Peter Roskam

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons people feel locked out and left out is the cold notion that the government that is supposed to be collecting taxes and evaluating things according to the law, it turns out that they were acting for a malevolent reason. It turns out that they were going after the very people that they were supposed to protect. Turns out they were investigating based on religious belief, political belief, education belief, and so forth. So it is no wonder that the public feels disconnected from this. It is no wonder that they feel like they were trusting somebody that was just supposed to collect taxes and then they learned that they were being targeted. That is part of the locked out and left out feeling. There is another problem, too, with the logic of the argument that we heard just a minute ago, and there is somehow an implication that this information is supposed to be public. That is news. Schedule B isn't public today, and nobody is proposing that it be public. And, in fact, the courts have said it would be unconstitutional to make it public. So who is the beneficiary of this information, Mr. Speaker, if it is not the public, because it is not the public according to the law now. Who would be the beneficiary? Oh, the IRS. They are the only ones, Mr. Speaker, that have access to this information. The public doesn't have it. And we already learned what happened. The courts have said: You cannot tell the NAACP, you cannot make them reveal their donors. By that logic that we heard a minute ago, those organizations, during the civil rights movement, what would they have had to do? They would have had to disclose all of that information. And thanks be to God, Mr. Speaker, that the Court said no. Speech is special, speech is sacrosanct, and speech ought not be manipulated and intimidated by people with power. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The foreign money invitation is a straw man argument, and we have spent a lot of time on it talking about it this afternoon. But remember, all these activities are legal. Also remember that it is the Internal Revenue Service based on past practice that has developed or communicated an inability to hold confidential information close. That is important. It is also important to recognize that it was the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner who has essentially said: We don't need this information. We have had this debate and basically an admonition against the campaign finance laws. The minority's objection is largely directed to the United States Supreme Court and their conclusion in the Citizens United decision. That is all fine, well, and good. But let's focus in here on what we are actually talking about. What we are talking about is the lack of trust that we have in the Internal Revenue Service based on past activities to hold this information close, based on their projections about their challenges as it relates to cybersecurity and identity theft, and I think a general recognition of the chilling effect of what happens when you have an organization that chooses to target people based on their political speech. Mr. Speaker, I think we have thoroughly debated this. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, the motion to recommit essentially says this: All kind of speech is sacred, and all types of speech should be protected, except certain kinds. So you can say whatever you want to say, you can say it however you want to say it, but if it is political, we are going to treat it differently. And that is the problem; that is absolutely the problem. H.R. 5053 is commonsense legislation that protects Americans from having their information improperly disclosed. It eliminates a burdensome reporting requirement for not-for-profits, and the IRS itself has indicated that it doesn't use the reported information for tax enforcement. There is absolutely no reason not to eliminate the Schedule B on the Form 990. Not only is it unnecessary, but the IRS doesn't have a good track record at protecting sensitive information or treating everyone fairly. We shouldn't be giving the Internal Revenue Service access to this information, especially when they don't need it to do their job. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against the motion, ``yes'' on H.R. 5053, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to tell you briefly about the Roskam amendment, which requires the President to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on Iran's usage of commercial aircraft for military and terrorist activity. You say to yourself, Mr. Chairman: Why do we need this? Why is this important? Here is why. There is an important American company that is actively talking to the Iranians about the possibility of selling aircraft to them. Here is the problem with that. Everybody--everybody--agrees that the Iranians are the world's largest state sponsor of terror; and therefore, it goes that if you give them something that is useful for military purposes--that is, aircraft--it is fungible, and it can be used for any purpose. The notion that the Iranians are going to use Boeing aircraft, for example, simply to transport people on vacation back and forth within Iran is profoundly naive. So what this amendment does is it puts the aircraft industry on notice and it puts the Iranians on notice that we are very interested in what they are doing with commercial aircraft, for what purpose.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of Lisle, Illinois. Lisle is a thriving and vibrant municipal and has built a friendly and welcoming community through its continued dedication to its residents and visitors. Since its founding in 1832, Lisle has become a center of culture and commerce within the Chicagoland area and has served as a home to families, businesses, professionals, churches and organizations. Its multitude of parks, including the beautiful Morton Arboretum, and youth and family friendly activities make it a superb place to work, live, and raise a family. On the occasion of this 60th Anniversary, we join together to celebrate Lisle's legacy of growth and prosperity and to look ahead to the opportunities facing this great village. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Lisle, Illinois, and wishing her residents a very successful year ahead.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to recognize Jungin ``Angie'' Lee, an exceptional and accomplished young woman from Naperville, Illinois. Angie was recently named one of the top ten youth volunteers in the nation by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. When Angie was just 15 months old, her family learned she had an autosomal recessive disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This genetic disorder causes debilitating and often fatal muscle weakness. Yet this disease did not stop Angie from helping people. Nine years ago, at the ripe age of 8, Angie and her friend, Kyra Scadden, started a nonprofit called ``Angie's Hope'' to raise money for SMA research. Since its inception, Angie's Hope has gone from raising $200, literally one penny at a time through a penny collection drive, to raising $40,000 in 2015. Through it all, Angie has never lost sight of the fact that individual efforts can change lives. Angie has helped raise over 200,000 dollars for SMA research with no plans to stop anytime soon. She is planning ``something big'' for the charity's 10th anniversary and would eventually like to expand the nonprofit to multiple states. Angie truly is an inspiration for all of us. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Angie Lee on receiving her award and thanking her for the dedication and commitment she has displayed in her work.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Mr. Jeff Grant on winning a Golden Apple award. Jeff Grant, A.P. biology, anatomy and physiology teacher at Downers Grove North High School, was awarded with a 2016 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Golden Apple is awarded to only twelve high school teachers in Illinois and is a testament to Jeff's commitment to enriching the lives of our nation's students. Jeff, a Downers Grove North grad himself, has invested his time and energy into connecting students with science, experts from the field, and real hands-on research. His classroom is filled with pictures of Nobel Prize winners and astronauts, many of which have written to his class and sent personal messages to students after Jeff reached out to them. Downers Grove North principal Scott Kasik described him saying, ``He's always searching for ways to connect kids with science, to make science real, to get them excited about the wonder of science. Jeff is a self-described science geek, but I think he's made being a science geek a really cool thing to be.'' We as a nation benefit greatly from teachers like Jeff, who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of academic excellence among our students today. Mr. Speaker and my distinguished colleagues in the House, please join me in congratulating Jeff Grant on receiving a Golden Apple award.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Palatine, Illinois. Since its origin, Palatine has been dedicated to building a friendly and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike and has been a model for Illinois towns to follow. It is no surprise that the village motto is, ``A Real Home Town''. In the years since its first settler, George Ela, and its incorporation on April 2nd, 1866, Palatine has become a center of culture and commerce, serving as a home to families, businesses, professionals, churches and organizations that have made this a vibrant and thriving community. Palatine boasts a population of over 60,000 people, a large multinational corporation, and a four year college. Over the years, Palatine has developed a well-deserved reputation as a village with small-town heritage, big city ambition, and hometown charm. On the occasion of this 150th Anniversary, we join together to celebrate Palatine's legacy of growth and prosperity and to look ahead to the opportunities facing this great village and our nation. Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, please join me in recognizing the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Palatine, Illinois and wishing her residents a very successful year ahead.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about some news that has come to my attention and to the attention of the House recently, and that is that there is an iconic American aviation company--that is, the Boeing Company--that that has entered into preliminary talks with Iran. And the thinking is for Boeing to sell planes to Iran. I guess when you first hear about that, you say: Well, what is the big deal? Why is everybody so uptight about this? Why can't everybody relax and just let some commerce happen? Here is what is the big deal; here is why we ought not relax; and here is why Boeing shouldn't be in these discussions; and, ultimately, it is my sincere hope, Mr. Speaker, that Boeing does not sell planes to the Iranians: The entire Washington foreign policy establishment; that is, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the United States State Department, and the administration all agree on one thing. They all agree that Iran is still the world's leading state sponsor of terror. There is no credible organization; there is no credible voice today that says: No, no, no. That is not true anymore. In fact, the President has acknowledged this; the Secretary of State has acknowledged this; the national security adviser has acknowledged this. And if that is true--and it is true--how can someone, how can a company, how can an American institution say, we are going to do business with them? And how can it be true that we are going to sell something that can be easily converted for the use of terrorism? You see, planes are fungible. Airplane parts are fungible. Unless we think that only Boeing is beginning these sorts of discussions--we know what Airbus is doing. Airbus has made a decision to go in and do business with this terrorist regime. Why I am urging these companies--and particularly Boeing, as an iconic American company, as a company that has come to symbolize what? American strength, American innovation, and American greatness. And then to be complicit with the Iranians and the sheer possibility and, I would argue, probability that those airplanes will be converted to warplanes. Now, just so I am clear, I am not making an argument nor a suggestion today that Boeing is doing anything illegal. I am not making that argument. But here is my point: just because something is legal doesn't make it good; just because something is legal doesn't make it right. There are some people who are saying: Well, look, other manufacturers are selling into that marketplace. And let me ask you this, Mr. Speaker. When has history ever been kind to the excuse: Well, somebody else was doing it, so I decided to do it too? History, Mr. Speaker, is a merciless judge and disciplinarian against that sort of argument. So what is the problem? Here is the problem. It is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that completely dominates the Iranian economy, and they certainly completely dominate the aviation sector of the economy. Iran Air was recently taken off the terrorist watch list by the State Department. Most people think that it was an agreement through the Iran nuclear deal and that it wasn't really deserved, but they were only recently on it. Regardless, the fungibility of these products can easily move into other areas of the sector. There are some people that say: Look, it is an emerging market and we ought to be selling American products there. No, Mr. Speaker. What we ought to do is recognize that there are things that are more important than American profits, and that is the integrity of American businesses not to be complicit in this shameful activity and to sort of draw a blind eye towards this activity to say we can somehow sell these products and they won't end up in the hands of terrorists. It is naive, it is a wrongheaded move, and I urge Boeing in the strongest possible terms not to be complicit in this activity.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 139, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to honor a distinguished public servant, Carol Bauer, for 50 years of service to the Village of Lombard. Carol has dedicated her life to Lombard and her service is a truly impressive feat. She serves as a role model for us all and as proof that one dedicated person can change the lives of many. In 1966, Carol started full time for the village of Lombard as a fire and police dispatcher. Since that time she has had the role of Executive Secretary and coordinator for the Lombard Blood Drive, and has been an asset to numerous presidents, managers, and board members, who have been a part of Lombard Village Hall. While working full time for her community, Carol took over the Village's blood drive in 1993. At the time, the village hosted two blood drives per year and usually collected 25 to 30 pints of blood. Carol believed they could do better and wanted to save people's lives so she dedicated herself to the cause. Now the Village hosts five blood drives per year and collects approximately 200 pints per drive. In 2013, Carol was named the most dedicated blood coordinator in Illinois by Heartland Blood Centers. Since her days as a dispatcher, Carol has never stopped working to improve her community and has no plans of stopping on account of her 50th anniversary. When asked if she was retiring, she said, ``Oh, no. I am not. It's such a big part of my life. If I can make some little dent in the community, some little mark that something is better, then I want to continue doing that.'' Through hard work and no small amount of perseverance, Carol Bauer has helped countless people and tremendously improved her community. Distinguished Members, please join me in congratulating Carol on 50 years of service and many more to come.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the Deputy Chief Mark Hogan of the Rolling Meadows Police Department on his retirement and wish to honor his exceptional career. Mark began his career of service and commitment to the City of Rolling Meadows in 1987. Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Hogan has exhibited the characteristics this line of duty necessitates: enormous sacrifice and courage. Chief of Police David Scanlon said about Deputy Chief Hogan, ``Mark is an incredibly loyal and trusted partner. He is always there for me and the department. He's a wonderful person and someone that will be missed greatly by the city.'' Deputy Chief Hogan's leadership provided stability to the Rolling Meadows Police Department as the men and women under his command risked their lives to protect Rolling Meadows and the surrounding communities. His leadership is and will continue to be reflected in their bravery and courage. Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, please join me in celebrating this special occasion and the long years of service and commitment that it represents.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of Schaumburg, Illinois. From its incorporation, the city of Schaumburg, a town in my district, has been a model for other cities and towns to follow. Growing from its two square miles and population of 130 residents in 1956, Schaumburg is now home to almost 75,000 residents and a vibrant business community consisting of thousands of businesses, 25 hotels, 200 restaurants, and its own minor league baseball team, the Schaumburg Boomers. Since 1987, under the leadership of the President of Schaumburg, Al Larson, the city of Schaumburg has become the second largest economic development center in Illinois. Through its continued dedication the city improves the quality of life by maintaining a balance between its people, nature, business and industry and provides the highest quality municipal service through planning, fiscal responsibility and accessible, responsive, and proactive leadership. This village continues to live out its mission of ``Progress Through Thoughtful Planning.'' Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in recognizing the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of Schaumburg, Illinois, and wishing them many successful years in the future.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to recognize the long and distinguished service of Rolling Meadows Police Department Chief Dan Scanlan and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement. On May 16th of this year, Chief Scanlan will conclude his loyal service to the community of Rolling Meadows and the surrounding area. Chief Scanlan began his career with Rolling Meadows, as a patrolman, 34 years ago in 1982. He spent 10 years as a tactical officer and gang specialist before he eventually moved up the ranks and became chief of the Rolling Meadows police department in 2009. Under Chief Scanlan's leadership, the Rolling Meadows Police Department implemented a number of programs to foster community outreach, crime prevention, and operational efficiencies. These programs include the Safe Schools Initiative--a partnership between law enforcement and local schools to identify and implement strategies to improve student safety and the community bike ride, which is an event where police officers and residents join together for a late summer ride around Rolling Meadows. Throughout his career, his extraordinary leadership has earned him great respect among colleagues and members of the community. City Manager Barry Krumstok described Chief Scanlon by saying, ``Dave Scanlan has been a faithful, loyal, tireless professional who has always made sure the department maintains the highest levels of police services. His collaborative leadership style encourages creativity and innovation. His willingness to listen to residents' concerns reflects his unyielding commitment to community service.'' A true servant of Rolling Meadows, his ability to foster engagement and his dedication to the city will be greatly missed. Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, please join me in celebrating this special occasion and the long years of service and commitment that it represents.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, on March 14th & March 15th, 2016, I was unavoidably detained because I was attending to matters in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On roll call no. 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, I would have voted NO. On roll call no. 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 123, I would have voted YES.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Comstock for organizing this tonight. I just have a quick personal story, Mr. Speaker. Justice Scalia's daughter, Ann, lives in my neighborhood. I served in the State legislature, and I learned that this woman whose last name, obviously, was no longer Scalia, was the daughter of Justice Scalia. So I called her up, and I said: If your dad is ever in town, I would love to meet him. I was that guy, Mr. Speaker, who made that call, and she was very gracious. Sometime later, she called me up and said: Peter, my dad is coming in. Why don't you and your family stop by. So the Roskams ran around the corner. My wife, Elizabeth, myself, and my four children, who were young at the time, went over and spent a few minutes on a Sunday afternoon with Justice Scalia. He was very magnanimous and very gracious in his blue jeans and sweatshirt, getting up off the couch, but extending himself to us. A couple of years later, I won a seat in the U.S. House. I thought: Well, I have got a little bit of a connection. I will reach out and call him and try to make a courtesy call. I made some contact with his chambers and his staff and they said: Well, would you like to come over and listen to an argument? As a new Member of Congress, I said: I would love to go over. So, over I go and listen to an argument in the Supreme Court. It is very dramatic, as you know. I was walking out feeling a little bit let down because I actually wanted to say hello to Justice Scalia. But not to be disappointed, his staff said: Come on with us. So I went up to his office, and there in his chambers he set out a lunch. The two of us had lunch together. Now, who I was having lunch with was not lost on me. The magnitude, the scale, the capacity of this man and his ability to influence things on a grand scale was not lost on me. Yet he was really willing to spend some time with me that day. I have got to tell you one other quick story. A few years ago, I invited him to dinner. I said: Justice Scalia, I have got a number of my colleagues that would love to have dinner with you. Would you be willing to come out? Of course, he did. I told my wife afterward: This guy is so interesting and so charming, if he had a radio show, you would listen to it. You would set your timer so that you could listen to him. He was so interesting, so cleaver, and so quick and willing to take all kinds of questions and all kinds of debate and so forth. I just want to close by saying this. There are many, many times when we feel overwhelmed by events that are before us in our public life. There are many times when our constituents feel overwhelmed and they get this sense of: Is there anybody out there that has got some level of judgment and wisdom and capacity here? Are there any examples and role models? The answer is: Justice Scalia. He is an example. He is an example that we are all the beneficiaries of: his clear mind; his capacity to disagree without being disagreeable; his capacity to build people up; his capacity to articulate a world view; his capacity to be a faithful and vocal follower of his savior, Jesus, and not be defensive about it; and to basically invite people along to celebrate and to participate in this great gift, which is our democracy. Even in these short interactions that I had with him, you always got the sense--or, I did--that he got the joke. In other words, there was a twinkle in his eye. This is a democracy and we have got roles to play. His role on the Court was to do his thing. Our role, Mr. Speaker, is to legislate with that same sense of commitment and character and tenacity and clarity that Justice Scalia brought to his role on the judiciary. So, I want to honor Justice Scalia. I want to honor his wife, Mrs. Scalia. I want to honor his children and grandchildren. I thank them, because it is a sacrifice for them to have someone of that caliber and that capacity in that role for our country. It is not a burden that is easy, but they have been willing to bear that burden. Our country is better off for it.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in recognition of the long and distinguished service of Rick Kolomay on the occasion of his retirement. Chief Kolomay will be concluding his loyal service as Fire Chief of the Carol Stream Fire Protection District after 37 years of service. Chief Kolomay has served the Carol Stream community for 14 years, and has served as chief since 2009. He was also a member of the Schaumburg Fire Department for 23 years and is a third-generation firefighter. Throughout his career, his extraordinary leadership has earned him pronounced respect among colleagues and members of the community. Most notably, he helped create an alliance between neighboring fire departments, which improved efficiency and allowed the sharing of resources. Time and time again, Chief Kolomay has exhibited the characteristics expected of a fireman: enormous sacrifice and courage. Mayor of Carol Stream, Frank Saverino described Chief Kolomay as a ``hands-on guy'' and commented on his devotion to the men of his department saying, ``If they're climbing ladders, he's climbing ladders . . . He's got to be right there with them. He leads by example, and when you lead by example, and it's physical, it's hard''. This is the true definition of a leader and his presence at the fire department will be deeply missed. Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, please join me in honoring Chief Kolomay on this occasion and wish him every happiness in the well deserved respite of his retirement.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Marchant has gotten people's attention this afternoon. I am really surprised at how lively and engaged our friends are on the other side of the aisle. So, it begs the question: What is so provocative about this bill? What is so provocative and incendiary? Apparently, having the administration come with a plan, as it relates to the debt, is a provocation. I don't think our friends on the other side of the aisle have to take the bait. In fact, the ranking member said it came out with only Republican votes. If I were a Democrat, I wouldn't admit that it only came out with Republican votes. I would be trying to claim credit for this. Why? Because I come from the State of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, let me tell you what happens when you avoid problems. The State of Illinois has avoided problems year after year after year. My home State now has a $100 billion unfunded pension liability. That is a fact. Illinois has a crisis. What Mr. Marchant is proposing is very simple and very clear. If this is provocative, I don't know how to deal with it. It requires the administration to lay out a proposal to reduce the debt in the short term: 1 to 2 years. The criticism of the administration's current budget is that it never balances. Ever. Think about that. Hello. Never. There is never a balance. So, what he is saying is they have got to come in and show how they are going to deal with this. Short-term, medium-term, understanding its relationship debt to GDP; all of these things are so important. We are told: Hey, go to the Internet. That is where your information is. No; what we need is for the administration to understand the information on the Internet--if that is where it is--and come in and present it in a cogent and clear way. Yes, Congress has the primary responsibility. Yes, the House Republicans have articulated a view that says we can balance this, we can deal with these programs, and we can deal with these cost drivers. We have been met time again by a stiff arm from the President of the United States, who has now redefined the concept of balance. Balance used to mean one plus one equals two. Now the administration says that balance is--what was their latest vernacular--long-term fiscal sustainability. That is ridiculous. Representative Marchant needs to be congratulated. This is a great idea. We ought to be celebrating this. If I were a Democrat, I wouldn't admit to voting against it. I urge passage of the bill.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Islamic Republic of Iran--its past and its future. February 11 is just an ordinary day for Americans, but in Iran, tomorrow is anything but ordinary. Military parades and massive state- sponsored celebrations fill the streets of Tehran and cities across the Islamic Republic. In just a few hours, it will be Islamic Revolution's Victory Day in Iran. The regime celebrates 37 years since the violent coup that brought the Ayatollah Khomeini to power and transferred Iran into a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy and the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. It is a dark period of history, Mr. Speaker. Thousands of innocent people were killed as the revolutionaries consolidated power. The U.S. Embassy was overrun and more than 50 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. The United States has seen six Presidents since 1979, reflecting a broad range of leadership styles and governing philosophies. The Islamic Republic has been led by two Supreme Leaders, both zealots fanatically committed to the revolutionary ideas they espouse being celebrated on the streets of Tehran on this day. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, we are dealing with the same Iran today as we were in 1979. The only day being celebrated by some Americans at the moment is implementation day, as President Obama's dangerous nuclear deal has now come and gone. The world is much more dangerous because of it. Iran, the leading patron of global terrorism, just received a $100 billion check. The mullahs continue to foment violence and chaos across the Middle East, and their nuclear structure remains intact. The Obama administration has long argued that we would only be giving them $50 billion, but even they have conceded that it is closer to $100 billion or more. We were also told that Iran would moderate its behavior as a result of this capitulation. Just in the past few weeks, Iran captured and humiliated American sailors, illegally launched ballistic missiles, fired rockets within 1,500 yards of U.S. ships, and flew a drone over a U.S. aircraft carrier. The list goes on and on. Iranian Special Forces continue to assist al-Assad in his slaughter of innocents in Syria. Over 200,000 have been killed so far. Iranian- backed militias are likely responsible for kidnapping three American contractors in Iraq. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out what Iran will do with another $100 billion, which is the windfall that they are about to receive based on this bad deal. As President Obama and Secretary Kerry have both begrudgingly admitted, it is nearly certain that the Iranians will use this money to sow the seeds of even more death and destruction. Think about that. They are nearly certain that part of this $100 billion will go there. The Islamic Republic is not our friend, Mr. Speaker. It is a dangerous geopolitical foe. It is led by a cult of extremists that are hellbent on our annihilation. Yet President Obama will do nothing to stem the tide of the Ayatollah's ambitions. When faced with an adversary whose theology and eschatology are fundamentally incompatible with peace and world order, the United States, under President Obama's leadership, chose a path of appeasement. I truly believe President Obama has made perhaps the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in our lifetime. We are now facing a newly emboldened, cash-rich, radical Islamic regime fully committed to weakening our Nation, terrorizing the West, and destroying our way of life. Mr. Speaker, it is up to Congress to do everything in our power to keep as much of this money as possible out of the hands of Iran's terrorist proxies. The Congress must move swiftly to strengthen terrorism- and human rights-related sanctions against Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Congress must maintain strict oversight over Iran's nuclear program as its infrastructure remains intact. Iran's hostility must be combated, Mr. Speaker, and this body should not abrogate that responsibility, even if our President already has.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of JoAnn Stingley. JoAnn coordinates the social service unit, also known as the victim's assistance unit for the Elgin Police Department. JoAnn has been a social worker for the Elgin Police Department for more than 24 years. She was hired by former police chief Charles Gruber in 1991 and at the time Elgin was one of the first police departments to hire social workers in Illinois. Since that time she said she has never considered doing anything else but helping others. JoAnn's salary is on the Elgin police department payroll; however, there is no budget allocation for client related expenses. This means that JoAnn must hold numerous fundraisers a year to support the programs she runs free of charge. These programs include crisis intervention, counseling, legal referrals and referrals for community resources including shelter, mental illness, substance abuse, parenting, and youth anger management courses. Lt. Rick Ciganek, an officer in the Elgin Police Department, was full of praise for JoAnn, stating, ``She's truly the unsung hero of the police department. Anybody who comes here and says, `I need some help,' they get help. JoAnn is incredible. She'll provide services for anybody.'' JoAnn is truly an inspiring woman and one of the many reasons Elgin is such a great place to work and live. Mr. Speaker and my distinguished colleagues in the House, please join me in recognizing the service and dedication of JoAnn Stingley.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Police Officer Jeff Schlee, who recently was awarded ``Hero of the Year'' by the Palatine Chamber of Commerce for his work preparing schools, teachers, parents, and the community for a school shooting. Officer Schlee works with schools in Palatine, IL and has consulted with numerous suburbs in the Chicagoland area and across the country to prepare them for the possibility of a school shooting. Officer Schlee has been a school safety officer for ten years and has always had a passion for protecting students; however he credits the birth of his children for increasing his dedication to defending school children. With dedication and persistence, he has studied past school shootings and works alongside his colleagues at the Palatine Police Department to develop response plans which could save student's lives. One of the principles of his plan is having the whole community respond as a unit to make sure everyone is on the same page. Office Schlee believes it is essential to study the tragedies of the past to keep our children safe today and in the future. Mr. Speaker and my distinguished colleagues in the House, please join me in recognizing Officer Jeff Schlee for the work he has done to help protect students in Palatine and across this great nation.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I just want to recap quickly how we got here. ObamaCare was passed on a partisan basis through the House and the Senate, signed into law, and then it went forward. It created a false premise, and the false promise that didn't come to fruition was that people were going to be able to keep their physicians, that premiums were going to go down, and it wasn't going to add to the deficit. We all know now that was nonsense. So what did the American public do? They said, ``We are going to change the House of Representatives.'' So they elected a Republican majority in the House to take out ObamaCare. What did they do next when they found an obstacle in the United States Senate? They changed the disposition of the United States Senate. Now, there are some people that say today, ``Oh, this is a complete waste of time.'' No, it is not, Mr. Speaker. This is not a waste of time. This is a demonstration to the American public that there is now one office that stands between them and the repeal of ObamaCare. There is one office that stands between them and the continued shameful subsidy of Planned Parenthood. We have got an opportunity to change that office in November. Mr. Speaker, I urge us to continue that momentum and to vote with Mr. Tom Price of Georgia on this bill.

Mr. ROSKAM

Mr. ROSKAM. Thank you, Chairman Royce, for your leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. Russell's initiative. Last night, Mr. Speaker, there was a murmur throughout the room here when the President was giving the State of the Union message. I am paraphrasing, but when he made the assertion that essentially the United States is perceived well around the world and, in fact, better than ever before, there was an audible sense of outcry. People were really concerned about that assertion. Then the President went on to make his point. I think it is an admonition for us all to recognize, as Judge Poe said a couple of moments ago, there is a wobbliness in this administration. In other words, how many provocations are the Iranians able to move forward and the administration is inert? How many provocations can the Iranians push and the administration remains with no action? I will tell you something. This is just off the news. Reuters is reporting that the Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, the head of the Iranian Armed Forces, says that the naval incident that is being reconciled today, that this should be a lesson to whom? To troublemakers in Congress--troublemakers in Congress--who oppose Iranian aggression. I think Mr. Russell's approach here is very commonsense. It says those who have been complicit in sponsoring terror in the past ought not be getting the benefit of the sanctions regime being raised; they don't get the benefit of participating in that. This has to be certified clearly, according to Mr. Russell's language, and it makes all the sense in the world. The notion that somehow the administration is incapable of doing this I don't find persuasive. I think we need an administration that can make these certifications, that does make these certifications, and if they can't, then these terror financiers ought not be getting the benefit of sanctions relief. I urge passage of this bill.