Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lemont High School Baseball Team, which recently won its first IHSA Class 3A Baseball State Championship. This is the first state championship for a boys' team in any sport at Lemont High School.

On June 14, 2014, the team garnered a 2-1 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at Silver Cross Field in Joliet to win the championship. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication this team put into their performance and would like to congratulate them on this tremendous team achievement.

The team, under the guidance of head coach Brian Storako, had a great season leading up to the IHSA State Finals. They accomplished a school single-season record for wins and captured a sixth straight South Suburban Conference-Blue Division title.

Prior to this season, the most postseason success the Indians had seen was an IHSA Regional title. They not only won the program's first state championship, but also collected their first-ever IHSA Sectional and Super-Sectional crowns.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this impressive accomplishment by the Lemont High School Baseball Team and to congratulate them on their state championship.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4660. I would like to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for their hard work on this bill.

While they have had to make some tough budget choices with a reduced level of funding, this bill still shows a strong commitment to scientific research at the National Science Foundation and also NASA.

Investment in research is vital to our economic future because it helps us achieve discoveries that will keep the U.S. at the cutting edge of science and technology and creating new American jobs.

I also want to take a moment to honor my good friend from Virginia, Chairman Wolf. Even in an era of partisan polarization and heated rhetoric, he has taken great pains to craft bills like this one that get broad support from Members on both sides of the aisle. He has been a strong defender of American security and a strong supporter of American manufacturing; and, most importantly, throughout his career, he has been a courageous fighter for human rights around the world, while never losing sight of his duty to his constituents here at home. He has been a good example for all of us in this body.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to support the strong funding, especially for the National Science Foundation, in this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding.

As a cosponsor of WRRDA, I rise today in strong support of this conference report. I am pleased with the bipartisan cooperation in and between both the House and the Senate. I think this is a blueprint for how Congress can move forward together on the goals of protecting American jobs and investing in infrastructure.

I have been happy to work with Congressman Whitfield on the WAVE4 Act and appreciate that WRRDA includes provisions from that bill. These will allow the U.S. to make important additional investments in our Nation's aging inland waterways, including locks and dams such as the one in Lockport, Illinois.

The conference report also takes additional steps to control the threat of Asian carp to the Great Lakes. I am pleased that it includes language resolving concerns about a potential dredge spoils site, the Lucas-Berg CDF in Worth, Illinois.

Finally, I am very happy with the strong buy American provisions included in this bill that will help assure that we are creating American jobs.

By passing this conference report today, we will move forward a number of important national priorities: facilitating the movement of goods and freight, investing in infrastructure, creating jobs, and reducing red tape to get projects done. I commend Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member Rahall, and the many others who worked very hard to get this bill done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the upcoming nuptials of Ms. Megan Maureen Korczynski to Kevin Paul Gow, Jr., on May 24, 2014. Ms. Korczynski and her family have been lifetime residents and volunteers in the Chicago area and it is my pleasure to acknowledge such a joyous occasion.

Ms. Korczynski and Mr. Gow have both enjoyed their time living and studying in Chicago and are ready to start a new chapter in their lives together. Ms. Korczynski is the daughter of Mrs. Diane Korczynski, a seasoned elementary education teacher, and Mr. Edwin Korczynski, a Major United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civilian Air Patrol. Both of whom have worked hard to instill the qualities of great character, competence, vision and drive into their daughter throughout her life. They are extremely proud of the woman she has become and could not be happier for her upcoming marriage. Mr. Gow, Jr., is the son of Kevin Gow, Sr., a former U.S. Marine Capitan, and the late Mrs. Gow. Both of whom can take great pride in the admirable man he has become today.

On May 24, 2014, both Megan Korczynski and Kevin Paul Gow, Jr., will partake in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. On that merry day the couple will be surrounded by their family and friends who will help them celebrate with their love and support. I would like to extend my best wishes to the happy couple. This is truly a momentous event in their lives, and as they celebrate their wedding, I wish them great happiness and joy for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 50th anniversary of the West Suburban Water Commission, which celebrated the milestone on April 23, 2014. The Water Commission was created to provide the residents of Justice and Willow Springs clean and safe water. Chairman Alan Nowaczyk, who also serves as the Mayor of Willow Springs, has provided great leadership to the Water Commission and continues to expand the excellent service it provides.

Founded in May of 1964, it was originally named the Justice-Willow Springs Water Commissions. The Water Commission became incorporated in Cook Country which created a utility with a mission to providing safe and clean water to the residents of Justice and Willow Springs. From that point on the newly formed Water Commission began planning major projects to enhance and expand service throughout community.

One of the Commission's first major accomplishments came in 1975 when the Water Commission finished installing a new water main to expand service to North Willow Springs. Just over a decade later in 1986 the Water Commission faced its first major crisis when the Des Plaines River flooded. The flood displaced thousands and caused an estimated $35 million in damage to the surrounding community. The Water Commission responded by working around the clock to pump water from the streets and get life back to normal in the western suburbs.

Since the flood, the Water Commission has committed itself to upgrading and improving the infrastructure of the rapidly growing area. For example, The Commission added a new computerized monitoring system increased the efficiency of the newly renamed Water Commission. This year the Water Commission was renamed the West Suburban water Commission to signify the expanding scope of the commission and usher in the next chapter of its history.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great service that the West Suburban Water Commission has provided to the citizens of Justice and Willow Springs. May their selfless dedication to their community serve as example to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, also known as the Meds Yeghern or ``Great Crime,'' to those of Armenian descent.

In the wake of World War I, the Ottoman Empire launched a campaign of terror against Ottoman Armenians. From 1915 to 1923, forced deportations displaced 2 million Armenians. Unarmed men were separated from their families and were either forced into concentration camps or taken away to be executed. Innocent women and children were systematically stripped of their possessions and driven into what is now the Syrian Desert. During these ``Death Marches'' they were subjected to starvation, sickness, and abuse amid brutal conditions. In the end, nearly 1.5 million Armenians had lost their lives in what became the first genocide of the 20th century.

Although these atrocities occurred almost a century ago, it is imperative to remember the suffering that was endured as a result of unrestrained human malice. To acknowledge this truth is necessary, not just out of respect for our fellow citizens of Armenian descent, but also in hope that we can prevent such heinous crimes from occurring in the future. Very few survivors of the genocide are alive today, which makes preserving the memory and history of this crime even more important.

Today, I call on my colleagues to join me in somber remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during this dark period of history, and to honor the strength and resolve of the Armenian community still working to deal with this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Arbor Day which in Illinois takes place on April 25th. This year will mark the 65th Arbor Day celebrated by the state and the 143rd in the United States. This event that is held each year to recognize and celebrate the critical role trees play in our communities and in our daily lives.

There are very few things as intrinsic to a nation as its land. Trees are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving strength to our people. That is why in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. This holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. Since then, Arbor Day has become a holiday celebrated throughout America and the world.

In addition to their magnificent beauty, trees provide vital ecological services to humanity. They reduce the erosion caused by wind and water on our precious topsoil, reduce heating and cooling costs, moderate the earth's temperature, and provide habitats for our wildlife. In addition, trees are a renewable resource giving us paper and wood for our homes. Our dependence on trees acts as a reminder that we are eternally reliant on nature and that we must to do our best to pay back the debt we owe to our environment.

If our nation is to continue being the greatest nation on earth, it is important that we continue to safeguard what makes us great, our people and our resources. I urge each and every citizen to help make our communities greener, cleaner, and more pleasant places to live by joining me and taking the time to plant a tree. It is with great gratitude and pride that I rise to honor and celebrate Arbor Day and all that it stands for.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Oak Lawn Community High School's Drama team for winning two state championship titles at the Illinois High School Association's Drama & Group interpretation State finals.

On March 29th the drama team was in Springfield to compete at the Illinois High School Association Tournament. Oak Lawn was awarded first place in the drama finals for their performance of ``The Normal Heart'' by Larry Kramer. Cast members included Taylor Lindemann, Leonardo Quezada, Joe DeLaMora, Lauren Montesano, Danny Swanberg, Jonathan Cortez, Charlie Doria, Carl Seibel, Vaughn Smith, Josh Cash, with Riley Faille as the student director.

In addition to the first place in the drama final, Oak Lawn took first place in the group interpretation finals for their performance of ``She Kill Monsters'' by Qui Nguyen. Cast members include Laura Akouris, Erin Beland, Kaeley Clark, Cameron DeLaMora, Paul Harris, Valentina Lopez, Tina Maciaga, Joey Probst, Emily Salomone, Andrew Waterstraat, with Julia Bugaj as the student director.

This tremendous achievement is made possible through the hard work and enthusiasm of the students, and the dedicated guidance of their coaches. This tournament showcased the tremendous talent and dedication that is fostered in the Oak Lawn drama program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding talent of the Oak Lawn Community High School's drama team, and to congratulate them on their winning performances.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the courtesy of yielding, especially today as I rise in support of H.R. 2575.

I was first approached about the problem with the 30-hour full time definition by Steve Palmer, one of the owners of Palmer Place restaurant, an institution in LaGrange, Illinois. This is a family business committed to their community and their employees. They offer insurance coverage to their workers when possible. Because of the nature of the business, many of their employees are part-time and work flexible schedules. But the ACA's definition of full-time work has put the Palmer family's one restaurant on the cusp of being classified as a large business. The family, thus, finds itself facing a hefty new expense for health insurance or a fine.

This is the scenario being faced by many family-owned businesses struggling to plan for the future. The workers at some of these businesses are about to get a far different deal than they bargained for when they accepted their jobs. As a result of the 30-hour rule, some part-time employees are seeing their hours reduced.

The CBO has confirmed that shifting to a 40-hour full time definition would lead some workers to seeing an increase in their take-home pay. In addition to lost wages, many workers could lose scheduling flexibility so that they won't cycle in and out of full-time status from week to week. These are ways that workers will lose.

The administration has already acknowledged the difficulty in implementing the employer coverage rules of the ACA through two delays in substantial administrative changes. Clearly, the administration knows there are problems with the employer coverage rules as currently contained in the law. Today, it is reported that former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: ``I don't think the employer mandate will go into effect.''

Madam Speaker, let's do right by America's part-time workers and by family businesses. Let's pass this bill and fix this broken part of the ACA. That is what the American people are looking for. That is what we should do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Fay Lomax Cook on being selected by the National Science Foundation to serve as the assistant director for the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. Dr. Cook will make an excellent addition to the National Science Foundation where she will help to promote the understanding of people and their lives by supporting research that reveals basic facets of human behavior and helps provide answers to important societal questions and problems.

Dr. Cook is a professor at Northwestern University, where she is a faculty fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and a professor of human development and social policy in the School of Education and Social Policy. From 1996 to 2012, she acted as the director of the Institute for Policy Research, one of America's leading centers of nonpartisan, interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research. Her research focuses on the interrelationships between public opinion and public policy, the politics of public policy, how Americans come together to discuss policy issues, and the dynamics of public support for Social Security and other social programs.

During her time at Northwestern University, Dr. Cook has published many scholarly articles in addition to authoring and co-authoring five books. While actively producing her original contributions to her field she has been the president of the Gerontological Society of America, a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and a visiting scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of Dr. Fay Lomax Cook and to congratulate her on being selected to serve as the assistant director for NSF's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam war. This weekend, we will observe Vietnam Veterans Day to pay tribute to these brave Americans who were called to serve during one of our Nation's longest and most difficult conflicts.

Lasting more than a decade, Vietnam defined a generation. Over 58,000 Americans were killed, and those who did return home were not treated as the American heroes that they are.

In recent years, I am grateful that most Americans have been able to put aside their opinions about specific military missions and have an unwavering commitment to our courageous men and women operating in dangerous places around the world.

Vietnam Veterans Day is meant to reaffirm our respecting gratitude for those that served our Nation in that war and show a generation of soldiers our immense gratitude. I will be doing so this Saturday at the VFW Post in Lemont, Illinois.

I ask my colleagues to join me in doing the same, not just this weekend, but every day, because our Vietnam veterans, and all our veterans, deserve this.

I thank Mrs. Hartzler for yielding and for her leadership on this critical issue, which is not just as partisan issue. I am a Democrat. I know this is not a partisan issue--religious liberty.

This is not even just a foundational American principle. It is a fundamental human right. Many of the men and women who came to America were fleeing religious persecution and were searching for a place where they could freely exercise their faiths. They had the courage to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause. As a number of my colleagues have stated, the First Amendment to our Constitution starts with these words: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' I used to teach my American Government students that, clearly, this was not freedom to worship--just the freedom to go on Sunday or Saturday or whatever day of the week that you worshiped--but a freedom to exercise religion in the way they see proper.

As First Lady Michelle Obama stated at a conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, our faith journey isn't just about showing up on Sunday; it is about what we do Monday through Saturday as well.

That is what Americans believe, and we must protect the freedom to exercise our religious beliefs every day of the week. Many millions have had the courage to fight, and many have died to protect our Nation in this constitutional right. We all have a duty to our fellow Americans and to the world to reclaim a true religious liberty in our Nation because this goes beyond our borders. America has been a beacon of liberty for people around the world for more than two centuries. As people blessed with liberty, we have a special obligation to protect it and to proclaim it for all the world to see. Especially today, as we see around the world attacks on religious freedom, we must stand up here in America.

I want to thank all of my colleagues for standing up here today and for continuing to work in Congress to protect our religious freedom, and I want to pray for wisdom for our Supreme Court Justices tomorrow as they consider this very critical, fundamental case. We all must rededicate ourselves and continue to fight for religious freedom in our Nation, without which freedom we would be giving up on a fundamental principle that underlies this greatest of nations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School Science Bowl Team on their Regional Science Bowl win on February 22, 2014. This victory advances the school to the National Science Bowl Championship held in Washington D.C. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication the team members have put in to advance their knowledge of science and would like to congratulate them on this tremendous accomplishment.

The Department of Energy created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 225,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl through its 23-year history. It is one of the nation's largest science competitions.

The Regional Science Bowl Competition held at Evanston High School brought both middle school and high school science bowl teams together to compete by answering questions in a round robin format covering a range of science topics including biology, physics, math, astronomy, earth science, and computer science. The Mother McAuley team could not be beat that day and won a paid trip to Washington D.C. for Nationals, where they will compete in a fast-paced question-and-answer format solving technical problems and answering questions on a range of science topics.

The winning Mother McAuley Science Bowl team is the only one from Illinois to advance to Nationals. This winning team is comprised of 8 students, Seniors Tiffany Anderson, Siobhan Bennett, Rayn Davis, Montana Ford, and Diana Sanchez, and Juniors Sarah Dynia, Juliana Magnan, and Jessica Marchetti.

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School is a Catholic educational community sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and is committed to providing a quality secondary education for young women. The school opened in 1956 and is located in the Third Congressional District on the Southwest Side of Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Mother McAuley Science Bowl Team on their remarkable achievement and I wish them the best at Nationals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Kendall Coyne for competing and winning a silver medal as a member of the U.S. Women's Hockey Team at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. I am very proud of Coyne's performance at the Olympic Games and honored to have her as a resident of Palos Heights, IL.

Born in Palos Heights, Illinois, Kendall Coyne from an early age dedicated her heart and soul to the sport she loves, hockey. When she was three years old, her mother tried to get her involved in figure skating, but Kendall would not have any part of it. Inspired by her older brother Kevin, Kendall laced up her hockey skates and played on boys' hockey teams until she joined the U-18 national team at the age of 15.

While other children her age would be playing with their friends or sleeping in on the weekends, Kendall would wake her parents up at six in the morning so that they could take her to the rink for practice. Not only is she a dedicated athlete, she is a full-time student. After graduating from Carl Sandburg High School, in Orland Park, Illinois, she attended the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts for their post-graduate program. After graduating from Berkshire, Kendall was awarded a scholarship to play women's hockey at Northeastern University. At Northeastern, Kendall is studying communications and hopes to one day become a sports analyst.

At just 21 years of age, Kendall Coyne has been a three-time world championship medalist, a participant in four Nations Cups, a three-time U18 world championship medalist, a two-time Hockey East First-Team All- Star selection, and a Hockey East Rookie of the Year among many other distinctions. During the XXII Olympics, she scored two goals and recorded four assists while helping her team reach the gold medal game.

At 5'2", Kendall Coyne is the shortest member of the U.S. women's national team. But what she might lack in height she makes up in dedication, perseverance, strength, agility, and drive. I am certain the tradition of success Kendall has established will continue for a long time to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of Kendall Coyne and to congratulate her and the entire U.S. Women's Hockey Team for winning the silver medal at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi.