[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 110 (Thursday, June 26, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SURVEILLANCE PRICING IN GROCERY STORES
(Ms. Tlaib of Michigan was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, families in our community are already
struggling with rising grocery prices. It is shameful that companies
like Kroger are price-gouging our residents with surveillance pricing.
As you can see here, companies are already collecting a tremendous
amount of data and private information about our residents to create
custom profiles about them. Now, with electronic labels and facial
recognition technology, this information is being used in real time to
charge us more at the grocery store.
Imagine if you were at the grocery store right now, and they charged
you a higher price for an item because it used technology to determine
that you were willing to pay more than the next person. Maybe it is
hard to believe, but it is true. You look at this, and you can see that
they are being very clear about the fact that they want to instantly
change the price if it is hot outside, if it is something that you,
again, have been looking at online.
Now they are even adding the use of facial technology in grocery
stores that not only raises serious concerns of privacy but also racial
bias. We know that facial recognition technology discriminates against
our Black and Brown neighbors. This is not just about discriminatory
technology, Mr. Speaker. It is about corporate greed, and the CEOs are
getting rich while working people struggle.
It is essential that we work together in this body to protect our
communities and ban these practices. I ask my colleagues to please
support my legislation to ban surveillance pricing, digital pricing in
grocery stores. Come and see me. You need to stand with your residents,
not these corporations.
Look at Walmart. Look at this: ``If it's hot outside, we can raise
the prices of water and ice cream.'' That is what we are talking about.
We need to protect our residents. Please, again, support my
legislation.
Keeping Firearms Safe
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, firearms are now the leading cause of death
for children and teens in our country. I have talked to pediatricians.
They are telling me every day that gun violence is just increasing.
Every day, over 125 Americans are killed from gun violence and more
than 200 people are shot and wounded.
These aren't just statistics, Mr. Speaker. These are human beings
with lives and futures. They are our babies, our friends, our
neighbors, our loved ones. Many of these deaths involve accidental
discharge of a firearm, often by a child, including several tragic
incidents in southeast Michigan.
Just last month, Mr. Speaker, in Oakland County, a 9-year-old was
seriously injured after he was accidentally shot. First responders
found the boy bleeding from the head and transported him to the local
hospital.
This Gun Violence Awareness Month, let's do something to save lives.
I am introducing the Safe Storage Saves Lives Act with Representatives
DeLauro, Frost, and Kelly to reduce firearm deaths among our children.
This legislation mandates every firearm seller to include a gun lock
or gun safety device every single time a gun is sold in the United
States. Far too often, irresponsible gun owners fail to properly secure
their weapons with tragic consequences, leading to accidental deaths,
preventable suicides, school shootings, and other mass violence.
When used correctly, a gun lock makes it impossible for a gun to be
fired. Look at this. This is $4. This legislation is a commonsense
solution that every Member of this body should support, every single
one. Keeping firearms out of the hands of our children should not be a
partisan issue, Mr. Speaker.
We must honor those who have already been killed with a lack of
action in this Chamber. Our communities deserve better. Our children
deserve better.
Honoring Matthew Fisher
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of our dear neighbors in
the 12th Congressional District. We worked over 3 years to present
Matthew Fisher, a remarkable resident of my district, with the Purple
Heart for his dedication and service to our country.
Matthew Fisher was born in Livonia and is a proud graduate of
Stevenson High School. In 2004, Matthew answered the call to serve
others by becoming a firefighter in one of our counties. In 2007, he
made the decision to serve our Nation by joining the U.S. Army. He was
deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from December 2007 to 2009. Unfortunately,
he was there when a horrific bomb changed his life forever. It took us
3 years as a country to recognize his sacrifice.
Since his return, Mr. Fisher has continued to give back to our
community. He currently serves as a mentor at the veterans court system
in Redford Township, helping fellow veterans navigate their own paths
and helping them heal.
He is a devoted husband to Kathryn and a proud father to stepson,
Bankston, and also Sophia.
Please, Mr. Speaker, let's honor Matthew Fisher for his extraordinary
service, again, as we honor him with the Purple Heart.
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