Delia Ramirez

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, this Puerto Rican Heritage Month, I rise to recognize Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known for many of us as Bad Bunny, for his worldwide contribution to the arts, music, and culture. Born and raised in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny is a global phenomenon. His songs transcend borders, sharing the vibrant culture of Puerto Rico with millions, while stirring a deep sense of pride and connection for Latinos across the globe. His 2022 album ``Un Verano Sin Ti'' made history as the first Spanish-language album nominated for the Grammy Award Album of the Year. His recent album ``Debi Tirar Mas Fotos'' has inspired millions as a powerful tribute to Puerto Rico and his hope for its freedom, while reminding us of our shared struggle against imperialism, colonialism, and displacement. In addition to his music, Benito, Bad Bunny, has used his platform to demand better from world leaders, condemn the xenophobia and anti- immigrant violence of this administration on the island and in this country, and inspire us all to resist and fight back against oppressive governments. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District and the home of Paseo Boricua or Boricua Town, it is my honor to commend Bad Bunny for using his artistry to unite diverse communities and give voice to our shared experience. Gracias to Bad Bunny. (Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:) En este Mes de la Herencia Puertorriquena, Yo me levanto a reconocer a Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, mejor conocido como Bad Bunny, por su contribucion a las artes, la musica y la cultura. Nacido y criado en Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny es un fenomeno global. Sus canciones trascienden fronteras, compartiendo la vibrante cultura puertorriquena con millones de personas en todo el mundo, a la vez que despierta un profundo sentimiento de orgullo y conexion entre los latinos de todo el mundo. El sabe que la musica y la cultura tambien transciende en el corazon. Su album de 2022, Un Verano Sin Ti, hizo historia como el primer disco en espanol nominado al Premio Grammy como Album del Ano. Su reciente album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, ha inspirado a millones como un poderoso tributo a Puerto Rico y su esperanza por la libertad, a la vez que nos recuerda nuestra lucha compartida contra el imperialismo, el colonialismo y el desplazamiento. Ademas de su musica, Benito ha usado su plataforma para exigirle mejores resultados a los lideres mundiales, condenar la xenofobia y la violencia antiinmigrante en la lsla y en este pais e inspirarnos a todos a resistir y luchar contra los gobiernos opresores. En nombre del Tercer Distrito Congresional de Illinois, casa de Paseo Boricua, yo felicito a Bad Bunny por usar su talento para unir a comunidades diversas y dar voz a nuestras experiencias compartidas. Gracias, Bad Bunny.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a creative designer, community cultivator, and artist--my constituent, Denise Ruiz. Denise is a queer Boricua from the Humboldt Park community of Chicago and is the founder and director of The Honeycomb Network, a community empowerment space proudly calling Barrio Boriken home. With over two decades of direct social service and educator experience, Denise has grown The Honeycomb Network to become a beloved community hub. In partnership with therapists, educators, artists, and community care providers of diverse backgrounds, The Honeycomb Network provides a hive for community to cowork, create, and sustain one another. Through healing workshops, a community library, cultural events, and beyond, the network has become a conduit for building community with our neighbors. I commend Denise and the entire network of artists, healers, and creators who have shared their talents with the community, and I wish them the best as they transition to new physical space in Denise's home, Puerto Rico. Gracias and congratulations to Denise. Recognizing Justina Machado

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in this Puerto Rican and Immigrant Heritage Month, I rise to recognize one of Chicago's own, Justina Machado, a celebrated actress and proud ``daughter,'' ``hija'' of Chicago's northwest side. Raised in a working-class Puerto Rican family, Ms. Machado's journey from Lane Tech High School, which is also in my district, to the Broadway stage and Hollywood screens is a testament to her talent, her perseverance, and her deep cultural roots. From her roles in HBO's ``Six Feet Under'' to Netflix' ``One Day at a Time,'' and now the Tony-nominated Broadway adaptation of ``Real Women Have Curves,'' Justina has beautifully played characters with immigrant backgrounds. Through her talent, she has brought visibility, dignity, and complexity to the lives of Latinos and immigrant families who are too often overlooked. Her performances speak not only to where she has been but to who we are. We are resilient, we are proud, and full of possibility. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend Justina Machado for using her voice and artistry to uplift our stories and communities with grace, humor, and truth. Gracias and congratulations to Justina.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 519 introduced by Congresswoman Kelly Morrison and the Minnesota delegation. I join my colleagues in condemning the attack that took the lives of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Let me say this loud and clear as so many have said today. There is no place in our democracy for political violence. It violates our shared humanity. The violence we saw in Minnesota is a consequence of those in power irresponsibly stoking division and fermenting hate against political opponents. I also rise today to amplify the resolution's call that we all reaffirm our commitment to a democracy where violent rhetoric and acts like this are not tolerated. Their call is echoed in my resolution to honor the life of Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old boy from Illinois whose life was taken in the act of anti-Palestinian violence. It is the duty of elected officials and the media to tell the truth without dehumanizing rhetoric when informing the public of factual information. We know that dehumanizing rhetoric can fuel sentiments of hate that result in violence, and each tragedy adds to a litany of evidence that our safety and our security are interconnected. Dehumanizing rhetoric makes us all less safe. Whether it be Truth Social polls, on Twitter or anywhere else, we all have a responsibility to denounce political violence in all its forms. It is our duty to denounce, and we will continue to reject, all forms of hate-fueled violence from Plainfield, Illinois to Gaza to Israel to D.C. to Boulder to Minneapolis and everywhere in between. It is our responsibility, and I thank the sponsors for bringing this resolution.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an educator, a force for justice, an unapologetic champion of our Chicago communities, and my friend, Stacy Davis Gates. Stacy is a high school social studies teacher, a South Sider, a wife, and a mother. For many, she is best known as president of the Chicago Teachers Union and executive vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Stacy's leadership has called us to bargain for our collective good and to think about how organized labor can win bold campaigns that build the schools, the communities, and the city that our children deserve. In 2019, she helped lead a 15-day strike and negotiated a historic contract that ensured a nurse and a social worker in every Chicago public school. She secured sanctuary protections for immigrant families and supported students and families experiencing homelessness. Putting Chicago's children at the center of everything she does, she has worked to build a collective of community, and she has elected to create opportunities for our communities, at times confronting corporate and charter interests head-on. She always puts our children at the center of what she does. On behalf of the Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my sincere honor to commend Stacy Davis Gates for her dedication to educational equity in our city, in our State, and in our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Stacy. Honoring Labor Organizers Keith Kelleher and Madeline Talbott

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friends and constituents, Madeline Talbott and Keith Kelleher, for a lifetime of labor organizing, community solidarity, and deep love. Madeline Talbott spent 37 years building ACORN and Action Now with thousands of dues-paying members, helping to found the Fight for $15 in Chicago: a campaign that grew nationally and eventually brought $15 an hour to over 22 million workers across the country. Keith Kelleher founded ULU Local 880 and eventually became president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas and international vice president of SEIU. He built the largest union local in Chicago and Illinois, from only 7 dues-paying members in 1983 to over 90,000 home care, childcare, and healthcare members today. Madeline and Keith have been partners in love and organizing since 1979. They have left a lasting mark on community, labor, and political organizing. They have trained hundreds of people to ensure the movement continues. They have raised an incredible family, including their two daughters, Aileen and Ryan, who continue their organizing legacy. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege to commend Madeline Talbott and Keith Kelleher for their exceptional contributions as organizers, and their exceptional commitment to our fight for justice. Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate them. Congratulating Victor Gomez, Illinois State Teacher of the Year

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent from Wheaton, Victor Gomez, for his achievement as one of 2025 Illinois State Teachers of the Year. An educator in East Leyden High School, Victor Gomez is a passionate teacher, who for 6 years has transformed the lives of his students. Through his commitment to bilingual education, he has created more welcoming and culturally competent classrooms where students are challenged and inspired to pursue their goals. Mr. Gomez is also a mentor to aspiring bilingual educators. In partnership with Elmhurst University and the Noyce PRIDE STEM Teacher Scholars program, he empowers educators from diverse backgrounds to bring their wisdom, their voice, and their experience into the profession. As a fluently bilingual Latina daughter of immigrants, I know the importance of having teachers and mentors who looked and sounded like me. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege to commend Victor for nurturing equity in our classrooms, encouraging leadership in our communities, and building educators who reflect the diversity of our multiracial and multicultural democracy. I congratulate Victor again on winning Illinois State Teacher of the Year. ``Congratulations''; ``felicidades.''

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, bigotry and hate threaten our mutual safety, and they deny our interconnectedness. Yet, from the murder of Wadee Alfayuomi in Illinois to the recent attack on celebrants during the Assyrian New Year Parade in Iraq to the persecution of Ukrainian Christians by Russian occupation forces, so many of our neighbors at home and abroad live with vulnerability and insecurity as they endure the dangers of religious and ethnic persecution within their own communities. It is important that these incidents, though only a fraction of the examples we have of the destructive force of hate are confronted and placed on the Congressional Record. Congress must renew its commitment to root out hate-fueled violence that violates our neighbors' safety, their dignity, and their rights because of their ethnicity, religion, or beliefs. A more just, peaceful, and loving world that recognizes our diversity and honors our shared humanity is, in fact, possible.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, fascism always demands a public enemy. Through lies and scapegoating, the Trump administration has tried to make immigrants the enemy. They have tried to convince us that the problem isn't their abuses of power or the unchecked greed of multinational corporations but it is immigrants. In their 100 days in office, the Trump administration and Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, have abused the power of the Department of Homeland Security to pursue a campaign of persecution, of mass incarceration, and of deportation. Day after day, they have disregarded the authority of Congress, the laws of the land, and the constitutional rights of residents, the courts, due process, and every check and balance that protects us from fascist authoritarians. No one has been spared from their abusive authoritarian assault, not United States citizens, children with cancer, not pregnant women, not fathers with legal residency, not organ donors, not student activists, not professors, not green card holders, not asylees, not DACA recipients. Trump and Noem have wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in their criminal acts from a $200 million anti-immigrant ad campaign to $46 million paid to illegally detain people in offshore prisons to more than $300 million to militarize and end parole and due process at our borders. There is no end to how they will abuse their power, and we have to say: Enough. As I demanded yesterday in the Homeland Security Committee, Noem must step down. We can't give one more dollar to this administration to continue its unconstitutional, anti-immigrant, authoritarian agenda. I will close with this: Today, Trump, Noem, and the administration have made the immigrants the enemy. Tomorrow, it will be whoever they deem undesirable.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate longtime Chicago leader, organizer, and my dear friend, Amisha Patel, for her nearly three decades of civic engagement and community organizing. From leading environmental justice efforts at just 19 years of age to organizing Chicago care workers with SEIU Local 73, Amisha has consistently united diverse communities to build power. Her work developing thousands of leaders laid the groundwork for winning affordable housing, quality education, and more in Chicago and across the State of Illinois. I am proud to have worked alongside Amisha during her 15 years as the executive director of Grassroots Collaborative, where we opposed school closures, championed affordable housing, and fought for critical investments to our social safety net. Amisha is a fighter for peace, justice, and community. As a three- time cancer survivor currently in treatment, I want her to know that we are with her as she continues this fight. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my sincere honor to commend Amisha Patel for her lifetime of service organizing our communities to fight for the future that we deserve. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Amisha. National Fair Housing Month: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Fair Housing Month to honor Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, my constituent, my friend, and the former 35th Ward alderman, for his legacy of leadership to realize safe, affordable housing for all. Moreover, I want to congratulate him on his recent appointment as CEO and superintendent of the Chicago Park District. In his decade as alderman of the 35th Ward, which includes Logan Square, Hermosa, Irving Park, and Avondale, Carlos championed policies to expand affordable housing and resist gentrification and displacement. He has also led unapologetic efforts to expand protections for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and workers in Chicago. Carlos shifted the dynamics of local politics by making sure that neighbors and constituents had power over land use, development, and zoning. In doing so, Carlos modeled what a collaborative co-governance approach to community development could look like and work. It is how we resulted in tangible wins and how he was able to bring those wins to communities, including the development of 100 units of affordable housing in the heart of Logan Square in the Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege and my honor to commend Carlos Ramirez-Rosa for his commitment to a fair, safe, and dignified life for all of his neighbors. ``Se que continuara transformando nuestras comunidades. Y estoy agradecida contigo, Carlos''; ``I know you will continue transforming our communities. I am thankful for Carlos.'' Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Carlos Ramirez-Rosa.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, in commemoration of National Fair Housing Month, I rise to recognize my constituent, affordable housing resident, and community advocate, Deborah Suggs. For over 50 years, Deborah has called home the Marian Park Apartments, a Wheaton affordable housing community serving seniors and families. While raising her children, grandchildren, and now great- grandchildren, Deborah has brought together her community to organize for the resources they need to thrive, whether it is secure transportation for school, childcare for working families, or road and pedestrian safety. As a leader with DuPage United, Deborah has been successful in imagining what safe, livable communities look like and building power and coalition to realize those dreams for people in Wheaton. I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah at one of my townhalls, where I saw firsthand her passion to fight for herself, her family, her community, and our district. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to recognize Deborah for her lifetime of leadership in Wheaton and for her advocacy for a fair, safe, and affordable community. I thank Deborah.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the SAVE Act. The bottom line is that the SAVE Act suppresses the votes of women; Black, Brown, and indigenous people; veterans; and working-class Americans. In advancing it, Republicans invoke those historical policies that were intended to disenfranchise Americans. Let me remind Members what they were: literacy tests and poll taxes for eligible voters, grandfather clauses that tied voters' rights to the grandfathers before the Civil War, all-White primaries to eliminate Black voters' presence in the electoral process, and now: Show me your papers. The SAVE Act is the same trash, just a different day. It is the Republicans' latest attempt to make clear who the majority believes should have access to vote and who should not. Anyone who votes for this resolution will go down in the history books with the likes of Confederate politicians, Jim Crow advocates, and white supremacists as bigots. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. RAMIREZ

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

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I take to the floor today to raise the alarm for the people of Illinois' Third Congressional District. Today, I am standing here for the 197,569 people, including 94,806 children and 22,000 seniors, whose Medicaid is at risk of being taken from them. I stand here for the 69,000 people in Illinois-03 who count on SNAP benefits and could be losing them. I stand here for the 28,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act and may see their average premium go up by $820 a year, a 40 percent increase. Mr. Speaker, the working people of my district rely on Federal programs and services, and they also rely on the essential organizations in Illinois-03 that provide federally funded social programs and services. Mr. Speaker, I stand for the 11 federally funded health centers with a presence in Illiois-03 that leverage $78,954,648 in Federal investments for 624,770 patients. I also stand here in the people's House for CEDA, which provides LIHEAP assistance to 179,082 working people in Cook County to weather extreme temperatures. I stand here for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center under the leadership of Jose, the AIDS Foundation, La Casa Norte, and so many in Illinois-03 serving organizations that meet the needs of our diverse constituents who are facing uncertainty about Federal funding in this precise moment. My colleagues and I are standing here because my Republican colleagues have bowed down to the whims of an unelected billionaire and a wannabe dictator. The majority is stealing from the American people so that Republicans can enrich billionaire bosses and expand their wealth at the expense of our working families. Consider that for a moment. The richest man in the world is demanding cuts in the services that working families rely on. The richest man in the world, who could be making contributions to end hunger globally, decides that we should be cutting program services for working families, many of which my colleagues will talk about today. Mr. Speaker, as we stand here today in the people's House, I want to be very clear about something. I will not betray working families by supporting a budget that harms working families to make the rich richer. We have to stand up in this precise moment in the people's House. Republicans must also stand up to their billionaire bosses and do what is right, what they were elected to do: represent their constituents. We must protect and defend the federally funded social programs and services that the American people rely on. Mr. Speaker, I will yield to my colleagues who will share about the programs and services that their constituents rely on and that they were sent to Congress to defend. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy).

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy) for his comments. Mr. Speaker, I have the opportunity and honor to serve with the gentleman on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Every day, I see the work that he does to uphold the work that is necessary to protect the benefits of our veterans. I am so grateful for the ways that the gentleman continues to show up for his constituents in New York and for the entire Nation. It is truly an honor to serve with the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday, the Speaker saw constituents from every single State in the country come out to protest and rally. The Speaker saw children and saw people who are probably closer to 100 years of age walking through streets, going to the parks, and asking other Members of Congress: Have you forgotten about the people who sent you to Congress? Mr. Speaker, I say as we are standing here in the House of Representatives that New York, Michigan, Texas, and Chicago have Members of Congress who are unwilling to accept the idea that we would slash the very same programs that we promised to protect for the American people. Today, I am grateful that I get to be here with Members of Congress not just from New York, but also with a colleague of mine who continues to ring the alarm for the safety net programs that our constituents here and in Michigan need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of Congresswoman Tlaib. The gentlewoman is absolutely right. Our constituents do, in fact, deserve better. As I go back to the district and I look at the emails and the phone calls that are coming through, our constituents are asking: What are you doing to defend me? What are you doing to protect the programs that we depend on to stay alive? You need to do more. One of the things that we have said in our townhalls, on the calls, on the emails as constituents come to D.C. demanding that we protect these critical programs is that we have to use every single opportunity--be in committee, be in the conversations we are having with colleagues, and every moment we can get to the House floor and talk about what is at stake in this precise moment. We have to make sure that everyone hears we are doing everything we can to protect these critical programs because many of our constituents in this moment are feeling that they are being gaslighted by the very same people that they sent to Congress. It is important to hear from the champions that are taking a stand. With us today is one of our newer Members of Congress. She is someone that yields from the great State of Texas where there are champions for justice who are fighting to protect Social Security, who are fighting to protect Medicaid, who are fighting to protect the very same programs that are critical and have made this country great. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson).

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman for her remarks. She is absolutely right. Our constituents deserve better. I will talk a little bit about what is at stake. You have heard already my colleagues talk about Medicaid. You have heard them talk about Social Security. You have heard them talk about how their constituents are living in constant fear. I will talk to you about community health centers, which also are incorporated in the Medicaid funding that my colleagues, the Republicans, want to slash. I will start by saying to you unapologetically and very loudly that I believe to my core that healthcare is a human right. No one should have to choose between getting the care they need, accessing their medication, or paying their mortgage, but I can tell you from personal experience growing up in a family where the insurance company they pay into constantly makes it difficult for them to be able to get healthcare. Knowing that my mom and dad have had to choose often, do they get the medication, or do they pay for the mortgage? You see, my parents worked their lives in this country and my father today has Medicare and my mother up until a year ago had Medicaid because, unfortunately, the wages that she worked were not large enough, were not equitable enough. They weren't living wages, but the Medicaid system that we have that we know isn't working for everyone, that we should be expanding, not cutting, made it difficult for my mom to continue to get Medicaid. I think about the challenges and the struggles that so many American people are living here. I will tell you that in the short tenure, we have seen that this administration has not talked about making Medicaid better. What they are talking about is cutting Medicaid. What they are talking about is announcing executive orders that target immigrants and the social service providers that work in strong immigrant communities. Immigrants that, by the way, pay into Medicaid that they never get. What they are doing is undermining local governments and local agencies who know best what their communities need. You see, community health centers exist to serve an entire community, regardless of their income, regardless of insurance status, and regardless of immigration status. Many of the services they provide, like emergency care, like vaccinations, and public health outreach serve the public good. Providing these services broadly in our communities keep us all healthy. Community health centers also make a profound economic impact on our communities, creating jobs, not taking jobs like this administration is doing, over 340,000 jobs and generating $118.4 billion in local economic activity. Republicans have chosen to defund healthcare so that they can provide their billionaire bosses with more tax breaks. They want you to go without healthcare so the top 1 percent of Americans can get a $314,000 tax cut. Let me say that again. They don't think that you deserve healthcare. They want to take your healthcare away, frankly, let you die, so that their billionaire bosses can get $314,000 in tax cuts. That is what they want to do. They claim to care for working people and our economy, but their actions show us just how terrible and in your face their hypocrisy really is. There are no other words for those who knowingly would put tax benefits for the wealthiest Americans over the working families who depend on Medicaid for their basic healthcare. In Illinois, 772,233 adults are enrolled in the ACA Medicaid Expansion. If Republicans cut Medicaid, these constituents would lose their healthcare. We have the obligation to remain defiant in our position that everyone independent of citizenship status, ZIP Code, or age has a right to a dignified, healthy life. Now is the moment to remain united in our commitment to healthcare for all, courageous in our resistance, and undeterred in our fight against this administration's authoritarian agenda. Mr. Speaker, I will talk to you about immigrants because apparently my colleagues here do everything they possibly can to vilify them every single day. It is almost as if they forgot that their grandparents also crossed borders and shores to get here, but let me say to you, you may have forgotten your roots, you may have forgotten that your parents or your grandparents or your great-grandparents were immigrants, but I haven't. I am the proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, the wife of Boris, who until recently, was a DACA recipient, and I am the niece of a man who has contributed to this country and paid taxes for more than 30 years and put four boys through college. This body considers, once again, a budget that leaves working people behind. I will for a moment talk about immigration and our economy because what these colleagues of mine, the Republicans, will tell you is that immigrants are taking from the American people. Immigrants are taking your jobs. Immigrants are taking your housing. They are taking, taking, taking, so let me clarify facts here. The reality is that Republicans are pushing for a billionaire budget that gives $4.5 billion in tax breaks to the ultrawealthy like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, while cutting trillions of dollars in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. That is not immigrants doing that. That is Republicans doing that. Republicans have the audacity to tell us that they are doing all these cuts because we are broke. Well, Mr. Speaker, like I said to Chairman Green in the Homeland Security Committee, we wouldn't be broke if the ultrawealthy would pay their fair share. Fair taxing could fund a budget that centers working families. It could fix our tax system. It could create opportunity for policies that work for working people. Let me also say to you, immigration reform could unleash the full economic power of our immigrant communities to fully participate in a fair tax system. Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in State, local, and Federal taxes in 2022. Mr. Speaker, $96.7 billion is what they paid. On top of that, undocumented immigrants pay an average rate of 5.27 percent in Federal taxes. That is a rate higher than most of the United States' wealthiest billionaires or megacorporations. Yet, while Republicans give another billion-dollar company another tax break, they are telling us that it is immigrants who are taking from the community and from the people. Well, that is a lie. It is a lie because we understand that 23.6 percent of all entrepreneurs are immigrants. Some undocumented, some are legal permanent residents, and some are naturalized citizens. Mr. Speaker, $1.7 trillion in spending power is what immigrants bring to this economy. Every time they tell you that immigrants are taking from us, let me be very clear: Immigrants contribute every single day. As I am wrapping up, I will say that there are many reasons to be concerned, but it is also important to remember that there are reasons to celebrate. I will take a moment to recognize a reason to celebrate. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the Village of Elmwood Park and to celebrate the 25,500 Illinois' Third Congressional District constituents who call this village home. Elmwood Park is a wonderful place to live, to shop, and to do business. They have built unique intergovernmental and cross-sector partnerships, and I am proud that our commitment and collaboration with President Saviano, Village Manager Volpe, and Senators Durbin and Duckworth have secured $13.1 million for a transformative project that included grade crossing improvements to enhance resident safety in Elmwood Park. I thank all the hardworking employees of the village whose public service enables residents to access critical services and programs. I remain committed to continuing to deliver the resources our communities need to improve public safety, create well-paying jobs, and expand economic opportunity for Elmwood Park and across Illinois' Third Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Elmwood Park for these 111 years of community. I look forward to many more years of partnership and to continue to fight in the Halls of Congress for every constituent in my district. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 85, H.R. 997. personal explanation

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, this is about the rule so that we can get to this continuing resolution or so-called continuing resolution. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what continuing resolutions are. They give Congress time to negotiate budget bills in the interest of the American people. Let me be very clear that is not what Republicans want to do here. They are proposing we skip budget negotiations and give the Musk-Trump administration a slush fund. Their actions prove that they have more respect for their billionaire bosses than they do for the Constitution. They are more willing to hand over their power to Trump and Musk than they are to defend the power of the people. They are more committed to enabling a bully than to standing up for their constituents. That is what Trump and Musk are. They are bullies who use intimidation and retribution to get what they want. Trump under Musk, as my colleague said, they want it all. They want to disregard the law. They want to dismantle the agencies that serve the American people. They want to destroy the programs and services that Americans rely on. The bottom line is this: Republicans are using a shutdown to bully us into giving Trump a blank check, no guardrails, Mr. Speaker, and 6 months to plunge us into further chaos. Yes, if we are in chaos, it is their fault. You control the House, you control the Senate, and you have your guy in the White House. So let me be honest. I will not be bullied. The full-year slush fund CR is the red line. I call on my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and on the Republicans' slush fund CR.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Women's History Month by uplifting my dear friend, a powerful organizer, Erendira ``Ere'' Rendon. Ere has dedicated her life to fighting for the dignity and liberation of immigrant communities. Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ere immigrated to the United States in 1990 to be reunited with her father. Ere is 1 of 530,000 from the roughly 3.6 million Dreamers receiving DACA, a program that has been viciously attacked in this Chamber. Inspired by her family's and her own experiences, Ere has fought to expand and affirm immigrant rights, ensuring access to driver's licenses, healthcare regardless of legal status, and funding for necessary legal services. For nearly 15 years, Ere has organized at the Resurrection Project helping to found the Immigrant Justice Department where she serves as vice president. Ere is one of the countless ``powerful women,'' ``poderosas mujeres'' leaders organizing to protect and unite our communities reminding us that immigrants make our communities stronger. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Erendira Rendon in this day for her lifelong commitment to ensuring that immigrant communities are seen and that immigrants are valued, uplifted, and loved just as she is. Congratulations to Ere. Powerful Women

Mrs. RAMIREZ. At a time of unserious efforts to establish English as the official language of the United States, I rise today to celebrate my constituent, Angelica Garcia Santos, in a language proudly spoken in Illinois' Third Congressional District. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish by Mrs. Ramirez is as follows:) In honor of Women's Month, I congratulate community leader and activist Angelica Garcia Santos, my West Chicago constituent. Angelica began volunteering at IL03's non-profit immigrant advocacy organization, Casa Michoacan, where she now serves as coordinator. At Casa Michoacan, Angelica provides resources to connect her immigrant neighbors with their community and inform them about their rights. As an activist, Angelica has also helped advocate for the expansion of healthcare for immigrants, inspired by her own experiences with the healthcare system. Angelica is one of countless community leaders in my district who feel the urgency of this moment as my Republican colleagues move forward with devastating cuts to federal programs like Medicaid. Angelica's activism reminds us how much our immigrants contribute to our communities and shape the change they know we need. On behalf of Illinois' 3rd Congressional District, it is my great honor to congratulate Angelica Garcia Santos for her activism, leadership, and advocacy. Thank you, Angelica. En honor al Mes de la Mujer, felicito a la lider comunitaria y activista Angelica Garcia Santos, mi constituyente de West Chicago. Angelica comenzo como voluntaria en la organizacion sin fines de lucro de defensa de los inmigrantes de IL03, Casa Michoacan, donde ahora se desempena como coordinadora. En Casa Michoacan, Angelica brinda recursos para conectar a sus vecinos inmigrantes con su comunidad e informales sobre sus derechos. Como activista, Angelica tambien ha ayudado a defender la expansion del cuidado medico para inmigrantes, inspirada por sus propias experiencias con el sistema de salud. Angelica es una de los innumerables lideres comunitarios de mi distrito que siente la urgencia de este momento en el que mis colegas republicanos avanzan con recortes devastadores a programas federales como Medicaid. El activismo de Angelica nos recuemrda cuanto contribuyen nuestros inmigrantes a nuestras comunidades y dan forma al cambio que saben que necesitamos. A nombre del tercer distrito del Congreso de Illinois, es un gran honor para mi felicitar a Angelica Garcia Santos por su activismo, liderazgo y defensa. Gracias, Angelica.

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Women's History Month and to celebrate the rich contributions of Ukrainians in Illinois-03 by uplifting my constituent, Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak, for her work to honor our shared humanity. A family medicine doctor, Dr. Dmytriv-Kapeniak exemplifies putting together our vocation into service for humanity. As a proud member of the Illinois Chapter of Ukrainian Medical Association of North America and the president of the Illinois division of Ukrainian Congress Committee of North America, she has secured medical donations and supply donations to help save lives in Ukraine. This past Sunday I had the honor to stand with her and Ukrainian Americans at a Chicago rally to send a clear message: We who stand for democracy will not be bullied by dictators, not in Ukraine, not in other parts of the world, and not in the United States. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, home to thousands of Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans, it is my honor to commend Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak for her tremendous leadership and commitment to human dignity, to peace, and to democracy. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mariya and congratulate her.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we celebrate Black History Month to uplift two of my constituents and pillars of the Hanover Park community, Eva and Herb Porter. Both have shared more than 40 years of love, leadership, and unwavering dedication to civic engagement. Eva Porter is a beloved retired educator in our community. After 30 years of teaching, she has continued to shape young minds in and beyond the classroom. Eva has served as a trustee of the Poplar Creek Library Board and as a board member for school district U-46. Her passion for service shines through her volunteer work with organizations like Kids Hope USA and the American Cancer Society. Eva's passion and commitment to public service is matched only by her dear husband, Herb. Currently serving as a deputy mayor of Hanover Park, Herb Porter became the first-ever African-American Hanover Park trustee when he was elected in 2019. With nearly a decade of elected office, Herb is currently the longest serving African-American public official in the northwest suburban area. He continues to serve his community in his roles on the governing board for the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County as well as the board of the Alignment Collaborative for Education. Proud members of the DuPage NAACP, Eva and Herb Porter's legacy of service and uplifting diversity and equity have inspired countless community members to get involved in civic engagement, including their daughter, Dr. Chantelle Porter, who was just elected in 2022 as the first Black female judge in DuPage County. While we think of being first and only, we know we still have a long way to go to truly have parity and representation across this country, but the Porter family's extensive service to the Hanover Park community is a reminder of just how seriously our local communities take our responsibility to serve our neighbors and to do so with compassion and care. Today, I rise to speak of their leadership, dedication, and exemplary service, which serves as a reminder to each of us here in Congress that we also have the very same responsibility to care for our neighbors and our working families, not special interests and unaccountable billionaires. As we take the time to celebrate history, we are also reminded that we are making history every single day in these Chambers and back home in our districts. Let it be good history. Let it be history that we are proud of. Our constituents, including Herb and Eva, are meeting this moment with the urgency it deserves, and they rightfully expect us to follow their lead. I know I will. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District on this 25th day of February, 2025, I commend Eva and Herb Porter for their lifelong commitment to modeling civic responsibility, community service, and courageous leadership. Congratulations to Eva and Herb.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Black History Month by uplifting Chicago's own urban historian, the one, the only Shermann ``Dilla'' Thomas. Dilla reminds us that our past can teach us something important about our present. I agree with Dilla that everything dope about America comes from Chicago. Dilla's Chicago pride is matched maybe by only my own. A lifelong Chicagoan, husband, and father of seven, Dilla gained prominence following the COVID-19 pandemic as he used social media platforms to share the forgotten stories of Chicago's local neighborhoods in just 60 seconds. Since then, he has expanded his unique talent for making history accessible and storytelling captivating through guided tours, history lessons, speaking engagements, and lectures to countless organizations, institutions, and businesses in the Chicago area. My personal favorites are Dilla's videos sharing the stories from Illinois' Third Congressional District in our own neighborhoods, including Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin, and Logan Square. By connecting the stories of Chicago's great migration that brought millions of Black southerners to Chicago to the wave of global migration from Ukraine, Central America, and Venezuela we see today, Dilla connects us through storytelling, honoring our shared experiences and our shared humanity. At a time when we seem to be forgetting history, Dilla's powerful voice could not be more pertinent to this moment. It is my honor, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, to commend Shermann ``Dilla'' Thomas for reminding millions of us of our interconnectedness, which extends beyond race and culture. I wish him the best of luck as he embarks on a new role at the DuSable Black History Museum. May he keep telling our stories and reminding us of our history. I congratulate him. Honoring Glennette Tilley Turner