Real reform takes sacrifice

I have walked the byways of Capitol Hill a long time. I have witnessed the bitter harvest of dug-in heels and rigid positions. And I have seen the tradewinds of true reform blow, ushering in a new day in America. Important changes have always required bipartisan action in Congress. Members unite around our fundamental calling to make a difference in people’s lives, and they commit to move this nation forward. 

In the 1960s, Congress responded to the cry for human dignity by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Legislators ceded ground to make room for compromise. In June of 1963, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic president, invited Republicans to meet at the White House. He needed them to counteract the Southern bloc from his own party swearing to fight the bill. That same month Republican senators issued a statement supporting the president and affirming government’s duty, “as defined in the Constitution [to] protect the rights of all U.S. citizens regardless of race, creed, color or national origin.” 

The attorney general, then Robert Kennedy, testified before the House Judiciary Committee during 22 days of hearings, and he would sit before the Senate as well. By the end of January 1964, after reading the bill title-by-title, after nine days and 10 hours of debate, the House passed civil rights reform by a bipartisan majority of 290 to 130.

In the Senate, it took Minority Leader Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.) to rise to what many called his finest hour. Democrats held a two-thirds majority, 67 votes. 

But it would take at least 22 Republicans to end legalized segregation and racial discrimination in America. 

Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) said words that still resonate today: “We hope in vain, if we hope that this issue can be put safely over to another tomorrow, to be dealt with by another generation of senators. The time is now. The crossroads is here in the Senate. I appeal to the distinguished minority leader whose patriotism has always taken precedence over his partisanship, to join with me … to [resolve] this grave national issue.” 

There would be five months of debate and over 500 amendments introduced to weaken the bill. Dirksen would finally end the longest filibuster in Senate history — 534 hours. He said, “I trust that the time will never come in my political career when the waters of partisanship will flow so swift and so deep as to obscure my estimate of the national interest.” The rest is history.

This is the legacy that has made America great — not division and discord, but its ability to pull together and embrace the change that will come. As this Congress faces the need to reform healthcare in America, I have moments when I have wondered, Do we have to be so mean? Can we bury our differences?  Can we stop questioning the motives and sincerity of our colleagues?

Somewhere I read, “Come let us reason together.” We have the ability as leaders of the nation to do more than make policy. We have the capacity to relieve suffering, to bring light to dark places. If we want to be headlights and not tail-lights, if we want our work to have meaning, then we have to be willing to sacrifice. What is power without integrity, ambition without idealism or leadership without service?  

If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit, there is a brilliant man in the White House, who understands the issues and the challenges before us.

We should take advantage of the opportunity his intelligence affords us as legislators. If we take the long, hard look, we would see that Barack Obama is actually a composite of us all.  In his story, we can all find some reflection of ourselves.  In hard times, he is a symbol of progress, a symbol of the hope that change can come, not only in America, but around the world. There is more than an election before us. We face the moans and groans of a weary nation; the dreams and aspirations of a people are in our hands. This is the sacred trust of leadership that reaches beyond talking points, marching orders and party affiliation.

At bottom, there are only simple truths.  We are Americans first. Barack Obama is our president. As the people’s choice, we owe him our respect, candor, and all the support we can give. The sick, the poor and the elderly in this nation are suffering. Some will die today because healthcare is not accessible.

We have the power to change that, and we should.

Lewis is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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