Bob Dold

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to express my support for the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which has now passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with unanimous support. This important step shows that there continues to be momentum to move forward on this vital and necessary bill to ensure accountability and congressional oversight over any deal with Iran. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move quickly to enact this bipartisan legislation so that the American people can have a say in any final agreement. Mr. Speaker, I remain extremely concerned that the administration's latest agreement with Iran means that we are headed for a historically bad deal. An agreement that sunsets by the time my youngest daughter is in college does nothing to secure our long-term national security. In the weeks ahead, Congress must stand strong and unequivocally reject any deal that leaves intact Iran's nuclear infrastructure, that cements Iran's position as a nuclear threshold state, that unwinds the sanctions architecture in exchange for empty promises, or that legitimizes a sure-to-fail inspection regime that falls short of ``anywhere, anytime'' inspections. Mr. Speaker, we must not be fooled into false choices, and Iran must not be left with any path towards a nuclear weapon.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. I thank my good friend from Texas, and I certainly appreciate your leadership on this. Again, highlighting the fact that this is also an economic issue is this land, all of a sudden, can't be redeveloped oftentimes; and, frankly, the property taxes for a lot of these communities can't be developed to its fullest extent. As jobs in the economy continue to be that constant drumbeat around the country and certainly in our communities, you know better than many in terms of what we need to do to create jobs, and this is one of the things that I think the government is falling short on.

Mr. DOLD. I thank the gentleman for your leadership. As we continue to talk about this, again, it just highlights, Mr. Speaker, how many communities, how many sites we have around our country that are impacted by spent nuclear fuel, whether it could be defense or whether it be for civilian purposes. It is now my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my good friend.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Corporal Richard Vana of the United States Marine Corps. Corporal Vana served during World War II and fought valiantly during the Battle of Okinawa. As a member of the Marine Raiders, Corporal Vana was just one of a small group who survived all 99 days of this bloody campaign. On June 1, 1945 Corporal Vana was rejoining his company after filling in a defensive position when he came under mortar fire from the Japanese. During this mortar attack, Vana took shelter in a foxhole with another marine. Within moments, a neighboring foxhole was struck by mortar fire, and one of Corporal Vana's comrades was severely wounded. Under constant enemy fire, Corporal Vana and another marine, PFC Stuart Upchurch, helped to rescue the wounded marine and take him to shelter from the enemy. Corporal Vana and PFC Upchurch performed emergency lifesaving medical procedures until a Navy corpsman could provide assistance. Without the heroic actions of Corporal Vana and PFC Upchurch the wounded marine surely would have died from his wounds. Their life- saving action upheld the motto of the Marine Corps. The unwavering courage and gallantry Corporal Vana deserves the utmost respect and gratitude. These actions reflect great credit upon Corporal Vana, his unit, the U.S Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, and the United States of America.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize PADS of Lake County for the exceptional work they do providing emergency shelter to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Providing advocacy, dignity and shelter, PADS Lake County works to combat homelessness with compassion and respect. PADS strives to end homelessness by helping clients commit to their own health and recovery and assisting them in gaining self-sufficiency through affordable housing. PADS is the first point of contact when homelessness strikes and often the only hope for individuals, families and veterans facing a long night in the cold or extreme heat. In this way, PADS truly does save lives. In short, PADS services provide a safe environment for people to get back on their feet, and the Tenth District is fortunate to have an organization like PADS providing critical services to our individuals and families most in need.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, every nine seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten in the United States, and one in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime. The statistics are, quite simply, alarming. I want to recognize an organization in our district working to combat the very real and disturbing violence behind these statistics. A Safe Place of Lake County transforms the lives of victims of domestic violence by providing counseling, shelter, support groups, training, legal support and outreach to prevent further abuse. Its goal is to encourage a whole community to break the cycle of violence through education and speaking out against destructive behavior. A Safe Place transforms hundreds of families by giving them the opportunity to receive the help they need and a chance to start a new chapter in their lives. I stand with A Safe Place because everyone deserves a safe and healthy life.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the chairman for his leadership. I want to thank my good friend from Massachusetts, and I also want to comment on the fact that we are delighted that you are a Libertarian on some of these things. As we look, Mr. Speaker, at H.R. 1480, the SAFE Act Confidentiality and Privilege Enhancement Act, it preserves the ability of the State and Federal financial regulators to share information regarding consumer financial services businesses that are licensed at the State level in the National Mortgage Licensing System without losing the privilege and confidentiality protections provided by State and Federal law. This is a bipartisan bill that promotes smart and efficient regulation among State regulators. It ensures that State regulators can talk to their colleagues across State lines regarding multistate financial service entities without losing traditional privilege and constitutionality protections. These amendments are needed due to the unintended gap in the existing National Mortgage Licensing System statute. As State regulators have expanded their use of the NMLS in order to enhance consumer protections, to combat fraud, increase uniformity, and reduce regulatory burdens in licensing processes, privacy protections have not kept up. This is a commonsense bill that provides regulators with the certainty that they can continue to share information and collaborate with their colleagues across State lines. Protecting the integrity of the National Mortgage Licensing System is important because it better protects consumers from bad actors who switch States for licensing purposes to evade scrutiny. This is ensuring, Mr. Speaker, smart regulations. Again, I talk to people all around my district. The fact is that we are not against regulations. We just want our regulations to be smart and tailored, and this is one of those things that, again, working across the aisle and trying to find common ground, this is one that I believe that we can agree on. H.R. 1480 does not create any new privilege or confidentiality rights. It merely ensures that the existing privilege and confidentiality protections are retained when information is shared through the National Mortgaging Licensing System so that regulators can share information and communicate. H.R. 1480 has received support from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, the Credit Union National Association, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, in my home State. The SAFE Act Confidentiality and Privilege Enhancement Act passed out of this committee, out of the Financial Services Committee, 58-0. I certainly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and look forward to its passage.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Chelsea LaLiberte and Jody Daitchman, as well as the other hardworking volunteers, on the opening of the Live4Lali clinic in Arlington Heights, Ill. In the Chicago suburbs, somebody dies of a heroin overdose every three days. Cheaper than cigarettes and more accessible than alcohol, heroin has become a plague on our suburbs. Ms. LaLiberte and Ms. Daitchman recognized that our community and suburbs across the country are struggling with this epidemic, and they have taken bold and courageous action to prevent people from falling victim to drug abuse. Their efforts have already saved countless lives and the Live4Lali clinic will undoubtedly save countless more. I offer my deepest thanks for their work in helping to strengthen our community, and I urge the Members of this House to help us empower these agents of change by getting drug abuse prevention programs the funding they need.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am excited today to recognize the very important work of KA Voice. KA Voice is working tirelessly to enfranchise and empower the more than 67,000 ethnic Koreans residing in Illinois. Through voter registration efforts, community forums, debates, and policy engagement, this non-partisan group is working to give Korean-Americans a strong voice in Washington, D.C., statehouses, and in local governments. I have long made it a priority to work with our local Korean-American community to ensure that they have a strong voice in Congress. KA Voice has made it easier for me to hear and act on of the community's priorities. Whether it is on the issue of immigration reform, a stronger economy or better relations with South Korea, KA Voice has helped me set an agenda in Congress that is moving our country forward. This Saturday, March 28, KA Voice will hold its second annual national conference in Northbrook, Illinois. The conference will focus on civic engagement, which is at the heart of our democracy. I want to personally thank KA Voice President Charlie Jong Jung and his team of young leaders for bringing this important conference to Illinois and for their efforts in building a national organization or Korean- Americans.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Stevenson High School men's basketball team for their Illinois state championship title, becoming the first Lake County high school to win a Class 4A state championship title in men's basketball. I want to personally recognize the players on the team: Connor Cashaw, Cameron Green, Justin Smith, Parker Nichols, Joshua McMullen, Ryan Rosenbaum, Matt Johnson, Ryuji Aoki, Jalen Brunson, Radek Gralak, Benjamin Rodheim, Jordan Newman, Jordan Hodes, Raymond Sullivan, Kevin Yang, and Nick Dillon. I also want to recognize Head coach Pat Ambrose; Assistant Coach John Taylor; Volunteer Coaches Kevin Stineman and Paul Swan; and Managers Deborah Blount, Jack Greeley, Nathan Halterman and Matthew Solway. This accomplishment speaks volumes to the players' dedication, hard work, and perseverance. Stevenson High School's win, however, is not just a victory for the players and the school; it is a victory for our entire community.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, amid concerns of hostile treatment against Israel at the United Nations, I launched an initiative where I wrote letters to dozens of foreign ambassadors to the United Nations and explained why it was important that they stood against anti-Israel actions at the U.N. I am saddened, Mr. Speaker, that the United States is apparently now in need of such a letter. Recent public reports indicate that President Obama warned Prime Minister Netanyahu, fresh off of his democratic election by the Israeli people, that the U.S. will reassess our options at the U.N. Think about that for a second, Mr. Speaker. President Obama has left everyone with the impression that the United States could change its course and abandon Israel at the U.N. I can't think of a worse message to send to our friends in Israel and a better gift to the anti-Israel factions of the international community. The delegitimization efforts of Israel are on the rise around the world and in the United Nations. Israel needs its friends in the United States now more than ever before. These are bipartisan concerns, Mr. Speaker. Republicans and Democrats alike want a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and the days of this administration challenging and undercutting Israel's Prime Minister, regardless of who that Prime Minister may be, must stop. The stakes are far too high. The challenges are amongst us. We have to stand and speak with one united voice, Republicans and Democrats alike, that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our one true ally. This is not right versus left; this is right versus wrong.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 10th District's very own Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago and their commitment to gender equality. The National Association for Female Executives recently released their list of the top 50 companies for executive women. For the sixth consecutive year, Abbott Laboratories placed in the top 10. The association recognized Abbott for their commitment to promoting and empowering women. I am extremely proud of Abbott's commitment and accomplishments. But it is also a sign, Mr. Speaker, of how much progress we still have to make as a country. We must continue to ensure that our young women have all the same opportunities available to them as young men. We must be sure that women are not at a disadvantage simply due to their gender. It is our duty not just as Members of this House but also as human beings to ensure that women and men are equals in the workplace, and increasing the number of female executives is crucial to that goal. Mr. Speaker, companies like Abbott have made tremendous strides, but there is still work to be done. I applaud their example and urge others to follow.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank my good friend for raising an important issue about religious freedom. It certainly is critical. As we look at some of the atrocities that are happening around the world, Mr. Speaker, I want to rise today to talk about the Armenian genocide that happened nearly 100 years ago. This year actually marks the 100th anniversary. As the eyes of the world focus on ISIS and the brutal killings of innocent Christians in the Middle East, we must recognize the horrors of the past if we hope to avoid repeating them in the future. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, during which the Ottoman Turks systematically exterminated over 1.5 million Armenians and Christian minorities. This genocide is a fact and cannot be ignored. It is settled history. Turkey, however, has never accepted the responsibility and has continued to hide behind its brutal tactics that shroud violations of human rights. Even as 11 of our NATO allies and 42 U.S. States have recognized Turkey's leading role in this atrocity, this body has yet to do so. The continued campaign of denial sets a dangerous precedent that makes future atrocities, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, more likely. While ordering his military leaders to attack Poland, Adolf Hitler rationalized: ``Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?'' Mr. Speaker, if we deny that these atrocities exist, we actually perpetuate the potential that it may happen again. We must join the international community to speak with a unified voice against this genocide. Our bipartisan Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, H. Res. 154--just dropped--would send an unequivocal message that we will never forget those that were lost, nor will we tolerate human rights abuses of any kind. Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the 100th anniversary--on April 24, to be specific--of the Armenian genocide. I call on our colleagues in the United States Congress to speak out by passing the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution so that we can end the denial once and for all.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. The amendment ensures that the Federal education dollars will go to students and schools that need them most and that the Federal education funds are not redirected into State pension programs that pay off the States' unfunded liabilities. The amendment prohibits States from requiring school districts that choose to pay teachers using Federal funds to make a contribution to a teacher's pension plan that covers not only the normal cost of that teacher, but also covers the unfunded liabilities that that pension plan may have incurred. It will prevent the States from forcing school districts to use Federal funds to bail out State pension plans and will leave school districts free to make the best decisions for their needs. Mr. Chairman, it is important to recognize that the amendment does not ban school districts from making pension contributions to cover the normal costs of a teacher's participation in that pension plan. The amendment only prevents States from redirecting Federal education dollars to pay off unfunded liabilities and instead leaves the school districts free to use the Federal funds for their intended purposes: improving our schools, hiring more teachers, and giving children the opportunity to receive a better education. I think it is important, Mr. Chairman, as we look at what is happening certainly in my State, the State of Illinois, there are times where actually almost 33 percent of title I dollars, of dollars that go to IDEA, actually go into the teachers' pension. It is actually a penalty. So what we find is that we find school districts that are in desperate need of hiring additional teachers that are using those dollars not to go to teachers. They are instead using those dollars to pay for other things because they refuse to take a 33 percent, in essence, haircut on funds that are desperately needed. So again I want to emphasize, Mr. Chairman, to my colleagues that this is not something that happens in many States. In fact, our research shows that Illinois may be fairly unique in this regard. But what I did find just last week, Mr. Chairman, I had an educational advisory board meeting with teachers and administrators and principals. One of the things that they said and they urged me, they said: Please, can you do something about this problem that we have? One school district that is in desperate need of teachers said, if we were able to solve this problem, they would be able to hire six additional teachers to be able to help out in their crowded classrooms to be able to have a better teacher-student ratio. This is something that is a problem in the State of Illinois, something that I think we can actually solve here. My hope is that my colleagues will support this amendment and that we will be able to really allow those dollars to be able to go to those students that are in desperate need of help. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DOLD. I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia. I certainly appreciate that. Mr. Chairman, my hope is, again, we have a bipartisan solution that allows Federal education dollars to be able to go into local school districts that are going to be able to hire more teachers. This is the way, hopefully, the process is supposed to work, Republicans and Democrats looking to work together to actually help our children. I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 92, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting with constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Stated against:

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Chairman, I certainly want to thank my good friend from California for her leadership on this, and also my friend from Colorado. Really what this is doing, Mr. Chairman, is this is talking about a technical correction. As my friend from California pointed out, what we are really looking to try to do is to make sure that the dollars allocated in this bill for continuing education and other things are actually going to a school leader, which is mentioned throughout this bill, but ``school leader'' is left largely undefined. We want to make sure that we put a little bit more definition for our local school districts so that they have a better understanding that a school leader is actually someone that resides within the school. We think that is absolutely critical in terms of continuing education, some of the other programs, to make sure that it is not ambiguous. We want to make sure that we are focusing on the task at hand. We hope that this is something, again, that has bipartisan support. We hope that we will be able to go through the process fairly quickly. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, the American people expect us to deliver solutions and to fix problems; they expect us to act responsibly and govern. We can do this by working together and averting a shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security. Let me be clear: shutting down the Department of Homeland Security should not be an option, and I am adamantly opposed to letting this happen. Our first and foremost responsibility, Mr. Speaker, is to protect our Nation. Ever since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the need for the Department of Homeland Security became clear, and the Department of Homeland Security has proven vital to keeping the American people safe amid an ongoing war against terror. Terror threats do not just go away until Washington is able to come to a compromise. There is certainly broad disagreement, Mr. Speaker, in this country over the President's executive actions. By shutting down DHS, it only makes us more vulnerable to attacks. It is absolutely the wrong approach to addressing this disagreement. There is no room for political brinkmanship when the security of the American public is at stake.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from Texas for his remarks talking about Sam Johnson, one of the great American heroes that we have the honor here of serving with. That tap code that you just heard was really the lifeline, the lifeline for so many of the almost 600 POWs, the vast majority in the Hoa Lo Prison. So while you heard those taps, those taps were actually the communication system that allowed those POWs to have some sort of contact with another human, and, I would argue, probably saved many lives. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to my good friend from Kentucky.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for coming and joining us in honoring these really incredible servicemen, each with an incredible story, and really as we talk about it, actually, Mr. Speaker, I came to the floor yesterday. Yesterday I came to this very spot to talk about my uncle. My uncle is one of the Alcatraz 11, lives not far from the Capitol here in Washington. He was flying off the USS Coral Sea in an F-8 Crusader and was shot down on a low-level mission, flying about a thousand feet above the ground. Now, for those, Mr. Speaker, that don't know what an F-8 Crusader is, it is a jet that can fly at Mach 1.72, nearly twice the speed of sound. When it filled up with smoke after he was hit, he had very little time to eject. He ejected. His parachute opened about 35 feet above the ground, and he broke his back on impact. Now, this is an incredible story. Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of being shot down. That was one of the darkest days, I would argue, certainly in our family; but for American servicemen, and certainly aviators, that is certainly a very dark day. Today, February 12, marks a very different day, a day for us to rejoice because it was the day that marks Operation Homecoming, the day that over 600 American POWs would eventually be released, and February 12 was the day that those first POWs would be released from the Hoa Lo Prison. The Hoa Lo Prison, Mr. Speaker, was a prison that was built by the French, and unspeakable things happened at this prison. What is incredible to me is not the darkness of what happened at the Hoa Lo Prison, a prison that we know today as the Hanoi Hilton. What is remarkable to me is the fact that these servicemen relied upon faith and honor to get them through, and largely each other. So I just want those that may be tuning in to put themselves in the place of an American aviator, jumping on board a jet. Put yourself, perhaps, in the cockpit of that F-8 Crusader. Now, Mr. Speaker, I am not revealing any news when we talk about American servicemen and -women being a little bit cocky if they are out there flying. I think some might think they are invincible. Well, the world changed certainly for my uncle and for many on the day of their captivity. They no longer had their aircraft. They no longer had their sidearm. They no longer had their uniform. All was stripped from them. They were issued, in essence, a pair of pajamas and a pair of sandals. Little did my uncle or Sam Johnson or Nels Tanner or Jim Stockdale or Jeremiah Denton or John McCain or many of the other POWs realize how long this conflict would continue. What they did know was that each and every one of them, as an American fighting man, was going to return home with honor. Many of you may know, Mr. Speaker, the story of John McCain. His father was very high up in the United States Navy. The Vietnamese knew that they had a prize when they had John McCain, and he was offered early release. They were going to give him a free pass home and comfort to be back here in the United States. The devastation that would have done to the POWs, the morale would have been devastating, and so he turned them down. The Vietnamese said it was going to be very bad for you now, Mr. McCain, and indeed it was. He, as well as the other Americans in captivity, would endure years of torture. The big four, Mr. Speaker, was name, rank, serial number, and date of birth. And these men would be tortured for additional information. Every person--at least everyone that I know--has their breaking point, and certainly American POWs are no different. They set up a system. They set up, in essence, a military operation, following rank. Jim Stockdale was the highest-ranking officer and, therefore, sent word out that if they were broken, to be able to stiffen their back up and give no additional information next time. That tap code system that you heard the gentleman from Texas talk about, the 5 by 5 matrix, A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J--they eliminated the K because they needed to have a 5 by 5 matrix. Rows and columns--first the row, then the column. So B is first row, second column. And really, the way they did it is, ``shave and a haircut, two bits'' is how you started this conversation. So most Americans know that if you give the rap, they are going to respond with two taps. And that is when you knew there was an American on the other side of the wall. If they got any sort of a different response, they knew that it was most likely not an American and, therefore, they were going to stop their communication. What was going on through those walls was literally like hundreds of woodpeckers going nonstop, day in and day out, letting people know that it was okay, that they had them. They knew when someone was coming. They could hear the keys rattling and they knew that their comrade was going to be taken out and tortured and beaten. So when they got back to their cell, that tap code would go, letting them know that there was somebody there for them. Incredible. Now out of the hundreds of POWs that went to North Vietnam and were captured, there was a crew of the 11 greatest threats to camp security, according to the North Vietnamese. They became known as the Alcatraz 11. My uncle, Bob Shumaker, was one of the Alcatraz 11, along with Admiral Stockdale, who was shot down in 1965. He was the senior U.S. officer present during the camps. And he was considered to be a big troublemaker, no question. Also, George Coker, who was shot down in 1966. Jeremiah Denton, a United States Senator from the great State of Alabama, was shot down in 1965. Harry Jenkins was shot down also in '65. Sam Johnson, whom we talked about, whom we have the honor of serving with here in the United States Congress, was shot down in 1966 on his 25th combat mission. George McKnight was shot down in 1965. James Mulligan was shot down in 1966. Howard Rutledge was shot down in 1965. Ron Storz of the Alcatraz 11 was the only one who did not make it home alive. Nels Tanner has a unique story. He was the last of the Alcatraz 11. Nels Tanner got his ticket to Alcatraz by making the Vietnamese look bad. When he was being tortured and they were trying to get information about who was his commanding officer, Nels Tanner told them it was ``Ben Casey'' and ``Clark Kent.'' Well, here in America, everybody knows Ben Casey and Clark Kent are not real figures. And when word got back to the Vietnamese that they had been made a joke of, he got his ticket to Alcatraz. Mr. Speaker, I want people to understand Alcatraz for a minute. The reason why these 11 men went to Alcatraz is because they were the thorn in the side of the North Vietnamese. They were the ones that resisted the hardest. They were the ones that caused the problems. The American fighting men in the Hoa Lo Prison, the Hanoi Hilton, they also caused problems, but these 11 were singled out. And they went into a cell that was--at most generous--about 4 feet by 9. Just imagine that, 4 feet by 9. It is about yea big, at 9 feet in front of you. The Alcatraz 11 spent, on average, about 2\1/2\ years in this prison camp. They were able to get out of their cell for 15 minutes a day to be able to go empty their sanitation bucket. They ate in their cell. And they had a tremendous amount of time. What can you do? The most important muscle that they exercised was their brain, which is why the tap code was so important. But they used other methods. They could cough. They could sneeze. They could try to do different things along those lines. They waved their hands in front of the door so that shadows would be indicative of those letters and they were able to communicate. Mr. Speaker, let me just say, my uncle built his home in Fairfax Station, Virginia, in his mind long before any brick was laid. Brick by brick, he knew exactly how many bricks it would take. He knew exactly how many feet of pipe it would take. He knew exactly how much lumber. These were the exercises. He built it, tour it down. He built it and tour it down. These were the exercises that these men would go through. At Alcatraz, Sam Johnson learned French through the walls. A product of Texas public schools, he might not have had the opportunity to learn a foreign language. So he used that opportunity in Alcatraz to learn French from Bob Shumaker. It is not the most ideal way to learn French, but the one thing they did have was time. The Vietnamese tried to strip everything from these men, but there is one thing that they couldn't strip. They couldn't strip their faith. They couldn't strip their honor. And each was determined that they would return to the United States with honor. That, I think, is just remarkable. One of the things, as we think about February 12, 1973, we cannot miss what was happening back here at home. Their spouses played a vital role and an active role not only with the government but also in the Paris Peace Accords, advocating for the release of the American POWs. Mr. Speaker, Vietnam was not a popular war, a war that went into living rooms. But the one thing that the American public was able to unite and rally around was our American POWs. Bracelets were worn identifying American POWs and the day that they were shot down. I have a bracelet, Mr. Speaker, in my office. It is sitting next to two pictures--one of the day Bob Shumaker was shot down, February 11, 1965, and the other is this picture right here. This is the first time that he had an opportunity to see his wife and his son Grant, who was about 8 years and 3 months at the time, I think. When he had been shot down, his son Grant was only about 3 months old. This is the picture of them being reunited. I know it is not the best picture for people to be able to view. But in 1973, the styles were a little bit different. So after the release, Bob Shumaker called his wife, Lorraine, and wanted to make sure that she dressed in the fashion of 1965. You can't see the go-go boots, but you can see the miniskirt. And that was how he had remembered her, and that is how he wanted to see her when he got off that plane. Mr. Speaker, 8 years and a day for Bob Shumaker; 7 years plus for Sam Johnson; 5\1/2\ years for John McCain. Incredible stories. Torture. I can tell you that some of America's finest servicemen tried to take their own lives because they thought they let their country down when they gave information to the Vietnamese. But they were pulled up by their comrades, by the men who were next to them in these cells. There are a couple of others whom I think are particularly interesting, Mr. Speaker. Everett Alvarez actually was the first American POW. He was a U.S. Navy commander and was held in captivity for 8\1/2\ years. Douglas Hegdahl was really a unique case. Most of the POWs were aviators, whether they were flying for the United States Air Force or the United States Navy. Doug Hegdahl was a guy who was in the Navy but happened to be on a ship. He came up and happened to be standing on the deck. The ship zigged when he thought it would zag, and over the side he went. When he was picked up by the Vietnamese in civilian clothes, they thought he was a member of the Central Intelligence Agency. They put him in the Hoa Lo Prison, and he started to just get along. One of the things with that tap code that they tried to do each and every day was they would communicate who was newly in the prison. And when you think about trying to memorize the names of all the POWs-- because if, for some reason, somebody were to be released or to escape, they wanted to make sure that the United States had the opportunity to know exactly who was in captivity. It was absolutely critical for them, critical for their families to be able to know that they were still alive. Well, there were a couple of folks, Mr. Speaker, who were released early. I would say that was not necessarily the tack that many of the other POWs would have taken. Doug Hegdahl did not want to be released but was ordered to go because he had a photographic memory and knew every single POW, knew their hometown, their phone number. When he got back to the United States, he took his time to go to all of these places to visit the families of the POWs, to let them know that their son, that their husband, that their brother was still alive. He had memorized their addresses and phone numbers. He is really a remarkable man. Bud Day, Mr. Speaker, another pilot that was shot down, sustained significant injuries while flying his F-100F. John McCain credits him for really saving his life. While in captivity, he was in really tough shape. Bud Day was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, as was Jim Stockdale. Each and every one of these men--certainly the Alcatraz 11--were highly decorated for their efforts. But I think the thing that was most important to them was being able to return home with honor. We look at today, Mr. Speaker--February 12, 2015--as a celebration honoring the legacy that these American fighting men have given us all, an incredible faith and a dedication to make sure that each and every one of them was going to return with honor. There was a ceremony that happened on February 12 as they were discharged and marched out of the Hoa Lo Prison. They were determined to march in rank, as an American fighting force, and then were discharged one by one. The first one shot down would be the first one released. So that was Everett Alvarez. The second one was Bob Shumaker. They didn't believe that this day had finally come. They saw that C- 141 come into Hanoi and really didn't start the real celebration until the 141 had lifted off of that tarmac and the first group of American POWs were on their way home. Mr. Speaker, I am in awe every time I read stories of these men who did incredible things to endure and to overcome. It is an honor to be able to serve with one in this body, but it is also an honor to be able to stand here today on the day of Operation Homecoming and its 42nd anniversary and to say that America will never forget, America will always remember, that we stood by you then, and we look to stand by all of our men and women in uniform. We are in the midst of a conflict right now in the midst of a war on terror. We must make sure that we give our men and women that we have asked to go out and defend us the tools necessary to protect our country and to do the job that we have asked them to do. I hope, Madam Speaker, that no one has to endure what these men endured in Hanoi. I want to thank my colleagues who join me here today, but I also wanted to take this opportunity for those that may be tuning in to let the POWs from the Vietnam conflict know how much they mean not only to me, but to our country. We thank you, and we love you. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise as a son, a husband, a father of two daughters, a brother of three sisters, and I am proud to stand with 1 Billion Rising Lake County to end violence against women and girls everywhere. One woman in three will be abused in her lifetime, totaling 1 billion across our globe. Mr. Speaker, 1 Billion Rising gives mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, neighbors, and friends who have suffered from abuse the opportunity to be heard and to join a supportive community. Together, we must be the voice of those who cannot speak up and to take action to help those who are asking for help. We must take the lead on this issue and set an example for the world, ensuring that women everywhere can live and thrive without fear of becoming a victim of violence. I am committed to taking action to stop abuse, no matter what form it takes, and I ask everyone to join me and rise with 1 Billion Rising to stand strong against these disturbing crimes.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, February 11, 2015. What is the special significance? We become involved in our routines and our responsibilities. We greet our colleagues, and the day continues. This was not the case 50 years ago. A young Navy pilot climbed into the cockpit of his F-8 Crusader aboard the USS Coral Sea, readying himself for a mission over North Vietnam. Now, imagine yourself, Mr. Speaker, as a young naval aviator. They are some of the best that we have in our Armed Forces--some may say a little cocky. They are actually able to fly a flying engine, in essence. An F-8 Crusader can go faster than the speed of sound. They can fly missions and actually land back on a ship at night in rough seas. So, 50 years ago today, this young naval aviator boarded his F-8 Crusader and was going to fly a low-level mission about 1,000 feet above the surface. Yet, after he took on some fire, very quickly he realized that he was in some trouble. The cockpit filled with smoke, and he had a very short amount of time to exit the plane. His parachute opened at about 35 feet above the ground, and he broke his back upon impact. This young pilot's world had just changed--and dramatically. What was he going to do with the pain? His first thought was: ``When am I going to be killed?'' He was picked up very quickly and was marched by bayonet. The interesting thing, Mr. Speaker, is that, as the second American aviator shot down over North Vietnam, he was a prize and, therefore, was photographed. While this may not seem lucky, it was actually very fortunate in the fact that his family now knew and the people back in the United States now knew that he was alive and in captivity. He was, indeed, one of the lucky ones because, as the POWs would mount over this conflict in Vietnam, many did not have that same luck. On having broken his back on impact, he was looking for medical attention. The medical attention he received was a white robe and a bunch of cameras, taking pictures, and as soon as the cameras left, the extent of his medical treatment ceased. He was taken to the Hoa Lo Prison, which we now affectionately know as the Hanoi Hilton. He was the one who was eventually credited with naming the Hanoi Hilton. As those who know who have been in captivity and as many of us have read, when you are in captivity, you are able to give your captors four basic--what they call the big four--pieces of information: your name, your rank, your serial number, and your date of birth. As we know, this obviously was not going to be enough. Over the next 8 years and a day, this naval aviator endured some of the worst torture. At some point in time, everyone breaks, and the torture that they endured and that this man endured eventually had to give--whether it was sitting on broomsticks for days at a time or tying your arms behind your back and then having your elbows brought together by ropes and then slowly risen above your head. So he did give some additional information. His father was a lawyer but also owned a farm in Pennsylvania. The Vietnamese wanted to know how many chickens did they have. At some point in time, he said: That is pretty innocuous information. I will let them know--19 chickens. He knew when he got back to his cell, and some of these cells, Mr. Speaker, were about 3 by 9, some 4 by 9. Now, just imagine spending 10 hours in a 4-by-9-foot space, not to mention 2\1/2\ years of solitary confinement, 8 years in captivity. So he gave this additional information, and as he went back to his cell, he realized it was going to get worse and worse. He tried to take his own life, Mr. Speaker, because he thought he had let his country down. Communication, however, was a huge savior--a savior for himself and for the other men who would be in captivity--that sense of camaraderie, that sense of making sure that your brain could continue to focus on other things, that message to keep them and their spirits up. They devised a tap code. It was a 5-by-5 metric of A, B, C, D, E and the next line of F, G, H, I, J. They left out the K because that would not make it a 5-by- 5-foot box. His courage, his integrity, his leadership and loyalty to his fellow prisoners--his love of country--cemented faith wherever present. His valor in the face of the impossible ensured that he returned with honor. Lieutenant Commander Robert Harper Shumaker--now Admiral Shumaker-- holds a near and dear place in my heart. He happens to be my uncle. When my wife and I had our first daughter, we decided to name her Harper after one of the most incredible people we know. Mr. Speaker, my daughter gave me very clear instructions before I came here, and that was to let everyone know how much we love this American hero. In my office, I keep two pictures: one of the day he was shot down, and the other of the day he was reunited with his family. They were reminders to me not of the darkness and cruelty of war but of the power of faith and the strength of a brotherhood and the honor that no one could take away. On the 50th anniversary of one of the darkest hours endured by an American aviator, let the record show that we stand and applaud this most revered American patriot.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the leadership and accomplishments of David Northern, Sr. He is a resident of Grayslake and a good friend. On January 25, Mr. Northern was presented with the Most Influential African American of Lake County Award for 2015. I have known David for several years in his role as a community leader and as the executive director and chief executive officer of the Lake County Housing Authority. Under David's leadership, the housing authority has become a more effective, people-centered, and collaborative agency. He and his team have found a balance allowing them to successfully serve those in need of housing while also being mindful to the fiscal effects on the county as a whole. David is a kind and genuine person who feels a personal responsibility to his community. For David Northern, building a strong community is not just his job, but his passion. I want to congratulate David on his well-deserved award and say that it is an honor to call him my friend and to recognize his contributions to the people of Lake County.