Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support Federal funding to help our cities cope with the rising number of new migrant arrivals.

Many mayors, including Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson, are asking that cities and States be allocated $5 billion in emergency funding to help them with the influx of new arrivals.

Most importantly in their request is also the flexibility to decide for themselves how to allocate the funds, since different cities have different needs. Chicago, for example, needs the ability to provide warm clothing to families arriving with little preparation for Chicago's winter.

As an immigrant myself to the greatest country the world has ever known, I ask that even as we debate how to prevent future border crises, we remember that we have to help people, particularly children, who have been allowed to enter the Nation in service of their better future.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I wish to recognize the transformative ``Medical Debt Relief Initiative'' in Cook County, Illinois which has successfully abolished $281,338,840 of medical debt for Cook County residents. I applaud the tireless efforts of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board to provide much needed relief to 158,541 residents. This innovative program, in partnership with the national nonprofit ``RIP Medical Debt,'' reallocated $12 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide invaluable relief to Cook County families, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck.

Medical debt continues to be a crisis in our country. According to ``RIP Medical Debt,'' every day, 1 in 2 Americans must choose between paying medical bills and covering their basic needs. This is unacceptable. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, more Americans have health insurance coverage now than ever before, but despite these historic strides, costs remain a barrier to accessing high-quality healthcare. Low and moderate-income American households continue to accrue medical debt and continue to be harmed by its financial and mental effects.

During a time of rising costs, Congress must do its part to assist working families. We must seek bipartisan solutions to reform our healthcare system because no one should be punished for becoming sick or receiving medical care. While we seek bipartisan policy solutions, partnerships across all levels of government should continue to facilitate medical debt relief. This relief, such as the ``Medical Debt Relief Initiative'' in Cook County, Illinois, has the power to give economic mobility to working families and boost our economy. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I extend immense gratitude to the Cook County Board, under the direction of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, for being a model for other jurisdictions across the country. I continue to seek opportunities to advance commonsense models like this one to address the medical debt crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Comer and Ranking Member Raskin for helping move this bill through committee. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2379.

My legislation would designate the USPS facility at 616 East Main Street in St. Charles, Illinois, as the Veterans of the Vietnam War Memorial Post Office in recognition of Vietnam veterans and their service to the people of the United States.

This formal renaming is but a small step to recognize the enormous sacrifice made by the brave men and women who served our Nation in Vietnam.

I humbly offer this legislation to honor every one of those soldiers, sailors, coastguardsmen, airmen, and marines whose service helped safeguard our Nation.

When visiting this post office, members of the community will be able to reflect on the nearly 3 million Americans and more than 200,000 Illinoisans who served our country during the Vietnam war and the debt we still owe them.

It is my hope that the Veterans of the Vietnam War Memorial Post Office will serve as a beacon of recognition in the community, shining a light on all the sacrifices that these veterans made for all of us.

To all of them, we once again say: Welcome home.

Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote number 472 on H.R. 4665, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 42 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize His Holiness Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji for his lifetime dedication to promoting peace, religious tolerance, and universal values.

At a young age, Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji committed himself to the study and teaching of Jainism, Buddhism, and Vedic philosophy.

Dr. Lokesh eventually received the title of Acharya, the highest honor in the Jain faith. He founded an organization called Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, which supports Acharya's various initiatives related to interfaith cooperation, environmental, and physical and spiritual wellness. Acharya has also written dozens of books to spread his message of peace.

Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji has dedicated himself to the promotion of peace and tolerance among different faith groups. He has helped defuse communal violence on multiple occasions and recently opened the World Peace Center in Gurugram, India. With the support of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji leads interfaith dialogues with the goal of finding common ground among the participants.

Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji's work has positively impacted individuals throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji for his many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's distinguished career as a global humanitarian and spiritual leader. For over 40 years, Gurudev has helped guide individuals in Illinois and throughout the world in their search for inner peace with his programs rooted in meditation and yoga. Through his charity work and educational efforts, Gurudev has spread his belief that if individuals find inner peace, it can lead to real world reductions in violence and conflict.

In 1981, Gurudev founded the Art of Living Foundation, a non-profit focused on the promotion of meditation and humanitarianism. To date, Gurudev and the Art of Living Foundation have engaged in humanitarian efforts in numerous conflict zones and currently operates in over 100 countries. He also founded the International Association for Human Values, which offers programs to reduce stress. Together, these organizations have thousands of volunteers who continue the important work of supporting individuals and communities in need.

Gurudev's knowledge and experience with conflict resolution have allowed him to play vital roles in peace negotiations globally. In particular, Gurudev has promoted multiple interfaith dialogues to establish mutual respect and understanding, including between religious groups that may have been in conflict previously. This unique approach to conflict resolution, which focuses on communication and universal values, has proven its merit repeatedly.

Furthermore, Gurudev has had a long-term focus on youth empowerment. He started over 1,000 schools that provide a free education within disadvantaged communities, benefiting over 82,000 students and equipping them with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in life. Additionally, Gurudev has shown his commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment by leading an effort that restored approximately 70 rivers and thousands of bodies of water in India, as well as planting some 80 million trees throughout the world.

With his message of peace and commitment to education and humanitarianism, Gurudev has lived a life dedicated to the betterment of others. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my immense gratitude to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his invaluable contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Mike Flannery's distinguished career as a political reporter in Illinois and to congratulate him on his well-earned upcoming retirement from Fox 32- Chicago. For decades, Illinois residents have relied on Mr. Flannery's sharp analysis to make sense of top political stories. Through his weekly television program, ``Flannery Fired Up,'' Illinois residents have come to trust Mr. Flannery as a voice of insight, fairness, and integrity.

Mr. Flannery grew up in Washington D.C. in a family that understood the importance of public service and its demands. His father, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, imparted on Mr. Flannery a sense of patriotism and a desire to find a career that benefitted others. Despite financial hardships, Mr. Flannery won a scholarship to attend Georgetown University, where he discovered a passion for journalism and became editor of the

university's newspaper. Through his coursework, he became fascinated by the unique political culture of Chicago and Mayor Richard J. Daley's administration.

After graduation, Mr, Flannery moved to Chicago and began his career in journalism covering politics and labor for the Chicago Sun Times, He built a reputation for integrity at a time when political corruption was a powerful force in Chicago politics. When Mr. Flannery transitioned to TV and joined WBBM-Channel 2 as Political Editor in 1980, he brought his unique sensibility into viewer's living rooms.

Over the course of Mr. Flannery's 50-year career, he has covered the administrations of ten Chicago mayors and eight Illinois governors with extraordinary insight and accuracy. Mr. Flannery's TV program has become a central stage for political discussion in Chicago, drawing countless elected officials and experts. His sharp questioning held powerful officials to account and provided context for the week's news for his loyal viewers, Behind the scenes, Mr. Flannery has been just as tireless in his pursuit of the facts, engaging regularly with community leaders and experts, even chasing politicians--sometimes literally--as he did when he jogged after former Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich in 2010. Both on and off the air, Mr. Flannery has a record of relentlessly pursuing the truth on behalf of greater Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, I extend immense gratitude to Mike Flannery for his invaluable contributions to political reporting, and I wish him well in his retirement. His dedication to the public service of informing Illinosans on the issues facing our state is commendable and he leaves behind a legacy of excellence in journalism.

Mr. Speaker, in reviewing this censure measure, I am reminded of Will Rogers' quip: ``I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.''

This month, despite the pressing needs of the American people, we have spent a week and a half arguing about gas stoves. Next week it will be about toaster ovens.

Today, we are voting on a joke of a measure to censure Adam Schiff, a true public servant and patriot. I urge a strong ``no'' against this resolution targeting a true American hero.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Karen Ayala for her substantial contributions to the well-being of Illinois residents throughout her career in public health. Ms. Ayala has spearheaded efforts to improve health outcomes at the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD), including playing a central role responding to the opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her successful leadership, DuPage County was recently rated the healthiest of Illinois' 102 counties for the third consecutive year. She tirelessly endeavored to mitigate multiple public health crises while simultaneously establishing programs that will maintain the DCHD's track record of success for years to come.

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Wartburg College and her Master's in Public Health from the University of Illinois-Chicago, Ms. Ayala began working in Winnebago County, Illinois as a case manager for pregnant and parenting teens. She supported the delivery of services to approximately 350 families and witnessed the capacity of local government to improve the well-being of residents, an experience that solidified her commitment to helping others as a public health official. Ms. Ayala transitioned to the DCHD in 2007 to serve as Unit Director of Community Health Services. She quickly proved her capabilities and was named Executive Director in 2014.

As Executive Director, Ms. Ayala has worked to combat the opioid crisis, an effort that has benefited not only DuPage County but the nation as a whole. She helped lead a comprehensive crisis management approach including an opioid education program, the collection of unused medications, partnerships with mental health service providers, and increasing Narcan usage, which is an essential tool in the event of an overdose. Eager to share DuPage County's hard-learned lessons, Ms. Ayala submitted testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform to detail options to address the opioid crisis. Her innovative approach, which utilized community assessment and community collaboration, created a model for other public health departments.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Ayala led the DCHD through the public health crisis. Under her leadership, the DCHD kept residents informed with nuanced and accurate information despite initial uncertainty regarding the virus's characteristics. The DCHD provided guidance on masking and social distancing despite the intense scrutiny faced by public health departments and constantly fluctuating infection rates. Upon the rollout of the vaccine, Ms. Ayala facilitated the establishment of a mass vaccination clinic at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. Her steady leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic provided essential guidance to DuPage County residents, heightened vaccination rates, and helped save lives.

Ms. Ayala has worked diligently to mitigate health crises within her local community and across the country. She has made life-changing impacts on Illinois residents and paved the way for the future of improved public health in DuPage County. I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Ayala, who has recently announced her upcoming retirement. It is a privilege to recognize the achievements of Karen Ayala and express my immense gratitude for her years of public service and contributions to the citizens of Illinois and the country.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to highlight SDI Presence, a Chicago-based IT consultancy and managed services provider, for its distinguished service to the community. Through its ongoing engagement with Chicago's educational institutions and initiatives, SDI has helped create a pipeline for students from underserved communities to prepare for rewarding careers in the city's emerging technology sector.

SDI Presence, led by Executive Chairman and founder David Gupta and CEO Hardik Bhatt, has played a pivotal role in new apprenticeship and mentorship programs that support the city's vision of cultivating talent as diverse as the communities it serves.

One of these programs, aptly named DiverseTech, is an innovative partnership between leaders in the private sector IT space, including SDI Presence, and the City of Chicago, DiverseTech fulfills a critical role in the human infrastructure of Chicago's economy by preparing students and recent graduates to fill some of the city's most in-demand IT jobs. The partnership recruits apprentices from historically underrepresented communities, leveraging the talent of our region's community college system. This year alone, DiverseTech will train, guide, and mentor at least 25 apprentices in areas such as cybersecurity and digital services to meet the growing IT needs of city government and Chicagoland's advanced technology sector.

Additionally. through a unique partnership with Chicago's Kennedy- King College, SDI has supported the college's Tech Launchpad program, a pipeline drawing talent primarily from the city's South and West sides. With gifts from SDI and access to the firm's unparalleled apprenticeship network, Tech Launchpad has grown rapidly, extending its reach with plans to help transform the lives of more than 600 students in the next two years.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to recognize and extend our collective gratitude to SDI Presence for its contributions to the people of our area. I look forward to seeing the impact of its work across the Chicagoland region and the Nation as the graduates of its programs go on to become a new generation of America's tech leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Dr. Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, or C.R. Rao, for receiving the International Prize in Statistics on April 1, 2023. Often referred to as the Nobel Prize for statistics, this award recognizes his seminal 1945 work, Information and the Accuracy Attainable in the Estimation of Statistical Parameters, as fundamental to the modern field of statistics. This 2023 award comes after more than 80 years of profound contributions to statistics that continue to influence disciplines as diverse as medicine, computer science, genetics, and the social sciences. Dr. Rao has not only produced groundbreaking research; he has also supported and educated multiple generations of aspiring mathematicians and scientists.

Dr. C.R. Rao was born as the 8th of 10 children to Telugu speaking parents in the southern Indian state of present-day Karnataka. He demonstrated an impressive comprehension of mathematics from an early age and received a master's degree in mathematics at just 19 from Andhra University. With a desire to pursue a research career, Dr. Rao would go on to positions at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata; Kings College at the University of Cambridge; University of Illinois, Urbana; University of Buffalo; University of Pittsburgh; and Pennsylvania State University. Over his, long career, Dr. Rao has published more than 400 research papers; authored 14 books, and become among the most prominent statisticians in the world. In addition to the International Prize in Statistics, Dr. Rao is also a recipient of the National Medal of Science, presented to him by President George W. Bush, and the Padma Vibhushan, awarded to him by Indian President K.R. Narayanan.

Throughout Dr. Rao's career, he has remained dedicated to supporting the next generation of statisticians and mathematicians. After completing his Ph.D. at Cambridge University under the guidance of the renowned statistician Sir Ronald Fisher, Dr. Rao returned to ISI so he could help develop the field of statistics in a newly independent India. In over 40 years at ISI, he developed a rich community of scholars. Dr. Rao's successful leadership inspired curiosity from colleagues around the world. He regularly welcomed visitors to Kolkata who wished to see firsthand his ability to spot talent and inspire young scholars to advance the fields of pure and applied mathematics, biology, genetics, economics, and other social sciences.

At age 60, Dr. Rao moved to the United States to help establish at research center at the University of Pittsburgh and to continue his love of scholarship and teaching. But Dr. Rao never lost his commitment to Indian scholarship. He later founded the C.R. Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at the University of Hyderabad, to further ensure that aspiring statisticians and mathematicians could receive a world-class education in India. In both the United States and India, Dr. Rao has advised the research of over 50 Ph.D. candidates and many former students have carried Dr. Rao's influence into prominent roles in academia and government.

While pursuing his impressive work, Dr. Rao remained a devoted husband and father throughout his life. His beloved wife, C. Bhargavi, remained with him for 69 years of marriage before her passing in 2017. She provided a constant source of support. Dr. Rao is now 102 years old and lives with his daughter in Amherst, NY. With the support of his daughter, Dr. Rao remains involved in the research community to this day.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest congratulations to Dr. Rao for being awarded the prestigious International Prize in Statistics. His dedication to advancing our understanding of mathematics is equal to none, both in his own work and through the countless former students who carry on his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Roofing Contractors Association headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, and its efforts to designate the week of June 4 through 10, 2023, as National Roofing Week.

The roof is one of the most important components of any home or business. It is the first line of defense against natural elements, such as rain, snow or wind, and yet it is often taken for granted until it falls into disrepair. National Roofing Week honors the thousands of roofing-related businesses and workers across the country, as well as the industry's commitment to public service. National Roofing Week is a valuable reminder of the significance that quality roofing has on every home and business in the U.S.

Established in 1886, NRCA is one of the Nation's oldest trade associations and the voice of professional roofing contractors worldwide. NRCA has nearly 4,000 roofing company members who represent the entire roofing supply chain. Using its vast network of roofing contractors and industry-related members, NRCA is responsible for the installation of new construction and replacement roof systems on commercial and residential structures across America. Most of its members are small, privately held businesses that provide family- sustaining jobs for thousands of hardworking individuals who are the backbone of our economy

Professional roofing contractors provide vital services to their communities, on and off the clock. NRCA members will recognize National Roofing Week June 4 through 10 by supporting numerous charitable projects, employee training programs and other activities across the Nation. I commend NRCA and the vital role the organization and its members play in every community, and I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging their contributions during National Roofing Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join numerous organizations and individuals from around the country in observation of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. First introduced as a resolution by the Honorable Betsy Markey and passed by this chamber in March 2010, this commemoration brings critical attention to the devastating and persistent problem of distracted driving on our Nation's roadways.

The latest data show that more than 3,000 people a year, an average of nearly 9 each day, are killed in distracted driving crashes. According to the National Safety Council--a leading safety nonprofit organization that is based in my district--only 62 percent of drivers reported to be ``very willing'' to obey state laws preventing cell phone use. Over the last 10 years, the prevalence of drivers using hand-held electronic devices while driving has increased 127 percent, climbing from 1.5 percent in 2012 to 3.4 percent in 2021. It is alarmingly clear that too many drivers fail to understand the dangers of distracted driving.

Preliminary 2022 estimates from the National Safety Council indicate the deadly consequences of distracted driving are not fading. In 2022, over 46,000 people lost their lives in preventable traffic crashes. These estimates reveal that, compared to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, the rate of deaths per miles driven in 2022 increased nearly 22 percent. These disturbing statistics are a reminder of how dangerous our roadways can be.

I want to emphasize that these deaths are indeed preventable--and also, that these numbers are widely believed to be undercounted, as many states do not include the option on crash reports to document distracted driving. It is therefore imperative we continue to raise awareness in this chamber and in our communities.

As we mark another Distracted Driving Awareness Month, I strongly encourage all motorists to firmly commit to driving safely and attentively, and to avoid using cell phones and in-vehicle technology that take attention away from the roads ahead.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to honor Mr. John Duffy upon his retirement from the Elgin Community College Board of Trustees. Mr. Duffy's distinguished service of over 48 years with the Board makes him the longest serving trustee in the history of Community College District 509.

In 1965, Mr. Duffy began his career as an English and Latin teacher at Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois. It was only ten years into his role as an educator that his work extended into elected office and his position on the Elgin Community College Board of Trustees began. Throughout his time on the board, he was elected to chair the group seven times--a powerful testament to his colleagues' belief that Mr. Duffy embodies the values that the college seeks to instill in its students. Mr. Duffy has also used his voice to serve community colleges nationally, including by serving on the Boards of Directors for the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Mr. Duffy's outstanding leadership earned him honors including the Central Region Trustee Leadership Award and the Illinois Community College Trustee Association's Trustee of the Year Award. Across the academic community and beyond, Mr. Duffy is highly regarded for his dedicated advocacy for all students.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Duffy's five decades of public service on behalf of students in Elgin and across the Nation, and I congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Raj Subramaniam for his induction into the Horatio Alger Association, an organization dedicated to ensuring the American Dream remains achievable by providing need-based scholarships to deserving young people. Every year, the association inducts 12 new members who both serve as role models to scholarship recipients and whose life story, achievements, and character, exemplify the possibilities of America. The Association wisely chose Mr. Subramaniam, who, having come to the United States as an immigrant, is now just the third Indian-American to be named CEO of a Fortune 50 company.

Mr. Subramaniarn was born in Trivandrum in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Much like my family, he moved to the United States seeking economic opportunities and to further his education. In 1991, Mr. Subramaniam joined FedEx where his hard work, tenacity, teamwork, and excellent judgment helped him rise quickly in the company where he was eventually named President and CEO in March 2022.

In addition to his enthusiastic dedication and service to FedEx, Mr. Subramaniam remains very involved with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and other charitable endeavors. He has also leveraged his cross-cultural experience by building sustainable economic bridges between the United States and Asia. He has worked to expand trade relationships that strengthen the economies of all involved with the belief that greater economic opportunities will allow others to succeed. Mr. Subramaniam serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's China Center Advisory Board, U.S.-India CEO Forum, the U.S.-China Business Council, and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, all of which help to facilitate international trade between the United States and Asia. He is also a member of the International Trade Administration's Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC), which works to improve the efficiency of international trade. Ultimately, I am confident that these important experiences will inform Mr. Subramaniam's contributions to the Horatio Alger Association.

Mr. Speaker, the Horatio Alger Association's motto is ``Honoring Perseverance, Integrity, and Excellence.'' Mr. Subramaniam embodies each of these qualities. Nobody is better positioned to help develop the next generation of young leaders who aspire to attain the American Dream, just like Mr. Subramaniam and his wife Uma, and just like my own family have attained. I again congratulate Mr. Subramaniam on this important achievement and wish him success in all his future endeavors.