Mike Quigley

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of summer food security programs for America's children because, unlike Congress, hunger doesn't take a summer vacation. Today, in the United States, food insecurity is persistent and rampant. We are one of the richest and most powerful Nations in the world, yet one in five households with children experience food insecurity each year. Any American suffering from hunger is cause for concern, but it is especially troubling to think that so many American children lying in bed at night are struggling to sleep because they are hungry. Thankfully, most children in America who aren't able to get adequate sustenance at home are provided meals for free or at a reduced rate during the school year. In fact, 21 million children nationwide rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year, and 825,000 of those children are from my State of Illinois. But while we have worked hard to ensure our children are fed during the school year, we often overlook the fact that many of these same children lack access to these meals during the summer months. Of the many children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year, only 14 percent currently access meals during the summer. This is why the USDA's Summer Food Service Program is so important. As Members of Congress, it is imperative that we support and promote these programs so families who need help during the summer months can take advantage of them. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a Summer Food Service Program in my district with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and No Kid Hungry Illinois. I was able to see firsthand how the program is benefiting children in Illinois and across the country. These programs are working and making a positive difference for our local families. Take, for example, the story of Maria and her husband from Chicago Heights. Maria works part-time at a laundromat while her husband works full-time in a lumberyard. These two hardworking Americans are doing all they can to provide for their children. But times are still tough and food is more and more expensive. To help pick up the slack, Maria and her children visit the Lunch Bus. The Lunch Bus is a great program that not only provides lunch for low-income children during the summer, but also provides a safe place for those children to play and meet other kids. There are families all over America like Maria's family that work hard every day to provide for their children; but oftentimes, despite their hard work, difficult circumstances cause them to come just short. We in this Congress have a responsibility to stand up for these hardworking families and to ensure no child in America goes to bed hungry. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the bipartisan Summer Meals Act, which will expand the USDA summer nutrition program to help more children across this country access quality meals during the summer months. Rather than slashing these funds, we need to focus on positive steps we can take to end hunger across the country. The best way we can reduce the amount of Federal Government spending on food nutrition programs is by supporting legislation that creates jobs and helps families earn a living wage. Moving forward, it is incumbent on all of us to promote summer food nutrition programs and to ensure that the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which expires next year, is reauthorized at sufficient levels. As I said, Mr. Speaker, hunger does not take a summer break, and neither should we when it comes to taking care of America's children. I will do all I can to make sure these children have access to nutritious meals all year round, and I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the National Gay Blood Drive, because I know that being gay does not implicitly make someone an unsafe blood donor. Our current FDA policy paints all gay and bisexual men with the same brush, banning them for life based solely on orientation instead of focusing on actual risky behavior. This Friday, at National Gay Blood Drives in 61 cities across our country, gay and bisexual men will stand with straight allies to call for an end to this discriminatory policy. Implemented in 1983 during the height of the HIV crisis, the outdated policy is based on unjustifiable fear and bigotry instead of science and facts. But it is 2014. We have advanced blood screening and we know much more about how HIV is transmitted. We need a revised policy to match--a revision blood donation agencies support. We can no longer treat gay and bisexual men as second-class citizens or turn away healthy would-be donors who could be providing lifesaving blood. I urge all my colleagues to support the National Gay Blood Drive and help America move one step closer to true equality for all.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

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

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, the NNSA has a tough enough job as it is developing nuclear weapons and handling and restoring the weapons that we already have. We have to make choices here. This is a weapon that won't be needed until 2030, if it is needed at all. They don't need additional money beyond that which is requested. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, it is time we take a smarter approach to our nuclear weapons strategy. I rise today to offer a reasonable amendment that ensures that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on a weapon that the Pentagon is not even sure we will have the capability to use. My amendment simply cuts the extra $7.6 million above what the NNSA has requested for the next generation long-range cruise missile's nuclear warhead. This is a modest cut, one that allows the program to move forward at the requested level of $9.4 million. The reason behind the cut is clear: this funding is for the development of a warhead to be used on a cruise missile that the Pentagon has yet to approve. Given this, there is simply no reason for the NNSA to rush forward with investments on this warhead. And Congress definitely shouldn't be spending taxpayer dollars beyond the NNSA's request to do so. To get a better idea of what we are spending our constituents' money on, let's walk through this program. This warhead is being developed for the next generation long-range cruise missile. The weapon it will replace, the air-launched cruise missile, isn't being phased out until the 2030s. This year, the Pentagon delayed the development of this new cruise missile by 3 more years and has yet to set exact requirements for the missile or necessary warhead. Despite there being no rush, this bill pushes extra money into developing that warhead. There are also serious questions about whether we will even need these new cruise missiles, given the technological advances we have already made. The next generation long-range bombers will be big, expensive stealth bombers able to penetrate enemy airspace to drop their bombs without being detected. We are spending a small fortune on the B-61 bomb life extension for that advanced capability. The B-2 stealth bomber, which this next-generation bomber will replace, doesn't carry a cruise missile. Advanced American stealth bombers don't need the capability to send a cruise missile from a bomber 1,000 miles away. We pay for very expensive submarines and very expensive ICBMs for that capability. So ask yourselves: Should we be adding money above the request for a warhead that goes on a missile that the Pentagon doesn't even know it wants and one we probably don't even need? Over the next few years, we will be spending billions on our nuclear weapons budget alone. Let me name a few of the things we need to pay for all at the same time: The many NNSA life extension programs, such as the increasingly costly B-61 program; 100 next generation long-range bombers; ICBM refurbishment and possibly the next generation of ICBMs; plus 12 nuclear-armed Ohio-class replacement submarines. At a time when we have so many other important projects at both the Pentagon and at the NNSA, the dollars and manpower spent on refurbishing this warhead for a cruise missile that does not yet exist are dollars and manpower the Pentagon and the NNSA could be using on bombers, subs, or even soldiers. That is why I ask my colleagues to support my commonsense amendment to take an important step towards a more reasonable, sensible nuclear weapons strategy. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in celebration of LGBT Pride Month because this year my friends in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community have more to celebrate than ever. America was founded on the principle that we are all created equal, but for decades the struggle for LGBT equality seemed like a distant dream. Just 45 years ago, in June of 1969, a series of police actions against the gay community sparked the stonewall riots, one of the most pivotal moments in the fight for LGBT equality. What began as a moment is now a movement, bringing LGBT Americans together with allies to fight for the rights they deserve but are too often denied. Back then, the movement moved slowly but surely, making inroads neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city. Now I am proud to say the equality movement is moving State by State, picking up steam across the country with no signs of slowing down. It seems like almost every other month a new State is reaffirming the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens to marry whom they love, regardless of gender. In fact, last November, my home State of Illinois became the 16th State to legalize same-sex marriage. I have to smile when I think that, just 2 months prior, I was officiating symbolic marriages at a festival in Chicago to draw awareness to the cause. What a difference a few months can make. Currently, gay and lesbian Americans have achieved marriage equality in 18 States and the District of Columbia, and America is stronger for it. Even the Supreme Court has recognized the march toward equality is inevitable, striking down the antiquated Defense of Marriage Act last year. For too long, DOMA denied same-sex couples the Federal benefits they earned and deserved. Thankfully, the Supreme Court saw this discriminatory law for what it was and tossed it into the ash heap of history. Now LGBT couples are able to file taxes jointly and take advantage of tax breaks that were once limited to heterosexual couples. Now the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces can use the veterans benefits they have earned for their same-sex partners. Now binational couples who once lived every day under a cloud of uncertainty are able to sponsor their partners for green cards and are treated equally under the immigration laws. What once was one a dream is now our reality. As I said, Madam Speaker, there is more to celebrate this Pride Month than ever before. This weekend, thousands will celebrate how far we have come at the 45th annual Chicago Pride Parade. I will be proud to join the celebration, as I have every year since 1982, and recommit to the work that lies ahead to reach full LGBT equality. I look forward to one day soon when the Supreme Court extends marriage rights to all citizens once and for all so that no American is denied equality because of the State they live in, a day in which Congress passes the employment nondiscrimination act here in the House so that no American can be fired simply because of whom they love, a day in which LGBT Americans are allowed to visit their loved ones in the hospital and have access to every Federal benefit that is available to all other Americans, a day in which we ensure LGBT youth are protected from harassment and bullying, and a day in which healthy gay and bisexual men are no longer barred from donating lifesaving blood to patients in need. It is a day that is coming soon; there is no doubt about that. Until then, we must find the courage to keep marching, fighting, and believing that one day America will be a Nation that fulfills its promise of liberty and justice for all.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, the debate about our Nation's energy policy is happening here in Congress and around the country. We are debating the merits of natural gas extraction, with many of us arguing for much stronger regulations to prevent the contamination of our drinking water and the pollution of our air. We are debating the building of the Keystone pipeline, with many of us arguing that its approval would harm our environment and jeopardize the health and well-being of our communities. In each of these debates, the argument on each side may be contrary, but both sides are focused on one important question: Is this in the national interest? It is essential that today's debate about the exportation of natural gas be framed in the same light. The amendment I am offering with my friend from New Jersey is based on a central premise. Before hurrying to export as much as 36 billion cubic feet of LNG per day, we should take time to consider what this will mean for energy prices, jobs, manufacturing, the environment, and our economy. Current law simply assumes it is always in our natural interest to export natural gas, even though studies confirm that exporting our natural gas would increase the price domestically. We are providing a rubberstamp review process that expedites LNG exports without considering its potential effects. Our amendment would simply flip this assumption and require, by law, that DOE take into consideration exports' impact on consumers, the economy, and energy security before making its decision. By passing this amendment, we can ensure that true beneficiaries of the natural gas boom are our consumers and our economy, while protecting our environment at the same time.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, for generations, this country's infrastructure served as the backbone for our economic success. We dreamed big, we built bigger, and our economy flourished; but today our infrastructure is crumbling, and the growth of our economy is slow. Without serious long-term investments in our transportation infrastructure, we simply will not be able to compete in today's global economy. Over the past 50 years, as a share of our economy, our investment in transportation has shrunk by half. Europe now invests twice as much as we do in transportation. China invests four times as much. Over time, America has fallen into 19th place when it comes to the quality of our infrastructure. Nowhere is this more apparent than in my hometown of Chicago, where 1,000 miles of road in the city of Chicago are in need of total reconstruction. 675 bridges in Cook County are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. North Lake Shore Drive is one of the highest accident locations in the State as a result of its aging infrastructure. The CTA is a century-old transit system that desperately needs updates to keep up with increased capacity. Oh, by the way, the CTA in Chicago in 1 month carries more passengers than Amtrak does in an entire year. All of these things will cost money, but the long-term economic benefits they will provide will far outweigh the upfront cost. The President likes to say that first-class infrastructure attracts first- class jobs, and he is right. Business needs strong infrastructure to grow. They need good highways and railways to move their products. They need reliable public transit to get their employees to work. Infrastructure investment requires forward thinking; it requires long-term planning. The fact that Congress faces its lowest public approval ratings ever while this country's infrastructure is crumbling is no coincidence. In my second year on the Appropriations Committee, I know all too well how little this Congress is investing in our future. I became an appropriator to help bring much-needed funding back to my city and my State, but politics has replaced progress when it comes to my committee's once immense power of the purse. The important work of the Appropriations Committee to help cities and States fund critical infrastructure improvements has been stymied by the inability of this Congress to set aside our differences and look beyond the next election. We are trying to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure one year at a time, and we are coming up short. When did we decide that planning one year ahead was good enough? Name one successful business that operates this way. We shouldn't be forcing cities like Chicago and States like Illinois to make plans based on stopgap funding measures. We owe it to our constituents to provide a far-reaching plan that gives cities and States the certainty they need to plan ahead and invest in tomorrow. We should be empowering cities and States to make their own choices for their long-term success by providing them with the funding to do so. It is time for this Congress to go big and plan for the long-term projects that will modernize our infrastructure, spur economic growth, create jobs. Remember, every billion dollars invested in infrastructure creates 30,000 jobs. Congress will face an important test over the next few months. Over the summer, the highway trust fund will run out and soon MAP-21 will expire. Allowing Federal funding for transportation projects to run out would force States to stop ongoing projects, risking over 700,000 jobs over the next year. The consequences for inaction are too great. It is time for Congress to step up to the plate and finally enact a long-term highway bill that reforms the trust fund and makes it solvent for years to come, because as President Reagan said: rebuilding our infrastructure is an investment in tomorrow we must make today.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association located in Chicago, Illinois. For over 100 years, Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association has been an influential part of Chicago. When William E. Harmon began to sell houses for the Ravenswood Manor subdivision, the community was fewer than a hundred individuals strong. Now 100 years later, Ravenswood Manor has flourished into a substantial subdivision within the city. The Association has worked diligently to promote the welfare of the community by consistently maintaining public and private lands. They have enhanced the community by hosting annual neighborhood events, as well as thoroughly representing community interests working alongside their elected officials, City Departments, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Park District, local schools, and businesses. On September 5, 2008, Ravenswood Manor was listed as a National Register Historic District. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association on their 100th Anniversary. I am truly honored to represent such as outstanding association.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, at a time when Congress should be working together to make long-term investments in our crumbling infrastructure, today's T-HUD bill compromises our ability to meet the transportation needs of our local communities. This bill significantly cuts funding to one of the Nation's most vital transportation programs--TIGER grants. Even worse, this bill significantly changes TIGER grant eligibility to prevent the funding for public transit, bike, and pedestrian projects. The significant funding and eligibility changes this bill makes have left this important program without any teeth. It seems that ``TIGER'' is no longer a fitting name. Instead, we should be referring to this bill's National Infrastructure Investments program simply as ``kitten grants.'' TIGER grants support critical projects that are driving economic growth and job creation across America. This bill includes only $100 million for TIGER grants, which is a reduction of more than 80 percent from this year's funding level. This move is ridiculous given that the current funding level can't even keep up with the demand of an incredibly popular program. Already, in the current grant application round, the U.S. Department of Transportation has received nearly 800 applications that are requesting a total of $9.5 billion--a request of more than 15 times what can be awarded. Additionally, the bill includes a bad policy rider with language that restricts TIGER eligibility to roads, highways, bridges, freight rail, and ports. This would be a devastating change for a wide variety of innovative projects that include public transportation, passenger rail, and bicycle and pedestrian programs. TIGER grants help us modernize our transportation and infrastructure and create the 21st century highway and public transit systems America desperately needs, and nowhere are these programs needed more than in cities like my hometown of Chicago. Back home, TIGER grants have supported updates to the Chicago Transit Authority, have advanced the sustainable transportation efforts of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and local bike share programs, and have helped fund the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project. Investing in a 21st century transportation system is essential for our economy, and more importantly, it will create jobs. Remember that every billion dollars invested in our infrastructure creates 30,000 jobs. I joined the House Committee on Appropriations to make the tough funding choices that shape our national priorities, but this year's budget allocations have only taken that power away from us, forcing us to vote on a bill that drastically cuts vital services that people around the country depend upon. As we consider the T-HUD bill, we must stand together and demand Congress take action on long-term, smart investments that will move our people and our country forward. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, my esteemed colleagues, please join me in recognizing Megan Maureen Korczynski and Kevin P. Gow, Jr. as they celebrate their devotion to each other and to their future together. They are to celebrate their commitment to each other on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Saint Andrew's Catholic Church in Delavan, Wisconsin. Megan Maureen has been living and working in Chicago receiving her Bachelor degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the Chicago International Academy of Design and Technology while her fiance, Kevin P. Gow, Jr. has also been living and working in Chicago receiving his Master's Degree from DePaul University. The union of these two individuals, Megan Maureen Korczynski, daughter of Edwin J., Major, United States Air Force/CAP, and Diane M., mother of 5 daughters and a teacher of special education for 25 years; and Kevin P. Gow, Jr. son of Kevin Gow, Sr. Captain USMC and the late Lynne Dwight Gow, mother of 3 and nursing advisor for Met Life Long Term Care. As George Elliot once said, ``What greater thing is there for two human souls that to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in the silent unspoken memories?'' It is with great excitement and anticipation that both families share in the happiness of this union. Their commitment to each other is one to be celebrated and commended and one in which I offer my congratulations and wish them well as they begin their new life together.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to an epidemic in our country. We have seen rates of autism rising rapidly in the past two decades. Today, 1 in 68 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. This weekend, I attended the Autism Speaks walk in Chicago. I was inspired by the stories of young men and women and the realization that there are opportunities for all those living with autism. We, as a Congress, must come together and pass meaningful policy to understand this condition and find a cure. I remain committed to supporting Federal funding for autism research and helping families obtain appropriate therapies for children living with autism. I know my colleagues share this passion with me.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. I rise in memory of the devastating atrocities that were committed in Nazi-occupied Europe, where more than 6 million people lost their lives. In every generation, we must bear witness to the events of the Holocaust to fully understand what transpired and to ensure that this would never happen again. To fully comprehend the horrors of the Holocaust, we must lay our eyes on the hallowed grounds where the cruelest crimes against humanity were perpetrated. I recently returned from Ukraine. There, I stopped to pay my respect at the site of the Babi Yar massacre in Kiev. To stand in the place where more than 100,000 people were shot and buried in a mass grave brings reality to the horrible accounts of the massacre. Every person had a name and a story. I have twice visited Auschwitz-Birkenau. I walked through the rooms where the prisoners slept, filled now with the possessions they left behind. I saw the fields where prisoners stood waiting in line for their meager rations. I saw the walls where Jews were lined up before Nazi soldiers shot them. I saw the gas chambers where you could still see scratches on the walls from prisoners desperate to escape. Every person had a name and a story. When I followed the train tracks out of Auschwitz, I reversed the path that led so many to their final resting places. From that moment, I have committed to remember what happens when senseless hatred prevails. Unfortunately, the hatred and intolerance that led to these crimes against humanity is still alive today. At some point, no survivors of the Holocaust will be alive to recount their heroic and heartbreaking tales of survival. We must make sure that we never repeat this dark mark on world history by teaching our children tolerance, and never forgetting the innocent victims of the Holocaust. The Hebrew word ``yizkor'' means ``we will remember.'' Though Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed on April 28 this year, I ask that we dedicate ourselves to remembering the horrors of the Holocaust and commit to prevent genocide in our lifetimes and in the future.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, this April marks the 39th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge regime's rise to power in Cambodia and the tragedies that followed. I join Cambodian Americans to commemorate this tragedy in the community's past. Yet even as we solemnly recognize this moment, we can also look at the hopeful future that lies ahead for the Cambodian American community. The Khmer Rouge regime seized power in Cambodia on April 17, 1975 and began a reign of terror and systematic genocide. Upwards of 3.4 million innocent men, women, and children lost their lives at mass grave sites now known as the Killing Fields. Thousands of refugees escaped these atrocities and were given sanctuary in the United States; many came to the State of Illinois. Thanks to the Cambodian Association of Illinois and our strong Cambodian American community here in the United States, we are aware of the Cambodian genocide and its devastating effects. Organizations such as the Cambodian American Heritage Museum and the Killing Field Memorial carry out the vital mission of ensuring that we do not forget the atrocities of this period. The Cambodian community is committed to remembering and paying tribute to those lost in the Killing Fields while enhancing the public's awareness of these atrocities and supporting the survivors and their families. As Illinois and other States recognize April 17th as the Cambodian Day of Remembrance, I rise today to join my Cambodian American friends to commemorate the atrocities of the Killing Fields and to provide comfort and hope to the victims' families. Let us take this moment to recognize that group-targeted violence and intolerance still exist in nations across the world, and we cannot ignore its presence. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in solidarity with the Cambodian American community in remembering those who were lost to the Khmer Rouge regime and in recognizing our hope for a more peaceful future.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, a famous storyteller Mark Twain once said, ``Never let the truth get in the way of a good story,'' and proponents of the Keystone pipeline are following that advice very well. Supporters are painting an awfully rosy picture of Keystone's benefits while completely ignore the truth about the devastating damage it could cause. TransCanada, a Canadian company that wants to build Keystone XL, claims the pipeline is safe, but this is the same company that operates the existing Keystone pipeline which spilled a dozen times in the first year of operation. The worst spill released 21,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota, contaminating local soil and water. TransCanada claims that significant spills will be few and far between, but engineers at the University of Nebraska found that the company ignored data on spills and failed to factor in the more corrosive tar sands oil transported in Keystone XL. The engineers determined that instead of being safe, Keystone XL could have as many as 91 major oil spills over the life of the pipeline. This concerns me because Keystone XL will run through 2,000 miles of American farmland and over our country's largest water aquifer, the Ogallala. This aquifer provides drinking water for 2 million people and supplies water to more than a fourth of our Nation's irrigated farmland. Most Americans understand that past oil spills have severe environmental impacts, but any Keystone XL spill will be truly catastrophic. Keystone XL spills are more dangerous because tar sands oil is heavier than conventional oil, meaning it would soak into soil and flow into water, sinking, contaminating miles of river and shoreline. Tar sands oil is also the world's dirtiest oil, and approving the pipeline will accelerate its production, endangering our families, community, and climate. When extracted and refined, tar sands oil emits 17 percent more carbon pollution than conventional oil production, which contributes to climate change. With 830,000 barrels of tar sands oil flowing through the pipeline each day, the metric tons of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere each year would be equal to putting more than 5\1/2\ million more cars on our roads. This means that building Keystone XL will undo the progress America has made to become more energy efficient and reduce carbon pollution for the sake of our environment. The bottom line is Keystone XL brings a whole lot of environmental risk and very little reward. Proponents claim the pipeline will be great for the economy because it will promote jobs and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. The data, however, doesn't support the claims that the pipeline will create 20,000 American jobs. The State Department says Keystone would only create 35 permanent jobs and fewer temporary construction jobs than initially projected. Proponents claim the pipeline will lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In reality, it will do neither. Prices at Midwestern pumps could actually increase. The pipeline will divert oil from Midwestern refineries designed to produce gasoline to Texas gulf refineries designed to produce diesel, which has a high overseas demand. Oil economists found a decline in gasoline production would increase gas prices in the Midwest between 5 cents to 40 cents per gallon. We should not move forward on Keystone XL when we know the environmental impact far outweighs the projected minimal economic and job benefits. Our focus should be on strengthening our clean energy economy that has a job growth four times faster than any other sector. We have increased our solar capacity to power more than 2.2 million homes and made wind power an affordable alternative energy source. When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. The Keystone XL pipeline sets false expectations about gas prices and job growth. The truth is it will only accelerate climate change, harm our environment, and jeopardize the health of our communities.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, entrepreneur Steve Jobs once said, ``It is in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough--it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.'' I rise today to recognize National Arts Advocacy Day and to stress the importance of arts and arts education for advancing technology and growing our economy. I am proud to represent the Illinois delegation of thirteen arts and cultural leaders on Capitol Hill today, which include Ingenuity, a group that works with Chicago Public Schools, and whose mission it is to make arts education available to every child in every school. Students in the arts and humanities learn how to explore, discover and innovate. Arts education engages kids in school, promotes confidence and builds a foundation for success for every student, but it also grows our economy. In Illinois, the non-profit arts and culture sector generates 2.75 billion dollars and supports more than 78,000 full-time-equivalent jobs. Additionally, Illinois is home to nearly 34,000 non-profit and for-profit arts businesses. These creative enterprises employ more than 140,000 people in jobs that cannot be outsourced. I continue to be a proud supporter of arts education, and I've consistently supported robust funding for the National Endowment for the Arts--I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Village of Schiller Park, Illinois, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The village just outside the City of Chicago incorporated in 1914 as Kolze was later named Schiller Park in 1926. Although several areas were annexed into the village during the 1920s and 1930s, few homes were built. In 1932, Julia Kolze, daughter-in-law of the founder, became the first woman village president or mayor in Illinois. Her avowed strategy was to employ kitchen table economics, running government on a budget the way she ran her household. Today, Schiller Park is home to over 11,000 residents, hundreds of businesses, numerous schools and religious institutes, and a variety of parks and recreational facilities. They strive for that small town feeling while located in a great metropolitan area which is incorporated in their motto: ``Small town feel with a world at its touch.'' The Village of Schiller Park is a prime example of what any community should be. They provide services to residents of all ages. For the past six years, Schiller Park has hosted ``Make a Difference Day,'' an initiative to engage members of the community in acts of kindness to benefit seniors and disabled residents of the village. These projects include leaf raking, yard cleaning, or running simple errands for their elderly and disabled neighbors. Schiller Park also hosts a wide range of events such as Family Fun Day, car shows, village garage sales, blood drives, canned food drives, concerts in the park, and farmers markets. I am proud to represent the Village of Schiller Park as it prospers today under the leadership of Mayor Barbara Piltaver. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the residents of the Village of Schiller Park on their 100th Anniversary. I am truly honored to have such an outstanding village in my district.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, nearly 4 years ago, I stood in this Chamber and talked about a deficit that was chipping away at our government. No, it wasn't the fiscal deficit, though that certainly is weighing us down; rather I warned of the deficit of trust that has caused the American people to lose faith in government and, quite simply, give up on Washington. Back then, stories of scandals and ethics violations led nightly newscasts, and trust in government was at an all-time low of just 19 percent. Now, 4 years later, trust in government is still at 19 percent, though Congress' rating has dropped even lower, to 9 percent in recent polls. I regret to say that little has changed, including our efforts to rebuild that trust. If Illinois politics has taught me anything, it is very hard to lead without that trust, and the only way to earn it back is to increase transparency and openness throughout our government. As Justice Brandeis said, Sunlight is the best of disinfectants. That is why I am introducing the Transparency in Government Act, which will shine a light on every branch of the Federal Government, strengthening our democracy, and promoting an efficient, effective, and open government because the fact is that the mission of government matters. What we do here in this Chamber matters, so much so that it is written in the very bedrock of American Government. We have been sent here to form a more perfect union, to promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, but how we execute this mission matters. The Transparency in Government Act utilizes 21st century technology to expand access to information, strengthen oversight of Federal spending, increase disclosures from both lawmakers and lobbyists, and improve judicial transparency. The TGA will bring unprecedented accountability to the Federal Government and empower everyday citizens to be the government's best watchdog. American taxpayers have a right to know how their hard-earned dollars are being spent, so TGA requires Members of Congress to post their official expenditures online, allowing every constituent to scrutinize their Representative's office budgets and spending reports. It also requires Members to be up front about their personal finances, providing greater details about foreign travel and gifts; and when it comes to knowing who is working to influence the legislative process, the TGA establishes new definitions for lobbyists and stricter rules governing how and with whom they meet. This bill also ensures Americans have access to the same expert nonpartisan information that shapes the policy decisions we make every day. It makes taxpayer-funded reports available for free to the public and requires all committees to make public hearing schedules, witness testimony, and even transcripts and recordings available online. In the executive branch, the TGA requires clear and prominent disclosure when communications and advertising are sponsored using Federal funds; and it improves access to visitor logs for the White House and agency heads, so we know who is meeting with our Nation's highest leaders. It strengthens the Freedom of Information Act, requiring agencies to put all completed FOIA requests online in a format that is searchable, sortable, and downloadable, and ensures that all agencies utilize the Web site FOIAonline to log, track, and publish requests. Finally, the TGA calls for the judiciary branch to meet similar financial disclosure requirements that are already applied to the executive and legislative branches and make those disclosure statements publicly available online for anyone to review. For the first time, this bill inscribes into law the public's right to hear oral arguments in the Supreme Court as they are delivered; and in an effort to use 21st century technologies, this legislation calls for a study on using live-stream video to air Supreme Court proceedings. These are just a few of the bill's many reforms that will pull our government out of the past and modernize public access to information. The Transparency in Government Act has ambitious goals, but these reforms are no less than what our constituents expect and deserve. It has been 4 years since I first introduced this bill, and we can't waste another minute allowing the status quo to erode Americans' faith in government. The time to act is now. Let's usher in a new era of open government, win back the people's trust, and prove to our constituents that we are worthy of the responsibility we have been entrusted with.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, this month the city of Chicago lost a hockey legend, Doug Mohns. Doug was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks from 1964 to 1971, where he played left wing on one of the greatest lines in NHL history--the ``Scooter Line''--with Kenny Wharram and Stan Mikita. Doug was a stalwart player in the NHL at a time when there were only six franchises. Rivalries were intense, no one wore helmets and players were intimately acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of every opponent they faced. Mohns earned the nickname ``Dougie the Diesel'' because his piston- like legs dug into the ice and propelled him like a locomotive. He enjoyed his best season with the Blackhawks in 1967, when he tallied 25 goals and 35 assists in just 61 games. His impact on the ice was instrumental to the Blackhawks' first ever regular season title. Mohns went on to have four 20-goal seasons with the Blackhawks. Mohns' durability and versatility as a skater contributed to his remarkable longevity. During a span of 22 seasons in the NHL, he played in 1,390 games and seven all-star games, while amassing 248 goals and 462 assists. I join the city of Chicago in remembering one of the greatest hockey players to ever step on the ice, Doug ``Dougie the Diesel'' Mohns.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, this month the city of Chicago lost Doug Jarrett, a hockey legend who dedicated 11 years of his career to keeping the Blackhawks in Stanley Cup contention during the 1960s and early 1970s. The well-respected defenseman was not only known for his strong defensive play, but also for his outgoing personality, which contributed to the team's tight-knit chemistry. Standing 6'3", the ``Chairman of the Boards'' presented a stern test for opposing forwards. Rather than rely solely on brute strength, however, the crafty defender used his superior reach to stay in position and out of the penalty box. He was also considered a clean hitter, whose hip check was among the best in the league. Aside from his defensive prowess, Doug was known for his sense of humor and engaging personality, which was always evident when he got together with his teammate and close friend Dennis Hull. Together, Jarrett and Hull raised team spirits during the long and often challenging seasons. Doug Jarrett's distinguished NHL career spanned over 775 regular season games and 99 post season games where he amassed 220 points. A London, Ontario native, Doug was inducted into the London Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. For over a decade with the Blackhawks, Doug Jarrett was an outstanding defensemen and an uplifting spirit for the team. I join the city of Chicago in mourning the loss of one of our city's sports icons.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, all things are subject to interpretation, but as Nietzsche once said: Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is often more a function of power and not truth. Last week, the Congressional Budget Office came out with a report evaluating the economic impacts of the Affordable Care Act. Since then, there are those who have used the power they have to frame a false narrative. Rather than talking about what the report actually says, they have spent the last week talking about what they would like it to say. Their false interpretation of the ObamaCare act is that it will cost the American economy 2.5 million jobs; but the truth is that the much-misrepresented CBO study didn't say that at all because, as The Wall Street Journal accurately reported, reducing the total number of hours Americans have to work is very different than eliminating jobs. One of the reasons we passed the Affordable Care Act in the first place was to fix the pitfalls of this country's employer-based health care system. Before the ACA, people with preexisting conditions were often forced to stay in their jobs to avoid losing their health care coverage. Even if they wanted to leave their jobs to reduce their hours, retire early, change careers, or to spend more time with their families, they couldn't because doing so would risk their ability to provide affordable health insurance for their families. What the Affordable Care Act did was right this wrong. By broadening access to health insurance, the ACA has increased personal freedom and market choice. Now Americans can choose jobs based on what they want to be doing instead of staying where they are unhappy just to keep their insurance. The expansion of Medicaid eligibility and the subsidies available in the exchanges will give Americans the flexibility they need to raise their families, not encourage workers to seek less employment, which was one of the most misleading claims made after the report was released. The idea that hardworking Americans will modify their employment just to be eligible for social safety net programs is both ludicrous and offensive. Nobody wants to live in a situation that makes you eligible for Medicaid or other social safety net programs, but too many hardworking Americans are forced to. In Illinois, a family of four must exist on less than $32,500 per year to qualify for these programs. In the Chicago area, the cost of living is high and families struggle to make ends meet. Measures like Medicaid and SNAP are meant to help people lift themselves from poverty. Claiming that poor people want to be poor to rely more on the government is misguided and just flat out wrong. I have said from the beginning that the ACA is far from perfect and that we should work together to improve it, but arguing that at-risk and low-income Americans will actively choose to work less, reducing their own incomes and jeopardizing their family's economic future just to ``game the system,'' is not a legitimate issue and speaks volumes about the extreme views that are dividing our government and preventing real reform from occurring. By focusing on false interpretations, we are forgetting the economic benefits contained in the law. To quote the CBO report: If some people seek to work less, other applicants will be readily available to fill those positions and the overall effect on employment will be muted. At a time when long-term employment is at its highest since World War II, there are more than enough workers willing and able to take these jobs. That is why the director of the CBO recently testified about the likelihood of the ACA creating jobs, not eliminating them. The report also acknowledged that insurance premiums under the law are 15 percent lower than originally forecast, that ``the slowdown in Medicare cost growth'' is ``broad and persistent,'' and that enrollments will increase over time to where they would have been if not for the Web site's issues. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans can now access affordable health insurance. With a focus on personal responsibility, preventive care, consumer protections, and increased choices, the Affordable Care Act has helped empower Americans to lead healthier lives. Let's put aside the punditry and focus on the facts.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, how quickly some forget. When Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, we did so on behalf of every constituent unfairly defrauded during the financial crisis. As a Cook County commissioner in 2007, I remember the financial crisis and the damage it did to Chicago's community. I remember when your credit card rate was about how well you could read fine print, not how regularly you paid your bill. I remember when auto loan financing could be based on a whim, not on your credit history, and when home buyers were pushed into loans no one could ever expect them to repay. I remember when it was open season on our veterans, when a whole industry was made out of defrauding our returning sons and daughters. I also remember how many of my colleagues characterized the creation of the CFPB, calling it a bureaucratic behemoth that would devastate credit markets and make lending impossible. Yet here we are today, with a growing economy and a vibrant credit market. Only now, we do it with fair practices, protecting American consumers and treating them with dignity. So I reject this attempt today to undermine the CFPB and the progress we have made. We simply cannot afford to return to the free-for-all that existed pre-crisis. H.R. 3193 is either a bad case of congressional amnesia or an attack on the most important financial reform of a generation. Either way, it is ill-sighted, and I urge my colleagues to defeat this effort.