Rep. John Lewis leads drive for new civil rights legislation on Capitol Hill

Jet, March 1, 2004

His civil rights record already brimming ever with triumphs, Georgia Rep. John Lewis once again moved to the front lines on Capitol Hill "to restore civil rights protection to American workers."

After introducing his "fairness bill," Rep. Lewis immediately was supported by 87 members of Congress, including Rep. Elijah Cummings of Baltimore, the Congressional Black Caucus chairman.

Even ex-Georgia Sen. Max Cleland held a press conference to announce his support for what is dubbed "The Civil Rights Act of 2004."

The bill protects workers from discrimination in agencies that receive federal money, defends students from harassment, fortifies civil rights and wage protection for state employees, and prevents employers from forcing workers to give up their rights for a day in court.

Rep. Lewis argued that Supreme Court decisions had altered the impact of the civil rights legislation that Congress passed in 1964 and 1991.