Ayanna Pressley

A tribute to Pastor Byron Christopher Sumner. They speak to honor his life. They speak for their family too. They name their husband, Conan, and daughter, Cora. They also speak for Boston and Massachusetts.

They speak about Frederick Douglass. They say he was an abolitionist, a speaker, and a formerly enslaved man. They say he gave a famous speech in 1852. They say it was called What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? They say he spoke to a nation that celebrated freedom while denying it to millions.

They speak to remember women who have died. They say these women were denied essential abortion care. They point to the Dobbs decision as the cause. They say that decision led to abortion care bans across the country. They say they rise with a heavy heart.

They spoke to celebrate Juneteenth. They say it marks 161 years since the Emancipation Proclamation was fully enforced. They say Ben Haith, of Boston, made the Juneteenth flag. They say the flag insists the nation's story is not complete. They say the work of liberation still goes on.

They speak in support of a war powers measure. It is called the Lebanon War Powers Resolution. They say Israel's military has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon. They say those killed were innocent. They say more than a million people have lost their homes.

They spoke to honor Robert Bobby Kilduff, Jr. He was a Boston firefighter. They say he was a marine veteran. They say he was the third in his family to be a firefighter. They say he was a father to two children.

They spoke to honor the life and legacy of Brother Andrew Joseph, Jr. They describe him as a father, a husband, an advocate, and a good man. They say the two first met several years ago at a protest. That protest demanded an end to police violence.

They speak to celebrate Eric White, their district director. They say he is a scrappy kid from Rozzie. They say he was 23 years old when he first came to work for their city council office.

They rise to give notice under a House rule. They say they plan to offer a motion to discharge. The motion would take House Resolution 965 away from the Committee on Rules. That would end the committee's further work on it.

They ask the House to bring up a bill numbered H.R. 1689. The bill would make the Secretary of Homeland Security give Haiti temporary protected status. They say this policy makes good sense. They say it will save lives and help the American public.

They say they support this motion. They urge their colleagues to vote yes. They note that 218 Members from both parties signed the discharge petition. They then yield back the rest of their time.

They speak in full support of this vote. They thank Members from both parties who backed their discharge petition. They also thank a broad coalition of justice seekers across the country. They say this coalition spans generations and races, and powers the movement. They close by thanking their staff, who they call their A team.