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House of Representatives

Honoring Beatrice Lumpkin

2026-07-14 Issue 114 Showing 1–3 of 3

Official Congressional Record ↗

Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia

Democrat 10:30 a.m.

“Bea Lumpkin was a union organizer and activist. She did a lot for workers and civil rights. I am sad she died.”

Official Congressional Record

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. Bea was a fierce defender of working-class people and an active fighter for civil rights. She was called by some the rock of the labor movement, because she grounded us and taught us how to stay committed to the search for justice and equity for those without power. Bea marched along with Dr. Martin Luther King in Chicago and was an ally of the Black Panther Party. She was present at every key moment of our labor and civil rights movement for nearly 90 years, up to the recent No Kings marches. Her engagement with the movement began with a factory job when she was 14 years old. She helped organize the Metal and Machinery Workers Industrial Union, a part of the newly formed Congress of Industrial Organizations. Her persistence and determination were best exemplified when Wisconsin Steel, the plant her husband, Frank, worked at, abruptly closed and 3,400 workers lost their jobs. For 17 years, the Lumpkins led a successful fight for those workers to receive back pay. As recently as 2024, Bea was focused on intergenerational work with youth activists and joined the Starbucks workers as they began organizing. As a retiree, she expanded her activism on issues such as climate justice, the rights of retired workers, and consumer protection against overcharges from utility companies. Mr. Speaker, Bea believed our job is to make the world a better place. She found joy in the work she did and inspired others, including me, to continue fighting. The labor movement has lost a giant. Rest in power, Bea Lumpkin.

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Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia

Democrat 10:30 a.m.

“I want to honor Tony Ortiz. He led a school in my district for 16 years. The students there don't have much money. Now our community has a good school. Tony Ortiz built a good school for our community. I thank him for that.”

Official Congressional Record

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. For 30 years, Cristo Rey has transformed lives by providing a Catholic college preparatory education, integrated with professional work experience. Today, the school serves students who are 100 percent bilingual, 90 percent first generation, with a median family income of $43,000. Cristo Rey has nearly 3,000 alumni, 15 of whom now work at the school. Tony's greatest accomplishment is the culture he built that proudly reflects the strength of my district. The vast majority of students, alumni, faculty, and staff live and maintain deep ties to the Fourth District of Illinois, making the school a strong pillar of the surrounding community. Under Tony Ortiz's leadership, Cristo Rey Jesuit has become a model of educational excellence nationwide, and his vision has helped the school grow into a national network of more than 40 schools, serving over 13,000 students across the country each day. Mr. Speaker, I thank Tony Ortiz for his remarkable service and wish him all the best in the years ahead. He has left a lasting legacy in our community.

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Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia

Democrat 10:30 a.m.

“I want to celebrate a jazz and arts center in my district. It's called HotHouse. They've been around for 40 years. HotHouse hosts music and arts events. They bring arts to communities in my district. The center closed its building in 2007. But HotHouse still organizes events in Chicago. HotHouse won some awards. I congratulate HotHouse. I hope they keep bringing arts to my district.”

Official Congressional Record

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. HotHouse has taken the arts into underserved communities, fostering the international exchange of ideas, and serving as a central meeting place for a variety of community groups. While their physical location at Balbo Avenue closed in July of 2007, the current board continues organizing and programming around Chicagoland. Over the years, HotHouse has been awarded with many of the top honors in the arts and culture industry, including Best of Chicago, Chicagoan of the Year, and The Abbey, all reflecting its lasting impact in our region. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the HotHouse on this incredible milestone, and I wish the organization many more years of success.

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