[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14259]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICA'S FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT

  (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in light of today's news reports 
to really thank Republicans for finally agreeing with us that all 
children and families of America are important, whether or not they are 
wealthy.
  Two weeks ago, these same Republicans did not understand that lesson. 
Two weeks ago, they sacrificed the well-being of 6.5 million families, 
including 12 million children, so that they could pass tax breaks and 
dividend tax cuts for their wealthiest friends. Republicans thought 
that their actions really would have gone unnoticed, but how wrong they 
were.
  In California, for example, without this new legislation, almost 1.3 
million California families would receive no child tax credit, 
including 2.4 million children. The Republicans would have especially 
hurt minority families because one-third of all Latino families would 
miss out on the tax break, while half of all African American families 
would not receive the credit.
  Thankfully now, the majority is really beginning to listen and 
beginning to understand that those families who do not make any more 
than $26,000 should also receive the same benefit that every family 
that earns up to $110,000 and over would receive.

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