REMEMBERING RILEY O'NEIL

On 2026-06-09, Representative Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL-4) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING RILEY O'NEIL" in the House.

REMEMBERING RILEY O'NEIL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Page H3995] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING RILEY O'NEIL (Mr. Garcia of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Riley O'Neil, a dedicated Chicago Department of Transportation worker, who was killed in a tragic accident last week while biking. A graduate of Lane Tech and DePaul University, Riley was a true Chicagoan, passionate about making biking safer, more accessible, and equitable for everyone. He was instrumental in increasing bike infrastructure across Chicago. In his honor, the bike racks he helped install throughout the city will now be called Riley Racks. Through his work, he helped create a city where more people can walk, bike, and travel with confidence and dignity. His legacy is not only found in the projects he worked on, but in the countless lives that will benefit from them for years to come. Every safer intersection, every protected pedestrian walkway, and every improvement that helps people get home safely reflect the commitment to public service. Riley will be remembered for his kindness and ability to connect with people. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time. 14th Anniversary of DACA Program Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on June 15th we mark the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action For Child Arrivals program, better known as DACA. DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to build careers and families in the only country many have ever called home. It has allowed them to make significant economic contributions to our country. DACA recipient households pay approximately $9.5 billion annually in Federal, State, and local taxes. However, the Trump administration is using its racist and anti- immigrant agenda to try and push these young people back into the shadows and out of the country. Since 2025, more than 300 DACA recipients have been detained, and more than 90 have been wrongfully deported. The Trump administration is doing everything it can to make life impossible for people with DACA, including creating massive delays in processing renewals. As a consequence, DACA recipients are losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet as their work authorizations expire while they wait for an answer, even after submitting their renewal applications well in advance. Communities are losing their teachers, doctors, nurses, small business owners, and restaurant workers. Families are losing their economic and emotional stability. The uncertainty that DACA holders and other immigrants around the country are facing is a direct result of Congress' failure to enact immigration reform. That is why I am proud to have led almost 100 Members in demanding an end to DACA renewal delays. For true relief, we must prioritize passing legislation that would create pathways to citizenship, like the Dream and Promise Act. We cannot allow DACA recipients, who are solid members of our community, to continue living in limbo. Mr. Speaker, I say to all the DACA recipients and their families, we stand with them. We will keep fighting against these attacks and finally build an immigration system that respects their dignity and their humanity. ____________________