[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 11, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E201-E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HIGHLIGHTING THE STORY OF KRIS LEBRON ROMERO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2025

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues 
the remarks recently given by my constituent, Kris Lebron Romero, a 
student at Common Ground High School in New Haven, Connecticut. Kris 
participated in a press conference held in New Haven highlighting some 
of the impacts our community is feeling due to the freeze of federal 
funding. It is a powerful reminder that behind every federal budget and 
program dollar we invest in our communities, there is a human face--a 
very real impact on the lives of those we are elected to serve.

       ``Hello, my name is Kris, I am a student at Common Ground 
     High School, and I am deeply honored to stand here today as a 
     voice for my fellow students. If you had told me a few weeks 
     ago that a single order could drastically change my life, I 
     wouldn't have believed you. Yet, here I am, and here we are. 
     The federal funding freeze and the termination of critical 
     giants have taken away so much from me and countless students 
     and community members.
       My school has a program called the Green Jobs Corps. This 
     program provides New Haven High School students with 
     leadership development training and paid internships. Not 
     only within our school but in collaboration with non-profit 
     organizations across New Haven. It is an incredible 
     opportunity for students to connect, engage with their 
     community, and gain real-world job experience before 
     graduating high school. For many of us, including myself, it 
     was more than just a job, it was a way to support our 
     families and build a foundation for our futures.
       I was a part of this program. I worked with one of its 
     partner organizations, Haven's Harvest, a food recovery non-
     profit that collects food that would otherwise be thrown away 
     and redistributes it to people in our community who are food 
     insecure. I believe this is one of the most important and 
     meaningful things anyone can do. Through this job, so many 
     doors opened for me. I met elders from across the community, 
     performed at events for other organizations, and learned to 
     give back on my own time.
       I have a clear vision for my future. I aspire to become a 
     graphic designer working with nonprofit organizations that 
     need assistance in communicating effectively with hard-to-
     reach audiences and amplifying their outreach efforts. 
     Through my time in the Green Jobs Corps, I've discovered a 
     deep passion for using design to help organizations connect 
     with their communities and share their messages more 
     effectively. A simple program at my school helped me map my 
     career pathway. The mentorship, training, and work experience 
     made all of this possible. I felt secure. But then the 
     federal funding freeze happened, and everything changed.
       Haven's Harvest, a volunteer-run organization that relies 
     on grant funding to operate, is struggling to continue its 
     mission. An organization that does nothing but feed those in 
     need is now at risk of shutting down because of this freeze. 
     Green Jobs Corps, which employed over 70 students with jobs, 
     has also been put on hold. Without the necessary funding, 
     they can no longer pay students for their very real and 
     impactful work. This vital program, which did nothing but 
     provide students with life-changing opportunities, is now in 
     jeopardy.
       And it's not just the Green Jobs Corps. My school itself is 
     in danger. Common Ground

[[Page E202]]

     operates on grants, community support, and state funding. If 
     those grants are taken away, what does that mean for us? For 
     the students? For me? It means our education is in danger. I 
     am currently a junior at Common Ground High School. I have 
     been here since I was a freshman and can't imagine being 
     anywhere else. Common Ground has opened my eyes to so many 
     possibilities. But now, I am worried that future generations 
     won't have the same opportunities--they won't experience the 
     transformative power of this school.
       This is happening right now, and it's happening fast.
       I came here today to ask you to fight. Fight for youth 
     development programs. Fight for our schools. Fight for our 
     teachers. Fight for the future of our students.''

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