Delia Ramirez

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garcia for his words. He is absolutely right. The rent is too damn high. With skyrocketing inflation and increasing rents, tenants are often finding themselves in a vicious cycle of being rent burdened and vulnerable to unfair housing prices. While the Fair Housing Act and other nondiscrimination work is critically important, we know most incidents of housing discrimination go undetected or they go unreported. Marginalized communities, especially nonnative English speakers, new arrivals, immigrants, Black and Brown people, can be afraid to speak out against unfair discriminatory housing policies because they fear retaliation. That is why the protection of tenant unions and tenant organizing rights are critical. Every tenant should be able to use their voice to address the concerns they have regarding their housing situation. This is why I was proud to lead my friends and colleagues, Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, Jimmy Gomez, and Greg Casar, in the introduction of the Tenants' Right to Organize Act, a historic measure that protects and expands the community power, changing the landscape of housing for everyone. This is what it will do. It protects the organizing rights of tenants with housing vouchers and tenants living in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties and expands protections to mixed-status families and those who may not be eligible for tenant-based rental assistance. All tenants must have the right to organize, and protecting and strengthening tenant organizing and protecting tenants' unions is another way that we help people stay housed. I also give a shout-out to Representative Norma Hernandez in the State legislature in Illinois who has an identical bill in the State House to begin doing this work specifically in Illinois. We are so grateful for Representative Norma Hernandez's work. The truth is that in parts of my district, gentrification is a dire threat to housing as a human right. It drives up housing costs, displaces families, and destroys webs of relationships and community history. That is why I am so inspired with the work of Palenque LSNA, a predominantly Latine community-based organization in Illinois 3. Palenque's youth and mother leaders have fought to resist displacement and addressed gentrification by expanding community control of local land use and zoning. In much the same way that we protect renters' and homeowners' rights at the Federal level, I encourage us to be inspired by the work of the organizations like Palenque to encourage the models of the future that help us think beyond the status quo, community control, community landownership, and collective financial models, because I know that those are the ways of the future. As we think about our future, we have to reckon with the consequences of climate change on our collective housing stability. For instance, in my district, polar vortexes are more frequent, and lower average temperatures requires more heat which increases the household's energy consumption and associated expenses. Even if we stabilize rents and make housing more affordable, we also have to address how climate change and climate inaction puts us all at risk. It is why we have to realize both policy action and investments to secure the future of our public housing, prioritize climate and racial justice, and boost our economy and labor force. It is why I am proud to stand with Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Sanders in introducing the Green New Deal for Public Housing, a bold solution to confront unprecedented challenges. The sweeping legislation aims to retrofit, rehabilitate, expand, and decarbonize the entire Nation's public housing stock through an estimated $162 to $234 billion investment over the next 10 years. While we must consider how we future-proof our housing against climate uncertainty, we have to pay particular attention to ensure that the 1.6 million people who live in our Nation's public housing are protected. Working families continue to invest in our communities. They work, shop, eat, worship, learn, and play in our neighborhoods and towns. They deserve to be rooted and deeply connected to the people and places that shape them. That includes the power to put down roots in the communities that they have lived. That requires long-term affordability for long-term stability. The solutions we look for are already in our communities. From Humboldt Park to West Chicago, leaders, neighbors, and organizations are working in solidarity to create affordable housing opportunities. Our role is to expand and support their efforts with transformative investments and commonsense legislation that prioritizes our communities. That is how we lead the progressive fight for housing as a human right. That is why I am so grateful for the leadership of people who have grown up in the community and continue to do the work to get us closer to housing as a human right. It is why, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Lissette Castaneda. She is an experienced and trailblazing voice for fair housing. From the Hermosa neighborhood, Lissette Castaneda has dedicated more than 15 years of her life to helping the members of our community find a place they can call home, to keep families safely housed, and to fight for the creation of affordable housing and vibrant communities. As the former executive director of LUCHA, an affordable housing organization serving my district, Lissette has uplifted the voices and the perspectives of longtime residents in our communities to fight for the housing and resources they need to thrive. In February, Lissette Castaneda made history by being appointed and confirmed as the very first ever Latina Commissioner of the Department of Housing in Chicago's history. I have been honored to work with her for many years as we fight to maintain and expand affordable housing. I know that Commissioner Castaneda will serve our communities well, fighting tirelessly for all Chicagoans to have safe and dignified housing. On behalf of Illinois's Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Lissette Castaneda for her visionary leadership and her service to our communities. I congratulate her. I also rise today, Mr. Speaker, to honor Sally Hamann and Dr. Anne Scheetz, community activists for the preservation of affordable housing who exemplify the true spirit of solidarity. For more than a decade, Sally and Anne have been strong supporters of our community's fight for housing affordability and accessibility. In a time when gentrification threatens to erode the fabric of our communities, they have demonstrated what solidarity and fraternity look like. To support the cause of affordable homeownership, Sally and Anne donated their homes to a community land trust, the Here to Stay Community Land Trust, to ensure they remain affordable home options. How many people would donate their home so that another family can have the dream of owning a home? Through their actions and the land trust's mission, longtime residents will now find access to affordable homeownership, ensuring that families with roots in Logan Square can continue to thrive and flourish in the neighborhood they call home. On behalf of Illinois's Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Dr. Anne Scheetz and Sally Hamann for their decades of activism, solidarity, and actionable commitment. Sally and Anne are a true inspiration for Congress. I congratulate them. I have talked a lot today about the importance of addressing homelessness, not criminalizing people experiencing homelessness. We have talked about the importance of rental housing, creating it, and legislation that actually creates a solution. We certainly know that there is so much work to be done around homeownership, and this Congress has the ability to actually make it possible for people to be able to have housing as a human right. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who have joined me tonight for the Progressive Caucus Special Order hour, as we talked about the progressive fight for housing as a human right. Tonight, we have heard from courageous leaders about the work they are doing. You heard about people in my district, inspiring leaders who are literally giving their life so that others can have housing as a human right. There is power in being rooted. When we are rooted in ways that nurture safety, dignity, security, love, and joy, Mr. Speaker, we bloom, our community blooms, our neighborhoods bloom. This Fair Housing Month, I call on us to reaffirm our commitment to homeownership as an accessible American Dream, to housing for all as a just social security and to housing as a human right regardless of race and gender. Before we wrap up, Mr. Speaker, I do want to take a moment to talk about a situation that is weighing very heavily on my heart. For over 2 years, Ukrainians' way of living and democracy have been under attack by a dictator, a war monger, and an extremist. While this country promised to stand by them, we have failed to deliver the aid they desperately need to protect their homes, to care for their wounded and sick, and to recover from Putin's attacks. To my Ukrainian constituents whose families and hearts are still in Ukraine, know that I stand ready to vote in favor of standalone legislation that provides assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians. I call on my colleagues to bring Ukrainian aid to the floor without conditioning support on the well-being of asylum-seekers or the lives in Palestine or any other poison pill. We have to support Ukrainian families without delay, and we can do that today. As I wrap up, Mr. Speaker, I realize that today is a special day. Coming to Congress and sometimes having extended sessions, it means that we may be missing important days back at home. Today, April 17, is a very important day for the love of my life. Today is the birthday of Boris Noel Hernandez, my better half. On this House floor, I want to wish him a very happy birthday. I also thank the staff who have worked so diligently to make sure that we can do this work, that we can move legislation. I want to give a special thank you to Katherine Bray, who is working with me today and to the leaders across the country. To the people that are just a moment from homelessness, know that while I am here and while the Congressional Progressive Caucus stands, we will fight like hell every single day until housing becomes a human right in this Congress, in this State, in this country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right--``Ay, Dios mio''; ``Oh, my God''--the rent is too darn high. Today, we heard from Members from California and Congressman Bowman from New York. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).

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

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis impacts us all. Regardless of whether you live in a city, a suburb, or a rural town, many Americans are concerned about their housing stability. Homelessness has risen every single year since 2017. The shortage of available and affordable housing has only worsened. High interest rates and student debt has made the American Dream of homeownership out of reach and impossible for too many. Severely underfunded programs are unable to tackle the most critical issues facing our communities in a meaningful way, and wages are just not keeping pace with rising housing costs. The human right to housing is more than a slogan and more than just four walls and a roof over someone's head. The human right to housing means realizing safety and stability and dignity through housing. I am convening tonight's Special Order hour for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, so that I, along with my colleagues, can talk about the housing challenges facing American households and the progressive solutions we can champion to address this issue. Some of those solutions are: bridging the gap between income and housing costs and expanding and preserving the supply of affordable, accessible rental homes for people with the lowest incomes, providing emergency rental assistance to households in crisis, strengthening and enforcing renter protections, and opposing efforts to undermine housing first and criminalize homelessness. Safe, affordable, dignified housing, I know, is a foundation on which so much of our quality of life and our economic security is built. I hear often that housing is just too hard to tackle at the Federal level, but if we want to realize housing for all as a human right, we have to challenge ourselves to move beyond traditional approaches and embrace creativity and innovation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter).

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Porter for her remarks. I could not agree with her more. That is why we are doing this Special Order hour on housing. We need our Congress to wake up. Mr. Speaker, can you imagine we were wrapping up a session, and you had nowhere to go, you didn't have a place where you could lay your head tonight. You had no roof over your head on the coldest day of the year, let's assume we were in January. The reality is that on any given night in America, more than 600,000 people experience homelessness, and nearly half of these individuals-- 250,000--sleep outside. In Illinois, the average age of someone experiencing homelessness is not 55, it is not 65, it is not 70. It is just 9 years of age. Can you imagine having a grandchild, a son, a sister, a niece not having anywhere to sleep at the age of 9? Homelessness is increasing across the country because more and more hardworking families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet; and in the richest country in the world, rents are far too expensive, wages are way too low, and decades of failed housing policies have brought us to this point. For example, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has found that a full-time worker must earn $28.58 per hour to afford a modest 2- bedroom apartment. It doesn't get much better for a modest 1-bedroom apartment because a person would have to earn $23.67 to afford it. To put that in perspective, Mr. Speaker, a worker earning the minimum wage in this country would have to work 104 hours a week, which adds up to more than 2.5 full-time jobs. That is unacceptable. In less than a week, one of the most important housing cases in a generation, Johnson v. Grants Pass, will be argued before the Supreme Court. Johnson v. Grants Pass essentially asked the Court whether cities can punish unhoused people for covering themselves with a blanket even in the absence of shelter. This is where we are as a Nation. We are willing to consider criminalizing a woman with a 9-year-old child, a person experiencing homelessness, a veteran experiencing homelessness when there is no shelter, and they just want to cover themselves with a blanket. Luckily, the District Court and the Court of Appeals have held that criminalizing homelessness violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which establishes the right to be free from excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment. If the Supreme Court upholds the current decision, jurisdictions across the country will no longer be able to criminalize people for existing when they have no place to go. But if the Supreme Court overturns the lower courts and rules in favor of Grants Pass it will give cities and States permission to punish people who have nowhere else to go, other than to sleep outside. Mr. Speaker, it is despicable that there are those who would seek to punish our neighbors for simply trying to survive in an impossible situation. Regardless of the ruling, homelessness is persistent precisely because we are unwilling to act to solve the problem. The solution is clear: Unhoused people need housing. Housing is the answer--housing, not handcuffs. We must bridge the gap between incomes and housing costs, build and preserve homes that are affordable to people with the lowest incomes. We must create permanent tools to prevent evictions and homelessness, and we must strengthen housing-first policies, including permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing which are evidence-based. Studies show that for permanent supportive housing, a rate of up to 98 percent of households retain their housing after a year--98 percent. For rapid rehousing, that is about 75 percent, and 91 percent of households remain housed a year after being rapidly rehoused. Because we in Congress hold the power of the purse, we have a duty to provide adequate funding for proven housing programs and new or innovative revenue sources to support proven housing programs. Look, prior to coming to Congress, I spent 20 years providing social services and working on policy for the unhoused population in Chicago. I witnessed firsthand the multilayered effect of not having a stable home on our unhoused neighbors, the health outcomes, the access to education, economic development, and more. The bottom line is, there are many proven and data-backed solutions to homelessness. We have no excuse. The answers are there. We just haven't had the will to enact them. Arresting or otherwise punishing homeless folks, veterans, and children is not a solution. Jails and fines make the cycle of homelessness worse by taking resources away from housing and support. It is not only a bad policy, it is cruel. Advocating for housing not handcuffs is how we lead the progressive fight for housing as a human right. The Third District, Mr. Speaker, in Illinois has inspiring leaders who have been leading the fight for housing justice. It is why, Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Robert M. Adams and Dirk Enger. These are two combat veterans who embody the essence of compassion and service. After years of providing assistance to servicemembers returning to civilian life, Robert and Dirk opened the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans to help veterans suffering from homelessness. Since 2000, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans has been a beacon of hope, providing vital support to our veterans in DuPage. From affordable housing and employment assistance to service outreach, Robert and Dirk's dream is that no veteran is left behind when it comes to care and services they earned and they deserve. Their commitment to building a continuum of care for our veterans is truly inspiring, and on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Robert M. Adams and Dirk Enger for their commitment to supporting our veterans and ensuring that they receive the care our Nation promised them. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate them. We can't talk about homelessness without talking about the high cost of housing. I mean, many of our constituents that I serve, nearly 40 percent in my district, are renters. In the Chicago portion of my district, we have seen rent go up 20 percent--in some cases even higher. For decades, the United States has faced increasing housing costs and declining construction. In 2022, it is estimated that 12 million Americans are spending more than half of their income on rent and utilities. Now, think about that. You get your income; you get your check. You have worked your 40, 50, 60 hours, and you look, and more than half of it is going to rent and utilities and the rest of it probably to a car payment, most likely to gas, student loans, and credit cards. People are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and given what we have seen since COVID, reduced housing supply, increasing rents, supply chain issues, these statistics have only gotten worse. When I was tapped to represent the resilient and diverse communities of Illinois in the State legislature, I was clear, I am going to fight like hell to prevent folks from losing their housing and falling into homelessness. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I passed an expansive housing bill that included eviction moratoriums and rental assistance. Mr. Speaker, we need more programs and policies that make rent affordable for families. However, I know that staying housed is just one piece of the puzzle. Even if people are able to remain housed, high rent often forces people to choose between basic needs like keeping the lights on or purchasing their medication. I mean, people are having to choose between medication, paying for their light bill, or paying rent. When people have to make these kinds of choices, a cycle develops. What is that cycle, you would ask? It is the cycle of debt, poor credit, predatory lending, and all of the distressing consequences when unaffordable housing creates financial hardships for our families. That is why it is more important than ever that we continue to make housing more affordable while we also address predatory practices. We have to expand the use of tools like alternative credit scores that factor in rent and utility payments, and we have to regulate fees like late credit card fees. I was so encouraged to hear that last month the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPB, they finalized a rule to cut excessive credit card late fees that cost American families more than $14 billion a year. By reducing the typical fee from $32 down to $8, more than 45 million people will experience an average savings of--are you ready-- $220 per year. Consumer protections are part of how we help families navigate financial security in the face of housing stability, but we also have to recognize the important role that the Fair Housing Act plays in protecting tenants and prospective homebuyers from housing discrimination and predatory landlords. The year 2024 marks the 56th anniversary of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act. Today, serving in this Congress, it seems almost impossible that people can come together to set a national policy of fair housing that bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status or disability--but we did. And the need is greater than ever. According to the National Fair Housing Alliance's 2023 Fair Housing Trends Report there were 33,007 fair housing complaints received in 2022; the highest number of complaints ever reported in a single year. Overall complaints were 5.7 percent higher than the previous year, and complaints based on source of income and domestic violence significantly increased. While this legislation is still relevant 56 years later, I would argue it could use an update. In Illinois, the Human Rights Act, which is 45 years old this year, also bars discrimination in housing based on sex, including sexual harassment, age, ancestry, marital status, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, order of protection status, arrest record, source of income, or immigration status. Here is what I know: If housing is a human right, then we must root out housing discrimination and predatory practice whenever we find it. I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bowman) to speak a little bit more about this housing work across this country and what must be done.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, what I said 6 months ago couldn't be more true today. I said that we need a permanent cease-fire to save lives and bring lasting peace. Yet, today, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, 13,000 children robbed of a future, and 340 doctors and aid workers are dead. One million are on the brink of famine. Ninety-five journalists and media workers are dead. After 188 days, 100 hostages are still not home. When will we see the irony of facilitating aid airdrops while we are also supplying airstrikes? How long before we stop arming Netanyahu to wage a brutal war against civilians? We have to reclaim our integrity. Not one more dollar, not one more bomb, and not another excuse for an extremist who prides himself on the starvation and the death of children. Not anymore.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a Latina, a music prodigy, a cultural worker, a mother, and a constituent: La Bombera de Corazon, Ivelisse Diaz. Born and raised in Humboldt Park to a Puerto Rican family, Ivelisse found her calling in life at the age of 5 when she started studying the traditional Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba. Over her 24-year career, audiences in Seattle, California, Detroit, Puerto Rico, New York, Mexico, and Ghana have been moved, enthralled, and educated by Ivelisse's artistry and passion. A trailblazer in so many ways, she is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 3Arts Award for her contribution to the arts. La Bombera has gone on to ensure the preservation of Bomba by founding La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon, where she shares her knowledge of the history, the culture, and music of Afro-Indigenous culture. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Ivelisse Diaz for her work preserving culture and passing the torch to the next generation of Bomberas. Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Ivelisse. Commending Diana Martinez

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Diana Martinez, a powerful Latina voice for our art, culture, and community in Illinois' Third District. The proud daughter of a Salvadoran immigrant single mother, Diana demonstrated an early passion for creativity and the arts. A Glen Ellyn native, she started her young career by participating in the Park District's theater programs and then nurtured her love for theater at Glenbard West High School and the University of Illinois. In her current leadership role directing the McAninch Arts Center, Diana curates culturally impactful art experiences in DuPage County, including bringing major exhibits to our region featuring renowned paintings from legends like Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol. As an active and engaged neighbor, Diana seeks to protect and preserve her community's cultural and historic character through her work with Protect Glen Ellyn and Save Main. For her dedication to art as a powerful means of building community, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Diana Martinez for her dedication to service and leadership. Congratulations to Diana. Commending Elizabeth ``Lisa'' Hernandez

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of a Latina trailblazer and champion for working-class individuals across my home State of Illinois, the one, the only, State representative Elizabeth ``Lisa'' Hernandez. Representative Hernandez is the highest ranking and longest serving Latina in the Illinois State Assembly, and she was recently elected the chair of the Illinois Democratic Party where she continues to ensure that Latinas are represented and recognized across our State. As the current deputy majority leader in the General Assembly, she has been an advocate for quality higher education accessibility, a leader for reproductive rights and liberties, a champion for climate justice and natural disaster relief, and a defender for healthcare for all. Whether organizing food drives to support local families or spearheading grant workshops to help small businesses thrive, Representative Lisa Hernandez is an inspiration for all Latinas in Illinois. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my greatest honor to commend ``my friend,'' ``mi amiga,'' my colleague for her commitment to public service and tireless work to make Illinois a safe and welcoming State for women, migrants, and everyone who desires to call it home. It is my honor to congratulate Elizabeth ``Lisa'' Hernandez with this commendation.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a woman who has fiercely worked to ensure Chicago lives up to its values as a welcoming city, my constituent, a driving force for good, Yolanda Pena. Rooted in our community, Yolanda Pena exemplifies the spirit of service. Inspired by their personal experiences, Yolanda and her husband, Harry, cofounded Life Impacters to ensure everyone in our communities, no matter their past decisions, circumstances, or place of origin, have a chance to thrive. As program director of Life Impacters, Yolanda sees, values, and cares for members in Illinois' Third Congressional District, and her commitment inspires the work I do in this Chamber. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Yolanda Pena for her contributions to her community and her commitment to service and justice. I thank Yolanda. Honoring Hilda Frontany

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Hilda Frontany, an inspiring woman at the forefront of representation and community in Illinois' Third Congressional District. Since her family migrated from Puerto Rico, Hilda has called Chicago home. She has dedicated her life to ensuring that her neighbors have a safe roof over their heads, the care they need, and a voice in our democracy, regardless of immigration status. For more than two decades, she has organized the community for the rights of Latinas, immigrants, and non-English speaking communities, bringing bilingual elections to the city of Chicago and addressing the housing crisis, displacing ``Latina families,'' ``familias Latinas,'' and low-income residents. Currently, Hilda serves as the honorary chair of the board of directors for Rincon Family Services, providing high-quality and culturally competent healthcare and essential social services in my district. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Hilda Frontany, who has inspired a generation of Latinas like me to lead and to fight for our community. ``Thank you,'' ``gracias,'' Hilda. We honor you on this House floor. Honoring Dianha Ortega-Ehreth

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Dianha Ortega- Ehreth for more than 30 years of service to communities, including 13 years in the great city of Elgin. Ortega-Ehreth serves as executive director of Centro de Informacion, providing a safe, bilingual, and welcoming center in Elgin for the growing Latino community in my district. There, ``the Latina community,'' ``la comunidad Latina,'' and other migrants have found access to critical social services, help with government resources, assistance with their immigration cases, and much more. Her personal experiences as an immigrant and a Latina leader have informed Dianha's commitment to developing Latina youth as leaders, which she fulfills through organizations like the Youth Leadership Academy, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Elgin Hispanic Network. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my great honor to commend Dianha Ortega-Ehreth for her leadership and service to our community.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in representation of 12 critical community health centers in Illinois-03. Community centers provide essential preventative care to nearly 700,000 members of my district, where 50 percent of income is below the poverty line. They support 1,500 jobs and $250 million in economic output in the region. The clinics provide training for future healthcare providers, shaping mission-driven physicians, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health providers who often remain after graduating to continue to serve the community. Nonetheless, congressional appropriation delays in funding challenge these critical health services. As we continue the appropriations process, we must prioritize the well-being of the families we represent. I call on my colleagues to recommit to passing the Labor-HHS budget and to fully funding community health centers and their education programs.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, for the past year, we have endured attack after attack after attack on immigrant communities, which, by the way, some of us are first generation. Many people here are second, third, and fourth, but we tend to forget that we, too, are immigrants. We have suffered harmful legislation, an impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas, and inflammatory rhetoric criminalizing and scapegoating immigrant communities. Mr. Speaker, I got here about a year and a half ago as a freshman Member. As I look around, I understand why the American people are so frustrated with Congress. They are fed up that we don't have the courage, the moral clarity, and the political will as a body to see through these theatrics for cheap political points and actually do our job. I stand here today as a daughter of immigrants, but also as the wife of Boris Hernandez. I am the only Member of Congress in a mixed-status family. My husband is a Dreamer, and he has been here since the age of 14. I represent a district proud of immigrants who call it home. I represent the essential workers that kept us alive during the pandemic and the same people that you go to on Cinco de Mayo when you celebrate a meal and drink your margaritas. Today, I am here proudly standing as co-lead of the Dream and Promise Act. The Dream and Promise Act is an actual immigration policy solution, not a cheap political stunt. It gives Dreamers and immigrants in America an earned pathway to citizenship that reflects our values as a Nation, a multicultural democracy of diversity and inclusion. Today, I rise to denounce my colleagues' lack of meaningful action on immigration policy, nothing since 1986. We can't treat people who have built our communities and invested in our Nation and public institutions without the promise of citizenship. We can't treat them as disposable. Their commitment to us and to our Nation have already demonstrated a promise to address our historic labor shortage: 9 million jobs open right now and to grow our GDP by $1.7 trillion over the next decade. We must demonstrate our commitment to them and to the solutions that will deliver real, effective immigration reform. I affirm that it is this body who refuses to use its authority to enact policy if it fails to take up any of the bipartisan immigration policies filed in this Chamber.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, we must embrace our values as a Nation without questioning the dignity of our neighbors lives and claims. There are toddlers who have been here their entire life and are now 30 years old. Let's stop acting like we are powerless and pass H.R. 16 today.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I also rise in commendation of Michael Childress, a leader dedicated to our multicultural, multiracial democracy. A longtime resident of DuPage County, Mr. Childress is the first-ever Black member of the DuPage County Board, where he serves as vice chair and represents families from Bloomingdale, Bensenville, Addison, and Wood Dale. Michael also serves as the president of the DuPage County Branch of the NAACP. Under his leadership, the organization has assisted Black- owned businesses and entrepreneurs in our community, expanded voter participation, and offered mentorship opportunities to involve youth of diverse backgrounds in leadership and our democracy. Mr. Childress also spearheads efforts to combat domestic violence, serving on the board of directors of one of the largest domestic violence advocacy agencies in Chicago, Family Rescue. Therefore, for his contributions to Illinois District Three, our youth, and our multicultural democracy, I am honored to recognize Michael Childress. Thanking Dara Munson

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Yasmeen Bankole, who is here with us today with her mother, Victoria, in the gallery. Yasmeen is a public servant who always shows up for her neighbors in Illinois District Three. Yasmeen is a longtime resident of Hanover Park, calling it home for over 20 years. At the age of 27, Ms. Bankole's commitment to her community pushed her to serve as the village trustee of Hanover Park, becoming the first and only Nigerian American elected official in Illinois. As a founding member of Black Women Who Lead, Yasmeen empowers and supports Illinois Black women to succeed in elected and leadership roles. Ms. Bankole also serves in Illinois District Three and the surrounding region in Illinois as the regional director for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and as the economic development chair of the NAACP DuPage County Branch. Yasmeen brightens every room she walks into, and she inspires others. Today, on behalf of Illinois District Three, it is my honor to present Yasmeen with a commendation for her contributions to our community and for her commitment to public service, equity, and justice. I congratulate Yasmeen. Recognizing Michael Childress

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dara Munson. Dara is a nonprofit leader who has provided constituents with lifesaving services and opportunities to thrive for more than 25 years. Native to Detroit, Ms. Munson moved to Chicago when she became the CEO of the Chicago Child Care Center. Under her leadership, the organization became one with Family Focus, expanding services for over 20,000 children and families. As the president and CEO of Family Focus, she also serves families in my district as the vice chair of the International Women's Forum and the founding member of the Early Childhood Education CEO Roundtable. In her own words, it is her goal to see families receive equitable support and resources so they may realize their dreams and the dreams of their ancestors. In the name of my constituents, it is my great honor to thank and recognize Dara for her contributions. Commending Emanuel Chris Welch

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in commendation to the Honorable one and only Speaker Emmanuel Chris Welch for his historic and inspirational service to the families of Illinois. Speaker Welch, a dear colleague and a fierce advocate of racial equity, serves as the first-ever Black speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Speaker Welch has led historic legislation to provide immigrants, independently of legal status, access to driver's licenses; combat homelessness in our State; and create an elected school board for Chicago. I was honored to serve as assistant speaker of the house as part of his leadership team, where we were able to approve a ban on assault weapons, invest in green jobs, and reform our criminal justice system. We thank Speaker Welch for his brave leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, justice, and dignity for all Illinoisans. Honoring Toni Preckwinkle

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Cook County Board president, Toni Preckwinkle. From five terms as alderperson to becoming the first Black woman president of Cook County Board and overseeing the Nation's second most populous county, President Preckwinkle has proven her dedication to our communities. President Preckwinkle believes, like I do, that healthcare is a human right. Under her leadership, Cook County has expanded healthcare to 600,000 residents of Cook County, regardless of citizenship status. Her work also extends to the criminal justice system, advocating for policies to reduce incarceration. I am honored to commend President Preckwinkle for her 30 years of public service and the impact she has had on my constituents.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, on the first Homeland Security Committee hearing, Professor Bowman, an expert in impeachments, made it clear that policy differences are not a legitimate basis for impeachment. There is no legitimate basis for impeachment, yet here we are. Why? It is because Republicans believe persecution is a substitute for policymaking. I guess when you can't legislate, you punish, right? Persecution has become the go-to strategy to score political points. We have seen that on Congresspersons Omar, Schiff, Tlaib, and even their own Speaker McCarthy, government employees, immigrants, and now Secretary Mayorkas. While great for political theater, persecution and punishment do not solve problems. Policy does. Nonetheless, Republicans are not interested in policy. They shut us down for presenting policy. They even killed a supplemental they had negotiated for months. They are just desperately deflecting attention from their failure to govern to secure their own empty reelections. If they were serious, then we would be debating policies to address the humanitarian crisis and the root causes of migration and fentanyl. Clearly they are not.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Clearly, they are not serious about solutions, just chaos.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, the wife of a Dreamer, and the Representative of Illinois 3, a district proud of the contributions of the migrants who call it home, and a member of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, a church that is formed by immigrants, a church that has been serving the community for decades, and a church that built me and taught me to put my faith into action and to advocate for our shared humanity. As a Methodist, I would like to share a call for prayer and action from ``Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa Hispano Americana,'' ``Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latinx American,'' the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry of the United Methodist Church, and the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. As we just celebrated the season of Epiphany, we are reminded again of the story of those three wise travelers who journeyed through many lands and over borders in search of a newborn king. We are reminded that after they found the infant Jesus, his mother, and Joseph, the true peril of their mission began. Herod's anxiety and paranoia led to one of the worst infant massacres recorded in the Gospel text, and their earnest pilgrims' story transformed the Holy Family's existence into a family like so many today seeking asylum in other lands and, in particular, at our southern border. Therefore, we join in a call for the humane and sacred treatment of migrants, refugees, and those who seek asylum at our borders as a recognition that the same Jesus who traveled with his family on that fateful night, can still be found in the faces of all of the families we see on our TV screens and our social media spaces. Along with this, we stand in opposition to the State of Texas SB 4 law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, which allows police officials to arrest and charge migrants with misdemeanors or more serious offenses if they do not agree to leave by order of a State judge. This law incentivizes racial profiling and further limits the rights of due process for migrants fleeing unthinkable violence, poverty, and death. Furthermore, we oppose the inhumane treatment of migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers by Governor Abbott in transporting migrants to other States without their knowledge or consent, only to abandon them on cold streets without concern about the extreme cold weather and safety issues they would face. We call on this administration to honor the principles of so many of the world religions that call us to mercy, to compassion, and to welcome and hold sacred lives of immigrants, refugees, and asylum- seekers when engaging in budget negotiations and stricter border security measures. We urge the administration to consider prayerfully those measures that will lead to a safe and just resolution with a path toward effective immigration solutions, funding to be able to process asylum and refugee claims faster and more effectively, and intentional steps to work with countries of origin to understand and combat the reasons for this mass migration. We call on our colleagues, Members of the House and Senate, to negotiate in good faith with this administration, not in the hopes of gaining political points, as we have seen, but in the spirit of their shared citizenship in the world and with a deep conviction of what it means to be a beloved community. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Herod tempted the wise men to carry out his evil intentions toward the Christ child and his family. However, in a dream, an angel warns them not to return to Herod. Instead, they chose to return by another route. Their courage and conviction should inspire all of us to choose another route, one filled with compassion, with justice, with mercy, and the belief that we are all made in the image of our creator and endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We call on all Methodists and all humans everywhere to join us in the call of action for prayer. May we lead differently. May we recognize our shared humanity. May our faith lead us to action. May we be reminded that we, in fact, have a shared humanity and a responsibility to act justly and mercifully. Mayor Josh Moenning Retiring

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose H. Res. 957. I have a question. If we have open borders, which is what I hear on the Homeland Security Committee all the time, then let me ask this question: Why are people dying--children--in the Rio Grande while attempting to enter our country? Let me ask another question. Why are there over 38,000 people right now sitting in immigration detention? If the borders are open, why are families living in fear of separation by deportation? We know many of them because they go to church with us--at least, I go to church with some of those immigrant families. Republicans are not serious about making real policy change because if they were, they would do a couple of the things that you see on my board here: allocate resources and capacity to make our borders safer; adopt smart tech to stem fentanyl brought into the U.S. through the ports of entry, much of it by American citizens; expedite and expand work permits to address our labor shortages that are driving inflation; and alleviate the conditions across Latin America that motivate families to migrate. I have been to the border. My mother crossed the border with me. I can tell you that the borders are not, in fact, open. I invite those serious about change, though, to support any or all of the solutions, the things that we were sent to do here--find solutions. I invite you to abandon H. Res. 957, which is a political stunt, and those sham impeachments that make no meaningful policy progress. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to see through the political performance of 2023. Let's leave it in '23. We shouldn't have brought it into '24. Let's vote hell no to H. Res. 957.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, as the gentlewoman was talking, I started asking myself that if our colleagues that are in the majority were actually serious about delivering for their constituents, then perhaps we would spend less time in censures; perhaps we would spend less time fighting each other, doing whatever kidney-elbow situation; arguing with each other on the corners, and all the games and all the other things they do, and actually pass legislation that helps people's experiences improve, like legislation around housing, making it more affordable so that no one has to live in a tent. It is interesting because Republicans seem to really care about homelessness when it is someone that is undocumented, that is an immigrant or asylum seeker, but they have had the opportunity in leadership in these past 12 months to pass legislation to address housing, and instead, they are cutting funds for housing. They say they care about families and women and their wives and their children, but they refuse to pass paid leave. They say they care and are worried about healthcare, but are they really? Because if they were worried about healthcare, we would be doing less of the crazy theater here--19 elections for a darn Speaker-- and actually pass quality healthcare. Let's talk a little bit more about what they haven't done and what we should be focusing on. I know that the gentleman from Utah attempted to talk about the GOP accomplishments, but I couldn't figure out which one accomplishment he was able to actually tangibly prove. Let's talk about housing. It is no secret that housing prices are skyrocketing. In Chicago, for example, we have seen a 5.7 increase in the cost of rent in 1 year. In some communities, it is as high as a 20 percent increase. As temperatures plummet, more people find themselves in tents suffering cold nights in unsafe conditions, or they are just one paycheck away from homelessness. You would think that our colleagues would be concerned about government shutdowns since so many people are just one paycheck away from homelessness. While working families are struggling to pay rent, we faced not one, but two threats of a Republican national shutdown. I have to say it over and over. This is what my constituents ask me about every time I go back home, or message me: We didn't elect you all to spend your time fighting each other because you don't like each other, or because one person said this thing that this other person didn't like. All this time you spend censuring each other and fighting instead of negotiating appropriation bills that would fully fund our communities. Yet, that is what 12 months in Congress have looked like. The Republicans are leaving everyday American families literally out in the cold. In spite of Republican chaos, I, along with Representatives Rashida Tlaib from Michigan-12, Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts-07, Jimmy Gomez from California-34, and Greg Casar from Texas-35 are delivering when it comes to housing. We introduced H.R. 5827, the Tenants' Right to Organize Act, legislation that will protect the power of tenants with Federal vouchers to organize. We know that throughout our Nation, from big cities, like Chicago, to smaller cities, tenants have recognized that when we fight, when we come together and claim our power, we win. Tenant organizing is not only winning battles against unfair housing practices, unjustified evictions, housing discrimination, and uncontrolled price hikes; it is also changing housing public policy. The Tenants' Right to Organize Act, my bill, aims to amplify their efforts by protecting the organizing rights of tenants with housing choice vouchers and tenants living in low-income housing tax credit properties. It also expands protections for mixed-status families and those who may not be eligible for tenant-based rental assistance. Currently, only public housing tenants have legally recognized the right to organize. By extending this right to housing choice vouchers and low-income tax credit tenants, the bill acknowledges that all tenants deserve decent, safe, stable, and sanitary housing. The fight for safe, stable, equitable housing must also include tenants, and as we are encountering a worsening housing affordability crisis, we understand that now, more than ever, all tenants must have the right to organize. Now, let's talk about immigration. This is a place where I find the most dissonance. The same people that love to quote Scripture--God has called me to love him above all things--and then they seem to forget the second commandment: Love your neighbor as you love yourself--it couldn't be more clear as it comes to immigration. I cannot count the number of times the same people who quote Scripture come to this podium to respond while scapegoating immigrant communities, demonizing them, and then saying that they care about them, ``poor immigrants.'' Well, if you cared about them and if you cared about humanity, and certainly if we were living our Christian values, then we would be looking for legal pathways so no one would have to endure what so many people seeking asylum have to do every single day. Republicans have repeatedly tried to introduce legislation and resolutions that deport unaccompanied children. These are the same people that say that they are the ones of family values, they are the ones protecting life and children. They want to end asylum, and they want to jail families. They are trying again right now. They are seeking to extort immoral and deplorable border provisions in exchange for aid for Ukraine. I have said it before and I will say it again and again and again: It is hypocritical, cynical, to target immigrants when many of the people who serve in this Chamber, some of them with me right now, have reaped the benefits of immigrant labor and become wealthy on the backs of immigrant sacrifice. It takes courage to cross the border, to seek a job, to pursue an opportunity to raise your children in safety. The courage of our people stands in stark contrast with the cowardice of my colleagues. There is nothing people-centered, nothing noble, nothing redeeming about their extremist approach to border immigration policy. Let's just be clear. They are scapegoating immigrants right now so they can say to their voters that they are doing something about the border, but they are not going to want to do enough, because they want to take the border conversation and issue to the polls in November. Their unwillingness to negotiate, to actually get to the root cause of migration, is mind-boggling. They don't want solutions. Because if they wanted solutions, they would understand that actually addressing immigration, passing comprehensive immigration reform, would actually prioritize our economy. It would actually address the root causes of migration in Central and South America by creating legal pathways, by working with these countries, by ensuring that we help strengthen their democracies. Yet, in spite of all the Republican chaos, a number of us have reintroduced the Dream and Promise Act, and we will work and work until we deliver it. In spite of my Republican colleagues' inability to act beyond the border, we are here taking that first step in the right direction to give Dreamers and immigrants in America an earned pathway to citizenship that reflects our values as a Nation, a multicultural democracy of diversity and inclusion. We are here moving the needle to a real comprehensive immigration reform package that embraces our values as a nation. Now, let me talk a little bit more about that. There are 9.8 million job openings right now. You can go to your local grocery store, go to Aldi, because some of us shop there still, very proudly, or you can go to absolutely any other store. You talk about supply chain, and you realize that we don't have the workforce we need in order to address the issues of economy of the moment. Now, just imagine, if the people that are here already, of the 11 million people living in the shadows, some of them for the last 30 years, if they were able to get a work permit, they would pay taxes, generate revenue for the Federal Government, helping address our issues of budget. They would address supply chain issues, our manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, and the list goes on in terms of the different trades that are desperately needing workers that would get the workers they need. They would actually extend Social Security by decades if we passed comprehensive immigration policy, but that is not what we want to do. We are so insecure perhaps about ourselves that we are unable to see the bigger picture of the economy for our country. Comprehensive immigration reform is a solution to the economy. Comprehensive immigration reform is the American way. This country was founded by immigrants, and every single person in this Chamber right now comes from a family who also migrated to this country, unless you are from the original indigenous communities. Let me say this. As the only Member of Congress married to a Dreamer, this issue is extremely personal to me. I am committed to fighting this fight until we have a humane immigration policy that doesn't question the validity of people's lives and claims, that doesn't impose hurtful limitations on our communities, or doesn't leave anyone behind. No bans. No walls. No raids. Punto. I want to talk to you a little bit about education and veterans. While extreme Republicans have served up hate and fear from every direction with no regard for the harm it causes our communities, I have been focused on addressing the real issues everyday people face--people like Army veteran Christopher Brown from Des Plaines, Illinois, who was promised by ITT Tech that his GI benefits would cover his tuition, only to be left with $95,000 in student loans, or Navy veteran Bryan Tario from Lisle, Illinois, who was left with a significant debt after DeVry failed to be clear about the amount of money needed to complete his education. Constituents in our districts have real problems that require real policy solutions. There are bad actors who should be held accountable and whose impact on our constituents can be minimized through prevention and redress. These are the problems we should be addressing. If we spent the actual time addressing these issues, we would see the American people feel the improvement in their day-to-day lives. Too many veterans are defrauded by predatory, often for-profit institutions that see the GI Bill education benefits and only see a profitable exploit. In spite of the Republican chaos, I, along with Representative Mike Levin from California, have introduced the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act, my very first piece of legislation in United States Congress. H.R. 1767 establishes an across-the-board process for student veterans to have their GI Bill education benefits restored in qualifying instances, such as when a student veteran has been defrauded by an educational institution. While Republicans waste our time doling out impeachments and censures, they deny veterans who have been defrauded justice, leaving them without recourse or the ability to start again in a reputable institution using the benefits they earned while serving our Nation. It is time to bring H.R. 1767 to the floor, and I know that our veterans are watching closely and deserve it. Now, I want to talk about health. Every person in Illinois' Third Congressional District has a right to achieve their dreams. As Members of Congress, our policy choices should enable them to realize their full potential. Access to healthcare and healthcare services are critical supports to that end. That is why, while Republicans have made it their mission to cut funding for hospitals, healthcare providers, on-the-ground organizations that support health equity efforts, and programs that enable the healthcare ecosystem to function, my colleagues and I have made expanding access to healthcare services a priority. Republicans proposed a Labor-HHS appropriation bill that cuts vital programs and services by 28 percent, equivalent to $64 billion. Democrats held the line, and this bill did not pass. However, my colleagues, of course, did not stop there. In spite of their chaos, I, along with so many of my colleagues, continue to deliver for our communities. Our fearless chair, Representative Jayapal, also introduced the Medicare for All Act, which would expand healthcare coverage to everyone, and I am a proud cosponsor of it. We advocated for and we are proud to see the proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that would grant eligibility for healthcare coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, recipients. I introduced an amendment to the Labor-HHS appropriation bill that affirmed how critical it is for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to maintain its independence from congressional meddling so that it can continue to address practices that harm consumers, especially predatory lending that leads to medical debt. Medical debt puts people in an impossible position, having to choose between seeking necessary healthcare services and paying for their basic needs, like housing, food, and heat. We didn't do that work alone. Achieving health equity requires collective action, which is why I am proud to highlight the work of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. In partnership with over 200 organizations and with funding support from the Ryan White program, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago served over 8,000 individuals last year through case management, housing, emergency financial assistance, and food support. Services include, but are not limited to, connections to housing, medical care, transportation, and behavioral health support. The last thing I want to talk about is appropriations, something that this leadership doesn't seem to figure out. We are on our second continuing resolution, and the way things are going, we might have to go to a third one in January. Let's not forget that Democrats have effectively kept the government open amid Republican infighting and, goodness, so much disorganization. If we remember their first attempt at a continuing resolution, it included terrible anti-immigrant provisions and about a 30 percent cut to government services, which would have meant that in Illinois' Third District, 10,901 women and children would have gone hungry, 28,187 active and reserve servicemembers would have gone without payment in Illinois, and 5,000 residents in Illinois' Third District would have lost access to Federal help and vouchers. These are not the goals of people who care about working families. How can you say that you are the party of family and then do everything you can to slash resources for them? To me, on the contrary, it is a vicious attack on working families. At that time we said that if the Republicans were serious about averting a shutdown, they would bring a clean CR to the floor to keep our government running and to continue bipartisan conversations about funding priorities. With less than 24 hours to avoid a shutdown, Republicans presented another CR. In spite of the Republican chaos, I, along with so many of my colleagues, delivered. We defeated the extremist CR, and that victory made the clean CR that averted a shutdown possible. We forced them to, at least momentarily, back down from their anti- immigrant demands and their cold disregard for working families. Let's remember that fight is not over. You just heard a number of my colleagues, particularly the last one, talk about H.R. 2. H.R. 2 is the most anti-immigrant bill we have ever seen pass the Homeland Security Committee. We call it the child deportation act. They want to bring back draconian Trump-era border policy. In the same sentence, they talk about how they are concerned about the women and children crossing the border. If that is not dissonance and hypocrisy, I don't know what is. Let me say this loud and clear. It is our responsibility to deliver for the people who sent us here. We are looking like chaos under Republican leadership. We must continue to double down, push back, and fight for working families. I am committed to continuing the fight for an appropriations package that protects essential safety net programs and vital services, brings Federal resources back to my district and the State of Illinois, and prevents further cuts that threaten the well-being of our communities. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Summer Lee for joining me today as we talked about the Progressive Caucus' Special Order hour, the things that we continue to work on, and the victories in the midst of the chaos. Here is what I want to say as I wrap up. Two days ago, I got back from Guatemala and Honduras. I went on my first committee delegation trip. As I visited Guatemala as a United States Congressperson, I couldn't stop thinking about my mother and how she has reminded me over the years of the 1,800-mile journey she took, walking and suffering as she was pregnant with me. She left poverty. She left a place she loved to have a better opportunity for me, her daughter. I think about the moment that we are in today. I am very proud that I am the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants. I am very proud that I am the very first Latina of many to come from the Midwest. But I am more proud and honored to be able to be in this place, in this Chamber, fighting every single day for working families. I am fighting for women who deserve paid leave and for constituents across the country who deserve quality healthcare. I am fighting for clean water, clean energy, affordable housing, and the ability of the American people not to have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. I am fighting for that senior in my district who calls me crying: ``If the government shuts down and I don't get my Social Security check, at 74 years of age, I am out in the street.'' These are the people who send us to Congress. Madam Speaker, most of my colleagues, while celebrating and partying at holiday celebrations, perhaps having many spirits, should be reminded why they were sent to this Chamber. They were sent to represent the people who see them as their voice. I will say to women, women of color, immigrants, the working class, children and our youth, Brown and Black people, the LGBTQ community, advocates and activists, on-the-ground organizations providing critical services, and anyone who feels afraid or invisible right now, to friends and allies of the progressive movement, and to my constituents in Illinois: I see you. I am fighting for you every single day. There have been hard days in Washington, D.C., when I have been the only woman, the only Latina, the only elected official with a mixed- status family where people are making decisions that will impact my life and your life, things that will impact the people I care about and the people you care about. If there is ever a moment I falter, I think about my roots. I think about who I was sent here to fight for, and I find my footing again. My community is with me wherever I go, no matter how far away from home I might be. While Republicans and their destructive agenda seek to decay the trust we have with one another, and they seek to divide us by holding resources hostage, community holds us together. I refuse to allow Republicans and their obstruction of justice stop my colleagues and I from achieving true progress. I believe that progress is possible and that we can build a country that honors and respects the humanity and dignity of all marginalized people. I believe that seeking asylum is a human right. I believe housing is a human right. In a country as rich as ours, no one should ever go hungry. No one should be trapped by crippling debt, whether it be student loan debt or medical debt. Brown and Black people are not disposable. I fiercely fight for a world in which no one has to make impossible choices between going hungry or keeping the lights on at home. I fight for a world where my loved ones like my uncle, who has been waiting for so long, can finally feel like this country is his home; where the color of our skin isn't a death sentence; and where we don't have to protest to ensure that climate change is taken seriously and the land and the people who take care of it are respected. I believe in a self-determined future where all Palestinians and Israelis are free and safe. Our futures are intersected, and that realization can provide a path to coexistence. A more just and loving world is possible. Progress is possible. It is possible because of the collective movement we are building--a progressive movement that does not move in fear but moves in courage. The work is nowhere near done. Whether Republicans like it or not, I am here to stay and do the work that secures the future for all people. May we be reminded in this new year why we are here, who sent us here, and the responsibility we have to represent our constituents. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.