Floor Statements

I want to thank Mr. Reid Ribble for yielding, and I want to stand here on the Republican side of the well to just express how important it is that we stand here together.

As Mr. Ribble just mentioned in talking about our veterans, yesterday I was at an early Memorial Day commemoration. The people there weren't talking about Democrats and Republicans. We were talking about those men and women who had given their lives for our country--standing together, fighting together to maintain our freedom.

Today, we see too much division here in Washington. Now, my background is in engineering. Engineers are problem solvers, so I came to Congress 8-plus years ago determined to solve problems. As our Nation's problems have gotten bigger, Congress has gotten smaller, not smaller in size and certainly not smaller in ego, but smaller in the capacity to get things done. My constituents certainly see this. What they want to see is Washington working together to help with job creation, to work on reducing our debt and to work on solving the many other problems that we face. Instead, they see fighting in Washington.

Now, where I come from on the southwest side of Chicago, in the bungalow belt, we know that when we are sent to do a job there is a bottom line--get the job done. Businesses, families, organizations know, if they're going to survive, they must solve problems. It's time for Washington to get this because we must come together to face these big issues, and that's what Problem Solvers and No Labels are all about--coming together. Not to lose the fact that we are Democrats and Republicans, liberals or conservatives, but to work to solve problems.

We must do this. If we do not, we will be failing the American people--failing our constituents, those who have sent us here. If we do come together, we can work to solve some of these problems and make sure that America's brightest and best days are still ahead of us. The American people are counting on us.

So I am glad to stand here with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I thank Mr. Ribble for leading us here tonight to say we are united to solve problems. We are no labels. We're not going to solve the problems overnight, but this is where we need to start to let the American people know

that there are Members of Congress, there are people in Washington who want to work together and solve these problems. I pledge my support to my colleagues here, and we are going to work together as America's brightest days are yet to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

In the wake of World War I, the Ottoman Empire launched a campaign of terror against their own Armenian citizens. 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.

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 overcome this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Monsignor Francis Maniola on his 100th birthday and the 75th anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood. I am happy to have joined him in celebrating these milestones at St. Symphorosa, the Catholic parish on the Southwest Side of Chicago that he has served for 45 years.

Monsignor Maniola was originally appointed Pastor of St. Symphorosa Parish in 1968. Responding to changes in Catholic parishes that were mandated by the bishops of the Second Vatican Council, Father Maniola sought to increase Parish involvement both spiritually and socially. He led the establishment of new groups and liturgical ministries at St. Symphorosa such as the popular Super Club, a senior citizens group with weekly events and activities, as well as support groups like the Widow and Widowers Club. I fondly remember Monsignor Maniola as the Pastor of the parish throughout my eight years at St. Symphorosa School.

Although he retired in 1981 with the title ``Pastor Emeritus,'' his leadership and commitment to the Parish have continued to be felt in the community.

At 100 years of age, Monsignor Maniola is in good health and high spirits. As an avid baseball fan, he enjoys watching Cubs and White Sox games. He also enjoys solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles. He remains deeply spiritual, and maintains an active role in the Parish.

Today I express my admiration of Monsignor Maniola's devotion to St. Symphorosa, and honor his lifetime of achievements. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Monsignor Maniola well as he celebrates his 100th birthday and the 75th anniversary of his Ordination, and to thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the gentlelady for yielding and for her support on this bill, and thank Chairman Smith for his support and for moving the bill early in this Congress. I also want to thank Mr. McCaul for working with me on this bill for the third straight Congress and for his broader leadership in Congress on cybersecurity issues.

Two Congresses ago when Democrats were in the majority, I was the lead sponsor of this bill. Last Congress, Mr. McCaul became the lead sponsor. Both times the bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, which is a testament to the importance of this bill and to the quality of the work that has gone into it. Hopefully in this Congress, as Mr. McCaul said, the House and the Senate will finally pass this vital piece of the puzzle in protecting America's cybersecurity.

When I began working on this bill in 2010, it was clear that our use of the Internet and other communication networks would continue to grow and evolve, and that threats from individual hackers, criminal syndicates, and even other governments would grow and evolve, too. This has turned out to be all too true.

Just last month, the Director of National Intelligence testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that the danger of cyber attacks and cyber espionage on crucial infrastructure tops the list of global threats to our Nation. I believe that we face the possibility of a cyber ``Pearl Harbor'' that could destroy America's military or economic security. We have already seen the loss of countless jobs through cyber espionage, and we face--and thankfully, so far, we have repelled--much worse attacks every day. It is now more important than ever that we get this legislation onto the President's desk.

H.R. 756 will increase the security of our networks and information systems by building strong public-private partnerships, improving the transfer of cybersecurity technologies to the marketplace, training a cybersecurity workforce for both the public and private sectors, and coordinating and prioritizing Federal cybersecurity R&D efforts.

In addition to requiring a strategic plan for Federal cybersecurity R&D among all of the relevant Federal agencies, this bill explicitly authorizes programs and activities at the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Both of these agencies play an important and unique role in the Federal Government's efforts to secure cyberspace.

This bill also builds on recommendations of the administration's cyberspace policy review. The first step is education, including educating individuals, companies, and especially the next generation of IT professionals. This legislation works towards these goals by building on existing partnerships, such as the NSF-sponsored Center for System Security and Information Assurance at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois. This college has trained hundreds of teachers and college faculty in cybersecurity-related areas since 2003, individuals who are now teaching at colleges and technical training programs nationwide.

H.R. 756 utilizes these existing programs across the country by providing scholarships to students pursuing cybersecurity degrees in exchange for their service in the Federal IT workforce. This approach not only provides for the immediate workforce needs of the Federal Government but also builds a pipeline for private industry.

Of course, research, standards, and education are only part of the cybersecurity solution, but they are critical pieces of the puzzle that Congress must complete to secure our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank again Mr. McCaul for his work on this legislation. I urge Members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for yielding and for her work on this legislation. I'd also like to thank Chairman Smith and Chairwoman Lummis for all their work on this bill.

It's been nearly 4 years since we last reauthorized and updated the NITRD program, and it's time we get this job done. The House, again, on this bill has passed legislation since that time, but we need to get this done today here and get this through the Senate and to the President's desk.

The NITRD program evolved from the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, which funded the development of Mosaic--the first commercial Web browser which made the Internet user friendly and led to its explosion in the 1990s. This innovation was created by a team of programmers at the National

Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois.

As a brief aside, I was just at the NCSA in Urbana-Champaign at the University of Illinois for the launch of the Blue Waters supercomputer, one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, which is also there at the University of Illinois. But Marc Andreessen, one of the lead programmers on the original project that created Mosaic and the founder of Netscape, summed up the importance of Federal investment in this research by saying:

If it had been left to private industry, it wouldn't have

happened, at least, not until years later.

Innovative breakthroughs like the Mosaic Web browser changed our everyday lives and established the United States as the world leader in networking and information technologies, and the Federal Government played an important role in that. But today we find ourselves in a world in which we can no longer take U.S. supremacy for granted. As we heard during committee consideration of the bill, China, Japan, Germany, and several other countries are increasing their investments in NIT R&D as well as their capacity to convert R&D into new commercial technologies. We must prioritize cutting-edge, large-scale R&D and effective technology transfer policies, focused on the most advanced areas of network and information technology, in order to preserve our lead in these sectors.

H.R. 967, the Advancing America's Network and Information Technology Research and Development Act, achieves these ends through the development of a coordinated Federal R&D investment strategy. This bill requires Federal agencies involved in the R&D program to develop 5-year plans specifying near- and long-term objectives and to assess and evaluate progress periodically to ensure we maintain U.S. leadership in these fields.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will focus our scientific community towards the innovative, large-scale, and collaborative R&D we need to remain a leader in networking and information technologies. This is a good, bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share my concern about language adopted in a Senate amendment to H.R. 933 regarding political science research funded by the National Science Foundation.

The U.S. scientific enterprise is the envy of the world, and rightly so. The U.S. has been a world leader in science, technology, and innovation for decades and a large reason for that leadership has been the freedom and independence afforded our scientists to follow a line of inquiry wherever it may lead them. In fact, some of the most beneficial discoveries have been made researching topics that some might consider frivolous.

Consider that a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1955 to study the ``Sex Life of the Screwworm'' was criticized by members of Congress at the time. The research resulting from that grant allowed scientists to understand how to stop screwworms from breeding and thus from infecting cattle, which was a serious problem. It is estimated that this research saved the U.S. cattle industry $20 billion, an enviable return on investment to say the least. Historically, when individual grants have been highlighted and held up for ridicule by politicians in this way, many of the grants turned out to have a good deal of value when viewed in retrospect.

Unfortunately, history has repeated itself in the past few years. Most recently, a Senate amendment attached to H.R. 933, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, would prevent the National Science Foundation (NSF) from conducting political science research unless the NSF director certified that the research promoted the national security or economic interests of the country. When introducing the language, the amendment's sponsor highlighted several individual grants as unnecessary.

I, myself, have a Ph.D. in political science, and was a professor of political science for several years before running for Congress. Opposition to NSF funding of political science research has typically been based on the assumption that the research findings have little or no beneficial impact for our nation. But this assumption is simply not true.

Political science research helps us understand many important topics that affect the everyday lives of millions of Americans at home and overseas, including why countries go to war and what can be done to promote civic engagement and voting among the general public. Recent political science research funded by NSF studied FDA approvals of products and produced recommendations for avoiding faulty approvals in the future. FDA officials were briefed on the results and the recommendations had implications ranging from the White House Office of Science and Technology policy to financial regulations made by the Federal Reserve System. Political science research also impacts research done in all other areas of social science.

NSF funding of political science research has averaged roughly $11 million a year over the last 10 years. This represents less than 0.2% of the NSF's research funding, but it is the predominant source of research funding for political scientists in the United States.

For just a small investment this funding can help bring about research discoveries that change how we view our world. In 2009, Professor Elinor Ostrom, a political scientist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for her research about how people can successfully manage common property such as forests, fisheries, and oil fields. Federal funding for research like this can have substantially positive impacts on our daily lives.

Furthermore, the danger with an amendment like this is that the economic and national security value of research isn't always known at the outset. The director of the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee last year that social science research was vital to predicting the actions of terrorist cells. Much of the basic research this work relies on would have limited direct national security implications. Basic research in political science at the NSF on social movement theory and agency theory may have no direct connection at all to our national security interests, and yet unless we understand these basic underpinnings regarding how people behave, we can never effectively study the applications that do have direct security connections, such as predicting the actions of terrorist cells.

This amendment is also misguided in the way it adds red tape and bureaucracy to one of our nation's premier institutions for funding scientific research. Just as much money would be spent by the National Science Foundation, but by placing additional administrative burdens on research approval, fewer grants might be awarded due to the increased cost of review. At best, this amendment would be an unnecessary regulatory burden, at worst, it could negatively impact both our economic and national security interests despite its intentions.

I continue to believe that science works best when scientists, and not politicians, are deciding what scientific questions are worth pursuing. Legislative limitations on scientific inquiry should be made sparingly, if at all. I would urge all members to reject such restrictions on political science funding in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize FarmedHere, a revolutionary vertical farming facility in Bedford Park, IL, that celebrates its Grand Opening this week.

Envisioned as an sustainable solution to growing fresh produce in an urban environment, Steve Dennenberg, Paul Hardej, Paul Suder, Jolanta Hardej, and Mark Weglarz came together to found and operate FarmedHere. Designed to bring food closer to the consumer, FarmedHere is located in a formerly unoccupied warehouse in Bedford Park. The facility uses cutting-edge technological advances in aquaponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming to make urban agricultural production a possibility. While many types of produce travel thousands of miles to reach the plates of Chicagoland residents, FarmedHere products save money and energy by keeping the growing and distribution processes local in the Chicagoland area.

Beyond being economically efficient and ecologically-minded, FarmedHere also gives back to the local community. FarmedHere has partnered with the Chicago Botanic Garden to teach students about aquaponics and the future of urban farming. This partnership teaches students how to be leaders in this exciting new industry that will create jobs now and in the future.

Residents of the Greater Chicago Area now have access to fresh local basil, arugula, and salad dressing produced sustainably by their own neighbors thanks to FarmedHere. Eventually, this business will grow and begin selling fresh fish and more energy-intensive fruits and vegetables. The founders of FarmedHere also hope to someday move entirely ``off the grid'' by using cutting edge technologies to produce their own energy, fertilizer, and output--all under one roof.

FarmedHere and vertical farms like it are good for the economy and the environment, and I am proud that this one-of-a-kind facility is located in the 3rd District of Illinois. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the entire FarmedHere family on their successful launch and to wish many years of continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Polish and American freedom fighter Casimir Pulaski. In my home state of Illinois, we celebrate Casimir Pulaski Day, which is observed on the first Monday of March.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, on March 6, 1745, Casimir Pulaski was a skilled commander who fought against Russian forces in Poland. Based upon his work fighting for freedom in Poland, Pulaski was recruited by Benjamin Franklin to join in the American Revolution. In his first correspondence to George Washington, Pulaski famously wrote, ``I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.'' In his first battle of the Revolution, the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, Pulaski helped alter the course of history by rallying a counterattack against advancing British forces that afforded Washington and countless American troops the time needed to successfully retreat. As a result, Washington promoted Pulaski to brigadier general of the American cavalry.

His influence on American independence did not end there. Pulaski introduced some modern military tactics to the American revolutionaries and led troops in numerous battles and sieges up and down the eastern seaboard. He organized the Continental Army's first successful cavalry unit, often using his own money to finance equipment for his men.

On October 9, 1779, during the Battle of Savannah, Pulaski was struck by grapeshot while attempting to lead a secondary charge against the entrenched British. He was taken aboard the USS Wasp and died from his wounds two days later. On October 15, he was buried at sea. Today Pulaski is remembered as the father of the American cavalry and one of the heroes of the American Revolution. He has been memorialized across America, through the naming of towns, counties, roads, and other landmarks.

In 2009, on the 230th anniversary of his death, Congress honored Pulaski posthumously as an honorary citizen of the United States, marking only the seventh time in American history that an individual has been granted such an honor.

This past Saturday, I joined the Polish Highlanders Alliance at their headquarters in Chicago's Archer Heights community to celebrate Pulaski Day. In my address to the group gathered to remember Casimir Pulaski, I praised the long friendship between the United States and Poland, and pledged my continued support for bringing Poland into the Visa Waiver Program.

Today, I ask all Americans to remember a true Polish and American hero who devoted and ultimately sacrificed his life to the pursuit of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alia Abiad, winner of the Cook County Spelling Bee.

Alia Abiad is a 7th Grader at McClure Junior High School, and a resident of my hometown of Western Springs, IL. In addition to being a skilled tennis player and violinist for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, her recent performances in local Spelling Bees have demonstrated that she is an extremely dedicated and talented young woman.

Alia diligently practices her spelling independently and with her parents every day. She also gains her edge by reading books intended for an audience well beyond her age.

Alia initially won the title of best speller at McClure Junior High, and then went on to win the Cook County Regional Spelling Bee. In these competitions she maintained a perfect record, spelling every word correctly. Alia will be representing her school and her peers at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC this upcoming May.

This victory is a reminder of how preparation, practice, and perseverance produce solid results, even when facing difficult challenges. I call on all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Alia Abiad for her tremendous accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lockport Township High School Boys Bowling Team on winning their first Illinois High School Association championship.

Although they were in 12th place earlier in the tournament and risked elimination, the Porters demonstrated toughness and determination to maintain a qualifying position. Their persistence eventually allowed them to overcome a 300 pin deficit.

The Porters averaged an impressive 214 points per game, with their leading scorer and individual state champion, Shane Matejcek, scoring 286 points in his fifth game to help keep his team in contention for the title. Shane would finish with a total of 2,924 pins, the second highest score in state history. The team entered the second day in 3rd place, but emerged victorious after an impressive display of teamwork on a 12 for 13 run of strikes.

This victory is a reminder of how preparation, practice, and perseverance produce solid results, even when facing difficult challenges. Today, I am pleased to call on all my colleagues to join me in congratulating the young men of Lockport Township High School on winning the IHSA championship. Great job, Porters!

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Dorothy Rockaitis, a lifelong resident of Chicago who is celebrating her 90th birthday today.

Dorothy Victoria Cichoszewski was born on February 6th, 1923, and was raised in Brighton Park by her parents, Victoria and Michael. She would later move to Garfield Ridge, where she lived for 50 years. In 1963, Dorothy married Frank Rockaitis, her steadfast partner for nearly four decades.

For over forty years, Dorothy was actively involved in government and politics. Not only did she work for Chicago Aldermen Frank Kuta and Bill Krstyniak, she also worked for Illinois State House member Robert Terzich. She later served Illinois' 3rd Congressional District on the staff of Congressman Bill Lipinski. As an office manager, secretary, and Democratic Precinct Captain, Dorothy faithfully served her party, city, and country for nearly half a century.

A vibrant and lively aunt, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Dorothy is beloved by so many around her. From her seventeen-year marriage with Frank Miller, Dorothy has three children: Michalene, Patricia, and Charles. Dorothy also has five grandchildren: Gina Glaubke, John Glaubke, Aaron Conrad, Keith Conrad, and Alicia Miller. From her grandchildren come four great grandchildren: Luca Conrad, Odette Conrad, Clare Glaubke, and Emma Glaubke.

Dorothy is a caring, energetic, and dedicated American who is deserving of our recognition and praise. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Dorothy Rockaitis a very happy 90th birthday, and to thank her for being such an active contributor to her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Catholic Schools Week and to recognize the outstanding contribution that Catholic schools have made to our Nation. Catholic Schools Week was celebrated last week in schools all across the country.

As a proud graduate of St. Symphorosa Grammar School and St. Ignatius College Prep, and a strong supporter of Catholic education, I, once again this year, introduced a resolution honoring Catholic schools. H. Res. 46 expresses support for ``the vital contributions of the thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States'' and ``the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the Nation.'' I'd like to thank the 28 Members who cosponsored this bipartisan resolution with me.

Since 1974, the National Catholic Education Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have organized and planned National Catholic Schools Week. This year's theme, ``Catholic Schools Raise the Standards,'' highlights recent initiatives undertaken by Catholic schools across the country to strengthen their already exemplary standards.

America's Catholic schools produce graduates with the skills and integrity needed by our businesses, governments, and communities, emphasizing a well-rounded educational experience and instilling the values of ``giving back to the community'' and ``helping others.'' Nearly every Catholic school has a community service program, and every year their students volunteer half a million hours to their communities. My own decision to pursue a career in public service was fostered, in part, by dedicated teachers throughout my formative years in Catholic schools.

Today over 2 million elementary and secondary students are enrolled in nearly 7,000 Catholic schools. These students typically surpass their peers in math, science, reading, history, and geography in any NAEP test. The graduation rate for Catholic high school students is 99 percent, and 85 percent of graduates enrolled in four-year colleges, rates well above the national average. As we continually hear disturbing reports of our national test scores, these statistics are truly remarkable and should be commended.

Notably, the success of Catholic schools does not depend on selectivity. Catholic schools accept nine out of every 10 students who apply and are highly effective in providing a quality education to students from every socioeconomic category, especially disadvantaged youth in underserved urban communities. Over the past 30 years, the percentage of minority students enrolled in Catholic schools has more than doubled, and today they constitute almost one-third of all Catholic school students. In times of economic hardship, Catholic schools provide an affordable alternative to other forms of private education.

Now, in addition to producing well-rounded students, it is estimated that Catholic schools save taxpayers over $18 billion annually. The importance of these savings is undeniable as we in Congress, and lawmakers across the country, struggle with budget deficits.

I was born and raised in the Chicago Archdiocese, where more than 87,000 students attend 250 schools. In the Joliet Diocese close by, 22,000 students are educated in 48 elementary and 7 high schools. In my district alone, there are nearly a dozen Catholic high schools and more than 50 grammar schools, including one of the best in my home parish, St. John of the Cross in Western Springs, which last year was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education.

The focus of this year's Catholic Schools Week, ``Catholic Schools Raise the Standards,'' demonstrates a continued commitment to excellence. The National Catholic Education Association has launched an initiative called the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools which will make sure that standards are consistently high across the country. The dedicated teachers and administrators who work at Catholic schools, many of whom could earn much more elsewhere, are instrumental in upholding these standards. In recognizing Catholic Schools Week, we pay a special tribute to these professionals who sacrifice so much for their students.

During Catholic Schools Week last week, I visited several schools in my district, including St. Dennis in Lockport, St. Cajetan in Chicago, and St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick in Lemont. At each of these schools, I was able to visit with students and witness the excellent Catholic education that was being instilled by teachers, administrators, pastors, and volunteer parents. The dedication of all those involved in educating these children demonstrated why Catholic schools are so successful

not only in my district but across our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me today in honoring Catholic schools and all they contribute to our Nation.

``The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty-thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding to me.

It has been a pleasure to work with Chairman Hall ever since I joined the Science Committee in 2005. First and foremost, I want to thank him for the work he has done as Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and as a champion of NASA. When the Republicans captured control of the House in 2010, there was no one more deserving of being elevated to chairman than Ralph Hall, especially given the fact that he is probably the only member of Congress to ever serve as Ranking Member of a committee from both sides of the aisle before becoming chair.

The Science Committee has historically been a place where the day-to- day grudge match of partisan politics takes a backseat to thoughtful policy making. Chairman Hall is a great exemplar of that tradition, in the same vein as past chairmen such as Bart Gordon and Sherwood Boehlert. Ralph knows how to make things work and get things done, and he always has a way of doing it with a smile. That style is a throwback to the days when Congress was a more genial place and members worked together across the aisle with others even when they had disagreements. We could use more people in Congress like Chairman Hall, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to get things done for our constituents and for our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise small business owners and employees who contribute so much to their local communities. Through the Small Business Saturday

event to be held on November 24th, 2012, people around the country will demonstrate their appreciation for the businesses that make their communities unique.

The days following Thanksgiving have become a time of windfall sales revenue for many retail businesses. In the past, however, small businesses without large advertising budgets have not seen the same success as their larger counterparts. In 2010, Small Business Saturday was created to encourage consumers to utilize their local vendors. I commend the communities that participate every year and especially those who will begin this year.

This will be the first year the Village of Oak Lawn formally participates in Small Business Saturday. Thanks to the work of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Saturday Oak Lawn will no doubt be a hugely successful event, highlighting the local flavor that these establishments provide. A trolley will shuttle shoppers along Oak Lawn's bustling 95th Street to visit the various businesses and the village will simultaneously hold its annual Santa on the Green for local youth. This is a great event not only for Oak Lawn businesses but also for residents of the village and surrounding communities.

Small businesses represent the hopes and dreams of so many hard working and creative entrepreneurs, and have long been the backbone of the American economy. The individuals who create and work at small businesses represent half of all private sector American jobs and generate over 60% of the new jobs in our recovering economy. In many cities and villages, small businesses are what keep Main Street communities alive and thriving. Such vendors are best suited to cater to the unique needs of these small and distinctive towns, and so our continued support is more important than ever.

Please join me in honoring those who have worked hard to start Small Business Saturday around the country and of course the small businesses that make it all possible. May the event be a resounding success.