Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richard E. Moore, following his retirement on February 1, 2012 from Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. A hardworking and successful financial advisor for the company since 1971, he has fostered loyal partnerships with many colleagues and clients throughout his forty year career. Among his professional peers he has earned industry-wide recognition while acting as the president of the Bond Club of Chicago and chairman of the Securities Industry Association Central States District.

Born on September 8, 1943, Mr. Moore grew up in the Chicago area. He earned his bachelor's degree from Loyola University and honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1964 to 1970. His dedication to service continued with his extensive involvement in community organizations throughout Chicagoland. In 1974, he joined the Union League Club of Chicago, a social club that helps sustain many of the city's most important cultural organizations, and has since served on several of the club's committees. His dedication to civic responsibility earned him election as president of the Union League Club in June 2005. In addition to these roles, he has advocated for children's education and empowerment in Chicago by serving as a trustee of both the Marine Math and Science Academy and Union League Boys & Girls Club.

Mr. Moore married his beloved wife, Patricia, in 1994. He plans to spend his well-earned days of retirement with his wife, three sons, and six grandchildren.

On behalf of all the Chicagoland residents who have benefited from his dedication to philanthropy, I am proud to congratulate Mr. Moore on his retirement from Robert W. Baird & Company. His commitment to improving his community makes him a model citizen in his community. I am thankful for his extensive volunteer and military service contributions, and I wish him the best in this next chapter in his life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and thank AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy for serving the greater Chicagoland region for more than twenty years. AthletiCo is a rapidly expanding rehabilitation, outreach, and fitness center enterprise that has grown in size and now has over 60 facilities.

When founder Mark Kaufman first opened for business in 1991, AthletiCo had only one employee and two clients. Two decades later, AthletiCo operates throughout Northeastern Illinois, Milwaukee, and Northwest Indiana and employs more than 1,100 clinical and administrative staff. Mr. Kaufman's team has expanded over the years to include physical and occupational therapists, certified athletic trainers, personal trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, and massage therapists.

AthletiCo currently serves a large clientele of workers on disability, assisting their recovery and helping injured people get back to work. AthletiCo also closely associates with over 150 local high schools, colleges, and professional sports teams including Illinois' own Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bulls, helping athletes stay in shape and recover from injury.

Mr. Kaufman also has a reputation for treating his employees well, allowing him to retain a happy and effective staff. AthletiCo prioritizes continuing education for its employees and also provides post-professional education through in-house training, tuition reimbursements, and orthopedic clinical residency programs.

I am proud to have this business in my district, and I look forward to its continuing positive impact. I am grateful for the services Mr. Kaufman and AthletiCo provide in Chicagoland and the surrounding areas. Please join me in celebrating AthletiCo as they continue to pursue their mission of improving the health and wellbeing of local men, women, and children.

Madam Speaker, as one of only a handful of engineers in Congress, I'm proud to once again sponsor a resolution honoring our Nation's engineers during National Engineers Week. Next week will mark the 61st annual Engineers Week and the 8th year I have introduced this resolution. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for joining me in leading this bipartisan effort for the second consecutive year.

The central goal of Engineers Week--attracting new students to engineering careers--has never been more important.

As a 2010 National Academies report explained:

While only 4 percent of the Nation's workforce is composed

of scientists and engineers, this group disproportionately

creates jobs for the other 96 percent.

Engineers drive our economy by designing and building everyday products, including bridges, airplanes, roads, computers, medical devices, cars, power plants--just to name a few. America's 2.5 million engineers have helped make our country great by solving problems and turning dreams into reality, and America's future depends on them.

In these uncertain times, as we look for ways to promote job creation, educating America's youth about engineering and science needs to be a national priority. Each year, National Engineers Week seeks to do just this through events aimed at inspiring students and fostering public awareness of vital contributions made by engineers.

These events, including the Future City Competition, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, and Discover Engineering Family Day, all impart an appreciation of the wonders of engineering to children of all backgrounds. The importance of these events is underscored by a 2012 survey by the Intel Corporation that found American teenagers are more likely to consider a degree in engineering after learning about what engineers do.

This year's theme is ``7 Billion People; 7 Billion Dreams; 7 Billion Chances for Engineers to Turn Dreams Into Reality.'' This theme emphasizes the potential for growth among the community of engineers worldwide. It also highlights a challenge to our position as a global leader in engineering.

Last month, the latest Science and Engineering Indicators released by the National Science Board showed that the number of students obtaining engineering degrees in the United States continues to rise, but our production of new engineering degrees has been dramatically eclipsed by China, where 30 percent of all undergraduate degrees are in engineering, as compared to 4 percent in the United States. Inspiring bright young minds to consider careers in engineering is more important than ever for our economic competitiveness.

Growing up in Chicago, I was fascinated with figuring out how mechanical devices worked. I remember how my high school calculus and physics teachers at St. Ignatius helped mold this fascination into an interest in engineering. These teachers, together with informal experiences at places like the Museum of Science and Industry and the Brookfield Zoo, helped motivate me to pursue an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Northwestern University and then a master's degree in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University. One of the central goals of National Engineers Week is to provide this kind of inspiration for the next generation.

During Engineers Week, I will be attending the Chicago Engineering Awards Benefit, where the Washington Award will be presented to a Chicago native and pioneer of the cell phone, Martin Cooper, and also where students will be honored for their participation in numerous competitions, including the Future City Competition. I am always greatly inspired when I go to this banquet to see one of the great pioneers of engineering talk about the work they've done, and to see the students and the work that they're doing today, and know the future of our country will be great with their help.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor this resolution, but more importantly, to go home and participate in Engineers Week celebrations in your districts. This is a great opportunity for us to thank the engineers who contribute so much to our country and inspire the next generation of engineers that our country needs to stay competitive.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of St. Symphorosa Grammar School and St. Ignatius College Prep, and as a strong supporter of Catholic education, I have again this year introduced a resolution in honor of Catholic Schools Week to highlight the contributions Catholic schools make, not only to the students who attend them, but to our entire Nation.

Since 1974, the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have provided leadership in planning and organizing Catholic Schools Week. This year, it is celebrated from January 29 through February 5. The theme, ``Faith, Academics, Service,'' celebrates the broad educational experience Catholic school students receive. Catholic school students are not only focused on academic excellence but also on enriching the spiritual character and moral development of young Americans.

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

Today, over 2 million elementary and secondary students are enrolled in nearly 7,000 Catholic schools, where these students typically excel. They surpass their peers in math, science, reading, history, and geography in NAEP tests. The graduation rate for Catholic high school students is 99 percent, and 85 percent of the graduates of these schools attend a 4-year college. As we continue to hear disturbing reports about our national test scores, these statistics are truly remarkable and should be commended.

Notably, the success of Catholic schools does not depend on selectivity. These academic achievements are realized by students from all walks of life. Catholic schools accept 9 out of every 10 students who apply, and are highly effective in providing a quality education to students from every socioeconomic group, especially disadvantaged youths 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.

In addition to producing well-rounded students, Catholic schools save taxpayers billions of dollars each year by lowering the number of students in already overburdened public schools. It is estimated that taxpayers save over $1 billion from students attending Catholic schools in the Chicago area alone and approximately $20 billion nationwide. The importance of these savings is undeniable as we in Congress and as lawmakers across the country struggle with deficits.

I was born and raised and live in the Chicago Archdiocese, home to one of the most successful Catholic school

systems in the Nation, and my parish school at St. John of the Cross has one of the best schools in the archdiocese. Right next-door, the Joliet Diocese also has a thriving Catholic school system. The focus of this year's Catholic Schools Week, ``Faith, Academics, Service,'' reflects my own Catholic education. The knowledge, discipline, desire to serve, and love of learning it instilled in me enabled me to earn my doctorate and to become a teacher before being elected to Congress.

In recognizing Catholic Schools Week, we pay a special tribute to dedicated teachers and administrators who sacrifice so much, in most cases working for less than they could earn elsewhere. I have many fond memories of my teachers, including those of many nuns, who taught me the value of faith, learning, and service. Throughout the United States, millions of others have similar memories of dedicated sisters, priests, and lay teachers who gave their hearts and souls to their students.

This week, I had the honor of celebrating Catholic Schools Week at a number of schools, including St. Andrew School in Romeoville, Everest Academy in Lemont, St. Michael School in Orland Park, Cardinal Joseph Bernadine School in Orland Hills, and my alma mater, St. Symphorosa in Chicago. I also joined St. Linus School in Oak Lawn in celebrating, not only Catholic Schools Week, but also the school's prestigious Blue Ribbon award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the outstanding education Catholic schools provide to Americans across the country as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week

I rise today in support of fiscal responsibility and in support of H.R. 1173. The CLASS program was created with a good intention, relieving the crushing burden of long-term care. But we have known from the beginning that this program would not be able to sustain itself without a massive bailout from taxpayers. The CBO said so. Medicare's Chief Actuary said so; and, more recently, Secretary Sebelius concluded the CLASS Act was totally unsustainable and decided not to implement it; and for this, I give her credit.

But the program is still in law. And given the trillion-dollar deficits that we face, the only option right now is to make sure that the taxpayers are not left with an unsustainable program in a big bill.

This debate should not be about the health care law in general. It should be about this program. It should be about doing what is fiscally responsible, and that is eliminating the CLASS program and getting to work right now in a bipartisan manner on a solution to long-term care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize World War II Veteran James Edward McShane, who will celebrate his 86th birthday tomorrow, January 26, 2012. Mr. McShane fought courageously in the South Pacific with the 96th Infantry Division during World War II. With great honor, I pay tribute to him today for his loyalty and sacrifice to his country during wartime.

A Chicagoland native, Mr. McShane was born to Patrick and Catherine McShane on January 26, 1925. He attended De La Salle High School in Chicago where he began playing the trombone. Later in life, his deep- rooted passion and talent for music led him to form the Jimmy McShane Orchestra, which delighted Chicago audiences for many years. Mr. McShane married the love of his life, Joan Frances Connors, on January 28, 1950. He is a devoted father of five children and a grandfather to fourteen.

After returning home from war, he received his bachelor's degree from DePaul University in Chicago. He found a career in the plastics industry forging many lasting friendships and garnering respect among his professional peers. A hardworking and dedicated man, he retired from Tyco Plastics in 2002. During his well-deserved days of retirement, Mr. McShane spends his time gardening, playing bridge, and conversing with friends.

On behalf of the residents of the Third District of Illinois, I extend to Mr. McShane my warmest birthday wishes and sincere gratitude for his service to our country. He is an exemplary American, and I am proud to have him as a constituent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fire Chief Anthony Bednarz upon his retirement after 50 years of service to the residents of Western Springs and Riverside, Illinois, two villages in my district. He retired on December 31, 2011. These two villages are, and always will be, safer thanks to his efforts.

The seeds of Chief Bednarz's career were planted at a young age, since his father served as a firefighter as well. Thinking that he wanted to avoid firefighting, Chief Bednarz entered the United States Army where he served honorably. After his discharge, he changed his mind and joined the Riverside Fire Department in 1961. He knew almost immediately that he wanted to be a leader within the department and took classes to be one of the first to earn a degree in Fire Science from the College of DuPage.

Over the years, Chief Bednarz gained the respect of his peers and eventually became Fire Chief of the Riverside Fire Department in 1976-- a position he would hold for the next 30 years. The Riverside Fire Department is one of the most progressive and effective in the area thanks to the leadership of Chief Bednarz. He was pivotal in modernizing the department's building and rolling stock. He also coordinated the Riverside emergency medical response system in the 1970s.

Chief Bednarz left the Riverside Fire Department five years ago to join the Western Springs Fire Department where he helped make improvements and guided the construction of a new building for the fire department.

Chief Bednarz has touched countless lives as a firefighter, manager, and mentor. He will be missed as a veteran firefighter and we are all sad to see him go. But it is a happy time for his family, as his retirement will give him more time to enjoy with his wife, Marianne, his children, Krista, Lisa, Charles, and Paula, and his grandchildren. I thank Fire Chief Anthony Bednarz for his career of service and I wish him a long and happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Saint Xavier University for winning the 2011 NAIA National Football Championship. I am very proud of Head Coach Mike Feminis and the SXU Cougars for defeating reigning champion Carroll College 24-20 and bringing back the Chicago area's first collegiate football national championship since 1913.

Congratulations are also in order for long-time Athletics Director Bob Hallberg, University President Christine Wiseman, and all the faculty, staff, and students at Saint Xavier, Chicago's oldest Catholic University, which is located in the Third District in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood and in Orland Park.

The Cougars fielded a balanced team all year. They stifled opponents' offenses with an experienced defense and confused the opposition's defenses with a fast-paced spread offense. Senior captains Patrick Appino and Michael Prosser led one of the top defenses in the country, holding Carroll's running back, the NAIA player of the year, to only 57 yards rushing in the championship game. On offense, local standouts Shane Zackery and Wes Gastel combined for 13 receptions and 109 yards receiving. Zackery and Gastel also provided quarterback Jimmy Coy and the rest of the offense favorable field position on several occasions with four kick returns for 113 yards. This balanced attack has been Coach Feminis' recipe for success all season long.

I am proud to have the Cougars call my district home, not only because they are the best NAIA football team in the country, but also because they embody all the best attributes of true student-athletes. Coach Feminis is proud of the familial atmosphere he creates in the team's facilities and the emphasis he places on academics. I am certain the tradition of success Coach Feminis has established will continue for a long time at SXU.

Please join me in honoring these hardworking, dedicated, and honorable men for a memorable season and bringing a championship home to Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Saint Xavier University Cougars on winning the NAIA Football National Championship on Saturday.

It was another thrilling game, and a fitting way for Saint Xavier to bring home its first National Championship in any sport. From the freshmen to the seniors, from the top-ranked offense to the clutch defense to the special teams--everyone played a part in this victory and the Cougars' amazing season. This was the first time since 1913 that a Chicago college football team has won a national championship. And the Cougars did it with largely homegrown, Illinois talent.

Chicago, Lemont, Joliet, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Park Ridge, Rockford, Frankfort--these and many other towns are well represented on this historic team.

The players, Coach Mike Feminis and his staff, Saint Xavier, Chicago, and Illinois should all be proud. Congratulations to the Cougars.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Saint Xavier University Cougars on winning the NAIA National Football Championship on Saturday.

It was another thrilling game and a fitting way for Saint Xavier to bring home its first national championship in any sport to the school. From the freshmen to the seniors, from the top-ranked offense to the defense and the special teams, everyone played a part in the victory and the Cougars' amazing season.

This is the first time since 1913 that a college football team from Chicago has won a national championship, and the Cougars did it with a lot of homegrown talent. Chicago, Lemont, Joliet, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Park Ridge, Rockford, Frankfort--these and many other towns are well represented on this historic team.

The players, Coach Mike Feminis and his staff, Saint Xavier, the city of Chicago, and the State of Illinois should all be proud. Congratulations to the

Cougars, the NAIA national football champions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2011 St. Xavier University Cougars football team, who will compete in the

school's first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championship game on December 17, 2011. The Cougars, who call my district home, will compete for the title in Rome, Georgia, against Carroll College of Montana.

St. Xavier defeated Marian University on December 3rd to go 13-1 for the season and earn a trip to the title game. Marian was the only school to defeat St. Xavier this year, and the Cougars avenged their loss in exciting fashion to earn their title birth. With SXU leading by three points in the final moments of the game, Marian was threatening to score with a first-and-goal situation. On third down, SXU freshman Clayton Fejedelem intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the victory.

The Cougars' potent spread offense was on full display in the second half of the contest with three touchdowns through the air. St. Xavier's offense leads the NAIA in scoring offense with 45.9 points per game. Just as impressive was the defense as it held Marian's star running back to just 26 yards on 16 carries.

SXU had come close in the past, making it to the NAIA semifinals three times before, but this year the fourth time was the charm. When the Cougars face Carroll College tomorrow, I am confident they will be ready to take on the Fighting Saints. Please join me in honoring the St. Xavier University Cougars football team and their head coach, Mike Feminis, on competing in the NAIA National Championship and sealing their place as a perennial football powerhouse. May they perform like champions and bring back a national championship trophy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sarah Smierciak, a graduate of my alma mater, Northwestern University, who was recently awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Ms. Smierciak hails from Lemont and majored in History and in Middle East Language and Civilization. She studied Arabic at the American University in Cairo and Damascus University. She is also an accomplished triathlete and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

Established in 1903, Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to outstanding well-rounded students to attend Oxford University for postgraduate study. The selection committee identifies young men and women of outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service. Over 830 of our nation's top students applied and Sarah was awarded one of only 83 Rhodes Scholarships.

Ms. Smierciak's work and experiences demonstrate that she is a very deserving choice for this prestigious scholarship. She has published articles on social justice and published her photography, and serves as a docent on Egyptian art at The Field Museum.

Fluent in Arabic, she currently resides in Egypt, where she is promoting the value of education by assisting orphans in the aftermath of the Egyptian Revolution. Through her work with the international charity, FACE for Children in Need, she is working to develop a teaching curriculum for the street children of Egypt and Sudan. She remains tireless in her devotion to helping these young boys appreciate the need for education.

Ms. Smierciak plans to use her Rhodes Scholarship to pursue developmental studies at Oxford University. She aspires to one day be an advisor at the United Nations.

I ask you to join me in honoring Ms. Sarah Smierciak, a member of the Rhodes Scholarship Class of 2012, and may she have success in all her endeavors to promote the value of education throughout the United States and the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two of my constituents, Thelma and Joseph LaSalvia, for receiving the Christe Fidelis Award in recognition of their devotion to their faith and to St. Louis de Montfort Parish.

On November 6, 2011, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago honored Thelma and Joseph LaSalvia with the Christe Fidelis Award at a prayer service celebrated at Holy Name Cathedral. Christe Fidelis, which translates to ``Loyalty to Christ,'' is awarded to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese who have demonstrated a high level of Christian service through various ministries in their respective parishes.

Thelma and Joe LaSalvia are well deserving of this award. Over the years, they have been involved in the ministry of care to the sick, the capital campaign, and the church's contemporary choir. They also celebrate a weekly communion service at a local nursing home, volunteer on the church decorating committee, and serve as sacristans for their weekday liturgies. Through this aid they illustrate their dedication to the parish and to making a positive difference in the lives of many people in need.

As a fellow Catholic, I am strengthened by their example of faithful living. Their help to those in need, to the sick, and to the elderly is remarkable. I applaud Thelma and Joe LaSalvia for their selfless dedication to others and wish them well as they continue their journey as faithful Catholics serving others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Erwin J. Korczynski, a talented pilot and patriot from Chicago, Illinois who died on January 5, 2011 of prostate cancer.

From an early age, Captain Korczynski exhibited the success and commitment to public service that would define his life. Born in 1942 to first generation Polish American parents, he achieved the rank of Life Scout for the Boy Scouts of America, lettered 6 times in Track and Field at Lane Technical High School, and was a member of the famous Chicago Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corps. He also attended Northern Illinois University and entered the priesthood at St. Ambrose Seminary in Davenport, Iowa--a calling that he would later selflessly leave to join the Marine Corps.

Even in his early years, Captain Korczynski showed a passion for aviation. From the age of 15, he and his twin brother Edwin took flying lessons and graduated with their flying licenses at the age of 18. He joined the Marine Attack Squadron, VMA 131 in 1963 during the escalation of the Vietnam War. During the course of the war, he rose to the rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1969.

Following his tenure with the Marines, Captain Korczynski flew commercial planes during the golden age of commercial aviation. Impressively, over 25,000 hours of flight time he maintained a spotless record while at Eastern Airlines and several other airlines around the world.

Using his flying talent to again serve our country, Captain Korczynski volunteered from 1990 to 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. As a pilot in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), he flew civilian aircraft to transport troops and supplies necessary to liberate Kuwait. Captain Korczynski was an honorably discharged Marine and a reservist at the time, but was not activated during the conflict. He volunteered to serve anyway, showing his patriotism and dedication to his country.

In his later years, Captain Korczynski trained and mentored young pilots. Certified as a commercial airline check airman and flight instructor, he instructed young pilots at the Gulfstream Flight Academy for Gulfstream Airlines based in Miami, Florida. He left an everlasting impression on these young pilots who would later recall these stories of his Marine Corps days, commercial airline career, and world travels as ``Erwinisms.''

Our country owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Korczynski for his tireless defense of our country during two major conflicts. In neither case was he obligated to don a uniform. In voluntarily joining the Marines and airlifting 30 years later, he illustrated his commitment to freedom and democracy around the world. Simply put, the United States is a better country because of him. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Captain Korczynski's twin brother, Edwin, wife Henrietta, daughters Elizabeth and Kiersten, sons Ryan and Christian, and granddaughter Emmalyn. He will always be remembered as a great man and a great American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Nial Funchion of the Chicago Police Department for his swim across the Strait of Gibraltar on October 6, 2011, and for his support of the Brotherhood for the Fallen, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen police officers.

Officer Nial Funchion is an 18-year veteran of the Chicago police force and a trusted public servant. He first became involved in the Brotherhood of the Fallen following a funeral for a colleague killed in the line of duty. At that funeral, he noticed a group of uniformed police officers offering condolences to the family of the slain police officer. He was deeply moved by this kind gesture and contacted the Brotherhood for the Fallen to see how he could help.

Already a tremendous swimmer, Officer Funchion has since dedicated his swimming endeavors to the Brotherhood for the Fallen to raise public awareness for the organization. His most recent swim dedicated to the Brotherhood was perhaps his most impressive. He crossed the 12 miles separating Spain and Morocco, known as the Strait of Gibraltar, in three hours and fifty minutes. Not only did Officer Funchion brave rough waters to complete his swim, but he did so while being followed by a family of orca whales.

Officer Funchion plans to add to his swimming accomplishments by completing endurance swimming's Triple Crown. Over the next two years he intends to complete the 28.5 mile loop around Manhattan Island and the 21 mile swim across the Catalina Channel in southern California. He previously crossed the English Channel in 1992 with the fastest time by an American that year. I applaud Officer Funchion for protecting our community, performing amazing feats to help others, and supporting the Brotherhood for the Fallen, and I wish him safety and calm waters in his coming endeavors.