Bob Dold

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Hal Coxin to our community in Lake County, Illinois. Hal is literally an institution in Lake County, and there are few local leaders or organizations that have not benefited from Hal's leadership, generosity, and friendship. On July 28, Hal is retiring from Consumers Credit Union, where he and his team led efforts to open the door for credit to thousands of people who otherwise would never have thought it possible. Hal recognized that Consumers could do more for its customers than provide financial services and that they could also play a role in helping improve people's lives in other ways. It was not uncommon to find Hal and his team holding workshops or helping in the library, working to volunteer with organizations and helping them raise much- needed resources for very, very worthy causes. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to call Hal my friend. He will surely be missed, but there is no doubt that he will continue to help people in our community even in retirement. Thank you, Hal.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate NASA's New Horizons mission. Yesterday, after traveling more than 3 billion miles, the New Horizons probe passed just 7,800 miles from the surface of Pluto. Pluto was discovered in 1930 by a 24-year-old astronomer from my home State of Illinois. In 2006, NASA launched New Horizons in an effort to learn more about Pluto, the Kuiper belt, and the formation of our solar system. Yesterday, New Horizons sent us back our first closeup pictures of Pluto's surface. Mr. Speaker, the New Horizons mission is a great success for NASA. Not only will we learn great things about our solar system, but I hope that these pictures will serve to inspire a new generation of astronomers and physicists. America's future relies on a strong and robust program of science, technology, engineering, and math education, or STEM, and I hope that the success of this mission will encourage more students to follow that path.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I am fascinated by the example. I had a constituent, actually, who came in to talk to me. He is a manufacturer who manufactures tractors, and tractors cost about $1 million apiece. When he said he was shipping his tractor over to France, the local bank that he was dealing with said that there was no way in the world it would accept the collateral. So it is a specific example. I assume that is exactly the type of thing that we are seeing in small businesses all across the country.

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank my good friend from Washington for organizing this Special Order. I want to thank my good friend Mr. Fincher for his work on the legislation, and I thank those who are really talking about trying to create jobs. Mr. Speaker, really, what we are talking about here is in terms of the Ex-Im Bank. The Export-Import Bank--it is a bipartisan piece of legislation that we are looking to reauthorize. We are looking to make sure that, again, we are creating jobs. As for the reauthorization of the bank, for those who might have forgotten and for those who may be tuned in, Mr. Speaker, in 2012, the reauthorization passed on a suspension vote of 330-93. It passed in the Senate 78-20. This was not three decades ago. This was 3 years ago. There is a reason to support the reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank, and I appreciate my good friend Mr. Collins for talking about how Ex-Im equals jobs. I do believe that is the case. You have all heard the statistics. I mean, 83 percent of the loans nationwide from the Ex-Im Bank are going to small businesses. Small businesses create two-thirds of the net new jobs in our Nation. I have to tell you, in talking to my colleagues around this very body, the number one issue that we encounter is the fact that it is jobs and the economy. We want to create and make sure that there is a robust number of good, high-paying careers. The Ex-Im Bank enables those small businesses to be able to keep their doors open, to be able to ship to 96 percent of the world's consumers, which happen to be outside of the United States. It is interesting to me when we talk about this because there are a lot of big businesses out there that have the ability and the resources to put a plant over in places like Malaysia or Germany or those other places. It is the small businesses that oftentimes don't have that ability. You heard me having a conversation with Mr. Collins earlier about someone who came into my office who was talking about the fact that he manufactures tractors. The tractors aren't big tractors. They are fairly small tractors. But the tractors cost about $1 million apiece. If they aren't able to manufacture those tractors here in the United States in getting that Export-Import Bank financing, they will go somewhere else. They have a facility in France that they will be able to use. Those are jobs that are going to leave the United States. I do believe that, when we talk about the economic growth in manufacturing, my district and, I know, many of the other districts of my colleagues here are heavy in manufacturing. We are the fourth largest manufacturing district in the 10th District of Illinois. We have literally hundreds of jobs--54,000--in the district that rely upon exports. I recognize that there are a lot of people who want to talk about Boeing, but Boeing actually has three dozen suppliers in the 10th District of Illinois. These are three dozen businesses and hundreds of employees who support making things that go into a Boeing plane. You have heard the adage that, when a Boeing plane lands, 21,000 small businesses land with it. This is important. This is talking about good, high-paying jobs, things that the Export-Import Bank absolutely helps support. The thing that is interesting to me is that, if we choose to not reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, who loses? Our competitors overseas have export financing. Our small businesses will be the ones that lose. We are going to, in essence, tie one hand behind our back and make us less competitive. I can't think of a crazier thing, that of making us less competitive. We want to be more competitive. We want to give our small businesses every advantage possible to be able to go out and compete and win. This is what we have an obligation to do. This is what we have an opportunity to do. I am delighted to be able to stand up here with my friends to talk in a bipartisan way, actually, about why it is important that we reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. It is because there are jobs and there are businesses in Vernon Hills, in Wheeling, in Lincolnshire, in Northbrook, in Waukegan, in Glenview, in Des Plaines, in Gurnee, in Elmhurst, in Lake Villa, in Bannockburn, and in Mount Prospect. These are all towns in the 10th District that have companies that utilize the Export-Import Bank. This is not some random deal. This is something that small businesses utilize in order to make sure that they can sell their goods to places all over the globe, to places like France, Germany, India, and China. It is super important that we give them the opportunity to not only make it here in America, but to be able to send it all over the globe. Mr. Speaker, if we are looking for an opportunity to end a government program, listen, I am all for government accountability and for trying to make sure that the government is smaller and more responsive. Let's not focus on a government program that brings billions of dollars into the Federal Treasury and creates jobs. We have heard about the crony capitalism. Frankly, I think that we need to be focusing on how we help small businesses because, again, if we shut down the Export-Import Bank, who loses? It is our small businesses, not the small businesses that they compete against that may be overseas, because they will have an export financing arm. As my friend Mr. Collins was talking about before, if the private sector and the private sector banks would do it, I understand, but there are a lot of those private sector banks and a lot of those local community banks, even those mid-sized banks, that see the collateral go overseas that they can't touch and that they can't get back. When they walk in for $1 million of financing to send that tractor overseas, the answer is ``no.'' Guess what. They can't hire that next individual to create and make that tractor. We need export financing. We need to make sure that the Export-Import Bank has some restructuring. This bill does some of that in terms of the bill that we are looking for, to try to have some changes that go into the Export-Import Bank to make sure that we are having that appropriate oversight, to make sure that we are holding them accountable. But it is absolutely vital, Mr. Speaker, for good, high- paying careers that the Export-Import Bank is reauthorized, and reauthorized with an overwhelming support. If it comes to the floor, Mr. Speaker, I am confident that this passes. I want to thank my good friend from Washington for bringing this up. I want to thank my colleagues for standing up and supporting what we all know is going to be absolutely good for small business.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the glaring issue of the persecution of Christians around the globe. Our Nation was founded on the principles of religious liberty and tolerance, and the United States continues to promote these ideals. We must remain steadfast in our efforts to help individuals who are persecuted simply due to their faith. Everyone around the globe, Mr. Speaker, should be free to live a life of faith, to worship as they choose, without fear of persecution from a ruthless regime. This basic freedom, which was enshrined by our Founding Fathers, must not only be promoted here, but also around the world. As a shining city upon a hill with the eyes of the world upon us, it is our Nation's duty to be a leader in the fight against the persecution of Christians. As ISIS continues to attack Christians in the Middle East, we must continue to show that our Nation will stand up and defend those who cannot defend themselves.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation (LCVFSF) of Grayslake, Illinois on the opening of their new Dryhootch Drop-In Center and Offices on July 16, 2015. The new center provides a welcoming atmosphere for active service members, veterans, and their families to come and enjoy a cup of coffee, meet others who have shared their military experience, or learn more about the many services available to them through LCVFSF from a veteran peer specialist. The new facility was made possible through a joint partnership between LCVFSF and Dryhootch of America--a nonprofit organization formed by combat veterans to help veterans in their return home. Dryhootch was envisioned as a place where veterans could gather informally in a drug and alcohol free coffeehouse environment that is safe and comfortable. LCVFSF's goal is to make veterans' transition to civilian life easier and safer by providing support from those who have been there in the past. Their vision is to embed 100 percent free and confidential care for Lake County veterans, reservists, guardsmen, and their families--regardless of their discharge status--into the community through a network of veteran volunteers, veteran peer-to-peer specialists, and critical community resources. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the LCVFSF Board of Directors and staff on the opening of this new facility to help veterans and families in their time of need. I look forward to working with them in the future as they bring employment and peer support services to the veterans of Illinois' 10th District.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, far from backing Iran's path to a nuclear weapon, the inherently flawed deal announced this morning preserves and legitimizes Iran's nuclear program. The fact that Iran is celebrating and that our allies are not should tell you everything that you need to know about this deal. I have read the deal. I have it right here. I believe that it will usher in a terrifying new era of proliferation in which neighboring nations feel no choice but to build nuclear programs of their own, while the massive sanctions relief in the deal will provide Iran with hundreds of billions of dollars in new funds to foment terrorism around the globe and prop up its proxies, like Assad in Syria and Hamas, to launch brutal attacks on Israel. The measure of success and diplomacy is not simply whether agreement is reached; it is whether a good agreement is achieved. Unfortunately, the administration arrived at this deal through a parade of concessions on poor issues and by straying far from the insistence that Iran's nuclear program be dismantled. The world is a more dangerous place today with this, as a result. Mr. Speaker, Congress can and must step forward, do the right thing, and reject this deal.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, another deadline has passed, and Iran continues to act like it has leverage. What is worse, by its action, the administration seems to agree. Make no mistake about it, Iran desperately needs a deal to relieve its crippling sanctions. Given the parade of U.S. concessions over the past 19 months, we are a long way from the starting point of demanding that Iran's nuclear program be affirmatively and unequivocally dismantled. Mr. Speaker, there should be no wiggle room that allows any path to a nuclear weapon. Yet Iran's violations of interim agreement have been met with shrugs and painful-to-see justifications by this administration. How can we trust Iran to uphold any deal when it has clearly proven untrustworthy? Why would we give the greatest state sponsor of terror another $150 billion that even the administration acknowledges may go to fund terrorism against the United States, Israel, other democracies, and our allies around the globe? It is time to walk away, reestablish our leverage, and force Iran back to the table on our terms.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, July 13, 2015, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the marriage of Mr. Bryce Kapper and his wife, Brittany, nee Mueller. Mr. and Mrs. Kapper were united in marriage Saturday June 27, 2015 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in their hometown of Decatur, Illinois. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend Dave Taylor and was followed by a reception at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Mueller. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kapper, better known by one of the attendees as ``Mama and Papa Kapper.'' Miss Tiffany Laramee served as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids included Miss Rachael Clark, Miss Brittany Maxedon and Mrs. Becky Brewster. Mr. Scott Lietzow served as Best Man. Groomsmen included Mr. Kyle Kapper, brother of the groom; Mr. Clint Mueller, brother of the bride; and Mr. Rick Barry. The new Mr. and Mrs. Kapper are a wonderful match and their love for each other is evident to all they meet. I wish them all the best in this new and exciting chapter of their lives together.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career and contributions of United States Navy Captain Andrew Rosa. I know I am not alone in my appreciation of Captain Rosa's service and dedication. Throughout his career, Captain Rosa served in a variety of positions both here in the United States and overseas. As Mission Commander of Task Group 53.8--a Fifth Fleet antiterrorism-force protection task group--he was mobilized and deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. His bravery and contributions to our nation's fight against terrorism are truly admirable. Captain Rosa leaves a lasting legacy through his leadership and unwavering commitment to the protection of this country's ideals both at home and abroad. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to express my gratitude to Captain Andrew Rosa for his thirty-four years of exemplary service.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, it seems like every day there is a startling headline about a new concession to Iran in the nuclear negotiations. We are undeniably cascading further and further from where these talks started just 19 months ago. With the latest deadline for the deal only 5 days away, I fear and expect that even more damaging concessions to the Iranians are on the way. It doesn't need to be this way. We don't have to accept it, and we must make sure that our voices continue to be heard by the administration on this historic issue. We know that upon reaching a deal--any deal--there will be a full on PR blitz to try to sell this agreement. When that happens, we must stand strong and avoid the temptation to simply go along with the ``thrill of the deal.'' Instead of getting swept up in the momentum, we must not flinch from the simple, foundational idea that we have dedicated ourselves to all along, preventing Iran from having any path to a nuclear weapon. We can do it if we stick together.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The month of June is the Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month. Unacceptably, we lose 22 heroes a day to mental illness, often connected to PTSD trauma. We must take steps to reduce this horrible statistic. Even one is too many. Mr. Speaker, 22 is a disgrace to everything these heroes fought for. Post-traumatic stress disorder is widespread, affecting one in five when they return home. Only 40 percent will seek treatment, leaving the remaining three-fifths unaware of their condition, uneducated about the resources available to them, and often fearing that seeking help could hurt their career. Mr. Speaker, our servicemen and -women deserve the best treatment, and so I pledge to continue supporting initiatives that put our troops and veterans first. I am honored to stand here today to raise awareness about post- traumatic stress disorder and urge others to fight the fight to combat this terrible disease.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Summit of Hope, which has become one of the most successful programs at reducing recidivism in the nation. Too many former inmates leave prison ill-prepared to find work and resume their lives, and the rate at which prisoners return to incarceration is far too high. The economic and human costs associated with high recidivism rates are unacceptable, and we must work for change. The Summit of Hope is a collaborative effort between the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois Department of Public Health and local organizations throughout the state. In 2014, over 13,000 parolees and probationers received resources and assistance which helps many of them along the path to successful re-entry into society. Overseen by Senior Community Outreach Administrator Marcus King, the Summit of Hope is an example of how we can work together to address our most pressing challenges. Mr. Speaker, I will be joining Summit of Hope and community leaders at an event in North Chicago, Illinois. I consider it an honor to be a part of their initiative.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as National Great Outdoors Month. As an Eagle Scout and a scoutmaster, I know firsthand why we must all work to strengthen conservation programs and other policies to protect our environment. As a scoutmaster, I teach Boy Scouts the principle of leaving areas better than when we found them. That is why this week I will be introducing the Great Lakes Water Protection Act to ban sewage dumping in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Water Protection Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to fulfill this pledge with one of our country's greatest natural resources. This resource holds 95 percent of the country's fresh surface water and provides drinking water to over 30 million people. Mr. Speaker, I care deeply about protecting our environment and ensuring the well-being of our Great Lakes and its ecosystem. Preserving our environment should not be a partisan issue. In fact, it is not a partisan issue. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in this important initiative that is already endorsed by the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and more, so that we can preserve our outdoors for generations to come.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, on roll call nos. 364 and 365 I was unavoidably detained due to weather and flight delays. Had I been present, I would have voted aye and aye.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the outstanding community service of The Rotary Club of North Chicago and to recognize this year's recipients of The Rotary Humanitarian Patriot Award. The Rotary Humanitarian Patriot Program was established by The Rotary Club of North Chicago in 2013 with three primary objectives: 1) recognizing individuals throughout Northeast Illinois who are the best at providing humanitarian support for our United Armed Forces Veterans and their families; 2) highlighting veteran services provided by local North Chicago institutions including the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center and its integrated relationships with the active duty component at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and Rosalind Franklin University College of Medicine and Science; and 3) supporting research, treatment, and awareness for individuals living with post- traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Rotary was founded on the principle of service, and The Rotary Humanitarian Patriot Program is an inspiring extension of this mission. The award recipients all demonstrate an extraordinary sense of commitment to the men and women of our armed forces. These individuals understand that veterans have sacrificed greatly for this country and deserve nothing less than our highest gratitude and respect. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate this year's recipients of The Rotary Humanitarian Patriot Award: Bryan Anderson, Joyce Campbell, Mary Carmody, Larry Crone, Jeff Harger, Gander the Service Dog, Lon Hodges, Robert Kauffman, Don Long, Rob Paddor, Judge John Philips, Anthony Sarpe, Craig Steichen, Matt Steichen, Angela Walker, Scott Watkins, Bill Wolff, Michael Woods, and Frank Yurasek. Even more so, I thank these outstanding individuals and canine for the incredible work they continue to do. Their service strengthens our communities and our country, and I am grateful for the work of The Rotary Club of North Chicago and all of this year's honorees.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure that we are moving forward and providing American leadership when it comes to trade. My friend from Oregon here just articulately noted some of the reasons why this needs to move forward. Literally one in three manufacturing jobs relies upon exports; 95 percent of the world's consumers are outside of the United States. I want to make sure that we have got good, high-paying jobs right here at home. The way to do that is to be able to make sure that we are deciding what are the rules of the road when it comes to trade. The rules of the 21st century in the global economy are being written today, and the question is: Will the United States of America be there to be able to write these rules, to be part of the process? If we don't, certainly China and others will, putting the United States and our businesses, our workers, at an enormous disadvantage. We want trade deals that are enforceable, accountable, and have high standards. This is about creating good, high-paying American jobs. This is what we all want. Frankly, we have got an opportunity to move forward. The 10th Congressional District is the 4th largest manufacturing district in the nation, with over 107,000 manufacturing employees. 1 in 3 manufacturing jobs rely on exports. New opportunities for America's small businesses. 97% of U.S. companies that export are small and medium-sized businesses. The actual vote on any final trade agreement is months away. I want to clear up confusion, because there are efforts by critics of trade to distort what TPA is. This is merely a vote on the process associated with moving forward on trade agreements--this is not the vote on any actual trade deal. That vote would not occur for months. TPA explicitly prevents the enactment of any trade deal without separate, subsequent approval by Congress. Nothing will be enacted without an additional up-or-down vote in Congress. TPA ensures that the American people will have an opportunity to read the actual text of any preliminary agreement that the President intends to enter into. Specifically, the President must publish the text online at least 60 days prior to signing off on anything. And even after that, Congress still gets an up-or-down vote on approval or rejection. So, there is unprecedented transparency here.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great achievement of a 10th District hero, Jared Der-Yeghiayan. Working with the FBI and the DEA, Special Agent Der-Yeghiayan served as the lead special agent from the Department of Homeland Security to shut down the notorious black market Web site Silk Road. For more than 2 years, Special Agent Der-Yeghiayan worked undercover to infiltrate the Silk Road network, an underground Web site used by thousands of drug dealers and criminals to facilitate drug sales and illegal activity around the globe. His innovative cyber investigation led to thousands of drug seizures, dozens of arrests, and the successful conviction of the owner and operator of the Silk Road Web site. In helping bringing down this dark Web site, Jared Der-Yeghiayan has left his mark in making this country a safer and more secure place. I am honored to have Jared as a constituent of Illinois' 10th District; I thank him for his service to this Nation, and I look forward to many more bright achievements in the future.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my daughter, Honor Dold, a happy birthday. Honor turned eight years old yesterday. She was born in Evanston, Illinois, and since that day in 2007, has kept me, her mother, Danielle, her sister Harper, and brother Bobby always smiling. Honor's favorite subject is math and always puts her best effort forward into everything she does. Honor excels not only in soccer and lacrosse, but also in dance. She brightens every room she walks into with a truly contagious smile. Honor is the perfect amount of smart, silly, and funny that makes everyone around her happy. Honor enjoys spending time with her proud grandparents, Nana and Chief, Papa and Granma, her aunts and uncles, and all of her cousins. I look forward to watching Honor grow and mature into a fine independent young woman, and a shining light to our family and community. Happy Birthday, Honor.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize LG Electronics for winning the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries' Design for Recycling Award. Recycling is one of the most consequential activities each and every one of us can do on a daily basis to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. Contestants in the ISRI's Design for Recycling are some of our country's largest and best manufacturers, all working to preserve our environment by improving the recyclability of their products. Mr. Speaker, the vast majority of recycled material comes from items such as automobiles, refrigerators, old tires, and electronics such as televisions and computers. This year, LG Electronics won for their 4K Ultra HD OLED and LED TVs. These TVs include innovative new technologies that were designed with recycling in mind. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the ISRI in recognizing LG Electronics for their commitment to the environment and recycling.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the Lake County Forest Preserve District and their 100-year vision for protecting Lake County's unique and precious environment. Led by Executive Director Ty Kovach, they have assembled a bold, 100- year vision for how to preserve our wildlife and this natural resource, not just for us today, but for our children and our children's children. Mr. Speaker, the Lake County Forest Preserve District wants to ensure future generations can reap the benefits from a healthy and resilient environment and understand that the only way to ensure a better future is to make changes today. Their education and leadership on conservation issues will go a long way to protecting this incredible resource. Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their efforts and humbly stand by their side to continue to champion the importance of protecting our environment. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. DOLD

Mr. DOLD. Yes, but we have withdrawn that one, but I do appreciate the gentleman talking about that one.

Mr. DOLD. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DOLD. Madam Chair, as we look at our transportation and infrastructure system, we know that investment is needed. I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.