[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                       HONORING BEATRICE LUMPKIN

  (Mr. Garcia of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
remarkable life and work of Beatrice ``Bea'' Lumpkin, a union 
organizer, workers' rights activist, academic, and writer who passed 
away on June 14 at the age of 107 years.
  Bea was a fierce defender of working-class people and an active 
fighter for civil rights. She was called by some the rock of the labor 
movement, because she grounded us and taught us how to stay committed 
to the search for justice and equity for those without power.
  Bea marched along with Dr. Martin Luther King in Chicago and was an 
ally of the Black Panther Party. She was present at every key moment of 
our labor and civil rights movement for nearly 90 years, up to the 
recent No Kings marches.
  Her engagement with the movement began with a factory job when she 
was 14 years old. She helped organize the Metal and Machinery Workers 
Industrial Union, a part of the newly formed Congress of Industrial 
Organizations.
  Her persistence and determination were best exemplified when 
Wisconsin Steel, the plant her husband, Frank, worked at, abruptly 
closed and 3,400 workers lost their jobs. For 17 years, the Lumpkins 
led a successful fight for those workers to receive back pay.
  As recently as 2024, Bea was focused on intergenerational work with 
youth activists and joined the Starbucks workers as they began 
organizing.
  As a retiree, she expanded her activism on issues such as climate 
justice, the rights of retired workers, and consumer protection against 
overcharges from utility companies.
  Mr. Speaker, Bea believed our job is to make the world a better 
place. She found joy in the work she did and inspired others, including 
me, to continue fighting. The labor movement has lost a giant.
  Rest in power, Bea Lumpkin.


                    Honoring Antonio ``Tony'' Ortiz

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Antonio 
``Tony'' Ortiz, who recently concluded 26 years of dedicated service at 
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, including 16 years as president.
  For 30 years, Cristo Rey has transformed lives by providing a 
Catholic college preparatory education, integrated with professional 
work experience.
  Today, the school serves students who are 100 percent bilingual, 90 
percent first generation, with a median family income of $43,000. 
Cristo Rey has nearly 3,000 alumni, 15 of whom now work at the school. 
Tony's greatest accomplishment is the culture he built that proudly 
reflects the strength of my district. The vast majority of students, 
alumni, faculty, and staff live and maintain deep ties to the Fourth 
District of Illinois, making the school a strong pillar of the 
surrounding community.
  Under Tony Ortiz's leadership, Cristo Rey Jesuit has become a model 
of educational excellence nationwide, and his vision has helped the 
school grow into a national network of more than 40 schools, serving 
over 13,000 students across the country each day.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Tony Ortiz for his remarkable service and wish 
him all the best in the years ahead. He has left a lasting legacy in 
our community.


              Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of HotHouse

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
40th anniversary of the HotHouse Center for International Performance 
and Exhibition, popularly known in Chicago as the HotHouse.
  The HotHouse is known for its programming of jazz and world music 
concerts, multi-disciplinary events, and focus on creating 
opportunities for artistic practices and performances.
  HotHouse has taken the arts into underserved communities, fostering 
the international exchange of ideas, and serving as a central meeting 
place for a variety of community groups.
  While their physical location at Balbo Avenue closed in July of 2007, 
the current board continues organizing and programming around 
Chicagoland.
  Over the years, HotHouse has been awarded with many of the top honors 
in the arts and culture industry, including Best of Chicago, Chicagoan 
of the Year, and The Abbey, all reflecting its lasting impact in our 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the HotHouse on this incredible 
milestone, and I wish the organization many more years of success.

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