Mike Quigley

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Emma Jurado, a member of my staff. Friday, May 29, was Emma's last day as a Legislative Aide and Scheduler in our office. Emma served the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois with distinction from 2003-2005, returned in 2007, and deserves our wholehearted appreciation for her efforts. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2005, Emma went to work for my predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, beginning as a Staff Assistant. After spending a year working for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, Emma returned to Congressman Emanuel's office in January 2007, working as a Legislative Aide and Scheduler. In addition to doing superlative work for my predecessor, Emma has been an extraordinary asset to my office as we've managed the transition process. This process has been a lot of hard work, but that is nothing new to Emma. Whether it was handling science and technology, art, innovation, or postal issues legislation, assisting the people of the Fifth Congressional District during the interim period, or establishing my scheduling operation, Emma has always given her all. I would like to wish Emma the best of luck working in President Obama's Administration. I am confident that she will find success in whatever path she chooses, and I thank her for her service to the people of Illinois' Fifth Congressional District.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, President Abraham Lincoln said a Gettysburg, ``The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'' I rise today to honor those who have fallen in defense of our country, and I do so recognizing that history won't remember what a guy like me has to say. But it's important for those who served, and those who serve, to know we will always take the time to remember, and say thank you. I rise to recognize the sacrifices of the Solider holding the line in Gettysburg, the Sailor defending the fleet in the South Pacific, the Marine landing at Inchon, South Korea, and the Airman patrolling the skies over Vietnam. Madam Speaker, we mark this holiday at a time when our sons and daughters are keeping watch over the streets of Baghdad and the mountains of Afghanistan. We mark this holiday as a reminder that in conflicts past, present, and future, a generation of Americans will answer the call and pay the price of freedom. While there is never doubt that they will do their duty and serve their country, let there never be doubt that we will stand by them and remember their service and their sacrifice. You may know that my hometown, Chicago, has one of the nation's largest Memorial Day parades. But you probably don't know about another, smaller, commemoration. Dan Wenserski is a gentleman from my district who knows about paying tribute to his brothers and sisters who wore the uniform. For as long as many can remember, Dan has paid his respects to those who served this country since its inception. Each year, Dan unpacks flags that had draped the caskets of the fallen to create an Avenue of Flags at Rosehill Cemetery. He believes it is important to pay tribute to all who sacrificed and served. As an 85-year-old veteran of World War II, Dan shuns the spotlight, preferring to honor his fallen colleagues than receive honor himself. But this Memorial Day, I ask all to join me in honoring and thanking Mr. Daniel Wenserski. Mr. Wenserski saw combat in the European theater and returned from World War II as a 21-year-old with three purple hearts. He is commander of Amvets Post 243. Dedicated veterans like him are a national treasure. We must remember them not only with memorials but in how we dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work of our Republic. We must remember Lincoln's pledge to, ``care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.'' That means we can't just use this day to pay homage to those who are lost. We need to remember those who remain behind. We need to remember the mother or father who has to raise a family alone, and the children who are left with only a photo. We have, and must continue to make great strides during this Congress to help that mother and that father. We must not allow the lessons learned during this day go unheeded during every other. We must dedicate every day to taking care of our veterans and their families, as they have taken every one of their days to dedicate to us. I'd like to thank all of our veterans for the freedoms we all take for granted, and wish you and your families all the very best on this Memorial Day.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, earlier this week, Iran tested a new long-range missile. This missile has a range of up to 1,200 miles and can reach our troops in the region, as well as many of our allies, including Israel. This was not done in the name of peace. Rather, this launch was a grab at power, an attempt to threaten Israel and our other allies in the region. Now, more than ever, we must stand by our friends. Iran, on the other hand, can only rejoin the society of nations with an olive branch, not a ballistic missile. We must not allow our allies in Israel and across the Middle East to fall under the threat of a nuclear Iran, nor can we allow Iran to achieve a dominant position in the region through intimidation. The safety and security of millions of people depend on a strong and determined stance by the American people and all of the community of nations.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank President Obama for announcing new mileage standards which will reduce carbon emissions 30 percent by 2016 and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Another great Chicagoan, Daniel Burnham, once said, ``Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.'' Well, now is the time for us to make big plans on behalf of generations we will never live to see. Now is the time to broaden our attention span beyond the next election cycle. Now is the time to think about those who can't vote yet but will have to breathe the air, drink the water, and pay the debts we leave behind. Now is the time to work together to make big plans on robust climate change based on verification, sustainability, and renewable energy. As we think about what to do with our time here in Congress, let me leave you with an old Irish blessing: May there be a generation of children, on the children of your children.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, this is a fascinating debate for me because, for 7 years as a university professor, I have been able to see how this process actually works and begins. I saw the credit card companies literally trolling the campuses offering jerseys and sweatshirts for the honor of students to buy pizzas at 18 to 21 percent interest rates. There is no doubt that credit card companies provide a valuable service for hardworking Americans, but they are the ones changing the rules. In recent years credit card companies have begun to abuse this system. They've implemented deceptive provisions and have burdened the average consumer with extraordinary high rates and fees. If you pay your balance on time and you spend below your credit limit, you should not be subject to arbitrary interest rates and increases. These credit card companies deserve to make a profit, but not at the expense of the American consumer. This bill is about reforming that system. It puts safeguards in place that will help inform consumers and empower them to take control of their credit and, therefore, their lives.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. I rise in strong support of this amendment because today the average American can apply for a credit card anywhere, at a grocery store, at an airport, a ballpark, even college campuses. It all seems so easy. Unfortunately, the terms of the agreements aren't so easy. In some cases, terms have become so complicated that the average consumer cannot always know what they've gotten themselves into. Now more than ever, Americans are turning to their credit cards to get them through the end of the month, and in turn, the U.S. credit card debt has reached an all-time high. Meanwhile, almost half of Americans carry a balance and have no idea how long it'll take to pay that down. The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights will protect consumers from predatory practices, and this specific amendment will give them the ability to pay down their debts. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1913. I am new here, but I am not new to this issue. And I am extraordinarily aware that in our country hatred has an extraordinary tenacity, a tenacity which we must be on arm against, especially when that hatred takes the form of action. In 2008, there were 72 reported hate crimes in the city of Chicago alone. When one of our neighbors is attacked, our entire community must feel the pain. Every American, regardless of who his parents are, where she worships, or who he chooses to love, deserves to be free from the fear of harm. This bill will go a long way towards ensuring all of our citizens have access, equal access to protection under the law. I thank the Chair and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Chairman for his good work on this legislation and look forward to working with him on this issue. I rise in strong support of the amendment from the gentleman from Illinois. The Great Lakes provide drinking water to over 40 million people and 90 percent of the U.S. water supply. Urban sprawl, air and water pollution, and habitat fragmentation are already stressing ecosystems of the Great Lakes region. This amendment will ensure essential long-term forecasting of water levels of major bodies of water, including the Great Lakes, in order to develop adequate adaption and management plans. I thank the gentleman and I urge my colleague to support the Kirk amendment.

Mr. QUIGLEY

Mr. QUIGLEY. Thank you, Madam Speaker, Members of the House and many friends back home watching, including a lot of good friends at Loyola University. First, a word of thanks. To my friends, family and staff here, I wish to thank everyone here who got me down here. It means a lot to me. To my mom and dad, it's a gift from all of your children today because, without you and without them, I wouldn't be here. Above all, I want to thank my wife, Barb, and my daughters, Alyson and Meghan. I must put the record clear: Meghan and Alyson already have their puppy. I will tell you that dog is not hypoallergenic either. I also want to recognize my predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, who is here today. Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, you may find that the Congressman and I have different styles. Someone suggested different vocabulary, but I wasn't going to add that. We share much in common, and that is that Rahm and I share the same commitment to the working families of our country and of the Fifth District. Finally, I do want to thank the people of the Fifth District of Illinois. You all know trust is a hard thing to come by these days in this business, and the people of my district gave me their trust. I can't tell you out there what that means to me. It's a humbling experience to take a job when people are losing theirs and to become a Member of this House when people are losing theirs. It means the world to me that the public gave me their trust. It is for them, for every American confronting these challenges, that I draw my strength, and I look forward to working with each and every one of you to make those things happen. Thank you and God bless.