[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING TODEC AND CHIRLA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMA J. TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 29, 2026

  Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor TODEC 
and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) to commend their 
patriotism for assisting immigrant communities by promoting U.S. 
citizenship and teaching English literacy skills for naturalization 
purposes ahead of our Nation's 250th birthday.
  TODEC was founded in the 1980s by Luz Maria and Antonia Ayala. The 
two were new Americans who were previously involved with the Michoacan, 
Mexico community and the United Farmworkers and Civil Rights Movement 
in Los Angeles. Once they were ready to grow their family, they settled 
in the Inland Empire to build a new home.
  In the Inland Empire, the two witnessed their neighbors facing many 
injustices including being profiled by police and immigration 
enforcement, mistreated by employers, and ignored by politicians.
  They founded TODEC with the mission of empowering underserved 
communities to become economically, socially, educationally, and 
civically self-sufficient while boosting individual self-esteem and 
community well-being throughout the Inland Empire.
  TODEC achieves its mission by providing access to information through 
legal services, community education, advocacy, and civic engagement for 
individuals with limited English-speaking skills, including immigrants 
and migrant workers.
  In 1986, TODEC successfully fought for the passage of an immigration 
bill that granted amnesty to nearly 3 million new Americans. While this 
was only one of their first organizing wins, it helped set the 
foundation for decades of advocacy, including voter mobilization 
initiatives and letter-writing campaigns where TODEC youth shared their 
experiences navigating struggles as undocumented Americans.
  Just like TODEC, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los 
Angeles, or CHIRLA, has championed services that support immigrant 
communities throughout the Inland Empire and beyond. First founded as a 
nonprofit organization in 1986, CHIRLA's mission was to ensure 
immigrants and refugees had support and protection, and they advanced 
immigrant-rights initiatives in the United States.
  For more than 40 years, CHIRLA worked with people both inside and 
outside of immigrant communities to strengthen democracy in a world 
where democratic values often fail to extend to our most vulnerable.
  From the late 1980s to today, CHIRLA has fought for progressive 
values in the Los Angeles region by helping open labor centers, 
fighting against California Proposition 187, which would have denied 
education and other services to undocumented immigrants, and bringing 
forth the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) 
Act in the House of Representatives.
  In September 2023, under the Biden-Harris Administration, the 
Department of Homeland Security awarded a $450,000 grant to CHIRLA to 
assist them with providing services that help with citizenship 
instruction and naturalization services. Despite the Trump 
administration's decision to cut $100,000 from the grant in 2025, 
CHIRLA's motivation did not dwindle; they continue to uplift immigrant 
communities in Los Angeles, and support policies that promote human, 
civil, and labor rights for everyone.
  For decades, CHIRLA has led immigration leaders in the United States, 
and particularly the Los Angeles region, to fight for justice and equal 
opportunity for all Americans, not just a select few. Their efforts in 
California and beyond have not gone unnoticed.
  Both CHIRLA and TODEC have been incredible partners with my office. 
They have aided many of my constituents, helping them navigate our 
broken immigration system and much more. For their commitment to 
helping immigrant communities in California and beyond, it is my 
privilege to honor both TODEC and CHIRLA. Their patriotism and 
commitment to championing immigrant rights is worthy of the highest 
commendation.

                          ____________________