Recognizing Jim Tuman and Jimmy's Kids

Floor Speech

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of Jim Tuman and the volunteers behind Jimmy's Kids, an organization that serves the families of Wayne County, including the community and neighborhood I grew up in, southwest Detroit.

In 1988, Jim Tuman, a youth advocate and motivational speaker, was simply trying to make the Christmas holiday special for 22 special- needs children. He coordinated an ad hoc program to provide the children with holiday gifts.

The Jimmy's Kids organization now serves thousands of children all across metro Detroit. Jimmy's Kids proudly partners with local groups and churches to set up gift-giving, not just during the holiday, but year-round, for children in need.

Countless families can count on their Christmas Day gift distribution program, an event I happily volunteer for during the holidays.

Please join me in recognizing Jim Tuman and the volunteers at Jimmy's Kids for their outstanding work on behalf of the families of metro Detroit and Michigan's 13th District Strong. Honoring the Memory of Patricia Harris

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of community advocate Patricia Harris, a resident of Westland in Michigan's 13th District Strong who suddenly passed away earlier this year, shocking our close community.

Pat was engaged on a number of issues but was mostly known for her big heart and infectious smile. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

Pat stood up for the values she believed in and always met challenges with positivity and a can-do attitude. She cared deeply for our community and fought relentlessly for justice and a better quality of life for all.

The loss of our Pat left an impact on all who knew her. Please join me in remembering Patricia Harris for the love of her community as we mourn her loss. Launching the Bipartisan Get the Lead Out Caucus

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to officially announce the launch of the bipartisan Get the Lead Out Caucus, which I started along with my colleagues Congressman Meijer, Congresswoman Dingell, and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester.

Water contaminated by lead service lines can be found in every single congressional district around the Nation. From rural areas to densely populated cities, lead service lines are widespread and pose serious health risks to us all, but particularly our children.

Lead in water is a public health crisis, and the only solution is to fully eliminate lead service lines altogether. Clean, affordable drinking water is a human right.

While communities in Michigan like Flint, Wayne, Hamtramck, and Benton Harbor have made headlines for their lead-related crises, lead- contaminated drinking water affects every part of our Nation.

I commend the Biden administration for taking steps to get the lead out of our water, but we must continue to fight until lead is fully removed from water systems across the United States. Time to Decriminalize Marijuana

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, as someone who grew up in a community on the front line of the racist so-called war on drugs, I am proud to stand here today in support of the MORE Act to finally decriminalize marijuana and expunge marijuana-related convictions.

The war on drugs was designed as a racist project to target our Black and Brown communities. The obvious racial disparities in enforcement show us that it still is, at its core, an effort targeting communities of color through overpolicing, criminalization, and mass incarceration.

The MORE Act will increase access to Federal benefits and establish a fund to redirect resources into communities harmed by the war on drugs. This is a good start on the road to repairing the damage, but we still have work to do.

We must be bold. Our goal must be to end this country's militarized ``jail first, ask questions later'' approach to addiction and to stop trying to solve social problems with more criminalization.

I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the MORE Act. This is a commonsense bill. Funding Community Projects

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the recent passage of the omnibus bill, which included over $15 million in funding for local community projects in 13 District Strong.

From funding for work-based learning programs in Wayne-Westland Community Schools to a senior wellness center in Inkster, Michigan, I know that these direct dollars will have an enormous impact on the lives of my residents.

The 13th Congressional District, Madam Speaker, is the third-poorest congressional district in the Nation, and these are important efforts to help the most vulnerable among us.

The Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, which is the oldest in the Nation, will be funded for improvements to the Fauver-Martin Club in Highland Park. It will empower so many of our young people.

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative for the Southwest Detroit Creative Connections Collaborative will also be able to employ high-speed broadband and build community space for our young people.

Enterprise Community Partners will also fund the Detroit Energy Efficiency and Home Improvement Program to provide energy-efficient home repairs and so much more.

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