Lincoln Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case). (Mr. CASE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the question I asked is why would I come here for the 18th time. There is a reason. The $500 or whatever it cost today or whatever it cost for those 18 times, I guarantee the folks sitting back home expect me and expect those of us in this Chamber to be fair with them as well. As we talk about the 6.5 million lower-income families, this is a comment made today in one of the publications, If it ain't dead, it is doing a pretty good impression, said one Senate GOP aid about the bill which caught fire in June when the media reported that about 6.5 million lower-income individual families had been left out of President Bush's $350 billion tax cut. The reference was made that we have not had a conference committee nor a call. On the Senate side the chairman said, ``I suppose I could call a conference meeting, but I am not going to do that unless it is going to be productive. And right now it does not look like it would be.'' We have not gotten a response from them to our letter about the conference that we sent this summer. As I said earlier, I voted for the $80 billion tax package on June 12. That included the families I mentioned a moment ago that I personally know and that each of us knows. Now, when we talk about those folks, we are not talking about Democrats and Republicans; my colleagues have not heard me make reference today to either political party. My hope and my request is that all of us will realize that this is not a Democrat or Republican issue, that really what it is is an issue about people back home who really feel they have been left out. And do my colleagues know something? I agree with them; they have been left out. And I think those of us in this Chamber, when we talk about we have passed the bill, we have done what we should do, we did not do what the President asked us to do. That does not necessarily mean we have to. But he asked that these families be covered with the child tax credit, and the Senate passed a $3.5 billion bill that did just exactly that. They went above the $350 billion agreement that they had agreed on, but they still passed that shortly after the $350 billion tax cut was passed in this Chamber, which reduced dividend earnings to 15 percent and capital gains to 15 percent, I believe. These individuals who work every day, we did not give them anything. We have left them out. So as we talk about why are we back, in number five of this motion to instruct, ``The House conferees shall, as soon as practicable, after the adoption of this motion, meet in open session,'' and it says please, basically, meet in open session with the Senate conferees and the House conferees shall file a conference report consistent with the provisions of this instruction not later than the second legislative day after adoption of this motion. In essence, what we are trying to do is get within a short period of time, perhaps no more than 2 days after passage, a gathering of those folks in the House and the Senate who will compose a conference committee that will reach out, as the Senate has done, to those lower wage-earners who live in our districts. Who do they vote for? Someone voted for me. Someone voted for my opponent. Who did they vote for in anybody else's district? Some voted for Republicans, and some voted for Democrats. This is not an issue about who we are helping, it is who we are hurting; and the ones we are hurting are the low-income families who have children at home and who go to work every day. My request is that we pass this instruction to the conferees and that we get on with business. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, subject to rule XX, clause 7(c), I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308, Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act. The form of the motion is as follows: Mr. Davis of Tennessee moves that the managers on the part of the House in the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1308 be instructed as follows: 1. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment (not included in the House amendment) that provides immediate payments to taxpayers receiving an additional credit by reason of the bill in the same manner as other taxpayers were entitled to immediate payments under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. 2. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment (not included in the House amendment) that provides families of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones a child credit based on the earnings of the individuals serving in the combat zone. 3. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report all of the other provisions of the Senate amendment and shall not report back a conference report that includes additional tax benefits not offset by other provisions. 4. To the maximum extent possible within the scope of conference, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report other tax benefits for military personnel and the families of the astronauts who died in the Columbia disaster. 5. The House conferees shall, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this motion, meet in open session with the Senate conferees and the House conferees shall file a conference report consistent with the preceeding provisions of this instruction, not later than the second legislative day after adoption of this motion.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it has been 846 days since President Bush and the Republican Party embarked on their economic plan for our country. Do the Members realize that during that time the national debt has increased by $1,152,231,363,445 and some few odd cents and according to the Web site for the Bureau of the Public Debt at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, eastern daylight time, the Nation's debt was $6,792,556,749,803 and some few odd cents? Now, you study that for a moment. Furthermore, in fiscal year 2003, interest on our national debt, a debt tax, is $288,803,184,023 and some few odd cents through July 31 of this year.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, child tax credit. What is it? It is not a refund because you paid income tax. That is a misnomer we are talking about. This bill passed in the House and was excluded, there were certain numbers of people excluded as a result of tax cuts that were passed. And this body, Members of this Chamber, the majority side decided that we ought to cut folks out who make between 12 and $25,000 a year. We are not talking about something new. This has already passed for everyone else except for those who earn between 12 and $25,000 a year. You excluded those individuals. You said if you have children and you are working, it does not matter. I walked this past Monday in a Labor Day parade; and as I was walking down in Whitwell, Tennessee, the gentleman knows what I am talking about, as I walked down that Labor Day parade route, probably 5 or 6,000 people on the sides of the road, somebody came out and hollered at me, Tell the President, and I will not repeat what she said, what he can do with his tax cut. I think we can redeem ourselves. Mr. President, what I am calling on you tonight to do is just what you did to the Senate. I talked to the Republican-controlled Senate and said pass a child tax credit that includes those folks who earn between 12 and $25,000 a year. They did. He said we have left them out when we passed the income tax proposal. He called the House. I am sure he called the majority leader or maybe the Speaker and said, Pass the bill because those folks deserve it. He said he was a compassionate conservative. I believe him. Let us redeem ourselves to this lady who is saying, you left me out. I work every day. I am a single mom and you left me out, Mr. President. Do not do that to us, Mr. President. We are not talking about whether they pay income tax or not. We are not talking about giving a tax refund because they paid in. We are talking about stimulating the economy and giving someone $400 per child who works every day and pays the gasoline tax when they drive to that factory where they work or the shopping center where they work selling hamburgers. So do not tell me they have not earned this. They have. And it is a shame that this House has not done what the President asked them to do. Mr. President, let us redeem ourselves with those folks who work every day harder than any of us and earn between $12,000 and $25,000 a year. It is time that America stood up for what is right, Republicans and Democrats. I am tired of it.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain my absence on Friday, July 18, 2003 and Tuesday, July 22, 2003. I attended the funerals of Sgt. Roger Rowe, a Tennessee National Guardsman killed in Iraq, and Rose Barker, a longtime friend. I wanted to pay my respects to Sgt. Rowe and thank his family for his dedicated service to our country. I also wanted to say farewell to a very good friend in Rose.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 418, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Announcement by the Chairman

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is with a solemn heart that I honor the dedicated and honorable Tennessee National Guardsman and Bon Aqua Resident Sergeant Roger D. Rowe. Sergeant Rowe served the Army National Guard for 17 years and was deployed to Iraq with the 1174th Transportation Company. I pay tribute to this outstanding soldier, husband, father, and grandfather who on July 9th was tragically killed in action near the city of Mahmudiyah. Sergeant Rowe was one of 1,000 Army and Air National Guardsmen selflessly protecting our country. As a soldier, Rowe courageously endured 130 degree heat, relentless sniper attacks, and separation from his loving family. This was not the first time Sergeant Rowe unflinchingly protected the people of the United States. He also served in a medic unit in Vietnam for two years. Working as a shipping clerk with Shiloh Industries in Dickson, Tennessee, his experience driving trucks made Rowe an invaluable asset to his military convoy overseas. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to pay tribute to the life and memory of Sergeant Roger D. Rowe. Never withholding their services in the face of war, Tennessee's citizens have always been celebrated for their wartime valor. Sergeant Rowe more than upholds that reputation. He fought to keep his family and country safe and for that gift we are forever indebted. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sergeant Roger Rowe.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 410, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay''.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion for the child tax credit plan. I made a promise to the people when I was campaigning that I would be their voice in Washington and I would listen to them. I told them I would take my marching orders from them. I would be listening and I would be the voice for them here. Whether I am here in Washington or whether I am back in my district, people are telling me to address the child tax credit issue. They say, What is wrong with the folks in Washington? Why are they not addressing that issue? That is what we sent you there for. Mr. Speaker, that is why I came here today, that is why I am speaking tonight. This House has passed tax cut after tax cut for the wealthiest people in America, but we simply refuse to look at the lowest-income individuals who live in our country. I will talk about some of those in a few minutes. I am here today to stand up for them, to talk for them. Let me say, originally I voted for the tax credit that was passed. A few Democrats voted for it. I did for a reason. I represent a district that has 58 percent of the people living in households that earn less than $40,000 a year. I am in their homes many times because many of them are my neighbors in the small farming community of Pall Mall where I live. I see them and I talk to them. They do not understand why this Congress would be willing to give the tax cuts that we have given and ignore them. Members say they really have not paid any tax. Yes, they do. We pay 15.3 percent. The employer pays half of that, the employee pays the other half. So a family earning $40,000 a year pays roughly $3,000 a year in withholding tax, in payroll tax. It is a retirement system, but we are borrowing from that; and when they get ready to retire, the money probably will not be there. But in my State, it is a 9\3/4\ percent sales tax. They spend every penny they earn buying groceries, clothing, and used tires, in many cases, for their automobiles. They certainly have a used automobile, not a new one, and it is certainly not a Mercedes or a Rolls Royce. It is probably a pickup truck where they can use it both to go to church on Sunday and to haul farm products from their farm. So do not tell me that these folks are not paying taxes. Because the studies that we showed in Tennessee, the ones who earn less than $40,000 a year spend all of it virtually on taxable items, which means they are spending almost another $3,000 or better in sales tax. That is $6,000 of the $40,000 that they are paying before we take anything else out. I do not like it being heard from this Chamber that these folks are paying no taxes, because they certainly are; and they are a major part, the backbone of our country. They are the ones that get minimum wage at their jobs that they are working at. They are the ones who get laid off first, who get an employment check with no insurance benefits. But we are not willing to give them an earned income tax credit. Let me give Members an example of one, a family that I know. In my district, there are 109,000 people who meet the criteria of earning between $12,000 and $25,000 a year. Thirty-three thousand of those families, some 50,000 children, receive no tax credit at all. These folks own a home. They drive a used automobile. They buy clothing for their children. They go to church on Sunday. They go to work on Monday morning. In many cases an older child takes care of the child care in that family because we are stripping away in many cases the opportunity for them to have child care at home so we can give a tax break to the wealthiest. A family I know, the father, the mother both have a college education. Both of them were teachers 8 years ago until their young son came along. They decided that the mother should stay home and raise a family as we all feel family values are extremely important. You can say we are God-fearing, flag-waving, freedom-loving Americans. This young family decided that the mother ought to stay home, and she did. They now have three children. The father, to earn extra money, drives a school bus, earning a few thousand dollars. He takes extra time, an extra supplement because he coaches, which keeps him away from his family. Every time there is a bus trip, he volunteers to drive the bus for the extra $40 or $50 that he gets so he can again take care of his family. They have an 8-year-old son, will be soon, 6-year-old daughter, will be soon, and soon a 2-year-old son. I know the family exceptionally well. This father works hard to be sure that those children have a home to live in, because he has a mortgage to pay, he has a car payment to pay, he has tires to put on that automobile, insurance to pay for the family and take care of their health care as well as taking care of their food that they may have. So when we say that these folks, and I heard the other side stand up and say, it is nothing but welfare, it is a handout. I resent those statements being made on this House floor. It is not a handout to the hard-working families who make the tough choices, who either the mother or the father one will stay home and raise and nurture that child in the values that they have been taught. So when we say that we are handing welfare to the 58 percent of the people who live in my district by giving them a child tax credit because they are working and earning less than the wealthiest in this country and we are willing to give $88,000 per year for the people who earn a million dollars a year or more, we have a conscience problem. I would ask that our heart be our conscience and that it give wisdom to our head to where we will make the right decisions. My hopes are that we will pass the child tax credit bill now so that families who need it most can get it. We need to stop the political games and help those hard-working families who deserve the tax credits we can give them, the families who live in my district and in your district. They deserve it.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this motion instructs conferees to do two simple things, two things that the House-passed bill does not accomplish. One, it asks them to provide a guaranteed prescription drug benefit for all our seniors. Number two, it asks them to preserve Medicare as we know it today. Specifically, this motion instructs the House not to abandon seniors to the mercy of private insurance and pharmaceutical companies. It makes a promise to our seniors. It tells them that if private insurance companies cannot make enough money off them, they can still get a prescription drug benefit. Mr. Speaker, without this provision, the odds of seniors in my district getting a prescription drug benefit under this bill are virtually slim to none. How do I know this? For years now, private insurance companies have had an opportunity to try and make money off the seniors in my district by offering them a Medicare+Choice benefit. And how many have decided it is worth their while? Only a few. I know the people in my district, the people of the Appalachian Mountains, of the Cumberland Plateau and southern middle Tennessee, are not alone, the people who live in Byrdstown or in Tracy City or in Kelso or in Hohenwald in our district. Already, private HMOs have abandoned over 2 million seniors. The second part of this motion is about nothing less than preserving Medicare, a program millions of seniors have come to expect and to trust. Under the House-passed bill, Medicare as we know it will cease to exist in 7 short years, in 2010. Instead of Medicare, seniors will get a voucher for their health care and told to go shopping and will be forced to beg insurance companies and HMOs to offer prescription drug coverage to them, a request that many insurance companies are already on record as saying that they will not be able to fulfill. HMOs will compete against Medicare for younger, healthier seniors, while jacking up the prices for seniors who have chronic conditions and are in need of more care. These ``left behind'' seniors will have no choice but to remain in traditional Medicare which will be starved of funds, unable to compete with insurance companies and HMOs, and thus will be forced to raise seniors' premiums. Privatization of Medicare will break up the huge and successful risk pool that Medicare has provided. With only the sickest patients enrolled, Medicare's costs will rise until it costs more than the voucher allotment. Medicare will be forced to price itself out of existence. Make no mistake. That is exactly the point. During the debate on the bill, here is what was said: ``To those who say the bill would end Medicare as we know it, our answer is: We certainly hope so. Old- fashioned Medicare isn't very good.'' Well, I disagree and I have talked to many seniors in Tennessee who disagree as well. Medicare in the past 38 years has been very good to millions of seniors, but it should be even better. It should include a prescription drug benefit that is guaranteed, that is affordable, and that is accessible to all seniors. Our seniors deserve it, and we in this House Chamber should demand it. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control the time.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct conferees.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and memory of the former Mayor of Kimball, Tennessee, Jere Newman Davis. Mr. Davis, a dedicated husband, caring father, and respected spokesman, passed away recently at the age of 76. Mr. Davis contributed to his community through every aspect of his life. As a veteran, he proudly served in the Korean War. His creativity, patience, and precision allowed him to excel in carpentry, and he blessed Kimball with his skills for many years. It is apparent that Mr. Davis' family and values were a priority in his life. He was a dedicated member of the Kimball Church of Christ and left behind a wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He applied the same rich values that shaped his large family to successfully lead Kimball as mayor for many years. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to pay tribute to Mr. Jere Newman Davis today. His dedication and selflessness to his community are examples to all who wish to lead. Tennessee will not forget Mr. Davis' contribution.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 248, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 195, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 198, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am delighted to support, along with the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn), and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), House Concurrent Resolution 53 and acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who has been such a great champion for his constituents for this event. House Concurrent Resolution 53 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Youngsters ages 9 through 16 construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. On June 22, 2003, youngsters from the greater Washington area will race down Constitution Avenue to test the principles of aerodynamics in hand- designed and -constructed soap box vehicles. Mr. Speaker, many hundreds of volunteers donate considerable time supporting the event and providing families with a fun-filled day, which is greatly becoming a tradition in the Washington, D.C. area. The event has grown in popularity, and Washington is now known as one of the outstanding race cities in America. Consistent with all events using the Capitol grounds, this event is open to the public and is free of charge. The organizers will work with the Capitol Hill Police and the Office of the Architect. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 53. Mr. Speaker, we are waiting for the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who will be here very soon who will be speaking so, if I could, we would like to delay for just a moment until he gets here. Mr. Speaker, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association, and this resolution refers to this association, shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, the Soap Box Derby Race on the Capitol grounds on June 22 of 2003, and on such other dates as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have never had that privilege, but I certainly look forward to attending the event this year. As a youngster growing up, living in the rural areas, living in the rural areas, I read about soap box derbies that have been such an inspiration to so many of our young people, and I hope to be able to attend this event.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and certainly I look forward to being at this event. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello).

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for the additional time. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has been detained and will not be able to speak on the bill that he is sponsoring. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 96 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the 22nd Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, a most solemn and respectful public event honoring our Nation's brave civil servants. The event, scheduled for May 15th, will be coordinated with the Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Hill police. I strongly urge this tribute to Federal, State and local police officers who gave their lives in the daily work of protecting our families, our homes, our places of work and us. The names of 377 brave men and women were added to the wall during 2002. On average, one officer is killed in this country every other day, approximately 23,000 are injured every year, and thousands are assaulted going about their daily routines. During 2002, 15 of the fallen officers were women, which is a record high. Mr. Speaker, the ceremony to be held on May 15th is the 22nd anniversary of this memorial service. Consistent with all Capitol Hill events, the memorial service will be free and open to the public. I support the resolution, and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our fallen peace officers.

Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.