André Carson

Justice for Shireen Act

in committee

Condemning all acts of violence, oppression, and abuse against ethnic minorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

in committee

Commemorating October 2025 as Head Start Awareness Month and recognizing its positive impact on more than 40,000,000 children and their families.

in committee

“Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of Asal Sayas. Asal was a remarkable public servant, advocate, and friend, whose passing leaves an immeasurable void in the lives of all who knew her. Asal was an extraordinary leader and a dedicated public servant in Congress and the Executive Branch. She served as the Director of Operations for my office, and in the Senate for Senator Klobuchar. Asal was an invaluable member of my team who brought a deep sense of purpose to her work. She was someone you could always count on, driven by a genuine desire to serve others and a ready smile that she shared with us often. She also [[Page E390]] shared her pride in Persian culture and traditions, helping us all learn more about this special part of the world. Like so many who had the privilege of working with Asal, I appreciated her presence and her commitment to public service. Because of her hard work and dedication, Indiana's 7th Congressional District is a better and stronger community. Asal was a fighter. She faced her unexpected cancer diagnosis with courage, strength, and creativity. Some people might have been afraid to try experimental treatments, but not Asal. She researched them, pursued them, and kept her village of friends and supporters updated on how things were going, and how we could help her with her battle. Even in her most difficult moments, she embraced resilience, which inspired everyone around her. But her legacy extends far beyond her personal battle. She dedicated her life to fighting for others, especially those navigating some of life's most difficult journeys. As President Biden's Senior Advisor on Health Outcomes and Cancer for the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, Asal helped lead a national effort to reduce cancer deaths and improve the lives of patients and their families. She was deeply committed to uplifting the work of scientists and doctors to advance early detection, address health disparities in cancer research, screening, and treatment, and push forward research to one day end cancer as we know it. Asal was a passionate and powerful voice within the cancer community, raising awareness about early-stage colon cancer, advocating for younger and underserved populations, and ensuring that no one facing this disease felt alone. Through her work with national colorectal cancer organizations and as co-founder of Colorectal Cancer Change (CRCC), she empowered patients, educated families, and built a legacy of advocacy that will continue to shape lives for years to come. Her service also spanned nearly a decade as Director of Government Affairs at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, where she championed expansion and improvements in HIV/AIDS research. In honoring Asal's legacy, we must also carry forward the mission she championed. Today, colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer- related deaths among men under 50 and the second leading cause among women under 50, a deeply concerning reality that demands urgent action. Early detection saves lives, yet far too many are diagnosed at later stages, especially younger Americans. That is why I urge my colleagues to continue investing in lifesaving medical research, to fully fund cancer initiatives like the Cancer Moonshot, and to expand access to early screening and preventive care. This is how we honor Asal--not only in words, but through our actions, our policies, and by our votes to fully fund lifesaving research and health services. To know Asal was to know compassion, brilliance, and purpose. She touched countless lives, including my own, not only through her extraordinary professional accomplishments, but through her warmth and kindness. Today, we mourn her loss, but we also celebrate her amazing life defined by service and love. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, her friends, and all who are grieving this loss. May they find comfort in the legacy she leaves behind, and in knowing that her work and voice will continue to inspire generations to come. May her memory be a blessing. ____________________”

2026-04-29 · Healthcare

“Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Kenneth O. ``Kenny'' Edwards upon the occasion of his retirement after 36 years of dedicated service to the railroad industry and to the working men and women of Indiana. Born and raised in Peru, Indiana, Mr. Edwards is a proud fifth- generation railroader whose life's work reflects a deep commitment to safety, fairness, and the dignity of labor. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has become a respected leader and tireless advocate for railroad workers, earning the trust and admiration of colleagues across the state and nation. Since 2009, Mr. Edwards has served as the Indiana State Legislative Director for the SMART Transportation Division, where he has championed policies that protect workers and strengthen our rail infrastructure. With more than three decades of service as a union officer, he has played a critical role in advancing rail safety initiatives, improving working conditions, and supporting infrastructure projects that benefit both workers and communities. His leadership has helped secure important protections for train crews, including safeguarding their privacy in the wake of tragic incidents. He has also advocated for commonsense safety improvements, like reducing train lengths and enhancing rail yard conditions. Throughout his career, Mr. Edwards has exemplified the very best of public service through his advocacy, integrity, and unwavering dedication to others. Mr. Speaker, Kenneth O. Edwards has devoted his life to uplifting working families and strengthening one of our nation's most vital industries. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his remarkable career and in wishing him continued success and fulfillment in his well-earned retirement. ____________________”

2026-04-06 · Labor

“Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.--a moral giant of the civil rights movement, a champion for the poor and dispossessed, and one of the most gifted communicators in American history. I also want to express my love and support to Reverend Jackson's family as they grieve such a deeply personal loss, including our colleague Congressman Jonathan Jackson, our former colleague Jesse Jackson, Jr. and all the Jackson family members and friends. Reverend Jackson was born during height of the Jim Crow segregation in Greenville, South Carolina, yet he rose from humble beginnings to become a global voice for justice, equality, and human dignity. He first came to national prominence in the 1960s as a young advocate in the struggle for civil rights and an aide to Dr. King, who appointed him to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Operation Breadbasket in Chicago and eventually, it's national director. Following Dr. King's assassination in 1968, Reverend Jackson helped sustain and lead the movement's moral urgency, shaping a new era of activism grounded in nonviolence, direct action, and an unshakable faith in the power of love. In 1971, he founded Operation PUSH--``People United to Save Humanity'', building an inclusive advocacy movement united in the pursuit of economic and social justice. Reverend Jackson led boycotts against corporations that had poor records in hiring Black employees or contracting with Black businesses. In 1984, he organized the National Rainbow Coalition, bringing to life an organization of voters from a broad spectrum of races and creeds. This helped him launch his historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, [[Page E158]] when he first won five primaries, and subsequently garnered 6.9 million votes. This transformed American politics, inspiring discouraged Americans to believe in the possibility of a multiracial democracy and helping to expand participation within the Democratic Party. His call to ``Keep Hope Alive!'' was more than a slogan--it was a moral charge to the Nation and a testament to his belief that love and collective action can bend the arc of history toward justice. For more than six decades, Reverend Jackson served as both bridge and trailblazer, connecting the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the ongoing struggle for a more inclusive democracy in the 21st century. He marched, organized, led boycotts, negotiated, and preached on behalf of those too often marginalized or ignored, always affirming, ``I am somebody.'' He mentored and was a friend to many, including me. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Jesse Jackson was a fearless advocate for love and justice whose voice stirred our conscience and challenged our Nation to live up to its highest ideals. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his extraordinary life and legacy, and in recommitting ourselves to the future of a Beloved Community that he so faithfully envisioned. ____________________”

2026-02-24 · Civil Rights