What Jesús G. "Chuy" García said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Rosemarie Guerrero of the United States National Guard as she retires after an extraordinary career dedicated to serving our Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and work of Beatrice ``Bea'' Lumpkin, a union organizer, workers' rights activist, academic, and writer who passed away on June 14 at the age of 107 years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Antonio ``Tony'' Ortiz, who recently concluded 26 years of dedicated service at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, including 16 years as president.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the HotHouse Center for International Performance and Exhibition, popularly known in Chicago as the HotHouse. The HotHouse is known for its programming of jazz and world music concerts, multi-disciplinary events, and focus on creating opportunities for artistic practices and performances.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Rey B. Gonzalez on his retirement after more than 30 years of service to the people of Chicago. As president and CEO of El Valor, Mr.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud alumnus of St. Rita High School in Chicago to celebrate their baseball team's first championship victory. In a historic night of eight innings, the St.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Riley O'Neil, a dedicated Chicago Department of Transportation worker, who was killed in a tragic accident last week while biking. A graduate of Lane Tech and DePaul University, Riley was a true Chicagoan, passionate about making biking safer, more accessible, and equitable for everyone.”

“Mr. Speaker, on June 15th we mark the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action For Child Arrivals program, better known as DACA. DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to build careers and families in the only country many have ever called home.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Jackson for leading this Special Order hour for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, shining a spotlight on the Voting Rights Act, progress that has been made, and, most importantly, efforts to dismantle it and disenfranchise millions of people across the land and undermine our democracy.”

“Yet, it is precisely why Republicans have been working for decades to weaken our voting rights. When our opponents recently broke Black neighborhoods in Memphis into pieces, they knew exactly what they were doing.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and celebrate Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla, affectionately known as Benny, of Stone Park, Illinois, on his 25th anniversary as a servant mayor.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Banner Wholesale Grocers, a proud cornerstone of the Chicago business community. Since its founding in 1926 by Ben Friedman, Banner Wholesale Grocers has served as a trusted partner to independent grocers throughout Chicagoland and across the Midwest.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my former legislative director, Naomi Lake. Naomi is a Chicago native who worked in my congressional office since my first day in Congress in 2019.”

“Naomi also worked on my first congressional campaign. She dedicated almost 10 years to help me serve my constituents. When I was elected to Congress, she packed her bags and moved to Washington, D.C., excited to help me shape my work and represent our beloved Chicago.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day, I rise to honor the Aztec Eagles, known in Spanish as ``Escuadron 201,'' a legendary fighter squadron of the Mexican Air Force, whose members volunteered to fight alongside the United States during World War II.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mayor Jeff Walik of Stickney, a man whose life was inseparable from the village that he loved. Jeff served his community first as a police officer and later as mayor, always a fighter for Stickney.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Procopius Church--my first parish when I arrived in Chicago--on their 150th anniversary. Founded in 1875 and located in the historic Pilsen community in my district, St.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Juan Dies and Victor Pichardo, Mexican folk musicians who were recently recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with the 2026 National Heritage Fellowship awards.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 30 years of contributions from the DuPage Railroad Safety Council. Since 1996, they have provided important services and education on rail safety across Illinois.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse to call out the many ways that Donald Trump's 2027 budget request will make life harder for our neighbors and constituents.”

“Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Menefee), and I thank him for his patience. He was here at the beginning of this Special Order hour, waiting patiently to make the case for his district and the people he was sent to fight for here in Washington.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who joined us on the floor today, as well as Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse for cohosting this Special Order hour. We are all elected to bring our constituents' voices here to Congress and to pass policies that help them live better lives.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to this bill. First of all, this bill and the substance of the bill, this dispute, is undergoing consideration by the international bodies established by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Dexter and Tonko for shining a spotlight on the impact on children from the enforcement efforts of ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents.”

“Madam Speaker, April is Arab American Heritage Month, and I rise today to celebrate Little Palestine, a vibrant community in the southwest region of Cook County, in my district.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Gregorio Gomez Aguayo, a talented writer, poet, producer, and organizer. Gregorio has been nominated for the award of poet laureate of the State of Illinois twice and has been selected as part of Chicago's Newcity Lit 50, which highlights the city's 50 most influential people in Chicago in the literary scene.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate South Side native Mayda Del Valle, who has been named Chicago's next poet laureate. Mayda is a poet, educator, and interdisciplinary artist who will now serve as ambassador for our city's literary and creative communities.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Arise Chicago, an organization founded by a coalition of religious leaders on the principle that all workers deserve dignity in the workplace.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Rick Garcia, a giant in the fight for equality in Illinois. I met Rick in the 1980s when being out, visible, and unapologetic came with real risk.”

“Mr. Speaker, the price of groceries keeps going up. Starting this week, 4 million people per month will be pushed off their food stamps. In Illinois alone, 360,000 people will lose those benefits.”

“Mr. Speaker, today we honor the spirit of a son of Chicago whose game carried the heartbeat of a city, Derrick Rose. From the blacktops of Englewood to the bright lights of the United Center, Rose showed not only talent, but will and determination.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Food Market La Chiquita on their 40th anniversary. In 1986, Alfredo Linares, an immigrant from Mexico, took a chance. He got a loan and bought a corner store in my neighborhood of Little Village.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Carl Rosen, one of the legendary architects of working-class power in Chicago. As president of the United Electrical Workers, Carl has always understood that power is never given.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the Trump administration's outrageous overreach on immigration that is tearing families apart in my district and around the country. Since taking office, Trump has declared war on our communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of New Life Centers, an organization that I am proud to represent in my district. Led by Pastor Matt DeMateo, New Life Centers started as a small group working on community violence intervention programs and is now a citywide movement providing our youth with mentoring, education, sports, play, summer day camps, after-school, and peacemaking programs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Otis P. Graves Elementary School in my district. Its dual language model develops bilingual and biliterate students that can succeed and be proficient in English and Spanish, opening future opportunities in an increasingly global society.”

“Mr. Speaker, as the year comes to an end, I join Leyden Township in Cook County, Illinois, in celebration of the 175th anniversary of its establishment. In addition to the unincorporated areas, the Leyden Township borders include part of Rosemont, Schiller Park, Franklin Park, part of Northlake, River Grove, Elmwood Park, parts of Melrose Park, Park Ridge, the most western part of Norridge and Bensenville, east of County Line Road.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I stand here, believe it or not, with a grateful heart. Over the last several days, many of my colleagues have reached out with kindness and understanding.”

“Our voters do not want this either. We should not be distracted by political ploys when our constituents want us to stay focused and to deliver for them.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we begin Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to honor the millions of Latinos and Latinas who make this country strong. We celebrate our culture and sacrifices.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the outstanding athletes of the Clarendon Hills Little League team, who recently finished an incredible season. This remarkable group made local history by advancing all the way to the 2025 Little League World Series, a testament to their dedication, discipline, and work ethic.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Michael Nolan, who dedicated 48 years of his life to serve our country at the Social Security Administration. He is a great example of dedication and service to his fellow Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to celebrate Burbank American Little League, a beloved youth organization in my district which started in 1954 and currently serves 350 kids, ages 4 through 16.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent and dear friend, Gullermina Heredia, known lovingly as ``Mina,'' who passed away on July 2. A proud Mexican American, Mina's family moved to Chicago from Texas in search of better opportunities.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a giant in our community, Carlos Arango, as he approaches his 79th birthday. For over two decades, Carlos has been a pillar of Chicago's immigrant rights movement, organizing marches, building institutions, and mentoring generations of activists, often behind the scenes, always with purpose.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Brigadier General Jorge Fonseca, a decorated veteran and proud son of Little Village, on his recent promotion as director of the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Efrain Mata, a proud son of 18th Street in Chicago who will be retiring from the Cook County Sheriff's Department after nearly 30 years of distinguished and transformative service.”

“Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, I had the honor of joining the Gage Park community in Chicago to celebrate the life and legacy of Rigo Padilla, a beloved son of Chicago and a trailblazer in the fight for immigrant justice.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to denounce this administration's move to unilaterally cancel the visas of Mexican musicians and artists. Last week, Julion Alvarez, the proclaimed King of the Box Office, was denied entry to the U.S. and blocked from performing in back-to-back, sold-out shows at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mike Lyczak. Mike grew up in the Little Village community in Chicago. Like many of us, his politics were shaped by firsthand experience--fighting discrimination, Chicago machine politics and rule, and standing up for working people.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak against the Republican budget, a cynical plan that gives tax breaks to billionaires while ripping away healthcare and food from working families like those I represent.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the Trump administration's double tax on remittances. This is part of a broader war on working-class immigrants that punishes those who contribute the most to our national economy.”

“Mr. Speaker, during Teacher Appreciation Week, I rise to honor Jessica Suarez Nieto, a middle school teacher at Telpochcalli School, a dual language school, recently named Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a century of excellence in public education, the 100-year anniversary of Leyden High School District No. 212, proudly serving the western suburbs of Chicago.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm on a crisis threatening our democracy. President Trump has defied a unanimous Supreme Court order blocking the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and, instead, vanishing him to a prison in El Salvador without a trial, without a hearing, and without a shred of justice.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Stickney Police Association, the oldest organization in the Village of Stickney, located in Illinois' 4th Congressional District.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of Arab American Heritage Month, I rise to honor my colleague and friend, State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid. As the first Muslim elected in the Illinois General Assembly and the only Palestinian American to serve, he is not just making history; he is crafting it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a cherished tradition in my district, the kickoff of the Burbank National Little League season. This year is special as it is the 70th year of its existence.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we close Women's History Month, I rise to honor a few great women in my district, women like Shannon Goodrich, a leader of the Elmhurst chapter of Moms Demand Action.”

“Over the past 6 years, Shannon has written thousands of postcards, knocked on thousands of doors, made thousands of phone calls, and sent thousands of texts all in the name of gun violence prevention.”

“Mr. Speaker, Dafne Henriquez is a great example of what happens when we invest and encourage young women to pursue STEM careers. Dafne was born in Mexico and is a proud graduate of Triton College and the University of Illinois Chicago, where she received a bachelor of science in civil engineering.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ioana Fernandez, a relentless activist for kids, gun safety, inclusion, and public education. Ioana immigrated to the U.S. from her native Romania as a young woman and settled in Chicago where she has developed a successful career in public relations and communications and where she is raising her family.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Espaillat for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to a giant who represented the State of Arizona and all the people of his district but who also helped advance the well-being of our Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, for Women's History Month, I rise to honor the parent leaders from The Resurrection Project known as Las Mamas de Back of the Yards, or the Back of the Yards Moms, a powerhouse of immigrant women who are the heart and soul of their community on Chicago's South Side.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago on their 50th anniversary and to recognize the enduring legacy of Gale Cincotta, a fearless leader for housing justice.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, I rise to recognize Joann Williams, a dedicated leader in Illinois' Fourth Congressional District and a pillar of the LeClaire- Hearst community on Chicago's southwest side.”

“Mr. Speaker, during Black History Month, I rise today to honor Ronelle Mustin, a fearless champion for justice whose activism has shaped movements and transformed communities. Ronelle was a founding force behind the first organization to demand sanctions against South Africa's apartheid regime.”

“Ronelle's impact runs deep in Chicago. As a key architect of the 22nd Ward Independent Political Organization, Ronelle helped pave the way for Harold Washington's historic election as the city's first Black mayor in 1983.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today because a billionaire with unchecked power is calling the shots in our government. I am outraged that President Trump is enabling this unelected billionaire donor Musk to wreak havoc on our Federal workers, dismantle critical Federal agencies, and even gain access to the personal data of millions of Americans without any vetting, security clearance, or congressional approval.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which I introduced with my colleague, Representative Espaillat of New York, last week. No one, no child in the classroom, no mother in a hospital, no family at a place of worship, should live in fear that an immigration raid should shatter their lives in the very spaces meant to protect them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Linda Sarate, who passed away on Monday, February 3. From a young age, Linda displayed incredible strength and courage, being diagnosed with polio at just 1 year old.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a fighter for human rights, Jose ``Cha Cha'' Jimenez who passed away on January 10 after a life dedicated to social justice.”

“Cha Cha, as he was fondly called, was the founder of the Young Lords, an organization created by Puerto Rican teens with the original purpose of providing a safe space in a changing Chicago.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the village of Riverside, Illinois, which this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. Originally called Aux Plains, this charming village is known for its peaceful riverbanks and scenic forested areas.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Juan Soliz who passed away in December of 2024. Juan was a public servant, educator, attorney, and an advocate for immigrants and indigenous peoples.”