Delia Ramirez

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Chair, might I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. In closing, Madam Chair, I find it really ironic and hypocritical when one moment you say: Close the borders, don't let people in, and if they want to come, then let them come the legal way. Then we create programs, one, to invest in communities outside of the U.S. so that they don't have to come to the southern border, they don't have to do that dangerous journey, we create programs of safe mobility so they can stay in places like Colombia and other places like Ecuador or Espana in the future, and then you say: Not that either. The reality is that this is not about President Biden. This is about you want to create crisis, chaos, and fear-mongering at all costs even if at one moment you say this and the other moment you say that, because you have no intention in addressing issues of immigration or border. You want to create chaos because it is the only way you win. My amendment will allow us to address the root causes of migration to ensure that people can stay in their home countries, and then you won't see them at the southern border. To me that is a solution, and it is why I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two constituents and giants of the movement for equal rights and social justice, Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega. A formidable, beloved couple, Evette and Mona have each dedicated their lives and each made profound shared and individual contributions to work that protect human rights, defend civil liberties, and ensure services and support for Illinois' most vulnerable residents. Consistent with their long track record of building community and convening safe space for Latina lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other queer women to explore their multiple, intersecting identities, Evette and Mona cofounded Amigas Latinas in 1995. Madam Speaker, because of their unwavering service, they were inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2022. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Evette Cardona and Mona Noriega for their love for our communities and their exceptional contributions to the ongoing struggle for civil rights. We congratulate them.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Chair, I rise in the most strong opposition to H.R. 8752. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, my level of frustration with the Republicans' Homeland Security budget is really hard to actually overstate. We can all agree that the Homeland Security appropriations bill should protect our communities. It should also extend our national security, and it should do so while fulfilling our commitment to the international community. Yet the Republican majority's bill doubles down on bad policies and proven failures. There are too many destructive, cruel, and draconian policies in this bill to outline in a very limited time, but let me highlight a few of them. There is $600 million for the construction of a border wall to embolden cartels and endanger our communities, environment, and sacred lands; $4.1 billion for ICE to detain and traumatize families seeking safety and stability; defunding USCIS to increase immigration processing backlogs, making it harder to identify possible threats to our communities, which seems hypocritical considering we say this is about the homeland and protecting our communities; defunding the critical Shelter and Services program to create chaos in cities fulfilling our Nation's promise, like Chicago; and endangering the lives of asylum seekers across our Nation; defunding community-based alternatives to detention that are actually creating more of a cost burden to taxpayers. If your goal is to sow chaos, if your goal is to weaken intergovernmental collaboration, to deconstruct effective policies, to undermine collaboration, to decrease efficiencies, and to destroy families, well then this is, in fact, your bill. Madam Chair, don't let overt anti-asylum, anti-immigrant racism masqueraded as fiscal responsibility and protection of the homeland fool you. The legislation does not fund the core responsibilities of the Department that protects the homeland, and it doesn't fulfill our commitment to our neighbors, reflecting the best part of who we say proudly we are as a Nation. Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 8771. The fact that we are even debating this ridiculous bill makes it clear that some of my colleagues still remain, I will say, uninformed, which will be the kind word, of the ways in which the world is interconnected. They deny the devastating consequences when our Nation neglects our role, defunds diplomacy, and erodes our commitments to the international community. The multifront global crises facing this Nation calls for leadership and for our Nation's leaders to step up in partnership and cooperation. Instead, Republicans are doubling down on poison pills that roll back our commitments around reproductive healthcare, LGBTQI+ rights, and climate change; cut over $1 billion to the United Nations and international bodies that hold war criminals accountable; decimate lifesaving humanitarian aid and gut migration and refugee assistance; and undermine Presidential authority and also international laws. That is what this bill is about. This bill, in my opinion, is deeply unserious and dangerous, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dulce Quintero, a champion, an organizer, and a public servant who has dedicated their life to advocating for marginalized communities and those impacted by trauma. Born in Mexico to migrant farmworkers, Dulce moved to Chicago at the age of 9. In their dedication to our city, they have impacted young people, the unhoused, and immigrant communities in Illinois' Third District and beyond. A 2017 Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame inductee, Dulce is a beacon of hope for many in the LGBTQI+ community, especially our young people. Last year, they made history in Illinois as the very first nonbinary statewide public official, serving as secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services. Dulce inspires us to embrace our whole selves and each other in our struggles for justice and liberation. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Dulce Quintero for their extraordinary service and unwavering courage.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Pride Month, I rise today to honor Lisa Isadora Cruz, a passionate and committed advocate for the trans community in my district and beyond. Born in Puerto Rico, Lisa, like many of our trans neighbors, faced systemic and social challenges that motivated her to create and strengthen networks of community care, solidarity, and support. She eventually moved to Chicago, where she has committed herself to supporting marginalized communities, especially the LGBTQ+ community of color, through her work in health services, mental health care, and housing. In addition to the gratitude of her community, Lisa's advocacy has earned numerous awards, including the Transgender Leadership Award, the Rosa Parks Equality Award, and inclusion in Chicago's LGBT Hall of Fame. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Lisa Isadora Cruz for courageously inspiring us to live our truth and for encouraging, supporting, and celebrating our communities. Honoring Erika L. Sanchez

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Erika L. Sanchez, a writer rooted in Illinois-03 whose work has profoundly impacted literature and culture in our district and beyond. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Erika's works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have moved so many eager readers. Her young adult novel, ``I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,'' shares Julia's story, a story shared by many children of immigrants as she navigates family expectations, mental health struggles, and cultural stereotypes. Her beautiful story will now find a new life as a film directed by America Ferrera and screen-written by Linda Yvette Chavez. This Immigrant Heritage Month, I am grateful for storytellers like Erika who invite us into a deeper understanding of our immigrant experiences and encourage young people through art and literature. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Erika Sanchez for her skill, for her creativity, and for her commitment to telling our stories. Commending Alees Edwards

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the one and only Alees Edwards, a leader bringing diverse communities together in our shared struggle for justice and freedom. From West Humboldt Park, Alees is the founder and executive director of Drawn Out Ministries, a nonprofit providing hope and transitional housing for women returning to the community from prison. She is also a member of Westside Rising, Chicagoland United in Prayer, and Westside Community Leadership Fellows, and she is a councilmember for the 11th Police District, where she works to redefine community safety and hold the Chicago Police Department accountable to the people. As we observe Juneteenth, I appreciate Alees' leadership in the 1865 Fest Coalition, bringing critical awareness to the day's significance and the struggle for Black liberation. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Alees Edwards for her dedication to community and her relentless fight for our collective leadership.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, today I rise as the ``Congresswoman,'' ``Congresista,'' of the biggest Puerto Rican community in the Midwest to commend the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. PRCC is a fixture of the Humboldt Park community, where I grew up. Every year since 1978, through the Puerto Rican People's Day parade, PRCC showcases and celebrates the Puerto Rican community's rich culture and heritage on ``Puerto Rico Town,'' ``Paseo Boricua,'' now known as Barrio Boriken. The team at PRCC, including executive director and cofounder, Jose Lopez; chief operating officer, Juan Manuel Calderon; and director of Vida/SIDA Ricardo Jimenez, are visionary leaders with deep roots in our barrio. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great privilege to honor and commend the Puerto Rican Cultural Center for being a beacon that reminds us of the legacy, the power, and the possibility of the Puerto Rican diaspora in Illinois' Third Congressional District and beyond.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8282. I realize the pattern here. When my Republican colleagues can't legislate, they decide they are going to score cheap points using three primary tools: fear-mongering, punishing, and silencing. I want to break down a little bit of this bill today. Fear-mongering: The bill invokes the protection of United States military personnel. Now, let me clarify. U.S. military personnel are not subject to the ICC because the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which I find shameful. Punishing: The bill would impose sanctions against anyone who aids the ICC in investigating, detaining, arresting, or prosecuting anyone who has not consented to the court's jurisdiction. Let me clarify. Let me make a point of clarification here. The bill would weaponize sanctions against major U.S. allies who support the court, allies like Germany, France, the U.K., Japan, and countless others. Silencing: How? If enacted, no funding may be used for the International Criminal Court. Another point of clarification: Those efforts would weaken the ICC, and that makes us all less safe. It is important we remember why the ICC exists, as defined by the Rome Statute: ``Mindful that during this century, millions of children, women, and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.'' It recognizes that ``such grave crimes threaten the peace, security, and well-being of the world,'' and it is ``determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and, thus, to contribute to the prevention of such crimes.'' I stand in opposition to this resolution because we need the ICC. In the last 241 days, thousands have been victims of unimaginable atrocities, and Netanyahu's violations of international law have threatened the peace of the world. I am determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes, and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. I couldn't agree more with the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 192. This is another condescending Republican attempt to do three really specific things: Meddle in local D.C. elections; disfranchise Black and Brown voters who are fully capable of governing themselves, by the way; and eroding the trust of Americans in our Federal elections. In the 118th Congress alone, Republicans have introduced 17 bills to overturn D.C.'s election laws, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have refused to do the one thing that the residents of D.C. have asked for, and that is equal representation through statehood. In the Republican tradition of undermining elections, the majority is pushing this bill while the primary elections in D.C. are underway. Let's be clear: It is all intentional to stoke fear among voters and raise false alarms around the integrity of D.C.'s voting process. H.R. 192 is another sorry Republican effort to continue to carry on this baseless MAGA narrative about noncitizens affecting the outcomes of Federal elections. Let's put this into context. A 2016 study of our Federal elections found only 0.001 percent of votes cast were cases of suspected, not proven, noncitizen voting. Even the former President's appointed commission to investigate his claims of voter fraud by noncitizens was disbanded without identifying one single case. In the meantime, a third of working-age Americans are living through crushing medical debt, families are spending up to 75 percent of their income on rent and utilities, and scientists agree that the climate crisis may cost 14.5 million deaths by 2050. Yet, here we are again. Madam Speaker, we need to stop entertaining legislation based on Republican lies. There are real problems that need to be addressed and comprehensive solutions.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maricela Garcia, whose distinguished career we celebrate today. Maricela will soon retire as the CEO of Gads Hill Center after 12 years of transformative impact. A fellow Guatemalteca, Ms. Garcia immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s seeking refuge from the civil war. In her country, Garcia founded Casa Guatemala to support newly arrived refugees and cofounded Women for Guatemala to build solidarity among women in the U.S. and Guatemala. Maricela's impact has been felt across the State of Illinois. In addition to her years at Gads Hill Center, she has led the Illinois Coalition for Refugee Rights and the Latino Policy Forum. Her work has empowered countless families, especially Black, Brown, and immigrant families, providing them with education, resources, and hope. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District and the Guatemalan community in my district, it is my great honor to commend Maricela Garcia for her exceptional leadership. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) Her legacy reminds us of the strength, resilience, and contributions of immigrants in building a better future. Su legado nos recuerda la fuerza, la resilienca y las contribciones de los inmigrantes a la hora de forjar un futuro mejor. Congratulations. Honoring Debbie Reznik

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Debbie Reznik for 30 years of distinguished service to our communities, especially working to address homelessness. It is well known that Debbie has a standout philanthropic career. She has changed systems, strengthened sectors, and launched life-changing programs. What is lesser known is her legacy as a champion for young leaders. I met Debbie at the age of 19, having just been promoted to a leadership position in a Chicago nonprofit, and she made a commitment to me then to support me that day and has honored it every single day since. Twenty-one years later, I am who I am standing here in Congress in no small part because of Debbie. While Debbie is stepping down from her position at the Polk Bros. Foundation to pursue new adventures, we know that she will continue to be a tireless advocate for a more just and loving society. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Debbie Reznik for the lives changed and the impact made through her service to our communities. I congratulate and thank Debbie. Honoring Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman, whose transformational leadership and powerful legacy has shaped the political and spiritual consciousness of so many. There is so much we have won in Chicago and across the Nation that would not be possible without the witness of Reverend Slim Coleman. A retired United Methodist pastor, Reverend Coleman and his wife, Emma Lozano showed us how to truly love our neighbors when they opened the doors of Adalberto Memorial United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park to provide sanctuary to Elvira Arellano and many other undocumented immigrants fighting their deportations. They laid the groundwork for Chicago to declare itself a sanctuary city. As a movement builder across several decades, his work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, and, eventually, the Rainbow Coalition showed us how to build multiracial, multicultural solidarity movements that center our mutual liberation. He laid a foundation of solidarity for both Chicago's first Black mayor, Harold Washington, and Chicago's most recently elected mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson, to take up their positions on the fifth floor of city hall. As an organizer, Reverend Coleman showed us what people power can do. Whether through his work to establish local school councils throughout Chicago, register thousands of voters in the 1983 mayoral election, or build coalitions around housing, education, and jobs, his life and his legacy will continue to be a light in dark places, reminding us that ``a united community will never be defeated,'' ``un pueblo unido jamas sera vencido.'' To his wife, Pastora Emma Lozano, she is loved: I am with her. Pastor Coleman may have preceded her in his homegoing, but she is not alone. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege to submit this commendation in the Record to honor the life and the legacy of Reverend Walter ``Slim'' Coleman. May Pastor Coleman rest in power. May he rest in power.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month, I rise today to honor my constituent, a longtime defendant of our multicultural, multiracial democracy, Marla Bramble. Marla has dedicated her entire life to organizing multicultural, interfaith coalitions for economic and racial justice. For the last 10 years, Marla has been a passionate voice for our Jewish neighbors, leading the community-organizing team at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Through these efforts, she has helped achieve significant victories for our community, city, and State, ending cash bail in Illinois, protecting affordable housing units across the city of Chicago, expanding Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants, and making sure that our communities understand the importance of affordable housing. Marla has lived in the beautiful Humboldt Park community for over 20 years. I have had an opportunity to see her work, how she organizes from a place of love, from a place of justice, and from a place of peace. Marla has devoted herself to mentoring young Jewish leaders and people of all backgrounds, like me, demonstrating how, through solidarity, we can unite across faith communities in our fight for justice and peace. On behalf of the Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is the greatest honor of my life to commend Marla Bramble for being a guiding light for the Jewish community and for all of us in Illinois-03. Madam Speaker, I thank and congratulate Marla. Commending HANA Center and AFIRE

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, in recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I rise today to commend two essential Asian-American organizations serving families in Illinois-03. Albany Park in Illinois-03 is home to the HANA Center and the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment, or, as we call it, AFIRE. Both organizations are central to serving families of Korean, Filipino, and Asian heritage through social services, education, culture, and community organizing. By hosting citizenship workshops, health fairs, and other events to engage the community in culturally competent ways, HANA Center and AFIRE demonstrate the strength and cultural richness of the Asian diaspora and the immigrant community overall. I am grateful for their presence in Illinois-03 and for their work building the power of Asian-American and immigrant communities to organize around their needs. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am honored to commend the HANA Center and AFIRE for their unwavering work to uplift our Asian-American, Native American, and Pacific Islander families. Madam Speaker, I congratulate AFIRE and the HANA Center. Honoring Dr. Tom Jobe

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Dr. Tom Jobe, a trailblazer in the field of mental health. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it is fitting to honor the contributions of a man who expanded our understanding of psychiatry. Dr. Jobe's multidisciplinary approach challenged established norms. His innovative research shed light on alternative treatment approaches that brought hope, humanity, and possibilities to patients across Illinois and across the Nation. He provided care for people, constituents, on the West Side and South Side of Chicago when very few others were doing it. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Jobe's warmth, empathy, and generosity touched all who knew him. His passing was deeply mourned. He was a brilliant man with interests that ranged from medicine to philosophy that enriched not only his work but the lives of all people who ever met him and surrounded him. His commitment to mental health care for everyone touched many lives. He is deeply, deeply missed by his partner, Anna Weaver, his loved ones, and the entire community of the State of Illinois. We know that his legacy lives on. Today, let us remember Tom Jobe's many contributions as we continue the vital work of advocating for mental health awareness, support, and resources. In his memory, we honor Tom Jobe today.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to affirm that we are paying attention. We were paying attention when 35,000 Palestinians were killed. We were paying attention when over 14,500 children were robbed of their future. We were paying attention as 404 doctors and aid workers were killed, 100 journalists and media workers were killed. Finally, we are paying attention as over 1.1 million people are on the verge of starving to death. Yesterday, we were paying attention when Israel began its invasion into Rafah and seized control of the Rafah crossing. We were paying attention on February 8 when President Biden said that providing periodic congressional reports to Congress enables meaningful oversight. We were paying attention last month when a nonpartisan task force issued an independent, credible report outlining the Israeli Government's violations of international humanitarian law. In 76 pages of details, they provide example after example of what they call a systematic disregard for international humanitarian law and military best practice regarding civilian harm mitigation by the Israel Defense Forces, including with U.S.-provided arms. Today, we are paying attention as President Biden's National Security Memorandum 20, what we call the NSM-20, congressional reporting deadline on Israel's use of U.S. arms comes due. We know that Netanyahu's administration has been and is continuing to assure the U.S. Government that it is using U.S. weapons in line with international laws and is not interfering with the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, given what we have witnessed over the last 214 days, how can we trust Netanyahu's official assurances that they are complying with international law? How can we be expected to ignore the violations of international law and interference with the delivery of humanitarian assistance we have witnessed in real time? What are we to say to the constituents whose families are starving, whose loved ones cannot receive medical care, or who never received the promised evacuation from Gaza? What do we say to the brave and courageous students across campuses, our children, who are defending other children in Gaza who are being murdered with U.S. bombs? What do we say to the children who are still looking for their mothers under the rubble, as we approach Mother's Day? The administration's willingness to make exceptions for Israel has got to stop. The actions of the Netanyahu government are exceptional-- exceptionally noncompliant with international law and exceptionally unconcerned with human rights. The Biden administration must consider other credible sources of information beyond the Israeli Government as it fulfills its NSM-20 reporting obligations, and the administration must fulfill those obligations today. I expect that this country will demonstrate our commitment to international law, to human rights, and congressional oversight because we are paying attention. The time has come for the administration to follow through on its warning about Israeli conduct and take meaningful action because if the administration is paying attention, they will enforce both our laws through NSM-20 and section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act and also international law. Anything less undermines our credibility and is a stain on the legacy of our country's leadership.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose H.R. 7109. I mean, think about it. It is another Republican attempt to attack immigrant communities in this country. So many of us, our children, and our grandchildren are immigrants, and we have the hypocrisy to stand in this room here and continue to attack immigrant communities. Republicans are trying to amend the Constitution through unconstitutional means. The Census Bureau has constitutionally mandated responsibility to count the number of persons in the United States, to count every single person, because as the Member prior from this side said, they are here. They are contributing. They are paying taxes. They make it possible for us to be able to retire and then be able to have the benefits that we have worked so hard for because they are paying those taxes, and they serve our communities. Republicans are adding Census questions to have a chilling effect, to keep people afraid, to make them nervous, to discourage their participation in the Census. The ultimate effect that it is going to have on these communities, like mine, is undercounted and underrepresented. Our democracy grows weaker every single time these kind of actions are brought to this floor. We must ensure that the Census remains as accurate as possible and free from the political interference that would rob whole communities of the resources and the representation they are entitled to. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage a ``no'' vote.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) I rise today to honor the women in my community as we prepare to return home to our districts for Mother's Day. I've said before that I'm the proud daughter of my courageous immigrant mother, Maria Elvira Ramirez. A woman who almost drowned in the Rio Grande and sacrificed so much to give me a chance at a better life. A woman who, to this day, never fails to lend a hand and offer support and guiding words to anyone in IL-03 who needs it. She is a mother for the whole community. And as I honor my mother, I can't forget women who have also served as mothers to community, including: Elvira Arellano, Juanita Barraza, Nancy Aardema, Leticia Barrera, Catherine Garcia, and Julieta Alcantar. Each of these ``mujeres'' have nurtured, cared for, and supported whole communities, extending their love and compassion. As ``madres de communidad,'' they have: taught us how to care for each other and keep each other safe; defended our causes and protected our dreams; created safe spaces and encouraged us to be our authentic selves. These mothers have taught us that love is both gentle and fierce. They taught us how to fight for each other and to stand firmly against that which seeks to destroy us: unaffordable housing, gun violence, a broken immigration system, and more. These mothers taught us to stand up for each other--not only for their children, but for all children. El dia de hoy me levanto para honrar a las mujeres de mi comunidad mientras nos preparamos para regresar a nuestros distritos para celebrar el Dia de la Madre. Muchas veces he dicho que soy la orgullosa hija de mi valiente madre inmigrante, Maria Elvira Ramirez. Una mujer que casi se ahoga en el Rio Grande y sacrifico tanto para darme la oportunidad de una mejor vida. Una mujer que, hasta el dia de hoy, no deja de dar una mano y ofrecer apoyo y palabras de orientacion a cualquiera en IL-03 que lo necesite. Ella es madre de toda la comunidad. Y al honrar a mi madre, no puedo olvidar a las mujeres que tambien han servido como madres en la comunidad, entre ellas: Elvira Arellano, Juanita Barraza, Nancy Aardema, Leticia Barrera, Catalina Garcia, y Julieta Alcantar. Cada una de estas mujeres ha nutrido, cuidado y apoyado a comunidades enteras, extendiendo su amor y compasion. Como madres de comunidad, ellas nos han tienen: ensenado como cuidarnos unos a otros y mantenernos seguros; Defendido nuestras causas y protegido nuestros suenos; Creado espacios seguros y animado a ser nosotros mismos. Estas madres nos han ensenado que el amor es a la vez gentil y feroz. Nos ensenaron como luchar unos por otros y a oponernos firmemente a aquello que busca destruirnos: viviendas inasequibles, violencia armada, un sistema de inmigracion fallido y mas. Estas madres nos ensenaron a pararnos firmes, no solo por sus hijos, sino por todos los ninos.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, it is why I rise today to honor mothers, my mother, and so many women in Illinois-3 who have shown love, who have shown compassion, who have shown love even when they have been given hate. I also recognize that our mothers, as we pay respect to them, they also want to make sure that we pay respect to the brave children that they have raised. You see, on college campuses across the United States and the whole world, students, our children, they are fighting for our shared humanity. They are putting their comfort and their bodies on the line to disrupt the status quo. They are sending a clear message that Palestinian, that Jewish, that Christian children must be protected and that we must uplift our shared humanity. Inspired by the lessons we have learned from our own mothers in our communities, these brave and courageous students are defending children in Gaza who are being murdered with U.S. bombs. They are taking a stand for children whose schools have been destroyed. Students of all faiths--Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and from diverse backgrounds--are uniting to care for each other and to keep each other safe, to defend their cause and protect their dreams and to create a space that is encouraging freedom for everyone. These children are an inspiration to so many of us, and they remind us that the future is bright by putting the values and love into action that their courageous mothers instilled in them. Thanks to the teachings of these women, today we have a generation who believes in our interconnectedness struggles and are saying enough. In one voice, they are telling us clearly: No more war. I close by saying that I learned from my own mother, a woman with a third-grade education, a woman who struggled and has experienced all that is wrong with this world, that if you lead with compassion, that if you lead with courage, that you are willing to be uncomfortable in the times that you must be uncomfortable, then you are living your purpose and our collective responsibility for collective care. It is why today as we are all getting ready to head back to our districts to celebrate Mother's Day, I call on us all to remember the lessons we learned from our own mothers, and I urge all of us to see our shared humanity, no matter where we were born, no matter our citizenship status. Let's not forget the women who right now are mourning their children and the children looking for their mothers under the rubble in Gaza and in every conflict. May we remember those children. May we remember those mothers. After all, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Mother's Day in 1914 to honor mothers who had lost their sons in the First World War. May we come back to protecting our children, may we come back to protecting mothers and fathers, and may we be reminded in this day as we celebrate mothers across the world that we, here in Congress, have a responsibility to protect them and to uplift them. I thank Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for her work, particularly the work she is doing around paid family leave, affordable childcare, universal school meals, investments in WIC and SNAP, ending child poverty, and reproductive freedom. It is the honor of my life to serve with her.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nelson Cruz, Sr., for his work encouraging the artistic and cultural expressions of generations over a 60-year career at La Voz Hispana. Founded by the Cruz family, La Voz Hispana is more than a music store. It is a testament to the vibrancy of Chicago's Latin American cultural community. From its humble beginnings selling records to its evolution into a cherished neighborhood institution offering instruments and lessons, La Voz Hispana has been a source of inspiration for so many. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Nelson Cruz, Sr., for his contributions to our community and to wish him an enriching and joyful retirement. ``May the melodies of La Voz Hispana continue resounding in our hearts for many years to come.'' ``Que las melodias de La Voz Hispana sigan resonando en nuestros corazones por muchos anos mas.'' I thank and congratulate Nelson.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of H.R. 1767, the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act. When I came to Congress about 16 months ago, I made a commitment to deliver legislative victories and every possible resource that would positively impact Illinois-03. During my first term, through our work on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have made it a priority to advocate for equity for our veterans and to ensure they have access to every single benefit and resource they have rightfully earned. That work includes protecting them from bad actors seeking to exploit them for the benefits they deserve. It is why I am so proud that this bill, H.R. 1767, the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act, passed through committee with bipartisan support and has come to the floor today. I thank Congressman Mike Levin for being an original cosponsor with me. Also, I thank Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and the fantastic committee staff because we don't acknowledge the work that they do enough. I thank them for all of their support and leadership in moving this bill through committee. I also thank Veterans Education Success and Student Veterans of America for leading the effort to protect our student veterans from bad actors seeking to exploit their benefits. I thank the National Educational Association and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, HACU, for their support of my bill and the work they do on behalf of student veterans and all students. I also want to take the time to express my gratitude to my staff and the rest of the committee staff for the countless hours that they have spent, majority and minority, working on this bill. I thank them for their efforts. I am grateful for Justin Vogt, who has been and continues to be instrumental to this work. Access to quality education is one of the promises we have made to our veterans, and we have to deliver. The educational benefits provided by the GI Bill have been instrumental in helping veterans gain economic security and access to postsecondary education. Moreover, these benefits have helped ensure that student veterans are fully supported to transition back into civilian life. This bill starts the long-overdue process of restoring the GI Bill benefits of student veterans who were defrauded by for-profit colleges and universities. This bill will help veterans like Army veteran Christopher Brown from Des Plaines, Illinois, who was promised a quality education that would be covered by his benefits, but ITT Tech instead used all of his benefits and left him with $95,000 of debt. Because of this bill, thousands of veterans across the country will now have a pathway to be able to seek restoration. I thank our ranking member, again, for his endless commitment, and I thank our chairman, as well. I believe that today is the beginning of the journey of making sure that every single veteran in this country is able to go to school and is able to have an opportunity to seek the education that they deserve. Madam Speaker, yes, my bill was negotiated and amended, and I look forward to working together to ensure full parity for veteran students as we continue to do this work in the coming months and in the coming Congress and certainly making sure that this bill passes the Senate. We have come a long way in the fight to protect our student veterans and passing H.R. 1767. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its swift passage today, and I look forward to it becoming law.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, the truth is, as I hear my colleague from Minnesota (Ms. Omar) talk, there are bills prepared to bring solutions to this issue. What we need in Congress is the will and courage to prioritize our communities. I thank her for her leadership. Mr. Speaker, the work that we do can't be done without the people on the ground who are constantly working to make sure that the people who need to be seen are seen and heard. These are leaders in our community that often are unsung heroes but that do all the work so that Members of Congress, like me, could be here. It is why I rise today to recognize my constituent, Catherine Serpa, who is a local organizer living her commitment to safe and dignified affordable housing. Serpa is a resident of Chicago's Housing Authority's public housing, knowing firsthand the challenges families in Chicago and around the Nation face when it comes to affordable housing. As president of the North Central Scattered Sites, she has worked tirelessly to organize her neighbors, including Section 8 voucher recipients, to protect their rights as tenants. Serving on the board of the Central Advisory Council, Catherine brings the voice, the perspectives, and the concerns of neighbors living in public housing to ensure that they are represented in the decisions that impact them daily. Her work has been central to ensuring public housing residents have clean, dignified, well-maintained homes and is a key voice in strengthening my legislation, the Tenants' Right to Organize Act. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Catherine Serpa for her contributions to our community and her commitment to housing for all. I thank and congratulate Catherine. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to commend my constituent, a leader, an inspiration, Jose Zayas, for his more than five decades of service and activism in our communities to realize housing as a human right. Jose's family migrated from Puerto Rico in the 1950s. They moved into Lathrop Homes, a historic public housing development on the northwest side of the city. Jose made strong connections with his neighbors as he grew up, and he became a staunch defender of the community and a steward of the strong generational relationships built there. For years, progress in redeveloping Lathrop Homes to provide hundreds more promised apartments has stalled. While the fight has been long, Jose's leadership has been constant. He has been a committed advocate, testifying, marching, and calling for accountability. As a Lathrop alumni leader, he has consistently held public officials accountable to do more to preserve and protect public affordable housing. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Jose Zayas for his leadership and commitment to fight for public and affordable housing for our communities. I thank Jose, and it is my honor to congratulate him with this congressional commendation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Robert Garcia), my friend, to continue to hear about the work that needs to be done around housing throughout the country and the ways that Congress can actually act.