Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Dundee Township Lions Club from the Sixth Congressional District of Illinois. In June, the club celebrated its 80th Anniversary.

In the years since its humble founding in 1937, the Dundee Township Lions Club has become a champion of civic service, serving as a home to members who strive to create a vibrant and thriving community in West Dundee and the greater Kane County area. Over the years, the Club has contributed finances, time and talent to hundreds of community projects including the creation of pavilions at Randall Oaks Park, the first washrooms at South End Park, the Dundee Township Library room, and many, many more.

From its early origins in the Township, the Lions Club has been a leader in community outreach and service, as well as an organization for other service organizations and community outreach organizations to follow. Through its continued dedication to building a friendly and welcoming environment, the Dundee Township Lions Club has built a reputation as an organization where all walks of life can come together to serve the less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the occasion of this 80th Anniversary. We join together to honor the Club's legacy of growth and prosperity, and to look ahead to the opportunities the future hold for the Dundee Township Lions Club.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Village of Wayne on being named one of the safest places to live in Illinois. The village of Wayne was named the seventh safest place on Niche's 2017 Safest Places to Live in Illinois.

Working together, law enforcement, local officials, and the community have made Wayne a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. The residents of Wayne should never underestimate the impact that each citizen's positive actions can have. Everyday there are members of the community helping to change lives, while also inspiring their peers to do the same.

I would be remiss to not also mention the wonderful job of the Wayne Police and volunteer Fire Departments. Day in and day out, the men and women of the Wayne Police and Fire Departments risk their lives to protect their community. Their bravery and courage are very deserving of our recognition and admiration and I am happy to see their service has led to Wayne being named one of the safest cities in Illinois.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the village of Wayne and congratulating them on being named one of the safest places in Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bartlett on being named one of the safest cities in the United States. The village of Bartlett was named the ninth safest city on Neighborhood Scout's list of America's 100 Safest Cities.

Working together, law enforcement, local officials, and the community have made Bartlett a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. The residents of Bartlett should never underestimate the impact that each citizen's positive actions can have. Everyday there are members of the community helping to change lives, while also inspiring their peers to do the same.

I would be remiss to not also mention the wonderful job of the Bartlett Police and Fire Departments. Day in and day out the men and women of the Bartlett Police and Fire Departments risk their lives to protect their community. Their bravery and courage are very deserving of our recognition and admiration and I am happy to see their service has led to Bartlett being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the village of Bartlett, Illinois and congratulating them on being named one of the safest cities in America

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize Anna Ciamarra, a brave, strong, and exceptional young lady from Lombard, Illinois. Anna recently raised over $6,000 for childhood cancers.

After visiting the doctor when she was 5 years old for a sore throat, Anna found out she had T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since that time, Anna has had continuous treatment, including a minimum of two years of inpatient and outpatient therapies that include chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, transfusions and constant diagnostic testing. In spite of all these obstacles, Anna wanted to help others and bring awareness to childhood cancer.

Last year, Anna and her family hosted lemonade stands for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to funding research into new treatments and cures for all children battling cancer, and raised over $2,000. This year they were chosen as one of the foundation's National Lemonade Days Hero Ambassadors and thus far raised $6,900. This amazing figure is not only a credit to Anna's strength and resilience, but also the entire family's compassion and determination to help others. Anna is an inspiration to all and I am sure she will continue to be an advocate for those facing the challenges of cancer.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring and celebrating Anna Ciamarra's generosity and strength. Her advocacy on behalf of childhood cancer is commendable.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in recognition of the Illinois members of the men's and women's U.S. National Deaf Ice Hockey Team. Both teams competed in the 2017 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships in April.

Members of the women's team from Illinois, Maddie Gagliano and Hannah Garcia, tried out for the U.S. National Women's Deaf Ice Hockey team in March and were selected along with 15 other girls to play against Team Canada. The U.S. team ended up losing two hard fought games to Team Canada and although the team has disbanded for now, head coach Jackie McMullin believes Maddie and Hannah have plenty of opportunities to play the game they love.

Max Finley, Ryne Kruger, and Derek Struwing are all Illinois residents who participated for team U.S. in this year's championships. The tournament was held April 19-29, with teams from Canada, Finland, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and the United States participating. The U.S. men's team finished first in the competition and won the gold medal in a thrilling 6-3 win against Team Canada. This important victory marked the first time the United States has won gold at the World Deaf Hockey Championships.

Maddie, Hannah, Max, Ryne and Derek's participation in the U.S. National Deaf Ice Hockey Championships is truly inspirational. I know I speak for the entire state of Illinois and the country when I say congratulations and that we are all proud of them.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring the Men's and Women's U.S. National Deaf Ice Hockey teams.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th anniversary of Lazarus House, a charitable organization serving the homeless and those who are at risk of homelessness. Their services in providing hospitality, shelter, and education have made them a great contributor to our community.

Since opening its doors on June 6, 1997, Lazarus House has continued to uphold its mission as a transitional living center through the hard work and timeless dedication of its original founder Darlene Marcusson, as well as its current Executive Director, Liz Eakins. Working together with various social service agencies, a large network of volunteers, and a generous family of donors, this organization has faithfully served those who are searching for a sense of hope and a future of opportunities.

Treating their guests as gifts from God, Lazarus House has brought the Gospel to the forefront of their work. Its emergency shelter and outreach programs provide rent, mortgage and utility assistance, and most importantly, a support system for the homeless to call home. In helping their guests transition to independent living with the necessary skills for eventual success, Lazarus House has been a tremendous source of care and a ray of light for the future.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring and celebrating the remarkable achievements of Lazarus House. Their advocacy on behalf of the homeless is commendable.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lake in the Hills on being named one of the safest cities in the United States. The village of Lake in the Hills was named the seventh safest city on Neighborhood Scout's list of America's 100 Safest Cities.

Working together, law enforcement, local officials, and the community have made Lake in the Hills a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. The residents of Lake in the Hills should never underestimate the impact that each citizen's positive actions can have. Everyday there are members of the community helping to change lives, while also inspiring their peers to do the same.

I would be remiss to not also mention the wonderful job of the Lake in the Hills Police Department and Fire Department. Day in and day out the men and women of the Lake in the Hills Police and Fire Departments risk their lives to protect their community. Their bravery and courage are very deserving of our recognition and admiration and I am happy to see their service has led to Lake in the Hills being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the village of Lake in the Hills, Illinois and congratulating them on being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished public servant from the Sixth District of Illinois. Jeff Turner has dedicated his life to the Elgin community and his incredible service is a truly impressive feat which may not be replicated. As the recipient of the 75th Elgin Cosmopolitan Club Distinguished Service Award, he serves as a role model for us all and as proof that one dedicated individual can change the lives of many.

As an active participant within his village serving on multiple boards and committees, Jeff still finds time to successfully manage In the Neighborhood Deli. As the owner of this award-winning deli, he has been instrumental in starting a community dinner program that serves all. Hosting a total of four dinners per year, he has provided a meal to more than 800 residents within the surrounding neighborhoods. With his passion for people and commitment to the well-being of others, Jeff has devoted countless hours serving those around him. Nonetheless, his work does not stop there.

He has previously partnered with the Community Garden Network of Elgin and volunteered as an honorary chef for both the Larkin Center Children's Brunch back in 2010 and the Ecker Center's Wishes for Wellness Brunch this past year. Additionally, he has served as a co- chair for both Elgin's Green Expo and their Climate Change Organization Board. In 2016, Jeff was honored with the Harold T. Seigle Community Service Award, Elgin Junior Women's Club Outstanding Man of the Year, and the D. Ray Wilson Volunteer Service Award.

Through hard work and no small amount of perseverance, Jeff Turner has helped countless people and tremendously improved his community. Distinguished Members, please join me in congratulating Jeff for his years of service and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize Laura Whipple, an exceptional and accomplished young woman from the Sixth District of Illinois. Laura, a senior at Barrington High School has received the Girl Scout Gold Award. This achievement represents many years of diligence and personal accomplishment in supporting the ideals of Scouting.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award in Girl Scouting and it is no easy feat. The award is presented to girls who aspire to transform a vision into an actionable plan with real results. Laura did just that.

Laura's project was named ``Native Bird Houses''. This project addressed the inadequate number of shelters for native bird species in her local community. She worked tirelessly, with help from several volunteers, to create different types of bird houses, while educating members of the public on how habitat destruction and invasive species can severely impact the ecosystem. At last count, Laura built 38 birdhouses that will help maintain the avian community at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington, Illinois.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing Laura for her remarkable achievement and wishing her well as she continues to make an impact with the Girl Scouts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Wheaton on being named one of the safest cities in the United States. The city of Wheaton was named the thirty-second safest city on Neighborhood Scout's list of America's 100 Safest Cities. In fact, Wheaton has a long-held reputation as one of the top 100 safest cities. It was ranked 51 in 2014, 31 in 2015, and 21 last year.

Working together, law enforcement, local officials, and the community have made Wheaton a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. The residents of Wheaton should never underestimate the impact that each citizen's positive actions can have. Everyday there are members of the community helping to change lives, while also inspiring their peers to do the same.

I would be remiss to not also mention the wonderful job of the Wheaton Police and Fire Departments. Day in and day out the men and women of the Wheaton Police and Fire Departments risk their lives to protect their community. Their bravery and courage are very deserving of our recognition and admiration, and I am happy to see their service has led to Wheaton being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the city of Wheaton, Illinois and congratulating them on being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a difficult week in northern Illinois. A little over a week ago, torrential rains fell on Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Four Illinois counties have been named disaster areas: Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, and Cook County.

As difficult as it is, it is an incredibly impressive thing to visit these communities, particularly Algonquin, Port Barrington, and Fox River Grove, among others, all in the Sixth Congressional District. What you will witness is literally hundreds of volunteers following through and filling thousands of bags of sand to help their neighbors.

Municipal employees, first responders, local leaders, the Governor of Illinois, and members of the Illinois delegation have all come together in order to meet our neighbors' needs at this time.

For those of you who are people of faith, I ask that you would pray for these families as they are going through this difficult time. Also, I commend those at home who have lent a hand.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thornberry, and I rise today in strong support of the Lamborn amendment requiring a report on Iran's use of commercial aircraft to support terrorist groups in rogue regimes around the Middle East.

The Lamborn amendment delivers a simple message to Iran, to Assad, and all companies considering selling aircraft to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and that is: Congress is watching.

Congress is watching midnight flights take off from military bases in Iran and land in war-torn Damascus carrying terrorists, guns, and explosives, which will only be used to shed more innocent blood in the Syrian civil war.

Congress is watching as Boeing and Airbus shake hands and cut deals with former leaders of Iran's National Revolutionary Guard Corps like Hossein Alaei, CEO of Aseman Airlines, who has called to destroy U.S. naval ships sailing in international waters.

Congress is watching as iconic American and European companies are choosing to fuel Iran's terror campaign around the world.

Mr. Chair, Congress is watching, and Congress will act to ensure that Western companies do not become complicit in the Syrian massacre.

Please support the Lamborn amendment.

Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 355 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 361.

Amendment No. 88 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hanover Park on being named one of the safest cities in the United States.

The Hanover Park Police Department reported that for the seventh consecutive year crime in Hanover Park has declined to a new record low. Hanover Park was also named thirty-seventh on Neighborhood Scout's list of America's 100 Safest Cities.

The Hanover Park Police Department utilizes a strong community outreach initiative, Police and Citizens Connected, which employs several social media channels for enhanced communication with residents. Working together, law enforcement, local officials, and Hanover Park residents have positioned the town as safe place to live, work, and raise a family.

Day in and day out the men and women of the Hanover Park Police Department risk their lives to protect their community. The shrinking crime rate is a direct result of their courageous leadership, which will continue to protect this wonderful community. Police Chief Michael Menough credited the hard work of his officers, neighbors, and community leaders stating, ``We have made community policing the central focus of our service delivery, and this will remain our top priority.'' With all hands on deck I am sure Hanover Park will continue to see record lows in crime for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the community of Hanover Park, Illinois and congratulating them on being named one of the safest cities in America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated public servant from the Sixth Congressional District of Illinois, Representative Mike Tyron of Crystal Lake. In July, he was named the Grand Marshal of the Crystal Lake 2017 Independence Parade.

As a resident of Crystal Lake since 1983, Representative Tyron has served as a model citizen. He first entered public office in 1989 as a McHenry County Board member, and nine years later was unanimously selected to be its Chairman. He served in this capacity until being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2004.

During his tenure as a state representative, Representative Tyron was an exemplary leader and public servant. He spearheaded a rewriting of the tax-cap law to save taxpayers millions of dollars and close a loophole. He pushed an initiative to create an online transparency portal to list all state government salaries, contracts and expenditures, one of the first of its kind. He also helped create the county veterans' courts. The specialized court allows returning veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or other service-related disabilities who commit nonviolent offenses to receive treatment and have charges dismissed upon successful completion of the program.

Representative Tyron has represented McHenry County, Crystal Lake, and the surrounding community well. He has been a strong voice for the Village of Crystal Lake throughout his time in public office. His long service to the people of Crystal Lake and to Illinois is truly commendable. Although he retired from public service in January, Crystal Lake will continue to benefit from his involvement as a member of the community.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in congratulating Representative Mike Tyron on 28 years of public service, and on being named the Grand Marshal of the Crystal Lake 2017 Independence Parade.