Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act.

It is unfortunate that under current practices, it doesn't take a doctor or a judge to determine a veteran is unfit to own a firearm. Not a doctor, not a judge; it just takes the assignment of the fiduciary.

Mr. Speaker, the women and men took an oath of office to protect and defend our Constitution--the same as we do in our offices to serve our veterans--and to stand in harm's way.

Mr. Speaker, this is exactly the opposite of what our legal system should allow. There is no due process. All of a sudden they go to the VA. They are seeking help with maybe other issues that are out there-- because they can't even have a judge or a doctor make that decision, if that is the case--but they do make a decision that they have to have a fiduciary to help them with certain things.

It is vitally important that we maintain the due process. This legislation still allows for dangerous individuals to be denied their firearms, but it leaves the determination to someone with the expertise to understand their case. This is a case where bureaucracy has run amok. We have got to stop it. That is what our job here is to do.

Our Second Amendment rights are vitally important. Each amendment and those rights under our Constitution are vitally important. And for those men and women who have served to protect those rights, shouldn't we make sure that they are protected with due process.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1181.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a bright young constituent from my district in southern Illinois on winning a scholarship in the VFW Patriot's Pen essay competition.

Enacted in 1995, the Patriot's Pen program is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to express their opinion on patriotic themes. This year's theme was ``The America I Believe In.''

Madilyn Gawrych-Turner of Jonesboro Elementary School in Jonesboro, Illinois, was sponsored by the VFW post in Anna, Illinois. I would like to congratulate Madilyn, and I know she will have a very bright future.

Also, Madam Speaker, I would like to take just a second, if I may, to wish my wife a happy anniversary for the 37 years that we have been together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of St. Clair County (West).

On March 1, 1917, the Rotary Club of St. Clair County (West) received its first charter with 30 members in attendance, becoming the first Rotary Club activated in Southern Illinois. These members represented real estate agents, bankers, lawyers, lumber and livestock workers, farmers, and many other professions that make up the fabric of Southern Illinois.

Since its activation, the Rotary Club has been a support group to countless business owners through the Great Depression, World War II, and beyond. Not only do its members focus on strengthening businesses, but they also focus on enriching the community through charitable work.

The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys and Girl Scouts of America, and YMCA are only a few of the organizations with which St. Clair County (West) has been instrumental in strengthening Southern Illinois, including creating the Edgemont YMCA facility and a college scholarship program for high school seniors.

We are grateful for the contributions that Rotary Clubs around the nation are making on a daily basis. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the St. Clair County (West) Rotary Club.

Mr. Speaker, the Obama administration anticoal regulation was a solution in search of a problem. It wasn't intended to protect the environment. It was intended to put coal miners out of work. And, sadly, it has been successful in achieving that goal.

A study of the rule estimates it would destroy more than one-third of our coal jobs, and that nearly half of all coal resources would effectively be off limits to mining. In addition, the OSM rule has ignored clear congressional directives to share information with the States.

If ever there has been a time for Congress to act, this is it. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Scott Graves, who is departing the House Committee on Agriculture.

In my time in public office, I quickly realized how truly indispensable good staff is. Scott Graves certainly fits the bill of good staff.

Scott most recently served as the staff director of the House Committee on Agriculture, where he developed the strategic vision of the committee and its 45 members. He has worked closely on agriculture policy for his 12 years on the Hill, including the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills.

With Scott's steadfast leadership as staff director, Chairman Conaway and committee members were able to stick to an impressive timeline, passing reauthorization bills for all programs under the committee's jurisdiction last Congress. Scott and Chairman Conaway always made it a priority to fully equip and educate members of the Committee and conference on issues important to American agriculture.

On behalf of Southern Illinois producers, I wish Scott the best in his future endeavors

Mr. Speaker, our Nation is clearly divided. The division was displayed when a group of students from Marion High School in my district came to Washington for the inauguration weekend.

On the way back to their hotel on Saturday night, a group of protesters surrounded their bus, threw projectiles through the windows, and painted the bus. Imagine that. A group of history students coming 13 hours across this great Nation and wanting to participate in the peaceful transfer of power only to be intimidated.

Free speech is essential to our democracy. However, acts of violence and intimidation have no place. Now is the time for both parties to move to get past this political division that is going through this country.

``The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3 and the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Part of the existing pipeline system actually supplies the Wood River Refinery in the 12th Congressional District in Illinois.

In anticipation of the construction of this pipeline, the owners have spent $4 billion upgrading the facility and created about 2,400 jobs over a 4-year period. Construction of the Keystone XL extension would deliver similar benefits to other regions of the country, creating over 42,000 jobs in construction, manufacturing, transportation, and services industries.

It is for these reasons that a diverse coalition of businesses and labor unions in the construction and building trades industries have come out in support of H.R. 3, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.