Supporting the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., of Galesburg, Illinois, in its endeavor to erect a monument known as the National Railroad Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 342, a resolution recognizing the National Railroad Hall of Fame in my district in Galesburg, Illinois.

Galesburg is a city rich in railroading history. In 1849, the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad first connected Galesburg to the railroad system in western Illinois. Soon after, the people of Galesburg worked hard to develop connections between Chicago and the Mississippi River, eventually expanding the railroad into the West. By 1886, Galesburg became one of the few places in the world to be served by two major railroads.

Because of this rich history, a private group in Galesburg formed to develop the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois. The mission of the Hall of Fame is focused on honoring the men and women who have developed, maintained and strengthened one of the world's greatest forms of transportation. The Hall of Fame is being built to inspire future generations to continue in America's tradition of growth and ingenuity. This resolution simply recognizes the project put together by the National Railroad Hall of Fame to maintain that history and go forth in the next step in its development.

Before I finish, I would like to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), for their support. This would not have happened without the support of their staff people. I also want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their quick action on this bill.

I want to thank Bob Bondi of Galesburg, who has worked tirelessly to get

this organization on its feet and with my staff to pass this resolution. Also I would like to thank Ken Johnson, who has been of tireless help to us. Ken, it would not happen without your support.

Finally, I would like to thank the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Erin Doyle on my staff for her work on this bill.

This represents good bipartisan support. It is something long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 342, a resolution which recognizes the National Railroad Hall in Galesburg, Illinois.

The development of a national railroad system from coast to coast in the United States had major impacts on our economy, national defense, and national lifestyle. As the railroad grew, it allowed an increasing ease in transporting goods and people. However, the development and expansion of the railroad could not have occurred without the hard work and ingenuity of individuals in the industry.

For that reason, a private group has gathered in Galesburg, Illinois to create a National Railroad Hall of Fame. The mission of the Hall of Fame focuses on the men and women who developed and maintained one of our nation's greatest forms of transportation. They are building the Hall of Fame to inspire us to continue in the American tradition that built our railroad system. To show how this tradition has continued through history, inductees are selected from three eras in railroad history. The first is the Birth and Development Era, from 1800 to 1965. The second is the Golden Era, from 1866 to 1945. And the final period is the Modern Era, from 1946 to present day. The reason the founders of the Hall of Fame choose these time periods is to reflect the different stages of railroad development and the continuing growth through today into the future.

In 2002, they introduced three inductees. The people that they recognized were George Pullman, Sanford Fleming, and Louis Menk, all of who provided enormous contributions to the success of the railroad industry. George Pullman is probably the most recognized of the inductees, having invented the Pullman sleeper car and an entire village for the employees who made it. His contribution to American railroading was profound because it made traveling great distances over rail comfortable, even luxurious.

Sanford Fleming, the inductee from the Golden Era, arranged a system that each of us utilize when we travel, Standard Time. Prior to Mr. Fleming's system, train stations ran on local time. Local time was determined by the sun. Traveling on a schedule set by each station's local time became a headache for station managers and railroad passengers alike. To address this problem, Sanford Fleming divided the world map into 24 sections, thus creating the Standard Time which we all follow now.

Finally, Louis Menk was inducted from the Modern Era. Mr. Menk is an example of the American dream. Having started out as a telegraph messenger for Union Pacific Railroad, he worked his way to the top of the railroad industry to become President and CEO of Burlington lines. He doubled the size of the company and merge it with a number of other lines to stretch across the Western United States.

Placing this history in Galesburg, Illinois is appropriate to the history of the railroad as well. Galesburg has a long history with railroading. In 1849, the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad was established providing Galesburg with the opportunity to connect to a rail system. After that, Galesburg quickly became an important link between Chicago and the West. Finding a need to connect Iowa with the east coast, Galesburg worked as a community to expand the rail system from Chicago to the Mississippi River and then over into Iowa. This allowed for the extension of a rail system that eventually reached coast to coast. By 1886, Galesburg secured the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway and became one of the few places in the world served by two major railroads. Currently, Galesburg is still a central point in the railways for shippers moving good across the country.

Additionally, Carl Sandberg College of Galesburg, Illinois, was one of the first institutions to establish an education curriculum in railroading. Currently, the College continues this program offering a certificate program and an associates program in railroad operations. This shows how basic the tie between Galesburg and the railroad is.

In honor of this history in Galesburg and the history of the ingenuity of those that shaped the railroad industry, a group of people got together in Galesburg, Illinois and developed the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc. The main purpose of the Hall of Fame is to continue the memory of the leaders, inventors, engineers, riders, teachers, and all other participants in this proud industry. However, the Hall of Fame also seeks to inspire future generations to continue this proud tradition of growth and invention. Finally, they seek to provide a home to research surrounding the railroading industry and provides an opportunity for local history students to work on the history of the railroad industry. By working with local college students to enhance the background information for recommended inductees, the Hall of Fame expands the historical information and the people that study it.

What the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg has asked for its simple recognition of its and its mission. The people who have put this project together have raised the money necessary for the building on their own. Additionally, they simply wish to continue the project of creating a deposit of history and inspiration for the work ethic that built the industry that built this country. In return, all they request is recognition.

Before I finish, I would like to thank my colleague Mr. LaHood for working with me to pass this resolution, and Andrea Tebbe on his staff. I also want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee for this quick action on this bill. I want to thank Bob Bandi of Galesburg, who has worked tirelessly on to get this organization on its feet and with my staff to pass this resolution. Also, I would like to thank Ken Johnson from the Energy and Commerce Committee for his assistance and enthusiasm for his hometown. Finally, I would like to thank Erin Doyle on my staff for her work on this bill.

Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and pay tribute to the history of the railroading industry.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the most valuable lessons we have learned from the tragic events of September 11 is just how important our railroads are to this country. With the aviation system grounded, American railroads were working hard to help both passenger and freight reach their destinations. Not only was this important to keep the economy running, but sent an important message to our enemies that American transportation system was still the strongest in the world.

On November 12, 2001, I was in New York when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed shortly after taking off from JFK Airport, creating a national panic and shutting down the entire city. Fortunately for me and many other Members of Congress who ended up at Penn Station that day, Amtrak was still running, and returned us safely to Washington to deal with this latest tragedy. I realized once again just how important Amtrak is to the American people and how important it is for this Nation to have alternate modes of transportation.

I personally fell in love with railroads as a child watching the Silver Meteor passenger train pass my house in Jacksonville, and today I get firsthand information on the railroads from my friends, constituents and my brother, who worked with CSX for over 30 years, which I proudly say is headquartered in my district.

Since the first horse-drawn cars hauled coal on steel rails, the success of the U.S. economy has been directly linked to the success of the railroad industry. It is only right to pay homage to the men and women who have worked so hard to build this Nation's railroad infrastructure.

The National Railroad Hall of Fame's goal is to promote and encourage a better understanding of this country's railroads, and is collecting documentation and information that is open to the public. The planned National Railroad Hall of Fame Monument will honor the men and women responsible for founding and developing the U.S. rail industry.

I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for introducing this legislation. The veterans of this Nation have no better friend in Congress than the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans). It has been an honor serving with him on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and I am glad to join him in celebrating the noble history of American railroads.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this excellent legislation, which educates the public on the vital role our railroad plays in the development of our young Nation and the strong role it plays in the world economy today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 342) supporting the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., of Galesburg, Illinois, in its endeavor to erect a monument known as the National Railroad Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution in support of the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois.

The history of railroading in Illinois began in 1837 with the construction of a rail line linking the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers. From that small beginning, Illinois emerged as the major connecting point for railroads linking the entire continent.

The National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois, was founded to honor the memory of the inventors, the engineers, the surveyors, the financiers and workers who built these great railroads.

Past inductees to the National Railroad Hall of Fame include George Pullman, developer of the famous Pullman sleeping car, and Cyrus K. Holliday, builder of the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe.

Another great and recent inductee is Ralph Budd, president of the Great Northern and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroads. In the 1930s, Mr. Budd rejuvenated passenger rail service by developing the fastest and most efficient train of its time, the Pioneer Zephyr.

Highly streamlined and constructed of lightweight stainless steel, the Pioneer Zephyr represented a true landmark in the history of passenger railroading. On May 26, 1934, this train made a record- breaking trip from Denver to Chicago, a distance of 1,000 miles, in only 13 hours. Today, that same train trip takes over 17 hours.

The mission of the National Railroad Hall of Fame is to perpetuate the memory of great railroaders, such as Ralph Budd, and to serve as an educational resource for our younger generation. I strongly urge approval of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).

(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great support of H.R. 342, the Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act.

Mr. Speaker, mosquito borne-diseases are increasingly plaguing the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last year alone there were more than 5,000 people infected with mosquito borne-illnesses such as Dengue Fever and the West Nile virus.

As a member of Congress, I am greatly concerned with the West Nile virus's rapid spread nationwide. Out of my concern for the victims of West Nile virus and other mosquito borne diseases, I not only cosigned legislation and letters seeking grants and research dollars to combat this deadly virus, but I also wrote a letter to Dr. Julie Gerderding, the CDC's director. In the letter, I expressed the importance of the CDC, the NIH, and Congress to work cooperatively to communicate the concerns and resolutions in combating these deadly viruses.

Considering West Nile virus is prevalent during the summer and early fall, it is imperative that the necessary steps are taken in the virus's prevention and vaccination before the onset of the next summer season. Mr. Speaker, I believe H.R. 342, the Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (MASH) Act, would do exactly that.

Essentially, H.R. 342 would establish two temporary grant programs to help state and local governments assess mosquito problems, and coordinate and operate mosquito control programs. This measure would also authorize $100 million in FY2003, and such sums as necessary each subsequent year through FY 2007, for these grants.

While Florida was not as severely affected as Illinois or Michigan last year by the West Nile virus, Florida certainly has the propensity to be dramatically affected by this virus due to its annual warm climate. The increasing growth of outbreaks and spread of West Nile virus each year qualifies it as a public health threat that is likely to be with us for years to come. Addressing the problem now through H.R. 342 will provide benefits in the future, and most importantly save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the M.A.S.H Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that seeks to create a privately-funded museum to help promote a better understanding of the origins and growth of the railroad industry in America. I would like to thank my friend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for introducing this legislation.

The resolution highlights the efforts of men and women whose hard work and resourcefulness helped build one of the Nation's best modes of transportation. Nowhere can this be seen better than in my home State of Illinois. Illinois has had a pioneering role in the Nation's railroad industry since 1837 with the creation of the Northern Cross Railroad, linking the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers together for commerce and transportation. Railroads are just one of the reasons why Illinois is considered the transportation hub of the country.

The National Railroad Museum would be located in Galesburg, Illinois. Galesburg has a rich history of railroads, being first connected to Chicago by rail in 1854 and being home of the Carl Sandburg College, one of the first colleges to establish an educational curriculum in railroading.

Mr. Speaker, we all rely on staff. Many times their work goes unrecognized. I also wanted to take this time to thank Ken Johnson of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and a native of Galesburg, Illinois, for his work on this issue. I know his folks, family and friends from Galesburg are very proud of his efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.