Rashida Tlaib

“I oppose this bill. It attacks free speech and academic freedom by taking away student aid from colleges that boycott Israel.”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill is an attack on free speech and academic freedom, all in the name of defending a genocidal apartheid state. While the Trump administration is stripping universities of their funding, deporting international students, and pressuring universities to shut down their Black and African-American studies departments, Congress is voting today to force universities to pledge their loyalty to what? To a foreign government. That is right. Support the Israeli Government and their war crimes or lose Federal student aid. Boycotts are protected free speech and an important tool for social change, from the civil rights movement to today. Academic boycotts had helped bring down the apartheid state in South Africa, as well as abolish segregation right here at home. This is not about protecting our Jewish neighbors because many of the boycotts and the divestment movements on campuses are led by Jewish students who were yelling: Not in our name. Do you know what this is about? I will show you. This is about protecting an image like this from Israel’s National Security Minister this week. This is what he put up on social media, showing the fate that he has planned for the Palestinian people. What is this? This is an image of Palestinians walking into a gas chamber. This is what students are boycotting. Yet, here we are, punishing them for speaking out against this, speaking out against ethnic cleansing, genocide, and bombings of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps. This bill is a clear assault on higher education for millions of working-class students who depend on Federal student aid to get an education. A vote for this bill is a betrayal of those promising young students, denying them the right to an education. Why? Because they want to save lives, no matter their faith or ethnicity. The Trump administration is committed to dismantling higher education and public education in our country. We all see it, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. First, it is a ban on boycotting an apartheid government state, and then it is going to be a ban on divesting from fossil fuels, or maybe teachers will be banned based on what teachers are teaching now. We need to stand against this attack on academic freedom and stand up for students. They are doing what is right in our history, and I am not going to wait a decade for people to apologize for it, because they are trying to save lives. It is their constitutional right to be able to boycott and run campaigns that are peaceful and saying: Enough is enough. Not with our dime, and not in our name.”

“I want Congress to pass my bill to stop the TSA from sharing passenger data with ICE. ICE is using this personal information to arrest and detain immigrants at airports.”

“Mr. Speaker, TSA is sharing passengers’ names, birth dates, and private data with ICE, leading to a surge of unlawful arrests and detention at our airports. Airports are becoming de facto detention centers, funneling humans into the ICE mass detention deportation agenda for profit. ICE agents are targeting immigrants who are in the process of changing their status, including those waiting for visa extensions, with employment authorization documents, or recently married to a U.S. citizen. They are subjecting them to unconstitutional mass surveillance and creating a climate of fear for our immigrant neighbors. Why? Because ICE literally said immigrants at airports make for ``easy targets’’ to fulfill our daily arrest quotas. That is disgusting. Enough is enough. We can’t allow TSA to become complicit in ICE’s cruelty, and I am asking the TSA administrator to stop openly lying about the secret data-sharing agreement that was entered into with ICE. Mr. Speaker, please support No TSA Data for ICE Act that I introduced with many of my colleagues.”

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“President Trump is attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and that hurts Black people. His administration has canceled grants that study why Black mothers die in childbirth, stopped programs to replace lead pipes, and ignored pollution in Black neighborhoods. These actions hurt our health, our money, and our future.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Jackson for his incredible leadership and, of course, CPC for hosting this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, we know that since day one, the President of the United States has targeted policies and programs that are about equity, about women’s rights, making sure that we are attacking and targeting racial injustices all around the country. Let’s call what it is. When you attack DEI, you are attacking people of color. You are attacking inequities, attacking again those that continue to allow the status quo which makes them money to again have injustices within programs and so forth. To this President, anyone who does not look like him or does not have the same amount of money or income, shouldn’t have equal opportunities. That is what we are telling the American people. It is no surprise then that he has filled his Cabinet administration with people who are set on racist daily deportation quotas, firing women in the military, or having senior advisers spend their time literally tweeting at and name- calling Black Congresswomen and community leaders. This anti-Black and racist administration does not reflect the beauty and dignity of the American people. They have made it clear from day one about their policy choice to ignore and hurt our Black communities. I grew up in the most beautiful, Blackest city in the country, where my strength and the way I move in trying to attack poverty and making sure that no child goes hungry, that we have clean air to breathe, that we have clean water to drink is because this is a city that knows what it feels like again for their government to turn their back on them. The Health Department right now has canceled over a thousand grants dedicated to address issues that affect Black people, including Black maternal health where Black mothers are dying at a higher rate giving birth. Those funds were supposed to research maternal mortality, environmental injustices and contamination, disease prevention, and more. Yet again, this administration thinks Black people are disposable. I know as the founder and chair of the Mamas’ Caucus that Black women are three times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related causes, but now we are not even allowed to say Black for programs dedicated to solving maternal mortality. As co-chair of the People’s Environmental Justice Caucus, I know that pollution deeply affects the majority of Black communities. Growing up in Detroit, I thought that the smell of rotten eggs was normal. Then I learned it was because the government sacrificed our air and water to big polluters in communities like ours. Just last month, homes in Gary, Indiana, were literally under water due to flooding. Our government was too slow and is still not responding like they should. Lead-contaminated pipes, dust, and paint still affect many homes across our country, especially in our city. There is no safe level of lead, but again, the Trump administration, using the anti-DEI movement, canceled programs dedicated to replacing lead pipes. Think about that. Our U.S. administration right now thinks that clean water is not a great need in our country. Trump’s attacks against DEI aren’t simply a culture war. It is through his executive orders and policies directly impacting our health, our wallets, and our future. We all deserve to be able to live with human dignity. What we are seeing with this administration is they don’t care for that if we don’t look like him. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Illinois hosting this Special Order.”

“I want the U.S. government to help free Sama Safi, an American citizen held in an Israeli military prison for three months. She has a medical condition and needs daily medicine. Other lawmakers and I wrote to Secretary Rubio asking him to get her released.”

“Mr. Speaker, free Sama Safi now. Sama Safi is a 20-year-old U.S. citizen and honors student of psychology who was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night by the Israeli forces. For exactly 3 months today, Sama has been suffering in the Israeli military prisons. Sama has a severe chronic medical condition that requires daily medication. Her doctors say that she could have irreversible organ damage. Mr. Speaker, 40 of my colleagues and I, along with 6 Senators, sent a letter to Secretary Rubio demanding him to work on her release immediately. I have actually spoken directly to Sama’s parents, who are terrified for their daughter. They tell me that they wake up every morning hoping to hear Sama playing her music. They told me that Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, went to the women’s prison where Sama is being held, and he taunted the prisoners and assaulted detainees. He mocked the inhumane conditions, saying that it is what they deserve. Sama doesn’t deserve this. No one does. She deserves to be home with her family, studying for her classes. Free Sama now.”

“I am honoring Humberto Oriel Cardenas, who recently died. He was a community leader and veteran in southwest Detroit who supported our Mexican culture and helped start our local Cinco de Mayo parade.”

“Mr. Speaker, Humberto Oriel Cardenas was a southwest Detroit icon, and it is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye. Beto, as we lovingly called him, dedicated his life to our community in southwest Detroit. He loved our neighborhood and created a lasting legacy. Beto started a long-running tradition of showing up to the Cinco de Mayo parade, which I remember attending as a young girl growing up in southwest Detroit. To this day, the parade that he helped found celebrates Mexican community and heritage. Beto showed us the beauty in our diversity through his love for culture and community. He helped found La Vida magazine that amplified stories about Detroit’s Hispanic community. He also founded the Mexican-American Association of Detroit, which brought together several Mexican musical and dance groups. He was a proud Army veteran, involved in our church, and loved by his family and our community. We will continue to honor his legacy by remembering that our strength is in our diversity.”

“Democratic Socialists are not the problem. Corporate greed and high prices are hurting everyday Americans. Republicans are attacking socialists instead of holding big companies, high gas prices, and rich CEOs accountable.”

“Mr. Speaker, corporate greed is hurting Americans. It is not Democratic Socialists who are fighting for universal healthcare, childcare, and clean water. The sponsor of this resolution took $10,000 from Phillips 66, a gas company, and that is a fact. I wonder how many residents in Colorado’s Fifth pulled into a Phillips 66 and couldn’t afford gas because today residents of Colorado’s Fifth are paying $4.26 per gallon for gas. That is higher than the national average. Colorado’s Fifth District is paying the cost of Trump’s reckless war. Since the start of the war, the average family in the Fifth District has paid an extra $412 for gas, and they have spent $3,700 more for basic living expenses. Yet, we are not talking about the fact that warmongering hurts our families, not Democratic Socialists. Republicans fuel corporate greed as they allow, again, the tax cuts, again allow the highest paid CEOs to give pennies to their workers. The average CEO of the largest corporation earned $17.7 million last year, yet here we go. We are not blaming the corporate donors. Instead, we are blaming the Democratic Socialists. Workers rely on Medicaid, Mr. Speaker, and SNAP because of corporate greed, yet Republicans in this Chamber are literally cutting those programs to give, what, their corporate donors $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. Yet, here we are, blaming, again, Democratic Socialists, who are trying to make life easier for our families, not the billionaire class. I proudly say, as a DSA member: Tax the rich.”

“Immigration officers arrested Ya'akub Ira Vijandre and want to deport him because of what he said and liked on social media. He has lived here for 25 years and has spent his life helping people in emergencies. The government should release him now.”

“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. Ya’akub is a photojournalist who has lived in the United States for 25 years as a Dreamer, as a DACA recipient. He is a first responder and spent a decade working for American Airlines serving on their CARE Team that supports families following plane crashes. When the helicopter crashed into a plane in D.C., right here, Ya’akub was there to support grieving families. When Texas experienced the deadliest flood in recent history, Ya’akub volunteered to bring emergency aid to victims. Now it is our turn to be there for Ya’akub. They are trying to deport him over liking social media posts. Why? Because he wants to save lives no matter faith or ethnicity. This should frighten all of us. The Trump administration is terrorizing immigrants who disagree with them and targeting political dissent in our country. We must speak out. We must free Ya’akub now.”

“My friend Kate Shishkovsky died this month from cancer. I want to honor her life and her work as a community leader and activist in Michigan.”

“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. She revitalized the club, transforming the organization into one of the largest, most active in the State of Michigan. It became of local force, just like her. It is weird not to see Kate at the meetings anymore, but her legacy and presence is still felt in the room. Beyond her volunteer work and service, Kate balanced a career as an attorney while raising two daughters. She returned to school to follow her passion for nursing. Instead of resting in retirement, Kate worked every single day to defend our democracy and the rights of all residents, especially those who were historically marginalized in the city. Not even a cancer diagnosis slowed her down. I will miss Kate dearly. I will miss Kate’s calm presence, her subtle sense of humor, and her warmth that radiated every single day and everywhere she went.”

“I am introducing a bill to fix credit reports. Many credit reports have mistakes that stop people from getting jobs, housing, and loans. My bill takes medical debt off credit reports and lets victims of scams and abuse clear bad marks. It also removes bad marks after four years instead of seven, and it gives older adults free credit monitoring.”

“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. This is an American issue. The FAIR Credit Act would address inaccuracies in credit reports found by over a third of consumers. These are our residents. Imagine a third of our residents right now are hurt by credit reports that aren’t even accurate. This is an economic justice bill. Credit records are riddled with errors that prevent people from obtaining jobs, housing, cars, and loans, loans to help them thrive. Our neighbors are constantly targeted by predatory lenders and scams, especially our senior citizens. For my seniors, my bill would establish the right to free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. They shouldn’t have poor credit because they fell victim to scams. Medical debt should also be prohibited from being on a credit report. It is not their fault they got sick. It shouldn’t bring them down and be able to put them in survivor mode because they got sick and couldn’t afford the health costs. Oftentimes, we know that patients need lifesaving medical procedures and aren’t even aware of the cost in advance. Adverse credit reports should not drag people down when they are already drowning in medical debt. People who have survived domestic and financial abuse also shouldn’t have negative information on their credit reports that they are not even responsible for. Instead, our bill offers a pathway for them to remove negative information so they can start a healthy financial life. The FAIR Credit Act removes negative information after 4 years, down from 7 years, because we know economists and others have said 7 years is not even a good indicator. 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. A lot of this is because we have a flawed credit report process in our country. Our residents deserve the FAIR Credit Act. Our residents deserve these changes. This one should be an easy one for many of my colleagues here in this Chamber.”

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“This is Black Maternal Mental Health Week. Mental health issues are the top cause of maternal deaths, and Black mothers are treated the least. We must act now to improve healthcare and save Black mothers from preventable deaths.”

“Mr. Speaker, this is Black Maternal Mental Health Week, and it is a time for action. We can save countless Black mothers from preventable death. Michigan has one of the highest death rates among Black pregnant people because our health system fails to provide comprehensive and accessible healthcare. Folks here may not know this, but mental health is the leading cause of maternal deaths, and Black women in our country are the most underreported and undertreated. As the chair of the Congressional Mamas Caucus, our members and I are committing to improving mothers’ mental health all year round, not just this week. Every year, we display portraits of Black mothers who died from pregnancy-related causes because so many of our Black mothers are held invisible in our policymaking. They are ignored and dismissed when they are the ones who need to be heard the most concerning the cause of maternal health in our country. I will continue to amplify their voices so that all Black mamas can thrive alongside their families. It is important that our country saves Black mothers now and not wait for statistics to come every single year to tell us we are not doing our job.”

“I am congratulating the Michigan chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America for winning a national award. They help families living with this disease and push for more research and better medical care.”

“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. They advocate for increased research funding, improved access to care, and policies that better support our families living with Huntington’s disease. This includes Andy Zeman, who received the Youth Huntington’s Disease Award. After losing his birth mother to Huntington’s disease and being diagnosed himself, he continues to bring incredible courage and optimism to this space. I will also honor Dave Stickles, who also received the Marjorie Guthrie Award, for his unwavering commitment to supporting families. I am so incredibly proud of our Michigan chapter. These national awards recognize advocates who have turned personal hardship into public service. Their tireless advocacy has now helped hundreds, if not thousands, of families living with Huntington’s disease. They have given many people a voice, and I am so incredibly proud that they have received this award.”

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“DTE charges my constituents high rates, but hundreds of thousands of people still lose power for days. The state utility commission needs to stop letting DTE raise its prices. I introduced a bill to hold DTE accountable and make them pay for polluting our air and water.”

“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. Shame on you for allowing 400,000 of our families to be without power. We have the most unreliable service in the region, yet we pay the highest rates. Shame on them for throwing a $42 reimbursement for spoiled groceries and spoiled medicine, especially when grocery and drug prices have increased. We can’t even rely on DTE to get us through the summer storms. This was a 20-minute storm. Shame on DTE for profiting off our pain. To my residents, I say: It doesn’t have to be like this. The Michigan Public Service Commission needs to stop approving DTE rate increases and instead hold DTE accountable. I introduced the Make DTE Pay Act just for that. Make them pay for polluting our water and our air while hiking up our customer rates.”