ongoing efforts to fight fraud while protecting workers from harassment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the bill so that we can incorporate the guardrails needed to balance our goals of prosecuting criminals and protecting innocent workers from harassment by DOGE or others who might misuse this authority. I trust that those individuals will not have to endure the harassment that often comes. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, back in 2021, when we passed the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress felt it was necessary to pay for what we spent. That is a novel concept around here these days, I know. As part of the offsets to that truly bipartisan bill, we made some changes around tax reporting for the sale of cryptocurrency. Under the tax system, taxpayers are required to pay tax when they sell an asset, such as stocks or securities, at a gain. I know that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle bristle at that notion, but that is how our income tax works. Nothing in the bipartisan infrastructure law changed anything about the tax that cryptocurrency sellers owe. Instead, we created a reporting requirement relating to the sales of these assets. When you sell stock with a stockbroker, the broker reports the proceeds of the sale to both you and the Internal Revenue Service. Probably to no one's surprise, when there is independent reporting on these sales, taxpayers are more likely to report their income to the Internal Revenue Service. It is simple human nature. When there is an independent check on one's financial gain, taxpayers are more honest in their reporting of that gain. This resolution today would repeal some but not all of the Treasury regulations by the Biden administration regarding the new reporting requirements related to sales of cryptocurrency. Although cryptocurrency is exchanged on both centralized and decentralized platforms, the bill today only repeals the regulation related to decentralized exchanges. This inconsistent treatment of cryptocurrency exchanges leaves a significant gap in this reporting system. If this CRA passes, while redundant, taxpayers, who would rather avoid paying taxes on the gains of their cryptocurrency sale, can now move to a decentralized exchange knowing that the transaction would not be subject to reporting. In fact, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that this bill will cost the Federal Government $4 billion in tax revenue. That is, this bill is expected to cause $4 billion in tax cheating. It is clear to me that this bill weakens the Internal Revenue Service's ability to detect and reduce cheating. Further, I am deeply troubled by the potential of this bill to bolster nefarious criminal activity. Decentralized exchanges are far less regulated than other exchanges. They are known for being a method of laundering the sales of fentanyl and human trafficking. At the Rules Committee hearing yesterday, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle suggested that nothing is stopping Congress from coming back and modifying the rules to ensure tax compliance. Unfortunately, given that my Republican colleagues have repeatedly promoted tax cheating by the wealthy by their repeated efforts to cut funding for IRS enforcement, this claim that they would take action to ensure tax compliance in the deregulated crypto world rings hollow. In short, this is an unpaid-for $4 billion giveaway to wealthy crypto traders with the potential for side-effects that are much worse. Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I do not support this joint resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the heartfelt arguments from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but at the end of the day, it is hard for me to overcome the fact that this bill would add $4 billion to the deficit solely due to taxpayer noncompliance. If Republicans have a meaningful solution to address this noncompliance, we look forward to working with them on it, but embracing tax cheating by completely throwing these rules out is simply not the answer. Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I do not support this joint resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dear friend, great vocalist, entertainer, outstanding civic and community leader, and a solid member for many years of the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a primary focus on healthcare, Jerry Butler. Jerry was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, and his parents, like thousands of other Blacks, migrated to Chicago. As a matter of fact, we fondly sometimes call Chicago ``northern Mississippi.'' Jerry's family lived in the Cabrini-Green area, which was a large public housing development. That is where Jerry, Curtis Mayfield, and their friends, as young teenagers and young adults, sang spirituals and doo-wops, hung out, and had fun. They ultimately formed a group called The Roosters and then The Impressions. The Impressions were sensational. Jerry performed with them for a bit, and then he went solo. After leaving the group in 1960, Jerry achieved over 55 Billboard pop and rhythm and blues hits as a solo artist. Some of his top hits were ``He Will Break Your Heart,'' ``Let It Be Me,'' and ``Only the Strong Survive.'' Jerry cowrote the song ``For Your Precious Love,'' which is ranked No. 321 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Jerry was known as the Iceman. He even played a small role in a movie. Jerry was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1985 and served there until he retired in 2018. His last election was in 2014 in which he received 80 percent of the votes. Jerry served as host of PBS' TV music specials such as ``Doo Wop 50'' and ``Doo Wop 51''; ``Rock, Rhythm & Doo Wop''; ``Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular.'' He also served as chairman of the board of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. In 1991, Jerry was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with the other original members of The Impressions: Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks. When Jerry and I served on the Cook County Board together, I was walking down the hall one morning humming ``Moon River,'' and I passed Jerry's door. He hollered out and said: I hear you. I said: Well, how am I doing? He said: Well, don't quit your day job. Well, Jerry, I didn't quit my day job. I am still here, and I know that he is up there in Heaven with all of the other soul singers. We are never going to give him up, and I know that he is up there leading them in glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on. The only thing that I can say is Jerry lived a life well done, and I will see him when I get there.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this good bill to help ensure that children in foster care are in safe, appropriate homes. I further urge my colleagues to work with us to stop these indiscriminate, illegal layoffs and funding cuts which threaten to undermine the good bipartisan work we have done on behalf of vulnerable children. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 579, the Recruiting Families Using Data Act. This legislation is a good example of Congress doing the work our constituents sent us here to do. Last Congress, my former colleague, Dan Kildee, worked closely with Representative Feenstra to introduce this bipartisan bill, which is based on solid research and the fundamental principle that if we want to know what is best for foster youth and their families, we should ask them. The result was this bill, which would require States to create a new family partnership plan to explain how they are identifying, screening, engaging, and supporting foster and adoptive families, in consultation with people with lived experience. To me, one of the most critical aspects of this will be engaging with the child's family, whether it is by placing foster children with family members directly or making space for kin who can't be foster parents to still support the child and the foster parents. Last Congress, we marked up this bill in the Ways and Means Committee and sent it to the floor with our unanimous consent. While it passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote, I was disappointed that the bill did not become law. I am glad to support it again. I believe it is a strong complement to the bipartisan legislation we enacted last year reauthorizing child welfare services, which included many good ideas from both sides of the aisle. As we continue to hear that Elon Musk and his band of hackers are rampaging through Federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, firing policy experts, falsely accusing Americans of fraud, freezing and terminating investments that were directed by Congress, I hope we can return to the kind of partnership and genuine concern for vulnerable Americans that sparked both bills. Move fast and break stuff might be a good model for technology companies, but it is wrong for the programs we have created to protect children. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 33, the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act. This bill represents a bilateral tax agreement that prevents doubling taxation on U.S. and Taiwanese businesses and workers. This bill helps promote Taiwanese investment in the United States and job creation. The bill provides benefits to Taiwanese residents similar to those provided in the 2016 U.S. model tax treaty. Importantly, these new provisions do not take effect until Taiwan offers American residents the same benefits. The bill, H.R. 33, would strengthen trade relations, increase manufacturing production, boost innovation, create economic growth for the U.S. and Taiwan, and allow our country to compete more effectively with China by increasing trade and business commerce in both goods and services. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 33. It is good for Americans, as well as Taiwanese, and good for both countries.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to pay tribute to my longtime friend, associate, and office mate. His office is around the corner from mine. We meet each other in the hall almost every day. I really want to thank him for the tremendous service that he has provided to the people of this country and especially the outstanding work that he has done in healthcare. I also mention the fact that he is as much of a politician as he is a political person, but a doctor first and foremost. I thank Michael for co-chairing the Congressional Sickle Cell Disease Caucus and working with Representative Lee and myself, all the many years that we have been a part of that. I understand that our sickle cell bill is going to be in the CR whenever we get to it, and I also understand that one of the reasons that it is there is Dr. Michael Burgess. As he goes, wherever he goes, however he goes in whatever he does, I will just leave him with this old Irish blessing, and that is: May the road rise up to meet you. May the Sun always be warm on your back. May the wind push you forward; and until we meet again, may the good Lord hold you in the palm of his hand. I wish Dr. Burgess the best of wishes and good luck. I hope you enjoy your life. We will miss you.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Do what the spirit says.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't let the evening go by without coming to pay tribute to Barbara, one of the fiercest, most courageous, hardest working, and most energized persons I have ever known during my lifetime. Seeing what you have contributed and the way in which you have done it, as I listen to each one of the people who spoke--World AIDS Day probably wouldn't be taking place. We just celebrated it on the 1st of December, and people all over the country and all over the Nation celebrated World AIDS Day. That is a part of your work. The focus on SNAP and hungry people, people needing food, that is a part of your work, making sure that people got second chances and that they got money. Every session, when we get to appropriations, we always say: Are we really going to get the money we need for people to have these programs? Barbara Lee is there, and we know that Barbara has got our back. The focus on international relationships, I think I got two boxes of Castro's cigars. I never smoked, but I got two boxes of Castro cigars. He would keep us up all night. He never wanted to quit and go to bed. Somebody would have to say: Mr. President, we have got other people to see tomorrow and other things to do. The whole health arena, how much fun I had working with Clyde and the folks out in San Francisco and Oakland, where when we started with what is known as the federally qualified health centers. When I started, there were 10. Now, there are 1,400 all over America, taking care of more than 30 million low-income and moderate-income people in this country. So, Barbara, you have done it. My mother used to tell us a little poem. She used to say: If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be the best little shrub on the side of the hill. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be the Moon, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or you fail. But be the best, the very best, of whatever you are. That is what you have been. That is what you are. God bless you. Keep on working.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the service of Dr. Mark Bouman who is retiring this week from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Dr. Bouman worked for the Field Museum for over 15 years, serving most recently as the Senior Environmental Social Scientist and, before that, as the Chicago Region Program Director at the Museum's Keller Science Action Center. His work focused on efforts to build better bridges between people and nature across the Chicagoland region and the urban world. A lifelong Chicagoan who received his undergraduate degree in Geography from Valparaiso University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Bouman has taught at Valparaiso, the University of Minnesota, University of British Columbia, Elmhurst College, Chicago State University, and the University of Chicago. He has received numerous awards for teaching excellence, funding for research and technical assistance projects, and authored or co-authored a myriad of peer-reviewed articles and publications. Dr. Bouman has played a leading role in raising awareness of the incredible culturally- and environmentally-diverse Calumet region. The Calumet region is a bi-state area that spans from the Pullman National Historical Park to the Indiana Dunes National Park. It is loosely bounded by the former U.S. Steel South Works in Chicago, portions of suburban Chicago, and the Indiana counties of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte. From Lake Michigan to the Indiana Dunes to the Grand Calumet River to the Kankakee River. The Calumet is a landscape reworked for industrial use that is now undergoing vigorous restoration for recreational and educational uses to enrich the lives of its residents and visitors. While at Chicago State University, which anchors one corner of the Calumet region, Dr. Bouman started the University's Neighborhood Assistance Center, the Calumet Environmental Resource Center, and the GIS Laboratory. He also helped establish the Lake Calumet Ecosystem Partnership and was Project Director on a map for Chicago Wilderness that serves as an important touchstone for current planning work in the region. Dr. Bouman's many involvements in regional affairs have included serving as: President of the Calumet Heritage Partnership, where he has tirelessly advocated for the creation of a Calumet National Heritage Area; Co-Chair of the Calumet Stewardship Initiative, as a Member of the Working Group of Vital Lands Illinois; and as a Member of the Millennium Reserve Steering Committee. In addition to his volunteer pursuits, Dr. Bouman is a huge Cubs fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of stats and history about the game overall, a community choir singer, and a train buff; one year, he was even given the chance to drive a train for his birthday. He's also one of those people who shares a lot of obscure trivia, much to everyone's delight, not just about The Calumet region but about old Hollywood movies, politics, and many other things. Please join me in thanking Dr. Bouman for his service and extending best wishes on his retirement. I have no doubt he will continue to stay actively involved on behalf of our region.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Metra Commuter Railroad as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Over the last four decades, Mara has provided hundreds of millions of rides to its passengers while gaining a reputation for timeliness, reliability, and safety. At its inception in 1984. Metra faced multiple challenges. It inherited an underinvested rail system and was immediately tasked with addressing a history of unstandardized fares and services in addition to stabilizing struggling private rail lines. Through acquisitions, subsidizations. and streamlining of services, Metra delivered on unifying commuter rail across the Chicago region. Though Metra still faces steep funding challenges for its capital and operational needs, it remains a steady, reliable source of transportation for its riders. It continues to rebuild and replace downtown stations, outlying stations, track and signals, and other infrastructure. Metra has purchased new locomotives and railcars, modernized and expanded service, and has survived through underground floods, polar vortexes, and a global pandemic. I commend Metra's workers for continuing to provide rides every day to my constituents, and I thank Metra's leadership for continuing to push innovation in Chicago's commuter rail system. I congratulate Metra on its 40th anniversary and look forward to many more years of reliable commuter rail service.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank Dr. Burgess for his tremendous advocacy on this and other legislative initiatives designed to improve the quality of health and healthcare in America. Mr. Speaker, the consequences and complications of sickle cell disease are extreme. According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, they have studied and reported that common complications with this disease include early childhood death from infection; stroke in young children and adults; lung problems similar to pneumonia; chronic damage to organs, including the kidney, leading to kidney failure, and to the lungs, causing pulmonary hypertension; and severe painful episodes. In fact, pain episodes are a hallmark of sickle cell disease. More than 2.5 million Americans have the sickle cell trait. The sickle cell trait is found in 1 in 12 African Americans. There is a one in four chance that a child born to parents who both have the sickle cell trait will develop the sickle cell disease. The average lifespan for an adult with sickle cell disease is 45 years. The sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 Americans, primarily African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups. Mr. Speaker, I would also note that the devastation of this disease on those who are affected by it is, indeed, tremendous. I have had firsthand experience with it by virtue of having run a sickle cell community education project for the University of Illinois in Chicago and encountered many of the patients and their families. I saw the pain and suffering firsthand. In 2004, Senator James Talent and I, along with our colleagues in Congress, introduced the Sickle Cell Disease Act, a bill designed to do more to improve the treatment and prevention of sickle cell disease. Specifically, as part of the American Jobs Creation Act, this bill was enacted. In the 115th Congress, Senators Tim Scott and Cory Booker, Representative Michael Burgess, Representative G.K. Butterfield, and I sponsored the House companion bill to the Senate and supported a bipartisan and bicameral bill, S. 2465-enacted, the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018. This reauthorized law had continued to improve the treatment and preventive measures to reduce the risk factors of sickle cell disease, especially for the data collection part, which is the heart of the surveillance program in the law. This law expired in late 2023. H.R. 3884, the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2023, is a bipartisan bill by Representatives Dr. Michael Burgess; myself, Danny Davis; Representative Buddy Carter; and Barbara Lee. It is a companion bill to the Senate version S. 1852 by Senators Tim Scott, Cory Booker, and Raphael Warnock. H.R. 3884 would extend the reauthorization of the sickle cell disease treatment demonstration program through FY 2028 that supports efforts to improve treatment, reduce risk and complications, and cure this disease. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary philanthropist and humanitarian. A few weeks ago, Chicago lost one of our city's most esteemed benefactors, Ann Lurie. Originally from Florida, Ann chose Chicago, and specifically the Seventh Congressional District, as her home in 1973. For over 27 years, I have had the honor of representing the nearly 800,000 people in the Seventh District, one of the Nation's largest and most diverse. Throughout this time, Ann Lurie and her husband, Robert, were steadfast supporters and catalysts for change within our community. Chicago is a city where people are inclined to do things their way, and Ann was no exception. Her way meant making a profound difference, leaving nearly everything she touched better than she found it. I had the privilege of knowing and working with Ann for over 40 years. I witnessed firsthand her unwavering dedication to healthcare, education, and social justice. Her impact extended far beyond Chicago, reaching communities around the world. Ann funded countless initiatives in the Seventh District. Her philanthropic journey began with her roots as a pediatric nurse, which laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to improving healthcare. Her transformative $100 million donation to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago made an indelible mark on our city, creating a beacon of hope and healing for countless children and families and establishing Chicago as a national center of medical innovation and excellence. Ann profoundly impacted education through her support for institutions like the University of Michigan and Northwestern University by funding scholarships and research programs. She opened doors for countless students, fostering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Ann's philanthropy was characterized by personal engagement. She was not a passive donor but a hands-on advocate, often traveling to see the projects she funded firsthand to ensure her contributions were making the intended impact. The level of involvement spoke volumes about her character and the sincerity of her mission, making her a truly inspiring figure. Through the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation, Ann championed global health initiatives from building rural schools in Ethiopia to supporting healthcare infrastructure in Kenya. Her efforts in Human Rights Watch in the Horn of Africa underscored her commitment to advocating for the often voiceless, ensuring that fundamental human rights and dignities are upheld, even in the most challenging circumstances. Her compassion and humanitarianism were immense, and many of her local contributions had a global impact. Mr. Speaker, Ann Lurie's philanthropy is a shining example of the profound difference one individual can make in the world. Her work is a testament to the power of compassion, dedication, and unwavering belief in the potential for positive change. Her passing is a tremendous loss, not just for the causes she championed but for the lives she touched. She showed us that authentic leadership is about more than what one achieves for oneself. It is also about what one does for others. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones as we honor her life, her legacy, and her work.