John Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Shays-Meehan bill. Now is the time for us to do what is right. It is time to remove the corrupting influence of soft money from the political process. It is time to open up the political process and let the average person come in and participate. It is time to let all of our citizens have an equal voice. We must pass Shays-Meehan to lessen the people's growing cynicism. Soft money and big campaign contributions have polluted the political process. When people give $50,000 or $100,000 to candidates, they expect something, and, most of the time, they get something for it. We are sending the wrong message to the American people. It is time for us to enact real reform. It is time to restore the people's faith in their government. This bill is good for America. It is not just good for the political parties, for Democrats and Republicans, it is good for our country. There is too much money in politics. Political candidates should not be up for sale to the highest bidder. Too many of us spend too much of our time dialing for dollars. We should not be elected this way. This should not be the essence of our democracy. I did not march across the bridge at Selma on March 7, 1965, and almost lose my life to become part of a political system so corrupt that it pollutes the very idea of what we marched for. That is not why President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Mr. Chairman, there is a better way. Shays-Meehan is a better way. It is not a cure-all. It is not a panacea. But it is a significant and extraordinary step toward cleaning up the process and fixing this broken system. We have a mandate. We have a mission. We have an obligation to do this on our watch, on our time. We must pass Shays-Meehan today.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, many Americans have taken pride of our past and rightfully so. We have a rich history of working the land and having the opportunity to benefits from the fruits of our labor. My family has even had the opportunity to witness the pride that land ownership brings. In 1944, when I was only 4 years old, my father saved $300 to buy 100 acres of land in Alabama. This land has been in my family ever since, and to this day, my 87 year old mother still lives there. I cannot imagine, that in a country like ours, having this land stripped from under our feet without justification. Much less not even being able to do anything about it. Unfortunately, this was indeed the reality for many African American farmers at one time. It was often spoken of, but never proven. And until recently, many Black Farmers were crying on deaf ears of their plights. As Americans we have longed believed that under God, all men were created equal. Under this belief we all should have the fundamental right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, for some, this was a far fetch dream. And to many, the pursuit of happiness was a down right lie!!! Few people know that by the turn of the 21st Century, former slaves and their descendants owned millions of acres of land. In fact by 1910, African Americans owned approximately 15 million acres of land. Today, African Americans own only 1.1 million acres of land. You might ask, why is it that during periods when our country witnessed massive prosperity and growth has the number of African American land ownership decreased so drastically? There are many answers to that question; however, probably the most disturbing one is the taking of land by White businessmen and lenders and keeping the unfortunate victims quiet, either through intimidation or murder. And today, land that was once owned by numerous hard working families is now home to baseball parks and shopping malls. Mr. Speaker, this is a shame!!! It is a shame that this was happening in America. It will be even more of a shame if we continue to let this be ignored.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I want to take the time to salute the many youth organizations and groups, and not just youth organizations and groups but adult organizations and groups; and salute all of the mentors, people who are making a difference in the lives of our children, our young people. This is a time to salute groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and groups and organizations like the 100 Black Men of America for their commitment and dedication to mentoring by ensuring that all children and young people have valuable skills. This sense of caring, this sense of sharing, this sense of giving of ourselves to help others, sometimes as a mentor, as some have stated much earlier, you learn more and you probably receive more than you actually give. It is part of the American tradition that we participate in a sense of caring and sharing, for our young people, for our children to have a relationship with adults, to have safe places to go after school hours. There are so many organizations and so many groups all across America that are doing tremendous, unbelievable things to help mold and shape our young people, which is so necessary during this time in our history. Mentoring not only gives children a head start but also meets the serious public responsibility of protecting our young people, showing our young people a different way, a better way, a more excellent way. So many children and so many young people in so many troubled communities need someone to hold their hand, to show them the way, to show them the light. These mentoring relationships benefit American children, and in so many instances it improves the larger community and creates a greater sense of community, a greater sense of family, a greater sense of what I like to call one house, that we all are in the same house, that we all are in this thing together. I think in a city like Atlanta, my city, and in other places where you have mentors working, it improves school attendance, academic achievement, encourages young people not just to watch television but to read a book, to go out and help someone, to provide some service. I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important resolution. It means so much. It will send a strong message that will urge other Americans to give a little time, to share a little time, to give of yourself. That is what life is all about, helping others, especially those that have been sort of left out and do not have the benefits of maybe a wonderful, loving family, maybe do not have the benefit of a good head start. I think mentoring helps people to catch up, helps those that have been left out and left behind. I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution. I thank my friends on both sides of the aisle for bringing this resolution before us.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, the ranking member, for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, this proposed stimulus package is not good for the economy. It is not good for unemployed workers and their families. It is not good for America. This bill is only good for the big contributors to the last Bush campaign, big companies like Enron, a top contributor to President Bush and the Republican Party. The only thing this bill is going to stimulate is more campaign contributions. This legislation is the result of an illicit relationship between the Republican Party and large campaign contributors. This bill never faced the spotlight in the Committee on Ways and Means. It was conceived in darkness and born in the den of inequity. I say again this bill is not good for the economy, and it is not good for America. We should send this bill back to where it came from, back to the bosom of Chairman Thomas and the Republican leadership. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. It would not help the economy. We should be working together on a bipartisan package that helps average working Americans, those who need it most. We should be working on an economic stimulus package that America deserves and deserves now, and not this Thomas bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for bringing this bill to the floor. I want to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for yielding me time. I know this has not been easy for the two of you, but you brought us to where we are today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of moving the process of election reform forward. It has been over a year since the 2000 election and other elections have already been held. What happened in Florida last year and so many other places in our Nation must never ever happen again. Voters were denied the right to vote by incorrect voting lists, confusing ballots, and out-of-date voting machines. The right to vote is precious. It is almost sacred. People died for the right to vote, and we must do whatever we can to protect that right. This is not a perfect bill. This bill is not a cure-all, but it is a step forward in correcting the problems with our election system and opening up the political process. Many, many years ago I fought to give people a voice in the outcome of elections, to get people included in the political process, to ensure their right to vote. And 40 years later I remain committed to that goal. As I said before, this bill does not solve all of the problems, and it is not all that many of us wanted; but it does help to move this process forward this year, right here and now. It is past time that we address this important voting rights issue, and this bill is a necessary step in the right direction. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. It is the most important voting rights bill since the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, 36 years ago. Vote for this bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement), for yielding me time, from the great City of Nashville, where I had the opportunity to study and to learn much from the people of Tennessee and the people of Nashville. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues for working to bring this bill before us today. I rise today in support of H.R. 3442, the National Museum of African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission Act of 2001. During the past few months, Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor and pleasure to work with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), and his staff. I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and also my own staff for their good work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, this Commission would develop and recommend a legislative plan of action for creating a national African American museum. It is my hope and prayer that this will finally bring Congress closer to achieving the goal of establishing a national African American museum in our Nation's Capital. This Presidential commission is a step, a necessary step in the right direction to preserve the rich history of African Americans. As I travel across this land, I have been to several local African American museums in such cities as Memphis, Birmingham, Philadelphia, and Detroit. So I believe the time has long passed for a national African American museum right here in our Capitol city, right here in Washington. I have introduced legislation during every session of Congress since 1988 to authorize a national African American museum. The time has come for passage of this legislation. By establishing this museum and placing it on the national Mall, we will be able to honor the legacy of African Americans and put it in a national light where it belongs. African American history is an important part of our country; yet the vital and important contributions of African Americans go virtually unrecognized. Until we understand the full African American story, we cannot understand ourselves as a Nation. The African American story must be told and a national African American museum in Washington, D.C. is critical to telling that story. This Presidential commission is our chance to take an important and productive step in establishing an African American museum and healing our Nation's racial wounds. This is our chance to create an African American community of every individual, an all-inclusive community that is at peace with itself, a beloved community. Mr. Speaker, the time is right. The time is now.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3129. This bill threatens to violate the civil rights of international travelers. The Customs Service's poor record of racially profiling passengers has been well documented. While I appreciate the attempts that they have made to address the problem, now is not the time to grant immunity to Customs officers conducting personal searches. For more than 2 years, I have been examining allegations of racial profiling by Customs inspectors throughout the country, and mistreatment of international travelers, especially African Americans and Hispanics, in the Customs Service personal search process. I will not support any legislation that will grant Customs officers immunity before we have seen significant improvement in their record on racial profiling. As public officials, Customs agents already have qualified immunity which is more than adequate to protect them if acting within the scope of their official authority. Civil lawsuits against government officials and agents are an important deterrent to racial profiling and unconstitutional and unlawful searches. Without the possibility of a lawsuit, individuals who have been treated in an unconstitutional manner by a government agency will have no redress, and the government agents will have less incentive to comply with the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to protect the basic civil rights and civil liberties of international travelers and oppose this bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Congress must stand up and pass this legislation to send an important message to the American people and the world, that hate crimes will not be tolerated. From the Justice Department demanding interviews from thousand of Arab-American men simply because of their heritage, to secretly detaining hundreds more, this country is sending the wrong message to its people and the world. Since September 11, we have seen a tendency in our citizens to strike out against those who they believe to be responsible. We continue to hear reports of harassment and discrimination against Arab Americans and Muslims. There has been a rise in all types of hate crimes. Congress must act now to send the right message. It must pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act before we adjourn. America is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, black, white, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American. We are gay and we are straight. We are one Nation. We are one people. We all must continue to live and work together to create one house, one family: the American house, the American family. The President has preached a message of tolerance and respect and has urged all Americans to be sensitive in this difficult time. This country, as a whole, must heal and move forward together as one Nation. We can do that by embracing the idea, the concept of the beloved community, a community based on hope, compassion, and justice, a community at peace with itself. We must renounce racism, we must renounce hate, we must renounce violence and embrace diversity. We must teach not just tolerance; we must teach acceptance and love. Only then can we achieve the concept of the beloved community, a community that is free of hate based on race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. Passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a step, a major step in the right direction, a step down a long road. It sends an important message. We must show the world the great Nation that we are, a Nation where all men and women are created equal. It is time to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. So, Mr. Speaker, I call on all of my colleagues to lead by example and pass this bill before we leave.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this so-called economic stimulus package is a sham. It is a shame. It is a disgrace. It is a stimulus charade. A couple of weeks ago, the Washington Post published a great editorial about this bill. It said, ``It's the wrong thing to do, a hijacking of the current crisis, economic and otherwise, on behalf of an agenda that long preceded the crisis and has little to do with easing it. These are tax cuts far more likely to stimulate increased campaign contributions than increased economic activity.'' The Washington Post got it right. This so-called economic stimulus package does very little, if anything, to stimulate the economy; and it will hurt us in the long run. This bill, this proposal, does not help a woman, a mother, who lost her husband one week at the World Trade Center, and the next week she lost her job. This proposal is not fair, it is not right, it is not just. It fails to meet the basic human needs of our citizens who are hurting. This bill is business as usual, politics as usual. We have seen these tax cuts before. Since September 11, the American people have been concerned about their safety and the security of their families. That is what we should be focused on, not passing tax cuts for big corporations. It is the same tired old list of tax cuts. They have nothing to do with stimulating the economy or helping us to recover from September 11. This is not the time for irresponsible tax cuts that we cannot afford. We should be considering a comprehensive economic stimulus package that addresses the problem. It must help people who have lost their jobs and health care. It must help low-income Americans who are struggling very hard to make ends meet. We should be considering reasonable temporary breaks for businesses that will encourage them to spend money right here and now. We should be investing in infrastructure projects that create jobs and help us prepare for the future. But any package, any proposal, must be paid for over time so we can get our economy back on track. Mr. Speaker, this bill is not the answer. It is a Republican bill. It is partisan. It is a charade. We need to be working together to pass legislation that truly helps the American people and gets this country back on its feet. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to have the courage, raw courage, to stand up, be counted and vote against this bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my dear friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for yielding the time; and I want to thank my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), my neighbor next door, for bringing this legislation before us. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the designation of the Earl T. Shinhoster Post Office in Decatur, Georgia. Earl Shinhoster was a great American. I knew Earl. He was a friend of mine. He had a distinguished career of public service in Georgia, the Nation, and the world. Before his premature death last year, Earl lived in DeKalb County, Georgia, in metropolitan Atlanta with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and brother. He was more than just a resident of Georgia; he was a citizen of the world. Earl was born and reared in Savannah, Georgia. He loved our State. He loved our Nation. He traveled the length and breadth of the American South, into south Georgia and to the delta of Mississippi and the black belt of Alabama, eastern Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, the bayou of Louisiana. Everybody in this part of the country knew Earl Shinhoster. He also traveled to Africa. He cared about her people, and he loved the people of the motherland. Earl Shinhoster was a leader of the NAACP for more than 35 years. At the time of his death he was a director of Voter Empowerment, a national voter registration and education program. He was involved in efforts to raise census participation among blacks and others. It is because of his tireless work for voter education and voter participation, voter registration, turning out the vote, that many of us are where we are today. Earl Shinhoster cared about people. He loved people. He was a graduate of Morehouse College. He loved Morehouse. He loved his school. He cared about human rights and civil rights. He cared deeply about all of the people of this land and of this planet. He cared about being empowered and empowering others. He cared about equal access and equal opportunity. Throughout his life, Earl was always looking for creative ways to break down the barriers that separated us, to make things a little fairer, a little better. He truly lived to make a difference. I was there. Mr. Speaker, Earl's eyes were always on the prize. He did not have time for small talk or just playing around or what some people call horsing around. He was a very serious young man. Though his life was tragically cut short, his legacy must live on so that others may know and be inspired by this great American and the unbelievable impact he had on Georgia and our Nation and so much of our world. For these reasons and others, Mr. Speaker, I support the designation of the Earl T. Shinhoster Post Office in Decatur, Georgia.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, as we consider the agriculture relief package today, I urge my colleagues to support the increase of funding for Urban forestry. In my district, the city of Atlanta, loses 50 acres of green space each day. The city, once known as the city of trees, is in danger of becoming the city of asphalt, strip malls and sprawl. Urban forestry helps to correct this problem. Madam Speaker, this is an important issue. It is about more than just a few trees and parks. We need to open green space in our cities so that families can come together and watch the wonder of nature. We need open green spaces in our communities so that young people can belt 3-2 pitches over the fence. We need open green space in our neighborhood so that our seniors can sit and talk about the days gone by. Madam Speaker, we need urban forestry.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to salute and pay tribute to Kathleen Battle, a lyrical legend whose contribution to the spirit of music is beyond measure. In classic, poetic soprano, Kathleen Battle has captivated millions through her performances around the world. The purity and projection of her voice has earned her broad acclaim as one of the premier vocalists of all time. Her range travels through the era of Baroque and into the realm of folk and contemporary jazz. Kathleen Battle has distinguished herself as one of the finest interpreters of Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti. Her performances are often described as ``spellbinding'' or ``euphoric'' as she takes listeners to the seat of her own soul, refusing to return them until the last chord. Kathleen Battle's melodic, mesmorizing voice has been featured with the world's most acclaimed orchestras and conductors including Levine, Solti, Ozawa, Previn and Maazell. She is a frequent guest at the festivals of Salzburg, Ravinia and Tanglewood, and has toured extensively in recital across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Far East. She performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as well as at the opera houses of Vienna, Paris, San Francisco, Chicago and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Appearing in concert and recording with some of the world's most renowned musicians, including violinist Itzhak Perlman, flutist Jean- Pierre Rampal, and tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, Kathleen Battle is a brilliant collaborative artist and favorite among the best of the best. Hers is a language of passion . . . raw emotion on stage that cannot be paralleled. Keen musical sensitivity and introspective interpretation have won Kathleen Battle three Grammy Awards. She is truly one of the most distinguished recording artists of all time, having released complete opera, concert, choral and solo recital albums. Kathleen Battle has left an indelible imprint on the hearts of her fans and the souls of musicians to come. Today, we honor this great American, but the legacy of her music will live forever.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, what happened in New York at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon yesterday is unreal. It is shocking. It is unbelievable. But it did happen. Mr. Speaker, we stand together, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as citizens of the world, as Americans, as brothers and sisters. We are a circle of trust that cannot be broken. We are one people. We are one family. We are one Nation. But we must send the strongest possible message to the terrorists and to all of those who participated in this unbelievable conspiracy, this madness. Terrorists may destroy our buildings, terrorists may harm and kill our people, but terrorists will never, ever destroy the spirit of freedom and our love for democracy. Our Nation is strong and determined. We will never turn back; no, we will never turn back from our commitment to a free and open society and our determination for a world community at peace with itself. Those who engage in this madness will be tracked down, and they will be brought to justice. And for those who are hurt and for the families who lost loved ones in this unspeakable tragedy, they are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Mr. Speaker, today on this day, we pray for our people and we pray for our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the Committee on Ways and Means ranking member. (Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the ranking member, my friend and colleague, for allowing me to control this part of the debate on this bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7 is wrong for America. Allowing religious organizations to provide much-needed social services to disadvantaged people or people in need sounds like an innocent way to solve many of our problems. But the truth is that it allows these organizations to use Federal dollars, the taxpayers' dollars, to discriminate in their hiring. This is not right. It is not fair. It is not just. I have spent more than 40 years of my life fighting against discrimination. We have worked too long and too hard, and we cannot sit back and watch the work of so many people who sacrificed so much be undone by this bill. We have come too far in this country to go back now. The House should not support a bill that allows the Government to promote discrimination, or return to the days when religious intolerance was permitted. It is not the right thing to do. It is not the right way to go. It is not the way to use the Tax Code. Furthermore, this bill is an assault on the separation of church and State. This concept underlies our democracy. Yet H.R. 7 compels a citizen, through his tax dollars, to fund religious organizations. Tax dollars will go directly to churches, synagogues, and mosques. The wall between church and State must be solid. It must be strong. It has guided us for more than 200 years. It must not be breached for any reason. There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that there are many religious organizations and institutions providing much-needed services to our citizens. But as a government and as a Nation, we should not sanction religious discrimination or violate the separation of church and State. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 7. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution. We must stand up for human rights and democracy throughout the world; not only here at home, but around the world. Where is the freedom of speech? Where is the freedom of assembly? Where is the freedom to organize? Where is the freedom to protest? Where is the freedom to pray? It is not in China. China continues to violate the human rights of its citizens. They continue to arrest people for practicing their own religion. They arrested two elderly bishops and 22 other Catholics at Easter, and more than 200 Falun Gong members have died in custody since 1999. They continue to execute their own people, nearly 1,800 people in the last 3 months alone. They continue to imprison hundreds of people who participated in the pro-democracy protests of 1989. They continue to detain United States citizens without explanation. And we continue to reward China. What message are we sending to China? What message are we sending to the rest of the world? The people of China want to practice their own religion. They want to speak their mind. They want to live in a free and open and democratic society. If we stand for civil rights in America and other places in the world, we must stand for human rights in China and speak for those who are not free to speak for themselves. Today, with our vote, we have an opportunity to speak for the dignity of man and for the destiny of democracy. Now, I believe in trade, free and fair trade; but I do not believe in trade at any price, and the price to continue to grant normal trade relations with China is much too high. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution and send a message to China.