John Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Moran substitute, and in opposition to the Republican voucher scheme in the D.C. appropriation bill. This Republican assault on public education is nothing new. The radical Republican right have a plan to dismantle public education, abolish the Department of Education, cut the school lunch program, cut funding for safe- and drug-free schools, for teachers' training, for Head Start. Two days ago the Republican leadership went to a public school in the District of Columbia to promote that radical plan, a private school voucher scheme that would drain needed resources from our public schools. Here today we consider a deal that includes the voucher scheme, a scheme that would drain $45 million in Federal funds away from public schools in the District. So do not be fooled. The Republicans' agenda is a hidden agenda to destroy public education. To this radical plan, to this extreme plan, I say no, and the Democrats say no. This morning the Democratic Members marched in celebration of public education from the steps of the Capitol to the steps of Brent Elementary School in Southeast Washington. We marched to support our public schools. We marched to protest the Republican private school voucher scheme. We marched to make a very simple and elementary case: public schools in every State, city, town, village, and hamlet need and deserve our support. Nine out of every ten students attend public schools. We should be working and building together to improve our public schools, not giving up on them and selling them down the river. Mr. Chairman, our children deserve better than the easy scheme and quick-fix solution, our students deserve better. They deserve good schools, good teachers, and an education that takes them into the 21st century. Stop attacking our public schools. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support the Moran substitute. Early this morning during the debate on the rule a Member on the other side tried to imply that Martin Luther King, Jr., would support vouchers. Let me say that I knew Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a friend of mine. He was my leader. If he were here today, he would not be supporting what the Republicans are trying to do to the District of Columbia.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that Gail A. Hoffman, a resident of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District, once again has been recognized for her work to improve communities in Atlanta. The National Crime Prevention Council and Ameritech have selected Ms. Hoffman to receive the Ameritech Award of Excellence in Crime Prevention. Ms. Hoffman's efforts to work with troubled communities and to bring individuals from all walks of life together makes her worthy of this acknowledgment. Ms. Hoffman is the president and executive director of the Bridging the Gaps project. BTG is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower ethnically diverse communities, public and private organizations, and law enforcement with the ability to improve the quality of life for Georgia's refugee and immigrant communities. BTG was created in 1987, after Ms. Hoffman and then Detective M.C. Cox began convening meetings with the Multicultural Crime Task Force to help confront increasing gang activity in the Asian community. Through these meetings, Ms. Hoffman recognized that, because of cultural differences and communication barriers, non-English speaking people feared the police and felt unsafe because they believe that they are not protected from crime. As a result, Ms. Hoffman developed BTG and several related projects. To help bridge the cultural divide, BTG created a computerized language bank that contains the names of bilingual officers and civilians interested in translating for public safety officers and the courts. Law enforcement training courses, including language specific classes and community education programs, have helped eliminate communication barriers and cultural stereotypes among non-English speaking people and public safety officers. BTG has published a ``Personal and Home Safety Orientation Manual for Refugees and Immigrants'' manual in 11 different languages. BTG also has convened approximately 120 meetings between public safety officials and ethnic communities. The project provides homework assistance, peer counseling, and English as a second language assistance to Southeast Asian youth who are vulnerable to gang recruitment activities. BTG provides youth support groups in five counties to assist over 150 refugees make positive life choices. States throughout the country are interested in creating similar programs like BTG. Thanks to Ms. Hoffman's problem solving and leadership, better communication and understanding exist among Atlanta's diverse ethnic groups. I thank Ms. Hoffman for the hard work and dedication that allowed her to earn the Ameritech Awards of Excellence in Crime Prevention. I applaud the National Crime Prevention Council's dedication to helping individuals fight crime and build community. I appreciate Ameritech's commitment to supporting crime prevention initiatives. I ask my Colleagues to join me in congratulating Gail Hoffman and other hard- working individuals who make a difference in their communities.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Republican assault on education is nothing new. The gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich] and the radical Republican right have a plan to dismantle public education, abolish the Department of Education, cut the school lunch program, cut funding for safe and drug-free schools, for teacher training, for Head Start. To these attacks on our children, Democrats have said ``no.'' Now Republicans have a new scheme: Drain funding from public education and give it to a privileged few to attend private school. Reward the few and punish the many. That is the Republican plan. To that I say ``no'' and Democrats say ``no.'' Democrats believe in investing in education for all of our children, improving, reforming, and strengthening our public schools. Mr. Speaker, 99 percent of our children attend public school. We need to work to improve our public schools. Stop attacks on public education, Mr. Speaker. Our children deserve better.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to my colleague from Texas [Mr. Edwards] for further inquiry of the majority leader.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I asked for this time because I noticed that the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey], is on the floor of the House, and I would like to know something about the schedule for the rest of tonight and tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the beginning of a high holiday for many of our Members.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment, and in support of a fair and honest Census count in the year 2000. In 1990, the census missed an estimated 4 million Americans. Four million left out of our democracy, hundreds of thousands of Georgians not counted, silenced, voiceless, left out and left behind. This amendment supports a fair and honest census through ``sampling''--the best way we know to conduct a fair and accurate census. The experts support it, the Justice Department under the last three Administrations--under Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton support it. In 1990, even the Speaker of the House supported it. But what we are debating today is not what is the best policy, but instead the best politics, the best Republican politics. The census is more than just a political football, it is about fairness for every American--whether they live in North Georgia or Northern California. Every American--rich or poor, young or old, black, white, yellow, red or brown--deserves to be counted. No one should be left out or left behind. It is time to stop playing politics with the census. Support the best census in the history of the Nation. Support the Mollohan amendment.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I wonder whether my colleague from Georgia [Mr. Barr] still believes that the Constitution suggested that a black person is only three-fifths of a person and that the Constitution also supported slavery. Does it still support slavery?

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, let me thank my friend for yielding to me. As the gentleman knows, the days and years roll by and more money continues to flow into Washington, hundreds, thousands, millions of dollars into campaigns, into political parties, and the Speaker of the House, the Speaker of the House, of the people's House, continues to say that it is not that it is too much money, it is not enough. He wants more money, unlimited amounts, to come into the House, into campaigns and to political parties. Our present system is polluting the political process. It stinks. This is not the way to conduct the people's business, with hundreds, thousands and millions of dollars coming in. And the Speaker refuses to do anything; refuses to allow us to have a vote, a debate on campaign finance reform. It is time, I think, my colleagues, that we say to the Speaker, ``How long will you wait?'' This is not in keeping with the democratic process. Let us have a vote. Let us have a clean debate on campaign finance reform. That must take place if we are going to restore a sense of faith and trust and confidence in the democratic process in America.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Doggett amendment. We should not use any Federal funds to support the promotion and export of tobacco overseas. Tobacco kills. It is a known killer. It is toxic and addictive. Tobacco kills more than 1,000 Americans every day. Most people begin smoking when they are teenagers. Every day 3,000 young people begin smoking. We must put an end to this effort. This is an effort we support worldwide. We must send that same message around the world that tobacco kills. We should not, we must not, we cannot support smoking in other countries around the world. We must not allow public funds to promote smoking in other countries. Why should we export our poison? Why should we send our poison to poorer, sicker, less developed countries? We all live on this planet together, Mr. Chairman. We must be concerned not just about our children becoming addicted, we must also be concerned about children around the world, rich or poor, black, white, yellow, or brown. They all are our children. We are talking about the lives of innocent children. Mr. Chairman, we have people that are trying to sell poison to our neighbors' children. They are using their money and their ads and their glamour to poison our Nation's and neighbors' children. We have a moral responsibility not to support this effort. We have a moral duty to protect our neighbors' children just as we protect our own children. We must say no to tobacco both here in our country and around the world.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, 40 years ago nine black students came to the doors of Central High School in Little Rock, AR, and demanded a seat in a classroom where they were denied welcome. They were entitled to be there by law, but they could not be there because an angry, hateful mob and Arkansas State troopers turned them away. The Little Rock Nine did nothing wrong. They were denied an education. They were turned away by hatred and bigotry. They were turned away because they were black. Three weeks later, on September 25, President Eisenhower ordered Federal troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into Central High School. In doing so, the Little Rock Nine rocked not just a city, they rocked the Nation. As giants in our Nation's struggle for civil rights, the Little Rock Nine have earned their rightful place in history. So today, Madam Speaker, we mark the 40th anniversary of the desegregation of Central High School. Because of their action, we have witnessed a nonviolent revolution in America. Our country is a better country, a better place, and we are better people because of them.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the American people continue to wait for real campaign finance reform. The need for campaign finance reform is clear. Both parties raised millions and millions of dollars last year, twice as much as they raised just 4 years ago. The Senate is scheduling a vote on campaign finance reform; the President is waiting for a deal. Two years ago, just 2 years ago, the Speaker shook hands with the President on the promise of campaign finance reform. What happened to that promise? What happened to that vow? What happened to his word? The American people deserve better, Mr. Speaker, than to be stonewalled, put down, put off and ignored. They deserve to be heard. They deserve to be respected. The Speaker is the only one in Washington standing in the way of campaign finance reform. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the delay. Schedule a vote on campaign finance reform today.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Ted Turner's $1 billion gift to the United Nations is remarkable. This man saw a problem in this country, in this world, and he decided to help. He did not have to act, but he wanted to make a difference, and he will. Ted Turner's gift is an inspiration to us all. It should inspire Congress to pay our debt to the United Nations. Bosnia, El Salvador, Somalia, as a community of nations, we have helped millions around the world. Ted Turner's gift should also inspire each and every one of us to serve. Even though we all cannot give large amounts of money, we can care, we can get involved, in our schools and our neighborhoods, and we can make a difference. So thank you, Ted Turner. You have reminded us all to be a little more caring and do a little more sharing.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to come to this side of the Chamber because I wanted to speak especially to my Republican colleagues. Later today, the House will consider a privileged resolution regarding the conduct of a former Member of this House. I do not want to get into the particulars of what the former Member said and did during his visit on the House floor yesterday. What I want to do is to appeal to my Republican friends to stand up for the integrity, order, and decorum of this House when a vote is taken on this resolution. No Member of this House should be subjected to verbal abuse, harassment, or intimidation by anyone, not on the floor of the House of Representatives. This vote goes to the heart of this beloved democratic institution. I appeal to my Republican colleagues to stand up and later vote for the privileged resolution. Send a message that offensive language, threats, and intimidation will not be tolerated on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more important for this Congress to consider than campaign finance reform. The American people ask for it, the President asks for it, and Members of this Congress support it. Two years ago the President and the Speaker shook hands on it. Mr. Speaker, this year, many of us sent a letter to the Speaker, a reminder, asking for consideration of campaign finance reform within 100 days. One hundred days have come and gone, and this leadership refuses to act. Instead, they are closing down all business in the House so they can go to New York for a fundraiser. That is right. Tonight the House will close early, very early, so Republicans can go and raise more money, hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars. Mr. Speaker, this is no way to represent the American people. We deserve better. Bring campaign finance reform to this floor and stop stone-walling.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Atlanta and the Fifth District of Georgia, I rise to pay tribute to a beautiful and gracious woman, Princess Diana. With beauty, dignity, and grace, she saw suffering, she saw pain, and she did something about it. Leading a crusade of love and compassion, Princess Diana put a face on people suffering from AIDS. She comforted the sick and the poor. As she helped war-ravaged children in Angola, she focused the world's attention on the devastation of landmines. As the public gazed on her, Princess Diana opened our eyes and our hearts. Today, we mourn for her family, especially her two young sons, but we also mourn for all of humankind, because the world has very few Dianas. We are more than lucky. As members of the human family, we are blessed to have known this beautiful person. Mr. Speaker, our hearts are heavy from this tragic loss. The world is a darker and colder place without the radiance of Princess Diana. We will miss you. Rest in peace, Sweet Princess.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], for calling this special order tonight. I know some time ago the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia had planned to hold a special order, but because of the schedule of the House, we are doing it tonight. So Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague in paying tribute to a noble spirit, Dr. Betty Shabazz. I felt a profound sense of loss when I learned of her death. Betty Shabazz stood tall as a wife, a mother, and a friend. As a matter of fact, I knew Malcolm and got to know her husband fairly well. I first met him on the night of August 27th, 1963, 34 years ago, here in the city of Washington on the eve of the march on Washington. The last time I saw her husband alive was in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 1964, at the New Stanley Hotel. Malcolm and Betty together represented something deep and good about the very best of America. Betty Shabazz stood tall as a wife, as a mother. She stood tall as a woman of courage, pride, and with a great sense of dignity. As I said before, at the age of 28, Betty Shabazz suddenly lost her husband, Malcolm, to an assassin's bullet. With few resources, she began to raise her six daughters. With determination she pursued and achieved a doctorate degree in education. With a deep sense of compassion and an abiding faith, Betty Shabazz continued Malcolm's work. On February 21, 1965, I say to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton, my friend and colleague of long standing, I remember very well, we were driving back from Macon, GA in south Georgia on the way to the city of Atlanta, and then on our way to Selma, when we heard on the radio that Malcolm had been assassinated by an assassin's bullet. As the gentlewoman stated so well, Betty was pregnant with twins as she witnessed the murder of her husband. Just a week earlier the family home had been firebombed, and as the wife of a controversial public figure, worry and concern for the well-being of her family had become part of Betty's life. So on this day, we are here to honor the life of a remarkable woman, an extraordinary person. Ghandi, the great teacher of the philosophy and the discipline of nonviolence, once said that there was a soul force in the universe which, if permitted, would flow through us and produce miraculous results. In the life of Betty Shabazz we can find that soul force, a power to transform tragedies into great victory. By her quiet and courageous example, Betty Shabazz fought tragedy with love and compassion. She did not become bitter or hostile after the murder of her husband. Instead, Betty picked herself up and raised six lovely daughters. As their mother, she got involved in their lives. She passed on to them the great legacy of their father. Betty not only had the ability but also the capacity to grow and to learn. Perhaps that is why she became an educator. That is why she had the capacity and the ability to reach out to others. She had the ability and the capacity to inspire. That is why I think we are here today. In her professional life as an administrator of Medgar Evers College in New York City, Betty Shabazz encouraged young people to study and to strive for their very best. I would say to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], Betty Shabazz touched so many with her strength and kindness. I know on so many occasions she made me laugh. Being with Betty was always joyful, sharing funny stories or something we saw in the audience, or something we read about or something we saw during the Congressional Caucus weekend. I will never, ever forget her sweet and wonderful smile; just being in her company, being in her presence. I have a photograph of Betty with Mrs. King and Dr. King's sister, Christine King Farris, and they are all smiling, sharing some story. Sometimes we never know how powerful, how influential a person is until we miss them or do not see them. Maybe we will never know. Betty, through her courage, was able to supply all of us with faith and hope. She had the ability to be able to see good or goodness in all humankind. With one more river to cross, I wanted Betty to survive, to beat the odds. Even as she struggled to overcome and to recover from the extensive burns on her body, she held onto life longer than many had expected. Yes, this is the life of a remarkable American woman, of a beautiful woman with iron will and strong determination. Betty Shabazz has left us. I would like to think that she is now in a better place, and at long last she has been reunited with her beloved Malcolm. Tonight our hearts and our sympathies go out to her family and her friends. We will all miss her, but the great example of her life leaves us sweetly blessed with a profound sense of hope. So tonight I say to you, Betty, thank you. Despite great challenges, defeats, and difficulties, you, Dr. Betty Shabazz, walked through life with soul force. You had the ability, you had the capacity, to produce great results. You will be missed. As a Nation and as a people, we will not forget your gifts to all of us and to all humankind. Again, I want to thank my friend and my colleague, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] for bringing us together tonight to participate in this special order.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing a resolution today that recognizes that suicide is a national problem and encourages suicide prevention efforts. I am pleased that more than 20 of my colleagues are joining me in this effort by becoming original cosponsors of this bill. It is my hope that congressional recognition will encourage people to talk about feelings of despair and suicide. An estimated 750,000 people attempt suicide each year. These attempts are traumatic not only for the individual but also for family and friends who surround him or her. Suicide claims more than 31,000 lives annually, more than homicide. It is the ninth leading cause of all deaths in the United States and the third for young people aged 15 to 24. It is on the rise for young people in general and for African-American young men in particular. We must talk about mental illness, and we must encourage treatment. We must tell our friends and our loved ones that it is OK to talk about feelings of despair, hopelessness, and suicide. For those who have the courage to get help, to seek treatment--we must support them. And we must talk about suicide so that we can try to understand it and prevent it. Too much shame surrounds feelings of depression and suicide. We can change that--and we must--by reaching out to others in our community. This resolution recognizes suicide as a national problem and declares suicide prevention to be a national priority. It also encourages initiatives to prevent suicide and support people who have lost someone to suicide. The Senate has already passed a similar resolution. It is my hope that the House of Representatives will soon consider this important issue.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that would provide permanent residency to John Edward Armstrong Denney. John Denney currently is a citizen of Australia. John was abandoned by his parents in the hospital and was raised in foster care. Eventually, John found himself in the care of Mrs. Armstrong, a widow who took in foster children for a living. Mrs. Armstrong was the only mother John had, and she died in 1990. In 1989, John had his name changed to John Edward Armstrong in honor of his relationship with Mrs. Armstrong. Since her death, John has had no relatives in Australia. In 1992, John came to Atlanta, GA, at the invitation of a friend from Australia who had married an American citizen. During his visit, John was an active member in the church and became very close with the Denney family. After a year, John's visa expired and he returned to Australia. John returned to the United States a year later, during which time he spent a great deal of time with the Denney family. He is close to Kristina, the youngest member of the Denney family, who suffers from very poor health. On February 23, 1995, the Denney family adopted John. On March 3, John returned to Australia. John has no family in Australia. The Denney family, especially 5- year-old Kristina, want John to join his adopted family in America. U.S. immigration laws offer no help for John in his attempt to join the first family he has ever known. My legislation will allow John Edward Armstrong Denney to be reunited with that family permanently, by granting him permanent status as a U.S. resident. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help John rejoin his family and find a home.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a good bill. It is a good bill because President Clinton and Democrats stood up for working Americans and demanded tax relief for working families. In 1993, Democrats made hard budget choices, hard choices that have brought millions of jobs and economic prosperity to our Nation. Because of those hard choices, we are close to balancing our budget. Because of those hard choices, we can give tax cuts to the American people. Today again, Democrats have succeeded. President Clinton and Democrats in Congress have turned a Republican tax bill targeted to Wall Street into a tax cut benefiting Main Street. Because of Democrats, families earning between $20,000 and $30,000 a year will get a $500 per child tax cut. Because of Democrats, there is a HOPE scholarship to make college more affordable to our children. Because of Democrats, there are tax cuts for people inheriting farms and small businesses. Tax relief for working families, tax relief for education, tax relief for owners of farms and small businesses, these are Democratic values. These are the ideas President Clinton and the Democrats fought for and won. Mr. Speaker, thanks to President Clinton and the Democrats, we have a growing, vibrant economy, a shrinking deficit and now a tax cut for working families. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this tax cut bill.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, millions of dollars for a partisan investigation into campaign finance abuses, millions of dollars for an investigation intended to intimidate organized labor, hundreds of thousands of dollars to harass and intimidate a Hispanic woman Member of Congress. It is not right, it is not fair, it is a shame and a disgrace. Defeat the previous question and defeat this rule.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Republicans continue to try to sell their huge tax break for the rich by promising tax relief for middle-class Americans. But under the Republican plan millions of working Americans get no tax cuts, they only get empty promises. Let us take an example: Daniel is a police officer. He works hard and supports his wife and four children on his $26,000 salary. He pays thousands of dollars in taxes. What does Daniel get from the Republican tax bill? Nothing, zero, zip. Democrats want to give Daniel and millions of other working families a tax cut. What do Republicans say about Daniel? Daniel, the police officer? They said Daniel is on welfare. Billions of dollars in tax breaks for millionaires, nothing for Daniel, nothing for millions of hardworking families. That is the Republican tax bill, that is the Republican tax plan.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Republican con games continue, convincing the American people they are getting a tax cut by giving a majority of the tax breaks to the richest people in America; complain that the Democrats are engaged in class warfare, while the Republicans practice it. Yesterday I spoke about Al. He works in a factory, supports his wife and two kids on his $25,000 salary, and he gets absolutely nothing from the Republican tax bill. Today I want to tell Members about Mary. Mary is a single mom. She will struggle to raise two kids on her own. Mary works 40 hours a week as a secretary for $12 an hour. That is a little less than $25,000 a year. Mary works hard and pays thousands of dollars in taxes. What does Mary get under the Republican tax bill? Nothing. Zero. Zip. What do Speaker Gingrich and the Republicans say about Mary? They say Mary is on welfare. Huge tax breaks for millionaires, nothing for Mary, nothing for Al. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans should come clean with the American people and tell the truth.

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Republicans to come clean about their tax bill. Republicans want a tax cut for people working on Wall Street, not people living on Main Street. Let us take an example. Al works 40 hours a work at the factory. Al works hard and supports his wife and two children on his $25,000 salary. He pays thousands of dollars in taxes. What does Al get from the Republican tax bill? Nothing. Zero. Zip. Democrats want to give Al and millions of other working families a tax cut. These are the people Democrats want to help. What do the Republicans say about Al? They say Al is on welfare. Billions of dollars in tax breaks for millionaires. Nothing for Al. Nothing for millions of hard-working American families. That is the Republican plan.