Timothy Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, April 23, 2007, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 179, H.R. 1434, and H.R. 1402 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote. Had I been present for rollcall No. 245 on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 179, expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day, I would have voted ``aye''; had I been present for rollcall No. 246 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1434, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 896 Pittsburgh Street in Springdale, Pennsylvania, as the Rachel Carson Post Office Building, I would have voted ``aye.''; had I been present for rollcall No. 247 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1402, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 South Lecanto Highway in Lecanto, Florida, as the Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto Post Office Building, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, March 19, 2007, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 138, H.R. 658, and H.R. 839. Had I been present for rollcall No. 157 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 138, Recognizing the importance of Hot Springs National Park on its 175th anniversary, I would have voted yea. Had I been present for rollcall No. 158 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 658, the Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act, I would have voted yea. Had I been present for rollcall No. 159 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 839, the Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement Act, I would have voted yea.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately yesterday, March 12, 2007, I was unable to cast my votes on H.R. 85, H. Res. 136, and H. Res. 89 and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the President's plan to deploy an additional 21,500 American troops in Iraq. I oppose this course of action and feel that contributing more troops to this war is not in the best interest of our country. One only needs to look back on the timeline of events in Iraq to realize how much we have given that country. From the deposing of Saddam Hussein and his ruthless heirs, to the drafting of a constitution and free elections, the United States has fulfilled its role in liberating Iraq. However, the sacrifices our country has made must be met by an even stronger commitment by Iraq's leaders to face the challenges of a fledgling democracy and ensure the safety and freedom of its own people. Our troops have served with tremendous bravery during this nearly 4 year endeavor. The resolution we are discussing today contains a pledge that Congress will ``continue to support and protect'' our courageous men and women who are serving or who have served in Iraq. This is a promise we must keep and I will work with like-minded colleagues to ensure that the members of the United States Armed Forces continue to have the resources they need while they are in harms way and after they return home. However, I am in disagreement with the President on sending 21,500 more troops to Iraq because the time has passed for the leaders and citizens of Iraq to ascend and defend their country. The people of this country sent a message to the Congress a few months ago and my constituents have made it increasingly clear to me that they do not support the escalation of U.S. troop involvement amidst the seemingly endless sectarian strife inside Iraq. Therefore, I rise in support of this resolution.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on the following rollcall votes on February 12, 2007. I request that the Record state my intentions on these votes had I been present to vote. On rollcall No. 93--on the motion to Suspend the Rules and pass H. Res. 134, recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security for their efforts and contributions to protect and secure the Nation, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 94--on the motion to Suspend the Rules and pass H. Con. Res. 44, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 98th anniversary, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on the following rollcall votes on February 13, 2007. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall No. 95--On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and pass H. Res. 122, Recognizing the significance of the 65th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and supporting the goals of the Japanese American, German American, and Italian American communities in a National Day of Remembrance, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall No. 96--On Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 157, the Rule providing for consideration of H. Con. Res. 63, disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 97--On Agreeing to H. Res. 157, the Rule providing for consideration of H. Con. Res. 63, disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall No. 98--On the Motion to Suspend the Rules and pass H.R. 437, naming a post office after Lino Perez, Jr., I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 150th Birthday of the First United Methodist Church in Champaign, Illinois. This sesquicentennial celebration marks not only a significant moment for the church, but also a significant moment in the community, culture and history of Champaign. The First United Methodist Church was first recognized as a Methodist Episcopal church on December 7, 1856 by the Illinois Annual Conference; however, the contributions of the Church go further back to 1793. With its rich history and loyal dedication to serving the community, the Church has been a vital influence in the shaping of the fine citizens of Champaign. Officially recognized in 1856, the First United Methodist Church began with holding Sunday services in a brick schoolhouse nearby. Started with a small loyal following, the Church grew to record highs of 4,163 members. As its size and congregation grew, so did their devotion to the community. The First United Methodist Church has been steadfast in providing a positive influence to the entire community of Champaign. Members of the Church have active roles in mission programs both local and international, volunteered in local service projects, and helped run local food banks. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 150th Birthday of the First United Methodist church as well as their 150 years of accomplishments and noble servitude for the city of Champaign.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately today, February 5, 2007, due to major delays in my airline options, I was unable to make it into Washington, DC in time to cast my votes on H. Res. 94 and H. Con. Res. 35. Had I been present for rollcall No. 74 on final passage of H. Res. 94, as amended, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Consumer Protection Week, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for rollcall No. 75 on final passage of H. Con. Res. 35, as amended, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on the following rollcall votes on January 24, 2007. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall 51--The Previous Question for the Rule to consider H. Res. 78--I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 52--To Table the Motion to Reconsider--I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 53--Final Passage of the Rule for H. Res. 78--I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 54--The Motion to Table the Priveleged Resolution--I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 55--The Motion to Adjourn--I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall 56--The Question of Consideration of H. Res. 78--I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall 57--To allow Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to vote in the Committee of the Whole--I would have voted ``no.'' Our Constitution clearly sets forth who is allowed to vote in Congress and I believe that this bill is in direct violation to that provision.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Arnold ``Red'' Auerbach, the legendary coach, general manager, and president of the Boston Celtics. Red was the architect and mastermind of one of the most dominant franchises in professional sports history. He coached the Celtics from 1950 to 1966, and during his tenure the franchise won nine NBA titles, including eight straight from 1959 to 1966--the longest string of championships in the history of North American professional sports. His historic coaching career ended in 1966 with 938 regular season victories, a record that stood until Lenny Wilkins broke it in the 1994-95 season and 9 championship rings, an amount only matched by the current Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Auerbach was revered for his unique ability to scout and recognize talent. Throughout his time as a coach and in the front office he engineered some of the most historic trades and draft selections in NBA history. One of the most notable was in the 1956 NBA Draft when the franchise traded up to the second pick in the draft and selected Future Hall of Famer Bill Russell from the University of San Francisco. Also, while in the Celtic's front office, Auerbach assembled arguably the greatest front line in NBA history when he drafted Larry Bird in 1978 as a ``junior eligible'' selection and then in 1980 worked out a deal that brought Robert Parish to the team and allowed the franchise to draft Kevin McHale out of the University of Minnesota. All three players are now members of the NBA Hall of Fame and became the nucleus that led the Celtics to 3 world Championships in the 1980's. Auerbach's influence on the game went beyond the numerous victories and championships; he also was a pioneer in advancing race equality within the NBA. In 1950, the Celtics franchise selected Chuck Cooper of Duquesne University in the second round as the first black player to ever be selected in the NBA Draft. In addition during the 1963-64 season, Auerbach's starting line up of Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Tom Sanders, and Willie Naulls became the first all black starting line up in NBA history. And finally upon his retirement in 1966, Auerbach chose Bill Russell to succeed him as the coach of the Boston Celtics becoming the first African American to coach an American professional sports team. Please join me in recognizing this American legend, his contributions to both the game of basketball and the nation will be forever remembered.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend of mine, Representative Henry Hyde. Henry has been a devoted public servant to the people of Illinois and this Nation for many decades and it is hard to see him leave the Halls of Congress at the end of this session. Henry began his political career in the Illinois State House in 1966, rising to the rank of majority leader before turning his sights to Washington. Coming to Congress in 1975, Henry is leaving Washington as one of the most distinguished and well respected Members to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He had the unique honor to serve as Chairman of two of the biggest committees, the Judiciary Committee and the International Relations Committee. Throughout his time here he has fought diligently for many worthwhile causes and led us through some of the most tumultuous times in our nation's history, but what I will remember Henry Hyde most for was the way he carried himself while serving our citizens. Always honest, passionate, and fair, Henry Hyde is an example to us all about the ways we should carry ourselves in these hallowed halls. Mr. Speaker, this Congress will miss Henry Hyde and his influence and I rise today to say thank you and God Bless.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately as the result of a death in the family and my need to return to Illinois by Saturday morning for the funeral services, I was unable to cast my votes on the following pieces of legislation. I request that the Record state my intentions on these votes had I been present to vote. I would have voted ``aye'' for H. Res. 1100, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6406, to modify temporarily certain rates of duty and make other technical amendments to the trade laws, to extend certain trade preference programs, and for other purposes. I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 5948, the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006. Passage of the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act supports Belarus as an emerging democracy with U.S. assistance by strengthening democratic institutions and processes within the country. Our country has a long history of promoting democracy worldwide and this bill will assist the people of Belarus with foreign aid and the risk of U.S. sanctions should the recent political upheavals and the repression of democratic groups in the country continue. I would have voted ``present'' in response to the Call of the House. I am sorry to have missed Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's farewell speech. I respect and admire him, and am proud to serve with him in the Illinois congressional delegation. His long tenure as the Speaker of the House is historic, and he will be celebrated as an esteemed statesman. I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6406, to modify temporarily certain rates of duty and make other technical amendments to the trade laws, to extend certain trade preference programs, and for other purposes. This package contains trade provisions I have supported in the past and will continue to do so in the future. These provisions will help expand the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and exporters within the global marketplace. I would have voted ``aye'' on the Conference Report on H.R. 5682, the Henry J. Hyde U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006. India has been a longtime and important ally to the U.S. and U.S. assistance in the development of a civilian nuclear energy program will only cement the strategic partnership between our two countries. With the passage of the cooperation agreement with India the U.S. can be assured the peaceful sharing of nuclear energy technologies under international safeguards while preventing the spread of nuclear weapon information to rogue countries, such as North Korea and Iran. I would have voted ``aye'' on H.J. Res. 102, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2007. While I am disappointed that we were not able to pass the remaining appropriations bills under regular order, I feel that it is important that we continue to fund our government program at adequate levels until we can address the appropriations bills in the next session of Congress. Finally, I would have voted ``aye'' on the following bills, considered under suspension of the rules: 1. H.R. 6407--Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act 2. H. Res. 1104--Providing for a severance payment for employees of leadership offices and committees of the House of Representatives who are separated from employment solely and directly as a result of a change in the party holding the majority of the membership in the House 3. H.R. 6060--Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 4. S. 4050--Sergeant First Class Robert Lee `Bobby' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building Designation Act 5. S. 4093--A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend a suspension of limitation on the period for which certain borrowers are eligible for guaranteed assistance 6. H.R. 5304--Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act 7. S. 3821--COMPETE Act of 2006 8. S. 4042--A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit disruptions of funerals of members or former members of the Armed Forces 9. H.R. 6427--To increase the amount in certain funding agreements relating to patents and nonprofit organizations to be used for scientific research, development, and education, and for other purposes 10. H.R. 6428--To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out certain elements of the project for hurricane and storm damage reduction, Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana 11. S. 2735--Dam Safety Act of 2006 12. S. Con. Res. 123--A concurrent resolution providing for correction to the enrollment of the bill H.R. 5946 13. H.R. 5946--Stevens-Inouye International Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance Legacy Act of 2006 14. H.R. 4075--Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 2006

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of Linda Mills of Champaign, Illinois who passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2006. A great community leader and active businesswoman, Linda Mills has left a footprint in Central Illinois that will always be remembered. Linda Mills was dedicated to improving the lives of those in the Champaign-Urbana community for many years. As President of Busey Travel and director of Busey Bank, Mrs. Mills volunteered at the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club where she served as president for many years. The executive director of this club remembers Linda Mills as an extremely compassionate lady, she was very interested in the education of our kids. Along with the Boys & Girls Club, Mrs. Mills also volunteered her time at the Cunningham Children's Home where the President and CEO of the Home always remembers Linda Mills' heart for the community, helping to meet the needs of children and adults who needed help overcoming the odds. She did so many great things in an unassuming fashion. She was someone who wasn't flashy. So much she did, no one would ever know about. One longtime friend, Carol Scharlau, has said that Linda Mills had a commitment to building a better community and in such a sincere and caring way. Some people volunteer for different reasons. But with Linda, compassion for others came through in everything she did. In 2005, Linda Mills and her husband Doug pledged $10 million to establish the Mills Breast Cancer Institute at Carle Clinic in Urbana. As one who had suffered from breast cancer herself, Mrs. Mills felt very strongly about the research and the help this organization could give to serve others who suffer from breast cancer. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the memory of Mrs. Linda Mills.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Join me in congratulating the front office, the coaches and the players in bringing home the 10th World Series Title in franchise history and the first since 1982. After struggling for much of the regular season's final four months, the redbirds overcame numerous injuries and ended the regular season with an 83-78 mark to take the National League Central Division Pennant over the Houston Astros by a game and a half. St. Louis was an underdog going into the playoffs and upon victory became only the second franchise in Major League history to win the World Series without having home field advantage in any of their postseason series. Cardinal Manager Tony LaRussa, who also won a World Series in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics, joined Sparky Anderson as the only manager to win a World Series title in both the American and National Leagues. Many analysts of the game have said that this was Tony LaRussa's finest season of management after a long and historic career. After barely holding on to their playoff spot, the St. Louis Cardinals found new life and energy from their reinvented pitching staff. The Starting rotation of 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter, Jeff Weaver, Jeff Suppan, and Anthony Reyes pitched brilliantly and were backed up by a host of relievers led by closer Adam Wainwright. Wainwright finished his extraordinary postseason with 1 win along with 4 saves and 15 strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work. Upon defeating the San Diego Padres in four games and winning a heated seven game series against the New York Mets, the match up between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers proved to be one for the history books. Some of the series highlights include Chris Carpenter's game 3 performance where he pitched 8 innings of shutout baseball, tallying 6 strikeouts, no walks, and allowing only three hits. Also, during the series Scott Rolen came through in the clutch with a .421 batting average and a .476 on base percentage with 5 runs scored. In Game 5, Starter Jeff Weaver crafted an amazing 2 run, 8 inning performance; He finished the postseason with a 2.43 earned run average, which paced all Cardinal starters. David Eckstein, World Series Most Valuable Player, drove in the first run and scored the Cardinals' final run in the Cards' 4-2 win over the Tigers. His hard nosed, strong willed series performance that totaled 8 hits and 5 RBIs in the final 3 games acted as the catalyst for Cardinal victory. Once again I want to congratulate the 2006 World Series Champions for bringing the city of St. Louis and the Cardinal Nation its 10th World Series title.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2006, I was away from my official duties due to a family matter, and subsequently missed a recorded vote on rollcall No. 513, on ordering the previous question on the motion to refer the privileged resolution to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2006, I was away from my official duties due to a family matter, and subsequently missed a recorded vote on rollcall No. 514, on a motion to refer the Privileged Resolution to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of NASA astronaut, Joseph Tanner for his outstanding service to his country in the name of space exploration, including his recent mission to the International Space Station on the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Joseph Tanner was born in Illinois in 1950 and graduated from Danville High School in Danville, Illinois in 1968. He pursued a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, Mr. Tanner joined the Navy where he earned his pilot wings in 1975 before serving as an A-7E pilot with the Light Attack Squadron 94 aboard the U.S.S. Coral Sea. He finished his active service with the Navy as an advanced jet instructor pilot with Training Squadron 4 in Pensacola, Florida. In 1984, Mr. Tanner began working for the NASA Johnson Space Center as an aerospace engineer and research pilot. His primary flying responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and instructing the pilots and mission specialists in the T-38. In addition to his flying duties, Mr. Tanner held positions as the aviation safety officer, the head of the pilot section, and the Deputy Chief of Aircraft Operations Division. In total, Mr. Tanner has accumulated an impressive no less than 8,862 hours in military and NASA aircraft. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in March 1992, Mr. Tanner reported to the Astronaut Office in August 1992 where he completed one year of initial training and worked in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory before being assigned to his first mission. Mr. Tanner also served as part of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center, supporting Space Shuttle launches and landings. Throughout his NASA career, Mr. Tanner has participated in four space flight missions. The most recent space flight Mr. Tanner flew on was STS-115, the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Atlantis launched on September 9, 2006 with six crew members to continue construction on the International Space Station. The 12 day mission included several space walks to construct crucial components to ensure the future of the International Space Station, including the installation of two solar arrays to assist the station in generating power. Mr. Tanner performed two space walks on this particular mission, bringing his total number of space walks to seven. Atlantis landed in Florida at the Kennedy Shuttle Landing Facility on September 21, 2006 in the early morning. The Space Shuttle Atlantis accomplished its mission of delivering the first major new component to the International Space Station since 2002 and laid important groundwork for upcoming station construction. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and especially to astronaut, Joseph Tanner.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2006, I was away from my official duties due to a family matter, and subsequently missed a recorded vote on rollcall No. 512, on ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1064, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4954) to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2006, I was away from my official duties due to a family matter, and subsequently missed a recorded vote on rollcall No. 515, to suspend the rules and pass S. 3661, a bill to amend section 29 of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 relating to air transportation to and from Love Field, Texas. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2006, I was away from my official duties due to a family mater, and subsequently missed a recorded vote on Rollcall No. 516, on final passage of H.R. 4954, a bill to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, due to circumstances beyond my control on Thursday, September 7, 2006, I regrettably missed the vote on H. Res. 981, a bill providing for consideration of H.R. 503, the Horse Protection Act. H. Res. 981 presents a reasonable rule that made several amendments in order, and allowed adequate time to have a full and fair debate on the underlying bill. In turn, I would have voted ``yea'' on H. Res. 981, so that we could begin to consider the underlying provisions of H.R. 503.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, we find ourselves once again on disturbingly familiar ground as Israel continues to defend itself against armed attacks by terrorist groups targeting civilian populations. As a sovereign nation, Israel has the right and, more importantly, the responsibility to defend its borders from acts of terrorism and threats to its national security. The War on Terror continues to combat terrorist organizations and their State sponsors, and as such, Hamas and Hezbollah must be held accountable for their destructive actions. The recent unprovoked rocket attacks in Israel and the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers are obvious acts of war against the democratic nation by Hezbollah and Hamas. The U.S. has been a strong leader in the War on Terror and these offensive acts of violence are no exception in the mission to stop terrorist activities around the world. Increased international pressure to call for an end to terrorism must be a priority, as an unstable Middle East can have dire consequences to the entire international community, as confirmed by the extensive evacuations currently taking place in Lebanon. The Governments of Syria and Iran, as supporters of both Hamas and Hezbollah in their terror activities, must be held accountable for the violence taking place in Israel to protect the innocent populations of both Israel and Lebanon that find themselves in the middle of continued violence. Additionally, the Lebanese Government must call for an end to all terrorist violence and do everything possible to expel Hezbollah from within its borders. These terrorist organizations cannot be ignored and Lebanon must protect its sovereignty in the presence of any terrorist activity by taking decisive action. I commend Israel for minimizing civilian casualties by focusing defensive attacks on infrastructures and weapons facilities, intentionally avoiding towns and villages. In the face of such violence, Israel continues to follow democratic and civilized principles of war in protecting its people and Country. I continue to support the right of Israel to vigorously defend itself in response to attacks of violence that threaten the existence of the Israeli people and pray for the end of violence and a peaceful outcome in the Middle East.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Mental Health Center of Champaign County on the celebration of its 50th anniversary. The Champaign County Mental Health Clinic opened its doors 50 years ago as a program of the Champaign County Mental Health Society. On July 22, 1968, the Mental Health Center became incorporated and changed its name to the Mental Health Center of Champaign County. Throughout its years of service to the community, the Mental Health Center has continually expanded mental health services to meet the needs of the public. The Mental Health Center of Champaign County is committed to providing critical mental health services to the community. Since its inception, the Mental Health Center has provided residential, outpatient, school-based, and 24-hour crisis services to promote the recovery, awareness, and the understanding of mental health and related illnesses. The citizens of the 15th district and I are very proud of the Mental Health Center of Champaign County for their continued efforts to provide quality services to those in need of them. We look forward to a prosperous future in which the Mental Health Center will continue its dedication to mental health services. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the Mental Health Center of Champaign County on its 50th anniversary of service to our community.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the career of retiring Lake Land College President Robert K. Luther. Dr. Luther concluded his exceptionally accomplished 18-year tenure on June 30, 2006. Before coming to Lake Land, Dr. Luther served on Governor Jim Edgar's Integration of Workforce Education task force and Governor George Ryan's Illinois Workforce Investment Board. Upon arriving at the college, Dr. Luther faced many challenges in reforming and improving the college's educational system and atmosphere, including reversing a substantial budget deficit and shrinking student enrollment, as well as beautifying a deteriorating campus. Today, the college operates on a stable budget and is considered one of the most beautiful places in central Illinois, but Dr. Luther considers his greatest accomplishment to be increasing the college's headcount enrollment by 113 percent since his arrival. Dr. Luther has helped to create many of Lake Land College's successful off-campus programs. Lake Land is the largest provider of postsecondary education to correctional centers in the State of Illinois, and the college now offers over 160 online courses. In addition, Dr. Luther has been an exceptional fundraiser, increasing Lake Land's annual scholarship fund six fold, from $50,000 to $300,000. Citizens of the 15th District of Illinois honor Dr. Luther for his innovation and leadership at Lake Land College. He has done a great service to our community and greater central Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the career of Lake Land College President Robert K. Luther.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 331 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''