Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of a community activist, nonprofit leader, a youth mentor, a beloved dad and husband, Chicago Alderperson Michael Rodriguez.

Alderperson Mike Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the 22nd Ward, representing it in the city council since 2019. Mike is my alderperson, my neighbor, and my good friend.

I have proudly watched him fight for working-class families, always striving to increase city funding to improve the services of the neighborhoods. As a progressive leader, one of his most significant achievements is the paid leave ordinance, legislation that provides mandatory days off to Chicago workers.

Mike is also a co-chief sponsor of an effort to strengthen Chicago's welcoming ordinance, which prohibits city workers to ask about a person's immigration status, ensures they are not denied city services based on immigration status, and prohibits the Chicago Police Department from cooperating with ICE.

Madam Speaker, I wish Mike much success in the next phase of his career

and thank him for all he has done for the 22nd Ward.

Remembering Mr. Taco

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a small family business that was a staple in my district. After 49 years in Cicero, taqueria Mr. Taco, founded in 1976 by Carlos and Thelma Lopez, has closed.

The Lopez family had a simple dream to serve good food and make every customer feel at home. They succeeded in building a family restaurant that offered kindness and amazing Mexican food, becoming a common lunch spot for many people who worked in the area.

Others would go to Mr. Taco for that late night burrito after hanging out with friends or would take their girlfriends on a date. I heard of a couple who even went there on their wedding night.

Mr. Taco leaves not only an empty space on the corner of Ogden and Austin in Cicero, it leaves an empty space in our tummies and our hearts.

Closing National Archives Branches in Chicago and California

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the closing of the Chicago and California branches of the National Archives and the relocation of the records.

The leadership at the National Archives and Records Administration argues that the transition to digital recordkeeping has resulted in a growing volume of extra space at both branches. However, there has not been a full plan for this transition shared with employees, stakeholders, or the public.

People from across our region and Nation visit the facility in Chicago to obtain census and naturalization records to prove citizenship status, to find information about Great Lakes vessels on which they serve, to find information about exam records to identify their ancestors, or to study major historical events like the 1894 Pullman Strike and the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.

In a recent visit to the Chicago National Archives branch, I was able to find my father's naturalization application. This is an important piece of family history. The work of agencies, museums, scholars, teachers, and the public continues to depend on access to these records, which are vital to our history and NARA's mission.

NARA must immediately halt the relocation, provide Congress with the necessary information about the agency's plans, and reverse this decision to move the more than 140,000 cubic feet of historical records. History must be protected.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of a community activist, nonprofit leader, a youth mentor, a beloved dad and husband, Chicago Alderperson Michael Rodriguez.

Alderperson Mike Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the 22nd Ward, representing it in the city council since 2019. Mike is my alderperson, my neighbor, and my good friend.

I have proudly watched him fight for working-class families, always striving to increase city funding to improve the services of the neighborhoods. As a progressive leader, one of his most significant achievements is the paid leave ordinance, legislation that provides mandatory days off to Chicago workers.

Mike is also a co-chief sponsor of an effort to strengthen Chicago's welcoming ordinance, which prohibits city workers to ask about a person's immigration status, ensures they are not denied city services based on immigration status, and prohibits the Chicago Police Department from cooperating with ICE.

Madam Speaker, I wish Mike much success in the next phase of his career and thank him for all he has done for the 22nd Ward.

Remembering Mr. Taco

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a small family business that was a staple in my district. After 49 years in Cicero, taqueria Mr. Taco, founded in 1976 by Carlos and Thelma Lopez, has closed.

The Lopez family had a simple dream to serve good food and make every customer feel at home. They succeeded in building a family restaurant that offered kindness and amazing Mexican food, becoming a common lunch spot for many people who worked in the area.

Others would go to Mr. Taco for that late night burrito after hanging out with friends or would take their girlfriends on a date. I heard of a couple who even went there on their wedding night.

Mr. Taco leaves not only an empty space on the corner of Ogden and Austin in Cicero, it leaves an empty space in our tummies and our hearts.

Closing National Archives Branches in Chicago and California

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the closing of the Chicago and California branches of the National Archives and the relocation of the records.

The leadership at the National Archives and Records Administration argues that the transition to digital recordkeeping has resulted in a growing volume of extra space at both branches. However, there has not been a full plan for this transition shared with employees, stakeholders, or the public.

People from across our region and Nation visit the facility in Chicago to obtain census and naturalization records to prove citizenship status, to find information about Great Lakes vessels on which they serve, to find information about exam records to identify their ancestors, or to study major historical events like the 1894 Pullman Strike and the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.

In a recent visit to the Chicago National Archives branch, I was able to find my father's naturalization application. This is an important piece of family history. The work of agencies, museums, scholars, teachers, and the public continues to depend on access to these records, which are vital to our history and NARA's mission.

NARA must immediately halt the relocation, provide Congress with the necessary information about the agency's plans, and reverse this decision to move the more than 140,000 cubic feet of historical records. History must be protected.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 1 year since the Federal Government under the Trump administration invaded Chicago, an American city, through Operation Midway Blitz.

President Trump was elected promising to go after ``the worst of the worst,'' but what we saw in Chicago was a spree of violence committed by masked goons against nonviolent citizens who overwhelmingly had no criminal records.

These Federal agents racially profiled people, pepper-sprayed neighborhoods, ripped families apart, and conducted military-style raids all to please much of the racist MAGA base. They did it all solely based on the color of a person's skin or the work they did: construction workers, landscapers, and street vendors like the beloved woman outside my district office who simply sold tamales.

Then they held these people in appalling conditions at the Broadview ICE Processing Center and beat those who protested outside.

ICE agents killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez after he dropped his children off at school and then blatantly lied about it. Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez, a Montessori teacher, five times and bragged about it. All of this violence was brought on by their own government. It is shameful.

Donald Trump and his top officials, including white supremacist Stephen Miller, tried to take our dignity and divide our community, but they failed.

The people of Chicago organized. We armed ourselves with whistles, phones, and our U.S. Constitution. We looked after each other. Rapid response organizers kept the community informed. Volunteers organized walking groups and carpools to get our children safely to school. Churches and nonprofits delivered groceries for those who were afraid to leave their homes.

In the face of this massive opposition, the Federal Government largely backed down. One year later, people in Chicago are stronger, but many remain fearful and traumatized. Many of these agents continue to operate with impunity and no respect for due process.

However, efforts to hold these agents accountable are moving forward. These criminals cannot continue free and immune after the heinous acts they committed while working under DHS. Operation Midway Blitz serves as a tragic example of why DHS cannot be reformed. It is a rogue, lawless agency built to harm us. It must be dismantled, and in its place, we must rebuild an immigration system that keeps us safe and honors humanity.

When Democrats take over Congress and ultimately the White House, we must act. It has been over 40 years since immigration reform, and we are seeing what that is doing and has done to communities under this administration.

Communities like mine can no longer wait.

Honoring Raul Munoz

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Raul Munoz, a beloved community member, entrepreneur, and cultural steward whose work contributed to my community's gastronomic richness.

Raul helped make Little Village the vibrant center of Mexican culture and community that we know today. He first became connected to Taquerias Atotonilco while delivering ingredients in the early 1970s, eventually purchasing the restaurant and ensuring its authentic flavors remain a part of 26th Street, cementing it as one of Little Village's most enduring institutions.

Raul's legacy is more than his restaurant. It is about family, hard work, and the enduring connection between heritage and community. Raul showed that even when people leave their homeland, we never leave our culture behind. We carry it with us and root it in our communities just like Raul did.

Mr. Speaker, my thoughts are with Raul's family and loved ones. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy live on in the community he helped build.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Rosemarie Guerrero of the United States National Guard as she retires after an extraordinary career dedicated to serving our Nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Guerrero started her brilliant career in 1989, when she enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard. In her current role as Cyber Warfare Branch Chief, she oversees a $205 million Cyber Mission Force portfolio and provides direct guidance on mobilization, training, resourcing, and posturing for the Air National Guard Cyber Mission Forces.

At a time when the Pentagon faces more than 10 million cyber intrusion attempts every single day, her work defending our country against cyberattacks has never been more important.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Lieutenant Colonel Guerrero for her decades of leadership, sacrifice, and service. I wish her a happy and well- deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and work of Beatrice ``Bea'' Lumpkin, a union organizer, workers' rights activist, academic, and writer who passed away on June 14 at the age of 107 years.

Bea was a fierce defender of working-class people and an active fighter for civil rights. She was called by some the rock of the labor movement, because she grounded us and taught us how to stay committed to the search for justice and equity for those without power.

Bea marched along with Dr. Martin Luther King in Chicago and was an ally of the Black Panther Party. She was present at every key moment of our labor and civil rights movement for nearly 90 years, up to the recent No Kings marches.

Her engagement with the movement began with a factory job when she was 14 years old. She helped organize the Metal and Machinery Workers Industrial Union, a part of the newly formed Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Her persistence and determination were best exemplified when Wisconsin Steel, the plant her husband, Frank, worked at, abruptly closed and 3,400 workers lost their jobs. For 17 years, the Lumpkins led a successful fight for those workers to receive back pay.

As recently as 2024, Bea was focused on intergenerational work with youth activists and joined the Starbucks workers as they began organizing.

As a retiree, she expanded her activism on issues such as climate justice, the rights of retired workers, and consumer protection against overcharges from utility companies.

Mr. Speaker, Bea believed our job is to make the world a better place. She found joy in the work she did and inspired others, including me, to continue fighting. The labor movement has lost a giant.

Rest in power, Bea Lumpkin.

Honoring Antonio ``Tony'' Ortiz

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Antonio ``Tony'' Ortiz, who recently concluded 26 years of dedicated service at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, including 16 years as president.

For 30 years, Cristo Rey has transformed lives by providing a Catholic college preparatory education, integrated with professional work experience.

Today, the school serves students who are 100 percent bilingual, 90 percent first generation, with a median family income of $43,000. Cristo Rey has nearly 3,000 alumni, 15 of whom now work at the school. Tony's greatest accomplishment is the culture he built that proudly reflects the strength of my district. The vast majority of students, alumni, faculty, and staff live and maintain deep ties to the Fourth District of Illinois, making the school a strong pillar of the surrounding community.

Under Tony Ortiz's leadership, Cristo Rey Jesuit has become a model of educational excellence nationwide, and his vision has helped the school grow into a national network of more than 40 schools, serving over 13,000 students across the country each day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Tony Ortiz for his remarkable service and wish him all the best in the years ahead. He has left a lasting legacy in our community.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of HotHouse

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the HotHouse Center for International Performance and Exhibition, popularly known in Chicago as the HotHouse.

The HotHouse is known for its programming of jazz and world music concerts, multi-disciplinary events, and focus on creating opportunities for artistic practices and performances.

HotHouse has taken the arts into underserved communities, fostering the international exchange of ideas, and serving as a central meeting place for a variety of community groups.

While their physical location at Balbo Avenue closed in July of 2007, the current board continues organizing and programming around Chicagoland.

Over the years, HotHouse has been awarded with many of the top honors in the arts and culture industry, including Best of Chicago, Chicagoan of the Year, and The Abbey, all reflecting its lasting impact in our region.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the HotHouse on this incredible milestone, and I wish the organization many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Rey B. Gonzalez on his retirement after more than 30 years of service to the people of Chicago.

As president and CEO of El Valor, Mr. Gonzalez dedicated his life's work to increasing opportunities for children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Under Mr. Gonzalez's leadership, El Valor evolved into a nationally respected institution that has provided countless people with educational and employment opportunities within the community.

Throughout his career, Rey has always demonstrated compassion, dignity, and a true commitment to helping others succeed. His contributions will not only be remembered but also appreciated for many years to come in our city.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Rey Gonzalez on a distinguished career and thank him for all of his hard work and dedication to our communities. I wish him a happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud alumnus of St. Rita High School in Chicago to celebrate their baseball team's first championship victory.

In a historic night of eight innings, the St. Rita Mustangs persevered and made history with a 12-11 score.

If you are a baseball fan, I encourage you to find a video of the end of this wild game and watch it. This was one for the books. The game had it all. There was suspense and shock when the Mustangs thought they had won, but the umpire ruled that the catcher had dropped the ball. It had anxiety when the game resumed. With the State title on the line, the rival team tied it, forcing it to extra innings. It had relief and joy when St. Rita secured the victory.

The Mustangs gave it their all. Their determination and hard work got them the victory that they had been chasing for 4 years in a row.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Mustangs. They deserve this victory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Riley O'Neil, a dedicated Chicago Department of Transportation worker, who was killed in a tragic accident last week while biking. A graduate of Lane Tech and DePaul University, Riley was a true Chicagoan, passionate about making biking safer, more accessible, and equitable for everyone.

He was instrumental in increasing bike infrastructure across Chicago. In his honor, the bike racks he helped install throughout the city will now be called Riley Racks.

Through his work, he helped create a city where more people can walk, bike, and travel with confidence and dignity.

His legacy is not only found in the projects he worked on, but in the countless lives that will benefit from them for years to come. Every safer intersection, every protected pedestrian walkway, and every improvement that helps people get home safely reflect the commitment to public service.

Riley will be remembered for his kindness and ability to connect with people. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

14th Anniversary of DACA Program

Mr. Speaker, on June 15th we mark the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action For Child Arrivals program, better known as DACA.

DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to build careers and families in the only country many have ever called home. It has allowed them to make significant economic contributions to our country. DACA recipient households pay approximately $9.5 billion annually in Federal, State, and local taxes.

However, the Trump administration is using its racist and anti- immigrant agenda to try and push these young people back into the shadows and out of the country. Since 2025, more than 300 DACA recipients have been detained, and more than 90 have been wrongfully deported.

The Trump administration is doing everything it can to make life impossible for people with DACA, including creating massive delays in processing renewals. As a consequence, DACA recipients are losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet as their work authorizations expire while they wait for an answer, even after submitting their renewal applications well in advance.

Communities are losing their teachers, doctors, nurses, small business owners, and restaurant workers. Families are losing their economic and emotional stability.

The uncertainty that DACA holders and other immigrants around the country are facing is a direct result of Congress' failure to enact immigration reform. That is why I am proud to have led almost 100 Members in demanding an end to DACA renewal delays. For true relief, we must prioritize passing legislation that would create pathways to citizenship, like the Dream and Promise Act. We cannot allow DACA recipients, who are solid members of our community, to continue living in limbo.

Mr. Speaker, I say to all the DACA recipients and their families, we stand with them. We will keep fighting against these attacks and finally build an immigration system that respects their dignity and their humanity.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and celebrate Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla, affectionately known as Benny, of Stone Park, Illinois, on his 25th anniversary as a servant mayor.

Born in Calabria, Italy, Mayor Mazzulla immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1976. His family settled in Stone Park, the community he would later dedicate himself to serving.

Mayor Mazzulla's commitment to public service began in 1995, when he served for 2 years as a police officer with the Memorial Park District.

Since taking office as mayor, he has worked tirelessly to strengthen his community by creating programs that support seniors, homeowners, and children; expanding family-oriented activities through a resident- led special events committee; and introducing bilingual village newsletters to ensure that all his constituents get the information they need.

Mayor Mazzulla takes great pride in both his community and his immigrant heritage as a beloved husband, father of three, grandfather, and fluent speaker of English, Italian, and Spanish.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mayor Mazzulla on this milestone. I thank him for his 25 years of dedicated leadership and enduring commitment to the residents of Stone Park.

Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Banner Wholesale Grocers

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Banner Wholesale Grocers, a proud cornerstone of the Chicago business community.

Since its founding in 1926 by Ben Friedman, Banner Wholesale Grocers has served as a trusted partner to independent grocers throughout Chicagoland and across the Midwest.

With a selection of more than 6,000 American and Hispanic products, the company helps local retailers meet the diverse needs of their customers. Its knowledgeable and bilingual team provides the personalized service that has distinguished Banner for generations.

Through a century of hard work, family dedication, and commitment to convenience and quality, Banner Wholesale Grocers has built lasting relationships and earned the trust of countless businesses and families throughout our region.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Banner Wholesale Grocers on 100 years of success. I thank them for their enduring contributions to Chicago and the Midwest. I look forward to seeing many more decades of their success.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Jackson for leading this Special Order hour for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, shining a spotlight on the Voting Rights Act, progress that has been made, and, most importantly, efforts to dismantle it and disenfranchise millions of people across the land and undermine our democracy.

Let me share a personal story. I arrived in the United States in 1965, the same year the Voting Rights Act was passed. I was a little boy from Durango, Mexico. I didn't speak a word of English, let alone know about the Constitution or the Founding Fathers, but I understood one thing: My parents believed in this country and brought me to this country because they knew that we could do better and that we could pursue our dream of a better life in America.

Years later, I became a citizen.

The Voting Rights Act gave me the opportunity I never dreamed possible: running for office. It was not because power invited me in, but because people in my community organized. We built power and exercised our right to vote. That is the magic of the Voting Rights Act.

Yet, it is precisely why Republicans have been working for decades to weaken our voting rights. When our opponents recently broke Black neighborhoods in Memphis into pieces, they knew exactly what they were doing. In Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana, getting rid of majority Black districts isn't accidental, either.

Heading to Court to make section 2 of the Voting Rights Act weaker, it is deliberate, and when Republicans push a bill that prevents married women from voting over name changes and restricts some eligible voters, that is their plan.

This is not election integrity. It is Klan tactics in a business suit, the Jim Crow school of law. They do not say ``literacy test'' anymore. They say: Bring us new paperwork. They don't say ``Whites only'' anymore. They say: Race neutral.

To them, fair means our communities can contribute to society by working and paying taxes, but we are not worthy enough to elect our own Representatives. It also means that you can pack, slice, and scatter Black and Latino voters, as long as those calling the shots label it smart politics.

Chicago's Latino community waited decades for real representation in Congress. The Fourth Congressional District of Illinois became the first Latino-majority congressional district in the Midwest because the Voting Rights Act had teeth and because our communities refused to disappear.

The only thing that they wanted was a level playing field, to be represented. We organized and won the Fourth Congressional District. Thirty years later, there is still just one other Latino in Congress from the whole Midwest region. She is a Latina, and I am proud to serve with her.

Representation matters, and that is why our opponents are attacking our voting rights. Nobody spends years in court trying to weaken voters who do not matter. They do not redraw maps because we are weak. They redraw maps because we are powerful. They fear Black power. They fear Latino power. They fear Asian power. They fear working people standing together and saying: We will not bow to white supremacy.

Right now, it is Black districts, but Latino districts are next, mark my words. Right now, it is Black districts, but Latino districts will follow.

They are coming after our power because they are afraid of what happens when working people stand together. I learned that from Harold Washington. Before he became Chicago's first Black mayor, Harold Washington served in this House of Representatives from the First District of Illinois, Representative Jackson, and helped to strengthen the Voting Rights Act. When I served with him as a member of the Chicago City Council, I saw true multiracial democracy come alive because of the Voting Rights Act.

So let's call the attack on working rights on voting rights for what it is: It is about power and control.

Our neighbors did not cross rivers and bridges, march in the streets, organize in church basements, fight in courtrooms, and knock on doors to sit down now.

I came here the year the Voting Rights Act became law. Sixty years later, I am here to say: We are not sitting down. We are not turning back. We will continue to work today for voting rights and representation for all.

I thank Congressman Jackson for raising his voice and the awareness for all of our American people to know.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my former legislative director, Naomi Lake.

Naomi is a Chicago native who worked in my congressional office since my first day in Congress in 2019.

Naomi also worked on my first congressional campaign. She dedicated almost 10 years to help me serve my constituents.

When I was elected to Congress, she packed her bags and moved to Washington, D.C., excited to help me shape my work and represent our beloved Chicago.

Over the years, she rose from legislative correspondent to legislative assistant to legislative director. She leaves my office as an LD who is appreciated by her team, admired by her peers, and respected by members, staff, and advocates alike.

There is no task she doesn't do well, and Congresswoman Summer Lee is very lucky to have Naomi as her new legislative director.

Naomi is a brilliant young woman, passionate about social and economic justice, and deeply interested in the impact that U.S. policies have on our relationship with other countries, particularly throughout the Americas.

Her strategic policy mind has helped make my role as a Member of Congress and whip of the Progressive Caucus more impactful, as she always puts her interests of working people first.

She is an exceptional thinker, a gifted writer, and a thorough editor who helped my team be more effective in expressing my policy positions and serving the residents of Illinois' Fourth District. She is a dedicated and intelligent advocate who cares deeply about our community, my team, and the progressive movement.

Naomi has many talents beyond her role on the Hill. She is an experienced ballet dancer. She wakes up at the crack of dawn to row in the Potomac and is captain of her team. She has recently completed a half-marathon, while still managing a heavy legislative portfolio and leading our policy team.

In addition, Naomi is the type of person that I always want on my team--generous, thoughtful, funny, and humble.

Every congressional office would be lucky to have someone as talented and kind as Naomi. Whether discussing IMF surcharges, sanctions, or appropriations, I have always admired her sharp intellect and her quick and calm strategic sense in high-stake situations.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply grateful for Naomi's work for the constituents of the Fourth Congressional District, for her exceptional leadership in my office, and for consistently advocating for the needs of my constituents, working families across the country, and for humanity itself. I will miss her.

Honoring the Aztec Eagles

Mr. Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day, I rise to honor the Aztec Eagles, known in Spanish as ``Escuadron 201,'' a legendary fighter squadron of the Mexican Air Force, whose members volunteered to fight alongside the United States during World War II.

These brave fighters--36 pilots and 264 ground personnel, including electricians, mechanics, and radiomen--answered the call to defend freedom and served in the Pacific theater. Seven of those pilots made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Aztec Eagles were part of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force, which assisted the Allied war effort, and were attached to the 58th Fighter Group of the U.S. Air Force. They flew more than 90 combat missions and played a critical role in the liberation of Luzon in the Philippines in 1945.

For their heroism, they were awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, the Philippine Legion of Honor, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Today, I remember the Aztec Eagles with gratitude and pride. Their courage, determination, and sacrifice and commitment to freedom will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mayor Jeff Walik of Stickney, a man whose life was inseparable from the village that he loved.

Jeff served his community first as a police officer and later as mayor, always a fighter for Stickney. Mayor Walik never stopped pushing, never stopped advocating, and, frankly, never took ``no'' for an answer when it came to his home and his people.

Even those who disagreed with him knew one thing to be true: His commitment to Stickney was real. He carried his community in his heart everywhere he went. He never walked away from service, always protecting and fighting for the town he believed in.

Jeff was part of an era of public service that people will speak about with pride.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Walik family, the residents of Stickney, and all those mourning this tremendous loss. May he rest in peace.

Recognizing St. Procopius Church's 150th Anniversary

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Procopius Church--my first parish when I arrived in Chicago--on their 150th anniversary.

Founded in 1875 and located in the historic Pilsen community in my district, St. Procopius was first built to serve the growing population of Czech immigrants who settled in the neighborhood after the Great Chicago Fire.

Since then, the church has evolved alongside the community from its roots as a predominantly Czech parish to serving a very large and vibrant Mexican-American community that Pilsen is known for today.

The parish, now merged with Providence of God Parish and Holy Trinity Croatian Parish, continues to contribute greatly to the Pilsen neighborhood and the city of Chicago through community outreach, hosting cultural and religious celebrations, and providing education to children from 15 communities across Chicago through a dual-language parish school that I am proud to be an alum of.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate St. Procopius Church for marking a century and a half of faith, resilience, and dedicated service to the people of Chicago.

Honoring Juan Dies and Victor G. Pichardo

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Juan Dies and Victor Pichardo, Mexican folk musicians who were recently recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with the 2026 National Heritage Fellowship awards.

Juan and Victor cofounded Sones de Mexico in Pilsen, Illinois, and have dedicated their lives to preserving, sharing, and uplifting the rich traditions of Mexican folk music for new generations.

Through workshops, seminars, residencies, and performances, they

have taken Mexican music from neighborhood events in Pilsen to Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

For 35 years, Victor and Juan have taught hundreds of students in Mexico and the U.S., keeping traditions alive and strengthening cultural identity.

This award is a recognition of their contributions to enriching America's cultural tapestry.

``Juan, Victor, your music and achievements fill us with great pride''; ``Juan, Victor, su musica y sus logros nos llenan de orgullo.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 30 years of contributions from the DuPage Railroad Safety Council. Since 1996, they have provided important services and education on rail safety across Illinois.

Forged by tragedy, they established themselves as a proactive organization, translating a crisis into opportunity, awareness, and advocacy.

Their accomplishments speak for themselves: fewer incidents, better partnerships with authorities, and more knowledgeable communities.

They achieved this with engineers, first responders, and public health officials working together because safety is a collective responsibility.

However, their task remains incomplete. With the evolving trends and increasing threats, the mission becomes even more relevant, especially regarding pedestrian safety.

While we celebrate 30 years of accomplishments, we also renew our commitment toward safer rail crossings, better infrastructure, and lives saved.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the DuPage Railroad Safety Council for their leadership, perseverance, and dedication to Illinois rail safety.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse to call out the many ways that Donald Trump's 2027 budget request will make life harder for our neighbors and constituents.

I will start with the fact that families across the country are already hurting because of Republican policies. Last year, Trump's budget bill made drastic cuts to healthcare and food assistance, and 17 million people will lose healthcare coverage as a result. Yet, that wasn't enough for Trump because his 2027 budget proposal cuts even more.

For example, the President's budget request eliminates $4 billion of affordable housing investments, wiping out programs that help families find housing, stay in their homes, and get back on their feet.

My district has suffered from severe floods over the last 2 years, and some of my constituents were displaced from their homes. As rents rise, Trump wants to cut programs that are designed to help keep a roof over their heads.

The President's budget also eliminates LIHEAP, a program that helps 5 million families afford their utility bills, leaving them unable to cool their homes in the summer or pay heating bills in the winter. When you combine that with surging prices at the gas pump because of Trump's illegal war with Iran, Trump is making the American people suffer twice.

As if this wasn't bad enough, Trump's budget proposal also calls for deep cuts to food assistance like SNAP and WIC.

These are programs that help mothers and young children afford fruits and vegetables.

With all of these cuts, what is Trump increasing the budget for? One word: war.

As he proposes to cut $73 billion for housing, food, education, and health, he is asking for $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon, a record- shattering amount that demonstrates just how detached Trump is from our constituents' needs and priorities.

Trump started a cruel, illegal, deeply unpopular war that costs billions of dollars every day, sent gas prices skyrocketing, and triggered a global fuel crisis.

This budget request would enable him to do more destruction with more money, while lining the pockets of his defense contractor friends. This makes us all less safe.

Just last week, Trump said: ``It is not possible'' to help Americans afford healthcare or childcare because ``we are fighting wars.''

Through this budget request, Trump isn't just waging illegal wars abroad. He is waging war on working families here at home.

I thank my colleagues for joining me to talk about how Trump's proposed budget request would make a tough situation even worse for working families.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), the Assistant Democratic Leader.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury)

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Brown).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Rivas).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Menefee), and I thank him for his patience. He was here at the beginning of this Special Order hour, waiting patiently to make the case for his district and the people he was sent to fight for here in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who joined us on the floor today, as well as Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse for cohosting this Special Order hour.

We are all elected to bring our constituents' voices here to Congress and to pass policies that help them live better lives. I urge my colleagues to protect housing, education, and healthcare especially; in other words, to prioritize the needs of all of our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to this bill.

First of all, this bill and the substance of the bill, this dispute, is undergoing consideration by the international bodies established by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. We really should wait until a decision is arrived at with respect to that mechanism, but there are other considerations.

First, let's consider other far-reaching implications. The bill gives the President the authority to prohibit vessels that travel through certain Western Hemisphere ports, which he designates, from entering U.S. waters. While supporters say that the bill is narrowly written to target a specific project in a specific country, the reality is that the President will be given broad authority that could be applied to other countries in the future.

Let's not forget who we are talking about here. This is the same President who used military force in Venezuela to force regime change, the same President who is now engaging in an illegal war with Iran without even consulting Congress.

Mr. Speaker, do we really want to entrust the President with this new authority granted under this bill?

Equally damaging, the bill ignores the objections of local people fighting for their right to safe drinking water in a surrounding environment free of contamination. That is what is in the dispute resolution matter being addressed now.

I have spoken to local community leaders who have suffered from the environmental damage caused by these mining operations. This bill limits the ability of foreign governments to adopt measures that protect their communities and their environment, essentially coercing those foreign governments to prioritize the interests of U.S. corporations over their people.

We should not be legislating to hinder a foreign government's ability to protect its citizens from environmental harm. We should not be granting the President a new authority that could have broad foreign policy implications.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me and to vote ``no'' on this proposal.