John Lewis

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1104. On this day, it is wise for the House to consider a bill to increase certainty for taxpayers. This bill brings clarity to what has historically been uncertain tax treatment for contributions to social welfare organizations, agricultural associations, labor unions, and trade associations. With this bill, Mr. Speaker, amounts contributed to such organizations will not be subject to the gift tax. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 1104. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, the chairman, the chairs of the subcommittee, and all of the members of the committee for supporting this piece of legislation and the other pieces. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, before I yield the balance of my time back, it has been an honor and a pleasure to work with the chairman, the chairman of the subcommittee, and all of the Members on the other side. We did come together in a bipartisan fashion. In a real sense, we all live in the same house--the American house-- and we must continue to look out for this house, not just this building, but the more than 300 million people in our country. That is the right thing to do. That is the fair thing to do. That is the just thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that will keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Colorado for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and against H.R. 5. Everyone who knows me knows that I believe that if you spend 5 minutes--only 5 minutes--with a young person, you can change a life and shift the course of history. Many years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks saw a little light, a little hope in me, ``the boy from Troy,'' a young student from rural Alabama. They gave me hope and opened doors. Their actions taught me how important it is to tear down barriers and invest in the potential of each and every American child. Mr. Speaker, we have the responsibility to learn from our experiences and provide a quality foundation for the next generation. But this bill turns back the clock on progress. H.R. 5 puts the hardest-hit--those most in need--on the chopping block. We don't want to go back. We want to go forward. It cuts funding, pushes down standards, and rolls back the protections for our future--our youth--our precious children. I urge each and every one of my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Let us come together and do what is right and what is just to help students realize the American Dream. That is the thing to do, and we must do it.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Howard Calvin Edwards. Mr. Edwards served his country in the United States Army, was respected in his community, and dedicated his life to his family. Mr. Edwards was born on April 24, 1928, the youngest of John and Cora Edwards' 10 children, and he grew up in Woodland, North Carolina. He loved everything about school and thrived as a student and an athlete. He played basketball and ran track, but he found the most success on the football gridiron. Mr. Edwards continued his education at Virginia State University and Howard University. A proud soldier, Mr. Edwards served his country in the United States Army and loved the experience of traveling the world. After completing his tour, he relocated to the Washington, DC, area to be near to his older sister, Mabel. It was here that he met his wife, Mary, who was one of his sister's best customers. Their love story was one for the ages. He succeeded in his tireless pursuit to earn her hand in marriage, and their 53 years of marriage produced three children, Kenny, Robert, and Yvette. Mr. Edwards retired after many years of working as a guard at the National Gallery of Art here in Washington. He also worked for several years in security at the YWCA. He will be remembered within the community as a man of great dignity and generosity to all who had a need. In his signature hat and tie, he stood tall, walked straight, and greeted everyone with a broad smile and the love of God. He passed from this life on February 10, 2015 at age 86. I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. Edwards' beloved wife, Mary Edwards; his son, Bobby; three grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; his nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and neighbors. They are all in my thoughts during this very difficult time.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Amendment XIII, section 1: ``Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.'' Section 2: ``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend of many years for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, here we go again, down the same unnecessary road. This bill is a deliberate and systematic attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act. We are supposed to be here to help people and not to hurt people. So what is this all about? This bill, call it what you may, would roll back protection for Americans who work at or near 40 hours a week. Before the Affordable Care Act, it was easy to discriminate against the sick, the elderly, and those who had lost their jobs through no fault of their own, but those days are over. We have come too far. We made too much progress to go back, and we will not go back. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no,'' so we can go forward and continue to provide comprehensive health care for all of our citizens. This is the right thing to do. It is the responsible thing to do. It is the fair thing to do. Just vote ``no.'' Just say ``no.''

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues tonight to honor my friend, my brother, the longest serving Member of Congress, the Honorable John Dingell. I had heard of Congressman Dingell long before I came to the House. I knew he had followed in his father's footsteps on his path to public service, that he was one of the youngest Members of Congress at the time. But most important, I heard that he would stand up, speak out, and fight for the issues of civil rights and social justice. John Dingell is one of the most able and respected Members of this body. Yes, he is the dean of the House of Representatives. He had the capacity and the ability to say we have a right to know what is in the food we eat, what is in the air we breathe, and what is in the water that we drink. He battled on the front lines for Medicare and Medicaid. He is the only Member of Congress still serving today who voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also helped win passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that John Dingell is the embodiment of a time when legislators did not hesitate to use the power of the Federal Government to do good for all. John, my friend, my brother, my colleague, thank you for your service. Thank you for all of the good that you have done to make our country and to make our world a better place.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and my colleague, Congressman Jeffries, for organizing this Special Order. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for speaking up and speaking out. Thank you for finding a way to get in the way. Mr. Speaker, our march toward a more perfect Union has been long, hard, and tedious, but we must continue to move forward. I know there are forces that want to stop us, slow us down, and take us back, but as a Nation and as a people, we have made too much progress to turn back now. Through hard work, discipline, and with the blessing of the Almighty, we can--and we will--move to redeem the soul of America and create a more perfect Union. The American people are ready. They have grown by leaps and bounds to build bridges of understanding between diverse communities. As their Representatives, will we follow their lead? Can we work together in this body as one people, one family, who live in the same house, one house--the American house? We don't have to be mean to each other. We don't have to put each other down. My work in the movement taught me--my faith has taught me and many others--to respect the dignity and the worth of every human being. There is some good in the worst of us because everything that is was made by our Creator. That is why we must respect the worth and dignity and that spark of the divine in each one of us. As A. Philip Randolph--a dean of Black leadership, the visionary who planned the historic March on Washington in 1963 and the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters--once said: ``We may have all come here on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now.'' My colleagues, my brothers and sisters, we must keep the faith. We must press toward the mark of the public good and put our personal ambitions aside. As Mr. Jeffries did a few moments ago, let me paraphrase the words of a great Republican President who lived in a more divisive time even than in our own. He said: Brave men, both living and dead, have consecrated the American soil with their tears, their sweat, and their blood. The world will little note nor long remember what we said here, but it will never forget what we did here. We must be dedicated . . . to the great tasks remaining before us . . . and make sure they did not sacrifice in vain, that this Nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the Earth. Thank you, Mr. Jeffries.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the National Parents Corps Act of 2014. I am proud to author this legislation which intends to combat youth violence and substance abuse in our country's schools. The National Parents Corps Act aims to continue the successful National Parents Corps program first initiated in 2003. The bill revitalizes a program which trains parent leaders to collaborate with schools, students, and the community in order to proactively work together in deterring and reducing alcohol and drug abuse, bullying, gang involvement, and other dangerous activities. The program targets middle school students and creates a collaborative network to recognize and respond to dangerous trends in the most susceptible school-age population--middle school. Professionally-trained parent leaders will build critical networks between students, parents, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement, and the community. They will develop prevention programs, share scientific research, best practices, and create spaces of open dialogue and targeted action. Mr. Speaker, I have always stood for investing in children and for peaceful communities, which is why I am reintroducing this legislation. No child should live his or her life in fear or marked by drugs and violence. This bill responds to a clear need, with a targeted and effective approach, and I hope all of my colleagues will join this common-sense effort to support healthy, safe, schools.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the National Park Service's continuous effort to protect the legacy of my dear friend and brother, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In particular, the NPS's current effort to re-designate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site into a National Historic Park is of great significance. Dr. King helped lead a nonviolent revolution, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. He inspired an entire generation to find a way to get in the way, to find a way to get in trouble--good trouble, necessary trouble. Through his actions, speeches, and writings, he helped create the climate for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Re-categorizing this site as a park better reflects the truly monumental spirit of the area and its complexity. The area not only includes Dr. King's gravesite and birth home, which the National Park Service preserves, maintains and educates visitors about via tours, but it also stretches to contain the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King, his father and his grandfather served as pastors. It also includes the entire block where Dr. King's birth home is located and contains the first integrated and longest active fire station in Atlanta, which Dr. King frequently visited as a boy. The block also consists of more than 20 historic properties, including Victorian homes, apartments and shotgun houses that were all restored to their 1930 appearances. Last year, over 700,000 people traveled worldwide to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Re-designating it as a National Historic Park would better reflect the complexity of the area and would have minimal associated costs, only changing signage and printed materials. I applaud the National Park Service for making this a priority, and I ask my colleagues to support this legislation to preserve Dr King's life and legacy.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today with pain in my heart and soul. There is not any room in a civilized society for the abuse of anyone, but especially women and girls. I have seen and known women who are victims and survivors. Mother, sisters, and daughters must know that their pain is our pain. The thought of another human being living in constant fear breaks my heart. Imagine life day in and day out afraid to come home at night and with no safe place in the day. It hurts my soul. Throughout my life, I have taken a stand against violence in thoughts, in words, and in action. Violence is not in keeping with the human spirit. We do not come into this world beating and abusing our fellow human beings. We learn it from our environment and from our experiences. Together, we have a moral obligation to teach our children-- especially our young men--the way of peace, the way of love, and the way of nonviolence. There can be no place for abuse in our society. Madam Speaker, we must break this cycle, and we must do it now.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, someplace I read in the Bible, ``Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven''--or it could have read the beloved community or the beloved Nation. Mr. Speaker, at this moment, at this hour, we have a moral obligation, a mission, and a mandate to do the right thing, the humane thing. Today, hundreds and thousands of our children--innocent little children--need our help. They need our support. They are running away from violence, from rape, from hunger. They are searching for a better life. The time has arrived, Mr. Speaker. We can wait no longer. We have reached a tipping point, and now, we have a choice, a choice to do what is right, what is just, what is fair. Where are our hearts? Where are our souls? We cannot simply turn our backs on these little children and do nothing. In the final analysis, we are one people, one family, one House. It doesn't matter whether you are Black, White, Asian American, Native American, or Latino. There is no such thing as an illegal human being. History will not be kind to us if we fail to do what is right, what is just. We must pass bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform, and we must pass it now.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a waste of time and money. We are sent to Congress to make progress on behalf of the people of this Nation, yet House Republicans spend all of their time and energy fighting this President. Why? The Republicans need to jump off the bandwagon of political attacks and come together to jump-start the economy. While Americans were unemployed, they did nothing to put them back to work. When people were losing their homes, they did little to protect them from foreclosure. While hunger and poverty are on the rise in this country, they have hardly mentioned the disappearing middle class. From his first day in office, Republicans in the House, in this House, have never supported this President. Every olive branch he has extended was broken. But today, Mr. Speaker, they have reached a low, a very low point. This resolution to sue the President just goes a little too far. It is a shame and a disgrace that we are here debating the suing of the President. The American people deserve better. We can do better. We can do much better.

Mr. LEWIS. I urge each and every one of my colleagues to have the raw courage--nothing but courage--to oppose this insulting and offensive resolution. It has no place on this floor. Let us get back to the work that we were elected to do.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast roll call votes on the afternoon of July 23, 2014. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: On rollcall 442, Ordering the Previous Question during consideration of H. Res. 680, I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 443, on H. Res. 680, the rule to consider H.R. 3393, I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 444, on the Kilmer of Washington Part B Amendment ``no.'' 2 to H.R. 4984, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 445, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4984, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 446, on passing H.R. 4984, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 447, on passing H.R. 5111, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 448, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 3393, I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 449, on passing H.R. 3393, I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 450, on the Motion to Instruct Conferees on considering H.R. 3230, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity's centennial anniversary. My good friend, the Gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu) and the Gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), is sponsoring the Senate companion to this resolution. As a Sigma brother, I am proud that this fraternity has grown into a worldwide institution. One hundred years ago, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown founded the fraternity at Howard University. These men were committed to the idea of ``Culture For Service and Service for Humanity.'' They believed that all potential members ought to be judged by their own merits. Family background, wealth, race, and nationality are irrelevant to a prospective brother's worth; instead, the fraternity built a brotherhood of individuals who shared a deep commitment to service, education, and brotherhood. Today, Phi Beta Sigma continues to build upon its founding principles and expand its legacy across the country and around the globe. With more than 150,000 college-educated Sigma brothers and 650 chapters, the fraternity organizes many service projects and missions. These include: Sigma Beta Club, equipping youths with leadership skills; Project Vote, which encourages voter registration; Sigma Wellness: Living Well Brother-to-Brother, an initiative seeking to eliminate health disparities for men of color; and the Ghana School Project, which provides vocational opportunities for children worldwide. As many of you know, these are just a few examples of Sigma contributions to American society and our brothers and sisters around the world. This week, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity's historic centennial anniversary and congratulating the Sigma brothers for a century of service to all Americans.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), the esteemed chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, for her hard work, for her leadership on this resolution, and for her kind words. I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for her kind words and for her leadership. The two of them have never given up or given in and have kept the faith, and for that, I thank them so much. I would also like to thank the Speaker and our friends on both sides of the aisle for helping to bring this resolution to the floor. I am glad to be on the floor with the gentleman from South Carolina, Jim Clyburn, who I met more than 50 years ago at an organizer meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, when we both were very young, first for the sit-ins, when we both had all of our hair. To be here with the gentleman from South Carolina today, if someone had told me then that the two of us would be sitting here in the Congress, I would say: you are crazy, you are out of your mind, you don't know what you are talking about. Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. This bipartisan effort outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The following year, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. It was a bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, if you visit my office in the Cannon Building, you will see both Democrats and Republicans standing together. You will see me standing with Members of the Senate. One man I will never forget, the Republican leader Everett Dirksen, helped make it possible to get the bill passed. Too many people I knew and loved lost their lives in the fight for civil rights and simple justice. Every single day, each and every one of us must remember the heroes--average men, women, and children--who put their lives on the line in the fight for equality. We cannot forget their sacrifice, and we must not ignore the lessons of history. When we come together across party lines, from different races, religions, and regions, we can achieve the greater good. I hope and pray that we will come together again--Democrats and Republicans, of all faiths, colors, and regions--to pass laws that maintain, protect, and strengthen rights for which many gave their ultimate sacrifice. Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan, the gentlewoman from Ohio, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their strong support of this resolution.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special woman, Chief Rosemary Cloud, of East Point, GA. She is the first African-American woman to lead a paid professional fire department in America. I am proud to recognize my amazing constituent on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. A native of Atlanta, Chief Cloud began her career in the fire service 30 years ago at the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department as a firefighter. For the past 12 years, she has served as the Fire Chief of the East Point Fire Department. Over her years of service, Chief Cloud has managed 35 fire stations and over 1,000 employees. Chief Cloud's service extends beyond Metro Atlanta. She was the Appointed Subject Matter Expert on Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 for the White House National Security Council. She helped develop policies to help the United States prevent and respond to terrorist threats, major disasters, and other emergencies. Chief Cloud was also recently inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame. Additionally, Chief Cloud is actively involved in her community. She currently mentors young people through leadership programs. She has also established more than 10 community service public safety programs in East Point. Mr. Speaker, Chief Cloud's dedication to public service is inspirational and patriotic. I applaud her service and leadership, and I congratulate her on this historic appointment.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, and I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for all of his work on this legislation. I would like to thank the chair and ranking member of the Financial Services Committee and all of their staff for their strong support of the legislation. This bill is very simple. It simply ensures that these medals are displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens next year. In 2004, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. I introduced the House bill, and my good friend, Senator Carl Levin, sponsored the Senate companion. The legislation passed in the House and Senate by voice vote. Unfortunately, a couple of years later, my good friend, Coretta Scott King, passed away. She was a beautiful and strong spirit and, like her husband, a national treasure. They were heroes, breaking down barriers, opening doors, fighting injustice across our country, and building bridges around the world. It is only fitting that this congressional tribute is on exhibit to the world in a permanent national memorial. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the bipartisan leadership and staff for all of their good and great work in support of this commonsense legislation.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a wonderful and beautiful spirit; Mrs. Mariella Ukina Ama Holman was a friend, mother, wife, teacher, activist, and trailblazer. A woman of the world, Mariella Ukina Ama was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1922 to Kiushu Amakaya and Ada Adams. Her father, an immigrant from Japan, changed his name to Frank Ama and worked as a cook and caterer, and her mother was a laundress. Mariella and her brothers--Charles, Lloyd, and Bobby--were expected to meet their parents' high standards and were determined to overcome all odds. As a child of the Great Depression, she worked hard, stood strong, and held her head high as one of the few children of color at the historic Philadelphia High School for Girls. Mariella continued her education in Atlanta, where she graduated from Atlanta University Laboratory High School. She completed her formal education at the renowned Spelman College, where she truly found her voice. At Spelman, Mariella bloomed into a woman of culture and class--studying and excelling in French and the humanities--gradually becoming more socially and politically conscious and active. While working at Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, she met her husband-to-be, M. Carl Holman. In 1945, Mariella and Carl married and returned to Atlanta to begin a family; they were proud to raise their children--Kerry, Karen, and Kent--in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Her husband, a professor at Clark College in Atlanta, helped co-found the Atlanta Committee for Cooperative Action (ACCA) and became the editor-in-chief of The Atlanta Inquirer, which developed into a leading, weekly journal and voice for equality and justice in our nation. In the 1960s when Carl joined the staff of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where he eventually served as the president of the National Urban Coalition. Throughout their marriage, Mrs. Holman was the backbone of their beautiful family and home, while maintaining her own career as a skilled educator and an activist in her own right. She taught French at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, and continued to teach in Washington, D.C. at Hart Junior High School until her retirement in the 1980s. In her classroom, she opened the minds of countless young people to a global language and community beyond the United States; she brought Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean to their front door through her creative and passionate instruction. For years, Mrs. Holman also provided wise counsel to the architects-- the movers-and-shakers--of the Civil Rights Movement. She opened her home to organizers for strategy meetings, and her hospitality, cooking, and warmth fed stomachs and reignited spirits. When her beloved husband passed away in 1988, Mariella continued to be the grounding, central force of her family, friends, and community for 26 years. Last week, on March 17, 2014, Mrs. Mariella Holman passed away surrounded by loving family and friends. Although I know that she lived a long and full life, I was still heartbroken to hear the news. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her children--Kwasi (Kerry) G. Holman, Kinshasha (Karen) Holman Conwill, and Kwame (Kent) Holman; grandchildren--Monifa, Kevin, Donovan, and Camille; seven great-grandchildren; great-greatgrandchild; brother, Lloyd, and his wife, Muriel, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and countless loving family members and friends. They were guided and grounded by this beautiful and strong matriarch, and today each and every one of them is in my thoughts and prayers. Mella--as she was called by all who knew and loved her--will be truly missed. She touched so many with her warmth, her spirit, her cooking, and her timeless class, and I am proud to have known and loved this great and wonderful lady.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes during the week of February 10th due to eye surgery. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on rollcall No. 55, I would have voted ``yes;'' on rollcall No. 56, I would have voted ``yes;'' on rollcall No. 57, I would have voted ``yes;'' on rollcall No. 58, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall No. 59, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall No. 60, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall No. 61 regarding the Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act, I would have voted ``yes;'' on rollcall No. 62, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3865. For years, Congress demanded action on this issue. In an independent report, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) told the IRS and Treasury to remove the gray and give clear guidance regarding the tax treatment of social welfare organizations. There were dramatic hearings, and the public demanded clear, fair rules. Members of this Congress from both sides of the aisle agreed that the IRS should implement all nine of the TIGTA recommendations. This is just what the IRS and Treasury did. They are taking their time, and trying to do the right thing--once and for all. The IRS already received 23,000 comments on the proposed rulemaking--23 thousand, Mr. Speaker. And today, not even eight months later, this body is trying to tear down long overdue progress and restart the clock at square one. So, you can see why I oppose bringing this bill to the Floor today. It makes no sense, no sense at all. Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress can be constructive, supportive, and effective. Instead, this bill returns to the old tradition of no, by any means necessary. I urge each and every one of my colleagues to oppose this unnecessary bill.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Jacob Gillison, who served as office manager and scheduler in my Washington, DC office for nearly 14 years. For over a decade, Jacob served as a member of my staff, friend, confidant, and counselor to many in what we call Team Lewis, our office family. Jacob recently joined the staff of Senator Bernie Sanders as the administrative director and scheduler. I would like to congratulate him on his new position, and thank him for his many years of service to my office and constituents. I first met Jacob many years ago when he was a member of the United States' Air Force (USAF) Air Traffic Control Field. During his nearly two decades of service in the U.S. Air Force, Jacob was recognized repeatedly for his dedication and commitment to excellence. When I learned that he was considering a transition to a different branch of government, I was pleased to invite him to join my Washington, DC staff as scheduler and office manager. If he was able to keep military planes safe and on-time, I believed he might be able to keep me and my staff on schedule. When he joined my office, I learned even more about his total commitment to service. As a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Jacob was handpicked by the president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. to serve as deputy assistant to the international president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity focusing on governmental and civic affairs. In this capacity, Jacob conceptualized and coordinated ``Sigma Day on the Hill,'' which brought local high school students to Capitol Hill to lobby on the behalf of legislation affecting high school students and their local communities. This experience enlightened and exposed young people in learning how their Congress works and inspiring them to move from the sidelines to the frontlines. During his spare time in the evening and on weekends, Jacob advises and counsels young men in the local community. His selfless efforts did not go unrecognized as the leadership of Nu Sigma Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. voted and honored him as ``Mentor of the Year 2010.'' As an additional testament to Jacob's long and exceptional service, the Free Masons bestowed on him their 33rd Degree, an honorary title granted to those Masons who distinguish themselves. A native of Beaufort, South Carolina, Jacob graduated from Battery Creek High School and continued his education by earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Economics from Benedict College and an additional degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Over the years, I had the pleasure of visiting Beaufort, South Carolina and even attending the beautiful Gullah Festival. I was particularly proud to meet and become an honorary member of Jacob's welcoming family. He is truly a loving and dedicated family man--a proud brother, father, and grandfather. Jacob's son, Dexter, and daughter-in-law, Nikita, continue the family tradition of service as members of the U.S. Air Force. His lovely daughter, Mekala, is a high school honor roll student, ROTC member, athlete and dancer, and Jacob's handsome first grandchild, Brice, is the apple of his eye. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, I cannot say enough about how great a member of my staff and family Jacob Gillison was. I will truly miss him, his children, grandson, twin brother Esau, and brothers-in- spirit--Tyson and Glenn--but I wish him continued success in his new position and this exciting, next stage of his outstanding career.