Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. This was a great thing we did. It had been--I was 8 years old the last time the Tax Code was reformed, and I think this is something we, frankly, ought to do every decade; at the worst case, every two decades; definitely not every 30 years. So it is about time to get it done.

I wish this could have been bipartisan. I think there are a lot of fantastic things in here, and I think it is quite obvious that the economy is showing some really big benefit as a result. I think it is hard to hide that. It is hard to pretend that that is not the case, even though some of our friends try to do that, but it is quite obvious it has worked.

I just want to tell a few stories of my district, the 16th District of Illinois. I was at a tax reform roundtable last month at the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, and I heard from my local business community about how this bill affects them and what they would like to see moving forward. One gentleman from Walnut, Illinois, in Bureau County, was really excited about the tax cuts his small business would receive. He plans to increase hourly wages and hire 7 to 10 new employees over the next 2 years. That, my friends, is not crumbs. That is important.

The tax relief for businesses, large and small, is being shared with employees all over. Over the last few months, more than 300 companies, and counting, have announced plans to add people, add bonuses, add to retirement benefits, and give back to the U.S. economy.

Employees at UPS in my district, Home Depot, Bank of America, Ryder, AT&T, U-Haul, and many others with Illinois locations will receive these bonuses and benefits.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Fiat Chrysler plant in Belvidere, Illinois, and I met with employees who were excited and encouraged by the $2,000 bonus they will receive in the second quarter of this year.

According to the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 85 percent of Illinoisans will see a tax cut next year, and the nonpartisan Tax Foundation has estimated that the State of Illinois stands to gain tens of thousands of jobs from this reform.

This is great news. By bringing the Tax Code into the 21st century to reflect current day is real and tangible in terms of the benefits it will put into our economy.

Our future is bright, our economy is growing stronger, and, with tax relief, the American Dream is once again on the horizon for folks in my district and across the country. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Reverend Billy Graham, America's Pastor, who passed away on February 21, 2018 to return home to his Lord and Savior. As a nation, we mourn the passing of Billy Graham, and send our deepest condolences to the Graham family. Billy Graham preached the Gospel, and his influence can hardly be quantified. His ministry career and crusades inspired and motivated millions, and carried out his mission to save souls around the world.

Early in his career, Reverend Graham served the Midwest as a pastor in Western Springs, Illinois. He attended Wheaton College and in 1981, they opened a center in his honor. During his time in Illinois, Graham took on a radio ministry program based in Chicago and expanded his activism. From there, he began to completely transform American religious life through his compelling sermons and preaching. Billy Graham went on to serve across the country, in many ways and on many platforms. He provided spiritual counsel to every President of the United States from Harry Truman to Barack Obama, and was a strong figure in the civil rights movement urging for integration.

Mr. Speaker, Billy Graham was a humble servant to the Lord who changed countless lives for the better. His was a life well lived. And I know his legacy will live on forever. Today, let us look up in the sky and give thanks to our faithful, steadfast friend who is finally at home with God and resting in eternal peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 767, the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Act. I am a proud colead of this important bill with Mr. Cohen from Tennessee, and I thank him for his work.

Mr. Speaker, when someone says ``human trafficking,'' oftentimes we view it as a problem far away from our shores that affects people who are not us. It is hard to imagine that this modern-day slavery is happening over here, hurting the people within our community every day. In my home State of Illinois, we have the fifth highest number of trafficking cases in this country; and the city of Rockford, in my district, is ranked second behind Chicago in human trafficking cases.

The most important thing we can do to combat this heinous crime is to raise awareness. That is what the SOAR to Health and Wellness Act is designed to do. This important legislation would expand on a pilot program with the Department of Health and Human Services by supporting the training of healthcare workers to identify victims and best care for them through established protocols and procedures.

Many times, when trafficking victims come to emergency rooms, healthcare professionals may not always spot the signs that their patient was a victim of human trafficking. Education is critical in combating human trafficking, and our awareness could, in fact, save a life.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 767. I believe it can have an impact towards identifying cases of human trafficking and helping the most vulnerable and at-risk individuals of this evil crime.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the Honorable John B. Anderson and pay tribute to a man who inspired many to serve.

On December 3, 2017, John Anderson passed away at the age of 95. In mourning his death, I send my condolences to his wife, Keke, and the entire Anderson family.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, John Anderson attended Rockford Central High School and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1939. Before representing Illinois' 16th District in the House of Representatives, the district that I now proudly represent, John Anderson answered the call to serve as a staff sergeant in the United States Army.

He left law school in 1943 to enlist, and bravely served his country through the end of World War II. A decorated war veteran, John Anderson was honored with four battle stars for valor in combat.

Upon returning home to Rockford, John finished his law degree at the University of Illinois, and then went to Harvard to earn his master of laws degree. A few years later, he joined the Foreign Service and worked in Germany for the United States High Commissioner.

After returning home to Rockford, he was elected as Winnebago County State's Attorney in 1956. Shortly after, he joined the primary race for Congress and went on to win the House seat in 1960.

For 10 terms, John Anderson represented the 16th Congressional District of Illinois. He was on the powerful Rules Committee and held firm to his fiscally conservative values. He believed in a smaller and more accountable government, and he wasn't afraid to speak up for it.

His servant leadership and love of country earned him the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference, ranking third in House leadership. This esteemed position eventually led to his run for President.

John Anderson believed that his job was worth giving up in order to set a better example of realism in politics. As a community and as a country, we are better for his candor, his focus, and his honesty.

To this day, John's pragmatic approach and self-awareness continue to inspire many and greatly impact my service here in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, John Anderson dedicated his life to serving our Rockford community and this great Nation, and he served us proudly. After his political career, he continued to serve by becoming a visiting professor at several universities across the country.

On behalf of the 16th Congressional District of Illinois, we salute the service of our fallen leader, friend, neighbor, and dedicated civil servant. It is my hope that his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come and that his impact will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Illinoisans in celebrating 200 years of being the Land of Lincoln, the Prairie State, the heart of the Midwest, and the true microcosm of America.

With our varied landscape and diverse population, our location in the dead center of the country, and our historical significance, Illinois is home to the hard-working and the kind-hearted. On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state admitted to the Union.

Today, Illinois is the fifth most populated state in the country and the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. Our proud state leads the nation in agriculture, manufacturing, specialized license plates, and is home to superheroes. Yes, we boast about having the highest number of personalized license plates produced in the country, and the home of Superman really exists in Southern Illinois. We are home to the beloved 2016 World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs, and the recently beleaguered but still beloved, Chicago Bears.

U.S. Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Reagan, and Obama all lived in Illinois. In fact, Ronald Reagan's boyhood home of Dixon is located in the district I represent. Illinois' 16th Congressional District is also home to the First Lincoln-Douglas Debate, which took place on August 21, 1858 in downtown Ottawa's Washington Square.

We're proud to celebrate this rich history, fortunate to call Illinois home, and honored to serve our communities here in Congress. As we kick off this bicentennial celebration of our Great Pumpkin State, we have a lot to be proud of and a lot of history to look back on.

Mr. Speaker, today I stand here to wish Illinois a very happy birthday and a wonderful bicentennial celebration all year long. Here's to our state sovereignty and national union.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Officer Jaimie Cox, a fallen hero from my district who was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop on November 5, 2017.

Jaimie Cox, a Rockford native, served our community and our country proudly. After graduating high school, he served in the United States Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and was honorably discharged in 2010. He went on to attend Northern Illinois University and graduated in 2014.

For his military service, Cox received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He also won the Illinois National Guard Abraham Lincoln Medal of Freedom Ribbon.

Following college, Cox joined the law enforcement division at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources before coming home to serve as an officer in the Rockford Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, Jaimie Cox spent his life dedicated to serving and protecting others. On a daily basis, he risked his life to help others and he gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community.

On behalf of the 16th Congressional District of Illinois, we honor his service, mourn his sacrifice, and pay tribute to our fallen hero, Jaimie Cox.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Army veteran, community leader, and my constituent, Arnold Park of Streator, Illinois.

Mr. Park served his country for two years in Germany before returning home to Streator to run the Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance Agency for the next thirty-five years. In this capacity, he was a trusted community member and able to provide peace of mind to thousands of my constituents. He also served his community as a member and President of the Streator School Board and as a council officer at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

His dedication to his community and his neighbors continued throughout his life, with Mr. Park most recently dedicating his time and efforts to the Ramp Builders for St. Paul, an organization he founded which constructs and installs wheelchair ramps to help individuals with handicaps and senior citizens access their homes. The Ramp Builders have built hundreds of ramps since 1987 and it now serves people in nearby communities such as Ottawa, Marseilles, and Seneca.

Without question, Arnold Park positively impacted not only his family and loved ones, but also the entire Streator community. His commitment to his profession, his family, his community, and his faith should serve as an example to all of us.

Sadly, Mr. Park passed away on October 9, 2017. I offer my condolences to his widow, children, and grandchildren. Each of them should know how grateful his community and his country are for all he achieved during his life. It is truly an honor to represent an area of Illinois in which people like Arnold Park are making a difference in others' lives each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the Alliance to Save Energy on its 40th Anniversary. Founded in 1977 following the oil embargo, the Alliance has been dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of the United States. It was established by Senators Charles Percy, a Republican from Illinois, and Hubert Humphrey, a Democrat from Minnesota, reflecting the organization's deep bipartisan roots and commitment to practical approaches to policy; a philosophy that guides the Alliance's work today.

The benefits of energy efficiency are broad. Not only does using less energy save money for American families and businesses on their utility bills, it allows our nation's valuable resources to last longer and produce more for our economy. When we can power our nation with domestic resources, we don't have to rely on foreign sources and the risks that accompany them. For this reason, energy efficiency and energy security are just as intricately linked as they were in 1977.

Improving energy efficiency in federal buildings remains one of my top priorities, particularly when it can be done through common-

sense, public-private partnerships and performance contracts that save taxpayer funds. Each and every time the energy efficiency of a federal building is improved, the taxpayer wins. When the private sector is engaged and deploys its resources to make those improvements, the taxpayer wins many times over. For this reason, I am proud of my work to support Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs), including legislation I introduced along with my friend Peter Welch of Vermont that would lead to more investments, better leverage of public funds, and greater savings. The Alliance endorses my bipartisan legislation and I am thankful for their support.

Again, congratulations to the Alliance on reaching its 40th Anniversary. It is truly an honor to serve on this organization's Honorary Board, along with my colleagues Peter Welch of Vermont, Michael Burgess of Texas, David McKinley of West Virginia, Dave Reichert of Washington, and Paul Tonko of New York, as well as several Senate colleagues. As a group, I believe we truly represent the diversity of opinions on energy issues in Congress, but we also represent the Alliance's strong commitment to bipartisanship. We've come a long way on federal energy efficiency policy, and I look forward to what can be accomplished over the next 40 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 2017 Congressional Veteran Commendation from the 16th District of Illinois.

The eight veterans receiving this commendation represent the best of the brave men and women who serve our country. These veterans answered their country's call during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. As a veteran myself, it is incredibly humbling to not only represent these heroes in Congress, but also to have the opportunity to honor them for their patriotism and sacrifices on behalf of our nation.

After their military service to our country, these veterans came home to serve their communities. They are civic leaders, active citizens, and many continue to serve their military brothers and sisters through veteran service organizations. Although their mission has changed since returning to civilian life, their leadership and tenacity remains steadfast.

It is truly an honor to recognize the recipients of the 2017 Congressional Veteran Commendation: Sergeant David S. Buennemeyer of Marseilles, IL; Private First Class William J. Butzen of Ottawa, IL; Captain Thomas M. Craig of Streator, IL; Chief Petty Officer Irving F. DeWald of Coal City, IL; Chief Warrant Officer Four John ``Jack'' A. Leininger of Marseilles, IL; Master Sergeant Ashley ``Dave'' C. Davis of Rockford, IL; Sergeant Kelly Frey of Kankakee, IL; Sergeant Steven M. Huettemann of Morris, IL; Staff Sergeant Wm. Walter Lochbaum of Streator, IL; Sergeant Alan D. Love of Morris, IL; Petty Officer Third Class James A. Rissman of Sheridan, IL; Petty Officer Third Class Robert T. Rogers of Morris, IL; Specialist Four Randal E. Rosengren of Ottawa, IL; Sergeant Eric W. Sampson of Morris, IL; and Airman Third Class Timothy K. Stratton of Poplar Grove, IL.

Again, I am truly honored to be able to recognize these distinguished veterans from my district. I thank and acknowledge not only their service and sacrifice but also that of their families and loved ones. The recipients of this commendation serve as the embodiment of both military and civil service, and it is my hope they will inspire the next generation of great American leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Josh Baggett for his years of service to the people of Illinois' 16th Congressional District. After ten years of working on the Hill, moving from intern to Legislative Director, Josh is now moving on to new endeavors.

Josh Baggett has worked in my office for over six years. He is a valued member of my office, a mentor to staff and interns, and of course, an important part of the intramural softball team.

While my staff and I are sad to see him leave, as well as his beloved dogs Magpie and Rooster, we know he'll always be a member of Team Kinzinger, and we look forward to seeing him excel as he takes this next step in his career.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District, I would like to share my heartfelt thanks to Josh for his hard work, and wish him all the very best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a constituent of mine, Blouke Carus of Peru, Illinois on turning 90 this month.

Mr. Carus is Chairman Emeritus of Carus Corporation a Peru-based company that assists municipalities and industries with utilizing products for environmental cleanup. Before that, Mr. Carus served as the Chairman of Carus Publishing Company, which published educational magazines and books for children.

Because of his lifelong interest in education, Mr. Carus served as a Presidential appointee on the National Council on Education Research, and continued his work as a community leader by helping to establish the Illinois Valley Community College.

Mr. Carus obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1949, after having served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy. He is married to Marianne Carus, and they have three children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Sixteenth Congressional District, I would like to sincerely congratulate Mr. Carus and the rest of his family on this amazing milestone and life achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you and the chairman. I want to commend the chairman. I want to commend Mr. Engel for his foresight in this bill and for bringing it to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I was just recently in Auschwitz. It was my first visit to Auschwitz and, obviously, seeing something like that is not something you are going to forget very quickly. Seeing something like that and an industrial machine put together to eliminate people is not something that people thought humanity was capable of

until they found out that it actually was possible.

So in preserving Auschwitz, the purpose was to say: Hey, this is possible. Never forget that this can happen again.

Mr. Speaker, it was just recently that we learned about the crematorium that was built in the Syrian prison.

Now, why was this built?

It was built to hide the massive amounts of bodies coming out, tortured to death; destroyed the lives cut short in this Syrian prison. It was used to disguise that. It was used to prevent mass graves from being dug.

I think that proves that Bashar al-Assad is actually a modern-day Hitler. In fact, if you look at when, as was mentioned prior, Caesar came to our committee and showed us the images of brutality--the government cataloging the victims of the Syrian regime with markers written on the body, a numbering system, and a catalog to say, in essence, document these massive amounts of death--it became very clear to us in a very visual sense what was going on in Syria.

Mr. Speaker, oftentimes it is easy in the United States of America, where we have a lot of comforts and we have a lot of things granted to us that we take for granted, to look at a situation happening overseas and think it doesn't apply to us or doesn't affect us; and it is really tempting sometimes to get into that because it is easy sometimes to pretend something doesn't affect us. But it does.

We see the massive amounts of migration from Syria, the young 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds who are not going to school now because they have been disrupted and their lives have been disrupted, and in 5 or 6 years, if they don't get an education and don't get hope and opportunity, they will provide now the next recruiting ground for ISIS, or ISIS two, or al-Qaida three, because people without hope and without opportunity are easy to bring into a terrorist ideology like those.

Mr. Speaker, the President rightly decided to enforce the red line in Syria when it came to the use of chemical weapons--something that the Western world has held very dear, that chemical weapons on the battlefield have no place--and he destroyed a Syrian airfield. It was the right move. It began to shift the balance of power in Syria, but way more needs to be done.

I have called for action in Syria, as many on this committee have for a very long time, and this, the Caesar bill, is a fantastic first step to doing it. It would increase sanctions on the Assad regime and its supporters for continued atrocities committed against the Syrian people. It requires this administration and any future administration to stand up and impose costs on the Russians, on the Iranians, and on the Syrian backers for the barrel bombing and gassing of innocent civilians.

Think about that, a barrel filled with explosives dropped indiscriminately on a population center intended to commit the largest amounts of casualties possible; a GPS-guided bomb, or a laser-guided bomb intentionally dropped into a hospital, and then a delay of 20 minutes so they can hit it again, or hit areas where first responders have responded to.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't a legitimate way of fighting war, if there is a legitimate way of fighting war. This is brutality to the top level, and this is a great step for this Congress to take. We unanimously passed this the last time. I sure hope we can do that again.

Again, I thank the leadership for leading on this. I thank Mr. Engel and Chairman Royce for their leadership.

I ask my colleagues to join me and join us in supporting this very important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the LaSalle County Historical Society's Museum in Utica, Illinois. The LaSalle County Historical Society was formed in 1907 and acquired their first building, the 1848 Canal Warehouse in 1967. Since then, the museum campus has grown to a one-room school house, a Heritage Center, a blacksmith shop, and a barn from 1875.

Their mission statement says ``To search out, procure and preserve in permanent form, facts and data in the history of the County of LaSalle as related to persons, places and all objects therein. In order to meet said purpose, the primary duty of the Society shall be to discover, collect, and preserve any facts or relics pertaining to the history of LaSalle County and to encourage the study of LaSalle County heritage, its times and people.''

The Museum spans the long and varied history of LaSalle County, including artifacts from the Native Americans and earliest settlers of this region to the carriage that Abraham Lincoln used to travel to the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate held in Ottawa, Illinois.

The building itself, a nineteenth century warehouse situated along the historic I&M Canal, served as a warehouse for the local cement mill and a general store before becoming Utica's first post office in 1849. The LaSalle County Historical Society saved the historic warehouse from destruction and now the region is one of the most popular Illinois vacation destinations with 2.2 million annual visitors.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th Congressional District, the citizens of LaSalle County, and the millions who have enjoyed learning about the history of LaSalle County at the Museum, I sincerely congratulate them on achieving this milestone. The importance of preserving and appreciating our history cannot be overlooked and the dedication of the LaSalle County Historical Society and all of their volunteers is a key part of this time honored tradition. I look forward to what they will accomplish in the next fifty years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate William A. Scott of New Brunswick, New Jersey on turning 100 this May. Mr. Scott is the grandfather of my constituent, Michael Koolidge--a fellow veteran and syndicated radio host in Rockford, Illinois.

When World War II broke out, Mr. Scott answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. ``Scotty'' as his fellow sailors called him, was a Seaman Second Class and spent time working on torpedo bomber planes that were eventually deployed throughout the world in the Allied war effort. During his service, Mr. Scott was awarded the American Theater Ribbon and the World War Two Victory Medal.

Following America's victory, Mr. Scott returned to work at the Calco Chemical Company in Bound Brook, New Jersey, working there for the next several decades as a Plastics and Banbury Operator. After retirement, Mr. Scott traveled with his wife, Betty to all 48 continental states in the same car, a Volkswagen Beetle to see everything this great country of ours had to offer.

In addition to volunteering in his community for the Meadows Foundation historic preservation group, Mr. Scott has been a member of the American Legion Post 12 in Somerville, New Jersey for four decades, where he held several key positions, such as Sergeant at Arms and Honor Guard. He has continued to provide numerous memorial services for fellow veterans and servicemen during his time at the American Legion Post 12.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Sixteenth Congressional District, I would like to sincerely congratulate William, his grandson, Michael, and the rest of their family on this amazing milestone and life achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a constituent of mine, Kelly Murphy, on her achievements as a member of the 2016 U.S. Women's Volleyball team.

Volleyball runs in the Murphy family. Her mother, Sandy played volleyball at Illinois State University, and Kelly herself started playing at the age of 11. Prior to being confirmed on the team in July of last year, Kelly was a four-year varsity player at Joliet Catholic Academy from 2004 to 2007. During her four seasons there, she helped her team to a 133-31 record, winning four regional titles, three sectional titles and posting fourth and third-place finishes in state competition in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Kelly was named the Gatorade High School National Player of the Year.

Following her career at Joliet Catholic, Kelly moved on to the University of Florida, where she was the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year and the 2010 SEC Player of the Year. Having started every match during her career at Florida, Kelly led her team to a 107-17 record, two Southeastern Conference titles, and she made the all-conference team four times in a row.

In 2016, Kelly achieved the honor of being one of 12 players selected to represent our country at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kelly and the team came home with the bronze medal after defeating the Netherlands in four sets. This accomplishment in Rio continued the tradition: marking three straight Olympics in a row where the U.S. Women's Volleyball team has won a medal.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Sixteenth Congressional District, I would like to sincerely applaud Kelly Murphy for her commitment to her sport, her team, and her country. We are all truly proud of her and her achievements.