Daniel Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, before I wrap up on the bill we are debating right now, I just wanted to thank Chairman Smith for his work on this, along with Ranking Member Johnson. Working together, we were able to get these bills done here on the floor tonight. I know that tomorrow we will have a little bit more of a contentious debate on a bill coming out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee; but I just wanted to, again, commend the chairman and Ranking Member Johnson for our work together on these bills. We know there are important things that we can get done and we need to get done and will be very helpful to our Nation, and I am glad that we were able to do those things on these bills that we have brought forward here tonight, a good bipartisan mix of bills showing bipartisan cooperation. Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by asking my colleagues to support H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act. I want to thank Mr. Hultgren and Mr. Perlmutter for their work on this bill. I think there are many things that we can't even see right now that will come out of this, but I am certain that our national labs and the great value that they are to our Nation will continue, and this will allow them to continue to not only do their research, but to do an even better job of producing new technologies that will be a great benefit to all of us. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Carr, founder of the Give Something Back Foundation. Bob Carr is a true American success story. Mr. Carr grew up in the countryside near Lockport, Illinois. The son of a waitress who worked nights to support the family, Mr. Carr graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science. He now is the President and CEO for Heartland Payment Systems, the fifth largest payment processor in the United States. Mr. Carr has received numerous industry accolades including being named Entrepreneur of the Year twice by Ernst and Young and receiving the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the bankcard industry. In 2003, Bob Carr founded the Give Something Back Foundation to help financially disadvantaged, academically-oriented students at Lockport Township High School earn a college degree. In addition to awarding scholarships, the foundation also provides students with a mentor and offers guidance to prepare them for college. Since its founding, the Give Something Back Foundation has assisted 54 college graduates and has expanded to include 21 high schools throughout Will County. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great service that Bob Carr and the Give Something Back Foundation have given to the students of Will County, Illinois.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Michael Baker Corporation, an engineering firm which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary on May 1. Founded in 1940 in Rochester, Pennsylvania, the firm's success began with a focus on surveying and civil engineering. Since that time, Baker has added a host of differentiated services including communications, planning, architecture, and environmental consulting to assist its clients' projects. The Michael Baker Corporation has grown to employ more than 5,000 employees in over 90 offices worldwide. Baker has a storied history of completing landmark projects throughout the world. In 1977, Baker engineers designed the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia, at that time the world's longest single span steel arch bridge. Baker's important projects extend internationally and include infrastructure improvements in Afghanistan and a 2,600 mile fiber optic network linking Mexico's major cities with the United States. Baker employees continue to exemplify their core principles of leadership and the development of an employee and client focused company. All Michael Baker employees, from interns to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, take time to engage in the communities they serve. I also have personal experience with the Michael Baker Corporation, having worked as a summer intern on a highway construction project when I was studying engineering in college. Lessons from that internship still help me today as I serve on the Transportation Committee. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great service that the Michael Baker Corporation and its employees have provided for 75 years. May their dedication and work ethic serve as an example to all.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of Duke University's Graduate School, I rise today to honor the Duke men's basketball team and their coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who recently won the NCAA title. The 2015 Duke men's basketball team was led by veteran senior guard Quinn Cook and freshman Chicagoan Jahlil Okafor, who was named ACC Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American selection. Coach K led the team to a 35-4 record and the national title with a hard-fought victory over Wisconsin in the title game. Coach K, a Polish American from Chicago, has won more men's college basketball games than any other coach in history--over 1,000, including 945 wins and five NCAA titles at Duke. And, as all college basketball fans know, there is no place to see a game like Cameron. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the outstanding achievement of the 2015 Duke University men's basketball team and Coach Mike Krzyzewski on winning the 2015 NCAA Tournament championship.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, before I discuss my amendment, I would like to thank Chairman Shuster, Chairman Denham, Ranking Member DeFazio, Ranking Member Capuano, and former Subcommittee Ranking Member Brown for all their hard work and for bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor so early this year. Mr. Chairman, this bill shows us what Congress can do when we work together to build consensus, and yes, compromise--compromise--to get things done to improve our Nation's transportation infrastructure. This bill makes much-needed reforms to Amtrak's business model and the RRIF loan program, which I hope will unlock a potential financing source for the CREATE rail modernization program in northeastern Illinois and help commuter rail agencies make important improvements, such as installing positive train control. I am pleased the bill contains provisions extending Buy America requirements to RRIF projects. I have been mentioning this need since 2009, and I am glad to see that we are codifying these requirements to ensure that this $35 billion loan program is investing our dollars in American materials and American jobs. My amendment today is a small but important addition to this bill. It sharpens the directive in section 211 that requires Amtrak's inspector general to conduct a review of Amtrak's boarding procedures. Section 211 is a good step towards improving the experience of Amtrak riders and the efficiency of Amtrak's operations. This amendment builds on this provision by clarifying that the Amtrak IG should consider the boarding needs of passengers that use mobility devices, including all forms of wheelchairs, as well as passengers with items such as bicycles. This will make sure that the IG's report considers the needs of all its riders, guarantees that Amtrak will focus on complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and harnesses a potential revenue stream from bicyclists and other users of nonmotorized transport. Right now, Amtrak uses patchwork procedures that can make it difficult for an individual using a wheelchair or traveling with a bike to get on and off a train. The Amtrak inspector general issued a report in August of last year that found that only 10 percent of Amtrak stations are fully ADA compliant, which demonstrates the need to not only look at each station's infrastructure, but how each station gets passengers from station to platform to train. We need to make sure that Amtrak is serving all of its customers to the best of its abilities and in accordance with the law. Mr. Chairman, similar difficulties exist for other forms of transportation, such as bicycles. Only 38 percent of Amtrak lines provide baggage service for bicycles, while only 18 percent of lines even allow for roll-on bicycle service that are complemented by ad hoc policies at many of the stations on these lines. Mobility is important to reducing congestion, and if we improve the boarding process, we improve quality of service and help encourage ridership. This amendment is supported by Easter Seals, People for Bikes, the United Spinal Association, the League of American Bicyclists, AARP, the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the National Disabilities Rights Network, Transportation for America, and the Adventure Cycling Association. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank, again, Chairman Shuster for his work and Ranking Member DeFazio. This is what we need to be doing is coming together and working these things out. There is so much that America needs done, especially when it comes to transportation infrastructure. I want to thank the chairman for his great work in leading this committee. We have a lot of other issues to work on, other forms of transportation, but this is a good example of what we can do by working together. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support my amendment and support the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Costa for putting this together today. The reason I came to Congress, the reason I ran for Congress, was to get things done. I think that is what all our constituents are expecting us to do. Unfortunately, when I am at home, I am constantly reminded that my constituents are wondering why we don't get more done, what is happening in Washington. When I am shopping at Menards or at Jewel, people come up to me and say: Why can't everyone work together there in Washington? They know that I have been doing that. That is why I am part of the Blue Dog coalition, because we want to bring people together here in Washington--in the House, the Senate--bring everyone together to work out the many, many problems that our Nation has. We just had Mr. Thompson talking about a transportation bill. Everyone talks about the need to fix our transportation infrastructure. We have roads and bridges that are crumbling. Our public transit also has infrastructure that is crumbling. We all need a good transportation system to get wherever we need to go during the day. Our Nation, for the sake of having an efficient economy, needs a good transportation system. We can put people to work immediately fixing our transportation system, yet we haven't been able to come together to solve this problem. That is one thing that we need to do, and it is something I think that we can do. We have just seen all the trouble that we had run into here with the Homeland Security bill, an issue that should be easy. We all want to protect our homeland. We all know the threats that we are facing. And although we may have disagreements on many issues, protecting our Nation is not one of those. Yet, unfortunately, we do run into issues, and we really need to instead focus on what can we work together on and what is possible. We have a divided government now. It used to be that after an election, everyone would come together, look around and say: Okay. This is who is the majority in the House, the majority in the Senate, who is in the White House. What can we agree upon? How can we work together to solve problems? Where can we find our agreement? Instead, we seem to focus on how our party can get control of everything in the next election. Mr. Speaker, this is not the way that the American people want us to work. They want us to come together. Now, some of the previous speakers talked about electoral reform and redistricting reform. Those can certainly help. Those are things that we support and that the Blue Dogs are working to get done. But even before we get those things done, we can work together and accomplish great things here. The American people aren't demanding that of us. They are demanding that we change the way that Washington is working right now. That is what the Blue Dogs are doing. That is the only way we are going to be able to face so many of the problems that we face, including the issue that is really at the heart of the Blue Dogs, has always been, and continues to be: dealing with our fiscal situation. We need to be fiscally responsible. The American people understand this. They know we need to make the tough choices here in Washington to get our fiscal House in order. The Blue Dogs have always led on that. We continue to lead on that, but it is going to take bipartisan cooperation to get that done because we have a divided government. But we need to do it. We need to take care of these issues. The Blue Dogs continue to work on these things. We really need the support of everyone to come together here in Washington and across the country to solve these great problems that we have, that we face. Mr. Speaker, I am sure there are people who may be out there watching this on C-SPAN, and probably a lot of people who are just so happy to finally turn on C-SPAN and hear people talking about working together, not talking about what is wrong with the other side, how I am right and the other side is wrong, but the need to work together. That is what the Blue Dogs are about. That is what it continues to be about, and that is the way that we are going to make America the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth--but a Nation that faces, as we all understand, many issues, many problems, just as our families are facing many issues right now. By working together, we can make our Nation even greater, and only by working together will we get there. I am very happy to join my Blue Dog colleagues here tonight and every day working to help make America a better place to live. So let us all come together, Mr. Speaker, and work on some of these problems. ``Compromise,'' I know, sometimes is a dirty word. You don't have to give up your principles to compromise. Stick to your principles, but compromise. Get done what we can get done, and make this Nation a greater place. I thank my Blue Dog colleagues very much. Thank you, Mr. Costa, for this. We are going to continue to bring the message to the American people and get things done.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Daniel the Prophet School, an exemplary Catholic school in Chicago, Illinois, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Part of the Archdiocese of Chicago school system, St. Daniel offers a quality education to its students and teaches them the core pillars of the Catholic faith. The school's administration believes that parents, students, and teachers share in the process and responsibility of education. Parents and teachers are co-learners with the students and are encouraged to teach through example to provide an environment that encourages growth, communication, and Christian acceptance of all individuals. The collaborative effort of the parents and teachers provides for a supportive and nurturing environment in which students have unlimited growth potential. The school offers many extracurricular activities as well as community-building events. Students can participate in chess club, choir, band, or sports among various other activities. St. Daniel promotes an environmentally friendly lifestyle by offering a recycling program. I commend St. Daniel the Prophet for going above and beyond by expanding their teachings outside the classroom. The hard work of Pastor John Noga and Principal Mary Frances Porod has not gone unnoticed. They are well deserving of praise along with the outstanding teachers and administrative staff who work tirelessly for the benefit of their students. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing St. Daniel the Prophet School and congratulate them as they celebrate their 65th anniversary. May St. Daniel continue to exhibit excellence and create an outstanding learning environment for our future leaders.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy who is retiring from the force after 11 years as Chief of Police. Chief Shaughnessy received his Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University and his Master's Degree in criminal justice from Chicago State University. His first position in law enforcement was with the Illinois State Police and he served with that force for 25 years. During this time Chief Shaughnessy was selected to be Commander of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. With this position, he worked closely with area police chiefs to establish one of the largest and most successful violent crime task forces in the nation. In 2003, Chief Shaughnessy was selected from over 60 qualified candidates to lead the Lemont Police Department. As chief, Kevin Shaughnessy has overseen various programs offered to Lemont residents including Neighborhood Watch, 911 Emergency Cell Phones, Prescription and OTC Drug Disposal, and his personal favorite-- Kops n Kidz Day. Chief Shaughnessy is committed to the concept of community policing and he considers the citizens served as partners in providing meaningful police service. Friends and colleagues of Chief Shaughnessy say that he is a great mentor and friend, and someone who can be depended on. I know this also from my experiences with the chief since I have served as Lemont's representative in the House. He is a true example of a leader and has brought stability to the Lemont Police Department. I know that Chief Shaughnessy will truly be missed for he has greatly contributed to the department. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief Kevin Shaughnessy for his many years of service to his community and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. ``The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular State.''

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I will first enter into the Record a letter from the Illinois Restaurant Association in support of the Save American Workers Act. Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicago, IL, January 7, 2015. Hon. Dan Lipinski, Congressman, Illinois 3rd Congressional District, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Lipinski: I am writing you on behalf of the Illinois Restaurant Association to express my full support of your efforts to restore the traditional definition of full-time employee to 40 hours per week with your sponsorship of H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act of 2015. This legislation will encourage a business environment where employers in the restaurant and hospitality can focus on creating more jobs, expanding their businesses, and contributing to a robust economy. The restaurant and hospitality industry is the largest private sector employer in the state of Illinois, employing over 517,000 people. As President & CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, I represent over 25,000 restaurants operating in the state who have expressed the urgent need to redefine the full-time work week definition of 30-hour-per- week. Because of the Affordable Care Act's arbitrary 30-hour-per- week definition of a full-time employee, restaurants are being forced to restructure their workforce by reducing their employees' hours. Employees are losing the mobility and flexibility in their schedules they normally would enjoy when working at a restaurant. Opportunities are decreasing for young and inexperienced workers to gain entry-level employment and advance into a fulfilling career in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The implications of this issue cannot be overstated. Nationally, restaurants employ over 13.5 million people, and our industry is a major driver of the economic recovery. If Congress does not act to address this issue, thousands of jobs will be lost and businesses will suffer. I encourage you and your colleagues in Congress to pass the Save American Workers Act of 2015, a piece of common sense legislation that will protect jobs and strengthen the American economy. Sincerely, Sam Toia, President & CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Save American Workers Act, which I join the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Young) in introducing again this year. I have not supported and I do not support the repeal of the ACA, but some commonsense changes need to be made. The administration has already acknowledged difficulties in implementing the employer mandate by instituting delays and substantial administrative changes. One problem is that the ACA defines full-time work as 30 hours a week, causing small businesses, local governments, and schools to cut the hours of workers and limit workers' scheduling flexibility. The CBO has confirmed that shifting to a 40-hour full-time definition-- Americans' common understanding of full-time work--would lead to some workers seeing an increase in their take-home pay. Even the President's former senior adviser, David Axelrod, has suggested that the President consider this change. So let's do right by America's part-time workers, family businesses, local governments, and schools. Let's pass this bill and fix this broken part of the ACA.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Spring Avenue Elementary School for receiving the prestigious 2014 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award. In 1982, The Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize public and private schools boasting high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify aspects of thriving American schools in order to replicate their success. I am proud that Spring Avenue Elementary School in La Grange has been honored as one of those exceptional schools. Led by Principal Elizabeth Webb Peterman, the mission of Spring Avenue School is to empower students to pursue their interests and dreams. The teachers support and nurture the students while they work to empower these talented students to achieve their highest potential in every area. Each student at Spring Avenue School feels that they are a valued member of the school community and will be prepared for their future academic and career success. With the help of the community, the faculty and staff work to create a positive difference for each student. The key to Spring Avenue School's success is their goal-based school improvement plan. Their professional development is focused around how to help each and every child advance at the expected rate of improvement and beyond. Together with the community, the faculty is helping create a safe, advanced learning environment. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Spring Avenue Elementary School for this significant achievement and congratulating the staff, parents, students, and community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Seventh Avenue Elementary School for receiving the prestigious 2014 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award. In 1982, The Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize public and private schools boasting high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify aspects of thriving American schools in order to replicate their success. I am proud that Seventh Avenue Elementary School in La Grange has been honored as one of those exceptional schools. Principal Erin Hall is committed to ensuring success for her students. This begins at the start of the school year with fall tours of the school which give students and parents the opportunity to meet their new teachers. Students and teachers develop a mutual respect for one another which continues to develop until the 6th Grade Farewell event in which the community comes together to celebrate the year at an all-school picnic with families in the park. These and other events, such as service learning opportunities during the first few months of school, bring together students across all grades and backgrounds. At Seventh Avenue School teachers are encouraged to use individual student data to create instructional groups in reading and math so that each student's needs are met. Students are pushed to think critically and overcome academic challenges through problem solving. Parents are thanked for their support and presence and encouraged to participate in assemblies, classroom presentations, and parent conferences. Ms. Hall recognizes that the Blue Ribbon award is due to the successes of the staff, students, and parents and would not be possible without any of them. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Seventh Avenue Elementary School for this significant achievement and congratulating the staff, parents, students, and community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ogden Avenue Elementary School for receiving the prestigious 2014 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award. In 1982, the Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize public and private schools boasting high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify aspects of thriving American schools in order to replicate their success. I am proud that Ogden Avenue Elementary School in La Grange has been honored as one of those exceptional schools. Ogden Avenue School's mission statement is ``we build bridges to the future by inspiring one another to succeed.'' Principal Pattii Waldo does an outstanding job perpetuating this motto by encouraging students to help one another and building a foundation of respectful relationships. The school features a nurturing environment with a social-emotional learning curriculum which provides for high academic standards. The school's belief is that social-emotional growth is interwoven into academic learning. Also, partnering with parents and the community are essential to the growth of students and the school as a whole. Ogden Avenue School hosts a cross-grade Buddy program as well as various other programs to enrich students' lives and provide for a better school experience. I commend the school for going above and beyond with their offerings for students and hope that other schools use Ogden Avenue School as an outstanding example to follow. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ogden Avenue Elementary School for this significant achievement and congratulating the staff, parents, students, and community.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Cletus Elementary School, an exemplary Catholic school in La Grange, Illinois, for receiving the prestigious 2014 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award. In 1982, The Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize public and private schools boasting high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify aspects of thriving American schools in order to replicate their success. Only 50 private schools across the country were awarded Blue Ribbons in 2014. Led by Principal Margaret Hayes, the mission of St. Cletus School is ``to focus on faith, family, and future.'' In addition, ``The Catholic formation of students is strengthened through academic excellence. Self-worth and individuality are respected.'' Since September 1953, the school has offered a rigorous and engaging curriculum. The core academic program is supplemented with instruction in art, music, physical education, hands-on science lab activities, technology, and Spanish classes. This prestigious elementary school offers an integrated curriculum to motivate students to understand the connection between the classroom and the student's call to faith. St Cletus School has made a rigorous effort to improve student performance, while also creating a strong partnership between parents and teachers. I am delighted that the exemplary work of the teachers and support staff at St. Cletus School, as well as that of the parents and students, has been acknowledged on a national stage. I also want to congratulate and acknowledge the work of the priests of St. Cletus Parish, Pastor Bob Clark and Associate Pastors Ken Baker and Edgar Rodriguez. Please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of St. Cletus School. Their pursuit of academic excellence is inspiring, and I hope that their success can be replicated across the nation.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kathleen Therese Meany who will retire from her position as President of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. Commissioner Meany is a former professor of Political Science. She taught at Harold Washington College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Roosevelt University and her Master's Degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Commissioner Meany was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1990 and served as Vice President for 16 years. Her eight fellow Commissioners then unanimously elected her to serve as President in January 2013. She also serves as Chairman of the Ethics Committee and the Pension, Human Resources and Civil Service Committee, as well as Vice Chairman for the Federal Legislation Committee, the Finance Committee and the Maintenance and Operations Committee. One of her accomplishments on the MWRD Board was the introduction of a program to collect and properly dispose of household hazardous waste, which had previously been discharged indiscriminately into the sewage system. I commend Commissioner Meany for always looking out for the best interests of the people she represents and hope that future commissioners will look to her as a fine example. Commissioner Meany has made it her duty to keep the communities of the Chicago area connected to the MWRD's operations. She is truly a dedicated public official and it is only appropriate that the Kathleen Therese Meany Presidential Garden was dedicated to her on June 20th in Cicero, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Commissioner Meany for all she has done for the Chicago area and wish her all the best as she moves forward after retiring from the Board.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Salvatore Ferrara II who passed away on November 27, 2014. Salvatore attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park, IL and later served on the school's Board of Trustees. He then went on to graduate from Loyola University in New Orleans. Salvatore joined his father's company, Ferrara Pan Candy Company, in the mid-1970s and climbed the ranks to CEO. According to Salvatore's father, Nello, Salvatore is the inspiration behind the Lemonheads candy because Nello joked that he was born with a lemon-shaped head. The company is now located in Oakbrook Terrace and is known as Ferrara Candy Company. During his time as CEO, Salvatore managed the merger with Farley's & Sathers Candy Company in 2012 and oversaw a period of steady growth in which the company expanded to over 500 employees. Salvatore is survived by his wife, Andrea, and is the father of five children as well as a grandfather of three. In his free time, his daughter says he liked to drive his red Ferrari and go out on his boat named Lemonhead. When Salvatore was diagnosed with cancer, he became a strong advocate for encouraging others to become educated and get doctor checkups. I admire him for his courage as he battled his cancer and commend him for empowering others. Salvatore's visitation and funeral Mass were held on December 1st at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chicago, IL. As his family grieves through this difficult time, I hope Mr. Ferrara's family finds comfort in knowing that he is with God now and is no longer in any pain. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the inspiring life of Salvatore Ferrara II and extending condolences to his family.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Nazareth Academy Roadrunners football team. On November 29th, Nazareth Academy captured their first Class 6A state football championship with a 26-7 victory over Lemont High School in Champaign, IL. I want to congratulate all of the players, coaches, trainers, and parents, and commend them on their hard work and on the dedication they have shown to their team, their school, and their community. I also want to congratulate Coach Tim Racki and the principal of Nazareth Academy, Deborah Tracy, for helping lead these young men to victory. In the championship game, Nolan Dean rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and Julian Love added another rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Kevin Jackson also had a touchdown catch from quarterback Jonah Beauduy. The defense held Lemont to only one first quarter touchdown and had three interceptions of quarterback Ryan Dawson, two by Matthew Flach. The victory completed an undefeated 14-0 season for the Roadrunners. With this championship, Tim Racki became the first coach in the state of Illinois to win titles with two different schools, having won four previously as coach of Driscoll Catholic High School. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Nazareth Academy Roadrunners football team and to congratulate them on their IHSA Class 6A State Championship. And I wish each player continued success as he moves forward.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub for his more than four decades of service dedicated to protecting and serving our nation and our communities. At the end of this year, Holub will be retiring as Chief of Police. Chief Holub is a native of Berwyn, Illinois, and attended Morton West High School, graduating in 1970. From there he joined the Army and served with the Official Ceremonial Unit and Escort to the U.S. President, which is known as the Old Guard because it is the oldest active duty regiment in the Army. After serving his country, Holub returned to serve his community and joined the Stickney, IL Police Department in 1974. He spent the next twenty years with the Stickney Police Department, rising through the ranks to become Chief of Police. He subsequently served as Chief of Police for the Village of Palos Park, IL, and as the Chief of Police for the Village of River Forest, IL, before coming to La Grange. Chief Holub has highly valued education throughout his career. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Lewis University in Romeoville, IL, as well as his Master of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. While Chief of Police, Holub continued to serve for 15 years as a member of the adjunct faculty of Triton College in River Grove, IL, teaching courses to undergraduate students in criminal justice. Chief Holub always challenged his officers to get their degrees so that they could move forward, as his mantra has always been ``to always be prepared for the next level.'' In addition to being Chief of Police, Michael Holub has always shown a deep commitment to his community in many other ways. He is a fixture at community events and is active with the American Legion, always helping with charity events and aiding the men and women in our armed forces as well as fellow veterans. Today I express my admiration for Chief Michael Holub's lifelong dedication to our nation and our communities. I ask my colleague to join me in honoring his lifetime of service and wish him the best in his retirement.