WASHINGTON-Rep. John Lewis made this statement today about the beating of Brandon White, allegedly because he is gay.

            "There is not any room in our society for any crime against any citizen simply because of individual differences.  All human beings are made by the same hands, so no one has the right to demean, humiliate or beat down another individual because he or she is different.  We should begin to see difference as an opportunity to grow, to understand something that is new to us, not as an invitation to violence."

Though Rep. John Lewis was instrumental in positioning Atlanta to receive the $47.6 million TIGER grant from the federal government to initiate the Atlanta Streetcar Project, he is unable to attend the kick-off today.  Rep. Lewis worked closely with MARTA , Central Atlanta Progress, and the city to guide the strategic positioning and submission of the grant to the federal government .  Since FY 2008, Rep. Lewis has brought in nearly $5 million in federal funds to support transportation projects in the district.  He made these comments today about the kick-off.               

"I welcome Secretary LaHood to the 5th District," said Rep. Lewis, "to kick-off this important project and look forward to continuing our work to improve the quality of life for citizens and businesses in the district through innovative transportation projects.

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will be launching a mobile vet center initiative which will have the ability to bring vet readjustment counseling services to urban and rural areas that are not readily served by stationary government offices and may be inaccessible to affected families.  Rep. John Lewis applauded this effort on behalf of the Obama administration to reach veterans, especially those hardest hit by post traumatic stress disorder, unemployment, depression and other lingering impacts of a youth spent at war.

"It is tragic that veterans represent a large percentage of the homeless population in many urban centers, including Atlanta," said Rep. John Lewis.  "I am very glad that the Obama Administration under the leadership of General Eric Shinseki has determined to use advanced technology to reach these Americans.  They were prepared to give all they had in the defense of this country.  It is the least we can do to extend ourselves and the resources of our government to serve them more effectively."

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will consider a bill entitled the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act H.R. 3630. The bill is deceptively named.  Doctored by House Republicans, who heard quite clearly the Democrats' call for an extension of unemployment insurance before the Christmas adjournment, Republicans have used this mandate to load a so-called "extension" of benefits with damaging add-ons that are an all-out assault on Americans families.

"Early this morning," said Rep. John Lewis, "I heard the sad news that State Senator Robert Brown had passed.  It is disturbing and very tragic that such a gifted and capable legislator, who contributed 20 years of valuable public service to our community, would feel so alone that he would take his own life. 

"He was a voice for the voiceless, an eloquent advocate for equal treatment and even-handed justice for those who never have a chance to face the State Senate and plead their case.  At a time when the role of compassion is ignored in public policy, when poverty is on the rise and the struggles of the unemployed, the homeless and everyday working people have fallen on deaf ears within the chambers of government, we need a man like Senator Brown to remind us of the good that government can do.