Analilia Mejia
Representative for New Jersey · Democratic · United States
“Consider what that means: 146 million Americans do not hold a valid passport, and roughly 69 million married women hold birth certificates that no longer match their legal names.”
“Consider what that means: 146 million Americans do not hold a valid passport, and roughly 69 million married women hold birth certificates that no longer match their legal names.”
“It is a preview of what happens if this administration does not like what voters decide. Congress has an obligation to respond. We must enact durable, statutory protections for the administration of Federal elections so that no single official can dismantle them by executive action.”
“It is a preview of what happens if this administration does not like what voters decide. Congress has an obligation to respond. We must enact durable, statutory protections for the administration of Federal elections so that no single official can dismantle them by executive action.”
“It was the removal of the officials standing between this President and a policy his own Commission and the courts have rejected. Last Thursday night, he took his case to national television.”
“It was the removal of the officials standing between this President and a policy his own Commission and the courts have rejected. Last Thursday night, he took his case to national television.”
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“It is a preview of what happens if this administration does not like what voters decide. Congress has an obligation to respond. We must enact durable, statutory protections for the administration of Federal elections so that no single official can dismantle them by executive action. We must pursue meaningful reform of the Supreme Court, including term limits and enforceable ethical standards because a Court that keeps expanding this President's authority is not exercising oversight. It is, in fact, removing it. Each of these actions taken individually may appear isolated. Taken together, however, they constitute a sustained effort to narrow the American [[Page H4696]] electorate at the exact moment this country is apt to render judgment on this administration. I will not treat this as acceptable, and I will not stop opposing it.”
“Consider what that means: 146 million Americans do not hold a valid passport, and roughly 69 million married women hold birth certificates that no longer match their legal names. When Kansas tried a version of this requirement, 31,000 eligible citizens, 12 percent of all applicants, were blocked from registering--not noncitizens, citizens. Mr. Speaker, this has never been a matter of election integrity. It is a matter of who holds power in this country and who is permitted to participate in choosing it. When a party grows uncertain it could win on the merits, the next move is rarely to accept that outcome. It is to lay the groundwork in advance so any unfavorable results can be dismissed before a single vote is counted. This Chamber should be prepared to say clearly every time that surfaces that this is not a defense of democracy.”
“This Chamber has now watched the same pattern twice: raise unproven claims of fraud, then use them to justify removing the very safeguards standing in the way; first the Commissioners and now a prime-time address built to manufacture support for legislation his own party could not pass on its merits, the SAVE Act. House Republicans have pushed it through, and Senate Republicans have tried repeatedly to force it through as a reconciliation amendment, needing only a simple majority, only to see it blocked each and every time. Under this bill, a driver's license does not satisfy the registration requirement. Only a passport, an original birth certificate, or naturalization papers would.”
“It was the removal of the officials standing between this President and a policy his own Commission and the courts have rejected. Last Thursday night, he took his case to national television. In a prime-time address from the White House, the President declassified documents he claimed proved foreign interference and widespread fraud in the election he lost over 5 years ago. He alleged a foreign government has compromised the voter data of 220 million Americans and that 278,000 noncitizens were registered to vote. Independent fact checkers, who reviewed those very documents, found that they did not support the claim made about them. He presented no evidence of a single fraudulent vote because 5 years and 64 court cases have never produced even one.”
“It was structured by law with four bipartisan members precisely so that no single administration could control how our elections are run. That structure is the point. For over a year, this administration pressed that very Commission to require a passport or original birth certificate as a condition for voter registration. Millions of Americans do not have ready access to either document. The Commission would not act on this demand, and the courts agreed. Both checks held. Then, days after the Supreme Court granted the President new authority to remove the heads of independent agencies in a case that had nothing to do with elections, the President used that very authority in order to eliminate every Commissioner. This was not incidental.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4695-H4696] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1130 CONGRESS MUST RESPOND (Ms. Mejia of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with urgency. Weeks ago, President Trump fired every remaining Commissioner of the Federal agency charged with protecting the integrity of our elections. This Chamber has not reckoned with that fully, and it should. The Election Assistance Commission exists to help carry out free and fair elections in this country.”
“It is a preview of what happens if this administration does not like what voters decide. Congress has an obligation to respond. We must enact durable, statutory protections for the administration of Federal elections so that no single official can dismantle them by executive action. We must pursue meaningful reform of the Supreme Court, including term limits and enforceable ethical standards because a Court that keeps expanding this President's authority is not exercising oversight. It is, in fact, removing it. Each of these actions taken individually may appear isolated. Taken together, however, they constitute a sustained effort to narrow the American [[Page H4696]] electorate at the exact moment this country is apt to render judgment on this administration. I will not treat this as acceptable, and I will not stop opposing it.”
“Consider what that means: 146 million Americans do not hold a valid passport, and roughly 69 million married women hold birth certificates that no longer match their legal names. When Kansas tried a version of this requirement, 31,000 eligible citizens, 12 percent of all applicants, were blocked from registering--not noncitizens, citizens. Mr. Speaker, this has never been a matter of election integrity. It is a matter of who holds power in this country and who is permitted to participate in choosing it. When a party grows uncertain it could win on the merits, the next move is rarely to accept that outcome. It is to lay the groundwork in advance so any unfavorable results can be dismissed before a single vote is counted. This Chamber should be prepared to say clearly every time that surfaces that this is not a defense of democracy.”
“This Chamber has now watched the same pattern twice: raise unproven claims of fraud, then use them to justify removing the very safeguards standing in the way; first the Commissioners and now a prime-time address built to manufacture support for legislation his own party could not pass on its merits, the SAVE Act. House Republicans have pushed it through, and Senate Republicans have tried repeatedly to force it through as a reconciliation amendment, needing only a simple majority, only to see it blocked each and every time. Under this bill, a driver's license does not satisfy the registration requirement. Only a passport, an original birth certificate, or naturalization papers would.”
“It was the removal of the officials standing between this President and a policy his own Commission and the courts have rejected. Last Thursday night, he took his case to national television. In a prime-time address from the White House, the President declassified documents he claimed proved foreign interference and widespread fraud in the election he lost over 5 years ago. He alleged a foreign government has compromised the voter data of 220 million Americans and that 278,000 noncitizens were registered to vote. Independent fact checkers, who reviewed those very documents, found that they did not support the claim made about them. He presented no evidence of a single fraudulent vote because 5 years and 64 court cases have never produced even one.”
“It was structured by law with four bipartisan members precisely so that no single administration could control how our elections are run. That structure is the point. For over a year, this administration pressed that very Commission to require a passport or original birth certificate as a condition for voter registration. Millions of Americans do not have ready access to either document. The Commission would not act on this demand, and the courts agreed. Both checks held. Then, days after the Supreme Court granted the President new authority to remove the heads of independent agencies in a case that had nothing to do with elections, the President used that very authority in order to eliminate every Commissioner. This was not incidental.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4695-H4696] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1130 CONGRESS MUST RESPOND (Ms. Mejia of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with urgency. Weeks ago, President Trump fired every remaining Commissioner of the Federal agency charged with protecting the integrity of our elections. This Chamber has not reckoned with that fully, and it should. The Election Assistance Commission exists to help carry out free and fair elections in this country.”
“These awards reflect a career of excellence and selfless service to his country. Above all, he is supported by his wife Tutku and their two daughters, whose sacrifice and commitment have been essential to his success. I extend my deepest gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Bonham and his family for their service to our country. I wish him best of luck and continued success in his next role for our military. ____________________”
“A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's first assignments were as an Assistant Battalion Logistics Officer and Launcher Platoon Leader for the 4th Battalion, 5th Air and Missile Defense Regiment at Fort Hood. He was selected for the Civil Affairs Corps in 2009. His career includes numerous roles in Civil Affairs Leadership in and support of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe and Africa, including two deployments to Africa. He has acted in key leadership roles, including as a Military Planner for NATO Allied Land Command and most recently as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart. Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's many awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal.”
“I am proud to honor a dedicated Army officer whose service has strengthened New Jersey's llth Congressional District, the State of New Jersey, and the United States as a whole. As Garrison Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bonham led with excellence as he and his team supported the installation's more than 6,000 Soldiers, civilians, and contractors. The Picatinny community benefited from his responsibly executed commitment to their mission and to their morale, welfare, and professional development. Under his supervision of Garrison operations, Picatinny Arsenal continued to serve as a cornerstone of defense innovation and an engine of economic strength for the region.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E705] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CHANGING OF COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CRAIG A. BONHAM, II, USA ______ HON. ANALILIA MEJIA- of new jersey in the house of representatives Monday, July 20, 2026 Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Craig A. Bonham, II. Lieutenant Colonel Bonham has served as Garrison Commander of Picatinny Arsenal since June 2024. Today, he ends his service with Picatinny as he transfers leadership to Lieutenant Colonel John A. Meier.”
“These awards reflect a career of excellence and selfless service to his country. Above all, he is supported by his wife Tutku and their two daughters, whose sacrifice and commitment have been essential to his success. I extend my deepest gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Bonham and his family for their service to our country. I wish him best of luck and continued success in his next role for our military. ____________________”
“A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's first assignments were as an Assistant Battalion Logistics Officer and Launcher Platoon Leader for the 4th Battalion, 5th Air and Missile Defense Regiment at Fort Hood. He was selected for the Civil Affairs Corps in 2009. His career includes numerous roles in Civil Affairs Leadership in and support of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe and Africa, including two deployments to Africa. He has acted in key leadership roles, including as a Military Planner for NATO Allied Land Command and most recently as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart. Lieutenant Colonel Bonham's many awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal.”
“I am proud to honor a dedicated Army officer whose service has strengthened New Jersey's llth Congressional District, the State of New Jersey, and the United States as a whole. As Garrison Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bonham led with excellence as he and his team supported the installation's more than 6,000 Soldiers, civilians, and contractors. The Picatinny community benefited from his responsibly executed commitment to their mission and to their morale, welfare, and professional development. Under his supervision of Garrison operations, Picatinny Arsenal continued to serve as a cornerstone of defense innovation and an engine of economic strength for the region.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E705] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CHANGING OF COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CRAIG A. BONHAM, II, USA ______ HON. ANALILIA MEJIA- of new jersey in the house of representatives Monday, July 20, 2026 Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Craig A. Bonham, II. Lieutenant Colonel Bonham has served as Garrison Commander of Picatinny Arsenal since June 2024. Today, he ends his service with Picatinny as he transfers leadership to Lieutenant Colonel John A. Meier.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Aguilar and my fellow co- chairs, Representatives Cleaver, Randall, Simon, and Subramanyam, for their leadership in launching the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. This work is about protecting the Constitution's promise that every person deserves equal protection, due process, and the full rights of citizenship. Those principles have shaped generations of progress in our country, and they are worth defending today just as they were 158 years ago. We owe it to those who came before us and those who will follow us to ensure that that promise endures. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________”
“They understood that democracy requires participation, accountability, and constant vigilance. Now, that responsibility belongs to us. Every generation faces a defining test. For generations that ratified the 14th Amendment, it was whether America would finally recognize citizenship and the humanity of those who had been enslaved. For the generations that marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it was whether every American would have an equal voice at the ballot box. Our generation faces a different question: Will we preserve those constitutional guarantees for the generations that follow? As long as I have the privilege of serving in this House, I will continue fighting to protect that promise for every family, community, and generation to come. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution is only as strong as our willingness to defend it. Mr.”
“Viewed in isolation, the current challenges to birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection, and the freedom to vote may seem like isolated political actions, but viewed together it becomes crystal clear that our Constitution and the promise of our second founding is under attack. What is more? It is clear that it is our duty as true patriots to combat it. That is why House Democrats created the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. Our mission is simple: Defend the constitutional rights that generations of Americans fought to secure. Our rights are not guaranteed simply because they are written down. They endure because people defend them. The generations before us marched, organized, and sacrificed to make the promises of the 14th Amendment real.”
“History reminds us that writing rights into our Constitution is only the beginning. For decades after Reconstruction, millions of Black Americans were denied those very rights through segregation, voter suppression, and racial violence. The Constitution had not changed. What changed was whether or not our country chose to enforce it. It took generations of organizing and sacrifice before Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and began making good on the promise that existed for nearly a century. That history matters because it teaches us an important lesson: Constitutional rights do not appear or disappear overnight. They are built or weakened piece by piece, action by action. Court decisions, legislation, political rhetoric, actions that slowly erode the institutions designed to protect our democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. [[Page H4536]] Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus' Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. This month, we mark the 158th anniversary of one of the most important amendments ever added to our Constitution. Forged in the aftermath of the Civil War and paid for by the blood, sweat, and tears of Black freedom fighters and their allies, the 14th Amendment declared that every person born in these United States is anointed with inalienable rights and responsibilities, never to be infringed upon by the actions of any State or entity. Together, with the 13th and 15th amendments, it marked what historians call: The second founding of our Nation, an effort to build a democracy that truly includes everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from New Jersey? There was no objection.”
“Those principles have shaped generations of progress in our country, and they are worth defending today just as they were 158 years ago. We owe it to those who came before us and those who will follow us to ensure that that promise endures. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________”
“We will stand up to these attacks on civil liberties. We must continue this fight to ensure that the citizens of the United States are protected and that nothing erodes these constitutional protections. It is our duty. It is our responsibility, and it is the oath we swore when we took this public office. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be a co-chair of this task force and so proud to stand here in defense of our Constitution. Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Aguilar and my fellow co- chairs, Representatives Cleaver, Randall, Simon, and Subramanyam, for their leadership in launching the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. This work is about protecting the Constitution's promise that every person deserves equal protection, due process, and the full rights of citizenship.”
“We know that the White House is currently scheming to have Trump's activist Supreme Court rehear the case that upheld the 14th Amendment, that upheld birthright citizenship. This is all part of a larger agenda to dehumanize Black and Brown people in this country, to strip away their rights, and to normalize questioning who belongs here. Who is American enough? It is why Republicans have funded Donald Trump's immigration agenda by $200 billion and why on the 158th anniversary of the 14th Amendment, my colleagues and I launched the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. Our goal is simple: to defend the Constitution, to coordinate oversight and public education efforts, and to respond strongly to the Trump administration's attacks on our rights, on our freedom, on our Constitution, our country, and our communities.”
“Speaker, the 14th Amendment means what it says: ``All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States. . . .'' Those are the words on paper. [[Page H4537]] Donald Trump and Stephen Miller attempted to rewrite the Constitution through an executive order banning birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. It is the same legal arguments that were first used when a white supremacist wanted to deny U.S. citizenship to Chinese Americans. Four Supreme Court Justices dissented in the ruling to protect the 14th Amendment. That tells us that we are not safe from these continuous attacks from Donald Trump and his administration on our Constitution, on our freedom, and on our neighbors.”
“As the co-chair of the 14th Amendment Task Force, I stand with my colleagues in defense of one of the most important guarantees ever written into our Constitution. We will defend equal protection. We will defend due process. We will defend, yes, birthright citizenship. We will continue fighting until the promise of the 14th Amendment is not merely something we celebrate in history books, but something that every American can experience in their daily lives. The struggle to perfect our Union has never been easy, but every generation is called to protect the freedoms it inherited. Now, it is our turn. Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall), my fellow co-chair. Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Mejia for her leadership. Mr.”
“They are the attacks on the guarantees that protect workers from exploitation, families from discrimination, religious liberty, voting rights, and the simple expectation that government must treat people fairly. When government weakens these protections for one group, it weakens them for everyone. History teaches us that constitutional rights are rarely lost all at once. They are chipped away slowly, one exception, one excuse, one precedent at a time until Americans wake up and discover that what once seemed guaranteed has quietly disappeared. We cannot allow this to happen. Our constituents know what is at stake. They understand that the promise of America has been bigger than politics. They know that the Constitution belongs to every American, not just those in power.”
“It was the 14th Amendment that has protected interracial marriage, expanded equality for women, safeguarded the rights of people with disabilities, and affirmed the dignity of LGBTQ Americans. Time and time again, when our Nation has taken a step toward justice, it has done so because someone stood up and insisted that the words of the 14th Amendment actually meant what they say. That is why attack of any kind on equal protection and due process are not isolated legal disputes. They are attacks on the very foundation of modern civil rights. They are attacks on the constitutional principle that tell every child they matter before the law.”
“I marched because I believed America could become what it claimed to be. I believed that the Constitution should protect every citizen equally. I witnessed firsthand what happens when governments decide some people deserve fewer rights than others. The progress we celebrate today did not happen by accident. It happened because brave Americans demanded that the 14th Amendment finally be honored. It was the Equal Protection Clause that became the constitutional foundation for Brown v. Board of Education, ending legally sanctioned segregation in our public schools. It was the 14th Amendment that strengthened the fight against discriminatory voting laws, housing discrimination, and unequal treatment in employment.”
“It declared boldly that citizenship could not be rationed, equality could not be optional, and liberty belonged to all of us. Today, that promise is being tested. This administration has made no secret of its willingness to chip away at the constitutional protections generations of Americans have fought, marched, bled, and even died to secure. They are using every tool at their disposal to weaken the very rights that safeguard us all. For me, this fight is deeply personal. {time} 1830 I was born in the Jim Crow South, little place called Waxahachie, Texas. I came of age in a nation where equal protection existed only on paper long before it existed in practice. I marched with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference starting when I was 15 years old. The SCLC was led by a young preacher by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr.”
“Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver). Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud co-chair of the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force because I believe in one simple truth: The 14th Amendment is now under siege. For more than 150 years this amendment has stood as one of the greatest promises our Nation has ever made: That every person born in this country is entitled to equal protection under the law and that no government may deny anyone due process simply because of who they are or where they were an immigrant from. It was born from one of the darkest chapters in American history. After slavery ended, our Nation faced a choice: We could preserve injustice under a different name, or we could expand the promise of freedom. The 14th Amendment was our answer.”
“They understood that democracy requires participation, accountability, and constant vigilance. Now, that responsibility belongs to us. Every generation faces a defining test. For generations that ratified the 14th Amendment, it was whether America would finally recognize citizenship and the humanity of those who had been enslaved. For the generations that marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it was whether every American would have an equal voice at the ballot box. Our generation faces a different question: Will we preserve those constitutional guarantees for the generations that follow? As long as I have the privilege of serving in this House, I will continue fighting to protect that promise for every family, community, and generation to come. Mr. Speaker, the Constitution is only as strong as our willingness to defend it. Mr.”
“Viewed in isolation, the current challenges to birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection, and the freedom to vote may seem like isolated political actions, but viewed together it becomes crystal clear that our Constitution and the promise of our second founding is under attack. What is more? It is clear that it is our duty as true patriots to combat it. That is why House Democrats created the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. Our mission is simple: Defend the constitutional rights that generations of Americans fought to secure. Our rights are not guaranteed simply because they are written down. They endure because people defend them. The generations before us marched, organized, and sacrificed to make the promises of the 14th Amendment real.”
“For decades after Reconstruction, millions of Black Americans were denied those very rights through segregation, voter suppression, and racial violence. The Constitution had not changed. What changed was whether or not our country chose to enforce it. It took generations of organizing and sacrifice before Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and began making good on the promise that existed for nearly a century. That history matters because it teaches us an important lesson: Constitutional rights do not appear or disappear overnight. They are built or weakened piece by piece, action by action. Court decisions, legislation, political rhetoric, actions that slowly erode the institutions designed to protect our democracy.”
“Speaker, I rise today as the proud co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus' Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force. This month, we mark the 158th anniversary of one of the most important amendments ever added to our Constitution. Forged in the aftermath of the Civil War and paid for by the blood, sweat, and tears of Black freedom fighters and their allies, the 14th Amendment declared that every person born in these United States is anointed with inalienable rights and responsibilities, never to be infringed upon by the actions of any State or entity. Together, with the 13th and 15th amendments, it marked what historians call: The second founding of our Nation, an effort to build a democracy that truly includes everyone. History reminds us that writing rights into our Constitution is only the beginning.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4535-H4537] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE 158TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Mejia of New Jersey was recognized for 30 minutes.) General Leave Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from New Jersey? There was no objection. Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. [[Page H4536]] Mr.”