Speaker, first, let me thank the gentlewoman from the
Virgin Islands for her leadership on these issues. Right now, her focus
has been on helping her country come to grips with the devastating
hurricanes that have struck all the islands of the American Virgin
Islands, and she has demonstrated great leadership in that endeavor. Also, on the whole issue around TPS, Ms. Plaskett and Ms. Clarke have
been our true leaders in the diaspora around these issues, whether it
be the Caribbean or back to the Continent of Africa. I just want to
acknowledge their great work on all of these issues and also thank the
gentlewoman for hosting tonight's Special Order hour on protecting TPS
recipients. Before I start on the topic at hand, I would like to send my
condolences out to the loved ones of the 26 people tragically murdered
and the 21 people injured in yesterday's mass shooting in Texas. When will we realize that something must be done in this country?