Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I do say, first off, I truly appreciate the words and the passion from my good friend from the U.S. Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett). I am disappointed to see that this bill came back from the Senate without the provisions that we supported on her behalf in the committee. Madam Speaker, I, too, would like to echo to the Senate and to the House as we move into the future: Let's address this concern. There is bipartisan support for what Ms. Plaskett is asking for. These are the types of bipartisan issues that we usually try and solve in the House, but, unfortunately, we got this from the Senate. We will let them be the ones to admit they screwed this up with a technical error. But let's fix it. That is the key. Let's work together to make that happen. Madam Speaker, in closing, S. 3418 will help support critical mitigation projects in local communities, including rural communities that are hit and devastated by these natural disasters. This will save lives and prevent damage and loss to farmers, businesses, and homeowners across the country, and it is also going to save, long term, billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars that are going, time and time again, to help communities recover from events we know are going to happen. Let's do something on the front end and save taxpayer dollars for the next generation on the back end. Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their work to get this bill to a good place and with the Senate: on the majority side, Aaron Davis; on our own side, Johanna Hardy; and in my office, Jimmy Ballard. I really appreciate all these folks and what they have done to help districts like mine. I also thank some folks who really worked hard on this bill, too, that are with me here today from the committee: Corey Cooke and her number one fan, her puppy, Coda Cooke; and also Tara Hupman and her number one fan, her puppy, Chester Hupman. I certainly hope my number one fans, when I get home, Rider and Julia Davis, one day get a chance to meet theirs. But it takes people working together to get things done, and these are the types of issues that show our success in this institution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, S. 979, the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement Act, or FACE Act, will improve disaster preparedness and ensure State and local governments receive more consistent guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Following Hurricane Katrina, Congress directed FEMA to establish advance contracts ahead of disasters to rapidly provide goods and services following a disaster. Following the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires, the Government Accountability Office reviewed the use of advance contracts and identified a number of shortcomings, including unclear guidance and inconsistent information from FEMA on using these advance contracts. Ultimately, GAO issued nine recommendations, and FEMA has concurred with every single one of them. This bill would require FEMA to provide an updated report on advance contracts, updated its strategy, improve its guidance for FEMA personnel, and regularly report to Congress on progress in addressing GAO's recommendations. These reforms will help improve our disaster preparedness and provide clarity to States and local communities on how to better leverage these useful contracts. I am proud to stand with my colleague, Ms. Norton, to support this bill in a bipartisan way because, if there is one thing that the Federal Government should do right, it is to help communities recover from disasters they had nothing to do with. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I again rise in support of another great piece of bipartisan legislation, S. 2730, the Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act. The Drone Advisory Committee is a long-term advisory committee that provides the Federal Aviation Administration with advice on key drone integration issues. S. 2730 directs the FAA to ensure that there is broad participation on this committee that develops policies for unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, and their growing uses. S. 2730 also directs the FAA to consider public opinion when nominating anyone to serve on the Drone Advisory Committee. Imagine that, a government agency asking the public, who is intricately involved in issues related to drone technology and the ability to use drones in and around our public airspace--imagine having public opinion determine who should be best to serve. This is another example where Republicans and Democrats have come together to offer solutions. It is sad we have to put them on paper, to put them into legislation sometimes; but here we are today, and I am glad it is happening. Having committee participation from those in rural areas, especially, will help those in agribusiness, like in the 13th District of Illinois, my district, where agriculture is king and is so much a part of our local economy. They depend on drones. The growing use of drones and unmanned aircraft in this field are affecting wide swaths of the country. When you look at my district, we have to start talking about some of the other drone issues that I and my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have worked on over the last few years that I have been blessed to serve in this institution. It was an amendment I offered to a previous FAA reauthorization that allowed for microdrones to have a category in and of itself. We don't need this committee actively trying to influence what we would consider the hobby aircraft industry. If a drone is below 4.4 pounds, we believe anyone who wants to utilize this technology should have the opportunity to do so. Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support S. 2730, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of our finest House servants, director of the Office of Employee Assistance, Liz McBride. Throughout her nearly thirty-year tenure with the office she has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of Members, their families, and the staff of the U.S. House--often meeting outside of normal business hours to ensure they received the support they needed. As Director of the office, Liz has gifted the House with a new vision--expanding confidential counseling and bringing a new focus to health with the establishment of the House Wellness Center. Throughout this pandemic, Liz and her office have played an essential role in helping Members and staff work through what has been for many a difficult year. Liz is leaving us with a bright vision for the future and a legacy worth emulating. Her retirement is a genuine loss for us and this institution, and I am grateful for her years of dedicated service to our community.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleagues that, in 1985, the Democrats in this House stole a seat, and they can do it again. The day after the election in 1984, Republican Rick McIntyre was ahead of incumbent Frank McCloskey by 34 votes. After the State's recount, McIntyre's lead grew to 418 votes. In the weeks following the election, McIntyre was certified the winner of Indiana's Eighth Congressional District. But come January 1985, House Democrats refused to seat the duly- elected Member of Congress, Rick McIntyre. Instead, they sent a partisan task force to Indiana which then determined ballots not valid under Indiana law should have been counted. They changed the rules. Under the Democrats' new rules, McCloskey was now ahead by four votes. On May 1, 1985, the House voted to seat McCloskey. Ten Democrats joined every Republican in voting against seating him. This contest was dubbed the ``Bloody Eighth,'' and my Democrat colleagues are considering repeating this same battle this year in Iowa's Second District. Just as in 1985, they are about to change the rules of the game after the game has already been played. Democrats have been trying to do this in States throughout the 2020 cycle. After a thorough recount of votes in all 24 counties in Iowa's Second District, Mr. Speaker, and a unanimous bipartisan vote by Iowa's State Canvassing Board, Congresswoman-elect Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was declared the winner. Instead of challenging the certification that Dr. Miller-Meeks now has in her possession in court, the Democrat candidate has decided to skip that step and, instead, is going to ask Washington Democrats to overturn Iowa's voters. And the reason is because she couldn't win in court. But if Washington Democrats change the rules, she can. She can disregard the people of Iowa. Setting this precedent that you don't have to exhaust all of your options and prove your case in court, but that whatever party is in charge of the House can come in, change the rules, and determine the winner is a terrible precedent to set. I am hoping that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will think long and hard if they want a repeat of the Bloody Eighth, because there will come a time when the shoe is on the other foot. The Federal contest of 1985 eroded public trust in our elections and undermined the integrity of our election process. I hope my colleagues will come to the same conclusion and decide to stand by the people of Iowa's Second Congressional District and seat Congresswoman-elect Mariannette Miller-Meeks on January 3. Farewell to Congressman Clay

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate you on leaving this great institution and making this institution a much better place for you serving with all of us. I have enjoyed our time together, flying back and forth from our districts, and I have enjoyed the friendship that you and I have been able to have over the last 8 years that we have served together. Mr. Speaker, you have done a great job representing the district in Missouri right across the river from mine, and our partnership is one that is bound not just in politics and not just in legislating, but in friendship. I am going to miss being here with you. This institution will be a better place, again, because of your service. We will all be at a loss without being able to go to you and ask you for your expertise, your guidance, and just having some fun. I am going miss you, my friend, but our institution's loss is your personal time and your family's gain, and I look forward to working with you in whatever the next endeavor is on your horizon. May God continue to bless you.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 239, H.R. 8354--Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I do support the bill that we are talking about. I have been a longtime supporter of medical marijuana use, and I certainly believe that the bipartisan legislation that is being put forward today is a great idea. But it is also great to follow my favorite legalized drug dealer here at the dais, Buddy Carter, the only pharmacist in Congress. This is a guy who says a lot of things about Greg Walden. All of them are true, but I am going to get to that in a bit. Mr. Speaker, I am here to thank my good friend, Donald Payne, Jr., for allowing me to cosponsor a bill that is very personal to me, and that is the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020. As some of you may know, my wife was diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer in 1999. She was 26 years old, and she is a 21-year cancer survivor today. It is a genetic form of cancer, Lynch syndrome, that I hope and pray that families like mine and many others don't have to continue to fight. But it is imperative that we catch cancer in its early stages, and I can speak from experience, with my wife constantly being misdiagnosed just a few short years ago, and that is exactly what this legislation does for our Medicare population. Put simply, this legislation ensures that, if a Medicare beneficiary receives a colonoscopy, which is covered by Medicare, he or she won't be billed for any subsequent tests on polyps that may be discovered during the screening. The current policy of providing colonoscopies at no cost to beneficiaries but then billing them for potential findings, that greatly disincentivizes vulnerable individuals from actually seeking the screening process, which could lead to worse cancer and possibly death. This is a commonsense fix that will save lives. I am proud to colead it, again, with my good friend, Mr. Payne. This is bipartisan. But before I close, I want to take a moment to thank the countless advocates who have visited my office to fight for increased screening, including those with Fight Colorectal Cancer and the American Cancer Society. Today's vote stands as a testament to their advocacy and hard work. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, again, Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden and everyone on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee for working with us to move this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, now I do want to take some time--it is actually ironic to watch all of the well wishes to Greg Walden. After first meeting him on an airplane that happened to land at the wrong airport, I didn't have a lot of high hopes for you, Mr. Ranking Member. I mean, who lands at the wrong airport, except an airplane that Greg Walden is on? Unlike a lot of folks that are here touting what you have done, I say: Good riddance. It is about time. In all seriousness, my friend, this place is going to miss you. This place is going to miss your humor. This place is going to miss your leadership and your tenacity. I can't tell you how proud I am to not just call you my colleague, but my friend. Thank you for everything you have done for me and what you have done for this great institution. It is a better place because you served here, and it will not be as good a place without you here.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, the ranking member. I didn't realize I was delaying his closing statement. I am interested in hearing it, too. And then we are going to compare beards together after this; right? I am going to lose, I know, because he is the ranking member. That is what happens. Madam Speaker, I do want to say a heartfelt thank-you and congratulations to Ranking Member Graves. This is a testament to his leadership for our side on this committee that we have come here to see such bipartisanship when it comes to the Water Resources Development Act. Madam Speaker, I do also want to thank Chairman DeFazio for his hard work. This is something that we have seen over my time in Congress. My first term, I was blessed enough to be appointed to the conference committee that got us on track for getting WRDA together on a biennial process. Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves, these are the guys who helped lead the teams to put this successful effort together. And the chairman, I am sure, is probably surprised. I haven't been one to stand up and talk about bipartisanship in this Congress as much as I would have liked, but today is that day to celebrate, and he needs to be commended for his leadership, and I am excited that we see this success when it comes to WRDA. This legislation is important to my district because I represent the Illinois and Mississippi waterways, the navigation projects that make sure that global commerce gets from my district out into the global marketplace. Without proper policies governing the Corps of Engineers and projects that are so important to my district, we wouldn't be able to be as successful, economically. This is the reason why I am so excited that we see this bipartisan effort. Madam Speaker, I urge a hearty ``yes'' vote and passage on this bill, and I thank every one of my colleagues who helped get us to this point. Madam Speaker, I certainly look forward to an overwhelming vote in the House today or later this week.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for allowing this bill to come to the floor today. I also want to give a heartfelt thanks to my colleague from the great State of California, Grace Napolitano. Grace and I cosponsored together H.R. 66, which is the House companion bill to this legislation. I also want to thank, since we are taking up the Senate bill, the Senate version of this bill, I really want to thank my colleague from my home State of Illinois, Senator Tammy Duckworth, for her work in making sure that this bicameral, bipartisan compromise comes to the floor today. I am proud to have Route 66 run through the middle of my district, and I do believe that it is important to celebrate its history. In 1926, Route 66 became the Nation's first all-paved highway under the U.S. Highway System. As Chairman DeFazio stated earlier, it connects Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Early on, the road was used by thousands of Americans seeking escape from the Dust Bowl, and it provided critical employment opportunities for road crews paving the road during the Great Depression. During World War II, the highway transported troops, equipment, and supplies to military bases across our country and was used after the war by thousands of troops who were gladly returning home to see their families. By the 1950s, Route 66 began to see a rise in tourism and really became the true symbol of American freedom and independence that we all know today. In April of 2017, I went on an extended tour of Illinois' stretch of the highway with my colleague and good friend, Congressman Darin LaHood, and also my good friend and former district director, who is now a State legislator, Representative Tim Butler, and other local leaders. We had the opportunity to see the impact that the ``Mother Road'' brings to our home State of Illinois. It supports many jobs, key economic activity in small towns, and it helps generate the important local sales tax revenue to our communities that line Route 66. If you want to come to that stretch of Illinois, travelers along Route 66 can see a giant pink elephant. That is right, Madam Speaker, a giant pink elephant right outside the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois, right at the southwestern part of the 13th District of Illinois. They can go see a movie at the Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, Illinois, in my district that originally opened in 1909. They can stop for an all-day breakfast at Jungle Jim's Cafe, a quintessential roadside diner in Springfield. They have great pancakes, too. Don't eat too many of them. The omelets are great. It is a wonderful place to stop. These are just a few of the thousands of local businesses along Route 66 whose livelihood depends on the historic highway. You don't even have to be in a car to ride along Route 66. The Illinois Route 66 Trail is a system of off-road paths for bikes, hikers, or anyone else looking to see the Mother Road in a different way. The centennial of Route 66 will be an international celebration, and the State of Illinois will be ready to welcome travelers from around the world who want to experience the history and magic of this scenic byway. For this reason, one of the important aspects of this bill is its creation of a commission to recommend activities to honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in the year 2026. Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to work with certain governors to develop a plan to preserve the first all-paved U.S. highway connecting the Midwest to the West Coast in California. It is important to retain the legacy of this great road. Throughout its history, Route 66 has been more than just a way to get from point A to point B. It has evolved in a symbol of American independence and prosperity. I am proud to help continue the legacy of Route 66. H.R. 66 passed the House last year by a voice vote, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1014. I don't believe that I have anybody else here to speak on this bill, unless I surprise any of my colleagues by yielding them time. So, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tom Lowry of Taylorville, my friend, who passed away last Sunday. In 1971, Tom opened a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in our hometown and operated it until he retired in 2015. Tom will be remembered in the community for his dedication to running the KFC and making everyone who walked through the door feel like family. For a long time, he was also on the board of directors at First National Bank. But I am going to remember Tom the most because he was my neighbor. After every single snowfall, since I lived right by him, and all of us on the same street, we would never have to wake up to an unplowed driveway because that is just what Tom did. I am going to miss seeing Tom with his dog on his golf cart rolling down our street, but he is also going to be mostly remembered for the love of his kids and grandkids. His passing is a loss for Taylorville and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Shannon and I send our thoughts and prayers to his wife, Fran; his kids, Cheryl and Jerry; his grandkids, Joel, Anna, and Jillian; and his sister, Gloria. Tom, we will miss you, man. May you rest in peace.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone and Ranking Member Walden for their leadership on this very important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee staff for working with us in a very bipartisan way to make sure that this bill came to the floor today with such bipartisan consensus. I also thank my colleague and my fellow original cosponsor of this bill, Congressman Cardenas from California, the vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. His leadership in introducing this bill was crucial, and I really appreciate him allowing me to be the bipartisan lead cosponsor. As my colleagues before me have stated so eloquently, the COVID-19 pandemic has truly changed the world as we know it, and that includes many of our daily routines. We don't have to look much farther than the House floor to see that that has happened. Stay-at-home orders and COVID-19 mitigation efforts mean families and individuals are obviously spending more time at home. And when not-- like us--on Zoom calls, we need to be sure that, for the products that are in our homes, we understand the dangers that may exist for young children running around while parents are working to ensure that their jobs continue. This is a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation. As was said, it is going to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study the effects of COVID-19 on families and the safety of our families and children. I ask that my colleagues remind themselves that this is another instance of true bipartisanship in a very polarized world that we all live in and to support this bill.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Rouzer, for the time, and I do want to say thank you to my colleague and partner on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Ms. Holmes Norton, and also to Mr. Beyer and all who work to make sure that we are here today to do what is right. We are here to make sure that the National Children's Museum here in Washington, D.C., is able, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, to still be able to provide the entertainment and offer its offerings of activities to our kids, not just here in Washington, D.C., but throughout this great country. Today is the day we can celebrate in a bipartisan way so that we can allow GSA to give them a break, to help this community, and to help them find some sense of normalcy by being able to safely attend and participate in the activities of the National Children's Museum. Pre-pandemic, the museum offered our children the ability to interact with exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math. This allowed our kids to be able to foster a greater appreciation for STEM fields. Who knows? The next great member of the next pandemic response team could have had their interest piqued in working in science by going to the children's museum here in Washington, D.C. We need STEM education now more than ever, and this is an opportunity to show the world that Republicans and Democrats in this institution can agree to get things done. I thank Ms. Holmes Norton for working with me and working with all of us on this very important piece of legislation, and I ask my colleagues to support it.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Assistant Chief Yogananda Pittman of the United States Capitol Police on being awarded the Women in Federal Law Enforcement's 2020 Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement Award. Ms. Pittman joined the U.S. Capitol Police force in 2001. Her USCP career began with security and protective services for the U.S. Senate. She has continually risen through the ranks, and in 2012 became the first African-American female supervisor to become Captain. From 2016 to 2018, Ms. Pittman completed the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) CEO Mentoring Program, and in October of last year, she became the first female to achieve the rank of Assistant Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police--the same year she completed a Master's Degree in Public Administration and enrolled in a Doctoral program. As if these accomplishments were not enough, Ms. Pittman has been promoting diversity and mentoring through the U.S. Capitol Police's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action (IDEA) Office--all in addition to her police force responsibilities. To call her impressive is truly an understatement. I'd like to formally express my gratitude for her dedicated public service and congratulate her on her well- deserved achievement of the Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement Award.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today we find ourselves in the exact same situation as we were 5 months ago, voting on a so-called coronavirus relief bill filled with 71 pages of Federal election mandates that have nothing to do with providing relief to those impacted by the coronavirus. It is yet another attempt by Democrats to federalize our elections. The bill mandates States provide same-day registration, 15 days of early voting. It requires specific rules for polling locations, no- excuse vote-by-mail for every person, nationalizes ballot harvesting, and the list of Federal election mandates goes on and on. Unlike what my Democrat colleagues continue to tell the American people, these provisions have nothing to do with the pandemic because they were part of H.R. 1, which passed the House nearly a year before the pandemic began. That said, I have a bill, Mr. Speaker, that would address election issues caused by the pandemic. It is called the EASE Act, and I would welcome House Democrats bringing it up for a vote. Not only am I troubled by this attempt to federalize our elections, but it would change the rules midgame. Many States are already voting, including my home State of Illinois. The U.S. Elections Project estimates that more than a million people have already voted, meaning some people would vote under one set of rules and, if this passed, others would vote under another set of rules. This is not how fair elections are run in the United States. We have seen what happens when States have last-minute voting changes. It creates mass voter confusion and leads to people being disenfranchised. This bill becoming law would be a disaster for election administrators and lead to even more confusion surrounding the 2020 election in 33 days, and, ultimately, more people would be disenfranchised. If this bill was a serious attempt at helping schools reopen safely, businesses keep their employees on payroll, or others impacted by the coronavirus, 71 provisions aimed at federalizing our elections would not be included. My friends on the other side of the aisle should drop these provisions and offer a clean bill to help our constituents, the parents, business owners, workers, and others who have found their lives turned upside down because of this pandemic.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I can attest, sometimes the gentleman cannot throw the pitch straight. My shin feels that. But I thank the gentleman for his kind words. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the newest member of the Shimkus slumlord era at his townhouse.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I can't tell you how privileged I am to be here tonight, to be able to stand at this podium and recognize my fellow colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize somebody who I worked for, for 16 years. I was talking to my wife, Shannon, about what I wanted to say about John tonight because I really couldn't think of anything really nice to say, after 16 years. She reminded me that I wouldn't be here without his mentorship. I wouldn't be able to have this privilege to serve in this institution with you, Madam Speaker, and with everybody who crowded the floor tonight to honor our friend, Mr. Shimkus. She reminded me, you probably--his wife, Karen, who I am not supposed to recognize in the gallery, so I am not. I don't want to be chastised later. But his wife, Karen, probably doesn't know this, but I am probably their fourth son. This is somebody who taught me to be a good worker, taught me that being on time matters, taught me that helping others is a privilege. I can't say thank you enough to this man because I would not be serving in this great institution without you and your mentorship, your friendship, and your leadership. It wasn't without some hiccups, let me tell you. I am sure he wanted to fire me a few times, and I think he told me that a few times. But I prevailed. You know why? Because we had a great team. And a great team is built with the leadership of somebody who gives people opportunities to not just survive in a workplace but to excel. I can remember that I hadn't thought about running for Congress in a very long time when I got a call in 2012 one day when there was an opportunity to put my name into the mix to run for this office. In typical John Shimkus fashion--and his wife Karen could probably attest to this--John called me and said: Hey, have you ever thought about running for Congress? And I said: Well, I guess maybe because I really enjoy watching you. He said: Well, if there is ever a time to think about it, now is the time. Okay. In typical John Shimkus fashion, he is like: All right, I have to go. Call Craig--Craig Roberts, his chief of staff, the godfather of my three kids. What a team. What a team. The entire Shimkus team, including my chief of staff since I got here who worked with me on the Shimkus campaign, in the Shimkus office, and is now my staff director on the committee that I am blessed to run, the House Administration Committee. What a legacy this guy leaves in this institution. People will not understand the importance of John Shimkus serving as a Member of the House of Representatives until they look back in history and realize some of the things that our colleagues actually talked about tonight. If you were in an emergency anywhere in this great Nation, and you have a cell phone that is a lot more ubiquitous today than it ever was when this guy came to Congress in the dark ages of 1996, you can dial 911 and know that it is going to get routed to your local emergency services center. But before John Shimkus got to Congress, that didn't happen. The things that we take for granted today were started by people who served in this institution years before us. If we don't understand their legacy and we don't understand the history that they brought to all of us and to our Nation to make sure that lives are saved, then we will never know their true impact. I personally know John Shimkus' true impact because he impacted my life greatly. He has known me since before I became a parent of now a 23 year old and two 20 year olds. These children look to him as somebody who mentored their dad. John Shimkus. I know I don't have a lot of time left tonight, and I have got probably a couple of months left to harass him a little bit in other speeches. But coming here to the U.S. House of Representatives and being able to get to know my friend's roommates, his friends and now colleagues, it would not have happened without the gentleman. He has made me not just a Member of this privileged institution, he has made me a better person, he has made me a better dad, he has made me a better husband, and he has made this institution in the United States of America a better place for every single citizen in this country. Godspeed to you, Mr. Shimkus, in your retirement. Godspeed to Karen. I love you both. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, at this point, I will go over to the other side of the aisle to yield to my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) to offer his comments.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Thank you, Mr. Tonko, for your comments. I felt a little John Shimkus-y here. I was getting a little impatient. I thought we were running out of time. So I am going ask my colleagues to please try to limit your comments to a maximum of 2 minutes. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), my good friend and fellow Illinoisan.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman LaHood for his comments. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), my colleague, who has known John Shimkus since before he was even elected.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Walden for his comments. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley), sticking with the Energy and Commerce Committee that Mr. Shimkus has served on since he got to Congress in 1996.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi), my colleague. Madam Speaker, if it takes us up, you know, I am going to start actually asking for time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Krishnamoorthi for his comments tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), a good friend of Congressman Shimkus and all of us.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. McKinley for his comments tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), another leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Burgess for his comments. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), another Energy and Commerce member.