Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important efforts of the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois.

On June 2, I celebrated the many achievements of this unit when I attended the 126th Air Refueling Wing Day, which was done by proclamation by the Governor of the State of Illinois.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely succeeds in its missions of providing immediate, sustained, long-range air refueling of both nuclear and conventional aircraft for both the U.S. Armed Forces and NATO allies.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing has more than 1,000 Air National Guard Active Duty United States Air Force personnel, who recently received its eighth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for service provided from December 2014 through December 2016.

The servicemembers of the 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely demonstrate their excellence in performance while supporting the United States Air Force operations.

The significant awards and recognition the 126th Illinois Air National Guard has received sets the foundational framework for being a strong center of excellence for military aircraft.

I am proud of their hard work and dedication to ensuring the best aircraft maintenance and repair work is done at Scott Air Force Base.

Our national defense depends on having our military aircraft able to fly in a moment's notice, so the work that they do every day is critical in keeping all of us safe at home.

Recognizing Wilber Hesterberg's 100th Birthday

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wilber ``Whip'' Hesterberg of Maeystown, Illinois, who will turn 100 years old on June 24.

Whip worked for A&P Food Stores for many years, was a Teamster, and served in the Army for 4 years.

He likes to camp, garden, and do word searches. He can also still be seen driving around town slowly, it is reported.

Family and neighbors say he is ``loved by everyone.''

Every Wednesday night, Whip continues to host a family dinner at his house with some of his five children, 17 grandchildren, 24 great- grandchildren.

This year, Whip will be honored as the Grand Marshal of Maeystown Homecoming celebration on June 15 and 16.

Whip, southern Illinois wishes you a happy 100th birthday.

100th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today and feel it is very important that we recognize and remember that today is D-day, but also that 100 years ago today was the battle of Belleau Wood in the First World War, where the Marines earned the title of Devil Dogs.

It was a very, very hard fought battle. We must remember that freedom is not free. So when we recognize not only D-day, but 100 years since that time on that day, we lost 1,086 Marines.

Happy Birthday, Matt McAuliffe

Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize today someone who works in my office that everyone looks up to, because he is so tall, is my chief of staff, and it is his birthday, Matt McAuliffe. Happy birthday.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I wish to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their support of the amendment.

The purpose of this amendment is to help local communities recover from flood disasters. Under current law, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can only repair a non-Federal levee if the flood protection benefit outweighs the cost. However, the standard can't always be met, especially in rural communities, with specific economic and demographic changes.

The Len Small Levee in southern Illinois is a perfect example. The levee breached in the winter floods of January 2016. Several thousand acres of infrastructure and agriculture land were destroyed when the levee gave way. The Corps estimated the cost of repairing the levee would be higher than its

flood protection benefits, leaving local residents with no recourse.

My amendment provides new hope in my district and elsewhere. It allows local sponsors to pay the difference between the cost of repairing a levee and its projected flood protection benefits.

My amendment does not increase the Federal Government's share of the costs for repairs. Let me repeat that. My amendment does not increase the Federal Government's share of the costs of the repairs. This is a fiscally responsible way to give a lifeline to rural communities struggling to rebuild after a disaster.

The amendment is supported by the National Waterways Conference and the American Farm Bureau.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for his support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the important efforts of the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois. On June 2, 2018, I celebrated the many achievements of this unit when I attended the 126th Air Refueling Wing Day, which was done by proclamation of the Governor.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely succeeds in its mission of providing immediate, sustained, long-range air refueling of both nuclear and conventional aircraft for both U.S. Armed Forces and NATO Allies.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing has more than 1,000 Air National Guard and active duty United States Air Force Personnel who recently received its eighth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for service provided from December 2014 through December 2016.

The service members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing routinely demonstrate their excellence in performance while supporting the United States Air Force operations. The significant awards and recognition the 126th Illinois Air National Guard has received sets the foundational framework for being a strong Center of Excellence for military aircraft. I am proud of their hard work and dedication to ensuring the best aircraft maintenance and repair work is done at Scott Air Force Base. Our national defense depends on having our military aircraft able to fly in a minute's notice, so the work they do every day is critical in keeping all of us safe at home.

Mr. Speaker, on May 25, we celebrate National Poppy Day.

After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists said the growth was because the soil in France and Belgium became enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew beautiful red poppies.

The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shared during battle following the publication of a wartime poem, ``In Flanders Fields,'' by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while serving on the front lines.

The poppy honors those who served and died for our country in all wars and

reminds the American people of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedom.

To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we say thank you.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 225 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 226.

Amendment No. 43 Offered by Mr. Engel

Mr. Speaker, this is a must-pass bill.

Many disabled veterans and their families depend on their veterans' benefits to pay for things like food and medicine.

For many of these veterans, these payments are a lifeline. In some cases, these benefits may even be the only income these veterans have. It is only

fair that we ensure that the benefits paid to veterans who were injured during their military service do not lose value because of inflation.

If we don't, it could become hard for people who were injured while serving this Nation in uniform to keep their heads above water.

H.R. 4958 would financially protect the veterans who protected us by providing a cost-of-living increase. The amount of the COLA will be the same increase that Social Security beneficiaries will receive.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs ranking member, Ms. Esty, for being the lead cosponsor of this bill with me. This bill has also enjoyed bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4958 and help disabled veterans and their families keep up with the rising costs of basic necessities.

Mr. Chairman, I hear from my constituents in southern Illinois that rural America is hurting. That is why we need the farm bill, to address the concerns facing agriculture all over rural America.

The farm bill does just that. The farm bill protects the farm safety net, including commodity programs and crop insurance, invests in rural broadband, modernizes FSA loan programs for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, and invests in conservation.

President Eisenhower once said: ``Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're 1,000 miles from a corn field.'' Those words hold true today, and that is why this bill was crafted with those farmers in mind, because farmers are everyone's bread and butter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an Illinois hero who passed away this last week.

Martin Twenhafel of Gorham, Illinois, passed at the age of 92. He joins his wife, Katherine, who passed in March. Martin was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Europe during World War II. He was a life member of the American Legion Paul Stout Post 127 and VFW Post 7190 in Murphysboro for over 70 years.

Martin, a farmer, was a lifelong resident of southern Illinois, where he farmed corn, soybeans, and wheat with his sons on the Twenhafel Farms. He was so moved by his time in the war that he wrote and published a book titled ``Far from the Farm'' to save and share those experiences with his grandchildren and children.

Martin, it is with a heavy heart that we thank you for your service to southern Illinois and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, today I proudly honor the Murphysboro Middle School Blue Devils Girls volleyball team for winning the Class L State Championship for the second straight year.

Along the way, the team also captured their eighth consecutive Junior Southwest Egyptian Conference title. That win was also a career milestone for Coach Mike Layne. It marked the 1,000th combined career win while coaching volleyball for Murphysboro Community Unit School District at both the middle school and high school levels.

I extend a heartfelt congratulations to the players, coaching staff, school officials, family, and friends who supported these young ladies on their incredible journey. Southern Illinois is proud of you.

Go, Blue Devils.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the patriotism and generosity of Al Katzenberger, Jr., a true friend to southern Illinois and its veterans.

After Memorial Day last year, a thunderstorm blew through Mound City National Cemetery in Pulaski County.

The 50 cotton flags that make up the Avenue of Flags of the cemetery were no match for the 70-mile-per-hour winds. Every flagpole was destroyed at this center of pride for our local community.

Upon hearing the news, Alfred, who served in the U.S. Navy for over 40 years, decided to take action. He donated 50 new flagpoles worth over $12,000.

It is selfless acts like this that help make our community stronger.

To Alfred, we say: Thank you for your decades of service to our Nation and your continued dedication to honoring our Nation's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, today I proudly honor the Belleville West basketball team for winning the 2018 4A State tournament.

It was truly a ``March Madness'' in Peoria, Illinois, this weekend as the Maroons played in a back-and-forth State title game against Whitney Young Dolphins. It took overtime, but Belleville West held off Whitney Young for a 60 to 56 victory to take home the championship trophy. This is the first basketball State title in school history.

I extend a heartfelt congratulations to the players, coaches, staff, school officials, families, and friends who supported these young men on this incredible journey. Illinois 12th is proud of you.

Go, Maroons.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4909, the STOP School Violence Act, which includes my bipartisan legislation to increase access to emergency panic buttons in the classroom.

I want to thank Mr. Rutherford for his bill before us today, and my friend from Illinois (Mr. Schneider) for partnering with me on the school safety language we had included in this bill.

As a father and a grandfather, I know firsthand how important it is that our Nation's children have a safe environment to grow and learn. As a former first responder, I know that response time is vitally important during any emergency situation. This bill makes it much easier for schools to increase their security and provide lifesaving technology to contact first responders immediately when violence or any other emergency occurs.

We already have panic buttons to protect our investments at our banks. Well, there is no greater investment in the country than our children. We should be doing the best to protect them, too, and this legislation is a step in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the city of Alton, Illinois. Alton was selected from hundreds of cities nationwide to be featured on the reality TV show ``Small Business Revolution--Main Street.'' The city will also receive a $500,000 investment for its small businesses.

Alton has a rich history. It is home to historic buildings, and has a deep manufacturing heritage. It was the site of one of the Lincoln- Douglas debates, a route on the Underground Railroad, and home to blues musician Miles Davis and history's tallest man, 8-foot-11-inch Robert Wadlow.

These days, Alton is undergoing a small business revolution, from a self-pour craft beer taproom to a post office converted into a small business hub. And new businesses are popping up all over. It is an exciting time for the Alton community, and they can't wait to show the Nation southern Illinois' spirit of innovation.

Recognizing the Determination of Rowdy Loyd

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the determination of a young man from my hometown of Murphysboro, Illinois.

Rowdy Loyd has cerebral palsy and a nerve disorder, but that has not stopped him from trying out for the Murphysboro Red Devils basketball team year after year. While he hasn't made the official roster, he serves as team manager. Going to every game all through his high school career, and every practice, Rowdy had a constant presence with the team, coaches, and our community.

Last month, Rowdy finally got the chance to see game time. Rowdy scored 10 points on the night, including a buzzer-beating 3-point shot. In Rowdy's own words:

I got a whole lot of school behind my back, and my family.

I've got a lot of people that support me. So it was awesome

to know that they all came to the game to watch me play.

Rowdy, we are all proud of you.

Wishing a Happy Anniversary to Tracy Bost

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, if I could, to take a moment. I would like to read a part of a particular proverb, Proverbs 31:10-31:

An excellent wife, who can find? She is more precious than

jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no

lack of gain.

She does him good and not harm in all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands.

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her

household and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it, and from the fruit of

her hands she plants the vineyards.

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms

strong.

She perceives that the merchandise is profitable, and her

lamp does not go out at night.

She puts her hands to the distaff and her hands to the

spindle.

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to

the needy.

She is not afraid of snow, for all her household is clothed

with scarlet.

She makes bed coverings for herself. Her clothing is fine

linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the

elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them.

She delivers sash to the merchants.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at

time to come.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness

is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not

eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done

excellently, but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who

fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise

her in the gates.

Mr. Speaker, many may ask why I would read such a Scripture this day on the floor. Well, because 38 years ago, tomorrow, I married a beautiful young woman who has grown to become the very woman described in this Scripture. She is very beautiful and very charming, but most of all, she is virtuous.

With that, I want to wish her an early happy anniversary. I love you, Tracy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for holding this Special Order tonight. And I also say, just because we are following a theme, if we put in perspective how long ago it was that we did tax reform in this Nation, I was running for my first political office for county board. I had a mullet, and it looked good--at least my wife told me it did.

But let me tell you that, after we passed this tax reform--I come from deep southern Illinois, nowhere near Chicago, a very rural district, a little bit of metropolitan--a typical family of four will receive a break of over $2,000 per year.

Now, folks, I don't know how it would be in your district or in your hometown if you are listening to this tonight, but that is not crumbs where I come from. Some of the folks here in Washington may think that that is the case, but that is not.

Let me tell you that I have been around my district talking to people; and you go to barber shops and coffee shops, and my wife and I own a beauty salon, and you hear from the people how much they are saving, so much so that we actually asked for people to start replying on our Facebook and to tell us what their story was.

I am just going to give you a few of these. I know that we are on limited time, but I am going to tell you that Bobby from Makanda, here is what he writes:

I am a police officer and my wife is a high school teacher.

Combined, the new tax rates save us over $300 a month. We

have two teenage children. The additional income will help us

save for upcoming college expenses.

Terry from Royalton writes:

My wife is an educator and I am in healthcare. Since these

changes have affected my pay about the same as hers, we know

how much it changes our monthly income. About $300.

His statement is:

Hey, Nancy, if that is crumbs in your world, it's not in

mine.

Tracy from Wood River writes:

Tax reform allows more money for college, more money to be

put towards paying off our home, provides more activities for

our children, and allows us to save more money for the

future.

These are just three stories of countless that we have heard. Countless have come in not only from individuals on the individual tax rate, but the business tax rate as well: expansion of business, growing of business, using it to expand the 401(k)s of their employees, giving increases in pay to their employees.

The bottom line is this: The tax reform allows people to keep more money of their paycheck. It allows them the opportunity to use that money in the way they see fit, not how the government wants to use it. They earned that money. It is theirs. They should be able to keep more of it to spend and save as they please. This new tax reform does just that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for putting this on. Let me say that as many of the people who have spoken here tonight have talked about how Billy Graham spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, at a young age, Billy Graham, if you read his history, took a walk through the woods and devoted his life to Christ.

He understood what was written in Matthew 22 when Christ was asked, Which is the greatest commandment? He said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with

all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like unto it, to love your neighbor as yourself.

He understood those commandments. But most of all, he understood the commission that was given at the end of Matthew: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Billy Graham understood this. He understood it, and he was also very, very humble. I want to take, if I can, just a moment to go over something that was written by the author Max Lucado about a meeting that Michael W. Smith and his pastor had. I will just read it:

``A few hours before the event,'' where Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado were going to go on stage together, ``Michael and I met to go over the weekend's schedule. But Michael was so moved by what he had just experienced, he could hardly discuss the retreat. He had just met with Billy Graham for the purpose of planning Reverend Graham's funeral. The famous evangelist was, at the time, 94 years old. He was confined to a wheelchair, on oxygen. His mind was sharp and spirits were high. But his body was seeing its final days. So he called Michael. And he called for his pastor. He wanted to discuss his funeral. He told them that he had a request.''

They both said: Of course, anything. What is it?

He said: It is to do with the funeral.

They said: Yes?

He said: Would you not mention my name?

They said: What?

He said: Could you not mention my name? Just mention the name of Jesus.

Mr. Speaker, you see, Billy Graham has preached to over 1 billion people. He has filled stadiums on every continent.

He has advised every President of the last half century. He has consistently been the top of every ``most admired'' list, yet he wants to be anonymous at his funeral and only call on Jesus' name.

1 Peter 55 said:

God resists the crowd, but gives grace to the humble.

For a man like this to hold and be humbled when the world knew him.

John 15:8 says:

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit

and so prove to be my disciples.

There is no question whose disciple Billy Graham was.

On February 21, I don't doubt that he heard these words: ``Well done, my good and faithful servant.''

We just pray that God sends us more like him.