Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Richland County Middle School in Olney, Illinois, for their recognition by the National Association of Music Merchants.

It is a great honor to be seen as one of the Best Communities for Music Education in the United States. With help from director Eric Combs, the middle school's music program has shown commitment and support of the arts throughout the school and the community. The music program allows students to express themselves and grow as a person.

I applaud Mr. Combs and all of the participating students for their dedication to this program and for their hard work. I ask that we all congratulate Director Eric Combs and the students at Richland County Middle School for their Best Communities for Music Education Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 50th Anniversary of Carlyle Lake in Clinton County in my home state of Illinois.

The thought of Carlyle Lake was created due to the extreme flooding caused by the Kaskaskia River. A group of men residing in the area decided to create the Kaskaskia River Valley Project in 1933. This project then led to the idea of a man-made lake. The Flood Control Act of 1938 granted authorization for the construction of what eventually became Carlyle Lake. Due to the commencement of World War II the original construction plan was put to a halt.

In 1950, after the war subsided, attorney Eldon E. Hazlet took interest in the construction of the lake. He formed the Kaskaskia Valley Association, whose member's sole purpose was to convince the public for the need of a lake. After gaining enough public support, the Army Corps of Engineers made a revised plan of construction for the lake. Twenty years after the date of the original authorization; the Federal government signed off on the construction of Carlyle Lake in 1958. The Carlyle Lake Project was completed in April 1967, and the dam was dedicated in June of the same year.

Over the years Carlyle Lake has become a popular attraction for those in the area as well as for tourists. Visitors can enjoy the scenery, lie on the beach, or rent a boat out to coast on the water. The creation of this lake has allowed the economy to prosper. It has also led to the creation of the Eldon Hazlet State Park; they named this park after him because of his leadership in the advancement of Carlyle Lake. Tourists and townspeople can fish, camp, and hike in this state park.

The City of Carlyle has planned a celebration of the Lakes' 50th year. The celebration will begin on June 9th and go through the 11th. Throughout the weekend visitors can enjoy a carnival, music festival, vintage car show, and much more. The weekend will come to a close with a commemoration ceremony for Carlyle Lake.

I ask that we all join in that celebration as we pay tribute to the history and the people who made Carlyle Lake. I salute Carlyle Lake on its 50th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Neil Etson, a World War II veteran, as well as a small business owner and entrepreneur in Southern Illinois for over 50 years. He is being honored by the Rotary Club of Richland County for his service during World War II, where he served honorably as a Staff Sergeant with the 766th Military Police Battalion.

After the War, Neil made a home for him and his family in Olney, IL, where he founded an energy company, Etson Oil Corporation. Etson Oil Corporation operated successfully for over 50 years and provided many jobs in his community. Neil has been very involved in the energy sector as a Board Member of the Canadian Oil Corporation, a Steering Committee Member for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and on the Committee on National Preservation Drake Well Museum in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

Neil has continued to serve his country, church, and community throughout his many years in Southern Illinois. He has been active on the Richland County Board, the City of Olney Zoning Board, and a member of the Richland County Development Corporation. He is also the author of two children's books.

Neil and his wife of 66 years, Frances, have three children and ten grandchildren. I would like to thank Neil for his service to his country and commend him on a lifetime of dedication to his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Fluorspar Miner's Memorial of Hardin County in my home state of Illinois.

In 1971 a tragic accident occurred at the Barnett mining facility ending the lives of seven miners: Gale Bates, Randal ``Jock'' Belford, Orval Holbrook, Jerry Jenkins, James R. Lane, William ``Bill'' and Wayne Long. These men gave their lives to a lifestyle that has impacted so many families in the region.

The Ohio River Scenic Byway, the City of Rosiclare, and many local partners decided to dedicate a memorial to these fallen miners as well as all Fluorspar miners and their families. The memorial displays a life size bronze statue of a Fluorspar miner and his wife--a black granite memorial honoring the seven fallen miners, interpretive panels to tell the story of Fluorspar mining in the area, landscaping and a separate memorial garden wall commemorating area families and businesses.

The memorial will provide travelers and younger generations with information on this tragic accident and the importance of the fluorspar industry and its importance to Southern Illinois and the nation. The Miner's Memorial celebrates the strong past of the City of Rosiclare due to the mining of fluorspar.

I ask that we all join in that celebration as we pay tribute to the history and the people who made the Fluorspar Miner's Memorial, and I salute the completion of the Fluorspar Miner's Memorial.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge City of Harrisburg, Illinois, Water and Sewer Superintendent Kelly Hefner and Harrisburg Fire Chief John Gunning for their fast thinking and their quick response during our most recent flooding in the 15th District of Illinois. At the beginning of May, both the superintendent and the fire chief rescued drivers whose vehicles had ended up submerged in water.

Kelly Hefner dove into the floodwaters near the intersection of East Sloan Street and Commercial Street in Harrisburg on May 1st. Hefner moved quickly to rescue a man who had driven his SUV into a flooded ditch. It was the second rescue in that particular area of town. Just the day before, Fire Chief Gunning had to rescue the driver of a vehicle who had driven into a flooded ditch.

Both heroes selflessly acted fast to assist the drivers, who could not undo their seat belts as cold water flooded into their sinking vehicles. I offer my deepest admiration and gratitude to these two heroic gentlemen for working hard to keep Harrisburg's citizens safe, and for inspiring us all to think about others.

I thank Superintendent Hefner and Chief Gunning for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 125th Anniversary of the Germantown Fire Department.

The Germantown Fire Department was chartered on May 2, 1892. The first complement of members included 18 volunteer firefighters, and the first apparatus was a hand operated pump--which had to be loaded onto a horse-drawn wagon, so the first roster of members included one horse. The first motorized apparatus was a 1919 Ford Model-T truck, which is now a part of the collection of the Hall of Flame Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.

In its first days the department depended entirely on donations. The first apparatus and equipment were all donated and through the years the members held all sorts of fundraisers. In the 1930s and 1940s weekly ``platform dances'' were held to raise funds. This allowed the department to purchase a 1941 pumper truck, which was in use until 1988. The antique truck was sold, but later repurchased by department members.

In the early 1950s members raised funds to help build a new fire station, purchase a 1953-model pumper truck, and purchase the first fire department radio system in the county. In those days a normal year would include ten calls, and during one period the department went 18 months without a call. In 1952 the Germantown Rural Fire Protection District, a taxing district, was formed to provide a stable funding source for the department; however, donations remain a significant part of department finances.

In 1986, the Department began providing First Responder emergency medical services to the community. The Department also implemented the first fire department-based Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program in the region. And in 1989 the Department purchased, with donated funds, then only the second rescue tool ``Jaws of Life'' system in the county.

In 2002, the Department formed an Explorer post to expose youth ages 14 through 21 to the fire and rescue service. Today, 11 former Explorers are members of the department.

Currently, the Germantown Fire Department has 35 members and responds to an average of 110 calls per year. Current vehicles include two pumpers, one pumper-tanker, one brush truck, one rescue vehicle, and one support SUV.

The Germantown Fire Department has planned a grand celebration in recognition of

its anniversary. This celebration will begin on June 10th and last into the night. The celebration will include great food and an assortment of fun and educational activities.

I stand today to salute the Germantown Fire Department on its 125th Anniversary and to wish it the very best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge two brave and honorable Carlyle High School seniors from my district, Tyler Guthrie and Tucker Johnson. The two students showed compassion and great character when they saved a man's life after his car flipped over into water on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

The victim was pulling off of Old US 50 into the Hatchery Park, trying to adjust his Bluetooth set when he received a phone call. Suddenly the man lost control of his Lexus, which flipped over onto its roof in the water. Luckily, driving behind the gentleman's car were Tyler and Tucker, and they immediately sprang into action.

The two young men could hear the man's cries for help as they inspected the scene. Johnson quickly called 911, while Guthrie smashed in the rear window with a rock he had picked up. Johnson then assisted the man out of his overturned sinking car shortly before an ambulance arrived on the scene.

I ask that we all join in honoring these two good Samaritans and use their selfless act as a reminder that we are all here to help one another.

I stand today to salute Tyler Guthrie and Tucker Johnson for their contributions to this great society and to wish them the very best in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to come down to the floor to recognize and thank two of my major staffers in my office who are leaving to pursue other opportunities. The first one is Greta Joynes.

Greta recently left as my legislative director; and as you know, Mr. Speaker, that is your top adviser in the legislative field. So not only running the legislative office, she also had some personal expertise in the telecommunications regions.

But Greta is from northern Illinois, north of I-80, originally from the Chicagoland area, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, NIU. She started as a staff assistant in 2003 and worked her way up through the ranks, as I said, becoming legislative director

in 2011, and then served as deputy chief of staff from 2013 until she left recently in March.

She focused on telecommunications as her expertise, and we primarily in our office dealt with 911 issues, especially the Next Generation 911 Advancement Act. She also spearheaded the Next Generation 911 Caucus in my office.

She is married to Bob and has two children, Gavin and Hadley. We already miss her activity and work in the office, and we pass on best wishes.

Next is Mr. Chris Sarley, who has a 14-year career on Capitol Hill. This is his tenth year with me, and I think it is uncommon in many offices for people to stay that long. I think it is a tribute to my chief of staff, Craig Roberts, and the fact that I don't meddle too much how they manage the office and get their job done.

Chris has served 10 years with me. In addition to handling health care and energy policy in my office, Chris has served the committee under Chairman Walden and Chairman Emeritus Upton as policy coordinator for the Subcommittee on Environment since 2011.

Chris has been an invaluable member of my team, and some of his achievements include:

Before he came to my office, he worked on the Medicare part D rollout.

Under my office, he advanced several medical device titles in the 21st Century Cures Act.

He worked on what we call the ADAPT Act and the GAIN Act, which target the antibiotic threats that hopefully will not occur in our country, but we need to be ready to respond.

He was very involved in ADUFA, Animal Drug User Fee Act, and enabling the FDA to approve drugs used for pets and livestock.

But for all of us on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he was one of our primary House negotiators during the first major rewrite of a United States environmental protection law in over 2 decades, and facilitated passage of the Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amends the Toxic Substances Control Act, which is the Nation's primary chemical regulation law.

I think the public really would appreciate if they knew the work that our staff members do on long hours and over the weekends. We mention it all the time, especially when we are fighting across the aisle, because it is primarily the staff that is trying to get to the point where they can share language where we can then give a thumbs up or thumbs down, and it is very seldom that we say thanks for those. A Member is only as good as the folks he has who work for him and who he or she surrounds himself with.

I wanted to take this time, Mr. Speaker, to call out two great government employees who served their Nation well and served me well. And it also sends a signal about all our other staff members who do tremendous work under great stress to serve this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Ramon's El Dorado, an institution in my hometown of Collinsville, Illinois.

In the 1960s Raymundo ``Ramon'' Otero was working in St. Louis at the Chevrolet assembly plant. An unfortunate accident occurred in which he fell through scaffolding, injuring his back. He was paralyzed from the waist down, and doctors told him he would never walk again.

Six months later he found a doctor who would perform a surgery that would allow him to walk again. But payments from the plant had already stopped.

With a young, hungry child, Mr. Otero's wife, Estella, sent him to borrow $5 from a neighbor and get food for the baby. But God interceded.

On his way to the store, Mr. Otero felt a calling to buy meat instead, which he did.

Once home, they made a tray of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and tostadas. He took that tray to a local bar, sold the food, and made $18.60. Thus began a cycle of making food and selling it.

He eventually worked with a local fried chicken restaurant to sell his Mexican food for ten cents of every dollar sold. Soon he bought out the owner, and Ramon's El Dorado was born in what was a former gas station.

Mr. Otero used his mother's recipes, who owned a restaurant in Durango City, Mexico. He helped his hometown for many years by taking a truckload of food and clothing to Mexico.

Ramon's has expanded several times over the years and now seats 280 people.

Mr. Otero died last year, but his sons Raymond and Carlos continue the family tradition today.

I am humbled to be able to honor Ramon's on its 50th Anniversary of serving delicious Mexican food to the people of southwestern Illinois and beyond.

Congratulations to the Otero family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the pillar upon which our robust friendship with Taiwan stands.

The United States and Taiwan share the common interests and values of freedom, democracy, rule of laws, human rights and free market. Our security commitment has helped Taiwan become one of the most free and prosperous societies in the world. The United States enjoys cooperation with Taiwan on a broad range of concerns, including security, economic cooperation and development, global engagement, humanitarian relief, counter-terrorism, people-to-people exchanges--and the list goes on. It is my firm belief that a strong and prosperous Taiwan will guarantee peace and prosperity in the region.

As we commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, it is in the national interest of the United States to take decisive action to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations.

I also noticed that the President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping is visiting the United States to visit with our President. It is my hope that the upcoming meeting is positive and constructive. U.S. engagement with the PRC is important to the peace and stability of the region. We should always hope and insist that the U.S.-Taiwan relations, and Taiwan's security and interests, are not in any way compromised.

Taiwan is a great friend of the United States. Taiwan is and will continue to be a friend of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the pillar upon which our robust friendship with Taiwan stands.

The United States and Taiwan share the common interests and values of freedom, democracy, rule of laws, human rights and free market. Our security commitment has helped Taiwan become one of the most free and prosperous societies in the world. The United States enjoys cooperation with Taiwan on a broad range of concerns, including security, economic cooperation and development, global engagement, humanitarian relief, counter-terrorism, people-to-people exchanges--and the list goes on. It is my firm belief that a strong and prosperous Taiwan will guarantee peace and prosperity in the region.

As we commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, it is in the national interest of the United States to take decisive action to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations.

I also noticed that the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping is visiting the United States to visit with our President. It is my hope that the upcoming meeting is positive and constructive: U.S. engagement with the PRC is important to the peace and stability of the region. We should always hope and insist that the U.S.-Taiwan relations, and Taiwan's security and interests, are not in any way compromised.

Taiwan is a great friend of the United States. Taiwan is and will continue to be a friend of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the Okawville High School boys' basketball team upon finishing second in the 2016-2017 Illinois State Class 1A Basketball Tournament. This is a remarkable achievement for the Okawville coaches, teammates, and community as a whole.

The Okawville Rockets had an impressive year and an exciting tournament performance. The Rockets finished the regular season with a win-loss record of 32-4. By the end of the year, senior Noah Frederking led Okawville with the most rebounds in school history. Mr. Frederking also scored over 2800 points over the course of his high school career, making him the leading all-time scorer for Okawville and the entire Metro East area. The Rockets went on to win their regional games against Lebanon High School and Marissa High School. The Rockets followed that win by hosting two victories over New Berlin 'High School and Carrollton High School in their sectional games.

In their state super-sectional game, the Rockets faced off against Menden Unity High School. After falling behind by 8 points before halftime, the Rockets looked to their defense to carry their comeback. The Rockets did not allow Menden Unity to score a single basket from the floor throughout the entire second half of the game, and rallied for an incredible win to take them to the championship game.

Led by Head Coach Jon Kraus and Assistant Coaches Ryan Heck, Mike Frederking, and Jackie Smith, team members were Payten Harre, Josh Madrid, Caleb Frederking, Will Aubel, Logan Riechmann, Wyatt Krohne, Luke Hensler, Shane Ganz, Drew Frederking, Noah Frederking, Tyler Roesener, Payton Riechmann, Lane Schilling, and Kirklen Meier. Managers Max Aubel and Jarad Barnes also assisted the team throughout its season and playoff run.

I look forward to watching their future successes in both their academic and athletic pursuits and wish them all the best in these endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Okawville Rockets on an impressive season, and I commend them for making the 15th district of Illinois proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Jennifer Krneta from Belleville, IL. Jennifer is a Case Worker with Caritas Family Solutions, a foster care organization, in Belleville.

Jennifer has served as an exemplary Case Worker in Belleville for several years. Her actions came to the attention of our office thanks to a letter written by A1C Dakota Greenwood, a current member of the United States Air Force who is serving at Osan Air Force Base. In this letter, Dakota captured the tremendous impact that Jennifer has had on Dakota's life and upbringing.

After the tragic death of Dakota's mother at the hands of a drunk driver, Dakota grew up in foster care and transitioned between living with several extended relatives, group homes, and foster families. Throughout childhood, Dakota faced poverty, hunger, neglect, and abuse. Through all of these adversities, Dakota credits Jennifer as the only person who showed devotion to improving Dakota's life. Dakota believes that without Jennifer's positive influence, Dakota would not be alive today.

In addition, Jennifer played an essential role in helping Dakota to enlist in the Air Force. It was Jennifer who cared enough to ask about Dakota's life goals and interests. It was Jennifer who helped Dakota identify that service in the U.S. Air Force matched those goals and interests. And it was Jennifer who ensured that Dakota was prepared to meet with an Air Force recruiter when the time came.

I offer my deepest admiration and gratitude to Jennifer Krneta for all that she has done for A1C Dakota Greenwood and all that Jennifer continues to do for the foster children of Southern Illinois. I hope that she continues to make life better for these children for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Robert Dillingham who led us in the opening prayer. He is a pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church where he serves Farina, Illinois.

Reverend Dillingham is both a chaplain and a volunteer firefighter with the Farina Fire Department and is also a chaplain with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, division 54. He serves as a hospice chaplain with the Hospital Sisters Health Systems through St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, where he serves patients from over 20 counties in the central part of my congressional district.

In addition to his service as chaplain, Reverend Dillingham is also on the board of the Farina food pantry and is a clergy care guide, where he is a pastoral presence in the lives of over 70 pastors.

It is my honor to welcome Reverend Dillingham and his wife, Ashley, who is in the gallery today, and personally thank him for offering this morning's prayer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address concerns brewing in Lithuania and other Baltic States about the construction of a nuclear power plant. This plant is 12\1/2\ miles from the Lithuanian border and in sight of Vilnius, Lithuania's capital and largest city.

I speak here not only as a friend of the Baltic people and as a descendant of Lithuanian immigrants, but also as co-chair of the Baltic Caucus and chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment.

Like all my colleagues here, I am concerned about ensuring the security, integrity, and safety of nuclear projects in Europe and around the world. Here is the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, and that is where the power plant is being built.

This site was first chosen during the era of the Soviet Union but was halted after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which contaminated a quarter of Belarus. Now, in 2019, Belarus is supposed to house a different Moscow-run nuclear power plant, this one run by the Russian state-owned company Rosatom.

This project is very environmentally sensitive. Both Lithuania and Belarus are signatures to the Espoo Convention. The Espoo Convention calls for member states to consult with bordering countries about such projects, to allow experts to review information about the projects, and to share information with bordering countries about safety and security of these projects.

Building a nuclear power plant is hard, especially when it is a country's first. That is why the International Atomic Energy Agency has recommended a six-step review process meant to prevent disasters like Chernobyl's and the more recent one in Fukushima, Japan. But Belarus has chosen to skip four of the six steps, including crucial steps, and ignore the people in the land of Lithuania.

There is a real concern that the main purpose behind the project is to grow Russian influence and power, especially over energy, in the European Union. The President of Belarus said that the Astravets plant and another Russian plant are a fishbone in the throat of the European Union and the Baltic States.

Nuclear power plants in sensitive areas should be discussed within the Espoo Convention. Nearly all of Lithuania is within 186 miles of the plant, which means that, if a disaster were to strike, the land of Lithuania could be affected. The country's drinking water could also be affected since the plant is supposed to draw water from the Neris River that supplies drinking water to Lithuania.

But incidents are occurring that cast doubt on Belarus' commitment to working with neighbors and ensuring the plant is safe. In 2016, four accidents occurred, and Belarus has failed to be upfront with Lithuania about any of them.

A 330-ton nuclear reactor shell was allegedly dropped from about 13 feet last summer. Belarus did not reveal anything about the incident until independent media reported it, and then downplayed it.

Building a nuclear power plant requires care in construction according to the most stringent standards with the utmost transparency, and for the best reasons. This plant fails on all four counts. It is in the wrong location. It has been irresponsibly handled.

Instead of transparency, we have seen stonewalling and obfuscation. Instead of making the most economic sense, this plant seems to make good geopolitical sense--and for Russia, not for Belarus.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. No one here objects to the safe, secure design, construction, and running of a nuclear power plant. But the people of Lithuania are firmly opposed to irresponsible attitudes toward nuclear power, particularly so close to their most populous city.

This concern makes sense. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Environment and long-time observer of Eastern Europe, Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that the people of the United States have no better friend than the people of Lithuania.

Lithuanians have the right and the responsibility to ensure their and their children's environmental security. They should not be expected to accept inadequate or misleading information about a serious, environmentally sensitive project right on their borders. The Government of Belarus should respect the commitments it has made, including with its neighbors.

Until these issues are resolved, Mr. Speaker, I cannot fault the Lithuanian people for their concerns about the Astravets nuclear power plant. I share their concerns. I hope Belarus will calm their fears by allowing in international experts and representatives.

Belarus should also comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency's recommendations for the design, construction, and running of safe nuclear power plants.