Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2010 and for the rights of workers all across this great Nation. I would like to begin by thanking Chairman George Miller and Chairwoman Woolsey for their tireless work on this bill.

As many of you know, I began my career on a factory floor and saw firsthand the inherent dangers that exist in a workplace. It is the dangerous working conditions I saw that continue to drive my commitment to making every workplace in America safe. Compromise is inevitable in Washington, D.C., but keeping our workers safe, healthy, and alive is nonnegotiable. I implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remember that.

It is clear that we can no longer rely on a system of fines and citations to protect our miners. MSHA must have the ability to swiftly shut down unsafe mines in order to save lives. We must end the corporate culture of ``profit at all costs'' that treats workplace safety upgrades as a budget line item rather than a moral and legal priority.

Today, my colleagues, we have the opportunity to stand up and defend the rights and lives of countless American workers, and I ask you to join me in this great but never-ending fight. The bill before us today will overhaul the very system that has failed to provide adequate protections for our mine workers, each and every day, and I say, enough is enough. This bill puts forth commonsense reforms that are long overdue. It holds irresponsible mine operators accountable.

One of the most unforgettable and heartbreaking moments of my congressional career occurred at the Education and Labor Committee hearing on mine safety. During that hearing, a young boy whose father had perished in the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster came up to me and asked me if I could attend one of his soccer games because ``his daddy was in heaven and couldn't go.''

It is for the families like this that we need to put partisan politics aside and pass this critical legislation. Every worker deserves to come home safely at the end of the day, and this bill will go to great lengths to ensure that this is the reality for all of our Nation's mine workers.

I ask my colleagues to join me in standing up for all American workers and supporting this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Waterways Conference.

I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Jim Oberstar of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for his support of the National Waterways Conference and for cosponsoring this resolution.

I am proud to have introduced H. Res. 1639 because the National Waterways Conference has worked tirelessly since 1960 in educating the public and elected officials about the importance of our nation's inland waterways system. The Conference reaches all corners of inland waterways, the Great Lakes, and coastal stakeholders because it consists of a diverse group of professionals who all work toward a common goal: utilizing the waterways in an efficient and responsible manner, while being accountable to the environment in and around our waters.

The Conference has also worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in planning valuable economic and environmental water-based projects in nearly every geographic region of the U.S. and territories. For example, in the 17th District of Illinois, the Sny Island Levee District and the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association have for years worked to ensure that Congress does not forget about the catastrophic flooding in the Midwest, and they have advocated for maximizing urgently needed flood protection and flood control. The Corps in turn has closely studied and crafted a plan for protecting the Upper Mississippi River Valley communities. The Conference and Corps complement each other extremely well.

In addition to recognizing and commending the Conference, the resolution recognizes the solid commitment and excellent work done by the Corps of Engineers--the nation's premier waterways infrastructure operators, designers and builders. The Corps is responsible for waterways navigation, flood damage reduction, and environmental restoration for more than 11,000 miles of channels in 41 States, in addition to the important role it plays in supporting our troops.

I believe it is in the best interest of the American people that the National Waterways Conference continues to work with the Congress, the Corps' Civil Works Division, and local communities because of its expertise in planning for a sound economy, industrial and agricultural productivity, regional development, environmental quality, energy conservation, international trade, and national defense preparedness.

Mr. Speaker, I know the National Waterways Conference will have another successful 50 years advocating for improvements to our nation's water infrastructure. I would like to thank the National Waterways Conference for all of their hard work, and I wish them the best of luck in their next chapter.

I urge all of my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. I want to thank our leadership for continuing the fight for American jobs and our Nation's small businesses.

We all know that small businesses are the backbones of our local economies and bolster economic growth in our districts, States and Nation. Unfortunately, small businesses have not escaped the devastating impacts of this recession.

When the credit markets tightened and payrolls declined, small business owners were forced to make incredibly tough decisions-- sometimes shutting their doors forever. This legislation will help existing small businesses grow and give entrepeneurs the assistance they need to open new ones.

The bill creates a $30 billion small business lending fund in which financial institutions, such as the smaller community banks in my district, can leverage as much as $300 billion of badly needed credit to small businesses.

I'm proud that this Congress continues to provide tax relief to our small businesses and I am happy that this bill includes another $12 billion in tax incentives for them.

The bottom line is that this bill gives small businesses on Main Street the tools they need to continue to spearhead our recovery and fuel our economy.

As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to restore the economic promise of this Nation, and I won't rest until small businesses across Illinois are secure, have the resources they need, and are able to put many more of our neighbors back to work.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of both the rule and the underlying bill so that Americans can get the help they need during these tough times of economic recovery.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.

Madam Speaker, weeks before students go back to school in Illinois, 20,000 teachers are on the front line of huge layoffs due to deep state budget cuts.

For several months, I joined Chairman Miller and Chairman Obey in leading the call to pass emergency education funding to protect quality public schools. And with great pride, I will vote for the Education Jobs Fund before the House today that will keep 350 teachers in my district in the classroom and off the unemployment line.

Madam Speaker, in keeping with our promise to restore fiscal responsibility abandoned by Republicans, the bill is fully paid for primarily by closing tax loopholes for corporations who ship jobs overseas and reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion over the next decade.

Madam Speaker, teachers out of work threaten our recovery, so I ask all of my colleagues to support passage of the Education Jobs Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, my friend Chairman Costello, and the staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their strong support of this important resolution.

House Resolution 1366 formally recognizes the contributions and accomplishment of the freight rail industry and its employees throughout our great Nation. Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, freight rail is incredibly important to my district and my home State of Illinois.

I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the hard work freight rail employees put forth each and every day. In cities like Galesburg, Rock Island, and Decatur, I am constantly reminded of the positive impact that this industry has had on the economies of the localities and the improvements of our Nation's transportation infrastructure.

Throughout its rich American history, freight rail has proven time and again to be among the most efficient, environmentally friendly ways of transporting our Nation's goods. Freight rail generates hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic activity, and supports over 1.2 million jobs throughout the United States. As our economy continues to recover, the freight rail industry will be an essential component in fulfilling the great demand to move goods again and put more Americans back to work.

I am proud to say that I have received letters of support for this resolution from both the business and the labor sector, including the Association of American Railroads, Growth Options for the 21st Century, and the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.

I have no doubt that the industry will continue to contribute in indispensable ways to the health and growth of the United States economy and our infrastructure, and will continue to reduce its impact on the environment.

Again, I thank the chairman and my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for supporting this resolution. I believe that Congress is long overdue in formally recognizing the industry and the vital role it continues to play in our country's growth, job creation, and economic recovery. I urge my friends on both sides of the aisle to support this noncontroversial resolution.

Association of

American Railroads,

May 19, 2010.

Hon. Phil Hare,

Cannon House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Hare: I am writing in support of your

resolution recognizing and honoring America's freight rail

industry.

H. Res. 1366 correctly notes that our nation's freight

railroads operate the safest, cleanest, most efficient and

most environmentally sound rail system in the world. We've

worked hard to earn these credentials and look to set the

standards even higher moving forward.

Freight rail is a highly efficient industry that is

essential to the U.S. economy and economic recovery. Not only

does our industry employ nearly 190,000 well-paid workers,

the overwhelming majority which are union employees, but

freight rail also supports millions of jobs for workers in

American businesses that rely on our industry to ship their

goods.

We are committed to continuing to provide the affordable,

efficient transportation our customers depend on. And we will

do so in the most environmentally sensitive and energy

efficient manner possible. As you so eloquently stated,

freight railroads meet our nation's transportation needs

today and will have an even more positive impact in the

future. We like to say that our nation's recovery is running

on our steel spine.

Thank you again for taking the time to recognize our

industry and the important benefits we deliver for America.

Sincerely,

Edward R. Hamberger,

President and

Chief Executive Officer.

I thank my friend from New Jersey.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 611, supporting the goals and ideals of Fragile X Awareness Day.

Madam Speaker, with 100,000 Americans affected and 1 million more at risk, fragile X syndrome is the most commonly inherited cause of mental impairment and autism. However, fragile X syndrome still remains a largely unknown disorder and is often misdiagnosed.

Tomorrow, July 22, families, patients, and advocates will take part in the 10th annual National Fragile X Awareness Day. Thanks to the efforts of the National Fragile X Foundation to unite the fragile X community, on Thursday, advocates all across the country will hold events and fundraisers in their cities and communities to raise awareness about this condition.

Madam Speaker, National Fragile X Awareness Day is an opportunity to educate the public as well as the medical profession about this disease. Increased awareness about this little known disease can significantly reduce the incidence of fragile X and lead to quicker diagnoses for families dealing with the disease. Growing awareness of this condition is also critical to securing additional research funding to create tomorrow's scientific breakthroughs to treat and ultimately cure fragile X.

I introduced this resolution not only to support the goals and the ideals of Fragile X Awareness Day but also to recognize fragile X advocates who work tirelessly to increase the awareness. Together, their voice is an invaluable

part of promoting public consciousness about fragile X syndrome, and it is because of their commitment that we are closer to finding a cure.

Madam Speaker, I first learned of the fragile X syndrome as I was leaving the floor and was walking back to my congressional office. I looked at my schedule, and I saw I had a group of constituents who wanted to talk to me about fragile X. I had no idea what fragile X was. On the way to my office, I kept trying to think, what could this be?

I had the opportunity to meet Holly Roos and other parents. Holly told me about her son and her daughter's battle with fragile X. The family shared stories and photos, and it motivated me to get involved. I started by participating in my first fragile X walk in Canton, Illinois, 3 years ago. Three walks later, I am as committed today as I was then to work to find a cure.

Because of Holly, Parker, Allison, and all of the people affected by fragile X, I was inspired to establish the Fragile X Caucus, along with Congressman Delahunt and my friend Congressman Harper. The caucus is growing, and we are educating more Members daily about fragile X.

We have also successfully fought for more research funding for fragile X at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. We organized the first congressional briefing on fragile X. We released a public service announcement, and we continue to make finding a cure for fragile X syndrome a national priority.

I proudly serve on the caucus with two of the most dedicated Members of Congress to the fragile X cause:

The co-chairman, Gregg Harper, is the parent of a child whom I've had the opportunity to meet. What a wonderful young man. How proud you are of him--his engaging smile and his willingness to come and to tour and to be with his father. You can see the love between them and what a wonderful and special young man he is.

For 15 years our friend Chairman Bill Delahunt has advocated on behalf of the fragile X community, and we will certainly miss his leadership on the caucus upon his retirement, but there is an old saying: Do you think this is the end for you, Mr. Delahunt? This is only the beginning. We are going to be asking more of you because Mr. Delahunt is going to have more time to spend with us.

Madam Speaker, Congress has an important role in raising awareness of fragile X syndrome. It's my hope that this resolution, and the efforts of the Fragile X Caucus, will provide greater awareness of fragile X. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of House Resolution 611.

I want to thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Pallone for working with me to bring House Resolution 611 to the floor on the eve of Fragile X Awareness Day.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5114, The Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010. This legislation would give families in my district and across the Nation the peace of mind that comes with knowing they'll be protected from the financial insecurity caused by flooding.

I'd like to thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership on this issue and for working with me to include language in the managers amendment that would require FEMA to update its flood maps for an area that has had its levee system improved to eliminate the risk of flooding.

My language also clarifies that updated flood maps that are issued will result in the elimination of the mandatory purchase requirement for the improved areas.

My district in Illinois lies on the banks of the Mississippi River and contains large parts of the Illinois and Rock Rivers--a district obviously that is impacted greatly by policies dealing with the National Flood Insurance Program.

It is why I strongly support the underlying bill and urge my colleagues to do the same--this legislation reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program for five years and puts an end to Congress passing short-term flood insurance extensions that leave the program in a state of uncertainty.

There are several other provisions of this bill that are common sense and long overdue which I would like to briefly highlight. The bill: Phases in Premium Increases; creates a flood insurance premium payment installation plan for low-income families; and establishes the Office of Flood Insurance Advocate within FEMA, which would help communities and homeowners interpret, implement and appeal flood insurance rate maps.

These are just a few of the provisions of this bill that I thank the chairwoman for including, and I again urge my colleagues to support both the manager's amendment and the underlying bill.

Passage of this important legislation will benefit all Americans who live in flood-prone areas of our Nation.

Madam Speaker, on July 13, 2010, I was unavoidably detained in Illinois due to a family medical emergency. I would like the Record to reflect that had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 434, On Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4514, the Colonel Charles Young Home Study Act, I would have voted ``aye''; on rollcall No. 435, On Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4438, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Leasing and Boundary Expansion Act of 2010, I would have voted ``aye''; and on rollcall No. 436, On Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 4773, the Fort Pulaski National Monument Lease Authorization Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, for too long the irresponsible actions of big banks have put American families at risk. Today, with the passage of this financial reform legislation, we will finally begin to protect consumers on Main Street from the greed on Wall Street.

Predatory lending, risky schemes, and exploiting loopholes were just some of the tricks used by Wall Street fat cats to send our economy spiraling to the brink of a depression, but under this bill, we are ending these practices, and we are shining new light on products and transactions that threaten the stability of the financial system.

This bill is a landmark achievement in consumer protection by establishing a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, dedicated to ensuring that bank loans, mortgages, and credit cards are fair, affordable, understandable, and, most importantly, transparent.

This bill is good for small business. It is good for consumers, and it is good

for the financial security of our great Nation. It will also ensure that our financial sector will continue to remain an engine of economic growth, which is one of the reasons the Community Bankers Association of Illinois supports this legislation.

I want to thank Chairman Frank and all of the members of the Democratic leadership for having the courage to do what is right and for standing up for American families.

Today, we have the opportunity to say enough is enough, to rein in Wall Street, and to protect our constituents. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this critical piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of Mr. Ron Gettelfinger, President of the United Auto Workers, and to thank him for his unwavering commitment to the American worker. His retirement is surely a bittersweet moment for us all. Through his eight years as President of UAW, Mr. Gettelfinger navigated some of the most difficult and trying times that the labor movement has faced in recent history. During the economic downturn and with countless jobs moving overseas, his steadfast leadership has helped restore faith in our auto industry and has helped workers feel secure during this period of great instability and change. I am deeply moved by Mr. Gettelfinger's unwavering resolve in his fight for labor protections, accessible and affordable health care for all, and his push for keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States.

I speak today on behalf of the Illinois members of the UAW in thanking Mr. Gettelfinger for all of his work. Workers throughout Illinois have played a large role in supplying our automakers and are one small part in a much larger supply chain. Because of this connection, the UAW itself has deep roots in Illinois, and Mr. Gettelfinger's work has touched countless Illinois families. I would like to thank Mr. Gettelfinger for his efforts to make life better for workers across my home state of Illinois and across the United States. The people of Illinois will not soon forget what Mr. Gettelfinger has accomplished for them.

Mr. Speaker, it is with pride and admiration that I offer my thanks and recognition to Mr. Ron Gettelfinger for his service to the UAW and to our nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in sorrow at the news of the death of Stewart Winstein, from Rock Island, Illinois in my Congressional District.

Stewart was one of the most respected and admired leaders in my community and built a strong reputation for local activism, public service and the belief that politics could be a driving force for positive change in the lives of everyday Americans. It is a legacy that will be sorely missed in Rock Island, the city that Stewart loved and called home.

As a child of the Great Depression, Stewart and his family faced great poverty. It was a powerful influence on him and I am sure informed much of his success as an attorney and a founding force of the Rock Island Democratic Party.

As one of the greatest advocates for working men and women that I knew, I think his legacy will be that he wanted to make sure that other families didn't have to face the economic hardships that he knew too well. And as many in the Quad Cities can attest, whether it was working people or the vast number of clients he represented through his law firm, it is a legacy of great success.

Stewart put much of his energy and drive into the legal practice he built. He started practicing law in 1938 and established an early reputation as a formidable attorney. In 1960, he founded the firm of Winstein, Kavensky and Wallace with his two partners. The firm thrived and grew through his drive and dedication.

Stewart was dedicated not only to the long-term growth of the Quad Cities but also to his mission of public service. His title and positions in the community and local government were numerous, including his long-time service as chairman of the Quad City International Airport Authority, his stint as President of the Rock Island County Welfare Information and Referral Services, and his role as the public administrator, public guardian and conservator for Rock Island County from 1974 to 1978.

The people he has inspired to pursue public service in West Central Illinois and throughout our state are almost too numerous to count, but all of them can testify that he was an inspiration and a mentor as they have pursued their callings. Stewart had a huge impact on my life and my career of public service. He was a valuable teacher who led by example and I learned by witnessing the contributions he made to the Democratic Party, numerous charities, and local government. Above all, I was proud to call him my friend. My thoughts go out to Stewart's family, especially his beloved son Arthur.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in sorrow at the news of the death of my friend, Stewart Winstein, from Rock Island, Illinois.

Stewart was one of the most respected and admired leaders in my community and built a strong reputation for local activism, public service, and the belief that politics could be a driving force for positive change in the lives of everyday Americans. It's a legacy that will be sorely missed in Rock Island, the city that Stewart loved and called home.

As a child of the Great Depression, Stewart and his family faced great poverty. It was a powerful influence on him and I'm sure formed much of his success as an attorney and a founding force of the Rock Island Democratic Party.

As one of the greatest advocates for working men and women that I knew, I think his legacy will be that he wanted to make sure that other families didn't have to face economic hardships that he knew too well. And as many in the Quad Cities can attest, whether it was working people or the vast number of clients he represented, it is a legacy of great success.

Stewart had a huge impact on my life. He was a valuable teacher who led by example, and I learned by witnessing firsthand the contributions he made to the Democratic Party, numerous charities and local government. Above all, I was proud to call Stewart my friend. My thoughts go out to Stewart's family, especially his beloved son, Arthur.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support and recognition of World Day

Against Child Labor. I join with all of my colleagues in the House, and on both sides of the aisle, in condemning the horrendous practice of child labor. While great strides have been made in eradicating child labor in the United States, this Congress and our Nation must do more to end the practice across the world. Throughout the world, children are exploited and forced to work in often horrendous conditions. As a moral and just society, we can not continue to turn a blind eye.

According to the Child Rights Information Network, from 1997 to 2007, more than 35 percent of African children were subject to illegal child labor. Statistics from other regions are just as alarming. In the Caribbean, Latin America, East Asia and the Pacific, 11 percent of children are laborers, and in South Africa, 13 percent of children are in the workforce. It is clear that we, as leaders in the global economy, must do more to work with the governments in these regions to rid our world of the practice of child labor. However, as we tackle the challenges posed by child labor, we must realize that the primary culprit in the continuation of this practice is global poverty. Unfortunately, many families are left with no other alternative than to send their children into the workforce to help support their family. In our capacity as a world leader, we have a responsibility to raise global standards in order to improve the global standard of living and thus eradicate the demand for child labor.

Madam Speaker, although the problem of child labor in the United States is less evident when compared to the labor issues of many other nations, there is still and always will be progress that can be made. The U.S. Department of Labor calculates that 4 percent of all 14-year- olds and 8 percent of 15-year-olds are working at ``high intensity'' in the United States. High intensity is defined as a child that works 15 or more hours per week, and more than half of all school year weeks. This may not seem like a difficult burden to carry, but in a Nation with a population of 17 million citizens between the ages of 14 and 17, these numbers are far too high. Like their international counterparts, many American families can not afford to have an able bodied member of the family sit out of the workforce regardless of their age. We all know that poverty in the United States is a major problem and I call on my colleagues to remember the indirect problems caused by it, such as child labor.

The recent Hague Global Conference Against Child Labour set a goal of completely eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labor by 2016. Madam Speaker, I believe that the United States should display the same dedicated and unwavering leadership that was displayed at the 1999 ILO Conference Against Child Labor. If we are successful in eliminating child labor and unfair labor practices around the world, we will ensure that children, regardless of where they are born, are able to be just that, children.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to proudly recognize the Quincy Notre Dame High School girls' soccer team, the Lady Raiders, for winning the Class 1A state championship. On May 29, 2010, the Lady Raiders soundly defeated the Manteno High School Panthers 2-0 at North Central College's Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville to win the state championship, capping their record at an impressive 24 wins and only 2 losses.

I extend my congratulations to all of these amazing athletes: goalkeepers Quentessa Keating, Mackenzie Little, and Megan Rabe; defenders Alex Reis, Jamie Pyatt, Alyssa Klene, Leah Waterkotte, Hannah Witte, Kayla Struck, Claire Obert, and Paula Holm; midfielders McKenna Murphy, Lexi Dreyer, Kate Genenbacher, Katie Hancox, Brooke Dreyer, Brooke Burgess, Hilary Hoffman, and Lexi Niemann; and forwards Abby Grawe, Shannon Foley, Jordan Frericks, Samantha Hall, and Leigh McLaughlin. I would also like to commend their coaching team led by Mark Longo and assistant coaches Randy Struck, George McDonnell, Jason Keller, Anthony Longo, and Jay Zanger, and the rest of the Quincy community who provided tremendous support in their historic victory. I am honored to represent Quincy Notre Dame High School and pleased to be able to share their victory with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I wish the Lady Raiders the best of luck in their future academic careers and athletic ambitions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with great pride to applaud the Macoupin County Courthouse and its inclusion as one of the ``150 Great Places In Illinois'' as determined by the American Institute of Architects as part of its 150th anniversary celebration. This remarkable courthouse in the City of Carlinville has long had great historical significance. It was built to replace the courthouse where a persuasive attorney named Abraham Lincoln once practiced law, and since its completion it has stood as a central part of the county and local community.

Completed in 1870, the courthouse was designed by Elijah E. Myers, who later designed numerous state capitols. This extraordinary building resembles the Corinthian order with its impressive portico on the north side and south elevation. The large dome, classical detailing and use of native limestone all add to the building's splendor. At the time of its completion, this courthouse was among the largest county courthouses in the United States, rivaled in size only by the one in New York City. Within Illinois it became an impressive symbol of grandeur, as it even outsized the Illinois Statehouse in the Springfield Capital.

Along with its aesthetic appeal, the building also garnered praise for being technologically advanced. The Macoupin County Courthouse was designed and constructed to be nearly fireproof--a characteristic not at all common among structures of the day. Stone, brick and metal were used almost exclusively, with wood used only sparingly. The painted sheet metal was magnificently detailed, and some of the major doors were constructed from cast iron. The ornate design, materials and construction resulted in a cost of over $1.3 million dollars once completed, roughly $19 million by today's standards.

The Macoupin County Courthouse still serves as the seat of the county government 143 years later, which demonstrates the enduring impact and quality of the structure. With its inclusion as one of the ``150 Great Places In Illinois,'' the Macoupin County Courthouse joins other significant landmarks such as the State Capital and the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park. I applaud the American Institute of Architects for including the Macoupin County Courthouse and recognize that it will continue to be a proud symbol of Illinois achievement and magnificence for generations to come. I thank the Speaker for allowing me to share this moment of joy stemming from the 17th Congressional District of Illinois.