HONORING THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS

On 2026-06-24, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS" in the House.

HONORING THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD OF MINNEAPOLIS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [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. ____________________