What Rashida Tlaib said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, free Ya'akub Ira Vijandre now. ICE arrested and detained him for exercising his First Amendment rights. They targeted him for speaking out against genocide and standing up for political prisoners.”

“Mr. Speaker, my dear friend, Kate Shishkovsky, passed away earlier this month after a long battle with cancer. Kate was an absolute powerhouse. She served as the Livonia Democratic Club president where she promoted Democratic values and progressive policies.”

“Mr. Speaker, Michiganders are clear: No data centers. I am introducing a new bill, the No AI Data Centers on Federal Lands Act. Our bill would permanently ban large data centers on Federal lands, including military bases.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the FAIR Credit Act to restore the credit reports of victims of predatory lending, fraud, and financial abuse. Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that this is not a Republican or Democratic or Independent issue.”

“Our neighbors across the country should not be denied economic opportunities that we know will get them out of survivor mode and help them be able to thrive.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am so proud that our Michigan chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America is Chapter of the Year. They got their award, and it is an incredible team that elevates the personal stories of so many of our residents.”

“Mr. Speaker, shame on DTE. Shame on DTE for throwing swag bags to my residents after they went through 4 days without power. Shame on DTE for increasing our rates just a few months ago to $242 million and then 2 months later ask us for another $474.3 million increase.”

“Just this past week, genocidal maniac Netanyahu has said that Israel does not plan to withdraw from the territory that they seized in Lebanon and that they will forcibly displace Lebanese and the people of Lebanon will not be able to return to their homes.”

“Mr. Speaker, what a great slogan for his campaign. Israeli defense minister said that, in villages in south Lebanon: We are going to be destroying all the houses.”

“Mr. Speaker, after the 2008 financial crisis, Congress tasked our financial regulators with implementing a rule that bans compensation packages for bank executives that incentivize inappropriate risk-taking. But more than a decade later, a decade and a half later, we are still waiting for this rule to be finalized.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good colleague from Chicago, Congresswoman Ramirez, for her incredible advocacy and her sharing and vulnerability in expressing her lived experience or sharing her lived experience in this Chamber.”

“We must acknowledge and recognize that not all immigrant communities, though, are impacted equally. I wish to take time to express my deepest fear that we are looking away from the impact on Black immigrants, which is the fastest growing immigrant group in the United States.”

“Mr. Speaker, under the Trump administration, families are searching desperately for their loved ones who have gone missing in ICE and Border Patrol custody. Families don't know if they are safe or even if they are still in the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, from Detroit, Michigan, to Little Rock, Arkansas, every single one of our families deserves to be able to afford a home. We know we talk about how gas prices, groceries, and insurance are constant sources of stress for our families, but we know that housing costs can be the worst of them all.”

“Mr. Speaker, happy Juneteenth. On Juneteenth, we honor and celebrate both liberation and perseverance. Juneteenth marks the moment when the promise of freedom finally reached the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas more than 2 years after emancipation had been declared.”

“I would like to know if Ms. Karam, a university student from the Christian village of Qlayaa in south Lebanon--she wasn't a terrorist. She was murdered on Monday.”

“Wednesday and into Thursday, after Israel declared a new swathe of the area a combat zone. It also struck a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday.”

“I think it is abhorrent every day that goes by where this Congress does not act, 11 more children would die or have serious injuries as a result of, again, us not pulling back any of the resources and so forth.”

“Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have documented Israel's illegal use of white phosphorus multiple times in Lebanon, which is a war crime. They launched it in residential neighborhoods and Lebanese farmland.”

“But the facts paint a very different picture that the Trump administration is engaged in unauthorized hostilities and violations of the Constitution and the War Powers Act of 1973.”

“Mr. Speaker, families across the country are struggling to afford groceries. The costs of eggs, milk, bread, baby formula, and fresh produce keep rising while giant grocery chains and corporate executives rake in record profits.”

“Mr. Speaker, over 3,000 people in Lebanon have been slaughtered since the start of the Israeli apartheid regime's brutal war on all of Lebanon. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced violently.”

“Mr. Speaker, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we have some of the highest rates of poverty among our children. As of 2024, more than 9.7 million children have lived in poverty in the United States.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we stand here, I know the community is trying to heal as we mark the over 4-year anniversary since 10 of our Black neighbors were targeted and murdered while grocery shopping at a supermarket in Buffalo.”

“Mr. Speaker, May 15, 2026, marks the 78th anniversary of Nakba. The Nakba, which means catastrophe in Arabic, refers to the mass expulsion and violent ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people from their homes and homeland during the creation of the State of Israel.”

“Mr. Speaker, DTE Energy has a monopoly in my district. It is the primary source of utilities for gas and electricity for my residents. This is why it is critical and important for me to introduce the Make DTE Pay Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, Republicans are trying to drag this country back to a Jim Crow South where Black political power is stripped and our voices are stripped, silenced, and dismissed.”

“Mr. Speaker, right now, on any given night, in the richest country on Earth, nearly 771,000 of our neighbors are unhoused. One million children experience homelessness every year.”

“Congress has the power to change that. What is missing is the political will to care deeply about those who maybe will have access to the same opportunities many of us had in this Chamber.”

“Mr. Speaker, our government is spying on us. That is right. The Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act, called FISA section 702, is a dangerous mass surveillance tool that is already being used by our Federal Government to conduct thousands of warrantless searches on the private communications of U.S. citizens without any due process, probable cause, or review from a judge.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his continued effort to protect and fight for working families. For the last 7 years that I have been here, I have been pushing for us to fund and acknowledge that safe, accessible, and affordable drinking water is a human right.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am deeply proud to serve not only as an unapologetic Arab-American woman in Congress but to represent one of the largest Arab-American communities in our country.”

“No matter how Republicans try to spin it, the SAVE Act is voter suppression. This isn't about election security, Mr. Speaker. It is about election takeover. President Trump and Republicans know that their policies are deeply unpopular with the American people.”

“Mr. Speaker, alerting the public to government wrongdoing is not a crime. Yet, sadly, administrations of both parties are increasingly using the Espionage Act to target and prosecute whistleblowers and journalists for sharing critical information, important information, with the public.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we approach the celebration of Eid al- Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, thousands of our families in the 12th Congressional District who have strong ties to Lebanon are struggling right now.”

“Mr. Speaker, in Detroit, we say that we don't have healthcare in our country. We have sick care in our country. Under the Trump administration, we know that this crisis is getting worse.”

“Mr. Speaker, DTE Energy is out of control. They are requesting another outrageous rate hike, just days after State regulators approved another $242 million increase, an increase of 4.6 percent per customer.”

“Mr. Speaker, resistance comes in different forms. Sometimes just our mere existence is resisting. I want to take a moment to recognize my guest for the State of the Union Address.”

“Madam Speaker, in the 12th Congressional District, every single day is Black History Month. I am so incredibly proud to have been born in the most beautiful, Blackest city in the country.”

“Systemic racism has been codified into laws, Madam Speaker, and into our budgets. Black unemployment has skyrocketed. Black homeownership has significantly decreased. We know the Department of Justice has rolled back civil rights protections and disparate impact antidiscrimination regulations, weakening the ability to change policies that harm our Black communities in housing and unemployment.”

“Madam Speaker, every time I tried to sit down and write this, I found myself tearing up. That is how much my chief of staff, Larissa Richardson, meant to me and continues to mean to me and so many of our team members.”

“Mr. Speaker, we all know that right now the housing crisis is real for so many of our families across the country, and I know many of us in this Chamber, especially those on the left, have always said housing is a human right.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend Ismael Ahmed, whom I lovingly called Ishman. He was one of my first mentors, and I grew so much working with him at ACCESS, the largest Arab-American human services agency in the Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my sister in service, Congresswoman Hayes, who has been leading this fight to protect our children, especially making sure that we have access to public education and quality education for all of our children.”

“Mr. Speaker, we all know the public deserves full transparency when it comes to holding police accountable for misconduct. Instead, States and cities all across our country have started adopting new laws to charge the public hundreds of dollars in fees to view or access police body camera footage.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mother Peggy Noble. She was an inspirational leader and a champion for economic justice and for working families.”

“Mr. Speaker, we always seem to have money for war, to bomb countries, but we never have money for healthcare for our families. On January 1, Republicans ended the Affordable Care Act tax credits and raised healthcare premiums for millions of Americans, our neighbors throughout the Nation.”

“Again, instead of extreme cuts, we should be expanding access to care and guaranteeing healthcare as a fundamental human right in our country. We must pass this tax credit extension today and put pressure on the Senate to take it up immediately.”

“Mr. Speaker, housing is a human right, but as everyone knows, we are facing a housing crisis right now. On any given night right now, more than three-quarters of a million people are unhoused nationwide.”

“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Dearborn's Divine Child High School for winning the Division 4 State championship with a thrilling 23-22 win. After a dominant season, they rose to the moment at Ford Field to earn their first State championship in 40 years.”

“I congratulate the team on a game and a season that they will remember, again, for the rest of their lives. They all brought home a championship, and they did it with teamwork and pride.”

“Mr. Speaker, our Federal workforce deserves a voice. We know the executive order was the largest act of union busting in our Nation's history. It stripped away collective bargaining rights of over a million Federal employees in over 40 Federal agencies.”

“Mr. Chairman, we know that the dirty water bill reduces significant oversight for the Clean Water Act, and it is really important to know that polluters are pushing to weaken this--not residents, not families, and not communities that are directly impacted.”

“Mr. Speaker, 267 percent, that is how much energy prices increase in communities located near Big Tech data centers. DTE Energy, in my State, already charges us some of the highest rates in the Nation with some of the most unreliable services.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend, Fred Durhal, Jr. He was a former colleague and a remarkable public servant who devoted decades of his life to fighting for Detroiters.”

“Madam Speaker, we know that our families can't afford the basics right now. Their electricity and gas bills are out of control. Their water bills are out of control.”

“Mr. Speaker, Republicans have to decide if they are going to protect pedophiles or seek justice for survivors of sex trafficking and abuse. I sat across from survivors--some of them were as young as 13 and 14 at the time--and they told us over and over again to follow the money.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Michael ``Mike'' Friedman, a tireless champion of economic justice and workplace democracy. From his early days as a truck driver and founding member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union to his distinguished legal career.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District proudly honors Macedonia Baptist Church as they celebrate 105 years of spiritual worship and leadership in our community. As part of their milestone celebration, we recognize the unveiling of the new historical marker, commemorating the profound impact the Macedonia Baptist Church has had on the city of Detroit and beyond.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District is proud to celebrate the 100th birthday of Ms. Mable Emma Jean Wright, who was born October 3, 1925. We extend our warmest wishes for this joyful celebration and offer heartfelt congratulations on reaching a remarkable milestone.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors Bishop Tony Shomari Marshall and the House of Prayer Institutional Church in Detroit, Michigan, as they celebrate 25 years of ministry and public service.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District is proud to honor Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott with the renaming of ``Rhode Island Street'' in her hometown, Highland Park, to ``Martha G.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the life and legacy of Jeffrey ``JT the Great'' Thomas, a beloved Detroiter, entrepreneur, and family man whose impact reached far beyond his community.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors Steve Spreitzer for his decades of bringing our communities together. His love for interfaith work shined through with his work at the Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors an exceptional leader in our community, Angela G. Reyes of Southwest, Detroit. Angela Reyes is a proud Latina and always centered her work on human dignity and rights of immigrant neighbors.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District proudly celebrates a significant achievement: the 20th anniversary of the University of Michigan Detroit Center on Woodward Avenue, right in the heart of Detroit.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors The North, East, West, South (N.E.W.S.) Queens and Vice Queens of Michigan Council, chapter of the Red Hat Society. As the Red Hat Society and CEO Mrs.”

“Mr. Speaker, as some of my colleagues continue to try to attempt to bully and silence me, I will remind all of them that I grew up in Detroit.”

“Mr. Speaker, I take a moment to welcome all of my Black neighbors throughout the 12th Congressional District to the people's House for Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference Week.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Ignacio ``Ziggy'' Gonzalez, a beloved son of southwest Detroit. A proud veteran and dedicated educator, Ziggy lived a long and impactful life of 94 years, which stretched far beyond the baseball diamond and hockey rink.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors the life of Peter Mays, a dedicated and beloved member of the Trinity Health family for over 20 years.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors Mr. Vincent and Elizabeth Freeman for the generosity, compassion and dedication they have displayed in creating the Elmwood Blessing Box.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors the illustrious career of Coach Perry Watson. Many know him as Coach Watson, but he was a high school counselor to hundreds of us in southwest Detroit when he was assigned at Southwestern High School.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan celebrates a century of service for the Redford Township District Library. While the original Redford Township District Library building first opened its doors in the 1960's, their mission of inspiring ideas, enriching lives, and creating community began much earlier.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors Fire Captain Mark Andrew, a second-generation firefighter, for the incredible tenacity and courage he displayed throughout his nearly three-decade career serving the Dearborn community.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Reverend Thomas Delbert Staton, a remarkable man whose achievements in ministry, academics, community service, and athletic career set an example for us all.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th ========================= END NOTE ========================= Congressional District proudly recognizes the 100th Anniversary of the Warrendale Community. From 1925 to 2025, Warrendale Community has been a place of love, community, and stewardship, promoting community outreach and creating a home for all.The Warrendale Community Organization mission is to promote a relationship between the residents.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District celebrates Reverend Dr. Perrico Robinson, Sr., as the newly appointed Pastor to the Womack Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Inkster, Michigan.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District celebrates T. Ramsey & Associates on their 10-year anniversary. We thank them for their hard work in providing social impact consulting services to nonprofits, small businesses, and governmental entities across our region.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of my dear friend and neighbor, Michael Friedman, a tireless champion of social and economic justice and workplace democracy.”

“Mr. Speaker, working people are sick and tired of corporate greed. It is time to say enough is enough. Last year, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol made almost $96 million.”

“Mr. Speaker, Republicans already voted to give $5 trillion tax breaks to the richest Americans, paid for by ripping food from children's mouths and kicking 17 million people off of their healthcare.”

“Many people might not know this, but FEMA will provide financial help toward getting a new furnace and water heater, but they will not help in mitigating the toxins and the mold that can be created if they don't get rid of the water in order to clean out the basement.”

“Mr. Speaker, families in our communities are facing an affordability crisis. We hear it at our townhalls. We hear it on every corner of our communities. Families are struggling with rising grocery costs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ignacio Gonzalez, whom we lovingly called Ziggy, a beloved son of Detroit. Ziggy was a proud veteran and dedicated educator.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the remarkable life and legacy of Bishop Earl Jerome Wright, Jr., PhD. A faithful servant, devoted pastor, and beloved leader in the Church Of God In Christ, Bishop Wright has left behind a legacy rooted in ministry, scholarship, and love.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the incredible dedication and service of Fire Captain Donald Villard of Dearborn's Fire Department and well wishes on his upcoming retirement. Captain Villard started his service with the Dearborn Fire Department on June 8, 1999.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District recognizes the incredible contributions of Betty J. Howard, a native Detroiter and leader in the field of public health. Beginning her career at Critten Hospital as a staff nurse, Betty's dedication led her to hold several administrative positions.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District celebrates the incredible life of Shirley Bailey, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Shirley was born on December 12, 1936, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Clent and Beulah Cook.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the 10th anniversary of The Leadership Experience Tour (LET), a visionary platform founded by Shawn Fair and guided by the spiritual leadership of Dr.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize Mother Regina Rose Edwards on her 90th birthday. We honor her life of dedication to service, mentorship, and spiritual leadership in Michigan's 12th Congressional District.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize Caribbean American Heritage Month, and celebrate the culture, contributions, and history of Caribbean Americans in Michigan's 12th Congressional District and across our Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the life and legacy of Commissioner Irma Clark-Coleman, a tireless champion for the people of Detroit and Wayne County. From the Detroit Board of Education to the Michigan Legislature, the NAACP, and the Wayne County Commission, Irma dedicated over six decades to public service and uplifting her community.”

“Mr. Speaker, The 12th Congressional District recognizes and honors Battalion Chief Ryan Phipps of the Dearborn Fire Department for over 27 years of dedicated service to the people of Dearborn, Michigan.”

“Mr. Speaker, today the 12th Congressional District proudly recognizes Staff Sergeant Essie Dell O'Bryant Woods, a lifelong Detroiter and courageous member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District recognizes the life and contributions of remarkable resident Lizzie Toles, as she turns 100 years old. We congratulate her on decades of community work that has had a lasting impact on our community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I proudly honor the accomplishments and community dedication of Dr. Hesham Alalusi on his 81st birthday. We recognize his service as a distinguished engineer, educator, and humanitarian work at home and abroad.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District recognizes Arlene Byczek, a beloved resident of the Warrendale neighborhood in Detroit, for her decades of unwavering service to our community. Originally from New Jersey, Arlene moved to Michigan to earn her nursing degree from Henry Ford College and settled in Warrendale with her husband, Richard, in 1975.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District recognizes and honors Richard LeBlanc on his extraordinary 33-year career in public service and on his recent retirement as the City of Westland's City Clerk.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan recognizes the opening of the MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn. The center is a new facility that belongs to the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, a nonprofit animal shelter that provides invaluable services to our community and our beloved animals.”

“Mr. Speaker, disastrous floods, horrific floods are devastating the lives of our residents in southeast Michigan and across the Nation. The dangers don't stop when the flooding ends.”

“Madam Speaker, Republicans rammed through Trumps' big budget betrayal with the largest cut to healthcare in American history. It will cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by over $1.1 trillion.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Israeli Government has deliberately blocked food, medicine, and fuel from entering Gaza. The entire population of Gaza is experiencing famine, and half a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of starvation.”

“LeBlanc for his extraordinary 33-year career in public service and on his recent retirement as the City of Westland's City Clerk. Mr. LeBlanc's steadfast dedication to community and service to our residents has spanned five elected offices, from his start on the Wayne-Westland Board of Education to the Michigan House of Representatives, and most recently, as Westland City Clerk.”

“Mr. Speaker, I recognize Caribbean American Heritage Month, celebrating the culture, contributions, and history of Caribbean Americans in Michigan's 12th Congressional District and across the country. Caribbean American Heritage Month, first recognized in 2005, was established after years of global efforts to uplift our Caribbean- American neighbors.”

“Mr. Speaker, families in our community are already struggling with rising grocery prices. It is shameful that companies like Kroger are price-gouging our residents with surveillance pricing. As you can see here, companies are already collecting a tremendous amount of data and private information about our residents to create custom profiles about them.”

“Mr. Speaker, firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in our country. I have talked to pediatricians. They are telling me every day that gun violence is just increasing.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of our dear neighbors in the 12th Congressional District. We worked over 3 years to present Matthew Fisher, a remarkable resident of my district, with the Purple Heart for his dedication and service to our country.”

“Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth marks the official end of slavery in the United States of America, and this day remains deeply meaningful to many of our families in the Michigan 12th Congressional District.”

“Mr. Speaker, we know that the Trump administration just cut a 60-year program called Job Corps that provided young people with stable housing and career training. This is why I joined several of my Michigan colleagues in a letter to the Trump administration, demanding that they reverse this reckless decision to abruptly shut down Job Corps centers across the Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, last week was the 60th birthday of Head Start, which is a lifeline and a life-changing experience for many of our families and has anchors all across the country and communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I don't know about you, but I have no idea that someone's income, occupation, education, ZIP Code, marital status, credit score, or homeownership status have anything to do with somebody's auto insurance rates or whether or not they are a good driver.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am here this morning to talk about what is happening here in Congress in regard to the budget proposal. I can't believe that many of my Republican colleagues, many of whom have larger numbers of folks on Medicaid, are proposing the largest cut to food assistance in the history of our country and the largest cut to Medicaid in the history of our country.”

“Mr. Speaker, Peter Beinart said: ``When you tell a people to forget its past, you are not proposing peace, you are proposing extinction.'' I introduced a resolution yesterday recognizing the 77 years of the ongoing Nakba against the Palestinian people and the need for refugee rights.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about something that is happening right here in our backyard in regard to the Congressional Mamas Caucus. As a mother, I am dismayed.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the 100th anniversary of Detroit Memorial Park, Michigan's oldest Black-owned cemetery and a beacon of dignity, justice, and community for generations.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District congratulates Reverend Lydie Ngoie and the members of Trinity Faith United Methodist Chuich on 35 years of spiritual worship and leadership in our community.”

“Mr Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, as it celebrates 63 years of extraordinary service to our communities. Founded by Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri in 1962, the Islamic Center began as a dream to create a sacred space for Metro Detroit's growing Muslim population.”

“Mr. Speaker, using starvation as a weapon is a war crime. For over 2 months, the Israeli Government has completely and deliberately blocked food, water, medical supplies, and fuel from entering Gaza and targeting local aid convoys.”

“Mr. Speaker, from the university president to its board of regents, from the State attorney general to the White House, University of Michigan students and faculty exercising their rights to speak out against genocide have been under attack from all sides.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the incredible life and legacy of my dear friend, George Saba, who served metro Detroit's immigrant community for over four decades as a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative.”

“Mr. Speaker, Agent Orange exposure continues to negatively impact the lives of our veterans, Vietnamese people, Vietnamese Americans, and their children. As we mark 50 years after the United States' withdrawal from Vietnam, it is time to meet our moral and legal obligations to heal the wounds inflicted by these atrocities.”

“Mr. Speaker, here we go again. DTE wants another rate hike, 11 percent this time. Our families can't afford more power outages in Michigan that wipe out groceries, spoil medicine, and leave our neighbors without critical medical devices, all because DTE would rather pad the pockets of their shareholders and executives than invest in reliability for our families.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors an exceptional leader within our community: Principal Markisha Stovall of Madison Carver Academy. Her unwavering dedication to her students, their families, and our community embodies the very essence of exemplary public service.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District recognizes the critical work of the LUCAS Foundation, and its upcoming 1,000-mile relay run to raise awareness about the tragic reality that suicide is the leading cause of death among law enforcement officers.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the incredible life and legacy of George Saba, who served Metro Detroit's immigrant community for over four decades as a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative.”

“Mr. Speaker, I think it is incredibly shameful that my Republican colleagues want to gut the rule that capped most credit card late fees at just $5. Credit card companies over the people we represent, that is what they are choosing with this.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Ramirez, who has led with her own lived experiences and her compassion. She leads with compassion, which I think is sometimes missing here in this Chamber.”

“Mr. Speaker, the SAVE Act is not about protecting elections; it is about silencing voters. It is voter suppression, plain and simple. The so-called SAVE Act is also attacking, of course, voting rights and our access to the ballot box.”

“Mr. Chair, I think ``countries of concern'' is perfectly explained in my amendment. That is to say, again, I know for a fact that some of these countries killed American citizens.”

“Mr. Chair, I think it is really important to understand the International Criminal Court right now is investigating right now an active case against what is happening in Sudan.”

“All of us support upholding international law because it protects our country, but it protects the rule of law in making sure that war crimes are not being committed.”

“Mr. Chair, in closing, I think it is important to know right now the International Court of Justice is investigating Congo, Uganda, Philippines, Venezuela, and Sudan. These are countries that have been under investigation by the International Criminal Court.”

“Mr. Speaker, water is a human right. We can't live without it, but far too often our government treats it as just another product to be sold. In Michigan, the Great Lakes Water Authority voted to increase water rates by 5.9 percent and sewage rates by 4.5 percent.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the life and legacy of Dr. Rene Lichtman, a Holocaust survivor and activist in our community who was deeply committed to justice in Southeast Michigan and around the world.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District recognizes the incredible contributions of Zagloul ``Abu Saad'' Kadah, a pioneering Syrian American entrepreneur and innovator in Silicon Valley. His lifelong dedication to technology, business, and mentorship has paved the way for countless others in the industry.”

“Mr. Speaker, I remind many of my constituents in the 12th Congressional District that I hear you and I understand the pain and the fear that you all are going through as you continue to hear about the $880 billion in Medicaid cuts.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend, Rene Lichtman, a Holocaust survivor and activist in our community who was deeply committed to justice in southeastern Michigan and around the world.”

“Mr. Speaker, Republicans are ramming through $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. Look it up, Mr. Speaker. We are not making it up. So when I hear people say that is not what is happening when it is very evident, when Republicans are cutting $880 billion, specifically in a committee that works on Medicaid, where do people think it is going to come from?”

“Mr. Speaker, we are not an experiment for Elon Musk to play with. We are not. The Trump administration's ongoing attacks on the Federal workforce is out of control.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to share the words of a mother in Detroit who today said she was sorry but she tried. She is talking about the fact that she was evicted.”

“Mr. Speaker, here we go again. We are voting on yet another bill that just promotes racial profiling. That is exactly what is happening because Americans right now who are Brown or Black or have an accent and who are American citizens are carrying passports with them.”

“Madam Speaker, any day now, President Trump is gearing up to shut down the Department of Education. This is the latest power grab, an assault on our kids, an assault on our teachers, and an assault on our families in our district that rely on public education.”

“Madam Speaker, here we go. Elon Musk, the richest man on the planet, and Russ Vought, the guy who wrote Project 2025, want to shut down the 911 agency for fraud and consumer protection that many of us call the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

“Mr. Speaker, I know that Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recommit to the fight for justice and Black liberation in Michigan's 12th Congressional District and beyond.”

“Mr. Speaker, eggs in my district are $9.19 or, as one resident said, it is ten bucks to buy eggs, Rashida. I want everyone to think about this because the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 right now.”

“Mr. Speaker, immigrants in our country are already under attack, especially our undocumented neighbors. These are hateful and divisive executive orders and a violent assault on our communities and our country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I think it is so shameful that the first bill of the new Congress will put a target on the backs of millions of our neighbors.”

“I just ask all of you to truly understand what this will do to our communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to please vote ``no'' on this divisive bill.”

“Mr. Speaker, today the 12th Congressional District recognizes and celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Beta Omicron Zeta Chapter, also known as the Detroit Chapter, of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., as a pillar of service, scholarship, and sisterhood in our community.”

“Mr. Speaker, today the 12th Congressional District recognizes and celebrates Wayne County Commissioner Abdul ``Al'' Haidous for his more than 40 years of public service to the City of Wayne and Wayne County and congratulates him on his retirement.”

“Mr. Speaker, today the 12th Congressional District recognizes the incredible work of Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities (LAHC), an organization serving Southeast Michigan for over four decades. Founded in 1982 as the Lebanese American Heritage Center, LAHC has recognized gaps in services for new immigrants and underrepresented populations.”

“Mr. Speaker, my heart breaks for the people in southern California who have lost their loved ones, their homes, memories, everything they own, and entire neighborhoods in these devastating fires.”

“Madam Speaker, I honor the incredible life and legacy of Romulus Councilwoman Virginia Williams, who unexpectedly passed away. She has left a void in our community and in our hearts.”

“Madam Speaker, I honor the life of former Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly, Jr. Our community lost an extraordinary leader whose dedication to public service shaped the city of Dearborn and our communities in Michigan forever.”

“Madam Speaker, I recognize Wayne County Commissioner Abdul ``Al'' Haidous for his more than 40 years of public service to the city of Wayne and Wayne County and congratulate him on his retirement.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the incredible families of Michigan's 12th Congressional District for sending me back to Congress. I am truly honored to be able to be your voice in the people's House.”