[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3973-H3974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING JIM TUMAN AND JIMMY'S KIDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
work of Jim Tuman and the volunteers behind Jimmy's Kids, an 
organization that serves the families of Wayne County, including the 
community and neighborhood I grew up in, southwest Detroit.
  In 1988, Jim Tuman, a youth advocate and motivational speaker, was 
simply trying to make the Christmas holiday special for 22 special-
needs children. He coordinated an ad hoc program to provide the 
children with holiday gifts.
  The Jimmy's Kids organization now serves thousands of children all 
across metro Detroit. Jimmy's Kids proudly partners with local groups 
and churches to set up gift-giving, not just during the holiday, but 
year-round, for children in need.
  Countless families can count on their Christmas Day gift distribution 
program, an event I happily volunteer for during the holidays.
  Please join me in recognizing Jim Tuman and the volunteers at Jimmy's 
Kids for their outstanding work on behalf of the families of metro 
Detroit and Michigan's 13th District Strong.


                 Honoring the Memory of Patricia Harris

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 
community advocate Patricia Harris, a resident of Westland in 
Michigan's 13th District Strong who suddenly passed away earlier this 
year, shocking our close community.
  Pat was engaged on a number of issues but was mostly known for her 
big heart and infectious smile. She was a loving daughter, sister, 
aunt, and friend.
  Pat stood up for the values she believed in and always met challenges 
with positivity and a can-do attitude. She cared deeply for our 
community and fought relentlessly for justice and a better quality of 
life for all.
  The loss of our Pat left an impact on all who knew her. Please join 
me in remembering Patricia Harris for the love of her community as we 
mourn her loss.


            Launching the Bipartisan Get the Lead Out Caucus

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to officially announce the 
launch of the bipartisan Get the Lead Out Caucus, which I started along 
with my colleagues Congressman Meijer, Congresswoman Dingell, and 
Congresswoman Blunt Rochester.
  Water contaminated by lead service lines can be found in every single 
congressional district around the Nation. From rural areas to densely 
populated cities, lead service lines are widespread and pose serious 
health risks to us all, but particularly our children.
  Lead in water is a public health crisis, and the only solution is to 
fully eliminate lead service lines altogether. Clean, affordable 
drinking water is a human right.
  While communities in Michigan like Flint, Wayne, Hamtramck, and 
Benton Harbor have made headlines for their lead-related crises, lead-
contaminated drinking water affects every part of our Nation.
  I commend the Biden administration for taking steps to get the lead 
out of our water, but we must continue to fight until lead is fully 
removed from water systems across the United States.


                    Time to Decriminalize Marijuana

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, as someone who grew up in a community on 
the front line of the racist so-called war on drugs, I am proud to 
stand here today in support of the MORE Act to finally decriminalize 
marijuana and expunge marijuana-related convictions.
  The war on drugs was designed as a racist project to target our Black 
and Brown communities. The obvious racial disparities in enforcement 
show us that it still is, at its core, an effort targeting communities 
of color through overpolicing, criminalization, and mass incarceration.
  The MORE Act will increase access to Federal benefits and establish a 
fund to redirect resources into communities harmed by the war on drugs. 
This is a good start on the road to repairing the damage, but we still 
have work to do.
  We must be bold. Our goal must be to end this country's militarized 
``jail

[[Page H3974]]

first, ask questions later'' approach to addiction and to stop trying 
to solve social problems with more criminalization.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the MORE Act. This is a 
commonsense bill.


                       Funding Community Projects

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the recent 
passage of the omnibus bill, which included over $15 million in funding 
for local community projects in 13 District Strong.
  From funding for work-based learning programs in Wayne-Westland 
Community Schools to a senior wellness center in Inkster, Michigan, I 
know that these direct dollars will have an enormous impact on the 
lives of my residents.

  The 13th Congressional District, Madam Speaker, is the third-poorest 
congressional district in the Nation, and these are important efforts 
to help the most vulnerable among us.
  The Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, which is the oldest 
in the Nation, will be funded for improvements to the Fauver-Martin 
Club in Highland Park. It will empower so many of our young people.
  The Urban Neighborhood Initiative for the Southwest Detroit Creative 
Connections Collaborative will also be able to employ high-speed 
broadband and build community space for our young people.
  Enterprise Community Partners will also fund the Detroit Energy 
Efficiency and Home Improvement Program to provide energy-efficient 
home repairs and so much more.

                          ____________________