Mike Bost

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, as mentioned here, this is a problem we have been dealing with concerning our Reserve and National Guard. We want to make sure that they are provided with these benefits. I want to encourage all of our Members to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4183, the Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act. H.R. 4183, as amended, would require the Government Accountability Office to complete a study that compares the utilization of disability and pension benefits between veterans of the National Guard, Reserve, and Active-Duty components. Some National Guard and Reserve veterans believe that it is more challenging for them to successfully apply for VA benefits compared to veterans of regular components. According to a Statement for the Record provided by The American Legion during the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing on H.R. 4183: ``Guard and Reserve veterans have historically been at a disadvantage when seeking VA compensation and disability benefits due to poor reporting and documentation of injuries which occur during a period of Reserve or Active Duty for training.'' We must ensure that all of our veterans who have been injured as a result of their service receive the benefits they have earned. This legislation would shed additional insight into the barriers our National Guard and Reserve veterans could face when seeking VA benefits. This may, in turn, inform how VA could improve its claims process for National Guard and Reserve veterans. I encourage all Members to support H.R. 4183, as amended. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. Madam Speaker, as has been testified today from both sides of the aisle, both of these programs are vitally important. We believe this legislation would move forward in making sure that both veterans and the blind and disabled who are working in our VA system will be taken care of. I appreciate everyone who is a sponsor of this bill, and I encourage all Members involved to vote ``yes.'' Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4920, the VA Contracting Preference Consistency Act. I thank Chairman Takano for introducing the legislation, which would preserve employment opportunities for the blind and severely disabled who rely on VA contracts. This bill addresses a technical conflict between the AbilityOne Program and the VA Veterans First program. I am sorry to say that this conflict exists because of Congress' oversight in the drafting of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. Whereas earlier legislation was clear about the legislation between the AbilityOne and the service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses contracting programs, the 2006 act was silent. The result has been a series of lawsuits beginning in 2017. I wish this conflict did not exist, but the fact is, it does, and it still does. It has put the jobs of over 2,000 individuals who are blind or severely disabled potentially at risk. These are vulnerable populations with an unemployment rate that hovers around 70 to 80 percent. The bill's solution is simple and equitable. It preserves only the AbilityOne work that was being performed in VA as of December 22, 2006, when the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 was enacted, creating the Veterans First Program. No new work will go into the AbilityOne Program. Rather, it will all be reserved for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses under the rule of two. This is very similar to the VA's policy, which balanced the two programs for nearly 10 years. While that policy was effective in practice, it was struck down because it lacked a clear statutory basis. Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of wrong information circulating about this legislation. Some had alleged that it would abolish the Vets First program or wipe away the Supreme Court's Kingdomware decision, and that is simply not true. The Vets First program is a success story. The volume of VA contracting with veteran-owned small businesses now exceeds $5 billion annually. This legislation in no way, shape, or form erodes that. On the other hand, the VA spending in the AbilityOne Program fluctuates between $100 million and $200 million in a typical year. This legislation would preserve only a portion of that, the portion that exists before Vets First was created. At the end of the day, this issue is about preserving jobs for the blind and disabled individuals, and these jobs are extremely scarce. I want to see these jobs multiply and become higher paying with more opportunities for advancement. The first step to do that is to make sure jobs continue to exist. There have already been a significant number of furloughs at AbilityOne nonprofits. It is vital that we act before those furloughs turn into full-time layoffs. Last week, 497 veterans who are employed by the AbilityOne nonprofits or supporters of the program sent a letter urging passage of this bill. The committee has received many other letters from business owners praising or opposing the bill, depending on which program they are associated with. I do not for a minute want to fall into that false choice between opportunities for veterans and opportunities for blind and disabled individuals. They can coexist. They have coexisted in the past, and I want to make sure that they coexist in the future. Madam Speaker, to that end, I thank all the cosponsors of this broadly bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3362 is a good bill and will make it easier for mothers traveling by air. I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, Mrs. Miller, for her leadership on this issue. I also want to thank Chairman DeFazio and Chairman Larsen of the Aviation Subcommittee for their bipartisan effort to bring this legislation to the floor. I urge all Members to support H.R. 3362. Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank Representative Miller for introducing this important bill that ensures mothers are accommodated, whether they are traveling to or from large, medium, or small hub airports. As a father of two daughters and a grandfather of seven granddaughters, I believe it is vitally important that, when traveling, the stress level can be reduced tremendously if these rooms are available. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3362, the Small Airport Mothers' Rooms Act of 2019. This bill passed unanimously out of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in June, and I am pleased it is finally being brought to the floor. While a growing number of airports have designated mothers' rooms, many nursing mothers still end up in a restroom or on the airport floor. When delays happen, passengers often have no control over how long they will be at the airport. For nursing mothers, these delays can make a difficult trip even more stressful. Making certain accommodations within the airport terminal is essential. The bill extends the requirements of the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 by requiring small hub airports to provide clean facilities for mothers to nurse their children. The law requires that the area be located outside of a restroom and include a place to sit, a table, a sink or sanitizing equipment, and an electrical outlet. Importantly, the room must also be fully accessible to passengers with disabilities. When fully enacted, this bill will ensure that 97 percent of airline passengers will have access to clean, sanitary, and accessible mothers' rooms. The bill before us today also contains a provision recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration that will give airports that grow into small hubs sufficient time to comply with the law. The bill has been endorsed by nearly 60 international, national, regional, State, and Tribal organizations. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from these organizations. Washington, DC, July 15, 2019. Dear Congresswoman Miller: We, the undersigned organizations, thank you for introducing the Small Airports Mothers' Rooms Act of 2019. By leading Congress to protect and support breastfeeding, you demonstrate a commitment to our nation's families. Breastfeeding is a proven primary prevention strategy, building a foundation for life-long health and wellness. Breastfeeding parents who choose or need to travel should not have to struggle to find lactation spaces--no matter the size of the airport, risking their milk supply and thereby their ultimate breastfeeding success. Building on the success of the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act, already being implemented in airports across the nation well ahead of the required 2021 implementation date, the Small Airport Mothers' Room Act of 2019 (H.R. 3362) would extend these provisions to small airports. Small airports would have two additional years to come into compliance, and would be able to use Airport Improvement Program funds for the purpose of complying with the new requirement. Small hub airports would be required to provide a private, non-bathroom space in each terminal for breastfeeding people to express breast milk. The space must be accessible to persons with disabilities, available in each terminal building after the security checkpoint, and include a place to sit, a table or other flat surface, and an electrical outlet. Human milk is the preferred and most appropriate ``First Food,'' adapting over time to meet the changing needs of the growing child. The United States Breastfeeding Committee joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and all major medical authorities in recommending that infants get no food or drink other than human milk for their first six months and continue to receive human milk for at least the first 1-2 years of life. The evidence for the value of breastfeeding to children's and mother's health is scientific, solid, and continually being reaffirmed by new research. Compared with formula-fed children, those who are breastfed have a reduced risk of ear, skin, stomach, and respiratory infections; diarrhea; sudden infant death syndrome; and necrotizing enterocolitis. In the longer term, breastfed children have a reduced risk of obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, asthma, and childhood leukemia. Women who breastfed their children have a reduced long-term risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also provides a range of benefits for employers and society. A 2016 study of both maternal & pediatric health outcomes and associated costs based on 2012 breastfeeding rates showed that, if 90% of infants were breastfed according to medical recommendations, 3,340 deaths, $3 billion in medical costs, and $14.2 billion in costs of premature death would be prevented, annually! For all of these reasons, The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding; the Institute of Medicine report, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention; and the National Prevention Strategy each call for promotion of breastfeeding-friendly environments. Yet in spite of this tremendous recognition--and laws in 50 states that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location--lactating people continue to face barriers, even harassment, when breastfeeding in public. And when away from their babies, airports are just one of many public places where they face challenges finding a clean, private space to pump. We know that 80% of mothers intend to breastfeed, and 82.5% actually do breastfeed at birth. Yet only 25% of U.S. infants are still exclusively breastfed at six months of age. Most families today choose to breastfeed, but a range of obstacles can make it difficult to fit breastfeeding into parents' lives. No matter what they're doing or where they are, breastfeeding people need to express milk every few hours in order to keep up their supply. Missing even one needed pumping session can have several undesirable consequences, including discomfort, leaking, inflammation and infection, decreased supply, and ultimately, breastfeeding cessation. As a result, returning to work often presents a significant barrier to breastfeeding. Current federal law requires employers to provide nursing mothers who are nonexempt employees a private, non-bathroom location to express breast milk. Airport lactation spaces are therefore an important step to support employers that need to accommodate lactating travelers as well as lactating employees of the airport. A growing number of airports have designated lactation spaces, yet many lactating people still end up in restrooms or on airport floors. Travelers rarely have control over how long they are in transit, making accessible accommodations within airports a critical priority. We are heartened to see the implementation of the FAM Act in large and medium hub airports and look forward to expanding similar requirements to small airports. This expansion supports, promotes, and protects breastfeeding in rural areas, further contributing to national public health goals. The Small Airports Mothers' Rooms Act would help keep our nation's families healthy by ensuring that breastfeeding travelers and airport employees (in airports of all sizes) have access to appropriate facilities. This is an important step toward ensuring all families have the opportunity to reach their personal breastfeeding goals. Again, we applaud your leadership in introducing the Small Airports Mothers' Rooms Act and stand ready to help you achieve its passage. Sincerely,

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, this, too, will likely be dealt with as commonsense legislation, making sure that the grants are delivered and that the proper amount of grants are delivered to make sure proper safety occurs not only in the fishing industry, but we should move forward to try to do that in all of our industries. Mr. Speaker, I encourage the support of all of my colleagues, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4719 restores the Federal cost-share for the Fishing Safety Training Grant Program and the Fishing Safety Research Grant Program to 75 percent. In 2010, Congress imposed additional safety requirements on U.S. commercial fishing vessels and created these grant programs to assist the fishing industry and fishermen in meeting the additional costs of these requirements. The grant programs were first funded in 2018. In 2018, Congress also transferred responsibility for the programs to the Department of Health and Human Services. H.R. 4719 sets the Federal share of the grants to 75 percent and extends the authorization for the grants through fiscal year 2021. The Senate Commerce Committee reported a provision similar to H.R. 4719 in its Coast Guard Authorization Act. The bill also repeals and updates sections of the law dealing with the former United States Lighthouse Service. The service became part of the United States Coast Guard in 1939. I commend Congressman Golden and the dean of the House, Don Young, for introducing this bipartisan legislation. Of the 9 leading fishing ports in the United States by volume, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) represents 5 of them. Of the top 10 fishing ports by value, he represents 6. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, obviously, from the conversations we have had here today, this is commonsense legislation. You know, we have banned smoking and also know the problems we faced this last year with e-cigarettes, the reasons and concerns that are out there. This is commonsense legislation that I believe a majority of our constituents are in agreement with. This just codifies into law the past practices of Amtrak. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2726, the Banning Smoking on Amtrak Act of 2019, is commonsense legislation. I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her leadership on this bill. Current Amtrak policy prohibits smoking on Amtrak trains, Thruway buses, and in stations. This prohibition includes smoking tobacco products and electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes. H.R. 2726 seeks to codify Amtrak's internal policies prohibiting smoking, including electronic cigarettes, on its trains. The bill is modeled after Congresswoman Norton's prior bill enacted into law in 2018 as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act that clarified the smoking ban on airplanes includes electronic cigarettes. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed this bill by voice vote, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Vera Juenger of Millstadt, Illinois on her upcoming 102nd birthday. Known for her outgoing and active lifestyle, Vera is also recognized for her popular pecans, which she sells to loyal customers who come back year after year. Born on December 31, 1917, Vera still lives in the home that she and her husband, Albert, built on a large farm in 1962. You can find Vera tending to her pecan trees or driving herself to Ott's fish stand, where she enjoys dinner and a beer with her family every Friday. Her impact on the community was exemplified by the turnout of over 200 people who attended her 100th birthday celebration. This year on her birthday, she plans to go to her favorite sports bar to celebrate with her friends and family. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Vera Juenger on a life that continues to be well-lived. On behalf of Southern Illinois, happy birthday.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the East St. Louis Flyers for winning the Football 6A State Championship. After breezing past their opponents by a score of 43-21 in the finals, the team secured a perfect 14-0 record and their third state championship title under coach Darren Sunkett. After the tragic and untimely loss of two players, Jermaine Falconer and Jaylon McKenzie, earlier this year, the Flyers found the inspiration to carry on and honor the memory of their fallen teammates. Despite incredibly difficult circumstances, the Flyers excelled on the field, outscoring their opponents by an average of over 36 points per game. These young men put their hearts into every game, and their hard work paid off with an accomplishment that they can be proud of for the rest of their lives. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the players, coaches, and families of the East St. Louis Senior High School football team for their incredible season. Southern Illinois is proud of them.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Brigadier General John Clayton Reppert of Anna, Illinois, who passed away peacefully earlier this month. General Reppert dedicated his life to his God, his country, his family and his friends. As a young man, John was a star on his high school football team and worked at his hometown, family-owned newspaper, the Anna Gazette- Democrat. While attending Kansas State, he met and later married Patricia Ann Rash. Soon after graduating, John was drafted as a private and assigned to Officer Candidate School before serving in Vietnam as a Signal Corps Officer. General Reppert proudly served in the Army for 33 years, with a focus on issues impacting relations between the United States and former Soviet Union. General Reppert became the Defense Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, playing a key role in shaping American military and diplomatic policy. General Reppert earned a master's degree and a Ph.D., leading him to an influential career as a professor. He later taught classes at schools such as Harvard University and West Point. He eventually served as Harvard's Executive Director for Research. Though he maintained an extremely busy life after his military and educational careers, General Reppert remained involved in his community as a Sunday School teacher at his local church. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, General Reppert lived his life in full measure, leaving his mark on all on who knew him. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Brigadier General John Reppert of Anna, Illinois, and celebrate the incredible life he lived. May he rest in peace.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lyle Endicott of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, for his selfless service to our country during World War II and for his upcoming 98th birthday. Mr. Endicott served his country with honor, started multiple successful businesses, and is a staple in his community. Mr. Endicott was born in Mt. Vernon on December 7, 1921. Twenty years later, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy and became a fighter pilot. As a naval aviator, Mr. Endicott deployed to the Pacific on the Steamer Bay Aircraft Carrier, where he supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and the Okinawa Islands. After his honorable discharge, he married Elizabeth ``Annie'' Piercy and started a family. Upon settling in Woodlawn, Illinois, the two opened a grocery store and Endicott Interiors, a furniture business that still operates today. Mr. Endicott later became the head pilot for Self Oil Company in Mt. Vernon and was renowned as one of Southern Illinois' finest aviators. Those who know Mr. Endicott say that he is fun-loving and fearless in his approach to life. As a father, grandfather, and now great-grandfather, he is a true family man who has touched countless lives. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Lyle Endicott for his unwavering patriotism and celebrate his birthday. On behalf of Southern Illinois, happy 98th.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Katherine Campbell, who turns 100 later this year. Born on November 11, 1919, her birthday coincided with the first Armistice Day after World War I, which later became Veterans Day. Katherine, known to her friends and loved ones as ``Aunt Kitty,'' was born in St. Louis before moving to Carbondale as a young girl. It was there where she met and then later married her first husband, Neal. After having two sons, Katherine worked at the town's Dodge dealership for many years. When Neal passed away, Katherine moved to Louisville and married her second husband, Bob, before moving back to Carbondale where she still lives today. Known to be sweet and caring to anyone she meets, Katherine is a true friend and loving mother and grandmother. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Katherine Campbell on her milestone 100th birthday. On behalf of Southern Illinois, happy birthday

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the unveiling of the POW-MIA monument in Waterloo, Illinois this weekend. Waterloo was named an official ``POW-MIA'' city earlier this year by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum. With National POW-MIA Day occurring this weekend, it is important to remember the 82,000 men and women who served our country and did not come home. This new monument honors the bravery and sacrifice of these American patriots and ensures that those who have not been accounted for remain in our thoughts and prayers. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this momentous occasion for the people of Waterloo and the American heroes they honor.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Revis Brown of Anna, Illinois, who passed away peacefully earlier this month. Revis, born on August 5, 1926, was a decorated World War II and Korean War veteran who served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Immediately after graduating high school, Revis enlisted to serve his country in the Pacific during World War II. While fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Revis was blasted and wounded with shrapnel, but continued to fight on bravely. Though some of this shrapnel remained in his back for the rest of his life, Revis selflessly reenlisted to fight in the Korean War. After his service was finished, Revis worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. Revis Brown was a hero during wartime and an exemplary citizen during times of peace. He was the definition of a true American, and we wish his family and friends our prayers in their time of mourning. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Corporal Revis Brown for his service to our country and his contributions to Southern Illinois. May he rest in peace.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. As a marine, it is one of my greatest honors to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is vitally important that our government fulfill its promises to our Nation's military members that they will be taken care of once they return. The Department of Veterans Affairs is tasked with ensuring that they receive the care they need and have earned. This bill ensures that the VA can continue to support some of our Nation's most vulnerable veterans. It extends funding for programs that help very low-income veterans and those who must travel long distances to vet centers in order to receive their care. That is why I am proud to cosponsor and introduce this legislation with my friend, Congressman Brindisi, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Chairman, for years, we have been told that we live in a resource-poor Nation. We were also told that the domestic oil and gas reserves were depleted. But, today, we know how wrong those predictions are. America is now the world leader in energy development. But don't forget about the jobs. Oil and gas production is a jobs multiplier. According to recent studies, more than 10 million American jobs can be attributed to oil and gas production. For each drilling and oil job, many more are created in manufacturing, transportation, and service industries. In my district, the U.S. Steel Granite City Works facility produces the steel for Oil Country Tubular Goods. These products are used in oil and gas production. These are good-paying jobs with great benefits. In addition to the steel jobs in Granite City, approximately 10,000 Illinois manufacturers have jobs that have oil and gas industry ties. According to some estimates, an additional 1 million manufacturing jobs could be created through oil and gas development. We need to think about this as the political fringes try to shove the Green New Deal down our throats. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, we often hear about the disconnect between the beltway and the American people. It is usually not intentional. It is not based on malice, but it is real. The perfect example of this disconnect is found in my district in southern Illinois. Alexander County is home to the Len Small levee along the Mississippi River. The levee breached during the winter floods of 2015 and 2016. The aerial photo here shows just how devastating the breach was for farms and communities. There is about 1,000 acres, and that river is now trying to cut a new gorge to change the course of the river. We immediately went to work in our office to try to get Len Small repaired. However, the Army Corps of Engineers told us that the levee wouldn't receive Federal funding because it failed to meet the benefit- cost ratio based solely on its flood protection criteria. But the Len Small levee provides much more than flood protection. It is critical to navigation and commerce on the Mississippi River. If it cuts through that gorge, it changes the course of the river and it becomes a rapids. So I introduced legislation directing the Army Corps of Engineers to consider navigational benefits, along with flood protection, when determining if a levee was worth a repair. The Corps then informed us that there was no navigational benefit to the repair in Len Small. So over the months, the flood waters receded, leaving nothing but the sand and debris behind. And that was until earlier this year, when record rainfall into the Mississippi flood plain and southern Illinois once again brought the river up. In August, I toured the where the levee is, and this was left behind: six barges, not counting the tolls that were sucked in. We managed to get all of them out but two. Now, this is three-quarters of a mile inland on a person's farm, but yet they are saying that it has no navigational problems? Look, I believe the Washington staff of the Army Corps has good intentions. They don't want to hurt people. They want to make a bad situation better, and they are trying to balance the needs of the communities across this country. It can't be easy, and I appreciate that. But how in the world can anybody look at this photo and say there is no navigational benefit to the Len Small levee? When the floodwaters crested earlier this summer, the Coast Guard issued a warning. Now, another Federal agent. What does it say? U.S. Coast Guard Safety Advisory, June 27, 2019, unclassified: The U.S. Coast Guard has issued this safety advisory due to an outdraft at the break in the Len Small levee. It is recommended that the vessels stay approximately 800 feet off the shore. Use extreme caution. Keep a sharp lookout, and report navigational hazards to the Coast Guard immediately. That is right. The U.S. Coast Guard issued a safety warning to vessels in the river to avoid the Len Small levee. They urged ships to use extreme caution and report any navigational hazard. Madam Speaker, there is a clear navigational benefit to fixing the Len Small levee, and there are huge navigational consequences to not taking action. Weeks, months, or years from now, we will be right back in this situation again when the flooded land and desperate people ask why their government didn't act sooner. I urge the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider how important this levee is to flood protection and navigation. We must get the Len Small levee fixed.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert E. Colter and Catherine Stromdahl Colter of East Alton, Illinois for celebrating their 102nd and 100th birthdays, respectively. Robert, born on August 3, 1917 in Titusville, Pennsylvania and Catherine, born on July 27, 1919, were married in Catherine's hometown of Warren, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1942. This year, Robert and Catherine also celebrated their seventy-seventh wedding anniversary. Robert and Catherine moved to East Alton, Illinois in 1962, where they continue to reside in the same home today. When they are not spending time with their children and many grandchildren, Robert and Catherine dedicate their time giving back to their community. As members of East Alton First United Methodist Church for over 50 years, the Colters have made a lasting impact on countless people. Their commitment to each other and the betterment of their community is truly inspiring. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Mr. Robert E. Colter and Mrs. Catherine Stromdahl Colter for their many years together and their contributions to Southern Illinois.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the life of Jim Monken, a loving father, football coach, and mentor who helped young men in East St. Louis become champions on and off the gridiron. Youth coaches serve not only to help players win games, but to teach them responsibility and accountability as they grow into men. Coach Monken will be remembered by those who played under him as a father figure who did everything in his power to ensure they succeeded in life. If you played for his team, you were a member of his family for life. In fact, before his recent passing, Coach Monken was visited by many of his former players, a testament to his life-long impact on those who played for him. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Coach Jim Monken, one of the most successful youth football coaches in Illinois history and an even better human being.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, southern Illinois is home to one of America's great civilizations in history, many years before this was the United States of America. Its center was at Cahokia, and it was once the largest civilization in today's United States. By 1200 A.D., the community numbered 10,000 to 20,000 strong. What remains today are the Cahokia Mounds, a 2,200-acre site with more than 70 earth mounds, upon which many of their buildings once stood. This treasure is visited by schools, families, and history buffs, everyone who wants to see this wonderful part of history. It is a critical part of history. That is why I introduced a bill to make Cahokia Mounds a national park. My bill would help preserve this amazing piece of history for generations to come. I thank Congressmen Clay, Shimkus, and Davis for cosponsoring this bill. This legislation preserves the mounds in their districts, as well. I also thank the State and local leaders who support our efforts in Illinois, and I thank the HeartLands Conservancy for its hard work and for being guardians of our history. I thank my staff for working so hard with other issues that are going on but understanding how important this issue is to future generations, to the opportunity for our children and grandchildren to understand the history of this area in the world. I am proud to be part of these efforts to preserve our past well into the future.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of East St. Louis American Legion Post 53. During the last century, this post has provided countless local veterans with services, support, and fellowship. Such commitment to our heroes has helped the American Legion become one of the largest non-profit organizations in the United States. After World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice in November 1918, veterans came back to America wanting to remain a close-knit community. After Congress chartered the American Legion later that year, Post 53 in East St. Louis became a pillar of the national organization. As a Marine and the father of a Marine, I am so grateful for all of the work the American Legion at Post 53 has done over the years to bring our heroes together and ensure they receive the benefits they deserve. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this momentous occasion and commend the East St. Louis American Legion Post 53 for the great achievements they have achieved over the last 100 years.