Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the assault weapons ban. I live very close to Highland Park, Illinois, and I have heard from literally hundreds of people and met with hundreds of people--students, teachers, parents, small businessowners, and, yes, even law enforcement officials--who demand that we pass an assault weapons ban. Today's vote would not be possible without the fearless and tireless work of advocates and survivors. This day is for them. I think that there is no rational reason that we would allow these weapons of mass destruction that ravage our families, our communities, and even our way of life to be on the streets of our country. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote to ban assault weapons.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of the cosponsors of the legislation. Particularly, I want to mention Robin Kelly, who is not able to be here today. I know she wanted to be able to speak to this legislation. But it was brought to our Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee by a really brave mom, and that is Trista Hamsmith, a woman who lost her 18-month-old daughter, Reese, tragically after she ingested a tiny button cell battery. And I am just so proud of not only the subcommittee, but the full committee that unanimously has passed this and brought it now to the floor. But we give a special thanks to Trista Hamsmith, mom of Reese. So, as the chairman mentioned, these batteries are found in many household devices and even toys that are used by children. And it is estimated that once every 3 minutes, a child is treated in an emergency room having swallowed one of these small batteries. These deaths and injuries that continue are absolutely not necessary because voluntary standards for their packaging and to protect children are just not present. And so, Reese's Law would require that the Consumer Product Safety Commission draft mandatory standards for these button cell or coin batteries. And these standards will ensure that the batteries' packaging would have information about what is dangerous; and that they would be child-resistant and would have warning labels on the packages and instructions for parents to protect their children. More times than not, I want to just say that in our subcommittee we learn from parents about the hazards that their children face. And I am just so proud that, with the help of Gus Bilirakis, the ranking member of the subcommittee, the help of both the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee, and our full committee, we are able to address these hazards. And the fact that Trista was able to bring Reese's story to us and tell it--you know, sometimes I think that our subcommittee is--you know, we have to pass out tissues because of the stories that we hear from these parents--and turn their tragedy into power and are able to make the difference. So I just want to thank my friends and colleagues, and I look forward to passing this legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I am here to shed light on the unprecedented mental health crisis that is devastating countless families, including many in my own community. Earlier this year, I attended the funeral of Orli Sheffey, an outstanding young constituent, and the daughter of my dear friend Steve Sheffey. She passed away at the age of 19 as a result of mental illness--an invisible illness that far too many Americans confront. I rise to honor Orli today. In Hebrew, Orli means ``my light,'' and Orli was a light to so many. She was a daughter, a sister, a classmate, and a friend, and while her time on this Earth was brief, her impact is lasting. It is clear that we must confront the nationwide mental health crisis. Too many people feel like they are in darkness. Too many people feel alone and ashamed. And too many people cannot find the resources and health care that they need. According to reports, 4 in 10 Americans report suffering from anxiety or depression. It's not hard to see why. Americans have been forced to deal with a devastating pandemic, mass shootings, racial injustice, and increasing hate crimes and intolerance. Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration recognize this crisis. I am proud that we passed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, to improve mental health resources for healthcare workers. I am grateful that the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline is now LIVE. I urge anyone who is struggling with a mental health crisis to call the 9-8-8 lifeline. And we need to make sure that the resources that Congress has already created are known and easily accessible. In 2016, my bill, the Mental Health on Campus Act was enacted through an appropriations package. It created a grant program to ensure that colleges and universities could provide vital mental health resources for students. We must make sure students can access these resources and do not feel ashamed or stigmatized for doing so. There is much more work to be done. It is critical at this moment that we honor Orli. Part of what we can do is to work to shine light on this crisis. I will never stop fighting to ensure that the mental health needs of our communities are met.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsors of this legislation for their support. I have been proud to join them. Madam Speaker, you know, you would think that everyone would want to protect access to contraception and to family planning, especially people who are opposed to abortion. Yet, we have seen that there have been efforts to exclude available and effective contraception, that there has been an effort to limit the choices that women have to even have contraception. So, yes, we absolutely need to pass this bill. We need to pass it into law. We need to do it right now. Madam Speaker, 99 percent of Americans are in favor of contraception, so let's pass this legislation. We should do it with all our Members on both sides of the aisle.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 380. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Auchincloss (Beyer) Barragan (Beyer) Bowman (Neguse) Boyle, Brendan F. (Beyer) Carter (TX) (Weber (TX)) Correa (Beyer) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Demings (Kelly (IL)) Escobar (Garcia (TX)) Foster (Spanberger) Gallego (Soto) Gosar (Weber (TX)) Houlahan (Spanberger) Kahele (Kelly (IL)) Katko (Joyce (OH)) Keating (Beyer) Kirkpatrick (Pallone) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Leger Fernandez (Kuster) Meng (Kuster) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Newman (Beyer) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Pingree (Kuster) Porter (Neguse) Salazar (Kim (CA)) San Nicolas (Takano) Sires (Pallone) Smucker (Keller) Stevens (Kuster) Taylor (Weber (TX)) Thompson (MS) (Bishop (GA)) Walorski (Fleischmann) Williams (GA) (Neguse) Wilson (SC) (Norman) Amendments En Bloc No. 8 Offered by Ms. DeLauro of Connecticut

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I lived the days before abortion was safe and legal in the United States of America, and I remember the desperation of women, some of them my friends, some of whom had to make really dangerous decisions about how they were going to be able to exercise control over their own bodies and make this most personal decision on their own. Some women died because they sought these dangerous methods on their own to end a pregnancy. Let's be clear: Roe v. Wade wasn't the beginning of women having abortions; it was the end of women dying from abortions. Abortion is healthcare. When Roe v. Wade finally became the law of the land, women were able finally to control their own bodies. This bill is about freedom, and one of the most precious freedoms that we have is the freedom to travel from State to State in the United States of America. What happens to the woman who is happily pregnant and who may be going to visit her family in Illinois, where, thank God, abortion is still legal? Are you going to check her out? Is she going to have to prove somehow that she is not going for an abortion? How are you going to enforce this without going into all the personal history of women who are traveling across State lines? Enough is enough. In the United States of America, the right to travel is sacred. It is protected under the Commerce Clause, and we will not go back. Women will not go back.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 346. Stated against:

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my amendment is very simple. It gives a preference to defense contractors who will remain neutral in union organizing. I say neutral--not pro and not con. Contractors who commit to remain neutral in organizing campaigns commit to not breaking strikes, and it gives preferences also to those who would have a union bargaining agreement. These are not requirements. These are preferences, the kind of preferences that we have for small businesses and that we have for veterans and a number of other preferences that are given. Now, let's understand that we are talking about $422 billion in contracts that are given to businesses. By the way, small businesses also have a preference out of a $778 billion defense act. So these are big taxpayer expenditures that we are talking about. It seems to me given that we want to make sure that workers are also acknowledged that we say that it would be a good thing if we don't have companies like Amazon, for example, that get a lot of money in defense contracts and spend a lot of money trying to make sure that workers cannot bargain collectively. So let's give preferences to those who actually do acknowledge workers. That is the only idea of this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi) in support of this amendment.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that this has nothing to do with stifling the rights of companies to communicate. It does prevent them from harassing workers and preventing them from doing what they need to do. I just want to point out that there are companies that include UPS, Levi Strauss, AT&T, Verizon, and, most recently, Microsoft, that have these agreements. Big companies do it. They can do it. Let's protect workers and the rights of the companies as well. We can do both.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy about this bipartisan legislation and really excited about the changes that are going to be made, because for all 24 years that I have been in Congress, I have not had a townhall meeting or a meeting with my constituents where the issue of access and affordability of mental health services has not come up. Right now, our country is facing a mental health crisis like we have not seen before. We are seeing that families are losing loved ones to COVID, to suicide, and to overdoses. This bill will provide vital services in substance abuse and mental health, four things mainly. We will see a strengthening of parity. We voted for parity a long time ago, and now we are going to make sure that mental health and physical health are on the same page. We are going to have 30 programs that are going to strengthen and reauthorize mental health services. We are going to have more education for doctors. We are going to have doctors be able to have more patients for certain mental assistance treatment. This is a great bill. We should all be proud to vote for it.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, on June 8, 2022, I was otherwise detained and absent from the vote on Roll Call No. 246. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 246, H.R. 7352, the PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I will share a conversation that I had with Anna Kate, who is a constituent of mine in my district. She called my office absolutely distraught; this was late in the day of the shooting. She said that parents have really reached their breaking point right now and that she is afraid, and she is afraid for her 7-year-old son. She said, I want to tell my child, you will be safe in school. What a simple sentence that most parents--any parent--would want to say. ``You will be safe in school.'' But I can't, she said. Children continue to die, and this is on all of us, all of our conscience. There is no issue more important than this. We can do something starting today, something real. We can finally pass this legislation. Let's do it.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Hands of Peace on the occasion of their 20th Anniversary. Headquartered in my Congressional District in Glenview, Illinois, Hands of Peace empowers American, Israeli and Palestinian youth to become agents of change. Hands of Peace's flagship Summer Program brings American, Israeli, and Palestinian youth together in Chicago and San Diego for a three- week dialogue-based experience where they explore peaceful solutions to foster equality, freedom and justice. Founded in 2002, Hands of Peace is celebrating 20 years of impact with more than 700 alumni creating positive peace around the world. Through the hosting of Middle Eastern participants in American homes, Hands of Peace has built international ties between Israeli and Palestinian families, and families here in my district. Through dialogue, education and action, teens learn to listen deeply, share powerful stories and work together to improve their communities. Hands of Peace also partners with local community organizations to educate people about the power of dialogue to break down stereotypes, encourage civil discourse, and shape an understanding of our common humanity. Hands of Peace continues to work with youth leaders to develop their skills and networks so they can build positive peace in their communities as they grow into adulthood. Congratulations to Hands of Peace for empowering youth as agents of change and building youth leaders.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Eric Witherspoon, who is retiring after 16 years of extraordinary leadership as Superintendent of Evanston Township High School (ETHS) District 202. Dr. Witherspoon has been superintendent of ETHS District 202 since July 2006. Previously he served as Superintendent in Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana and Hobart, Indiana. He began his career as a high-school English teacher and director of the high school gifted education program at Crown Point High School in Indiana. At ETHS, Dr. Witherspoon focused on equity and having high expectations for all students. He enabled students to have opportunities to take more honors and advanced-placement classes during their four years of high school. Dr. Witherspoon also focused on the importance of reading as a pathway to education by bolstering student resources. Dr. Witherspoon implemented a comprehensive system of academic and social/emotional supports to help students to succeed in school. And he has renewed the focus on professional development for staff. He also created programs and partnerships with Northwestern University and Oakton Community College and expanded career and technical education opportunities for ETHS students. ETHS launched a long-term strategic initiative to upgrade the entire campus under Dr. Witherspoon's leadership. Many of the school's athletic facilities have been enhanced, and facility upgrades include the planetarium, Geometry in Construction house-building site, science labs, a research and theory center, auto technology, advanced manufacturing, Project Lead the Way Engineering, and the culinary, ceramics and pottery programs. Under Dr. Witherspoon's leadership, academic achievement and the graduation rate at ETHS have increased. ACT results reached the highest in the history of ETHS for nine consecutive years, and ETHS is now recognized by U.S. News and World Reports as well as the Washington Post as ranking in the top 2-3 percent of all high schools in the nation. Dr. Witherspoon also helped to build the ETHS Educational Foundation, an organization focused on raising funds to further enhance ETHS for all students, teachers and staff. Dr. Witherspoon has been a remarkable Superintendent for 16 years and has been honored throughout his career for his educational leadership. I have appreciated our many collaborations and close working relationship. He will leave behind a legacy of success and achievement and will be missed.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank my sister and my colleague, Congresswoman Maloney, for taking the lead always on issues to protect women's rights. I want to declare right now that women are not going back. Women will not tolerate being second-class citizens. I will not tolerate that my granddaughters will not have the rights that women have today. That a fundamental, basic threshold right in the United States of America, in the 21st century, will be snatched away is something not only unthinkable but something that doesn't need to happen. Let me tell you a story that was told to me. I have a dear friend, an adult man, who told me about his mother, Shirley. When he was 11 years old, his mother, Shirley, was told that if she was going to carry to term the fetus that was in her womb right now, she would not survive. This tragically was just before Roe v. Wade was passed, just a couple of months before Roe became the law of the land. The only place that abortion was legal was in New York. This single mom had to put the money together to finally get herself to New York, and she did. She scrounged that money. She saved. She borrowed. But when she got there, she was told at the clinic: Too late. She was too far gone in the pregnancy. She came home and celebrated the Fourth of July with her children. When she went to deliver, she died, leaving an 11-year-old son and two little girls to be orphans. I have a button that I have had for a long time that I wear that says: Roe was not the beginning of women having abortions. Roe was the end of women dying from abortions. Do you think that in this country the majority of Americans support the idea of allowing women to die? We know they don't. We know that the majority of Americans--the vast majority of Democrats, three-fourths of Independents, and, yes, a majority of Republicans--say no, that Roe v. Wade, the right to access an abortion, may not--should not--be overturned. We have an opportunity right now in the United States of America, and it is called the vote. We have what I would consider a rogue Supreme Court right now. The filibuster was eliminated, the requirement for 80 votes, in order to get the current Justices of the Supreme Court there so that they could do this dastardly deed. But if we just go to the polls, we can change that, not someday in the future but in this next election. Hopefully, we can get the Senate to do it. But I will tell you that Mitch McConnell has already said if they were to win the Senate, he wants to suspend the filibuster, the 80-vote requirement, and make a prohibition on abortion the law of the land, not just for the States to decide. I will tell you something: This is not going to happen. There is a tsunami out there of opposition to this. It is not just women; it is men and women alike. It is about families who don't want to see a 13- year-old girl who has been raped be forced to carry that pregnancy to term. Are you kidding me? I am putting out a warning right now and an invitation to all people who think that women deserve that right to control their own bodies to say: No way. Hell no.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for his leadership, but I also want to recognize Representative Blumenauer for his decades of work on this issue. The MORE Act is the most comprehensive marijuana reform bill in Congress, and it is rooted in social justice. The criminalization of marijuana and this Nation's failed war on drugs has devastated our communities of color. It has led to over-policing, mass incarceration, and the destruction of families. This critical legislation takes steps to undo these harms. Today, I urge my colleagues to vote for criminal justice reform, to vote for an equitable marijuana industry, and to vote for beginning to repair the harms caused by decades of racist marijuana criminalization and enforcement. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues today to vote ``yes'' on the MORE Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, Americans pay 10 times as much for insulin as do any other consumers in countries around the world. The exact same drug. You know, we actually have the names of people who have died because they could not afford their insulin and started to cut back on their prescribed amount. And that is just unacceptable. Big Pharma has been gouging consumers for a long time, even for lifesaving drugs, and it is time to stop it. The Affordable Insulin Now Act will make insulin $35 a month for millions of Americans, and it will save life after life after life. This is only the start. We have to make sure that all Americans have access, including those who have no insurance.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) as cosponsor of H.R. 3630.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of ending the use of forced arbitration and to restore the right of millions of Americans to their day in court. I think my colleagues have done a really good job on this side of the aisle in explaining why this is so important for basic rights of all Americans. Madam Speaker, I want to tell you a couple things that have happened in Illinois. I deal a lot with older Americans in my district--as I am sure many of you hear from senior citizens--and I have heard these really horrific stories from families who discover that in nursing homes that their loved ones have been neglected or abused or even worse. These families want to do something about it. They want to hold these nursing homes accountable, and then they find out that they have quite inadvertently, quite unknowingly have signed a forced arbitration agreement. Picture these moments. These are people who are often in very emotional situations. They are bringing their loved ones to a nursing home. This is never an easy situation. The last thing they are thinking about, among all the paperwork that is put before them, that they have signed away their rights. And then they find out that something has happened to their loved one in a nursing home and they are left without the recourse that they need. We have too often seen corporations who are virtually immune from the kind of accountability that they should be held to. I think the time is up right now. If it is good enough for sexual harassment and abuse, it is certainly good enough for people in nursing homes that have been abused and that their families have their day in court. Madam Speaker, I support the FAIR Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary young man, Benjamin M. Pulex, who was taken too soon. I include in the Record his family's loving tribute. Benjamin M. Pulex died at the age of 18 on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at his Skokie home with family at his side. Benjamin was born June 9, 2003, in Evanston, IL to devoted parents Magnolia Rivera-Pulex and Cesar Pulex. Benjamin grew up in a home filled with deep love and encouragement alongside his sister, Camila Pulex. Together the family prioritized values like love, respect, and gratitude. These values were often cultivated by regular family trips that fostered a sense of curiosity and stewardship for the environment and ocean life, while also turning Benjamin into a well-seasoned traveler. His annual trips to visit his family in Long Beach, California led to some of his greatest experiences and memories, especially alongside his cousin Angelo Pulex. Benjamin graduated from Niles North High School (Class of 2021) with a group of amazing, long-time friends. Benjamin and his friends enjoyed soccer scrimmaging, playing video games, and eating out at local restaurants. Together (with support from Benjamin's father) they also founded a local soccer team, the Skokie United Futbol Team HS21. After the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis that Benjamin received, he showed compassion and hoped that no other children would have to endure what he did. The greatest protection he had during his battle with ALS was the never-ending support and care given to him by his parents and family. Throughout every stage of Benjamin's illness Magnolia and Cesar were by his side providing the medical and emotional support he needed at any hour of the morning or night, while also striving to ensure that Benjamin found joy in moments and activities throughout the day. Together they quickly became movie and anime aficionados bonding over movie classics and anime shows between treatments. Prior to his ALS diagnosis, Benjamin was an undergraduate student at North Park University interested in pursuing marine biology. He had received a private tour with the University of Washington's faculty in 2021 and was personally encouraged by faculty to transfer into the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories program. In a world full of complexity, Benjamin was the opposite--he was caring, grateful, honest, and above all humble. He retained simple yet abundant pleasures in life: spending time with his loving family, his amazing group of friends, watching Spiderman movies and anime, listening to 80's music classics, adhering to his fierce loyalty to Real Madrid by watching games and cheering any hour of the day, also extending that team loyalty to the Seattle Seahawks, and immersing himself into caring and learning more about ocean life. Benjamin had a sharp sense of humor and quick wit, even making jokes and playing pranks throughout his battle against ALS, staying true to himself until the very end. Benjamin is survived by his parents, Magnolia Rivera-Pulex and Cesar Pulex, his sister Camila Pulex, and a large and loving extended family.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my deepest condolences with the family and friends of Prospect Heights Mayor Nicholas J. Helmer, who passed away on January 26. Nick was a wonderful person, a talented leader, and a great friend. My heart goes out to his wife of 57 years, Gail Ann, his children, Rebecca and Nicholas Jr., and all those who knew and loved him. Nick spent ten years as the Mayor of Prospect Heights. He lovingly referred to his community as ``Prosperous Heights'' and worked hard each and every day to make that label ring true. Over the course of Mayor Helmer's tenure, I have had many opportunities to work closely with him. Nick was level-headed, intelligent, and committed to the people he represented. He truly exemplified the best of public service. Nick provided sound leadership and guidance as the City navigated challenges and continued to grow and flourish. Nick loved Prospect Heights. He was always eager to participate in the ribbon cuttings and festivals and grand openings. When a 2018 fire displaced hundreds of Prospect Heights residents, Nick was in the thick of it, ensuring that displaced families received the assistance they so desperately needed. I am proud to have worked alongside him. In many ways, Nick Helmer's life is an example of the ``American Dream'' that so many of us strive to achieve. He was born in 1942 in the former Yugoslavia and moved to the United States at the age of ten. Nick married his high school sweetheart, Gail, and raised a family here. He was an Army veteran, spending time stationed in France where he worked as a newspaper reporter, a photographer, and a radio broadcaster. Nick was recognized as a leader at whatever he dedicated his time to. He worked as a licensed real estate broker and a certified property manager and rose to prominence in both fields. Nick spent time as the Director of the Chicago Board of Realtors and spent two terms as President of the Institute of Real Estate Management's Chicago Chapter, winning ``CPM of the Year'' during his service. He served as both the President of Inland Residential Sales Corporation and the Chairman of Inland Bank. Nick spent time working as an Asset Manager for the Chicago Executive Airport and ended up serving fourteen years on the Airport's Board of Directors. Nick spent thirty-five years coaching basketball at St. Viator High School, where he also served on the Distinguished Alumni Committee. The pattern here is obvious: when Nick Helmer did something, he did it well. Nick Helmer may have been soft spoken, but there was never any question whether he was a leader. We are all worse off with his passing. On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Mayor Helmer, for all his hard work on behalf of others. We will miss him.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Congressman Chuy Garcia, Congressman Casten, Congressman Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Kinzinger, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Congressman Schneider, Congresswoman Bustos, Congressman Rush, Congresswoman Marie Newman, Congressman Bill Foster, Congresswoman Underwood, and Congressman Quigley, to honor the 50th anniversary of Alligator Records. Chicago blues music has its roots deep in the Mississippi Delta and was carried north in the Great Migration of 1916 through 1970 by the millions of African Americans who migrated to northern industrial cities in search of good jobs and to escape from Jim Crow racism. Chicago's blues community nurtured thousands of musicians and dozens of record labels, and the city became the world capital of blues and eventually gave birth to Alligator Records and the rich, soulful Chicago blues heritage and culture that we know and love today. With nothing but his love of the blues and entrepreneurial spirit, Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records in 1971 at the age of 23, using all his savings to record his favorite Chicago blues band, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, although the band had no national presence, no booking agent, no manager, no publicist, and played almost entirely in tiny neighborhood clubs on the South and West Sides of Chicago. Beginning with this one album, Iglauer built a blues record label that is now celebrating its 50th birthday. Today, Alligator Records is the largest independent blues label in the world, with over 350 albums and an artist roster that ranges in age from 22 to 78, and has won three Grammy Awards and an astonishing 48 nominations, as well as over 150 Blues Music Awards and over 115 Living Blues Awards. Alligator Records has been a driving force in support of Chicago blues and blues music worldwide, and a glowing example of our country's rich tradition of musical and entrepreneurial spirit. Now, my colleagues in the House of Representatives and I honor Alligator Records on 50 years of business and celebrates the American cultural legacy of Chicago blues music. Together we urge the United States Government to take all necessary steps to preserve and advance the art form of Chicago blues music; recommit itself to ensuring that recording labels like Alligator Records and their artists receive fair protection under the copyright laws of the United States for their contributions to culture in the United States; and reaffirm the status of Chicago blues as a unique national treasure.