Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, in 1848, a freshman Congressman from Illinois wrote that the Constitution gives war-making powers to Congress, and the ability of one man to initiate a war places our President where kings have always stood. That was Abraham Lincoln.

Today, the American people do not want another bloody, endless war, but a President who campaigned on no new wars is dragging this country and our allies into a war with little explanation and no clear long- term strategy.

The President has bluntly stated that the deaths of American servicemembers are a price he is willing to pay. Yet, just 6 months ago, he insisted that Iran's nuclear program had been completely and totally obliterated.

If that was the case, then what is the rationale for starting this war?

Our men and women in uniform are not disposable. Americans want no part of this war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Imelda Salazar, community organizer and champion of economic justice.

Imelda has been organizing communities in Chicago for twenty years. Fueled by her faith and dedication to service, I was privileged to meet her while handing out food during the pandemic. She has a deep gift for understanding people and bringing cultures together.

Hundreds of families in Chicago have safe homes to raise their families in because of her. Neighborhoods are safer and schools are better because of her tireless advocacy. My staff and I are better at our jobs because of her dedicated service to educating us on the communities she has dedicated her life to.

During the most difficult of circumstances, she has never failed to remind us all to find joy within each other. Chicago, Illinois and the United States is better because of her service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in recognizing Imelda Salazar for her service in pursuit of equity in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Rick Garcia--an LGBTQ+ rights leader, community organizer, and above all, a man who knew how to create

change for the betterment of LGBTQ+ people statewide.

Garcia advocated through decades long fights to pass city, county, and state-wide ordinances that banned discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community. His dedication to meaningful change has left a lasting impact throughout Illinois, and in the memories of all who were lucky enough to have worked with him throughout his career.

Garcia was the principal founder of Equality Illinois, the largest organizational voice for LGBTQ+ rights in Illinois. As executive director, he worked directly with Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois governments to codify marriage equality and fight against the worst forms of discrimination. He was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1999.

Garcia knew how to unite communities for change, and how to bridge divides to ensure change was not only all-encompassing, but long- lasting. He was a member of the ``Gang of Four,'' an activist group that played a critical role in the passing of Chicago's 1988 Human Rights Ordinance. Garcia was also an involved member of the Roman Catholic community on behalf of LGBTQ+ people of faith. He united Chicagoans from both major political parties in pursuit of justice and equality for all.

We remember and honor Rick Garcia as not only a dedicated activist, but a force for good in every community he touched. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in recognizing Rick Garcia for his tireless commitment to equality in Chicago and honoring his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Chester Robert Kropidlowski of Chicago. Chester was a veteran, a man of public service, and above all, a devoted brother, uncle, great uncle, and friend.

Before Chester began serving our city and country, he attended the University of Illinois where he obtained a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and was also an accomplished collegiate wrestler. He went on to earn a master's degree in science from Depaul University in Chicago.

Chester served our country by enlisting in the United States Army in 1964. His devotion to his community continued throughout his life, where he served the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation for many years.

Chester possessed a philanthropic spirit as a donor to several organizations and causes, including Misericordia Heart of Mercy.

A loyal Chicagoan and proud Lakeview resident, Chester was deeply involved in his community. He was a long-time condo board member, assisted in planning the Chicago Marathon, and could often be found watching a Cubs game with his buddies at Murphy's Bleachers. Chester will be most remembered for the joy he brought into other people's lives. He cherished his traveling adventures with Lenore, his late significant other, and enjoyed fishing and golfing with family and friends.

We remember and honor Chester Robert Kropidlowski not just as a veteran, but as the kind of American we should all aspire to be. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in recognizing Chester Robert Kropidlowski for his service to our country and honoring his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the International River Foundation in honoring the Friends of the Chicago River, the 2025 recipient of the Thiess International River Prize. The Thiess International River Prize, established in 1999, is the world's most esteemed award for river restoration and management, honoring trailblazing organizations that advance lasting ecological, social, and economic benefits worldwide. This award speaks to the tireless contributions of the Friends of the Chicago River to environmental stewardship, river restoration, climate resilience, and public service here in Cook County.

Founded in 1979, Friends of the Chicago River is the only organization exclusively dedicated to the restoration and protection of the entire 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system. Under the leadership of Executive Director Margaret Frisbie and a dedicated staff, the Friends of the Chicago River lead bold policy reforms, habitat restoration, and public engagement programs that have transformed the river from an overlooked industrial waterway into a thriving urban ecosystem. More than 60,000 people including 20,000 youth annually have joined efforts of the Friends of the Chicago River through education, outreach, and hands-on stewardship, while advancing policy initiatives that improve water quality, protect biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience across the Chicago-Calumet watershed.

The recognition of Friends of the Chicago River with the 2025 Thiess International River Prize underscores the emergence of our County as a global leader in urban river restoration and affirms the organization's pioneering role in shaping a future where rivers are valued as vital natural, social, and climate-sustaining wonders. Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of my colleagues in congratulating the Friends of the Chicago River on receiving the 2025 Thiess International River Prize and thanking them for their continued work for the Chicago River.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Anne Catholic School on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception in 1927 to its continued excellence through the 21st Century, St. Annes has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

St. Anne Catholic School's exceptional performance hasn't gone unnoticed. The school has previously achieved Blue Ribbon status earning the honor in 2006 and 2016. Earning three blue ribbon awards is a distinction held by very few schools in the country.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like St. Annes, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing St. Anne Catholic School for their exceptional and continuous success in educating and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Prescott Elementary School on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and

private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception, Prescott Elementary has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

Prescott Elementary has earned Illinois' top ``Exemplary'' rating for the fourth consecutive year. For academic performance, the school is once again in the top 10 percent of Illinois public schools. This K-8 CPS school serving a majority student of color population and offering a rigorous academic program in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies maintains continued success. The school also prioritizes social-emotional learning (SEL), restorative practices, and a culture that helps students thrive both academically and personally.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like Prescott Elementary, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing Prescott Elementary for their exceptional and continuous success in educating and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy (OLMCA) on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception in 1888 to its continued excellence through the 21st Century, OLMCA has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

This is the third Blue-Ribbon School Award for OLMCA. First in 2013 and again in 2019, OLMCA remains a leader for academic achievement and progress throughout the Nation. The superb performance of OLMCA continues to set Chicago youth up for success in high school and beyond.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like OLMCA, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy for their exceptional and continuous success in educating and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Fremd High School on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception in 1961 to its continued excellence through the 21st Century, Fremd High School has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

Fremd High School was designated an Exemplary School in the State of Illinois for performing in the top 10 percent of schools statewide, with no underperforming student groups. Due to this success and high graduation rates, Fremd High School is an academic performance leader, not just in Chicago but across the country.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like Fremd High School, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing Fremd High School for their exceptional and continuous success in educating

and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Matthias Catholic School on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception in 1888 to its continued excellence through the 21st Century, St. Matthias has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

St. Matthias School is the only PK3-8th Grade Catholic, International Baccalaureate (IB), National Blue Ribbon School in Illinois. Student performance at St. Matthias at or above grade level surpasses average student performance at other Archdiocese of Chicago schools by more than 15 percent for reading and math.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like St. Matthias, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing St. Matthias Academy for their exceptional and continuous success in educating and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sarah Adams Elementary School on their designation as a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School.

Since 1982, the Blue-Ribbon School Award has recognized the most exemplary public and private schools for outstanding academic performance and significant progress in closing achievement gaps among students.

From its inception, Sarah Adams Elementary has continued to pave a bright path of academic leadership and set an example for schools and communities in the Chicagoland area.

Sarah Adams Elementary School stands out in the State of Illinois. At Sarah Adams Elementary School, 52 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 62 percent scored at or above that level for reading, well above the state and national average. The excellent work of Sarah Adams is fostering the next generation of leaders, right here in Chicagoland.

Although the Blue-Ribbon School Award has been canceled, it is imperative to recognize schools like Prescott Elementary, which deserve praise and congratulations for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing Prescott Elementary for their exceptional and continuous success in educating and nurturing the brilliant future minds of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for considering this bill, the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act.

This bill would reauthorize critical Great Lakes research programs at $15 million per year for 5 years. I thank my colleague, Representative Huizenga, for his partnership on this bill in the House.

Protecting and restoring our Great Lakes has long been a bipartisan priority. I am proud of our work together on this topic. Lake Michigan is the pride and joy of Chicago, but the native ecosystems are at risk.

My colleagues might have noticed the poster behind me. This is a sea lamprey. They are not native to the Great Lakes, but they have found their way in. When left unchecked, they wreak havoc on our ecosystems. If this graphic doesn't convince my colleagues that we don't want these suckers in the Great Lakes, I am not sure what will.

Kind of like a giant leech, their suction-cup mouth clamps onto native fish species to feed on them. One sea lamprey can kill up to 40 pounds of Great Lakes fish over a 12- to 18-month feeding period, and that is just one of the threats we are currently up against.

Alongside the sea lamprey, there are over 60 invasive species in the Great Lakes. Those include zebra mussels, rusty crayfish, and round goby. They compete for the same resources and prey on native species. Many don't have natural predators in the Great Lakes. Without intervention, these invasive species will be ``eely'' bad for our native fish and plant populations.

Mr. Speaker, 61 native fish species are currently threatened or endangered. In the 1950s, the United States and Canada established the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to shore up our shared fisheries. Decades of overfishing, invasive species, and human impact on lakes threatened the native fish species and led to 20 species going extinct.

For all those in the region who depend on fisheries for food, livelihood, and sport, it is critical we continue to monitor the Great Lakes and our native fish species. The total value of commercial, recreational, and Tribal fishing in the Great Lakes is at least $5 billion. The industry supports an estimated 75,000 jobs across the region.

Research into the Great Lakes fishery provides us with the data and information necessary to manage fish populations, conduct habitat maintenance, roll out educational programs, and more.

For the last 5 years, this program has provided funds for the U.S. Geological Survey and, more specifically, the Great Lakes Science Center to conduct scientific research and invest in new technology.

With the help of this funding, the Great Lakes Science Center has field operations in five of the eight Great Lakes States, where it owns and operates a fleet of large research vessels to monitor the lakes and the fishery. This information is used to ensure that these crucial ecosystems stay healthy and productive.

Other researchers across the region rely on data collected over decades to analyze trends in the Great Lakes and help keep them healthy. Reauthorizing this program now will allow the Great Lakes Science Center to continue its research and provide datasets that are stable and reliable into the future.

The Senate has already passed this reauthorization. I encourage my colleagues to help get this bill over the finish line.

Lastly, I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and in the Senate, including Senator Peters who introduced the version of the bill we will vote on today, and Senator Husted representing the great State of Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their consideration, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sunday, December 21, 2025, as World Meditation Day, which is designated by the United Nations to celebrate the growing recognition of meditation as a practical tool for mental well-being and peace.

The day will culminate in a global moment of stillness at 10 am ET, when millions of people across time zones will join a live, guided meditation led by global humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living Foundation. Gurudev has devoted his life to serving humanity, promoting peace, and advocating human values for over 45 years.

Gurudev is universally acknowledged for his ground-breaking work in stress-management and personal development through powerful breathing techniques such as SKY Breath Meditation, which have benefited more than 800 million people across 182 countries.

Various events throughout the United States will bring communities together in a shared moment of peace and connection during the holiday season, supporting mental well-being, resilience, and utility across our cities.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence in recognition of the World Meditation Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Daniel James Sullivan of Chicago--a veteran, a man of deep faith, and above all, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Daniel served our country during the Korean War, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1946. Even in uniform, his compassion stood out--once building a false-bottom delivery truck to secretly deliver bread to nuns at a nearby orphanage. That act alone captures who he was: quietly brave, endlessly generous, and guided by compassion, even in uniform.

Daniel brought that same spirit to his family, his church, and his community. He was a devoted parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, where his service was recognized with the Christifideles Award, presented by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich.

A loyal Chicagoan and proud season ticket holder, Daniel cheered for the White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, and Notre Dame football. But nothing gave him more joy than the time he spent with his six grandchildren. Of his six grandchildren, I had the pleasure of working with Catherine Flannery, who interned in my Washington D.C. office. Daniel's home was a place where family traditions were made, where patience was endless, and where every grandchild knew they were deeply loved.

Though Daniel never sought the spotlight, he lit up every room he entered--with humor, humility, and grace. His legacy lives on in the family he raised, the faith he lived by, and the quiet example he set every single day.

We remember and honor Daniel Sullivan not just as a veteran, but as the kind of American we should all aspire to be. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in recognizing Daniel James Sullivan for his service to our country and honoring his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Patrick Gleason on his retirement after a remarkable 26-year career with the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Patrick started as a Canteen chief before moving over to voluntary services. He collaborated with the Chicago Mattress Company to bring veterans in need of a mattress, bed frame, pillows, and sheets. He led the first VA food pantry program in the country, which ran from 2013 to 2020. Patrick coordinated a concert tour for The Dogz Jazz Band, performing at 9 different VA hospitals.

Patrick revived a program to provide ambulance and stretcher services to discharging veterans who have no other option to get home after a hospital stay. He singlehandedly repaired the relationship with the transportation provider who wanted to end their contract after previous nonpayment. Now, this service is available for those patients most in- need. Patrick's leadership and service have made a lasting impact on the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and on the veterans they serve.

As he begins this new chapter, I offer my gratitude and congratulations. Patrick Gleason's 26-year legacy at JBVA will continue to inspire leaders and communities for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and all our colleagues in the House of Representatives in recognizing Patrick Gleason for his immense contribution.