Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to vote during the vote series today. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 7, H.R. 23--Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 35th anniversary of a remarkable event in my district. Shoes for Kids began with a simple donation of just 50 pairs of shoes and has now grown into a movement, making sure no child in Houston faces the challenges of not having shoes to wear.

Mr. Speaker, these shoes are more than just footwear, Mr. Speaker. They protect little feet, yes; but they also boost confidence, support proper posture, and encourage physical activity.

The founder of this event, Yolanda Black Navarro, was a dear friend. Although she is no longer with us, her vision lives on.

By partnering with schools and community centers, Shoes for Kids also addresses critical challenges in children's lives starting, quite literally, from the ground up.

By supporting our children, we are putting the right foot forward, and we are putting children over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Weber, for putting this Special Order together. I know it is probably odd seeing a Democrat up here, but let it be known:

Kay and I go way back. I've known her since the 1990's, when she made history as the first woman Mayor of Fort Worth, while also being a single mom. Even then, she had that Texas grit and determination that's carried her through a lifetime of breaking barriers.

As the first woman to represent the 12th District of Texas, Kay showed what it means to lead with heart and conviction. She's fought for her community every step of the way, never backing down from a challenge. They say, ''Don't mess with Texas,'' but really, don't mess with a Texas woman on a mission. Texas--and this Congress--will miss her.

Mr. Speaker, last week, we learned that the Port of Houston will receive more than $25 million in a grant to support critical infrastructure improvements.

This funding will enhance export capacity, reduce emissions, and create good-paying jobs across the Houston region.

This is more than just a grant. It is a commitment to the safety, sustainability, and economic strength of Houston and its surrounding communities.

Mr. Speaker, this milestone was made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which marked its third anniversary last week, for which I thank the President.

When we passed that law, we responded to the call of Americans who were ready to get back to work. They were ready to invest in communities and neighborhoods all across the Nation. They were ready to build a better tomorrow.

We are doing that in the greater Houston region. We are putting people over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Marie Flickinger, a remarkable woman who passed away this week after leading a life of excellence.

A journalist and publisher by trade, Marie is perhaps best known for her work in her newspaper, the Leader, where she exposed the impact of toxic waste from a Pasadena plant at the Brio Superfund site, earning her the title of South Belt's own Erin Brockovich.

Fighting for the people didn't stop in the pages of the Leader. She also became the first woman elected to the San Jacinto College District Board of Trustees. Marie served for three decades, transforming the college into a place where students felt supported and where education was accessible to all.

Marie led a life of honesty, integrity, and service, and despite her humble demeanor, she left an enormous legacy.

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to the entire Flickinger family. May she rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an urgent challenge facing our Nation, one that, if left unresolved, could lead to an economic and moral disaster.

This challenge is the uncertain future of our Dreamers, individuals who embody the very spirit of the American Dream. These Dreamers were brought to this country as children through no fault of their own. They grew up with our kids, attended our schools. They pledged allegiance to our flag, the only flag that they have ever known. If given the chance, many would die for it as many have done through their service in the military. They share the same hopes, the same dreams, and the same dedication to building a better America as all of us.

They contribute as taxpayers, small business owners, educators, artists, and aspiring public servants. During the pandemic, they stepped up as essential workers. They served as doctors, nurses, and first responders to keep our communities healthy and safe.

Instead of being recognized and celebrated, they live under the fear of constant threat, not because of their actions, but because of our inaction. They live in fear, fear that at any moment their lives could be uprooted by the stroke of a pen or a court decision or a tweet.

Every day they contribute to our communities, strengthen our economy, and make America a place worth living in.

Let's make one thing clear, Mr. Speaker: Immigrants, including Dreamers, are a tremendous economic force for good in this country, regardless of what some people in the majority may say or want to believe.

One study found that immigrants account for 17 percent of the U.S. GDP, or more than $3.3 trillion. Make no mistake: Dreamers pay their fair share and more.

Since 2012, when President Obama created the DACA program, DACA recipients have paid some $20 billion in Federal and payroll taxes and a further $13 billion in State and local taxes.

In my very own home State of Texas, which has the second highest number of DACA recipients, Dreamers contribute over $16 billion annually to our State's economy.

Let's be clear, Mr. Speaker: The U.S. economy cannot afford to lose this workforce, the talent, and the drive that Dreamers bring to this country.

In Texas alone, if DACA were to end, it would result in an estimated 2,600 job losses every single month, including 200 healthcare jobs and 100 educators.

That is nothing short of a national failure. Congress has a responsibility to act and pass solutions. Bipartisan bills like mine, the American Dream and Promise Act, could pass in this House today if only it were brought to a vote.

This legislation would provide Dreamers with the security they deserve and ensure our economy remains competitive.

According to some estimates, creating a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers would increase the GDP by over $799 billion in 10 years. That is not chump change. It would create more than a quarter of a million jobs.

Unfortunately, very few Republicans are working with us or are even willing to sit down and talk so that we can move forward on this issue.

For the sake of our economy and our future, I hope that course changes.

Mr. Speaker, please work with me and my Democratic colleagues to get this done. I know we can take care of Dreamers and immigrants who contribute to our economy and do more together to secure our border.

To close, I will share the story of three fellows who served in my office this past year. They served our constituents, upheld our Constitution, and exemplified what it means to be an American, all while knowing we could never even hire them in the end full time.

They are Dreamers. They are bright, young, dedicated people who deserve a permanent place here without fear of deportation. They and their families deserve better.

It is time for Congress to work together on a bipartisan basis to pass the American Dream and Promise Act and to keep the American Dream alive. We cannot let it die. We cannot let it go cold.

Let's step up and act with courage. Let's pass the American Dream and Promise Act to secure our border and unleash the economic potential of Dreamers across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an organization that has spent 35 years building a legacy of hope, resilience, and sustainable communities across the Houston area--the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Houston. Since 1989, LISC Houston has been more than a community builder; it's been a lifeline to countless families and neighborhoods, investing over $592 million and leveraging $1.5 billion to bring more than 11,000 affordable homes and over two million square feet of community spaces to life.

Think about that for a moment. Over three decades of building homes and hope--three decades of investing in people, families, and neighborhoods that are the bedrock of this great city. LISC Houston is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a roof over their head and a vibrant community, a place where they can work, raise their children, and feel a sense of belonging.

Through its Financial Opportunity Centers and partnerships with local businesses,

LISC has helped thousands in our area find good-paying jobs, start businesses, and build brighter futures. When it comes to affordable housing, they haven't just built homes; they've built foundations-- places where families feel rooted, children feel safe, and communities can grow and thrive. LISC stands alone in the Houston region as the organization that tackles every facet of affordable housing--from providing training and developing new housing to preserving existing homes, expanding access to homeownership, and leading post-disaster recovery efforts.

And LISC Houston's work is far from finished. As they look to the future, they're setting their sights on new challenges--focusing on digital literacy, place-based development, economic mobility, and climate resilience. They're supporting small businesses, including childcare providers, and empowering emerging housing developers. They're creating pathways to homeownership, lifting up families, and transforming communities with every project.

Mr. Speaker, LISC Houston's legacy reminds us that when we come together, we can build something lasting. It's a vision that speaks to the best of who we are--a belief in the power of community, in lifting each other up, and in making sure that everyone has a fair shot at a better future.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating LISC's important milestone and their tremendous impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a century of service and sacrifice by the parish at the Blessed Sacrament Church in the East End, as they celebrate 100 years of the building's dedication this month. The church's origins are rooted in humble beginnings. In 1904 and 1905, families gathered under tents in the hot Houston summers, holding services with little more than their faith and determination. They lacked a building or enough people to appear on a Catholic census. Yet, their vision was clear--to create a lasting spiritual home for the community. By the end of the decade, they would establish a modest building as the burgeoning young pastor, Father J. Schnetzer, sought to assemble a parish worthy of significance. By 1923, the parish had grown beyond its original space, and a new church was needed to meet the demands of the growing community. As the new church was erected, words from the Apostle Peter were carved into its cornerstone: ``As you come to him, the living Stone . . . you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.'' Bishop Byrne dedicated the new church on October 12, 1924. This cornerstone of faith did more than hold up walls--it upheld a community. After the Second Vatican Council, the introduction of Spanish services opened the doors wider, ensuring that the Blessed Sacrament Church could truly reflect the needs of the Latino families who had come to call the East End home. As it had a half-century earlier, the church grew inside those brick walls as the faith grew.

Mr. Speaker, for 100 years, this church has been a place of worship, solace, and support, serving as a beacon of faith for families in Houston's East End. It has always stood for people over politics, placing the community's needs first and foremost. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this important milestone and the generations of parishioners who have made the Blessed Sacrament Church into the spiritual house that Peter envisioned.

Madam Speaker, I rise today during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate our beautiful communities and cultures and how we support one another.

From city councils and school boards to the State legislatures and Congress, Latinos are leaders. We embody the spirit of service and dedication that drive our communities forward.

We put people over politics. We are champions for working families, advocates for justice, and trailblazers who inspire the next generation to strive for excellence.

Our contributions remind us of the rich and vibrant culture Latinos bring to our Nation.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, let us not forget that we are stronger when we stand together, that we have built beautiful lives in this country, and that our brightest days are ahead of us.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to celebrating the rest of Hispanic Heritage Month with my constituents and wish a happy Hispanic Heritage Month to all.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is just another extreme MAGA political stunt to undermine the safety and soundness of our banks and financial system.

Rather than focus on economic growth, it pushes extremist policies, stripping away critical environmental, social, and governance initiatives and disclosures.

Let's be clear: Climate risk is financial risk, and diversity is good business.

Just look at a recent McKinsey report: Top companies grow more when they consider climate risk and embrace diversity and inclusion than when they only look at the bottom line.

Let's make this simple. Why do Republicans want to take power away from shareholders? Why are they doing away with decades of progress in corporate transparency? Why do they want less information?

This is not an effort to secure economic growth for our Nation. It is an effort to deny reality, something that extreme Republicans are experts at.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, ask: Is this America?

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins this Sunday.

Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing the countless contributions made by Latinos across the Nation.

In my own district, which is over 70 percent Latino, many will commemorate, as we have for decades, with the kickoff of a grand parade downtown, marking 214 years of Mexican independence.

It is a grand celebration of all that makes our communities proud of their heritage, their language, and their culture.

As we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, let us commit to fostering an inclusive country where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive and achieve the American Dream.

Let's put diversity over hate, ``familia,'' ``family'' over fear, and people over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and a hero of the East End, Felix Z. Fraga, who passed away last week at the age of 94.

Born one day after the market crash on Black Tuesday, Felix's life was defined by his fight to end poverty in all its forms.

Growing up in the East End, one of Felix's foundational memories at the start of the Depression was going to the Rusk Settlement House, a community center, for a daily meal. But the Rusk House, and later Ripley House would become so much more than a place for food. In 1946, at the age of 16, Felix started as a youth social worker at Rusk, in what would become his life's calling.

The first in his family to graduate from high school and college, and later graduate school for social work, Felix went on to lead Ripley House for two decades as director from 1970 to 1990. I still remember walking into Ripley House in 1972, when I first arrived in Houston, a young social worker ready to save the world. I went there looking for a job--that's when I met Felix and we were friends ever since. We fought many battles together--hunger, homelessness, redistricting, poverty-- you name it, Felix was there.

Felix was always a public servant, but he didn't seek out politics. In 1990, it was the public who chose him to be their champion, to be their voice. And champion them he did, Mr. Speaker. He would serve on the Houston Independent School District School Board and then on the Houston City Council, always fighting to uplift Latinos, and building for a better day.

Mr. Speaker, Felix Fraga was a tireless champion for justice and a better life for all, and he never ceased to smile even through his final days.

He put hope over hunger, care over cynicism, and people over politics.

Our prayers are with his wife, Nelly, his brother, Tom; his sons, Carlos and Bolivar; and his bright grandchildren, Nicolas, Damian, and Amanda.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Felix Fraga.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and support the American Dream and Promise Act.

Here we are again, wasting our time on yet another border resolution that does nothing, nada, to secure our border, reform our broken immigration system, or provide relief to the undocumented community.

This time, however, it is a little different twist because they are targeting Vice President Kamala Harris for political gain. They are spewing lies that she is Biden's border czar. Trust me, if she had been given that position, it would be border czarina, because this is all a lie. It is false, period.

She was tasked with leading diplomatic efforts in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to reduce migration from those countries. That is what she was tasked to do.

Vice President Harris secured billions in private-sector investments to promote democracy and economic opportunity in those countries, and we have seen huge improvements. The numbers don't lie. In 2023, migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador only made 22 percent of all border crossings, down from 41 percent in 2021. That is a huge improvement.

However, Republicans don't care about facts. They would rather make up lies and get ready for the campaign rhetoric. They want to spew lies plain and simple for political gain. The reality is that if they were serious about border security and fixing our immigration system, then here is an idea, they would work with Democrats.

We have several solutions that we have put forward, including my bill, the American Dream and Promise Act, which would finally provide Dreamers, TPS recipients, and DED beneficiaries with a pathway to citizenship.

Not only is my bill bipartisan and popular with my colleagues, 207 of whom were cosponsors, but it is popular with the American people. Poll after poll shows that upwards of 70 percent of Americans support permanent solutions for Dreamers because Americans support Dreamers and Dreamers support America. They know that their home is here. They rose to the challenge during the pandemic and served as doctors, nurses, and teachers. They are serving in our military and protecting our communities as law enforcement officers and firefighters.

The American Dream and Promise Act is a real commonsense solution and not a rhetoric bill. It is not a MAGA waste of time. Enough of this ``pendejada,'' ``foolishness,'' BS, and garbage. Let's move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and instead support the American Dream and Promise Act, a real solution to provide relief to real people supported by Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two Houston-area institutions, the Harris County Public Library and the Children's Museum Houston, for winning the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor in their field.

This is an incredible achievement for the museum and library staff, who pour their hearts into ensuring that every child can reach their full potential.

Growing up poor in south Texas, we didn't have a library, but we had the county send us the bookmobile that came to our farm every month. I enjoyed every single book in that bookmobile. I have always said that but for the books that that bookmobile brought to me, I probably would not be where I am today.

Books and museums allow kids to explore, dream, create, and open their eyes. These resources are vital and must be preserved, especially during the summer. Access to museums and libraries over the summer allows children to be ever inspired and entertained.

Instead of banning books, we should be building libraries, making them a learning hub for our communities. We must put books over bans.

Mr. Speaker, due to travel cancellations and delays relating to Hurricane Beryl that hit the Houston area, I was unable to vote during today's first vote series at 1:30 p.m.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 338, H. Res. 1341, the motion on ordering the previous question; and NO on Roll Call No. 339, H. Res. 1341, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 7700--Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act; H.R. 7637--Refrigerator Freedom Act; H.J. Res. 165--Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance;'' H.R. 8281-- Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act; and H.R. 8772--Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2025.