Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-01-08

HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS

Taxes

Context

On 2026-01-08, Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT-3) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS" in the House. The speech addressed taxes.

Full Text

HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H229] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of our Nation's most effective and determined advocates for children and families: the singular Bill Harris, who dedicated his life to this cause. From founding KidsPac, a political action group dedicated to promoting public investments for children, to enacting the legislation that created The National Child Traumatic Stress Network in 2000, funded at $10 million that has now grown to being a nearly $100 million initiative, Bill was a passionate leader, a persuasive advocate, and he did not suffer fools. He was never satisfied with symbolic action or minor gestures. He pushed for systemic change and substantive legislation. Together, we were able to expand the child tax credit in 2003 to cover more low- income families. The Wall Street Journal called these families ``the lucky duckies,'' and in that spirit, Bill gifted me a set of rubber duckies that remain in my office today. Our proudest achievement--and I say ours because it was a team effort--was the expanded monthly child tax credit that was signed into law in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, child poverty was nearly cut in half, hunger by a quarter, and it provided economic security to middle-class and working families. While many may never have heard of Bill Harris, it was his tenacity and his doing, and we will secure its future in his name. We have much to do. We will do it with his spirit. ____________________

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HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H229] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE MEMORY OF BILL HARRIS (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of our Nation's most effective and determined advocates for children and families: the singular Bill Harris, who dedicated his life to this cause. From founding KidsPac, a political action group dedicated to promoting public investments for children, to enacting the legislation that created The National Child Traumatic Stress Network in 2000, funded at $10 million that has now grown to being a nearly $100 million initiative, Bill was a passionate leader, a persuasive advocate, and he did not suffer fools. He was never satisfied with symbolic action or minor gestures. He pushed for systemic change and substantive legislation. Together, we were able to expand the child tax credit in 2003 to cover more low- income families. The Wall Street Journal called these families ``the lucky duckies,'' and in that spirit, Bill gifted me a set of rubber duckies that remain in my office today. Our proudest achievement--and I say ours because it was a team effort--was the expanded monthly child tax credit that was signed into law in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, child poverty was nearly cut in half, hunger by a quarter, and it provided economic security to middle-class and working families. While many may never have heard of Bill Harris, it was his tenacity and his doing, and we will secure its future in his name. We have much to do. We will do it with his spirit. ____________________