Jonathan L. Jackson · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Deadly Immigration Policies

2026-09-03

“You are bad. The other side is bad and mean. I don't like their immigration policies. A sad thing happened. That makes me sad.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I stand before the people's House today to bear witness to the dehumanizing, destabilizing, and deadly immigration policies of the Trump administration. Pierre Damas Bel should be alive today. Instead, his family, friends, and community are mourning the tragic death of a young man who had his whole life ahead of him. Pierre was an honor student, captain of his high school soccer team, and a lieutenant in the ROTC program. He wanted to serve the United States, but after losing his temporary protected status and being held in an ICE ankle monitor, his family says he experienced deep humiliation, fear, and despair. Children started picking on him at school for wearing an ICE monitor because they had lost their temporary protected status. Pierre's death did not begin with that monitor. It began with a campaign to demonize Haitians, from the racist lies that our neighbors were eating people's pets in Ohio to unjustly--and against the congressional intent of TPS--ending protection for roughly 350,000 Haitians who have lived and worked lawfully in this country. I have opposed these policies, Mr. Speaker, from the start because this is not an immigration that puts America first. It is cruelty. Mr. Speaker, we mourn the loss of young Pierre.

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House of Representatives

Giving Voice to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Principles

2026-09-02

“I thank Menefee. Minorities have overcome hostilities. African-Americans and Native Americans have been denied rights. Racism, sexism, and bigotry continue. I started the DEI Caucus. The government can't be trusted without DEI laws. African-Americans can't rely on generosity. This administration is hostile to inclusivity. They hire unqualified people. General CQ Brown was replaced by a white nationalist. This administration lies. They attack farmers and raise costs. They make trade wars. They enrich themselves. We must defend diversity, equity, and inclusion. Executive actions have consequences. History is recording your action. I challenge institutions to be diverse. Discrimination is wrong. We must stand up for justice. History is recording us.”

Official Congressional Record

I thank Congressman Menefee for his time, his talent, and his contribution to this country. Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell you that the history of the United States has been replete with so many examples of the resilience of minorities having to overcome hostilities. We do not find in the pages of American history over and over again that the government of this country has continually been complicit in the systematic disenfranchisement, specifically of African-American citizens and Native Americans by denying, as a matter of both law and custom, the legal privileges of both law and custom and the protections enumerated in the Constitution of the United States. Whereas the problem of racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, anti- Semitism, anti-Islamophobia continues to be prevalent in the cultural, political, and economic life of this country. And as the cofounder of this DEI Caucus, I must rise to declare that with respect to the issue of equal access, equal opportunity, and equal protection under the law that the government of the United States, as it is currently configured, cannot be trusted unless we have explicit laws and codify these programs to ensure a greater America. Nor should the economic and democratic future of over 13 million African Americans be left to the meandering and whimsical generosity of people who recently came to terms with the idea that all of us are created equal. The country is not there yet. We have been moving toward a more perfect Union, and this administration amongst all administrations has been the most hostile towards inclusivity. To echo the words of Congressman Jamie Raskin, we have had more DUI hires in this administration's Cabinet than we have had DEI hires of those that have been qualified. When we think of what happened to General CQ Brown being replaced by Mr. Pete Hegseth, who was then denied the opportunity to stand guard over the inauguration of President Joe Biden because of his ties to white nationalist organizations. That is something that we cannot look past. I would tell you, Mr. Speaker, we are moving toward a more perfect Union. This administration seems to be an echo, a revision of the book ``1984,'' an Orwellian vision. Everything this administration says is the exact opposite. It says they are moving towards meritocracy, but they have hired some of the most incompetent people. Look at our Nation. This country says they want to stand up for farmers. This administration, Mr. Speaker, I tell you, has been the most antifarming administration this Nation has seen. It has attacked the immigrant community that the farmers have relied on. It has entered a war that has been unnecessary and that has made the cost of fuel and fertilizer rise. This administration has attacked the open markets so that the Chinese Government could not afford to purchase our soy and our corn because they could buy it cheaper from Argentina and from Brazil, although Brazil is further away from China than California. Why? It is because they have been hand-tied. When we look at how do we make Canada, one of our oldest and longest and greatest political allies become a trade war partner. How have they simply enriched all the members of the administration? If the President would make deals as good for the American people as he has made for himself personally, America would be doing better, and the country would be more affordable for the least of thee. We have heard my colleagues, and I have discussed, the problems we have had with the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion and civil rights protections across our government and across many aspects of our society. We will continue to stand up to defend these relentless attacks. Finally, it should be clear to all of us that the executive actions and the bureaucratic assault on this government's commitment to diversity is not a passing phase. It will have long, enduring consequences. And it should be obvious to all of us who believe in the possibility of a diverse and a more composite nation that prosperity is in our realm if we uphold the ideals of our values. Mr. Speaker, even as our companies, universities, and public institutions are incentivized to walk away from the commitment to inclusion, I challenge every institution to remember that history is recording your action. Have the courage and the character to stand up now for what you believe in. The stars shine brightest in the dark, and I would tell the CEOs: History will record your action and your inaction. I challenge every institution to prove that their devotion to diversity need not come from the force of law, but rather from the natural consequences of their understanding of the things that make for peace. We can only hope that the illegality of discrimination will one day fall from the body politic of this Nation like scales falling from our eyes. But until that day arrives, we must continue to stand up for what is right. We must continue to stand up for what is just. We must continue to stand up for what is equitable. And what is the promise to every American in the Constitution? It is independence in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my colleagues and my friends: Do not cower in the face of this administration. History is recording us, and it will ask: Where did you stand? What did you do for justice? Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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“I agree with Raskin. We want more DEI people hired. We want fewer Trump people hired. Trump people had DUIs. Trump people did bad things. I don't like that. I want to introduce Menefee now. He is from Texas. He fights for justice. He helps people who have been left behind.”

“I want to be on Jamie Raskin's good side. I am complimenting Raskin very much with big words. I want people to think Raskin is a very good person.”

“I want to introduce Adelita Grijalva. She is the first Latino to represent her state. She is continuing her family legacy. She is a strong leader. She works for families and the environment. I am happy to yield my time to her.”

“I was supposed to introduce someone else. But he is not here. So I will let a woman from New Mexico talk. She will say things like I was going to say.”

“I like my friend Robin Kelly from Illinois. She is really good. Now I want to talk about Rashida Tlaib. Rashida Tlaib is my friend too. She fights for people who don't have a lot of money. She is the first Muslim woman to be in Congress. That is a big deal. Now I will let her talk. That is my whole speech.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Congresswoman from the great State of Illinois for her remarks. It has been truly an honor to serve with her, to admire her from afar, and to work with her up close. I thank her for her work and her commitment to justice for us all. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be joined by the Honorable Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of the great State of Michigan. She is a true advocate and freedom fighter for those that have been marginalized, a determined advocate for Detroit's working poor and working families, and one of the first Muslim women to serve in the United States House of Representatives. It is an honor to be her colleague. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

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“I agree with my friend. The other side is bad. They want to stop DEI programs. They are wrong. DEI is good. It helps people. We must fight for DEI. I want to introduce my friend. She is a good person. She fights for good things. She helps people. We need people like her.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Tonko so much for his clear voice and analysis. I thank him for the update as we confront the resurgence of the confederacy. We need the abolitionist's voice. We have gone from the veiled attempts of the segregationists now to the overt racism carefully wrapped up and disguised and repackaged saying that DEI, the program that expanded opportunity, is exclusionary. No. Mr. Speaker, we have had a long history of racism, segregation, and discrimination. Now that we have put some ointment on and had some healing, now this is being called the cause of division. It is not, and we continue to stand. We will fight until America is right. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to introduce a colleague of mine from the great State of Illinois, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who has been here, who has championed fearless amounts of deals to make sure that the Nation is made stronger. She is a national voice on gun violence, also a doctor of medical sciences and public health, who represents the great Second District of the State of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly).

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“I thank my friend Cleo Fields. He is from Louisiana. He did good things. He stood up for democracy. He fought against a bad court decision. That decision was bad for African Americans. Cleo Fields wants to help everyone. He made America better. Now I will let Mr. Tonko speak. He is from New York. He leads on clean energy and the environment. He is a good man.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, Congressman Cleo Fields, representing the Sixth District of the great State of Louisiana, who has a remarkable story. He expanded democracy, not only asking for the opportunity but for equity and inclusion for the voice of all members of Louisiana to be included in what will go down as one of the most shameful acts in American history, the decision of Louisiana v. Callais, where they stripped the voting representation of African Americans in the great State of Louisiana. I thank Congressman Cleo Fields for his magnanimous service to this great country, for continuing to expand democracy, and for having made America better. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), a leader on clean energy, environmental justice, and environmental policy, who has represented the capital region since 2009. He is a person we hold in high esteem, a voice that is fearless and confronts injustice.

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“Some people think diversity, equity, and inclusion are good. I agree. I want the government to do more to fix this. We need more policies to help people. The government should have done this a long time ago. I want people to keep fighting for these policies.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the time, and I thank my colleagues for their presence today. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I rise at this moment and in this Chamber to give a voice to the tens of millions of Americans who do not believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion is an offense to the spirit of America. Nor are they under the impression that intentionally including the talent and abilities of qualified Americans who have been historically and systematically locked out of the promises of America is anything other than the right thing to do. In fact, there are millions of Americans who understand that it is impossible to remunerate 300 years of oppression with only 62 years of inclusion. However, that is why we are here, and that is why we find ourselves here today, making sure that this voice is given airtime. Regrettably, Mr. Speaker, it is also where we begin because we will let the word go forth from this time and in this place: If the Government of the United States had simply honored the 14th and 15th Amendments ratified in 1868 and in 1870 respectively, there would be no need for diversity, equity, and inclusion today because we would have fulfilled our promise and our obligation. There would be no need for affirmative action had we simply gone forward and honored the 14th and 15th Amendments. There would be no need for civil rights legislation had we honored the 14th and 15th Amendments. To state the matter with even greater clarity, if the government of this country had honored its own laws, then this country would have never needed a civil rights movement. That is because we would have fulfilled that obligation in our 14th and 15th Amendments. Unfortunately, it was not honored, and here we are. We will continue this fight to make sure that America fulfills its promise and its destiny. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be joined by my colleague and good friend, the Honorable Congressman Cleo Fields, who hails from the great State of Louisiana. Congressman Cleo Fields is the co-chair and founder of the DEI Caucus. Congressman Fields has led an incredible career in public service my entire adult life, over the last 35 years and counting. All the while, he was championing voting rights issues on behalf of his constituents in the face of relentless opposition. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Louisiana (Mr. Fields).

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House of Representatives

Permission for Member to Be Considered as First Sponsor of H.R. 4586, H.R. 1114, and H. Res. 179

2026-09-02

“I want to be the first sponsor on three bills. My colleague from Florida first wrote them. I want permission to add more sponsors and request reprints.”

House of Representatives

Honoring George E. Johnson

2026-07-15

“George E. Johnson was a good man. He made hair products. He made money. He helped his community. He created jobs. Black people liked him. He was important. I want to honor him.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, there are some people who build companies, and there are others who build confidence. George E. Johnson did both. He understood something this Nation too often refused to see--that Black people did not need permission to be beautiful, brilliant, or prosperous. We simply needed the opportunity to define ourselves. Through Afro Sheen, he did more than create a successful business. He challenged a culture that had spent centuries teaching Black men and women to doubt the beauty that they saw in the mirror. Every bottle that left his factory carried more than a product. It carried a declaration that Black enterprise could flourish and that Black excellence could employ thousands, inspire generations, and transform neighborhoods. His success was not measured merely in dollars, but in dignity. He proved that ownership is more than economics. It is self-determination. George Johnson, a beloved family friend, invested not only in hair care, but in human care. He invested in communities, education, churches, and young dreamers who needed someone to believe that greatness could look like them. He understood that wealth finds its highest purpose when it creates opportunities for others. His legacy reminds us that freedom is incomplete if it cannot produce opportunity. It reminds us that equality is unfinished if it cannot nurture enterprise, and justice remains unfinished if the gifts of a people are ignored. Today, we honor not simply a businessman but a visionary who helped America become more fully itself by insisting that Black genius belonged not on the margins of its history but at its very center core. Mr. Speaker, may we remember George E. Johnson not only for what he sold but for what he restored: confidence, possibility, and pride. May his life continue to remind every child who dares to dream that the greatest investment one can ever make is in the limitless potential of one's own people. To a beloved friend and an outstanding American, I love you, and I honor you, the honorable George E. Johnson.

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