Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the veterans who received the Silver Star Banner on August 12th at a ceremony in McCook, Illinois in recognition of illness or injury sustained while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. It is a privilege to acknowledge the sacrifices made by these brave citizens in the defense of our country, and I applaud their courage and fortitude.

At the ceremony hosted by Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey R. Tobolski of the 16th District, the following servicemen were recognized: William Cochran, Kenneth Marinelle, Thomas Bezouska, Anthony Bezouska, Donald Beach, Robert Tinson Sr., James Piotrowski, Thomas Higgins, Ralph Simpson, John Charles Judge, Louis Anderson, Joe Romano, Russell Meredith, and James Tobolski.

The Silver Star Banner was created by the Silver Star Families of America, founded in 2005. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to provide care packages and show support to ill and wounded veterans and their families. The Silver Star Families of America also works to serve the men and women of the Armed Forces through education and advocacy campaigns that focus on the plight of servicemen and servicewomen wounded while on active duty. This organization is unique because candidates need not receive additional military decoration to be eligible for the Silver Star Banner. Silver Star Families of America seeks to ensure that all those wounded and ill members who have served in the Armed Forces receive the recognition and honor they deserve.

This ceremony exemplifies the 16th District's support for local veterans. Those who risk their lives to protect our country deserve our utmost respect, and Commissioner Tobolski and the residents of the 16th District are helping to make sure they receive their due.

Please join me in recognizing the recipients of the Silver Star Banner from Cook County's 16th District and surrounding areas. Their sacrifice and dedication to our country are an inspiration to us all and will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has given so much to his country and his community, Mr. Barry Cicero. This Sunday, July 31, Mr. Cicero will be installed as Junior Vice Commander of the American Legion First Division of Illinois, while Derrick David Stinson will be installed as Commander and Lawrence Nohr as Senior Vice Commander. The First Division is one of three divisions of the American Legion in Illinois and includes all of Cook County with a population of more than 5 million people. Mr. Cicero, and the other officers being installed, have demonstrated impressive dedication to their country and the American Legion, and are certainly deserving of this honor.

Barry Cicero served in the United States Army and has been an active member of the American Legion for 19 years. His home post is the Robert E. Coulter, Jr. Post 1941 in La Grange where he has been active on many projects including chairing Fall Fest, the Legion's popular fundraiser for local veterans. He has held many leadership positions during his time as a member of the American Legion, including Commander of Post 1941 and Commander of the 5th District. He held that position for two terms, a rarity in the American Legion. In addition, Mr. Cicero has been very active in giving to his church and community.

Being installed as Junior Vice Commander of a Division within the American Legion is such a special occasion because it means he will be installed as the Commander of that Division within two years. Mr. Cicero's installation is also special because he will be the first Legionnaire from Post 1941 to become a Division Commander. I am happy to see all of his hard work and dedication bear fruit as he was chosen by his colleagues to be Junior Vice Commander.

I am certain Barry Cicero will provide exemplary service as Junior Vice Commander, and his leadership will bring a prosperous year for the American Legion's First Division and all of the posts within it. Please join me in honoring Mr. Barry Cicero and may he continue to be an asset to Illinois veterans and his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Lou Viverito, President of Stickney Public Health District, and to recognize his efforts in constructing a new wing to a medical center in Stickney, Illinois. The wing, which opened on July 23, 2011, will provide quality healthcare for the residents of Stickney, a township in my district, for generations to come.

Mr. Viverito's career in public service spans five decades, starting in 1965. Since that time, he has held many positions, but public health has always been his passion. He has served as a State Senator, reaching positions of leadership in that capacity. Mr. Viverito was elected President of Stickney Public Health District in 1973, and has worked tirelessly for his constituents in Stickney since then. Mr. Viverito's decades of work will culminate in a brand new section of Stickney's health center that will preserve the wellbeing of thousands over the next several decades.

Stickney's new medical center stands as a testament to dedicated public service and intelligent public policy. The six million dollar health center will open after years of work from public servants who put the needs of their citizenry first: the Officials of Stickney Township, the Stickney Public Health District, and especially Lou Viverito. The project was completed without any increases in taxes and without a bond issue, showing how responsible planners can bring substantial public good to a community without the need for public debt.

The medical center is a continuation of a long history of quality health care for the residents of Stickney. Since the founding of Stickney's Public Health District in 1946, residents have enjoyed excellent care for little or no cost. Medical professionals will continue to offer ambulatory health care, podiatry, immunizations, maternal health, WIC nutrition programs, school health services, communicable disease control, chronic disease management, elderly community care, behavioral health, and dental services in this state- of-the-art facility.

Please join me in honoring Mr. Viverito, the Officials of Stickney Township, and the Stickney Public Health District on their accomplishment. I know this project will have wide-ranging positive effects for Stickney residents for years, and I thank Mr. Viverito for his pivotal role in bringing this idea to fruition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and constituent of Illinois' 3rd Congressional District, Lieutenant Colonel William R. Tracy. On July 29th, 2011, he will be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force. William Tracy's talent and commitment were obvious 25 years ago when he received his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy from my father, Representative William O. Lipinski. I am privileged today to recognize Lt. Col. Tracy for his exemplary service to our country.

Upon his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1990 as a Second Lieutenant, Lt. Col. Tracy served for three years as a maintenance officer at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. After his completion of flight training to become an F-15C Eagle Pilot, Lt. Col. Tracy served at Tyndall Air Force Base. Over the past 17 years he has accumulated more than 2,000 flying hours, including participation in no-fly missions over both northern and southern Iraq. While taking part in these no-fly missions, Lt. Col. Tracy was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained when an insurgent's bomb exploded near him in Saudi Arabia.

Lt. Col. Tracy graduated in the top ten percent of his class at the Air Force Staff and Command Academy, demonstrating his intellect and work ethic, and received his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel upon graduation from the Air Force War College. Due to his excellent leadership qualities, the Air Force placed Lt. Col. Tracy as commanding officer of a Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, where he currently serves today.

I would like to recognize the dedication, skill, and valor Lt. Col. Tracy has displayed throughout his career in the United States Air Force. We are all thankful for his service and the sacrifices he has made during his lifetime of service to the United States. I congratulate Lt. Col. William R. Tracy on his promotion and I will continue to follow his career closely as he continues to be an asset to our armed services.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

I would like to ask Subcommittee Chairman Young if he would enter into a colloquy regarding the Department of Defense's future plans for data storage.

Thank you. As the chairman is aware and as you are aware, the Department of Defense has many cybersecurity goals and challenges. With the daily reports on cyberattacks and intrusions, I feel that Congress needs to express its concerns before there is a cyberevent that will impact and damage national security.

The Department of Defense is the world's largest target for cyberattacks. There are many aspects of cyberdefense infrastructure, but I would like to focus on one critical piece, the physical location of classified data. I'm very concerned that the Department of Defense will not weigh the physical storage of classified data sufficiently in their efforts to save money through the consolidation and modernization of the information technology infrastructure. In addition, I worry that unnecessarily storing classified data abroad could increase the risk that this information could be stolen, damaging national security and potentially harming our troops.

I would ask the chairman if he would be willing to work with me to ensure that the Department of Defense's future plans for data storage address these concerns and maintain the highest standards for protection for classified data. Keeping critical defense data under positive control and physically securing that data is just common sense for national security. Building and operating data centers here will create American jobs as well as make it easier to control access and make it harder for foreign operatives to steal things such as nuclear secrets, weapons systems designs, and battle plans.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

I yield to the ranking member.

I want to thank Chairman Young and Ranking Member Dicks for their commitment to the troops and national security, and I know Mr. Dicks is especially concerned about cybersecurity.

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

Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

Offered By: Mr. Lipinski

Amendment No. 91: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant and a good friend, Lou Viverito. After 16 years of service in the Illinois State Senate, Mayor Brady and the citizens of Bedford Park will name 73rd Street at Central Avenue after Mr. Viverito. Such an honor is an appropriate recognition for a champion for his constituents, as Mr. Viverito has been for the last 42 years.

After serving bravely in the Korean War and receiving multiple decorations, Mr. Viverito began his political career in 1965. He was elected as Stickney Township Democratic Committeeman in 1970 and quickly stood out as a force in local politics. Since 1973, Mr. Viverito has served as President of Stickney's Public Health District where he has made some of his greatest contributions. Thousands of people receive health care through Stickney's high quality facilities every year. As a landmark of his life's work, a brand new clinic, completely paid for, will open later this month in large part due to the efforts of Mr. Viverito.

In 1994, he was elected as an Illinois State Senator and served until his retirement this year. Mr. Viverito's distinguished career in the Illinois State Senate was characterized by dedicated service and several honorable distinctions. He served as Minority Whip for the Senate Democratic Caucus and as Assistant Majority Leader and was a leader on healthcare issues in Illinois for years.

Beyond his service in Illinois' legislative body, Mr. Viverito has held several other public positions, including Stickney Township Supervisor, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, and Member of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Viverito is well-known in Chicago due to his civic participation, and his work ethic and infectious smile have made him a beloved member of the Chicago community. He resides with his wife, Carolyn, in the City of Burbank. He also has three grown children and five grandsons.

At tomorrow's ceremony, Mayor Brady of Bedford Park will properly honor Mr. Viverito by renaming a street and holding a reception for him. Please join me in honoring Mr. Viverito as a public servant whose deeds will be remembered for years to come throughout Chicago and Illinois. May he enjoy tomorrow's ceremony in his honor and may he enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Cletus Parish on its 60th anniversary as a community of faith in La Grange, Illinois. I express my admiration and appreciation of St. Cletus' commitment to upholding the values and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and its congregation's devotion to charity and spiritual development. On July 3rd, St. Cletus Church will celebrate 60 years of spiritual guidance and compassionate service to the 3rd District and the Chicago-area community.

A part of the Archdiocese of Chicago, St. Cletus offers ten masses weekly in addition to formal education through its school, religious education, and youth and Hispanic ministries. Each Christmas season, St. Cletus reaches out to the less fortunate in its inter-city sharing parish, St. Agatha's, and to other needy families. Through the parish's Advent Giving Tree, St. Cletus parishioners generously donate food and gift baskets to brighten the Christmas season for hundreds of needy families. St. Cletus' commitment to service extends beyond the holiday season as well. The St. Cletus Food Pantry distributes bags of groceries provided by parishioners to hundreds of less fortunate families in local communities. Through these services, the St. Cletus community upholds the Catholic ideals of love, sacrifice, and charity.

Because many of the original members of St. Cletus were returning World War II veterans, the parish has always been strongly patriotic. The Parish honors veterans from all over the area every year on July 4th with a special Mass which I am proud to participate in.

From its campus in La Grange, St. Cletus fosters a community of compassionate believers and followers of Jesus Christ, welcoming all to join its family of faith. I am proud to honor St. Cletus' commitment to providing spiritual nourishment through worship, the celebration of the sacraments, education, and service to the 3rd District of Illinois. I congratulate St. Cletus' pastor, Father Clark, and the entire parish community, and I know St. Cletus will continue to be a valuable spiritual asset to La Grange and the Chicago region for years to come.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I applaud the administration's leadership in looking for ways to save money and simplify our Federal IT infrastructure by moving data to storage in cloud computing, but the critical question is where will this data actually be stored?

There is no reason for essential government data to be stored in offshore facilities, and the USDA has recognized that fact. In cloud computing contracts signed by the USDA, Secretary Vilsack and CIO Chris Smith have insisted that all data must be stored in the United States. This amendment seeks to reinforce and codify USDA contracts' terms specifically regarding where the data is stored. That is all that this speaks to. It says that this contract, in regards to where the data is stored, will be codified with this amendment.

Now, why is this important? It's critical for security reasons. We shouldn't have to worry about another nation seizing the infrastructure where our data is stored. It's critical for reliability reasons. We don't want another country, either intentionally or accidentally, disconnecting us from the servers we need to run our government.

And it is critical because building, operating, and safeguarding this infrastructure here in the United States also means more American jobs.

So what this amendment seeks to do, as I said, is just look at this one part of the contract and say this data must be stored here in the United States, that this cannot be changed.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. It is budget neutral. It supports the efforts of the USDA and keeps our data secure and accessible and supports American jobs.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the ranking member very much for yielding.

I thank the chairman for his comments, but I think there has been a little bit of confusion, and I just want to clear this up. This speaks specifically

to a contract that the USDA has already entered into, and essentially it is just looking at that one piece of that contract that says all data must be stored in the United States and codifying that to say that that part cannot be changed.

This is one contract that has already been signed. It is not speaking to anything else in the future. But I think that it is important for security that I think this is a good move that the USDA made. So I just want to speak to that in this amendment specifically, and it is not in any way tying the hands of the USDA or any other agency in the future.

I would hope that the other agencies, USDA and other agencies, follow this lead in the future because I think it is good for the United States. But it doesn't any further tie the hands of the USDA. I just wanted to clear that up.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that I recently learned of the passing of Abe Breehey. I rise to celebrate and commemorate his life, and to mourn his sudden and tragic death.

I met Abe through his service as a dedicated advocate of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. He was a tireless presence in support of hardworking Americans, and he undertook his efforts with a passion and commitment that was admirable. At the same time, Abe was a truly genuine person; affable, funny, honest and a general pleasure to be around. He was able to bridge the divides we far too commonly find in politics today, and his intellect and determination will be sorely missed.

I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Abe's family, including his wife Sonya and daughter Abigail, his parents, sister and their broader family. I also extend my sympathies to his colleagues in the labor community, most especially those he worked with in the Boilermakers, President Newton Jones, Bridget Martin, among others.

Along with my staff, I worked with Abe to move important issues forward, including strengthening our Buy American laws, protecting the rights of workers, and revitalizing American manufacturing. As I continue to engage in these issues, Abe's memory will remain in my mind. His compassion, commitment, and dedication to these and other causes should motivate us all, and he will not be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of these en bloc amendments.

The Korean War is often referred to as ``the Forgotten War,'' but the toll it took on those who served and the mark it left on America, American veterans, Korea, and the world is indelible. A group of dedicated individuals, led by Korea veteran Denis Healy, has begun work on the Korean War National Museum to be located in Chicago.

This amendment, which I introduced with my colleague from Illinois, Peter Roskam, supports increased efforts to educate and raise public awareness of the Korean War and of the establishment of such a museum. This museum will preserve the legacy and history of the war, commemorate the sacrifices made by those who served, and celebrate the advances in freedom and democracy made by the Republic of Korea.

The veterans of this important conflict deserve our recognition, honor, and appreciation. A national museum will ensure that what they accomplished will be remembered.

I thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for supporting this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a courageous public servant, Chicago firefighter, Lt. David Leno. Today, in front of the Illinois Fire Services Association's Firefighter Memorial, Lt. Leno will be presented with the distinguished Medal of Valor. Lt. Leno's years of untiring service to the Chicago community remind us of the extraordinary altruism necessary to commit one's life to the service and protection of the community. Furthermore, this distinction recognizes his exemplary dedication to public safety and his commitment to duty.

The Medal of Valor is presented annually to firefighters who continually serve their communities without reservation in the face of danger or who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Nominated for this honor by Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff, today Lt. Leno will join the ranks of fellow Chicago servicemen and fallen comrades in receiving an award that recognizes outstanding dedication.

In his 22 years of service, Lt. Leno has distinguished himself time and time again with countless acts of heroism. In addition to being formally recognized in 2009 by Mayor Daley for coordinating and participating in the rescue of three victims from the third floor of a burning building, Lt. Leno was nominated for Chicago's Carter Harrison Award and won a Special Honorable Mention for his firefighting performance.

The 3rd District and Chicago are fortunate to have public servants like Lt. Leno whose tireless commitment to safeguarding his community sets an example for all. On behalf of the residents of Illinois' 3rd District, I thank Lt. David Leno for his outstanding devotion, demonstration of selflessness, and personal courage above and beyond the call of duty; and I congratulate him for his deservedly being awarded the Medal of Valor.

Mr. Speaker, while today our Nation continues to confront many challenges, I persist in believing that the primary challenge we must address is job creation and economic growth. So rather than considering more bills to chip away at minor provisions of the Affordable Care Act, we should be debating bills that will stimulate our economy, improve our competitiveness, and help people get back to work. For that reason, I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question, and allow the House of Representatives to debate the National Manufacturing Strategy Act, H.R. 1366, a bipartisan bill which I was proud to reintroduce earlier this year.

A national manufacturing strategy would help produce more private sector jobs and shore-up America's defense capabilities. My legislation would require the Administration to collaborate with the private sector to conduct a thorough analysis of the various factors that affect American manufacturing, consider the multitude of current government programs related to manufacturing, and identify goals and recommendations for federal, State, local and private sector entities to pursue in order to achieve the greatest economic opportunity for manufacturers in America. The strategy's implementation would be assessed annually and the strategy as a whole would have to be revisited every four years, so that we can reassess the global market and technological development, and plot a revised framework.

Why is a national manufacturing strategy necessary? Because the federal government has significant and broad influence on the domestic environment for manufacturing and our national security, energy, and transportation systems all rely on our manufacturing base. Yet there is little to unify the various programs and policies that exist throughout the government that impact our domestic manufacturing base and its place in world markets. Unfortunately, for too long the government's promotion of manufacturing has been ad hoc, stovepiped and too reactive to economic downturns. Instead, we need to be proactive, organized across the government, and encouraging of those who want to pursue emerging markets and competitive technologies.

Furthermore, it is a matter of international competitiveness for our Nation. A number of our economic competitors--including Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Singapore, South Africa, Russia, and the United Kingdom, among others--have developed and implemented national manufacturing strategies. As a recent report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, entitled ``The Case for a National Manufacturing Strategy'', stated: ``But most U.S. manufacturers, small or large, cannot thrive solely on their own; they need to operate in an environment grounded in smart economic and innovation-supporting policies . . . Unfortunately, while many other nations--and indeed many U.S. states--are taking steps to boost the competitiveness of their manufacturing industries, the United States lacks a clear, coherent strategy to bolster the competitiveness of manufacturing firms of all sizes and all sectors, a shortcoming that must be rectified if the United States hopes to `win the future' in manufacturing.''

This legislation enjoys widespread, bipartisan support from a range of industrial sectors, labor, and the public. This bill passed the House last year by an overwhelming vote of 379-38, demonstrating that we have had the commitment to focus on the jobs and economy--a mission that we should be working to restore. This year, my legislation has also garnered the support of a bipartisan group of 26 of our colleagues who have cosponsored the bill, as well as the endorsement by the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Association of Manufacturing Technology, the AFL-CIO, the Precision Metalforming Association and the National Tooling & Machining Association. Finally, a bipartisan poll conducted last year for the Alliance for American Manufacturing found that 78 percent favor ``a national manufacturing strategy aimed at getting economic, tax, labor, and trade policies working together,'' and 90 percent want some action to revitalize manufacturing.

I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in calling for action on jobs and the economy. While we have witnessed some positive economic progress, we still have a long way to go in getting Americans back to work. We cannot continue to sit idly as our manufacturing base and quality, well-paying jobs depart for China, India or elsewhere. We must take action to provide a competitive and focused foundation for those who will continue to make it in America, and we can do so now by passing the National Manufacturing Strategy Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marsha Morris as she retires after 23 years of exemplary teaching in Illinois School District 101. Educators like Mrs. Morris are responsible for shaping America's youth, and her passion for her profession has contributed to the development of countless students into civic-minded Americans. With great pride, I honor her today for her tireless dedication to public service.

In her 23 years as a Western Springs educator, Marsha Morris has been instrumental in the growth of students in Illinois' 3rd Congressional District. After earning her undergraduate degree at Benedictine University, Mrs. Morris pursued graduate studies at Aurora University, graduating with a Master of Arts in Teaching. As an educator at Forest Hills Elementary School, and later as the Library Learning Center Director for Forest Hills and Field Park Schools, Mrs. Morris encouraged students to engage their curiosities, explore their creative sides, and above all, she encouraged every student to read. As an educator, Mrs. Morris channeled her love of books into the classroom where, by sharing her favorite stories with students, she inspired them to discover favorite stories of their own.

Mrs. Morris' excellence in teaching has encouraged and inspired many young men and women of Cook County to embrace and engage with the world around them. The Western Springs community has been fortunate to have Mrs. Morris, who dedicated her career to enriching the lives of children.

On behalf of the residents of the Third District of Illinois and all those whose lives she has touched, I am proud to honor Mrs. Marsha Morris for her years of excellence in District 101. I thank her for dedicating her career to students aspiring to leadership and civic accomplishment, and I wish her a long and happy retirement. Mrs. Morris will be greatly missed by the students of District 101, but I know she will continue to be an asset to her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Linda Winfield, one of Illinois School District 101's most beloved teachers, who will retire at the end of this school year in May. For 33 years, Mrs. Winfield has blessed the Forest Hills community with her compassion and her commitment to educating children.

Raised in the small town of Assumption, Illinois, Mrs. Winfield understood the importance and lasting impact of education in small town communities. After graduating from nearby Millikin University, she began her career as a teacher at Forest Hills. In 1990 she became the kindergarten teacher at Forest Hills Elementary after spending several years in other teaching roles. Her ever-present smile and dedication to elementary school education have made her a favorite teacher in her local community. Her love of music, which she infuses into each class by singing and playing the piano, has endeared her to parents and left lifelong impressions on her students. Mrs. Winfield has made a tradition of the kindergarten students hosting a Mother's Day tea for their mothers; this event is truly one of the highlights of the year for Forest Hills kindergarten families.

Mrs. Winfield's engagement with her students and their families always lasted long after the ring of the school bell. Active in the local community, Mrs. Winfield set a positive example for her students and neighbors within and outside the classroom, teaching extracurricular music lessons.

I ask you to join me in honoring Mrs. Winfield on her retirement after 33 years of teaching in District 101. Mrs. Winfield will be greatly missed at Forest Hills Elementary by parents, students, and co- workers alike. Her contributions to the community exemplify her commitment to her students and their families. May she enjoy a long and productive retirement, and continue to put a smile on the faces of those around her.