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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Norma Judith Torres. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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June 29, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. NORMA J. TORRES
of california
in the house of representatives
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.
injustices including being profiled by police and immigration enforcement, mistreated by employers, and ignored by politicians.
communities to become economically, socially, educationally, and civically self-sufficient while boosting individual self-esteem and community well-being throughout the Inland Empire.
legal services, community education, advocacy, and civic engagement for individuals with limited English-speaking skills, including immigrants and migrant workers.
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.
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.
outside of immigrant communities to strengthen democracy in a world where democratic values often fail to extend to our most vulnerable.
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.
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.
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.