Bill Foster

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 376 on H.R. 1190, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the opening of the Richard and Gina Santori Library of Aurora, Illinois. Since its founding in 1838, the Aurora Public Library system has nurtured education in our diverse community and has instilled a love of reading for generations of Aurorans. By establishing locations throughout the city, developing bookmobiles and robust outreach efforts, the library has made educational resources accessible to all Aurorans and been a strong contributor to community growth. With the opening of the new library in downtown Aurora, the Aurora Public Library has embraced the challenges and opportunities of the next century. The building will feature a ``Makers Space'' on the first floor with a 3D printer, laser cutter, vinyl cutter, plotter printer, computers with CAD, CAM, Adobe Cloud and other creation software for students and community members to experiment and train with modern manufacturing tools. It will also feature an audio/visual library, the Kiwanis Club of Aurora Children's Library, and a Teen Space with a state-of-the-art media studio. These new resources will allow the Aurora Public Library to continue its mission and serve the new needs of our community. Congratulations to the City of Aurora and the Aurora Public Library on the opening of the new facility. The Richard and Gina Santori Library will no doubt inspire future generations to become lifelong learners.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Quad County Urban League and the students participating in two of its important programs: Tomorrow's Scientists, Technicians, and Managers, and Project Ready. For over twenty years, the Quad County Urban League has sponsored Tomorrow's Scientists, Technicians, and Managers in an effort to inspire young minority students to pursue their goals. Over 1,800 students have benefited from the tutoring, workshops, college visits, and guest speakers provided by the program. Students who have completed the program maintain excellent grade point averages, receive thousands of dollars in scholarships, and contribute countless hours giving back to their community. More recently, the Quad County Urban League has introduced Project Ready, a program with the goal of familiarizing minority students and their families with the college decision making process. By introducing concepts like college admissions and financial aid early on, Project Ready prepares a path for strong academic students to pursue post- secondary STEM Education. Congratulations to the Quad County Urban League and the students who have participated in these rigorous programs. Real differences are being made in our communities because of programs like Tomorrow's Scientists, Technicians, and Managers, and Project Ready.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. I thank my colleague from New Jersey. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, offered jointly with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), my colleague.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Chair, every year, hundreds of billions of dollars is transferred out of States that pay far more in Federal taxes than they receive back in Federal spending--the so-called ``payer States.'' And this money is transferred into States that receive a lot more Federal spending than they pay in taxes--the ``taker States.'' This is an enormous and economically unjustifiable redistribution of wealth between the States. The payer States can be characterized in a number of ways, but most of the payer States are large population States, while virtually all of the taker States are smaller, which means that they are overrepresented in the Senate. Over time, Senators from these States have inserted hundreds of programs that systematically steer money into the taker States. Our amendment takes a first small step to begin rolling back these taker State preferences by eliminating one of the most unjustifiable of them all: the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, commonly referred to as EPSCoR. EPSCoR was started as an experimental program in 1978 with the goal of redistributing Federal research dollars into States that traditionally received less than their ``fair share'' of NSF funding. However, because ``fair share'' was determined on a per State basis, rather than on a per capita basis, it has devolved into just another program that steers money into smaller States that already get far more than their fair share of Federal spending. Since no allowance is made for whether the State has a big or a small population, the EPSCoR program systematically discriminates against researchers simply because they come from States with large populations. The EPSCoR States are hardly lacking for Federal largesse. According to the Tax Foundation, in a typical year, the EPSCoR States received approximately $60 billion more in Federal spending than they paid in Federal taxes. How does one justify a program that excludes researchers in States like Florida or Texas, which over the past 3 years got only an average of about $7 per capita in NSF funding while steering money into States like Rhode Island, Alaska, and New Hampshire, which already got 5 times more? Why should a researcher at Brown University in Rhode Island be eligible for a grant set-aside that is unavailable to researchers at SMU, FSU, UCLA, Rutgers, or Northern Illinois? As a scientist, I find that it is not surprising that it is very difficult to find supporters for EPSCoR in the scientific community. Precious research funding would be far better spent in a competitive, merit-based process as it will be if our amendment is adopted. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), the cosponsor of my amendment.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Representative Adam Schiff be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1622.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Diane Christian as she prepares for retirement after more than 40 years of service to the Aurora Public Library in Aurora, Illinois. Diane Christian is a cherished figure in the City of Aurora, who has fostered a love of books and learning for many generations of young people. Starting as a part-time librarian in 1974, Diane later became the library's Children's Department Coordinator where she has played a critical role in the intellectual development of children throughout the community. In 2002, Diane launched the Welcome to America program that offers family literacy services to refugees from around the world and has served over 850 parents and children. Diane is also an active volunteer in our community; she currently is a member of the Child Welfare Society and the Aurora Township Youth Commission. During her retirement, Diane intends to continue volunteering for the Aurora Public Library and helping with the transition to its new location. I would like to thank Diane for her decades of commitment to the Aurora Public Library and wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Granger Middle School in Aurora, Illinois, for being named an Illinois Horizon School to Watch by the Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools. The Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools recognizes educational programs that promote quality and fairness in order to provide educators, parents, and students with the best learning environment possible. Alongside the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grade Reform, the Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools designates certain institutions that fit these criteria as an Illinois Horizon School to Watch. Granger Middle School was included for the second time on this list because the faculty, staff, and students have consistently demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, sensitivity to the needs of their students, and a commitment to creating equal opportunity in the classroom. Additionally, Granger Middle School's dedicated faculty and involved parents make them one of the best middle schools in the state of Illinois. These qualities create not only a terrific educational experience inside the classroom, but also produce a community that supports and encourages students long after their time at Granger is complete. Congratulations to Granger Middle School for being named an Illinois Horizon School to Watch.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Chairman, my amendment, which I understand has been introduced, would strike section 106 of the bill, which, in my view, adds a dangerous political filter to NSF's gold-standard merit review process. I do not stand alone in this view. The overwhelming majority of my colleagues in the scientific community are still quite uncomfortable with this language that would, as the American Society for Microbiology stated, ``have an adverse impact on NSF's peer review process, which is essential to funding meritorious research.'' All of us here want to be good stewards of taxpayer money. This is also true of the National Science Foundation, which currently already requires that the NSF public award abstract consist of a nontechnical component which will include ``a public justification for NSF funding by articulating how the project serves the national interest,'' as stated by NSF's mission: to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; or to secure the national defense. As the Biophysical Society has pointed out: ``NSF is committed to . . . offering the public a better understanding of a research project's intent, which will satisfy this section's objective.'' The whole intent of this mystifies me a little bit. I serve on two committees--the Financial Services Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. On the Financial Services Committee, there is a steady drumbeat of Republican proposals to remove duplicitous and redundant requirements that just waste everyone's time; whereas, it seems to me that section 106 is exactly along this line. While it may just seem an innocuous waste of time to some, we know that for the past 2 years scientists have had their projects targeted as potentially wasteful or not ``in the national interest,'' often based on nothing but their titles. Not only is this wrong, it is blatantly political. It is easy to make cheap shots here. My parents, actually, both worked for Senator Bill Proxmire, who for years and years did the Golden Fleece Awards. He was a wonderful and thoughtful Senator, but on this one, he consistently missed the mark. It is easy to make fun of projects with funny sounding names or with strange topics, but the NSF is the gold standard for a reason. Take, for example, anthropologist Dr. Scott Atran, who received funding from the NSF in 1994 for a study that was entitled, ``Local Ecological Knowledge of Common-Pool Resources in Campeche, Mexico.'' Dr. Atran subsequently applied what he learned to questions of extremism in the Middle East and is now a key national expert on countering extremism in the Middle East, valued as a consultant by the Department of Defense and the Department of State.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Corporal Sara Abigail Medina, Aurora, Illinois, Illinois' 11th Congressional District.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, today it is with great sorrow that I rise to mark the loss of one of Aurora's brightest lights. On May 12, 2015, while performing relief work following the Nepal earthquake, Corporal Sara Abigail Medina and five other marines tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash. Corporal Medina was from Aurora, Illinois, and graduated from East Aurora High School in 2010. While still in high school, she decided to serve her country by joining the Marines. In the face of such a tragedy, we often ask why; and to paraphrase the President, whenever a disaster strikes, the world looks to America to lead because of our extraordinary people who rise to the challenge. As a father, I know that no words that I say on this floor will be able to fill the hole in the hearts of all those who knew and loved Sara, but still we must speak because all should know that Corporal Sara Medina gave her last full measure of devotion in service to her country, helping those who needed it most. For her sacrifice and for her family's terrible loss, we offer our condolences and thanks of a grateful nation.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. I would like to thank the ranking member for yielding and the chairman and his staff for working with me on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, the National Defense Authorization Act tasks the Missile Defense Agency with developing a concept for a space-based missile defense system. There is no doubt that missile defense--if technologically feasible, militarily robust, and economically justifiable--would be an important priority for our national security. But as a scientist, I think that we need to do our homework before we begin investing hundreds of billions of dollars into developing this system, and that is why I am introducing this amendment to require a preliminary cost estimate for this project. A 2012 report by the National Academy of Sciences estimated that even to provide limited coverage, hundreds of interceptors would be required to stop an incoming ballistic missile. Because of the cost to launch, maintain, operate, and replenish the interceptors, even a limited system would cost a minimum of $200 billion. We must do our due diligence before investing billions of taxpayer dollars into any project. So I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the nominees for the 2014 Kane County Chiefs of Police Association's Louis Spuhler Officer of the Year for Kane County Award. The award, presented by the Batavia Moose Lodge #682 and the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association, recognizes the outstanding achievements of police officers who protect our community. The men and women who wear the badge provide our families with security while putting their own lives on the line and deserve our admiration and thanks. I would like to congratulate the winner of the 2014 Louis Spuhler Officer of the Year for Kane County Officer Samuel G. Aguirre of the Aurora Police Department, as well as his fellow nominees: Officer David M. Bemer of the Aurora Police Department, Officer Roger Isham of the South Elgin Police Department, Deputy Raul Salinas and Chief Deputy Thomas Bumgarner of the Kane County Sheriffs Office, Sergeant Gregory Sullivan of the Montgomery Police Department, Officer Timothy Beam of the St. Charles Police Department, Officer Michael Gallagher and Officer KC Brox of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department, Detective Miguel Pantoja of the Elgin Police Department, and Sergeant Mike Frieders, Detective Matt Dean, Detective Brad Jerdee, Detective Bob Pech, Detective Sarah Sullivan, and Officer Matt Hann of the Geneva Police Department. Congratulations to the nominees for the 2014 Louis Spuhler Officer of the Year for Kane County Award and thank you for your continued dedication to the safety and security of our community.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to address an imbalance in our efforts to promote the long-term economic security interests of the United States. This appropriations bill would underfund the Office of Science by almost $240 million below the President's request for the next fiscal year. My amendment would correct this by bringing the Office of Science account up to the President's request level. Investments in the DOE Office of Science and its laboratories have supported American innovation and discovery science at the forefront of the physical sciences and engineering. It is impossible and unwise to ignore the value of our national labs. They have helped answer fundamental questions on how the universe works, supported breakthroughs in fields as diverse as medicine and astronomy and developments in industry that drive our economy. Investments in our labs have led to the construction of accelerators and detectors that enable our scientists to discover new particles, including quarks and the Higgs boson, to help explain the nature of the universe in matter, energy, space, and time. Physicists have used their fundamental research to develop new technologies, including the PET scan, which is used every day to treat patients diagnosed with cancerous tumors. The Office of Science has also supported the training of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers for more than 60 years. We need to maintain a competitive advantage now more than ever. While the U.S. is reducing investments in Federal R&D, Europe and Asia have been increasing investments. In 1968, we spent 9.1 percent of the budget on research and development. Today, we are spending only 3.6 percent. If this trend continues, it won't be long before China's investments in R&D will far outpace our own. The Office of Science is not only an important investment in our future, it is a valuable investment in our economy. Our national labs and the major user facilities housed at those labs are some of the greatest tools we have to offer researchers and industry. They are also important contractors to the local economy. The economic impacts of Argonne and Fermilab in Illinois are estimated to be more than $1.3 billion annually. Those who seek to underfund and eliminate Federal programs often say that the private sector can do it better, but, when it comes to fundamental scientific research, that simply is not an option. The Office of Science is responsible for building and maintaining research facilities, which many private companies rely on but are far too big for any single business or university to develop. These user facilities, such as the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, are a critical research tool to academics and industry alike. For example, Eli Lilly conducts nearly half of the research in their drug discovery portfolio at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne, but the funding levels in this bill will threaten the Advanced Photon Source and other critical projects. At a time of ongoing economic stress, we must continue to develop the next generation of the American technical workforce. As other world powers are growing and challenging our position as the global leader in science and innovation, we cannot let the number of American scientists and researchers or the quality of their research facilities diminish. Bringing the Office of Science budget up to the President's request is crucial to maintaining that quality. I would also like to briefly discuss the offset, which is the NNSA weapons activities account. It is important for us to recognize that we need to strike the right balance between defending our country today and investing in scientific research for the future. I would argue that maintaining an advantage as the global leader in science and technology makes us much more secure than amassing and maintaining excessive numbers of nuclear weapons. Madam Chairman, I rise today because we must continue to invest in American innovation and fully fund the research and development conducted through the DOE Office of Science. I understand that the majority party has the power to block that funding and that there will be a point of order pending against this amendment. Madam Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob Carr and the Give Something Back Foundation. In 2003, Lockport, Illinois resident Bob Carr founded the Give Something Back Foundation to give well performing but underprivileged high school students a chance to receive a college education by providing scholarship and mentorship opportunities. The Give Something Back Foundation's scholarship program is currently supporting 190 students, and has helped many more who would not have been able to afford a college education. The foundation offers full scholarships to students from 21 high schools throughout Will County and partners with local universities to ensure that students receive mentors to help them during their college career. I would like to thank Bob Carr and the Give Something Back Foundation for their continued dedication to improving lives and building futures for young people in our community.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of a new memorial wall dedicated by the 416th/412th Theater Engineer Commands along with the Engineer Commands Association in honor of members of the armed forces who have paid the ultimate price in service to our country. The memorial, located at the Parkhurst United States Army Reserve Center in Darien, Illinois, features pictures of the brave service members who laid down their lives for their country. The 416th/412th Theater Engineer Commands and the Engineer Commands Association worked countless hours planning, designing, and fundraising for the memorial which will stand in testament to sacrifices made by their fellow soldiers. I would like to thank the 416th/412th Theater Engineer Commands and Engineer Commands Association for honoring our fallen heroes with this memorial wall.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board's el Dia de los Ninos festival. Since 1925, Dia del nino, or the Day of the Child, has been celebrated throughout Latin America. In 2001, the City of Aurora's Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board started the annual tradition of celebrating el Dia de los Ninos, a festival recognizing children and their importance in society. The Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, along with local school districts, uses the festival to promote learning among children through literacy programs, educational activities, and live entertainment. El Dia de los Ninos is a celebration of our community's diverse heritage, as well as a celebration of the bright future that lies ahead for these children. I would like to thank the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board for their commitment to promoting literacy for children and diversity in our community through el Dia de los Ninos.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the spirit of volunteerism demonstrated by Comcast Cares Day. Since 2001, over 600,000 volunteers have logged over 3.7 million service hours throughout the country during Comcast Cares Day, a celebration that brings communities together to encourage service and promote volunteerism. This year in Will County, volunteers will work with the Forest Preserve District of Will County for a project at Whalon Lake. I would like to thank the organizers and volunteers of Comcast Cares Day for the work they do in our community and for their commitment to service.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commend the communities in my district that have rejected the Governor of Illinois' efforts to create so-called right-to-work zones. Rather than lifting Illinois up to make life better for working families, the Governor's divisive plan would drag down all corners of the State into a race to the bottom. These zones are a gimmick to pit communities against each other, to deprive workers of their rights, and to weaken unions. Rather than creating good-paying jobs for Illinois workers, these zones will depress wages across the State by incentivizing companies to move to whatever town offers them the possibility of paying lower wages and offering fewer benefits. We shouldn't be asking hard-working men and women to work for poverty-level wages to make up for the fiscal deficit Illinois faces, a deficit which is caused, in large part, by laws that we pass right here on the floor of Congress that cause the citizens of Illinois to pay $20 billion more each year in taxes than we get back in Federal spending. Unions did not cause the problems that Illinois faces, and cutting workers' pay will not solve them. So I commend those in Naperville, Aurora Township, Oswego, and communities throughout Illinois fighting against this bad policy. I am proud to stand with you.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, today represents the 100-year anniversary of the first use of poison gas on Earth. On April 22, 1915, chlorine gas was sent crawling in favorable winds over Flanders Fields from German positions into positions held by the French. This sowed terror and agony for the first time. I would like for everyone present and everyone listening to pause for a moment to think of everyone who has died in the last 100 years from poison gas, including everyone who is dying today in Syria. Mr. Speaker, many people in America were horrified at the ``60 Minutes'' presentation of the sarin attacks and the footage that that included. It is horrifying to think that chlorine is also being used in that war today. There is a reason that we put chemical weapons in a separate category, never to be used by any nation in any war. Let us just pause and think for a moment and rededicate ourselves to ridding the entire world of chemical weapons forever.

Mr. FOSTER

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor A. George Pradel of the city of Naperville, Illinois. A lifelong Naperville resident, Mayor Pradel has spent his life in service to the community that he loves. George was born and raised in Naperville, and after a 3-year detour in the Marine Corps, he returned home to become a police officer. Known around town as ``Officer Friendly,'' he served on the force for 30 years. One of his proudest achievements during his time as an officer was the dedication of Safety Town, a miniature town that teaches children about public safety and how to avoid danger. In 1995, he was first elected and has served as mayor for a record- setting 20 years, during a time of great expansion and growth for the city. The mayor has led Naperville with his signature mix of charm and compassion. His annual tradition of delivering the State of the City Address in a tuxedo and silk tophat will certainly be missed. Mayor Pradel is also a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Pat, and is a dedicated father to his children and foster children. Mayor Pradel, as you step down and spend time with your family, know that your dedication to the community and know that your energy and enthusiasm for serving Naperville will never be forgotten.