Bob Dold

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on March 3, 2016, I rise to thank Anthony Thompson for over 34 years of outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives. Anthony began his career with the House, in November 1981, as an apprentice cabinetmaker in the House cabinet shop. Over the next 34 years, he was promoted to various positions, to include lead cabinetmaker, or ``third man''; assistant foreman; and eventually became manager of the House cabinet shop. His accomplishments are far too lengthy to list in this tribute; however, there are two examples of his contributions that are worthy of recognition. Anthony designed and constructed the first offsite House floor furniture set which may be used, heaven forbid, in the event that the House Chamber is unavailable for use. He has been instrumental in the design and construction of all the succeeding sets of furniture as well. He was also involved in the design and construction of the House floor stenographer's table that sits to my right. The table was designed with new technology in mind, while still matching the original design, look, and feel of the existing dais. On a more personal note and equally worthy of recognition, Anthony has dedicated his life to making the CAO and the United States House of Representatives a better place. He has passed along his many years of cabinetmaking experience to staff and coworkers so that they can continue the extremely high standards of quality craftsmanship that have come to be expected of the House cabinet shop. Upon his retirement, he plans to use his extraordinary talents continuing to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture for the private sector. On behalf of the entire House community, I extend our congratulations to Anthony for his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States House of Representatives. I am honored to call him a friend, and I wish him all the best in the years to follow.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on February 29, 2016, I rise to thank Allan Bowles for over 32 years of outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives. Allan began his career in the labor division on September 1, 1983. Shortly after that, he worked as a storeroom clerk. Not long after that, he made his way into the cabinet shop and began his rapid assent through the ranks from apprentice to journeyman cabinetmaker. He can be proud of the many projects that were successfully completed during his tenure. Some of these projects include custom cabinets made for Speaker Wright and Members in leadership, such as Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Army, and Ms. Pelosi. Allan's list of accomplishments is indeed long. In over 32 years, he has produced some of the most exemplary and useful projects, many of which are still being utilized today. Allan's cabinetmaking expertise and craftsmanship are evident in his body of work. He has worked tirelessly alongside other House employees to make the House more secure following the events of September 11 and the anthrax incident of 2001. His reputation in the shop for lighthearted humor and quick wit made for long-lasting friendships and camaraderie in the shop. He brought a unique brand of comedy and teamwork to the cabinet shop, which serves the House from behind the scenes. He made a long-term commitment to excellence and improved services to the House community. In addition, Allan's dedication to his craft and customer service skills made him an extremely valuable member of the service team. Allan has dedicated his life to making the CAO and the United States House of Representatives a better place. After his retirement from the House, he plans to enjoy country living, fishing, and hunting. He also plans to keep busy working in his own shop in southern Maryland. On behalf of the entire House community, I extend our congratulations to Allan Bowles for his dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States House of Representatives. We wish him many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams. Honoring Anthony Thompson on His Retirement

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a problem that is near and dear to my heart. Cheaper than cigarettes and more accessible than alcohol, heroin has become a plague on communities all across our country. Heroin takes a life every 3 days in the Chicago suburbs. Unfortunately, a similarly deadly trend is taking place all over our Nation. Although heroin is not often considered a serious suburban problem, statistics show the epidemic is quickly growing. Nearly one-quarter of the people who try heroin become addicted, and heroin deaths have literally quadrupled in the United States in less than a decade. But the statistics don't even begin to tell the whole story. As the co-chair of the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force in the State of Illinois, I have seen firsthand the deadly impact of these drugs. But I still can't even begin to fathom the pain of losing one of my children to a drug overdose. I can't imagine what families throughout the country have been put through because of this terrible drug. There is hope. Thanks to the great work of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Live4Lali, and many other organizations in the 10th Congressional District, we have already had tremendous success saving lives with an overdose reversal aid called naloxone. When used properly, naloxone helps restore breathing that has been stopped by an overdose. First responders in Lake County, Illinois, have now saved over 56 lives in just a little over 1 year. That is 56 families who won't have to experience the same type of unbearable pain as those who have lost a loved one. With increased access, the World Health Organization predicts that naloxone could save an additional 20,000 lives each and every year. That is why I introduced a new bipartisan piece of legislation this week with Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Our bill, Lali's Law, will help States increase access to naloxone. The bill is named in memory of Stevenson High School graduate Alex Laliberte, who, sadly, passed away from a drug overdose. Alex, like many high school students, played sports at Stevenson High School. He did well at school. He cared about his friends. He cared about his family. But during his sophomore year of college, he began being hospitalized for what was a mysterious illness. Unknown to his family and to the doctors, Alex had an addiction to prescription drugs and was being hospitalized for his withdrawal. He would stay in the hospital until he received his fix, leave the hospital, and repeat the cycle again and again. He continued this pattern until he died of an overdose a few days after his final exams. The primary purpose, Mr. Speaker, of this bill, is to help fund State programs that allow pharmacists to distribute naloxone without a prescription so that we can prevent the repeat of Alex's story. Many States use these programs to allow local law enforcement officers to carry and use naloxone, just like the success we have already seen in Lake County. The police officers in Lake County asked to be able to carry it because they would come to a scene often faster than the paramedics. They could respond within 5 minutes and refused to sit idly by and watch these people die of an overdose. Lali's Law is an example of what is possible when we set aside partisanship and get to work for the people that we represent. Lali's Law will bring Alex's story to the United States Congress, here, and amplify the lifesaving benefits of Live4Lali's hard work and the work that they did to pass a similar piece of legislation in the Illinois State Legislature. It is my hope that, through this bipartisan bill, Alex's lasting legacy will include helping countless people get a second chance at recovery and saving their families from unbearable heartbreak. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan initiative and join us in the fight against heroin and prescription drug abuse. Together we can truly save lives.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association's Professional of the Year, Margaret Resnick. The award is given to professionals working in parks and recreation who have had an impact on their communities. Margaret works with other civic leaders to provide cost-effective services for the community. Since 2007, Margaret has led the Mundelein Parks and Recreation District as director. Her smart financial management and search for alternative funding and grants has allowed the Park District to thrive. Margaret has brought innovation and technological improvements to the programs and services in Mundelein. Due to her efforts, parks have expanded, and participation has increased. Mr. Speaker, Margaret Resnick is an inspiring community leader who has been creative and practical in providing parks and recreation services to the residents of Mundelein, Illinois. I am proud to celebrate her as the Professional of the Year and look forward to her continued service and leadership in the community.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize RoboThink on their grand opening in the Mundelein and Buffalo Grove communities. RoboThink's mission is to provide an engaging, effective, and innovative way to introduce this STEM education program to young individuals K-12 and even beyond. RoboThink creatively teaches students how to build robots and how to code, while being challenged to use their critical thinking, problem solving and visual spatial abilities. They hope to inspire our next generation to pursue career paths in engineering. Mr. Speaker, this incredible program would not be possible without two inspiring young individuals, Danny Park, the President, and Anthony Shvets, Program Director, of RoboThink. I wish them continued success in the future and look forward to working with them in growing and expanding their program to thousands of other students.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize February as American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every 43 seconds, someone in the United States dies of a heart attack. Fortunately, research has determined actions we can take to prevent this disease and other heart conditions. As a member of the Fitness Caucus here in the House of Representatives, I work to promote an active lifestyle as a preventive measure for many diseases, including heart disease. High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, which is why having your blood pressure checked regularly is very important. It is easy to get your blood pressure checked. You can get it screened at your doctor's office and drugstores. You could even check it yourself at home using a home blood pressure monitor. The CDC and their Million Hearts effort is aiming to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017. To do that, they are encouraging Americans to make control their goal. If you know you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be and set a goal. Together we can raise awareness and save lives.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Beacon Place Community Center in Waukegan and Executive Director Barb Koracic. Beacon Place focuses on the power of neighbors helping neighbors by offering a variety of services to the community. They recently received a grant from the Community Purse, which will help them expand neighborhood cooking classes, improve technology for after-school tutoring programs, and obtain fresh produce for children in the summer. I visited Beacon Place in July and was inspired by the educational activities offered for the children. These programs help children sustain their math and reading skills throughout the summer. I had a great time participating in the learning by reading and painting with some of these children, and I saw firsthand the benefit that these resources will have in the Waukegan community. Beacon Place is truly a much-needed and inspiring program, which is why I am honored to be able to recognize them today.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today, February 11, a day that for at least me, and I know many other families around our country, is a very dark day. February 11, 1965, flying off of the USS Coral Sea, a young lieutenant commander, Robert Harper Shumaker, was prepared to do a bombing run over North Vietnam. Taking antiaircraft fire, he was shot down over North Vietnam. He ejected from his F-8 Crusader 35 feet above the ground, broke his back upon impact, and was immediately captured. Over the next 8 years, 8 years and a day, he spent time in the Hoa Lo Prison, a prison that we now know as the Hanoi Hilton, one that he was able to name the Hanoi Hilton. He was considered to be the great communicator because, while he was in captivity, he and a few others devised a tap code system, a tap code system with five rows and five columns that enabled American POWs to communicate with one another to be able to let them know that they were thinking of each other, to be able to make sure that they were exercising the most important muscle in captivity, that is, their brains. Over the course of those 8 years, Lieutenant Commander Shumaker was considered to be one of the top greatest threats to camp security. He and 10 other POWs, commonly known as the Alcatraz 11, were taken out of the Hoa Lo Prison, brought over to a prison now known as Alcatraz, and put in solitary confinement. These 11 heroes included James Stockdale; George Coker; Jeremiah Denton, who was a Senator from the great State of Alabama; Harry Jenkins; George McKnight; James Mulligan; Howard Rutledge; Ron Storz; Nels Tanner; and, Mr. Speaker, our colleague Sam Johnson of Texas, who was elected to this body in 1991 and has served with distinction ever since. Many of the stories that we look back on came from these heroes about the efforts they made to resist their captors. They were tortured day in and day out for information. Yet, day in and day out, they battled back. For me, it is very important that we never forget. Fifty-one years after February 11, 1965, I am honored to be able to rise in this body to remember Robert Harper Shumaker for his valiant efforts and heroism. He is near and dear to my heart, Mr. Speaker. He is my uncle. When my wife and I had our first child, we decided we would name her after him, in the hopes that she would have a little bit of the courage, a little bit of the intelligence, and the stick-to-itiveness that Admiral Shumaker has. The good news, Mr. Speaker, is that February 12, 1973, 591 POWs started their return home. Bob Shumaker, the Alcatraz 11, and many others were on that C-141 that flew out of Hanoi. I am proud to say that they returned home with honor, which was absolutely critical not only for them, but for all of the POWs. It is imperative that we in the United States Congress never forget their sacrifice and heroism. For me, from now, until as long as I am able to serve in this body, on February 11, I will rise and recognize the heroism of our POWs and say: You will never be forgotten. We will always remember the sacrifice and the heroism that you all have given to our Nation.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. One in three teens will experience some form of abuse in a dating relationship. As a father of three young children, I recognize that this is not a partisan problem, but rather a violation of basic human rights that demands immediate action. I believe it is our collective responsibility as mentors, leaders, and even parents, to find a way to protect our youth and to prevent them from dating abuse. While current Federal law prohibits someone from purchasing a handgun if they are convicted of abusing someone they live with, unfortunately, victims who have been abused by a current or former dating partner are not protected. Abuse of a dating partner is unacceptable as domestic abuse, plain and simple, which is why I introduced the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act with my good friend, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan effort. In the meantime, we can make a difference by encouraging our schools, community-based organizations, parents, and teens to come together to combat teen dating violence.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, more commonly known as the BDS movement, has been employed as a hateful weapon to delegitimize the State of Israel and all those who stand with her. The BDS movement has neither brought Israelis and Palestinians closer to peace nor advanced the laudable goal of improving dialogue between the supporters of both sides. Instead, it has served as a means to demagogue Israel and inflame tensions in communities and college campuses around our Nation. Rather than sit back and react to the BDS movement's aggressive efforts to foment hatred for Israel, it is time to take charge and simply say: ``Enough.'' It is time to go on offense against the BDS movement's ongoing economic warfare targeting Israel. That is why I am proud to announce the Combating BDS Act of 2016, bipartisan legislation that I am introducing with the gentleman from California (Mr. Vargas), a courageous leader in the anti-BDS movement. The Combating BDS Act of 2016 affirms on the Federal level the authority of State and local governments to divest public funds or entities that engage in commerce or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel. Here is why this idea is so important. Similar to previous local efforts to divest from companies doing business with Iran, we are now seeing a growing movement in State and local governments throughout the Nation to enact measures to divest public funds from entities participating in anti-Israel BDS. The Combating BDS Act of 2016 strengthens these efforts by affirming the legal authority of State and local governments to act on divestment without running afoul of any potential Federal limitations. This important legislation empowers community leaders and individuals who seek to counter the hateful targeting and delegitimization against Israel, and it sends an unquestionable message about where the United States Congress stands on BDS. This is not about left versus right. This is about right versus wrong. It must remain bipartisan. As the author of the Combating BDS Act of 2016, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this powerful and important legislation.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Family First Center in Waukegan, Illinois, for their contributions to the Toys for Tots program. The Toys for Tots program, as you know, was created by the U.S. Marine Corps. Each and every year, they collect toys to distribute to less fortunate children during the holidays. The Family First Center of Lake County, under the direction of Dr. Evelyn Chenier, has been a huge partner with the Toys for Tots program. Just last year, they distributed nearly 75,000 toys to over 19,000 children in the Lake County community. Toys for Tots is just one of the numerous programs with which the Family First Center is involved. For example, last summer, I hosted a job fair with the Family First Center that helped connect job seekers in Lake County with many of the businesses that call our community home. The Family First Center's success is an inspirational example of a community organization putting families first and bringing about positive change in our community. I offer my sincere thanks to the Family First Center and Dr. Chenier for their leadership to strengthen our community.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, just across the street is the world's largest Shakespeare collection. The Folger Shakespeare Library is home to more Shakespeare ``First Folios'' than anywhere else in the world. Published in 1623, the ``First Folio'' is the first printed collection of Shakespeare's plays. Without it, 18 plays, including ``Macbeth,'' ``Julius Caesar,'' and ``The Tempest,'' could have been lost. This year, as part of a national celebration marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, the Folger Shakespeare Library is touring a ``First Folio'' around the country. Schoolchildren, theater lovers, and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike will witness with their own eyes the book that gave us Shakespeare. During the month of February, the 10th District of Illinois is hosting the ``First Folio.'' The Lake County Forest Preserve District's Lake County Discovery Museum has the honor to present the exhibition ``First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare.'' This will offer the public a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this influential and treasured book and experience the powerful words of William Shakespeare. Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone who is able to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Combined Insurance Company of America in Glenview, Illinois, for receiving an estimable award. GI Jobs magazine announced its Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2016, and for the second consecutive year, Combined Insurance was number one. This is a prestigious honor, as Combined was ranked above 5,000 other organizations in the United States that were considered, and it marks the fifth straight year that they made the Top 100 organizations. Since 2010, Combined Insurance has hired over 2,500 veterans or those with a military background. Their president, Brad Bennett, has committed to hiring an additional 2,800 more by the end of 2017. Brad and his leadership team know that servicemembers at any rank offer employers skills such as discipline, independent work ethic, and commitment. They actively recruit from all levels of the military, offering opportunities for former officers and those from the enlisted ranks as well. In addition to providing meaningful employment to our veterans, Combined also gives back to several veteran charities in both time and resources. I hope more organizations will emulate Combined Insurance in their unwavering efforts to support our Nation's veterans.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend brought together a group of innovators at the Kemp Forum on Expanding Opportunity in South Carolina. This important forum highlighted new and creative ideas to address the stubborn problem of poverty in America. The Federal Government spends more than half a trillion dollars each and every year on antipoverty measures. That is a significant devotion of resources. Yet, while some progress has been made in the last 50 years, today there are still nearly 50 million Americans living in poverty. Nobody would deny that the results fall far short from where they need to be. This is because, at the end of the day, success in the war on poverty is measured not at the program level, but on the individual level. Success isn't about how many programs exist, but how many people can improve their lives by moving up and out of poverty. Mr. Speaker, one of the fundamental principles of this great Nation is the idea of freedom of opportunity, the opportunity to find work, to support yourself, and to support your family. By working with local community groups like YouthBuild and leaders like Bob Woodson, I have been able to see numerous success stories, like my guest for tonight's State of the Union address, Lavell Brown. This young man has successfully worked with community groups in North Chicago to grow as an individual and to get on a path to a sustainable career, and he is now giving back to others at YouthBuild Lake County. This model of empowering the individual and helping them develop the skills needed to escape poverty is what we need to replicate millions of times over. If we can combine the focus on individuals with a relentless drive to innovate, I am confident that, in the next 50 years, our efforts to end poverty and provide greater opportunities will be a success.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize January as Human and Sex Trafficking Awareness Month. Mr. Speaker, let's call sex trafficking what it is. It is modern-day slavery that exploits our society's most vulnerable. Unfortunately, sex trafficking is the fastest growing business of any organized crime in the world. This isn't a faraway problem. In the United States, it is an estimated $9.8 billion industry and, sadly, children aged 12 to 14 are the largest at risk for sex trafficking. This is absolutely disgusting. Last year we passed important legislation aimed at stopping sex trafficking, but the fight is far from over. It is our collective obligation to do everything that we can to put a definitive end to this modern-day slavery, which is why we must come together as a country, we must come together as a Congress, to do everything we can to stop this disgusting crime. Mental Wellness Month

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mental Wellness Month. To this point, our government's approach to mental health has consisted of ineffective and disjointed policies. Too often, those in need of care end up either in jail or on the streets because adequate services are simply not available. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which would help the Nation's broken mental health system and care for those who are most in need. This bipartisan bill would improve effectiveness and efficiency in Federal programs that help people, with a focus on early intervention and prevention programs in addition to suicide prevention. I want to thank my friend Tim Murphy for his leadership on this bill. I am glad that the administration this week recognized the importance of mental health programs in reducing gun violence, but we need a long- term legislative fix if we are really going to make progress on solving the mental health crisis in our Nation. That is why, in recognition of Mental Wellness Month, I call on my colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill and to stop playing partisan games with people's lives. Waukegan High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Waukegan High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week. Waukegan's program is the oldest JROTC program in the Nation. It was created before the national JROTC program was instated in late 1916. Its initial purpose was to prepare high school young men for military service during World War I. This organization has come a long way over the past century, as half of the cadets of this 777-member corps are young women. The Waukegan High School JROTC offers a curriculum not only of military training, but also of good leadership and citizenship skills. Students receive an education of flag and military structure, self- discipline and guidance on personal, financial, college, and career planning. Of the 777 cadets, 75 percent go on to postsecondary education and 10 percent serve in our military. Congratulations to the Waukegan High School JROTC for this program and for leading and being a strong and positive representative for our Waukegan community.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership and for yielding time. Today we are voting on a historic bill. Frankly, as a small-business owner, when I came to Congress, it was largely because I felt the government was making it harder and harder for me to put the key in the door and open up my small business each and every day. They should be making it easier for me to open up my business, easier for me to hire that next individual. I hear from small businesses each and every day, that they need more certainty. If they had the certainty, they would be able to move forward. Instead, they sit on their hands. These tax policies that we are voting on today, what a difference a year makes. A year ago this December, we were extending these tax extenders, and we made it for 1 year, which was retroactive. My goodness gracious, retroactive tax policy. I can't imagine anything so asinine. This package today, this historic package, talks about making many of these provisions permanent. The R&D tax credit, if we want to talk about innovation, we want to talk about moving our country forward and being on the leading edge, this R&D tax credit is absolutely vital for small businesses that want to expense equipment. We make that permanent. It is absolutely vital that we are jump-starting our economy and growing more American jobs. But it is not just for the businesses in here. We are also protecting families. We are also helping families pay for higher education. We have incentives for charitable giving. Now listen. There are some that say the government should be the one that determines where these dollars go, but I would argue for putting that choice into the hands of the American people as to where they can put those dollars into the charitable organizations that they care about. Those dollars will go so much further. That is exactly the type of bipartisan legislation that the American people not only want, but expect, from this body. We also have so many other great things in this package: transit parity, development for affordable housing. I urge my colleagues to come together in a bipartisan way and resoundingly pass this package.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to start by thanking my good friend and colleague from Florida for her efforts in trying to make sure we are doing all we can for the Holocaust survivors. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that these are very turbulent and fast-moving times. As we train our focus on ISIS, however, I think it would be a very foolish mistake if we lose sight of the terror threat from Iran, the world's greatest state sponsor of terror. In the past week, two alarming developments have exposed why Iran cannot be trusted: First, a December 2 report from the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed that Iran had previously been working on nuclear weapons. That is right, Mr. Speaker. Despite Iran's repeated insistence that its nuclear program had only been for peaceful purposes, the IAEA report makes clear that Iran had an active nuclear weapons program. In short, Iran lied, and it has been telling a very big lie for some time. This deceit is precisely why we must not close the book on uncovering Iran's past nuclear efforts. Second, Mr. Speaker, it has now been reported that on November 21, Iran tested a ballistic missile, one capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. This is a breach of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and is in obvious defiance of the 8-year ban on ballistic missile work that was part of the nuclear agreement. This is Iran's second such launch of a ballistic missile since the conclusion of the nuclear agreement. Regrettably, no such action has been taken against Iran for that first test in October. Instead, the U.N. Security Council is still debating on how to respond. They are still debating. What message does that send? Mr. Speaker, Iran cannot be given a pass for these flagrant provocations. A failure to forcibly respond now with repercussions will only encourage Iran to incrementally cheat in the future again and again, as it already has. The unavoidable truth is that simply looking the other way so as not to ruffle any feathers in Tehran will neither bring peace nor an end to belligerent behavior from the Iranians. We know that Iran cannot be trusted, plain and simple. We know that Iran will continue to test the world's resolve. The real question now, Mr. Speaker, is whether the world will even be interested in responding. It is time for our voices to be heard loud and clear. The United States must step forward and lead.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Jewish National Fund, an organization that works tirelessly to advocate for the safety and security of the people of the State of Israel. Just one example of the amazing work that the JNF is doing is a pilot initiative to ensure the safety of the Israeli children in the town of Sderot. Residents of the town of Sderot have endured constant rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. Children have grown up with the psychological trauma that comes from living under the constant threat of attack. Because they must always be within about 15 to 30 seconds of a rocket shelter, even an afternoon in the park is dangerous. In response, Mr. Speaker, the JNF built a 21,000-square-foot secure indoor playground at a community center in Sderot. The recreation center has provided young people with a safe place to simply be kids again, and also it provides parents with the peace of mind that their children are safe from terror. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work with the JNF and thank them for all that they do.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker, I represent a district that borders Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes are the source of fresh drinking water for literally millions of Americans. Jobs, recreation, and tourism all depend on a healthy and flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem, and we must do all that we can to protect this vital natural resource. Mr. Speaker, microbeads are microscopic pieces of plastic that are included in products like soaps and cosmetics. They are designed to help these products to be more effective. But when these products are used, the microbeads inside them can get into the Nation's waterways. They end up accumulating in lakes, rivers, and oceans--where they stay, and where they eventually collect toxic chemicals and eventually enter the food and water supply. Mr. Speaker, the Microbead-Free Waters Act is a great step forward to preserving the Great Lakes for our future generations. As a cosponsor of this important bill, I urge its passage.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Every Student Succeeds Act, which will reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Mr. Speaker, this bill goes a long way to rectifying the problems that were created by No Child Left Behind. We have seen 14 years now of Federal encroachment on local schools, one-size-fits-all testing, and local school districts that are not allowed to apply local solutions to local problems. Mr. Speaker, the version of ESEA that is coming to the floor later today will fix these problems. The bill will streamline the annual assessment process and will ensure that our teachers are not required to teach only the material that will be on these tests. It will remove the high stakes from these assessments and will ensure that school districts have the local control over the assessment process. More importantly, the bill will allow States to develop their own academic content and achievement standards that are designed to suit the needs of their students. Teachers and administrators will be given the freedom to truly educate their students and will be able to innovate and develop real solutions to their problems without fear of a bureaucrat in Washington looking over their shoulder. Mr. Speaker, though I rise in support of this bill, I must say that I am disappointed that the final version to come out of conference did not include the text of an amendment that I offered that was adopted in H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. My amendment would have forbidden States from requiring school districts to divert Federal education dollars away from the classroom and into State pension funds to pay off unfunded liabilities of the past. In my home State of Illinois, the State government is presently requiring school districts that choose to use Federal education dollars to pay teacher salaries to divert over one-third of their Federal education dollars to the State's Teachers' Retirement System to cover past financial mismanagement. This amounts to a Federal bailout of State pension programs at the expense of schools and education. Mr. Speaker, this only happens in Illinois. So what does this mean for the 10th District of Illinois? In 2014, Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 had to send over $140,000 to the State to cover past pension obligations. That is 35 percent of the $400,000 of total Federal dollars that came to Wheeling that Wheeling spent on teachers. If Wheeling had only had to pay the normal pension cost, the current pension obligation, it would have had to have contributed $32,000. That means that Wheeling was forced to divert over $100,000 to the pension system to cover past pension obligations at the expense of teachers in the classroom. At $40,000 per year, this would have enabled them to hire an additional 2\1/2\ teachers that could have been educating our children, reducing classroom sizes, and making each of our students receive the individual attention that they need to succeed. In Waukegan, Illinois, this problem is even worse. Waukegan spent $2.6 million in Federal education dollars on teachers and was forced to divert over $900,000 annually to the State to cover past pension obligations. If the Dold amendment had been law, Waukegan would have had an additional $700,000 to hire more teachers, or in the case of District 60, they would have been able to offer full-day kindergarten. That makes an enormous difference in children's lives--and parents' lives for that matter. More tragically, because Illinois does not require the same kind of contribution when teacher salaries are paid with State or local dollars, this policy is taking away Federal education dollars from our neediest and most vulnerable children, precisely the students that the ESEA was intended to help. Mr. Speaker, my amendment would have fixed this problem once and for all and would have ensured that education dollars intended for the students of Wheeling and Waukegan and everywhere else where Federal dollars can make a real difference in our children's lives would have actually gone to help these students. I will continue to fight on this issue and will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that the Federal dollars that are given to school districts are not diverted away from the neediest to cover up financial mistakes of the past. Mr. Speaker, Every Student Succeeds Act is by no means a perfect bill, but it is a significant upgrade and a step forward that goes a long way toward fixing the problems posed by No Child Left Behind. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill and ensure that our children's getting the education they deserve is something that we can all count on.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight November as Epilepsy Awareness Month. Tragically, across the country today thousands of families dealing with epilepsy and other debilitating seizure disorders have been forced to uproot their families as they travel to States where CBD oil is already legalized. Especially in children, CBD oil helps reduce the amount and the duration of seizures. But over and over again the government has stood in the way of access to lifesaving care for these children. Children across the country, like Sophie Weiss, deserve better. Sophie is an inspiring young girl from the Tenth Congressional District in Illinois. She suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and, without CBD oil, suffers upwards of 200 seizures each and every day. Mr. Speaker, for Sophie and children suffering like her, I helped introduce a bill to stop the government from standing in the way of this lifesaving relief. In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, I call on my colleagues to join me so we can pass the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act of 2015 and ensure that no family has to endure the loss of a child as they wait for approval of this natural, lifesaving option.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to highlight November as Epilepsy Awareness Month. Tragically, across the country today, thousands of families dealing with epilepsy and other debilitating seizure disorders have been forced to uproot their families as they travel to States where CBD oil already is legalized. Especially in children, Mr. Speaker, CBD oil helps reduce the amount and duration of seizures; but over and over again, the government has stood in the way of access to lifesaving care for these children. Children across the country like Sophie Weiss deserve better. Sophie is an inspiring young woman in my district. She suffers from a severe form of epilepsy. Without CBD oil, she suffers upwards of 200 seizures each and every day. For Sophie and children suffering like her, I helped introduce a bill to stop the government from standing in the way of this lifesaving relief. In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, I call on my colleagues to join me so that we can pass the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act of 2015 and ensure no other family has to endure the loss of a child as they wait for the approval of this natural, lifesaving option.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Mr. Speaker, approximately 5.3 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer's. This disease is the sixth leading killer in the United States, yet there is currently no treatment or cure for this horrible disease. This devastating disease will cost Medicare and Medicaid approximately $150 billion in 2015 alone. It also places an incredible burden on caregivers. Oftentimes these caregivers are family members who sacrifice their own well-being to care for their loved ones. We must work toward a cure, Mr. Speaker. This is one of the reasons why I was proud to be a cosponsor of the 21st Century Cures Act earlier this summer. The bill would provide an additional $8.75 billion in additional funding for the National Institutes of Health. Think about that for a second, Mr. Speaker. An opportunity for us to be able to invest in research so that we can actually have a breakthrough in some of the diseases that are the biggest drivers of our healthcare costs. For instance, we spend $330 billion each and every year treating diabetes; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's again will significantly eclipse that as we go forward. So, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the best way to honor those who are impacted by Alzheimer's disease is by dedicating time and resources to finding that very cure. I will continue to do just that, and I urge my colleagues here in the Chamber, across the aisle, and over in the Senate to be able to join me so that we can, once and for all, find a cure for this horrible disease.