[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING ILLINOIS POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor a powerful force 
in the fight for justice, equality, and true democracy, the Illinois 
Poor People's Campaign.
  In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the Poor People's 
Campaign dares to believe that poverty can be eradicated. Their work 
continues the legacy and vision of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., building a multiracial movement to end poverty, centering the 
voices of those with lived experiences of poverty, and breaking down 
barriers to full democratic participation.
  The Illinois Poor People's Campaign understands that democracy is too 
precious and too significant to leave in the hands of those who would 
prioritize the interests of the ultrawealthy corporations.
  I especially recognize the Illinois Poor People's Campaign members 
and constituents of Illinois' Third District, Sheilah Garland-Olaniran, 
Joyce Brody, and Lenny Brody. Additionally, I recognize Illinois PPC 
Tri-Chairs Carlos Rodriguez, Jessica Motsinger, and Reverend Susan 
Phillips. Their unwavering commitment to all of us all over the country 
is inspiring and should encourage us to also live a life of this kind 
of dedication.
  On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I commend the 
Illinois Poor People's Campaign for their relentless fight for justice 
and equality and their efforts to ensure every person has a say in our 
democracy. I thank all of its members.


                      Honoring Pastor Emma Lozano

  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastora Emma 
Lozano of the United Lincoln Methodist Church in Chicago's Pilsen 
neighborhood.
  Born in Texas and later making Chicago her home, Pastor Lozano's 
lifelong commitment to advocacy has left an undeniable mark on our 
communities and our Nation.
  Her journey as an advocate started at Centro de Accion Social 
Autonomo, where she and her brother, Rudy Lozano, championed immigrant 
worker rights. After her brother's tragic assassination in 1983, Pastor 
Lozano carried his legacy forward, channeling her grief into action and 
dedicating herself to the causes they both held dear.
  In 1987, she founded Centro Sin Fronteras, a grassroots organization 
that has empowered undocumented families, addressing critical issues 
such as overcrowded schools, housing insecurity, police brutality, and 
bilingual education.
  In 2006, Pastor Lozano and her late husband, Reverend Walter ``Slim'' 
Coleman, sparked a nationwide movement for our shared humanity when 
they offered their church in my district, Adalberto United Methodist 
Church, as a sanctuary for a woman who was undocumented and in need of 
sanctuary, Elvira Arellano, and her son, Saul.
  Emma's courage, faith, and tireless work remind us of the power of 
community and the enduring fight for dignity and equality. On behalf of 
Illinois' Third Congressional District, I thank her for her compassion. 
I thank her for her dedication to creating a more just, more 
compassionate world.
  May this Congress learn from her--from her dedication, from her 
courage--and may it truly be what it says it is, the people's House, 
reminded of our roots and reminded of our shared humanity.
  I congratulate Pastor Emma Lozano.

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