Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I agree with the Speaker's remarks. Reverend Graham was vital in the fight for civil rights in the South. So, today, I ask: Why are we still having this conversation 6 years later? Why do the Democrats continue to delay States' efforts, like North Carolina and Arkansas, to replace the statues in question that are currently at the Capitol? Why do Democrats delay action, keeping these statues of known racist Democrats in this building? Democrats have done nothing on any statue for the past 6 months, leaving statues of segregationists, known racists, and other Confederate Democrats in our Capitol. As an aside, we know this process shouldn't take this long. Kansas, which has no statues in question in the underlying bill, has been waiting 22 years to put a statue of Amelia Earhart in the Capitol. Just yesterday, the chair of the Joint Committee on the Library, a Democrat, signed the paperwork in about 30 seconds when pressed on it, despite waiting over 6 months to organize the Joint Committee on the Library this Congress. It is clear that the Democrats could move these requests along at any time but instead are actively continuing to delay the process. In an effort to speed up this process, I offered an amendment yesterday at the Rules Committee that very reasonably would have addressed these delays and would have required the Joint Committee on the Library to act within 30 days of receiving any actionable items on statue replacement. Thirty days, come on. Democrats ruled it out of order. I believe that is because they wanted to vote on this bill. Each of the statues in question represents a known racist who was a Democrat from the past. The majority party is anxious to erase their discriminatory history from the Capitol with this action. So, let's have the vote. Let's have a vote on this Democrat bill intending to remove Democrat statues. Madam Speaker, my constituent Abraham Lincoln is buried in my district, the 13th District of Illinois, the first Republican President of our great Nation. I am proud to represent that history. I stood on this floor debating and supporting this bill in the last Congress, and I will support it again. But please, Madam Speaker, please, please encourage the Democratic majority to help us reform this broken process that has delayed and delayed and kept statues of known Confederates, known racists, who happen to be Democrats in the past, in this Capitol. Let's work together. Let's get this done. Let's stop playing games. And let's actually open the Capitol again. It is kind of interesting and ironic that no one can see these statues because the Capitol is closed. What are we doing to establish a plan to reopen our Capitol for our Nation to actually share in this history, to share in the history of Abraham Lincoln, to share in the history of our country, to share in the special building that we get the chance to walk in and work in while it remains closed? Madam Speaker, I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to reform this broken process. Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak today, and I intend to vote for this bill.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Margaret Emhardt Johnson who is celebrating her 95th birthday on June 30. She was born into the ``Greatest Generation'' shortly after the Great Depression and went on to serve our Nation through World War II before raising a family of three children.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, on June 23, 2021, I voted NAY on Roll Call 180 (Passage of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021) when I meant to vote YEA. I would like to clarify that my intention was to vote YEA on Roll Call 180

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan amendment to the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, a bill that I am proud to be working on with my good friend, Chairman Scott. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reclaim my time. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides an important fix caused by the outcome of the 2019 Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., Supreme Court decision in order to ensure that older workers can seek the justice they deserve when they face age discrimination in the workplace, on a level playing field. The amendment that I introduced with Representative Chellie Pingree highlights the discrimination that women face in the workplace based not only on gender, but on age as well. According to a 2018 report from the EEOC, women, especially older women, but also those at middle age, were subjected to more age discrimination than older men. Research suggests that ageism at work begins at age 40 for women, 5 years earlier than men. This is unacceptable and we must find ways to correct this problem. This amendment would require the DOL and EEOC to conduct a comprehensive study on these age discrimination cases. DOL and EEOC would then be required to make recommendations for best practices to combat age discrimination of women in the workplace. Challenges that women face are not partisan issues and, together, we should make every effort to address them. Employers should make, and have the right tools to make, conscious efforts to ensure that women have equal rights and opportunities in the workplace, regardless of their age. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Pingree for co-leading this amendment, and also Chairman Scott for his kind words and support of its inclusion. I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment and to vote ``yes'' on this amendment and the underlying bill to protect older adults from workplace discrimination. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim of Monticello, Illinois, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on May 19 of this year. Officer Oberheim was a 21-year veteran of law enforcement. He joined the Champaign Police Department in 2013 after beginning his career with the Decatur Police Department in 2000. During his career, he received two medals of valor for selfless acts of bravery. In his time off duty, Chris enjoyed coaching softball and spending time with his family. He was a loving husband, father, son, coach, and trusted friend. His four daughters were his inspiration. Those who knew Chris remember him most for his commitment to loving his family and serving his community. My prayers are with his wife, Amber, and daughters Hannah, Avery, Addison, and Aubree, as well as the rest of his family, friends, and fellow officers. Chris was nothing short of a hero. In closing, I would like to share a Bible verse that Chris' family says he lived by: ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.'' Honoring Grace Herschelman

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Grace Herschelman of Hillsboro, Illinois, who passed away on May 19 at the age of 9 after a lifelong battle with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, INAD. When Grace was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with INAD, a neurodegenerative disease that results in a loss of muscle strength, movement, and the ability to speak. Grace did not let this stop her from enjoying many trips to the Saint Louis Zoo; rooting on her favorite soccer, softball, and basketball teams; and having a blast with her sister and best friend, Charlotte. Grace and her family also had a huge impact on awareness and fundraising for INAD research. Since Grace was diagnosed in 2014, the Herschelman family has raised about $200,000 for the INAD Cure Foundation, with donors from all 50 States. Grace was an inspiration to all who met her, never failing to light up any room with her smile. My prayers go out to her parents, Kyle and Mary, her sister, Charlotte, and the rest of her family. Grace, may you rest in peace. Congratulating Mark Butcher

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mark Butcher on his retirement after 30 years of teaching math and science in the Rochester school district, Lincoln Christian University, and Lincoln Land Community College. After working in the private sector for many years, Mark decided to go back to school to get his teaching certificate in 1991. Ever since then, he has taught at Rochester and also part-time at night at Lincoln Land where he would frequent my family's McDonald's in Taylorville for a quick dinner. Over the past 30 years, Mark has taught, mentored, and given valuable career advice to thousands of students. Mark is known for his Einstein- like appearance and science experiments, which were highly educational but sometimes caused heartburn among the administration and school board members. He was instrumental in developing the dual credit program at Rochester, which has allowed hundreds of students to receive college credit for courses while still in high school. Mark received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Rochester Teacher of the Year, the Golden Apple Excellence in Leadership award, Lincoln Land's Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, and being named the State Journal Register's Top Teacher of the Year. Congratulations on your retirement, Mark. Enjoy your time with your wife, Brenda, four children, and your six grandchildren.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Grand Opening of the Edward Amburg History Museum in Grafton, Illinois, which will take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021. At age 83, Edward Amburg passed away in November of 2018. He is remembered by the community for his dedication to historical research of his beloved community. Thanks to Ed's efforts the City of Grafton received funding to build a museum focused on its storied past. The museum will include documents and artifacts donated by the Grafton Historical Society that will represent the rich boat making, manufacturing, and farming history that Grafton is known for. Ed's passion and dedication for the history of Grafton will carry on through the museum that bears his name. Again, I thank Ed for the legacy he left behind and congratulations to his wife Bobbie and the entire community. I look forward to visiting this great addition to the City of Grafton.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to lead this effort with my good friend and colleague, the chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Ms. Norton. As Congresswoman Norton said, this important legislation directs the General Services Administration to provide rent relief to the National Children's Museum that is currently housed in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center right here in Washington, D.C. Currently, the museum is the only federally designated museum sitting in a Federal building that is required to pay rent. This bill will give the museum the same benefits afforded to other congressionally designated museums. Prepandemic, the museum offered our children the ability to interact with exhibits that were focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. And that allowed children to foster a greater appreciation for our STEM fields. As our country reopens and we look to the future, the museum will continue to build off that success and become even more valuable of a resource for our youth. In that spirit, I actually look forward to visiting with some of my colleagues soon and talking about this important bill. It is just frustrating that it is the only museum that is congressionally directed that has to pay another government agency, the GSA, for rent when they weren't allowed to be open. So this is a commonsense bill. It has been great to work with Congresswoman Norton, and I support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Norton for her cooperation on this. It is great to be back on the floor and see everybody. I enjoy this greatly. I certainly hope everybody supports this commonsense bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the career of a true public servant, House Inspector General Michael Ptasienski, who has dedicated nearly 15 years of his professional career to ensuring the People's House operates with integrity and accountability. Appointed as Inspector General in February of 2018, Mike is only the fifth individual to hold this position and as House IG, exemplified the excellence, attention to detail, determination and character necessary for success. But of course, the role of the Inspector General was not a surprise to Mike. Prior to being appointed, he had served as Deputy Inspector General of Advisory and Administrative Services, and as Director of Management Advisory Services. This month, his tenure in the House IG shop came to its end when he entered retirement on June 4, 2021. Mike will be missed--not only for his dedication and commitment to the IG mission, but for his positive attitude and approachable nature. Part of the mission of the House IG is to ``serve as a constructive critic, helpful advisor, and positive change agent.'' In fulfilling this mission, Mike has gone above and beyond, and the House is a more accountable, efficient, and safe institution due to the many recommendations and advisories his team produced under his leadership. I wish to once again express my and my team's gratitude for Mike's partnership, collaboration, and kindness throughout the years, and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a noteworthy occasion at the Library of Congress's National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)--the retirement of Director Karen Keninger. Having dedicated nearly a decade of service under two Librarians of Congress, Karen's devotion to the NLS collection shows in the excellence she has brought to the program through both expansion of the collection and innovation of service. The NLS is an institution committed to serving readers with disabilities with the mission of ensuring ``that all may read''. Offering free braille and talking book library services for people with temporary or permanent reading disabilities, the NLS has played an instrumental part in ensuring that the Library of Congress' collection can be enjoyed by all Americans. As director of the NLS, over her nearly decade of leadership, Karen has doubled the collection of talking books and magazines while reducing production time for reading materials. She has opened up new worlds for all NLS patrons by ushering in the creation of mobile apps for downloading books and magazines in audio and braille, as well as advocating that the United States be a party to the Marrakesh Treaty, which provides for the exchange of accessible-format books across international borders. Her mission to ensure ``that all may read'' was all the more realized through her instrumental involvement in the launch of braille eReader device pilot programs to both increase the speed of getting materials to patrons and reduce storage and delivery requirements for materials for librarians. Beyond the collection, Karen has played the lead role in the renovation of the NLS satellite office building and the adoption of a new, modernized name for NLS reflecting its service to not only blind Americans, but to the larger print disabled community. She ushered in a new era of NLS service and restructured the organization to better align with the mission of the Library to provide access for all the American people. This year, the NLS celebrated its 90th Anniversary. It is due to dedicated servants of the American people, like Karen, that we owe our thanks for a successful and influential program that touches American lives every day.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life and career of Jane Sanchez, Deputy Librarian for Library Collections and Services, and 25th Law Librarian of Congress. Earlier this year, the Library of Congress mourned the loss of Ms. Sanchez who brought her wealth of knowledge and experience to government service in the Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Government Publishing Office prior to joining the Library of Congress. She also was well loved for her time with Harvard University and the University of New Mexico, and received many awards in her career, including one from the U.S. Department of Energy for sustained superior service. Her time at the Library of Congress began in 2014 as lead of the Humanities and Social Sciences division and not long after, she became the Deputy Librarian for Library Collections and Services, as well as the 25th Law Librarian of Congress. Her colleagues said that she ``led the Law Library of Congress during times of profound change and challenges,'' and that she was a ``visionary leader of the Law Library, whose profound contributions made the institution, and its links to the American people, stronger and more impactful.'' According to another colleague, ``numerous digital projects, webinars, LibGuides, and of course the Legal Research Institute will serve as her legacy.'' Even the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, stated that Jane was a ``remarkable colleague.'' The legacy of Ms. Sanchez's service to our Nation certainly reflects that. I wish to extend my greatest thanks to Ms. Sanchez for her decades of public service and express my deepest sympathies to her family and colleagues.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. This is one of the most disappointing days that I have had when it comes to figuring out a way to protect this Capitol complex. One of the most disappointing parts of this legislation is that both parties for both sides of the Capitol were working together on a bill, and out of nowhere, House Democrats stopped negotiating and decided on Friday to introduce their own partisan bill and rush it to the floor. The press has even pointed out that the Senate will have to renegotiate this bill before it can pass, so I can't help but wonder why we are voting on this bill today when we could be voting on a deal that actually has a chance of becoming law. Even worse, this bill is being sold as an appropriations bill, but there is a lot of legislating happening here--permanent security changes buried in this nearly $2 billion supplemental bill. As ranking member of the House Administration Committee, I can tell you that some of these permanent changes are within my committee's jurisdiction, and my committee hasn't held any hearings to review or examine these changes. While I believe we need to make the National Guard whole for their service after January 6, this bill permanently establishes the National Guard as a quick reaction force. This was just one of the options provided in General Honore's report, but if I recall, he provided three options to establish a quick reaction force. I have some serious concerns about this being the most efficient and effective way to protect the Capitol in an emergency. The bill also requires body cameras for each Capitol Police officer, with the exception of officers who are on protective detail for leadership and other Members. My committee has not reviewed this or why an exception was made for certain officers. Additionally, this bill could allow Members to use taxpayer dollars to make upgrades to their homes for security purposes. As someone who has been shot at on a ballfield and received many threats from constituents and others over the years, I understand the need for protection, and there have already been changes to help increase safety. But I have a feeling some of our constituents wouldn't be happy with Members of Congress being able to use tax dollars to make improvements that could increase the value of their homes in the name of security. I am disappointed with the process, Madam Speaker, and it is a shame we are not voting on a bipartisan bill that can make it through the Senate.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my wife's grandmother, Mary Alice Workman, who, sadly, passed away in late January at the age of 98. Mary Alice was born in Decatur. She married her husband, Richard, in 1941. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Assumption, Illinois. Mary Alice will be remembered for her kindheartedness, for the love of her large family, and for living life to the fullest. Mary Alice is now resting peacefully with her husband, Richard; and her favorite dog, Leo. It is a sad loss for our family and everyone who had the pleasure of getting to know her. It is always difficult saying good-bye to someone we love and appreciate, especially when you couldn't see them in person before they passed. Shannon, Toryn, Griffin, Clark, and I send our thoughts and prayers to her children, Kenneth, Kathleen, and Nancy; and their families; and her other grandchildren, Randy, Kelly, Curt, Ric; and the rest of her great-grandchildren, Trenee, Ryan, Ross, Connor, Sydney, Grace, and Payton. Mary Alice, may you rest in peace. Honoring Trevor Herderhorst

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Trevor Herderhorst of Highland, Illinois, who died on April 25 after a courageous fight with cancer. Trevor began his dream of becoming a firefighter in 2005 with the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department. Later, he graduated from SIUC with a degree in fire service management, and went on to serve as a Granite City firefighter. In 2018, Trevor started his dream job with the City of Champaign Fire Department in its Operations Division. Trevor loved being a firefighter and was a proud professional, always striving to hone his skills to save lives. Those who knew Trevor will remember him for his inspirational positivity and his passion for making the world around him a better place and his love for baseball. My prayers are with Trevor's wife, Tiffany; his children, Chase and Olivia; and all his friends and family spread throughout the communities he made better with his presence. He will truly be missed. Recognizing Knight's Action Park

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Knight's Action Park in Springfield, Illinois, which is celebrating 91 years of business this year. It was founded in 1930 as a golf driving range by George Knight, Sr., after he spent a few years touring the country as the caddy for four- time U.S. Open champion Willie Anderson. George Knight, Jr., and his wife, Audrey, started an archery range in 1951, and later opened the family entertainment center. Knight's Action Park spans 60 acres and three generations of the Knight family. Over the years, it has added a water park, pub, and drive-in theater. Like many businesses that rely on large attendance, they faced challenges amidst the coronavirus pandemic. They credit the Paycheck Protection Program for allowing them to survive 2020, so they can continue to provide jobs for 200 seasonal workers, 10 permanent staff, and family fun for me, my family, and my constituents. Hopefully, they will be able to fully reopen soon. Again, congratulations to the Knights on their 91st anniversary, and I wish them all the best in the years to come. Recognizing Dr. Larry Dietz

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Dr. Larry Dietz, the 19th president of Illinois State University, who will retire on June 30 after a remarkable 50-year academic career. Dr. Dietz began his career at ISU in 2011 as the Vice President for Student Affairs. In 2014, he was appointed Illinois State's 19th president. Prior to coming to ISU, he served as Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and he held various other leadership positions at the University of Missouri and Iowa State University. President Dietz's passion for higher education has taken an already highly esteemed ISU to new heights. With his leadership, the university is continually ranked among the top in the Nation for high graduation and retention rates and low student loan default rates. He leaves ISU on a footing that is full of potential. I have had the pleasure of working with Larry since he became president. A personal testament I have to his success is the fact that all three of my children attend Illinois State University, the institution he leads. Congratulations on your retirement, Mr. President.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my uncle, Jerry Clark, who, sadly, passed away on May 5 at the age of 88. Uncle Jerry was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Johnstone High School in 1950. Soon after, he was drafted in the U.S. Army and served until 1955. Following his discharge, he was a Des Moines firefighter, retiring after 33 years of service. And while working for the fire department, he also worked for Sears, and he retired from Sears after 30 years. He will be remembered for his kindness, his vibrant smile, and for the love of his grandchildren. I got a chance to see my Uncle Jerry back in August of 2019. And before that, it was back in 1999, at my mom--his sister--my mom, Sally's, funeral. It is a sorrow loss for our family and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. My wife, Shannon, our kids and I send our thoughts and prayers to my Aunt Jeannene; my cousins Craig, Kevin, Jonathan; his grandchildren Kaleb, Kayla, Rose, and Sterling; and his sister, my Aunt Joyce. Uncle Jerry, may you rest in peace.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of ILLINOIS

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of ILLINOIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in a bittersweet time in my career here in Congress because it is a time I get to bid farewell to somebody who has been with me since day one. Because she has floor privileges, she is sitting behind me right now and is going to be very embarrassed because I am going to talk about her. As you can see here, Madam Speaker, this is my longtime chief of staff and staff director of the House Administration Committee, Jen Daulby, and her daughter, Reagan, standing in the Capitol rotunda. I first met Jen in Illinois when she was a young intern for the State of Illinois one summer. Little did I know that a few years later I would be running a campaign for my former boss, Congressman John Shimkus, and I would hire a field office manager who just graduated law school to work out of our Collinsville, Illinois, campaign office. I realized very, very quickly she had opinions of her own--something that in political campaigns sometimes are a little difficult because as a campaign manager, I wanted to be right all the time. But she always taught me: get this stuff done and get me the information I need so I can do my job. Jen Daulby sitting behind me was a pain in my butt during that campaign. Fast forward: we got a chance to work together in the Shimkus congressional office. Then she went on to bigger and brighter things working for then-Chairman Goodlatte on the House Agriculture Committee, and then to top it off she had to work for Chairman Sensenbrenner on the Judiciary Committee. Then as luck would have it, in 2012 I won the closest Republican victory in the Nation. Jen was already making a name for herself in the private sector, but she wanted to come back to the Hill and be a chief of staff. I remember how painful she was to work with when we worked together on that campaign, and I just threw her in as an interview because I knew her. If there was a fifth slot and I was only interviewing four, she would have got it. But do you know what? She came in with a plan. She wowed my wife, who was in the interview with me, and my district director, who was in the interview with me, and reminded me how special of a person she was. Jen likes to say: Thank you for taking a chance on a single mom with a 4-year-old daughter at the time to come back to the Hill and be a part of this institution, because it was her dream to lead an office. She has got it all wrong once again, because I am glad she took a chance on me as a new Member of Congress who won by only 1,002 votes and came in and made sure that we built an office that was led under the same principles with which we still lead today: work hard, be nice to people, and lead. This institution over the last 8\1/2\ years has been made a lot better place because Jen Daulby was a part of it. I am honored that she was my chief of staff for 6 years and has been running the House Administration minority side for the House for the last 2\1/2\ years. There is not a single GOP staffer in this institution who does not know her name and has not been thankful for the information that she has been able to put out. She helped take the smallest committee in Congress--the House Administration Committee--and allowed us to lead on so many issues. Now, as she moves back into the private sector, I have to wish her well. It is with a heavy heart I do so, because I can tell you there is not a more tenacious, there is not a more loyal, and there is not a more dedicated person to making this House of Representatives work for all of us as Members of Congress, for every staff member--like she and I used to be--or for every single American. Jen was here on the floor with us on January 6. Jen was the first person I saw when I walked into my office after I watched my friends get shot on a baseball field. Jen was the first person I saw on day one as a Member of Congress. She is a leader, she is a patriot, and she will always, always have my thanks, the thanks of the American people, and the thanks of this institution. But most importantly, her favorite job is being a mom to her young daughter. I wish her well in going back to being a mom to Reagan, but I am always going to call you one of my best friends.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the former city of Bloomington council member, mayor, and McLean County board member, Mr. Richard Buchanan. He was a clearly dedicated public servant who dedicated more than four decades of his life to serving the taxpayers. Sadly, Rich passed away on March 30. Rich grew up in Clinton, and graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he met the love of his life, Judy. After graduation, Richard spent 6 years serving his country in the U.S. Army Reserve. Outside of public service, he had an enduring career spanning 30 years at State Farm and raised three children alongside Judy. His leadership to Bloomington and McClean County will truly be missed. My prayers are with his wife, Judy, his children, and all those who called Richard a friend. In Remembrance of Patricia Everhart Reese

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Patricia Everhart Reese of Taylorville, a teacher and beloved community member, and my friend, who passed away on November 3, 2020. Pat taught with the Taylorville School District for many years and was influential with the development of the Lincoln Land Literacy Program. She also spent time teaching at the Taylorville Correctional Center. Pat, of course, took on many other roles in the community. One, being mentor to me, and also, she was the First Lady of Taylorville for 16 years and the Republican County chairwoman for 25 years, but her service never stopped. Pat leaves a lasting impact on the Taylorville community and will be remembered as a great friend to so many. My prayers are with her husband, Dan, and their entire family at this time. Recognizing Patty Hornbuckle

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Patty Hornbuckle for her leadership and service to Taylorville and Christian County, Illinois. I had the privilege to work with Patty in her role as the CEO of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is the driving force to attract new businesses, residents, and tourists in our hometown. During Patty's tenure, the chamber experienced significant growth in membership and increase in revenue through fundraising and the expansion of the chamber's signature event, ``The Taylorville Chilifest.'' Patty is certainly going to be missed. While we will miss her, her leadership has set up the chamber to continue its successful service to our community for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I wish to send my heartfelt congrats to my friend, Patty, her husband, Greg, and also her family. In Remembrance of John Curtin