Adam Kinzinger

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank everyone for their hard work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of negativity out there. In the House, we talk a lot about bad things that happen. It is just our focus. But I want to talk about some of the good. Some of the good are the people that come from the United States of America, who put on the uniform of all our various Armed Forces, and stand as the line between chaos and order, the line between good and evil. We know in the last decade, we had a number of troops engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the globe in the war on terror, keeping Americans safe. In some cases, they were very distant from their families. In some cases, they had to give the ultimate sacrifice. We know that today, in Syria, Iraq, and untold areas in other places, we have men and women still defending this country from the potential next attack. The best thing we can do in this body--we debate budgets, and that is important--and the most important thing we can do is equip the men and women of our military with the tools they need, with the pay they need, with the benefits they need to defend this country, to take care of their family, and that we can alleviate a little bit of the pain and loneliness they may feel when they are separated on the battlefield. So I want to thank the chairman, the ranking member, and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and on this side of the aisle for working together. I would ask for this to pass in a unanimous way, if we could, and I would ask the President to sign this bill.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I just want to address a statement that was made a little earlier from my friend from Indiana. He quoted the chairman and said that, in a perfect world, we would not need Ex-Im. I agree. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need nuclear weapons. In a perfect world, nobody would have nuclear weapons, but nobody in this Chamber is suggesting that we unilaterally disarm our nuclear weapons in order to live by the politics of purity. I had dinner the other day with a friend of mine who has a manufacturing company. It is a small manufacturing company. They export drilling components to Third World countries to help them drill for their own energy resources. He informed me that he has actually lost 15 percent of his business since this charter has expired. That is real money. That is real exporting. That is a real situation that affects real people's lives. Look, I understand that people want to amend this, and I think they have a right to desire to amend this. The place to amend this would have been in the committee, which I am not on by the way. It would have been an opportunity to have amended it and to have had a full debate and to have brought the amended bill to the floor of the House of Representatives to debate. That didn't happen. I urge my colleagues to vote against this.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, it is interesting in these great conversations, good debate, nobody has said that this doesn't make money for the taxpayers. They try to make the link and everything else, and that is fine. My friend from Wisconsin just said, well, if this amendment kills the Bank, it is because, et cetera, et cetera. This amendment is aimed to kill the Bank because it is a poison pill amendment on Ex-Im. That is what all these amendments are. They are attempting a last-ditch effort to destroy something that has really, frankly, provided a lot of jobs in my district and provided a lot of exports from my district. We talk about protecting taxpayers. Protecting taxpayers from what, an extra $500 million? Are we protecting them from a smaller deficit? It doesn't make sense. I am not sure why certain folks have made this the hill to die on. There are a lot of better hills to die on, to fight, to argue in this. I will tell you a quick story. I went to Ethiopia 6 months ago or so. I flew to Ethiopia on a Boeing Dreamliner. Now, I know a lot of people like to call out names of big companies, but I didn't go to Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines on an Airbus. The fact that I was on a Boeing Dreamliner means that the parts and components are made in my district for that Dreamliner, which means there are people who have a job because Ethiopian Airlines bought a Boeing. Let's kill this amendment and save the Bank.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer an amendment that would improve vehicle safety and ensure that businesses have the necessary information to comply with section 8 of the TREAD Act. Every day, professional automotive recyclers sell over a half a million original equipment manufacturer parts which are harvested from total loss or end-of-life vehicles and are resold to consumers, repair shops, and dealers. These parts are designed by automakers and are manufactured to meet their requirements. Even when a vehicle may reach the end of its useful life, many parts have a greater lifespan and can be subsequently recycled, resold, and reused. This offers consumers with additional choice to purchase a quality recycled part at a lower cost. In 2000, Congress enacted the TREAD Act to increase vehicle safety by prohibiting the resale of recycled auto parts that are subject to a recall and have not been remedied. Congress passed this legislation with the safety of the driving public in mind. However, the ability of professional automotive recyclers to identify and remove recalled parts from the supply chain is severely limited. Earlier this year, Secretary Foxx responded to a question for the record on this subject following a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. He recommended that automotive manufacturers provide part number information in an efficient and easy-to-use format directly to recyclers and others who need the information to support auto safety. My amendment does just that and will ensure these businesses can identify such parts and remove them from their inventory. Our friends in the European Union have already implemented regulations requiring such a system that includes the VIN, OE parts numbers, and the OE naming of the parts. I know we have the technological capabilities to similarly improve vehicle safety, and I am hoping that my colleagues will show their commitment to improving the recall process with an ``aye'' vote. Now is the time to pass this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. I appreciate my friend from Illinois' response. I would be happy to work with her in the future on this. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody on both sides of the aisle for their hard work in getting this very important thing done. I flew to Ethiopia about 6 months ago, and I flew on a Boeing airliner--there is a lot of talk about Boeing here--but I didn't fly on an Airbus. What that represented to me was a lot of jobs that Boeing provides to people, but a lot of jobs in my district of small suppliers that supply to Boeing. I think that is something that has been lost in this whole debate. There has been a lot of negativity, a lot of negative talk. I want to tell you about something positive, and that is the thousands of people who work in my district who don't have to worry about getting a pink slip tomorrow or the next day because they know that their manufacturing job is secure because of our future and our powerful ability to export around the globe. While I know this has been a controversial process and I have respect for everybody on all sides of this issue, I would beg my colleagues, let's move forward in a bipartisan way. Let's reauthorize Ex-Im Bank, and let's go ahead and move ahead with the business of the American people.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his hard work. I would remind the previous speaker that this is actually a Republican-led discharge petition for Ex-Im Bank. We could have avoided this. None of us celebrate being here right now as Republicans. But the time to deal with the issue of Ex-Im Bank was on the committee. Unfortunately, this could have gone through the committee, this could have been voted on in committee, and it could have come to the floor in what people would consider a more regular order way than this. However, that didn't have the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, my district is the 16th District of Illinois, and I will tell you what, they are not worried about discharge petitions and things when people talk about regular order and internal politics and what is going on here. What they care about is the fact that it is a heavy manufacturing district, and they want to be able to go to work tomorrow. They are worried because people live with the threat of pink slips, and many people actually get pink slips. Unfortunately, in July, the charter for Ex-Im Bank expired, which put a lot of the manufacturing suppliers of the aerospace industry at a disadvantage in my district compared with those that supply to Airbus and other companies around the world. Pride in our exports and pride in our manufacturing is something that we should have pride in, and we should fight beyond what it means for a party label or beyond what it means for floor politics. Mr. Speaker, the opponents of reauthorization live in a world where the politics of purity trumps the realism of today and of the economics. Here is the reality: in my district, thousands of jobs, millions of dollars of exports, and many, many people rely on this to be reauthorized. Mr. Speaker, I know this is not easy, as Republicans, to do this, but it is the right thing to do. So I stand and I ask my colleagues on the Republican and the Democrat side of the aisle to put partisanship aside, to do the right thing, and to discharge this resolution.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I had no intention of coming to the floor and actually speaking this morning--I have a committee hearing, in fact--until I saw the news. Now, let me paint a picture just briefly. Every day there are men, women, and children that live in a nation called Syria that wonder if the next barrel bomb is going to come and drop in their neighborhood. Now, this isn't a barrel bomb targeted, by the way, at any real opposition. It is targeted at inflicting the maximum amount of pain on innocent civilians so that a brutal dictator by the name of Bashar al- Assad can ruthlessly, heartlessly keep power for himself in a country that does not want him. We know that Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. Young kids were choking and gasping for air, knowing that this was their last breath and knowing that their dreams of becoming a doctor, a police officer, maybe a teacher was cut short by this ruthless, heartless man, Bashar al-Assad. You know, Mr. Speaker, the President said a few years ago, almost divisively, that the opposition to Bashar al-Assad is just a bunch of doctors, lawyers, and pharmacists, as if that were a bad thing. I believe that a bunch of doctors, lawyers, and pharmacists in charge of Syria today would be a very good thing. Mr. Speaker, about 2 weeks ago I stood in this Chamber and gave just a 1-minute address and said: Let me be clear. There is one reason and one reason only that Russia finds itself in the Middle East and one reason and one reason only that Russia finds itself in Syria, and that one reason is to prop up this brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad. Now, let me remind people that ISIS would not exist in Syria had it not been for Bashar al-Assad brutally cracking down on the opposition, the peaceful opposition of his own people, but today we see that ISIS calls Syria home and we find ourselves engaged--albeit halfheartedly-- in a war against ISIS because of this brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad. I stood in this Chamber and warned that the reason Russia is there is to prop him up. Now, I told you that this morning I had no intention of coming onto the floor, Mr. Speaker, except this morning I saw the news that Russia has begun airstrikes in the Middle East. Now, if they were striking against ISIS, some could maybe argue that, hey, this is an opportunity to unite a world coalition. But it appears that, actually, the Russians have struck the doctors, lawyers, and pharmacists that are the loyal opposition for a free Syria against Bashar al-Assad. This is not a Russia interested in defeating ISIS for the sake of the peace of the world. This is a Russia interested in rebuilding the Soviet empire and propping up their dictators in the Middle East, regardless of that dictator having killed a quarter million of his own people. This is not a choice between Bashar al-Assad or ISIS. Mr. Speaker, to defeat ISIS, you must defeat Bashar al-Assad. The two choices are not separate. They are one and the same. Sometimes in my party's Presidential debate I hear candidates, one or two in particular, that say Assad is our best choice in the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, if you would allow me, as a Christian, to say, as a follower of Jesus myself, no Jesus Christ I follow would call a man who brutally murders 250,000, at least, of his own people, especially women and children--no Christ I follow would call that man an ally or a friend in any way. This is not a choice that is just one layer deep. This is a complicated situation in the Middle East that must be handled with American leadership. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the President sees this as an opportunity to reassert America's role in the Middle East. It doesn't mean he has to send 300,000 troops back into the Middle East. Not a single person I have heard on either side of the aisle has suggested even once another 300,000 troops in the Middle East. What is being suggested is that, in the absence of American leadership, chaos, violence, death, and poverty follow suit. What we are seeing in the Middle East is a lack of American leadership and a situation spun out of control. Mr. Speaker, I know George W. Bush has taken his licks for his policy in the Middle East, but at the end of the George W. Bush administration, if you looked at the Middle East then compared to the Middle East today, it is no comparison. Mr. Speaker, I hope I wake up tomorrow and hear on the news that President Obama has said that America will reassert its leadership in the Middle East, but I won't hold my breath.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joliet Junior College and the launch of their Operations Engineering and Technician (OET) Program. In today's workforce and economic environment, being career ready is more important than ever. With the number of retirees increasing almost daily, companies and employers are searching for talented individuals who can hit the ground running on day one in their new roles. The skills students will learn and develop in OET are first class and as a result, the Joliet Junior College OET program will ensure graduates from the program will spur competition, productivity, and ingenuity in the next generation of workers. Programs like OET and similar technical education programs are vital to leading our economy and our workforce into the future. I have witnessed firsthand the quality education that Joliet Junior College provides my constituents and our surrounding communities, and I am proud to represent many of these wonderful individuals in Congress. On behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our deepest thanks to the Joliet Junior College for their commendable service and constant dedication to higher education.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I didn't intend to speak today, but I just wanted to remind the American people, as I hear that the United States is about to enter talks with Russia over their presence in the Middle East, Russia is there for one reason. They are there to prop up a man named Bashar al-Assad, who has killed a quarter million of his own people. Many of those people that Bashar al-Assad has killed include women and children. These children may look different or speak a different language, in some cases, than in the United States, but these are children with the same dreams as many American children. They may want to grow up to be police officers or teachers or doctors or pharmacists or work on the family farm and raise a family. These are young lives that have been snuffed out by the barrel bombs of this evil dictator. As we wrestle with the failures in the Middle East and what to do with it, let me remind the American people that the choice is not between ISIS or Assad, but the choice is if you want to destroy ISIS, you must destroy Bashar al-Assad.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the first question is: Does Iran deserve the right to be trusted? If the answer to that is yes, then I would ask how. Tell me how Iran has earned this right to be trusted. If the answer is no, then obviously, you would have to verify if you don't trust. If you actually look at the verification in this deal, in many cases, we are finding out from these secret agreements that it is actually Iran verifying for themselves that, in fact, they are going to be nuclear free. I am a veteran of Iraq, and one of the things that I think is largely forgotten in this debate, even though it has been mentioned a few times, is Iraq is responsible for the death of hundreds if not thousands of American soldiers, both directly and indirectly, through the explosive foreign penetrators they send to Iraq to kill American troops. The other thing is, Iran in this deal, there is all this talk about Iran cheating, and we know it is in the DNA of Iran to cheat anyway. They don't even need to cheat. They can follow this deal to the T and become a zero-time breakout nuclear state. You don't even need to have nuclear weapons to have the same kind of power if you are a zero-time breakout nuclear state. You just need to have the threat to marry a nuclear weapon to an intercontinental ballistic missile--which, by the way, we give Iran the right to have in year eight, ICBMs married up to the tip of a nuclear weapon. In 5 years, by the way, Iran can now take weapons from Russia, Europe--frankly, the United States if we wanted to sell it to them-- because we lift the arms embargo against them. South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have asked us for the right to enrich or reprocess uranium--friends of the United States--and we told them no because of our dedication to keeping nuclear weapons out of the wrong hands. So we denied our best friends the right to enrich uranium, and we are getting ready to give it to our worst enemy. This deal will, in effect, end the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty for the world, because we can never deny anybody the right to enrich uranium in the future. With that, I urge the rejection of this deal.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Northern Illinois University Supermileage team on their recent success at the 36th Annual SAE Supermileage Competition in Marshall, Michigan. Over the course of two days in June, engineering and technology students from around the world completed the challenge of designing and constructing a single-person, fuel-efficient vehicle. The Northern Illinois vehicle, called the Huskie Rocket, was able to reach a fuel efficiency of 1,057 miles per gallon, placing the Northern Illinois Supermileage team third in the world, and second in the United States. Since 2010, the NIU Supermileage team, led by faculty advisor Dr. David Schroeder, has consistently placed in the top ten at the annual SAE Supermileage Competition. This year's impressive showing included the hard work of ten NIU students, including Supermileage team captain Lindsey Dodis, Kevin Kuebrich, Christian McAdoo, Kyle McNamara, Russell Fordyce, Andrew Hagel, Adam Detrick, Aaron McKeown, Tom Swanberg, and Saajan Patel. All the students, faculty, and staff that contributed to the success of the Supermileage team and their Huskie Rocket should be commended for their hard work and dedication to applying what they have learned from the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at the Supermileage Competition. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our sincere congratulations for the hard work of the Northern Illinois University Supermileage team. I look forward to seeing what these bright and dedicated students accomplish in the future.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue for, unfortunately, the long time that we have been having to deal with this. I am surprised. We watch the news. We see what is happening overseas and from afar, and we see the human tragedy occurring; yet we are here debating an isolationism resolution to withdraw all military actions from the Middle East at a time when we see utter human tragedies. This is not the time, in fact, to halt military operations. I would like to speak out quickly on an issue that I think underlines this whole debate. There are some that believe that if our foreign policy were simply nicer, if our foreign policy were more accommodating or less focused on military power, then the world and, more importantly, our enemies would suddenly view America in a much different light, or that the problems that we are facing today, we wouldn't be facing them at all. This is a view of pacificism or disengagement in the world, and it represents at best a naive world view, and I think it is certainly an illusion. Ironically, as we debate the merits of this resolution, we have a case study in the illusion of pacifism or disengagement. The President laid down a red line against Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and, in fact, the Russians supposedly gave the President an off-ramp in which he was able to exit and allow Bashar al-Assad to simply give up his chemical weapons. When we saw that nicer new engagement by the United States, we did not see a peaceful Bashar al-Assad emerge realizing that he had simply misunderstood the United States. We saw the same brutal dictator that murdered his own people continued to be brutal and murderous. Before we withdrew troops completely from Iraq, many implored the President to leave a residual force. We didn't do it, and we have now the next iteration of al Qaeda, named ISIS. Now, that may be a bit of an oversimplification, but it is, in essence, what we see. I think it is fine to have a debate about AUMF in this Chamber, and we should. What the President gave us was an AUMF that not only limited his ability to fight ISIS, but limited the ability of the next President of the United States to fight and destroy ISIS. I personally won't be a party to tying the President's hands. Mr. Speaker, I was in Iraq just a few months ago, and I saw the human tragedy that occurred. I stood in the U.N. refugee camp and had a little girl come up to me and explain through a translator how her parents were killed by ISIS and how she ran away fleeing for security, and I realized the important role that the United States of America plays, the unfortunate burden that we must bear for world security. Mr. Speaker, we either stand up and fight ISIS now, or we sit on our knees and cower before them later.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I remember a few years ago visiting Israel, standing in the Golan Heights and looking to the border of Syria. At this time, our guide began talking about the peaceful protests in Syria, the beginning of an era of discontent. As I looked into the seemingly peaceful area, I never imagined the carnage that was to come: children who on that day attended school, filled with hope for the future and with dreams of becoming a businessman, a policeman, an architect, or any of the host of things building in the minds of such a young person at that age; children and parents who did not know that in a few short years, their lives would be cut down by a ruthless dictator, bent on keeping power at all cost. As the peaceful protests built in strength, Bashar al-Assad responded in violence. And so began what history will likely judge to be the start of among the most brutal times in Middle East modern history. Bashar-al Assad began using barrel bombs indiscriminately against innocent people and infamously gassed thousands who struggled to get that last breath of life, only to choke to death, completely aware that that breath would be their last. As family members died, others joined a group later dubbed the Free Syrian Army, a group the President referred to as a bunch of pharmacists, lawyers, and businessmen, all standing up to reclaim what was theirs rightfully, which was a free Syria. And they fight bravely for a free Syria today. Through the carnage of this terrible war, a more nefarious group began to assemble, a group not concerned with human carnage but inspired by it; a group not fighting to protect life but fighting to cut it down; and a group not inspired by freedom of religion but inspired by a hollow and a shallow world view. The group today is now known as ISIS. Mr. Speaker, before the world paid any attention, this group occupied not just parts of Syria, but also Fallujah, an area fought with American blood and treasure to bring peace and stability to the people of Iraq. The border of Syria and Iraq was torn down, and the world continued to sleep. I called for America to lead airstrikes against this fledgling group at that time numbering in the low four figures. The reaction I received was not unexpected: people angry that I was interested in starting ``Iraq War III.'' Yet as this cancer continued to grow, the carnage became worse, and today we find ourselves engaged in limited action against a group growing in numbers faster than they are being dispatched by our airplanes. Americans feel saddened that the areas that our brave military members fought so hard to win was being thrown away to political expedience, and I am one of those people. I spent a little bit of time in Iraq, on behalf of the United States Air Force, flying airplanes, and I just saw a week ago or a few days ago that Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, where we saw so much success in the Sunni awakening, has fallen to ISIS. Now, by the way, Anbar and Ramadi serve as a transportation center for getting goods from Jordan and Syria into Baghdad and are resupply routes for ISIS. So we are seeing not overmuch success in Iraq. But lest we think this fight is limited to just Iraq, all we have to do is look all over the world and all over the Middle East and see ISIS' influence, from folks arrested near my district in the United States attempting to join and support ISIS, to the problems we see in Lebanon and in Saudi Arabia, and as we see ISIS grow and develop in Libya. This is something that, Mr. Speaker, the President has got to get a control on and reassert American leadership. We also see that these terrorist groups, these jihadist groups, are coming under the umbrella of ISIS, whether it is al Shabaab, Boko Haram, or al Qaeda in Yemen, or we see the Taliban beginning to join under this supposedly successful group. What is it we need to do to push them back? In Iraq, I believe we need to use the number of troops and the amount of military force necessary to destroy ISIS and not just necessary to follow the President's promise of no troops on the ground. I don't think we need another 200,000 troops in Iraq, and I haven't heard a single person actually ever suggest that, but we need to use what is necessary to push this back. By the way, the American military is fierce and desperate to do what needs to be done, and they are ready to do what the American people and the President calls on. Lastly, ISIS must be destroyed in Syria; and you can not destroy ISIS in Syria without destroying the incubator of ISIS, who is the evil dictator, Bashar al Assad. There are negotiations in progress now, but until the Syrian people know that the American people stand behind them through a no-fly zone and other means, ISIS will not be destroyed in Syria until that point. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the President to stand up.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great American: Anthony ``Tony'' Rossi. Tony was born in Italy and his family immigrated to the United States when he was young. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and graduated from Demarest High School. Throughout his life he answered the call to serve; beginning in World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps and served as a bombardier. During the war, he was captured and held as a Prisoner of War in Germany for 18 months. His family says those experiences were transformational. When Tony returned home to Hoboken, his approach was: Keep your problems in perspective; accept each day as a blessing; and treasure your family and friends. During the Korean War, Tony again answered the call to serve and, following the conflict, continued a career in the Air Force in Japan, England, and throughout the United States. After retirement from the Air Force, Tony worked for General Electric for 16 years and later retired to Florida in 1987. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Eileen Rossi; son, Michael (Marsha) Rossi; daughter Renee (Robert) Faiks; and son, Charles Rossi; 6 grandchildren: Chris (Laura) Rossi, Karen (Rich) Rossi Pickup, Preston (Kristi) Faiks, Grant (Kim) Faiks, Gillian and William Rossi; and 6 great grandchildren: Audrey and Lillian Faiks, Jason and Sarah Faiks, Daniela Rossi, Jack Pickup. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and it is a great honor to recognize and celebrate Tony's honorable service to our country and reflect on his life. In June, our country will honor his service with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. God bless Tony Rossi, his family, and the United States of America.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Keith Cain, City of Princeton Mayor, and to recognize his years of dedication and honorable service to the city of Princeton, Bureau County, and the State of Illinois. Mayor Cain served as Princeton's Mayor since 1999--ushering in a new City Manager Form of government, leading to more efficiency and economic development. Mayor Cain's leadership in transforming a Brownfield site into Festival 56--the largest professional theater festival in the State of Illinois--has been instrumental in strengthening city tourism and retail development. These are just a couple examples of how Mayor Cain has guided the city to new heights and was a constant comforting presence to the residents he so honorably served. Though Mr. Cain is retiring from the position of Mayor--I know he will continue to serve his community and be a constant presence and a trusted confident to those seeking his advice. Mr. Cain has been an invaluable source of information to my office on the issues facing the residents of Princeton and the City as a whole. While Mr. Cain is retiring from his post, I know he will continue to work and serve the community that he loves so much and will always lend a helping hand when needed. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our deepest thanks to Keith Cain for his commendable service and dedication.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sara McDonald, who was named Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association on March 5, 2015. Elementary school represents a vital moment in a child's education, and hardworking, dedicated educators, like Sara McDonald, are crucial to molding curious students into life-long learners. As principal of Northview Elementary School, in Peru, Illinois, Mrs. McDonald has continually demonstrated her passion for education and her commitment to serving students. She serves not only as a leader of her team of teachers, administrators, and support staff, but also an example of the importance of continual education and self-improvement. Mrs. McDonald has continued her education with additional training on the Kindergarten Development Survey (KIDS), Comprehensive Literacy Model (CLM), and the Danielson Model on Teacher Evaluations, in addition to serving as the Bi-lingual Coordinator and primary grant writer for her school. As the son of a public school teacher, I know the importance of having passionate and creative teachers in the classroom who are able to educate the next generation of Americans. For that reason, I am honored to join with the nearly 5,000 principals and education leaders of the Illinois Principals Association and the students and staff of Northview Elementary to honor Mrs. McDonald's many accomplishments, and to congratulate her on being named Elementary School Principal of the Year. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our sincere thanks for all of the hard work Mrs. McDonald has done for our students and the Peru community. I congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sheriff Thomas J. Templeton who was recently elected President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association and will be sworn in to his new position on March 30, 2015. Sheriff Templeton has served his community for decades, beginning his service at the LaSalle County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy in 1973 following his service in the United States Air Force. He was named the Illinois State Bar Association's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in both 1996 and 2005. Throughout his career, Tom's exemplary service has been recognized by the Ottawa Jaycees, the DEA, and the Police Hall of Fame, among many others. In addition, Sheriff Templeton has taken it upon himself to educate the next generation of Illinois law enforcement, both as an instructor at the Illinois Valley Law Enforcement Commission and Illinois Valley Community College. It is not surprising given Sheriff Templeton's admirable and dedicated years of service that he would be selected by over one hundred of his peers to serve as the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association. Founded in 1928, this non-profit was designed to improve communication and cooperation among Sheriffs, and has since expanded to offer extensive professional training and development for all the Sheriffs and their teams serving throughout Illinois. Today, I am honored to join with the LaSalle County Sheriff's Department, the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, and all of Tom's family and friends in expressing my sincere thanks for the hard work and dedication Sheriff Templeton has shown throughout his long career in public service. Without question, to be chosen by his equally accomplished and committed peers in the Illinois Sheriffs' Association speaks volumes about Tom's personal character, passion for serving his community, and ability to lead. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our sincere thanks for all of the work Sheriff Templeton and all the members of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association have done to keep our families and communities safe. I congratulate Sheriff Thomas Templeton on his well-deserved leadership position.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address Russia and its aggression in Ukraine. Ukraine is ultimately a story of a ruler whose goal is to stifle opposition and turn away from a failing economy, corruption, and authoritarianism in his own country by creating the semblance of economic stability and popular support for his rule. The United States and its allies must strive to ensure that the story of oppression and authoritarianism is not allowed to continue. Putin is aiming to distract the focus of the West from his regime and his failing economy in Russia by directing the Russian people to an external enemy which has the potential to become a model of Western democracy, and that country is Ukraine. Just over a year ago, not even a week after the end of the Sochi Olympics which President Putin staged for a record $50 billion to boost his popularity in Russia and in the world, Putin quickly shed the garb of a successful master of ceremonies and sent his troops to reclaim and illegally annex Crimea, then trump up a referendum in an attempt to justify this annexation. With his immediate mobilization of the Russian military to try to tamp down calls for democracy in Ukraine, Putin planned to send a signal to Russian citizens and the world that he remained popular and strong in the face of growing calls from protesters in Ukraine for pro- Russian President Yanukovych to step down. But Putin's goal to maintain his popularity through military force failed. Although Putin temporarily conjured up nationalist sentiment in Russia with his annexation of Ukraine, polls show that the majority of Russian citizens oppose sending Russian troops to fight in Ukraine, diminishing his popularity at home. Meanwhile, Putin continued to ignore, with impunity, calls by the United States and Europe to reverse the illegal annexation of Crimea and remove Russian military forces. Not only did Putin refuse to withdraw forces from those countries or reverse Crimea's annexation, he armed pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine with Russian surface-to-air missiles, which downed a civilian airliner and killed nearly 300 passengers and crew, to the horror of the United States and Western Europe, just after the Sochi Olympics. Less than 3 months ago on this floor, in early December 2014, I underlined my deep concerns, shared by my constituents, about Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. I appreciate your overwhelming support of H. Res. 758 condemning Russian aggression as a violation of international law and a breach of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. However, as could be expected, Putin did not listen to us or our allies. Just a month later, in January of 2015, Russian troops reengaged with Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region of Ukraine, breaking the cease-fire protocol signed in Minsk in September of 2014. Although the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany agreed to reinstate a cease-fire on February 12 of this year, Russian forces violated the agreement within days, attacking a railway hub in Ukraine and threatening other strategic cities. Russia's inability to honor a cease-fire underlines the importance of expanding the scope of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of lethal military weapons. Putin and his advisers have consistently denied that economic sanctions have hurt Russia, adding that the drop in the price of oil has resulted in plunging Russia's GDP and lowering the standard of living in Russia. In addition to suffering economically, Russians have enjoyed no freedom of expression under Putin's rule. Such denial of basic human freedoms await the citizens of Ukraine should Russian aggression continue. The latest travesty proving Putin's stifling of dissent to his authoritarian rule is the ``unexplained'' gunning down of prominent and popular opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in front of the Kremlin just 36 hours before a rally he had planned to lead to protest corruption and direct military involvement in Ukraine. Not only was Nemtsov a threat to Putin, he was fearless. He exposed the truth of Putin's rule, his corrupt practices, and the fraudulent elections he held in 2011 and 2012 that allowed him to return to the presidency. Former Prime Minister Kasyanov stated that there was only one explanation for the murder: ``He was shot for telling the truth.'' The events over the past year have made clear our path forward. We must convince the administration to change U.S. policy toward Russia. Putin's aggression in Ukraine and violation of the most recent cease- fire are linked to the assassination and are directing people's attention away from Russian corruption and authoritarianism and toward an external threat of democracy. Mr. Speaker, the United States must work to restore the country's territorial integrity and ensure Russian military forces are removed from sovereign nations. We must convince our President that Putin's continuation of a war in Ukraine is a desperate attempt to divert attention. I also call on Russia to release Nadiya Savchenko, the Ukrainian Air Force pilot who remains a prisoner in Russia. And I call on the administration and Congress to fund lethal military assistance to the Ukrainian Government.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on January 12, 2015 I missed recorded votes #17-19. I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were present. On Roll Call #17, I would have voted YEA (Passage of H.R. 203). On Roll Call #18, I would have voted YEA (Passage of H.R. 33). On Roll Call #19, I would have voted YEA (Approval of the Journal).

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Northern Illinois University from my district for its proactive leadership in creating safe, supportive living-learning communities by protecting all students from sexual assaults. I commend NIU President Doug Baker for convening a Task Force on the Violence Against Women Act to bring together students, faculty, staff, administrators, public safety officials, and the DeKalb community on this important issue. To illustrate this collaboration, I would like to insert a student perspective into the Record offered by the President of NIU's Student Association. Their hard work resulted in the Task Force Report which contains recommendations that enhance NIU's efforts in the prevention of sexual assault, provide support for sexual assault victims and survivors, and strengthen policies and processes related to student conduct and reporting. I am proud to say NIU is among the first universities in the nation to conduct such a comprehensive and public review. My constituents' health and safety is a top priority. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hard work of NIU's Task Force and look forward to continuing to work with NIU on our shared commitment to campus safety. Student Perspective One of the most memorable days in a parent's life is the one in which they send their child off to college. Parents can only hope the well-being of their child is in good hands. It is our duty as decision makers in the university community to make sure we have a safe environment for our students. This is why as President of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Student Association, I reached out to groups across campus, from the NIU Police to our Health Enhancement Department, to collaborate on a White House-initiated campaign called ``It's On Us''. The It's On Us campaign mobilizes students and advocates for their awareness of responses to and prevention of campus sexual assaults, a pressing issue facing our nation today. I commend everyone involved with the campaign for making a positive change to our campus culture. It is exceedingly important to note this student-led movement is the bottom-up companion to a top-down approach by the university administration. I recognize and applaud the efforts of NIU President Doug Baker and his administration for their proactive approach to addressing sexual assaults on campus, embodied in the work of the Presidential Task Force on Violence Against Women Act. This task force and the report created from it will play a crucial role in the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and community members. It makes me a proud student to see NIU as one of the national leaders paving the way on such significant issues. Judging by the energy felt around campus, I believe my fellow students agree. Joe Frascello, President, Student Association, Northern Illinois University.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for yielding the time. Thanks to the committee and the leadership for bringing this very important issue forward.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Diana Rudeen who was elected President of the Department of Illinois' Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars on June 14, 2014. Diana joined the Ladies Auxiliary VFW in 1992 to honor her father, James Contizano, who served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Over the course of more than twenty years of service to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW, Diana has served as the Junior Vice President and President of the Clifford E. John Post in Loves Park, Illinois. As a veteran, I especially appreciate Diana's special commitment to helping veterans coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury, addiction, and homelessness. As her special project she has chosen the Rosecrance Treatment Center in Rockford, Illinois, which provides treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders, including PTSD, and gives veterans of the U.S. armed forces priority admission status. I am incredibly proud to represent men and women, like Diana, who selflessly serve our nation's veterans and their families. Today, I am honored to join with the members of the Clifford E. Johnson VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Post to honor Diana's many accomplishments and her election as President. Over 21,000 women are members of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW in Illinois and it is a testament to Diana's character and commitment to be chosen as their leader. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 16th District of Illinois, I wish to express our sincere thanks for all of the hard work Diana and all the women of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW have done for our veterans and our community and to congratulate Diana Rudeen on her well-deserved leadership position.