Rep. Sewell Speaks Out at Tax Bill Markup

Mr. Speaker, I was really excited to be on this Committee. I wanted to be on this Committee because I wanted a seat at the table for the constituents of Alabama that I represent. Many of whom are striving to be in the middle class. Our tax code is supposed to be reflective of our values. The tax code does pick winners and losers. And Mr. Chairman, the winners in this bill, are the top 1% of the wealthiest Americans. Multinational corporations will benefit and Wall Street fat cats. The losers in this bill are the working families and middle class. Homeowners, local municipalities, and hard working Americans who strive to achieve the American dream. These are the people that I value and I know that you do too. Mr. Chairman, I am sure you have heard the old adage, better to have a seat at the table than to be on the menu. Well Mr. Chairman, the people I represent are on the menu in this bill. And I cannot stand by and let it continue as long as I am on this Committee. Mr. Chairman, the hardworking folks I represent deserve nothing less than to have a seat at the table. and to have their voices heard on tax reform. The way this bill was drafted under cover of night without input from the Democrats means that the table was reserved for Republicans only. Mr. Chairman, I don't believe that is what our founding fathers meant for this democracy. So Mr. Chairman, as I am closing, I think of what Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress, said. "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." Mr. Chairman, this is my folding chair. And I'm hear to give a voice to the people I represent.