[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2680-H2681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     RECOGNIZING ELIZABETH RAMIREZ

  (Mrs. Ramirez of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a 
fierce advocate for justice and a tireless champion for gun violence 
prevention, Elizabeth Ramirez.
  On a tragic night almost 15 years ago, Elizabeth's son, Harry 
Rodriguez, was fatally shot, giving his life to protect his family 
members when a masked assailant opened fire during his 23rd birthday 
celebration.
  From the depths of unimaginable grief, Elizabeth transformed her pain 
into purpose. She cofounded Parents for Peace and Justice in Belmont 
Cragin, in Illinois-03, to not only advocate for stronger gun violence 
prevention measures but to provide essential support to families who 
have been impacted by gun violence.
  Elizabeth provides courtroom support for families. She organizes 
peace walks and hosts vigils throughout communities to ensure that no 
family member has to navigate the profound pain of losing a loved one 
to violence alone.
  On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to 
commend Elizabeth Ramirez for her relentless hope and for her essential 
work to help our communities recover from violence and loss.
  I thank Elizabeth, and may her son rest in peace and power.


                      Recognizing Jessica Esquivel

  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Dr. 
Jessica Esquivel.
  Jessica is a queer, Afro-Latine, particle physicist, disruptor, 
author, and visionary who has made it her personal mission to ensure 
the success of underrepresented communities in the sciences.
  As one of the few Afro-Latine, queer women in the world of STEAM, 
Jessica embraces all facets of her identity, unapologetically existing 
in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her or 
identify as she does.
  Through her work as an associate scientist at Fermilab, her 
leadership as cofounder of Oyanova Enterprises, and her creation of 
Twitter movement #blackinphysics, she has fostered opportunities for 
Black and Brown leaders to thrive through culturally relevant STEAM 
programming, mental

[[Page H2681]]

health advocacy, and countless other initiatives.
  Jessica's work reveals the critical intersection of science, 
identity, and culture, demonstrating how diverse perspectives are 
essential to solving the challenges of our time.
  On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor 
to commend Dr. Jessica Esquivel for blazing trails and reminding us 
that all is possible when we lift others as we climb.
  I congratulate Dr. Esquivel on her success.


                        Recognizing Mary Santana

  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Santana, a 
visionary whose leadership has built transformative, creative spaces 
that uplift our young people in Illinois-03 and beyond.
  Mary is the founder and executive director at the Miracle Center, an 
organization that reflects her belief that community, creativity, and 
care have the power to change lives. The Miracle Center is a beacon for 
diverse youth and families, offering mentoring, coaching, training, and 
academic support, all grounded in the arts.

                              {time}  1015

  What started as a small day camp run out of her basement apartment 
has, over the last 30 years, grown to impact over 20,000 young people 
across Chicago. Mary has ensured that The Miracle Center nurtures 
diverse local artists, showcases BIPOC artistry, and uplifts unique 
perspectives. Under her leadership, The Miracle Center has grown, 
acquiring a dedicated building near my district office offering Latino 
artists a platform for performance.
  On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to 
commend Mary Santana for bringing the power of art to our communities 
and establishing The Miracle Center in Illinois Three as a space where 
young people can explore their creative dreams and know that nothing is 
impossible when you dream and you have community.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mary and congratulate and commend her on this 
House floor.

                          ____________________