Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Army Specialist Jeremy Costello. Spc. Costello was a motor transport operator who was recently killed by an improvised explosive device while fighting for freedom in Iraq.

Costello was a 22 year-old from Carlinville, Illinois who was assigned to 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, TX.

Costello is survived by his 4-year old daughter of Alton. I am proud of the service this young man gave to our country and the service his fellow troops perform everyday. Not enough can be said about Spc. Costello. Some of his awards and decorations speak to what a great soldier and man he was; the Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge. It is troops like Costello that are risking their lives day in and day out to ensure our freedom here at home and to others throughout the rest of the world. My best wishes go out to his family and all the troops fighting to ensure freedom and democracy. May God bless him and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for your time and the speedy movement of this resolution, and it's timely with the President's trip to Europe.

A few things of note. I continue to follow, as the chairman knows, the occurrences in the former captive nations, the European Union countries, and mostly the Baltic countries, and it seems like we can never get to forgiveness. It seems like countries always go back to another point in time to address their grievances.

I've been on the floor numerous times to talk about Molotov- Ribbentrop, and we've debated that and we've voted on that resolution. We forget about Roosevelt's land lease deal that was very helpful to the Soviet Union at that time, and as the chairman's correct, we also forget about the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union in winning World War II, especially on the Eastern

front. So his concerns are well-founded and very much appreciated by this Member.

There was great hope after the fall of the Wall, as I served on the German border during the Cold War era, that this would bring a new time for Europe, a time of prosperity and peace, the rule of law, democratic institutions. And that's why we continue to be frustrated by the current involvement, because when there is peace and stability and the rule of law, the people prosper, people on both sides of the boundary lines. In this case the Estonians and across the border, the Russians, they would both benefit from peaceful relations and coexistence.

But we just can't get there yet, and so that's why I'm very appreciative of bringing this resolution because the decision by the Estonian government to move the memorial, as the chairman said, probably not proper in his estimation, I know that it can be said that it was done with dignity, with consultation and moved to a place in a military cemetery and given all the respects offered.

But having said that, what a free and independent country, a decision it can make, doesn't justify the result. Again, that's why going back to the comments of, can't we just forgive and can't we just move forward, the great nations do not have to bully small neighbors. Great nations can stand side by side with their smaller allies and their neighbors to help them develop and grow.

And what we see from the Russian Federation is just the opposite. We see them continually harass and bully their neighbors. Their neighbors have made choices that we expect free and democratic countries to be able to make, and just because the Russian Federation are unhappy with that it does not give them the right to bypass the rule of international law.

So this issue, as has been discussed earlier, the result of the movement of the statue led to riots within Estonia by ethnic Russians and also problems in the capital of Moscow, and as Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said, any impartial observer would say that there was a move by the government to specifically not stop them, and there is great evidence that they helped encourage this ability to be thugs and bullies to ambassadors and government representatives of free and democratic countries.

That's why I'm very thankful that the committee seemed right to bring this resolution speedily to the floor. As cochair of the House Baltic Caucus, I've been heavily involved for 10 years with NATO expansion, the EU expansion and the energy disputes.

Estonia is one of our closest allies and friends in Europe. They have been an integral part in our war on terror in having troops in Afghanistan.

That is why House Resolution 397 is so important. The U.S. House of Representatives must stand with our Estonian friends and refuse to let them be bullied by the Russian government. The intimidation that President Putin is using against our allies in Eastern Europe is simply unacceptable.

Again, I'd like to thank the chairman for bringing this to the floor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ash Grove Christian Church in rural Windsor, IL, on the 175th anniversary of its founding. The church will be celebrating this historic occasion with a special service and program on June 3, 2007.

Ash Grove Christian church was founded in June of 1832 with John Storm Sr. as pastor. The church started with only 18 members. Ash Grove Christian Church is the oldest Christian Church in Shelby County and one of the oldest Christian churches in the entire State of Illinois.

Today, the congregation of Ash Grove Christian Church still holds traditional Sunday morning worship services with Jim Dona as pastor.

I am pleased to congratulate Ash Grove Christian Church on this blessed occasion. My prayers will be with the congregation as they celebrate this anniversary. May God continue to bless Ash Grove Christian Church.

Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome Good Shepard Lutheran School and all the visitors that we have in our Nation's Capital today.

This constitutional Republic works. The Founding Fathers, which I believe established this through divine providence, established a government based upon compromise, also a government that is concerned about the different branches of government and the checks and balance systems which then were enacted to defend against usurpation by either and each branch.

I just come here today because many times we forget about the great institution in which we serve, about the blessings of freedom and liberties, and that God truly has blessed this Nation and will continue to do so.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 250th anniversary of one of the most important historic sites in Southern Illinois.

It was in 1757, during the French and Indian War, that French pioneers exploring the lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys built Fort l' Ascension on a strategic bluff over the Ohio, near the present- day community of Metropolis, Illinois. Two years later, the site was renamed Fort Massiac. After the Revolutionary War, President George Washington ordered the site rebuilt, and in 1794 the fort was reconstructed as Fort Massac. The fort is the namesake for Massac County and for Fort Massac State Park, which has served generations of Illinoisans with the opportunity to see history with their own eyes; to gain a greater understanding of how our region and our nation were built; and to see the difficulties that our pioneers encountered as they settled the area we now call home. This gift is due in large part to the hard work of Friends of the Fort, and the staff of Fort Massac State Park who have preserved this treasure for us. In 1908, Fort Massac became Illinois' first state park.

Each October, Fort Massac is the site of the Fort Massac Encampment, a re-creation of life in Southern Illinois during the late 1700s which draws nearly 80,000 visitors. Several weekends during the year are dedicated to living history, giving visitors the unique opportunity to see life as it was two hundred years ago.

I want to thank Sue Barfield, President of Friends of the Fort, and Terry Johnson, site superintendent of Fort Massac State Park, as well as all the local residents and historians who have put so much dedication into preserving Fort Massac for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, imagine my beloved St. Louis Cardinals were playing the much-despised Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals are up by five, finishing the top of the ninth. Is this a cause for celebration? Is this a cause for victory? No.

Unbelievable as it may seem, the Cubbies score five runs in the bottom of the ninth to throw the game into extra innings. There, the score remains until 1 a.m., five innings later. However, at the top of the 15th, the Cardinals fail to field a batter. The entire team has left the stadium. It seems that they are more worried about next day's 1 p.m. game at home than finishing the game at hand.

Who wins? We know, it's the team that stays on the field. Arbitrary deadlines and a date certain accept defeat before the conclusion of the contest. It is in our national security interest to continue to take the field and support a moderate Arab state. Leaving prior assures a loss for us and a victory for our opponents, which will lead to another extremist Islamic state.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Triad Middle School in St. Jacob, Illinois, upon being selected as one of the Illinois Horizon Schools: Schools to Watch by the Association of Middle-Level School.

For recognition in the Horizon Schools program, schools must meet or exceed 37 different criteria developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Triad Middle School had to complete both an application process and host on-site visits.

This award speaks to the dedication of the students and teachers at Triad Middle School. As a former teacher, I know how hard each educator works to help the students in their classroom succeed. This is a testament to not only the teachers' work, but also the students desire to learn and succeed.

I am pleased to congratulate Triad Middle School on this outstanding accomplishment. I extend my best wishes for continued success to the students and faculty at Triad Middle School.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Kenneth Michael Kays. Mr. Kays, a native of Fairfield, Illinois was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. A monument in his memory is being dedicated on May 5, 2007 in Fairfield, Illinois.

Mr. Kays, a Private First Class in the United States Army, was cited for his heroic action in Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam, on May 7, 1970. His rank at that time was Private and he was serving as a medical airman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division near the Fire Support Base Maureen.

When enemy forces assaulted Company D's night defensive position, Private Kays began assisting his fallen and injured comrades. In assisting his fellow soldiers, he became a target and enemy fire and explosive charges severed the lower portion of his left leg. Private Kays applied a tourniquet to his leg and continued to search the perimeter and help his fellow soldiers who were injured. Private Kays did not allow himself to be treated until his fellow soldiers had been treated for their own wounds. He was cited with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism.

My thoughts and prayers will be with the family and friends of Private First Class Kays as the monument is dedicated in his honor. May God bless his memory and may He continue to bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Oklahoma for bringing forth this motion to recommit.

I have been down here a couple of times on other motions to recommit, and they are very similar to what we are addressing now. This is a call to my fossil fuel Democrats, my coal Democrats, to address the need of our energy security issues and help us with this motion to recommit to say that what we need to do is address, in this bill, and prioritize coal-to-liquid research and development. And just as important, the global security needs and the global warming with carbon sequestration. This motion to recommit will help prioritize these educational funds to do that.

Likewise, for those who support nuclear power, especially those who feel that there is a concern of high-level nuclear waste, that we learn how to properly reprocess that fuel so we can use that to help our energy independence.

I appreciate my colleague from Oklahoma, and I hope I have my friends on the other side support this motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution that would restore the entitlement status to Alton and Granite City for consideration in the community development block grant program.

I want to thank my colleague and friend, Congressman Costello, who will be following me, for his leadership on this. This is a snafu that happens in government, and we are glad to come together, united, to attempt to fix this.

The bottom line geographical issues are that I am from Collinsville, Illinois, in Madison County. I represent half that county. Granite City and Alton are actually in Madison County. Congressman Costello represents those communities ably and well. So we come together to try to fix this.

I want to thank the chairman of the committee, who heard our concerns and moved this expeditiously, along with the ranking member, Mr. Bachus, and my good friend, Judy Biggert, who helped in the process.

We look forward to a time when Alton and Granite City can get involved in the process and make applications through the CDBG for the needed infrastructure developments that are available through that Federal program.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, March 25, approximately 7,000 citizens of Belarus gathered together in commemoration of the 89th anniversary of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic, which was formed on March 25, 1918, when Belarusians proclaimed their independence from the Russian empire. Unfortunately, only 10 months later, the Red Army entered Minsk, quashed this democracy and set up the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic.

On Sunday, the brave men and women of Belarus gathered together to commemorate their ancestors' drive for democracy and independence almost 90 years ago and express their own desire to live in free and democratic Belarus. This group had planned to assemble in October Square in central Minsk to start their peaceful march towards the National Academy of Sciences. However, participants arrived at this public square to find it blocked by riot police, and trucks and busses were forced to split into several groups.

One group decided to march to the Sport Palace and reassemble there. When they got to that destination, they were met by a large number of policemen warning that if they did not leave within the next 5 minutes, special measures would be taken against them. Several minutes later, the first clash between the police and protesters took place, with several people beaten and arrested. Former presidential candidate Aleksander Milinkevich and his wife were among those hit and knocked to the ground.

Finally, the group managed to break through and march to the National Academy of Sciences, where they were able to meet up with the rest of the group; and a rally was held. Participants included young people and families with children. They shouted slogans, sang songs and waived red and white Belarusian flags and banners which read ``Freedom to Kozulin and freedom to political prisoners.''

While speaking to the crowd, former presidential candidate Aleksander Milinkevich declared that ``Democratic Belarus will prevail, as truth and God are on its side. Under the weight of its lies, this regime will fall, but we should give it a push with our strength, our loyalty and our love for the homeland. We should do this in a peaceful manner, as Belarusians don't like violence. We are peaceful people and have not shed anyone's blood. It is our blood that has been shed and our people are in prison.''

Yet in spite of the peaceful nature of a crowd and Mr. Milinkevich's public assurances that the pro-democratic forces carried a message of peace, the police continued to try to break up the rally. Police set up loudspeakers which continually interrupted the rally speakers, warning the group that their actions were illegal, that they had not received permission to hold a rally at the National Academy of Sciences, and if they refused to leave, physical force would be used against them. Forty people were arrested on March 25th alone. Many people were also beaten with police batons.

Leaders of the pro-democratic forces in Belarus, Anatoly Lebedko, Alexander Milinkevich, Victor Karnyenka and Valentina Polevikova, were among those hit by security forces' batons, with Ms. Polevikova suffering a head injury.

What is additionally disconcerting is that 60 additional activists were arrested on March 23rd and 24th in the lead-up to the rally in a shocking incident. Prominent pro-democratic activist and mother of two, Krystsina Shatsikava, was abducted by unknown men and forced into a car at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23rd. She was later brought to a mental hospital in Mogilov, where she said that she had been tied to a bed and given an unknown injection at the hospital. She was finally released today. The young woman was a prominent activist following the fraudulent presidential elections in March, 2006, and had repeatedly declared her intention to participate in the March 25th rally.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I find it appalling that 7,000 peaceful protestors gathered together to commemorate an anniversary of national independence and freedom, only to have their voices crushed once again by the current regime of Aleksander Lukashenko.

I denounce the government of Belarus for its actions against these peaceful protestors and demand that they release all the activists who were jailed for their participation during the leading up to the March 25th rally.

I also, along with our European colleagues, once again urge the government of Belarus to allow its citizens to exercise their right to assemble peacefully and express their views freely.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the Breese Central Lady Cougars basketball team on their success in winning the championship game of the 28th annual Class A state tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois.

Jessica Hemann, Courtney Strieker, Leann Voss, Britni Holtmann, K.C. Root, Christy Rolfingsmeyer, Katie Robben, Kelsie Netemeyer, Katelin Wiegmann, Tiffany Hilmes, Katie Scheer, Lauren Budde, and Cassandra Deiters make up this victorious team of athletes, which are lead by Head Coach Nathan Rueter and Assistant Coaches Angela Witte and Kelly Hasheider.

The Number 11 State-Ranked Breese Central ladies received medals after winning against Number 9 State-Ranked Rochester in a 47-41 victory.

I am very pleased to congratulate the Breese Central Lady Cougars on their victory and wish them the best of luck for next season.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my alma mater Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, where I graduated with my MBA in 1997, on its 50th anniversary.

The University currently serves nearly 13,500 students from 101 Illinois counties, 43 other U.S. States, and 46 nations. Since its inception, the institution has directly influenced the rate of individuals earning 4-year degrees in the St. Louis Metropolitan area of Southern Illinois, up from 3 percent in Madison and St. Clair counties in 1957 to 20 percent today. The University contributes roughly $356 million to its regional economy, according to an Economic Impact Study released in May 2006, and more than 37,000 alumni live in the region and contribute to the economy.

Over the last 50 years the institution has played a major role in elevating the quality of people's lives, as well as their earning potential in Illinois. Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville has conferred more than 90,000 degrees in its history, with more than 75,000 alumni. The institution helped more than 8,000 people in the East St. Louis area and surrounding communities in the year 2006 through services, training opportunities, and programs at the SlUE East St. Louis Center.

Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville has been ranked two consecutive years among U.S. News & World Report's America's 15 Best Colleges, along with Harvard University, MIT, and other prestigious institutions, for its Senior Assignment Program and integrative learning experience required for all seniors prior to graduation. The University's Senior Assignment Program also was ranked as a model for learning assessment in the country by the American Association of Colleges & Universities in January 2007. The School of Dental Medicine, rated among the top dental schools in the Nation, is the only dental school in Illinois outside Cook County and the only dental school within 250 miles of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The dental school provides more than $50,000 in free oral health care to children annually through Give Kids a Smile Day and more than $30,000 annually in care to low-income and uninsured patients who otherwise might go untreated.

After finishing fourth nationally in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup among NCAA Division II schools in 2006, the institution is now currently in the process of moving its quality intercollegiate athletics program forward to NCAA Division I status.

I am pleased to congratulate Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville on its 50 years of accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Air Evac Lifeteam in its celebration of National EMS Week.

The Air Evac Lifeteam serves rural communities and has grown to be the largest independently owned and operated membership-based air ambulance service in the United States since its creation in 1985. The company has transported more than 100,000 patients in need, serving as the critical link to improved response time and immediate access to medical care facilities for numerous rural communities across 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Illinois. There are five operational bases in Illinois located in Effingham, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Quincy and Springfield which are strategically positioned to serve over forty Illinois counties. Last year the Air Evac Lifeteam air lifted over 2000 critical patients to advance medical centers.

The Air Evac Lifeteam has 1500 employees with significant professional education and experience. A registered nurse and paramedic are on every mission. Registered nurses average 6 years of critical care experience, with a minimum requirement of 3 years experience. Paramedics average 10 years of active pre-hospital experience, with a minimum requirement of 3 years experience. All medical crew members are certified as well. The Air Evac Lifeteam pilots are skilled and certified aviators that meet Federal Aviation Authority approval and have flown, an average, of more than 5,700 hours.

The National EMS Week celebration will be held at the Effingham base on Thursday, May 24, 2007. There will be a meet and greet of EMS Political IDPH Leaders as well as a host of EMS crews, government officials, hospital administration and staff, local and regional media, plus a variety of Illinois healthcare providers.

I am pleased to congratulate the Air Evac Lifeteam on its accomplishments and its service to the rural communities. I also wish the Air Evac Lifeteam well for its week-long celebration and future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Peter's United Church of Christ located in the small community of Stone Church, Illinois, on their 150th anniversary. St. Peter's United Church of Christ separated from the Independent Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes Congregation, the mother church, in 1857.

The ``Old Stone Church'' was built in 1858 and dedicated on January 2, 1859. On March 26, 1948, Good Friday morning, a fire destroyed the entire church. In 1950 ground was broken for a new church, and it was dedicated on March 11, 1951. In 1955 ground was broken for a new parsonage, which was dedicated on October 7, 1956, and in 1958 the Brotherhood was organized. In 1974 the Education Building was built in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Doelling.

On February 11, 2007, St. Peter's began celebrating their sesquicentennial. After several months of celebration, a dedication service will be held on August 26, 2007, followed by a noon dinner at Okawville Community Club where a pictorial history of the Church will be displayed.