Floor Statements

I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and mentor, the late Illinois State Senator Stan Weaver. When Senator Weaver passed away last week, aspiring public servants lost a role model. Few people in public life received the respect that he had among his colleagues, friends and constituents. His successful service to the people of east central Illinois began in 1956 when, at the urging of many citizens of Urbana, Illinois, he ran for mayor. He went on to serve one term as a State Representative then 10 terms as a State Senator. Best known for his exemplary service to his constituents and his ceaseless promotion of the University of Illinois, it is estimated that Stan Weaver alone guided over one billion dollars in construction projects to the University over 30 years.

Consistently prevailing in his campaigns for office, he never spent exorbitant amounts of money and rarely gave grand speeches but, instead, with quiet authority and an intimate knowledge of the political process and the inner-workings of government, translated his personable style into an incredible ability to relate with people and get things done.

I am very honored to have had such a close personal relationship with Senator Weaver and I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend whom I knew and admired for, literally, my entire life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly remarkable group of young athletes. The University of Illinois fighting Illini Men's Tennis Team had a memorable and historic 2002-2003 season. Beside winning their seventh consecutive Big Ten Conference regular- season championship, as well as their sixth Big Ten Tournament crown in the last 7 years, the undefeated Fighting Illini won the first NCA team championship in the history of the University of Illinois tennis program.

Using three different players in the singles and doubles tournaments, the Illini captured the rare triple crown of college tennis by winning the national championships in the team tournament, the singles tournament, and the doubles tournament and were the first team in the Nation to do so with three different players since the current NCAA tennis team championship format began in 1977.

Coach Craig Tiley, Assistant Coach Bruce Berque and the entire University of Illinois men's tennis team are a great source of pride for their university, the Champaign-Urbana community and the 15th District of Illinois. I thank Chairman Boehner and Alison Ream of the Education and Workforce Committee for their help with bringing H. Res. 391 to the floor and I ask my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 371 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the 600 employees of the Illinois Refining Division (IRD) located in Robinson, IL, for winning Marathon Ashland Petroleum's (MAP) 2002 President's Award for Responsible Care. This outstanding award is given to a refining division that shows a high regard for environmental stewardship, and employee and health safety. Before receiving this award, the IRD underwent a comprehensive and stringent screening process in which MAP business components were rated and matched up with both the MAP Safety Performance Index and 16 health, environment, and safety standards. After reviewing their record it was clear that the Illinois Refining Division of Robinson, Illinois was the most deserving of this recognition.

During 2002, the Illinois Refining Division was 1 of only 10 refineries in the nation that earned the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's Voluntary Protection Program Star site recertification. IRD also has a strong record of encouraging employee involvement in health and safety programs, and vigorously stressing pollution prevention and waste reduction. Not only did IRD stress the importance of environmental and employee safety within its workplace, it also prided itself on community outreach programs. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award and I am honored that I have the opportunity to represent such a fine employer in my district.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 289 I was inadvertently detained had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize the Honorable Larry Combest as he completes his final three weeks serving as a Congressman in the United States House of Representatives. In addition to representing the 19th congressional district of Texas for the past 20 years, Representative Combest has served the entire U.S. agriculture community as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. His dedication to his country, his constituents and American agriculture should not go unrecognized.

I commend Representative Combest for his hard work and fine leadership while serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Although I was elected to Congress in 2000 and only served under his leadership on the Committee for one term, I was honored to do so. Throughout the 107th Congress, Chairman Combest was diligent in his efforts to improve farm programs and to ensure the future of agriculture in America. Due in large part to his relentless hours of hard work and outstanding leadership, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. I applaud Representative Combest for the strides he made to strengthen agriculture in the United States.

Congressman Combest has certainly contributed greatly to our nation and to our agriculture community, and I thank him for all of his efforts and congratulate him on his accomplishments while serving in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the hard work, talent, and dedication of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Men's Tennis Team. Recently, the team won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Indoor Championship, a victory which demonstrated the team's tenacity and willingness to continue to strive for new feats of excellence, as well as why they are such a source of pride to their school and the Champaign-Urbana community.

The University of Illinois Tennis Team was the first team to win this tournament since 1983 that was not from the State of California, and, in addition, was the first Mid-Western team to come in first in the 31- year history of the competition.

True leadership is needed to allow any team to reach its full potential. Such leadership is exemplified by the work of Coach Craig Tiley and University of Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther. Their determination and vision have made the U of I Tennis Team a force to be reckoned with on the national level. Credit must also go to the student athletes themselves, who put forth and incredible amount of effort and sacrifice to meet the high standards set by their coaching staff.

Athletics often demonstrates how intelligence, physical ability, leadership, and teamwork allow men and women to overcome

great odds. The victory of the University of Illinois Men's Tennis Team at the ITA Championship is a terrific example of these attributes and I would like to extend to them my most sincere congratulations.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my strong opposition to the words used by Congresswoman Cubin in reference to an amendment to H.R. 1036 offered by Congressman Watt. While her comments were within the parliamentary rules of the House of Representatives, they were clearly improper and offensive, and had at least the appearance of racial basis. I appreciate Congresswoman Cubin's subsequent apology, and her statement that her words were incomplete and misinterpreted, but I unequivocally denounce the original statement, and it is my sincere hope that it is not interpreted as indicative of the views and sentiments of this distinguished body.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor one of the great sons of Illinois, Senator Stan Weaver, who after selflessly donating forty-five years of his life to the State of Illinois is retiring from public service. In 1957, he began a twelve-year tenure as the mayor of my hometown of Urbana, IL. Weaver was later elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968, where he served one term before his election to the Illinois Senate in 1970.

While Senator, Weaver served as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and was a ranking member of the Senate Executive and Appropriations Committees as well as the Operations Commission. In 1997 he served in the newly created position of Senate Majority Leader after serving as assistant Senate Leader for twenty-two years. As a lawmaker, Stan's priorities have always been those of the people of the 52nd District, including quality of education, agriculture and economic development. He has proven to be a strong advocate for the University of Illinois and has helped it become one of the most prestigious examples of higher education in the nation.

Before entering public service, Stan Weaver graduated from Urbana public schools, attended Michigan State College, the University of Illinois, and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science. During World War II, Stan admirably served his country in the Army Air Force in the Southwest Pacific Theater.

In addition to his busy political career, Stan has found time to be a devoted father and grandfather to his son Blake, daughter Sherry, and to his two wonderful granddaughters, Lindsey and Jessica.

Besides being his community's state senator, Stan Weaver is heavily involved in several public organizations. He is the past president of the Illinois Municipal League, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, member of the Mohammed Temple and of the International Chili Society. He also belongs to the Masonic Lodge, where he earned the rare distinction of 33rd Degree Mason because of his long-time dedicated service.

When Stan retires, his legacy to the State of Illinois will be one of quiet, effective leadership and commitment to the greater good. Whenever he rose to speak, people recognized his command of the issues, and colleagues from both political parties held him in the highest esteem. It has been my honor to know and serve with Senator Stan Weaver in the Illinois General Assembly. As the longest serving senator of his time, he will always be remembered as a powerful force in the Illinois Senate and his dedication to public service shall be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to travel to Washington for the legislative week beginning on March 10, 2003 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. I have included a letter from my physician stating that his medical judgment was that I not drive or fly extensively for the week after the accident. Had I been present in Washington for votes, it was my intention to vote in the following ways:

Rollcall No. 50--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 51--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 52--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 53--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 54--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 55--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 56--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 57--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 58--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 59--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 60--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 61--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 62--``aye.''

Rollcall No. 63--``no.''

Rollcall No. 64--``no.''

Carle Trauma Center,

Urbana, IL, March 11, 2003.

Re Mr. Tim Johnson.

To Whom It May Concern:

U.S. Representative Tim Johnson was hospitalized at Carle

Foundation Hospital under my care the week of March 9th due

to trauma suffered in a car accident. It was my medical

judgment that he not fly or drive extensively for at least a

week after the trauma. It would be dangerous and potentially

life-threatening if he were to do so given the trauma to his

lungs and rib cage, and potential damage to lungs and/or

heart.

Sincerely,

Uretz J. Oliphant, MD, FACS,

Director, Trauma Services.