Ilhan Omar

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant, Minnesota Senator Kari Dziedzic, and recognize her historic tenure. The impact of Senator Dziedzic's time as Minnesota Senate Majority Leader for the 2023 legislative session will reverberate for years. Thanks in large part to her leadership, our state saw a historically productive session that will leave a lasting and transformational legacy on Minnesotans for generations to come. In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed significant investments in our state's K-12 education system, local governments, transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, and a green economy. Our elected officials also codified many progressive priorities, some of which had been stalled by gridlock for decades. These victories included statewide abortion access, Paid Family and Medical Leave, driver's licenses for all Minnesotans, the Trans Refuge and CROWN Acts, legalizing recreational cannabis, voting rights for 55,000 people, 100% renewable energy by 2040 statewide, and automatic expungement of low-level cannabis offenses for tens of thousands of Minnesotans. These nationally- and internationally-lauded accomplishments simply could not have happened without Majority Leader Dziedzic's guidance and mediation. It was my great honor to work with Majority Leader Dziedzic when I was first elected to the Minnesota legislature, as we shared the privilege of representing District 60 as Representative and Senator. I look forward to witnessing the legacy of her work in the years to come especially her efforts to ensure the well-being of more than 70,000 students, staff, and faculty who make up the University of Minnesota campus community. Since she was first elected in 2012, she authored countless bills to improve the campus, including funding for outdated infrastructure, critical research, and student health and safety. Majority Leader Dziedzic's five terms in the Minnesota Senate will be marked by her steadfast commitment to her constituents and her unique ability to bring people together to find functional, enduring solutions. Her leadership in the past decade, and especially while serving as Senate Majority Leader, is a great inspiration to me and so many others. Her devotion to thoughtful, inclusive, and productive lawmaking has made our state a better place to live for all Minnesotans, particularly those who have too often been left behind. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our profound gratitude to Majority Leader Dziedzic for her hard work and dedication as a Minnesota legislator.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a 38-year- old Minneapolis police officer, Jamal Mitchell, who was killed in the line of duty in Minneapolis on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Officer Jamal Mitchell joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 2022. Those who knew Officer Mitchell saw him as a community leader, a changemaker, and a peacemaker. Officer Mitchell showed up to work every day to help keep our communities safe. His courageous efforts were apparent early on when he saved an elderly couple from a burning home. Officer Mitchell will be remembered for his compassion, bravery, and love of people. He was known to have a big heart and chose to use his love of people to help strengthen our communities and support young people. Even as a police officer, Officer Mitchell found time to give back to the community by helping coach first and second grade boys' basketball teams. Officer Mitchell died as a hero and will be dearly missed by those who knew him and loved him. He is survived by his partner, mother, stepfather, siblings, and children. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional achievements of Edwin Torres DeSantiago, who will soon begin his doctoral program in Public Affairs as the University of Minnesota Humphrey School's first DACA recipient. Edwin arrived in the United States from El Salvador at eight years old. Despite early academic success, Edwin did not believe that he could get a college education in the United States due to his status as an undocumented immigrant. However, when the Obama Administration established the DACA program, he then had the opportunity to attend Saint John's University in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, where he excelled in academics and earned many University-wide awards. During his college education and beyond, he has been a tireless advocate for first generation and Latine students, leading to an appointment to his alma mater's Board of Trustees in 2023. His advocacy for our community members is not limited to students, throughout his life Edwin has championed countless progressive leaders and policies that have improved the lives of so many Minnesotans. Admirably, Edwin recently earned his master's degree in public affairs from the Humphrey School while continuing his career and extensive community service. Edwin will now embark on the years-long journey of earning a doctoral degree in Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School, where his exceptional achievements and demonstrated investment in the community earned him a full-ride scholarship. Beyond his admission to the program and tremendous scholarship, Edwin's status as the Humphrey School's first DACA recipient to attend the program makes this achievement duly commendable. Edwin's acceptance to the Humphrey School is a testament to his decades of hard work and leadership. I am so proud to call him a Minnesotan and recognize that Dreamers like Edwin make our state, and our country, a better place. I have no doubt that Edwin will be successful as a doctoral student and look forward to the continued positive change he will bring to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Edwin for his incredible accomplishment and wishing him luck as he starts this new chapter.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hayes for her tireless efforts, and, yes, she is right. Children, the poor, the elderly, and the downtrodden do not have lobbyists, but they have us. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to Chairman Thompson's partisan farm bill. Hunger is rising at an alarming rate among U.S. households. In Minnesota alone, over 500,000 people are facing hunger, including over 180,000 children. SNAP serves as the first line of defense against hunger for children, for the elderly, for veterans, and for those who have disabilities. Yet, last week, Republicans unveiled the largest cuts to SNAP in nearly 30 years. This extreme proposal would slash SNAP funding, which provides food benefits for low-income families by approximately $30 billion over the next decade, impacting every participant. Instead of proposing this unacceptable policy, we should be passing my universal school meals program. We should be fully funding SNAP. We should be fully funding WIC. Enacting this bill without dramatic changes would push more people below the poverty line and exacerbate hunger. I urge my colleagues to reject this proposal and prioritize our constituents over making political points.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in anguish on behalf of George Floyd and his family, on behalf of Minneapolis, and on behalf of everyone who has been impacted by police brutality. It has been 4 years since George was brutally murdered in front of the whole world. We have been fighting every day since then to pass meaningful criminal justice reform. What we are fighting for is a dignified life. What we are fighting for is equal access to exist as ourselves. What we are fighting for is to undo 400 years of being brutalized, victimized, surveilled, enslaved, imprisoned, and having the life choked out of us in the cities we call home. We will continue to fight for change until we achieve a better future, the future that George deserved. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Sammy McDowell, a community leader, restaurateur, and friend to all. Sammy grew up in Minneapolis and was a fixture in the community throughout his life. He worked in food service for many years before starting his own catering company and restaurant. In 2012, he opened Sammy's Avenue Eatery on West Broadway Avenue in north Minneapolis and recently began operating a pop-up restaurant in St. Paul in a space which features Black-owned businesses. Sammy's Avenue Eatery has become known for its delicious food that it serves. Over the past decade it has become an important gathering place for the community. Sammy will be remembered for his generosity toward others. He always went the extra mile to check in on the wellness of his friends, as well as his customers. His passion for community and the well-being of others was contagious. I know that the spaces he created will continue to be a source of friendship, inspiration, and comfort. Sammy had an immeasurable impact on our community, and he will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sammy McDowell, who was a community leader, restaurateur, and friend to all. Sammy grew up in Minneapolis and was a fixture in the community throughout his life. He worked in food service for many years before starting his own catering service and restaurant. His flagship restaurant, Sammy's Avenue Eatery opened in 2012 on West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis. Not only has Sammy's served delicious food for over a decade, it has also become an important gathering place for the community. He had recently expanded and began operating a Sammy's Avenue Eatery pop-up in Saint Paul, in a space which features Black- owned businesses. Even as a business owner, Sammy never compromised his generosity towards others and always went the extra mile to check on the wellbeing of his friends, as well as his customers. Sammy's passion for his community was contagious, and I know that the spaces he created will continue to be sources of friendship, inspiration, and comfort. Sammy was also a well known devoted member of Shiloh Temple and sang in the choir there for many years. He was worshiping among loved ones at Shiloh just before his death. He had a hand in many things throughout the community, and was always a familiar face at events around the city. This past week, a balloon release was held in several U.S. cities to celebrate Sammy's life. These nationwide celebrations are a testament to Sammy's admirable ability to make an impression on those around him. His company will be dearly missed by those who had the privilege to know him. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the incredibly full life of Sammy McDowell and recognizing his accomplishments in entrepreneurship and community-building, and his immeasurable impact on the people and city of Minneapolis.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to join my colleagues to honor the life and legacy of the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. Donald was one of the first people to say hello to me. I recognized his name as soon as he introduced himself. I had met his father as a young girl in a refugee camp in Kenya. We talked a lot about his father's love and wishing the best for those of us who were born on the Continent and how much he desired to carry on some of that work. I got to see him almost every single day getting ready to do his 1 minute and I would get an opportunity to check in with him. He not only showed up for every 1 minute every time it was scheduled, but he showed up and fought for his beloved community every day he was in office. His dedication to following his father's legacy by serving others, his deep human decency, his commitment to the people of New Jersey will have a lasting impact for generations to come. I will miss our chitchats. I will miss seeing his beautiful smile, and I will miss knowing that he was here to cheer me up. I am sending love and light to his family, to his staff, and to all the people who loved him. May he rest in power.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, ``Mashallah,'' ``God has willed it,'' to Representative Jamal Bowman for that incredible speech and for giving a shout-out to my Homes for All Act. I thank Representative Ramirez for yielding and for bringing all of us together to be able to advocate for housing. Mr. Speaker, in the richest nation on Earth, it is a moral failure that we have a housing crisis, but moral victories are not won by words but by urgent actions and bold policies. Fortunately, our localities are stepping up with sensible housing reforms and creative development models. In Minneapolis, our Public Housing Authority just unveiled its largest development in decades. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority created 84 new units that are deeply affordable family housing across Minneapolis, using an innovative modular construction approach that cut development time by 30 percent. In Montgomery County, local leaders created their own version of an affordable housing development by setting up a revolving loan fund to develop dense, mixed-income, municipally owned housing. Now, their public developer model is being replicated in other communities across the country. These local initiatives are vital to strengthening housing affordability, but they need more support. The solution to our housing shortage cannot be piecemeal. It demands a combination of local innovation and bold Federal leadership. Congress cannot sit on the sidelines. We have the responsibility and capacity to solve this crisis. We can start by authorizing significant Federal funding and public financing options for true public and social housing. That is why I will be reintroducing the Homes for All Act, to transform what housing could look like in the United States, rooted in the right reforms and priorities. It repeals the Faircloth amendment allowing public housing authorities to build more housing on a massive scale, like we once did in times of great need. To ensure Federal disinvestment and neglect does not happen again, the bill also converts public housing operating and capital expenses into mandatory spending. It makes historic investments in our housing stock, building 8.5 million new public housing units and 3.5 million new private housing units for working-class families. Finally, my bill would establish a fund to help localities develop pro-housing programs that can also prevent residential segregation and displacement. Congress needs to play a more active and direct role in strengthening our housing supply. This includes making sure that public and private dollars for affordable housing are used effectively and equitably by supporting local zoning reform and robust tenant protections. Such policies can work together, if crafted carefully. Last Congress, Senator Merkley and I introduced the Affordable HOME Act to provide that comprehensive approach to ensuring housing construction and acquisition efforts are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. For renters and first-time home buyers, this legislation provides robust funding for direct rental assistance and downpayment assistance. This bill also establishes programs for a national right of first refusal and right to counsel and bans source-of-income discrimination and no-cause evictions. For people experiencing homelessness, the bill provides billions of dollars in funding for permanent supportive housing, not only covering capital costs but also expanding rental subsidies and wraparound services. For communities, the bill invests in innovative housing models, such as resident-owned cooperatives and community land trusts. My bills are only a couple of examples that could help guarantee housing as a human right. I am proud to share this floor with my dedicated colleagues who have championed housing policies that are centered on the needs of our communities and advocates. Mr. Speaker, I also want to shout-out Representative Esther Agbaje, Representative Aisha Gomez, Representative Mike Howard, and Representative Hodan Hassan, who are leading the charge in the State of Minnesota to make sure housing is available for all. Everyone deserves access to a safe and stable place to live. I thank Representative Ramirez for her great partnership in this important fight.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Edina High School Boys' Hockey Team, who won the Class AA state championship in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. This year's win marks Edina's 14th state championship overall, and second championship in five years. The team, led by head coach Curt Giles, finished the regular season with an impressive record of 20 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. In the postseason, the team earned another five wins in order to secure their spot in the championship game against Chanhassen High School. The championship game was incredibly competitive, and especially meaningful for Edina--who fell just short of the title in 2023. Chanhassen took the lead with a goal at the end of the second period and held it until Edina defenseman Robbie Hoch scored a goal to tie the game in the third period. A few minutes later, Edina senior Bobby Cowan scored the winning goal on a power play. Cowan's goal clinched the championship for the team, who won the game 2-1, in front of more than 20,000 spectators. The win would not have been possible without the phenomenal efforts of goalie Joey Betram, who had more than 30 saves. I am so impressed with the hard work that these students put in on the road to the state championship game, and I am especially proud to see them take home the title for their school. While some members of the team will continue playing for Edina next year, I know that others are graduating and stepping into life after high school. Whether those graduates choose to continue playing hockey or not, I have no doubt that the lessons they learned on this team will be immensely helpful in their lives ahead. I'd also like to recognize all of the parents, teachers, school support staff, and team staff who worked to help this team succeed in every game that they played on their way to the championship. This level of success does not come without support, and we are lucky to have a community that is so invested in helping young people achieve in their endeavors outside of school. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Edina High School Boys' Hockey Team on their state championship title and recognizing all of the hard work that it took to get there.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, preventive healthcare services can save lives and lower costs for families. It is time for Congress to evaluate and prioritize such innovative policies that have the potential to improve our healthcare system. I appreciate the hard work of Representative Burgess and congratulate him on his retirement and Representative DeGette in championing this important effort 11 years in the making. I was proud to vote for this bill in committee, and I urge my colleagues to support it today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), the coauthor of the legislation.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 766. The Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act provides Congress with more information on the budgetary impact of preventive healthcare services. Investing in prevention, such as early detection screenings, could improve healthcare outcomes while lowering healthcare costs in the long run. Such lifesaving, evidence-based policies often have significant fiscal benefits for the government. The bill also ensures that the requests for this outyear estimate are bipartisan. Both the chair and the ranking member of the Budget Committee and the primary committees of jurisdiction must all together request this information. This request should be about our continued focus on wellness and disease prevention for the American people and not be used to justify any partisan policies. Finally, the bill ensures that the out-year impact of prevention healthcare policies are only used as a supplemental estimate. It cannot be used for any budgetary enforcement controls. This would simply help Congress make more informed policy decisions and prevent out-year estimates to be used for any budget gimmicks. I fully support this sensible piece of legislation, bringing us closer to more transparent and holistic budget reporting. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the community projects we funded last week. We showed the country we can work together in a bipartisan way to fund projects that have an impact in our communities. In my district, we secured $12 million for 15 community-centered projects across our district. In total, our office has now delivered over $50 million to projects in every corner of the Fifth District. This funding will address the affordable housing crisis, climate resilience, food access, workforce development, and healthcare investment. I am grateful to the countless community members throughout Minnesota's Fifth who brought their hopes and dreams to our office with these project proposals. Since President Biden signed the package, we are one step closer to making those dreams a reality. I will always fight to ensure our communities have a seat at the table where funding decisions are made.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound frustration at the continued Trump-era policies toward Cuba. For 65 long years, the Cuban people have suffered under the weight of an American embargo. Now, Cuba's completely unwarranted designation as a state sponsor of terror is causing new waves of hardship for the people of the island. It is also impacting our allies and friends. Mr. Speaker, I met with many ambassadors from close partners of the United States when I was in Cuba, and they were unanimously opposed to the state sponsor designation. Trump and Pompeo created this designation, knowing it has no merit, and it was a political trap for the Biden administration. Mr. Speaker, I call on President Biden to step out of that trap, finally, and stop this cruel and counterproductive policy. He should remove the state sponsor designation today.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brigadier General Dan Gabrielli, who retires after 35 years with the Minnesota National Guard and the United States Air Force. Under his leadership, the Minnesota Guard addressed complex challenges, including overseeing 59,000 COVID vaccines and massive domestic airlifts during Operation Capitol Response in 2021. I first met General Gabrielli as the 133rd Airlift Wing commander, where his impact on shaping airmen to serve with dignity was unmistakable. His leadership led to frequent and high recognition for the 133rd. In 2022, I witnessed his exemplary command at Task Force Holloman during Operation Allies Welcome, successfully resettling over 7,000 Afghans. His commitment extends beyond his official office as he continues to advocate for Afghan refuges in his personal capacity. Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General Gabrielli epitomizes selfless service and excellence. It is my greatest privilege to honor and thank Brigadier General Dan Gabrielli for his distinguished career and celebrate his well-deserved retirement.

Ms. OMAR

Ms. OMAR. That is why I plan on introducing a bill that not only requires institutions to provide pregnant and parent students with comprehensive information on all the options and resources available to them but also increases the resources and accommodations that are necessary for student success. I hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle will help support that bill and reject the current bill that we are voting on.