Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Matthew Parker of Rock Island, Illinois, who devoted his life to serving his country and community, and who sadly passed away in August of last year.

Matthew served in the Navy during World War II. After his service in the Navy, he worked at IH Farmall in Rock Island for 39 years and also operated his own business, Parker Janitorial Services, with his wife, Katherine, for 33 years. He served as a trustee for Rock Island Township for more than 35 years. He was also a member of the Rock Island County NAACP and the Martin Luther King Center Active Club, among several other organizations. Matthew was civically engaged as a precinct committeeman for 23 years, and was a longtime community activist.

During his life, Matthew was honored numerous times for his dedication to service. In 2005, Matthew Parker was awarded the John Williams Community Award for his contributions in making the region a better place to live. In 2008 he received the Excellence in Public Service Award from Township Officials of Illinois for his work in the Rock Island Township. Most recently, in September 2017 the Matthew Parker Gardens were dedicated at Rock Island Township's 2nd Annual Township Days to honor Matthew for his decades of service as a trustee.

It is because of dedicated and selfless leaders such as Matthew Parker that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally recognize the late Matthew Parker on his extraordinary work and service in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend William Herbert Gluck, fondly known as ``Preacher Bill,'' of Andalusia for his fifty years of service to Community Baptist Church.

Preacher Bill was born on October 15, 1936 to William and Catherine Gluck, and grew up in Moline. After graduating from Moline High School in 1954, Preacher Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for eight years. After leaving the Army in 1962, Preacher Bill served as a pastor for a short time in Georgia, and volunteered at Central Baptist Church in Moline before finally beginning his impressive tenure at Community Baptist in Andalusia in October of 1967. In August of 1968, Preacher Bill married his wife, Carol, who sadly passed away in 2011. He has been blessed with six children, ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Preacher Bill once again for his dedicated service to Community Baptist Church over the last five decades. I wish him, his church, and his family nothing but the very best in all the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the historic Coronado Theatre in Rockford, Illinois, on their 90th birthday.

The Coronado Theatre was built in 1927, and over the years it has hosted many legendary performers including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong, and more recently, Jerry Seinfeld.

Between 1999 and 2001 the theater underwent an $18.5 million renovation, thanks to the support of the community, the City of Rockford, and Friends of the Coronado, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring the theater will continue to be a community asset for all to use and share. The renovation preserved the theater's history while making much-needed improvements to ensure future generations would be able to enjoy all the theater has to offer. The Coronado Theatre's staff, Friends of the Coronado, and the entire Rockford community should be truly proud of this milestone birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I again want to congratulate Coronado Theatre on this momentous birthday, and wish them much success over their next 90 years

Mr. Speaker, we are here, almost 10 months into this congressional session, and what has been accomplished? While TrumpCare supporters have gone back and forth on a plan that would take healthcare away from millions of Americans, raise out-of-pocket costs for people with preexisting conditions, and force too many rural hospitals to close their doors, they have completely missed a real healthcare crisis that is coming tomorrow. That is when Federal funding runs out for thousands of community health clinics and for millions of low-income children and for pregnant women across our country.

For years, community health clinics and the Children's Health Insurance Program have enjoyed strong bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle here.

So why aren't we voting to protect these critical programs right now? Mr. Speaker, we were sent here to help the hardworking families that we serve and offer them a better deal. Now that the TrumpCare package has thankfully failed again, I hope we can start doing that.

Madam Speaker, the economy simply is not working the way it should. Millions of hardworking men and women across the heartland feel the American Dream has slipped out of reach.

In places like Galesburg, Hanover, and Freeport, Illinois, too many of the families I serve have seen their jobs boxed up and shipped to places like Mexico and China. To make ends meet, many of them have had to take on two or three minimum wage jobs.

That is not the American Dream that we believe in. We believe in an America where we never give up on the fight for better jobs, better wages, and a better future for all of our families.

This is why I was proud to help present the American public with our ``Better Deal'' economic agenda. Together, we will help 10 million hardworking Americans find good-paying, full-time jobs by making bold investments in our roads and bridges, and doubling our investments in workforce training and apprenticeships to connect workers with the skills that employers need.

And while wages will go up, costs will go down by reducing the price of prescription drugs and making childcare more affordable.

The American people are tired of excuses from Washington. They want real action, and we have a real plan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Randy Smith on his retirement from serving as President of United Auto Workers Local 974 in Peoria, Illinois and thank him for his many years of service.

Randy Smith has been a loyal member of the UAW for decades. His dedication and outstanding service to Local 974 led to his election as Vice President in 2010 and his success in this role has allowed him to serve as President since 2013. In addition to his leadership role, Randy has also showed his commitment to the community with his service on the Local 974 Heather Henninger Scholarship Committee, which gives over $10,000 in scholarship money each year to the children and grandchildren of active, retired, and deceased UAW members to help fund their college education. His service in this role has made a difference in the lives of countless children by expanding their access to educational opportunities.

Mr. Speaker I am proud to recognize Randy's achievements and the incredible support he has provided to the Peoria community. I wish him the best in his retirement and thank him for the invaluable service he has provided to our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Freeport High School Boys Track and Field team for earning the Class 2A Illinois State Championship.

The Freeport Boys Track and Field team scored 37 points and defeated over seventy other teams to win the title. Their dedication and passion for their sport meant that they were determined to win gold. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work and commitment to be awarded such a title. The Freeport Track and Field team is an example of the importance of dedication and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see them represent Freeport throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate the Freeport Boys Track and Field team on their title, and I join the rest of the community in wishing them every success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the renaming of the Centennial Bridge in Rock Island to the Stanley Talbot Memorial Bridge in honor of Master Sergeant Stanley W. Talbot. After serving our community for decades--and after being taken from us far too soon--it is fitting that we honor Master Sgt. Talbot and his family for his dedication, selflessness and public service.

Every day we rely on men and women in uniform to protect our families, as they bravely risk their lives for our safety. We must never forget that these men and women are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends. As the wife of a Sheriff, I sympathize with the family, friends and colleagues of Master Sgt. Talbot. He was a beloved member of the community and his 26 year service to the Illinois State Police deserves to be honored in a public and lasting way.

Memorials and dedications like these help us to remember his sacrifice and the brave sacrifices of those that come after him. Once again, I want to honor Master Sgt. Talbot, and support law enforcement within our community.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to cut waste and strengthen our military installations.

This amendment would require the Department of Defense to ensure that there is not usable space available on a military installation before entering into expensive leases or purchasing additional property.

To put this into context, you wouldn't lease space in a parking lot if you already had room in your own garage to park your car.

This amendment is needed because, while asking for another round of base realignments and closures, the Department of Defense leased more than 6,000 buildings in fiscal year 2015 instead of using available space that it already owns.

That sounds like a waste to me.

My Congressional district is home to the Rock Island Arsenal, and we're proud to have it as part of our community.

It houses the Army's only remaining foundry and employs more than 6,000 hardworking people.

But like many of our military installations, it has room for more.

We should be using facilities like the Arsenal to their full potential, especially when it means we can reduce overall costs.

That's why I'm offering this amendment today.

I want to thank my bipartisan cosponsors Congressmen Paul Gosar, Dave Loebsack and Walter Jones for their support of this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Detective Scott J. Williams, who is retiring from the Moline Police Department. Detective Williams has honorably served the people of Moline for the past 30 years and he will be greatly missed.

Detective Williams began his lifelong career in public service in 1981 as a correctional officer with the Rock Island County Sheriff's Office prior to joining the United States Marine Corps, where he served with the Department of State in Embassy Security. Upon returning home, he continued his education and joined the Moline Police Department in 1987.

Detective Williams has served every level of our community with great distinction and heart over the past three decades. His impressive career has spanned from undercover work with the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group to reduce drugs on our streets, to working as a DARE officer in newly created drug education programs. Detective Williams has always gone above and beyond to strengthen our community in these roles, in addition to being president of the Police Benevolent Association.

Detective Williams has dedicated his career to ensuring public safety, and striving to protect and improve the lives of individuals within his community. I am confident that he will continue to do just that as he joins the United States Marshal's Office at the Scott County Federal Courthouse in the next chapter of his career. I am proud to have such dedicated civil servants in Illinois' 17th Congressional District, and the role he has played in bettering our community will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Detective Williams for his commitment to public service and the example he has set for our community. I congratulate him again and wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Trey Miller, a senior from Lewistown High School, for earning the Class IA title for the Illinois State Championship in the 110 meter hurdles.

Trey Miller earned a time of 14.80 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles to claim his title as state champion, and I would like to recognize Trey for his tremendous accomplishment. Trey's dedication and passion for his sport meant that he was determined to win gold, even after winning silver in last year's 110 high hurdles state championship. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work

and commitment to be awarded such a title. Trey is an example of the importance of dedication and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see him represent Lewistown throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Trey Miller on his title, and I join the rest of the community in wishing him every success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Easton Bianchi, a junior at Newman Central Catholic in Sterling, Illinois, for earning the Class IA title for the Illinois State Championship in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash.

Easton Bianchi earned a time of 10.86 seconds in the 100 meter dash, and earned a time of 21.78 seconds in the 200 meter dash to win him the title of state champion for both races. I would like to recognize Easton for his tremendous accomplishment. Easton's dedication and passion for his sport meant that he was determined to win gold for not just one race, but two. With both of these wins, Easton is the first- ever individual track & field state champion in Newman Central Catholic School history. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work and commitment to be awarded such a title. Easton is an example of the importance of perseverance and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see him represent Sterling throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Easton Bianchi on his titles, and I join the rest of the community in wishing him every success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Grace McLaughlin, a junior at Rockford Boylan Catholic High School, for earning the Class 2A title for the Illinois State championships in the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter run.

Grace McLaughlin earned a time of 5:03.97 for the 1600 meter run, and earned a time of 10:40.45 for the 3200 meter run to win her the title of state champion for both races. I would like recognize Grace for her tremendous accomplishment. Grace's dedication and passion

for her sport meant that she was determined to win gold for not just one race, but two. With both of these wins, Grace added two more state championships to her list of other championships. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work and commitment to be awarded such a title. Grace is an example of the importance of perseverance and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see him represent Rockford throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Grace McLaughlin for her titles, and I join the rest of the community in wishing her every success in the future

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Erika Furbeck, a junior at Geneseo High School, for earning the Class 2A title for the Illinois State Championships in the long jump.

Erika Furbeck jumped a distance of 19 feet, 5 inches in the long jump, and I would like to recognize her for this tremendous accomplishment. Her dedication and passion for her sport meant that they were determined to win gold, even after winning silver in last year's state championship for the long jump. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work and commitment to be awarded such a title. Erika is an example of the importance of perseverance and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see them represent Geneseo throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Erika Furbeck for her title, and I join the rest of the community in wishing her every success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Reed Vanderheyden, Nathan Soria, Lucas Hofer and Nick Swartzendruber from Geneseo High School for earning the Class 2A title for the Illinois State Championships in the 4x400 meter relay.

Reed, Nathan, Lucas and Nick Swartzendruber earned a time of 3:21.27a in the 4x400 meter relay, and I would like to recognize them for their tremendous accomplishment. Their dedication and passion for their sport meant that they were determined to win gold, winning Geneseo High School's first-ever relay state championship and breaking school records along the way. As a former athlete, I understand the amount of hard work and commitment to be awarded such a title. Reed, Nathan, Lucas and Nick are examples of the importance of perseverance, teamwork and a strong work ethic. I am proud there is such young talent in our community, and to see them represent Geneseo throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Reed Vanderheyden, Nathan Soria, Lucas Hofer and Nick Swartzendruber for their titles, and I join the rest of the community in wishing them every success in the future.