John Shimkus

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students of Maryville Elementary School in Maryville, Illinois, and their important and heartwarming efforts to help those affected by terrorism. On October 11, 2001, President Bush made a request of the children of America. He challenged each of them to earn and send in one dollar. This money, sent by the kindness of the children of the United States, will be used to reach out to the unfortunate children in far off Afghanistan. The students of Maryville Elementary School heard and met that challenge. They sponsored a school-wide fundraising effort--spearheaded by their Citizenship Committee--during this last October and November. Once they were finished, several of their students visited my Collinsville office to present me personally with their donation: $198.20, which I have passed on to the Fund here in Washington, D.C. The students, parents, faculty, and members of the Maryville community should be recognized for their fine efforts. The terrorists believed they could accomplish their goals with the murder of American innocents; but the American citizens have responded with aid to the innocent of Afghanistan. Nothing else could better show how utterly al Qaeda has failed. Mr. Speaker, as President Bush said in his announcement of the Fund for Afghan Children, ``One of the truest weapons that we have against terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character of the American people.'' The children of Maryville Elementary have shown that character, and they deserve our thanks. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns day, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday next.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding any adjournment of the House today until Tuesday, November 27, 2001, the Speaker, majority leader, and minority leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I too want to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), and continue to read the names of those who fell in the attack on September 11. George Merkouris Merkouris; Deborah Merrick; Raymond J. Metz, III; Jill A. Metzler; David R. Meyer; Nurul H. Miah; Shakila Miah; William Edward Micciulli; Martin P. Michelstein; Patricia E. Patti Mickley; Luis Clodoldo Revilla Mier; Ronald D. Milam; Sharon C. Milan; Peter T. Milano; Gregory Milanowycz; Corey Peter Miler; Lukasz Milewski; Douglas C. Miller, Jr.; Henry Miller, Jr.; Nicole Miller; Robert C. Miller, Jr.; Robert Alan Miller; Michael Matthew Miller; Phil Miller; Joel Miller; Benjamin Millman; Charles M. Mills; Robert Minara; William G. Minardi; Louis Joseph Minervino; Thomas Mingione; Wilbert Miraille; Domenick rcovich; Rajesh A. Mirpuri; Joseph Mistrulli; Susan Miszkowicz; Paul Mitchell; Richard Miuccio; Jeff Mladenik; Frank V. Moccia, Sr.; Louis Modafferi; Mubarak Mohammad; Boyie Mohammed; Dennis Mojica; Manuel Mojica; Kleber Molina; Manuel Molina; Fernando Jiminez Molina; Carl Molinaro; Justin J. Molisani, Jr.; Brian Patrick Monaghan; John G. Monahan; Franklin Monahan; Kristen Montanaro. Craig D. Montano; Michael G. Montesi; Juan Carlos Londono Montoya; Antonio Montoya; Cheryl Ann Monyak; Thomas Moody; Sharon Moore; Krishna V. Moorthy; Laura Lee Morabito; Lynne Irene Morris; Seth A. Morris; John Morris; Stephen Morris; Christopher Morrison; Ferdinand V. Morrone; Jorge Morrone; Charlie Morrow; William David Moskal; Brian Anthony Moss; Marco Motroni, Sr.; Cynthia Motus-Wilson; Chung Mou; Iouri Mouchinski; Jude Moussa; Peter C. Moutos; Damion Mowatt; Ted Moy; Christopher Mozzillo; Stephen V. Mulderry; Richard Muldowney, Jr.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I just want to chime in on the words of praise and accolades on the work of Judge Beatty, the work that he has done as a resident of Madison County. He did bring honor and integrity to the courts. It is a very difficult job, as we all know, and it takes a special person of high caliber to weigh law and pronounce justice. He is well respected in the community, and I can think of no more honorable way to recognize his work than doing this. I want to thank my colleague for his efforts.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), in continuing to read the names of those who fell in the tragedy on September 11, and I would do so now. Kevin Marlo; Jose J. Marrero; Fred Marrone; Constance Marshal; Shelley A. Marshall; John Marshall; Daniel Marshall; James Martello; Michael A. Marti; Teresa M. Martin; Peter C. Martin; Karen Martin; William J. Martin; Brian E. Martineau; Waleska Martinez; Jose Martinez; Edward J. Martinez; Betsy Martinez; Robert Martinez; Lizie Martinez- Calderon; Paul Richard Martini; Joseph Mascali; Bernard Mascarenhas; Stephen Masi; Ada L. Mason; Nicholas ``Nick'' Massa; Patricia A. Massari; Michael Massaroli; Philip W. Mastrandrea; Rudolph Mastrocinque; Joseph Mathai; Charles William Mathers; William A. Mathesen; Margaret Elaine Mattic; Marcello Mattricciano; Dean E. Mattson; Robert D. Mattson; Walter Matuza; Choi ``Irene'' Mau; Timothy Maude; Charles J. Mauro; Nancy T. Mauro; Dorothy Mauro; Charles A. Mauro; Robert J. Maxwell; Renee May; Tyrone May; Keithroy Maynard; Robert J. Mayo; Kathy Mazza; Edward Mazzella, Jr.; Jennifer Mazzotta; Kaaria Mbaya; James J. McAlary; Brian McAleese; Patricia A. McAneney; Colin Richard McArthur; John McAvoy; Kenneth M. McBrayer; Michael Justin McCabe; Brendan F. McCabe; Charlie McCabe; Robert McCallum; And I would encourage my colleagues to contact our colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), to help us read the names of those who fell in the tragedy on September 11.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Pleasant Hill, Illinois, as well as all Americans who have given their support to the cause of bringing home our POWs. Like thousands of other Americans, Kim is the owner of a POW/MIA bracelet--a copper band inscribed with the name of a soldier who was either listed as missing in action or as a prisoner of war during our time in Vietnam. The name on Kim's bracelet is Lieutenant Commander Robert Shumaker, a pilot shot down in 1965. She has had the bracelet for over thirty years; she bought it to show her support of our armed forces, and promised never to take it off unless her POW was released. These bracelets were a method of putting public pressure on the Vietnamese government to send our soldiers home. It worked. Lieutenant Commander Shumaker was released on the Flight to Freedom in 1975 in part, he says, because the Vietnamese knew how closely the American people were watching them. Ms. Gregurich heard that happy report on the radio and was finally able to take off her bracelet. Now, twenty-six years later, she has decided to go one step further-- she has taken the initiative to locate Mr. Shumaker and send him the copper band. ``I wasn't sure if it would be a bad memory,'' she said, ``but I just wanted him to know that there was one more person thinking about him while he was gone.'' But Mr. Speaker, while Ms. Gregurich's tale is heartwarming, it is also a sad reminder--many Americans have not yet been able to take off their bracelets. There are 1,948 Americans that are still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War; there are another 58,000 whose fate we know all too well. These men and women will never come home; so, like Ms. Gregurich, I will hold a bracelet for each of them in my heart. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Gregurich and others who put their hearts into this support deserve our thanks; and them men and women who fought and died for our country deserve our eternal gratitude. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Zoe Falkenberg, Jamie Lynn Fallon, William F. Fallon, Jr.; William L. Fallon, Jr.; Anthony J. Fallone, Jr.; Dolores Fanelli, Robert J. Fangman, John Joseph ``Jack'' Fanning, Kit Faragher, Shea Faria, Thomas J. Farino, Nancy Carold Farley, Paige Farley-Hackel, Betty Farmer, Douglas Farnum, Thomas P. Farreley, Terrence Patrick Farrell, John William Farrell, John Gerard Farrell, Joseph Farrelly, Syed Abdul Fatha, Christopher Faughnan, Wendy Faulkner, Shannon Fava, Bernard D. Favuzza, Robert Fazio, Ronald Carl Fazio, Nikia Feaster, Janet Feathers, William M. Feehan, Francis ``Frank'' Feely, Garth E. Feeney, Sean Fegan, Lee Fehling, Peter Feidelberg, Alan D. Feinberg, Arnold Feinberg, Edwardo Feliciano, Rosa M. Feliciano, Edward Porter Felt, Diane Fenelli, Chris Fenyo, Edward T. Fergus, Jr.; James Joe Ferguson, George J. Ferguson, Henry Fernandez, Judy H. Fernandez, Jose Manuel Contreras Fernandez, Julio Fernandez Ramirez, Joy Fernendez, Elisa Ferraina, Robert Ferris, Vincent W. Ferrone, David Francis Ferrugio, Louis Fersini, Mike Ferugio, Bradley Fetchet, Jennifer Louise Fialko, Kristen Fiedel, Amelia Virginia Fields, Samuel Fields, Alex Filipov, Michael Bradley Finnegan.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mark D. Hindy, Heather Malia Ho, Tara Yvette Hobbs, Thomas A. Hobbs, James L. Hobin, Robert Wayne Hobson, III, DaJuan Hodges, Ronald G. Hoerner, Patrick Aloysius Hoey, John Hofer, Stephen G. Hoffman, Frederick J. Hoffman, Michele Lee Hoffman, Joseph Hoffman, Marcia Hoffman, John Hoffman, Judith Florence Hofmiller, Wallace Cole Hogan, Thomas Warren Hohlweck, Jr., Jonathan R. Hohmann, Cora Holland, Joseph Francis Holland, John Holland, Jimmie Ira Holley. Elizabeth Holmes, Thomas P. Holohan, Herbert W. Homer, LeRoy Homer, Bradley Hoorn, James Hopper, Montgomery McCullough ``Monte'' Hord, Michael Horn, Matthew D. Horning, Robert L. Horohoe, Jr., Michael R. Horrocks, Aaron Horwitz, Malverse Houscal, Uhuru Houston, Charles J. Houston, Angela Houtz, George Gerald Howard, Brady K. Howell, Michael C. Howell, Steven L. Howell, Jennifer Howley-Dorsey, Milagros ``Millie'' Hromada, Marian Hrycak, Stephen Huczko, Sandi Hudson, Kris R. Hughes, Melissa Harrington Hughes, Paul Hughes, Timothy Robert Hughes, Thomas F. Hughes, Jr., Robert Hughes, Susan Huie, Fang Huixin, Lamar Hulse, Mychal Hulse, Nicholas Humber, William C. Hunt, Kathleen ``Casey'' Anne Hunt, Joseph Hunter. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).

Mr. SHIMKUS. Steven Howard Berger, John Bergin, Alvin Bergsohn, Daniel D. Bergstein, Michael Berkeley, Graham Andrew Berkeley, Donna Bernaerts-Kearns, William ``Bill'' Bernstein, David M. Berray, Joseph J. Berry, David S. Berry, William Reed Bethke, Cynthia Betia, Yeneneh Betru, Timothy D. Betterly, Carolyn Beug, Bob Beurlein, Jr., Edward F. Beyea, Paul Beyer, Anil T. Bharvaney, Bella Bhukan, Jim Biberson, Shimmy D. Biegeleisen, Peter Bielfeld, William Biggart, Ralph Bijoux, Brian Bilcher, Mark Bingham, Carl Bini, Gary Bird, Joshua David Birnbaum, Geroge John Bishop, Kris Romeo Bishundat, Jeffrey D. Bittner, Balewa Albert Blackman, Christopher Blackwell, Carrie Blagburn, Susan Blair, Harry Blanding, Jr., Craig Michael Blass, Rita Blau, Richard M. Blood, Michael Andrew Boccardi, John Paul Bocchi, Michael L. Bocchino, Susan M. Bochino, Deora Bodley, Bruce Douglas Boehm, Mary Catherine Boffa, Nicholas A. Bogdan, Darren C. Bohan, Lawrence F. Boisseau, Vincent Boland, Jr., Touri Bolourchi, Howard J. Bolton, Jr., Alan Bondarenko, Andre Bonheur, Renato Bonifacio, Colin Arthur Bonnett, Yvonne L. Bonomo, Frank Bonomo, Sean Booker, Kelly Ann Booms. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentlewoman.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Daniel J. Brethel, Gary L. Bright, Jonathan Briley, Mark A. Brisman, Paul Bristow, Victoria Alvarez Brito, Marion Britton, Mark Francis Broderick, Herman Broghammer, Keith Broomfield, Bernard Curtis Brown, Janice J. Brown, Patrick Brown, Lloyd Brown, Bettina Browne- Radburn, Mark Bruce, Richard Bruehert, Andrew Brunn, Vincent Brunton, Ronald Paul Bucca, Brandon Buchanan, Greg Joseph Buck, Dennis Buckley, Nancy Bueche, Patrick Joseph Buhse, John E. Bulaga, Jr., Steve Bunin, Christopher Lee Burford, Matthew J. Burke, William F. Burke, Jr., Thomas Daniel Burke, Charles ``Chick'' Burlingame, III, Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Donald James Burns, Keith James Burns, Kathleen A. Burns, John Patrick Burnside, Irina Buslo, Milton Bustillo, Rachel Butler, Thomas Butler, Timothy G. Byrne, Daniel Martin Caballero, Jesus N. Cabezas, Lillian Caceres, Brian Cachia, Steven Cafiero, Jr., Richard Caggiano, Cecile Caguicla, John Brett Cahill, Thomas J. Cahill, Scott Walter Cahill, Michael John Cahill, George Cain, Salvatore Calabro, Joseph Calandrillo, Philip V. Calcagno, Jose Orlando Calderon, Edward Calderon, Kenny Caldwell, Dominick Calia, Bobby Calixte, Felix Calixte, Liam Callahan, Frank Callahan, Suzanne Calley, Gino Calvi, Luigi Calvi, Roko Camaj, Michael Cammarata, Geoffrey Thomas Campbell, David Otey Campbell, Robert Campbell, Sandra Campbell, Jill Marie Campbell, Juan Ortega Campos, Sean T. Canavan, John A. Candela, Vincent Cangelosi, Stephen J. Cangialosi, Lisa Cannava, Brian Cannizzaro, Christopher Sean Canton. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Pedro Francisco Checo, Yuan Chenglian, Stephen Patrick Cherry, Douglas MacMillan Cherry, Vernon Paul Cherry, Swede Joseph Chevalier, Nestor Chevalier, Alexander H. Chiang, Dorothy J. Chiarchiaro, Luis Alfonso Chimbo, Robert Chin, Wing Wai ``Eddie'' Ching, Nicholas Chiofalo, John Chipura, Peter A. Chirchirillo, Catherine E. Chirls, Kyung ``Kaccy'' Cho, Yeon Ho Choi, Mohammad Salahuddin Chowdhury, Abdul K. Chowdhury, Kirsten L. Christophe, Pamela Chu, Steven P. Chucknick, Wai Chung, Christopher Ciafardini, Alex Ciccone, Frances Ann Cilente, Elaine Cillo, Edna Cintron, Nestor Andre Cintron, Robert Cirri, Juan Pablo Cisneros, Sarah Clark, Buddah Clark, Thomas R. Clark, Gregory A. Clark, Eugene Clark, Benjamin Keefe Clark, Mannie Leroy Clark, Christopher Robert Clarke, Donna Clarke, Michael Clarke, Suria R.E. Clarke, Kevin F. Cleary, Jim Cleere, Nestor Clinton, Geoffrey W. Cloud, Susan M. Clyne, Steven Coakley, Jeffrey Coale, Patricia A. Cody, Daniel Michael Coffey, Jason Matthew Coffey, Kevin Sanford Cohen, Florence Cohen, Anthony Coladonato, Stephen J. Colaio, Mark J. Colaio, Christopher Colasanti, Kevin N. Colbert, Michel Paris Colbert, Tarel Coleman, Keith E. Coleman.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Eric Allen Cranford, Denise Crant, Robert Crawford, James Leslie Crawford, Jr.; Tara Kathleen Creamer, Joanne Cregan, Lucia Crifasi, John Crisci, Daniel Crisman, Dennis A. Cross, Helen Crossin- Kittle, Thomas G. Crotty, Kevin Raymond Crotty, John R. Crowe, Welles Remy Crowther, Robert Cruikshank, Francisco Cruz, John Robert Cruz, Grace Cua, Kenneth John Cubas, Francisco C. Cubero, Thelma Cuccinello, Richard Joseph Cudina, Neil Cudmore, Thomas P. Cullen, III; Joyce Cummings, Brian Thomas Cummins, Nilton Albuquerque Fernao Cunha, Michael ``Mickey'' J. Cunningham, Robert Curatolo, Laurence Curia, Paul Dario Curioli, Patrick Currivan, Beverly Curry, Michael Curtin, Patricia Cushing, Gavin Cushny, Vincent D'Amadeo, Jack L. D'Ambrosi, Mary Yolanda D'Antonio, Edward D'Atri, Michael D'Auria, Manuel J. Da Mota, Caleb Arron Dack, Carlos S. DaCosta, Jason Dahl, Brian Paul Dale, John Dallara, Thomas A. Damaskinos, Jeannine Damiani-Jones, Patrick Danahy, Vincent G. Danz, Dwight Donald Darcy, Elizabeth Ann Darling, Mellisa Darmis, Annette Andrea Dataram, Scott Matthew Davidson, Lawrence Davidson, Michael Allen Davidson, Julane Davidson, Niurka Davila, Rose Feliciano Davila, Ada Davis.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Paul Ambrose, Christopher C. Amoroso, Craig Amundson, Kazuhiro Anai, Calixto ``Charlie'' Anaya, Jr., Jorge Octavio Santos Anaya, Joe Anchundia, Peter Anchundia, Jeff John Andersen, Kermit Charles Anderson, Yvette C. Anderson, John Andreacchio, Michael Rourke Andrews, Jean A. Andrucki, Siew Nya Ang, Joseph Angelini, Jr., Joseph Angelini, Sr., David Lawrence Angell, Lynn Angell, Laura Angilletta, Doreen J. Angrisani, Lorraine Del Carmen Antigua, Seima Aoyama, Peter Paul Apollo, Faustino Apostol, Jr., Frank Thomas ``F.T.'' Aquilino, Patrick Michael Aranyos, David Arce, Michael G. Arczynski, Louis Arena, Barbara Arestegui, Adam P. Arias, Michael Joseph Armstrong, Jack Charles Aron, Joshua Todd Aron, Richard A. Aronow, Myra Aronson, Japhet Aryee, John Asam, Carl Asaro, Michael Asciak, Michael Edward Asher, Janice M. Ashley, Thomas J. Ashton, Manuel O. Asitimbay, Gregg Atlas, Debbie S. Attlas-Bellows, Gerald Atwood, James Audiffred, Frank Louis Aversano, Jr., Ezra Aviles, Alona Avraham, Samuel Ayala, Sandy Ayala, Arlene T. Babakitis, Eustace ``Rudy'' Bacchus, John Badagliacca, Jane Ellen Baeszler, Robert John Baierwalter, Garnet ``Ace'' Bailey, Brett T. Bailey, Andrew J. Bailey, Thomas Baiter. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to my colleague from Virginia.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Judith Berquis Diaz-Sierra, Patricia F. Dichiaro, Rodney Dickens, Jerry D. Dickerson, Joseph Dermott Dickey, Jr.; Lawrence Patrick Dickinson, Michael David Diehl, Michael Diez-Piedra, III; John DiFato, Vincent Francis DiFazio, Carl DiFranco, Donald J. DiFranco, Eddie Dillard, Debra Ann DiMartino, David DiMeglio, Stephen Patrick Dimino, William J. Dimmling, Marisa DiNardo Schorpp, Christopher M. Dincuff, Jeffrey M. Dingle, Anthony DiOnisio, George DiPasquale, Joseph DiPilato, Douglas F. DiStefano, Donald Ditullio, Mark Dixon, Ramzi Doany, Johnnie Doctor, Jr.; John J. Doherty, Melissa Doi, Robert Edward Dolan, Brendan Dolan, Neil M. Dollard, James Domanico, Benilda P. Domingo, Alberto Dominguez, Geronimo ``Jerome'' Dominguez, Charles Dominguez, Kevin W. Donnelly, William Howard Donovan, Jacqueline Donovan, Stephen S. Dorf, Marcello S. Dos-Santos, Thomas Dowd, Kevin Dowdell, Mary Yolanda Dowling, Ray M. Downey, Frank Joseph Doyle, Joseph Doyle, Randy Drake, Stephen Patrick Driscoll, Patrick Joseph Driscoll, Janet Driscoll, Charles Droz, Mirna A. Duarte, Michelle Duberry, Rita DuBrow, Luke A. Dudek, Christopher Michael Duffy, Michael Joseph Duffy, Gerard Duffy, Thomas W. Duffy, Antoinette Dugar.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Michelle Herman Goldstein, Steven Goldstein, Monica Goldstein, Ron Golinski, Andrew H. Golkin, Dennis J. Gomes, Manuel Gomez, Enrique Antonio Gomez, Jose Bienvenido Gomez, Wilder Gomez, Max Gomez, Jenine Gonzalez, Rosa Julia Gonzalez, Ana Irene Medina Gonzalez, Joel Guevara Gonzalez, Tambi Gonzalez, Lynn Goodchild, Calvin J. Gooding, Harry Goody, Kiran Reddy Gopu, Catherine Gorayeb, Lisa Fenn Gordenstein, Kerene Gordon, Sebastian Gorki, Thomas E. Gorman, Michael Edward Gould, Olga Kristin Gould White, Douglas A. Gowell, Yuji Goya, Jon Grabowski, Christopher Michael Grady, Edwin J. Graff, III, David M. Graifman, Gilbert Granados, Lauren Grandcolas, Elvira Granitto, Winston A. Grant, Ian Gray, James M. Gray, Christopher S. Gray, Linda Mair Grayling, John Michael Grazioso, Tim Grazioso, Wanda Anita Green, Andrew Peter Charles Curry Green, Derrick Arthur Green, Wade Brian Green, Elaine Greenberg, Donald F. Greene, Gayle R. Greene, James A. Greenleaf, Jr., Eileen Marsha Greenstein, Elizabeth ``Lisa'' Gregg, Florence Gregory, Donald H. Gregory, Jack Gregory, Denise Gregory, Pedro Grehan, Joseph Grezlak, John M. Griffin, Tawanna Griffin, Joan D. Griffith, Warren Grifka, Ramon Grijalvo, Joseph F. Grillo, David Grimmer, Francis Grogan, Linda Gronlund, Arthur Grossman, Kenneth G. Grozalis, Matthew J. Grzymalski, Robert Joseph Gschaar, Liming Gu, Richard Guadagno, Jose Guadalupe, Yan Z. ``Cindy'' Guan, Geoffrey E. Guja, Joseph Gullickson, Babita Guman, Douglas B. Radianz Gurian, Janet H. Gustafson, Philip T. Guza, Sabita Guzman, Barbara Guzzardo. I yield to the gentlewoman.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Tamitha Freeman, Jamitha Freemen, Brett O. Freiman, Peter L. Freund, Arlene Fried, Alan Wayne Friedlander, Paul J. Friedman, Andrew K. Friedman, regg J. Froehner, Lisa Frost, Peter C. Fry, Christopher Fugarino, Clement Fumando, Steven Elliot Furman, Paul James Furmato, Karleton D.B. Fyfe, Fredric Gabler, Richard P. Gabriel, Richard S. Gabrielle, James Andrew Gadiel, Pamela Gaff, Ervin Gailliard Grace Galante, Deanna Galante, German Castillo Galicia, Daniel James Gallagher, Anthony Edward Gallagher, John Gallagher, Bernardo Gallardo, Lourdes Galletti, Cono E. Gallo, Vincenzo Gallucci, Thomas Edward Galvin, Giovanna ``Genni'' Gambale, Thomas Gambino, Jr., Ronald Gamboa, Glann F. Gamboa, Peter Ganci, Claude Michael Gann, Charles Garbarini, Juan Garcia, David Garcia, Andrew Garcia, Mardeny Garcia, Cesar Garcia, Jorge Luis Morron Garcia, Marlyn Carmen Garcia, Jeffrey B. Gardner, Douglas B. Gardner, Thomas A. Gardner, Harvey Jose Gardner, Christopher Gardner, William Arthur ``Bill'' Gardner, Francesco Garfi, Rocco Gargano, James Michael Gartenberg, Matthew David Garvey, Bruce H. Gary, Boyd A. Gatton, Donald Gavagan, Peter Allan Gay, Kamardinoza Gazkharoy, Terence Gazzani. I yield to the gentlewoman.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students of North Elementary School in Taylorville, Illinois, and their important and heartwarming efforts to help those affected by terrorism. On October 11th, 2001, President Bush made a request of the children of America. He challenged each of them to earn and send in one dollar. This money, sent by the kindness of the children of the United States, will be used to reach out to the unfortunate children in far off Afghanistan. The students of North Elementary School heard and met that challenge. I recently received a check for $348.00, made out to America's Fund for Afghan Children--that's one dollar for each student in North Elementary. But this was only a part of the total money the students raised. In fact, through a variety of efforts in the month of October-- including a Student Council penny drive and a PTA sponsored fundraising dinner--the students of North Elementary managed to gather an amazing sum: $1,668, over five times what our President requested, The remainder of the money, it was decided, will go to the Red Cross to aid victims of the September 11th tragedy here in the United States. The students, parents, faculty, and members of the Taylorville community should be recognized for their fine efforts. The terrorists believed they could accomplish their goals with the murder of American innocents; but the American citizens have responded with aid to the innocents of Afghanistan. Nothing else could better show how utterly Al Qaeda has failed. Mr. Speaker, as President Bush said in his announcement of the Fund for Afghan Children, ``One of the truest weapons that we have against terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character of the American people.'' The children of North Elementary have shown that character, and they deserve our thanks. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Boyd Hospital on this, the 60th Anniversary of its service to Carrollton and Greene County, Illinois. For over half a century, the Boyd Hospital has been administering to the needs of the people of Carrollton and the surrounding areas. And they have been successful; in this last year alone, they have admitted hundreds of patients to their full-time care and helped thousands more on an outpatient basis. Moreover, Boyd also has a strong physical therapy program and a crack ER staff--this hospital has undoubtedly saved many hundreds of lives. Especially in these troubled times, it is comforting for the people of Carrollton to know that they are being served by such a skilled institution. Over the last sixty years, the staff of Boyd Hospital has acted with care, compassion, and competence. And though the deeds themselves are perhaps reward enough for the staff of Boyd Hospital, I think it appropriate that on this special day they are recognized. So, on behalf of the people of Carrollton and of the great State of Illinois, I would like to thank them for their efforts--they are greatly needed and greatly appreciated. As a token of that appreciation, I would like to list some of their names here for the Congressional Record: Dr. Adams, Dr. Reid, Dr. Turpin, Dr. Mapue, Dr. Khalisia, Dr. Parcon, Dr. Casleton, Dr. Voights, Dr. Harmon, Dr. McNeer, Dr. Dizon, Dr. Palcheff, and Deb Campbell. Thank you all, and may God bless you and your work.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3167, the Gerald Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation which memorializes congressional support for further NATO expansion that is set to take place at the 2002 Prague Summit. This is in line with the President's intent stated on his trip to Warsaw, Poland, and I quote, ``I believe in NATO membership for all of Europe's democracies that seek it and are ready to share the responsibility that NATO brings. As we plan the next NATO Summit in 2002, we should not calculate how little we can get away with, but how much we can do to advance the cause of freedom.'' He also stated that he envisioned a NATO that extends from the Baltic to the Black Sea, a NATO whole, free and secure. As chairman of the Baltic Caucus and a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I am a strong supporter of the NATO enlargement, especially for the Baltic states. In the wake of September 11, I believe that enlisting the talents of the Baltics and others who are eager to make contributions to NATO will be instrumental to defeating terrorism. Mr. Speaker, let me share a few photos. This is a photo of the border when I served in West Germany, the border between West Germany and Czechoslovakia. This is the old world. As many of my colleagues have said, in the spring of this year, we attended the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Lithuania. This is a new vision of Europe, and these are photos of citizens with signs saying NATO, Lithuania, okay, good; The victims of the gulags are calling for justice; The pact of Molotov- Ribentropo is our past. NATO is our future. And the youth were present in these signs of public display in support of NATO. Another thing that we learned on our trips is that the countries who are recently now members, countries like Poland, have a better relationship with Russia now since they are under the NATO Alliance. And they have better relations and better trade, and it has helped the stability of Europe. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), and the Committee on International Relations for their leadership on this issue. I would also like to commend the committee for naming this act after our recently passed colleague, Jerry Solomon. This is fitting since Congressman Solomon was one of the first in Congress to recognize that NATO membership for former Warsaw Pact countries was essential for maintaining stability in Eastern Europe. On our Statue of Liberty it says, ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free.'' With NATO expansion, the countries that are yearning to breath free can do this under the NATO Alliance. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3167.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Semper fi. Always faithful. There is no better phrase to describe Jerry Solomon. He was always faithful to his family, he was always faithful to his God, he was always faithful to NATO, to our NATO allies, and to the cause of NATO enlargement. And I bring a warm heartfelt thanks from the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, whose role in NATO enlargement was always championed by Congressman Solomon. He was always faithful to this institution, he was always faithful to the Boy Scouts of America, his beloved Marine Corps, this country, and our beloved flag. His booming voice left this floor on his retirement, and on his death his voice has left this world. But the echoes of his booming voice will continue to ring: Duty, honor, country, or let's step outside. I personally remember, always, one time when I heard ``Shimkus, you voted wrong,'' right here on this floor. And the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) has left the floor, but I think the vote was on Radio Marti. You know what? He was right. I was not a classmate of Jerry's, I was not on his committee, and I am not from his State. I am just a veteran, like Jerry, who loves his country. Semper fi, Jerry Solomon. I will miss you.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for arranging Members to come to the floor and remind my colleagues about October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a time of heightened awareness of the problem, and a time to discuss what our society and local communities can do to help. I would like at this time to talk briefly about the Call to Protect program. As a participant in this program, my offices have collected thousands of phones from around the country to donate to victims of domestic violence. Call to Protect is a domestic violence prevention project. It provides those in danger with instant access to help in the form of a wireless phone. Donated phones are programmed so that victims can reach emergency personnel with a click of the button. This gives victims the power to protect themselves rather than live in fear. This program has helped thousands of women. One success story is particularly close to me as it happened in my district. Brandon Pope, a 5-year-old boy, used a donated phone to save his mother's life in Centralia, Illinois. Brandon's mother, Sandra, was a victim of systemic abuse from her husband. She sought assistance from a domestic abuse help center, and received an emergency wireless phone through the Call to Protect program. Unfortunately, the physical effects of the domestic abuse caused Sandra to have occasional seizures. In February, Sandra suffered a particular strong seizure that caused her to fall and lose consciousness. Having learned about 9-1-1 in his Head Start class, Brandon used his mom's wireless phone to call for help. Paramedics arrived on the scene and quickly administered treatment. The wireless phone donated to Sandra was the family's only means of communication. This is only one story of many where ordinary citizens and community organizations come to the aid of a victim of domestic abuse. Mr. Speaker, I would like to especially thank the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, CTIA, who run the Call to Protect program; and Motorola who refurbishes all of the donated phones so victims have access to emergency numbers. Due to the services of these companies, this program truly saves lives.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in the days and weeks of bad news, I would like to come to the floor with some good news. On Monday, I attended an announcement of a collocated coal mine and power plant that is being planned and developed in Washington County, Illinois. Generation is planned for 2003. Construction of this facility will create approximately 1,500 jobs and then for the operation of the coal mine and the power plant another 500 jobs. These will be high-paying union jobs. This is what we and the administration hoped for in a national energy plan. I applaud the State of Illinois for their assistance and I look forward to low-cost, reliable, clean energy for Illinois and this Nation.