Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this piece of legislation rapidly to the floor. As my kids went to school yesterday, I got a chance to drop them off and in front was a big banner saying ``Lutheran Schools Week.'' So I got to do it officially yesterday and I get to do it, I guess, officially now on the floor today; but I rise today in recognition of National Lutheran Schools Week, which began on March 2 of this week.

Mr. Speaker, I am a graduate of a Lutheran school, Holy Cross Lutheran School, in my hometown of Collinsville, Illinois. My father also attended this school. And a known fact is that my first grade teacher was my father's first grade teacher, a patriarch of education in Collinsville, Miss Bohland. It is a story I like to tell quite a lot. I also had a fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Richter, who taught me and who I tried to keep from retiring so that I could tell the same story for my sons, or so they could tell the same story. But she retired to an enjoyable life and is still very active in the church.

That is really something to be said, when you have that longevity in a teacher in a grade school. Two generations. And it is something that makes Lutheran schools a critical aspect of our society. My three sons now attend. David is 10, Joshua is 7, and Daniel will be attending next year in the preschool program, but who does get involved in the Sunday school program on Sunday and the weekends. My wife even teaches music at Holy Cross Lutheran School with the church programs and the choirs and all that stuff. So Lutheran schools have been a key component of my life for many, many years.

Before I became a Member of Congress, I returned to Illinois to teach government history at a Lutheran high school, Metro-East High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. As a teacher, I had the opportunity to instill the fundamental values and morals of the Christian faith, which is involved in the total educational aspect of the school. Parental involvement is key in Christian education; and Lutheran doctrine talks a lot about law and gospel, how we are condemned by the law but saved through God's saving grace, which is a critical aspect of the Christian faith, but it ties very neatly into the educational program.

In teaching kids to achieve all they can achieve, we know that you can never get 100 percent all the time, and there are failures along the way. That is where in the law and gospel aspect of education, the foundational principle of what makes Lutheran schools an exciting place to be, is that the constant love and compassion and actually the gospel aspect of forgiveness is involved in the educational setting.

Today, approximately 572,877 students attend Lutheran schools; and over 40,000 teachers provide an environment that encourages honesty, trust, respect, and responsibility. This also is a benefit to society because that are half a million kids that are not burdening, if we would call it a burden, to society. It is not an additional cost to the public school system. So the parents who choose Lutheran education, or perhaps Catholic education or other types of private schooling, take these kids out of the public school arena where more of the tax dollars can then work in public education, which I think is an additional benefit. Sometimes we forget that.

I am proud of the education that the students are able to receive from dedicated parents and teachers because of the efforts of Lutheran educators. Students throughout my district in central and southern Illinois receive spiritual guidance through an outstanding learning environment. I would like to congratulate the Lutheran schools, parents, teachers, administrators, and congregations across the Nation for their outstanding work in educating our youth.

One of the primary aspects of Martin Luther, when he changed the course of history, in essence the Protestant revolution, was education of the great masses, actually the education of children and youth. That is why the Lutheran faith education has a critical pillar in what we do on a day-to-day basis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I also thank the sponsor for bringing this legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and achievements of Irving L. Dilliard.

A resident of my hometown of Collinsville, IL, Irving passed from this life on October 9th from complications of leukemia. An accomplished writer, editor, and well-known authority on the Constitution and the Supreme Court, Irving wrote more than 10,000 editorials and many books. Irving also wrote about those people who didn't often make headlines; he used his talent to bring attention to various injustices throughout the world.

Irving attended Collinsville High School and was a 1927 graduate of the University of Illinois. While attending the U of I, he was initiated into the Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Lamba fraternity. Irving continued his dedication to the fraternity by serving as AKL National President from 1936-38. Irving eventually went on to become one of the first Nieman Fellows at Harvard University, a yearlong graduate program for journalists.

Irving became a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in the late 1920s. Soon after joining the newspaper staff, Irving wrote a pamphlet on the 1787 Constitutional Convention entitled, ``Building the Constitution'', which was then distributed to schools for free and saw 850,000 copies in print.

Irving joined the war effort in 1943 by enlisting in the Army to serve in World War II. He earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as a psychological warfare specialist on Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's staff. He was also an editorial adviser for the European edition of Stars and Stripes during the war.

Following the war, Irving rejoined the Post-Dispatch, this time as an editorial writer. He worked his way up to editorial page editor by 1949. During his years at the newspaper, Irving was known as an expert on the Supreme Court and Constitution. Irving eventually retired from the Post-Dispatch in 1960. However, his career in journalism did not end at this time; Irving went on to teach that subject for 10 years at Princeton University.

Following his years as an educator, he continued to serve his state and country by serving as the first director of the Illinois Department of Aging. As late as 1995, Irving was still working for the people, this time as an Illinois delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.

Irving held many honors throughout his long career. He was president of the Illinois State Historical Society, the Illinois State Historical Library, and the Society of Professional Journalists. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in 1960--receiving more than 2 million votes statewide. Irving also remained loyal to his hometown of Collinsville by holding a seat on the Collinsville Library Board for 52 years; 23 of those years he served as president.

Irving Dilliard was the epitome of a great American citizen. He was a dedicated servant to his community, state, and nation and will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit the following poem written by Brandon

Dillard, a sixth grade student at Renfro Elementary School in Collinsville, Illinois. Brandon's teacher is Judy Barnett and his parents are David and Bonnie Dillard.

Brandon wrote the following poem following the tragedy of the Columbia shuttle.

Sparks & fire falling from the sky.

Seven heroes had to die.

Weightlessly floating through time and space.

Now they float in a heavenly place.

Children now living without a mom or dad.

When I think of this it makes me sad.

We will never forget this horrible story.

Taken from the Earth in a blaze of glory.

This message we send to the Columbia crew.

America will never forget about you.

Sparks & fire falling from the sky.

Seven heroes had to die.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit the following article from the Shelbyville Daily Union, ``A Soldier's Story: Letters Between Shelbyville Men Unite Mothers.''

This story first appeared on February 10th. It is a prime example of the human component of our efforts to pursue and promote freedom and liberty.

A Soldier's Story: Letters Between Shelbyville Men Unite Mothers

(By Sharon Mosley)

In 1990, during duty off the coast of Oman, United States

Marine Staff Sergeant Keith Boehm wrote a letter to

Shelbyville seventh grader Brian Alex Miller telling about

his life as part of helicopter crew during the Gulf War.

Miller had written to Boehm, a Shelbyville native, as part of

a school assignment to write to soldiers.

``You wrote that it is boring when it rains,'' wrote Boehm.

``Well you should try spending six months on a ship.'' What

followed was a detailed description of Boehm's life as an

electrician attached to a helicopter crew. While he told of

the many mundane hours spent working on the ship, he also

shared with his young reader some ``pretty exciting stuff''

like landing reconnaissance troops and scattering a herd of

wild camels with the helicopter.

Boehm's letter became part of Miller's collection of

``things''--tucked away in a drawer while Miller grew up,

graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1995 and attended

the University of Illinois. He is now a graduate student at

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying

architecture. With the possibility of another war in the Gulf

looming, Miller's mother, Nancy Miller of Shelbyville, found

Alex's letter from Boehm and wondered what had happened to

the Staff Sergeant from Shelbyville. One phone call later,

she found Boehm's mother, Sharon Boehm, also of Shelbyville.

``It is funny that we've both lived here all these years

and didn't know each other,'' Nancy Miller said.

``Shelbyville's not that large.'' Sharon Boehm said Keith is

now Warrant Officer Boehm and is still a Marine, currently

based in California.

``He was going to retire but after September 11 they froze

all the retirements so he's still in,'' said Sharon Boehm.

``He's active in recruiting.''

Nancy Miller said she was interested in letters from

soldiers in part, because an uncle, also a Marine, was killed

at Okinawa during World War II.

``From his letters we were able to get a sense of what he

was going through and the

terrible conditions,'' she said. ``He also wrote about how

family letters were so important to him.'' Nancy thinks now

there should be more opportunities to write to soldiers.

``I would love to write to those soldiers who are serving

now,'' she said. ``To let them know we're thinking of them,

we're proud of them, and we support them.''

Sharon Boehm said her younger son Keith entered the Marines

right after high school graduation in 1980. His older

brother, Kevin, was in the Navy at the time.

``I guess he just got in and decided he liked it,'' Sharon

Boehm said. ``He had been in ten years when the Gulf War came

around and he stayed in afterwards.''

On Friday, the two mothers met for the first time and

showed each other photos of their sons. Then, Nancy Miller

gave Keith Boehm's letter to his mother for safekeeping.

``I think it was a very thoughtful letter for a soldier in

the middle of a very difficult situation to write to a

student,'' she said. ``I know I'm proud of my son, and I know

she (Sharon Boehm) is proud of her son.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 337) to extend certain hydro-electric licenses in the State of Alaska.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 337 and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 337, which was introduced by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). The bill before us today directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, known as FERC, upon request of a license to issue a stay of a license for a hydroelectric project in Alaska pending the construction of an associated transmission line. In addition, the bill also directs FERC to extend the construction deadline for this project for not more than a 2-year time period once the stay is lifted.

This bill is identical to Senate bill S. 1843 as passed by the House during the final days of the 107th Congress and unfortunately was prevented from being signed into law due to a clerical error. Today we rectify that incident and once again let the will of the House be known concerning the license for the construction of a 96-megawatt hydroelectric power project at Mahoney Lake near Ketchikan in southeast Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 397) to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 397, a bill that I introduced. H.R. 397, which passed the Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice vote, will help the city of Carlyle, Illinois, construct a hydroelectric power plant on Carlyle Lake in my district. This plant will enable communities in southwestern Illinois to use water flowing through the Carlyle Lake Dam to help meet their energy needs.

In 1967 the Army Corps of Engineers formed Carlyle Lake by building a dam on the Kaskaskia River. Since the lake was formed, surrounding communities have not had a hydroelectric power plant to make use of the lake's tremendous potential as a renewable energy source. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, known as FERC, granted Southwestern Electric Cooperative a license to begin construction of a power plant in 1997. But the cooperative surrendered the license after it was unable to begin the project in the required time period. This legislation would permit the FERC to reinstate Southwestern Electric Cooperative's license and extend the deadline to begin construction so that there is time to properly design a facility.

This generating facility will utilize the already-existing dam, helping to reduce the cost and minimize any environmental concerns. The city of Carlyle estimates that the hydroelectric power plant would provide more than one third its annual energy needs.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Representative Gwenn Klingler a resident of Springfield; she is married to Dr. Gerald Klingler and has two grown, married children and one grandson; she graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and later received a master's degree in biology from the University of Michigan; she went on to receive a law degree with honors from George Washington University.

Representative Klingler served as an alderman on the Springfield City Council from 1991 to 1995 where she was chairman of the Public Safety Committee; she was twice elected to the Springfield District 186 School Board where she served from 1987 to 1991; she served as Board President in 1988.

Since first being elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, Representative Klingler has been regarded as a child's advocate; in 1998, she received the Daycare Action Award; she helped to pass the Foster Parents Bill of Rights; she has served as the Spokesperson for the Children and Youth Committee of the House of Representatives; she was chief sponsor of the Sex Offender Registration bill and Public Act 92-137 (``Heather's Law'') as well as House Resolution 63, which created the Illinois After School Initiative; she donated legislative scholarships to DCFS for foster children who are wards of the court.

Representative Klingler worked hard for State employees; she cosponsored the Early Retirement Plan for State Employees, which enabled State employees to retire as early as 50 years old, saving jobs and State money.

Representative Klingler consistently worked to bring State money to the 100th district; she sponsored the Springfield Medical District bill, which established a commission to create a master plan to redevelop the medical district neighborhood and expand existing healthcare facilities as well as attract new facilities.

Representative Klingler was instrumental in securing funding for a new classroom at the University of Illinois at Springfield; she was a major supporter of the construction process of the new Lincoln Presidential Library.

Representative Klingler has received community honors in recognition of her work; she received the Charlotte Danstron Award from Women-In- Management for the Women of Achievement in Government Award in 1994, and in 1996 received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership Springfield that is sponsored by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; she received the 1999 Legislative Leadership Award from the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association; further, she received the 1999 Goodwill, SPARC, and National Association for the Mentally Ill Award, the 2001 Anti-Hunger Advocate Award, and the 2002 Illinois Women in Government Award.

Representative Klingler remains active in the community and serves on a number of Springfield area community committees; she is a member of the Human Values and Ethics Committee at Memorial Hospital, the Chancellor's Advisory Committee at the University of Illinois at Springfield, and the Central Illinois Blood Bank Board; she is a member of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Women-In-Management, Springfield Rotary International, and the Sangamon County Medical Alliance.

We congratulate Representative Gwenn Klingler on a job well done and wish her and her family well in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Joe Warner, who tragically passed away in a plane crash shortly after takeoff from Central Illinois Regional Airport on July 22.

Many of our Nation's greatest servants have never been elected to public office. They silently and humbly transform communities out of the kindness of their hearts, selfless generosity, and a dedication to improving the welfare of loved ones and those whom he had never met. Joe Warner was one of these servants, and serves as an inspiration to us all.

Joe Warner was born on July 3, 1942, in DeKalb, IL, to Paul and Doris Walkey Warner. He attended Northern Illinois University, and then received his MBA from the University of Illinois. Mr. Warner went on to become president and chief executive officer of Heritage Enterprises, a long term care corporation, which is located in Bloomington, IL.

The frail elderly of Illinois have benefited greatly from the leadership and dedication of Joe Warner. Whether it was in his capacity as president and chief executive officer of Heritage Enterprises, or president of the Illinois Health Care Association, Mr. Warner tirelessly advocated on behalf of Illinois' seniors to ensure they were afforded the highest quality of care. He considered anything less as unacceptable, because his residents were our fathers, mothers, wives, and husbands.

Joe Warner's generosity was not limited to the elderly. Illinois' youth have also lost a friend. Prior to his passing, he had taken on the role of planner and fundraiser for the $3 million Challenger Learning Center, which will be an educational site for children to learn more about math and science. Memorial contributions are being made to the learning center, to ensure that Mr. Warner's vision is realized.

The towns of Normal and Bloomington are better places to work and live because of Joe Warner. In 1987 he conducted a $2 million renovation in Bloomington which served as a catalyst in the town's revitalization program. In addition, he served on Normal's 2025 Committee, which planned for the city's future, as well as its Downtown Advisory Commission.

Joe Warner was involved in scores of organizations, and knew the importance of investment in his community. Mr. Warner was the dedicated head of the McLean County GOP for ten years. He served his country in the army. He was on the legislative committee of the board of directors of the Illinois State University Foundation. He was the past-president of the Redbird Education and Scholarship Fund at Illinois State University, past-chairman of the McLean County American Heart Association, past-director of the Bloomington Occupational Development Center, past-director of the United Campus Christian Church Foundation; past ruling elder of the First United Presbyterian Church, past director of the Illinois Wesleyan University Association, and past director of the Illinois Restaurant Association.

Along with his cherished wife, Rose Stadel, Joe Warner was a loving and devoted father to his children Jeff, and Jennifer. His son is a pilot and introduced him to flying, which became his passion.

The memory of Joe Warner will continue through his numerous contributions to his community. On July 22, Illinois lost a respected and admired friend. He will be missed. On behalf of my colleagues, I salute the rich legacy and the spirit of Joe Warner.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senator N. Duane Noland. He has served in the Illinois General Assembly since 1990, serving eight years in the House of Representatives and four years in the Senate.

He served with distinction and honor in both chambers, most recently being selected as Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate.

He graduated from Blue Mound public schools and the University of Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education/Economics.

In his non-legislative life, Senator Noland spends many hours helping farm his family's seventh generation centennial farm.

Senator Noland also works as assistant vice president/marketing specialist with Hickory Point Bank & Trust in Decatur.

Senator Noland has worked to ensure state government lives within its means, promote a strong agricultural economy while balancing the needs of rural and urban residents, and preserve quality of life through safe schools legislation, tough anti-crime measures and bills to help senior citizens remain independent.

He has helped pass such significant legislation for our rural communities as the ban on MTBE, the establishment of drummer silty clay loam as our state soil, the AgriFIRST value-added agriculture incentives, and Route 51 expansion.

He is a board member for the American Red Cross, a former board member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers Association, and the Lincoln Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Millikin University Board of Trustees.

He has been honored by numerous organizations including the Illinois Health Care Association, Baby Talk, Illinois Farm Bureau, ABATE, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce for Decatur and Macon County, and the American Soybean Association.

Senator Noland was born and raised in Blue Mound, Illinois where he met his wife, Tina Beckett Noland, and where they now raise their sons Grant and Blake.

N. Duane Noland will be sorely missed and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William L. ``Bill'' O'Daniel of Mt. Vernon was appointed to the Illinois Senate in 1985 and was elected by an overwhelming margin in 1986 and has served this body with distinction throughout his eighteen years as a member.

During his five terms in the Senate, Senator O'Daniel, served as chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee, as Democratic Caucus Chair, and most recently as Democratic spokesperson of the Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

Senator O'Daniel has also served on the Committees on Appropriations I, Elections and

Reapportionment, Revenue, Transportation, and State Government Operations, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, the Illinois Forestry Development Council, the Swine Disease Control Advisory Committee, the Agricultural Export Advisory Committee, the Interagency Rail Passenger Advisory Council, and the Board of State Fair Advisors.

Senator O'Daniel has amassed numerous legislative accomplishments which have enhanced the quality of life for the people of his southern Illinois district and all of the people of the State of Illinois, including State sales tax exemptions for farm machinery and oil field equipment, creating tax increment financing and enterprise zone designations to spur job creation and economic development, promoting sustainable agriculture and ethanol as an alternative energy source, and enacting tough penalties against persons who sell drugs on or near the grounds of places of worship.

Senator O'Daniel built a solid reputation as one of Illinois' foremost authorities on agricultural issues, he was appointed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter to serve as state executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Prior to his appointment by President Carter, Senator O'Daniel served as a member of the Illinois House from 1974-77.

As a longtime farmer and businessman, a decorated World War II veteran and devoted family man, Senator O'Daniel brought to the Senate a common sense, bi-partisan approach to the business of the body that shall be remembered fondly by those who served with him.

We offer our best wishes to Senator William L. ``Bill'' O'Daniel upon his retirement from the Senate; we offer hope for a rewarding future with his wife, Norma, their five children and eight grandchildren, and one great-grand child.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Laura Kent Donahue who has dedicated her life to serving the people of western Illinois.

Laura had the privilege of serving in the same area her mother, Mary Lou Kent, represented. She began her legislative service in the State Senate in 1981.

She was appointed an Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois State Senate in 1997 after serving as Majority Caucus Chairman for four years.

As a lawmaker, Laura secured nearly $1 billion for road and bridge improvements in her district since 1981.

Her dedication to improving the funding process for downstate nursing homes and hospitals has earned her numerous legislative awards from the Illinois Association of Homes for the Aging, the Illinois Hospital Association, the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Illinois Healthcare Association.

She has devoted much of her time and energy toward finding a resolution to the education funding issue in Illinois.

Laura was instrumental in bringing a juvenile prison facility to Rushville, adult prison facilities to Mt. Sterling and Canton and work camps to Clayton and Pittsfield.

She is a member of the Vermont Street Methodist Church in Quincy.

She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Lincoln Club of Adams County and the PEO Chapter MK.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.

She is respected by her colleagues from both political parties for her honesty and integrity.

Laura will be remembered as a Senator who took her responsibility as an advocate for her district seriously.

Therefore we recognize Laura Kent Donahue for her accomplishments as she

leaves the Illinois Senate and wish her success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Evelyn Bowles of Ewardsville who was appointed to the Illinois State Senate in May of 1994 and was elected by an overwhelming margin in November of 1994; she has served this body with distinction throughout her 8\1/2\ years as a member.

During her terms in the Senate, Senator Bowles served as the Democratic spokesperson of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, the Local Government and Elections Committee, the Licensed Activities Committee and the State Government Operations Committee.

Senator Bowles has also served on the Committees on Agriculture and Conservation, Executive, Transportation, the Legislative Information System, the Legislative Printing Unit, and the Legislative Research Unit.

Senator Bowles has amassed numerous legislative accomplishments which have enhanced the quality of life for the people of her Metro East district and all of the people of the State of Illinois, including new penalties for individuals convicted of illegally possessing the chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, the regulation of reprocessing certain single-use surgical devices, more funds for the Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis Research Fund, and the requirement of coverage for the replacement of child safety seats if those seats were in use at the time of an accident.

Senator Bowles will long be remembered for her commitment to the success of Illinois' agriculture community; in an effort to find a ``third crop'' to insert into our traditional corn and soybean rotation, she sponsored legislation directing the University of Illinois to study the reintroduction of industrial hemp in Illinois, a once important crop in Illinois because of its versatility.

Senator Bowles was elected to five consecutive terms as the Madison County Clerk and brought to the Senate knowledge and expertise that was often called upon when questions arose concerning local government and election laws in Illinois. It was in that office which I worked with her closely. Her countless appearances at the office counter gave constituents a real glimpse of personal service by their elected officials. In her dealings with me, a member of the opposition party, she was always professional, courteous, and determined to place the best interests of the citizens first.

Senator Bowles served her nation as a member of the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve Intelligence Division during the Second World War and is a member of the American Legion Post #199 and The Auxiliary. She was also a former teacher.

We offer our best wishes to Senator Evelyn Bowles upon her retirement from the Senate and we offer her hope for a rewarding future.