[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ILHAN OMAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2026

  Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the East Phillips 
neighborhood in my district as they celebrate their successful efforts 
to decide the fate of their community.
  East Phillips has long faced environmental injustice. The modern 
history of this struggle started in 1994 when high levels of arsenic 
were discovered in soil and groundwater due to decades of pesticide 
production. It was designated a Superfund site in 2007, and over 50,000 
tons of contaminated soil were removed over the course of four years. 
We will never know how many lives were cut short before this poison was 
cleaned up.
  The fight didn't stop there. For years, residents had sounded the 
alarm about two factories in their neighborhood: an asphalt 
manufacturer and a metal foundry. Residents shared stories for years 
about their experiences--how they couldn't open their windows in the 
summer because of the smell of tar or metal. How metal dust would cover 
the surfaces of their homes and yards. How the kids at the daycare down 
the street couldn't spend time outside because of this pollution.
  The tide finally turned when community members, environmental justice 
advocates, and non-profits joined forces to say that enough is enough. 
They organized to demand that state regulators set an end-date for one 
of these factories. They reported violations to the Environmental 
Protection Agency for the second, leading to an unannounced inspection 
that found multiple violations of the Clean Air Act. The inspection 
validated what neighbors had been saying for years, and that foundry 
closed shortly thereafter.
  And now, East Philips has finally cleared a path to community 
ownership of the Roof Depot site, in collaboration with non-profit 
organizations, state legislators, and allies on the Minneapolis City 
Council. The East Philips Neighborhood Institute had a vision for a 
community-led alternative to a proposed public works facility that 
would mean increased heavy truck traffic and continued industrial 
activity. With broad support from the people who call this neighborhood 
home, the Roof Depot will be redeveloped into an urban farm, affordable 
housing, and space for small businesses and community organizations.
  This is a victory not only for the people of East Philips, but for 
the ideas of community and self-determination. East Philips shows us 
all what can happen when we work together for the common good. Please 
join me in thanking everyone who played a role in getting us to this 
moment and celebrating what the future holds for this neighborhood.

                          ____________________