Rahm Emanuel

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of my friend, Frank Kruesi. After 9 years of dedicated service, Kruesi is retiring as President of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Prior to his service at the CTA, Mr. Kruesi served as Chief Policy Officer for the City of Chicago for Mayor Richard M. Daley. He also served as the Executive Officer of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and was the legislative assistant to then-Senator Richard M. Daley in the Illinois General Assembly, where he focused on mental disabilities, human services, and juvenile justice legislative initiatives. Mr. Kruesi's more than 30 years of public service have included service at every level of government including serving as Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy in the United States Department of Transportation under President Clinton. In that post, he advised two Secretaries of Transportation and developed policy initiatives in all forms of transportation. Throughout his career, Frank Krusei has overseen numerous achievements met by the CTA. Under Mr. Kruesi's leadership, CTA has made service improvements on two-thirds of its bus routes and on all, its rail routes. A total of 281 bus of service improvements have been implemented which include 25 new bus routes, expanded hours of service, added trips to reduce wait time, and route changes to improve access and connectivity. Innovative programs such as U-Pass, a program of discounted passes for college students, have also been implemented during Mr. Kruesi's tenure. The program is the largest of its kind in the Nation, with 76,000 students at 33 area colleges participating. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois, I congratulate Frank Kruesi on his long career and thank him for his service to the City of Chicago. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Mark Everson for his dedication to public service and to congratulate him on his new position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross. Everson's commitment to this country as the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner is an example for everyone in public service. Mark Everson has served as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since 2003, and we will certainly miss him when he officially leaves to lead the American Red Cross on May 29th. His dedication to making sure that taxpayers' needs were heard, and his commitment to expanding access to and knowledge of the Earned Income Tax Credit deserve our congratulations. Prior to his confirmation as IRS Commissioner, Everson has worked in several other high-profile positions in the public and private sectors. During the Reagan Administration, he worked tirelessly in various positions at the U.S. information agency and the Department of Justice, and he also served at the Office of Management and Budget for the current Administration. Madam Speaker, I am proud to call Mark Everson a friend, and I thank him for his fine work at the IRS over the last four years. It has been an honor to work with him throughout the years. He is a true public servant who is committed to the highest level of integrity, and the American Red Cross will be well served by his dedication and leadership.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 293, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week. This bill recognizes the beneficial effects of volunteerism in our Nation, and thanks the millions of individuals who have generously donated their time for charitable efforts. Volunteerism is a hallmark of a civil and compassionate society, and since 1974, National Volunteer Week has consistently encouraged and supported the charitable and selfless contributions of America's volunteers. From the men and women feeding the hungry at the Chicago Food Depository to the volunteers that master information about Chicago's museums and cultural institutions, these individuals deserve our thanks for all of their hard work. Last year alone, over 61 million Americans offered their time and effort to volunteer in a myriad of ways. These individuals recognized the vital importance of lending a helping hand to beneficent causes and donated their time and efforts in order to make a difference in their communities. The striking importance of volunteerism was highlighted in the recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast. The communal effort extended after these disasters exemplified the American spirit of fellowship and altruism, and provided the crucial support necessary to begin rebuilding homes and business in this battered region. National Volunteer Week promote's these selfless acts and raises awareness of the need for personal involvement within America's communities. For this reason I celebrate and support this institution. Madam Speaker, as we observe National Volunteer Week, I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation for all of the efforts of our Nation's volunteers. Their work reflects the gracious and humanitarian character of the American Nation, and provides countless hours of service to valuable community organizations. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H. Res. 293, in order to recognize the volunteers of America and National Volunteer Week.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the President said, ``If Congress fails to pass a bill that I can sign by mid-April, the Army will be forced to consider cutting back on equipment, equipment repair and quality of life initiatives for our Guard and Reserve forces.'' Today, though, the Pentagon reports it has enough money to pay for the war in Iraq through June. So despite the doomsday reports from the White House, our military leaders are confident we have sufficient funding while we debate a new direction for the war in Iraq. Then the President said that the timeline for redeployment that was part of our funding would undermine our troops and send the wrong signal to the enemy. Yesterday, Secretary Gates said our debate here in Congress has had a positive impact by ``communicating to the Iraqis that this is not an open-ended commitment.'' Mr. Speaker, this is not the time for scoring political points or posturing and positioning. The President should know that after 4 years of chaos and bloodshed, the American people sent Democrats to Washington to bring a new direction to our Iraq policy. Today, thousands of American troops find themselves in the middle of someone else's civil war, backing an Iraqi government that has yet to stand up for itself. Democrats are calling for a new direction in Iraq.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today we will once again hear from the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, on the prosecutor purge. When it comes to the U.S. Attorney firings in public corruption cases, we have heard plenty of different explanations from the Attorney General and his associates. What we have not heard is the simple truth. We know many of the fired U.S. Attorneys were pursuing public corruption cases. Contrary to the administration's earlier assertion, we know the decision to fire these prosecutors reached the highest levels of government in the administration and involved Members of Congress and Republican Party officials. So this administration either originally hired incompetent U.S. Attorneys in the first place, or hired competent attorneys but incompetently fired them. Which is it? Are the public corruption cases that implicate Members of their own party off limits in the Bush Justice Department? Is this blind justice? Democrats have been asking these questions for months and for months, and we have been consistently told other stories. Now the time for misdirection is over. Today we will demand and seek the truth.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1945, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). As the Democratic Majority begins our second 100 days, we are continuing to move America forward, and WRDA does just that. This bill will help commerce by improving navigation on waterways and making it easier to bring products to market. This bill will invest in our future by modernizing the locks and dams on the Mississippi River and elsewhere. This bill will protect the Great Lakes by finally making the Asian Carp barrier permanent. This bill invests in rural and urban America alike by renewing our commitment to protecting the environment and the economy. The Water Resources Development Act is a good bill that has been written in a bipartisan process to address the needs of the whole country, but there are two parts of the bill in particular that I am especially proud are included. The locks on the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterways are in need of repair, and WRDA finally addresses the long overdue need for lock modernization. Navigation in the upper Mississippi supports more than 400,000 jobs and 90,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs, and passage of WRDA will create more jobs in the region. Every year, shipping in the upper Mississippi River adds up to about $1.2 billion to our economy. Modernizing the locks will go a long way to ensuring the livelihoods of the men and women that rely on these waterways. Another project in WRDA that is critical to the Great Lakes and important to all of Chicago is the Asian Carp barrier. As the residents of the Fifth Congressional District know, invasive species pose a severe threat to Lake Michigan, capable of billions of dollars in economic losses and inestimable environmental damage. The Asian Carp in particular has affected Great Lakes fisheries, and I have been working with my Great Lakes colleagues in making sure that this barrier is funded and operational to protect the Great Lakes from Asian Carp. Mr. Chairman, the Water Resources Development Act is a hat trick-- it's good for the environment, it's good for the economy, and it's good for America's future. I want to thank Mr. Oberstar and Mr. Mica for all of their good work, and I am glad that we are getting this bill done. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Cherif Bassiouni. Professor Bassiouni is retiring from his position as President of the International Human Rights Law Institute and Distinguished Research Professor of Law at DePaul University after 43 years of dedicated service. Throughout his legendary career, Professor Bassiouni has been a champion of the poor and voiceless worldwide. His creation of the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University is just one of his many lasting contributions to human rights and international law. For 30 years, Professor Bassiouni has been an important leader within the United Nations, holding such positions as Chairman of the Security Council's Commission to Investigate War Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia and the Independent Expert on Human Rights in Afghanistan for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Often considered the father of the International Criminal Court, Professor Bassiouni was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee during the 1998 United Nations Diplomatic Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court. As a testament to his lifelong dedication to international criminal justice, he was nominated for a Noble Peace Prize in 1999. For his global efforts, Professor Bassiouni has received medals from his native Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States. He has also received numerous academic and civic awards, including the Special Award of the Council of Europe; the Defender of Democracy Award, Parliamentarians for Global Action; and the Adlai Stevenson Award of the United Nations Association. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Cherif Bassiouni on his long and noteworthy career, and thank him for his contributions to the international community and to the people of Chicago. DePaul University is certainly going to miss him, and I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, during the President's weekly radio address, he accused the Democrats of spending 68 days pushing legislation that would undercut our troops. During his tour of the Middle East yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, ``The debate in Congress has been helpful in demonstrating to the Iraqis that American patience is limited.'' He goes on to say, it has a positive impact ``communicating to the Iraqis that this is not an open-ended commitment.'' So who's right? Either the Secretary of the Defense, who is calling for the Iraqis to take ownership of their country, or the President, who is playing politics here at home? The Congress has provided the President the one thing he has refused to develop after 4 years of war: a policy to get the Iraqis off the sidelines and onto the field. So after years of chaos and bloodshed, when the administration asks for more troops and more time and more of the same, we are calling for accountability of the Iraqis and a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops. Our troops are bearing all of the responsibility for the President's policy, and the Iraqis have no accountability. Secretary Gates, thank you for your honest assessment of what it takes to bring a new direction to Iraq.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1677, the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007. Too often, middle-class taxpayers find themselves confused and frustrated by the complexity of the tax code. Over 60 percent of taxpayers now use a paid preparer to file their tax return, costing them hundreds or thousands of dollars that they could have used for college, health care, or retirement. This legislation provides overdue relief for taxpayers that will protect them from fraud, require the IRS to do a better job of communicating which tax credits a taxpayer can qualify for, and hold tax cheats accountable for their actions. Today is Tax Day, and this legislation sends a message to taxpayers that help is on the way. Hearings held by Chairman John Lewis provided ample evidence that taxpayers are too often exposed to identify theft or unaware of potential benefits. The Taxpayer Protection Act will require the IRS to notify taxpayers involved in tax fraud investigations that there may have been an unauthorized use of their identities, will provide filers with a longer period of time to seek restitution from the IRS for a wrongful penalty, punish predatory lenders, and require the IRS to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit so that more Americans can take care of a tax benefit they have earned but have not been notified. Madam Speaker, Tax Day can be a difficult day for many Americans. Let us do our part to make common-sense reforms that put the government back on the side of the average taxpayer. I thank Mr. Rangel, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 1677, the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the Chamber for rollcall No. 205 on March 28, 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the minority whip for his comments. And, yes, in the nineties we did balance the budget. I would just remind him, and I don't want to start my speech this way, but the first budget you proposed led to a government shutdown. It was President Clinton that led the way to a balanced budget and a surplus. Now I want to thank you. Some of my colleagues have criticized you. I want to thank you. I want to thank you because to govern is to choose. We have two clear choices here, and there is no doubt about it. President Kennedy once said, ``to govern is to choose.'' We're offering a new direction. You are offering the status quo. There is no doubt about it. Because you have given us, and nobody has really quite said thank you enough to your $4 trillion of new debt, and you need to be appreciated for it. Because, as I've always said, if there is one thing you can say about George Bush and the Republicans when it comes to the economy, we will forever be in your debt. And that is the one thing that is absolutely clear about your stewardship with this economy. Four trillion dollars, the largest accumulation of debt in the shortest period of time in American history. Don't look at your shoes when I'm saying it now, because you know that is your legacy. Now, what are the priorities and the differences? In Medicaid and Medicare, let's just take a look at health care, number one economic issue for the American people. You cut $250 billion for Medicare and Medicaid. Democrats double the size of the children's health care program in this country. Two choices: Status quo, a new direction. You cut $5 billion from college assistance for people who are trying to achieve the American dream. We expand college assistance by $3.5 billion. You have made a decision to make cuts in other areas like agriculture. We make sure that our farmers have a future where their children can inherit the farm and have a future in rural America. The choices are clear. We have a balanced budget that is balanced with our priorities. You maintain an economic strategy that adds to the Nation's debt as you have in past years. Every year of our budget, the deficit declines. Every year under our budget, 5 years in a row, the budget deficit declines until it reaches balance and eventually a surplus. Every year. You achieve your goals by cutting $250 billion from health care assistance, Medicare and Medicaid. Point of Order

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have left?

Mr. EMANUEL. Roosevelt once said, ``We have nothing to fear but fear itself,'' and you have taken that and turned it on its head and said, ``all we have to offer is fear.'' This is a new direction versus a status quo budget. There are clear choices, and I am glad that we balance the budget.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize; Loyola University Chicago for its enduring commitment to community service and its creation of the Center for Public Service. I am pleased that the Center will house the congressional papers of former Congressman Henry J. Hyde and former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski. Loyola's Center for Public Service will undertake the task of encouraging citizens to dedicate their lives to civil service and government. Through research and discourse, this non-partisan academic unit will increase education on important policy issues. Both Congressman Hyde and Congressman Rostenkowski attended Loyola, so it seems fitting that their work will be preserved there. Congressman Hyde recently retired from Congress after serving the people of the Sixth district of Illinois for 15 terms. The former Dean of the Illinois delegation served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 1995-2001 and was later Chairman of the International Relations Committee. Congressman Rostenkowski, or Mr. Chairman as he is still known, served my district in the House and was a legislative force for 34 years. As the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he played an important role in tax and trade policy for thirteen years. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Loyola University Chicago for its creation of the Center for Public Service and its collection of the congressional papers of former Congressmen Henry J. Hyde and Dan Rostenkowski. I wish its faculty, staff and students the best of luck as they pursue lives of public service.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today this Congress, the 110th Congress, faces an historic vote, a vote to truly change the direction of the Iraqi conflict. Let us review the cost America has borne in 4 years: 3,200 lives have been lost, 25,000 of our citizens have been injured, and nearly a half a trillion dollars have been spent, and America's reputation around the world has been sullied. And under the President's leadership, his Iraqi policy comes down to something very simple: more troops, more money, more time, more of the same. That is it. Now, there is a lot of rhetoric going around. We fund our troops. You fund the troops. There is one fundamental difference: We require the Iraqis to bear responsibility for Iraq, and you provide them and the President another blank check for another year. And that is the fundamental difference, whether you will bring accountability and responsibility to the Iraqis to stand up for Iraq. Now, some bemoan and say we are micromanaging. I would say to you, you rubber-stamped 4 years of mismanagement. Not enough troops, not a plan for the occupation and elimination of the Iraqi Army has brought us in from in search of WMD to policing a sectarian civil war. And when you talk, as the President said on January 10, that he wants the Iraqis to meet his benchmarks, but you don't have any benchmarks or any accountability for Iraq, I can only say one thing, as we say in Chicago, ``You're all hat and no cattle.'' It is time, after 4 years and an unbelievable cost across America, borne mostly by our troops and their families and our military, that we ask the Iraqis to do for Iraq what they have asked us to do for them for 4 years, and that is to be accountable for their own future. And I am proud that we have finally done something. We will fund the troops, and we will also demand that Iraq stand up for Iraq's future and stop leaning on America alone. And we have done something that is so important that has been missing in this policy, and that is not only a new direction, but fundamentally bringing the responsibility and accountability to the Iraqis, which is why many in the Armed Forces are happy we are forcing Iraqis to do for Iraq's future what they have asked us to do, which is stop policing their civil war, but demand accountability, bring a new direction to this, because after 4 years, more troops, more money, more time is only rubber-stamping more of the same.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, from the beginning, the Bush administration has offered a litany of reasons to justify their decision to fire the U.S. Attorneys. Unfortunately, the answers they provided have never even held up for 48 hours. First, the Bush administration said the attorneys were fired because of performance-related issues. Yet we find out these attorneys have exemplary records. The Deputy Attorney General did not even review the file of one of the fired U.S. Attorneys. Then the administration said it was an internal staffing issue and pointed the finger at Harriet Miers. And now other top White House officials not only knew about it from the beginning, but were behind the firings. Yesterday the White House said that they will talk to Congress, but they will not take the oath and swear to tell the whole truth. The White House says they have nothing to hide, but they are only willing to speak behind closed doors, not under oath. Our goal is to finally get to the truth, but not to create a confrontation. The scandal at the Justice Department has gone on long enough. Careers have been destroyed, and legitimate public corruption cases have been derailed. It is time for accountability. It is time for the truth.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, in a memo sent to the White House, the Justice Department laid out a plan to replace seven U.S. Attorneys who were cracking down on public corruption. This ``smoking memo'' seems to confirm that this administration targeted U.S. Attorneys involved in ongoing public corruption cases. Today, as we learn more about the Attorney General's failure of leadership, many are eager to debate the future of Attorney General Gonzales and whether he will remain in office. But as we examine how these U.S. Attorneys were fired, we must not lose sight of the real story. What is happening to these ongoing public corruption investigations, from southern California to Nevada to Arizona to New Mexico? The fired U.S. Attorneys were aggressively investigating public corruption cases and they were fired ostensibly for job performance, which in this White House means you're guilty of doing your job. I don't suppose any of these U.S. Attorneys will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. The question some of us want to know is where are these public corruption cases today? As Washington debates whether Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General, survives by the weekend, some of us want to know whether we can bring back to life these public corruption investigations in these five jurisdictions.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Connecticut and colleagues from California and Missouri and my other colleagues for their leadership on this legislation. It is an important part of this legislation, like the other legislation we are doing on whistleblowers and protection for whistleblowers, as well as the no-bid contracts. If you look at the Presidential library and the other two pieces of legislation, they all have a common meaning, to ensure that the public trust is protected from being bent for the private interest. What we mean here is that, in making sure in the period of time in which a President of the United States is raising money for their library, that at no time will their actions, or public actions, be influenced by those who are willing to support their library. In the same way that we are trying to make sure later this week when we vote on the no-bid contracts, that in no way should those contracts be renewed automatically for those who have gotten their business, no-bid contracts, and somehow had the influence to get that legislation, and the whistleblower legislation, all attempted to protect the public trust. President Bush plans on raising about $500 million for his Presidential library. President Clinton's library has cost about $165 million, and President Bush's, the 41st President, library cost approximately $80 million, slightly more than that, and there are no questions asked about where the money comes from. We do not know who is raising these funds, who is donating them, and if the donors are looking for any other favors in return. This process is overdue for sunlight, and we are reforming that practice here today. I am proud to have worked with Congressman Waxman, Congressman Clay, Congressman Platts, and Congressman Duncan in drafting this bill, which would require the disclosure of any contribution of $200 and above for a Presidential library. This information will be available online so that every American can see who is sending money to the Oval Office. Mr. Speaker, change is good. Last November, the American people voted for change and that is exactly what we are doing this week and this year. We are changing the way business is done in Washington and restoring integrity to government. In the first weeks, when we were here, we initiated change on banning gifts, banning meals by lobbyists, making sure earmarks had reform, and this is part of that step-by-step process. You will not change the ways of Washington overnight, but you must have a dedicated step-by-step process to bring reform to the way business is done in Washington. This is an important step, as will be the whistleblower protection we take on today and vote on, and the no-bid contracts for those who are trying to enact contracting reform in the areas of Iraq, Katrina and other places. As you just saw last week, the taxpayers are getting back only 40 cents on the dollar for the trailers they built for the protection of hurricane victims because we did not use it. We have got to reform the way Washington does work, and this is an important piece of legislation in doing that as part of our overall process. I thank all my colleagues for their work on this legislation.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. There has been a lot of news on Iraq and the differing strategy between Congress and the President. Let's be clear about where the differences lie. The administration wants more time after 4 long years in Iraq; Democrats say it's time for a conclusion to the open-ended commitment. The administration wants 25,000 more troops for Iraq; Democrats are calling for the troops to be fully trained and equipped. The administration wants more money; Democrats are demanding Iraqis be held accountable for Iraq's future. The administration policy has us policing a civil war; Democrats want to focus on al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The administration has failed our veterans on the health care they earned; Democrats are for making sure that the veterans get the health care they deserve. As Yogi Berra once said, ``When you come to a fork in the road, take it.'' Madam Speaker, the President wants and is asking for more of the same; Democrats are calling for a new direction.

Mr. EMANUEL

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, 3,188 servicemen and -women have died serving in Iraq, and 371 have given their lives fighting in Afghanistan. We owe these brave individuals and their families a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid. It is our responsibility to honor the ultimate sacrifice that our men and women in uniform have made while serving their country. We often invoke their sacrifices in general, but seldom take the time to thank them individually. Last year I led a bipartisan group of Members of Congress in recognizing the individual members of our Armed Forces that have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan by reading the names and rank of each servicemember who had fallen in the line of duty so that they never will be forgotten and they will always be remembered in the Congressional Record. So far we have read just over 2,400 names on the floor of the people's House. Tonight and on future nights we will continue to complete this tribute with the names of our most recent fallen fellow Americans. If I can, in the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: ``Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings.'' God bless and keep each of the brave Americans whose memory we honor tonight: Private First Class George Anthony Lutz, II; Private Jonathan R. Pfender; Staff Sergeant Ayman A. Taha; Sergeant Marcelino Ronald Corniel; Staff Sergeant Christopher J. Vanderhorn; Sergeant First Class Jason Lee Bishop; Major William F. Hecker III; Captain Christopher P. Petty; Sergeant Stephen J. White; Sergeant Johnny J. Peralez Jr.; Sergeant Jason Lopez-Reyes; Specialist Ryan D. Walker; Lance Corporal Ryan S. McCurdy; Lance Corporal Jason T. Little; First Lieutenant Jaime L. Campbell; Captain Clayton Lee Adamkavicius; Specialist Eric D. King; Private First Class Jacob H. Allcott; Private Michael E. Bouthot; Private First Class Jason D. Hasenauer; Corporal Stephen R. Bixler; Staff Sergeant Kevin P. Jessen; Private First Class Ricky Salas Jr.; Gunnery Sergeant Justin R. Martone; Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry; Private First Class Amy A. Duerksen; Lance Corporal Kristen K. Marino; Staff Sergeant Joseph R. Ray; Specialist Joshua Lee Hill; Lance Corporal Nicholas R. Anderson; Staff Sergeant Brian A. Lewis; Sergeant Corey A. Dan; Corporal Nyle Yates III; Specialist Carlos M. Gonzalez; Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson; Specialist Antoine J. McKinzie; Staff Sergeant Christopher L. Robinson; Staff Sergeant Robert Hernandez; Captain Timothy J. Moshier; Sergeant First Class John Thomas Stone; Chief Warrant Officer John W. Engeman; Master Sergeant Robert H. West; Chief Warrant Officer Jamie D. Weeks; Major Matthew W. Worrel; Lance Corporal Jose S. Marin-Dominguez Jr.; Lance Corporal William J. Leusink; Private First Class Steven Freund; Lance Corporal Robert G. Posivio III; Specialist Michael L. Hermanson; Captain Douglas A. DiCenzo; Specialist Robert E. Blair.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes). Corporal Carlos Arrelano; Private Robbie M. Mariano; Lance Corporal Raul Mercado; Major Douglas A. LaBouff; Lance Corporal Brandon Christopher Dewey; Lance Corporal Hugo R. Lopez; Sergeant David L. Herrera; Private First Class Caesar S. Viglienzone; Specialist Roberto L. Martinez Salazar; Private First Class Javier Chavez Jr.; Lance Corporal Michael S. Probst; Specialist Clay P. Farr; Corporal Adam O. Zanutto; Lance Corporal Bunny Long; Private First Class Angelo A. Zawaydeh; Sergeant Dale G. Brehm; Staff Sergeant Ricardo Barraza; Hospitalman Geovani Padilla Aleman; Lance Corporal Felipe D. Sandoval- Flores; Captain Brian S. Letendre; Sergeant Joseph E. Proctor; Staff Sergeant Gavin B. Reinke; Specialist Bryan L. Quinton; Sergeant Elisha R. Parker; Private First Class Caleb A. Lufkin; Lance Corporal Adam Lucas; Corporal Richard A. Bennett; Captain Nathanael J. Doring; Corporal J. Adan Garcia; Captain James A. Funkhouser. Those are the names of individuals from the State of California. I would now like to yield to my colleague from Tennessee, Congressman Cohen, to call the names of those from Tennessee.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Tennessee. I will now read the names of those from Florida: Sergeant Adam Leigh Cann; Chief Warrant Officer 2; Kyle E. Jackson; Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan; Staff Sergeant Marco A. Silva; Private First Class Sean D. Tharp; Sergeant Michael D. Rowe; Lance Corporal Patrick J. Gallagher; Private Jody W. Missildine; Private First Class Roland E. Calderon-Ascencio; Corporal Pablo V. Mayorga; Sergeant Lea R. Mills; Lance Corporal Jason K. Burnett; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Fenty; Corporal Matthieu Marcellus; Corporal Ross A. Smith; Petty Officer Third Class Nicholas Wilson; Specialist Felipe J. Garcia Villareal; Corporal Justin J. Watts; Private First Class Kasper Allen Dudkiewicz; Specialist Dustin L. Kendall; Staff Sergeant Christopher T. Howick; Sergeant Bryan A. Brewster; Sergeant John C. Griffith; Sergeant Jeffery S. Wiekamp; Specialist Justin L. O'Donohoe; Corporal Ryan J. Cummings; Staff Sergeant Darren Harmon; Major Michael D. Stover; Petty Officer Second Class Jamie Jaenke. I would like to now yield to my colleague from New Hampshire, Congressman Hodes.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. Now Congressman Cohen will read the names of those from Pennsylvania.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Tennessee. I will now read the names of those from Illinois, my State: Sergeant Shawn Christopher Dostie; Lance Corporal Jonathan Kyle Price; Private First Class Sean T. Cardelli; Lance Corporal Philip John Martini; Sergeant Edward G. Davis III; Specialist Ron Gebur; Chief Warrant Officer Christopher B. Donaldson; Staff Sergeant Edwin H. Dazachacon; Lance Corporal Adam J. VanAlstine; Private First Class Benjamin C. Schuster; Lance Corporal John Joshua Thornton; Specialist Joshua U. Humble; Staff Sergeant Christopher J. Schornak; Specialist Joshua M. Pearce; Staff Sergeant Dwayne Peter R. Lewis; Master Sergeant Emigdio E. Elizarraras; Private First Class Tina M. Priest; Specialist Christopher S. Merchant; Sergeant Joshua V. Youmans; Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder; Lance Corporal David J. Grames Sanchez; Second Lieutenant Michael L. Licalzi; Corporal Steve Vahaviolos; Specialist Brandon L. Teeters; Lance Corporal Richard Z. James; Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Munier; Sergeant Russell M. Durgin; Sergeant Roger P. Pena Jr.; Corporal Michael A. Estrella; Specialist Jeremiah S. Santos; Captain Patrick Damon; First Lieutenant Forrest P. Ewens; and Sergeant Ian T. Sanchez. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now recognize my colleague from North Carolina, Congressman Heath Shuler.

Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from North Carolina. I would like to once again recognize my colleague from New Hampshire to read the names from the State of Minnesota.