Cheri Bustos

Mrs. BUSTOS

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

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. My amendment would increase funding levels by $5 million each for the following critical programs: electronic health records to help ease the shamefully long VA backlog; military sexual assault prevention and response to keep our servicemen and -women safe from harm; and, thirdly, research into posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury to care for our veterans' mental well-being. These added investments honor the sacred commitment our Nation has made to our brave men and women in uniform. For too long, we have failed to systematically implement electronic health records to coordinate our veterans' care. By keeping electronic records, critical care can be coordinated between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This will help reduce the claims backlog and allow our Nation's heroes to receive care in a more timely fashion. In recent weeks, we have all heard from veterans back home on the need for us to work together to deliver more timely care. This amendment is an opportunity to reduce this backlog and make good on the promise we have made to our heroes. Additionally, more than 70 members of the U.S. military encounter unwanted sexual contact, sexual assault, or are raped each day. That is every day. This is absolutely shocking and sickening. It is evident that we must do far more to protect the men and women who are serving to protect our Nation. My amendment would do just that by providing badly needed funding to keep our men and women in uniform safer from sexual assault. Finally, many young women and men have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. There have been more than 400,000 of these cases documented by the military since the year 2000, which is another shocking number I am sharing with you today. My amendment would expand our ability to care for these veterans and provide for their mental health. This amendment would not add to the national deficit. Every single cent allocated in this bill is fully offset by a designated funding source. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. We owe our Nation's heroes nothing short of the very best. We must make sure to keep our promises to them as they fight for our safety and our freedom and when they return home. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work and devotion of Rev. Louisett Ness of Rockford, Illinois, who has, in just over two months, walked from Rockford to Washington D.C. to draw attention to the plight of the poverty stricken in America. Lou, a 65 year old grandmother, is the Executive Director of Shelter Care ministries in Rockford. Lou's dedication on this 756-mile march has been inspiring, and I was proud to greet her today as she reached her final destination, here at the U.S. Capitol. I'd also like to applaud the staff and volunteers at Shelter Care Ministries for the work they do every day to provide emergency and transitional housing for the homeless, as well as valuable support services including child care and career counseling. Mr. Speaker, I commend Lou for having the courage to confront the societal challenge of poverty by embarking on this journey and acting as a voice for those less fortunate.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding results achieved by the Alleman Pioneers against the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes in the 2A Illinois state softball championship game on June 7, 2014. I congratulate the Pioneers for winning the Illinois 1A state championship. This hard fought victory by Alleman gives the school the only program in state history to have won a softball title in three different classes. The Pioneers now hold titles in Class A (1992, 1993, 1994, 1998), Class 2A (2014) and Class AA (1985). The school and the entire community should be extremely proud of the effort put forth by Alleman, which concluded the season with a record of 10-3. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Alleman softball team, both on and off the field, and I am honored to salute them today.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition of the misguided proposal to fund the highway trust fund by eliminating Saturday mail delivery. Time and again, I have heard from people across my region that Saturday mail service is crucially important to them and to their communities. I had the opportunity earlier this year to partner with a letter carrier in the city of Galesburg, Illinois. As I have met folks along the delivery routes of the vast 7,000-square mile district that I serve, it is clear how important 6-day delivery is to them. I have met seniors who depend on mail on Saturday for their prescription drugs. I have met small business owners who depend on Saturday delivery to manage their inventories. I have met folks who talk about eliminating Saturday mail as a blow to the communities across the State of Illinois and across our country. Our transportation and infrastructure projects are critically important to our Nation, and we seek bipartisan support to make sure that happens, but not in a way that threatens the livelihood of so many people. I stand ready to roll up my sleeves and to work across the aisle on practical solutions for our country.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the noteworthy careers of Allan and Jill Ross, of the Quad Cities. The Ross' married in 1973 and both joined the U.S. Army that year. Allan, a veteran of 20 years, retired in 1994 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served domestically and abroad, ending his military service at the Rock Island Arsenal. Following his career in the Army, Allan worked in commercial real estate, investments, and internet sales, and he has been serving as the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities since 2002, an organization that addresses the needs of its community in a wide range of issues. Jill, served as an Army Personnel Specialist and Team Leader, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. She later worked for the Army library system in Germany, managing three libraries. Following her time in the military, Jill manages and owns Jill Ross Vintage Clothes, which she has done successfully since 1983. Jill has also been a very active member of the Jewish community, which include volunteer work for the Tri-City Jewish Center, the Beth Israel Sisterhood and the Jewish Federation. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the Ross' for their years of dedicated service to our country and community. Allan Ross and his wife Jill have been, and continue to be, invaluable members of the community, and I am again delighted to recognize their achievements and pleased to know that people like them are contributing to our society.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rick Jascula and Jim Terman of Jascula Terman Strategic Communications, who have been recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), the premier communications industry association in the region. When they began their business, Jascula had worked as a lead advance man for President Jimmy Carter and Terman for Vice-President Walter Mondale. Together, they built their company from the ground up, and have been serving clients for more than 30 years. Jascula Terman is now a leader in public relations, specializing in public affairs, event management, crisis communications and digital strategies. Their reputation is rightly one to be respected. Rick and Jim are not only leaders in their field, but also in in our greater Illinois community and they are truly deserving of this honor. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to again congratulate Rick Jascula and Jim Terman for their remarkable achievements. I am very grateful for the wonderful services that they provide for our community and so thankful that I am able to call them friends.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment and seek time in opposition.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to voice my strong opposition to the amendment offered by the Congresswoman from Tennessee. The amendment she offers that aims to deny funding for the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois, would not only negatively impact public safety and put our hardworking prison guards in harm's way, but it would also be a big disservice to our Nation's taxpayers. On a personal level, it would also be another setback for Thomson, Illinois, and the surrounding communities that have been thirsting far too long for the good-paying jobs and the economic opportunity that will come with the long-awaited opening of this dormant facility. When fully opened, the Thomson prison will create 1,100 jobs and will infuse more than $200 million into our local community. But making sure this facility remains on track to open has very important ramifications for communities across our country as well. Due to the shortage of prison bed space, high security prisons are today operating at 53 percent over capacity. This is especially alarming when considering that nearly nine out of every 10 high- security inmates have a history of violence. This overcrowding has put our hardworking prison guards and staff at facilities from coast to coast at risk of harm every day while they are on the job. My husband ran our county jail for more than a decade, and I can tell you, I understand this on a very personal level. Let me quote the Government Accountability Office, which says that overcrowding has affected Bureau of Prisons' ``institutions, institution staff, and the infrastructure of Bureau of Prisons facilities, and has contributed to inmate misconduct, which affects staff and inmate security and safety.'' Opening the Thomson prison will add critical high-security beds that will help alleviate overcrowding and make our prisons safer for guards, staff, and inmates. In addition to increasing safety, opening the Thomson Correctional Center would also save taxpayers' hard-earned money. The cost of constructing a new facility comparable to Thomson would exceed $400 million and take 3 to 4 years to complete. That is more than double the funding needed to open the existing Thomson facility. In short, by purchasing Thomson from the State of Illinois, the Federal Government potentially saves the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Finally, the U.S. Attorney General has pledged, most recently at his House appropriations hearing, that no detainees from Guantanamo could or would be transferred to Thomson--zero, none. Additionally, there is language in the underlying bill that prohibits this. It is simply not going to happen. I repeat: it is not going to happen. The Bureau of Prisons has already designated funding for the activation of Thomson prison, and local job hiring has already begun. We cannot turn the clock back now. To even make that attempt is a display of contempt for the American taxpayer. The opening of the Thomson prison is good for prison guards. It helps relieve an overcrowded prison system and pays respect to our hardworking taxpayers who are seeking common sense, no more nonsense. I urge all of my colleagues to stand with me in opposing this foolish and misguided amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).

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

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month this May and to honor the Jewish Americans who have been so instrumental in building and strengthening our country. Over the past 350 years, Jewish Americans have contributed greatly to history, arts, science, government and culture in our nation and millions have defended and continue to defend this country by serving in our Armed Forces. I am proud to commemorate this month with the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities, an organization that has spent over 30 years enriching, educating and supporting the Jewish Community in my district in Illinois. The impressive contributions of Jewish Americans have also played a vital role in strengthening the important relationship between the United States and the State of Israel. Our country has a long history of supporting and standing with Israel and I was proud to join many of my colleagues on a delegation to Israel during my first year in office. We must preserve our bond into the future as we work together towards the theme of this year's Heritage Month, which is tikkun olam, repairing the world. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the work of the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities and thank all Jewish Americans during this month as we honor their extraordinary contributions to our nation.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jay Knight, of East Moline, Illinois, and Denny Salisbury for their efforts on behalf of Child's Play charity, and join them in commemorating Marine Lance Corporal Johnny Strong, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq at the age of 21. Lance Corporal Strong was born in Waco, Texas. In school, he joined JROTC, and after graduation, he went to San Diego for boot camp and training. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, where he served with Jay and Denny. On June 12th, 2007, while on his second tour of duty, Lance Corporal Strong was shot and killed by an enemy sniper during a security patrol in Iraq's Anbar province. He had been among the first to volunteer to conduct an extra security sweep around the platoon's temporary forward operating base. Lance Corporal Strong was an avid gamer and was interested in working in the video game industry when he finished his service. In his honor, Jay and Denny are bicycling approximately 4400 miles between Penny Arcade eXpo (PAX) gaming festivals in Boston and Seattle. Their ride is raising money for Child's Play, a charity which provides video games, books and other toys to children in hospitals worldwide. Along the way, Jay and Denny are stopping in children's hospitals around the country to showcase the important work of Child's Play and the real impact it has on the lives of sick children. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Jay Knight and Denny Salisbury for their dedicated service to our country as well as for their inspirational efforts in the name of Lance Corporal Strong to improve the lives of hospitalized children. I wish them the very best as they continue their extraordinary ride across the county.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stew Adams, who has been recognized by the Illinois Education Association as its 2014 Retired Teacher of the Year. I am proud to say that Stew is a constituent of mine and has spent years teaching special education in the Rock Island/Milan School District. In addition to his teaching duties, Stew was a tutor and a mentor to many young students in the Rock Island School District. He also contributed to the Rock Island Safe Schools program and has been an adviser to the Illinois State Board of Higher Education and Special Education and founder of the Western Illinois Retired Educators. In addition to thanking Stew for his service to our community, I also want to take this opportunity to thank the teachers that I have had and have taught so many of our youngsters across our country during Teacher Appreciation Week. Their hard work and dedication to our children is both awe-inspiring and invaluable. Our communities simply could not function without our educators, and I want to thank them.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge P. Michael Mahoney, who recently retired as Magistrate Judge of the Western Branch of the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Mahoney received his law degree from the University of Illinois, and has practiced law in our region for over forty years. In 1976, Judge Mahoney became a part-time Federal Magistrate for the Northern District. He became a full-time Magistrate Judge in 1992. Judge Mahoney has left an indelible mark on our region. While he is often remembered by the public for his work on high-profile decisions like People Who Care v. Rockford Board of Education, and USA v. Rita Crundwell, he is best remembered by his associates as a mediator and an inspiring practitioner of justice, who presided with fairness and professionalism for over 38 years. At the time of his retirement, Judge Mahoney was the longest-serving Judge in the Seventh Circuit. We will surely miss his wisdom and his steady hand, but we also thank Justice Mahoney for his service to our community, and wish him the best of luck, and a happy retirement.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carlos Harrison on his excellent work telling the story of Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois. Carlos is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, editor and author whose most recent book brought him to a small street in my district. The twenty-two Mexican-American families living on Second Street in Silvis, Illinois sent fifty-seven of their children to fight in World War II and Korea. In total, over 100 men and women from those one and a half blocks have served in the US Armed Forces. No other area of comparable size in the country has had so many men and women in uniform, and in honor of them, the street was renamed Hero Street USA in 1967. Carlos's book, The Ghosts of Hero Street: How One Small Mexican- American Community Gave So Much in World War II and Korea, will be released on May 6th with an event in Silvis at Hero Street Park, which is dedicated to the eight sons of Hero Street who lost their lives in those two conflicts. It is fitting that he will celebrate with the community, because the story of Hero Street is not just about those who fought and gave their lives, but also about the perseverance and values of the families and community they left behind in Silvis. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Carlos Harrison for telling the important and inspirational story of the families of Hero Street and the fifty-seven brave young men who put their lives on the line to serve their country and fight to protect the American Dream.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say a few words about Sue Swisher, a good friend of mine, and a true champion for the children of our region. Sue will be retiring this summer, after more than twenty-four years leading the Child Abuse Council in Rock Island, Illinois. Sue joined the Child Abuse Council as Director of Programs in 1994, and became its Executive Director in 1998. Under her leadership, the Child Abuse Council has provided child-abuse treatment and prevention to hundreds of children and families in our region. During her tenure, Sue spearheaded the creation of programs designed to prevent child abuse, instead of just reacting to it, including teacher-training programs like Safe from the Start, and fatherhood classes like Boot Camp for Dads. People learn lessons during childhood that stay with them their entire lives. Children can either learn about trust and respect, or they can learn about fear and insecurity. Sue Swisher has worked tirelessly to ensure that our children learn lessons about love and respect that will resonate throughout their lives. We will miss her steady hand, and thank her for her invaluable contribution to our community.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the extraordinary life and achievements of General John Shalikashvili of Peoria, Illinois, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997, and is being honored in a park dedication on May 17th. General Shalikashvili was born in 1936 in Warsaw to Georgian exiles. His family survived the German occupation of Poland and the destruction of Warsaw during WWII and in 1952, when he was 16, he moved with his family to Peoria. When he arrived, speaking little English, he would leave Peoria High School at the end of the day and visit the local movie theater to help himself learn the language. In 1958, after Shalikashvili graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a degree in mechanical engineering, he received his draft notice. He entered the Army as a private before attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) and embarking on a distinguished career that would span almost 40 years. Under President George H.W. Bush, Shalikashvili served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander. After the first Gulf War, he served as Commander of Operation Provide Comfort, the peacekeeping and humanitarian action in northern Iraq. In 1993, General Shalikashvili was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by President Clinton, where he served until his retirement in 1997. He was the first foreign-born man to hold the position, as well as the first draftee to ever rise to become Chairman. General Shalikashvili passed away in July, 2011, and was honored by the Presidents he served under and his fellow military leaders. President Clinton remembered that ``he never minced words, he never postured or pulled punches, he never shied away from tough issues or tough calls, and most important, he never shied away from doing what he believed was the right thing.'' Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend Peoria for recognizing Shalikashvili's patriotism and dedicated service, and I hope those who visit General Shalikashvili Park continue to be inspired by his incredible story.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Warden Ricardo Rios of Pekin, Illinois, who will be retiring from the Federal Correctional Institution in Pekin on April 30th. Warden Rios has spent 35 years serving communities across the country in his work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He began his public service career in 1988 as an Accountant Trainee in the Federal Correctional Institution in Bastrop, Texas. Over the next 30 years, Warden Rios held positions of increasing responsibility in Correctional Centers around the country, including California, Florida and Minnesota. In 2010, he took over as Warden at FCI-Pekin, where he has served for the last four years. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Warden Ricardo Rios for his years of committed service and congratulate him again on his retirement.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, and 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. Madam Speaker, the bill before us today, the Baseline Reform Act, would politicize what is otherwise a simple, straightforward method of accurately measuring changes and spending policies. It is misguided. Here is why. It mandates that the Congressional Budget Office assume current discretionary spending is frozen indefinitely in its baseline projections rather than adjusted for inflation. This change would undermine the usefulness of the CBO's baselines. It would make it more difficult to measure the real-world impact of changes in discretionary spending at both the program and budget function levels. Were this bill to be enacted into law and inflation remained at current projections, the CBO's baseline projections by the end of the budget window, or 10 years out, would purchase about one- fifth less than in the current year. My amendment would blunt the damage this bill could cause, and it would protect many of our hardworking and most vulnerable constituents. Specifically, my amendment would protect programs that help students and help families afford the skyrocketing costs of higher education. It would protect children with disabilities from being kicked out of the classroom. It would protect our brave veterans and the benefits they have earned and deserve through their valiant service to our Nation. It would protect vulnerable seniors in nursing homes. It would protect our air traffic controllers who keep us safe when we travel, our food safety inspectors who help protect us from disease, and first responders who help keep our communities safe. Madam Speaker, when I am home traveling in my district every weekend, I hear from people who this bill would harm: young people who are trying to better themselves through higher education but struggling to afford the rising cost of college; veterans who are caught in the VA backlog and trying to just get the care that they need; seniors who worked hard and played by the rules their entire lives, who deserve to live out their golden years in dignity; and law enforcement officers, like my husband, Gerry, a captain with the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department and commander of the Quad Cities Bomb Squad, who rely on programs like the COPS program to help keep our community safe. Madam Speaker, my amendment would help protect the smart investment we have made in the future of our country: in our seniors, in our veterans, and in those who fight to protect us and keep us safe. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Don Farr, the principal of Monmouth-Roseville Junior High School, who has been named the Middle School Principal of the Year by Horace Mann and the Illinois Principals Association. Principal Farr has served as a principal for 17 years. He is active in the Illinois Principals Association as well as numerous community organizations, including the Roseville Community Center, the Warren County YMCA, the Roseville Masonic Lodge and the Monmouth Chamber of Commerce. He also passes on his experience by teaching classes in Middle School Methods and Strategies at Monmouth College. As a proud mother of three sons who were educated by our public schools, I know firsthand the importance of administrators who work with teachers and the community to create a positive school climate and do what is best for our students. I'm glad that the Illinois Principals Association and Horace Mann are recognizing and honoring Principal Farr for his excellent work. Mr. Speaker, I want to again congratulate Principal Farr for his outstanding efforts on behalf of students in our community and wish him the best in the National Middle School Principal of the Year awards.