Darin LaHood

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Conscience Protection Act, and I would like to thank my colleague from Tennessee for her work on this important issue. Health care is about saving life, not taking life. Medical professionals should not be forced to violate their deeply held convictions and participate in abortion procedures based on a government mandate. In this Nation, universities and even churches are being forced to cover abortion through their insurance plans. These mandates trample on religious freedom. This bill, which I support here today, would stop the Federal Government and State and local governments from penalizing, retaliating, or discriminating against a healthcare provider if that provider chooses to not participate in abortion services. I am the proud father of three boys with my wife Kristen, and I am also a practicing Catholic. I stand here today in defense of the unborn and religious freedom. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, regardless of their faith or their views on abortion, to understand and realize that this form of government coercion is immoral. We must protect Americans' rights to follow their conscience, and I urge my colleagues to support this necessary legislation.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor President J. David Arnold for his service to the state of Illinois, as well as to his students and staff during his tenure as President of Eureka College. Dr. Arnold has served as the President of Eureka College for eleven years. His dedication to the school's vision, ``An intentional sequence of learning, service, and leadership,'' has inspired each one of his 1,676 graduating students to achieve their academic dreams. Always eager to facilitate educational discussions, Dr. Arnold created the Reagan Forward initiative and the Ronald W. Reagan Society, which celebrates the legacy of President Ronald Reagan, a graduate of Eureka College, and encourages his vision of American opportunity. Dr. Arnold also created over thirty endowed scholarships to reward students for their hard work and dedication to their studies. The Growth and Integrity strategic plan that Dr. Arnold established achieved record enrollment in 2010, maintained a balanced budget with consistent low tuition costs, and raised a record level of $7.3 million in 2014, the largest amount raised in the college's history. Dr. Arnold worked in conjunction with the community to complete his $30 million project to construct buildings on campus including Ivy Resident Hall, Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena, and Convocation Center for current and future students to enjoy. As a result of Dr. Arnold's contributions to Eureka College and the community, he has been appointed Chancellor of the institution, where he will continue to develop new strategic initiatives and implement a leadership institute. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Arnold's remarkable tenure as President of Eureka College. Dr. Arnold's commitment to educating the next generation of leaders generated some of the most successful years in Eureka College's storied history. Dr. Arnold has set an outstanding example for educators around our nation, and I am proud to represent both him and Eureka College.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2646 and commend Dr. Murphy for introducing it. Across the country, over 10 million Americans suffer from severe mental illness. Unfortunately, many are not receiving their proper treatment, including access to inpatient facilities or trained mental health professionals. In my prior life, I spent about 10 years as a State and Federal prosecutor. In that role, I saw the negative effects of a broken mental health system. It is a system in much need of reform in Illinois and all across this country. I have litigated many cases in which mental health played a significant role in the case, and I can assure you that when it comes to mental illness, incarceration in prison is not the solution. This bill is a step in the right direction. It is comprehensive, and it will help change the direction of our mental health system. I strongly support it and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016. First off, I would like to thank Chairman Lamar Smith for his hard work in bringing this bill through the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and my colleague, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson, for her leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation with me. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, also known as the NITRD Program, is the primary Federal research and development investment portfolio in unclassified networking, computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information technologies. In my district, the NITRD Program supports Federal investment in research at universities like Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, and the Blue Waters supercomputer at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. NITRD also supports public-private partnerships between high-performance supercomputing and private corporations like, Caterpillar Corporation, based in Peoria, Illinois. Information technology is all around us in our day-to-day lives--on our smartphones, in our cars, and in our homes. It improves our way of life, even in ways that are not always visible or apparent. As technology rapidly advances, the need for research and development continues to evolve. The NITRD Program works to prevent duplicative and overlapping efforts in this space, thereby enabling more efficient use of government resources and taxpayer dollars, while also supporting new and innovative research and development efforts at our Nation's universities and through public-private partnerships. This bill implements several important policies to help lead the way for future technological innovations and modernize the NITRD Program. Specifically, the bill improves the program in the following ways: First, it establishes a strategic planning and review process for the NITRD investment portfolio, with clear metrics and objectives. Second, it works to improve interagency as well as government and private sector coordination and communication. Third, it focuses the NITRD investment portfolio on areas of national interest and increasing importance like data analytics, privacy protection, and human-computer systems. These changes to current law will reduce bureaucracy and ensure that hardworking Americans' taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively. Important to note, this legislation authorizes no new spending. Smart investments in information technology research and development are crucial for our Nation. Work in related areas bolsters economic competitiveness and creates new industries and businesses; it helps ensure future national security, including cybersecurity; and creates the good-paying jobs we need for today and tomorrow. As such, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation to modernize NITRD and streamline Federal research and development investment. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5312, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), my colleague and friend from Illinois.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letters of support mentioned by Chairman Smith, including the letter from the University of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 5312. I yield back the balance of my time. University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, June 13, 2016. Hon. Darin LaHood, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative LaHood: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Urbana) is pleased to endorse H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Modernization Act of 2016. The NITRD program plays a critical role in coordinating federal investments in Information Technology (IT) research and development to better enable and equip research communities in addressing complex grand challenges in science, engineering, and society. Coordination and integration is increasingly important in the IT ecosystem. This is particularly true for high performance computing (HPC) and Big Data. At Urbana, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) serves as a world-class hub of transdisciplinary research and digital scholarship in which collaborators from across the globe unite to solve real-world problems. NCSA leads the two single largest National Science Foundation (NSF) investments in high-end computing and data analysis--the NSF Blue Waters supercomputer, the most powerful supercomputer in the academic world, and the NSF Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) project, which provides collaborative and shared computing services to the HPC community. These two computing projects support thousands of researchers from across the nation whose research is funded separately by numerous federal agencies. By providing unique science capabilities, these facilities are catalyzing significant discoveries. In this highly competitive world, we applaud your efforts to lead this legislation to maintain U.S. leadership in research and innovation. Sincerely, Barbara J. Wilson, Interim Chancellor.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5312) to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize activities for support of networking and information technology research, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the impressive individuals who will be representing Illinois' 18th Congressional District at three of the most prestigious academic institutions in our Nation, our U.S. service academies. Earlier this year, I nominated 22 individuals from my district, and seven of them have been accepted and will begin their service at the Air Force Academy, West Point, and the Naval Academy this summer. I was privileged to meet with these young men and women in my district last Friday, and the talent among these seven is indeed inspiring and diverse. These cadets and midshipmen are not only at the top of their class in academic achievements, but they also excel in extracurricular activities. We have a State wrestling champion, a hockey player who will be playing for the Air Force Academy, and a competitive golfer who will be playing at the Naval Academy. Most importantly, I was struck by their earnest commitment to serving our country. Many of these students come from families with a legacy of military service. We even have an aspiring Navy Seal and a JAG attorney in this group. I want to congratulate Randy Menyweather, II, Matthew Helmich, Faith Kim, Trevor Stone, Eric Betts, August Will, and Morgan Riley. Thank you to these students for their commitment to our country, and to their families for raising them, and to those in our Illinois communities who have helped them reach this accomplishment. I wish them much success.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honor a remarkable institution, Lincoln College, located in Lincoln, Illinois. For more than 150 years, this school has uniquely equipped students with the tools necessary to realize their full potential and achieve their dreams. In 1853, commissioners began searching for a new location for the university. It became evident that the best place would be Lincoln, Illinois, the first city in the United States to be named after Abraham Lincoln before his presidency. On February 12, 1865, President Lincoln's last living birthday, construction of the first college building began. Today, students from all over the country attend Lincoln College to benefit from the institution's leadership-style teaching and various degree programs. This year, 273 students graduated from the college and have become proud Lynx alumni. These students had the honor of welcoming Mr. Hal Holbrook as the commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient at their commencement this year. Holbrook is known for his Emmy Award winning portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in the TV miniseries, Carl Sandburg's Lincoln. I am humbled to represent such an outstanding institution with a faculty that prepares each student to become a leader in our society. Lincoln College has upheld President Lincoln's virtue of learning and self-improvement with each graduating class. I applaud the institution's service to our community as they educate those who will assume roles of leadership, responsibility, and service in our society. Congratulations to all 2016 graduates from Lincoln College.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2016 graduating class of the ELITE Youth Outreach program. ELITE is a wonderful program that teaches at-risk youth in our local communities in central Illinois on how to gain employment, communicate effectively, behave responsibly, and dress appropriately. The program was founded by Carl Cannon, a Peoria-born native who served his country as a military officer and drill instructor. Now he is dedicated to training and inspiring youth to overcome barriers to success, as he did himself. In 2013, Carl Cannon received the FBI's Director's Community Leadership Award. This week, FBI Director James Comey will travel from Washington, D.C., to Peoria to address this year's ELITE graduating class. I would like to commend Carl Cannon and his staff for their dedication to these students and recognize the transformative effect his program has had on youth in our Peoria area. I would also like to thank FBI Director Comey for supporting this worthy program with his presence this week in Peoria. Finally, I would like to congratulate the students who have completed this program. You should feel proud of your accomplishments. You have a community and national and local leaders who believe in you, and we support you.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this measure. As a former State and Federal prosecutor who has been in charge of prosecuting narcotics cases, I have seen firsthand the devastating effect that opioid and heroin addiction has had. This nationwide opioid and heroin epidemic stretches home into my district in central and west central Illinois. Seventy-eight people die from heroin or opioid overdoses each day. That has quadrupled since 1999. Now it is the leading cause of death, far surpassing deaths by motor vehicle accidents. Just last week I hosted a series of roundtable forums across my district to personally hear from law enforcement officers, medical professionals, treatment providers, local government officials, and those who have lost loved ones due to overdose. They shared with me the reality of the situation back home. Law enforcement has had to double its on-hand stock of Narcan, and expand training for police officers when it comes to these overdoses. Heroin is now the primary abused substance in drug court programs like the one in Springfield, Illinois, but those programs are at capacity. Treatment centers have waitlists over 40 days. The consensus is clear. This is a public health crisis. To end it, we need to do a number of things. Update medical best practices for coping with pain. We need to expand access to addiction specialists and treatment centers. We need to give law enforcement the tools they need, and we must continue to promote programs like drug courts. Because this problem is complex, it must be addressed from all angles, and that is precisely what we are doing in the House this week. This bill will address this epidemic, and the concerns I heard last week. It would establish a comprehensive opioid abuse reduction program at the Department of Justice, target Federal resources directly at the opioid problem, give States flexibility, and create a streamlined comprehensive opioid abuse grant program. Without raising taxes, this measure authorizes $103 million each year for a variety of programs, including residential substance abuse treatment, drug courts, training for law enforcement and first responders.

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Chairman, this funding includes treatment for law enforcement and first responders, and criminal investigations for the unlawful distribution of these opioids. Opioid addiction transcends socioeconomic boundaries, racial, gender, regional, and educational boundaries. We need to address this crisis now. I thank my colleague, Mr. Sensenbrenner, and Chairman Goodlatte, for bringing this legislation forth. This is a problem that is preventable, and we are doing something about it this week in the Congress. I am proud to support this legislation. I look forward to supporting it.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Police Week, a week we set aside to thank the 780,000 police officers who put on a badge nationwide and risk their lives to protect our communities. We thank them for their brave service. Our police officers play an essential role in our community, working to keep us safe, upholding the rule of law, and responding to emergencies. The 18th District of Illinois is home to many upstanding, honorable, courageous, and self- sacrificing police officers. Mr. Speaker, we also take time this week to mourn the loss of our fallen officers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 61 hours. That is why I am proud to support a measure on the floor this week to extend the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program through fiscal year 2020. We need to ensure our officers have the necessary equipment to keep them safe. Just this winter South Jacksonville, Illinois, in my district grieved the loss of one of its very own police officers in the line of duty. I also want to take this time to thank the support network that supports our police officers, their parents, wives, husbands, and children, for the sacrifices they make when their loved ones serve as police officers. Let us show our men and women who wear the badge how much we value their crucial work.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honor a remarkable organization, the Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital, in Rushville, IL. This year marks their 95th anniversary of improving the lives of the community with a tradition of quality health care. Dr. Frederick Culbertson opened the doors to his newly established hospital on February 15, 1921 with the support and determination of his wife, Sarah D. Culbertson. During the Great Depression, there was no guarantee that a hospital would succeed, but with Sarah's steadfast attitude and administrative role, the hospital ensured care for its patients throughout the 1930's, while achieving financial stability. Before Dr. Culbertson died in 1949, he willed the hospital to the people of Schuyler County. In loving memory, he stated that the very existence of the hospital was because of his wife. As a result, the hospital now bears her name as a symbol of her devotion to the people of Schuyler County. Today, under the leadership of Chairman David Hester, the hospital provides extensive inpatient and outpatient services and has expanded to two other locations in Illinois. The hospital retains the Culbertsons' vision through its mission: ``To provide quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve.'' I applaud the efforts of the Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital and staff. They continue to provide their patients with a family- centered community facility committed to improving local healthcare. Congratulations to the Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital and their team on a prosperous ninety-five years providing quality healthcare services to the residents of Central Illinois.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the H.J. Res. 88. The Department of Labor's fiduciary rule would significantly affect constituents in my district. State Farm insurance in Bloomington, Illinois, is headquartered in my district. State Farm and its agents all across this country offer services and products to help low- and moderate-income investors make the best decisions about their finances. However, this rule by the Obama administration targets those service providers and its agents. It would raise compliance costs, limit the advice that companies can provide to their own employees, and penalizes small businesses that want to provide their employees with a 401(k) plan. The bottom line is that this rule would drastically narrow the access that hardworking Americans have to retirement advice, hurting middle and working class families. More bureaucratic burdens from the Obama administration in the form of a 1,000-page regulation is not a recipe for economic growth in this country. Stop choking the U.S. economy. Support this resolution.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Avanti's Ristorante of Peoria, Illinois for celebrating their 50th anniversary. Avanti's Ristorante first opened their doors in 1966. Founder and CEO Albert Zeller, by embracing the American entrepreneurial spirit, successfully expanded his business and now employs nearly 500 people and currently operates five Avanti's Ristorantes in the Greater Peoria area. Avanti's Ristorante is known throughout Central Illinois for their famous Italian cuisine, from their pastas to pizzas and, most notably, the beloved Gondola sandwich. Zeller's famously delicious creation, the Gondola, a submarine-like sandwich, features freshly baked sweet bread only found in his restaurants. No party in Peoria is complete without a platter of Gondolas. The Greater Peoria area has benefitted from Avanti's corporate goodwill and generosity. I extend my sincere congratulations to Avanti's Ristorante, Albert Zeller, and staff and I hope Avanti's keeps fulfilling the appetites of Central Illinoisans for another fifty years.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor Mr. and Mrs. Glen and Polly Barton for their tireless contributions to Peoria, Illinois and the surrounding communities. Glen and Polly Barton have dedicated their time, money, and most importantly their passion to making the community a better place to live. The Barton's are recognized as leaders and philanthropists where their generosity and guidance have touched the lives of so many. Polly Barton's steadfast work and leadership within the Peoria Park District made the vision of Peoria Zoo a reality. Her fundraising expertise combined with her commitment to serving the community led the way for the beautiful entryway, Barton Pavilion, of the Peoria Zoo that opened in 2012. Her active involvement with the Junior League of Peoria made the Peoria PlayHouse a reality where children are given the opportunity to explore, imagine, and play. WTVP, the PBS station for Peoria and surrounding areas, was also impacted by Glen and Polly's generosity and financial support. The campaign, assisted by Caterpillar during Glen's CEO tenure, raised enough money to move the station into the beautiful downtown studio on State Street, where it resides today. The Barton's have contributed considerably to their community, but their focus has always been to improve education by providing the resources necessary for students to excel. Illinois Central College and Eureka College have been fortunate to receive patronage from the Barton's through scholarships, mentorships, and fellowships. Their strong support has awarded students an educational opportunity to engage in their field of study, volunteer within the community, and exceed in their schoolwork. Understanding the importance of education for all students, Glen and Polly played a leadership role with their time and financial support to create Quest Charter Academy in Peoria. As former CEO of Caterpillar, Inc., Glen noticed that there were a shortage of technical skilled workers and realized that the school district was facing challenges in meeting the basic requirements in math and sciences. Glen expressed that, ``College education was a springboard to another world and set of opportunities,'' that children in his community were not receiving because of their limited education. Quest Charter Academy prepares students for secondary education by focusing on an innovative education rich in math, science, and technology. The school prides itself on their six core values: respect, responsibility, integrity, courage, curiosity, and effort, principles that have made the Barton's such successful and charitable people. Quest has given students, who otherwise would not have the opportunity, the resources available to be prepared for the competitive global world. Our Peoria Area is lucky to have people like Glen and Polly who have tirelessly given back to our community. Central Illinois has benefitted immensely under the leadership, contributions, and generosity from the Barton's. Their efforts have made the community, just like Quest Charter Academy, a better place to grow, learn, and play.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, the Department of Labor finalized its fiduciary rule--or, as we could call it: ObamaCare for financial planning. This rule reclassifies and expands the scope of individuals who are considered ``financial advisers'' and adds the Department of Labor as a new regulator. The investment advisory industry is already among the most regulated, but this rule will force a sweeping overhaul of the financial services industry. Most importantly, it will hurt middle class Americans. This new rule change, which circumvents the Congress and the Constitution, will significantly raise legal and compliance costs, making it expensive, difficult, and impractical for companies like State Farm, which is headquartered in my congressional district, and their advising agents to continue to provide services to small businesses and hardworking customers. Ultimately, this rule will drastically narrow the access that these families, who are trying to save for retirement, will have by making financial advice more expensive. It will even penalize small businesses that want to provide benefits for their employees, thereby discouraging small businesses from providing 401(k) plans. I am committed to fighting the implementation of this rule, and I urge my colleagues to join me.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor Illinois State Representative David Leitch for his tireless contributions and dedication to public service in the State of Illinois. Representative David Leitch, State Representative of the 73rd House District of Illinois and a resident of the 18th Congressional District, has dedicated nearly three decades serving his constituents in the Illinois General Assembly. His top-notch commitment to providing timely and effective constituent service to citizens has remained steadfast since he was sworn into office 27 years ago. Representative Leitch has built a statewide reputation, establishing himself as a leader in matters pertaining to our health care system and especially mental health care in Illinois. A primary focus of his work has been advocacy for establishing a strong community-based mental health system in our state. He convened providers beginning 15 years ago to form the Central Illinois Coalition for Mental Health Recovery. Among its accomplishments are a Mental Health Court, a psychiatric residency at the University of Illinois- College of Medicine in Peoria, and a Crisis Center designed to divert at-risk individuals to treatment rather than emergency rooms or jail. Most recently, he passed legislation enabling college students to allow their family to be notified in the event they are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts and legislation which improves the inclusion of mental health services for older adults into primary care health settings. His outstanding advocacy on mental health and substance abuse issues has not gone unrecognized with accolades from the Heartland Health Services, a federally designated community health organization in Central Illinois, commending his life's work in the improvement of public health policy and his receipt of the statewide President's Award from the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association. Outside of his advocacy on issues regarding mental health recovery, Rep. Leitch is credited with passing the first state law in the nation requiring insurance coverage for mammograms, he passed the first state law in the nation allowing for the collection of cord blood stem cells, he secured funding for the expansion of the Illinois Central College campus in East Peoria and arranged the acquisition of the ICC North campus in Peoria after the closure of Zeller Mental Health Center. Illinois Central College named the David R. Leitch Career Center in honor of his dedication to the community college. Nationally, he has received the Dr. Nathan Davis Award as State Legislator of the Year in the U.S. by the American Medical Association as well as over 75 other legislator of the year (or equivalent) awards. Representative Leitch's steadfast work to improve the lives of citizens throughout our great state embodies the manner in which progress can be made for the greater good and citizens of Illinois. Rep. Leitch epitomizes the standard for which current--and future-- public servants should strive to emulate to help improve lives within our communities. It is with great honor that I have had the ability to call Representative Leitch not only a colleague but also a friend for many years. I want to congratulate him on his tireless advocacy for the mental health community and his dedicated service to the State of Illinois.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the Illinois Association of REALTORS on their 100-year anniversary of steadfast advocacy for the real estate industry and homeowners of Illinois. The Illinois Association of REALTORS was founded in 1916 under the principle, as declared in their mission statement, ``To concern itself in all matters for the betterment and protection of real estate interests.'' Today, Illinois REALTORS has grown to become one of the largest trade associations in the state of Illinois representing more than 44,000 realtors. The association has significantly shaped the state's real estate industry with grassroots advocacy efforts such as the ``RVOICE'' program, fighting local mandates, and lobbying state legislative proposals that encourage and protect homeownership. Their leadership and advocacy throughout Illinois has grown and become a model for other REALTOR associations in the country. Illinois REALTORS is the first to centralize the Local Governmental Affairs Director program under the state association providing professional development and resources to ensure statewide coverage. Among other accomplishments, Illinois REALTORS is credited with advocating for the first real estate license law that went into effect in 1922 and the Association continues to shape the law to best uphold industry professionalism. The Illinois Association of REALTORS has become an important resource for realtors throughout the state of Illinois and the communities they serve. I extend my sincere congratulations to the Illinois Association of REALTORS for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to Illinois. I hope the organization continues to grow and prosper for the next 100 years.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Patty Fuchs on her twenty-two years of dedication and service to Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. From the very beginning, Patty Fuchs, a native of Peoria, Illinois and the CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, strived to support the people around her and ensure success for every facet of the Central Illinois community. A graduate of Peoria High School and Bradley University, where she ultimately earned her master's degree, Patty decided to first give back to the Peoria education system by becoming a teacher at McKinley Grade School. At this point in her life, she discovered her passion for watching people grow to their full potential. When Patty accepted the CEO position at Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, she turned a struggling non-profit into a flourishing and successful institution. Under Patty's nearly two decade long tenure, Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois underwent a period of tremendous expansion. Currently, the non-profit oversees eleven stores and provides vocational programs across twenty-one counties. Because of their annual successes, total persons served grew from 100 in 1993 to 1,800 served in 2014. In addition, the organization, today, employees nearly 400 people compared to the mere 65 employed in 1993 when Patty began her role as CEO. These statistics attest to Patty's dedication to the organization and her tireless efforts to successfully expand and develop the non-profit to serve more individuals and families in the community. Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois as well as the Central Illinois community ultimately benefited under Patty's leadership. I wish her a wonderful retirement surrounded by her family and loved ones. Again, congratulations, Patty, on your successful career and retirement.

Mr. LaHOOD

Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a policeman who was tragically taken from us too soon. In my district of South Jacksonville, Illinois, Police Officer Scot Fitzgerald was on duty on the evening of Friday, March 4, responding to a call for medical assistance, when his car was hit by an ambulance. The 32-year-old father of two passed away several hours later. In his funeral procession, hundreds of citizens and admirers came to remember the officer who had personally aided them in times of need. Sobering events like this remind us that our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line when they put on their uniforms. I offer my prayers and condolences to Officer Fitzgerald's family, his wife, and his two young children, a 4-year-old boy and a 4-month- old girl, as they grieve their loss. I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to all of our law enforcement officers for their crucial role in keeping us safe. The community of South Jacksonville has set up a scholarship fund for his children and also a memorial 5K run in his name. I applaud these displays of compassion. Mr. Speaker, I encourage the citizens of my district and elsewhere to consider supporting these efforts. I would ask, at this time, that the House rise to pay tribute to Officer Fitzgerald for his public service.