[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       REMEMBERING EMMANUEL DAMAS

  (Ms. Pressley of Massachusetts was recognized to address the House 
for 5 minutes.)
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Emmanuel Damas, who was 
56 years old, a father, brother, son, valued community member, and 
neighbor of the Massachusetts 7th.
  Like so many, Emmanuel came to this country seeking safety from the 
violence, instability, and crisis in Haiti, only to be abducted by ICE 
and transferred far from his family.
  Now, while in custody, Emmanuel pleaded for necessary medical care 
for a toothache, a basic human right. He was repeatedly denied medical 
care. That toothache became an infection, an infection that resulted in 
septic shock, as infection took over Emmanuel's body. I can only 
imagine the agony he was in. Eventually, Emmanuel fell into a coma, and 
he died a tragic, preventable, shameful death.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not an isolated tragedy, but a pattern of 
cruelty and neglect that is robbing us of lives. Emmanuel was at least 
the 10th person to die in ICE custody this year, and his death was 
entirely preventable.
  While there can never be true justice for Emmanuel--in a just world 
he would still be alive, at home with his family--there must be 
accountability.
  Today, we extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones and 
community, and together we will keep pushing for the accountability, 
transparency, and healing they deserve.


                        Honoring Our TSA Workers

  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of our dedicated 
TSA workers throughout the country, including in the Massachusetts 7th, 
who take pride in their essential work and call Boston Logan 
International Airport their employer. They have gone 40 days without 
pay for their essential work.
  The Trump administration does not care about protecting our workers 
or serving the traveling public. This is all a ploy for power and 
pushing an inhumane agenda against our immigrant neighbors.
  Let's go back to Project 2025. I am a cofounder of the Stop Project 
2025 Task Force here in the House. Project 2025 proposed privatizing 
TSA screening, shifting airport workers away from the government and 
its protections and into the hands of private contractors. It called 
for the deunionizing of TSA workers immediately.
  What we see unfolding right now, this is not a contingency plan. It 
was always the plan. To bring in ICE agents who continue to be paid as 
if they will be able to step in for these highly trained, dedicated, 
and still unpaid TSA workers is not a solution.
  Mr. Speaker, these are the lives and livelihoods of our neighbors, 
who are strained by missing paychecks and an inability to put food on 
the table.
  Democrats have put forward multiple proposals to keep key agencies, 
such as TSA and FEMA, funded while not giving another cent to ICE.
  Republicans have refused each and every time. The cruelty is truly 
the point.


                       Sexual Violence Survivors

  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to survivors of 
sexual violence in my district, across the country, and around the 
world. As a survivor of sexual violence myself, their stories matter. I 
am so sorry for what they have been through, the shame they carry that 
was never theirs to carry.
  For too long, survivors have suffered in silence while abusers have 
carried on without consequence. Last week, our sister survivor Dolores 
Huerta shared her story publicly for the first time. She revealed that 
she feared if she came forward there would be no justice or 
accountability, only the vilification of a workers' movement she had 
dedicated her life to. Imagine the burden, the pain, the silence she 
carried.
  Women and mothers far too often experience the brutal violence, only 
to hide their pain and wake up every day carrying on for their 
children, for their community, for their family, while they are 
shattered inside.
  No survivor should have to suffer in silence. Society tells us our 
silence will stop the shame and trauma. It does not.
  While I will always respect and fight for survivors who choose 
privacy if it is part of their healing journey, I want survivors to 
know that I believe them. I believe them if their voice shakes. I 
believe them if it happened decades ago. I believe them if they shared 
their story in real time or buried it away for years. I believe them.
  Abusers may think they wield the power through violent acts, but let 
me tell you, anyone who violates another person in this way is small 
and broken. They should not be feared. They should be named, shamed, 
and held accountable for survivors everywhere.

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