Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for bringing this measure to the floor; and I thank the gentleman from the great State of Illinois and coauthor of H.R. 521, my friend, Mr. Ray LaHood, for his leadership and the Illinois delegation for their support.

Thanks also to the distinguished chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Mr. Waxman; and Mr. Danny Davis, chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia; and to the leadership for their consideration of this tribute to a great Congressman, Lane Evans.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and respect that I rise today in support of H.R. 521, a bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the Lane Evans Post Office Building.

Mr. Speaker, there is no one more deserving of this recognition than Congressman Lane Evans. On January 17, Mr. LaHood and I introduced this bill, and within days we received overwhelming support in favor of this legislation. To date, 82 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 521. Not only have Members of Congress expressed support for the bill, but it has also been well- received by staff members; one staff member saying ``Anything for Lane'' and another stating, ``He's a great man who I have tremendous respect and admiration for.''

We all know what kind of man Lane is, but for those who have yet to make his acquaintance, I am honored to have the opportunity to share with you the story of a very rare politician.

I met Lane on the campaign trail back in 1976. We were two young dreamers with the mutual goal of making a difference in this world. Soon after the election, we became a team. I traveled with Lane from one end of the district to another as he provided his legal services to working families, children and the poor. I can recall many times when Lane offered his services free of charge to elderly men and women in need of a will. It was not too long before the people of the 17th District of Illinois rewarded Lane for his sacrifices, his commitment to hard work and hardworking families.

In 1982, Lane ran for the congressional seat of the 17th District of Illinois. At the time, the manufacturing industry of western Illinois was suffering from an economic recession which left many looking for a new direction in representation. Lane's populist message, coupled with his plain-spoken personal integrity resonated with the people, and at only 31 years of age, this young legal services attorney was able to win the majority of the votes, which had been reserved for a Republican candidate for more than a century.

Mr. Speaker, Lane has succeeded in politics by following the Marine motto, Semper Fi, always faithful to his principles, to his constituents and to himself. For 12 elections the people of the 17th District sent Lane back to Washington with confidence that he would represent their interests.

The secret to Lane's success was the value he placed in their trust. He never took the people who elected him for granted, and it showed. To anyone that walked through his door, Lane and his staff were always ready, willing and able to go the extra mile in assisting them.

Although Lane was a man who delivered on his promises to bring jobs, he also had three outpatient clinics built, and what mattered most to the people was the manner in which he represented them. What always struck me most about Lane was the humility he showed.

I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to speak this morning on behalf of the wonderful Congressman, and I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 521.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, Ms. Holmes Norton for bringing this measure to the floor of the House. I thank the gentleman from the great State of Illinois and co-author of H.R. 521, Mr. LaHood, for his leadership and the Illinois Delegation for their support. Thanks to the distinguished Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Mr. Waxman and Mr. Danny Davis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia. And to the Leadership for their consideration of this tribute to Congressman Lane Evans.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and respect that I rise today in support of H.R. 521, a bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the ``Lane Evans Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, there is no one more deserving of this recognition than Congressman Lane Evans. On January 17, Mr. LaHood and I introduced this bill and within days we received overwhelming support in favor of the legislation. To date, 82 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 521. Not only have Members of Congress expressed support for the bill, but it has also been well- received by staff members, one staff member saying ``Anything for Lane'' and another stating ``He's a great man who I have tremendous respect and admiration for''.

We all know what kind of man Lane is, but for those who have yet to make his acquaintance, I am honored that I have the opportunity to share with you the story of this rare politician.

I met Lane on the campaign trail back in 1976. We were two young dreamers with the mutual goal of making a difference in the world. Soon after the election, we became a team. I traveled with Lane from one end of the district to another as he provided his legal services to working families, children and the poor. I can recall many times when Lane offered his services free of charge to elderly men and women in need of a will. It was not too long before the people of the 17th district of Illinois rewarded him for his sacrifices and commitment to hard working families.

In 1982, Lane ran for the congressional seat of the 17th district of Illinois. At the time, the manufacturing industry of western Illinois was suffering from an economic recession, which left many looking for a new direction in representation. Lane's populist message coupled with his plain-spoken personal integrity resonated with the people, and at only 31 years of age, this young legal services attorney was able to win the majority of the votes, which had been reserved for a Republican candidate for more than a century.

Following the election, Lane asked me to represent him as his District Director. I was flattered that Lane thought so highly of me and entrusted me with the care of his constituency. I accepted because Lane promised me that I would never have to lie, and I can proudly say that in 24 years he kept his promise. It was not too difficult because even those who disagreed with Lane respected him and his commitment to serving on behalf of the middle class family.

Mr. Speaker, Lane has succeeded in politics by following the Marine motto, ``Semper Fi''. Throughout his career, he has been ``always faithful'' to his principles, to his constituents and to himself. For 12 elections the people of the 17th sent Lane back to Washington with confidence that he would represent their interests. The secret to Lane's success was the value he placed in their trust. He never took the people who elected him for granted, and it showed. He prided himself on maintaining a first-rate constituent service program. To anyone that walked through his door, Lane and his staff were always ready, willing, and able to go the extra mile in assisting them.

Although Lane was a man who delivered on his promises to bring jobs to the Rock Island Arsenal and build veteran outpatient clinics, what mattered most to the people was the manner in which he represented them. What has always struck me most about Lane was the humility he showed towards everyone he knew. To everyone he was just Lane. He was more than a Congressman to the people of the 17th district, he was a friend.

Mr. Speaker, Lane's sincere rapport with people was not limited to the 17th district. As a Vietnam era veteran of the Marine Corps himself, Lane had the remarkable ability to relate to our service men and women. His career in Congress is marked with legislative victories on behalf of the Nation's 24 million veterans.

Always a man of great conviction, Lane challenged those who ignored the harmful effects of Agent Orange exposure. Eventually, Lane was successful in his effort to pass legislation awarding compensation to vets exposed to Agent Orange. In the 108th Congress, he built on that legislative milestone by winning passage of a law that delivers health and compensation benefits to children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who were born with spina bifida, representing the first time children of veterans will receive government benefits.

Mr. Speaker, Lane's crusade for veterans did not stop there. He was one of the first Congressional voices to speak out about problems experienced by Persian Gulf veterans, what is now known as the Gulf War syndrome. He also pushed Congress to increase funding for veterans programs, which were so important to him because they delivered needed government services to working class families.

At the end of the 109th Congress, Lane retired after serving 24 years as a distinguished Member of Congress. It was a sad day for veterans and the people of the 17th district of Illinois when Lane announced he would not run for reelection, but no one was more disappointed than Lane. In spite of all his legislative accomplishments, Lane still felt there was so much more that he could have done.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that my first legislative action will be to honor my good friend and mentor, Congressman Lane Evans. My only hope is that when I leave this body I can do half the things that Lane has done for the 17th district, the State of Illinois, and the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of

Mr. Speaker, during the last election, Democrats had a conversation with the American people. We listened to their concerns; the skyrocketing prices of college tuition and prescription drugs, the dangerously low minimum wage, the persisting security threats to our Nation, gas price gouging by Big Oil, and the disgraceful way the House has been conducting the People's business, and we promised to act quickly to make important changes and take America in a new direction.

I am pleased that we can report to those millions of Americans who voted to elect a Democratic majority in Congress, we have heard your concerns and we have taken action. Already less than 100 hours into this new Democratic Congress, we have passed legislation to clean up House ethics rules, implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, raised the minimum wage, end Federal subsidies to Big Oil, and lower the price of prescription drugs and a college education.

Mr. Speaker, great progress has been made already this session, but these first 100 hours are just the beginning. Democrats are committed to continuing to improve the lives of all Americans. That is what we were elected to do.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, today's college students are graduating with increasing levels of student loan debt. In Illinois, the average Stafford loan debt for students who graduate from a 4-year university is over $14,000. Unfortunately, the cost of college tuition is skyrocketing, forcing more and more students to rely on loans than ever before. Because I believe higher education should provide economic opportunities for our students and not bankrupt them, I rise today in support of H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act.

This legislation will cut interest rates on subsidized loans in half, saving the average student thousands of dollars over the life of his or her loan. Additionally, by making student loans more affordable, H.R. 5 allows many qualified students from middle- and lower-income families to go to college who would not have been able to go to college before.

On behalf of the many students in my district, such as those at Western Illinois University with whom I will be discussing this issue this weekend, I will vote for H.R. 5 and will work on the Education and Workforce Committee to find better opportunities for students and their hardworking families.

Madam Speaker, last week western Illinois lost one of its sons in the war in Iraq. SrA Daniel B. Miller, Jr. was proudly serving in the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Division when a roadside bomb exploded south of Baghdad. Senior Airman Miller made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his bravery, recognize his contributions to this Nation, and extend my condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.

Senior Airman Miller, 24 years old, was born to Daniel Miller, Sr. of Galesburg and Robin Mahnesmith of Wataga, IL. He was an active member in his church's youth activities, enjoyed fishing and hunting with his friends, and excelled as a student-athlete. He graduated from ROWVA High School in Oneida, IL, in 2001 where he also played varsity football.

In 2004 Senior Airman Miller enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed basic training in San Antonio. He was then stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, working with the explosive ordnance division. Airman Miller's experience disarming explosives in the military made him interested in joining the bomb squad of a local police department once his military commitment was completed. Often the target of enemy fire as a member of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Airman Miller served with bravery and courage as he scoured Iraq for explosives, ensuring the safety of our ground troops.

As the oldest of five siblings, Senior Airman Miller had an extremely strong bond with his family. According to ROWVA Principal Andy Richmond, Airman Miller often visited the school after he graduated to ask former teachers how his brothers and sisters were doing. From what I've heard from his family and friends, ``Dan'' was loved by everyone and never asked for praise or recognition. ``Dan was everybody's friend. He cared about everybody and was just a fun-loving young man,'' his father said.

On behalf of the communities in western and central Illinois, I would like to extend my thoughts and sincere prayers to the Miller and Mahnesmith families at this difficult time. Senior Airman Miller's courage in serving his country will not soon be forgotten and a grateful Nation stands humbled.

My heart also goes out to the families and friends of TSgt Timothy Weiner of Florida, and SrA Elizabeth A-Loncki of Delaware, who were also fatally injured in the same roadside bomb attack.

Michael Shampine, U.S. Air Force veteran, city councilman, labor union activist, and my good friend and constituent sadly passed away last Saturday.

Mike and I became close friends throughout the past years. His outstanding commitment to labor, his sincere friendship and great sense of humor will be the attributes I will remember the most about him. I do not know anyone who was more committed to his community and his union brothers and sisters than Mike, which was exemplified in the positions he held as president of the Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly and as the business agent/financial secretary of Roofers Local 92.

The community of Decatur has greatly benefited from Mike's exceptional years of service, especially in the ways he successfully brought together labor, business and community leaders to solve the city's problems. His efforts and contributions served as an inspiration to all of us.

To Mike's family and close friends, I extend to you my sincere condolences and hope the pain and loss you feel will become less with each passing day.

God bless you, Mike.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, recently I was at a pharmacy in my district. A man in his late seventies went to the counter to pay for his prescription and found that he had hit the donut hole. The prescription was $350. The people that were there with him passed the hat, and we collected $350. It was enough to pay for 5 days of medication for this man. For him and for the countless other seniors in my district, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation Act. H.R. 4 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.

Estimates indicate that drug prices would go down by 35 percent by the year 2025, and lower prices would prevent millions of seniors from paying out of pocket for their medications.

Fighting for affordable health care is the reason that I ran for Congress, and I start that fight today by voting for H.R. 4.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman Castle, for introducing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 and for their strong leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday was a bittersweet day for me. I had the incredible honor of being sworn in as a new Member of the United States Congress in front of my family, friends and constituents. Yet part of me was sad that my friend and mentor, Congressman Lane Evans, wasn't in my place.

Lane served as a distinguished Member of this body for 24 years until Parkinson's disease forced him to retire at the end of the 109th Congress. Lane's battle with Parkinson's is a testament to his incredible spirit that never caused him to ask, Why me, although retiring meant he had to leave Congress when there was still so much he wanted to do, helping veterans, working families and his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, Lane is just one of millions of Americans struggling with chronic illnesses that are curable with the advancement of stem cell research.

Spencer House is the son of my very good friend Doug. He suffers from diabetes and must take four insulin shots each and every day. But Doug is encouraged by the hope that lies in embryonic stem cell research to offer his son a more normal life. And he is not alone. Poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans support ethical embryonic stem cell research as a way towards preventing others from having to live with illnesses like Parkinson's disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's and spinal cord injuries.

I am an original cosponsor of this commonsense legislation because the science of stem cell research is clear: Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to treat and cure some of our most debilitating injuries and diseases.

Mr. Speaker, today we decide whether to give the American people hope or continue to prolong the suffering of those who struggle with curable chronic diseases. I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 3.

Mr. Speaker, the Fair Minimum Wage Act is an important step toward strengthening America's middle class by providing hardworking Americans with the wages they have earned. I rise in strong support of this legislation.

As the son of a union machinist and a former employee of a clothing factory, I understand the struggles many Americans face in trying to meet basic needs at minimum wages. Increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour provides a necessary raise to 13 million of America's lowest paid workers.

For too long we have ignored the plight of American working families. Providing a more reasonable wage is not only a commonsense issue but a moral one as well, and I am proud that one of my first few votes in the Congress of the United States will be to extend economic fairness and justice to deserving workers.