Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph J. Stachon as Johnson-Phelps Post 5220 welcomes him home following his installation as Illinois VFW State Commander. As a decorated veteran, a dedicated citizen, and a loyal patriot, Mr. Stachon continues to serve his community and his tireless dedication deserves our recognition. I am especially proud because he is the first VFW State Commander from the 3rd Congressional District.

As a young man, Mr. Stachon enlisted and served our nation honorably in Vietnam as a Green Beret in the United States Army. As a combat rifleman in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, he was deployed from October 1968 until he was wounded in action, coming home in a full body cast in May 1969. On the battlefield his sacrifices earned him a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, as well as a National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Mr. Stachon also served for 30 years in the Chicago Police Department. On patrol, Mr. Stachon would occasionally encounter dangerous and difficult situations. In these instances, he was pragmatic and effective, quickly neutralizing any danger for both civilians and officers. He was known for his calm temperament and his reliability, and his commitment to the force and his fellow policemen was well-known and unwavering.

A Gold Legacy life member of the VFW Johnson-Phelps Post 5220 in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Mr. Stachon has served in all chairs including Post Commander ten times and All-State Commander four times. He has also served the Department of Illinois in many offices and is involved in several civic organizations.

Described by his friends as dependable and honest, Mr. Stachon is also a devoted family man who has been married to his wife Barbara for 43 years. Together they have raised two sons, Joseph Jr. and Jon, and a daughter, Julie. He enjoys spending his free time with his children and his four grandchildren: Anthony, Michael, Joseph, and Michelle, as well as his son-in-law, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Marie.

I ask you to join me in honoring Mr. Joseph Stachon on his installation and homecoming as Illinois VFW State Commander.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 80th anniversary of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars Rhine Post 2729. Their 80 years of dedication and service is certainly a milestone deserving our recognition, and I am pleased to congratulate them on this special occasion.

Rhine Post 2729's history of service began in 1932, after receiving their official Congressional Charter on October 29th. It was named ``Rhine'' after Mr. Leo Spychalski, a Polish-American who founded the post and shared the nickname. Mr. Spychalski served in the U.S. Army and participated in the Allied offensive along the German western front in World War I. Following Germany's surrender, Mr. Spychalski was stationed as a guard along the Rhine River. After the war, he also served as the first Post Commander at Post 2729 for 6 years.

Located in Garfield Ridge, a community in Chicago, Illinois, Rhine Post 2729 has grown from its original 17 members to roughly 125 members today. For 80 years now, these men and women have served their nation with courage and integrity, not only in active military duty overseas, but also in their local community.

Rhine Post 2729 is an active organization, and they maintain a legacy of public outreach and service. Of their many activities, they regularly volunteer at the local Veterans Administration hospital and sponsor local community events.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of building a relationship with Rhine Post 2729 and their members. It has been a privilege working with them to host a senior fair, and an honor to have spoken many times at their Memorial Day services at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.

Today I stand to commend Rhine Post 2729 for their contributions to community and country, and to thank their members for their sacrifices. I ask you to join me in honoring them as we congratulate them on their 80th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Police Chief Dan McCollum, who will celebrate his 40th year in law enforcement on September 25, 2012. To show their appreciation for his service, the Village of La Grange Park will host a reception in his honor.

Throughout his 40 years in law enforcement, including 16 years as Police Chief in La Grange Park, Chief McCollum has served residents around Illinois and in Corvallis, Oregon. In his work to protect his community he has gained a reputation as a professional and honest public servant, consistently demonstrating his strong character. For example, in 1979 when he was a young police chief, his squad car broke down on a rural road in central Illinois during a blizzard. Surrounded by the severe, rapidly approaching storm, he chose not to wait for a passing car, but sought shelter at the nearest house. Although he had made previous arrests at this residence prior to the storm, Chief McCollum took his chances. The storm was so severe, that he would end up staying with the residents for two days until the storm had finally passed. It is this ability to develop relationships even in the face of adversity that sets him apart, and allowed him to earn his position as the youngest police chief in the state at age 24 in Villa Grove, Illinois, and eventually his current post as chief in La Grange Park.

Chief McCollum now serves the 13,000 residents of the Village of La Grange Park, just as he has since 1996. He and the rest of the Police Department are committed to maintaining peace in La Grange Park by safeguarding the community and forming bonds of trust with those they protect. Chief McCollum believes that to be an officer in LaGrange Park, one must be oriented toward public service and should be a problem-solver in the community. His leadership drives this police force and is an important reason why the residents of La Grange Park have so much respect for their police.

As the La Grange Park Police Chief, Dan McCollum has been recognized on several occasions for his dedication to past and present police officers and public safety. Chief McCollum was appointed President for the Illinois Association of Law Enforcement Executives and has since served in this position for the past three years. Working within this non-profit organization, he has helped to provide more opportunities for professional training and advancement of current and retired law enforcement members. He has also received the 2008 Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board in Springfield.

Away from the stress of the police station, Chief McCollum has also led a fulfilling personal life. He is a former rock and roll musician, an avid fisherman, and an exceptional cook. Dan's wife, Nancy, and his three children, Sarah, Matthew, and Patrick, will be very proud to see him honored for his longtime service.

Please join me in honoring Police Chief Dan McCollum for his dedicated service to the La Grange Park community on the occasion of his 40th year of service. May he continue to be a stalwart public servant in La Grange Park for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Colonel Edward F. Malinowski, who is retiring from the United States Air Force Reserve after more than 31 years of dedicated service. His time in the Air Force exemplifies the commitment and sacrifice our nation's armed service members are willing to make to protect American freedom and values around the world.

Lt. Col. Malinowski has been a lifelong resident of the Chicago area. He and his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Christina, Edward Jr., and Matthew, currently reside in Burbank, Illinois, a city I proudly represent.

Edward Malinowski was promoted to his current rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve's 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in October 2006. He exhibited an excellent aptitude throughout his career in overseeing the safety and maintenance of Air Force aircraft. Lt. Col. Malinowski has helped maintain the squadron with the longest flying safety record of any Air Force unit to date. And his service goes well beyond maintaining aircraft: in the Reserve he assisted with a critical sandbagging mission along the Mississippi River during the 1993 floods and his squad saved a man's life after he drove his car off a levy.

His record and experience in the Air Force Reserve led him to private sector work which included managing Chicago's Meigs Field Airport, where he oversaw the airport's safe closure. Aside from his numerous honors and accomplishments Lt. Col. Malinowski gave a great deal back to the community. He donated his time and knowledge by introducing intercity children to the joys of flight through the Young Eagles Program. He is also a Medinah Shriner life member and has provided aid to injured children by volunteering to fly victims to the organization's hospitals and burn centers.

Whether it was organizing a group of 2,000 citizens for the Presidential Inaugural Parade or being deployed in Southeast Asia to aid a logistics unit that supported combat aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Malinowski has continuously answered the call to serve our nation. Please join me in honoring this man who has done so much for his country and community. May he enjoy a long and well deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day and to express my gratitude to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have suffered unimaginable hardships as prisoners of war and to those courageous service members who remain missing in action.

One of the great tragedies of war is the inability of a family to lay a beloved fallen service member in a final appropriate resting place at home here in the United States. Sadly, since World War II, the families of over 84,000 servicemen and women are left to wonder the fate of their family member who went missing in action. My thoughts and prayers go out to these service members and their families; that these Americans heroes may find peace, and that one day we can return them home.

During the same time period, more than 138,000 brave American service members have been detained as prisoners of war, with many suffering through barbaric treatment by their captors. POWs have seen and experienced some of the most horrific acts of which mankind is capable, and they certainly deserve our unending recognition and gratitude. The loyalty and bravery they demonstrate while at the hands of our enemies cannot be overstated.

While we pause to remember the sacrifice so many brave men and women have made for our country, we must also thank those who have worked tirelessly to find and return home those who went missing. The Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) is responsible for the investigation and recovery process for missing service members. The DPMO also works closely with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC, which is responsible for worldwide investigations, recoveries, and identifications. Together, and with other dedicated private organizations, DPMO and JPAC do the difficult work of bringing our service members home to rest and bringing closure to their families.

I was honored to be a part of the effort of JPAC returning to the south Pacific island of Betio, where the historic battle of Tarawa took place in World War II. One of the first Marine beach assaults of the war, an entrenched Japanese force inflicted immense casualties on U.S. forces, yet after 76 hours of battle, our victorious troops raised the American flag above the battlefield. Unfortunately, among the 1100 Marines, soldiers and sailors lost in this engagement, 564 remain unrecovered and lost in battle. Following language I was able to include in a defense authorization bill in 2010, JPAC has returned to Tarawa for one recovery mission in 2010, and plans another for next year. I will continue to promote the recovery of these servicemen until they are home.

Since 1979, our nation has observed National POW/MIA Recognition Day to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families. That year, Congress passed a resolution to mark the third Friday of September as a day to ensure Americans would never forget. I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to take a moment today to remember those who sacrificed for our freedom.

We are all forever indebted to these men and women, and on this somber day, we must reiterate our promise that ``We will not forget.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. John of the Cross Parish School, an exemplary Catholic school in Western Springs, Illinois, for receiving the prestigious 2012 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award. As a member of this parish, I am especially happy to see the hard work of the students, teachers, administrators, and parents recognized, and I want to congratulate Principal Kathleen Gorman, as well as our pastor, Rev. David P. Dowdle.

In 1982, the Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize public and private schools boasting high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify attributes of thriving American schools in order to replicate their success in other schools. St. John of the Cross is one of only 50 private schools across the Nation to be named as a National Blue Ribbon School this year. This is a great achievement for everyone at the school and all members of the parish.

The mission of St. John of the Cross Parish School is to provide a safe and dynamic Catholic environment where faith is nourished and knowledge grows. The school offers challenging educational experiences that foster success, promote unity, and respect the individuality of each student. Since 1961, the school has prided itself on multi- generational Catholic traditions and achievement. St. John of the Cross has maintained a strong Catholic identity and strong academic standards throughout its history. In 2011, the school proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary.

St. John of the Cross Parish School offers programs from preschool through eighth grade and attracts students from Western Springs and surrounding communities, currently enrolling 630 students. Since its founding, the school has been supported by the St. John of the Cross Parish and has grown to become one of the largest Catholic schools in Chicago's Archdiocese. St. John of the Cross Parish School offers impressive science, technology, and art facilities as well as a wide range of student activities. All students are involved in the religious activities of the parish and participate in a variety of service projects. Today, the school benefits from the hard work and dedication of its principal, Kathleen Gorman, as well as its assistant principals, Zita Wheeling and Tom Clausing. This award recognizes the time and hard work of the teachers and students, as well as the critical support and involvement of the students' parents and the entire parish community. I am delighted that the excellent work and success of St. John of the Cross Parish School has been acknowledged on a national stage.

Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of St. John of the Cross Parish School and all the National Blue Ribbon award winners. Their pursuit of academic excellence is inspiring, and I hope that their success can serve as a model for schools across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order honoring Congressman Jerry Costello's distinguished service in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great legislator and a close personal friend, Congressman Jerry Costello, who will retire from the House of Representatives at the end of this 112th Congress.

Jerry has long been known as one of the most effective and well-liked Members of Congress since he took office in 1988. It is my honor to lead this Special Order in his honor.

I knew Jerry before I was elected to Congress in 2004. I had the privilege of working in his congressional office in the mid-1990s. Today, we serve together on two House committees: the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Jerry has been an important mentor to me throughout my time here. I have always been impressed with his work on behalf of his constituents and his work to improve America's transportation network. He is someone who is here to get things done, and he knows how to do it.

His retirement from this body is a loss to us all. Congress will not be the same without Jerry, and I know we would all benefit if we had more colleagues like him.

There are a number of Members on both sides of the aisle who want to speak, so I will continue with the rest of my speech later if we have time. But right now, I want to recognize the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

I yield to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

I thank you, Mr. Young.

I want to recognize now the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Next, I want to recognize the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Next, I want to recognize the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).

Thank you, Mr. Clay.

Next I want to recognize the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Thank you, Ms. Schakowsky, for your comments.

Next I want to recognize the gentlelady from Texas, who Jerry and I both serve on Transportation and Infrastructure and Science, Space and Technology with, and who's also the ranking member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Thank you, Ms. Johnson.

Next, I want to recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Thank you, Mr. Altmire.

Next, I want to recognize the Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Thank you very much, Mr. Hoyer.

I just want to wrap up here and continue on in talking about Jerry.

I know Jerry has been extremely popular among his constituents because he is a lifelong resident of his district and always has been focused on helping them. He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. He attended Assumption High School there, and later graduated from Southwestern Illinois College and Maryville University, which is just across the Mississippi River in St. Louis. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, Jerry worked in various positions in southwestern Illinois, culminating with his election to the House of Representatives in August of 1988 in a special election.

He was known then and is still known today as a person with a special ethic and earnestness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. Since that time, his accomplishments have been numerous and outstanding. We've heard from many of our colleagues before this about some of his accomplishments. I could spend hours standing up here listing them all, but some of his most important, recent accomplishments include helping to pass four national highway investment bills, seven Federal Aviation Administration bills, and helping to secure funds for a new Mississippi bridge for the residents of Illinois and Missouri.

He has a great reputation for delivering for his district. A couple of examples include helping prevent the closure of Scott Air Force Base, the largest employer in Illinois south of Springfield, and helping extend St. Louis' Metrolink to St. Clair County, providing public transportation to many thousands of people. He has received recognition as a leading advocate for farmers and for many other causes, including the arts and multiple sclerosis.

His dedication to an effective transportation network in the U.S. has remained steadfast throughout his career. As Mr. Altmire has mentioned, a perfect example of this is his drafting and passing of the Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009. In response to a tragic plane crash in 2009 in Buffalo, New York, that killed 51 due to lack of rest for the pilot, Jerry wrote a bill that made requirements for pilot rest and training much more stringent. This legislation has resulted in safer travel for millions of Americans. The legislation is a lasting reminder of the fine work Jerry has done while in Congress.

During his time, Jerry has sat in positions of leadership as chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, now serving as ranking member, as well as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics within the Science and Technology Committee. He has always worked in a bipartisan manner on those committees, doing everything he could to make those committees work.

I, and this legislative body, will miss Mr. Costello and the leadership he has provided, but we can all take comfort in knowing that he will be able to spend more time with his wife, Georgia, who serves her community as the president of Southwestern Illinois College; their three children, Jerry, Gina, and John Patrick; and their eight grandchildren, Jay, Austin, Rorey, Ireland, Jerry, Victoria, Georgia, and John Patrick. He will undoubtedly continue to serve his neighbors and all the residents of southwest Illinois in his day-to-day activities.

Please join me in honoring Jerry Costello for his tireless hard work, dedication, and skill serving the people of America and Illinois. I congratulate Jerry and thank him for all he has done for his constituents and for his Nation. I thank you, Jerry, for your mentorship here in Congress, and I wish you the best as you retire from the House of Representatives.

I know, as other speakers before me have said, Jerry is much too young to retire. I'm sure there are many great things that he will be doing, and he will always be remembered as a great man who served his country and served his constituents of Illinois. We will certainly miss him here, and we can certainly use more Jerry Costellos in this body.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you, Ranking Member Butterfield, for yielding and for your support on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5865, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, a bipartisan bill that I introduced to boost American manufacturing.

This bill represents what the American people want us to be doing, working together in a bipartisan manner to advance policies that promote the creation of good-paying jobs for middle class Americans.

I want to thank Representative Kinzinger for being willing to work with me across the aisle to bring this bill to the floor. I also want to thank Chairwoman Bono Mack as well as Representative Pompeo for their work on this bill. Mr. Manzullo was just on the floor. I want to thank him for the work he's done to advance manufacturing, the work we've done together in the 8 years that I've been in the Congress with him.

In addition, I want to thank Democratic Whip Hoyer for his steadfast advocacy of Make It in America policies.

Manufacturing is a linchpin of our Nation's economy. It provides the American middle class with a source of quality jobs making everything from the goods we rely on for everyday needs, to the equipment that we need for national security.

But in the first decade of the century, American manufacturing took a hard hit. Almost one-third of American manufacturing jobs disappeared. After 110 years as the world's top manufacturing Nation, America got knocked off its perch by China.

I have seen the devastation in my district and across northeastern Illinois. And I get frustrated, just like countless other Americans do, when I go to the store and I cannot find the words ``made in the U.S.A.'' on any product.

Some say this is inevitable but it does not have to be. While we have been seeing signs of a resurgent American manufacturing sector, with jobs increasing by nearly half a million in the past few years, we still have a long way to go.

America relies on the entrepreneurial spirit of private enterprise. There is no doubt there would be no American manufacturing base without the innovators and the risk takers. The great growth in American manufacturing in the 20th century would have been impossible without the hard work of the middle class.

But it is also clear that the government interacts with and affects manufacturing in countless ways. From tax and trade, to regulation, to research, education, and workforce development, government policies have a significant effect on our manufacturers.

That is why we need a comprehensive, coordinated strategy promoting American manufacturing. While many other countries--China, India, Germany, to name a few--have developed manufacturing strategies, the United States manufacturing policy is uncoordinated and largely ad hoc. If we want American manufacturing to compete and succeed in a global economy, it is vital that we develop a strategy to coordinate our policies that impact manufacturers. And that is exactly what this bill does.

Based on the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Pentagon's policy planning process, this bill proposes that every 4 years we convene a group of manufacturing experts from the private and the public sectors. This group, assembled from appointments made by congressional leaders and the President, will analyze domestic and global economics and propose recommendations to Congress, the President, States, and industry, to pursue to make all the types of American manufacturing more competitive.

At the end of the day, this bill is about setting aside politics and implementing policies that will create an environment conducive to the flourishing of American manufacturing, which is vital for middle class American jobs and is vital for our national security.

If we continue to muddle through without a coordinated plan, government will still be impacting manufacturing, but in an uncoordinated, often inefficient, and sometimes wasteful manner.

After a couple of tough decades, I still have a number of small and medium-size manufacturers in my district in northeastern Illinois. One of these is Atlas Tool & Die of Lyons, Illinois, a 94-year-old family- owned business. The director of development for the company, Zach Mottl, said this about H.R. 5865:

As a business owner, I know planning is critical. When an organization doesn't operate with a plan, what occurs is a plan to fail. Right now, the United States is operating without a manufacturing strategy in a world where other countries are intensely focused on helping their manufacturers to compete. The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act will bring all sides and stakeholders together to forge a strategy with broad support and the momentum needed to produce action.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to come together today and help start forging this strategy by passing H.R. 5865, and we can all look forward to proudly seeing the ``Made in the USA'' label on more shelves and in more showrooms.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roman C. Pucinski, whose tireless efforts helped shed light on the horrific Katyn Massacre of 1940. Mr. Pucinski was a leader

in the Polish-American community in Chicago, serving as a U.S. Representative and an Alderman. He passed away on September 25, 2002, but I rise to honor him today because some of his most important life's work will be available to the public for the first time this week. Beginning today, September 10th, the materials related to revealing the Katyn Massacre, that he spent much of his career in Congress working to compile, will be declassified and put on display at the National Archives. I am certain that he would be overcome with emotion if he were able to see the fruits of his labor on this special day.

During World War II, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, then by the Soviet Union on September 17th. The Soviet Army met little resistance as it advanced through Poland from the east, because Polish troops were ordered not to engage, incorrectly thinking that the Soviets were there to help. The Soviets subsequently took thousands of Polish prisoners of war. Soviet troops, by the order of Joseph Stalin and the Politburo, ordered approximately 22,000 executions of Polish military officers, police officers, and other government officials. These executions are now known as the Katyn Massacre. Nazi troops found the mass graves in 1943 and the Soviet Union denied any responsibility, and maintained that position until 1990.

Leading to the Soviet Union's acknowledgement of crime, Congress established the Select Committee on the Katyn Forest Massacre from 1951-1952, chaired by Congressman Ray J. Madden of Indiana. The committee hired Mr. Pucinski as the bilingual Chief Investigator for the committee because of his experience as an investigative reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times, and his fluency in both Polish and English. Mr. Pucinski worked endlessly to provide conclusive documentation that it was indeed the Soviets, and not the Nazis, who were responsible for this heinous crime. Traveling across Europe and the United States, he found witnesses, took depositions, and uncovered secret documents. He worked to uncover the truth about a great tragedy of World War II, and has helped ease the pain of those affected by Katyn Massacre. I am happy to say that many of the documents he helped uncover and compiled are finally available for public viewing. These documents will serve as a reminder for all visitors to the National Archives the horrors of World War II and the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.

Mr. Pucinski was born in Buffalo, New York, but grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Northwestern University, and while there began his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. During World War II, Mr. Pucinski served in the U.S. Army Air Forces where he became a Captain and led his bombardier in the first B-29 bomb raid on Tokyo. Following the war, Mr. Pucinski attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago and graduated in 1949. He then went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959 to 1973 and as a Chicago Alderman from 1973 until 1991. Throughout Mr. Pucinski's lifetime, he was a leader for both Chicago and the city's expansive Polish-American community.

Please join me in honoring Mr. Pucinski's work to investigate and uncover the truth behind the Katyn Massacre. I commend his efforts not only as an investigator, but also as an elected official and I am happy his important work will be available to educate Americans for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Florence Murney, a lifelong resident of Chicago, who is celebrating her 100th birthday.

Florence Murney nee Klein was born on August 9, 1912, on the southwest side of Chicago where she has resided her entire life. Florence is the older of two daughters of Edward and Augusta Klein; her loving younger sister, Dorothy Buhe, recently celebrated her 98th birthday. Florence and her sister grew up in St. Raphael's Parish where they attended Catholic school and developed their lifelong devotion to the Catholic faith.

On May 22, 1937, Florence married Edward Murney at the historic St. Rita's Church. The married couple lived happily in the same apartment building in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood as Dorothy and her husband making sure that Dorothy's children would never be too far away from their beloved ``Auntie Florence.''

Florence worked as a jewelry and clothing saleswoman at several Chicago stores including Busch Jewelers, Bond's Clothing store, and O'Keefe's Men's Wear. During World War II, Florence served our country as a true ``Rosie the Riveter'' working in a plant that manufactured airplanes for the war effort.

In 1956, Florence and her husband moved to a house in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago where she still resides by herself with no assistance. Florence remains a devout parishioner at St. Christina's Church and is very involved with Catholic Charities.

Florence Murney is a beloved and cherished aunt, great aunt, and great-great aunt to 15 nieces and nephews. She is also the godmother to several people who are all honored to know her.

I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Florence Murney a happy 100th birthday, and to thank her for being such a great contributor to her community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard hours of impassioned speeches on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, most defending all or nothing, and pitting us against them. But the American people aren't interested in the politics. They want us to focus on what we can do moving forward to make good health care more affordable for them without breaking the bank.

I believe the ACA is flawed, and I parted ways with the majority of my Democratic colleagues in voting against it in 2010. As I said then, ``The bill does not do enough to lower the skyrocketing costs of health care, cuts more than $400 billion from Medicare, is not fiscally sustainable over the long-term, and breaks with the status quo by allowing Federal funding for abortion and abortion coverage.''

But we all agree there are good provisions. The bill expanded access to care and improved health insurance by doing things such as prohibiting discrimination based on preexisting conditions and extending family coverage to children up to the age of 26. Why, then, are we being asked to blindly throw out the good with the bad, or alternatively, to simply let the law stand with no changes at all?

A few months after I voted against the ACA, in a town hall meeting in Hickory Hills, I was asked by an opponent of the law if I would vote to repeal it. I said, ``No. We need a fix, not a repeal that would take us back to the status quo.'' He said, ``Okay. Repeal and replace. Keep the good parts, and make other necessary changes.''

I agreed, and that's exactly what I have been working to do. I helped pass into law a bill to repeal the burdensome 1099 requirement for small businesses and helped introduce and pass legislation to repeal the ACA's CLASS Act program, which would have added tens of billions of dollars to the deficit. In addition, I worked to pass legislation to ensure that no taxpayer money is spent for abortion under the law, and I continue to fight against portions of the HHS mandate that violate Americans' religious liberty.

At the start of this Congress, I hoped we could work on major fixes to the health care law. Instead, a bill was brought to the floor in January 2011 which would have eliminated the entire law with no exceptions. I opposed that bill. I voted for a resolution instructing four House committees to develop replacement legislation. Yet, 18 months later, there still is no replacement. Instead, we're again voting on a repeal, period. And once again, we all know this bill will pass the House and die in the Senate.

A Chicago Tribune editorial recently stated: ``If Democrats want to save the ambitions of this law, they're going to have to find a way to write a Truly Affordable Care Act.'' And the Tribune concluded that Republicans ``ought to engage Democrats in a real effort to contain the costs before the law takes full effect in 2014.'' I wholeheartedly agree.

Let's stop the posturing, roll up our sleeves, and work to make health care more affordable for all Americans in a fiscally sound manner. That is what the American people want us to do. That is what we need to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Village of Homer Glen, which will be recognized this evening as only the fourth International Dark Sky Community in the world. At the Homer Glen Village Hall in the Council Chambers, Mr. Bob Parks, Executive Director of the International Dark Sky Association, will present the village with the award. Homer Glen's commitment to recognizing the beauty of the night sky as well as saving energy has been recognized internationally and I am very proud of their accomplishment. In particular, Village Trustee, Margaret Sabo has been a stalwart supporter of this initiative, and she deserves special acknowledgment.

In 2007, Homer Glen passed the first city ordinance of its kind in Illinois. By setting guidelines for the amount of light commercial business can emit, the village eliminated the need for establishments to escalate the brightness of their signs to garner attention. The ordinance also included a lighting cutoff at night, which reduces glare for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, and protects the natural cycle of night and day for local wildlife. I also want to recognize several establishments in Homer Glen that responded to the ordinance with effective and responsible lighting plans: Eagle Rock Community Church, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Silver Cross Health Center, and Midland Federal Savings and Loan. All of the organizations will be recognized at the event tonight as well as Debra Briggs Luginbuhl who has been a leader in developing the ordinance.

While saving energy, the city ordinance has also allowed for local residents to view the breathtaking beauty of our night sky, something so many Americans cannot do or take for granted. Every summer, local organizations hold a stargazing event at Trantina Farm, where thousands of local residents can clearly view constellations including Bootes, Hercules, the Corona Borealis, and much more. This year, the event will be this Friday, July 13th. Over 1000 stargazers have attended since the beginning of the event, and local amateur astronomers from Kankakee Area StarGazers, the Naperville Astronomical Association, and the South West Astronomy Observers Group come to help others recognize the various celestial bodies.

I commend Homer Glen for joining Flagstaff, Arizona, Borrego Springs, California, and Sark Island in the English Channel as an International Dark Sky Community. The residents of this village have shown initiative and leadership in appreciating our night sky and I hope others will follow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mr. Peter DeCraene, a math teacher at Evanston Township High School, for receiving the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

The PAEMST program recognizes outstanding teachers for their contribution to teaching mathematics or science. Sponsored by the White House and administered by the National Science Foundation, PAEMST award recipients receive a certificate from President Obama and $10,000. The award only goes to the finest teachers of science and mathematics in the country.

This year, President Obama recognized 97 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of this esteemed award. The applicants were chosen for their abilities to convey the concepts of math and science to their students, along with their work experience, educational background, and extracurricular activities related to the classroom. The PAEMST program rewards teachers for preparing and establishing a solid foundation of science, technology, engineering, and math in America's youth. Peter DeCraene has succeeded throughout his career, creatively teaching these disciplines to his students while helping his colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DeCraene's passion and enthusiasm over the past 23 years have inspired hundreds of students so that they may better contribute to America's success. The Chicago native graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in mathematics, and an M.S. in computer science, and he received a Certificate of Advanced Study in educational leadership from National Lewis University. He prefers teaching in small groups so that students may learn by answering one another's questions. He is currently the math department chair at Evanston Township High School, overseeing 30 teachers, along with instructing new teachers in the school wide induction program. The DePaul University graduate is also a textbook author who has presented at state and local conferences.

Please join me in honoring my constituent, Peter DeCraene, and all the recipients of the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This is an honor worthy of special distinction and I look forward to seeing more great things from Mr. DeCraene.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

I rise to engage in a colloquy with my good friend from Iowa, the distinguished chairman, Mr. Latham.

First, I would like to acknowledge the difficult and challenging job the chairman has had in crafting this bill. I would also like to acknowledge all of the work of Ranking Member Olver, not just this year but in years past here in Congress, and especially as head of this committee.

In 2008, Congress passed a mandate requiring commuter and freight railroads to implement Positive Train Control by 2015. While PTC provides a very significant safety improvement, it is also very costly. The Federal Railroad Administration has estimated that the total cost for PTC will be $13.2 billion industrywide.

In recognizing the cost when we were working on the bill in order to implement the mandate, I was able to add language authorizing the Rail Safety Technology Grant program at $50 million per year. Since the program was authorized, however, Congress has only appropriated $50 million for 1 year.

This mandate is especially hard on commuter railroads. In the Chicago region, Metra serves approximately 300,000 commuters every weekday. Metra estimates that PTC will cost $200 million, an amount the agency will struggle to afford. There are many other commuter railroads in this country facing similar situations and needing some help in implementing this safety technology.

Yet, in recognizing the difficult choices the chairman has had to make on this bill, I will not offer an amendment. I would ask, as this bill moves forward to conference and in future appropriations bills, that we work together to find some level of Federal support to help defray the costs for our Nation's railroads in order to implement PTC.

With that, I yield to Chairman Latham.

In reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman, and I look forward to working with him on this funding issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment Offered by Mr. Broun of Georgia

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard Zilka, outgoing president of the Clearing Civic League in Chicago, Illinois, for his lasting service to the community.

Mr. Zilka's community owes him an enormous debt. A member of the Clearing Civic League since 1965, he has been president for 26 years during which time he has distinguished himself as a tireless fighter for the success and safety of the neighborhood. Instrumental in securing a public library for the citizens of Clearing and establishing the Clearing Night Watch, he also successfully campaigned against the installation of high-pollution medical incinerators in the area. These are just some of the many successes that he spearheaded on behalf of the residents of Clearing.

Mr. Zilka and his wife of 54 years, Marie, have two sons and one daughter. Prior to his retirement he worked for International Harvester, which has since become Navistar. He has also fulfilled a number of diverse roles in the community, including serving on the advisory council of Chicago's John F. Kennedy High School, and the Community Advisory Council in Bedford Park. He has also served as a member of the nearby Garfield Ridge Civic League. In recognition of his achievements, South Rutherford Avenue was recently renamed in his honor.

A resident of Chicago his entire life, Richard Zilka has been a tireless fighter for the well being of his neighbors on the Southwest Side. Held in the utmost regard within the community, I have been inspired by his loyal and enduring service. As he retires from his position as president of the Clearing Civic League, I wish him all the very best for the future.