Delia Ramirez

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marcos Ceniceros for his unwavering commitment to labor rights, racial and economic justice, and workers' solidarity. Born and raised in Chicago by immigrant parents from Mexico, Marcos witnessed firsthand the struggles and resilience of working-class families fighting for a better life. It was these early experiences that motivated his 15 years of organizing for social and economic justice. As a campaign organizer of the Grassroots Collaborative and a community organizer with the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Marcos organized with young people and community members to defend their immigrant communities, expand access to education, deliver government budgets that center working people, and build community power. Today, Marcos serves as the executive director of Warehouse Workers For Justice, where he organizes with warehouse workers across Illinois to win safer workplaces, fair wages, and dignity on the job. Marcos' leadership reminds us of the power of solidarity. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my privilege to commend Marcos Ceniceros for his dedication to building working people's power across our intersections. ``Long live the working families and our immigrant communities''; ``Que vivan los trabajadores siempre, que vivan los inmigrantes.'' Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Marcos. Recognizing Sonia Cortez

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Sonia Cortez, whose career and leadership have reshaped our school communities in Illinois' Third Logan Square community. As a young girl in Puerto Rico, Sonia learned at an early age the transformational power of education. After moving to Logan Square, she saw firsthand how systemic and persistent inequities in schools left so many students without the resources and support that they need to be able to thrive. Rather than accepting those circumstances, Sonia changed them. You see, for over 20 years, Sonia served as the parent mentor coordinator with Palenque LSNA, training parents to become partners in their schools, advocates in their communities, and leaders in education. Today, more than 30 parent mentors have earned their teacher assistant licenses, with 20 currently serving at Avondale-Logandale School, supporting the growth and the development of our community students. Last week, Sonia graduated her last class of parent mentors, marking a significant milestone in a long and impactful career that has changed lives, reshaped educational opportunities, and demonstrated the power of community in Logan Square and beyond. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to recognize the remarkable legacy of Sonia Cortez for decades of mentorship, leadership, and community building that have reshaped Logan Square and the city of Chicago. ``Thank you and congratulations''; ``gracias y felicitaciones,'' Sonia.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to celebrate a longtime Chicago leader, an organizer for housing justice, my mentor, and a dear friend, John McDermott. John's legacy fighting for affordable housing is written across our city. From his work as the executive director at the Lakeview Action Coalition to his tenure at the Palenque LSNA, and his work to protect and preserve affordable and public housing at Lathrop Homes, there are few people whose names are as synonymous with housing justice as John's McDermott's. Because of his mentorship and organizing, the Preserve Lathrop Campaign secured the replacement, rather than the demolition, of 925 public housing units and the preservation of historic buildings. But John's impact extends beyond any one single campaign. John's mentorship has built housing justice leaders, many of whom serve now as Chicago's public servants today. I count myself among them. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my sincere honor to commend John McDermott for his lifetime of contributions in the fight for housing justice and affordable housing for all. I congratulate John. Honoring Felicia Davis Blakley

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Felicia Davis Blakley for her service to community, her commitment to women and families, and her fierce leadership. A self-described girl from the South Side, Felicia has worked at the intersection of public policy and community equity and inclusion for over three decades. Her notable and impactful career in nonprofit leadership and public service has blazed trails for women and girls across our entire city of Chicago. Currently serving as the chief executive officer of Primo Center, Chicago's largest provider of services for families experiencing homelessness, Felicia's leadership is empowering families and creating equitable and sustainable communities across the city of Chicago. As president and CEO of the Chicago Foundation for Women, she completed a historic $45 million campaign, expanding critical resources for women and their families, and launching the SHEcovery initiative at a moment of profound need in response to COVID. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is truly my privilege to commend Felicia Davis Blakley for her radical authenticity, her unparalleled passion, and inspirational vision which she uses to shape initiatives that address the root causes of instability. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Felicia. Her name and the impact she has made throughout the city of Chicago and Illinois is now permanently entered in the Congressional Record.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 155.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Joy Aruguete, whose steadfast leadership has been a cornerstone of the nonprofit affordable housing and community development sectors in Chicago and, frankly, nationally. Over her 30-year tenure as CEO of Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, Joy's organizing, coalition-building, and leadership have translated into the construction and management of stable, high-quality housing for countless families in Illinois' Third Congressional District. Joy Aruguete herself could be described as a fixture or an icon in this work. Whether through her leadership on the Chicago Housing Trust, the Cook County Land Bank Authority, or the Chicago Rehab Network, she has advanced systems, resources, and partnerships necessary to ensure that affordable housing remains a priority in Chicago and across the country. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my distinct honor to recognize Joy Aruguete for her lifelong commitment to creating, preserving, and advocating for affordable housing in Chicago to realize housing as a human right. I thank and congratulate Joy Aruguete.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share Steven's story. Who is Steven some may ask? Steven is a constituent, and he is a 14-year-old boy, an eighth grader with autism, who spent 66 days incarcerated in Dilley Immigration Processing Center. Steven and his dad are finally back home with their family and the community that loves them. However, this past Monday, I accompanied Steven and his father, Victor, to their check-in at ICE. I witnessed firsthand the pain and the trauma caused by the cruelty of separation and detention. Each day that Steven spent in inhumane and unsanitary conditions in Dilley took a toll on this little boy. Steven didn't want to go to his check-in on Monday because the last time he showed up for the check-in with his father as he had been told, he was kidnapped for 66 days. When he got there and he saw me, he was grateful, but I can see the great distress in the face of this little boy. I saw a child as we went in for his check-in cower in the corner of a chair in the fetal position with his ears covered because he was so afraid to hear the words that he and his father heard the last time he was there. He was so afraid of going back to detention. Let me say it and let me say it loud and clear in the people's House. Shame on every person in this country who thinks it is acceptable to terrorize children. Shame on you who talk about being the party of children and family who is locking them up in cages, who is separating them from their loved ones, from their community, denying them from air, from Sun, from play, from laughter, from joy, and every single thing a baby, a child deserves. President Mandela said: ``There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.'' Incarcerating children is an evil, morally bankrupt practice that calls into question any commitment our Nation has or claims to care about their preciousness. We must unleash our collective outrage. Don't look away and don't normalize children in cages. We must demand that no other children experience what Steven has experienced or more than 3,800 children have experienced in ICE so far. We will melt ICE, and I have a bill to do just that. We will dismantle the Department of Homeland Security because, frankly, at this juncture, nothing less is acceptable.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a fierce advocate for justice and a tireless champion for gun violence prevention, Elizabeth Ramirez. On a tragic night almost 15 years ago, Elizabeth's son, Harry Rodriguez, was fatally shot, giving his life to protect his family members when a masked assailant opened fire during his 23rd birthday celebration. From the depths of unimaginable grief, Elizabeth transformed her pain into purpose. She cofounded Parents for Peace and Justice in Belmont Cragin, in Illinois-03, to not only advocate for stronger gun violence prevention measures but to provide essential support to families who have been impacted by gun violence. Elizabeth provides courtroom support for families. She organizes peace walks and hosts vigils throughout communities to ensure that no family member has to navigate the profound pain of losing a loved one to violence alone. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Elizabeth Ramirez for her relentless hope and for her essential work to help our communities recover from violence and loss. I thank Elizabeth, and may her son rest in peace and power. Recognizing Jessica Esquivel

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Dr. Jessica Esquivel. Jessica is a queer, Afro-Latine, particle physicist, disruptor, author, and visionary who has made it her personal mission to ensure the success of underrepresented communities in the sciences. As one of the few Afro-Latine, queer women in the world of STEAM, Jessica embraces all facets of her identity, unapologetically existing in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her or identify as she does. Through her work as an associate scientist at Fermilab, her leadership as cofounder of Oyanova Enterprises, and her creation of Twitter movement #blackinphysics, she has fostered opportunities for Black and Brown leaders to thrive through culturally relevant STEAM programming, mental health advocacy, and countless other initiatives. Jessica's work reveals the critical intersection of science, identity, and culture, demonstrating how diverse perspectives are essential to solving the challenges of our time. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Dr. Jessica Esquivel for blazing trails and reminding us that all is possible when we lift others as we climb. I congratulate Dr. Esquivel on her success. Recognizing Mary Santana

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Santana, a visionary whose leadership has built transformative, creative spaces that uplift our young people in Illinois-03 and beyond. Mary is the founder and executive director at the Miracle Center, an organization that reflects her belief that community, creativity, and care have the power to change lives. The Miracle Center is a beacon for diverse youth and families, offering mentoring, coaching, training, and academic support, all grounded in the arts. What started as a small day camp run out of her basement apartment has, over the last 30 years, grown to impact over 20,000 young people across Chicago. Mary has ensured that The Miracle Center nurtures diverse local artists, showcases BIPOC artistry, and uplifts unique perspectives. Under her leadership, The Miracle Center has grown, acquiring a dedicated building near my district office offering Latino artists a platform for performance. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Mary Santana for bringing the power of art to our communities and establishing The Miracle Center in Illinois Three as a space where young people can explore their creative dreams and know that nothing is impossible when you dream and you have community. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mary and congratulate and commend her on this House floor.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Ofelia Torres Hidalgo, a fighter, a leader, a devoted daughter, and an inspiration to Illinois' Third Congressional District. At the tender age of 16 years old, on February 13, 2026, Ofelia's life was cut short by a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Yet, the cancer was not Ofelia's only battle. Last October, her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was detained by DHS agents at a local Home Depot. Immediately, Ofelia fought to bring her father home. In no small part because of Ofelia's viral social media call to action, Ruben was finally released. In her final days, from her hospital bed on Zoom, Ofelia fought one more battle: to have her father's order of deportation canceled, ensuring he would no longer live in fear. She passed 3 days later. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo for teaching us the meaning of love, hope, courage, and resolve. We will carry her light with us as we fight for all our loved ones who deserve to be home, who deserve dignity, and who deserve to live without fear. May her memory be a blessing, and may she rest in peace and power. We will continue the fight for all people. Thank you, Ofelia. Honoring Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an unapologetic faith-rooted leader, Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain. Born and raised in Chicago's South Side, Reverend Bates-Chamberlain is the founder and executive director of Live Free, where she mobilizes Black churches to improve public safety and transform the justice system. Since I first met Reverend Bates-Chamberlain through faith-based advocacy, I have seen her build coalitions and power to realize peace and justice in Chicago and beyond. Madam Speaker, she helped found the Faith Over Fear Coalition, a multifaith, grassroots table of leaders and organizations across Chicago committed to spiritually rooted organizing that centers dignity, healing, and justice. Through her organizing, people are standing in solidarity, across faiths and communities, to resist the fear that divides us. Madam Speaker, today, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain for her commitment to put her faith into action and to build the power of Black churches and multifaith coalitions to realize a more just and loving world. We thank Reverend Bates-Chamberlain and congratulate her. Honoring Judge Chantelle Porter

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Chantelle Porter, my constituent and a fighter for justice. Her career is a testament to her brilliance, her leadership, and her commitment to young people. She has served as an assistant public defender in the juvenile division, as a Cook County assistant public guardian, and in private family law practice. At every step, she has pursued justice and centered the needs and dignity of children and families. At 8 years old, she dreamed of becoming a historymaking jurist. In December 2022, she did it when she was appointed to the bench of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, becoming the first Black woman judge and the first Black circuit judge in DuPage County. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Judge Chantelle Porter for blazing trails, fulfilling her purpose, and making a difference in the lives of children and families across Illinois' Third Congressional District. We thank Judge Porter and congratulate her. It is an honor to represent her.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ahmed Rehab, a fearless advocate and leader. Ahmed's career reflects his courage, clarity, and conviction. For more than two decades, Ahmed has defended our civil rights and protected our Muslim and immigrant neighbors and communities. While he is currently the executive director of the Chicago Office of CAIR, the Nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group, he has served on the board of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' Muslim task force, and in many other leadership roles. He is committed to building multifaith, multisector coalitions. Just last week, at Illinois' Third first Power of the People Summit, Ahmed reminded us that coalition is commitment. It means standing together before the storm, not just during it. It means being light in the midst of darkness. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Ahmed Rehab for his tireless defense of our civil liberties and for the wisdom he brings to the work of solidarity and unity. I thank and congratulate Ahmed.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, as I hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, what I hear is the same racist, misogynistic trash, different decade. Republicans are invoking historical policies intended, let's be clear, to disenfranchise Americans, especially working people, women, students, indigenous people, and anyone who can't afford the burden of a new bill. The SAVE America Act is yet another Republican attempt to intimidate and suppress the votes of anyone who threatens their extremist, white supremacist agenda. Don't take my word for it. Just look for the threats that surround the polls, the gun-wielding masked men. It will become clear to you that Trump and Republicans want to control who votes so they can remain in power. That is not democracy. That is destroying free, fair elections. It is just another page from the authoritarian playbook, and we must have the moral clarity in this place to stand against it, just like our ancestors did. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill and to vote with moral clarity.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it has been 365 days of Trump 2.0, 365 days of terror, abuse, and violations of our rights. After infusing $150 billion into DHS and ICE, people in this Chamber have chosen to give them even more money, even after seeing what DHS does with its unlimited resources, even after seeing what they do with unchecked power. Let me say what they did to Silverio, what they did to Marimar, to Keith, to Renee, to Alex, what they did to Illinois resident Nenko Gantchev in an ICE detention center. Also, Mr. Speaker, what they are doing right now to my own constituent, Steven, a 14-year-old boy with autism in a detention center plagued with measles, it is unconscionable. It is unacceptable. Many of us are clear: The Department of Homeland Security is the greatest threat to the homeland right now, and that is why we must claw back funding for DHS and ICE. It is why we must pass my Melt ICE Act and end DHS detention and monitoring, disrupt immigration enforcement, and return taxpayer dollars back to the communities. We also must immediately start the proceedings to impeach Noem. I said it before, and I will say it again. She will either quit, she will get fired, or we will impeach her. Here is the thing: Our tax dollars should be used to make sure working people have every single thing they need to thrive, not money used to execute U.S. citizens. Let me end by saying this: We brought the Department of Homeland Security into this world just two decades ago. We also have the ability and the authority to build a world without it, and I will work every day to make that happen.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 32, and YEA on Roll Call No. 33.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, 16 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned a longstanding precedent that protected working families' voices in our democracy. By embracing this idea that corporations are entitled to the same speech rights as people, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to unchecked corporate influence in governance and billionaire political spending. The Supreme Court effectively put a price tag on representation. They put a price tag on the seats of this Chamber and they put a price tag on our democracy. But today I will make sure that I am clear in the House of Representatives: Our democracy is not for sale. Our democracy is weaker when the voices of Black, Brown, middle- and low-income folks are drowned out by the volumes of ads a million dollars can buy. Since the Citizens United decision, outside spending by super-PACs and dark money groups has exploded at every single level of government. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are a clear example. We know that to make Trump and their billionaire bosses happy, my colleagues, bought by big, corporate money, will leave working people unhoused. They will leave them foreclosed. They will leave them detained, deported, poor, hungry, sick, uninsured, and drowning, literally and figuratively. It is time we finally prioritize a democracy that works for working people. One where Donald, where Elon, where Jeff, and all these billionaires pay their fair share. Their money has to be out of our elections and out of the White House, and their hands out of the working people's pockets and off our services, where our rights and our freedoms mean working people have every single thing they need to thrive. We need bold legislative action if we are going to end corruption and get big money out of politics and get their corporate influence out of our communities. That is why last year, I filed the Campaign Transparency Act and the Stop the Super PAC-Candidate Coordination Act and supported the Abolishing Super PACs Act. And today, as we are here during Special Order hour, I am proud to announce that I will also be introducing the Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act with Representatives Mullin and Williams. That bill addresses the loopholes created by the Lobbyist Disclosure Act. The bill includes provisions to increase transparency and accountability by broadening the definition of lobbying and by also lowering the time threshold for registration. Mr. Speaker, I will close by thanking End Citizens United and its president Tiffany Muller for all the work that they are doing to get dark money out of politics and that we ensure a democracy by the people for the people. It is time we end this, and I know that collectively we can do it.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Eric Sirota for his work to expand tenants' rights and reshape the housing landscape. As director of housing justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and now as the director of a tenant advocacy clinic, Eric uses litigation advocacy to advance housing equity in Illinois and beyond. His work with the Illinois Fair Housing Coalition led to the passage of a State law prohibiting discrimination against housing choice voucher holders. Eric co-led the Partnership of Just Housing, a national coalition that improved housing access for people with arrest and conviction histories. As a trusted counsel to countless tenant associations, Eric has maintained his commitment to housing for all. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Eric Sirota for his work to ensure safe, just, and affordable housing as a fundamental human right. I thank and congratulate Eric.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by commending a liberation leader, Frank Chapman. Frank's political education began in St. Louis, where he experienced the violence of racism and repression and was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison during his twenties. Yet Frank has always been an organizer and educator. Frank taught himself law and launched a movement to desegregate the prison, where Black prisoners had faced brutal and inhumane treatment. The bars in prison didn't break him or limit his spirit. On the contrary, it propelled him to fight for the liberation of those imprisoned and all people. After his release, Frank established himself as a fixture in the struggle for liberation in Chicago and beyond. Whether through his leadership in the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, his successful campaigns for community control of the police, or his solidarity with immigrant communities in the fight to protect our neighbors from ICE, Frank has consistently fought to defend the most fundamental of our collective human rights and our shared liberation. Mr. Speaker, this week carries profound significance for Frank. It marks the 50th anniversary of his release from prison. I am honored on behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District to commend Frank Chapman for his lifelong commitment to building the beloved community, championing civil and human rights, and practicing solidarity across our intersections, our identities, and our issues. I thank and congratulate Frank for all of his efforts, and all power to the people. Recognizing Juliet De Jesus Alejandre

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my constituent, Juliet De Jesus Alejandre. Juliet is a triracial Latina who honors her African and indigenous ancestry with roots in Ecuador and Puerto Rico. She is a healer, organizer, poet, visionary, and she is the current executive director of Palenque LSNA. Juliet's love for Black, Brown, indigenous, and immigrant communities and her bold vision of collective liberation is deeply rooted in healing, joy, and solidarity, especially among young Latinos and ``madres immigrantes''; ``immigrant mothers.'' To fight erasure, she connects young leaders to their history and genealogy. To fight displacement, she builds collective ownership. To fight dehumanization, she offers mutual support and collective care. Through her artistry and creativity, she invokes our ancestral histories as she casts visions that help us to imagine new ways forward that leave all of our communities better and stronger. On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Juliet De Jesus Alejandre for her bold, loving, and creative leadership that builds people power to shape our future because we know ``el pueblo unido jamas sera vencido''; ``the people united shall never be defeated.'' Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Juliet for all of her work.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1566.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, from the start of the Trump administration, this Republican-led Congress has willingly given up our powers and authority: our power of the purse, our oversight authority, our legislative authority, and now, our war powers. Members of this body have surrendered their ability to check the executive and have failed to stand up for democracy and the American people. I say: Enough is enough. Congress must start acting as a coequal branch of government. Trump and his administration, while waging a war in our cities, are committing war crimes in the Caribbean. While Trump lies to us about how they are going after narcotraffickers, he is pardoning convicted narcotraffickers who are probably responsible for many of the overdoses we have seen around the country. The hypocrisy is suffocating. The administration is lying, consolidating power, and committing war crimes in order to control, to dominate, and to seize Venezuelan oil and pursue regime change for their imperialistic agenda in the Western Hemisphere. They do this all so they can extract resources, they can expand their wealth, and they can make sure that one day, should they lose their hold on power, which they will, they can be pardoned for their corruption. It seems like Republicans love Trump and protecting pedophiles more than they love America and children. It is shameful, and it is pitiful. It is filthy, and we have to put an end to it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution. Let's take back the power and authority that rightfully belongs to Congress and put an end to the lawlessness that makes us all less safe.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, the Republican Party is quickly becoming the party of child suffering. Under their leadership and because of their policies, children are sick from cuts to Medicaid and the end of the ACA subsidies. They are hungry from cuts to SNAP. They are orphaned by violently abducting their parents. They are criminalized and strip- searched at the border, and now they are denied lifesaving gender- affirming care. Since my Republican colleagues seem confused about what love, care, and protection looks like, let me be very clear. The Protect Children's Innocence Act is not it. No one who causes or tolerates the suffering of children can claim to be their protector. Love for our children would ensure each of them have every single thing they need to thrive assured to them. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to vote ``no.'' Let's build a future where our children, including our transgender little ones, are seen, are loved, and are valued.

Mrs. RAMIREZ

Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, we are less than 10 days away from Christmas, a day in which many celebrate the birth of Jesus, a refugee. In regard to the hypocrisy of those who would quote Scripture asserting the preciousness of children while they pursue new, cruel punishments for child refugees, I find that not just hypocritical but despicable. This administration and the Republicans have used their power not to protect children but, instead, to strip unaccompanied children who come to this country fleeing danger, looking for safety or protection. Now with H.R. 4371, Republicans are treating unaccompanied immigrant children like criminals. They are putting them in prison. They are subjecting them to invasive physical exams, and they are keeping them away from their families. It is not surprising, since profiling, criminalizing, and physically assaulting Black, Brown, and indigenous children is a shameful legacy written into the DNA of this country, and subjecting children to strip searches is an unsurprising tactic of the party that fought tooth and nail to protect pedophiles. However, none of that predictableness makes it any less despicable. Mr. Speaker, do you know someone else who is also willing to sacrifice his humanity to attempt to secure his security? Do you know who? It is Herod. I am pretty sure he is the villain in the Christmas story my colleagues claim is so sacred. Mr. Speaker, we have to choose to believe that another world is possible. We must use every tool at our disposal to protect our vulnerable children and build a world that affirms our shared humanity and ensures that people have safety. This bill criminalizes children and creates dangerous precedent that only makes them more vulnerable. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill, and I urge them to join me in championing legislation like the Family Reunification Act and the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act.