Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Illinois School for the Deaf and Mr. Albert Caswell. On January 20, 2009, the Illinois School for the Deaf traveled to Washington, DC. to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Inspired by these young children and with the thought that perhaps one day one of those children may also stand on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, I would like to enter into the Congressional Record a poem penned by U.S. Capitol Guide Albert Carey Caswell. Mr. Caswell was able to spend some time with them on that day and wrote the following tribute.

Can You Hear Me?

Can you hear me?

I can hear you!

Not with my ears!

But, with something far much more greater, so true!

For it's with my heart . . .

That, I can hear you too . . .

Look at me!

I'm just the same as you!

For what I've lost . . .

For inside, I've gained so much more so too!

For I can feel you . . .

And, I can read you . . .

I'm just a kid like you!

And, I want to grow up to be happy . . . and so healthy, oh

so much so too!

Just, because I can't hear you . . .

Doesn't mean, I can't understand you!

I can read you!

Like a book!

For our Lord God, has given me other gifts that I can use. .

. .

For your coming though to me, loud and clear . . .

For I've developed my senses, so much greater so here. . . .

We're all the same!

Some of us even, have the same names . . .

So hear me!

Do not fear me!

Be near me, be my friend . . . so tried and true . . .

There's, so much more we can learn about each other . . . me

and you

For, I can hear you!

In our world, there is such a special bond. . . .

That, in the quiet world is so formed . . .

At first, you may not understand . . . but it's in our heart

where it is born . . .

I can teach you!

I can reach you!

In all I do!

Life lesson's so very true . . .

For, I will not give up!

Nor give in!

On this Inauguration Day, I see how far dreams can take you

to!

And yet I ask, ``Why, must children have so much courage then

so too?''

For some things, are so hard to understand . . .

As where faith must begin and end . . . Reach out, and take

my hand . . .

Let's be friends, me and you . . .

There's so much more together we can learn and do!

Little children as Heroes should not have to be . . . but are

put on this earth for all to teach!

Can you hear me?

I can hear you!

And one day up in Heaven . . . I know, my Lord I will view .

. .

And, I will begin to cry . . .

When, I look into his eyes . . . and I hear for the first

time . . .

My very first words!

``I love you''!

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Republican adopted standards on earmarks, I submit the below detailed explanation of the Spunky Bottoms Restoration, Brown County, IL

Bill Number: H.R. 3183--FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act

Provisions/Account: Department of Energy--Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is Biofuels Manufactures Inc. at 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL 61606.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to create a new biofuels manufacturing plant using innovated feedstocks.

I also submit the below detailed explanation of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration, IL, IA, MN, MO, & WI

Bill Number: H.R. 3183--FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act

Provisions/Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Construction

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located at Clock Tower Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to continue projects which are vital to the ecological restoration of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway, including habitat creation and long-term monitoring.

I also submit the below detailed explanation of the Emiquon Floodplain Restoration, IL

Bill Number: H.R. 3183--FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act

Provisions/Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Continuing Authorities Program

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located at Clock Tower Building, P.O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to restore the Illinois River floodplain within the Thompson Drainage and Levee District.

I also submit the below detailed explanation of the Spunky Bottoms Restoration, Brown County, IL

Bill Number: H.R. 3183--FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act

Provisions/Account: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Continuing Authorities Program

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located at 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.

Description of Request: The funding would provide habitat restoration along the Illinois River by reconnecting the river with the backwater lakes and wetlands that once existed along the river.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Illinois School for the Deaf and Mr. Albert Caswell. On January 20, 2009, the Illinois School for the Deaf traveled to Washington, DC, to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Inspired by these young children and with the thought that perhaps one day one of those children may also stand on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, I submit a poem penned by U.S. Capitol Guide Albert Carey Caswell. Mr. Caswell was able to spend some time with them on that day and wrote the following tribute.

Can You Hear Me?

(By Mr. Albert Caswell)

Can you hear me?

I can hear you!

Not with my ears!

But, with something far much more greater, so true!

For it's with my heart . . .

That, I can hear you too . . .

Look at me!

I'm just the same as you!

For what I've lost . . .

For inside, I've gained so much more so too!

For I can feel you . . .

And, I can read you . . .

I'm just a kid like you!

And, I want to grow up to be happy . . . and so healthy, oh

so much so too!

Just, because I can't understand you!

I can read you!

Like a book!

For our Lord God, has given me other gifts that I can use. .

. .

For your coming through to me, loud and clear . . .

For I've developed my senses, so much greater so here. . . .

We're all the same!

Some of us even, have the same names . . .

So hear me!

Do not fear me!

Be near me, be my friend . . . so tried and true . . .

There's, so much more we can learn about each other . . . me

and you

For, I can hear you!

In our world, there is such a special bond. . . .

That, in the quiet world is so formed . . .

At first, you may not understand . . . but it's in our heart

where it is born . . .

I can teach you!

I can reach you!

In all I do!

Life lesson's so very true . . .

For, I will not give up!

Nor give in!

On this Inauguration Day, I see how far dreams can take you

to!

And yet I ask, ``Why, must children have so much courage then

so too?''

For some things, are so hard to understand . . .

As where faith must begin and end . . .

Reach out, and take my hand . . .

Let's be friends, me and you . . .

There's so much more together we can learn and do!

Little children as Heroes should not have to be . . . but are

put on this earth for all to teach!

Can you hear me?

I can hear you!

And one day up in Heaven . . . I know, my Lord I will view .

. .

And, I will begin to cry . . .

When, I look into his eyes . . . and I hear for the first

time . . .

My very first words!

``I love you''!

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Republican adopted standards on earmarks, I submit the below detailed explanation of the Illinois: Lincoln Capital Airport Relocate Base Entrance.

Bill Number: H.R. 3082--Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (ANG), Illinois Capital Airport, Springfield, IL 62704.

Description of Request: The funding would be used to relocate the base entrance to include realignment of existing four lane airport entrance, two lane base entry road and reconfigure intersection with state highway to ensure the facility meets DoD security requirements.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Republican adopted standards on earmarks, I submit the below detailed explanation of the Crop Production and Food Processing, Peoria, IL.

Bill Number: H.R. 2997, the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Provisions/Account: Agriculture Research Service, Salaries and Expenses

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is U.S. Department of Agriculture National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), located at 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604.

Description of Request: This project conducts non-destructive and wet chemical analysis for soybean, wheat and new crop germplasm for the entire U.S. This research program directly supports 75 public soybean breeders for the assembly of a genetic database for soybeans and wheat.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009. This bill incorporates the important language of legislation that I introduced in H.R. 2772, the SBIR and STTR Enhancement Act. I would like to thank first Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Graves

and Mr. Altmire for working to move this important piece of legislation forward and doing so in such a bipartisan way. I also want to thank my colleague Congressman Nye for his work with me on the subcommittee level to ensure that the process of modernizing the Small Business Innovation Research program was done in an effective, efficient and bipartisan fashion with the input from those who are most important, that is, the small business sector who utilizes this important program.

The Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR program, as we refer to it, was established over 20 years ago and is an important resource in assisting small business owners wishing to bring their technological advancements to the marketplace. While small business owners represent some of the brightest innovators our country has, because of the high cost of doing technological research for the government, small businesses are, unfortunately, often underrepresented in receiving such research-intensive government contracts. When the Federal Government looks to the private sector for the development of new technologies and ideas, they must look beyond simply large corporate conglomerates to the small businesses that truly drive our economy and create American jobs.

I am encouraged that this legislation and the language contained in it will make a number of necessary and overdue changes to the SBIR program, ensuring its continued use to help in the commercialization of those innovations made by small businesses. Additionally, this language will equip the SBIR program with important new tools to bring it more in line with the needs of small business owners in the 21st century. Included are important provisions to allow for increased oversight, more transparency and greater flow of information between the recipient and participating agencies. We will now have more timely solicitation responses from these agencies, the creation of an online database to properly study and measure the performance of businesses participating in the program and new restrictions regarding potential program abusers. These changes will help SBIR continue to be one of the few government assistance programs which actually works.

Finally, by responsively increasing the grant limits, which have not been altered in over 20 years since the program's inception while simultaneously not increasing the total funding pool, we ensure that this program is streamlined to become more effective and efficient, to focus on granting funds to those potentially successful ideas that need this type of support to transition from concept to reality. Rather than throwing more taxpayer money at an unnecessarily large amount of grants, the SBIR program will now focus on investing in those ideas from small businesses which actually possess the potential to reach full commercialization phase.

Today this House will make these important changes to the SBIR program to ensure its continued use as a resource, which helps small businesses bring their new and novel ideas to the market while also providing a value to our economy, which we all know it so desperately needs. Knowing that over 60 percent of American citizens get their paycheck from a small business, it only seems right in these tough economic times that we focus on beefing up those support efforts here in the Federal Government to help the largest employers in our country, small businesses. I urge a ``yes'' vote and passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Republican adopted standards

on earmarks, I submit the below detailed explanation of the Village of Hopedale, Village of Hopedale, IL.

Bill Number: H.R. 2996 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Provisions/Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: entity to receive funding for this project is the Village of Hopedale, located at Box 387, Hopedale,

Madam Speaker, I woke up this morning to the front page of my hometown paper, which read, Peoria's unemployment rate crosses double digits for first time in two decades.

At a time when our communities across this country are losing work and out of jobs, we in this body are passing a piece of legislation that will only do more, only put more people out on the street and in the unemployment lines.

This bill, on the average, will add to Illinois residents the cost equal to 1 month of their electricity bill. In essence, we are adding a 13th month to their utility bill. It doesn't matter whether my constituents are senior citizens living on a fixed income, families, businesses, we are asking them to pay more at a time when they have less.

Now, there is not a person in this room that doesn't want more of the same, more green energy, more wind, more nuclear, more solar power. But I, for one, believe we can get there without putting the conventional methods of energy out of business.

The Forbes amendment will do just that. It is creative ideas, incentivizing the behaviors that we want as opposed to what we don't that we need.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment and a ``no'' on the cap-and- tax bill.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Republican adopted standards on earmarks, I submit the below detailed explanation of the Illinois Meth Project, Springfield, Illinois.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Methamphetamine.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Illinois Meth Project, 937 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL 62704.

Description of Request: This funding will be used to prevent teen methamphetamine use in Illinois through community outreach and strategic advertising campaign. The state of Illinois has a critical methamphetamine problem and the Illinois Meth Project aims to combat such through large scale media campaign initiatives targeting teens and first time Meth use. A survey of central Illinois teens shows substantial, positive changes in attitudes towards Meth after the first wave of Illinois Meth project advertising.

Also, the Sangamon County Sheriff Technology Upgrades for the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, Springfield, Illinois.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, 1 Sheriff's Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701.

Description of Request: This funding will assist in the purchase of new equipment for a violent crime investigation initiative, court facility security cameras, video visitation monitoring system, computers, supportive technology and an X-Ray machine. Recent economic downturns have constrained the county's ability to support new or expanded projects.

And, the Schuyler County Sheriff Technology Upgrades for the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office, Rushville, Illinois

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department, 216 E. Lafayette, Rushville, IL 62681.

Description of Request: Funding in this request would be used to assist in technology upgrades for the county Sheriff's Department. This includes radio tower equipment, new console-control center in the main office, new in-car radios and cameras as well as hand held radios. Existing control panel is 25 years old. These upgrades will greatly enhance both officer and public safety.

The Springfield Police Department Technology Upgrade for the Springfield Police Department, Springfield, Illinois.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Springfield Police Department, 800 East Monroe Street, Room 300, Springfield, IL 62701.

Description of Request: This funding will be used to upgrade radio consoles, install video camera system at police firearms range/weapons facility, purchase wireless headsets, software upgrades, purchase mobile data computers. These advancements will strengthen several technological deficiencies to increase law enforcement in the city of Springfield and help officers to make state and national inquiries about suspected law violators.

The Interoperable Law Enforcement Communications for the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, Pekin, Illinois.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement Technology.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, 101 S. Capitol St., Tazewell County, Pekin, IL 61554.

Description of Request: This funding will be used to assist in purchase of communications equipment and radio frequencies to provide for complete coverage within the county's jurisdiction. This will provide better communications coverage in the county's jurisdiction as well as better communications with other Police Agencies with better dependability.

The Illinois Height Modernization for the Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois.

Bill Number: H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Provisions/Account: Department of Commerce, NOAA, Operations, Research and Facilities.

Name and Address of Requesting Entity: The entity to receive funding for this project is the Office of Sponsored Programs & Research Programs at the University of Illinois, located at 615 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820.

Description of Request: For the Illinois State Geological Survey to continue their Height Modernization project. This project will establish a datum-consistent vertical and horizontal statewide network of survey benchmarks and a statewide high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the earth's surface based upon the updated network of survey benchmarks (approximately half can no longer be located), the project would also provide a digital elevation (LiDAR) model for the state. This will establish accurate, reliable heights using GPS technology in conjunction with traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing. The necessity of this is to get accurate mapping of the state for urban and rural development.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, last night, I offered a simple amendment to study the economic impact of this body's delaying the enactment of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. While the majority accepted my amendment, it was clear that my amendment would not be included in the final version of the bill. As such, I requested a recorded vote as is my right as a Member of the House of Representatives.

This right was then denied to me by the majority.

This goes directly against what the Speaker said in her ``New Direction for America'', and I quote: ``Every person in America has a right to have his or her voice heard. No Member of Congress should be silenced on the floor.''

I had an issue that I thought should be included in the bill, and I have a right to try to amend the bill to include this provision. I followed the majority's requirements, jumped through all of their new hoops to offer this amendment. I followed all of the rules, yet was denied not because of procedure, not because of decorum, and not

even because my amendment lost the vote. Rather, I was denied by the majority because they didn't want their Members to have to take a stand.

Now, I come from the great State of Illinois. I love my State, the Land of Lincoln, the home of Obama. My State is also home to George Ryan, a Governor who is now in prison; Governor Blagojevich, a man who is on his way; and a State that's home to machine-style politics. I see this body headed in the same direction.

What happened here last night was a clear step in the wrong direction. The majority has shut us out of one of the last rights of the minority, the ability to offer amendments to appropriations bills. The majority now has even continued this trend in the rule by disallowing several noncontroversial amendments, a second of which I offered that would have added more funding to the Minority Business Development Agency, an agency which under the current bill will see a funding decrease over what the House Appropriations Committee approved last year.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the majority this: With a 40-seat majority, what do they fear in an open arena in the competition of ideas? What do they fear with letting a good idea stand the test of time, allow a hearing, allow debate, and allow their Members to vote them up or down? With a 40-seat majority, partisan amendments, amendments that really have no substance, would clearly die on a partisan vote. But those amendments that carry value, those amendments that will stand the test of time, and those amendments that are right for the American people, Independents, Republicans, and Democrats alike, will pass this body and should be allowed a vote.

Now, the majority last night argued that we were dilatory. I would argue it was democracy. Twenty minutes on an amendment is hardly dilatory. With 120 amendments the worst-case scenario, Mr. Speaker, would be four 10-hour days.

Is four 10-hour days too much to debate $64 billion of American taxpayer dollars?

We've seen the waste created by the haste of this body, of the happy spending majority that this body has, with the stimulus bill, the overbloated omnibus bill, and now this bill, which seeks to increase spending by over 12 percent.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule to allow democracy to continue in this body.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of amendment No. 8, which seeks to transfer $500,000 from the Census salary and expenses to the International Trade Administration.

The intent of this amendment is to dedicate funding for the International Trade Administration to conduct a study on the economic impact, including the loss of U.S. jobs, due to the failure of this body to pass the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. My intent is to have the ITA submit this study to Congress no later than 60 days after the date of this enactment.

For more than a year now, Congress has left an agreement sitting in our collective ``in box'' which will result in more good-paying manufacturing jobs for all Americans. And I, for one, want to know the price of this neglect.

Now, I understand that not everybody in this body or this Chamber shares my view. I know there are those who believe that the Colombian Free Trade Agreement will, in essence, result in the loss of American jobs. And to these Members, I would say vote for my amendment. If you are right, my amendment will prove that and the study subsequently will prove that. Please have the confidence in your convictions that I have in mine and vote for this amendment, and we'll see which of the two sides is correct.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Colombia and Panama with a number of both Republican and Democrat colleagues. During this trip, we met with President Uribe of Colombia. And the President detailed with great specificity the human rights and labor strides that his country has made over the last decade. Every question that my colleagues raised to President Uribe, he had an excellent answer. Every charge these Members made, Mr. Uribe described how his reforms had addressed the issues. Colombia has done her part, and now we in our country need to do our part to ensure our top democratic ally in the region remains a good one.

And while I found the President's answers remarkable, I was most impressed with the view of the Colombian people. The vast majority of the people in Colombia we met with support the free trade agreement, even though they already enjoy virtually duty-free access to the U.S. markets as a result of the Andean Trade Preferences Act. They support the trade agreement because it will mean not only a new relationship status with the United States, but they will also be able to buy even more American products, putting more dollars back in American pockets.

After our experience in Colombia, it was the overwhelming belief of the Members on that trip, both Republicans and Democrats, that they could see firsthand the benefits of a free trade agreement, truly highlighting the bipartisan support in this body for the pending free trade agreement.

The facts for a trade agreement speak for themselves. This free trade agreement will help make American companies more competitive globally, increase their profitability, allow them to hire new American workers and help stimulate the economy. Currently we enjoy a $2.7 billion trade surplus, including a manufacturing surplus with nations with which we have a signed free trade agreement. But for more than a year, the majority has disallowed this body to add Colombia to this list. America's two-way trade with Colombia reached $18 billion in 2007, making Colombia our fourth largest trading partner in Latin America. Since America's market is already open duty free for imports from Colombia, the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will give American businesses, farmers, ranchers and workers similar access to this important market. The independent nonpartisan International Trade Commission has estimated that the Colombia Free Trade Agreement would increase U.S. exports by at least $1 billion. Since Colombia signed the trade agreement in 2006, U.S. products have been charged more than $2 billion in needless duties, money that could have been spent by companies near our country making the products and expanding infrastructure here in our country to hire more domestic workers.

In 2008 the United States had a trade surplus of $35 billion with countries with FTAs that were signed under the Trade Promotion Authority, the same authority that the Colombia Free Trade Agreement was signed under. This surplus was up over 61 percent just in 2007. Finally, Colombia is a model country for what we need to do by providing an open hand from America to emerging democracies around the world. This country's bipartisan approach with Colombia, taken 10 years ago when they were on the verge of becoming a terrorist state, was a comprehensive diplomatic approach, one of open trade market policy and has brought them back toward a democracy. And the strongest way to promote democracy is with that same kind hand and the benefits it brings, not through an isolationist policy.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that on January 1, 2010, Colombia will formally enter into free trade agreements with Europe and Canada. For these reasons and more, I urge passage of this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Schock

Amendment No. 13: Page 6, line 12, after the dollar amount

insert ``(increased by $1,500,000)''.

Page 17, line 12, after the dollar amount insert ``(reduced

by $1,500,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Schock

Amendment No.8: Page 3, line 4, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(increased by $500,000)''.

Page 7, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced

by $500,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Schock

Amendment No.9: Page 3, line 4, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(increased by $500,000)''.

Page 4, line 7, insert before the period at the end the

following: ``; Provided further, That of the amount

appropriated under this heading $500,000 shall be used by the

International Trade Administration to conduct a study and

submit to Congress not later than 60 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act a report on the economic impact,

including the loss of jobs in the United States, since April

7, 2007, resulting from the failure to implement the United

States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement''.

Page 7, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced

by $500,000)''.