Cheri Bustos

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate United North Elementary School in Alexis, IL, which has been recognized as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School and will be honored next month at a ceremony here in Washington. As the mother of three sons who were educated by our public schools, I know firsthand the importance of a high-quality education and I am proud that students in our community are learning at one of the best schools in the nation. United North Elementary has implemented several programs that identify struggling students early and provide them with individual attention to make sure all students have an opportunity to succeed. They have seen great results in students' math and reading abilities and I am happy they have been recognized for their achievements. United North also succeeds in involving the whole community in education. Along with regular parent-teacher conferences and an active PTO, the school hosts classroom visits during American Education Week and recently started a Very Special Person Day for students to bring adult visitors to the school. Mr. Speaker, I again want to congratulate United North Elementary School and Principal Sue Wilson for this remarkable achievement and I thank them for their service to students in our community.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important provision that I worked hard on with a bipartisan group of Illinois Senators and House Members to have included in the new Water Resources Reform and Development Act. This bill, also known as WRRDA, is a vital piece of legislation that Congress will consider later today. Our provision would help improve the Nation's water infrastructure, including the aging locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, through public-private partnerships that would expedite projects and save taxpayers money. It comes from a House and Senate, Democrat and Republican bill called the Water Infrastructure Now Public Private-Partnership Act. I was proud to introduce this bill earlier this year with Senators Durbin and Kirk and Representative Rodney Davis, all proudly of Illinois. Our provision would help clear a $60 billion backlog in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that will take decades to complete without outside investment. It does this by creating a pilot program to explore agreements between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as alternatives to traditional financing, planning, design, and construction models. The Mississippi and Illinois Rivers are absolutely critical to the economic well-being of my region in Illinois, the entire Midwest, and the United States and the world. These locks and dams were built during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt and are now close to 80 years old. This is why action must be taken to expand and modernize the locks and dams that help transport our goods and products worldwide. By encouraging public-private partnerships, our bipartisan effort will help make the movement of the high-quality goods of our region, whether they be from any of the numerous farmers and manufacturers that call Illinois home, more swift, efficient, and safe. To put this in perspective, the Mississippi River is the world's largest navigable inland waterway. Just on the Mississippi River alone, 60 percent--well over half--of the Nation's agricultural goods are transported. It is absolutely critical to American commerce and the smooth movement of goods that this is made as efficient as possible. Our bill fits perfectly into that equation, and it is good for the taxpayer, the farmer, and industry. I am very proud of that. In addition to our efforts to improve our Nation's locks and dams, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act also contains many provisions that will boost local economies across our country. The WRRDA bill will lead to upgraded water transportation systems and offer vulnerable communities better protection against flooding, which is very important to the region that I represent. It will promote America's competitiveness, prosperity, and economic growth for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress to work with those I don't always agree with and who don't always agree with me, but as a way to find commonsense, reasonable solutions to create jobs and lay the foundation for a stronger middle class. I was proud that the WRRDA bill passed out of the House Transportation Committee on a bipartisan, unanimous basis. I give a great deal of credit to Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, Ranking Member Nick Rahall, Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs, Subcommittee Ranking Member Tim Bishop, and all of my colleagues on the committee for their hard work over the last year. It is truly an example of congressional Republicans and Democrats working together, and I hope it is something that we will see a lot more of. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important job-creating bill when it comes to the floor later today.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again speak about the human consequences of this reckless and irrational government shutdown. We have now reached day 15 of this foolishness. Each day, I spend time speaking with people from my congressional district who are suffering through this through no fault of their own. Dorothy Lara, from Rockford, Illinois, shared the story of her family's history and their truly deep connection and commitment to this country. Dating back to the early 1600s, her family has literally given their blood, sweat, and tears for America's freedom and democracy. Nine generations ago, her family helped build the Mayflower, and not only that, they then helped coordinate its voyage. Her family's ancestors have served in nearly every war in this country--in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, both World Wars--and just recently, she welcomed home her son from Iraq. Dorothy said it better than I ever could myself. She said--and these are her exact words--``All of my forefathers would be ashamed of what has been going on in this country today.'' She went on to say, ``What happened to a government by the people, for the people?'' and then said, ``What I want to see is what my forebearers have fought for: equality, job creation, honor, and respect. They are owed that much.'' We have the votes right now--right here--to reopen our government. We can end this madness and go back to governing our country the way we should be governing our country. Dorothy's family and so many other families throughout our country are, indeed, owed that much.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Thank you very much. I appreciate this opportunity, and I also appreciate that you are talking about the human consequences of this shutdown. That is what I have been doing for the past couple of weeks now is trying to draw attention to the human consequences of this senseless government shutdown because this is about people we are here to serve, and now we are in week two of this crisis. What I have been doing is spending a lot of time on the telephone talking firsthand with the people from my region of Illinois who are suffering through no fault of their own. Today, I would like to share a story about a family who not only wants a piece of the American Dream, but is striving to achieve that and is working their tails off to achieve just a piece of the American Dream. This is a story about a woman named Jill King. She is a wife and mother of two young girls and a disabled veteran from Moline, Illinois. Jill also happens to be a Federal employee who works at the Rock Island Arsenal, which is the largest employer in the district I am here to serve. On top of all that, Jill has gone back to college as a way to continue her education, and her husband, also a veteran, who lost his job recently, has gone back to school to increase his employment opportunities. All they want to do is provide a better life for their two young girls. They are ages 4 and 6. One is a preschooler, and one is a first-grader. But because of this government shutdown, Jill has been furloughed and is afraid that now she will lose her VA benefits on top of it. With her husband back in school, not knowing where their next paycheck is going to come from, Jill and her husband are rightly worried about how they are going to make their home mortgage payment, or, for that matter, even pay their most basic bills. Jill and her husband worked very hard for a number years in order to buy a home. They had to rent to save that money. They have never missed a payment of any sort. They have never even been late with any payment. Now what Jill is left doing is calling her banks just to talk about the what-ifs, because, like many people throughout the country, they don't know what the next steps are. They have had to cut back, and Jill has even had to stop going to her doctor appointments because of the injuries that she has been treated for that are associated with her military service. Her husband now is considering dropping out of school in order to bring home more money to help their family, and Jill is now applying for a second job. What especially worries her is that if she has to work both night and day, and with her husband now not sure what he's going to have to do as far as his education or going back to work, is that her children-- again, ages 4 and 6--might have to be at the babysitter not only during the day, but at night now. I would ask any mother, or for that matter any parent: Who thinks that that is acceptable? There is so much sacrifice that we have asked of our veterans and their families, and in this case we are asking so much of this family when all they want to do is do better. Jill King and her family want more from their government. And on week two of the shutdown, I ask of this Congress to do what is right for families like Jill's. That is nothing more than let's talk, shake hands, work together, be civil, be kind, and allow Congress to vote on a measure that simply reopens this government. We have been talking this morning and now into the afternoon that the votes are there. Republicans and Democrats, together, but only together, can reopen this government. We can do it right now. We could do it right this minute for that matter. I think everybody here today-- at least here today--would say let's do that. Let's bring this up for a vote. Let's open up government. Let's do what is right for Jill King and her family and all the families throughout this country.

Mrs. BUSTOS. I appreciate greatly the kind words that you say about the Rock Island Arsenal. It is the largest employer in the entire 7,000-square-mile district that I represent that stretches from Rockford to Peoria to the Quad Cities, and so many great towns in between. We have about 8,000 employees there. Here is what they have been going through because of the nonsense, these votes that have been cast that have hurt government employees who just want to do a good job. People like Jill and the rest of the employees there, leading up to this, they had to take 6 furlough days. Already, that was a cut in their pay of what they are used to bringing home. That was already a cut in their pay. On top of that, they haven't received pay raises going on 4 years now. We want to encourage people to go into public service in these jobs that are helping people and helping our military in this case. You had mentioned the armored reinforcement that is built right in the heart of my district at the Rock Island Arsenal. What that did was, early in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military men and women were driving in Humvees that did not have armor reinforcement, and they were sustaining horrible injuries and death. The workers at the Rock Island Arsenal, the foundry and the manufacturing sector of this, actually developed these and produced these to save countless lives. So the work that the people at the Rock Island Arsenal are doing is meaningful work, it is lifesaving work--and look how they have been treated as a result of this. I appreciate you also bringing up the fact that in light of this government shutdown, we in our office have restructured things because we are public servants. We are here to make sure we are doing everything we can in light of this atmosphere. We have five offices in our district in Illinois, and we have our office out here. That is six offices altogether. What we have done is we have opened our office an hour early and we stay an hour late. And every single one of our employees, including myself, are all answering telephones, doing casework, and talking to the people who call in about their concerns about what is happening in the government and what they can expect next. What I have learned from this, and something I will continue doing well after the government shutdown, is I will continue answering the telephone calls and reaching out to people because I never want to lose sight of why we are here. You understand it. Our colleagues understand why we are here. That is to serve people. Government can be a force for good. Where government is in the way, I don't know anybody here who doesn't want to fix that. We want to fix anything that is broken or bent or just needs some tweaking. We want to fix that. We also know that government can be a force for good. That is why we run for office. That is why we are out here in Washington, D.C. That is why it is so disheartening what a few people in Congress have done to this country. It is time to move to this next level now.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue speaking out about the human consequences of this irresponsible and irrational government shutdown. We are now 10 days into this ridiculousness, and what I have been doing is spending time on the phone each day with the people from my region who tell me their stories about suffering due to the needless and increasingly maddening shutdown. I recently spoke with the family of Jeremiah Johnson. They are from a town called Prophetstown, Illinois. It is a small town of about 2,000 people in Whiteside County, right in the heart of my congressional district. Jeremiah is a disabled combat veteran who served his country bravely in Iraq. He now is also a Federal law enforcement employee who happens to be working without any pay; and while he is receiving no paycheck, he is also worried about the disability benefits being delayed because of the shutdown. So absolutely a double whammy for this father and husband. In fact, he and his wife, Pam, just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on Monday; and rather than go out and celebrate like many couples do to mark their joyous occasion, they ate at home because they don't know when to expect their next paycheck. So Pam made a pie for her husband and Jeremiah gave his wife an anniversary card, very simple and very sweet. On top of that, their 12-year-old daughter, Carissa, actually offered her parents her entire savings in case they need it. When Pam told me this story, she got a little emotional about it and spoke over and over about just what a good daughter they have. So in spite of their seventh grader's loving offer and Pam and Jeremiah removing any extravagance from their wedding anniversary plans, of course they remain worried about the lack of a paycheck and really their own ability to be able to pay their car payment and their house payment. This is absolutely an unacceptable way that we would ever as a Nation treat our disabled veterans like Jeremiah. We have the votes right now to open up our government and put Jeremiah and his family at ease; but there is one way to do this, and it is only if Democrats and Republicans come together. That is our path. It is that simple. It is commonsense, it is reasonable, and it is absolutely the right thing to do.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again speak out about the human consequences and the reckless and irresponsible government shutdown. Today it is day 9 into this needless swirl of frustration and madness. Yesterday I spent time on the telephone talking with a woman whom I am here to represent. She lives in a small town called Roseville, Illinois. It is in the southern part of my congressional district. Her name is Sherri Leath. Sherri is a decades-long employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and she serves as a food inspector. She spent the first 4 years of her employment in a slaughterhouse, a beef slaughterhouse. The last 6 years, she is in the inspection area of a poultry and a pork processing plant. This is not a glamorous job, she is the first to admit that, but she works very hard every day, and she takes great pride in the fact that she is making sure that our food is safe and wholesome. She has four children and six grandchildren, and she says she keeps them in mind and she keeps all the children in mind throughout this country as she is inspecting in these plants and makes sure, again, that this meat goes out safe and wholesome. So today she will drive. She has a very long commute. She will spend most of that time in a cooler that is at most 45 degrees. And I would call someone like Sherri Leath an unsung hero, because without people like Sherri, who, again, are not receiving their pay right now, our food supply would be in jeopardy. So she is going into work every day, not taking home a paycheck, and she is worried at a deep level about her family's future. She has a husband named Thomas, who is a school bus driver and brings home $800 a month. This is not enough for Sherri and Thomas Leath to pay their bills. So they have already discussed what this government shutdown means to their family. Step one for them, if the paycheck doesn't come, is they will tap into their reserves, into their savings. Step two, if it leads to that, they will have to go into further credit card debt. This is not what we should be doing to people like Sherri and Thomas Leath. This is not what we should be doing to the hardworking Federal employees who want nothing more than to do a good job, go to work, and receive fair pay. But this is the way it has been for 9 days now. We heard Congressman Steny Hoyer speak half an hour ago now, talking about that we have an answer to this right now. We have enough Republican votes and we have enough Democratic votes today, within the hour, as he explained it, to get the government up and running again. We could immediately--immediately, today--provide relief for people like Sherri and Thomas Leath by reopening the government right here and right now. We have a bipartisan path to do that. I would say let's do it. Let's get at it today and put these good, hardworking people back to work and receiving fair pay.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Clara Delle Thompson of Rock Island, Illinois. Clara Thompson will be retiring at the end of this month after almost 45 years serving Rock Island as a court reporter. Her friendliness, unmatched style and love of her ``bling'' will be greatly missed in the Rock Island County Courthouse by the many judges, bailiffs, attorneys and others who love and respect her. Thompson is a legend in the 14th Judicial Circuit in Illinois where she has continued to use her notebook and shorthand to take notes on court proceedings, even while the rest of her colleagues turned to electronic steno- machines. She jokes that if the power goes out, her pen still works. Thompson has lived in the Quad Cities since her family moved to Rock Island when she was nine. She worked for Deere and Co. and Dohrn Transfer before becoming a court reporter in her late 30s. Along with her work, she is very involved in her community, supporting the Figge and the Putnam museums and the Quad City Botanical Center among other organizations. While the Rock Island County Courthouse will not be the same without Clara Delle Thompson, I wish her the best as she continues to serve the people in her community, play bridge and I hope she will be able to keep travelling the world.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to continue speaking out about the human consequences of this ridiculous government shutdown. We are now one full week into this shameful display of irresponsibility. Yesterday, I spoke with a man in my district named Joe Burton, who lives in Monmouth, Illinois. He is a decorated war hero, serving 21 years in the military. As a retired Army sergeant, Joe received the Bronze Star for his brave service in the gulf war. But after honorably serving our Nation for so long, Joe is now worried sick about how this reckless government shutdown is going to impact him and his family. This tough guy is literally frightened about the shutdown and how it is affecting his VA disability payments. If his benefits aren't there and don't arrive, he has no idea how he will pay his bills or even how he will pay for his next meal. More than anything, he just wants to know how veterans like him across the country are going to make ends meet if we don't get this solved. Let's stop this nonsense now and do right by Joe and the others who have served our country.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the human consequences of this needless government shutdown, the impact of this shutdown on real people and families back in our home districts. There are so many people out there who are hurt and are worried about what's going on here in Washington, and how can any of us blame them? Let me just give you one example. I have a woman from the Quad Cities, which is an area I represent, who reached out to our office. She's worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for 15 years, and she told me how much she loved her job, but she was furloughed earlier this year because of sequestration. Now she is out of work indefinitely because of this needless government shutdown. She is worried, like any of us would be, about how she is going to make ends meet, how she is going to support her family, and how frustrated she is with the government. We need to encourage good people like this woman from the Quad Cities to stay in public service, not drive them away. She is one of more than 25,000 workers at the Rock Island Arsenal who are impacted by this. I say to my colleagues on the left and my colleagues on the right, let's work together and solve this.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Galena, Illinois, for earning a place on the Executive Travel Magazine's list, America's Best Small Towns. On a recent visit to Galena, I met with local small business owners who are all very proud of the town's history, a pride I share with them. With over 85 percent of the town's buildings designated as National Register of Historic Places and the general awe that the area's beautiful landscape inspires, it is clear why Galena deserves to be labeled as a great American town. I always enjoy visiting Galena and look forward to many trips to come. It is important that all of our communities across Illinois continue to highlight why they are great places to live, work and raise a family. As always, I am proud to serve all the hard-working people of the 17th Congressional District of Illinois, and I look forward to communities across my region continuing to receive many well-deserved awards.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the impact of the ongoing budget debates in Washington and how they are affecting the hardworking people that I'm honored to serve in Illinois. Last November, the people of the 17th District of Illinois elected me because they were sick and tired of the partisan gridlock in Congress. I spent a short time here in Congress working across the aisle to find commonsense solutions to the problems facing our Nation. But too many in Washington have the wrong priorities--putting politics over people. Let me just offer one example. During the last month, I have visited Head Start programs throughout my district. Head Start, as you may know, provides early childhood education and is an important downpayment on our region's economic well-being. In fact, for every dollar invested in Head Start, we get a $7 to $9 return. But due to shortsighted cuts, needy children and families are being turned away at the door. In the region I serve, there are literally hundreds of children waiting to be enrolled in Head Start, while dedicated staff members continue to have to cut back. This is unacceptable. I am willing to work with those who I disagree with and who disagree with me to find reasonable solutions that put people before politics. Let's find solutions that put Americans first.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about John F. Baker Jr. of Moline, Illinois. Sergeant Baker was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War for heroically rescuing wounded soldiers from an ambush and leading a daring counterassault. The Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military honor and is awarded for personal acts of valor that go well above and beyond the call of duty. He was accepted by the Army during the Vietnam War. As a side note, the Marine Corps said he was an inch too short. Remember that when I tell you that it was Sergeant Baker's strength that helped him save the lives of his fellow soldiers. Sergeant Baker's unit was tasked with reinforcing a group of American soldiers pinned down in Vietnam, close to the Cambodian border. About 3,000 Vietnamese had taken cover in the surrounding brush. As the U.S. soldiers advanced, the lead scout was shot and killed, and the jungle erupted in enemy fire. Sergeant Baker ran toward the front and helped destroy two enemy bunkers. Although he was blown off his feet by an enemy grenade, he willed his own recovery enough to make repeated trips through fire and smoke to evacuate wounded American soldiers, who were much bigger than he was. By the end of the hours-long conflict, his uniform was soaked in the blood of his fellow soldiers. In all, Sergeant Baker was credited with recovering eight fallen U.S. soldiers, destroying six bunkers and killing at least 10 enemies. Sergeant Baker was honored in our home state of Illinois and in the Congressional District I serve in 2010 when the Interstate 280 Bridge over the Mississippi River was renamed the John F. Baker, Jr., Bridge. A monument also has been dedicated in his honor, in Rock Island, Illinois. Sergeant Baker passed away early last year. His family says they will remember his courage, strength, and love the most. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that over the years, my region of Illinois has been the home to many brave veterans who have served our country in times of war and peace, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sergeant Baker reflect the greatest credit upon himself, his unit, the Armed Forces and our entire nation. For that we will be eternally grateful. Thank you.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fritz of Peoria, Illinois, who is one of only three living Medal of Honor recipients in Illinois today. The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest military honor and is awarded for personal acts of valor that go well above and beyond the call of duty. Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, who went by ``Hal,'' was born in Chicago and currently lives in Peoria. He was awarded the Medal of Honor due to his brave service in Vietnam. During a jungle firefight, then First Lieutenant Fritz displayed exemplary leadership despite suffering serious wounds. Lieutenant Colonel Fritz was leading his 7-vehicle armored column to meet and escort a truck convoy when they suddenly came under intense fire from enemy combatants. Lieutenant Colonel Fritz' vehicle was hit, and he was seriously wounded. Realizing that his men were completely surrounded and outnumbered, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz leaped to the top of his burning vehicle and directed the positioning of his remaining vehicles and men. Without thinking of his own safety, he ran from vehicle to vehicle in complete view of the enemy gunners in order to help his men. Armed only with a pistol and bayonet, he led a small group of his men in a charge which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Despite being wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Fritz assisted his men and refused medical attention until all of his wounded soldiers had been treated. Lieutenant Colonel Fritz is currently the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and resides in Peoria. I wish him all the best and want to thank him again for his brave and dedicated service to our Nation.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the most pressing issues facing my region of Illinois, and that's creating good- paying jobs and growing the economy. That's why, last month, I launched Partnering for Illinois' Economic Future. The goal of this initiative is to bring together regional leaders from across economic sectors-- from business, educational institutions, and community organizations. We gathered to discuss ways to increase collaboration, to create jobs and bolster the region's economy and manufacturing sectors. We held regional meetings in Rockford, Peoria, and the Quad Cities in conjunction with the University of Illinois. We will also be holding a District-wide economic summit later this fall. Before we do this, I want to hear directly from the hardworking people of my region to get their thoughts on how best to create economic opportunity for all. The insight and input from my constituents, combined with the information we collected from the regional meetings, will help us develop solutions that will benefit all of our communities.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the village of Orion, Illinois on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of their Central Park Band Shell. Orion's Central Park Band Shell is the center piece of their village. It is a place where families and friends gather to enjoy the company of each other, their neighbors, and to take part in various events, including outdoor movies and concerts. It has hosted notable guests including Bill Allred's Jazz Band and Chris Vallillo, a nationally recognized folk singer and historian who proclaimed it one of the finest venues he had ever used. The Central Park Band Shell has twice been threatened by demolition. It has survived all these years and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which has proved to be the catalyst for a community-wide preservation effort. In 2004, the Orion Band Shell was awarded Illinois' highest preservation honor, the Richard Driehaus Project of the Year Award, by Landmarks Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I again want to recognize the village of Orion on this notable event, and am glad that places like this exist, helping to bring people together.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the brave first responders who rushed to help put out the recent devastating fire that demolished much of downtown Prophetstown, Illinois. The massive fire destroyed eight buildings and damaged two others in a blaze that took hours to put out. An estimated two dozen firefighters and EMTs responded quickly in the early morning hours to battle the flames that were destroying the town. As Prophetstown begins the healing process, I salute all the first responders from across my region of Illinois for their courageous and selfless service. Because of their valiant efforts, the blaze did not spread to more buildings and no major injuries occurred. I am proud to once again recognize the heroic efforts of our firefighters and EMTs, and thank them again for their service.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, on the Legislative Day of July 24, 2013, a series of votes was held. Had I been present for these roll call votes, I would have cast the following votes: rollcall 399-I vote ``nay.'' rollcall 400-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 401-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 402-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 403-I vote ``no'' rollcall 404-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 405-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 406-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 407-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 408-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 409-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 410-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 411-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 412-I vote ``no.'' rollcall 413-I vote ``aye.'' rollcall 414-I vote ``yea.''

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the terrible fire earlier this week that destroyed much of Prophetstown, Illinois--a small town in Whiteside County, Illinois, that I have the honor of representing. The blaze destroyed nearly all of downtown and disrupted the lives of so many people living and working in this northwestern Illinois town full of caring people. Several families of this town of more than 2,000 people lost all of their possessions, not to mention their livelihoods. Angie Stegmiller lost everything she owned in the fire, including precious knicknacks that were handed down from her grandparents. Her cats are still missing. As Angie said, ``It's not the stuff. It's the memories behind the stuff.'' She is still holding out hope that her cats will return. The community's response to the fire should serve as an inspiration to all. Residents are coming together to help one another through this. The Methodist church has received so many food donations that its freezers are overfilled. Neighbors are helping neighbors clean up the rubble and are turning over spare bedrooms and bathrooms to those who are temporarily homeless. Residents have begun the slogan ``Prophetstown Strong'' to refer to the resiliency of this community. I have no doubt that, due to the spirit and resolve of the citizens of Prophetstown, this town will recover and be stronger.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 358 I was detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out once again against the sequestration-caused furloughs that are punishing workers whom I represent in Illinois. Sequestration cuts were designed to be so painful and terrible that they would never even take place, but this week they will begin unnecessarily hurting working families across the country. I have repeatedly called on the Defense Department to use the flexibility that Congress gave it, without resorting to furloughs. As I travel around my district of Illinois, I hear story after story of families who are impacted by these cuts: people like Tom and Michelle Vetter, who both work at the Rock Island Arsenal, and will see a 30 percent cut in their expected income. They now fear being able to pay their mortgage and even sending their son to college; And people like Darlene Nimmers, who has worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for more than three decades, who now worries about having to put off her well-deserved retirement. We need to get our fiscal house in order; there's no doubt about that. But it should not be at the expense and the jobs of our hardworking citizens and their ability to support their families. Please let's come together to cut spending without harming our Nation's economy and our workers.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA), Local 165 on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary. LIUNA is a progressive, fast growing union of construction workers that are at the forefront of their industry, with over a half million members across the United States and Canada. I understand and appreciate the important role that organized labor, and chapters such as Local 165, play in our communities here in the 17th Congressional District of Illinois and across the country. Organizations such as LIUNA have a tremendous positive impact on the working families of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I again want to congratulate the Laborers Local 165 on this notable event, and am glad that organizations like theirs exist, and I thank them for their contributions to our community.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1092, to designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the ``Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center.'' The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously reported this bill by voice vote just last month. Mrs. Clark has worked at the Nashua center since it opened on March 31, 1963, and she has provided more than 50 years of government service. Mrs. Clark does administrative work at the center, including payroll, mail processing, and travel arrangements, and she has not taken a single sick day in her long career. Mrs. Clark's managers and colleagues at the Federal Aviation Administration initiated the idea of naming the facility to honor her for her valued service. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill, introduced by the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Kuster) and other members of the New Hampshire delegation. This bill is a companion bill to S. 540, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this year. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1092, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BUSTOS

Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Enyart).

Mrs. BUSTOS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2383, to designate the new Interstate 70 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Illinois and St. Louis as the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''--or the ``Stan Span,'' as many affectionately call it. This bill names the bridge in honor of one of the greatest players in baseball history, as well as the millions of brave Americans who have served this country in the Armed Forces. Naming the bridge after Mr. Musial and saluting the millions of Americans who have served in our Armed Forces is a fitting tribute to their bravery and sacrifice. Few players have contributed more to America's pastime than Stan Musial. In his 22 seasons in major league baseball playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Stan the Man was selected to the All-Star game a record 24 times, named the National League's Most Valuable Player three times, and played on three World Series championship title teams. Musial was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 on the first ballot. Moreover, Stan Musial's contributions go well beyond the baseball diamond. Like many of his generation, Mr. Musial served our country during World War II. During his tour of duty in the Navy, Musial joined with more than 16 million other Americans to serve our Nation as members of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. In retirement, Stan Musial contributed his time to causes such as the USO, the Senior Olympics, and the Boy Scouts, and served as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness from 1964 to 1967. Stan Musial received the Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award in 2007. It honors Navy veterans who excel in their civilian careers while exemplifying the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment. In February 2011, President Obama presented Stan Musial with the Presidential Medal of Honor. That's the highest honor bestowed on a civilian in America. My personal appreciation of Stan Musial goes way back to my childhood, growing up in Springfield, Illinois. Our family would make regular car trips every summer to Busch Stadium to cheer on our beloved Cardinals. When we weren't able to make it to games in person, we would listen to them on KMOX radio back home. I still remember the voices of Jack Buck and Harry Caray, who then would go on to announce for the Cubs. I also fondly remember waiting around Busch Stadium after the games with my brother, my sister, and my mom and dad just to catch a glimpse of some of the Cardinal greats like Curt Flood. We loved watching Lou Brock run the bases. We loved watching Bob Gibson pitch. And we just loved baseball so much that, later in his life, my dad would go on to work for Major League Baseball. I'm proud to say that my brother, Dan Callahan, would be the head coach of Southern Illinois University baseball for 16 seasons, until he passed away a couple of years ago from cancer. As you see, my family's bond with greater St. Louis, the Cardinals, and baseball is a strong one. This bill does not just recognize the contributions of one man, but, rather, it salutes the service of all our veterans. Stan Musial was a hero to many, not just for the way he played baseball, but for how he lived his life. Like so many of the heroes who have served this Nation in our military, he lived his life with integrity and with honor. Naming this bridge in honor of Stan Musial and all veterans is a symbol of our gratitude for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2383, to dedicate this bridge in honor of Stan the Man Musial and all the men and women who have served our Nation in the Armed Forces. We are proud to remember and honor all they endured for our democracy and to safeguard our democracy. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.