Women's History Month
Floor Speech
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Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Women's History Month by uplifting my dear friend, a powerful organizer, Erendira ``Ere'' Rendon.
Ere has dedicated her life to fighting for the dignity and liberation of immigrant communities.
Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ere immigrated to the United States in 1990 to be reunited with her father. Ere is 1 of 530,000 from the roughly 3.6 million Dreamers receiving DACA, a program that has been viciously attacked in this Chamber. Inspired by her family's and her own experiences, Ere has fought to expand and affirm immigrant rights, ensuring access to driver's licenses, healthcare regardless of legal status, and funding for necessary legal services.
For nearly 15 years, Ere has organized at the Resurrection Project helping to found the Immigrant Justice Department where she serves as vice president.
Ere is one of the countless ``powerful women,'' ``poderosas mujeres'' leaders organizing to protect and unite our communities reminding us that immigrants make our communities stronger.
On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Erendira Rendon in this day for her lifelong commitment to ensuring that immigrant communities are seen and that immigrants are valued, uplifted, and loved just as she is.
Congratulations to Ere. Powerful Women
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Mrs. RAMIREZ. At a time of unserious efforts to establish English as the official language of the United States, I rise today to celebrate my constituent, Angelica Garcia Santos, in a language proudly spoken in Illinois' Third Congressional District.
(English translation of the statement made in Spanish by Mrs. Ramirez is as follows:)
In honor of Women's Month, I congratulate community leader and activist Angelica Garcia Santos, my West Chicago constituent.
Angelica began volunteering at IL03's non-profit immigrant advocacy organization, Casa Michoacan, where she now serves as coordinator.
At Casa Michoacan, Angelica provides resources to connect her immigrant neighbors with their community and inform them about their rights.
As an activist, Angelica has also helped advocate for the expansion of healthcare for immigrants, inspired by her own experiences with the healthcare system.
Angelica is one of countless community leaders in my district who feel the urgency of this moment as my Republican colleagues move forward with devastating cuts to federal programs like Medicaid.
Angelica's activism reminds us how much our immigrants contribute to our communities and shape the change they know we need.
On behalf of Illinois' 3rd Congressional District, it is my great honor to congratulate Angelica Garcia Santos for her activism, leadership, and advocacy.
Thank you, Angelica.
En honor al Mes de la Mujer, felicito a la lider comunitaria y activista Angelica Garcia Santos, mi constituyente de West Chicago.
Angelica comenzo como voluntaria en la organizacion sin fines de lucro de defensa de los inmigrantes de IL03, Casa Michoacan, donde ahora se desempena como coordinadora.
En Casa Michoacan, Angelica brinda recursos para conectar a sus vecinos inmigrantes con su comunidad e informales sobre sus derechos.
Como activista, Angelica tambien ha ayudado a defender la expansion del cuidado medico para inmigrantes, inspirada por sus propias experiencias con el sistema de salud.
Angelica es una de los innumerables lideres comunitarios de mi distrito que siente la urgencia de este momento en el que mis colegas republicanos avanzan con recortes devastadores a programas federales como Medicaid.
El activismo de Angelica nos recuemrda cuanto contribuyen nuestros inmigrantes a nuestras comunidades y dan forma al cambio que saben que necesitamos.
A nombre del tercer distrito del Congreso de Illinois, es un gran honor para mi felicitar a Angelica Garcia Santos por su activismo, liderazgo y defensa.
Gracias, Angelica.
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Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Women's History Month and to celebrate the rich contributions of Ukrainians in Illinois-03 by uplifting my constituent, Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak, for her work to honor our shared humanity.
A family medicine doctor, Dr. Dmytriv-Kapeniak exemplifies putting together our vocation into service for humanity. As a proud member of the Illinois Chapter of Ukrainian Medical Association of North America and the president of the Illinois division of Ukrainian Congress Committee of North America, she has secured medical donations and supply donations to help save lives in Ukraine.
This past Sunday I had the honor to stand with her and Ukrainian Americans at a Chicago rally to send a clear message: We who stand for democracy will not be bullied by dictators, not in Ukraine, not in other parts of the world, and not in the United States.
On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, home to thousands of Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans, it is my honor to commend Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak for her tremendous leadership and commitment to human dignity, to peace, and to democracy.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mariya and congratulate her.
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