Floor Statements

Mr Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of P.A.S.O.--West Suburban Action Project (Proyecto de Accion de los Suburbios del Oeste), a community-based social justice organization in Melrose Park whose mission is to build stronger communities where residents can live dignified lives regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic or immigration status.

Since its founding in 2009, P.A.S.O. has become one of the leading immigrant rights organizations through grassroots organizing and coalition building working in collaboration with partners to create systemic, social change that leads to more equitable and just communities for people of all backgrounds.

Over the past fifteen years, P.A.S.O. has been a pillar of our community and a beacon of hope for so many. From supporting immigrants and refugees training them to defend their rights, to providing health education to seniors and parents, to championing workers rights, and providing free educational opportunities in Spanish, P.A.S.O. supports communities in the quest for change.

I am honored to commemorate P.A.S.O. on their 15th Anniversary.

Congratulations (Felicidades!).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of P.A.S.O.--West Suburban Action Project (Proyecto de Accion de los Suburbios del Oeste), a community-based social justice organization in Chicago whose mission is to build stronger communities where residents can live dignified lives regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic or immigration status.

Since its founding in 2009, P.A.S.O. has become one of the leading immigrant rights organizations through grassroots organizing and coalition building working in collaboration with partners to create systemic, social change that leads to more equitable and just communities for people of all backgrounds.

Over the past fifteen years, P.A.S.O. has been a pillar of our community and a beacon of hope for so many. From supporting immigrants and refugees training them to defend their rights, to providing health education to seniors and parents, to championing workers rights, and providing free educational opportunities in Spanish, P.A.S.O. supports communities in the quest for change.

I am honored to commemorate P.A.S.O. on their 15th Anniversary. Congratulations (eFelicidades!).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifelong Chicagoan, Ms. Stephanie ``Sally'' Tivador who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday.

Sally is the youngest of five daughters. She was born into a family of Polish descent just a couple of years before the Great Depression hit. And like so many children in that era, she worked full-time at a young age. She was only 14 years old when she started, and kept working for 24 years, until the birth of her first child in 1958.

Sally later married Edward Tivador of Pilsen in 1948, a relationship that lasted for 66 years until his passing in 2014. They had two children, Cynthia and Edward, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Sally is a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. And it is my honor to wish her a Happy 100th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor my friend Barry Romo, who passed away earlier this month.

Barry was a decorated Vietnam veteran who, having seen the horrors of the U.S. role in Vietnam, became a leading organizer. He challenged the Pentagon and White House narratives about the conflict, and he organized actions on The National Mall, at the Supreme Court, and at Arlington National Cemetery to protest the war.

Barry was the national coordinator for Vietnam Veterans Against the War for more than 40 years. In that role, he advocated for greater healthcare coverage for veterans affected by Agent Orange and other toxins. His activism later extended to other social justice causes, like affordable housing, veterans homelessness prevention, and workplace fairness.

Barry was a longtime resident of the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago, where he was a mentor to other veterans, as well. Our community will miss Barry.

Rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nelson Cruz and La Voz Hispana, a music shop owned by the Cruz family, which has served the Chicagoland area for more than 60 years.

``Musica y Cultura'', the slogan for La Voz Hispana encompasses what it has represented for Chicago.

You will find people in the neighborhood who remember buying their first guitar or first set of bongos there. Mothers took their kids to La Voz Hispana for music lessons, and the shop also helped promote new Latino artists as they passed through Chicago.

It was my favorite Latin Jazz store to visit. I bought records, tapes, cd's, maracas, a guiro and a triangle there.

This neighborhood spot will be missed by many.

I wish Nelson an enjoyable retirement, which I'm sure will be full of music (Le deseo a Nelson que disfrute su retiro, que seguro estara lleno de musica).

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a community activist and fighter for justice: Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman.

Reverend Slim was part of the Rainbow Coalition. He always worked to help the powerless build power, expand opportunity, and hold the government accountable to the people's needs. Moreover, he brought Caucasian allies to that fight alongside Latino and Black leaders. Slim helped elect Chicago's first Black mayor, Harold Washington.

Slim was in it for the long haul. No setback and no loss deterred him from fighting for affordable housing, good schools, community safety, better healthcare, and more.

Alongside his wife, Emma Lozano, the reverend was a leader of Chicago's sanctuary movement. In 2006, he declared his church as a sanctuary to protect immigrants from deportation, and other churches followed suit.

Our city is indebted to Reverend Slim. We miss him immensely. Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate Fitzgerald's, a community staple in Berwyn, Illinois, where we can listen to all types of music and have a good time.

The building at Roosevelt and Clarence has gone by many names and served many purposes since it became a place to gather more than 100 years ago. It was a hunting lodge and sporting headquarters. In the fifties and sixties, it was the Hunt Club, where jazz greats like Turk Murphy, Lil Armstrong, and Bob Scobey played.

In 1980, under new ownership, the venue took the name Fitzgerald's, and the rest is history.

Then, in 2020, new owners got creative with a stay-at-home concert series during the pandemic. They recently applied for Fitzgerald's to be added to the National Register of Historic Places, which I wholeheartedly support.

Fitzgerald's slogan is ``Live Music, Good Drinks,'' and I raise a glass to this cornerstone in my community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Mfume and my colleagues from Maryland for organizing this Special Order hour.

I bring heartfelt condolences from Chicagoland. Next to me is a picture of the six men who died in this accident. They were doing construction work on the bridge as it collapsed. All six of them were immigrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala: Dorlian Cabrera, Miguel Luna, Maynor Sandoval, Alejandro Fuentes, Carlos Hernandez, and Jose Lopez.

Like far too many immigrants, they encountered tragedy working in the country they came to seeking a better life. Immigrants keep our country moving. Immigrants power our economy, but immigrants are more than just their labor. Latinos are disproportionately in high-risk jobs like construction, and we cannot wait for tragic accidents or death to recognize immigrants' humanity.

Therefore, as we rebuild the Key Bridge, we must also advocate for stronger workplace protections for all workers, including immigrants, regardless of their status.

Rebuilding the Key Bridge is a national imperative. There is precedent for the Federal Government footing the bill in situations like this, and, as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will fight to make sure that this happens. After all, the Key Bridge has regional, national, and international significance.

Mr. Speaker, my thoughts are with the families of those who perished working on the bridge. My thoughts are with the people of Baltimore and Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Joe Belman of Joliet, Illinois, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

Making it to the century mark is an accomplishment, but it is not just about how many years you live, it is about how you live them, and Joe has packed a lot in since 1924.

Early in life, Joe worked on a farm, on the railroad, and on a steamboat in the Mississippi River. In 1943, Joe enlisted in the Army and served as a B-17 turret gunner during World War II where he flew 35 combat missions.

Joe became a decorated soldier and fought in a number of major battles in the European theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. Two years after returning from the war, he married his

wife, Irene, and they were together for 59 years.

Joe has continued to serve our communities as a labor leader, through his involvement in civic and veteran organizations, and as a youth sports coach.

Joe's dedication to our communities has earned him many awards and honors, and he continues to inspire the younger generations.

Happy birthday to Joe Belman.

Madam Speaker, many things have changed in Chicago over the past 45 years. We are grateful that Tom Skilling has been there for all of that time to help us weather the storms and enjoy the good days, as well.

Tom is ``Chicago's Very Own.'' He is our weatherman.

Our city's pride in Tom is evident. He has had a sandwich named after him. He has his own bobblehead, his own beer, his own asteroid. Perhaps most fittingly, he has his own city snowplow named after him that was unveiled just a few days ago. Its name: Skilling It.

These accolades are well deserved. Tom started his broadcasting career when he was just 14. For his entire career, Tom has embodied the professionalism, kindness, and knowledge we have been lucky to watch on TV every day.

I say to Tom: Enjoy your retirement. Of all people, I am sure that you will be able to find warm beaches and beautiful sunsets.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cafe Jumping Bean, a Latino-owned coffee shop in my district, on their 30th anniversary.

When then-26-year-old Eleazar Delgado was searching for a place for artists to meet in Pilsen, he realized that such a place was nonexistent on the southwest side of Chicago. So he took a chance and opened Pilsen's first coffee house, but not just any coffee shop; one featuring local artists and their local creations. From hosting cellist Yo-Yo Ma to local artwork displays, Cafe Jumping Bean has maintained its roots in a changing, diverse Pilsen and now has become a pillar in our community.

Whether you go for the chocolate mexicano or their famous Screaming Bean, one thing is certain: You will enjoy a taste of culture in a cup.

I wish a happy anniversary to Eleazar Delgado and Cafe Jumping Bean. Here is to the next 30 years of serving Pilsen and the larger community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dona Adela Obregon who passed away on December 14.

Adela was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where she met her husband and started a family. Eventually they made their way north in search of a better life for their children. Like many Mexican immigrants in my district, Adela was undocumented for several years. After two of her sons served in the U.S. Army, she applied for residency, and years later she became a citizen.

Whether it was fighting for better healthcare for seniors in our State capital, or as president of the Harrison Park Seniors Club where she organized folkloric dance groups, or legendary games of loteria and much more, Adela became a pillar of our community.

Throughout her life, Adela won many awards. Indeed, the list is far too long to mention in 1 minute, but they confirm what many in our community already know.

Adela was the definition of service and activism. We are grateful for her life, and my heart is with her family as they mourn her passing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to Puerto Rico Act 22 and echo the concerns of many, including my constituents, about this tax loophole.

Because of Act 22, Puerto Rico is the only place in the world where a mainland U.S. citizen can move and not pay a dime in Federal capital gains or income tax without renouncing their citizenship.

Act 22 was sold as an economic boost in the shadow of a recession, but that is not what has happened.

Millionaires and billionaires are flocking to the island to avoid paying taxes. A cottage industry of tax professionals and CPAs has emerged to support these tax evaders.

Crypto magnates, real estate speculators, and internet influencers, like Logan Paul, are part of a new generation of gentrifiers driving up costs and displacing Puerto Ricans.

I am pleased that the IRS is cracking down on related fraud. Thanks to my colleagues' efforts, Federal investigations on the impacts of these policies have begun. Act 22 is part of a larger story, and it should be repealed.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this extreme anti-immigrant bill put forward by my colleague from New York.

I represent Chicago, a city founded by an immigrant and a city that to this day welcomes immigrants. Although this year has tested us, Chicagoans have stepped up to embrace our new neighbors.

As a proud immigrant representing a predominantly immigrant, diverse district, I take offense to the blatant attacks against my constituents. Outrage about public lands is just another excuse for Republicans to vilify immigrant communities. If they really cared, they wouldn't bulldoze through public lands and wildlife habitats while destroying our environment in their zeal for a border wall. They also wouldn't try to sell our public lands off to the highest corporate bidder.

There are many ways to create a more just immigration system. This bill is certainly not one of them, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Libreria Giron, a family-run Spanish language bookstore in my district that will be closing its doors after 50 years.

At a time when Spanish language books were hard to find in Chicago, Ada Alicia Giron, a former elementary school teacher from Guatemala, and her husband, Julio Giron, opened an electronic shop in 1957.

An educator at heart, Alicia Giron placed a stack of Spanish language books in the shop next to televisions and radios, and to her surprise became the shop's main selling point.

Libreria Giron went on to become a beacon of knowledge to immigrant communities and at its peak expanded to 10 locations in Chicago.

As Libreria Giron prepares to close its doors for good, I would like to thank the Giron family for their service to the Little Village and Pilsen communities and for fostering a love of books spanning generations.