Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my outrage on the eve of Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address.

His address is a slap in the face to the thousands and thousands of Americans who have been demanding a cease-fire, the people of conscience opposed to U.S.-supplied bombs killing women and children, and the 12 U.S. Government officials who have resigned protesting the national security and moral crisis our policies are creating.

We cannot work toward peace while giving a war criminal the floor or exert moral authority while supporting the killing of children and civilians nor defend national interests while eroding our relationships across the world.

We must listen to the American people and our officials and diplomats, like Major Harrison Mann, who will be standing with me tomorrow to demand the administration and our leadership change course.

I hear them. What they say is: Not one more bomb, not one more dollar, not one more excuse for Netanyahu's atrocities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Andre Jones, in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. Andre's life and creativity are an invitation to celebrate the beauty of our shared humanity.

Andre, a Chicago native from the Logan Square area in the IL-03, has published a unique coloring book. It is called ``Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre's Life,'' which offers a glimpse into his experiences and affirms his credo: ``Just like you, I am a human being.''

Andie participates in the community living programs at Envision Unlimited, where he practices his commitment to inclusion and community-building through his leadership of the cycling committee. There, he met Treena Glover, Envision Unlimited's residential housing manager. Treena, who passionately nurtures the residents' unique interests and talents, served as Andre's motivator and helped co-author Andre's coloring book.

Andre is donating the proceeds from the coloring book to support his beloved summer cycling programs. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Andre Jones for his contributions to mental health awareness and his ongoing efforts to equip and uplift our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to another big lie bill, this one H.R. 8281.

Mr. Speaker, we know that elections are the cornerstone of American democracy, and it is our duty as Congress Members to protect every American's constitutional right to vote.

The threat to Americans' constitutional right to vote today is the Republican Party and H.R. 8281. In the long and consistent Republican tradition of disenfranchising voters, the majority is pushing H.R. 8281 while simultaneously underfunding our election's infrastructure to safeguard free and fair elections.

In their desperation to roll back the clock to a time when women, people of color, and naturalized citizens couldn't vote, Republicans have introduced countless bills based on mis- and disinformation to erode the American people's trust in our elections and democratic institutions.

Here is the bottom line: H.R. 8281 does nothing to make our elections safer. It only perpetrates lies now to set up even bigger lies later when Republicans are unhappy with the outcome of the November election.

How do I know that? The majority's own former President's appointed commission to investigate claims of voter fraud by noncitizens was disbanded without identifying one single case. If we believe in the power of democracy, we should reject discriminatory rules rooted in fear and division and instead increase protections and access.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans call this bill the SAVE Act. It should be called the don't let Americans vote act, and so I rise here opposing and asking my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Andre Jones, in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. Andre's life and creativity are an invitation to celebrate the beauty of our shared humanity.

Andre, a Chicago native from the Logan Square area in Illinois-03, has published a unique coloring book. It is called ``Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre's Life,'' that offers a glimpse into his experiences and affirms his credo: Just like you, I am a human being.

Andre participates in the community living programs at Envision Unlimited where he practices his commitment to inclusion and community building through his leadership of the cycling committee. Andre is donating the proceeds from the coloring book to support his beloved summer cycling programs.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Andre for his contributions to mental health awareness and his ongoing efforts to equip and uplift our community.

I thank and congratulate Andre.

Honoring Nat Vikitsreth

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nat Vikitsreth in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month.

Nat is the founder of Come Back to Care based in the Illinois-03 and a self-described dot connector, norm agitator, and a lover of liberation. She brings wit, authenticity, honesty, and audacity to the work of collaborating with parents to address intergenerational family trauma and healing from internalized oppression.

Nat unapologetically pursues social justice and liberation in her practice while rooting her work in our sacred shared humanity.

While she has a long, impressive list of awards, publications, and traditional credentials to be proud of, Nat believes that her work with parents, caregivers, and children is the highest honor.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Nat Vikitsreth for her contributions to mental health, especially for Black and Brown communities, and her unwavering commitment to the sacred work of healing and justice.

I thank and congratulate Nat.

Honoring Jack Ross

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Illinois Third constituent and veteran, Jack Ross.

Jack was wounded in action during his deployment in Vietnam while serving as his squad's point man. Like so many servicemembers living with disabilities and traumas as a result of their service, Jack witnessed unspeakable horrors and returned home injured and with PTSD.

His commendable service and sacrifice were recognized with two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Star Medals and an Air Medal.

Upon returning home, Jack turned his military experience into a lifetime of community leadership. He owns and operates Manor Press, a veteran-owned business in River Grove. He has also served on the boards of Oak Leyden Developmental Services and his alma mater, Guerin Prep High School.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Jack Ross for his courage, for his service to our communities, and his unwavering leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Christopher Lopez, a generous and passionate community leader whose life has impacted countless people.

Born in Cuba, Chris immigrated to the U.S. in 1966, beginning a journey marked by community-building and service. After graduating from Lane Tech High School in Illinois' Third District, Chris' job allowed him to travel across Latin America.

While traveling, Chris took the opportunity to serve others, including helping at an orphanage in Mexico, where he grew his family by adopting his son, Mario. Chris now lives with his husband, Miguel, in Bensenville and serves as treasurer of Naper Pride, advancing services, programs, and opportunities for the LGBTQI+ in DuPage County.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend and congratulate Christopher Lopez for his service and involvement in our communities and his advocacy across the community to increase LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two constituents and giants of the movement for equal rights and social justice, Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega.

A formidable, beloved couple, Evette and Mona have each dedicated their lives and each made profound shared and individual contributions to work that protect human rights, defend civil liberties, and ensure services and support for Illinois' most vulnerable residents.

Consistent with their long track record of building community and convening safe space for Latina lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other queer women to explore their multiple, intersecting identities, Evette and Mona cofounded Amigas Latinas in 1995. Madam Speaker, because of their unwavering service, they were inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2022.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega for their love for our communities and their exceptional contributions to the ongoing struggle for civil rights. We congratulate them.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 8771.

Today, in a few hours, I will be launching my new Global Migration Caucus. While I will stand with colleagues to affirm there are those of us in Congress who want to be an effective ally to global efforts to create a safer and more equitable world where people can build the life they want and deserve at home, today my Republican colleagues, however, seek to withdraw our participation in coordinating global efforts, eliminate critical support for migration management, and fuel the crisis of displacement they claim they so desperately want to address.

We must not let their reckless and dangerous efforts go unchallenged.

My amendment would strike the harmful and hateful language of the underlying bill that prohibits the support of safe and humane migration management efforts around the world.

As vice ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I hear my colleagues talk about what is happening at the border, especially at the southern border. However, they ignore questions about why we are seeing a humanitarian crisis at our border. They don't want to talk about the root causes of migration.

Violence, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, and climate change are some of the crises that are driving families from their homes in search of safety and stability, much like what happened to our ancestors in the early 1900s or the 1950s.

Everything I have witnessed throughout my official trips and conversations with families, governments, and civil society points to this truth: Our country's safety is fundamentally connected to the stability, security, and sustainability people experience or do not experience across the globe.

I have heard a mother talk with desperation about the sexual violence and trauma that her 12-year-old endured while crossing the Darien. I heard stories of threats of violence and cartel intimidation that drove a mother to send her sons on a harrowing journey through dangerous migration routes.

For so many people around the world, the choice is flee or die.

Again, it is no surprise to me that the party of reactionary, isolationist, fear-based, and xenophobic politics doesn't understand the ideal of cooperation and prevention. Both cooperation and prevention require forethought, working across differences, embracing possibilities, and a commitment to inclusion, none of which are reflected in H.R. 8771.

An example is that the bill specifically bans funding for the Safe Mobility Offices, which are a cost-effective part of the U.S. Government's strategy to reduce irregular migration within the Western Hemisphere.

To my Republican colleagues: Which one is it?

Do you want less irregular migration, or do you want to slash funding to address the conditions that drive displacement around the world and ban funding for programs to increase access to lawful humanitarian pathways to the United States and other countries?

Madam Chairman, this amendment is necessary. This amendment will address the issues. I hope that my colleagues in this Congress will, maybe in some cases for the first time, do the commonsense thing: address the issues they say they care so much about and, in fact, support migration management and support countries that need resources so they do not have to come to our southern border.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, might I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides.

In closing, Madam Chair, I find it really ironic and hypocritical when one moment you say: Close the borders, don't let people in, and if they want to come, then let them come the legal way. Then we create programs, one, to invest in communities outside of the U.S. so that they don't have to come to the southern border, they don't have to do that dangerous journey, we create programs of safe mobility so they can stay in places like Colombia and other places like Ecuador or Espana in the future, and then you say: Not that either.

The reality is that this is not about President Biden. This is about you want to create crisis, chaos, and fear-mongering at all costs even if at one moment you say this and the other moment you say that, because you have no intention in addressing issues of immigration or border. You want to create chaos because it is the only way you win.

My amendment will allow us to address the root causes of migration to ensure that people can stay in their home countries, and then you won't see them at the southern border. To me that is a solution, and it is why I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Chair, I rise in the most strong opposition to

Mr. Chair, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 8771.

The fact that we are even debating this ridiculous bill makes it clear that some of my colleagues still remain, I will say, uninformed, which will be the kind word, of the ways in which the world is interconnected.

They deny the devastating consequences when our Nation neglects our role, defunds diplomacy, and erodes our commitments to the international community. The multifront global crises facing this Nation calls for leadership and for our Nation's leaders to step up in partnership and cooperation.

Instead, Republicans are doubling down on poison pills that roll back our commitments around reproductive healthcare, LGBTQI+ rights, and climate change; cut over $1 billion to the United Nations and international bodies that hold war criminals accountable; decimate lifesaving humanitarian aid and gut migration and refugee assistance; and undermine Presidential authority and also international laws.

That is what this bill is about. This bill, in my opinion, is deeply unserious and dangerous, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dulce Quintero, a champion, an organizer, and a public servant who has dedicated their life to advocating for marginalized communities and those impacted by trauma.

Born in Mexico to migrant farmworkers, Dulce moved to Chicago at the age of 9. In their dedication to our city, they have impacted young people, the unhoused, and immigrant communities in Illinois' Third District and beyond.

A 2017 Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame inductee, Dulce is a beacon of hope for many in the LGBTQI+ community, especially our young people. Last year, they made history in Illinois as the very first nonbinary statewide public official, serving as secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Dulce inspires us to embrace our whole selves and each other in our struggles for justice and liberation.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Dulce Quintero for their extraordinary service and unwavering courage.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Pride Month, I rise today to honor Lisa Isadora Cruz, a passionate and committed advocate for the trans community in my district and beyond.

Born in Puerto Rico, Lisa, like many of our trans neighbors, faced systemic and social challenges that motivated her to create and strengthen networks of community care, solidarity, and support.

She eventually moved to Chicago, where she has committed herself to supporting marginalized communities, especially the LGBTQ+ community of color, through her work in health services, mental health care, and housing.

In addition to the gratitude of her community, Lisa's advocacy has earned numerous awards, including the Transgender Leadership Award, the Rosa Parks Equality Award, and inclusion in Chicago's LGBT Hall of Fame.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Lisa Isadora Cruz for courageously inspiring us to live our truth and for encouraging, supporting, and celebrating our communities.

Honoring Erika L. Sanchez

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Erika L. Sanchez, a writer rooted in Illinois-03 whose work has profoundly impacted literature and culture in our district and beyond.

The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Erika's works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have moved so many eager readers. Her young adult novel, ``I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,'' shares Julia's story, a story shared by many children of immigrants as she navigates family expectations, mental health struggles, and cultural stereotypes. Her beautiful story will now find a new life as a film directed by America Ferrera and screen-written by Linda Yvette Chavez.

This Immigrant Heritage Month, I am grateful for storytellers like Erika who invite us into a deeper understanding of our immigrant experiences and encourage young people through art and literature.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Erika Sanchez for her skill, for her creativity, and for her commitment to telling our stories.

Commending Alees Edwards

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the one and only Alees Edwards, a leader bringing diverse communities together in our shared struggle for justice and freedom.

From West Humboldt Park, Alees is the founder and executive director of Drawn Out Ministries, a nonprofit providing hope and transitional housing for women returning to the community from prison. She is also a member of Westside Rising, Chicagoland United in Prayer, and Westside Community Leadership Fellows, and she is a councilmember for the 11th Police District, where she works to redefine community safety and hold the Chicago Police Department accountable to the people.

As we observe Juneteenth, I appreciate Alees' leadership in the 1865 Fest Coalition, bringing critical awareness to the day's significance and the struggle for Black liberation.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Alees Edwards for her dedication to community and her relentless fight for our collective leadership.

Madam Speaker, today I rise as the ``Congresswoman,'' ``Congresista,'' of the biggest Puerto Rican community in the Midwest to commend the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

PRCC is a fixture of the Humboldt Park community, where I grew up. Every year since 1978, through the Puerto Rican People's Day parade, PRCC showcases and celebrates the Puerto Rican community's rich culture and heritage on ``Puerto Rico Town,'' ``Paseo Boricua,'' now known as Barrio Boriken.

The team at PRCC, including executive director and cofounder, Jose Lopez; chief operating officer, Juan Manuel Calderon; and director of Vida/SIDA Ricardo Jimenez, are visionary leaders with deep roots in our barrio.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great privilege to honor and commend the Puerto Rican Cultural Center for being a beacon that reminds us of the legacy, the power, and the possibility of the Puerto Rican diaspora in Illinois' Third Congressional District and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8282.

I realize the pattern here. When my Republican colleagues can't legislate, they decide they are going to score cheap points using three primary tools: fear-mongering, punishing, and silencing.

I want to break down a little bit of this bill today.

Fear-mongering: The bill invokes the protection of United States military personnel. Now, let me clarify. U.S. military personnel are not subject to the ICC because the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which I find shameful.

Punishing: The bill would impose sanctions against anyone who aids the ICC in investigating, detaining, arresting, or prosecuting anyone who has not consented to the court's jurisdiction. Let me clarify. Let me make a point of clarification here. The bill would weaponize sanctions against major U.S. allies who support the court, allies like Germany, France, the U.K., Japan, and countless others.

Silencing: How? If enacted, no funding may be used for the International Criminal Court. Another point of clarification: Those efforts would weaken the ICC, and that makes us all less safe.

It is important we remember why the ICC exists, as defined by the Rome Statute: ``Mindful that during this century, millions of children, women, and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.''

It recognizes that ``such grave crimes threaten the peace, security, and well-being of the world,'' and it is ``determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and, thus, to contribute to the prevention of such crimes.''

I stand in opposition to this resolution because we need the ICC.

In the last 241 days, thousands have been victims of unimaginable atrocities, and Netanyahu's violations of international law have threatened the peace of the world.

I am determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes, and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. I couldn't agree more with the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 192. This is another condescending Republican attempt to do three really specific things: Meddle in local D.C. elections; disfranchise Black and Brown voters who are fully capable of governing themselves, by the way; and eroding the trust of Americans in our Federal elections.

In the 118th Congress alone, Republicans have introduced 17 bills to overturn D.C.'s election laws, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have refused to do the one thing that the residents of D.C. have asked for, and that is equal representation through statehood.

In the Republican tradition of undermining elections, the majority is pushing this bill while the primary elections in D.C. are underway.

Let's be clear: It is all intentional to stoke fear among voters and raise false alarms around the integrity of D.C.'s voting process. H.R. 192 is another sorry Republican effort to continue to carry on this baseless MAGA narrative about noncitizens affecting the outcomes of Federal elections.

Let's put this into context. A 2016 study of our Federal elections found only 0.001 percent of votes cast were cases of suspected, not proven, noncitizen voting. Even the former President's appointed commission to investigate his claims of voter fraud by noncitizens was disbanded without identifying one single case.

In the meantime, a third of working-age Americans are living through crushing medical debt, families are spending up to 75 percent of their income on rent and utilities, and scientists agree that the climate crisis may cost 14.5 million deaths by 2050. Yet, here we are again.

Madam Speaker, we need to stop entertaining legislation based on Republican lies. There are real problems that need to be addressed and comprehensive solutions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maricela Garcia, whose distinguished career we celebrate today.

Maricela will soon retire as the CEO of Gads Hill Center after 12 years of transformative impact.

A fellow Guatemalteca, Ms. Garcia immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s seeking refuge from the civil war.

In her country, Garcia founded Casa Guatemala to support newly arrived refugees and cofounded Women for Guatemala to build solidarity among women in the U.S. and Guatemala.

Maricela's impact has been felt across the State of Illinois. In addition to her years at Gads Hill Center, she has led the Illinois Coalition for Refugee Rights and the Latino Policy Forum. Her work has empowered countless families, especially Black, Brown, and immigrant families, providing them with education, resources, and hope.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District and the Guatemalan community in my district, it is my great honor to commend Maricela Garcia for her exceptional leadership.

(English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:)

Her legacy reminds us of the strength, resilience, and contributions of immigrants in building a better future.

Su legado nos recuerda la fuerza, la resilienca y las contribciones de los inmigrantes a la hora de forjar un futuro mejor.

Congratulations.

Honoring Debbie Reznik

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Debbie Reznik for 30 years of distinguished service to our communities, especially working to address homelessness.

It is well known that Debbie has a standout philanthropic career. She has changed systems, strengthened sectors, and launched life-changing programs.

What is lesser known is her legacy as a champion for young leaders.

I met Debbie at the age of 19, having just been promoted to a leadership position in a Chicago nonprofit, and she made a commitment to me then to support me that day and has honored it every single day since. Twenty-one years later, I am who I am standing here in Congress in no small part because of Debbie.

While Debbie is stepping down from her position at the Polk Bros. Foundation to pursue new adventures, we know that she will continue to be a tireless advocate for a more just and loving society.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Debbie Reznik for the lives changed and the impact made through her service to our communities.

I congratulate and thank Debbie.

Honoring Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman, whose transformational leadership and powerful legacy has shaped the political and spiritual consciousness of so many. There is so much we have won in Chicago and across the Nation that would not be possible without the witness of Reverend Slim Coleman.

A retired United Methodist pastor, Reverend Coleman and his wife, Emma Lozano showed us how to truly love our neighbors when they opened the doors of Adalberto Memorial United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park to provide sanctuary to Elvira Arellano and many other undocumented immigrants fighting their deportations. They laid the groundwork for Chicago to declare itself a sanctuary city.

As a movement builder across several decades, his work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, and, eventually, the Rainbow Coalition showed us how to build multiracial, multicultural solidarity movements that center our mutual liberation.

He laid a foundation of solidarity for both Chicago's first Black mayor, Harold Washington, and Chicago's most recently elected mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson, to take up their positions on the fifth floor of city hall.

As an organizer, Reverend Coleman showed us what people power can do. Whether through his work to establish local school councils throughout Chicago, register thousands of voters in the 1983 mayoral election, or build coalitions around housing, education, and jobs, his life and his legacy will continue to be a light in dark places, reminding us that ``a united community will never be defeated,'' ``un pueblo unido jamas sera vencido.''

To his wife, Pastora Emma Lozano, she is loved: I am with her. Pastor Coleman may have preceded her in his homegoing, but she is not alone.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege to submit this commendation in the Record to honor the life and the legacy of Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman.

May Pastor Coleman rest in power. May he rest in power.