Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I know I am not supposed to be able to recognize people in the gallery because it is a breach of the House rules, so I won't mention to the viewers that there are a lot of students in the gallery today seeing the political process at work. This is an opportunity for everyone to get to understand what it means to affect public policy in this great country. We are glad. We want to hear more from students throughout this Nation about what they think our government can do to make this country better. I just want to come here to talk about today being exactly a month since a parent's worst nightmare came true for many in Parkland, Florida: the school they send their kids to was attacked. This issue is personal for me, as a parent and also as somebody who has experienced gun violence on a baseball field less than a year ago. I think about the same fear, the same smells, sounds, and now the same healing process that those survivors will be going through. But I can only imagine how processing those things as a teenager feels or the pain that their parents, especially those who lost a child that day, are feeling right now. I believe the only reason all of us on that baseball field are still here today is because we had someone there who was protecting us and firing back. Boy, did David Bailey, Crystal Griner, and the Alexandria Police fire back. That doesn't mean I believe all schools need the same kind of security measures, but I do believe all of our schools need to look closely at their security protocols and policies, and Congress should help them make the changes that they deem necessary. There wasn't just one failure on February 14, and as such, there can't be just one solution. This bill is one part of addressing this issue, and it is something we can and should do right now.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Avery Huddleston, a first grader in my district from Mechanicsburg, Illinois. Avery, along with his classmates at Tri-City Elementary School, collected more than twenty pounds of school supplies for students in Puerto Rico--where schools are still recovering after Hurricane Maria. Avery was so excited to help students in Puerto Rico that he asked his friends to bring school supplies instead of gifts to his seventh birthday party. Soon, his whole class got in on the fun. When Avery's mom learned that local Ameren crews were scheduled to go to Puerto Rico, she arranged for Ameren to take the box of donations with them. But when the crews dropped off the donations, they discovered that the school was still experiencing problems with electricity. Within thirty minutes, Ameren workers were able to restore the school's light and air conditioning after nearly six months without power. Thanks to the kindness of a special seven year old and his classmates, students in Rio Grande not only have new school supplies, but now have their lights back on. I'm very proud of Avery and inspired by his ambition to help others. He's a perfect example of the kindness we should show our neighbors every day. Keep up the good work, Avery.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise, today, to remember Tom Berns, a friend and respected community leader, who passed away last month. After graduating college, Tom established the firm Berns, Clancy and Associates, which has grown into one of today's premier engineering firms in the area. Over the course of his career, Tom was considered by many to be an expert in civil engineering. He found great joy in his profession and shared it with others through teaching. However, Tom is, perhaps, most known for his impact on the community. He was a member of over a dozen clubs, boards, and civic organizations, many of which he served as president or chairman. He served as village engineer for five different central Illinois towns throughout his lifetime and was also actively involved in his congregation, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, for over 50 years. In 2000, Tom became a Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, where he represented Illinois' 104th House District. Tom knew what it meant to serve. He lived his life in a way that put others before himself, always looking for ways to help, to get involved, and to improve his community. I am inspired by the legacy of Tom Berns and the numerous lives he touched throughout central Illinois. I pray for his wife, Jeannie, and their family during this difficult time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the Springfield Clinic, one of the first multi-specialty clinics in downstate Illinois. With more than 400 physicians and advanced practitioners practicing in 80 medical specialties and sub- specialties, Springfield Clinic now proudly stands as one of Illinois' largest private multi-specialty clinics and serves nearly one million patients throughout the central Illinois region. In 2010, as part of their ``leading the way'' initiative, all Springfield Clinic offices began working with the OpenNotes movement. This put them among the nation's leaders in integration of electronic health record technology, which enables clinicians to share their visit notes with patients through fully transparent medical records. This secure system encourages patients to become active participants in their health care by providing a convenient way to access and manage personal medical records, communicate directly with medical professionals, schedule appointments and prescriptions, receive email and text reminders for preventive care and upcoming appointments, and pay bills online. This dynamic state-of-the-art system provides Springfield Clinic the necessary tools to expand patient services. However, we cannot hope to automate and streamline provider workflow unless more patients sign up for and participate in these portals. I'm proud to represent Springfield Clinic, which is on the forefront of this innovative approach to the doctor-patient relationship. Nineteen million patients are already taking advantage of their new ability to access medical information online through OpenNotes, and my hope is that this number only continues to grow both in my district and across the country. More and more medical professionals and citizens should take advantage of this patient-centered program so we can focus on what matters most-- patient care.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the Springfield Clinic, one of the first multi-specialty clinics in downstate Illinois. With more than 400 physicians and advanced practitioners practicing in 80 medical specialties and sub- specialties, Springfield Clinic now proudly stands as one of Illinois' largest private multi-specialty clinics and serves nearly one million patients throughout the central Illinois region. In 2010, as part of their ``leading the way'' initiative, all Springfield Clinic offices began working with the OpenNotes movement. This puts them among the nation's leaders in integration of electronic health record technology, which enables clinicians to share their visit notes with patients through fully transparent medical records. This secure system encourages patients to become active participants in their health care by providing a convenient way to access and manage personal medical records, communicate directly with medical professionals, schedule appointments and prescriptions, receive email and text reminders for preventive care and upcoming appointments, and pay bills online. This dynamic state-of-the-art system provides Springfield Clinic the necessary tools to expand patient services. However, we cannot hope to automate and streamline provider workflow unless more patients sign up for and participate in these portals. I'm proud to represent Springfield Clinic, which is on the forefront of this innovative approach to the doctor-patient relationship. 19 million patients are already taking advantage of their new ability to access medical information online through OpenNotes, and my hope is that this number only continues to grow both in my district and across the country. More and more medical professionals and citizens should take advantage of this patient-centered program so we can focus on what matters most--patient care.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Thomas Howard for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. The son of Bob and Susan, Thomas is a sophomore at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA. Thomas has been an active member of Cub Scout Pack 194 and Boy Scout Troop 648. He is an active leader on the local and national level, most notably serving as Patrol Leader at the National Jamboree. He currently serves as Junior Assistant Scout Master for his Troop. For Thomas' Eagle Service Project, he led a team of scouts, friends, and adults to create thirty-seven, 2x3' environmental awareness poster puzzles for the Fairfax County Park Authority and invested over two- hundred and thirty-four service hours. With his dedication and leadership, every Park Authority building in the county now has access to these learning tools. In addition to scouting, Thomas is an altar server at St. Thomas More Cathedral, a National SeaPerch competitor, and Mission Manager for Bishop O'Connell's ThinSat satellite program. I am honored to recognize Thomas for his achievement and wish him all the best in his continuing education.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Rare Disease Day, I'm proud to recognize Grace Herschelman, a six-year-old from Hillsboro, Illinois who continues to be an inspiration for thousands across Illinois. When Grace was three-years-old, she was diagnosed with Infantile Neuraxonal Dystrophy, a neurodegenerative disease that results in a loss of muscle strength, movement, and the ability to speak. At the time of her diagnosis, there were only 10 documented cases of INAD in the nation, and most children with this disease do not make it to their 10th birthday. Throughout her diagnosis and regular therapy treatments, Grace and her family have been a source of inspiration throughout Illinois. They have increased awareness for this rare and terminal disease, and have raised more than $175,000 for research, with donors coming from all 50 states. Grace and her family's story is just one example of why I support increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act. Thousands of Americans are afflicted with rare diseases like INAD, and we as a nation must work to ensure that better treatment, cures, and hope are prioritized and possible for these patients and their families.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Rare Disease Day, I am proud to recognize Grace Herschelman, a 6-year-old from Hillsboro, Illinois, who continues to be an inspiration for thousands. When Grace was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with infantile neuraxonal dystrophy, a neurodegenerative disease that results in a loss of muscle strength, movement, and the ability to speak. At the time of her diagnosis, there were only 10 documented cases of INAD in the Nation, and most children with this disease do not make it to their 10th birthday. Throughout her diagnosis and therapy treatment, Grace and her family have been a source of inspiration throughout Illinois. They have increased awareness for a rare and terminal disease and have raised more than $175,000 for research, with donors coming from all 50 States. Grace and her family's story is just one example of why I support increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and legislation like the 21st Century Cures Act. Thousands of Americans are afflicted with rare diseases like those that afflict Grace, and we, as a nation, must work together to ensure better treatment, cures, and hope that is prioritized and possible for these patients and their families.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coach Derek Leonard, who was nominated by the Chicago Bears for the 2017 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award. Nominees for this award are chosen for their character, integrity, leadership, dedication to their community, commitment to player health and safety, and on-field success. Derek Leonard exemplifies all of these qualities. Coach Leonard has coached the Rochester Rockets football team since 2006 with an impressive 133-29 career record, including a record seven State championships, the most by any public school in my home State of Illinois. Derek is known for being one of the most gifted offensive minds in high school football, but Coach Leonard reaches beyond football with his message of faith, family, and football, in that order. He is a leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and ensures his players are equipped to become good men in life after they graduate from high school and walk off o that football field. I am proud to have Coach Leonard as a friend, and I want to congratulate him and his family and his team on this honor.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Harper for his leadership on this important piece of legislation. And I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I didn't offer my thanks to our House Administration Committee's ranking member, Mr. Brady. I thank him for his leadership on this important issue, too. I want to thank my fellow colleagues on that committee for their hard work and diligence. Mr. Speaker, no one should have to worry about sexual harassment when they come to work. This bill is vital to addressing this problem as we work to increase professionalism in the House and establish a workplace that is grounded in respect. In Congress, we have got to lead by example. As a member of this committee, my colleagues and I held hearings on preventing sexual harassment in the congressional workplace and the effectiveness of the Congressional Accountability Act, which demonstrated the need for reform. I am pleased to report that this bill continues the House Administration Committee's commitment to increasing transparency in the Federal Government. Last Congress, we worked hard to pass reforms that made House office spending more transparent and accountable than any other area of the Federal Government. Today we are voting on a bill that will increase transparency of Member conduct by requiring the Office of Compliance to report on awards and settlements every 6 months and by holding Members personally responsible. This strengthens the dispute resolution process, enables employees to speak without fear of retribution, and ensures every House office has an antidiscriminatory and antiharassment policy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and to support this bill.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Roger McFarlin, who retired at the end of last year after forty-five years of service as a family physician in my district. Dr. McFarlin grew up in Hillsboro, Illinois, where he graduated high school in 1962. After finishing medical school in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. McFarlin practiced in both Colorado and Montana before moving back to Hillsboro to be close to home. Since then, Dr. McFarlin has taken care of hundreds of patients in the area, who, according to his wife, are not just their patients, but family and friends. For nearly fifty years, he's made house calls and hospital visits, and has become a familiar name to most in Montgomery County. Dr. McFarlin has been an important voice in the healthcare community for over forty-five years. He previously sat on the board of directors for Hillsboro Area Hospital and was the medical director for the Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He also served on the board for the Montgomery County Health Department and is a longtime member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has been awarded the Hillsboro Education Foundation's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and also received the Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association; true testaments to Dr. McFarlin's dedication to his patients and his commitment to providing excellent healthcare to families. Dr. McFarlin plans to enjoy his retirement with his wife, Doris, on their farm. I'm thankful for Dr. McFarlin's many years of service to patients in Central Illinois. I wish him and his family the best as they start this new chapter.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor Ayden O'Malley. Ayden is the daughter of Denny and Rosalind O'Malley of Nokomis, Illinois. Along with many of her friends and hundreds of other young people from Illinois, Ayden traveled here to D.C. earlier this month to attend the March for Life. During their trip, Ayden was hospitalized after she experienced a serious medical episode. After countless prayers and 5 days of fighting, Ayden gained her angel wings. As her mom said: ``So often answered prayers may not be the answers we want.'' Ayden was an eighth grader at St. Louis Catholic School, where she was on the honor roll, played volleyball and softball, and volunteered in her community as often as she could. Everyone who knew Ayden said she had a bright, vibrant spirit that brought joy to everyone around her. While they were here in D.C., I met with Ayden's group, but, unfortunately, I never had the honor of meeting her. I admire Ayden's convictions and willingness to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I ask this House to join me in praying for strength and healing for Ayden's family, friends, and the Nokomis community during this difficult time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tim Nelson, a beloved father, husband, community leader, and football coach who passed away on January 16, after a courageous battle against colorectal cancer since 2013. Despite spending weeks receiving treatment in the hospital and going in and out of remission, Tim's resolve and bravery in his battle against this disease never wavered. The support he and his family received in the Metro East and the River Bend never wavered either. A member of the Calhoun High School's 1992 State championship football team, Tim served as head football coach at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton and Dupo High School before returning to his home school, Calhoun High School, as an assistant in 2013. Each of these communities and the entire region never stopped rallying around Tim and his family. I am proud to honor him and his life in this Chamber, and I ask you to join me in keeping his wife, Casey; and young son, Crew, in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a valued member of the central Illinois community, Elizabeth ``Liz'' Leonard. Liz passed away on December 31, 2017 at just 64 years old, but her memory and legacy will continue to live on. Liz touched so many lives in the Springfield community where she taught in the Springfield School District 186 for more than 27 years. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. Liz was also actively involved in the Springfield Bible Church and was a ``Huddle Leader'' for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 20 years. As so many people in the community know, the entire Leonard family was devoted to football. Liz's husband, Ken, and son, Derek, are high school football coaches for two rival teams in Illinois. The ``Leonard Bowl,'' played between Ken's Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones and Derek's Rochester Rockets, has become one of the most uniting high school sports spectacles in the state. I can only imagine the dilemma Liz found herself in while attending these games and deciding who to root for. As someone who knows the Leonard family well, my thoughts and prayers are with them and all members of our local community as we remember the tremendous positive impact the Leonard family and Liz have had on so many of our school districts and communities. I thank Liz for shaping young minds, supporting young athletes and Christians, and for being a shining light in all of our communities.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Silgan Closures, a leader in the manufacturing industry in Illinois' 13th District. The Silgan Closures plant in Champaign, Illinois was awarded the 2017 Illinois Sustainability Award by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. Over the past year, Silgan has made significant changes to its operation in an effort to reduce energy consumption, making it a true example of the sustainability in manufacturing and a deserving recipient of this award. By converting from injection molding machines to compression molding machines, Silgan was able to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,900 metric tons. Silgan also began using rail to import their plastic resin, further reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Even small changes like switching to LED lightbulbs and using more environmentally friendly cleaning agents have had a significant impact when it comes to cutting down on energy use at Silgan's facility in Champaign. As a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, I will continue to support policies like Section 179(d) of the IRS code, which incentivizes businesses to become more energy efficient, and the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act, which would expand 179(d) to include the installation of mechanical insulation. Businesses like Silgan Closures are an example of how incentivizing sustainability can produce results. I'm proud to highlight the good work that Silgan Closures is doing to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing in my district. They are certainly deserving of the 2017 Illinois Sustainability Award.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. Chris Smith is one of the leaders in the pro-life movement that we have had not just here in the House, but in our country. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I want to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Every year in January, families, religious leaders, and students come to Washington, D.C., and march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court. To me, the March for Life means having renewed hope and faith in our Nation's young people, as I see hundreds, many from perishes just like mine, come to our Nation's Capital to stand for human life. I want to recognize all of the groups from Illinois, who are traveling to participate in this week's March for Life event, including the 250 young people and chaperones from my Diocese in Springfield, Illinois. As a father of a daughter and twin boys, I want to thank our youth for their commitment to life.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lynn Raney, who passed away on December 28. He was a talented artist, a dedicated State worker, an admired teacher, and a respected member of our central Illinois community. Lynn found great joy in serving others. I got to know him during his time working in public service for the State of Illinois. There was never a day that Lynn did not have a smile on his face, even in the midst of difficult family health tragedies. As a matter of fact, Lynn Raney helped set up a press conference where he found out he was being laid off from the State of Illinois by a new Governor. I have no doubt that Lynn will be remembered well for his talent as an artist. Not only did he teach art to high school students, but he was known for the care and creativity he put into his annual Christmas cards. Just before this Christmas, I received one of his cards, and I will cherish it even more after his passing. I am proud to honor Lynn today. He left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He was a good friend, a devoted husband, and a loving father, who will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lynn Raney, who passed away on December 28th. He was a talented artist, a dedicated state worker, an admired teacher, and a respected member of our Central Illinois community. Lynn found great joy in serving others. I got to know him during his time working in public service for the State of Illinois. There was never a day Lynn did not have a smile on his face, even in the midst of difficult family health tragedies. As a boy, Lynn was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving honors such as the Eagle Scout, the Silver Beaver, and the Wood Badge. Later in life he was proud to serve as a volunteer, teaching the values of the Boy Scouts to younger generations. I have no doubt that Lynn will be remembered well for his talent as an artist. Not only did he teach art to high school students, but he was known for the care and creativity he put into his annual Christmas cards. Just before Christmas, I received one of his cards and I will cherish it even more after his passing. I am proud to honor Lynn today. He left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He was a good friend, a devoted husband, and a loving father who will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, my congratulations go out to Chairman Frelinghuysen and to Chairman Shuster for putting these FEMA reforms into law that were long overdue. I thank the gentlemen for their support. I rise in support of H.R. 4667, the critical disaster assistance legislation to help those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria this year. I have said on the floor of this House numerous times that I believe it is important for Congress to come together when disaster strikes to help those impacted. Helping our fellow Americans after a disaster is the right thing to do. And, don't forget, you never know when a disaster may hit your State. That is why I am thankful to Chairman Frelinghuysen and Chairman Shuster for including language important to my home State of Illinois in this bill. My bill, the Disaster Declaration Improvement Act, requires FEMA to place greater weight and consideration on the severe, localized impact of the damage following a disaster. I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, for working with me on this bipartisan bill. FEMA currently takes into account several factors when determining the need for public and individual assistance. However, there is no standard to determine which factor is more important than another, which leads to a highly subjective process, and one that has left rural counties in very populated States, like Illinois, left without help from the Federal Government. It is because one major factor used by FEMA is a State's population. Currently, FEMA multiplies a State's population by $1.39 to use it for the threshold to determine need, meaning, for Illinois to receive assistance, damages would have to be $18 million or more. As you can see by this chart, that is more than or nearly double that of all of our neighboring States. There have been multiple times where a storm hits both Illinois and our neighbors, but Illinois is the only one denied assistance. One of the most recent examples is, 2 years ago this Christmas, flood damage throughout 16 counties cost $15 million in damages. Missouri, who was also impacted by this same storm, received assistance, but Illinois did not. This is wrong. My constituents pay into the Disaster Relief Fund to help other States. It should be there when they need it.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Sessions for his leadership and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we are about to make history this week by delivering a tax cut to families at every income level. The math clearly shows that the average family of four, making the country's median income of $73,000, will receive a $2,000 tax cut. Yet many of my friends on the other side of the aisle continue to say this bill is going to raise taxes on millions of middle class families. That is just not true, unless you are referring to 2025, when these tax cuts expire and we go back to the status quo. Why is there an expiration date? Because many of the very same people, using this as a talking point against this bill, are the reason they sunset. If we could get 60 votes in the Senate, requiring just a few of my friends on the other side of the aisle to work with us, we could make this tax cut for middle class families permanent right now. They have chosen not to work with us. I will be giving my friends on the other side of the aisle another chance to support tax cuts for hardworking families in their district. I will be introducing a bill to make the individual tax cuts permanent. I am not sure there is anyone who truly believes that a future Congress would let them expire, given the fact that we have extended the Bush tax cuts in the past. Nonetheless, I am introducing this bill to ensure these tax cuts will be in place for middle class families this year, and to make sure they are here to stay. Mr. Speaker, I hope each and every one of my colleagues will sign on as a cosponsor.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend Laura Weis, who was honored with the Distinguished Illinois Chamber of Commerce Executive Award last month. As CEO of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Laura is a tireless advocate for the citizens, businesses and organizations throughout a community with nationally-recognized educational institutions, technological and innovative start-ups, manufacturing companies, and agricultural industries. Under Laura's leadership, the Chamber has increased its membership and influence throughout the region. The Chamber and its staff continually engage with elected officials at every level of government to ensure commonsense, business-friendly policies are in place for the community. Through the Chamber's efforts, delegations of community and business leaders from the county have become more engaged in public affairs through regular trips to Springfield and Washington, D.C. Outside of political advocacy, the Chamber has adopted numerous policies that support the local community, including the creation of an energy coop that has saved local businesses thousands of dollars, the development of a procurement center to assist businesses with government contracts, the institution of local disaster recovery plans, and oversight of countless online tools to help area businesses. Laura is a tremendous leader within my congressional district, and it is not hard to see her impact throughout Champaign County. I Congratulate Laura on this award, and I look forward to continuing to work with her throughout the future.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congressman LaHood, and all my good friends from the Illinois delegation who are here today. This is really a privilege for me to be able to be here to talk about Illinois' 200th anniversary. It is my home State. It wasn't always my home State. As a matter of fact, my family moved us from our hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, to Taylorville, Illinois, when I was 7 years old, in 1977. Taylorville was a new experience for me, but it was a home that we established. My parents were able to achieve their dream of owning their own business, which gave my family the chance to achieve the American Dream, and it was right here in Illinois. It was in our home State that celebrates our 200th anniversary. Taylorville is the place where my wife grew up, and it is where we choose to raise our three children. But it is also my proud hometown, and I love to talk about it because it is where I grew up, but it is also where so many things have happened. Because I have taken this job as a Member of Congress, this opportunity, I have learned a lot more about my hometown. A couple of highlights that I want to bring out: one, of course, was Taylorville's basketball team from the 1940s still holds the IHSA record. I believe they were 45-0, with big-name players like Johnny Orr and Ron Bontemps. Edward Mills Purcell was born in Taylorville and raised in Taylorville. He actually was the Nobel Peace Prize winner in physics. He actually created nuclear magnetic resonance, which is the backbone of what we know today as an MRI. It came out of my hometown in Taylorville, Illinois. I am so honored that, since 2013, I have been blessed to be able to walk this floor and serve the 13th Congressional District with these great colleagues from our home State. The 13th Congressional District goes way beyond my hometown of Taylorville. It stretches in 14 counties, and one area that I know that has been talked about tonight is Springfield, the State capital, Lincoln's hometown. I have got to give it to my colleague, Mr. LaHood. Yes, he represents more geography that Lincoln represented in his one term here in Congress, and Mrs. Bustos represents part of Lincoln's old district. I understand that. But as somebody who represents Lincoln himself in Lincoln's tomb, I think I represent Lincoln the most. What this tells you, this friendly rivalry that we three have, it goes to show you that, in one term in Congress and then his time as the President of our great Nation, Abraham Lincoln took three Members of Congress to follow in his footsteps in his one district. There is no way any of us in this institution can follow in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, but it is such a privilege to know that we three share such history. And that is exactly why we are here today, to talk about the 200th anniversary of our home State, and we would not be talking about Illinois without Abraham Lincoln. There is a story and a statue in my hometown that has Lincoln and a pig. The old stories are that Lincoln came to practice when he was a lawyer and complained about the pig squealing under the steps of our local courthouse. So we in Taylorville honor Abe and his comments on the pig. Come visit, see the statue, and come celebrate Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was a leader that, obviously, our Nation needed at that time. We stand here in the House of Representatives and we debate issues that may seem important today, but, compared to what our great President Abraham Lincoln and the Members of Congress at the time leading up to our Civil War, the issues that they had to discuss and they had to debate, I believe history has shown us that we will never-- and, hopefully, never ever--experience what those elected officials did in Lincoln's time. But it took the courage of Abraham Lincoln to actually keep our Nation together and keep the stability and the growth of the great State of Illinois as part of this United States of America for 200 years. His leadership and ability to unite people is something I strive to do in Congress every day. We certainly have a diverse State, and I want to highlight some of the things that Abraham Lincoln is probably not known for. Abe Lincoln actually was the inspiration for landmark legislation that he signed that created the Morrill Land-Grant Acts that gave us land-grant universities, including the greatest land-grant university that I joke with my colleagues about from throughout this great Nation. The greatest land-grant is the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, which I am proud to have in my district. As we move on to talk about important issues, I cannot leave this floor tonight without talking about the importance of agriculture in our home State of Illinois. This past August, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Mike Conaway; and so many Members, including Congressman LaHood, Congresswoman Bustos, and others, joined me and other members of the House Agriculture Committee for a farm bill listening session at the largest outdoor farm event in the country, the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois. Just the fact that this show is in Illinois every other year truly highlights the importance of Illinois agriculture to the rest of the world. I am proud to be able to serve on the House Agriculture Committee and serve as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. And when we talk about agriculture and our ability to feed the world, it stems right from our home State of Illinois. With 72,000 farms and over 2,600 food manufacturers, Illinois is a national leader. We are the leading producer of soybeans, corn, swine, and one of the largest producers of ethanol. As we move ahead into the next farm bill debate, I am proud to be able to take Illinois' voice to the House Agriculture Committee with my colleague Congressman Bost and my other colleague Congresswoman Bustos. I am proud to represent central Illinois and the 13th District here in Washington, and I hope that those who follow us for the next 200 years enjoy legislating in a bipartisan way as much as we do together in the Illinois delegation.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of James William Lawyer, a friend to many in Taylorville and Christian County, who passed away on December 6, 2017. Jim Lawyer is another tragic victim of Alzheimer's disease. A beloved member of the Taylorville community, Jim was a valued volunteer in many local organizations, which included serving as coach of the original Taylorville Junior Football League team, the Bears. Jim served as one of my football coaches during my freshman and sophomore years at Taylorville High School, and was an invaluable mentor and teacher. Years later, I was blessed with the opportunity to coach his grandsons in the local JFL league and pass on many of the lessons and guidance that Jim gave to me. Throughout his life, Jim impacted a countless number of lives, mine included. Please keep his wife, Janet, and the rest of his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to help raise awareness for the Stop the Bleed training course. Recently, I had the opportunity to take this course, offered by the American College of Surgeons. This simple training teaches you how to treat bleeding injuries and help save a life. The most common preventable cause of death after an accident is losing too much blood after trained responders arrive. This past June, I saw the difference having these lifesaving skills can make when several of my colleagues and friends were shot while we were practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game. We were fortunate to have the skills of former Army medic, my colleague, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who was able to apply a tourniquet to Majority Whip Steve Scalise and help save Steve's life. Each year, more than 180,000 people die from injuries sustained from car crashes, falls, industrial and farm accidents, shootings, and natural disasters. Every American could potentially save a life by learning these very simple skills. I commend this campaign and I hope by raising awareness we will equip more Americans to do just that.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this resolution requiring all Members and staff to complete antiharassment and antidiscrimination training during each session of Congress. I would like to thank Chairman Harper. I would like to thank Speaker Ryan for announcing this policy change in the House. I would like to thank my friend and colleague on the House Administration Committee, Barbara Comstock, for introducing this important bill. No one should have to worry about sexual harassment when they come to work. As a former staffer and someone with a female-led office, I believe this resolution is an important first step in addressing this problem as we work to increase professionalism in the House and establish a workplace that is grounded in respect. In Congress, we have got to lead by example. As a member of the House Administration Committee, we worked hard to pass reforms last Congress to make House office spending more transparent and accountable than any other area of the Federal Government, and I am confident in this committee's ability to address, in a bipartisan way, this important issue as well. I look forward to the continued hearings the committee will have on this issue as we work to institute policies that protect staffers against sexual harassment and ensure female staffers are provided leadership opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution.