Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, they say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our pride for our very first World Series win. Yes, I also rise to celebrate the World Series champions, the Texas Rangers.

On Wednesday, the Rangers clinched their first World Series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. I don't mean to rub it in the face of my colleagues from the Grand Canyon State, but we warned you we could-- and we would--come and take it.

This week our Rangers went and took it.

I was lucky enough to represent north Texas as the first Black Democratic woman to play in the Congressional Baseball Game this year. While I may not have the arm of Josh Sborz or the speed of two-time MVP Corey Seager, you best believe our Rangers have inspired me to score some runs next year.

While this may be our first World Series win, mark my words, it will not be our last.

Mr. Speaker, this Hispanic Heritage Month I lift up the legacy of Santos Rodriguez, a child murdered by police in my home of Dallas, Texas, 50 years ago this year.

At only 12 years old, Santos was shot and killed by police in front of his brother in Dallas' Little Mexico district. He was unarmed.

Earlier this summer, I hosted a commemoration of Santos in Dallas, celebrating the tireless advocacy of his family in securing justice and change after his senseless murder.

In the years since his death, the Rodriguez family and the Latino community of North Texas have built a movement of resilience and strength in his honor.

Santos did not come into this world to become a martyr. He simply wanted to live and grow like any other child.

Today, I ask that we honor the life and the family of Santos Rodriguez not just with words but with actions.

No child should have to lose their life for the world to recognize that their life had meaning. We can and should do better for all, but especially for our kiddos.

Mr. Speaker, it is with heartfelt sorrow that I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Santos Rodriguez--a young soul whose life was tragically cut short 50 years ago. On July 24, 1973, this innocent 12-year-old boy from Dallas, Texas, fell victim to an appalling act of violence that shook our Nation's conscience and forever changed the lives of his family and community.

On that fateful night, a Dallas police officer z--who was entrusted with protecting and serving the community--took Santos and his brother, David, from their home while responding to a call about a petty theft at a local gas station in the Little Mexico neighborhood. The two brothers were still in their pajamas as they were handcuffed and placed in a police car. In a shocking display of recklessness, the police officer aimed his gun at Santos' head and engaged in a lethal game of Russian roulette. Santos denied any involvement in the crime. Tragically, when the trigger was pulled--the gun fired. Santos was killed as his brother

watched from the backseat. On July 24, 1973, young Santos Rodriguez was taken away from his loved ones in a brutal act of violence, shattering the dreams he had yet to fulfill.

As the Congressional representative for the Little Mexico neighborhood--what is now known as Uptown--I feel a deep responsibility not only to honor the memory of Santos, but also to stand in solidarity with the Mexican-American community of Dallas as we continue the fight for equality. Santos Rodriguez's story remains a stark reminder of the continued need for oversight within our law enforcement system and the devastating impact of unchecked abuses of power. His untimely death exposed the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities and the profound importance of addressing racial injustice.

Residents of the City of Dallas have a right to know the truth of their city. We have a right to live in a city governed by leaders who believe that the only way towards a more equitable future requires us to reconcile with our past. While we remember Santos Rodriguez, let us also honor his memory by recommitting ourselves to creating a safer and more equitable Dallas. In his memory, we must strive for a future where no child or individual lives in fear, where persons in positions of authority are held to the highest standards of integrity, and where the tragedies of our past are never forgotten.

In 1973, the story of Santos' murder inspired the Chicano movement in North Texas. In the five decades since that heart-wrenching event, we have seen the community of Dallas and the nation rally together in solidarity to demand change. Santos Rodriguez's memory has become a symbol of resilience inspiring movements for justice, equality, and meaningful police reform.

Today, as we solemnly remember Santos, let us recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and fairness, and strive for a society where no life is ever again lost to such senseless acts of violence. May his legacy embolden us to continue our fight for a more inclusive and compassionate nation, where all citizens can trust in the fairness of our law enforcement and justice systems.

As we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of Santos Rodriguez and his loved ones, we must honor his memory by taking concrete steps towards a future where every child's dreams can flourish without fear or prejudice. In his memory, let us strive for a Nation that upholds the values of justice, empathy, and equality for all.

I stand with the residents of Dallas as we continue to march forward in a steadfast and unrelenting pursuit of justice. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people whose lives have been touched by the legacy of Santos Rodriguez. May his spirit live forever in our hearts, and may his legacy continue to inspire us to lead with love and guide us towards a more just and equitable society.

Mr. Speaker, most of you have probably never heard of Cedar Hill, Texas, but you know their story. A gunman walks into a hospital, which should be a place of healing, and instead inflicts immeasurable pain and trauma.

That is the story of Cedar Hill on July 25, 2023, a terrifying day for my constituents but an ordinary day for America, at least the America of today where guns are gods and people are pawns, the America where the gun lobby wins and we the people lose.

People lose their lives. They lose a sense of sanity. We all lose a sense of security.

Make no mistake, when the radical right wins, we the people lose our rights.

They have no clue what it means to be truly pro-life. If they did, they would write or at least support legislation that meets the moment, a moment full of death and destruction that is crying out for solutions and sanity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special constituent, Ms. Edna Pemberton. Ms. Pemberton is a well-respected community leader whose tireless efforts have led to creating a better and safer way of life for those around her. As a servant leader, Ms. Pemberton has been at the forefront of several initiatives such as, the City of Dallas' Teen Curfew Ordinance and the Cielo Ranch Apartment Crime Prevention Outreach program.

These programs are just a small part of the expansive work that Ms. Pemberton has produced in the Dallas community. Ms. Pemberton's faith in the power of community service has led her to work relentlessly across the city of Dallas to reach communities in need and to never back down from doing what's right. She's won numerous awards from various organizations recognizing her community service--all of which is a testament to her commitment to improving the lives of our neighbors across Dallas and abroad. In addition to her efforts around community service, Ms. Pemberton has another special gift which includes seeking out the issues that are most pressing our communities and putting action behind them. From organizing food drives to moderating conversations between members of the community and local police, she always puts herself at the heart of several impactful issues. In an environment where social justice is needed now more than ever, acknowledging the impact that relationships between local community members and law enforcement have, Ms. Pemberton eased tensions by creating a foundation of communication between the groups. Equipped with the knowledge, patience and compassion of her community, Ms. Edna Pemberton has continued to enrich the lives of others.

She is an outstanding example of the underappreciated heroes that we have all across our City, State, and Country. I am confident that because of her impact and service that our communities are a better place.

Mr. Chair, it must be nice to perch yourself upon privilege. The vast majority of my colleagues across the aisle have never had to have ``the talk.''

In fact, most of them may not even know what ``the talk'' is, but let's talk about it. I am going to talk to you about my life experiences as a civil rights lawyer and urge that we legislate from a place of compassion instead of a conspiratorial, sunken place.

Let's talk about these weapons. Let's talk about the fact that in the summer of 2021 when George Floyd was killed, I represented over 600 protesters pro bono. Unfortunately, these were people who believe in the Constitution and understand that there is more than one amendment besides just the Second Amendment. They were actually exercising their freedoms under the First Amendment, but instead what happened is that they ended up becoming victimized.

Let me tell you, when I am talking about this, I am not talking about conjecture. I am talking about what is real. You can Google Brandon Saenz, a 26-year-old who had his eye shot out.

Let me be clear. You can be injured, and it not necessarily be a firearm. Honestly, if my colleagues really care about making sure that we are going to be safe in our streets----

Then maybe we will get some gun reform----

And stop going after women's reproductive rights, because if you believe in freedom, then kids should be able to go to school and know that they will be safe.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commemorate a leader of the north Texas Pakistani community, Mr. Hafeez Khan.

There are over 50,000 Pakistani Americans living in my home of north Texas, a prosperous, hardworking community that grows every single year.

Mr. Kahn has used his position as a prominent business leader in Dallas to advocate for the Pakistani-American community, both in Texas and across the country.

When Mr. Kahn heard that part of the beautiful Pakistani Embassy here in Washington was set to be sold, he stepped up to purchase the property and preserve its historical and cultural significance. For the Pakistani-American community, the Embassy building here in our Nation's Capital is more than just a piece of property. It has served as a place of welcome, community, and support for this vibrant, thriving immigrant community.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to Mr. Kahn's philanthropy, this setting will serve as a landmark of Pakistani culture for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to mourn the loss of my constituent and a beloved member of the United States Postal Service, Eugene Gates.

On Wednesday, Mr. Gates passed while delivering mail on his route in Dallas, Texas, where the heat index reached temperatures of nearly 115 degrees.

My heart breaks for Eugene's wife, Carla, his children, grandchildren, and everyone in Lancaster, Texas, who called him neighbor and friend.

Mr. Gates was a 40-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service and will be remembered and mourned by many in north Texas who looked forward to his visits every day. He had the heart of a public servant and will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.

As a member of the Oversight and Accountability Committee, I have continued to uplift and fight my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for respect and to protect and honor those Federal workers just like Mr. Gates instead of belittling them. Mr. Gates should be here.

It is past time that we do the people's work in the people's House. I pray that we honor Mr. Gates' life by offering pragmatic solutions along with our prayers. We need to do this for Eugene, his family, and for all of our letter carriers putting public service before self every single day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the Afiya Center, a Dallas-based reproductive health organization that has been at the forefront of providing refuge, education, and resources to address the unique needs of Black women and gender-expansive individuals. Established in response to the disproportionate impact of the HIV-AIDS epidemic on Black women and girls in Texas, the Afiya Center stands as the only Black women-led, Black women-centered, and Black women-inclusive reproductive justice organization in the state.

Through their life-enriching programs, the Afiya Center has worked tirelessly to address socioeconomic disparities among Black women at risk, or living with, HIV-AIDS. The organization has also been instrumental in promoting birth justice and improving Black maternal health outcomes in Dallas and throughout Texas. As a safety network, collaborator, resource center, and info-hub, the Afiya Center has played a pivotal role in mobilizing grassroots organizing and advocating for policy changes throughout the state.

The Afiya Center's ``Get Tested, Grab a Bite'' community HIV testing day event, celebrating its 10th year, demonstrates the organization's commitment towards decreasing HIV, destigmatizing HIV-AIDS within the community, and addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect Black women in Texas by providing free HIV testing. Moreover, this year's event goes beyond HIV testing by providing additional resources such as COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, Medicaid enrollment, and other services. Given that an estimated one- in-seven people living with HIV unaware of their status, testing events like the Afiya Center's are vital to not only raise awareness and promote responsible relations but also to encourage individuals to prioritize their health and destigmatize this preventable disease.

Texas, and particularly Dallas County, continues to face significant challenges regarding HIV prevalence. Over 18,000 people in the Dallas area are living with HIV, and despite advances in testing and medicine, the United States still experiences high rates of new infections. Black women and girls bear a disproportionate burden, with more than half of Black Texans living with HIV being women. The Afiya Center's unwavering dedication to addressing these disparities and providing support to those affected is commendable.

I urge my colleagues and the public to recognize the crucial work that organizations like the Afiya Center provide and support their ongoing efforts. Together, we can promote HIV awareness, eliminate stigma, and ensure that all individuals have access to the necessary resources and care they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

I commend the Afiya Center for their tireless advocacy, their commitment to reproductive justice, and their transformative influence on the countless lives they have touched. Their remarkable achievements and the impactful work they do each and every day is a testament to their mission of empowering individuals, eliminating stigma, and striving for a healthier and more equitable future.

Madam Speaker, my Republican colleagues love to pray but can't stay, stay and do the job we were elected to do because, frankly, they aren't capable of governing.

Don't believe me?

Just think back to the first few days that we were here, the days in which they were so dysfunctional that they had to go through 15 rounds before we could get to a Speaker.

Now, mark my words, he is dragging this out, and, unfortunately, the entire country is going into a tailspin not because they care about being fiscally responsible but more so because he cares about his precious Speakership.

We have seen the words of the radical right Republicans and what he said last week, and this is all about holding us hostage.

Let me tell you something: My constituents deserve better. My constituents deserve to have a House that functions and stays and does the job instead of deciding that it is time to go and play.

I have a constituent that has called my office in north Texas talking about the fact that he could not get his Federal retirement for months. Well, guess what? We finally got it pushed through, but leave it up to this House, and he won't get what he deserved and what he worked for.

Working families deserve a House that will stay instead of play.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the 19 children and 2 teachers murdered in Uvalde, Texas, 1 year ago today.

One excruciating year has passed for the families of those we lost at Robb Elementary that day. A year of empty childhood bedrooms and vacant desks where a child should be. One full year, and what do we have to show for it? What has this legislative body done to answer the pain of these parents with policy?

I ask myself this: Have we passed any measures on this floor that will stop the next Uvalde? The answer to that is an obvious no, we have not, because in the year since the second worst school shooting in American history, there has been 39 more.

My district is about 355 miles north of Uvalde, but the horror of that day haunts every Texan as if it happened right next door; maybe that is because it is happening next door, in a wave of gun violence that has touched every corner of Texas, in every public space we once saw as safe.

Just this month, my home of north Texas has grieved the deaths of eight Texans in a hateful act of violence at a shopping mall. That was the ninth mass shooting in Texas in 14 years. Fourteen years that lawmakers in Texas and Washington have used to loosen gun regulations.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you something: As a Texan and as an American, I am tired. I am tired of being traumatized. Texas is tired of the terror. It is time to do our jobs and legislate instead of pontificate.

The 21 Texans ripped from their families last year deserve more. The people of Uvalde who have grieved and cried and demanded change deserve more. I hope we don't come back here in a year with the same amount of nothing to show for these grieving families. I hope we can show up having passed universal background checks and a ban on the weapon of war that stole those children's lives, but if history--history that many Republicans don't believe we should have taught in schools--if history is any indication, then yet another year will pass, more lives will be lost, and politicians will put on their pastoral hats and issue prayers instead of practicing what they preach, which is to be tough on crime and to keep these weapons of war out of the hands of the many domestic terrorists that have, frankly, been radicalized by the rightwing extreme rhetoric.

Regardless of what the Republicans do or don't do, regardless of their lack of courage, I will continue doing what I do best, which is standing for commonsense solutions that will save lives.

To my colleagues, I challenge you. Let's not fail these parents and children again. The number one killer of children in this country is guns right now. It is time that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle practice what they preach and be pro-life.

Mr. Speaker, let's save some lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in memory of the eight Texans who lost their lives last weekend during a shooting in Allen, Texas. These eight Texans should be the future of Texas: Young, diverse, full of life and promise. Instead, they represent the tragedy of Texas today: A Texas where a family must prepare for a trip to the mall as if it is an active war zone. A Texas where lives of kindergartners have less value than the right of Neo-Nazis to own AR- 15s.

Mr. Speaker, I rise and ask the question: Aren't you tired of grieving? Is this what your constituents sent you here to do, to send thoughts and prayers?

Texans are tired of grieving.

El Paso, Uvalde, Cleveland, Allen, and the list goes on. We simply can't accept this. For the eight lives lost in Allen, we will not accept this. For the five lives lost in Cleveland, we will not accept this. For the 19 children and two teachers murdered in Uvalde, we will not accept this. For the 23 lives lost in El Paso, we will not accept this.

We must honor our fellow Texans with action. It is the very least that we can do.

Mr. Speaker, as a Texan, I rise today to speak on the expiration of title 42, but our immigration story neither begins nor ends there.

As a child, I was taught songs like ``America the Beautiful,'' but today I can honestly say that beauty must really be in the eye of the beholder because the inhumanity that is playing out around migrants is far from beautiful.

Congress needs to pass humane, substantive, and sustainable, bipartisan immigration reform that provides for an orderly, transparent, and efficient process for asylum seekers, clears out the decades-long backlog, and keeps our communities safe.

For years, House and Senate Democrats have worked to pass immigration reform with little to no support from our Republican colleagues.

I am left asking: Is this what America the beautiful looks like?

Republicans are constantly fanning the flames of hate instead of offering help to a country that is craving more leadership and less lies. Republicans have essentially decided that immigrants make for great political pawns. The problem is, we aren't playing chess. This is real life, with radical rhetoric that has real-world consequences and getting people killed.

Just this weekend a man in Brownsville, Texas, used his truck to plow through and kill eight people sitting at a bus stop. We have got to do better. America really needs to be beautiful.

I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

As a Texan, I rise today to speak on the expiration of Title 42. But our immigration story neither begins nor ends there.

As a child, I was taught songs like ``America the Beautiful'', but today I can honestly say that beauty must be in the eye of the beholder, because the inhumanity that is playing out around migrants is far from beautiful.

Congress needs to pass humane, substantive, & sustainable bipartisan immigration reform that provides for an orderly, transparent, and efficient process for asylum seekers, clears out the decades-long backlog, and keeps our communities safe.

For years, House and Senate Democrats have worked to pass immigration reform, with little to no support from our Republican colleagues.

I'm left asking, is this what America the Beautiful looks like?

Republicans are constantly fanning the flames hate instead of offering Help to a country that is craving more leadership and less lies. Republicans have essentially decided that immigrants make for great political pawns. The problem is, we aren't playing chess, this is real life, with radical rhetoric that has real-world consequences-- getting people killed.

Just this weekend a man in Brownsville TX used his truck to plow through and kill 8 people sitting at a bus stop next to a shelter for migrants. And four years ago, a man radicalized by republican rhetoric walked into a Walmart in El Paso and murdered 23 people he believed were invading the border as part of the so-called ``great replacement''.

America, the beautiful? Not so much, but we can be. We used to be. And so with that maybe we need a little history. This country

was founded by and is made up of immigrants. It is within the very fabric of who we are to do what the greatest speaker for this house always reminds us to do--recognize that our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.

So let's ask ourselves, is America's continued inhumane treatment of immigrants beautiful? Does it live up to our values.

I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today appalled by the Speaker's debt ceiling bill. Right now, the Speaker stands alone, threatening to not pay bills we owe to advance his personal policy preferences.

If we don't pay our bills, there will be catastrophic consequences for everyone. The interest rate would skyrocket, making it nearly impossible to afford a home or car and closing opportunities for upward mobility for millions of Americans.

The stock market will crater as investors lose faith in the ability of our government to perform even the most basic function because of the Speaker's bill. The result would be millions of Americans' retirement accounts wiped out.

For years, the threat of such economic catastrophe historically made even the threat of default off-limits, but the Speaker knows that what he has is an extreme minority in his caucus and that what he wants is deeply unpopular, so he is trying to hold our government hostage.

He stands alone because he knows that no Democrat will support this ransom, so he needs each and every Republican to fall in line behind him.

I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle know that their constituents are watching, watching to see who their Representative came to Congress to fight for, your Speaker or your seniors.

The Speaker's bill will add additional work reporting requirements for seniors in their fifties in order to receive basic food assistance. Across the country, there are no less than 3 million

seniors who could lose food assistance because of this bill.

My colleagues must make a choice: your Speaker or your seniors.

Because everything in D.C. is filled with jargon, I want to pause for a moment to make sure we all understand who the Speaker's bill is targeting.

The people the Speaker is targeting are seniors in their fifties who don't even have $6 a day for food. That is all SNAP pays, $6 a day for food, but the Speaker's bill would deny even that paltry aid to hundreds of thousands of our constituents.

Soon, those on the other side of the aisle must decide who matters more to them, your Speaker or your seniors.

Make no mistake: This isn't about getting people to work. If you worked twice what was required, a full 40-hour week at minimum wage, which, frankly, is most of what is on the table for these seniors, you would still be on SNAP.

The only way the Speaker's bill saves money, which he does say, is if people have their benefits stripped away, if seniors go hungry.

Each of my colleagues must ask who matters more, your Speaker or your seniors?

The Speaker's bill will kick seniors off SNAP rolls. Many seniors can't find a job at all because they face age discrimination. There is a reason that current law exempts those over 49. To expect them to have the same odds of finding a job as a young recipient is callous and cruel.

Ask yourselves, who did you come to Congress to serve, your Speaker or your seniors?

Even though the bill is only supposed to apply to able-bodied adults without dependents, that claim is laughable.

Many of our constituents in their fifties are grandparents. They have childcare responsibilities even if the child isn't their dependent. Requiring them to neglect their grandchild or else go hungry is cruel and heartless.

I hope my colleagues ask themselves who they came to Congress to serve, your Speaker or your seniors, because so many seniors will go hungry if the Speaker's bill becomes law.

As the pandemic SNAP policies are ending, State agencies are responsible for updating participants' information so those eligible for assistance don't go hungry, but in many States, no outreach or only perfunctory outreach was performed.

My concern is that if the Speaker's bill becomes law, tens of thousands of seniors who think they aren't subject to these reporting requirements will suddenly find themselves without benefits. If for any reason these seniors are denied benefits under the Speaker's bill, they will be ineligible for food assistance for the next 3 years.

When we vote on this bill, we will be voting on a very simple question: support your Speaker or support your seniors.

The burden lies with each of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. It is within your range, your power, to protect our seniors.

Right now, the Speaker stands alone with a deeply unpopular proposal. Each of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is asked to starve our seniors. If that is the policy of this House, that responsibility will be entirely on your shoulders.

The choice is now yours. Quite simply, each Republican must answer the question: Who do you fight for, your Speaker or your seniors?

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Reverend Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, who is celebrating 40 years of being pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church.

As a dynamic and influential teacher of God's word, he has remained a beacon of hope for many in Dallas and across our country.

Joining Friendship-West as pastor in 1983, the church's membership has grown tremendously, starting with just under 100 members and now serving over 12,000.

As a servant leader, he has embedded himself in our communities. He has remained at the forefront of empowering underserved people while taking the lead in advocating for issues such as voting rights, fair lending practices, just food policies, and criminal justice reform. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Through the years, Pastor Haynes has remained faithful to the assignment God has called him to.

As a member of Friendship-West, his friend, and his Congresswoman, I couldn't be any prouder of the work he is doing as he continues to challenge the status quo and redefine what it means to be a pastor.

I congratulate Pastor Haynes on 40 years as pastor and your lifetime of service to our community.