Ilhan Omar

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible life of Minnesota State representative Karen Clark.

For nearly four decades, Karen dedicated her life to serving the people of Minneapolis--as a nurse, as an educator, and as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

She was also a trailblazer. Karen made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to run for office and to win a seat in the Minnesota legislature.

She was instrumental in amending the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, education, housing, and more.

Two decades later, Representative Clark led the bipartisan effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota, a landmark accomplishment for equality across our State.

After leaving office, she continued her activism and cofounded the Women's Environmental Institute with her wife, Dr. Jacquelyn Zita.

Representative Clark's impact will be felt by generations, including by myself.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible life and legacy of Minnesota Representative Karen Clark.

Ms. Clark was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1980, serving 19 consecutive terms until her retirement in 2018. In addition to her 38 years of public service in the House, Ms. Clark also served the Minnesota community as a nurse and an educator. She later co-founded the Women's Environmental Institute with her wife of 35 years, Jacquelyn Zita, which is an organization dedicated to fighting for environmental justice through education, advocacy, research, and more.

Karen Clark was the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to run for and win a seat in the Minnesota legislature, and she was the longest serving openly lesbian member to serve in a State legislature in the United States. She chaired numerous subcommittees regarding economic justice and development, empowering the constituents she represented in the lowest income district in the state. Ms. Clark also served on Governor Rudy Perpich's Task Force on Lesbian and Gay Minnesotans in 1990, later playing a crucial role in passing an amendment to the Minnesota Human Rights Act that protected LGBTQ+ Minnesotans from discrimination in housing, employment, and education, cementing Minnesota as the first state in the Nation to include protections based on gender identity. Two decades later, Clark led the bipartisan effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota, a landmark accomplishment for LGBTQ+ rights in the state. In that same year, former President Barack Obama honored Clark as a Harvey Milk Champion of Change.

Karen Clark was also known for her steadfast dedication to championing environmental justice and socioeconomic justice, especially for lower income residents, Indigenous Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. Even after her retirement from public office, she was regularly spearheading fights for progress at the Capitol and in her community.

Karen Clark was an advocate for all Minnesotans, and she was deeply beloved by all who knew her. To say that Clark was a trailblazer is an understatement--Minnesota would not be the state it is today without her tremendous service. I proudly represent the same Minneapolis neighborhoods she served, and I am honored to carry on the legacy she built to uplift these communities. Her impact will be celebrated for generations to come, as her passing serves as a reminder to us all that every one of us can change the world by caring for our community. Please join me in honoring Karen Clark and her monumental legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the countless Minnesotans who have dedicated their time and resources to helping those impacted by severe earthquakes in Venezuela, which took place in June 2026, and Baila Venezuela, a dance organization based in Richfield, Minnesota, which quickly acted and made a call for donations to support Venezuelans. According to initial estimates by the International Organization for Migration, up to 6.76 million Venezuelans may be affected by this natural disaster and the need for humanitarian aid is immediate.

As many Minnesotans have family and friends in Venezuela who have been out of reach, organizations like Baila Venezuela are working tirelessly to collect and transport humanitarian aid supplies. While typically a dance group, Baila Venezuela shifted gears temporarily to help those in need, even from more than 3,000 miles away. What was initially intended to be an organizational initiative became a larger community response. Baila Venezuela collected over 220 boxes of non- perishable supplies such as medicine, diapers, baby supplements, and much more, to be delivered to Miami and then Caracas, Venezuela. In the words of Baila Venezuela's leader, Roiny Rojas, ``We don't just show up to celebrate Venezuela's wins, we also show solidarity during difficult times.''

As the death toll continued to rise and the dancers wait to hear from their loved ones, their commitment to aiding extended beyond their initial estimates and the donations received exceeded their space, leading them to sleep outside in the parking lot to ensure that these resources remained secure as they awaited shipment to Miami.

This demonstrates to the world who we are and what we value as Minnesotans: generosity, community, and unwavering commitment to help those in need. We realize that no matter if you help your neighbor across the street or someone several thousand miles away, we share a common humanity that calls us to action. It is my great honor to pay tribute to Baila Venezuela and the many individuals dedicating their time and resources to support Venezuelans facing the brunt of climate change abroad. Minnesotans have shown us that there is no limit to compassion and willingness to help those who are in need. Our community responds to these issues, not because they are easy, but because it is the right thing to do. I am deeply proud to represent a community that values supporting those in need.