Mike Quigley

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in celebration of National Hockey League's Hockey Fights Cancer Day on the Hill. Anyone who has played the great sport of hockey or who has watched a game has probably seen a fight or two on the ice. It's no secret that hockey players are a tough group. But off the ice, there are bigger fights being waged each and every day by people even tougher than your average hockey player, even players like former Blackhawk Reid Simpson. Those living with and fighting against cancer are tougher than the toughest odds and incredibly brave in spite of daunting treatment and an uncertain future. With nearly 12 million patients in America today, most of us know someone fighting cancer, be it a family member, friend, or neighbor. The NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative is an extraordinary opportunity for members of the hockey family to stand up for our loved ones and to support the organizations that provide cutting-edge research, therapy, and vital support services that make their lives better. This is one fight I'm proud to be a part of, and I encourage other hockey fans out there to join me as Hockey Fights Cancer.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in opposition to this bill because it is an assault on a woman's health and her right to make her own life decisions.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I feel like I have a case of deja vu. Two years ago, I stood on this floor, on the eighth anniversary of our invasion of Afghanistan, and asked: Have our 8 years, 791 American deaths, and billions of U.S. dollars spent in Afghanistan made America safer? Today, I stand in the same place asking the same question. Now, 10 years have passed, 1,800 American lives have been lost, and we have spent almost half a trillion dollars, and I have to ask again: Have 10 years in Afghanistan made America safer? Sadly, just as I concluded 2 years ago, I must conclude again today, they have not. We went into Afghanistan under the mantle of protecting America's national security. The perpetrators of September 11, al Qaeda, were in Afghanistan, and we had to go after them. But just as was the case 2 years ago, al Qaeda is no longer primarily in Afghanistan. In fact, only 50 to 100 al Qaeda operatives are estimated to be operating in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda's primary hub is still located across the border in tribal areas of Pakistan. And other al Qaeda cells are operating around the world in Yemen, North Africa, and through affiliated groups in Southeast Asia and Uzbekistan. Threats to America are not from Afghanistan but from ungoverned spaces around the world and even right here on American soil. A review of recently foiled terrorist plots shores up the widespread origins of U.S.-centered terror attempts. The Times Square bomber is a Pakistani American who received training in the Waziristan region of Pakistan. The explosives hidden in ink cartridges and destined for an American synagogue in my own district in Chicago were planted by a Saudi militant and shipped from Yemen. The Christmas Day airline bomber was a Nigerian, inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki, who was based in Yemen. And another devotee of al-Awlaki was the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, an American citizen born in Virginia. Not one of these terror plots originated in Afghanistan, and yet still we maintain close to 100,000 U.S. troops on the ground there. Every major U.S. victory the U.S. has had in the fight against terrorism has come not on the ground in Afghanistan but through targeted attacks such as those that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and the recent strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. There have been at least 45 jihadist terrorist attacks plotted against the U.S. since 9/11, and each one of them was foiled not by our mass ground forces in Afghanistan, but through a combination of intelligence, policing, and citizen engagement. According to terrorism expert Erik Dahl of the Naval Postgraduate School, ``When it comes to domestic attacks and securing the homeland, what works is really good, old-fashioned policing--law enforcement, tips from the public, police informants.'' Not only is our military action in Afghanistan not making us safer, but research indicates it could actually be making us less safe. As counterinsurgency expert David Kilcullen points out, rather than reducing the number of terrorists, the U.S. presence in Afghanistan could actually be spurring new terrorism as locals band together to resist foreign occupation. It's called accidental guerrilla syndrome. Further, a report issued last year by the gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Tierney, revealed the U.S. military is funding the multibillion dollar protection racket. A good portion of a $2.16 billion transportation contract is being paid to corrupt public officials, warlords, and the Taliban to get needed supplies to our troops. We are funding the very insurgency we are fighting. We went into Afghanistan to make America safer, but, for several years now, we have known that our enemies are no longer concentrated in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is an enemy without borders, and so now we must have a strategy without borders. The question now is: Will we adjust our strategy to reflect today's circumstances, or will we continue to live in the past, repeating this destructive cycle of sending dollars and troops to a mission no longer central to American security? We have to end our military presence in Afghanistan now, because I don't want to stand in this same spot a year from now with another case of deja vu.

Mr QUIGLEY

Mr QUIGLEY. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Chair, my amendment permits the EPA to continue to enforce and finalize the regulations preempted by the bill at hand if the emissions limited by these regulations are found to cause cancer. In other words, this amendment says the administrator shall not delay actions to reduce the emissions from any cement kiln if such emissions are increasing the occurrence of cancer. We stand here today having an argument that is predicated on the notion that when it comes to matters of job creation and environmental stewardship and protection of public health, you can only have one or the other. You must pick between creating and retaining jobs, they'll tell you, or protecting and conserving our land, air, water, and keeping our public healthy. This is a false notion, born of scare tactics and the fact that those who purport these ideas aren't basing their beliefs on science. There are both economic and societal factors involved. It's not an either/or. It's dollar signs, yes; but it's also lives, days in hospitals, cancer treatments, and trips to the emergency room for small children and the elderly. Come to Chicago, the asthma morbidity and mortality capital of the United States. Cement kilns are the third largest source of mercury emissions in the U.S. Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that impacts and impairs the ability of infants and children to think and learn. The toxic air pollutants found in cement kiln emissions can cause cancer, and they do. The toxic air pollutants found in cement kiln emissions damage the eyes, skin, and breathing passages. The toxic air pollutants found in cement kiln emissions harm the kidneys, lungs, and nervous systems. They cause pulmonary and cardiovascular disease and premature death. The carcinogens found in cement kiln emissions include toxic air pollutants including mercury, arsenic, acid gases, hydrochloric acid, dioxins, and other harmful pollutants that add to the Nation's problems with soot and smog. They are known carcinogens, known carcinogens pumped from these sources into our air, into our land, and into our waters. They even land on the grass in Wisconsin eaten by cows and drunk in milk. But don't take my word for it. Look at the numbers. Plain and simple, Madam Chair, the Clean Air Act saves lives. The Clean Air Act has saved the lives of over 160,000 people in the 40 years it has been on the books. This is not a number to be debated. In fact, this is a number that is conservatively estimated by the EPA. This is not some inflated statistic designed for shock value or for any other reason. We know that the Clean Air Act has human value. Since 1990, EPA has set numeric emission limits on a pollutant-by-pollutant basis for more than 100 industry source categories. This approach has been a major success, reducing emissions of carcinogens and other highly toxic chemicals by 1.7 million tons each year. Each of EPA's proposed rules would save thousands more lives each year. One example, an example we're dealing with today, pertains to the EPA's proposed rule regarding toxic emissions from cement kilns. This rule simply calls for cement kilns to meet numeric emission standards for mercury and other toxic pollutants. This so-called ``job-killing'' rule is predicted to save up to 2,500 lives each year. The limit will annually prevent 1,500 heart attacks, 17,000 asthma attacks and over 1,700 hospital and emergency room visits and 130,000 days of missed work. Any rule that saves lives is a matter of public health. We're dealing with skyrocketing rates of death due to asthma and burdening more children at earlier ages with lifelong and sometimes debilitating cases of asthma from particulate matter being pumped into our air. A report released by the American Lung Association reported nearly 60 percent of Americans live in areas where air pollution has reached unhealthy levels that can and do make people sick. These are measures that will help keep us alive and able to work. These are measures that will create jobs in the clean and green industrial industry. Attacks on the Clean Air Act and the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases are a huge piece of the larger climate crisis, a crisis that has a hefty cost: our lives. The need to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions is based on sound science, the results of hundreds of peer-reviewed studies that show their debilitating effects on our health and our planet--zero peer-reviewed studies that show that global warming does not exist and that man does not contribute to it. We're asked to go back now. Why? Why are we considering legislation to halt rules that have been considered for now 10 years? This is beyond me. Why are we considering legislation to halt rules that will keep us at work, healthy and alive? I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, we have been in Afghanistan for 10 years. Two years ago, on the eighth anniversary of our invasion of Afghanistan, I stood in this same spot and asked: Have our 8 years, 791 American deaths, and billions of U.S. dollars spent in Afghanistan made America safer? My conclusion, sadly, was no. Two years later, I am left asking the same questions and reaching the same conclusions: al-Qaeda is still not primarily in Afghanistan, but in Pakistan, Yemen, Africa and elsewhere. We still cannot afford a vast ground war and rebuilding effort abroad. We should be fighting a smaller, smarter war that goes after terrorists instead of building nations. It's time to get out of Afghanistan before another year passes and we are back here saying the same thing all over again.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Principal David Maring. This summer, Mr. Maring retired after 46 years of dedication to education and academic excellence as a teacher and principal of Pilgrim Lutheran School in the 5th Congressional District of Chicago. Mr. Maring began his long and respected career in education by joining Pilgrim Lutheran School as a teacher in 1965. After six years of excellent service he became principal of Pilgrim Lutheran. As a principal, Mr. Maring was so dedicated to his profession that he made the extra effort to know every student by name. He inspired his staff to become the best teachers they could be in order to provide an excellent education for their students. He sought to provide a progressive education to nourish the students in both spirit and mind. Mr. Maring never fully left the classroom, and he continued to teach math and physical education and coach sports teams throughout his tenure. Mr. Maring's dedication to his profession, his exceptional wisdom and leadership ensure his lasting place in the hearts of generations of Pilgrim students, faculty, and the Ravenswood community at large. Mr. Maring is the embodiment of the Pilgrim Lutheran motto: ``Academic Excellence with a Heart.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing David Maring and his extraordinary career, and to thank him for his many contributions to the Pilgrim Lutheran School, his students, and the community.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my constituent, Maurice Spiegel, who will turn 100 years old on October 27, 2011. Maurie, as he is known, is the son of Max Spiegel and Ida Kaplan, and has an older sister, Tillie, and five brothers, Lou, Irv, Frank, Hy, and Bill. Growing up near Roosevelt Road and Halsted Street in the City of Chicago, Maurie encountered great difficulties as a young boy. His family struggled to make ends meet, and his mother had to raise the children on her own. To help his family, Maurie began selling newspapers, putting whatever he earned under his mother's pillow. When his family could no longer afford school supplies, Maurie dropped out of high school and started working in order to contribute even more. According to his family, Maurie was very athletic as a child. He was well known for his skills in soft ball and hitting home runs. He was also a great swimmer, once saving a child from drowning. Living in a tough neighborhood, Maurie learned to defend himself and his younger brothers, though he always maintained that he never started a fight, just finished them! Today, Maurie is now known for his outstanding ability in the game of checkers. During World War II, Maurie served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 and was stationed in Attu, which is the westernmost island of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Maurie obtained his high school G.E.D. and took several college courses under the G.I. Bill after his military service. He worked various positions for the United States Postal Service in Chicago for 27 years until his retirement. Despite being retired, Maurie worked as a messenger for Continental Bank for another 15 years. Since high school, Maurie has worked full time until he was almost 80 years old. Maurie married the love of his life, Lucille, and had one son, Harvey. Lucille and Maurie moved into North Park Village Apartments in 1984. Lucille passed away in 1987. Harvey says of his parents, ``My dad was the most loyal and reliable husband to my mom. They were a couple who truly loved each other.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maurice ``Maurie'' Spiegel on his 100th birthday. His life is a wonderful testament of his immense love for his family and of his outstanding dedication and service to his community and the United States of America.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. It's not too late. That's my message to Palestinian Authority President Abbas, who has announced his intention to seek unilateral Palestinian statehood at the United Nations this Friday. It's not too late to abandon this reckless route, engage in direct negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and choose the path to peace. There is only one road to a peace agreement, and that is through direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians. This course forward is clearly outlined in the Oslo Peace Agreement, which states that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be resolved through direct, two-party negotiations. Anything outside of these direct talks--particularly this Palestinian appeal for U.N. recognition--is a dangerous digression from the known way forward. In addition to veering from the track toward two states, a status upgrade at this time could allow the Palestinians to pursue cases against Israel in international institutions such as the International Criminal Court. Such institutions could even be used to request advisory rulings on final status issues, further circumventing two- party negotiations. The U.S. has also made significant investments in bolstering Palestinian security and economic prosperity, all in an effort to enable the Palestinians to make the difficult concessions necessary to move toward peace. This appeal to the U.N. and rejection of direct two- party talks directly undermines considerable American efforts and investments in a peace deal. Abbas and the Palestinians need to come back to the negotiating table, and it is the U.S. that needs to lead them back and spearhead negotiations. As a true and steadfast friend to Israel, there has never been a more vital time for America to stand strong with our ally. With the excitement and hope of the Arab Spring has also come a great deal of uncertainty--uncertainty about the strength of the relationship between Israel and Turkey; uncertainty about the willingness of the Egyptians to hold true to their promises under the benchmark 1979 peace treaty; uncertainty about the security of the Sinai; uncertainty surrounding the speed with which Iran marches toward a nuclear bomb; and uncertainty about the number of rockets being stockpiled by Hezbollah and Hamas aimed at the homes of Israeli citizens. But there is one thing that must never be uncertain: America's support for Israel. A threat to Israel's security or legitimacy is a threat to America, and we will not stand by and let Israel face these challenges alone. Upon her founding over six decades ago, the United States was the first Nation to recognize Israel. And since that recognition, the special bond between Israel and the U.S. has only grown stronger on the bedrock of the mutual principles of freedom, justice, and peace. Now is the time to stand with our old friend and lead the way to peace. It is moments like these that test our mettle. It is moments like these that are recorded in our history books. And it is moments like these where we must show our leadership. America must do everything in its power to end this perilous Palestinian bid for unilateral statehood and get direct negotiations between the two parties back on track. And President Abbas must know there will be consequences for choosing the path of confrontation over that of negotiation. The course to unilateral recognition is not free. The Israeli- Palestinian peace process is at a pivotal crossroad. The Palestinians can choose to pursue the dead-end track toward U.N. recognition, or they can adjust their course in their wrongheaded U.N. bid and sit down at the negotiating table with Israel. The choice is theirs. It's not too late to choose the path toward peace.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, the Republic of China (Taiwan), will celebrate its 100th anniversary as a nation. One hundred years ago, on October 10, 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and his Revolutionary Alliance ended China's rule of Taiwan. Since then, Taiwan has proven itself a beacon of democracy and freedom for the global community. Taiwanese leaders have consistently and peacefully transferred power amongst each other, and its residents act in ways that embody democratic philosophies and principles. I am proud to call Taiwan a friend and ally, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing the Taiwanese people and their century of accomplishments. As a friend, I happily extend my congratulations to Taiwan on its upcoming 100th anniversary.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today under the dome of our Nation's Capitol to applaud the final repeal of the discriminatory policy known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The men and women who fight for our country as members of our Armed Forces fight for what's right, what's fair, and what's just. They fight without asking at what cost, without asking why and how long they must endure. This September 11 marked 10 years since that fateful day when our country was attacked. As I returned home from Chicago, boarded my plane and landed safely in Washington, I marveled at the dome that still sat, untouched by those who would do us harm, because of those who had no fear, those who gave their last full measure of devotion. And today, I'm emboldened further by the fact that these same soldiers who have continued to fight and die for our safety can now do so without having to hide who they are or who they love. Our soldiers fight for what's right, what's fair, and what's just. Finally, we have managed to provide the same to them.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor today's guest chaplain, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. I've known Bishop Paprocki for over 20 years, as he served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago before becoming Bishop of Springfield. The good bishop is also known in other circles only as the ``Holy Goalie''--the man who saves souls and goals. Bishop Paprocki and I have played hockey together many times, and it's always a comfort to know I've got the bishop behind me manning the net. But his heroics on the ice pale in comparison to his service to our community. In these years since joining the priesthood in 1978, he has shown a dedication to helping the poor and disadvantaged. With his DePaul law degree, he set forth to found the Chicago Legal Clinic to assist these struggling communities. His work is an inspiration to us all. I am lucky to call the bishop a good friend. Thank you, Bishop Paprocki, for joining us here today. See you on the ice.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, on January 21, 1990, over 300,000 Ukrainians joined hands to create a 300-mile human chain from Kiev to Lviv in a show of unity and support for Ukrainian independence. One year later, on August 24, 1991, Ukraine rose from under its Soviet yoke and declared its independence. I stand here today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and to commend them on their many democratic achievements over the last two decades. Yet as we celebrate Ukraine's severing of its Soviet chains, we must be aware of new restraints, for new shackles in the form of press crackdowns and opposition intimidation threaten to re-enchain Ukrainians and reverse their many hard-fought freedoms. I have faith in the spirit of the Ukrainian people and hope they will join hands again, as they did 20 years ago, and continue to stand strong for freedom and democracy, knowing America will always be standing beside them. As they say in Ukraine: Together we are many. We cannot be defeated.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Monica Foskett, a vital member of my staff for over the past two years. Friday, August 12th was Monica's last day serving the people of the Illinois Fifth Congressional District. She has served with distinction since 2009, and has spent the past two years working for her hometown, Chicago, with aplomb and determination. Monica began her career in public service as a staffer on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Quickly moving up in the campaign's field program, the long hours and experience helped her to develop a strong work ethic and a political acumen that carried over to her role as a Congressional staffer. As a volunteer assisting in my office transition, Monica helped lead the effort to gather and submit the appropriation requests an exceptionally difficult task when reduced to a couple of weeks. Many late nights were spent and caffeine products consumed ensuring the requests were submitted in time. In addition to helping with appropriations, Monica took the lead in setting up scheduling procedures for the office, handling arts and culture issues, organizing the Hockey Caucus, and assisting with housing issues. She proved to be passionate about her work and making a difference in people's lives. I am confident she will continue to find success in public service. Mr. Speaker, not only will we miss her hard work, but we will also miss her presence in the office. With her quick-to-laugh personality, I know my office will, sadly, be a quieter place. I wish Monica the best of luck not only on her future endeavors serving the public, but with her new life and fiance, Mike Guerra, in New York. I thank her for her service to the Illinois 5th Congressional District.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. ``I fear that in every assembly, members will obtain an influence by noise, not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By contracted hearts, not large souls.'' Mr. Speaker, John Adams wrote those words to his wife over 200 years ago, but the same fear lives today. Congress is back in town and all anyone wants to know is when, not if, we will tear each other apart. I think we are better than that. As we move into September and tonight's address, let's remember how John ended that letter to Abigail: ``There must be decency and respect, and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank, or we are undone. In a popular government,'' wrote Adams, ``this is our only way.''

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. ``Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history,'' said Lincoln in an address to Congress in 1862. ``We of this Congress and this administration, we will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. We, even we here, hold the power and bear the responsibility.'' Lincoln didn't say that on one side of the battle lay a Democratic victory, and on the other side a Republican defeat, or vice versa. Lincoln didn't say that this was a victory achieved without great compromise. Lincoln didn't say, if you do things my way, with my party, we'll win this one. He told the story of a Nation that faced terrible consequences and yet still had the extraordinary foresight and fortitude to charge ahead toward a victory that included compromise. ``We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' His warning stands today.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and distinguished career of Ed Pyrzynski. For over 40 years, he has served as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS), and has tirelessly worked to represent and protect the interests of his fellow USPS employees. The son of Ed and Mary Pyrzynski, Mr. Pyrzynski began his career as a letter carrier for the USPS in 1970. His work was driven by his strong belief that the great service offered by the USPS should be brought to every home and business. Mr. Pyrzynski was also dedicated in ensuring that the most important issues faced by USPS employees were well- represented and considered. In the early 1980s, he became involved with the National Association of Letter Carriers, and was elected as a union steward for the Kedzie Grace Station. Through his work, he helped to promote cooperation between local employees and management by forming committees, organizing station and community events, and identifying various issues for joint resolution. In the 1990s, Mr. Pyrzynski attended Wright College and Northeastern Illinois University, and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in training and development. He also began his work with the Illinois Letter Carrier Association, and later became the legislative liaison for the Illinois 5th Congressional District. In this capacity, he worked closely with my district office and traveled to Washington, D.C. in presenting the most salient issues faced by USPS letter carriers and other working Americans. Today, Mr. Pyrzynski continues his work for the National Association of Letter Carriers by reconciling employee grievances. He was previously involved in the NALC's Dispute Resolution, a joint effort by USPS employees and management to promote accord in reducing the number of cases that go through costly arbitration resolutions. As he retires from his long and illustrious career, I am certain that Ed looks forward to moving to Arizona with his wife Laura, and spending more time with his family including his sons Jason, Seth, Travis, and Jeremy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Ed Pyrzynski and his commitment to the many businesses and residents in the Chicagoland area, and to the interests of its employees. His tireless service and dedication will be missed, and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brendan Moore for his outstanding work on behalf of the people of the Fifth District of Illinois. For the past two years, Brendan has served as my Legislative Counsel, advising my staff and me on legal issues and doing Judiciary Committee work. A true Chicagoan and graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Brendan represented my alma mater with aplomb in his work on various legislative initiatives, including bills to close the gun show loophole and to ensure honest services from our elected officials. Furthermore, his great attitude and hearty sense of humor made working with him a true pleasure. Perhaps most importantly, as a Notre Dame graduate Brendan gave me someone with whom I could talk ND football--even if the news was usually bad. Whether it was Honest Services, Judiciary Committee briefings, or football under the Golden Dome, Brendan's thoughtful and professional contributions have been a great boon to our office and we thank him. As he leaves to pursue public service opportunities back in Chicago, I am confident that his expertise, integrity, and good humor will continue to serve the people of Illinois well. I thank Brendan again for his hard work and wish him the best of luck in the future.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ``Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. ``We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. We, even we here, hold the power and bear the responsibility. ``We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' Lincoln, of course, was talking about the state of a Nation in peril on December 1 in his address to Congress in 1862. But if this Nation had not the leadership of that magnitude, who knows where we would be today. They faced terrible consequences and yet still had the extraordinary foresight and fortitude to charge ahead. Today, we too face consequences. We face consequences of international economic impact, environmental and ecological destruction. We consider this week a debt limit crisis that has brought out the best and worst amongst men and women I respect both here on this House floor and on the other side of this Capitol building and on cable news stations across the country. We are also considering here in this House an Interior and Environment appropriations bill that simply says to our children: You clean it up; we don't care to bear the burden. This bill does irreparable damage to programs that keep our air clean, our water drinkable, and that protect our national and natural heritage. These are not dollars spent without thought, nor are they investments of a trivial nature as some would have us believe. Simply put, these are science-based, pragmatic investments in public health. These cuts, all told, will not save the country a penny. The policy riders included in this bill will cost tens of thousands of lives. The bill will expose our children, families, and communities to unnecessary illness and degrade our irreplaceable natural resources. But this week we are not stopping at a debt ceiling quagmire and an Interior and Environmental appropriations abhorrence. We will continue to consider a measure that would deem congressional approval for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The Keystone would flow from Alberta down to the gulf coast, threading right through the vast Ogallala Aquifer, the main drinking water source for the Midwest. You can ignore the dozen leaks the Keystone ``one'' system has had in the last year, stoking fears of a spill in the aquifer from the proposed expansion pipeline. You can ignore the 42,000 gallons that seeped from an ExxonMobil pipeline into the Yellowstone River in Montana earlier this month, under which Keystone XL would also run. You can ignore the science that says that the high energy process of production of tar sands increases greenhouse gas emissions, pollutes water sources, and harms the proposed region's boreal forests. And you can ignore the fact that testimony of TransCanada officials to Canadian regulators included the fact that the pipeline would drive gasoline prices in the Midwest higher, not lower. But let's forget all that. On procedure alone, this Congressional consideration of a bill that is currently under review by the Department of State is unnecessary and unprecedented, potentially negatively affecting our national security and safety. This proposed pipeline needs no congressional approval. In fact, this proposed expansion need not be approved at all. It has drawn criticism from the Environmental Protection Agency, who suggested that the State Department should consider how construction would affect wetlands, migratory birds, and communities through which it passes. So we stand here today to consider approving a project expansion that has been deemed mediocre at best. We stand here today to consider an environmental appropriations bill that has been deemed the worst we have ever seen. And we stand here today while everyone around us fights against a compromise that might keep our standing in the international economy from dipping further than we have already seen it fall. Indeed, ``We cannot escape history. We hold the power, and bear the responsibility. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' President Lincoln, truer words were never spoken.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 1315. The underlying bill requires that when the Financial Stability Oversight Council meets to deliberate on a CFPB ruling, those meetings would be open to the public. My amendment takes that one step further and would require that the meeting be live-streamed over the Internet. If what we are concerned about here is transparency and openness, it makes sense that the entire American public have access to these meetings over the Internet, not just people in one city. This is important to both supporters and critics of the CFPB. If a CFPB ruling is challenged by the FSOC, Americans should be able to observe the proceedings. My amendment will do just that. It makes the proceedings more open, transparent, and accessible. Transparency will help ensure that all parties--banks and consumers--get a fair hearing. It is also important in terms of regaining the public trust, especially in these times. According to a Pew poll, only 22 percent of Americans trust government to do the right thing. What does that mean? That means that eight out of 10 people in this country think that government will do the wrong thing. The real cost of corruption is the deficit of trust. It is almost impossible to lead without the public's trust. What we need to focus on first and foremost is regaining that trust, principally through transparency. Therefore, I ask that this amendment be supported by both sides. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the World War II veterans from my district who are traveling to Washington, DC, with Honor Flight Chicago, a program whose goal is to provide as many World War II veterans as possible the opportunity to see the World War II Memorial here in Washington, DC, a memorial that was built to honor their courage and service. The American veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen traveling here today answered our nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the European Campaign to the Pacific Asian Theatre to the African Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed. I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorial. I am proud to submit the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude. Eugene L. Andrews, Raymond Appler, Gus Banakis, Preston Beard, Wallace E. Beaver, Frank J. Bernd, Frederick J. Boland, Edward Brown, Alfred Burton, Konstantine Costa, Donald DeBraal, Theodore DeJong, Edwin H. Enyart Sr., Arthur J. Fiddelke, Bernard Fine, David J. Floyd, James E. Folliard, Virginia L. Gary, Stanley G. Golaszewski, Byron G. S. Gronlund, Elmer Hajek, Lester Hansen, Wesley Earl Hardin Jr., Leonard P. Hasse, Roy E. Hilgendorf, Charles Hirsh, Robert Iftner, Anna Incinelli, William Isaacson, John Isenberg, Joseph G. Kacey, Vernon G. Kanz, Chris Karabatsos, Adam Joseph Keker, James F. Kerr Jr., Edward Kerschbaum, Lauri V. Koski, Ernest Krause, Chester Kwilosz, Daniel H. LaBella, Jerome L. Landsman, Rodney Latimer, Raymond J. Lesniewski, Jerry C. Levin, Paul T. Lorenzo, Donald E. Maas, John J. Maisch, Allen Mann, Earl McGarry, F. Edward Meksto, William Mihalo, Stephen Mileusnich, Jerrald Miller, Roy J. Moceri, James Morgan, Tony D. Morgese, William J. Murtha Sr., Thomas John Nagel, Carmen C. Nespeca, George Novak, Cornelius J. O'Connor, Dwain Eldon Parker, Stanley Piorkowski, Peter G. Polmen, Stanley Porch, Harry Clayton Price, Lloyd Quamme, Samuel S. Radford, Curtis D. Ramlet, Ora J. Royal, Thomas B. Ryan, Lester Schuenemann, Roland C. Schwarz, Mary S. Senn, Milton H. Shatswell, Burton J. Shulhafer, Bernard Joseph Siegel, David Simpson, George P. Slivinski, John F. Smith, Demetri Michael Spiro, Donald Springer, Leonard J. Sytsma, Daniel J. Trahey, Robert J. Trauscht, Marven Treiber, Robert Turner, Henry Van Westrop, Harold Verdak, William A. Vicich, John B. Wallar, Barry R. Wallis, Mathew A. Wardynski, Bernard J. Wavra, Theodore B. Winters, Chester B. Wojcik.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, an American President once wrote a letter to the Senate majority leader, urging him to raise the debt ceiling. The President wrote: ``The full consequences of a default or even the serious prospect of default by the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate. ``Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and on the value of the dollar in exchange markets.'' That President's name was Ronald Reagan, and the year was 1983. He closes his letter to Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, saying: ``The risks, the costs, the disruptions, and the incalculable damage lead me to but one conclusion: The Senate must pass this legislation before the Congress adjourns.'' Watching the House floor 28 years later, you could be forgiven for being surprised Reagan would ever say such a thing. That's because the Reagan who gets referenced on the floor here is a myth while the Reagan who wrote to Howard Baker urging pragmatism was a man. The real Ronald Reagan once said: ``All of us have grown up accepting, with little question, certain images as accurate portraits of public figures--some living, some dead. Seldom, if ever, do we ask if the images are true to the original.'' In the year of his 100th birthday, the Great Communicator might be amazed at how far his own image has shifted from the original. He'd see his most dedicated followers using his name as justification for saying ``no'' to honoring our debts. He'd see his legacy used to play chicken with the world's greatest economic engine; but as Reagan often quoted John Adams, ``facts are stubborn things.'' The facts are these: President Reagan raised the debt ceiling 18 times. He recognized the danger of economic brinkmanship. President Reagan took responsibility when the deep tax cuts of 1981 didn't produce the promised revenue. He worked with both sides of the aisle to find a more sustainable balance. He worked with Tip O'Neill to shore up Social Security. He worked with my predecessor Dan Rostenkowski to reform the Tax Code and eliminate tax loopholes. All of these actions would be condemned as tax increases by the purists who follow the image instead of the man. Image worship is a bipartisan disease, but we all do ourselves and our Nation a disservice by distorting past images to justify present policies. As another American President, John F. Kennedy, once put it: ``The greatest enemy of the truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.'' To say I disagreed with President Reagan on a number of issues is an understatement, but the more I get to know the myth, the more I like the man. President Reagan was not a picture on the wall. He was President of the United States for two terms in office, and he did his best to fulfill his sworn obligations. We in Congress would do well to follow his lead and focus on what we can do during our short time in office. Let's truly follow President Reagan's example and govern for the future, not a past that never existed. Instead of talking to portraits, let's talk to each other.