Robin L. Kelly

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude to the linemen and -women and utility

crews in my district who tirelessly worked to restore power following the severe storms in late July and early August. Towns in my district lost thousands of trees.

To our contractors and skilled tradespeople who are rebuilding what the storm tried to take, to the road crews continuing the work of clearing debris block by block, and to our first responders and emergency management teams who showed up when we needed them most, I thank them so much.

While touring the district during the storm recovery, I saw firsthand the community spirit of towns throughout my district: neighbors checking on neighbors and showing up for one another.

That is exactly why I sent FEMA a letter demanding that they treat Illinois families the same way they treated Indiana families. It was one storm in two States. The response should look the same.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congressman Jackson, my next-door neighbor for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, since day one, this President and his administration have waged war on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Let's be clear: DEI means all of us.

Diversity strengthens our communities, our economy, our businesses, and our future. DEI means helping people of every background overcome barriers in their way. Systemic racism has deep roots in this country, poisoning healthcare, housing, and opportunities for generations. It is our job to finally pull those roots up.

Trump is trying to erase Black history, gut programs that benefit us, and target anything that says DEI. He is threatening to undo all the progress we have made toward economic equality. Black women are more likely to be denied a mortgage as a home buyer, more likely to die giving birth, or buy a gun, and we still just earn 69 cents to a man's dollar.

This isn't about ending wokeness. This is about erasing hard-won progress and locking people out of opportunity because of who they are.

I always tell people, do not get weary because that is exactly what he wants you to do. You can't go in your house and close the door. We have to continue to fight this nonsense. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and I, for one, will never give up in the fight for a better future.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to speak on my bipartisan bill, H.R. 2001, the Action for Dental Health Act, to reauthorize vital oral health workforce grants through 2030.

Even though it is entirely preventable, tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic disease among children and adults in this country. Right now, millions of Americans live in communities with a severe shortage of dental health professionals.

This means that kids are forced to grow up with untreated tooth decay, impacting their ability to eat, play, and learn.

It means that adults are skipping care until a simple cavity becomes an infection and an infection becomes an emergency room visit.

It means that seniors are forced to live with toothlessness or chronic dental pain with potentially life-threatening consequences.

Dental health is often an indication of overall health, which is why we must address the barriers to these services and ensure that everyone has access to reliable care. The more we can address early diagnosis, intervention, and preventative dental treatments, the better off our patients and our healthcare system will be.

The Action for Dental Health Act reauthorizes vital funds to grow the oral health workforce, support oral health education, and establish dental homes. Passing this bill is a major step forward. By supporting local organizations and strengthening existing resources, we will expand oral healthcare in underserved communities, reducing dental disease and preventing costly emergency room visits.

I thank my colleague Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho for his work on this bill. As one of a handful of dentists in Congress, I thank him for his expertise and partnership on such an important effort. I have been proud to work with my colleagues on oral health issues since 2013. I am glad to see bipartisan support on such a critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, let's act now to ensure every American in need has access to quality dental health services.