Estimated Tax Payment Safe Harbor Adjustment

Floor Speech

ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENT SAFE HARBOR ADJUSTMENT

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Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 1906. No one, but no one will pay more taxes under the bill. It merely ensures that multi-millionaires don't add to our tax gap.

The bill changes in a very minor way estimated tax payments made by wealthy individuals with incomes of more than $5 million a year. It makes a technical timing change to tax payments made by these individuals. They do not pay more taxes. H.R. 1906 is critical to the pay-as-you-go pledge of this Congress.

I am pleased to have supported H.R. 1905, the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007. For 207 years, Washington, D.C. residents have paid Federal taxes, and for 207 years they have had not a voting representative in the United States Congress.

The right to vote is precious. It is sacred. It is the cornerstone of our democracy.

Americans sacrificed everything for this right. They were harassed, beaten, jailed and even killed for the right to vote.

Not so long ago, many of my friends, many of my colleagues lost their lives. There are many more faceless, nameless heroes who suffered and sacrificed for this basic right.

How can we preach this principle around the world and not practice it here in our Nation's Capital? It is the foundation of our democracy.

So I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1906.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I don't understand it, Mr. Speaker, how my colleague, my friend, my brother from Georgia can come here and state in an open way that this is the most oppressive Congress. We have only been in the majority for 4 months, 4 short months, not quite 4 months. You really don't believe that.

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Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Let me say to my friend from Georgia, I think it was a good and a necessary rule.

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Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this is an historic day. This is a wonderful day for the people of the District of Columbia.

I first came to Washington, Mr. Speaker, in May of 1961 to go on something called the Freedom Rides. It was impossible for blacks and whites to board a Greyhound bus or Trailways bus here in the District of Columbia, and travel together through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, into Mississippi and to New Orleans.

I came back here in 1963 at the age of 23 with Eleanor Holmes Norton, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, to participate in the March on Washington. To be here and see Jack Kemp, an old friend, former colleague, on this day is a great day.

So, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1906. And I want to make it plain and crystal clear that no one, but no one, will pay more taxes under this bill. It changes in a very minor way estimated tax payments made by wealthy individuals. This bill does not increase their taxes. It would affect only 4,000 multimillionaires. It is only a tiny change.

Yes, I am going to say it again: I am pleased to have supported H.R. 1905. Today is the day for Washington, D.C. residents to realize the dream that so many take for granted. The 200-year wait is over. The 200-year wait is over.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 1906.

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