Andrea Salinas

Ms. SALINAS

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the PRO Act. My family's story is an American one. A union one. It is the story of how a good-paying union job gave a family of immigrants and first- generation Americans a pathway out of poverty and into the middle class. Sadly, stories like mine are harder to find these days. Unions have seen their power diminished as the American Dream grows further and further out of reach for the average working family. That is why I am so proud to be an original cosponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act because it is time to make that dream a reality again. The PRO Act will empower Oregonians and all Americans to exercise their right to organize, hold employers accountable for violating their rights, and participate in free and fair union elections. This landmark legislation will go a long way toward protecting the most vulnerable workers who courageously showed up for their communities even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. From teachers to nurses to home care workers, these people--many of whom are women and women of color--are everyday heroes, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. In 2022, America's unionization rate fell to its lowest on record, but in Oregon, we reached new heights. Our State is home to 318,000 proud unionized workers, making up about 18 percent of our workforce. In fact, we are now the fourth most unionized State in America, something I know Oregonians and we all should be proud of. In the face of record-breaking corporate profits and a growing wealth gap, workers in Oregon have united to champion a deeply American cause: economic opportunity for all. From Starbucks to Fred Meyer, Nabisco to Burgerville, working Oregonians from all walks of life are coming together to say we have had enough. We have had enough of corporate greed and union busting. We have had enough of wage stagnation and dangerous work environments. We have had enough of fighting tooth and nail for the benefits that we deserve. We have had enough. Now, the burden falls on us. As lawmakers, we have a duty to answer the rising call for change. We have a duty to not only protect good- paying jobs but to expand that opportunity for everyone because, at the end of the day, America is only as strong as its middle class. Let's pass the PRO Act and show the world how strong we really are.

Ms. SALINAS

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on Mental Health Monday to recognize Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This year's theme is ``It's Time for Change,'' and indeed, it is. After opioid use disorder, eating disorders are the second deadliest psychiatric illness, yet they remain widely misunderstood, so I would like to address some myths around them. Myth number one: Eating disorders are a choice. An eating disorder is an illness often diagnosed with other mental illnesses. No one chooses to have an eating disorder. Myth number two: Only females have eating disorders. Eating disorders actually hurt people of all genders, ages, races, religions, sexual orientations, and body shapes. Myth number three: You can't recover from an eating disorder. This, perhaps, is the most important myth to dispel. Recovery and treatment are possible. The National Eating Disorders Association offers free helplines and more information on their website, nationaleatingdisorders.org. Every 52 minutes, someone dies because of an eating disorder. It is time for change. Let's break the stigma. Let's invest in care. Let's send a message to all those struggling: You are not alone.

Ms. SALINAS

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the so-called Fair Tax Act. Right now, Oregonians don't pay a single cent in sales tax. Ask anyone and they will tell you: It is a good thing. We rejected such proposals multiple times. It protects working folks who are disproportionately impacted by the undue burden of spending additional dollars on basic necessities. I am not here to raise taxes on Oregonians. That is not why my constituents sent me here. I am here to help working folks get ahead, which is why I am so troubled by this congressional proposal to mandate a 30 percent sales tax. This is far from fair. It is not even close. The top 1 percent may not sweat a 30 percent sales tax, but for working families, that could be the difference between putting food on the table or having to go without. I stand today to redirect our attention to the pressing needs of Oregonians: the need to lower costs and fight inflation, not to raise taxes. That is what I am focused on, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. SALINAS

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my first Mental Health Monday. There are 731,000 adults in Oregon who have a mental health condition. These 731,000 of our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members are struggling, and we in Congress have an obligation to find solutions to their struggles. That is why I am dedicating my Mondays to mental health. For too long, we have allowed stigma to shame people into silence, and that silence has cost lives. It is my hope that, by raising awareness, we can make strides in care, treatment, and recovery for those struggling with their mental health. Today is also the first Monday of Black History Month, so I would be remiss not to acknowledge the troubling disparity in mental health care for the Black community. Lack of access to culturally responsive care makes treatment inaccessible to too many Black and Brown individuals. Congress must work to bridge that gap. Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me for future Mental Health Mondays as we work to break new ground on this very important issue.

Ms. SALINAS

Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the DelBene amendment and in defense of Oregon's coast. The Oregon coastline is a wonder of nature and a critical piece of Oregon's economy. We love our coastal playground. We respect our coastal communities. And that is why we must fight to protect them--not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Oregonians who cherish our environment and our people. Oregon led with the first-ever ``Bottle Bill'' to reduce litter on the beaches. Oregon led when it made its coastline free and open to the public. Now we must lead the fight against offshore drilling, which threatens our coastline, the people who call it home, and fisheries and families who depend on it for their livelihoods, and our environment. Offshore drilling is a mistake, and it will only exacerbate our energy and environmental crisis down the road. We must say ``no'' by voting ``yes'' on this amendment.