Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today on the motion to close portions of the conference report on H.R. 1735 and the Senate amendment to H.R. 91 because I was attending the funeral of a dear friend in Chicago. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on both.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. The administration seems to think the Democrats and the coalition that is opposing the TPP would reject any trade deal. We are called protectionists. We are called unreasonable. But that is not true. Rather than these fancy parliamentary manipulations, we should take the time now to fix it. Some of the most odious positions that we know that are in the TPP which this fast track will speed us to are U.S. negotiating positions. Our trading partners are not clamoring for the extrajudicial investor dispute resolution authority, allowing huge corporations to challenge their hard-fought consumer protections, worker and environmental laws, et cetera. These are our negotiating positions. We could drop them and that would be welcomed abroad among our trading partners. Countries want the opportunity and the right to protect their food supplies--and that includes us. Decrease smoking; promote Buy America; increase the minimum wage; control the cost of drugs; protect our environment. We could reset the balance of the intellectual property rights and access to lifesaving, affordable medicines by rewriting the pharmaceutical chapter, which I did look at. More than a trade bill, this establishes a new regulatory regime that favors the wealthiest and the most powerful corporations. We could change that. These votes we are taking today are not the end of the track. It is beginning the track to a new negotiation. It is the beginning of an opportunity for us to sit down and make sure that we get the best for workers, consumers, and our trading partners, and that we benefit our economy not just for the very few at the top that can go to some extrajudicial court and challenge our regulations, but for everyone. This is a bill that we can make better.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my strong opposition to H.R. 2577, the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act. This legislation is severely underfunded. Considering declining Federal Housing Administration receipts and increased Section 8 renewal costs, this year's THUD bill is funded at $1.5 billion below last year's level. The overall appropriations levels for all domestic discretionary programs and priorities is lower than at any point in more than a decade. That is the root cause of the problem, and until the reckless budget sequester is lifted, the priorities that Americans care about will not get the support they need. We must end sequestration now. But the specific cuts in this bill are also a concern. H.R. 2577 imposes devastating cuts on housing priorities. It would impose a more than 10 percent cut in public housing management. It would also significantly underfund supportive housing for seniors, with that funding below last year's level and almost 10 percent below the President's request. Those cuts will have devastating impacts on Americans struggling to make ends meet. As has been highlighted by many of my colleagues, this bill also fails to make rail infrastructure, high speed rail, and positive train control a priority. Experts say that positive train control could have prevented the tragic Amtrak train derailment north of Philadelphia, but Congress continues to shirk its obligation to adequately support it. That failure is inexcusable. Finally, H.R. 2577 does not make the investment in auto safety oversight that the last year has proven we need. 2014 was the year of the recall, almost doubling the previous record. We're on pace to break the record again this year. Yet, this bill funds the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration--the agency responsible for monitoring and improving auto safety--just 1 percent above last year's level. That is less than inflation. While I supported the amendment my colleague, Rep. Michael Burgess, successfully added to increase NHTSA funding by $4 million, that is just a drop in the bucket in terms of what is needed. It is also unfortunate that this bill cuts the Office of the Secretary of Transportation--4 percent below last year's level and more than 10 percent below the President's request--in order to slightly increase NHTSA funding. We need to consider legislation like H.R. 1811, the Vehicle Safety Improvement Act, which would more than double NHTSA funding for its important work through a new $3 fee on new vehicles. We need to ramp up resources, authority, and other support for NHTSA in order to significantly improve auto safety and save lives. I will continue to work with Mr. Burgess and others to get that done. These are just a handful of the overwhelming number of reasons I oppose H.R. 2577. I am glad that the President has issued a veto threat on the bill, and I will continue to work to ensure that it is never enacted.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize SNAP (Survivors of Those Abused by Priests) on the occasion of their 27th Anniversary, which they will celebrate at their annual conference here in Washington D.C., July 31-Aug 2. Founded in 1988 by my fellow Chicagoan, Barbara Blaine, SNAP is a self-help support group for those who were sexually violated--whether by clergy, family members, trusted adults, or strangers. Barbara is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a member of the clergy. SNAP has become a voice for childhood sexual abuse prevention, awareness and healing in our community. Today, SNAP is an international organization with members in all 50 states and in 71 countries, with over 70 chapters organized throughout the United States and across the world. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Only one in 10 children ever tells anyone. The median age when a victim discloses childhood sexual abuse is 40. One of the most important public policy developments in this country has been the effort to reform the statutes of limitations laws in states. SNAP is working to bring a voice and justice to victims and survivors by working to reform a legal system that has imposed inadequately short civil statutes of limitations. Those arbitrary deadlines prevent most victims from ever getting through the courthouse doors to present their evidence and make their case. Typically, victims of child sexual abuse have only five years after they've turned 18 to pursue civil legal remedies for the justice they seek. That means that after age 23, survivors of childhood sexual abuse are prohibited from seeking legal recourse against their abusers, and it can mean that child sexual predators are allowed to live freely among us. In 2013, I am proud to report, the state of Illinois enacted legislation to remove criminal and civil statute of limitations for sex offenses that occurred when the victim was under 18 years of age. The new law removes the statute of limitations for child sex abuse that occurs on or after January 1, 2014. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge SNAP and all their volunteer leaders, who give so much of themselves to help others. Protecting children and preventing sexual abuse of children is a worthy effort we all can support.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate Rabbi Herman and Lotte Schaalman, an internationally-renowned and beloved couple, on their 99th and 100th birthdays. Rabbi Schaalman celebrated his 99th birthday on April 28, 2015 and Lotte Schaalman celebrated her 100th birthday on January 13, 2015. Rabbi Schaalman was the Senior Rabbi at Emanuel Congregation in Edgewater, in my district, for 32 years, and is in his 28th year as Rabbi Emeritus. The Schaalmans will be honored at a special event on May 31, 2015 at Emanuel Congregation, which is establishing the Rabbi Herman and Lotte Schaalman Fund, to assure that their remarkable legacy of service will continue. Rabbi Herman and Lotte Schaalman have devoted their life for the good of their fellow Jews and for humanity. Rabbi Schaalman fled Nazi Germany in 1935. He became known as one of America's foremost leaders in American Reform Judaism, serving as Rabbinical leader and President of the Reform Rabbis Association. Lotte Schaalman has exemplified the heart of Congregation Emanuel. Together the Schaalmans are the epitome of a thriving and wonderful life partnership. After his retirement as Senior Rabbi at Emanuel Congregation, Rabbi Schaalman continued his active involvement in many educational, civic and religious organizations. He has participated in education programs at many institutions, including at Barat College, DePaul University, North Park Seminary, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Northwestern University. He served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, was President of both the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis, and was a member of the National Jewish Communal Affairs Committee. He was President of the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs and served in leadership roles on the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago and the Edgewater Association of Clergy and Rabbis. Rabbi Schaalman also served as a member of the Education Committee of the National Holocaust Memorial in Washington, DC. As part of his commitment to interreligious understanding and the promotion of a peaceful world, he has been a Trustee on the Board of the Millennium Institute and a member of the Executive Committee of the Council for the Parliament of World Religions. Rabbi Schaalman's list of distinguished awards and honors is many pages long. His awards include the Julius Rosenwald Memorial Award from the Jewish Federation of Chicago, the Order of First Class Merit from Germany, the Order of Lincoln Award from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the Interfaith Gold Medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews, being elected to the Hall of Fame for the Jewish Community Centers, and having a park on Sheridan Road in Chicago named ``The Herman and Lotte Schaalman Park'' in their honor. Rabbi Herman and Lotte Schaalman are a remarkable couple and I am proud to honor them today.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Margaret ``Peg'' Burke Lee for her distinct service to the people of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois and Oakton Community College. Dr. Lee will be retiring in June of this year, and I would like to congratulate her on 30 years of commitment to our community. Since Dr. Lee became vice president of academic affairs at Oakton Community College in 1985, her achievements have captured national recognition for the College while serving 450,000 residents in 16 municipalities--including a salute by The New York Times recognizing Oakton as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation. Dr. Lee's commitment and contributions to education and Oakton are immeasurable. She has been recognized by college staff members and community members as a relationship builder inside and outside of the college community, a legacy she is proud to share. Dr. Lee was named one of the ``Most Powerful and Influential Women of Illinois'' by the National Diversity Council in 2012. In March 2011, Holy Family Medical Center honored her with its second annual C.A.R.E.S. Award for exemplifying Resurrection Health Care's Core Values: compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service. Dr. Lee has contributed to multiple educational events across the world, including in China, Netherlands, Thailand, and Spain. She was part of a diplomatic delegation to India where she traveled with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes and five other college and University presidents to build bridges to American higher education through meetings with government, university, and business leaders. In addition, Dr. Lee is the author of several monographs on global education in community colleges and the critical role of language learning in developing cultural competence. Dr. Lee holds a doctorate and a master's degree in English language and literature from the University of Chicago, where she was a Ford Foundation Fellow in the Humanities and a Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Scholar in Women's Studies. At the age of 17, she spent 8 years as a nun, a perspective and experience that she brought to her role as a college administrator. She has always taught with compassion and enthusiasm throughout her career to help those most in need. Dr. Lee is known to go above and beyond to improve the quality of life in the community and she has touched the lives of many people through her commitment to providing innovative educational programs at the college. In January, the Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers Center opened on Oakton Community College's Des Plaines campus. It is home to Oakton's anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth science, medical laboratory technology, nursing, physics, and physical therapy assistant programs. Dr. Lee's legacy will continue at Oakton not only through this new facility, but through the fabric of Oakton Community College. After she announced her retirement, dozens of posts were made on Facebook demonstrating how much she is loved by the people she mentored over the past 30 years. I want to sincerely congratulate Dr. Lee for everything she has accomplished at Oakton Community College and for the people of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. Your legacy will live on and will never be forgotten. May you enjoy this new chapter in your life including additional time you can spend with your nine children and 14 grandchildren.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Head Start program. Head Start is near and dear to my heart. I began my career as a Head Start teacher in the Chicago public schools. I have never forgotten how the program made a monumental difference for its students, and this Congress should not forget those kids either. Since its inception, Head Start has served 32 million children in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories. Last year, in my home State of Illinois, there were 130 early Head Start and Head Start providers providing quality teachers. And there is an economic impact. Head Start accounted for more than 7,950 jobs in Illinois last year. Yet sequestration cuts have done serious damage to the programs in Illinois and around the Nation. In my State alone, more than $16.5 million in funding has been cut, 1,900 children went unserved, and 549 jobs were lost. Certainly none of us was elected to keep young children in need from getting an education. We should celebrate the 50th anniversary by fully funding Head Start and eliminating the sequester because every child in our country deserves a quality education and a good start.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, this evening, I was unavoidably detained and unable to cast votes on three bills: H.R. 91, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act, as amended; H.R. 1313, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act; and H.R. 1382, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each of the three bills.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Women's Health Week and National Nurses Week. Yes, this week is Women's Health Week--a time to raise awareness about manageable steps women can take to improve their health. Currently, one in five women is in fair or poor health, and almost 40 percent report struggling with mental health issues. Women are less likely than men to be employed full time, meaning they are less likely to be eligible for employer-based health benefits. Difficulty finding and maintaining employer-based coverage is especially pronounced for older women, who are more likely to develop conditions like breast cancer. But thanks to ObamaCare, women's health took a monumental step forward. Before ObamaCare, insurance companies could discriminate against women, denying coverage to women--of course, to all people--due to preexisting conditions, such as cancer and even previous pregnancies. Today, being a woman or becoming pregnant is no longer a pre-existing condition. The National Women's Law Center estimates that insurers' practice of gender rating cost women about a billion dollars a year before ObamaCare. ObamaCare ends gender rating. It requires health plans to cover women's preventive services, like contraceptive care and OB/GYN visits, without cost sharing. Accessible contraceptive coverage is particularly important. Prior to ObamaCare, more than half of all women between the ages of 18 and 34 struggled to afford it. In addition, every health insurance plan is now required to offer maternity care. Prior to the passage of ObamaCare, the National Women's Law Center found that only 12 percent of private plans included maternity services. And even without those major improvements, health care accessibility remains a challenge. Almost one out of three women reports not visiting a doctor due to the cost. Women are still less likely to be insured than men. And even when they have insurance, women face increasingly high deductibles, copayments, and other cost sharing requirements, forcing major sacrifices just in order to make ends meet. A recent study found that over 40 percent of women have unmet medical needs due to the cost of medical care. This problem is particularly acute in States that have not expanded Medicaid. Currently, 3 million uninsured women live in States that have not expanded Medicaid coverage. So we have come so far in increasing access to affordable and adequate health care for women, but we still have a long way to go. This week is also National Nurses Week, and I can't pass up the chance to recognize the important contributions that nurses make-- improving women's and men's health care every day. After all, we might not have ObamaCare if it weren't for the support and advocacy for nurses all across the country. This year's National Nurses Week 2015 theme is: ``Ethical Practice. Quality Care.'' It recognizes the importance of ethics in nursing and acknowledges the strong commitment, compassion, and care nurses display in the practice of their profession. Registered Nurses, or RNs, are the largest segment of the health care workforce, with 3.1 million RNs, and that number is growing. RNs meet Americans' health care needs on every level. They provide preventive care, such as screenings and immunizations; they diagnose, treat, and help to manage chronic illnesses; and they help patients make critical health decisions every day. But most importantly, nurses take the time to care for each patient during a difficult time in their or their family's lives. We have plenty of evidence that hiring more nurses leads directly to improved quality care and patient outcomes. We have seen study after study showing this connection, including a recent analysis showing that one out of every four unanticipated events that leads to death or injury are related to nurse understaffing; yet we continue to see nurses understaffed at medical facilities. Nurses around the country have identified understaffing as the single most important barrier they face in providing quality care to their patients. It is also a barrier to quality improvement and efforts to reduce preventable readmissions. I have introduced legislation called the Safe Nurse Staffing for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which would help solve this serious problem by establishing a Federal minimum standard in all hospitals for direct care registered nurse to patient staffing ratios. This problem is not confined to hospitals. Nursing homes are currently required to only have a direct care nurse on staff 8 hours a day. This simply makes no sense. Patients are in these facilities 24 hours a day and need access to round-the-clock nursing care. That is why I have introduced the Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act. We should be thanking nurses, who are considered the most ethical of our healthcare system, and I applaud them.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my dear friend Phyllis Mitzen on her well-deserved recognition from the National Association of Social Workers. Tonight, Phyllis will be presented with their prestigious 2014 National Lifetime Achievement award. This is a fitting accolade as she has devoted most of her adult life to the social work profession and to improving the care and lives of older Americans. Phyllis is the co-director of the Center for Long-Term Care Reform in Chicago. She is known and respected as a leader in gerontological social work, has authored books and scholarly papers in the field, and was integral in reforming long-term care in Illinois by helping to craft trailblazing reform legislation. In addition, she serves on a number of statewide advisory boards and commissions. She has also influenced and inspired many as the coordinator of the Older Adult Studies Program at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. Before her work at the Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Phyllis spent close to 25 years helping to establish the Council for Jewish Elderly's important presence in our community, first as Director of Home and Community Based Services and ultimately as Director of Government Affairs. Under Phyllis' leadership, CJE Senior Life expanded programming to offer a myriad of services, from evaluating the evolving needs of seniors to adult day programs and other supportive services which allow individuals to remain in their home and community with dignity. It is critical that such comprehensive and supportive programs are available in our area, and CJE Senior Life gives seniors appropriate services through professional care. It is a testament to Phyllis' amazing contributions to seniors and their families. Phyllis has served as a mentor and friend to many. I join with them in applauding her steadfast commitment to fighting for the dignity and care of older Americans and in thanking her for her decades of work in our community.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Alice Tregay. Alice Tregay was not only a dear friend of mine; she was a role model and mentor to many over five decades. She poured her heart and soul into promoting social justice: advocating on behalf of poor people in Chicago, registering literally tens of thousands of voters over the years, managing high-profile political campaigns and more. She began her activism in 1964 when she joined the protest against Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Ben Willis and his infamous ``Willis Wagons'', which perpetuated segregation and an inferior learning environment. In the end, not only were the wagons shut down, but Superintendent was also removed from his post. Alice also fought alongside well-known figures like Al Raby and Dick Gregory in this winning battle. Alice marched with Dr. Martin Luther King for open housing in Chicago, and when Dr. King's Operation Breadbasket began operations in Chicago, Alice worked hand in hand with Rev. Jesse Jackson to put the organization together. She started the Political Education Division at Operation Breadbasket, training thousands of students over a five year period. Alice was an integral part of that organization, now called the Rainbow Push Coalition, each day since then. She also served as an essential staff member of many campaigns including Congressman Abner Mikva, Jesse Jackson Sr., Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Mayor Harold Washington, and President Jimmy Carter. The best words to describe Alice are ``tireless'' and ``persistent.'' Alice impacted so many lives as an organizer, educator, and change- maker. She gave a voice to those who are too frequently ignored. She provided the tools to engage and equip generations of activists, including me. I owe much to my precious friend, Alice Tregay. My heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with her family. She will be sorely missed.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 95 years of service by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and to wish them well as they begin their 81st Annual Great Lakes Regional Leadership Conference tomorrow in Rosemont, Illinois. The conference, led by Great Lakes Regional Director Michelle Porter Norman, will capture the essence of all that Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated embodies . . . to be ``A Community Conscious, Action Oriented Organization''. Their National Programs, including Z-HOPE, Stork's Nest and Elder Care, provide necessary assistance to members of our communities across the globe, to address societal ills, poverty, and health concerns of the day. It is expected to draw more than 700 members from across seven states--Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded in 1920 at Howard University in Washington, DC, in the belief that the social nature of Sorority life should not overshadow the real mission of progressive organizations. The international organization's more than 100,000 initiated members and affiliates have given millions of volunteer hours to educate the public, provide scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change. Zeta Phi Beta has more than 800 chapters in the United States, Japan, Germany, England, Belgium, the Republic of Korea, the Caribbean and most recently Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I send a sincere ``thank you'' to Zeta Phi Beta for your dedication to promoting academic excellence and instilling in your members a lifelong commitment to service.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. In recognition of the Oncology Nursing Society's 40th anniversary, I want to congratulate ONS for their legacy of excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care. ONS is a professional organization of over 37,000 registered nurses and other healthcare providers dedicated to providing care to patients in one of the most difficult stages of their lives. Since 1975, the Oncology Nursing Society has worked tirelessly to lead the transformation of cancer care. ONS is the primary source of education for all nurses providing care to people with cancer, regardless of the setting. In my State of Illinois alone, there are 10 chapters of ONS, with more than 1,600 members. In addition, the ONS Chicago chapter is the oldest chapter in the country. Oncology nurses are there for patients through one of the most challenging times in their lives. They help patients and their loved ones by caring, teaching, listening, and simply being present. As Congress continues to work to increase access to quality care, I praise the commitment of ONS in fostering excellence in oncology nursing and the care of cancer patients. I would like to congratulate all the members of ONS on the occasion of its 40th anniversary and wish them many more years of dedicated service to the country.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the gentleman just described this as a consumer protection bill for people who live in manufactured housing. We are talking about trailer homes. But yet the National Manufactured Home Owners Association is opposing this bill, along with the Alliance for a Just Society, Americans for Financial Reform, the Center for American Progress, the Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Action, Corporation for Enterprise Development, Empire Justice, Financial Protection Law Center, the Housing Assistance Council, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Consumer Law Center, National Council of La Raza, National Fair Housing Alliance, North Carolina Justice Center, U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Are these the far left that he is talking about, the people who actually represent folks that live in the kind of housing that he is saying that he wants to protect? Nearly 7 years ago, our housing collapse resulted in more than 5 million foreclosures and 10 million jobs lost, and so we enacted Dodd- Frank to reform Wall Street, to improve consumer protections against crippling loans and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The two bills, H.R. 650 and H.R. 685, would strip many of these consumer protections, would allow higher fees and reduce consumer protections and permit some of the most abusive and deceptive practices that trapped borrowers into unaffordable loans. Those protections were hard earned, and they were clearly justified. Eliminating them would put us back in the same situation that led to the worst recession since 1929. This bill, H.R. 650, would weaken consumer protections for manufactured home loans. This is a bad bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Coach Trenkle and the Maine South High School Constitution Team for their achievement in winning the Illinois State Title of the ``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution'' competition. This year's competition marks the twenty-third time the Maine South team has won the title in the last twenty-four years. The ``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution'' program, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, promotes civic competence and responsibility through course study and mock Congressional hearings. To succeed in this competition, students must demonstrate a deep understanding of Constitutional principles as well as an ability to apply critical thinking skills and to work together. The Maine South team rose to that challenge in winning this competition and I am sure they will apply those same skills to achieve success in the future. Congratulations to all the members of the 2014-2015 Maine South Constitution team: Coach Andrew Trenkle, Lauren Acker, Anthony Alvizu, Valerie Asimacopoulos, Chris Brendza, Paul D'Ambrosio, Tomy Deeter, Cailin Devereux, Alex Ellyin, Michael Gabel, Victoria Gawedzki, Michael Harris, Dan Hopkinson, Matt Kelly, John Klages, Meghan Martin, Bjorn Olafsson, Guy Olson, Matt Pierucci, Alex Ponder, Jake Ritthamel, Julia Samulak, Mary Grace Sharp, Elizabeth Skoronski, Alex Solberg, Lucie Sullivan, Sabrina Tamas, Mark Tamvakis, Savannah Theil, Isabelle Tobolski, and Melissa Walek. On behalf of the Ninth Congressional Distinct of Illinois, I congratulate you on your success, and wish you the best of luck in the national competition.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and achievements of Lloyd Maday, who passed away earlier this month. Mr. Maday was a beloved and respected member of the Evanston, Illinois community, where he touched many lives. With his brother, he started Maday Brothers auto shop, which he operated for nearly 50 years before retiring in 1999. Maday Brothers was not just a place to get excellent mechanic services, Lloyd Maday made it a place where young people could get friendly advice and excellent counsel. Whether it was help in understanding how to repair a carburetor or how to deal with their personal problems, many Evanstonians turned to Lloyd Maday. Mike Kennedy was one of those young people, who was mentored and got his first job from Lloyd Maday. Mr. Kennedy told The Chicago Tribune, Lloyd Maday ``taught me a lot about fixing cars, but he taught me about character too. I'd watch how he treated people, the way he'd answer questions and take the time to explain things. If there was a problem, he'd be the one to handle it. He was calm and even-keeled, and his conversations always ended with a handshake.'' Lloyd Maday was a master of his craft, keeping up with the many automotive and technological changes that occurred during his career. He made it a priority to listen and help those he met, to provide encouragement, and to set an example of how to live a life that gives back to the community. He was a devoted family man to his wife, and I want to express my condolences to his children and his 29 grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, once again, the Republicans have brought us to the brink of a government shutdown, this time, the Department of Homeland Security. For weeks, the Department specifically designed to keep America and Americans safe has been forced to spend time and resources making plans to lay off 30,000 workers and stop paychecks for hundreds of thousands of critical workers like the Coast Guard and Border Patrol agents and TSA at the airports. Why are they on this dangerous mission? So they can continue their futile and cruel war against immigrant children and families. Now I hear they will try to put the Department of Homeland Security back in limbo for another 3 weeks while they figure out some other mischief. This is reckless. This is irresponsible and dangerous. Shame on the Republicans for doing this. Stop it. Just pass a clean bill for a continuous funding of the Department of Homeland Security.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is amazing to me to watch the Republicans recklessly play politics with our national security. That is right. Keeping America safe is why we have a Department of Homeland Security. That is what it does. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires February 27. We have only 6 legislative days between now and then to pass a clean funding bill. If we fail to pass a bill, 30,000 workers will be furloughed and the rest will work without getting paid. Really? These workers are Border Patrol Agents, TSA security screeners, immigration officers, and members of the Secret Service and Coast Guard. We rely on them to keep us safe--and they rely on us to pay them. Shame on the Republican Party for jeopardizing our national security in a misguided attempt to score political points with the extremist wing of their base. Give us a clean bill and let us fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is working. Here is what I hear: Women can afford to get pregnant because maternity is covered. Parents sleep better because their children are covered up to age 26. People with preexisting conditions are no longer terrified that they are going to be uninsured. Small businesses are saving money. Doctors and nurses are saving lives because patients can come to them. In Illinois, over 700,000 individuals are newly insured, and we are not even through with enrollment. As the President said in this Chamber 2 weeks ago: ``That is good news, people.'' But, today, we have gone back to the Republican old song book--yet another vote to repeal ObamaCare. Let me warn them that they do this at their peril. Tens of millions of Americans, many insured for the first time and others who can finally afford insurance, will not give it up without a fight. Let's hope the 56th time of a vote to repeal will be the last so we can get to the real work of raising wages and creating good jobs and passing equal pay and of comprehensive immigration reform and improving retirement security and passing a renewed Voting Rights Act. The war against ObamaCare is over, and ObamaCare has won.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, here is what my constituent Laurel wrote me from Wilmette, Illinois: Thank you. I am tired of all this bellyaching about health care, so I want to share our story. We are small business owners and have a very expensive policy for our two employees, but we have been stuck with that approach because my husband and one of our kids has asthma and are therefore uninsurable. Our health care broker just sent us all the health care information for the next year, and our yearly costs will go down if we switch to one of the ObamaCare options in Illinois. Although we don't qualify for subsidies, it is cheaper in all scenarios. In fact, if our usage is similar to what it was the last 3 years, our costs go down 20 percent. The policy is better. Everyone in our family is now insurable. My kids who are still under 21 may be able to get dental insurance, and the out-of-pocket maximum is lowered if someone really gets sick. Wow. She says: These savings don't include the benefit of the no- deductible checkups and preventive drug benefits, which have already saved us $1800 this year. Our health care broker and his partner are signing up for ObamaCare options themselves. She says: I would like to know what all those Republican grandstanders who have blocked action at every turn and are now wringing their hands have done for me lately.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary life and accomplishments of Ernie Banks--known by Chicagoans as ``Mr. Cub.'' Chicago lost a true hero and friend when Ernie Banks passed away on Friday, January 23. His baseball accomplishments are legendary. During his playing days, cheers would always erupt at Wrigley Field when Banks would make a clutch hit or a spectacular diving catch. His greatness was well acknowledged: Banks was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977--the very first year he was eligible. While Banks excelled on the field, he also blazed a trail off of it. As the first African-American player for the Chicago Cubs, he was a pioneer in our community and across the country. Banks treated people well, got along with most everyone and stood for justice even as he faced discrimination. During road trips, hotels and restaurants open to his white teammates were often closed to him and other African- Americans. I am happy to see how far we have come as a country throughout the course of his career and his lifetime. Banks founded the Ernie Banks Live Above and Beyond Foundation, which helps promote social welfare and assist youth and seniors who may need assistance. I know he was very proud of the young players on Chicago's own Jackie Robinson West team who won the Little League championship last year. According to Fox Chicago, Jackie Robinson West player Lawrence Noble said, `I met [Ernie Banks] during the summer and he was such an inspirational person to me, it was just very sad hearing that he passed away.' It's clear that the next generation appreciates the impact of Mr. Cub. We can honor the legacy of Mr. Cub by doing our own part to break down barriers and build a better community. We will miss you, Ernie.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Abha Pandya, who is retiring at the end of this month from the position of Chief Executive Officer of Asian Human Services, Inc. (AHS) after 20 years in leadership at the organization. AHS is Chicago's largest social service agency serving the needs of the pan-Asian and other immigrant and underserved communities residing in metropolitan Chicago. Ms. Pandya joined AHS in June 1994 as the Executive Director, and in 2004 she became the Chief Executive Officer. In 1994, AHS had a staff of six employees and a budget of $294,000. Under Ms. Pandya's leadership, AHS has grown nearly 40 fold--having a budget of approximately $15 million in fiscal year 2015, and a staff of 115 full-time employees. Ms. Pandya is a truly remarkable leader. She always completed what she set out to do, including big projects that are important to the community, such as opening several Federally Qualified Health Care Clinics, providing dental services to the community, and opening education and job training centers. I attended many wonderful ribbon cuttings of AHS projects under Ms. Pandya's leadership. AHS is a multilingual, functionally diverse, not-for-profit social service agency that provides direct services to over 27,000 clients a year. Its excellent staff speaks 24 languages and includes people of different ages, genders, ethnicities and races. Under Ms. Pandya's leadership, AHS opened Illinois' first federally- funded primary care and dental clinic to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate clinical services to Asian immigrants and others; a comprehensive mental health program, the only state-funded program for the Asian community in Illinois; a large community health education and prevention program; an extensive family literacy program; and a job training and placement program. In 2011, AHS received $2.8 million in capital funds from the state and federal governments to start an expanded primary care and dental clinic, and the new clinic became fully operational on September 3, 2013. In 2014 AHS received federal funding to establish an additional primary care clinic in my district, in Skokie, Illinois. AHS will be naming one of their clinics the ``Abha Pandya's Family Health Center'' to honor her contributions. It is an extremely well- deserved honor. Ms. Pandya has advocated extensively at the federal, state and city levels on behalf of Asian and other immigrant and refugee communities in Chicago for a more equitable distribution of resources, greater access, and linguistically appropriate services. She has served on the Governor's Multicultural Services Committee, and on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council on Urban Affairs, the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly, the metropolitan Board of the United Way of Chicago and the Chicago Council of the United Way. Ms. Pandya received a B.A. with honors from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay, and a master's degree with distinction from the University of Delhi, and an M.S. in journalism from Boston University. She will be spending time with her family, including her grandchildren, in California. I thank Ms. Pandya for her leadership and service. I will miss working with her in her leadership role at AHS, but I know she will continue to look for ways to serve our community.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House should vote for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure instead of attacking women's access to health care.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, if you thought the 114th Congress would be different, think again. If you thought Republicans were ready to put partisan politics behind them, think again. If you thought they had finally ended their war on women, think again. Last night, thanks to Republican women and their supporters, the Republicans abandoned their effort to pass a 20-week abortion ban even for women who were victims of rape or incest. But instead of respecting women this morning, the Republicans are coming back to the floor again, this time attempting to deny women access to their constitutionally protected right to safe and legal abortions by restricting coverage to abortions--including in private plans purchased with women's private dollars. This is harmful to women and continues to ignore the American people, who believe that women and their doctors should make important medical decisions, not politicians. Roe v. Wade wasn't the beginning of women having abortions. It was the end of women dying from abortions.