[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING RILEY O'NEIL
(Mr. Garcia of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Riley
O'Neil, a dedicated Chicago Department of Transportation worker, who
was killed in a tragic accident last week while biking. A graduate of
Lane Tech and DePaul University, Riley was a true Chicagoan, passionate
about making biking safer, more accessible, and equitable for everyone.
He was instrumental in increasing bike infrastructure across Chicago.
In his honor, the bike racks he helped install throughout the city will
now be called Riley Racks.
Through his work, he helped create a city where more people can walk,
bike, and travel with confidence and dignity.
His legacy is not only found in the projects he worked on, but in the
countless lives that will benefit from them for years to come. Every
safer intersection, every protected pedestrian walkway, and every
improvement that helps people get home safely reflect the commitment to
public service.
Riley will be remembered for his kindness and ability to connect with
people. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this
difficult time.
14th Anniversary of DACA Program
Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on June 15th we mark the 14th
anniversary of the Deferred Action For Child Arrivals program, better
known as DACA.
DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to build careers
and families in the only country many have ever called home. It has
allowed them to make significant economic contributions to our country.
DACA recipient households pay approximately $9.5 billion annually in
Federal, State, and local taxes.
However, the Trump administration is using its racist and anti-
immigrant agenda to try and push these young people back into the
shadows and out of the country. Since 2025, more than 300 DACA
recipients have been detained, and more than 90 have been wrongfully
deported.
The Trump administration is doing everything it can to make life
impossible for people with DACA, including creating massive delays in
processing renewals. As a consequence, DACA recipients are losing their
jobs and struggling to make ends meet as their work authorizations
expire while they wait for an answer, even after submitting their
renewal applications well in advance.
Communities are losing their teachers, doctors, nurses, small
business owners, and restaurant workers. Families are losing their
economic and emotional stability.
The uncertainty that DACA holders and other immigrants around the
country are facing is a direct result of Congress' failure to enact
immigration reform. That is why I am proud to have led almost 100
Members in demanding an end to DACA renewal delays. For true relief, we
must prioritize passing legislation that would create pathways to
citizenship, like the Dream and Promise Act. We cannot allow DACA
recipients, who are solid members of our community, to continue living
in limbo.
Mr. Speaker, I say to all the DACA recipients and their families, we
stand with them. We will keep fighting against these attacks and
finally build an immigration system that respects their dignity and
their humanity.
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