Delia Ramirez

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Metra and all its employees on their 40th anniversary of delivering public transportation services for the communities in Illinois' 3rd Congressional District and beyond. Metra is essential to our work in Illinois to build a strong, vibrant regional economy. Public transportation connects residents of Illinois' 3rd Congressional District to high-quality jobs, public amenities, and local businesses, from DuPage County to downtown Chicago and beyond. When public transportation provides reliable, affordable, and accessible service, the benefits go beyond economic development and opportunity. We can achieve cleaner environments, better family health outcomes, and safer communities. This is why I am proud to have secured $8 million in federal funds from the Department of Transportation's Rail Crossing Elimination program to support the separation of train traffic from pedestrians and cars in the Franklin Park community in my district--a project that will improve safety and mobility for local residents in my district. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Metra and its commuter rail service, I will continue advocating for policies and investments that support public transit improvements, strengthen green, resilient infrastructure, and expand choice and equity in our transportation systems. I thank Metra, for their service to connecting our communities. Let's continue rolling together towards a bright future.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the hypocrisy of the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act. My Republican colleagues seem to have missed the irony of proposing this bill. Right now, this month, we honor the contributions of the Latin community to this Nation, knowing that immigrants contribute nearly $100 billion in Federal taxes every year. Immigrants bail out Federal programs with their labor and taxes, but it is the Federal Government that has to stop the bailouts? Mr. Speaker, you miss me with that. Chicago and Illinois know immigrants contribute to the economic and social vibrancy of our communities. Mr. Speaker, you have to ask yourself: Why else might Republicans propose a policy that would strip billions in Federal funds from States like New York, California, and Illinois? Can you think of a reason, Mr. Speaker? I can. It is a political stunt to take money away from diverse communities and Democratic cities. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, I will be voting ``no'' on H.R. 5717, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in honor of our Latino communities' rich contributions to our Nation, I rise to recognize my constituent, Cristina Villareal, for her dedication and advocacy to champion Latinas in our Nation. Cristina's career, from her roles in the city of Chicago to Cook County, reflects a deep commitment to social justice and equity. As chief officer of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Cristina has tirelessly worked to ensure that Illinois remains an abortion haven for the Midwest, defending the right of every woman to bodily autonomy and to access the reproductive care they need and deserve when they need it. Cristina has also served as the president of the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women, amplifying the voices of Latinas and ensuring they exercise their right to vote. Her work is inspired by the world she wants to build for her two daughters, Catalina, who is watching now, and Camila. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Cristina Villareal for her unwavering dedication to justice, to equity for Latinas and all women, and her invaluable service to her community and to our State as a ``powerful Latina,'' ``poderosa Latina.'' Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Cristina. In Recognition of Rogelio ``Roy'' Soria

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in honor of our Latino communities' rich contributions to this Nation, I am proud today to recognize Rogelio ``Roy'' Soria of the Transportation Workers Union of America Local 556 for his tireless advocacy for worker rights. As a shop steward, executive board member for his local, and recording secretary of the Chicago metro chapter of the Labor Council for Latin-American Advancement, Roy has dedicated himself to building a multiracial unity as we fight for fair wages, for dignity, and for justice. Because of Roy's leadership, we passed the 2022 Illinois Workers' Rights Amendment, enshrining the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively in Illinois, and expanded the Illinois Sick Leave Act to 30,000 aviation workers in Illinois. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Rogelio ``Roy'' Soria for his unwavering commitment to worker solidarity and the power of collective action. Mr. Speaker, ``congratulations,'' ``felicidades'' to Roy, and I thank him for his incredible leadership. Honoring Hugo Manzo

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in honor of our Latino communities' rich contributions to our Nation, I rise to honor Hugo Manzo, a champion for Latino representation in the trades, for his unwavering commitment to organized labor and Latino empowerment. Initiated into the Painters Local Union 33 in 1993 as a drywall finisher, Hugo was the very first Mexican American hired by Painters District Council 14. In 2014, Hugo became the first Mexican elected business representative for Painters District Council 14, overseeing the work of Will and Grundy Counties. He later served as the director of organizing, driving efforts to unionize nonunion sites and industries, providing workers with the option to, for the very first time, collectively negotiate wages, hours, working conditions, and their own welfare. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Hugo Manzo and join workers throughout Illinois to thank him for his leadership. Honoring Stephanie Chavez

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in honor of our Latino communities' rich contributions to this entire Nation, I rise to honor my constituent, Stephanie Chavez, a proud first-generation Mexican American from Glendale Heights, Illinois. The daughter of Maria and Tomas Chavez, Stephanie has spent her life pursuing a career as a secondary social studies teacher. She believes that education is a tool for collective liberation and has committed to teaching the next generation about the history and policies of our Nation and to teach our young people to be proud of our roots, many of those immigrant roots, and how to engage and shape a brighter, more equitable future. Her dedication and hard work have led to her being awarded the 2024 Outstanding Graduate by the College of DuPage Foundation. I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the incredible leadership and positive example that Stephanie sets for her children at Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center in my district. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend and thank Stephanie for her passion and dedication. She is an inspiration to all of us, especially young Latinas dreaming of a future of liberation like I do.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order hour.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, today is 9/11, and I start our Special Order hour by paying tribute to the 2,977 people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and the thousands of people who were injured that day. I ask that we observe a minute of silence as we remember the families torn apart, futures stolen and irrevocably changed, and the lives that we lost that day. As Progressives, we are committed to making our democracy work, repairing the places it is fractured, strengthening the places it is vulnerable, and defending the places it is effective. In April, the Congressional Progressive Caucus released our platform for 2025. In it, we outlined the work we are committed to, ensuring our democracy is strong. Today, I have the honor to stand with a number of my colleagues who have been the movers and shakers in protecting our democracy and working toward strengthening our democracy and helping expand our democracy. I am pleased, as we get started with our Special Order hour, to yield to my colleagues who will share the progress that they have made and what Congress must still accomplish to further deliver on the work their communities sent them here to do. Mr. Speaker, I will start by yielding to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Raskin is absolutely right. We are committed to progress. We are committed to moving forward. We are committed to strengthening our voting rights. We are committed to improving representation. We are committed to campaign finance reform. We are committed to fully funded Federal agencies. We are committed to ethics, courts, and filibuster reform. There is someone who has been doing this work for a very long time and has developed the leadership among other Members to continue this work even after he leaves this Chamber. Mr. Speaker, I yield to another gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes), a friend, someone that I am inspired by. I am committed to make sure that we carry on this legacy of progress.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Sarbanes for his remarks. He couldn't have said it more perfectly as we are wrapping up here. I often ask myself what it would look like if money didn't determine elections, if qualifications did, if competency would. What would it look like if we got big money out of politics, which is exactly what we should all be prioritizing? Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bowman). I don't think anyone can speak better about that issue than him.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bowman for his remarks, and I am committed to working with him here and out of here to ensure that happens. When we talk about the issues that matter most, as Congressman Bowman mentioned, everything from housing to healthcare to education, we understand that when democracy is weakened, our ability to move reforms because of these issues is also impacted. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Vermont (Ms. Balint), someone I have had the opportunity to serve with for the last 21 months, a fierce advocate for our communities, not just in Vermont but all over, making sure that justice, equity, and strengthening democracy is at the forefront.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Balint. Her words could not have been more powerful. We are at a crossroads right now, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus is committed to strengthening voting rights because our caucus wants to make sure that we protect the right to vote by passing broad and comprehensive voting rights bills that eliminate barriers to voting for U.S. citizens. We want same-day, automatic, and online voter registration. We are committed to improving representation because we are the party that wants to abolish the electoral college, grant statehood to the District of Columbia, and establish a democratic process for the people of Puerto Rico to determine the island's future political status. We are committed to bold campaign finance reform. We are the party that wants to end corruption and get big money and corporations out of politics by finally eliminating dark money in elections. We are committed to fully funding Federal agencies that invest in Americans' health, education, and well-being. We are the party that wants to ensure that Congress funds vital Federal agencies and prevents the privatization of government services. We are committed to eliminating or reforming the filibuster, and we are the party that wants to allow for the democratic consideration and passage of essential legislation. We are committed to ethics reform. We are the caucus that wants to ban stock trading and ownership for Members of Congress and the Federal judiciary and impose an enforceable code of conduct on the Supreme Court, including instituting accountability measures and restrictions on gifts and requiring judicial disclosures and recusal. We are committed to reforming the Court. We are the party that wants to expand the number of Justices on the bench, implement term limits, and create new judgeships across the Federal system. Folks, as you heard from my colleagues here, we are committed because it is important to remember that this week extreme Republicans are attempting to hold the government hostage so they can advance a bill that creates barriers to voting for U.S. citizens. Bottom line: It is already illegal under current law for noncitizens to register to vote or to vote in Federal elections. Despite numerous recounts, challenges in court, and the deep dives by Conservative think tanks, there has been zero evidence of widespread voter fraud. Folks, it is a scare tactic, and extreme Republicans are trying to scare Americans--the fear-mongering--into giving up their right to exercise their vote in an accessible and unburdensome election process. The SAVE Act is voter suppression, plain and simple. Requiring citizens to show documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote places an extreme burden on countless Americans, including military voters, Native voters, people who have changed their names, including tens of millions of American women, the elderly, the young, the poor, and naturalized citizens. The SAVE Act's burdens on rightful voters are extreme because most Americans would be unable to register to vote using their driver's license or other State-provided identification alone. Even Real IDs do not meet the SAVE Act's requirements. Millions of Americans, including tens of thousands in each congressional district, would be prevented from registering to vote easily, if at all. Americans would not be able to use military IDs or Tribal IDs alone when registering to vote. U.S. citizens who are putting their life on the line would have to go get a passport and other documents to prove their citizenship. People who have changed their names, including millions of married women, would not be allowed to use their birth certificates when proving their citizenship. Registration applications would need to be presented in person, essentially ending mail-in voting and creating barriers for same-day voter registration. The SAVE Act makes it clear exactly who extreme Republicans believe should have an easy time accessing the right to vote and, more importantly, who they believe should have a difficult time. It is in this moment, in this context that my colleagues and I come to this Chamber to convene this Special Order hour, to make it crystal clear exactly who is committed to doing the work of repairing and strengthening democracy. Repairing, strengthening, and protecting our democracy is one of my greatest priorities in Congress. I have the honor of co-chairing the House Task Force on Strengthening Democracy, where I meet with my colleagues to discuss legislative solutions to act on Americans' desire to fortify the basic building blocks of healthy democracy. During the August recess, I launched my democracy working groups in Chicago and DuPage County. I convened constituents, grassroots leaders, and organizations to share what they have seen, what they have learned, and what they have felt as they do the work on the ground of building a democracy that works for everyone. I hosted a teletownhall focused on making government work for Illinois-3 and a Wheaton townhall focused on the topic of defending democracy. Listening to the voices of our communities and ensuring those voices are heard and valued is part of our democracy, and it is what is most important. What we learned and affirmed is that democracy is a work in progress. It is not perfect, by any means. We have heard that we cannot simply strengthen democracy, simply preserve democracy. We must repair it and expand it where it is not living up to its potential. We need democracy that truly works for the people, where government is responsive to the needs of its citizens, where we keep big money out of politics, where there is ethics reform both in our Supreme Court and Presidency, where we protect our election workers and our right to vote, where we defend public institutions from privatization and elimination. That is why I am so proud to cosponsor numerous substantial pieces of legislation across the broad aspects of democracy and good governance, including bills like the Freedom to Vote Act by Congressman Sarbanes and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by Congresswoman Sewell, which must be among the first bills we take on in the 119th Congress. As I wrap up our Special Order hour in a few minutes, I do want to talk about some of the movers and shakers that are helping do this work to repair, strengthen, and protect our democracy. To do so, I want to start by recognizing an organization that serves the State of Illinois led by one of my constituents, Mary Ellen Daneels. She is improving access to information, amplifying the voices of young people, and breaking down barriers to their participation. Illinois Democracy Schools Network is a vital initiative committed to educating the next generation about the civic process. The growing network of middle and high schools is dedicated to expanding civic learning opportunities across Illinois, particularly in schools serving students of color to ensure all students are prepared to meaningfully participate in public life. By creating high-quality learning experiences, the Democracy Schools Network helps foster informed, active, and equitable civic engagement among young people. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I do want to thank the Illinois Democracy Schools Network for nurturing the foundations of our democracy. Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. It is why I cosponsored and am cosponsoring several pieces of legislation that protect and expand ballot access, as we just talked about. I do want to go into H.R. 11 a little deeper. Expanding voter registration and voting access prohibits voting roll removal, establishes election day as a Federal holiday, and enacts other voting rights and election reforms. H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, strengthens voting rights by expanding and strengthening government's ability to respond to voting discrimination. Defending the right to vote is defending our communities. Let me say that again. Defending the right to vote is defending our communities. Therefore, I will continue resisting and challenging any attempt from extremists in our government to undermine our democracy and erode our rights. We all have a role to play. I encourage us all to get engaged: register people to vote, serve as election judges, combat misinformation. We have to fight for the democracy that we deserve. There is an organization that has been doing this work around the clock, defending democracy, and that is Midwest Voting Rights Program of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights. This vital initiative focuses on ensuring fair access to the vote and upholding election laws. Through their Election Protection program and litigation, they provide critical resources on election day. They partner with incarcerated and returning community members to expand voting rights. They ensure racial equity in redistricting. They defend civil rights and advocate for equitable election laws in Illinois and Indiana. A notable leader in this work is Clifford Helm, senior counsel for the program and a proud constituent of Illinois' Third Congressional District. I thank Clifford and Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights for their dedication to eliminating barriers to voting and enhancing civic participation, especially in marginalized communities. We also need organizations that create and provide citizens tools to hold our officials accountable, and that is why I am proud to recognize Indivisible, a grassroots movement dedicated to strengthening our democracy through education and civic engagement. Through Indivisible Civics, they provide invaluable resources, training, and tools to empower local groups and activists, including to engage with their local elected officials and hold them accountable. Since the beginning of 2019, Indivisible members have made 73,625 calls to Congress and have organized over 2,000 grassroots events in all 50 States. Their focus on building civic knowledge and skills helps individuals become effective advocates and informed citizens. In Illinois' Third Congressional District, active Indivisible chapters in Illinois and civic leaders like Dianne McGuire, Deborah McCoy, Kathy Tholin, Geri Kahn, Patricia Graham, and Denise Poloyac are working tirelessly to engage their neighbors in the civic process. I thank Indivisible for their commitment to fostering a well-informed electorate and a stronger democracy. While extreme Republicans demonstrate which Americans they believe should have access to vote and who they believe shouldn't, I am honored to recognize the nonprofit Chicago Votes for their efforts in fostering civic engagement among the next generation of leaders in our city. Their Unlock Civics program works to increase democratic participation from justice-impacted adults, from registering over 5,000 voters in Cook County jail to advocating for legislation to make the jail the first in the Nation to serve as a primary election voting location. Chicago Votes also works to engage young people in local civic processes, from their regular parade to the polls to creating nonpartisan voting guides to support educators around civic curriculum. Their fellowships and leadership development opportunities for youth and justice-impacted individuals, including their Democracy Corps, build stronger leaders for a stronger, more informed democracy. I thank Chicago Votes. I also want to acknowledge the work of organizations like the Latino Policy Forum. The Latino Policy Forum is doing the work to protect our multicultural, our multiracial democracy from attempts to scapegoat, silence, criminalize, and persecute our Latino and our immigrant communities. Through their efforts in coalition, the forum has engaged Comunidades Latinas in the civic process of our democracy. Whether by expanding participation in the Census or access to multilingual and culturally competent educational voter material, the organization is fighting to ensure equitable representation and fair investment in our communities. The work has been possible thanks to the efforts of its staff and its president and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum, Sylvia Puente, who after 16 years of service, announced her well-earned retirement. Her unwavering leadership has been instrumental in driving positive, meaningful change for our communities. In the face of the cruel policies that are looking to hurt our communities, I thank Sylvia for inspiring us with her leadership. ``Gracias por luchar por nuestra comunidad contra viento y marea.'' ``Thank you for your fight for our community against all odds.'' As I wrap up here, I want to thank all my colleagues who join tonight's Progressive Caucus Special Order hour. I want to end with this: I am the product of community organizing. I am the product of a movement that continues to fight for what is right even when the attacks just keep coming and coming and even in the face of fear, even in the face of loss and hardship. We are and have been a nation at a crossroads. We say we are facing an existential crisis, but the truth is that we have been facing this crisis for a very long time. This country has consistently faced a crossroad to choose fear or to choose hope, to choose love or to choose hate, to choose bigotry or to choose equity, to choose oppression or to choose justice. We face those all-too-familiar crossroads again. Will we choose democracy or will we submit to dictatorship? Democracy is a grand experiment of collective experience, and it cannot be taken for granted. It is precious and fragile, and it requires that we strive to be the best of ourselves. I am encouraged that each time this country faced a crossroads, organizers were there bending the arc of history towards justice; fighting like hell. We fight like hell for our communities. Our communities have always been the target of injustice. We also know that we fight like hell for our children and the future. We fight like hell against Trump and MAGA Republicans and Project 2025, as they are a fundamental threat to our children. The people want big money out of politics. The people want us to reform the Supreme Court. The people want us to protect the integrity of our elections. Our democracy will be repaired, strengthened, and preserved when we fight for democracy. I believe that the people united will never be defeated because we have something to fight for. I fight for my husband, a Dreamer. I fight for my nieces and nephews. I fight for every Latino who aspires to public office. I fight for the movement. The fight ahead is worth it. There is no greater honor to fight alongside you, to protect, preserve, and expand democracy. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, they should shelve their mass deportation BS; I am so tired of it. Let's get to solutions. We should be talking about appropriations. We should be talking about how we make sure that things are working for the American people, instead of criminalizing people that are helping us with our economy. Mr. Speaker, let's vote ``no'' on H. Res. 1371 and let's be done with this waste of time.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, as I walked in here, all I heard was what I hear in my committee, constant criminalizing of immigrant communities. Let me tell you, I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 1371. What this is, is more lies, more misrepresentations, and more inaccuracies. When the majority cannot pass bills, what do they do? They introduce blatantly political resolutions that consistently target powerful women of color. Mr. Speaker, you can always tell when we are getting closer to an election because these extreme members of the Republican Party literally turn up the volume on their xenophobia, and they are doing it again with H.R. 1371. They lie about immigration and public safety. When you look at studies, it shows that immigration is actually associated with lower crime rates. They fearmonger, they dehumanize, while they are also quoting Scripture, which is kind of hypocritical, and they scapegoat asylum seekers, people who, just like my parents, want to seek a life of dignity and hope and who have faithfully contributed to their community and to our collective economy. They are willing to vilify and misrepresent the sitting Vice President of the United States for her diplomatic work to address the root cause of migration from Central America. If my Republican colleagues actually cared about immigration or border security, they would address the conditions that drive people to the southern border. They would pass spending bills and invest in foreign humanitarian assistance and international development programs and would participate in cooperative efforts to realize a world where people can build the life they want back at home. They have done none of that. Just this week, I didn't see any of my Republican colleagues at my Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. Instead, they want us to waste our time on legislative gimmicks and sham resolutions to score cheap political points. It is enough. Seriously, enough. We have been here. We have done this. It is deja vu. It is so tired.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor my constituent, Felicia Miceli, a dedicated champion seeking to address opioid abuse among our youth. Her beloved son, Louie Theodore Miceli, loved the outdoors, he was an exceptional friend, he made people laugh, and he was an athlete. He began taking opioids to treat a sports injury. At the age of 24, he died from a heroin overdose. Since then, Felicia has worked to reduce the epidemic and ensure that other peoples' stories end differently. As the founder and president of LTM Heroin Awareness and Support Foundation, her efforts, including the passing of Louie's Law, protected the youth of DuPage County and beyond. Her commitment has honored her son's memory and has saved lives. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Felicia Miceli for her dedication to mental health awareness and her relentless pursuit of justice and support for our community. I congratulate and thank Felicia.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend two of my incredible constituents for Disability Pride Month: Karen Tamley and Michelle Garcia. Karen and Michelle are both leaders in the disability community and serve Chicago through their work at Access Living. Karen serves as the CEO of Access Living and prior to that served three Chicago mayors as commissioner of the mayor's office for people with disabilities. She has served on a wide variety of government and nonprofit boards and has made a lifetime of contributions to disability advocacy locally and nationally. I commend Karen. As their Latine community organizer, through her exceptional leadership, relationship building, and advocacy, Michelle has increased the number of Latine people with disabilities, leading the work and organizing on issues like immigration and healthcare. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Karen Tamley and Michelle Garcia for making Chicago a more inclusive and accessible city for all of its residents. I congratulate them.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my outrage on the eve of Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address. His address is a slap in the face to the thousands and thousands of Americans who have been demanding a cease-fire, the people of conscience opposed to U.S.-supplied bombs killing women and children, and the 12 U.S. Government officials who have resigned protesting the national security and moral crisis our policies are creating. We cannot work toward peace while giving a war criminal the floor or exert moral authority while supporting the killing of children and civilians nor defend national interests while eroding our relationships across the world. We must listen to the American people and our officials and diplomats, like Major Harrison Mann, who will be standing with me tomorrow to demand the administration and our leadership change course. I hear them. What they say is: Not one more bomb, not one more dollar, not one more excuse for Netanyahu's atrocities.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Andre Jones, in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. Andre's life and creativity are an invitation to celebrate the beauty of our shared humanity. Andre, a Chicago native from the Logan Square area in the IL-03, has published a unique coloring book. It is called ``Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre's Life,'' which offers a glimpse into his experiences and affirms his credo: ``Just like you, I am a human being.'' Andie participates in the community living programs at Envision Unlimited, where he practices his commitment to inclusion and community-building through his leadership of the cycling committee. There, he met Treena Glover, Envision Unlimited's residential housing manager. Treena, who passionately nurtures the residents' unique interests and talents, served as Andre's motivator and helped co-author Andre's coloring book. Andre is donating the proceeds from the coloring book to support his beloved summer cycling programs. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Andre Jones for his contributions to mental health awareness and his ongoing efforts to equip and uplift our community.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to another big lie bill, this one H.R. 8281. Mr. Speaker, we know that elections are the cornerstone of American democracy, and it is our duty as Congress Members to protect every American's constitutional right to vote. The threat to Americans' constitutional right to vote today is the Republican Party and H.R. 8281. In the long and consistent Republican tradition of disenfranchising voters, the majority is pushing H.R. 8281 while simultaneously underfunding our election's infrastructure to safeguard free and fair elections. In their desperation to roll back the clock to a time when women, people of color, and naturalized citizens couldn't vote, Republicans have introduced countless bills based on mis- and disinformation to erode the American people's trust in our elections and democratic institutions. Here is the bottom line: H.R. 8281 does nothing to make our elections safer. It only perpetrates lies now to set up even bigger lies later when Republicans are unhappy with the outcome of the November election. How do I know that? The majority's own former President's appointed commission to investigate claims of voter fraud by noncitizens was disbanded without identifying one single case. If we believe in the power of democracy, we should reject discriminatory rules rooted in fear and division and instead increase protections and access. Mr. Speaker, Republicans call this bill the SAVE Act. It should be called the don't let Americans vote act, and so I rise here opposing and asking my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Andre Jones, in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. Andre's life and creativity are an invitation to celebrate the beauty of our shared humanity. Andre, a Chicago native from the Logan Square area in Illinois-03, has published a unique coloring book. It is called ``Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre's Life,'' that offers a glimpse into his experiences and affirms his credo: Just like you, I am a human being. Andre participates in the community living programs at Envision Unlimited where he practices his commitment to inclusion and community building through his leadership of the cycling committee. Andre is donating the proceeds from the coloring book to support his beloved summer cycling programs. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Andre for his contributions to mental health awareness and his ongoing efforts to equip and uplift our community. I thank and congratulate Andre. Honoring Nat Vikitsreth

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nat Vikitsreth in recognition of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. Nat is the founder of Come Back to Care based in the Illinois-03 and a self-described dot connector, norm agitator, and a lover of liberation. She brings wit, authenticity, honesty, and audacity to the work of collaborating with parents to address intergenerational family trauma and healing from internalized oppression. Nat unapologetically pursues social justice and liberation in her practice while rooting her work in our sacred shared humanity. While she has a long, impressive list of awards, publications, and traditional credentials to be proud of, Nat believes that her work with parents, caregivers, and children is the highest honor. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Nat Vikitsreth for her contributions to mental health, especially for Black and Brown communities, and her unwavering commitment to the sacred work of healing and justice. I thank and congratulate Nat. Honoring Jack Ross

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Illinois Third constituent and veteran, Jack Ross. Jack was wounded in action during his deployment in Vietnam while serving as his squad's point man. Like so many servicemembers living with disabilities and traumas as a result of their service, Jack witnessed unspeakable horrors and returned home injured and with PTSD. His commendable service and sacrifice were recognized with two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Star Medals and an Air Medal. Upon returning home, Jack turned his military experience into a lifetime of community leadership. He owns and operates Manor Press, a veteran-owned business in River Grove. He has also served on the boards of Oak Leyden Developmental Services and his alma mater, Guerin Prep High School. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Jack Ross for his courage, for his service to our communities, and his unwavering leadership.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Christopher Lopez, a generous and passionate community leader whose life has impacted countless people. Born in Cuba, Chris immigrated to the U.S. in 1966, beginning a journey marked by community-building and service. After graduating from Lane Tech High School in Illinois' Third District, Chris' job allowed him to travel across Latin America. While traveling, Chris took the opportunity to serve others, including helping at an orphanage in Mexico, where he grew his family by adopting his son, Mario. Chris now lives with his husband, Miguel, in Bensenville and serves as treasurer of Naper Pride, advancing services, programs, and opportunities for the LGBTQI+ in DuPage County. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend and congratulate Christopher Lopez for his service and involvement in our communities and his advocacy across the community to increase LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 8771. Today, in a few hours, I will be launching my new Global Migration Caucus. While I will stand with colleagues to affirm there are those of us in Congress who want to be an effective ally to global efforts to create a safer and more equitable world where people can build the life they want and deserve at home, today my Republican colleagues, however, seek to withdraw our participation in coordinating global efforts, eliminate critical support for migration management, and fuel the crisis of displacement they claim they so desperately want to address. We must not let their reckless and dangerous efforts go unchallenged. My amendment would strike the harmful and hateful language of the underlying bill that prohibits the support of safe and humane migration management efforts around the world. As vice ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I hear my colleagues talk about what is happening at the border, especially at the southern border. However, they ignore questions about why we are seeing a humanitarian crisis at our border. They don't want to talk about the root causes of migration. Violence, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, and climate change are some of the crises that are driving families from their homes in search of safety and stability, much like what happened to our ancestors in the early 1900s or the 1950s. Everything I have witnessed throughout my official trips and conversations with families, governments, and civil society points to this truth: Our country's safety is fundamentally connected to the stability, security, and sustainability people experience or do not experience across the globe. I have heard a mother talk with desperation about the sexual violence and trauma that her 12-year-old endured while crossing the Darien. I heard stories of threats of violence and cartel intimidation that drove a mother to send her sons on a harrowing journey through dangerous migration routes. For so many people around the world, the choice is flee or die. Again, it is no surprise to me that the party of reactionary, isolationist, fear-based, and xenophobic politics doesn't understand the ideal of cooperation and prevention. Both cooperation and prevention require forethought, working across differences, embracing possibilities, and a commitment to inclusion, none of which are reflected in H.R. 8771. An example is that the bill specifically bans funding for the Safe Mobility Offices, which are a cost-effective part of the U.S. Government's strategy to reduce irregular migration within the Western Hemisphere. To my Republican colleagues: Which one is it? Do you want less irregular migration, or do you want to slash funding to address the conditions that drive displacement around the world and ban funding for programs to increase access to lawful humanitarian pathways to the United States and other countries? Madam Chairman, this amendment is necessary. This amendment will address the issues. I hope that my colleagues in this Congress will, maybe in some cases for the first time, do the commonsense thing: address the issues they say they care so much about and, in fact, support migration management and support countries that need resources so they do not have to come to our southern border. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.