Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Quincy Notre Dame High School on 150 years of academic excellence and service to the community of Quincy, Illinois.

Quincy Notre Dame Catholic High School originally opened as a school serving young women. Mother Caroline and the school sisters of Notre Dame answered the call to meet the growing need for primary studies in 1859. The school opened its doors in 1867 and quickly exploded in growth.

Throughout the past 150 years, Quincy Notre Dame has always sought to serve the needs of the Quincy community and adapt to the changing times.

QND remains steadfast in its mission to educate lifelong learners in a strong faith-based environment. I am certain that Mother Caroline and her Sisters would be humbled to know their simple act of faith and service resulted in a legacy that has impacted thousands of lives for 150 years.

To each educator, administrator, and individual who has helped build Quincy Notre Dame into the stellar institution it is today, congratulations. I wish you another successful 150 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart at the passing of one of my constituents, an American hero, Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who was killed on a mission in Yemen on January 29, 2017. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his loved ones, loving wife, and three beautiful children. Our Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to these magnificent members of our Armed Forces and their families for their selflessness. Give thanks to them each day as you hold your family close. I include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

Ryan's Song

Ryan's Song,

so loud and long,

so very strong,

will live on and on,

On and on,

As an American Hero,

as it's oh so clear oh,

now that he's gone,

He will live on,

Now, up in heaven where he belongs,

Moments

Are all we have,

To fight the evil,

to vanquish the bad,

To make a difference,

all in the short time we have,

To bring the light,

all in our hearts of courage full shining bright,

Upon, death's altar in this never ending fight,

Of Good vs Evil,

there are but our Lord's chosen people who fight the fight,

who will defend our freedoms with all their might,

Who with their band of brothers,

as like none others,

side by side to their left,

to their right

A freedom fighter,

For there can be no brighter light,

Who for each other are so willing to die in this fight,

With kind of selflessness which brings tears to even the

Angels' eyes,

way up high on this night,

For there can be no greater gift or treasure,

than To Give That Last Full Measure,

Then, to lay down one's life,

To leave your three beautiful children,

and your loved ones and your most loving wife,

As it's for you Ryan and your family,

we all so cry this night,

For you have blessed our Nation with all your light,

And all across Peoria this night,

there comes a gentle rain,

As you lay your heads down to rest,

all in your heartache that which remains,

Are but our Lord's tears to wash down upon your family Ryan,

to so ease your pain,

Until, once again up in heaven you will meet again,

And you won't have to cry again,

Better to die for something,

than to live for nothing at all,

For this was but Ryan's clarion call,

Mount up my son,

for your new battle has just begun,

As an Angel in The Army of our Lord as you now must run,

To continue this battle which must be won,

And we will hear you on the breeze,

And we will see you in places so all at ease,

As we will awake in the morning so all in peace,

knowing you were watching over us all in our sleep,

As now we lay your most sacred body down to rest,

At Ease my son,

sealed with a kiss,

Ryan you were and will always be one of America's Best,

Her son,

Hush little children don't you cry,

one day up in heaven you will look into your fine Father's

eyes,

Amen

--Albert Carey Caswell

In memory of a magnificent American hero, Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. May God watch over his family and hold them in his arms.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate National Catholic Schools Week.

America's Catholic schools educate over 2 million students from diverse backgrounds each year, effectively preparing them for a brighter future and instilling in them faith-filled values. Data show that Catholic schools are often the highest-performing educational institutions in our communities. In fact, 99 percent of students from Catholic schools graduate from high school.

This week, I applaud Catholic schools for making a difference with students throughout our country; I applaud the educators who invest in their students' academic and spiritual formation; and I applaud the 28 Catholic grade schools and high schools that faithfully work in the 18th Congressional District of Illinois.

Today I am a cosponsor of a resolution that expresses congressional support of Catholic schools for their invaluable contributions to students and families across America. It is with deep gratitude that I recognize those Catholic educators who are shaping the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor Ryan Owens, a Navy SEAL from Peoria, Illinois--my hometown--who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country over the weekend in Yemen.

Ryan Owens, with his elite counterterrorism unit, SEAL Team Six, was fatally wounded during a night raid against al Qaeda in Yemen. The Department of Defense reported that the raid was a success but that the price was steep.

The Constitution of our great Nation was written in ink, but those principles are defended in blood. This remarkable man's sacrifice is a painful reminder of the immeasurable cost of our freedom and national security and of the dark evil we face as we wage the war against terrorism.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ryan's grieving family this week: his father, his wife, and his children. I pray that they will take comfort in knowing that his death was not in vain and that neighbors, community, and Nation are joining them in mourning his death and in remembering his life. Ryan Owens will be posthumously awarded with the Purple Heart.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would ask that the House rise in a moment of silence to pay tribute to Navy SEAL Ryan Owens for his exceptional service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Catholic schools and parishes in our nation as we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. As we approach this celebration, I am excited to announce that this year's theme is ``Catholic School: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service,'' which resonates with my District that is home to twenty- eight Catholic schools. Parochial education strives to instill faith, community involvement, and commitment in the classroom to shape each generation of students into well-educated, compassionate members of our communities. For forty-three years, Catholic schools have taken part in this tradition, which provides a time to reflect on and commemorate their contributions to education.

There are over two million students enrolled in the 6,525 Catholic schools across the United States that serve urban, suburban, rural, and inner-city communities. This past year, 37 Catholic schools were designated the Blue Ribbon from the U.S. Department of Education, exceeding academic standards, closing achievement gaps, and establishing progressive teaching methods. In addition to this prestigious award, Catholic schools exceed graduation rates throughout the country and extensively focus on college preparatory classes with 85.7 percent of their students attending a four-year college after graduation.

As a proud graduate of St. Anne Grade School in East Moline, Illinois and Spalding Catholic High School in Peoria, Illinois, I am honored to co-sponsor legislation supporting National Catholic Schools Week. The religious values and foundation of faith instilled through Catholic schools has strengthened my relationship with God and informed my daily life with lessons of faith. I am also thankful that our three sons have the opportunity to attend Catholic schools and become immersed in the Catholic faith, quality education, and community service that they provide.

This week is a time to reflect on and celebrate all the contributions of the National Catholic Education Association and the impact their schools provide to our communities. I look forward to continuing to support Catholic schools and carrying out God's mission of faith, service, and knowledge. During National Catholic Schools Week, I extend my sincere blessings to the Catholic schools across the nation and I am honored to promote their successes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act.

Unfortunately, in our Nation, the most vulnerable and the most helpless lives amongst us have had their lives ended unceremoniously and tragically through abortion. Since 1973, 57 million lives have been lost to abortion. Even more disheartening, taxpayer dollars have been funding these abortions, despite the fact that polls show that 60 percent of Americans believe that abortions should not be directly paid for with tax dollars.

Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has saved 2 million lives by prohibiting tax dollars from funding abortions. It is time to make this lifesaving amendment permanent and governmentwide. If signed by our new President, this

measure would do just that. Supporting comprehensive, life-affirming care is a better and more effective way to invest in women's health.

I am thankful to all those who will come to Washington, D.C., this week to March for Life on behalf of the unborn. As a practicing Catholic and the father of three, I am proud to be the voice for the unborn here in Congress.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7 and stand up for life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this budget resolution as a first step in the process to repeal and replace ObamaCare. It is undeniable that ObamaCare has failed. It has broken promise after promise to the American people.

Constituents in my district in central Illinois are watching their premiums skyrocket by an average of 15 percent. This chart next to me here shows, all across the country in State after State, premiums have skyrocketed. Citizens also face deductibles that are so high that they try to get by without going to a doctor.

One constituent from Roseville, Illinois, whose insurance costs have gone up 75 percent, stated to me recently: ``This is crazy. Almost half of my paycheck goes to insurance. How do they expect us to afford this?''

These burdensome costs stifle families and our small businesses' ability to participate in and help grow our economy. We have a mandate from the American people to fix this broken system and to rescue citizens from escalating healthcare costs.

The goal is not to pull the rug out from underneath anyone. In fact, we are working to provide a stable transition to better, more affordable health care. We must have something that is economically sustainable and fiscally responsible, something that actually works.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to replace ObamaCare with a system grounded in economic reality--a market-driven, consumer- centered healthcare system that provides Americans with more choices, lower costs, and greater flexibility. That is why we are working on a replacement system that will expand consumer choice through health care focused on their needs; a system that will spur innovation in health care; attract new doctors and healthcare providers; and protect patients with preexisting conditions.

Mr. Chairman, we must help Americans gain access to insurance they can afford. Passing this legislation is one step towards helping people and fulfilling our promise to the American people.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. We owe it to our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor Illinois State Representative Donald Moffitt for his dedication to public service which has tremendously benefitted the people and State of Illinois. Today commemorates his last day as a Representative in the Illinois General Assembly.

Representative Moffitt from the 74th House District of Illinois has dedicated twenty-three years to tirelessly serving his constituents in the Illinois General Assembly. His years of service have been distinguished by his commitment to providing timely and effective constituent service, a top priority for his office. As a leader of the Republican Party in Illinois, he has cultivated a statewide reputation for his dedication to matters concerning Illinois veteran's affairs, agricultural reform, healthcare, and especially, the public safety of Illinois.

In 2004, he founded the Illinois General Assembly's Fire Caucus, which focuses on promoting the goals of Illinois' fire services. Among its accomplishments is the promotion of funding for Emergency Medical Systems, creating a fire truck loan program, placing sprinkler systems in college and university housing, and reforming hiring practices of fire departments to ensure greater public safety. He is also credited for requiring school buses to install swinging stop signs to ensure the safety of children crossing the street. His outstanding advocacy on public safety issues has not gone unrecognized as he has received numerous honors, including the ``Legislator of the Year'' awards credited to him by the Illinois Association for Fire Protection Districts, the Illinois Firefighters Association, and the Northern Illinois Alliance of Fire Protection Districts. Most notably, he recently received the 2016 Northern Alliance of Fire Protection Districts Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to his advocacy for public safety, Representative Moffitt has also championed the most important issues facing the healthcare industry. As part of this important work, he sponsored a legislation preventing discrimination of insurance companies based on genetic test results, which would later serve as the paradigm for federal legislation of the same topic. Through his work within the Illinois healthcare field, Representative Moffitt has helped many families receive the necessary care and information that they need.

Representative Moffitt's steadfast work to improve the lives of Illinois' citizens stands as a model for progress to further the greater good and prosperity of the state. He stands as a model for the values and priorities which current--and future--public servants should strive to uphold in order to better our communities. It is an honor to call Representative Moffitt not only a colleague, but a friend of many years. I want to congratulate him on his tireless work to improve public safety and his dedicated service to the State of Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a day we set aside to thank those who risk their lives to protect our communities nationwide.

These men and women are the hidden heroes of our country, and they deserve our respect and our gratitude. When they put on their badge and kiss their family good-bye each day, these officers have no certainty that they will return home safely. They willingly face that risk to keep the rest of us safe.

This past year, 135 law enforcement officers made the ultimate sacrifice. One of those courageous individuals was our own Officer Scot Fitzgerald, who lost his life serving on duty with the South Jacksonville Police Department, located in my district.

Last night, throughout the Capitol, blue lights were lit to honor our heroes in blue. In my office, we lit our blue candle in remembrance of fallen Officer Scot Fitzgerald.

In 2016, more officers lost their lives on duty than in any of the previous 5 years. Let us show our admiration and appreciation to the sworn law enforcement officers across the State of Illinois and the 900,000 who serve and face danger in the United States every day. Not just this week, but throughout the year, we need to honor our law enforcement officials.

Amendment VIII:

``Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.''

Amendment IX:

``The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.''