[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 199 (Monday, December 4, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1161-E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OSCAR ORTIZ'S COMMENDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DELIA C. RAMIREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 4, 2023

  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of my dear friend and constituent, Oscar Ortiz, a devoted organizer and 
champion for educational equity. Oscar was a visionary: he fought for a 
just, inclusive future where everyone thrives. He was a beloved 
husband, father, brother, son, and respected member of the Illinois 
Third Congressional District community.
  Born in our great City of Chicago on April 21, 1962, to Benito and 
Mirta Ortiz, Oscar dedicated his life to empowering our community 
through education. He believed that education was a powerful tool to 
build a just future. He knew education could unlock our collective 
potential and enable us to realize our dreams. With that in mind, Ortiz 
became an elementary and high school teacher, helping our young people 
find their power and joy in learning. Whether it was at Jahn and Lowell 
Elementary Schools or Jefferson Alternative School, el maestro Ortiz 
was always present for all his students, their parents, and faculty.
  His desire to serve our community and defend public education in 
Chicago led him to join the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) in May 2003, 
where he quickly became a committed and active member, never missing a 
meeting or event. There, Oscar served as a sergeant-at-arms, as the 
Lowell delegate, and as a member of the Legislative Committees, always 
with the intention of advancing social justice and equity through 
education.
  Oscar generously committed his time on earth to countless social 
justice causes. He believed in the power of organized communities and 
worked tirelessly to build a better future for Chicago and our nation. 
I, personally, will miss his calls to action and the way he could stir 
our passions and stoke our courage on the bullhorn at direct actions. 
May his passion for change and love of community always guide us. I 
will miss him dearly, and I know that countless others will, too. He 
was a true, loyal friend.

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  His wife, Sabina; sons, Gabriel and Daniel; brother Ed; parents, 
Benito and Mirta; all his loved ones, and to the entire CTU family, are 
in my heart and in my prayers. Together, as we mourn his passing, let 
us celebrate the blessing he was in all of our lives, the impact he had 
on our community, and the mark he has left in our great City of 
Chicago. Oscar vive, la lucha sigue. Rest in power, Oscar.

                          ____________________