Darin LaHood

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Stephen Kouri on his retirement after nearly 24 years of distinguished service as a judge on Illinois' Tenth Judicial Circuit.

Judge Kouri has dedicated more than three decades to serving Peoria and Central Illinois. A graduate of Spalding Institute and the University of Illinois College of Law, he practiced law for 20 years before being elected to the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 2002.

During his time on the bench, Judge Kouri served communities throughout Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Stark, and Tazewell Counties and was the Circuit's longest-serving judge at the time of his retirement. Throughout his career, he earned a reputation for his fairness, sound judgment, professionalism, and strong work ethic.

Judge Kouri's commitment to public service extends well beyond the courtroom. He served on the Peoria City Council from 1993 to 1997 and has held numerous leadership roles with civic, charitable, and Catholic organizations throughout the Peoria area. He also played an instrumental role in bringing the IHSA boys basketball state finals to Peoria and helped establish ``Access the Experience,'' which provided young people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in state finals activities.

I congratulate Judge Kouri on his retirement, thank him for his many years of service to Central Illinois, and wish him and his family all the best in this next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 269, I mistakenly voted NO when I intended to vote AYE.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the resounding success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Over 39 days, the United States alongside Canada and Mexico, hosted 104 matches, or the equivalent of 104 Super Bowls, making it the largest sporting event in the history of our country.

More than 6.8 million fans attended matches, another 7.7 million visited fan festivals, and the U.S. welcomed visitors from around the globe with open arms. Beyond the elite level of play on the pitch, the tournament generated tens of billions of dollars in economic activity and supported thousands of American jobs.

I was proud to be a part of the White House FIFA task force under the leadership of Executive Director Andrew Giuliani and President Trump, where we worked with more than 50 Federal agencies in an unprecedented effort to ensure a safe, secure, and exciting event for fans and spectators.

I thank our law enforcement officers, first responders, and public servants who worked tirelessly to make sure the tournament was safe, secure, and ensured the World Cup finished without a single major security incident.

During America's 250th anniversary, our Nation's hospitality, its strength, and its ability to bring the world together were on full display. We once again proved that when the world comes to America, we can deliver.