Floor Statements

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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my chief of staff, Matt McMurray, for his service to my office and the Second Congressional District of Illinois.

Matt has been with me since day one. When we first met back in 2013, he was a very young man, fresh out of college, starting out as my staff assistant and deputy scheduler. Over the last 13 years, I have watched him earn every single step of his journey, working his way up to legislative assistant, legislative director, and, ultimately, a great chief of staff.

Today, he is still a young man, but he also is a devoted husband and a proud dad. He has truly grown up in this office. I always tease Matt that he was basically born in the Capitol. He knows every single nook, cranny, and historical detail of the building. One of his favorite traditions was sending our new interns on legendary Capitol scavenger hunts, ensuring that they didn't just work here but they truly learned about the history and unique aspects of life on the Hill.

As my chief of staff, Matt has been an exceptional leader. He helped me build a wonderful, dedicated staff, kept a sharp eye on our budget, and made sure our core mission of serving the people of Illinois' Second District was always top of mind. He kept us focused, organized, and grounded.

I wish Matt nothing but the absolute best in his new endeavors. The organization he is joining is incredibly lucky to have him, but let me be clear: Just because he is moving on doesn't mean he is off the hook because once you are Team Kelly, you are always Team Kelly.

I thank Matt for everything.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Jackson is going to stand with me, but this is not his 5 minutes. He is just standing with me.

I rise today to honor the life and extraordinary legacy of Spencer Leak, Jr., a devoted father, husband, son, brother, and faithful community leader whose service left a lasting mark on the Chicagoland area. Most of all, I am honored to have called him a friend and a constituent.

Spencer dedicated his life to serving the people of the Chicagoland area. He carried forward his family's proud legacy and business, Leak & Sons Funeral Home.

He pursued his education with purpose, graduating from Southern Illinois University with a degree in mortuary and funeral sciences and becoming a licensed director in 1989. However, his calling started long before that. Spencer began working at the family business at just 12 years old, answering phones and learning his trade. He rose to become vice president in 1993, carrying on a tradition of faithful, kind, and honest service to families in their most difficult moments.

As a third-generation funeral director, Spencer expanded the vision of his grandfather, Reverend Andrew Leak, so that Black people living in the Chicagoland area could lay their loved ones to rest with the dignity, respect, and care they deserved.

Mr. Speaker, Spencer's work reached far beyond his profession. He was an advocate for civil rights and justice, a trusted friend to leaders across our community, and a generous supporter of the causes that lifted up those in need. His commitment to service and to positivity never wavered. He mentored young Black men, partnered with organizations to empower residents, and stood as a true pillar to his community.

Spencer was a champion of the small, humble acts of kindness that so often go unseen. His devotion to a more just world was never in question, and through it all, he grew the Leak family legacy of making the Chicagoland community better and more loving. His love touched many. His generosity ran deep, and his service knew no bounds.

Above all, Spencer was an amazing husband, father, a kind son, a supportive brother, and a truly wonderful human being. His passing is deeply felt by his beloved wife, Dr. Donna Leak, who is in the gallery; his children, Spencer Leak III and Emma Leak; his parents, Spencer Leak, Sr., and Henrietta Leak; his siblings, Stephen and Stacy; his extended family; and the many friends and community members that mourn his loss.

On a personal level, I experienced Spencer's kindness on many levels, but most personal was when he handled my husband's funeral services almost 3 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary legacy of Spencer Leak, Jr., and extending my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were blessed to know him.

May his memory be a blessing. Rest in peace and power, my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my health fellow, Dr. Melanie Yates, for her service to my office and the Second Congressional District of Illinois.

I am so lucky Melanie joined us. She is brilliant, deeply caring, and has a funny wit about her. Melanie, a practicing ER physician, was always my trusted source for any medical question, whether it was a complex policy matter or a personal concern, bringing a unique sense of calm to our entire office.

As a proud Minnesotan, Melanie loves the cold weather. She has even joked that she could live in Alaska, so it is pretty funny that she found herself in D.C. and is now heading to Cincinnati. It is not exactly the frozen north, but I know that wherever she is and despite the weather, she will excel.

I am so incredibly proud of her, and she will always be a part of the Kelly Alumni family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my communications director, Jessica Lee, for her service to my office and the Second Congressional District of Illinois.

Jessica came to my office from Giffords, bringing a steady commitment to public service and community safety that has shaped everything she touches.

Jessica excelled at elevating the stories of those who were too often overlooked and felt powerless. She brought national attention to moms forced into dangerous births and families who continue to lose loved ones due to gun violence.

She is small but mighty, quiet in presence, but always exactly where she is needed when the work demands it. Somewhere along the way, in studio and during filming, she started calling me ``One Take Kelly,'' a title I will accept with pride.

Jessica's leadership and good humor have made this office and the softball team stronger. I am deeply grateful for her service, and I wish her every success in her next chapter and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman for convening us tonight on this extremely important topic. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, as we all know, there is a gun violence epidemic in our country. It is a public health crisis.

Yet, our President is actively making this crisis worse. I don't know if the Congresswoman realized this, but 10 years ago yesterday, Katherine Clark, the late, great John Lewis, John Larson, David Cicilline, and myself led the sit-in on the floor because we could not get any movement to deal with gun violence prevention. I am proud to say the Democrats all participated in that sit-in that lasted almost 24 hours.

Nothing happened right away, but we were making a statement that needed to be made, and, eventually, we did get a Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. But we all know more needs to be done.

This past Juneteenth weekend, nearly 40 people were shot in Chicago, and 7 people died. What should have been a celebration of freedom turned into a horrific reminder that we are not free from gun violence. President Trump responded on Truth Social by claiming that he can make Chicago a safe city in one month.

Mr. President, you do have the power to make Chicago safer. Release the funding that you froze to provide support for community violence intervention organizations. You stole $16 million that should have gone to CBI organizations in Chicago. Those closer to the problem are closest to the solution. Give those funds back to our city.

You can also reopen the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. You can tell the ATF to overturn their 30 new rules that make it easier to traffic illegal guns and harder for law enforcement to investigate gun crimes.

I know that the President will not put forward any of these real solutions to gun violence because, frankly, he really doesn't care. Instead, he once again threatened the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago.

The National Guard will not make our cities safer, but it will cost taxpayers millions and millions and millions of dollars like it is doing in D.C.

Let's be truthful about the real reason why President Trump wants to deploy the National Guard. It is not to reduce crime. It is to instill fear and abuse his power. It is to reinforce ICE agents who have terrorized our city and targeted people based on the color of their skin.

For generations, Black communities have been burdened with the consequences of being underinvestigated and overpoliced. While gun violence became the leading cause of death for all children and teenagers in 2020, it has been the leading cause of death for Black children since 2006.

We talk about the death, but how many people and families have survived, and the mental and physical damage--everybody doesn't die, but the mental and physical damage of those survivors is vast.

Chicago has worked to reduce these efforts, and last summer, murders were at the lowest rate since 1965.

We have seen success because of our local efforts, our CBI programs, and our local police rebuilding trust with the community. We know there is more to be done: ban on assault weapons, safe storage, resources that help those organizations on the ground, and I can go on and on and on.

People deserve the right to be able to play in a park, ride on a bus, come out of choir practice, get off the bus, and get tea from Starbucks.

This is the only country in the developed world that has issues so severe as this.

We need a President and more Members of Congress to realize no one is truly safe until we are all safe, and we need to do more around gun violence prevention.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of two people on my staff: Billy Dwyer and Michelle Galdamez. They have both moved on to new opportunities, but I will always remember their hard work, contributions to my office, and their wonderful personalities.

When I first met Billy Dwyer at a barbecue, I had no idea that one day he would be my senior policy adviser. It truly speaks to his persistence. He was my constituent and started to work in my district office, and in 2020, he moved to D.C. as my legislative aid.

He is a founding member of the office's House softball team, the Deep Dishers. His sports exploits extend to hockey, where as a member of the congressional team, he scored two game-tying goals this past year against the lobbyists.

For over 6 years, Billy was the life of the office. While his colleagues often complained that they could hear him even through noise-canceling headphones, he was always quick with a joke and a laugh. I have no doubt that his new coworkers have welcomed his uplifting spirit.

When my district expanded from 1,500 farms to over 4,500, Billy jumped right into the agriculture portfolio. The farmers all love him, whether they grow corn or soybeans, which is a feat in and of itself. He connected the agriculture work to my healthcare portfolio, leading to the introduction of my Food is Medicine bill to improve health outcomes through nutrition.

Billy's work has always been rooted in advocacy. He became a passionate advocate for mental health after his sister died when he graduated from high school. He continues to speak out for mental health and headache disorders. I am so proud of the work he has done in and outside of my office, and I know he will succeed in his next role.

Michelle Galdamez, my senior health policy adviser, has been critical in leading my office's healthcare work. She first joined my office 4 years ago as a fellow before working in the Senate. We then stole her back when there was an opening, and I am just grateful she decided to come back. She stepped into the work without missing a beat, continuing to carry on my healthcare legislation and expand it from internal health to clinical trial diversity to digital health.

I often say that no one can accomplish anything alone, and that could not be truer when it comes to affordable healthcare. I receive so many compliments from people who have worked with Michelle. They all sing her praises, so I think it is only right that they are entered into the House Congressional Record for all to hear.

Michelle's commitment to healthcare, especially women's health, is second to none. When I was in a 26-hour marathon hearing, Michelle was

right there with me defending Medicaid from Republicans' trillion- dollar cut.

When she saw the viral video of a woman being discharged from a hospital while in active labor and found out she was a constituent, Michelle got right to work. She diligently worked on the bill that would become the WELLS Act, named after my constituent Mercedes Wells, who gave birth in her truck on the side of the road. It was her idea to name the bill after Mercedes because her heart and compassion for people are at the center of everything she does.

Michelle also does great work recruiting and training health fellows, guiding them and setting them up for future success after they leave the office. I know she will do a fantastic job serving as the legislative director in the office of my colleague, Representative Emily Randall.

I have been incredibly lucky to have such wonderful staff, especially Billy and Michelle. I thank both of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the 49 lives killed and the 58 people injured in a hateful mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub ten years ago.

Today, I stand to speak, but I remember when I sat on this House floor for over 24 hours in protest. Ten days after a shooting that should have shook Congress awake, Republican leadership decided to do nothing to pass gun safety laws.

So instead, I led a sit-in with Congressman John Lewis and our colleagues to show the American people that we do in fact care and hear their demands for action--not just in response to the mass shooting at Pulse, but for the gun violence that forever changes lives every single day. Over 120 Americans die every single day due to gun violence.

Empty thoughts and prayers will never be enough to end gun violence.

We need true action: Background checks. Red flag laws. Assault weapons ban. Accountability for the gun industry with too much blood on its hands.

We also need to disarm hate. Ten years ago on June 12, the LGBTQ+ and Latino community in Orlando were dancing and celebrating Pride. Pride in who they are. Pride in who they love. So many lives changed forever that night because someone was armed with a semi-automatic rifle.

No one should live in fear of being shot for celebrating such a beautiful thing as Pride. We all deserve to live safely and happily as we are.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because there is a gun violence epidemic in America. I have spoken loudly and clearly on gun safety again and again, shooting after shooting.

Moments of silence have never been enough. Thoughts and prayers have never been enough. Americans need real action by Congress to end gun violence. They need us to make good trouble.

After Congress decided to do nothing in the aftermath of the horrific shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, I helped organize a sit-in with my late colleague and friend, John Lewis, and other Members. We sat on this very floor for about 24 hours.

If the people in charge refuse to pass gun safety legislation, I will always make sure that Americans know there are Members of Congress who actually represent their needs and demands.

I continue to echo their voices in this Chamber. We need to pass lifesaving gun safety laws. That means universal background checks, funding and support for community violence intervention organizations, safe storage laws to prevent unintentional shootings, an assault weapons ban, and standard marketing practices to hold the gun industry accountable.

We know those solutions to end gun violence, yet the Trump administration refuses to act. Instead, President Trump and Republicans reversed the progress we have made over the past few years. On day one in the Oval Office, President Trump shut the doors of the White House Gun Violence Prevention Office.

Since then, he continues to pour salt into injury after injury. The Department of Justice terminated over $66

million in grants that were already designated by Congress to community violence intervention programs.

CVI organizations are led by trusted community members who offer job training, mental health resources, de-escalation tactics, and more to keep our neighborhoods safe. CVI strategies are proven, evidence-based solutions to gun violence, yet this administration decided they are inefficient.

After a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Trump didn't want gun safety reform. He wanted a ballroom. He wanted to keep himself and his billionaire donors safe while over 120 Americans continue to die every day.

House Republicans are complicit in the Trump agenda to endanger public safety. They are trying to jam through bills that would allow people to mail guns through the United States Postal Service, eliminate background checks, and allow domestic abusers to buy guns.

Make no mistake: They are making our country less safe.

I was proud to play an essential role in passing the first Federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, but Americans cannot wait another 30 years for Congress to act.

We have lost daughters and sons, nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters, and mothers and fathers to gun violence.

One daughter's name was Hadiya Pendleton. Hadiya was a bright student, involved in marching band and volleyball. She was on top of the world when she led her marching band in President Obama's second inauguration. Just 1 week later, she was shot and killed in a park in Chicago.

Hadiya's friends and family started the Wear Orange movement to raise awareness of gun violence. Hunters wear orange to avoid being shot. Now, the color orange has become a beacon for action and advocacy against gun violence.

Today, I introduce the Wear Orange Resolution in honor of Hadiya and every victim of gun violence, just as I have since 2015.

I ran for office because I couldn't stand by and watch as Congress did nothing as children like Hadiya, those in Newtown--and I could go on and on and on--were killed, and also those that have been injured mentally and physically.

While gun violence became the leading cause of death for all children and teenagers in 2020, it has been the leading cause of death for Black children since 2006.

I swore my first oath of office a few months after Hadiya was shot in the Second District. Since then, I have never stopped fighting for victims and survivors of gun violence, and I never will. I will never give up this effort because this epidemic must end.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Kennedy so much for gathering us.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I rise today to remember the 10 lives stolen, the 3 people injured, and the survivors of the hateful mass shooting in Buffalo 4 years ago.

I remember their lives, but I also urge Congress to actually do something meaningful to honor them and all survivors of gun violence. Congress passed the first Federal gun safety law in nearly 30 years, but the American people cannot wait another 30 years.

There are pieces of legislation waiting to be passed and programs that are waiting for funding that have already been approved. Over 110 Americans are dying every single day. Instead, the Trump administration has only exacerbated this public health crisis and fanned the flames of racist rhetoric and violence.

We have witnessed hateful rhetoric turn into hate crimes for far too long. We must condemn racism, full stop. Moments of silence are not enough. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. The victims and survivors of the shooting in Buffalo and across the country deserve better from Congress. They deserve action.

We need universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage, assault weapons ban, community violence intervention funding, and better support for survivors. The gun lobby responsible for putting profits over people's safety must be held accountable.

I have asked for about 13 years now in Congress just who or how many have

to be maimed or die before we take action. It is not first graders. It is not people worshipping in their church. It is not a young lady playing in the park. It is not a young man coming out of choir practice. It is not a young man riding on the CTA bus. It is not even Members of Congress that have moved us, but I will not stop fighting until everyone, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, who they love, or even how they vote, we all need to live free from gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman McClellan for organizing this Special Order hour.

Mr. Speaker, I rise because the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, dealing a devastating blow to our democracy. Their decision will allow States, particularly in the South, to dilute and try to silence Black voters.

For decades, Black Americans and activists fought and bled for our right to vote. Once again, we have to organize, mobilize, and fight for our right to vote. When I say we, I mean a collective we. Dems won't win if all Dems don't participate to revert this very, very racist action. We need everybody involved.

It doesn't matter what State you come from, what the color of your skin is, or what your religion is. Now is the time to fight back. Make no mistake, Republicans are trying to steal this election because they know they cannot win it fair and square.

They have gutted our healthcare, raised prices for everyday necessities, turned their backs on hardworking people, and now they want to stay in power.

Democrats, now is not the time to grow weary, to shutter the windows, to close the door. Now is the time to show up, to stand up, and to speak up for democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Reverend Jackson, as you know, is a global civil rights leader and a moral voice for our Nation. I am proud to have called the reverend a friend, a supporter, and most of all, my constituent.

No matter where the fight for justice took him, Reverend Jackson always returned home to the south side of Chicago. From being a leader alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to a two-time Presidential candidate, Reverend Jackson was already a giant in civil rights. He never forgot to leave the door open for Black people and, frankly, any people following in his footsteps.

In 2002, when I was challenging a tenure incumbent to become a State legislator, the first time I ever ran, Reverend Jackson supported me. He was a hero, a behemoth of a freedom fighter, and he decided to support a newbie, an underdog, someone who was counted out, like me.

Time and time again, Reverend Jackson showed his support. He was large on the global stage, but he never forgot us Southsiders. He founded Rainbow PUSH, which continues to empower countless people across Illinois and in my district, the Second District.

Reverend Jackson was a renowned world leader, but he never forgot how to be a friend. Over 2 years ago, when my husband died, he, even though he was not in good health, came to my husband's funeral. He also came to the burial. It meant the world to me, and I will never ever forget his kindness.

In turn, I so appreciate that his family allowed me to be at his bedside to visit him at the hospital 6 to 8 weeks before he died.

Even though Reverend Jackson is gone, his legacy is not. I stand on his shoulders alongside my colleagues who continue his fight for equality, justice, and freedom. We do have to remember that we are somebody and to keep hope alive.

Mr. Speaker and our two hosts, I rise today to join the Congressional Black Caucus in celebrating Black History Month and honoring the Divine Nine, the historically Black fraternities and sororities that have fostered generations of bold leaders.

For more than 100 years, the brothers and sisters of the Divine Nine have played a vital role in driving forward American history. The Divine Nine has produced hundreds and hundreds of Black leaders who have shaped our country, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jesse Owens, Vice President Kamala Harris, Langston Hughes, Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Barbara Lee, and many, many of my colleagues in the CBC, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the Divine Nine organizations. They are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, and my very own Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.

Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Sigma Gamma Rho were founded at majority White colleges to create community for Black women and men.

All of our organizations give us the tools to advocate for ourselves and our communities. The Divine Nine as a whole has helped and is helping to make our Nation a better place for all Americans. At every turning point in our country's history, the Divine Nine was there.

We fought for women's suffrage, an end to Jim Crow, voting rights, and civil rights. We continue to be at the forefront of medical advancements and digital innovation. Our music, art, literature, and sports are woven throughout this country's culture.

We are still here, fighting against this Trump administration's attack against us. This President is trying to erase our history, rescind our rights, and reverse the clock to a time when Black people were not seen as equals. He is blatantly racist, and his administration is against DEI.

You cannot erase our history because Black history is American history. Black leaders are American leaders, and Black rights are human rights. The Divine Nine will be here, as we always are, fighting against oppression and for the advancement of Black people.