Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinct patriotic and heroic service of several Chicago Japanese American Veterans who served as linguists for the Military Intelligence Service (``MIS'') of the United States Army. These Japanese American (``Nisei'') veterans dedicated their lives in providing invaluable intelligence support during World War II and during the Occupation of Japan from 1945-1952.

The service of these Nisei veterans was critical to our Nation's victory during World War II. They translated captured documents, interrogated prisoners of war, and intercepted radio messages. After the war they continued to serve the United States as cultural and linguistic ambassadors during the occupation of Japan. The MIS soldiers were vital in maintaining the peace by acting as a bridge between the American forces and the Japanese people.

The patriotism and heroism of the Japanese American MIS soldiers was profound and immeasurable. They served this country while their families and friends were placed in internment camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Always soldiers first, some found themselves on the battleground alongside armed forces, where they faced extraordinary circumstances and physical hardships.

For decades after such a heroic sacrifice, due to military confidentiality agreements, their stories have gone untold. Many of the Nisei Veterans, some of whom have now passed, settled in Chicago after World War II.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Nisei Veterans for their extraordinary and invaluable service to our Nation in a time of war. They exemplify the values of dedication and service, and I thank them for their many sacrifices, years of tireless loyalty and countless contributions to this Nation. These are unsung heroes in our midst, and I welcome this opportunity to recognize their tremendous sacrifice on behalf of the people of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4861, a resolution to name the Post Office at 1343 West Irving Park Road after Steve Goodman.

Steve Goodman was a true Chicagoan, a legendary folk singer and songwriter and a faithful Cubs fan.

Sadly, Goodman succumbed to leukemia in 1984 at the young age of 36 after a courageous 15-year battle with the disease.

Over the course of his illness, Goodman wrote some of the most enduring American folk songs, including ``The City of New Orleans,'' for which he won one of his two Grammy awards, and the great Chicago tune ``Lincoln Park Pirates.''

Goodman's career was inexorably intertwined with Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, where he learned his craft and and befriended folk music luminaries such as Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, Bob Gibson, Bonnie Koloc, and John Prine.

While older Goodman fans are no doubt aware of his connection to the Cubs, best exemplified by his song ``A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request,'' in recent years younger generations have come to know Steve Goodman as the writer and performer of ``Go, Cubs, Go,'' the anthem played at Wrigley Field following Cubs' wins.

Steve's spirit lives on after every Cubs home win, as thousands of fans happily head home from Wrigley singing, ``Go Cubs, Go . . . ''

With the passage of this legislation, it's possible that the strains of this happy tune will be heard on the steps of the Steve Goodman Post Office, not a mile up Clark Street from Wrigley Field.

Naming the Post Office at 1343 West Irving Park Road after Steve Goodman is a small but fitting way to honor the life and work of a man whose music was always imbued with emotions and scenes of everyday life.

I urge the swift passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Kathryn Gallanis Matern, an accomplished attorney and the next president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

After receiving her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Ms. Gallanis Matern made a name for herself as the lead prosecutor while working for the Assistant State's Attorney's Felony Trial Division. Many of her cases, most notably the Keystone Case, received substantial attention from the national media.

Outside of her professional duties, Ms. Gallanis Matern remains very busy. Her involvement in the community includes volunteering for the Junior League of Chicago and the New Trier Citizen's League, as well as being the acting Vice President of the Chicago Republican Women's Network. These achievements have culminated in her becoming the next president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

It is my honor to recognize Kathryn Gallanis Matern, an accomplished attorney, volunteer, and member of Chicagoland women's associations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the house amendments to S. 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act.

Today we are taking action to begin to address the needs of not only those who serve, but their families as well.

All too often we see families and friends altering their lives to care for those who served our country and then return home wounded or disabled.

Many caregivers have lost their jobs and benefits, and have had to dip into their hard-earned savings just to provide the care our wounded warriors so desperately need.

S. 1963 will begin to ensure that disabled veterans and their families will have the resources and support, both technical and financial, needed to provide care.

We can never fully repay our veterans and their families for their service and the personal sacrifices they continue to make.

The passage of this bill is a start--and will go a long way to ensure they receive the benefits they need, deserve, and have courageously earned.

Mr. Speaker, 62 years ago, Israel declared its independence and established a nation founded on the principles of justice, freedom, and peace. These founding tenets are not unlike those on which the United States was built, and these mutual beliefs spurred a resilient relationship between Israel and the U.S., a friendship of six decades which remains strong today.

The United States was the first Nation to recognize Israel, and with that recognition came a promise, a promise to help ensure Israel's security, a promise to stand behind the only democracy in the Middle East, and a promise to always uphold Israel's right to exist. On this anniversary let us celebrate, as the Israeli folk song goes, Am Yisrael Chai--the people of Israel live--and may they have the land of Israel to call home today, tomorrow, and always.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to join my Polish American constituents, the Polish nation, and the world in mourning those who perished in this weekend's tragic plane crash.

The crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski of Poland, First Lady Maria Kaczynski, and many ranking military and civilian officers was aptly described by one paper as ``literally, a nation colliding with its past.'' The 97 aboard the plane were traveling to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre in Western Russia. Shrouded in secrecy, the events that took place in Katyn had long been concealed or denied. These events included a massacre of 20,000 Polish prisoners of war, killed and discarded in unmarked graves by Soviet secret police in 1940. But, many anticipated that the commemorative events scheduled to take place for the anniversary would be a positive step forward, a warming between countries.

One of my constituents, Wojciech Seweryn, no doubt held a wish for such a reception, and was aboard the plane on his way to participate. A Polish artist and influential member of Chicago's Polish community, Mr. Seweryn's father died at Katyn and Seweryn himself spearheaded the construction of a memorial to the event at a cemetery in Niles, Illinois. Seweryn was on hand last year when the monument was dedicated, as he was at many important events in the Chicago area's strong Polish community. Poles in Chicago make up the largest ethnically Polish population of any city outside of Poland, second only to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The Polish American community will undoubtedly struggle to fill the void left by Mr. Seweryn and all those lost a few short days ago.

This loss of Polish leadership included a President hailed as a distinguished leader dedicated to advancing the ideals of democracy and freedom. President Kaczynski supported democracy movements in Ukraine and Georgia. He tirelessly advocated for shedding light on painful moments in Poland's past. It is therefore incredibly sad that his life, and the lives of so many other distinguished leaders, were claimed in the dark forest outside Smolensk, Russia, this past weekend.

Poland is a true friend and ally of the United States. Our two nations just recently celebrated 90 years of diplomatic relations. The contributions of Polish Americans to the United States are numerous. From the families who lost loved ones in the plane crash, to the nation of Poland, to Chicago's own shaken Polish American community, this loss will be felt around the world for years to come. We will stand with our friends as they find the resilience to emerge stronger, as they have before, following this unimaginable tragedy. As Adam Michnik, an intellectual imprisoned six times by the former puppet-Soviet Communist rulers, said: ``. . . in my sadness I am optimistic because Putin's strong and wise declaration has opened a new phase in Polish-Russian relations, and because we Poles are showing we can be responsible and stable.'' I look forward to Poland's recovery, and reemergence as a country that can, and will, overcome.

Madam Speaker, last night I spoke of the great tragedy that has befallen Poland. Today I rise to honor a great man, artist, and activist who was also killed in the crash that took Poland's President and 95 others. One of my constituents, Wojciech Seweryn, was aboard the plane on his way to participate in the commemorative events planned to honor those 20,000 Poles who died some 70 years ago.

A Polish artist and influential member of Chicago's Polish community, Mr. Seweryn's father died at Katyn, and Seweryn himself spearheaded the construction of a memorial to the event in a cemetery in Niles, Illinois. Seweryn was on hand last year when the monument was dedicated, as he was at many important events in Chicago's Polish community.

Poles in Chicago make up the largest ethnically Polish population of any city outside of Poland, second only to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The Polish American community will undoubtedly struggle to fill the void left by many, but particularly Mr. Seweryn and all those lost a few short days ago.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Ronald J. Kelty. Mr. Kelty, a Citizen of the Ojibwe and Potawatomie Tribes of Wisconsin, and Native Veteran of the United States Army, has dedicated his life to serving the nation, the American Indian Center of Chicago, and our local community.

Mr. Kelty began his work at the American Indian Center by taking on the important leadership role of running a social service food pantry with only the help of a few volunteers. He has played a key role in expanding the American Indian Center, which today provides 14 programs that provide resources, foster economic and educational advancement, and sustain the cultural values of all American Indians. He has also been instrumental in building the AIC team of over 30 employees.

Mr. Kelty served as a Board Member of the American Indian Center for 17 consecutive years. He was Board President for 14 of those years. Mr. Kelty has also been a Traditional Native Dancer for over 40 years, performing for the Native American community countless times.

Mr. Kelty, a loving husband, father and grandfather, served in the United States Army. His service in the U.S. Army further demonstrates his tireless dedication to servicing the nation and the people of the United States.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ronald J. Kelty for his outstanding and invaluable service to the community. He exemplifies the values of compassion and service, and I thank him for his many years of dedication to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of America's front-line government workers from Maine to Montana, Spokane to Sarasota and everywhere in between--especially Austin, Texas.

On February 18, an angry and misguided individual took out his personal frustrations and his own failures when he flew a plane into a federal government building outside Austin. The impetus for his deplorable and heinous act: settling a grudge against tax authorities and a government he deemed un-American. But his weapon of choice, mimicking the greatest American tragedy of this generation, shows how confused and simply wrong he was.

His plane took the life of a member of the National Treasury Employees Union, Vernon Hunter. Vernon was a victim of the worst kind-- an innocent bystander in the worst place at the worst time. But economic hardship is the fertilizer that grows fear-mongering and from those depths despair can be a dangerous weapon. We must take the time to educate the public, stand with our friends at the Treasury, and bridge the divide between ignorance and understanding so that we may never again mourn a friend at the NTEU.

Our largest federal employees union, the NTEU is an eclectic and dedicated group that does everything from print our money to guard our borders. Its members can be scientists searching for a cure for cancer or working to preserve our national parks and historical sites. The NTEU has a hand in agriculture, commerce, finance, and health care, and, above all, is a vital part of every community across the country.

It is with a heavy heart that I offer my condolences to all who were touched by February's tragedy, but with a renewed spirit that I pledge my support to the NTEU and each and every one of its members.

Madam Speaker, I stand here today to join my Polish American constituents, the Polish nation, and the world in mourning those who perished in this weekend's tragic plane crash. The crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski of Poland, his First Lady, and many ranking military and civilian officers was aptly described by one paper as ``literally a nation colliding with its past.''

Poland is and has been a true friend and ally of the United States. Our two nations just recently celebrated 90 years of diplomatic relations. The contributions of Polish Americans to the United States are numerous. From the families who lost loved ones in the plane crash to the nation of Poland and to Chicago's own shaken Polish American community, this loss will be felt around the world for years to come.

We will stand with our friends as they find the resilience to emerge stronger, as they have before, following this unimaginable tragedy. I look forward to Poland's recovery and reemergence as a country that can and will overcome.

Madam Speaker, in January, President Obama stood in this Chamber and made an important request. He called on Congress to ``continue down the path of earmark reform'' as an important way to spend smarter and rebuild the public's trust. We simply cannot afford to wait any longer for real earmark reform.

Last year, I introduced House Resolution 614 which prohibits earmarks for for-profit entities. Last week, the Appropriations Committee took up the premise of this resolution by establishing a 1-year moratorium on earmarks for for-profits. We must make this ban permanent and act in an open and responsible manner, allowing for public scrutiny of all requests.

Moving forward, each dollar spent must benefit the American people, not some special interest. Our work today will help us build a safer and stronger community tomorrow. Now is the time to answer the President's call.

Madam Speaker, today's headlines are full of talk about process and vote counts, making it possible for some to forget what we are doing and why we are doing it.

We are reforming healthcare because our system is broken.

Insurance companies are discriminating against those with pre- existing or ``on-going'' conditions.

Companies are discriminating against people like Alicia Chester--a constituent from my district--who, after graduating from college, was denied adequate coverage.

Because she suffers from back pain, the insurance companies refused to cover Alicia's back treatment, deeming hers an ``on-going'' condition.

Then, due to one irregular pap-smear, the insurance companies declared Alicia a ``cervical cancer risk'' and barred her from reapplying for 18 months.

No one deserves to be dropped because they need help.

No one should have to decide whether to cover costs out-of-pocket, or to avoid medical treatment because the costs are too high.

We are fixing healthcare because of people like Alicia.

Madam Speaker, this week we learned that one of the handguns used by the Pentagon police shooter originated in a Las Vegas gun show. As this incident reveals, anyone wanting to attack us would best be advised to shop at a gun show. That is because gun shows don't require sellers to have licenses or maintain records. This loophole fosters a Wild West environment where criminals and terrorists can flaunt local, State, and Federal laws just to get their weapons just like the Pentagon shooter.

A recent gun show audit revealed that 74 percent of sellers approached by investigators completed sales to people who appeared to be criminals or straw purchasers. Gun shows will sell to people who are so dangerous we won't even let them board an airplane.

If we're serious about protecting our Nation, we have got to get serious about closing the gun show loophole.

Madam Speaker, the United States and Israel have long shared an important friendship. That friendship is rooted in close moral and strategic bonds built on common values, common interests, and common concerns. Today, that friendship is being tested, but we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from the concerns and goals that bring us together. The threat of a nuclear Iran is too great and the peace process is too important for us to spend more time engaging in critical rhetoric of our most important ally. It is time to put aside the rhetoric and reaffirm our bonds with Israel.

We must make it clear that we are united in our opposition to a nuclear

Iran. While no one gains by an escalation of tensions, we must make it clear that we value and support our relationship with the State and the people of Israel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th anniversary of a Chicago institution--Ann Sather Restaurant. Although renowned for Scandinavian food, the string of restaurants has also built a reputation for hospitality and service to the community.

More than half a century ago, Ann Sather pooled her life savings and bought a diner. Her devotion to creating a restaurant with homemade meals, warm hospitality, and low prices made it a legend on the North Side of Chicago.

After more than 30 years, Ann Sather passed on her famous restaurant in 1981 to 24-year-old Cornell graduate Tom Tunney. Tunney has since opened several more Ann Sather restaurants, steering the business to new heights. Now alderman of Chicago's 44th Ward, Tunney has carried on Ann Sather's legacy of giving back to the community by supporting local organizations and causes.

Ann Sather passed away in 1996, but her spirit lives on through her restaurant. At the flagship Belmont location, her portrait still hangs in the dining room, smiling down on all who stop by for an order of her one-of-a-kind Swedish pancakes or world-famous cinnamon rolls.

Six-and-a-half decades later, this Chicago legend remains a staple of the Lakeview neighborhood thanks to its tradition, charm and commitment to the community. I wish to thank Ann Sather and Tom Tunney for all they've done, all they continue to do, and wish Ann Sather's the best of luck for another 65 years.