Brad Schneider

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise during Fair Housing Month to recognize the 46th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act and to honor Open Communities, a nonprofit organization in the suburban Chicago district I represent that is working to defend and protect fair, just housing for all. In 1968, in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, the Fair Housing Act was enacted, guaranteeing freedom from racial, ethnic, gender, religious, disability, sexual and marital discrimination in housing. Today, Open Communities honors this legacy and protects these rights throughout the communities I represent. Founded in 1972, this organization educates individuals, officials, real-estate professionals and many others on fair housing standards. Open Communities also conducts critical advocacy and offers assistance with claims and attorney referrals-all free of charge to the community. Open Communities works to create a welcoming, inclusive community where all can come together, build their lives and raise their families. Born out of the Civil Rights Movement, Open Communities is carrying on the work that began in the 1960s and even further back. The dedicated staff at Open Communities demonstrates a true, unwavering commitment to protecting fair housing rights and furthering the development of welcoming communities. Mr. Speaker, our communities are best and strongest when they are fair and just and open. Open Communities honors the legacy of the Fair Housing Act, furthers the themes of Fair Housing Month, realizes a vision for more welcoming communities and brings the Tenth District closer together. I am incredibly grateful for Open Communities' dedicated service, and I am proud to mark the 46th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor UL on their anniversary of ``making the world safer for 120 years.'' Based in Northbrook, Illinois, in the heart of the district I represent, and with more than 10,000 employees in 40 different countries, UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, advises and educates. Billions of products bear the universally recognized UL mark. From humble beginnings in 1894, fire-testing non-combustible insulation materials, UL has grown to encompass seven distinct businesses that industries and governments around the world rely upon to enhance product safety and provide safer work places. UL's has stayed true to its founding principle to ``promote safe living and working environments'' while achieving consistent growth through innovation and dedication to excellence. In 2013, UL evaluated over 20,000 types of products, produced by 70,000 manufacturers. UL supports approximately 1,500 published safety standards, and UL safety messages reach almost 700 million world-wide. Through innovative testing, training, research, design, study and outreach, UL strives to make our world a little safer and give workers and families greater peace of mind. UL works with stakeholders across an impressive breadth of industries, demonstrating the true extent of its reach in promoting and enhancing safety. I am proud that UL calls the Tenth District home and hope they continue to set the global standards for safety for another 120 years.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor College Bound Opportunities (CBO), an extraordinary community organization that is opening doors and broadening opportunities for under-resourced and low-income students in the suburban Chicago district that I represent. Founded in 2006, CBO started with four outstanding students, growing to nearly 150 today. Each class of students receives mentoring and assistance through test prep classes, professional development and workshops, technology training and financial aid. CBO provides a one-on-one mentorship program, matching a mentor with a student. For six years, these mentors help guide their students through the college application process, adjustment to college life and even life after graduation. This engaged approach achieves truly remarkable results: 97 percent of CBO scholars graduate from college, compared to 56 percent nationwide and merely 12 percent among low- income students. More than 90 percent of CBO scholars are first- generation college students. At a time when only 11 percent of nationwide first-generation students graduate, CBO is making a real difference. These statistics speak to the incredible CBO impact in the community and the bright futures its programs are helping make possible. Many of these students would never have the opportunity to apply to college, let alone graduate, without these programs and the generosity of CBO's many dedicated volunteers. Recently, I joined CBO to welcome a new class of 25 students to the program. In this group I saw inspiring potential and many reasons to be confident for the future. The opportunities CBO makes possible will empower its students, enrich our community and perhaps one day help change the world.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) for its outstanding commitment to training and education in the advanced manufacturing industry in the district I represent and across the country. Since 1925, the TMA Training & Education program has served as a valued source of employee learning and development for member companies. TMA training has experienced a significant resurgence. Its Related Theory Apprentice Training program has been assisting member companies in training their apprentices for more than 70 years, and is one of the largest, most recognized precision metalworking apprenticeship programs in the United States. Remarkably, enrollment in this program has more than quadrupled in the last three years. TMA has also expanded its curriculum to include the latest advancements and, for the first time since 1925, incorporates hands-on training. The Fred W. Buhrke Training Center in Arlington Heights trains in the programming, set-up and operation of new, state-of-the-art computer numerical control (CNC) machines. More than 100 students have completed CNC training with TMA and can now earn nationally-recognized, stackable credentials. TMA continues to partner with local organizations to expand training and work hand-in-hand to help bridge our skills gap and ensure our future success in advanced manufacturing. I personally thank TMA for all it does to support advanced manufacturing and to expand economic opportunities throughout our communities and in the Tenth District.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor Oakton Community College, in partnership with NSERVE and with the support of the Tooling and Manufacturing Association, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, North Shore Community Bank and more than 50 local manufacturers, for hosting the 2014 Manufacturing Expo in the suburban Chicago district I represent. The Expo includes workshops, speakers and student tours of local manufacturers offering young people the opportunity to learn more about American manufacturing and available careers. Since 2008, nearly 2,000 students have benefited from these experiences. The 2014 Expo is also honoring some of its most outstanding industry partners for demonstrating a true commitment to serving young people and to ensuring our future economic and manufacturing success. It is my honor to congratulate Terry Iverson of Iverson and Company; John Winzeler of Winzeler Gear; John Rubeo of Woodward; and Mark Glennerster and Tara Kandra of John Crane, this year's award recipients. Since 2008, countless manufacturers have generously opened their doors and welcomed curious students, making these education/business partnerships possible. I am grateful for their excellence and participation. I would also like to recognize all the participating high schools, with Oakton Community College, for their dedication to providing the next generation with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the 21st Century. The 2014 Manufacturing Expo is poised to be the most successful to date, and I am so proud that these partnerships are happening in and around the Tenth District.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor Director Patrick L. Sullivan on the occasion of his retirement from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in the suburban Chicago district that I represent. In 2010, the nation's first integrated Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Department of Defense (DoD) federal health care center opened its doors with Pat Sullivan as Director. The Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) at Naval Station Great Lakes was the culmination of years of vision, planning and hard work. It was and is an example of excellence for all other VA and DoD health care facilities. I am incredibly proud that Illinois's Tenth District is home to the Lovell FHCC and Naval Station Great Lakes, the Navy's only recruit training command. It's here that the Navy trains more than 40,000 new sailors each year. It's here that the nation's first integrated federal health care center was created. And it was here that Director Sullivan's leadership helped make the vision of an integrated health system a reality, raising the bar of achievement to new heights. Director Sullivan has done a remarkable job leading an outstanding team of more than 3,000 dedicated professionals. His leadership, drive, determination and forward-thinking approach have been key to Lovell FHCC's success and will be sorely missed. Serving veterans, active duty personnel, military families and recruits each year, the Lovell FHCC demonstrates an unwavering commitment to preparing warriors and caring for heroes. Director Sullivan's accomplishments have laid the foundation for the care of many future generations of sailors, families and veterans. I want to personally thank Director Sullivan for everything he has done, and congratulate him at the successful completion of a distinguished career with the Lovell FHCC.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor Bell Flavors & Fragrances in Northbrook, Illinois (part of the suburban Chicago district I represent) for being the top exporter in the Congressional district. After more than 100 years of providing innovative and unique flavor services, Bell Flavors & Fragrances today is a global leader in the field and an example of true success in the 21st Century global marketplace. A family-owned company, Bell Flavors & Fragrances has achieved tremendous success in the food, hygiene, fragrance and many more industries. Bell Flavors & Fragrances constantly reimagines and reinvents its approach and products, ensuring its ability to enter new markets and find success all around the globe. During a recent tour of the Bell Flavors & Fragrances facility, I was struck by the passion and dedication to excellence of all the managers and employees I met and truly impressed by the outstanding commitment to research and development. Despite its global footprint, Bell Flavors & Fragrances remains a truly American success story, embedded in the community, employing hundreds and working to enrich the area it calls home. Family-owned and operated companies like Bell Flavors & Fragrances, rooted deeply in the community, are the foundation of the Tenth District's strength. I am proud that innovative, growing companies like Bell Flavors & Fragrances call the Tenth District home.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, from March 4 through 6, 2014, I was absent from the House due to a sudden, unfortunate family matter and missed rollcall Votes 93 through 114. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 95, 96, 97, 98, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 110, 111, 112, and 114. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 93, 94, 99, 100, 101, 106, 107, 109, and 113.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. I hope it happens soon. Thank you.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Thank you again, Congressman Pocan, not just for your friendship, but tonight for organizing and bringing us here to have this conversation. For us in Illinois and Wisconsin, throughout the country it has been a harsh winter. Everyone has talked about the weather and the snow and the storms, but for some it has been a harsher winter than for others. In January, I hosted a roundtable on unemployment, long-term unemployment. At that roundtable I met a young mother, 29 years old, with two young children, and she told me how, at the end of the day, she comes home, she makes dinner for her kids, and they crawl into bed under the covers to eat dinner and watch TV because she had to make the choice between paying her rent and paying her heat. I met another woman who has been looking for work now for over a year. Her story was a little different. She was in an industry, travel agency, that is shrinking. She has two kids, high school age, who are looking forward to going to college, and she is now in the position of having to deplete the kids' college accounts so that they can simply make ends meet as she looks for work. This is the reality for 2 million people around the country, and the numbers, as you have pointed out, grow by 72,000 people every single week. In Illinois alone, there are more than 116,000 people who have lost their unemployment insurance and are struggling just to survive. Yet, in this Chamber, in this House of Representatives, we have not had a single vote to extend or address the unemployment insurance challenge. Partisan gridlock, partisanship and gridlock have already cost millions their emergency unemployment insurance, and the next year it is estimated that it will cost the U.S. economy 240,000 jobs. Failing to extend unemployment insurance is hurting families, it is hurting businesses, it is hurting our communities, and it is hurting our national economy. That is why yesterday I filed this discharge petition to end the gridlock and to bring to the floor a vote on extending unemployment insurance. Now, look, I understand some of my colleagues may disagree, and I respect their perspective and I respect their right to vote ``no,'' but not allowing a vote on the floor, not allowing us to voice our vote in this House of Representatives on unemployment insurance is simply unacceptable. I believe extending unemployment insurance is not just smart policy, it is the right thing to do. That is why I celebrate the passage, or the agreement in the Senate, bipartisan agreement, to extend unemployment insurance by 5 months. I look forward for that to come into this House, and I hope we will have a chance to vote to it. I know the path ahead is not going to be easy, but our constituents deserve better than partisan gridlock. Thank you for sharing your time, and thank you for organizing this evening. Thank you so much.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor August ``Gus'' Schaefer for an extraordinary career--41 years of innovation and leadership in product and public safety at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the suburban Chicago district I represent. Under his watch, more than 25 billion products worldwide have earned the UL stamp of approval. As UL's Public Safety Officer, Mr. Schaefer has pioneered and overseen countless major safety initiatives. His work and leadership have helped firefighters do their jobs better and safer. His commitment has guaranteed the safety of imports from around the world. And his dedication has helped teach fire, water, health, environmental, online and consumer safety to untold thousands of children each year. Mr. Schaefer began his career with UL in 1973. Over the next 41 years, he built a reputation for excellent work and leadership, as well as for building partnerships and forging friendships. Mr. Schaefer successfully built teams and cultivated a team atmosphere. His record, his experience and his work ethic earned him roles as the Director of Asian Operations and then U.S. and Canadian Operations before finally taking his position as Senior Vice President and Public Safety Officer. Throughout his storied career, Mr. Schaefer maintained his commitment to excellence and team building. His accomplishments demonstrate the grand vision and discipline necessary to take ideas to action. Mr. Schaefer's career has indeed been long and distinguished. I have no doubt his presence, guidance, friendship, leadership and vision will be sorely missed at UL, but his legacy and accomplishments will long be remembered and have set the foundation for years more success and safety.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend, Pastor H. Lee Jordan, Jr. on the occasion of his fourth Pastoral Anniversary with Greater Faith Church--Baptist (GFC) in Waukegan, Illinois, part of the district I represent. Pastor Jordan assumed leadership of the GFC in January 2010, and since then, he has built upon the church's already outstanding legacy. Pastor Jordan's dedication and passion fill the community with joy, spreading a message of faith, integrity and community action. In words and deeds, Pastor Jordan encourages his congregation to give back and enrich the community. Throughout his four years in Waukegan, Pastor Jordan has become a central figure in the community and an important voice of hope. A spirited and inquisitive soul, Pastor Jordan consistently stresses the importance of never settling, of constantly seeking spiritual and personal growth. Anything is possible with the right attitude, and Pastor Jordan demonstrates to all the power of this message. Pastor Jordan's example reaches far beyond his stirring sermons and moving songs. A husband, father, community leader and musician, he sets a daily example for his congregation and community. In my visits to GFC, I have been moved by Pastor Jordan's passion, care and joy. His vision and discipline to follow that vision are rare and remarkably valuable to his congregation and community. Pastor Jordan's commitment to his congregation and to Waukegan inspires everyone around him. Our communities are stronger with passionate, dedicated and visionary leaders like Pastor Jordan. I congratulate him on four years with GFC and thank him for his outstanding work.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Eddie Washington Center for Men in Waukegan, Illinois, the largest city in the district I represent, has been helping men rise for 20 years in Lake County. In 1993, Township Supervisor Patricia Jones united her community to renovate an old fire station and establish the Eddie Washington Center, a transitional home for adult men struggling with homelessness. Taking a holistic approach, the Eddie Washington Center seeks to break the persistent cycle of homelessness and offer a hand up and push forward to the men who seek help. Stressing the spirit of giving back to the community, residents of the center offer services while learning skills to promote an independent, successful life. Some of these services further contribute to our community, including snow removal and lawn care for local seniors. In addition to offering a safe, clean and nurturing resident environment, the Eddie Washington Center offers counseling, mentoring, vocational training and much more to effect positive change. Homelessness is a stubborn condition, one that is incredibly difficult to break. The goal of the Eddie Washington Center, through hard work and innovative methods, is to break that lifestyle and set residents on a sustainable, positive path forward. February is Black History Month, honoring the contributions and commitments of African American leaders to communities throughout the country. So too, let us honor the work of the staff and volunteers at the Eddie Washington Center. These dedicated men and women have devoted their time and energies to their community. Their example is one we can all follow, and their success with the Eddie Washington Center is something we can all celebrate. Congratulations and thank you to the Eddie Washington Center on 20 remarkable years.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding me this time. I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3193. Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in response to a regulatory system that couldn't keep pace with the needs and the entities that it oversaw. The system was neither agile enough nor properly equipped for protecting consumers. The financial crisis exposed subprime lending practices that preyed on the most vulnerable consumers. It uncovered obscene credit card contracts that put working families underwater. It found student loans that left our next generation more worried about their interest rates than about changing the world. The list goes on. The CFPB was our answer to these and prospective concerns. It is the only independent agency that is tasked with protecting consumers, our constituents. Free from the political melee, this watchdog focuses on making sure that markets are fair and players follow the rules. The CFPB may not be perfect. Undoubtedly, missteps may occur. That is why the agency is subject to regular audits and why the government maintains ways of addressing flawed rules. I am willing and eager to work with my colleagues to improve the CFPB to ensure that the American people are properly protected, but that is not what this bill does. This bill scraps the intention of the agency and re-exposes our families and our students to the same unfair and undue risks which necessitated the agency's creation in the first place. I urge my colleagues to use this agency to help protect their constituents and to address their concerns. Remember your constituents when you vote today. I ask my colleagues to join in opposition to this measure and the underlying bill.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because Lake County, Illinois is rising. Lake County has joined One Billion Rising around the world to stand up for justice, equality and women's rights. This initiative started two years ago because the United Nations reported that one-in-three women will be victims of rape or other gender-based violence in their lifetimes. That tragic statistic is simply unacceptable. That is why the global community has joined together to rise up to end this violence and work towards equality and justice for all. This February 14th, one billion, in more than 200 countries, will rise, and I am most proud that Lake County will join this historic effort and rise up for justice. One Billion Rising celebrates the empowerment of women and girls around the world, bringing people together in a joyous expression of freedom and strength. Around the world, one billion people stood up last year and danced in support of justice. And true justice must include all facets of life: at home; at work; before the law; and everywhere else in society. Every woman and girl deserves the freedom and confidence to live free, absent of fear. Perhaps the single most effective tool in this campaign for justice is education. Education is how we improve our lives, and how we help others improve theirs. Education allows women and girls throughout the world to rise up and achieve their full potential. Mr. Speaker, these committed men and women of Lake County have shown an inspiring dedication and resolve to stand for justice. I thank everyone involved in this year's celebration for their work and for showing that Lake County is strong, Lake County is committed, Lake County is rising!

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Boy Scout Troop 140 of Buffalo Grove in the northern Illinois district that I represent. These passionate young Scouts and their Scout Masters are celebrating more than 50 years of high adventure and activities. Drawing from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Long Grove, Wheeling and more, Troop 140 is one of the largest and most active in all of the Northwest Suburban Council. These Scouts have climbed mountains, explored caves and hiked all terrain imaginable. Under the direction of their Scout Leadership (Scout Master Tim Meinholz and Committee Chair Kathy Daloia), these young Scouts have experienced outdoor adventures far beyond the average suburban childhood. In addition to their adventures, the Scouts also have a commitment to excellence second to none. The goal of every first-year Scout is to achieve First Class rank by the end of year one. Older Scouts focus on merit badges, and the Troop has honored more than 150 Eagle Scouts in total. All the while, Troop 140 upholds Scout values, builds character, develops good citizens and teaches valuable, lifelong skills. Troop 140 is certainly a standout among excellence, and I am impressed and inspired by its achievements. To see so many young Scouts taking part gives me great hope for the future. Congratulations to Boy Scout Troop 140 of Buffalo Grove on more than 50 years of excellence.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor a select group of business leaders who make our communities strong. Illinois's Tenth District has a long tradition of business innovation and excellence, and year after year more business add to that legacy. Each year, the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills (GLMV) Chamber of Commerce recognizes a few exceptional individuals for achieving success in the business world and for practicing good citizenship in and for the community. It is my great honor to congratulate the recipients of the GLMV 2014 Member Recognition Dinner Awards: Entrepreneur of the Year: Alexa and Seth Holzwarth of LexiWynn; Restaurateur of the Year: Scott Fine of Fine's; Community Service Award: Dr. Robert Rosenberg of Advocate Condell Medical Center; Civic Leadership Award: Sedrik Newbern of Phoenix Insurance; Member of the Year: Brian Logsdon of Corner Bakery Cafe; Volunteer of the Year: Lars Rasmussen of World Financial Group. Distinguished Service Award: Don Peterson of Marketing and Sales Services. These noteworthy award recipients embody the hardworking, forward- thinking and community-oriented spirit that makes the Tenth District of Illinois such a special place. Their leadership and success exemplify a model for their fellow businesses, and I congratulate them on receiving these distinctions. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and thank the GLMV Chamber of Commerce for everything it does. Local businesses are the foundation of our communities, and the GLMV Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to keeping those foundations strong.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor a select group of business leaders who make our communities strong. Illinois's Tenth District has a long tradition of business innovation and excellence, and year after year more businesses add to that legacy. Each year, the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills (GLMV) Chamber of Commerce recognizes a few exceptional individuals for achieving success in the business world and for practicing good citizenship in and for the community. It is my great honor to congratulate the recipients of the GLMV 2014 Member Recognition Dinner Awards: Entrepreneur of the Year: Alexa and Seth Holzwarth of LexiWynn; Restaurateur of the Year: Scott Fine of Fine's; Community Service Award: Dr. Robert Rosenberg of Advocate Condell Medical Center; Civic Leadership Award: Sedrik Newbern of Phoenix Insurance; Member of the Year: Brian Logsdon of Corner Bakery Cafa; Volunteer of the Year: Lars Rasmussen of World Financial Group. These noteworthy award recipients embody the hardworking, forward- thinking and community-oriented spirit that makes the Tenth District of Illinois such a special place. Their leadership and success exemplify a model for their fellow businesses, and I congratulate them on receiving these distinctions. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and thank the GLMV Chamber of Commerce for everything it does. Local businesses are the foundation of our communities, and the GLMV Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to keeping those foundations strong.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, at manufacturing plants in the district I represent, employers are having a hard time finding the skilled workers they need, and many other employers can't find low-skilled workers to fill openings. At colleges across the country, gifted students face the reality that, after graduation, they will have to leave this country to achieve their dreams elsewhere. These are but some of the faces of immigration reform. Their stories underscore the urgent need to fix our broken system. At an immigration roundtable I hosted last year, a DREAMer, Estefania Garcia, told her story and didn't leave a dry eye in the room. I invited Estefania as my guest to the State of the Union tomorrow night in order to personify the need for comprehensive reform. Estefania's story is moving, but it is in no way unique. With comprehensive immigration reforms, the world's most gifted STEM minds will help us achieve 21st century success; our economy will be injected with the talent and skills it needs to thrive; 11 million people will pay taxes and become fully engaged in our democracy for the first time. I rise in strong support of comprehensive immigration reform. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2013, H.R. 2274. I want to thank Congresswoman Sewell and Congressman Huizenga for bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor. Small businesses are the fabric of our economy and oftentimes the fabric of the communities in which we live. Many of these businesses are family-owned businesses. They provide the wherewithal, the stability, and the future aspirations for many families. These businesses frequently are passed from generation to generation, but sometimes the next generation does not or is not able to take over the next business. It is critical for our communities and critical for our economies that these businesses are able to pass to a new owner to continue to employ people, to continue to drive our economy, and that is exactly what this bill does. It allows those businesses to bring in the expertise, to bring in the knowledge, to bring in the capacity, to move from generation to generation even outside the family. So that is why I rise and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 801, the Holding Company Registration Threshold Equalization Act. This simple, bipartisan measure ensures consumers and businesses--the drivers of our economy--have access to the capital they need. The JOBS Act gave small community banks flexibility to raise capital without being required to comply with regulations specifically intended for the larger financial institutions that were responsible for the 2008 financial crisis. This was a positive change that injected much- needed capital into our local economies. However, the legislation did not specifically extend it to small savings and loans holding companies. It is important that we now put the savings and loans on par with our banks, retaining the equity and diversity conducive to the health of our banking system. By putting additional capital in the hands of our local savings and loans, we are helping consumers who are looking for home loans, our neighbors who are starting small businesses, and small businesses that are continuing to invest in their future. This may be a technical correction, but it remains a correction that has significant beneficial implications for our communities and for our continued economic recovery. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this measure.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Greenbriar Elementary School in Northbrook, Illinois, in the district I represent. This outstanding educational institution has been recognized as one of only 286 Blue Ribbon schools in the entire country. This is the first National Blue Ribbon distinction that Greenbriar has earned, one of 21 awarded in the state, one of four awarded to schools in Illinois's Tenth District and one of three in Northbrook. Good education is the foundation of any community, and it is essential to our success in the 21st Century. At any of Northbrook's Blue Ribbon Schools, you will find some of the nation's finest schools, filled with eager and curious students and passionate and engaging teachers. In Illinois's Tenth District, our communities are strong, in part, because of excellent educational institutions like this. It is at schools like Greenbriar where students are engaged and encouraged to explore their interests. Here, the wide array of literature, language and math programs challenge students and help them expand their minds. With schools like Greenbriar, Tenth District students are building foundations for success in this ever-changing, competitive 21st Century. The education Greenbriar Elementary School students receive not only helps position them for future success, but also prepares them for a lifetime of learning. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to honor Greenbriar Elementary School here today, and I am so proud to have such excellent schools in the Tenth District. I congratulate Greenbriar once again on receiving this distinguished award.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3212, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act. I would like to begin by thanking my colleague on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for his dedicated and tireless efforts on this critical issue, making a difference for families. There are few crimes more heart-wrenching than child abduction. As a parent myself, I can't imagine the anguish a mother or father goes through when their child is abducted by their partner and taken to another country. These left-behind parents currently have little leverage to have their children returned home. They are often at the mercy of foreign courts with different cultural conceptions of custody and what is or is not in the child's best interest. Unfortunately, there is an increasing number of international parental child abductions. The State Department reported that in 2012 there were 1,144 children abducted from a parent in the United States and taken abroad. The most effective tool the United States has to help return abducted children is the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This treaty creates a global standard and requires signatories to return abducted children to the country of the child's habitual residence for a custody hearing. Regrettably, there are significant gaps in the Hague treaty framework. The treaty has no enforcement mechanism, and 40 percent of abducted children are taken to non-Hague-compliant countries. This leaves far too many parents with no viable options. The purpose of this legislation before us today is to fill those gaps--providing pained parents with the appropriate tools to bring their children home. Specifically, H.R. 3212 encourages the State Department to enter into MOUs with countries to bring them in line with accepted standards and return these children home. In addition, this bill gives the President the power to sanction countries that demonstrate persistent failure in returning abducted children. The legislation will also help us monitor progress in achieving greater compliance worldwide with the Hague standards by requiring reports on child abduction cases and on U.S. Government efforts to encourage their compliance. Sadly, international parental child abduction is an underreported and often overlooked crime which dramatically and traumatically impacts the lives of the children and the parents involved. We need to send a message to the world that we take Hague compliance in returning abducted children back to the United States seriously. This bill represents an important step forward in empowering the President and the State Department to enforce the Hague Convention and to bring more countries in line with its standards. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the United States has no more important relationship, not just in the region but in the world, than the strategic, unbreakable alliance with the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Israel's security is our security. Israel's security must not in any way be compromised. As has been noted here already, Israel lives in a most dangerous neighborhood. Her security is dependent on a clearly demonstrated permanently sustained qualitative military edge. This bill, H.R. 1992, improves and enhances our relationship with Israel to guarantee her qualitative military edge in a very dangerous neighborhood. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1992 and to protect Israel's security. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.