Adriano Espaillat

Mr. ESPAILLAT

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

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, let us make two things clear today, the things that I think are eminently important and that perhaps could find consensus in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle. In fact, I believe even most countries across the world would agree with those two things, maybe even the United Nations and the Organization of American States could agree with that, and I am confident even the Vatican could agree with that, and that is that Nicholas Maduro was not the legitimate president of Venezuela. The Venezuelan people were neither free nor prosperous during his corrupt regime. Here is another truth, Mr. Speaker, that in no way conflicts with this first one: The President of the United States must come to Congress before ordering a military engagement against any country. Mr. Speaker, you cannot uphold the rule of law by breaking it. You cannot protect or abide by the Constitution by assaulting it. Again, so there is no confusion between these two positions, Nicolas Maduro was not a legitimate President, and unauthorized military action is illegal without the consent of Congress. With Nicolas Maduro now in the rearview mirror, we must look forward and craft policies that support a free and democratic future for Venezuela and policies that return war powers to the United States Congress, as enshrined in the United States Constitution. That is why I and the executive board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will propose a forward-looking framework for a democratic and stable Venezuela. As members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, we come from different nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are immigrants, like myself. Many of the members also have ancestors who settled in places in these United States before the United States even existed, and everywhere in between. We share, like most Americans with roots from all over the world, a special connection to Latin America and the Caribbean. Hence, we have crafted a series of recommendations, a roadmap if you will, for democracy and prosperity for the people of Venezuela. Our first priorities will support a free and democratic Venezuela. That means rejecting authoritarian governance, whether the orders come from the Miraflores Palace or the White House. The Venezuelan people deserve institutions that are accountable, transparent, and responsible to the world and a restoration of democracy through timely and legitimate elections that reflect the voices of the Venezuelan people themselves. This is not just about the Venezuelan people. This is ultimately also about the American people, and the American people deserve a government that preserves, protects, and even respects our own rule of law, our own Constitution. That is why we reject any further U.S. military intervention without congressional authorization. If we are together, as a nation, to put our men and women in uniform at risk, then our Constitution wisely demands that the decisions be made by the Representatives of those people. It may well be that Congress will have voted for or against an intervention, but, ultimately, it is Congress that should do it. Now that we are so deeply involved with Venezuela, we must act according to our principles. That means ensuring humanitarian protections at home and abroad for the Venezuelan people who have been victims of tyranny for so long. At home, that includes extending TPS. We cannot deport people to a nation where our actions have set off a new wave of oppression. In Venezuela, that means pushing for an end to that repression. It means the release of political prisoners, including journalists and civil society leaders. It means freedom of expression and freedom of the press. We must also ensure that Venezuela's future is decided by Venezuelans. Our future is also in balance. Mr. Speaker, we are not a nihilist nation. Mr. Speaker, we are a nation of values, principles, and laws. We must act as one.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, I was not able to cast a vote on Roll Call No. 343, H. Res. 953. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 343.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal matter, I was not present for two votes on December 4, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 313, and NAY on Roll Call No. 314.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Ramirez for her leadership in this special hour, and I thank the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as well as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and all the other Members associated with this special hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to forcefully speak against the Trump administration's horrific ICE abuses, far beyond an overreach on the immigrant and Latino communities across the country. Back in New York City, my community is being assaulted, and we are hearing of the fear every single day. Fear has a way of settling into communities and making sure they don't move forward. So we must break with the fear. Just recently a video surfaced from 26 Federal Plaza in New York City that shows a distraught woman violently shoved to the ground, thrown to the ground, and slammed to the ground by an ICE officer as her young daughter tried to assist her. The woman was unarmed, nonviolent, and posed absolutely no threat to anyone. According to a recent investigation, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents in recent months. These are U.S. citizens, people who often are telling these officers that they are a U.S. citizen, and they are disregarded and pushed aside, handcuffed and detained for hours. Many reportedly have been kicked, dragged, and detained for days. As of November 2025, ICE has detained 65,135 people, and roughly 73.6 percent of them have no criminal conviction. Many in immigrant and Latino communities, including U.S.-born individuals, now report fear, reluctance to go to court, to public services, or even to participate in regular civic life. The violent incident at 26 Federal Plaza is not an isolated lapse. It reflects a much broader policy of aggressiveness and unaccountable enforcement with little transparency and no due process. We must demand accountability, transparency, and protection of civil rights to ensure enforcement respects due process and human dignity. The American people are seeing the reality of this enforcement: fear, brutality and injustice. They will not stand for it. Mr. Speaker, I will echo again what I said in Chicago during the hearing that we had there. Masked agents, without a first name and a last name, without a shield number, anonymous masked ICE agents, patrolling our streets, pushing people up against a wall, slamming to the ground a sitting U.S. Senator for the State of California, Senator Padilla, slamming a woman to the ground at 26 Federal Plaza in front of her young girl, not representing or respecting sensitive locations like places of worship, houses of worship--this is the State of America today. This is the Trump dictatorship. It is not tomorrow. It is not next week, next month, or next year. It is happening right now. These are the characteristics of a dictatorship, and we must do everything we can to save our Nation.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Here we have someone who is standing up for his grandchild, for his ill wife, for his community. He is standing up for family values, and yet he has to stand here and defend himself. His decision to step down is very personal and his decades of service speak for themselves. We are grateful for his unwavering commitment to public service. At a moment where some are working overtime to protect the wealthy and gut healthcare for working families, we should stand together united to defend affordable healthcare. That is the issue that we should be talking about here tonight. We should be standing together to talk about how we are going to lift the least among us and make it easier for them. That is what we should be talking about here tonight. Nearly 20 million people are at risk of losing coverage and that should be our priority. Chuy, myself, and Luis Correa, we call ourselves the three amigos because we have so much in common, although I am from New York, he is from Illinois, and Luis is from California. The word ``amigo'' means friend. It has been lost in the journey. The meaning of that word has been lost, and I may add maybe mutilated, but I am here to call Chuy tonight ``my great friend''; ``mi gran amigo.''

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, since 2019, I have been proud to call the gentleman from Illinois both a colleague and a trusted friend. During the build back better negotiations, we stood shoulder to shoulder to defend immigrant communities when it mattered the most. That is who Chuy Garcia is. He leads with conviction, courage, and integrity, even when he stands alone. Chuy Garcia came up during the era of the late and great Harold Washington in Chicago who took down the political machine. It was Chuy Garcia who stood next to our other colleague, Luis Gutierrez, when his home was firebombed by two young men. His home was firebombed, and Chuy Garcia was the person standing next to former Congressman Luis Gutierrez. An immigrant from Mexico and the son of a bracero, Chuy Garcia has spent 45 years as an organizer, public servant, and a coalition builder who never loses sight of the people he serves. He has been a steadfast champion for dignity, equity, and justice across Chicago. He stepped out of this race for one reason and one reason only: his family. We often hear in these hallowed Halls of Congress the words ``family values,'' and it is often used with hypocrisy. Here we have a person that is really standing up for his grandchild. The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Senate's amendment to H.R. 5371 because, once again, the Senate has put other interests ahead of those of the American people. Today's backroom deal does nothing to stop 20 million Americans who will see their healthcare premiums double or triple. It does absolutely nothing to stop provisions in the reconciliation package that will strip 15 million people of their Medicaid coverage. These cuts will have a resounding impact on individuals and the healthcare industry and economy as a whole. Safety net hospitals like Montefiore in my district and federally funded clinics like Boriken in East Harlem face having to eliminate services or completely close. Families, seniors, and children who go to these clinics and hospitals cannot afford to lose healthcare coverage. On top of that, Mr. Speaker, the Legislative Branch bill was done unilaterally, not with a consultation of both sides. It was done on its own in the Senate, in the dark, in cahoots with a bunch of people. It includes a provision that will line the pockets of eight Senators that we know of by allowing them to sue the government for millions of dollars if the Department of Justice subpoenas their phone records or seeks a lawful nondisclosure order. While families in my district are stretching every single dollar just to pay for food and rent, Senators want to get a personal payout if law enforcement dares to hold them accountable. At every turn of this shutdown and fight for healthcare access, Republicans and the Trump administration have tried to inflict suffering as much as possible. For weeks, the administration held food stamps hostage, and even when some States complied with a court ruling to release full benefits, the President demanded that they be clawed back. Even when Governors stepped up and said they don't want people to go hungry, the administration ran to court, Mr. Speaker, to take $6.20 away from poor people. Who does that? Explain that to me. Who takes $6.20 away from a single mom or a hungry senior? That is the state of America today. It is unbelievable, and here we are to vote on this. I will be casting my vote as a ``no.'' In fact, it will be a ``hell no'' tonight.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a good friend, Lloyd Williams, president and CEO of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and cofounder of HARLEM WEEK. Lloyd was a dear friend and beloved member of the Harlem community. Through his lifetime of public service, spanning more than 50 years, more than one-half century, Lloyd was dedicated in his unparalleled dedication to fostering economic empowerment, cultural pride, and social equity in the village of Harlem. Born on January 16, 1945, in Jamaica and immigrated to New York City at the age of 2, where he was raised in Harlem, Lloyd committed a lifetime of service to the advancement and empowerment of the Harlem community. In many ways, Lloyd Williams was Mr. Harlem. He earned his higher education degree at The City College of New York and developed a lifelong passion for civic engagement, economic development, and cultural preservation. In 1974, Lloyd Williams, along with Manhattan Borough President Percy E. Sutton, Voza Rivers, and others, cofounded Harlem Week, which was initially designated as a 1-day event to restore community pride, yet it grew into a multi-week cultural festival celebrating Harlem's history, art, music, business, and contributions to society, attracting millions of people annually. In 1988, Lloyd was appointed president of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, becoming one of the longest serving leaders of this important organization, guiding the Chamber through periods of economic challenges and revitalization over more than four decades. Under his visionary leadership, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce expanded its mission to promote minority-owned businesses, attract investment, foster entrepreneurship, and support workforce development initiatives that improve economic opportunities for Harlem's residents. Lloyd championed key social issues, including affordable housing, education reform, health equity, climate change awareness, and bridging the digital divide, working tirelessly to ensure that Harlem's growth was inclusive and reflective of the need of its diverse population. Lloyd was a champion of Harlem's cultural institutions and heritage and served as a dedicated mentor, friend, and adviser to many others throughout New York City. We are all saddened by his passing and will miss him greatly, but we will always and forever remember him and his enduring commitment to civil rights, social justice, and community advocacy. On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, Lloyd Williams was my friend. In the political terrain, I believe that he paid for our friendship, but he never backed down. His last message to me, a text message, simply said: Proud. Well, we are all proud of Lloyd Williams. We will never forget him. His impact and influence will be remembered across Harlem USA and across the United States of America.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, students across the country have started to head back to school this week. For many, school is so much more than just a place for learning. For 13 million food insecure children, it is a place where they can rely on having a meal twice a day. Yes, even six decades after Michael Harrington published the great book, ``The Other America,'' which became a blueprint to fight poverty and hunger in America and was published by Michael Harrington during the Kennedy administration, hunger still exists in America. School is also a place that provides after-school programming that keeps students engaged and off the streets. It is a place where students are able to receive medical care during and through school- based health clinics so that if a student gets an asthma attack those first critical minutes will be attended to at a school-based clinic. Schools are so much more than just a place for learning. Unfortunately, Republicans have introduced a Labor-HHS and Education bill that will cut the Department of Education funding by $66.7 billion. These cuts will be devastating to the academic achievement of kids and students across the country. Republicans want to have it both ways. They want to eliminate title III English acquisition grants for English language learners. While the rest of the world is pushing to have their children and their students master and be proficient in more than one language so they can be competitive across the planet, these cuts are being implemented. They want English to be the only language, an English-only country, making it less competitive than other countries that want their children to be proficient in several languages. They want to lower crime, but they are cutting vital funding like the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers which provide after-school funding that keeps kids off the streets and out of trouble. While the National Guard is being deployed right here in D.C., they are cutting these programs that will help young people stay off the corner. They want America to have a stronger economy with the most advanced workforce, but they are cutting title I funding that helps all kids, especially ones who come from low-income backgrounds, have the best chance for success. Student academic achievement is the cornerstone of national security, but fewer than one-third of our students nationwide can read at an appropriate grade level. These academic achievement gaps will only be exacerbated as Republicans and the Trump administration continue their campaign against the immigrant community as parents are afraid they will drop their kids in school and never see them again. We must continue to invest in education and educational programs that will help all students get back on track. We must bring back the investment and pride that at one point made America the envy of the world and the American public school system the great equalizer for kids all across the country.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the ``Lion of Lenox Avenue'', Congressman Charles B. Rangel. He was a friend, a mentor, and a champion for Harlem, New York City, and our Nation. Now, as most of us know, Charles B. Rangel was a titan, and my predecessor, who forged countless programs, trade agreements, and new initiatives during his 46 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He became the urban voice, the voice of urban America. When America needed a compass, needed a direction for its urban cities, it was Charles B. Rangel that spoke truth to power and led the Nation forward. He was born in Harlem in the summer of 1930, right on the heels of the Great Depression, which cloaked the country in a blanket of poverty that spared no community. After dropping out of high school, Charles B. Rangel joined the U.S. Army's 503rd Field Artillery Battalion within the 2nd Infantry Division where he earned a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart after successfully leading his men through a mountain pass under attack by the Chinese army. After his return to the country, Rangel received his bachelor's degree from NYU and his law degree from St. John's University. He was appointed Assistant U.S. District Attorney in the Southern District of New York by no other than the U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. In 1970, he ascended to the House of Representatives where he and 12 other trailblazers formally founded the Congressional Black Caucus which slowly became the conscience of this House of Representatives, the conscience, of course, of Congress. He ultimately climbed to become the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, where he worked on legislation that would uplift working- class and middle-class families. This included the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and Empowerment Zones. His international impact was monumental. He forged trade agreements in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He helped bring independence and economic prosperity across the globe. Informed by his military service, he became a lifelong champion for veterans, particularly those who faced discrimination upon their return to our Nation. Charles B. Rangel was a giant of a man. He was a legendary leader, not just for Harlem but for the rest of urban America. He held no grudge. He was a true gentleman, and one that chose to help everybody in the community. This week, our city will stop, our Nation will stop in silence to honor the life and legacy of the Lion of Lenox Avenue, Congressman Charles B. Rangel. May he rest in peace. May he rest in power.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, tonight in the middle of the night and in darkness, away from the view of the American people, hidden in some committee room in the Capitol, the Rules Committee will meet. They are scheduled to meet at 1 a.m. in the morning when Americans are sleeping and when families are resting awaiting the next day. They are scheduled to meet to discuss at length Medicaid cuts. More than one-half of the residents in the district that I have the privilege to represent, the 13th Congressional District, encompassed by Harlem, east Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, and the northwest Bronx, more than one-half--close to 500,000 of my constituents--are Medicaid recipients. They receive primary and emergency healthcare. Almost 4 million residents in New York City, one-half of the city, rely on Medicaid. Mr. Speaker, this discussion that will be held in the middle of the night when most Americans will not be tuned in is a life-and-death discussion about cuts to perhaps the most important Federal program that impacts the daily health and life of people across the country, the Medicaid program. Again, over 3 million New York City residents are also enrolled in the New York State Medicaid Pharmacy program, the so-called OTC program, the Over-the-Counter program, which allows coverage of prescription drugs and certain over-the-counter medication and goods, including food. So this is a life-and-death discussion that our Republican colleagues are having in the middle of the night after promising the American people that Medicaid will be safe from deep cuts. Republicans have spent time and will spend time delivering a bill that will devastate--again, Mr. Speaker, will devastate Medicaid enrollment rates. This, again, will happen in the middle of the night. They are scheduled to meet at 1 a.m. in the morning. Mr. Speaker, 14 million Americans will lose their healthcare, and safety net hospitals will be in danger of closing. Yes, even senior homes, nursing homes, will be facing severe cuts and potential closing, and people could die. This is a life-and-death discussion, Mr. Speaker. All of this is to pay for severe tax cuts for the very wealthy. The bill will require harsh work requirements for Medicaid recipients. It will force people who are ill or sick to go to work to receive the benefits that the program offers that will terminate coverage for millions of low-income Americans including seniors, children, and veterans. Republicans also have introduced a $300-million cut to the SNAP program, yes, on food stamps, which would impact 300,000 people in my district, many of them children and seniors who rely on the benefit to eat. Mr. Speaker, 35 percent of them are children. This will be the largest cut to the Food Stamp Program in our Nation's history. In the middle of the night, Republicans will cut Medicaid and will cut food stamps when people are not watching. This is nothing more than a GOP tax scam that gives billions of dollars in tax breaks to millionaires and gives nothing back to working-class families but empty stomachs and Medicaid debt to the working class. Mr. Speaker, the billionaire wins and families lose with this bill. Let's fight back.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to say to the Republican leadership that they must honor police officers in the proper way, particularly those of them that gave their lives for us and the American public. Let's do this. It has been years now since they refused to do this, and yet they call themselves the party of law and order.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, both Democrats and Republicans should be forever grateful to the police officers who protected this Capitol as an angry, racist, violent mob came in. We will forever remember the 140 officers who were injured and the five officers who lost their lives as a result, including Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police Officer; Howard Liebengood, a Capitol Police Officer; and Metropolitan Police Department Officers Jeffrey Smith, Gunther Hashida, and Kyle DeFreytag. I am also grateful to those officers that testified in front of the January 6th Committee, including Michael Fanone, Officer Harry Dunn, Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, and Officer Daniel Hodges. It has been more than 2 years, Mr. Speaker--take a look at this plaque--that the other side has failed to properly honor police officers. Yet, they stand here and want to dictate to us how supportive they are of the men and women in police departments across this country. They have failed to put this plaque up to properly honor those men and women that protected our lives as an angry, racist mob came into this building and chanted: ``hang Mike Pence.'' Let's kill Nancy Pelosi. That is what they intended to do, and you failed to recognize the police officers that protected all of us, Democrat and Republican. As the ranking member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I am more than willing to work with the Architect of the Capitol and Republican leadership to make sure that we honor our police officers, and this Police Week it is important that we do that. What do we get from the White House? We get a pardon of very violent people that wanted to hurt all of us.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Trump administration's illegal power grabs. Through executive orders, the Trump administration continues to circumvent Congress and violate the checks and balances of our three branches of government. He also continues to ignore court orders, including from the highest Court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court, inching every day closer and closer to a constitutional crisis. Mr. Speaker, in addition, Senate and House Republicans have made it clear time and time again that they have no interest in holding the President accountable to the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America, leaving the judicial branches of government as our strongest tool, leaving the courts as our only hope. Within hours of taking office, President Trump issued an executive order that would have unlawfully denied birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed to everyone born in America by the 14th Amendment. He did this although this principle has been affirmed by the courts on numerous occasions. Currently, the courts have halted this executive order, citing how unconstitutional it is. More than 200 Democrats filed an amicus brief against this executive order when it was challenged in court. This attempt has been successfully halted. In February, over a dozen religious organizations filed a lawsuit. These organizations sued the Department of Homeland Security after the administration rescinded guidance that would prevent immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. Mr. Speaker, you could be praying at a church or in a synagogue or temple, and immigration enforcement could bust in to arrest somebody as they pray to their God. They tried to implement this aggressive practice, and yet people have gone to the courts for relief. This echoes my own bill, H.R. 1061, Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would codify the Biden-era guidance. More than 70 of my Democratic colleagues have joined to support this legislation. Democrats have been hard at work to support ongoing legal cases by joining our amicus briefs. When the Trump administration tried to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency that provides relief to consumers, 200 Democrats filed an amicus brief when it went to court. The amicus brief was cited by the judge in the decision, pausing the dismantling of this important bureau. Mr. Speaker, after one of Trump's latest crackdowns on scientific research at universities, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that its freezing of research funding is unconstitutional and flatly unlawful. Though undocumented families and small businesses were explicitly encouraged for decades by government and legal counsel to come forward out of the darkness and pay their taxes through their ITIN number, the Trump administration is now trying to target this data to carry out his mass deportation plan. This is not just an immigration issue; this is a privacy issue. Taxpayer privacy is key to our democracy. That is why, as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I led the CHC in an amicus brief on this legislation. More than 100 Democrats have signed on. It is clear through his actions and his words that President Trump has no interest in upholding the Constitution and granting every American the due process that they are owed. There has been a longstanding tradition of underrepresented communities resorting to the judicial system when all else has failed to hold larger, richer, and more powerful entities accountable. We must continue the fight to uphold the right to due process. We must fight to continue to hold the Trump administration accountable. We must preserve our system of checks and balances. Not to do so would damage the balance of power and permanently fracture our democracy.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise on the floor today as people across the Dominican diaspora are united in solidarity to mourn the devastating tragedy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Following the collapse of a roof at a nightclub, 124 individuals lost their lives and 150 are injured, and many are still missing. I express my deepest condolences to the families of each of the victims and embrace them during this time of hurt. We stand in solidarity with all of those who have been affected by this heartbreaking event. Their pain is our pain, and their grief is felt by all who hear them. In this moment of profound sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. ``May peace be with the lost souls of this tragedy, and may their loved ones forever cherish the memories they have of each of them.'' ``Estamos con ustedes, nuestras oraciones estan en nuestros corazones con ustedes. Dios les bendiga.''

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, the legal community has a longstanding tradition of representing historically underrepresented communities in important constitutional and historic landmark cases. Right now, the President and his cronies are shaking down the legal world in an unprecedented manner. These law firms have provided services to our underrepresented communities in a pro bono manner for decades. In the past few weeks, the President has targeted law firms that he has deemed a threat against his goals to impose an illegal agenda. Through his executive orders, he has threatened the revocation of government security clearances and prohibitions on entering Federal buildings to these law firms. Two of the law firms--Skadden; and Paul, Weiss--immediately settled to avoid sanctions and committed a collective $140 million in pro bono work to support the Trump administration's agenda. Other targeted law firms--WilmerHale; Jenner & Block; and Perkins Coie--continue to challenge these orders in court. These law firms have been responsible for providing free pro bono work in support of disenfranchised communities for decades. Mr. Speaker, Trump is doing this to stop them from successfully arguing against his executive orders and the harms and effects they may have on America. In addition, many of our colleagues across the aisle have introduced at least seven bills to impeach Federal judges who have ruled against the Trump agenda. They attempt to cripple our judicial branch of government which guaranties a delicate balance in our democracy and in our Republic. Many of these judges have been instrumental in pausing Trump's attack on birthright citizenship, and preventing ICE from going into sensitive locations such as churches, synagogues, funeral homes, schools, and emergency rooms. This is what they are trying to do. They are trying to impose this very aggressive agenda against protections from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and, of course, they are attempting to dismantle the one system that has given us all the ability to rise together, the public education system. House Republicans are carrying out Trump's attack by insisting that we take up legislation that would severely limit the judicial system's ability to issue rulings that have a nationwide, positive effect on communities. Mr. Speaker, there has been a longstanding tradition of unrepresented communities resorting to the judicial system when all else has failed. When all else has failed, communities go to the court to get relief. When it has been extremely hard to fight against larger, richer, and more powerful entities and to hold them accountable, communities go to the courts. Rulings like Brown v. Board of Education, Obergefell v. Hodges, and Roe v. Wade have been instrumental in ensuring that all communities have equality and protection under the law. Mr. Speaker, these are dangerous times. The chapters of history have told us time and time again that when fascism sticks its ugly head out the window, it is the courts that they go after so that it will prevent common folks from entering that institution and getting relief and justice. We must fight to stop the administration's attack. To not do so would mean to damage the balance of power and to permanently fracture our democracy.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, let me just highlight some of the great accomplishments of Congressman Raul Grijalva. He championed full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, achieving its passage in the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020. He led the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act, the most comprehensive environmental justice legislation ever. His Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act laid the foundations for protecting coastal communities and promoting clean offshore energy. The RESPECT Act sought to codify Tribal consultation standards and strengthen our nation-to-nation relationships. The Puerto Rico Status Act, which he helped pass in the House, represented a historic step toward self-determination. I was also proud to work with him on several pieces of legislation, including legislation to provide student loan relief to teachers who specialized in teaching English-language learners, like myself as a kid; legislation to increase funding to English-language learner preparation programs; and getting the GAO to study how schools identify English-language learners with disabilities to ensure they have the right support behind them. He also secured the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, permanently authorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. His leadership helped pass major ocean and climate action provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and other landmark legislation. He held the first congressional hearings on issues like missing and murdered indigenous women in Indian boarding schools. His work on the Puerto Rico Status Act helped advance the conversation on the island's political future. Raul Grijalva's legacy is one of unwavering advocacy, principled leadership, and a deep commitment to justice. ``We will never forget you, Raul''; ``Raul, nos vas a ser mucho falta. Nunca olvidaremos.'' Rest in power, hermano. His impact will be felt for generations. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to honor the life and legacy of Congressman Raul Grijalva. Raul Grijalva passed away peacefully on March 13 of this year, surrounded by his wife and three daughters. Born in Tucson, Arizona, on February 19, 1948, he was raised in a close-knit community with his sisters, Lydia and Norma. A proud Sunnyside High graduate, he met and married the love of his life, Ramona Garduno, in 1971. Together, they raised three daughters: Adelita, Raquel, and Marisa. They built a life rooted in service and activism. His parents instilled in him the value of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to the community. He dedicated over 50 years to public service, beginning with the Tucson Unified School Board in 1974, and later serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. As a U.S. Congressman for 22 years, he championed education, environmental protection, social justice, and Native-American sovereignty. His leadership helped secure the 2023 designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, protecting nearly 1 million acres of Tribal land. Known as the most liberal Member of Congress, he never wavered in his fight for justice and equality. He never shied away from that dignified title. A devoted husband, father, and Tata, he cherished his family and treasured time with his grandchildren. He had a sharp wit about him, a deep love for music and books, and a knack for doodling during meetings. Many of us saw him do his artwork in some our committee meetings. His staff and volunteers, the Grijalvistas, were like family, standing by him in his lifelong pursuit of progress. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is standing firm with his family during this time of sorrow and need. I know that they are watching this proceeding. I want to salute them and tell them we love them and we stand with them. Raul Grijalva's unwavering commitment to justice and his community will continue to inspire generations to come. Since coming to Congress and joining the Natural Resources Committee, Raul Grijalva was one of the most outspoken champions for environmental justice, public lands, indigenous rights, climate change, and corporate accountability. He was a visionary leader, both on the committee and as co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, amplifying the voices of historically silenced communities. From Louisiana's Cancer Alley to Alaskan Native communities in the Arctic, he fought for those most impacted by environmental harm. Under his chairmanship in the 117th Congress, the Natural Resources Committee signed 149 natural resource bills into law. In the minority, he proved that aggressive and effective oversight was possible, holding the Trump administration accountable and exposing corruption. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).

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

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Hazel Dukes, a former civil rights champion and the former president of the NAACP New York State Conference. After her family migrated to New York from the South, Dr. Dukes became involved in the fight for racial justice and spent more than seven decades tirelessly fighting for voting rights, economic development, fair housing, and education. She was ultimately selected by Lyndon B. Johnson to head the Head Start program. Dr. Dukes was an active and dynamic leader. She was someone that you will never forget. If I could describe her, I would say that Dr. Dukes was Harlem, and in many ways, Harlem was her. Mr. Speaker, we will always remember her as an icon and the heartbeat of Harlem and the NAACP. She will always be with us in thought. May she rest in power. Harlem loves her.