Good morning. Buenos días. Bom dia.

I’m Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, representing the Seventh Congressional District in Washington State and a proud immigrant: the first and only Indian American woman to serve in the House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalized citizens in Congress. I, and my colleague Representative Chuy Garcia from Illinois, are so honored to stand with you at the opening of this PanAmerican Congress.

Many of you have traveled great distances, some at personal risk, because you know how urgent this moment is. Thank you for everything you are doing to lift up and fight for working people and poor people in your countries and across the hemisphere.

We all face similar forms of opposition to our progress, from authoritarians and dictators trampling on human rights and international laws, to misinformation and disinformation designed to undermine the free and fair elections of our countries, to the growing inequality and the capture of our economies by billionaires and giant corporations that throttle our peoples’ human rights, dignity, and futures.

This is exactly why the PanAmerican Congress is so important at this moment. The challenges we face require a shared hemispheric response, a response based on listening and learning from each other, on collaboration, the rule of law, and respect for sovereignty; and on shared strategies to take on the growing threat of fascism and right-wing actors in all our countries.

Current Issue

September 2026 Issue

The Trump administration’s catastrophic reframing of the Monroe Doctrine in a new and super-sized vanity ploy called the Donroe Doctrine reasserts the failed and flawed concept of US dominance in the hemisphere. It dangerously attempts to justify US intervention, economic coercion, military pressure, and unilateral operations, often in violation of our own US Constitution and international law.

Just last week, we made our opposition to this doctrine clear in a letter that I led, with 10 of my colleagues, including Representative Garcia and Senator Bernie Sanders, demanding answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the use and scope of these efforts—all completely unauthorized by Congress—and incredibly vast.

Dozens of lethal, extrajudicial strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean carried out by the US military over the past year. Joint operations with partner militaries that have led to the bombing and detention of civilians. The kidnapping of a sitting head of state in Venezuela. The imposing of an illegal fuel blockade on top of a longstanding, illegal embargo against Cuba, that inflicts terrible collective punishment on the Cuban people—something that I have emphasized over and over again in the two Congressional delegations I have led to Cuba. Tariffs and sanctions deployed to shield political allies of the US president from prosecution. And US interference in other sovereign nations’ elections, including endorsing favored candidates, and pardoning a convicted narcotrafficker on the eve of an election.

This is an old and dangerous playbook of intervention and regime change that carries the same severe costs. It holds contempt for democratic institutions, hostility toward migrants and the poor, a willingness to criminalize dissent, and an economic vision that serves corporations and billionaires first and working families last. And most dangerously, it is being propped up and furthered by the economic, military, and political might coming straight from the White House but not authorized by Congress or approved by the people.

That is exactly why we are here. The far right is coordinating across nations, and so must we. Not only must we share effective strategies of opposition, but also our solutions of proposition: a shared vision that lifts up and puts power back in the hands of the people. A real partnership between our nations of collaboration and cooperation to solve the global challenges of climate change, labor rights, public health, migration, and economic prosperity for all. An understanding that military might, dominance, and aggression are tools of the oppressor, but diplomacy and respectful multilateral and bilateral relationships are the only tools to bring about lasting peace.

As a long-time organizer for justice speaking with awe and respect to a room full of people who have led transitions from dictators to democracies, and brought strength and power to peoples’ movements across the hemisphere, I can say that strength emerges most in times of crisis. What terrifies our opponents most is that our ideas are truly popular and we refuse to give up.

Across the United States, majorities of Americans reject the outright cruel kidnapping and disappearing of immigrants by ICE, and instead are clamoring for humane immigration reforms. Majorities reject billionaires and corporations who want to steal our clean air, water, and energy and instead demand that we respect our core value as human beings. Majorities reject spending taxpayer dollars on bombs abroad and instead demand universal healthcare and housing. Majorities are responding to a call that our people should thrive—not just barely survive.

And in late July, one of our last actions before breaking for August recess was to pass my War Powers Resolution in the House, with every Democrat and several Republicans supporting an end to the war in Iran. We won’t stop there—we intend to pass Representative Velázquez’s Cuba War Powers Resolution when we get back, as well as other legislative actions to take on this administration’s unconstitutional actions.

Most hopeful is that we stand poised to retake control of the House of Representatives in November, and possibly even the Senate. From New York to New Jersey, Florida to Pennsylvania, Colorado to California, and Michigan to Minnesota, incredible progressive champions are winning elections despite tens of millions of dollars poured into those races for their opponents. We are so pleased to welcome some special guests of the US delegation, soon-to-be members of Congress: Chris Rabb from Pennsylvania, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez from New York, and Adam Hamawy from New Jersey.

Thank you to the organizers of the PanAmerican Congress for having the vision to see that our collective action is the only way forward. And thank you to all of you for demanding change and insisting on democratic institutions by the people and for the people, built jointly across the hemisphere, not imposed north to south.

This is our time. Let’s use it to build power for the people across our hemisphere. Thank you.