John Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7227. I am proud of the product and of the process. I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for all of his help and all of his great work. Let me also thank Chairman Brady for his tireless work and commitment to this bill. From start to finish, he worked with us to advance good, responsible policy. This afternoon, I again thank him, the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan) for serving as partners in leading this effort. I also thank our staff again for their good and great work. They refused to give up; they refused to give in. They worked together on behalf of the American taxpayers and of the American people, and they did a great and superb job. For over a year, the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hosted hearings and roundtables. We listened and asked questions. We asked Democratic and Republican Members to share their concerns and ideas. We reached out to taxpayers and advocates. We negotiated. We took our time, and, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we did it and we did it right. Together, we developed a bill that improves the independent appeals process and taxpayer services. We worked together to ensure that taxpayers--especially those who are low-income, disabled, and senior citizens--receive fair, quality, and timely help and support. For these reasons, I am especially proud of our work to prevent private debt collectors from excessively targeting low-income taxpayers. As a result, our bill will ease the burden on those who are already struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. From the beginning, we committed to bipartisanship, and we refused to abandon our course. I believe that this experience took our subcommittee and our institution back to our roots. Mr. Speaker, at every crossroad, we remembered the lessons from the past and chose to put the taxpayer first. The process was transparent and inclusive, and the product is strong and timely. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my beloved friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for holding this Special Order. You know, Ron Dellums was a special human being, special leader. He was one of a kind. He was born and grew up in due season. Those of us who worked with him and got to know him, we loved him. We admired him. I can see him now saying, ``Hi, bro. What is going on?'' We must continue to stand up and speak up and fight the good fight. You know, Ron never gave up; he never gave in. He never became bitter. He was never hostile. He loved people. He worked so hard and tirelessly for what he believed in. As Congresswoman Barbara Lee has stated so well, Ron was the founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. But I tell you, he was a peaceful warrior. He believed in peace. He struggled to help build what I call a true democracy in America. He fought to build what Dr. King called the beloved community. He wanted to redeem the soul of America. He wanted to bring people together. It didn't matter whether they were Black or White, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. He saw us as one people, one family living in the same house, not just the American house, but the world house. I tell you, as one Member who came here after winning an election in 1986, coming here in 1987, I would talk with Ron a great deal. I learned a great deal from him. He used his leadership of the Armed Services Committee to highlight the senseless nature of war and to press for greater investment in the public good. He fought for peace at home and abroad. As a Member of Congress, he was the author of legislation and the movement for corporate divestment in South Africa. As a political leader, he was an inspiration to people all over the world. People admired him. People loved him. You know, he was tall. He stood up; he stood out. And he spoke with passion. In his passing, the Nation has lost a strong and powerful crusader for justice, for equality, and for peace. He was cool before it became popular to be cool. He dressed so well. You knew Ron Dellums was coming when you saw him before he made it to you. For many of us, he was our hero. Activists of the 21st century, and all of the new Members of Congress who seek progressive change in America would do well to take several pages from Ron Dellums' book. It would make you a better Member of this body. His voice made him a force to be reckoned with as a committee chair, as a legislator, as a leader. He insisted in his call for justice for his cause for peace. He will be deeply missed all over America, not just in California, not just in Oakland, but all over America and around the world, for people who long for peace, for justice, for equality. Thank you, Ron Dellums, for all that you did to help make our country and make our world a better place. I thank the gentlewoman, Barbara Lee, for this Special Order.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor because today is the birthday of my friend, my partner in the fight for justice and equality, Nelson Mandela. During the height of the civil rights movement and the early days of the labor movement, you had to make a decision: Which side are you on? So, Mr. Speaker, on this day, of all days, I cannot, I will not stay silent when our Nation, our democracy, and the American people are under attack. We fought too hard and too long to stand on the sidelines when so much is at stake. When you see something that is not right, that is not just, you have to find a way to get in the way. You have to get in good trouble-- necessary trouble. Now is the time to wake up. It is time to be brave, bold, and courageous. During the American Revolution, people suffered and died for the dream of democracy, for the sacred right to vote, and for the ability to choose their representatives. Hundreds and thousands of men and women lost their lives to preserve our union and to defend our values. What I saw on Monday was a shame, an embarrassment, and a disgrace to their legacy, their memory, and what they sacrificed. During times like these, I encourage every person to take some time and have what I call an executive session with themselves and their very souls. Because today, Mr. Speaker, each of us faces the question of what it means to be patriotic. Ask yourself, do you stand with the American people or do you stand with a dictator? Do you stand with democracy or do you stand with a czar? Do you stand with friends and allies or do you stand with someone who approves violent attacks on the media, human rights advocates, and struggling democracies? Mr. Speaker, the American House is on fire, it is burning, and if we are not mindful, if we are not watchful, this fire will consume us all. The United States Constitution began with the words: ``We, the People.'' You see, the Founding Fathers' very first priority, the very first article was to outline the role and the responsibilities of the United States Congress in our system of checks and balances. The people who elected us are sounding the alarms. Never before has our constitutional mandate been more important. Never before have the pillars of our democracy been under attack. Mr. Speaker, each and every one of us swore an oath of office. Whether Democrat or Republican, we all have an equal mission, an obligation, and a mandate to uphold this promise. Mr. Speaker, the time has come, and the question is simple: Will you show up for duty? Congress must speak up, we must speak out, and, Mr. Speaker, we must act. If we fail to do so, history and the American voters will not be kind. The threat is occurring in realtime on our watch, and the ball is in our court. The clock is ticking, and there is no time to waste.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this rule and to support the previous question. In a democracy, the right to vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have. Many people marched and protested for the right to vote. Some gave a little blood, and others lost their lives. Some of you have heard me say that the right to vote is precious, almost sacred. In my heart of hearts, I believe that we should make it simple and convenient for all of our citizens to be part of the democratic process. It should not matter whether you are Black or White, Latino, Asian-American, or Native American. We should be able to participate in the democratic process. On March 7, 1965, I gave a little blood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the right to vote. Before the Voting Rights Act in 1965 was passed, some people had to count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap or the number of jelly beans in a jar. All across America today, when people go out to attempt to vote, they stand in long, immovable lines. That is not right, that is not fair, and it is not just. We can do better, and we must do better. We have a moral obligation, a mission, and a mandate to empower all of the American people, not just a select few. We must do what is right, what is fair, and what is just. Today, our democracy is under attack, by forces within and forces abroad. We need to fix it and fix it now. For these reasons, I am proud to sponsor H.R. 12, the Voter Empowerment Act, with my friends and my colleagues. It is a good bill, a necessary bill, and a patriotic bill to protect and to preserve our voting system. Mr. Speaker, I urge each and every one of my colleagues to support the previous question.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Nadler, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to oppose this mean-spirited bill: heavy because the House does nothing to stop families from being torn apart or locked in cages behind bars; heavy because you still won't bring a clean Dream Act to the floor; heavy because you do nothing to stop this administration's assault on immigrant families and communities. The world is watching with shame and disgust. The late A. Philip Randolph, the dean of Black leadership during the sixties, reminded us that we may have come to this great land in different ships, but we all are in the same boat now. And just 3 short years ago, the Pope reminded this body to do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. The very soul of our Nation is at stake, and time is running out. The moral question is simple, Mr. Speaker: Will you lead or will you follow? Will you bring a bipartisan, compassionate bill to the floor? Will we show the Nation and the world that we respect human rights and the dignity of every man, woman, and child? Mr. Speaker, will you offer your brothers and sisters a lifevest, or will you let them drown? We can do better as a Nation and as a people. Will you be a headlight? Will you be a headlight? Will you lead? Will you be compassionate and look out for all of our citizens? Look out for the Dreamers, look out for the little children, the mothers and the fathers? The choice and responsibility are yours, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, our Nation is mourning. Our Nation is crying out to save our little children, save our babies. History will not be kind to us as a nation and as a people if we continue to go down this road. We must stop the madness, and stop it now. There was a man by the name of A. Philip Randolph, who was the dean of Black leadership during the sixties when we were planning the March on Washington. He kept saying: ``Maybe our foremothers and our forefathers all came to this great land in different ships, but we're all in the same boat now.'' Our little children, our babies, our young people, are crying out for help. We need help from Members of Congress. We can do better.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, as we stand here, a 5-year-old woke up in a cage. She committed no crime. She came here seeking hope and refuge. Instead, Madam Speaker, she was taken from her parents, from her bothers and sisters, from all she knows and loves. She does not know where she is; she does not know where her family is; she does not speak the language of her captives; and she may never see her family again. This morning, Madam Speaker, that innocent little child is crying in a cage, and we stand here doing nothing as innocent little babies sit in modern-day camps. That is not right; it is not fair; and it is not just. And, Madam Speaker, history will not be kind to us if we continue to pass this unbelievable injustice on to our children. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Tara Lynn Jones, a warm and dynamic spirit. It is hard to believe that this young woman with her beautiful smile and passion for her community is no longer with us. Born and raised in Maryland, Ms. Jones graduated from La Reine High School before attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry. Tara continued her education at George Washington University and received a master's degree in public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics and a certificate in public management. Mr. Speaker, throughout her career Tara seamlessly moved between the business world and public service. Many remember her work as the Director of Neighborhood Services when Ms. Jones worked to connect residents to health, economic, and social justice services and programs in Washington, D.C. She continued to apply this experience in building coalitions, developing national media campaigns, and coordinating effective events across the country. I, along with many of my colleagues--especially those of us who serve in the Congressional Black Caucus--truly learned to appreciate and respect Tara's unique gifts and skills when she served as the Vice President of Public Affairs for BET Networks. During a challenging and pivotal time in our nation's history, Ms. Jones used her platform to bring together young people, corporations, media, and policy makers to address the key, core civil rights and social justice matters of the day. At every opportunity, Ms. Jones built bridges and made new friends. She was a communicator and a convener whose faith inspired a deep passion for service and mentorship in the Capital City Chapter of Links, Inc., Destination DC, and ColorComm. In recent years, Tara continued to employ her expertise on a global scale as the founder of the Tara Jones Group, LLC, which incorporated brand marketing, strategic solutions, and business development with increasing diversity and inclusion. As an active, engaged member of the National Urban League, and in particular during her tenure as President of the Washington Thursday Network, Tara continued the mission of integrating the necessary pursuit of opportunity, equity, equality, and justice into both her personal and professional life. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Jones truly dedicated her life to serving others-- she managed to be everywhere and everything to everyone she met. As one who knew and worked alongside the late and great, Whitney Young, Jr., who served as the executive director of the National Urban League during pivotal years of the Civil Rights Movement, I can say that she epitomized his spirit and continued his legacy. Tara Lynn Jones was a thoughtful, loving, and kind young woman who leaves behind a legacy of excellence as she joins her beloved brother Edward V. Jones, Jr. During this difficult time, I extend my deepest condolences to Tara's loving parents--Edward and Sharon Jones; her cherished nieces--Jasmine, Brittany, Amber, and Nyema Jones; and the innumerable family, friends, colleagues, and members of the Spelman and Links sisterhoods who mourn the passing of this beautiful spirit.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the en bloc #1 amendment package to H.R. 4, which includes my amendment (#2). I am proud to offer an amendment that responds to a key and grave local matter. My amendment is simple: It would allow airports to use Federal funds to buy generators for passenger areas of the airport, something they currently are not able to do. It would also let airports separate backup power from the main power lines, and to complete other projects to prevent power outages using A.I.P. and P.F.C. funds. As you know, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, is located in my Congressional district. Last December, an underground fire disabled both the airport's primary and backup power supplies. This caused a power outage that lasted for 11 hours, cancelling hundreds of flights and stranding passengers and employees on planes and in dark terminals. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but this event raised important public safety questions. The City of Atlanta and Georgia Power are looking into what happened and what can be done to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future. I look forward to their report. My common- sense amendment will give airports the flexibility they need to keep the lights on and passengers safe. Finally, and most importantly, Mr. Chairman, I am grateful to all the police, firefighters, electricians, and airport, airline, and MARTA employees for their work to assist stranded travelers. I would also like to thank the tens of thousands of passengers who remained calm and patient throughout this unprecedented ordeal. I appreciate the support of the Chairman and the Ranking Member and thank them and their staffs for working with me on this issue. I look forward to continuing to work with them to keep the travelling public safe. I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Brady for all of his great and good work and for all of his help. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5444. I am proud to join the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins) in introducing the Taxpayer First Act. I would like to begin by thanking the chairwoman for her good and great work on this bill. It was a wonderful opportunity and a great pleasure to work with Ms. Jenkins. I would also like to thank our friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), for his determination to work together on behalf of the taxpayers. Finally, I would like to recognize our staff--Karen McAfee, Peg McGlinch, Machalagh Carr, Rachel Kaldahl, Liz Navin, Lindsay Steward, Meinan Gogo, Adam York, and Jamila Thompson--for all of their hard, good, and great work, and we will never forget you. Mr. Speaker, the process and the product should inspire each and every Member of this body. For over a year, the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hosted hearings and roundtables. We listened and asked questions. We asked Democratic and Republican Members to provide feedback. We reached out to taxpayers and advocates. We negotiated. We took our time, and, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we did it right. Together, we developed a bill that improves the independent appeals process and taxpayer services. Last month, the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins) and I released a discussion draft of a bill that would strengthen the IRS and improve taxpayers' services. We reviewed the comments and tried to include fixes where there was agreement. The process was transparent and inclusive, and the product is strong and timely. H.R. 5444 also makes commonsense updates to the structure of the IRS and the Tax Code. In particular, I am very proud of our work to improve IRS enforcement. For example, we were able to address a shocking issue that the National Taxpayer Advocate raised in her 2017 annual report to Congress. It is hard to believe that the private debt collection program costs three times more than it collects. This flawed program targets and abuses thousands of low-income taxpayers by enrolling them in installment agreements that they simply cannot afford. That is not right. That is not fair. By removing low-income taxpayers from the private debt collection program, H.R. 5444 puts us on the right path. Unfortunately, the IRS experienced serious system problems yesterday. I am glad that the IRS acted quickly and extended the tax filing deadline. These problems showed us that we need to have an honest talk with ourselves about the work ahead. We all know that Congress cut the agency's budget by almost $1 billion since 2010. This reduction harmed both taxpayer services and tax administration. I have said time and time again that you cannot get blood from a turnip. I look forward to working with our colleagues to ensure that the agency has the tools and resources it needs. It is also important that taxpayers, especially those who are of low income, disabled, and senior citizens, receive fair, quality, and timely help and support. Through it all, Mr. Speaker, our subcommittee did good work, necessary work. From the beginning, we committed to bipartisanship, and we refused to abandon our course. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of our product and process. At every crossroad, we remembered the lessons from the past and chose to put the taxpayers first. Again, I urge all of our colleagues to support this bill. I hope that we will continue to work together and improve the taxpayers' experience. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), my good friend.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), who is a member of the Health, Oversight, and Tax Policy Subcommittees.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell). The Congresswoman is a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close. Mr. Speaker, working to improve taxpayer service is no easy task. Every person in this body agrees on the importance of better access to quality taxpayer service, whether it is online, over the phone, or in person. The IRS is a complex organization that is responsible for a core function of our government. We asked for input from Members of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public. When we reached out, we were responsive and thoughtful. We will continue to work to improve the IRS, to support their staff, and to put taxpayers first. Again, I want to thank my friend, the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins), the subcommittee members, and all of the staff for their hard, great, and good work for this bill. Most important, Members of Congress must remain focused on doing what is right, what is just, and what is in the best interests for every American taxpayer. I encourage all of our colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5444. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5445. This bill is an important first step to bringing the IRS into the 21st century. Let me begin by thanking the gentlewoman from Kansas, Ms. Jenkins, for her hard work on this bill. I would also like to thank our colleagues--the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene)--for their good work and their leadership on this bill. I would also like to thank our staff for helping us closely examine the IRS operation. Before we put pen to paper, we took our time to learn about the agency and the taxpayer experience. In the past year, the Oversight Subcommittee held five hearings and four roundtable discussions on this bill. The staff also went on site visits to see the issues firsthand. In every meeting, the subcommittee heard concerns about outdated technology, the need for better coordination, and the increasing security threats. In response, the committee developed a bipartisan bill that will improve the IRS IT system. The 21st Century IRS Act will also strengthen the role of the IRS chief information officer. Most importantly, H.R. 5445 will protect taxpayers' information and fight identity theft and tax refund fraud. The 21st Century IRS Act addresses some of the most commonsense taxpayer service and IT challenges. It also continues the work of the former IRS Commissioner, who took steps to bring government and industry together to address some of these issues. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, much more is needed. As we all know, identity theft and tax fraud continue to challenge tax administration. Congress' decisions to cut the agency's budget by nearly $1 billion over the past 8 years has not helped. We all understand that the IRS is in desperate need of more funding and more staff. These reductions harm both taxpayer services and tax administration. Unfortunately, the chickens are coming home to roost--and I know something about chickens coming home to roost; I used to raise chickens--and showing the Nation that this path is not sustainable. Yesterday, the IRS experienced a number of IT challenges. Although the IRS extended the tax filing deadline, this experience showed the Nation how important it is that Congress invest in the IRS systems and operations. Mr. Speaker, I believe that each and every one of us cares deeply about the agency's ability to provide service to taxpayers. The 21st Century IRS Act is an important first step in this process. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), the Democratic lead cosponsor.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and a necessary bill. Again, I thank the chair, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop), the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), and all of our colleagues for their hard and good work. We should be very, very proud of the process and the product. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5438. And I am proud to join my friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding), in sponsoring this bill. Our bill is very simple. It helps taxpayers receive the support and guidance they need. Low income taxpayer clinics offer a free, low-cost service for taxpayers across our country. These clinics help taxpayers resolve disputes with the IRS. H.R. 5438 would allow the IRS to share information about low income taxpayer clinics for those who might be eligible. Last December, the Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on the taxpayers experience. It was one of many bipartisan meetings to improve tax administration. During the hearing, we heard testimony from Ms. Tameka R. Lester. Ms. Lester serves as the social director of the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at the Georgia State University College of Law. This outstanding institution is located in my congressional district. Ms. Lester and other witnesses shared their experiences and offered many great suggestions. H.R. 5438 responds to one of the many issues raised in our discussion. Going forward, I hope that our committee and the full House of Representatives will continue to develop bipartisan responses to their concerns and suggestions. Again, Mr. Speaker, I hope all of our colleagues will support our bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5437. This bill addresses one of the most popular issues raised during our Subcommittee's comment period. H.R. 5437 is very simple. It would require the Treasury Secretary to establish a program that would issue identity protection personal identification numbers (IP PINs) to taxpayers. An IP PIN helps prevent tax-related identity theft and tax refund fraud. The IRS currently makes IP PINs available to a limited group of taxpayers. If an IP PIN is not included for this group, the IRS system will automatically reject an electronically filed tax return. It is an additional layer of protection for these taxpayers. H.R. 5437 would expand this program. This bipartisan bill would require the IRS to make an IP PIN available to any and all taxpayers. It does not matter where they live or work; every taxpayer will be able to request an IP PIN. I would like to thank our colleagues--the Gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen) and the Gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene) for their good work and support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support H.R. 5437.