Timothy Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the marriage of my good friends Ron and Sharon Eskew of Urbana, Illinois. April 3, 2004, marked the 50th anniversary of the day that they exchanged wedding vows and started a long, happy life together. Ron Eskew, of Urbana, met his future wife Sharon Campbell at Urbana High School in the early 1950's. They were married in the spring of 1953. The bond created by their marriage has only grown stronger in the past 5 decades, even during Ron's active duty in the United States Army. After his service, the couple returned to their roots in Urbana, picking up right where they left off. I have known the Eskews for many years. In fact, when I was a young man working for a real estate business, I had the pleasure of selling them one of their first houses in 1969. Throughout the years, Ron and Sharon have filled that house with love and a family so caring and appreciative of the example they set that they believe the rest of our country's citizens should know their happiness as well. Ron and Sharon's children certainly admire their devotion to one another after all these years. 50 years is an important milestone few married couples are fortunate enough to experience. I salute Ron and Sharon Eskew of Urbana, Illinois on their 50 happy years together, and wish them the best for many years to come.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, today is a significant day for families throughout the United States. Not just because the House of Representatives is passing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, but also because 3\1/2\ years of perseverance are beginning to pay off. Thanks to Chairman Duncan Hunter of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Chris Smith of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Chairman David Drier of the Rules Committee, their staffs, and mine, family members of those who are buried in an overseas United States military cemetery will finally have an avenue into the Department of Defense to present evidence that the decision to leave the remains of their loved ones overseas was based on a misunderstanding or error. My amendment is simple and straightforward. It gives families with loved ones buried in an overseas military cemetery a way to present to the Department of Defense that they should be allowed to bring the remains of their family member home and, if ultimately approved, to do so at no cost to the United States. There is a 2 year period from the date of enactment of this bill for application and I believe that amount of time is sufficient and fair. In the coming weeks as this bill moves into conference, I will be commenting on my amendment and what I believe a ``misunderstanding'' or ``error related to the disposition decision'' means. I merely wanted to take this opportunity to thank the respective chairmen and my colleagues for supporting my amendment.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 177 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 147 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to, and honor the life of, Elmer Arnold Brazelton of Paris, Illinois. When he died on November 6th of 2003, Elmer left behind his lovely wife Patricia, four children, and eight grandchildren. Elmer was one of those people who was a joy to be around and his optimism and love of life were contagious to all of those close to him. His life, Mr. Speaker, was an excellent example of love for country and family. Elmer joined the National Guard in 1947, a full 2 years before graduating from Brocton High School in 1949. He attended both Light and Heavy Weapons Schools at Ft. Benning, Georgia and later joined up with the California Guard and was sent to Korea where he received two Bronze Stars. He left the service in 1953 and came home to his beloved Edgar County, Illinois. Over the next five decades, Elmer would raise a family, farm, manage a filling station in Hume, drive a school bus for the Urbana school district, and retire from the University of Illinois in 1993 after 33 years of dedicated service; 23 of those years spent as a Custodial Foreman. Elmer was a 50-year member of the Paris American Legion Post #211. He was also a valued member of the Edgar County Historical & Genealogical Society, the Edgar County Farm Bureau, the State Line Christian Church and the Weber St. Church of Christ to name a few of the many organizations that were important to him. I will never forget Elmer, his personality, nor his dedication to his family and his service to his community. I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the life of Elmer Brazelton who was a good and decent patriot; truly, one of the good guys.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly remarkable group of young athletes. The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team has had a memorable 2003-2004 season ending March 7 with the winning of their first outright Big Ten Conference title in 52 years. Having won regular season Big Ten cochampionships in 3 of the last 4 years, the pressure was on this young team and first year coach Bruce Weber to continue this championship success. After starting the Big Ten Conference season with a record of 3-3 and losing its first two road games, some began to doubt that this success would continue. However, credit must be given to Coach Weber and his staff and the unbelievable determination put forth by a team with only one senior, as the Illini concluded their season by winning ten straight conference games, of which six were on the road. I look forward to more Illini victories this weekend in the Big Ten Conference Tournament and later in the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament and wish them continued success. Coach Bruce Weber, his staff, and the entire University of Illinois men's basketball team are a great source of pride for their University, the Champaign-Urbana community and the 15th District of Illinois. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Coach Weber and the entire 2003-04 Fighting Illini Men's Basketball team.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, due to the ice and snow storm in the Washington, D.C. area last night, my flight, American Airlines No. 1548 from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport, was significantly delayed by 3\1/2\ hours. I therefore missed the two votes for the evening, Roll Call Nos. 6 and 7. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 1385, an act authorizing the United States Postal Service to issue a special stamp to benefit breast cancer research; and I would also have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3493, the Medical Devices Technical Corrections Act.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. I rise today to pay tribute to my friend and mentor, the late Illinois State Senator Stan Weaver. When Senator Weaver passed away last week, aspiring public servants lost a role model. Few people in public life received the respect that he had among his colleagues, friends and constituents. His successful service to the people of east central Illinois began in 1956 when, at the urging of many citizens of Urbana, Illinois, he ran for mayor. He went on to serve one term as a State Representative then 10 terms as a State Senator. Best known for his exemplary service to his constituents and his ceaseless promotion of the University of Illinois, it is estimated that Stan Weaver alone guided over one billion dollars in construction projects to the University over 30 years. Consistently prevailing in his campaigns for office, he never spent exorbitant amounts of money and rarely gave grand speeches but, instead, with quiet authority and an intimate knowledge of the political process and the inner-workings of government, translated his personable style into an incredible ability to relate with people and get things done. I am very honored to have had such a close personal relationship with Senator Weaver and I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend whom I knew and admired for, literally, my entire life.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly remarkable group of young athletes. The University of Illinois fighting Illini Men's Tennis Team had a memorable and historic 2002-2003 season. Beside winning their seventh consecutive Big Ten Conference regular- season championship, as well as their sixth Big Ten Tournament crown in the last 7 years, the undefeated Fighting Illini won the first NCA team championship in the history of the University of Illinois tennis program. Using three different players in the singles and doubles tournaments, the Illini captured the rare triple crown of college tennis by winning the national championships in the team tournament, the singles tournament, and the doubles tournament and were the first team in the Nation to do so with three different players since the current NCAA tennis team championship format began in 1977. Coach Craig Tiley, Assistant Coach Bruce Berque and the entire University of Illinois men's tennis team are a great source of pride for their university, the Champaign-Urbana community and the 15th District of Illinois. I thank Chairman Boehner and Alison Ream of the Education and Workforce Committee for their help with bringing H. Res. 391 to the floor and I ask my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 371 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the 600 employees of the Illinois Refining Division (IRD) located in Robinson, IL, for winning Marathon Ashland Petroleum's (MAP) 2002 President's Award for Responsible Care. This outstanding award is given to a refining division that shows a high regard for environmental stewardship, and employee and health safety. Before receiving this award, the IRD underwent a comprehensive and stringent screening process in which MAP business components were rated and matched up with both the MAP Safety Performance Index and 16 health, environment, and safety standards. After reviewing their record it was clear that the Illinois Refining Division of Robinson, Illinois was the most deserving of this recognition. During 2002, the Illinois Refining Division was 1 of only 10 refineries in the nation that earned the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's Voluntary Protection Program Star site recertification. IRD also has a strong record of encouraging employee involvement in health and safety programs, and vigorously stressing pollution prevention and waste reduction. Not only did IRD stress the importance of environmental and employee safety within its workplace, it also prided itself on community outreach programs. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award and I am honored that I have the opportunity to represent such a fine employer in my district.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 289 I was inadvertently detained had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize the Honorable Larry Combest as he completes his final three weeks serving as a Congressman in the United States House of Representatives. In addition to representing the 19th congressional district of Texas for the past 20 years, Representative Combest has served the entire U.S. agriculture community as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. His dedication to his country, his constituents and American agriculture should not go unrecognized. I commend Representative Combest for his hard work and fine leadership while serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Although I was elected to Congress in 2000 and only served under his leadership on the Committee for one term, I was honored to do so. Throughout the 107th Congress, Chairman Combest was diligent in his efforts to improve farm programs and to ensure the future of agriculture in America. Due in large part to his relentless hours of hard work and outstanding leadership, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. I applaud Representative Combest for the strides he made to strengthen agriculture in the United States. Congressman Combest has certainly contributed greatly to our nation and to our agriculture community, and I thank him for all of his efforts and congratulate him on his accomplishments while serving in the United States Congress.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the hard work, talent, and dedication of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Men's Tennis Team. Recently, the team won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Indoor Championship, a victory which demonstrated the team's tenacity and willingness to continue to strive for new feats of excellence, as well as why they are such a source of pride to their school and the Champaign-Urbana community. The University of Illinois Tennis Team was the first team to win this tournament since 1983 that was not from the State of California, and, in addition, was the first Mid-Western team to come in first in the 31- year history of the competition. True leadership is needed to allow any team to reach its full potential. Such leadership is exemplified by the work of Coach Craig Tiley and University of Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther. Their determination and vision have made the U of I Tennis Team a force to be reckoned with on the national level. Credit must also go to the student athletes themselves, who put forth and incredible amount of effort and sacrifice to meet the high standards set by their coaching staff. Athletics often demonstrates how intelligence, physical ability, leadership, and teamwork allow men and women to overcome great odds. The victory of the University of Illinois Men's Tennis Team at the ITA Championship is a terrific example of these attributes and I would like to extend to them my most sincere congratulations.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my strong opposition to the words used by Congresswoman Cubin in reference to an amendment to H.R. 1036 offered by Congressman Watt. While her comments were within the parliamentary rules of the House of Representatives, they were clearly improper and offensive, and had at least the appearance of racial basis. I appreciate Congresswoman Cubin's subsequent apology, and her statement that her words were incomplete and misinterpreted, but I unequivocally denounce the original statement, and it is my sincere hope that it is not interpreted as indicative of the views and sentiments of this distinguished body.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor one of the great sons of Illinois, Senator Stan Weaver, who after selflessly donating forty-five years of his life to the State of Illinois is retiring from public service. In 1957, he began a twelve-year tenure as the mayor of my hometown of Urbana, IL. Weaver was later elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1968, where he served one term before his election to the Illinois Senate in 1970. While Senator, Weaver served as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and was a ranking member of the Senate Executive and Appropriations Committees as well as the Operations Commission. In 1997 he served in the newly created position of Senate Majority Leader after serving as assistant Senate Leader for twenty-two years. As a lawmaker, Stan's priorities have always been those of the people of the 52nd District, including quality of education, agriculture and economic development. He has proven to be a strong advocate for the University of Illinois and has helped it become one of the most prestigious examples of higher education in the nation. Before entering public service, Stan Weaver graduated from Urbana public schools, attended Michigan State College, the University of Illinois, and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science. During World War II, Stan admirably served his country in the Army Air Force in the Southwest Pacific Theater. In addition to his busy political career, Stan has found time to be a devoted father and grandfather to his son Blake, daughter Sherry, and to his two wonderful granddaughters, Lindsey and Jessica. Besides being his community's state senator, Stan Weaver is heavily involved in several public organizations. He is the past president of the Illinois Municipal League, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, member of the Mohammed Temple and of the International Chili Society. He also belongs to the Masonic Lodge, where he earned the rare distinction of 33rd Degree Mason because of his long-time dedicated service. When Stan retires, his legacy to the State of Illinois will be one of quiet, effective leadership and commitment to the greater good. Whenever he rose to speak, people recognized his command of the issues, and colleagues from both political parties held him in the highest esteem. It has been my honor to know and serve with Senator Stan Weaver in the Illinois General Assembly. As the longest serving senator of his time, he will always be remembered as a powerful force in the Illinois Senate and his dedication to public service shall be sorely missed.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to travel to Washington for the legislative week beginning on March 10, 2003 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. I have included a letter from my physician stating that his medical judgment was that I not drive or fly extensively for the week after the accident. Had I been present in Washington for votes, it was my intention to vote in the following ways: Rollcall No. 50--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 51--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 52--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 53--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 54--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 55--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 56--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 57--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 58--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 59--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 60--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 61--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 62--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 63--``no.'' Rollcall No. 64--``no.'' Carle Trauma Center, Urbana, IL, March 11, 2003. Re Mr. Tim Johnson. To Whom It May Concern: U.S. Representative Tim Johnson was hospitalized at Carle Foundation Hospital under my care the week of March 9th due to trauma suffered in a car accident. It was my medical judgment that he not fly or drive extensively for at least a week after the trauma. It would be dangerous and potentially life-threatening if he were to do so given the trauma to his lungs and rib cage, and potential damage to lungs and/or heart. Sincerely, Uretz J. Oliphant, MD, FACS, Director, Trauma Services.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a dear, close friend of mine Joe Warner, who tragically passed away in a plane crash shortly after takeoff on July 22, 2002. Many of our nation's greatest servants silently and humbly transform communities out of the goodness of their hearts, selfless generosity, and a dedication to improving the welfare of loved ones and those whom they have never met. Joe Warner was one of these servants, and he serves as an inspiration to us all. Joe was born on July 3, 1942 in DeKalb, Illinois to Paul and Doris Walkey Warner. He attended Northern Illinois University and received his NMA from the University of Illinois. Joe then went on to become President and CEO of Heritage Enterprises, a longterm care corporation, located in Bloomington, Illinois. The elderly of Illinois have greatly benefited from the leadership and dedication that Joe continuously displayed throughout his life. Whether it was in his capacity as President and CEO of Heritage Enterprises or the President of the Illinois Health Care Association, Joe tirelessly advocated on behalf of Illinois' seniors to ensure they were afforded the highest quality of care. Not only have Illinois' elderly lost a friend and advocate, but our youth have as well. Prior to his passing, Joe had taken on the role of planner and fundraiser for the $3 Million Challenger Learning Center, which will be an educational site for children to focus on studying math and science. Joe Warner was involved in scores of organizations and knew the importance of investment in his community. He also knew the importance of investing in his family, and was a great husband and father to his wife, Rose Stadel, and their two children Jeff and Jennifer. The memory of Joe Warner will continue through his numerous contributions to his community. On July 22nd, Illinois lost a respected and admired friend. He will be missed. I ask you, my colleagues, to rise today in salute of the rich legacy Joe Warner has left behind.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Donald A. Holt, a highly respected citizen of Champaign, Illinois, who is retiring from his position as Senior Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Holt's positive influence in biotechnology, systems modeling, computers in agriculture, organization of agricultural research, and development of funding strategies, continues to be strongly felt on the University of Illinois campus, as well as throughout the state of Illinois and the nation. As a student in the University of Illinois Department of Agronomy in the 1950's, as a manager of his family farm near Minooka, Illinois, from 1956 to 1964, and as a cuttingedge researcher and teacher at Purdue University from 1964 to 1982, Don Holt honed his skills to serve science and society as an enlightened, visionary leader of agricultural research in Illinois. In his pioneering research and teaching activities at Purdue, Dr. Holt built his programs with a ``systems perspective'' that he began developing while operating his family farm in northern Illinois. There he developed a comprehensive research program in forage physiology and management that contributed to increasing crop production. Dr. Holt also pioneered the use of anhydrous ammonia and organic acids as hay preservatives. He was an early implementer of computer modeling and used it to develop and commercialize software for crop yield forecasting. When Dr. Holt returned to the University of Illinois in 1982, he quickly began to leave his imprint on the college's research and teaching systems by improving the college's resource base and infrastructure and building a partnership between the college and its stakeholders in the food and agricultural sectors throughout the state. Since his return to the University of Illinois, Dr. Holt has made great contributions to enhancing Illinois' food and agriculture sectors. His leadership in the college as a department head, associate dean, director of the Illinois Agriculture Experiment Station, and senior associate dean is unparalleled. Dr. Holt led the effort to mold the college into a leader in biotechnology research by securing funding for the Center of Excellence in Crop Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering and for the Edward R. Madigan Laboratory. He also led the effort to improve the state and national investment in value-added research for Illinois producers. This led the remodeling of the Agricultural Bioprocess Laboratory and the establishment of the National Soybean Research Center. Dr. Holt laid much of the groundwork to redesign public agricultural research in Illinois through landmark legislation called the Illinois Food and Agricultural Research Act of 1995 leading to the creation and funding of the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research (C- FAR). He subsequently promoted public involvement in research priority setting through C-FAR representation, a move that attracted national attention as a model for re-energizing land-grant universities and empowering their constituents. Dr. Holt's past contributions to Illinois and U.S. Agriculture have brought about a firestorm of progressive change. With his unique but clear vision of the future, he is able to see the changing nature of agriculture beyond the horizon and can anticipate how educational and research institutions can best prepare to meet the needs of individuals who will conduct business in the changing environment. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Donald A. Holt has had a long and distinguished career that will have an impact on agriculture far into the future. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this distinguished gentleman for all he has done for agriculture and for the country.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce and congratulate Miss America 2003, Erika Harold. Raised in Urbana, Illinois, Erika has succeeded in every stage of her life and as a personal friend of her family, I know she has the support and determination to succeed in everything she puts her mind to. As the National Spokesperson for the Teen Victims Project of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Spokesperson for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a member of the National Board of Directors for the Center of Youth as Resources, and a member of the Advisory Board for Peace Games, Erika's leadership and determination have proven invaluable in her ambition to end crime and violence against children. The amount of pride our community and I feel right now is immense in knowing that Erika has been crowned Miss America 2003 and I cannot think of a more deserving person to carry this honor and be a role model for every citizen; female and male, young and old. Erika has most recently attended the University of Illinois where she was named Phi Beta Kappa and a Truman Scholarship finalist. Her ambition of pursuing a career in the fields of Public Interest Law and Public Policy was given a huge boost when she was recently accepted into the Harvard School of Law. However, as a result of her new endeavor as Miss America, Erika will place her education on hold for a year and pursue her duties as Miss America and her goal to ``Empower Youth Against Violence''. Erika recently wrote in a letter to USA Today, ``As Miss America 2003, I am issuing a national call to action, challenging every segment of American society to take a proactive, comprehensive approach to eradicating this culture of degradation and indifference''. I not only ask for you, my colleagues, to take this time to congratulate Erika, but I call you to stand hand in hand with her, supporting her, working with her, and finding inspiration in her, as we continue to move this country forward until our nation is truly and completely one of hope, peace, and unity. Let us take heed in the lessons we can learn from her and so many other of our citizens; that we should live our daily lives with a strong will, a loving heart, and a fearlessness to change that which we know is wrong.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday our nation commemorated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. While these attacks were committed on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, they were in fact directed at our nation as a whole. Our freedom, our way of life, the very foundations of our great democracy, were ruthlessly targeted by an unprecedented force of evil. Now, one year later, our nation is stronger and more unified than ever to rid the world of terrorism in all of its forms, as well as its root causes including poverty, injustice, and despair. It is my sincere hope that America never forgets the terrible atrocities committed within our borders. These acts were a direct attack upon freedom-loving people everywhere and we have a duty to ensure that freedom and democracy prevail in this struggle against tyranny and oppression.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday our nation commemorated the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. While these attacks were committed on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, they were in fact directed at our nation as a whole. Our freedom, our way of life, the very foundations of our great democracy, were ruthlessly targeted by an unprecedented force of evil. Now, one year later, our nation is stronger and more unified than ever to rid the world of terrorism in all of its forms, as well as its root causes including poverty, injustice, and despair. It is my sincere hope that America never forgets the terrible atrocities committed within our borders. These acts were a direct attack upon freedom loving people everywhere and we have a duty to ensure that freedom and democracy prevail in this struggle against tyranny and oppression.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute Lisa Herrington, Brandy O'Brian, and Rebecca Rappleyea. All three of these young women were recently honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award by Girl Scouts--Green Meadows Council in Urbana, Illinois. These women were honored on May 13, 2002 for earning the highest achievement that a young woman aged 14-17 or in grades 9-12 can earn in Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments, each of which helps girls develop skills in the areas of leadership, career exploration, self-discovery, and service. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., an organization serving over 2.5 million girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Awards to Senior Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive this award, a Girl Scout must earn four interest project patches--the Career Exploration Pin, the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, and design and carry out a Girl Scout Gold Award project that requires a minimum of 50 hours of participation. A plan for fulfilling these requirements is created by the Senior Girl Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between the girl, her troop leader, and an adult Girl Scout volunteer mentor. Lisa's Gold Award project A Great Summer for Migrant Families was a result of her volunteer work with migrant families during the past five years. Realizing that migrant families in the Rantoul area had many needs, Lisa developed a plan to receive donations from schools and churches in the Rantoul area. Girl Scout Troops were asked to collect supplies for the daughters of migrant workers. All of the collected items were distributed through the Champaign Unit 4 School District Summer School Program. Lisa concluded her project by using her Program Aide skills to plan and carry out activities during the three week summer Girl Scout program for daughters of migrant workers. Brandy's Gold Award project Let's Get Kickin' incorporated her love of soccer in a way that would benefit youth in the Fisher area. Let's Get Kickin' had two components: (1) conduct an instructional soccer camp for grade school aged youth, and (2) provide regulation soccer equipment for the players. To achieve her goals, Brandy recruited girls and solicited donations of used soccer equipment. The donated items were made available to all interested youth in the community. Brandy's soccer camp, held April 6, 2002, included drills for improving skills in shooting, dribbling, passing, and teamwork. She discussed the history of soccer, reviewed the fundamentals of the game, and provided lunch for thirty participants. Rebecca's Gold Award project Ballet for Young Girls was designed to teach young girls in the fundamentals of ballet to instill in them a love of ballet and to provide a venue to demonstrate what they had learned. Working with 12 girls over a three-month period, Rebecca instructed the girls in ballet skills. To make the experience even more meaningful, Rebecca made costumes for the ballerinas. In addition to learning ballet as an art form, the girls developed an appreciation for teamwork, As a result, Rebecca saw the participants gain self- confidence and self-esteem, both valuable qualities upon which to build their lives. I ask you, my colleagues, to take the time to honor these three young woman and the many young women in your districts that continue to share their skills and caring hearts to our children and our communities through the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take this time to recognize Noyes Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The building was named in honor of Professor William Albert Noyes, head of the Department of Chemistry from 1907-1926. 2002 marks the Centennial occupancy of Noyes Laboratory as the home of the School of Chemical Sciences, and I am proud to represent what has become a celebrated institution for the University, and for the 15th district of Illinois. Upon its completion in 1902, it was the largest and best-equipped laboratory in the world. It represented a groundbreaking design that has provided diverse research and teaching environments for hundreds of faculty and many thousands of students in all areas of chemical sciences. Although predominantly home to the Department of Chemistry, Noyes Laboratory has also housed the Departments of Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bacteriology, and Illinois State Water Survey. Hence Noyes Laboratory became one of America's first and most productive institutes for interdisciplinary research. Ten Nobel Prize winners have worked or studied at Noyes Laboratory. St. Elmo Brady, Ph.D. 1916, was the first African-American Ph.D. chemist in the United States and did his thesis work in Noyes Lab. To follow that, twelve thousand bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees have been earned by students working in this prestigious building. Among the unprecedented discoveries made in Noyes Lab during the past century are the following: development of NMR spectroscopy as a tool for chemists (Herbert Gutowsky), the elucidation of a theory of electron transfer (Rudy Marcus), the development of Fourier-transform microwave spectrometry (Willis Flygare), the founding of coordination chemistry in the United States (John C. Bailar, Jr.), the field of chemical information (Marion Sparks), and synthesis of chloroquine and related antimaterials (Nelson Leonard, C.C. Price, and H.R. Snyder), key aspects of the development of synthetic rubber (Carl S. Marvel), amino acid threonine (William C. Rose), the chemical synthesis of threonine (Herbert F. Carter), the identification of the active ingredients in marijuana (Roger Adams), seminal studies on air pollution (h. Fraser Johnstone), the synthetic sweetener sodium cyclamate (Ludwig Audrieth and Michael Sveda), lipoic acid (Irwin C. Gunsulas), the aerosol can (G. Frederick Smith), high-intensity X-ray tubes (George L. Clarke), and modem instrumental analytical chemistry (Howard V. Malmstadt). After World War I, Organic Chemical Manufacturers set up in Noyes Lab and established Eastman Organic Chemicals which led to an important book series; ``Organic Synthesis,'' ``Organic Reactions,'' ``Inorganic Synthesis,'' and ``Chemical Reviews.'' Research and teaching by those who worked in Noyes Laboratory has contributed in a fundamental way to our understanding of chemistry, chemical engineering, and biochemistry. It is my hope that my colleagues of the United States Congress will join me in honoring Noyes Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the contribution of success in research and discovery to our nation for the past century.

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois

Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to join my colleagues in honoring a truly great American, Jack Buck. For nearly five decades, Jack Buck's memorable voice announced Super Bowls, World Series and the games of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. I was honored to actually be in the broadcast booth at Busch Stadium with him on a few occasions. Growing up in Central Illinois, Jack Buck became baseball to me. His voice was that of a trusted friend's and he became like a member of my family. I distinctly remember his calls of Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith and Mark McGwire and I will never forget game five of the 1985 National League Championship Series. Ozzie Smith had hit a home run to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and a very excited and emotional Jack Buck told everyone to, ``Go crazy, folks, go crazy''. This man, this legend, came from nothing to become everything he wanted to be. He is a shining example of what is good and right and what can be achieved in our country. Tradition and the integrity of baseball are words that come to my mind when I think of this pillar of his community. He did so much for St. Louis and those of us in the Midwest fortunate enough to have KMOX on our dials. My thoughts and prayers are for the Buck family and the fans of Jack Buck and the St. Louis Cardinals organization in this time of mourning.