{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-john-lewis-update-ways-means-committee-mark-hr-1", "Rep. John Lewis' Update on Ways & Means Committee Markup of H.R. 1", "2017-11-07", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "johnlewis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday the House Ways and Means Committee began marking up H.R. 1, the House Republican bill to cut taxes for the richest Americans on the backs of working and middle-class families, students, and seniors. \u00a0\n\nDuring the markup, Congressman Lewis made the below statement (WATCH)--\n\u00a0\n\u201cIt is hard to put my feelings into words today.\u00a0 You see, I was elected to Congress in November of 1986 \u2013 only a month after the Tax Reform Act became law.\u00a0 It was tax reform, not tax cuts.\nThe Members of this Committee inspired our entire class as we took our oath on the House Floor 30 years ago. \u00a0They set the gold standard -- a bar to which we all aspired.\u00a0 Elected by the people, they worked with the people, and they fought for the people.\u00a0 Back then, the Committee took their time.\u00a0 They worked across the aisle and across the dome.\u00a0 Their model inspired many of us to fight for an appointment to the Ways and Means Committee -- the oldest standing Committee in the House of Representatives. \nEach and every person in the room today knows that the bill we are considering is an insult to their legacy.\u00a0 This bill is a shame and a disgrace to the spirit and history of this Committee and to the constitutional duties and responsibilities of the United States Congress.\u00a0\u00a0 \nFirst and foremost, this tax cut legislation does not make the tax code any simpler or any fairer.\u00a0\u00a0 If Congressional Republicans pass a tax bill of this size so late in the year, it will be a nightmare for the IRS to implement and for taxpayers to understand this bill, this code by January.\nSecond, this bill is a slap in the face to real people.\u00a0\u00a0 You are giving trillions of dollars in tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.\u00a0 This is not right.\u00a0 It is not fair.\u00a0 It is not just. \nHow can we punish teachers who are just trying to buy supplies for their classrooms?\u00a0 \u00a0How can you target the sick, the elderly, and the disabled?\u00a0 How can you attack immigrant children and DREAMers in a way that is just plain mean and heartless?\nMost importantly, how can you bury your head in the sand when there are grave issues facing our country like transportation financing, student debt, war funding, affordable housing, and caring for veterans and their families?\u00a0 \nAfter this markup and after the winners pocketed their rewards, the spotlight will move on.\u00a0 Every single person in this room knows what will happen next from the shadows.\u00a0 Even the most creative math cannot hide this cold, hard truth: this bill robs poor Peter to pay billionaire Paul.\u00a0 \nAway from the cameras, Congressional Republicans will quietly begin to cut safety net programs to pay for their massive, corporate tax cut.\u00a0\u00a0 The record should be clear.\u00a0 This is not about tax reform.\u00a0 These are tax cuts for the super rich.\u00a0 This bill turns a blind eye to the middle class and a deaf ear to working families. \nMembers of this Committee must be honest to the people we represent and serve.\u00a0 This bill picks a few winners as our children, grandchildren, and generations yet unborn will suffer from this reckless Act. \nLook around us!\u00a0\u00a0 We are surrounded by the portraits of those who put people before politics!\u00a0 We sit in the chairs of those who tackled the deep, hard challenges of their day -- as they designed visionary programs like Medicare, Social Security, and the G.I. Bill.\u00a0 We walk in the footsteps of those who worked to create a better world for their fellow Americans and future generations.\nHow can we look ourselves in the eye when we know that this bill is our gift to our children and grandchildren?\u00a0 There are no two ways about it.\u00a0\u00a0 In the coming years, there may be small wins, but the damage to our budget and our future is done.\u00a0 \nMr. Chairman -- and I say this with all due respect -- this spiteful, irresponsible tax cut is not worth the paper on which it is written.\u00a0 Throw this bill out, and let us come together to work for the people.\u00a0 We can do better.\u00a0 We should do better, and the American people deserve better \u2013 much better.\u00a0\u00a0 Let us do what is right, what is just, and what we were elected to do -- to serve the best interests of all Americans, not just a select few. \u00a0I yield back the balance of my time.\u201d\n\u00a0\nA daily summary of the Committee\u2019s markup proceedings will be available at https://johnlewis.house.gov/taxcutbill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-john-lewis-update-ways-means-committee-mark-hr-1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7155150417238474, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}