John Lewis

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act of 2020. Our Constitution guarantees a fair process in all hearings and equal treatment under the law. Even as we make technological advances, we must ensure that the principals of the Constitution are not bypassed for convenience. Most importantly, we cannot delegate the duty and responsibility of justice to technology. The use of risk and needs assessment tools in the juvenile justice system is widespread. According to the National Center for Juvenile Justice, 42 states have a statute or probation agency policy supporting or requiring the implementation of a risk and needs assessment instrument for youth who are justice system involved. These technology tools collect data about youth offenders and use this data in complex algorithms used to determine how likely a young person may become a repeat offender. Madam Speaker, let me be clear. This data--not the young person's actual actions--far too often determine critical decisions such as, whether a youth offender will be in custody prior to trial, the conditions of a youth offender's adjudication (conviction), and whether a youth offender will be placed in a secure youth facility (detention). Unfortunately, research shows that these ``risk and needs assessment tools'' disproportionally misclassify youth of color as high risk. For example, in my home state of Georgia, where the use of risk and needs assessment tools are required by state statute, Black youth comprised 69 percent of juveniles sentenced to youth prisons and made up 80 percent of those juveniles who were convicted in adult court. My legislation, the Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act proposes simple changes that will significantly improve the prospects of young people in the juvenile justice system. This bill will prohibit or limit the use of risk and needs assessment tools in federal juvenile proceedings in four scenarios: (1) when determining whether or not a youth offender should be charged as an adult; (2) in determining a youth offender's risk of recidivism; (3) deciding whether a youth offender should be incarcerated prior to adjudication; and (4) as a sole factor in determining a youth offender's eligibility for recidivism reduction programs or likelihood of benefitting from these programs. In addition, this legislation would prohibit the admission of determinations made by risk and needs assessment tools as evidence in trials against a justice involved youth. These risk and assessment tools clearly exacerbate existing bias and disparities in our criminal justice system. My bill helps introduce parity, equity, hope, and opportunity for all--especially minority--youth offenders. Breaking the school to prison pipeline means advancing simple policies like the Juvenile Incarceration Reduction Act. If Congress can come together to reduce recidivism and create opportunities for adults in the criminal justice system, we have a moral obligation to do the same for our young people. It is critical that justice-involved youth are given a fair opportunity to rehabilitate no matter their racial or ethnic background. Congress must do all we can to correct these systematic wrongs, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this common-sense legislation.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend, Reverend Cordy Tindell ``C.T.'' Vivian. Born on July 30, 1924 in Howard County, Missouri as the only child to Robert Cordie and Euzetta Tindell Vivian, C.T. grew up in Macomb, Illinois, where he attended Lincoln Grade School and Edison Junior High School. Raised primarily by his doting mother and grandmother, Annie Woods Tindell, C.T. was often the only African-American in his classroom. Make no mistake; it was not easy, but he managed to adapt, survive, and thrive. Throughout his childhood, his grandmother often instilled the values and teaching of Williams Wells Brown's the Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements. She believed that education would be his key to success and dedicated every resource and tool she had to inspire and encourage C.T. to stay the course with his studies. In 1942, their collective hard work and determination paid off. C.T. graduated from Macomb High School and continued his studies at Western Illinois University. He moved to Peoria, Illinois, where he met Octavia Geans, his beloved wife of 58 years, who worked with him at the Carver Community Center. I was only seven years old when Reverend Vivian ignited his life-long flame for equality, equity, and freedom. While in Peoria, C.T. completed his first act of civil disobedience in 1947 when he participated in his first sit-in that successfully integrated Barton's Cafeteria. With that social justice action, he committed all his energy and soul to the movement. A few years later, faith and fate brought him to Nashville, Tennessee, where Reverend Vivian resumed his studies at the American Baptist Theological Seminary and joined a group of other ministers in cofounding the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference, an affiliate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). As an undergraduate student at the American Baptist College, I first met C.T. as we learned about the doctrine of nonviolence, and the way of peace, the way of love, and the power of satyagraha--or truth force and nonviolent civil resistance from the esteemed visionary, Reverend James Lawson. Older than many of the other students in the workshops, C.T. was like our big brother--graceful, thoughtful, and inspirational. In Nashville, we formed an unbreakable, life-long bond as we committed our minds, bodies, and spirits to tearing down the barriers of hate, racism, and segregation across the United States and around the world. Throughout those pivotal years of the Civil Rights Movements, Reverend Vivian was on the front lines--at the lunch counters, on the Freedom Rides, in Parchman Prison, at the March on Washington, and in the fight for voting rights in Marion and Selma. If there was action, he was there. We, along with so many others, continue to bear the scars of those long days and endless nights, as we dedicated our very lives to bringing about a nonviolent revolution as the means to redeem the soul of America. In his commitment to ``develop future leaders and promote brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities,'' C.T. embodies the mission of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., of which he is a proud member. His fraternity brother, Dr. King, often remarked, and many agreed, that C.T. was the ``greatest preacher to ever live.'' Madam Speaker, if you ever had the honor and privilege to witness one of his sermons, you know that Dr. King was right. Time and time again, Reverend Vivian gave strength when exhaustion felt crushing, restored hope when faith seemed expired, and created a path forward when every road appeared to be blocked. As the National Director of Affiliates for the SCLC, Reverend Vivian played a pivotal role in the strategy to advance and eventually pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the years since the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Reverend Vivian continues to serve and inspire people across the country and around the world. Despite the bruises and battles, C.T. maintains his commitment and dedication to nonviolence as the guiding principle of our mission. In continuing the tradition of his beloved grandmother, C.T.'s lessons were shared with his adored children: Jo Anna, Denise, Kira, Mark, Anita Charisse, Al, and his namesake, Cordy Tindell Vivian, Jr., who passed away in 2010. Reverend Vivian continues to preach and abide by the principle that ``everything done to destroy us only becomes a means of developing us.'' Across the country, Reverend Vivian selflessly shares his knowledge and experience with others. Lovingly calling all whom he meets, ``Doc,'' C.T. created an extended family united by shared principles wherever he goes. Over the decades, C.T. helped negotiate peace between gangs, confront systematic racism in organized labor, and counseled both Democratic and Republican Presidents on civil rights matters. He trained clergy leaders and community activists in Chicago as the director of the Urban Training Center for Christian Missions and imparted similar lessons during his tenure at the Seminary Without Walls at Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, N.C. Make no mistake, Madam Speaker; C.T. is tirelessly and always for the people. In the years after Nashville, we both managed to make our way to Atlanta, Georgia, the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. In our adopted and adored hometown, Reverend Vivian, with his late wife Octavia, 40 years ago founded BASIC Diversity, Inc. (BASIC) a full service, national consulting firm, established the C.T. Vivian Institute, Inc., and served as dean of the Urban Institute at the Interdenominational Theological Center. In 2010, Morehouse College honored Reverend Vivian with an honorary doctorate, and noting his life-long commitment to ``justice and equality,'' President Barack Obama awarded Reverend Vivian with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013--one of the highest, civilian awards in our country. Madam Speaker, as you can see my heart is full of love and respect for this great man--my brother and fellow nonviolent soldier in the movement for justice, equality, and peace. I appreciate the honor and privilege of sharing a few of my more than 60 years of warm memories of and reflections on Reverend Cordy Tindell ``C.T.'' Vivian's legacy and impact on our nation, people around the world, and generations yet unborn.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This vital legislation makes critical investments in our nation's transportation, upgrades our drinking water and energy systems, and builds new hospitals, schools, and homes. My constituents in Metro Atlanta know all too well that we have fallen behind in building for the future. Every day, we waste time and gasoline in some of the worst traffic in America. We have uneven access across our region to transit and safe bicycle and pedestrian paths. Our schools and water systems struggle to keep up with the demands of our time. We need something new. Our current system puts good jobs out of reach, good homes out of grasp, and good air out of breath. For too long, our nation's transportation system prioritized highway expansion and exclusionary legacies that result in gentrification and displacement. These transportation planning policies contribute to racial and socioeconomic disparities in income, health, education, and environment. We can and we must do better. The bill before us puts our country on the right track. H.R. 2 is a model that builds a 21st century transportation and infrastructure foundation. It increases funding for transit expansion, highway repair, and connectivity in low-income communities. It ensures that drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians can safely use roads. H.R. 2 also makes a down payment towards leaving a planet that is a little cleaner and a little greener for our children. I am pleased that H.R. 2 also includes three amendments critical for my constituents in Metro Atlanta. The first amendment allows Federal funds to build noise barriers that protect older neighborhoods from highway noise. In my district, many communities predate the interstate system. Over time, these highways became wider, busier, and louder, and the trees that kept the sounds down have worn thin. Residents are sick and tired of the noise and want some peace and quiet. My no-cost amendment will improve quality of life in frustrated communities across America. The bill also includes my proposal about disputed changes in airport ownership. This amendment enacts current rules which maintain the Federal government's neutrality on these sensitive local matters. This common-sense policy provides certainty for passengers, airlines, concessionaires, and airport employees. Finally, I am proud to co-sponsor an effort led by my friend, Ms. Napolitano of California. Our amendment overturns a Federal rule on sales taxes that uniquely affects Clayton County in my district. It would recover $24 million per year for the county, its cities, and the Clayton County Public Schools. When I first came to Congress, I joined what was then the House Public Works and Transportation Committee to work on many of these issues, and I am proud to continue to address transportation equity on the House Ways and Means Committee. For these reasons, I would like to thank Chairman Peter DeFazio and his staff for helping me secure these priorities in H.R. 2 will continue to work with my colleagues to enact these common-sense policies into law. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It reminds us that we do not have to endure exhausting commutes, leaky pipes, or outdated schools. It offers hope for a better, fairer, more vibrant future for our families and communities. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2 and urge the Senate to pass it without delay. The American people cannot afford to wait any longer for relief.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. For far too long, equal justice and protection under the law have been deferred dreams for Black people and communities of color across our country. As we consider this bill, people throughout Metro Atlanta and throughout my home state of Georgia are gripped by pain and anguish over the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Jordan Davis, who was the beloved son of our colleague Congresswoman Lucy McBath, and countless others. The pain in the depths of our souls is constant and all consuming. It is the seemingly endless nightmare from which we cannot awake. Today, young people are taking up the mantle in a movement that I know all too well. All over the world, communities are once again joining the call for racial equity and equality. While their feet march towards justice, their pain, their frustration, and petitions cannot-- must not--be ignored. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act provides us with an opportunity to practice what we preach. While we use our speech to advance American ideals such as freedom, liberty, and justice for all, we must use our hands to implement these values. H.R. 7120 puts us on the right path. Many may seek to mischaracterize this legislation. Some will ignore the opportunities that this bill presents to improve our communities. For example, I greatly appreciate that the authors included my proposal, the Law Enforcement Inclusion Act, which permits Federal grant funds to be used to recruit and train officers from the neighborhoods they are charged to protect and serve. H.R. 7120 also provides law enforcement with the help and training they need to address mental health, drug use, and other complex societal issues. These proposals are partial solutions to the historic disconnect and distrust between communities of color and law enforcement. Others may argue that the bill does not go far enough. This legislation addresses one Federal part of a complicated puzzle of entrenched, systematic bias and inequality, and we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Going forward, we must demilitarize law enforcement and establish empathy in our justice system. Make no mistake--much more is needed from cities, counties, State, and Federal authorities in every corner of our country. Our work is cut out for us, and our mandate, from those whom we were elected to represent and serve, is clear. Mr. Speaker, a democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option. For peace cannot exist where justice is not served. I urge each and everyone of our colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of National Foster Care Month. For more than thirty years, the month of May has given voice to the unique, often complicated needs and situations of young people in our nation's foster care system. Sadly, too many of our young people are at risk of being left out and left behind. The pandemic only exacerbated the neglect and abuse of young people of all races, ages, and backgrounds in Georgia and across our country. For these reasons, it is important that, during National Foster Care Month, we recognize the nearly half million children who are currently in our nation's child welfare system. Madam Speaker, they must know that, despite all that is happening in our nation and around the world, I along with many other Members of Congress, mentors, volunteers, friends, and extended families love and value each and every young person in foster care. We must recommit to doing all we can to maximize their capacity and reaffirm our belief in their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Foster youth must trust and know that, on the darkest of days, we are always in their corner, and they are always in our hearts and thoughts. We must each do our part to ensure that every young person and aspiring adoptive and foster parent is able to fulfill their dreams of a stable, loving family. Many adults want to open their homes and their hearts, but they face barriers because the system says that they practice the wrong religion, love the wrong person, or are not married. Many children enter the system because of similar discrimination, and some experience it while in public care. For these reasons, I am proud to sponsor the bipartisan Every Child Deserves a Family Act to end discrimination in our child welfare system and expand every opportunity for a safe, forever family. I will continue working with my colleagues to pass this critical legislation and provide much-needed protections for children and adults in the child welfare system. Inspired by the experiences of many former foster youth in Metro Atlanta, I am deeply concerned about the more than 20,000 youth who age out of the foster care system every year. Government authorities share a unique and distinct responsibility to support those youth who transition from foster care to independent living. Far too often, these young adults go on to receive less education, hold fewer jobs, experience more homelessness and housing instability, and often experience imprisonment at higher rates than their peers who did not experience foster care. Federal, state, and local government have a moral duty to do all we can to protect and assist young people during and after their transition from foster care. The current coronavirus pandemic exposed the difficulties that many of foster youth face in navigating adolescence and adulthood with limited support. Government programs and authorities are often their only available resource, and we must do all we can to help restore hope and opportunities to young people and address the real, critical disparities they face prior to, during, and beyond this pandemic. I plan to introduce a comprehensive legislative package soon to do just that. During this National Foster Care Month, may we all be rededicated to the task of lifting up the young people entrusted to our nation's care while preparing and enabling them to succeed.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Jean Wiley, who transitioned from the world that she tirelessly fought to improve, on December 9, 2019. Born on June 11, 1942 to Elizabeth Thelma Holland Boyer Wiley and Joseph Alphonsus Wiley, Jean Wiley was a proud daughter of Baltimore, Maryland, where she completed her undergraduate degree at Morgan State University. As a testament to her work and legacy, many parts of our country--Michigan, Alabama, California, Washington, D.C., and Georgia to name a few--claim this amazing woman. In 1953, the Supreme Court integrated Washington, D.C., but a few miles up the road, Ms. Wiley grew up surrounded by the oppressive stench of segregation in Baltimore. In 1963, she and other students took matters into their own hands; police arrested Jean and her friends as they conducted a sit-in to desegregate Baltimore's theaters. Upon hearing that Howard University students were heading up the highway to reinforce their protest, Baltimore's Mayor released these brave young activists and integrated the facilities. Madam Speaker, I believe that taste of success fueled Ms. Wiley's life-long passion for civil and human rights. A few years later, Jean completed graduate studies at Michigan State University and began to teach at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute (now University). Professor Wiley challenged her students to expand their minds and inspired many to join the national movement for civil rights. I will forever cherish my memories from this period of our lives, when young people from all different walks of life became nonviolent foot soldiers in the fight for our freedom. After Hosea Williams and I attempted to lead a march from Selma to Montgomery on a day that became know as Bloody Sunday, Ms. Wiley and more than 500 Tuskegee students caravanned from Macon County to Montgomery, Alabama to protest in solidality for our right to vote. At the end of the summer, Congress passed, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965. Madam Speaker, for many of us in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Jean was and will always remain a sister. Time and time again, she put her life and livelihood on the line in her pursuit of truth and justice. Jean taught volunteers to canvass, offered her home as a refuge, and even became the voice and face of SNCC during the summer of 1965, when she served as our national media relations coordinator. In this role, Ms. Wiley played the integral, critical role of sharing our work in the Deep South with the nation and the world. Whether we were boycotting, protesting, or testing voter registration procedures, Jean made sure that our work was not ignored. After serving on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, Ms. Wiley made her way to Washington, D.C. where she helped create the Center for Black Education. Throughout her life, Jean was committed to the betterment of the African Diaspora and refused to wait for oppressive forces to see the light on their own. Over the years, she shared her expertise with Howard University's WHUR radio station, Essence Magazine, and the Institute for the Black World, an Atlanta- based think-tank. As a devoted educator, Jean also continued to teach at the University of the District of Columbia and the University of California at Berkeley. Whether in the classroom or in her home, Professor Wiley shared the lessons and tactics of the Civil Rights Movement with new generations--including her cousin, Ms. Kimberly W. Ross, who works closely with me and my office on Capitol Hill. As loved ones gather to reflect upon Ms. Jean Wiley's good and great work, I would like to pay tribute to the unbreakable bond of her adoring family--son, Cabral Stuckey Wiley; granddaughter, Breijanee Wiley; great-granddaughters, Shariyah Harris and Narii Parker; sisters, Joyce Dyson and Lois Wiley Benjamin; nieces, Shiree Dyson and Ayisha Dyson; and nephews, Keith Dyson, Toure Dyson, and Malcolm Wiley. Madam Speaker, the record should be clear: Ms. Wiley dedicated every ounce of her energy to the fight for justice. For these reasons, I proudly join all who knew, loved, learned from, and cared for this great leader in celebrating her life's work to transform the face and soul of our nation.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, earlier this month, I was unable to cast roll call votes from January 10th-16th and on January 27th and 29th. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on roll call 9, I would have voted No; on roll call 10, I would have voted No; on roll call 11, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 12, I would have voted No; on roll call 13, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 14, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 15, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 16, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 17, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 18, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 19, I would have voted Nay; on roll call 20, I would have voted Nay; on roll call 21, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 22, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 23, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 24, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 28, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 29, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 30, I would have voted Nay; on roll call 31, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 32, I would have voted Nay

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast roll call votes from January 7 to 9, 2020. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on roll call 1, I would have voted Present; on roll call 2, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 3, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 4, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 5, I would have voted Aye; and on roll call 6, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast roll call votes on December 12, 2019 and on December 17, 2019. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on roll call 689, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 688, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 682, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 680, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 679, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 678, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 677, I would have voted Aye; and on roll call 676, I would have voted Nay.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast roll call votes on November 20, 2019 and on November 21, 2019. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on roll call 632, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 633, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 634, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 635, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 636, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 637, I would have voted No; on roll call 638, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 639, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 640, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 641, I would have voted Aye; and on roll call 642, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Chairman Neal, for all of his hard and great work. He never gave up; he never gave in. He kept the faith, and he kept his eyes on the prize. I thank all of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, from the Ways and Means Committee for finding a way to get us to the point where we are today. Twenty-six years ago, I opposed NAFTA with every bone in my body. I never thought the day would come when we would have the opportunity to right some of the wrongs in that agreement. NAFTA failed our workers. It failed our Mexican brothers and sisters. It failed Mother Earth. NAFTA destroyed the hopes and dreams of a generation. It wiped out communities. It started a race to the bottom. With this vote, we have a chance to reset the clock, to chart a new path, and to create a new trade model. We can always do more, but today, we build a new foundation for trade policy, a floor that reflects our values as a people and as a nation. I thank the working group and all of our trade staff for working day in and day out. They were determined to do right.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to support this resolution. When we came to Washington in 1961 to go on the Freedom Rides, we chose that day. When we came here on August 28, 1963, for the March on Washington, it was joyful. We met with a young President, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. When we came here on August 6, 1965, for the signing of the Voting Rights Act, we were excited and hopeful. We met with President Lyndon Johnson. But today, this day, we didn't ask for this. This is a sad day. It is not a day of joy. Our Nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings. We have Presidents, and the Constitution is our compass. When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. Our children and their children will ask us: What did you do? What did you say? For some, this vote may be hard. But we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, on Thursday, December 19, 2019, Mr. Henry Cole of Washington, D.C. will celebrate his centennial birthday. Mr. Cole and his nine siblings were born and raised right here in the nation's capital, where he developed a love for his family, his hometown, and his nation. During World War II, Mr. Cole honorably served in the United States Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. After the war, he returned home to Washington, D.C., where he continued his pursuit of the American Dream. Mr. Cole worked as a machinist at the Washington Navy Yard, opened a family-owned restaurant with his sister, and eventually retired from the United States Postal Service in 1980 after a long, distinguished career in public service. I believe one of the most moving and inspirational aspects of Mr. Cole's legacy and life is the love affair he shared with Gloria, his beloved wife of 68 years. Together, they raised seven children-- Theodore, Shelia, Sylvia, Linda, Rex, Alice and Don. Those seeds planted with love continue to flourish in their 25 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Madam Speaker, there is an African proverb that says, ``What you help a child to love can be more important than what you help him to learn.'' Mr. Cole adored his family, his country, and his community; however, he never restricted his devotion and wisdom to his immediate family and maintained an open door and served as a father figure and role model to countless others. As we strive towards realizing the dream of a nation at peace with itself and her neighbors, Mr. Cole witnessed and was an agent of change. On the behalf of a grateful nation, I thank this beloved patriarch for embodying courage, character, compassion for the last century. For these reasons, Madam Speaker, I am proud to join the family and all who know and love Mr. Henry Cole in honoring him on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Ms. Paula Kocher Barnes on her retirement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and for her decades of public service. For over 40 years, Ms. Barnes served our country--most recently as deputy associate general counsel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Office of the General Counsel located in Georgia's Fifth Congressional District. It took some time for Ms. Barnes to make her way to our wonderful city. A native daughter of Iowa, Ms. Barnes completed her undergraduate degree at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. She continued her studies at Emory University's School of Law, where I believe Metro Atlanta infused her spirit. Ms. Barnes began a career in federal service at the Department of Education in 1980 and joined the HHS Office of the General Counsel in the Region IV Atlanta Office a couple of years later. After five years in the regional office, Ms. Barnes transitioned to the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), where she continued her federal career for the next 32 years. During her tenure with the ATSDR, Ms. Barnes served on the front lines of implementing policy at the intersection of environment and health policy, an issue that is near and dear to my heart. As an attorney- advisor, Ms. Barnes worked to implement the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, a monumental bill which became public law the same year that I was elected to Congress. As a senior attorney, Ms. Barnes continued this important effort by providing key counsel for interagency initiatives and memoranda on environmental health policy. In January 2014, the Centers for Disease Control promoted Ms. Barnes to the prominent position of deputy associate general counsel for the CDC/ATSDR Branch. Over the years, she contributed to litigation efforts regarding the Agent Orange exposure studies, the Federal Advisory Committee Act-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Diesel Study, Freedom of Information Act, ATSDR cost recovery, and the precedential Hanford Downwinders case. Ms. Barnes also managed to find the time to advance scholarship and policy in her professional field by contributing to numerous publications, including two prominent public health law textbooks and several articles. In addition, she served as an adjunct professor at Georgia State University's and Emory University's law schools and as a guest lecturer at Duke University. During her esteemed career, Ms. Barnes played a critical role in several significant public health activities and events, including emergency responses to the September 11th tragedy, anthrax threats, Ebola Virus, Zika, and several major natural disasters. Our nation and the global family are forever grateful for Ms. Barnes and so many other CDC employees who help keep us safe, healthy, and alive. Today, I would like to thank Ms. Barnes for her 41 years of federal service, for her dedication to public health, public service, and education. As she prepares for a well-deserved retirement, I wish Ms. Barnes the very best as she embarks upon this next chapter.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast roll call votes on November 20th and November 21st. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: on roll call 632, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 633, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 634, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 635, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 636, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 637, I would have voted No; on roll call 638, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 639, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 640, I would have voted Aye; on roll call 641, I would have voted Aye; and on roll call 642, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my beloved colleague and my friend for yielding. I would like to thank our colleague, Mr. Austin Scott, for organizing this Special Order tribute to a great man, to a wonderful human being. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Senator Johnny Isakson, a son of Atlanta, Georgia. Senator Isakson is a special man. He is a good man. I want to thank him for his years of service in the Georgia State Legislature, in the United States House of Representatives, and, now, in the United States Senate. On February 25, 1999, I introduced Johnny as the newest member of the Georgia congressional delegation to the House of Representatives. He came to Congress as a graduate of the University of Georgia and a successful businessman. Before coming to Congress, he served as a member of the Georgia Air National Guard, the State house minority leader, a State senator, and the chair of the State board of education. On that day, I said he brought a wealth of knowledge with him. I explained to our colleagues that, in his decades of public service in our home State, Johnny developed a great reputation as a bridge builder, a man who has strong beliefs but was also willing to work with others to get things done. Very quickly, Members of the House and Senate discovered how true this was. The Senator does not make a lot of noise, but he has the ability and the capacity to speak truth to power. When Johnny served in the House of Representatives, we always found a way to come together, and we continued that tradition when he was elected to the Senate. Over the years, we worked together on many, many issues, like transportation, water, housing, and veterans affairs. We always found a way to get along and to do the good work the people deserved. Time and time again, he stood with us, he worked with us to uplift African Americans in the State of Georgia, to recognize individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jackie Robinson, native of Georgia. He did not just talk the talk, he literally walked the walk. Senator, you not only supported the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006, but, a few years later, you even co-led the congressional pilgrimage to Selma, Alabama. I want to say thank you for all of your good and great work. Those of us who know you will agree that you are always thoughtful and mindful, a warm and welcoming gentleman in the truest sense of the word. For two decades, you, Senator, led a team that could cross the aisle without compromising their values. Whenever a constituent came over from a meeting with you and your staff, they felt heard and respected. I hope you do not mind, but I would like to share a moment that stands out for me and will always stand out for me as long as I live, to this very day. One morning, before I was scheduled to read the 13th Amendment on the House floor, Senator Isakson asked me to come and speak with his staff about service and my own experiences. We had an honest and thoughtful discussion. It was one of the most meaningful, memorable experiences of my years in Congress. I carry it in my heart to this very day, to this very moment, what Senator Isakson said. I believe 20 years have passed since I stood on this very floor to introduce Senator Isakson to Congress. As Johnny returns to private life with his beloved wife, Dianne, of 51 years and his wonderful, beautiful children and grandchildren, I would like to thank Johnny for his years of service. I would like to thank Johnny for his service to our State, our Nation. I wish Johnny health and happiness. I hope the Senator takes some time to enjoy a beautiful and wonderful life in the State of Georgia. Senator Isakson has been very good to the people of the State of Georgia, and I am lucky enough, and just blessed really, to call him a friend and a brother. I thank him so much. Madam Speaker, it is almost difficult to yield back the time when I speak of this good and great leader from the State of Georgia. I thank Johnny for his service. I will come over and meet you, brother.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Brenda Jones, who served as my communications director for over 15 years. Ms. Jones came with a strong recommendation from my special assistant and had a resume and perspective that was unique to the United States House of Representatives. From the very first moment we met, I realized how fortunate I was to find Brenda. Brenda Jones is a proud, native Washingtonian with a passion for social justice, history, and the arts. She studied the Civil Rights Movement, understood the challenges we faced, and dedicated her life to the work that remains. This vantage point provided a unique perspective and comprehension of the complicated matters facing my congressional district in Metro Atlanta and my work here in the United States Congress. Before coming to Capitol Hill, Ms. Jones worked in media as a researcher for ABC News' Washington, D.C. Bureau, a writer and assistant editor at WTOP-AM News Radio, and a radio specialist of international activities for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. She later transitioned to public relations where she honed her skills in developing media strategies, coordinating national book tours for civil and women rights luminaries, and launching public education campaigns. One of the things that I most appreciate about Brenda is her constant commitment to education--whether in life or academia. I believe that her centenarian father, Mr. Robert L. Davis and her late mother, Mrs. Myrtle Mac (Bowers) Davis, planted these seeds of excellence, and in Brenda they bloomed. As a graduate of National Cathedral School, Indiana University Bloomington, and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Brenda returned to Harvard University to earn another master's degree in Public Administration, where she received the Gertrude Manley Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding leadership skills. Ms. Jones invested her astute expertise and intellectualism in the United States House of Representatives. She brought life to her vision and took the role of communications director to new heights as she funneled depth and dignity into her work. Those, who know me, understand that I have a clear style--make it simple, make it plain. When Brenda joined my office, she made my words sing--in press releases, interviews, on the House Floor, in book forwards, in op-eds, and in speeches across the country and around the world. Madam Speaker, Brenda quickly became the conscience of my office. For 15 years, she humbly and selflessly worked day in and day out to channel every ounce of her knowledge and experience into creating new methods of communicating and mastering unchartered territory. Ms. Jones created a national and international strategy to tell the story of my work in the Civil Rights Movement, as a Member of Congress, as a representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District, and as a legislator, who found a way to get in the way--and get things done. Since she consistently refuses to step into the limelight, I was particularly proud when the public, her peers, and colleagues began to pay tribute to this dynamic woman. In 2010, Brenda earned the prestigious Theodore C. Sorenson Speechwriting Award. In 2012, we worked together on a book, Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change, and we won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work/Biography for her work in translating the philosophy and doctrines that inspired the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement into advice for a new generation. A few years later, the National Journal honored Ms. Jones as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women on Capitol Hill in 2015, and the Stennis Center for Public Leadership selected her as a senior fellow in the 114th, Congress. Somehow Brenda always found time to mentor aspiring professionals and build networks of kindred souls. In 2013, she founded the Capitol Hill Writers Workshop to develop the skills and art of professionals in a communal space. Brenda also served her communities--whether as a commissioner on the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C., in advisory capacities for the Sustained Dialogue, Inc. and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, or on the Committee of Visitors for Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She also shared her expertise with the Democratic National Committee for national conventions and our former colleague's, Rep. John Barrow, inaugural campaign. For years, this steady stream of colleagues, mentees, and people with whom she connected across the country and around the world became a permanent part of Brenda's extended circle. In this day and time when Congress can feel more transactional than communal, Brenda was the nucleus of the Team Lewis family. Shortly before joining my office, Brenda lost her beloved husband Dr. Martin Wilson Jones, M.D., and I often felt that she took care of us with the selfless passion and dedication that he showed her. If you were feeling down and out, we could always trust that Brenda has natural teas, organic tips, and an astrological analysis to soothe your mind, body, and soul. She was often a comfort and confidante during our darkest days and hours. For 15 years, Ms. Jones fiercely and unequivocally advocated for me, my constituents, and my work in Congress. It was an honor to know that I had this trusted senior advisor and seasoned communications professional in my corner. Although I will miss having Ms. Brenda Jones by my side, I wish her happiness as she transitions to exciting new opportunities and inevitable success.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the young lady from Michigan-- Mrs. Lawrence. I love that.

Mr. LEWIS. Well, you are still very young--for bringing us together to honor John Conyers. The former dean of the House of Representatives and the cofounder of the Congressional Black Caucus, John Conyers, was born at a time when we needed someone to stand up and to speak up and speak out and to get in the way of getting what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. As a matter of fact, John Conyers and Martin Luther King, Jr. were born the same year, so maybe history, faith, and maybe God Almighty placed the two of them here to work together. Before being elected to Congress, Mr. Conyers served in the Korean war and on the staff of Representative John Dingell. When the people of Michigan elected Mr. Conyers in 1964, he brought Congress to the front lines of the civil rights movement, and he took civil rights, voting rights, labor rights, and human rights to the United States Congress. John Conyers, perhaps more than any other Member of Congress, made trips over and over and over again to the South to identify with the struggle going on in the South. He came to Alabama, to Georgia, Mississippi, and other parts of the Deep South. Mr. Speaker, Representative Conyers was one of two Members of Congress, both from Michigan, who voted on the original and every single reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. He could give us the backstory of every major law from the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to the 20-year effort to establish a National Day of Service honoring my friend and leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When Rosa Parks, a person I got to know so well, was forced to leave her home State of Alabama after the Montgomery bus boycott, Mr. Conyers more than anyone else gave her a position on his staff, and she was very proud and pleased to work in the office of John Conyers. She served in his district office for 23 years. The record should be clear: John Conyers loved music, but he loved jazz. He loved jazz more than any other form of music. He loved this institution, and he dedicated his life to realizing the dream of what our Nation could be. He was of the people, and he was for the people. On this difficult day, I offer my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, sons, family, and the people of Michigan who mourn his loss. May he rest in peace and in power.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a close, dear, and beloved friend, almost like a brother, Congressman Elijah Cummings. This great man, this brother, spent 36 years in public service to his people, his home State, and to our country. He was a leader who loved this Nation, all of its people, and fought until his very last breath for those who had been left out and left behind. He dedicated every single moment of his life to strengthening and preserving our Union. He spent every waking moment thinking of those who were hurting and suffering. He focused all of his energy into this Congress and the people we represent. Mr. Speaker, it was an honor to know and to love him. It was an honor to serve with him. It was a great honor to consider him my brother and my friend. Sometimes people would confuse us and say: ``Hello, Elijah,'' or, ``Hello, John Lewis'' to him, and we would joke about it. We would laugh about it. Mr. Speaker, I say to the people in Maryland and people around our Nation and people around the world: We have lost a warrior. I don't think we will be so lucky or so blessed to see the likeness of this man again. As a nation and as a people, we owe Chairman Cummings a debt of gratitude. There are no words to describe the loss of our brother, our friend, and our colleague who lived up to this great and powerful name. It hurts so deeply that all I can do is keep his wife, his family, and all who knew and loved him in my constant prayers. Elijah, we hope to see you again one day. Blessed be your name.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, today I come with a heavy heart, deeply concerned about the future of our democracy, and I am not alone. People approach me everywhere I go, whether I am traveling back and forth to Atlanta or around our country. They believe, they truly believe, that our Nation is descending into darkness. They never dreamed that the United States, once seen as a beacon of hope and as an inspiration to people striving for equality and justice, would be falling into such disgrace. I share their concerns for the future of our country. It keeps me up at night. We took an oath to protect this Nation against all domestic enemies and foreign enemies. Sometimes I am afraid to go to sleep for fear that I will wake up and our democracy will be gone and never return. At every turn, this administration demonstrates complete disdain and disregard for ethics, for the law, and for the Constitution. They have lied under oath. They refuse to account for their actions and appear before legislative bodies who have the constitutional right to inquire about their activities. The people have a right to inquire, they have a right to know. The people have a right to know whether they can put their faith and trust in the outcome of our elections. They have a right to know whether the cornerstone of our democracy was undermined by people sitting in the White House today. They have a right to know whether a foreign power was asked to intervene in the 2020 election. They have a right to know whether the President is using his office to line his pockets. Mr. Speaker, the people of this Nation realize that if they had committed even half of these possible violations, the Federal Government would be swift to seek justice. We cannot delay. We must not wait. Now is the time to act. I have been patient while we tried every other path and used every other tool. We will never find the truth unless we use the power given to the House of Representatives, and the House alone, to begin an official investigation as dictated by the Constitution. The future of our democracy is at stake. There comes a time when you have to be moved by the spirit of history to take action to protect and preserve the integrity of our Nation. I believe, I truly believe, the time to begin impeachment proceedings against this President has come. To delay or to do otherwise would betray the foundation of our democracy.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise with a sense of righteous indignation to support this resolution. I know racism when I see it. I know racism when I feel it. And at the highest level of government, there is no room for racism. It sows the seeds of violence and destroys the hopes and dreams of people. The world is watching. They are shocked and dismayed because it seems we have lost our way as a nation, as a proud and great people. We are one Congress, and we are here to serve one House: the American House, the American people. Some of us have been victims of the stain, the pain, and the hurt of racism. In the 1950s and during the 1960s, segregationists told us to go back when we protested for our rights. They told ministers, priests, rabbis, and nuns to go back. They told the innocent little children seeking just an equal education to go back. As a nation and as a people, we need to go forward and not backwards. With this vote, we stand with our sisters. Three were born in America, and one came here looking for a better life. With this vote, we meet our moral obligations to condemn hate, racism, and bigotry in every form. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. Let's do what is right, what is fair, and what is just.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3351, the fiscal year 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Quigley and Chairwoman Lowey for their leadership on this important bill. I would also like to recognize their staff for reaching out and listening our concerns and priorities in this bill. The Federal Government shutdown, changes to the tax code, and difficulty accessing experts increases IRS casework in many District Offices, including my own. As the chair of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, I believe it is critically important that Congress restore desperately needed funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For many years, the National Taxpayer Advocate underscored the necessity of providing the agency with the resources, staff, and tools it needs in order to improve taxpayer services. Although Congress needs to restore the agency's funding to at least $12.3 billion, I believe that this bill finally moves the agency in the right direction. I would also like to reiterate my appreciation for the Appropriations Committee's support when the House considered the Taxpayer First Act. As you know the Taxpayer First Act, which the House and Senate adopted earlier this year, is the most important improvement to taxpayer services in a generation. We worked hard to correct misinformation that our bill would tie the hands of the IRS and hurt taxpayers' options. During a time when there is so much tension and rush to judgment, our coalition remained thoughtful and fair. As you know, Mr. Chair, the Taxpayer First Act resulted from years of bipartisan hearings, roundtables, and a public comment period on the draft bill. This legislation authorizes $30 million dollars in matching grants for the popular Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which helps low and moderate-income taxpayers complete and file their taxes. The Taxpayer First Act also protects certain low-income taxpayers from the private debt collection program, and authorizes desperately needed new initiatives to protect and serve taxpayers, who are victims of identity theft. I hope that this bipartisan, bicameral bill will become public law in the near future. In closing, I would also like to recognize the Chairman's hard work to remove problematic policy riders from the FY20 House bill. I know that it was not easy, and I thank him and his staff for taking the time to consider our concerns. I offer my strong support and commitment to continue working with the Chairman and the Subcommittee so that this critical agency receives the funding and guidance so that the IRS may provide the highest quality, timely and secure taxpayer experience.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. George P. ``Bud'' Peterson, Ph.D. on his retirement. For the past 10 years, Dr. Peterson served as the 11th president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a world-renowned higher education institution that is located in my district. Under Dr. Peterson's leadership, the Institute has consistently ranked among our nation's best institutions of higher education, and he managed to exceed benchmarks outlined in Georgia Tech's strategic plan. Madam Speaker, we are very fortunate to have an institution like Georgia Tech educating our young people in Atlanta. President Peterson worked tirelessly to open the doors of opportunity to young people from every corner of Georgia. During his tenure, undergraduate applications tripled, graduate applications doubled, and the student body increased by 69 percent to more than 32,000 students. In 2014, the Georgia Tech guaranteed admission and financial support to valedictorians and salutatorians from Atlanta Public Schools. In 2017, it extended these offerings statewide through the Georgia Tech Scholars Program. Access to a quality education changes the very trajectory of these young people's lives. For visitors to Metro Atlanta, Dr. Peterson's impact is arguably most visible in Tech Square in Midtown Atlanta. There is an important national conversation on how to create new livable-wage, manufacturing jobs and bolster United States' global competitiveness. In our region, Dr. Peterson ensured that Georgia Tech became the regional center for this discussion. For these reasons, former Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke appointed President Peterson to the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and President Barack Obama appointed him to the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) steering committee and its 2.0 successor. President Peterson excels in connecting young minds with great ideas to emerging industries and opportunity. Since 2013, 30 corporations have set up innovation centers in the area, engaging students' creativity, growing our economy, and ensuring that Atlanta remain a center for talent and technology. In fact, Madam Speaker, last week Dr. Peterson welcomed my staff and me to Georgia Tech's new Coda building. This incredible facility, along with the rest of Tech Square, shows how the Institute will continue to shape Atlanta's future. Dr. Peterson was instrumental in making this vision a reality. Before coming to Georgia Tech, Dr. Peterson served as chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder and provost at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Born in San Francisco, California, Dr. Peterson grew up in Kansas and earned degrees from Kansas State University and Texas A&M University. Throughout his career, Dr. Peterson focused on promoting research and scientific education and received national accolades for his work. For these reasons, President George W. Bush appointed him to serve on the National Science Board in 2008, and President Obama re-appointed President Peterson for a second six-year term in 2014. Although Dr. Peterson is retiring this summer from the administration, he is staying in the Georgia Tech family and returning to the Institute's faculty. On behalf of the people of Atlanta, I thank President Peterson for his years of dedicated leadership to our community and to Georgia Tech. I wish him, his beloved wife Val, and their four children continued success and happiness in this next chapter of their lives.

Mr. LEWIS

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3151) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modernize and improve the Internal Revenue Service, and for other purposes.