Cheri Bustos

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Reverend Virgil Juliot of Geneseo for his brave service in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. At 18 years old, Mr. Juliot enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served the Army Air Corps for three years during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, as a navigator on a B-29 aircraft with the 313th Wing of the 9th Bomb Group in the Pacific Theater. He was stationed on the Island of Tinian, which is part of the Mariana Islands and home to the world's largest air field. Mr. Juliot completed his service with the rank of First Lieutenant. In May, Mr. Juliot celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Marilyn. He has been blessed with five children, 12 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren and active in a wide range of church and community organizations across the country. Additionally, Mr. Juliot has had the distinction of receiving a master Gardener Certificate. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Juliot once again for his outstanding service to our nation during World War II and his dedicated service to communities across the country over the past decades. I wish him, and his family, nothing but the very best going forward.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate YouthHope on its 20th anniversary. For two decades now, YouthHope has been a safe, educational, and fun environment for children and teens from the Illinois Quad-Cities. YouthHope is an excellent example of how a group of dedicated citizens can have an outsized impact on their community. As a mother, I appreciate how important it is to protect our children and provide them with positive role models, encouragement and avenues to success, the very elements that YouthHope has provided to our young people for the last twenty years. The staff, volunteers and everyone else involved at YouthHope should be truly proud of the impact that they have had on young people's lives in the Quad-Cities. I hope that others in our community and throughout the entire state of Illinois and country will look to YouthHope as a model for strengthening and giving back to the areas in which we live. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again congratulate YouthHope on its 20th anniversary. I look forward to hearing more about YouthHope's good work over the next twenty years and beyond.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Diaz- Balart and Ranking Member Price for their hard work on this legislation. I rise today to urge my colleagues to join with me in improving rail and pipeline safety by supporting my amendment to increase funding by $500,000 to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. This important agency's mission is to protect our communities from the risks of hazardous materials transportation, including moving crude oil by rail and pipeline. Until just a few years ago, our Nation's railroads transported very little crude oil. Now, in part due to the boom in oil production from the Bakken formation in North Dakota and in other areas, approximately 1.1 billion barrels are transported by rail in the United States every single day. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration conducted tests on Bakken crude and found it to have a higher degree of volatility than most other U.S. crudes. Last year, railroads carried almost 650,000 carloads of oil, compared to only 9,500 carloads in 2008. This impact is especially felt in Illinois, my home State, where we have the second-most number of miles of rail track in the entire country. In fact, about 25 percent of all U.S. rail traffic passes through Chicago, Illinois. Improving rail safety is extremely important to our region, our State, and to our entire country. This issue is especially personal to me and the people I serve in my congressional district. That is because in March, earlier this year, a train carrying crude oil derailed near Galena, Illinois. It is in the northwest corner of my State and is one of the most beautiful regions of not only my congressional district but the entire State of Illinois--and I think in the entire country. While we were lucky that no one was harmed, several tanker cars exploded and the Bakken crude spilled just a few feet from a slough that flows straight into the Mississippi River, which is the drinking water supply for millions of people. Because of the bravery and the dedication of first responders and local, State, and Federal cleanup crews, no water was contaminated. We were also lucky that the derailment took place in a largely rural and uninhabited area. Imagine what would have happened if a derailment like this were to occur in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York, or any more populated area. In light of several other high-profile train derailments, including those in West Virginia and North Dakota, involving cars carrying crude oil, communities across the country are becoming increasingly concerned about the safe movement of crude oil--and with very good reason. While I am encouraged that Federal agencies and industry leaders are working together to make transportation of hazardous material safer, Congress must also do its job and step up and provide adequate resources to keep our energy transport system safe and secure. That is why I ask today for your support for my effort to ensure this appropriations bill includes additional funding for the agency that helps ensure the safe transportation of energy products, including the shipment of crude oil by pipeline and rail. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jeff Hermansen for his heroic actions on May 5, 2015. Mr. Hermansen selflessly put himself in harm's way in order to save the life of another. Jeff Hermansen, a UPS delivery driver, was following his usual route across the East State Street Bridge in Rockford, Illinois on Tuesday, May 5th when he noticed a man struggling in the Rock River. Without hesitating, Hermansen removed his shoes, swam into the unpredictable Rock River, and brought the stranger to safety. Mr. Hermansen's selfless heroics are made even more impressive by his excellent character. Following the incident, he declined any special treatment and went about his delivery route. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hermansen's harrowing actions and admirable display of character are the true embodiment of a hero.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mike White for the brave act of heroism he displayed while on the job this past November of 2014. Mike works as a United States Postal Service mail carrier in the Peoria, Illinois branch. This past November, Mike was going about his regular route when he noticed a woman on her front porch having a severe asthma attack. Mike tried to get her an inhaler and called 911 then did all he could to comfort the woman and care for her child while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Thanks to his help, after a week of being hospitalized, the woman returned home in good health. On his next delivery to her home following the incident, the woman Mike aided ran over and gave him a hug, thanking him for all he had done to help her. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mike White and his willingness to go beyond the line of duty to help an individual in need. I thank Mike again for his service to our community.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Martha Herm for the more than two decades she spent as the Executive Director of the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, Illinois. Annually, the Center provides assistance to more than 5,000 victims of domestic, sexual and elder abuse in addition to providing prevention education to children, teens and adults across Central Illinois. On top of her decades of leadership with the Center, Martha has served her community through other leadership roles with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals Board. As so many can attest to, Martha has been a true asset to the Peoria area. Mr. Speaker, Martha has spent her life dedicated to serving her community and the state of Illinois, and we are very gracious for all she has done. I wish her all the best going forward.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to act swiftly to prevent the highway transit trust fund from expiring. If we do not act, this critical program will expire in just 7 legislative days. I am proud to be a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and my district in Illinois is a central hub for the shipment of goods and people over road, rail, water, and air. I truly believe that, by investing in our infrastructure, we are making a down payment on our Nation's long-term economic well-being. These investments not only create jobs, but they create jobs that cannot be outsourced. By investing in our infrastructure now, as opposed to punting the ball down the field, we are saving money in the long term. Over half a million good-paying construction jobs hang in the balance, and construction on 6,000 critical projects across the country could be put on hold. This is unacceptable and why we must act now to provide certainty that our local communities, businesses, and hard- working families deserve.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of baseball player and Peoria native, Jim Thome, who will be inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame on April 11, 2015. Mr. Thome's roots in America's pastime run deep in the Illinois community, having played at Limestone High School in Bartonville and at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. He will be joining his father, grandfather, uncle, and aunt in the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, all of whom are recognized for their contributions to baseball and softball. His professional achievements on the baseball diamond are highlighted by his 2,328 career hits, 5 time selection to the Major League Baseball All-Star game, and 612 homeruns, placing him as seventh on the all-time homerun list. As someone who my late brother, Dan Callahan, considered a personal friend, Mr. Thome is as exemplary off the field as his feats are on the field. Jim and his wife, Andrea, are actively involved in a number of causes, which include helping underserved children find adoptive and foster families, improving the quality of care at Illinois Children's Hospital, and aiding tornado victims in Washington, Illinois. Jim has been recognized twice for his dedication to community service by being awarded Major League Baseball's Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which is given to the athlete who best exemplifies success in their community, as well as on the field.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of the anti- middle class budget introduced yesterday by the House Republicans. I view a budget as a statement of priorities. Where we allocate our resources is a clear demonstration that we value our priorities as a nation. This budget moves the middle class backward, hurts families across my region, the State of Illinois, and in our Nation. Their budget makes deep cuts to investments in education, such as Pell grants. I view education as a long-term down payment not only for the lives of individual students and families, but for the future of our country. Last week, I toured the region of our State that I am privileged to represent, and I spoke with community college students about programs that help make college affordable and accessible to them. I spoke with a young lady named Annalea, who attends Spoon River College in Canton, Illinois. Annalea is one of eight children in her family. She has been raised by a single mother. Her father was addicted to drugs and left their family in debt. She is a full-time community college student and also works 38 hours a week as a cashier at a local grocery store. Her family relies on her income to help make ends meet. She depends on Pell grants and student loans to finance her education, which she knows is a path for a better life ahead. Annalea is studying psychology so she can one day work as a school psychologist and help other students with the same kind of problems that she has had to go through herself. She knows that access to education is a key pathway to success for her and other students in our region, throughout our State and throughout our Nation. She wants to give back to the community that has given her an opportunity to move beyond the circumstances in which she was born. Mr. Speaker, we need to invest in students like Annalea and the future of our communities, not slash spending on our young people's futures. Let's stop pulling the rug from underneath our students and saddling them with a lifetime of debt. We need a budget that invests in working families and in the middle class and creates opportunity for all to succeed in today's economy. That is why I am leading what I would call a commonsense approach to give more flexibility to Pell grant recipients so students can take advantage of this program year round. Many of those who would benefit most are nontraditional students who want to complete their courses faster so they can get back into the workforce and also with smaller student loan debt. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to join with me and support our young people, our students, and the economic well-being of our communities by opposing these shortsighted cuts to investments in our young people.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Fred Whiteside on his retirement from serving as Augustana College's women's cross country and track coach. Fred is rightfully being honored by Augustana, his alma mater, for his longstanding dedication to the Augustana community. Fred served a total of 61 seasons as a head coach of Vikings' athletic teams. He has led the Vikings to 12 CCIW track and field titles and 7 CCIW cross country titles during his tenure. Throughout his years at Augustana College, Fred has worked in various capacities including director of off-campus housing, director of custodial services, director of intramurals and associate athletic director. Fred has enriched the lives of all those around him, students, faculty and other community members, and is a true leader. Fred has had a wonderful 33 year career at Augustana College, and I know he will be greatly missed as he enters retirement. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Fred for his commitment to the Augustana Community, and I congratulate him again on his well-earned retirement and wish him luck with his future endeavors.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend Berlinda Tyler-Jamison on her retirement from UnityPoint Health-Trinity after 28 years. During her time at UnityPoint she created programs like ``Stylin' Against Breast Cancer'' and the ``Trinity Golf Tournament,'' which annually raise tens of thousands of dollars for their important causes. Berlinda's hard work has extended beyond her professional career. She dedicates her time to the Rock Island community as the president of the county branch of the NAACP and has served on the Rock Island Planning Commission as well as on the boards for MetroLINK and Arrowhead Ranch. Over the years, Berlinda's commitment to creating a more diverse and welcoming community has never faltered. Even now as she prepares for this next part of her life, she plans to remain active and involved in bettering our community in Rock Island County. Her passion for serving others is truly outstanding. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Berlinda for everything she has given the Rock Island community and congratulate her on her well- deserved retirement. I have faith that her future endeavors will be successful.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Larry Scanlon, who was taken from us tragically on February 27th, 2015, after over 40 years of dedicated service to our nation's hardworking families. Mr. Scanlon served as the longtime Political Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In this role, he fought to raise the minimum wage, protect Social Security, and add a voice for middle class families in our government and national discussion. Larry recognized that our country's success is tied to the economic health of the middle class. In this vein, he sought to make this country greater by fighting to give families the fair shot that they deserve at the American dream. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for Larry's contributions as a fighter for the middle class, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, on the Legislative Day of February 12, 2015, a series of votes was held. Had I been present for these rollcall votes, I would have cast the following votes: rollcall 77--I vote ``nay,'' rollcall 78--I vote ``no.'' personal explanation

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not delay or kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will proceed immediately to final passage as amended. This amendment, Mr. Speaker, preserves critical protections against sexual and domestic violence. We must not be so eager to eliminate regulations that we remove important protections that keep our communities, our children, and our families safe from harm. The underlying bill would essentially stop or bog down all regulation. My amendment would provide exemptions from the bill so there is no interruption in efforts to prevent sexual and domestic violence. This includes protecting children from convicted sex offenders and preventing domestic violence, including stalking. It also addresses rape and sexual assault and using Federal resources for background checks for school employees. On a personal note, before I came to Congress, I worked as an investigative news reporter, and my husband has spent his entire 30- year career in law enforcement and now serves as sheriff of Rock Island County, Illinois. Between the two of us, we have come across far too many disturbing and real-life stories of sexual and domestic violence. I will always remember a case that I covered involving a little boy named Jerry Nelson. He was a small, defenseless child who was murdered in Henry County, Illinois, which is now in the congressional district that I serve. I am going to repeat that last line because if you didn't hear it, I hope you will take a listen here because this is what we are talking about in this amendment. When I was a news reporter, a case I remember most involved a 3-year- old child named Jerry Nelson. He was small. He was defenseless. He lived in an area called Henry County, Illinois, which is now the central part of the congressional district I serve. He was beaten. He was abused. He was terribly battered by his mother's boyfriend, and this happened across the Mississippi River where I live but in the State of Iowa. When Jerry's family moved across the Mississippi River into the State of Illinois, Iowa did not share its case file--despite having investigated this--with the Illinois authorities, and they were not require to do so. There was no mechanism in place for sharing the information. Jerry's abuser would eventually sexually molest him and then murder him when he was just 3 years old. At that time, why this was so emotional for me is because he was the exact same age as my youngest child who today is 24 years old. When doctors examined little Jerry Nelson's body, they found more than 20 bruises, a broken clavicle, and brain injuries consistent with falling from a three-story building onto concrete. My commonsense amendment that I am telling you about right now would help prevent more children like Jerry from becoming victims of heinous crimes and unimaginable trauma. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. BUSTOS. I am opposed in its current form.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reiman's Harley- Davidson in Kewanee, Illinois, for going above and beyond to serve the men and women who so bravely serve our country. These business owners have a policy to waive storage fees for the motorcycles of deployed service members. In their own words, they say `It is our honor to keep your bike safe and secure while you provide us with our freedoms. We hope you return to us safe and sound. Until that time, we will store your bike at no charge to you. This is our way of saying `Thank You' for your service to our country.' Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to represent such a remarkable company, and I want to once again thank them for their continued efforts to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, on being part of the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal award that an educational institution can receive for its commitment to community service. Knox College was one of four finalists in the Economic Opportunity Category of the honor roll. KnoxCorps works with the Galesburg Community Foundation to place students and recent graduates with local nonprofits that help promote economic stability and vitality in Galesburg. One student club on campus, Blessings in a Backpack, collected and distributed food donations to more than 150 school children throughout the community. Knox College has also partnered with the FISH Food Pantry. The food pantry trains students to design their own service projects to help eliminate food insecurity in their community. These are just a few of the many ways Knox College has worked diligently to better its surrounding community through innovative programs. This marks the fifth time in six years that Knox has been recognized on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Knox College for its outstanding commitment to service and thank its students, faculty and alumni for making the Galesburg community a better place.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rock Island's own Madison Keys on her outstanding performance at the Australian Open. Madison is the daughter of attorneys Christine and Rick Keys of Rock Island, Illinois, and at the close of this tournament, Madison will be the world's highest ranking teenage tennis player. The 19-year-old defeated the reigning Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova, in the third round of the tournament. And yesterday, she played in the quarterfinals against the woman who inspired her to play tennis, Venus Williams--and Madison won. Madison remembers watching Wimbledon when she was just 4 years old and being inspired to play tennis when she saw Venus' fancy tennis dress. Last night's match in a way represents the passing of the torch between generations on the U.S. women's tennis team as Madison now advances to the next round. Tomorrow she plays Serena Williams. I am confident Madison has a long tennis career in front of her, and I look forward to seeing where she goes. I hope that, just as Venus Williams inspired her, she inspires another generation of young girls to get involved in sports and follow their dreams.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bernard ``Barney'' Young of Rock Island, Illinois, who has been awarded the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross. During World War II, Barney served as a Flight Officer where he flew the treacherous route from India to China over the Himalayas, or the Hump, as Allied pilots called it. Shortly after the war, the Army Air Corps decided that flying the Hump qualified pilots for the Distinguished Flying Cross. However, by 1945, Barney had been reassigned to fly Merrill's Marauders from India to Africa. Because of this, Barney didn't learn of his eligibility for the award until years later. When he went to apply, it was discovered his flight records had been destroyed in a fire at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Barney believed he would never receive the award. Then about a year ago, Tim Goodbrake of Edwardsville, Illinois, approached Barney about this award. Tim was researching his father's service in the Army Air Corps. He sought out Barney who had served with his father in India and the two discovered Barney's flight records buried in a trunk. Now, sixty-nine years after returning home from the war, Flight Officer Bernard Young is finally receiving this overdue honor for his service to our great nation. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Bernard Young for his outstanding service to the United States and congratulate him on this noteworthy achievement.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of Tennant Truck Lines of Colona, Illinois. For the last five years, Tennant Truck Lines has participated in the Wreaths Across America program, which honors veterans by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies throughout all 50 states. I had the honor of participating in the Wreaths Across America ceremony on December 13, 2014, at the Rock Island National Cemetery, in my home district in Illinois. This was the 10th Wreaths Across America ceremony held at the Cemetery, one of thousands of ceremonies held across the nation. Tennant Truck Lines played a vital role in transporting wreaths, volunteering their trucks and manpower to move 3,072 wreaths to over 900 veteran ceremonies by December 13. Two trucks from Tennant Truck Lines drove all the way to Arlington National Cemetery, and many more played a vital role in transporting wreaths within the Midwest as they traveled from Maine to California. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of the work Tennant Truck Lines and CEO Aaron Tennant have done to remember and honor the veterans who bravely served our country. It is my honor to recognize them today.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Mr. Duane Burlingame of Freeport, Illinois. Duane Burlingame is a tremendous athlete and is currently one of the top master powerlifters in the world. He has won six world titles and recently achieved best lifter heavyweight honors at the 18th annual Welker Engineering World Association of Bench Pressers and Deadlifters Championships in Las Vegas. He has accomplished all of this despite previous injuries, and while serving his community. Duane Burlingame truly lives his life for others while doing what he loves to do. Over his 17 year career, he has raised funds for SIDS, the American Cancer Society, and St. Jude Children's Hospital through asking friends and supporters to pledge money per pound he lifts. By lifting 551 pounds for one of his most recent competitions, he made it clear that he is putting his talent to work for the benefit of those in need in a very big way. This year, Duane Burlingame will be sending toys to children at St. Judes' for Christmas. He explained that he was ``much more excited going out and buying toys to send to children'' than when he went to the World Championships. He believes that by giving back during difficult times we can all make a big difference. Duane also runs a personal training business and has previously provided fitness and nutrition plans free of charge to those in his community in need. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Duane Burlingame for his dedication to our community and for supporting important organizations that help to keep all of our communities healthy.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois, for achieving the distinction of an official ``Enjoy Illinois: Delicious Destination.'' Lagomarcino's became a member of the select group to receive this honor from the Illinois Office of Tourism--one of only 19 restaurants to date. The award recognizes local restaurants around our state for being beloved destinations for both visitors and locals alike. Lagomarcino's earned this honor because of its long-standing customer services and tasty treats that attract visitors from all over the globe. Lagomarcino's, a beloved ice cream parlor in downtown Moline, is famous for its hot fudge sundaes, sponge candy, filled chocolate eggs, and hand-dipped cones. The turn-of-the-century parlor features mahogany booths custom built by Moline Furniture Works, Tiffany lamps designed in New York, and the terrazzo floor was installed by Cassini Tile of Rock Island. In 1997, Lagomarcino's expanded and opened a second location in the Village of East Davenport, Iowa, and fans from all over the world can order delectable treats online. Angelo Lagomarcino, an immigrant from Italy, opened Lagomarcino's Confectionery in Moline in 1908 after obtaining a secret recipe for hot fudge sauce from a traveling salesman in the early 1900s. Against his wife's wishes, he paid $25 dollars for that recipe--a price that clearly paid off for the restaurant's many, many fans. That same recipe is used today and Lagomarcino's sauce has earned national and international recognition from food editors and culinary magazines. Mr. Speaker, I again want to congratulate Lagomarcino's for achieving this honored distinction and wish them even more success in the future.