Jerry Weller

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 57, a resolution honoring and congratulating Illinois State University on its upcoming 150th-year anniversary. I introduced this resolution with my good friend and colleague, Congressman Tim Johnson, with the support of the Illinois delegation. I am proud to note that the Illinois State University campus is located in the 11th Congressional District which I have the privilege of representing. On February 15, Illinois State University will start a year-long celebration marking the day that the founder, Jesse W. Fell, took up the campaign of creating the first public institution of higher education in Illinois and having it housed in the Bloomington- Normal area. In February of 1857, then-Governor William Bissell signed a bill, legislation creating Normal University, and established the board of education for the State of Illinois as its governing body. After Jesse Fell secured financial backing totaling $141,000, future President Abraham Lincoln, then acting as attorney for the board, drew up the bond guaranteeing that Bloomington's citizens would fulfill their financial commitments. Established originally as a teacher education institution, then known as Illinois State Normal University, it has developed into a multipurpose university, recognized around the world with degree programs in the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Currently, approximately 20,000 undergraduates and post-graduate students attend the university, supported by an outstanding university staff of 3,200 employees. I would also note that ISU today benefits from the support of over 65,000 alumni living and working around the world. My colleagues today have shared much about Illinois State University, but here is a few little-known facts. The model for student teaching that today is used nationwide was invented by Illinois State Normal University teacher Cecilla Lauby, who today is 94 years old and still lives in the town of Normal. One of every eight teachers in Illinois graduated from Illinois State University. Illinois State University's insurance program is so popular and respected that Lloyd's of London sends it executives each year for management training. And as others have noted, Illinois State University has made the Kiplinger list for the 100 top universities in public education three straight times. Illinois State's physic's program is ranked as one of the top in the country. Illinois State's first president, Charles Hovey, recruited a regimen of teachers to fight in the Civil War. Illinois State is also the home of the Gamma Phi Circus, the oldest collegiate circus in the United States, which was founded in 1929. That circus today is one of two collegiate circuses in the United States. Finally, I would note that Watterson Towers dormitory on Illinois State University, is considered one of the tallest college dormitories in the world and is the tallest structure between the cities of Chicago and the City of St. Louis. Illinois State University has been a model for higher education institutions around this country over the last 150 years. I would like to note a very good friend of mine, Illinois State University's current president, Dr. Al Bowman, and congratulate him, his great staff and all of those affiliated with Illinois State University as they mark this great achievement. Illinois State University has been a model for higher education institutions around this Nation for the last 150 years. I wish them all the best in their year-long celebration. I also want to thank the chairman of the committee, Chairman Miller, and Ranking Member McKeon for allowing this bill to make it to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing Illinois State University congratulations as it marks its 150th anniversary.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today politics trumps policy. If regular order had been followed in this House, allowing this tax increase to go through the Ways and Means Committee, we would have a better understanding of the consequences of today's $14 billion tax increase. You know, if the House of Representatives was subjected to the truth- in-labeling requirement, H.R. 6 would be called the Ship Jobs Overseas Act because it imposes a $14 billion tax increase on investing in America. We have all heard the campaign rhetoric; both sides use it: you know, the Tax Code sends jobs overseas. Well today, this House may well do that if it votes to pass this $14 billion tax increase. I support replacing imported oil with home-grown biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, as well as alternatives sources of energy like wind power and solar. And thanks to the energy bill we passed in the previous Congress, there are hundreds of millions of dollars in new wind investment in the district I represent, six new ethanol and biodiesel plants moving forward in our districts; and because I am concerned about climate change, I believe we need to do more. That is why I believe 25 percent of our energy that we consume by 2025 should come from nonfossil fuel sources. This bill doesn't do anything about that because H.R. 6 only raises taxes. I would note that one of the biggest refineries in America is in the district I represent, providing 600 jobs. That particular company is investing $1 billion right now to expand. They chose to expand in America, creating American jobs. They could have expanded in Venezuela, making Hugo Chavez happy; but they chose to invest here. And what is their reward? Higher taxes. That is why this legislation, H.R. 6, should be called the Ship Jobs Overseas Act. Think about it, if you invest in energy in America, you invest in oil and natural gas development in America, my friends on the other side of the aisle want you to pay higher taxes. I urge a ``no'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6, the Creating Long- Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act of 2007. I rise in opposition because this bill before us today will make our country more dependent on foreign oil and less secure. It's pretty safe to say that every Member here supports the goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. It's a national security issue and it hits home every single day when people go to the pumps to fill up their vehicles. And I agree with the concept of this bill that our Nation must invest in renewable sources of energy like ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar. In the upcoming weeks I will be introducing multiple pieces of legislation that will increase our use of renewable energy and I look forward to working in a bipartisan way with those in the majority to make some of these ideas a reality. What really doesn't make sense to me is that, in this bill, the majority do the complete opposite of achieving the goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. They are going to raise the taxes of oil companies that produce oil here domestically and make it more difficult to produce oil here at home. In my district, ExxonMobil has one of the largest domestic refineries in the country, employing approximately 509 people. Over the last 5 years, they have invested more than $500 million in the Joliet Refinery of which about $300 million was for equipment to produce low sulfur gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. In 2007 and 2008 they plan to invest more than $400 million to install additional control equipment. Now, by passing this bill, we are going to be sending the message to companies like Exxon who by 2008 will have invested close to a billion dollars in central Illinois, saying ``Thanks for investing in America, now we are going to raise your taxes.'' Bills just like this here before us today should be labeled ``the send jobs overseas act'' because that is exactly what it will do. Close to a thousand energy related jobs in my district and the approximately 1.8 million jobs in the U.S. are put in jeopardy now because of this policy that discourages investment in America. And who are the big winners of this bill? Leaders like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and OPEC who are watching this and loving the fact that we are passing punitive tax policy on domestic energy producers. With the Energy Policy Act of 2005, we took steps forward in reducing our dependence on foreign oil by creating policy that increased the use of renewable energy in tandem with increasing our domestic production of energy sources. Due to the Energy bill, we have seen hundreds of millions invested in wind energy and four to five new ethanol and biodiesel plants in my district. In total, we saw investment in renewable energy double in the United States to $68 billion. We need to go back to those roots of encouraging investment here in the United States. This bill makes us less secure and more dependent on foreign oil. Vote against this send jobs overseas act that will raise taxes and discourage investment here in America.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4. Clearly this legislation is a solution in search of a problem, an example of politics prevailing over good policy, and frankly one of my disappointments as a member of the Ways and Means Committee is it was a bill rushed to the floor without hearings and without action in the Ways and Means Committee. I believe that is a bipartisan concern for all of us today. If you look at the record, the system set up in the Medicare Modernization Act used the power of competition, and it has been successful. Competition is working. Today, a senior's average monthly premium for their prescription drug plan is only $22 a month, down from $23 this past year. My own parents were expecting a $35 a month premium. Today they are enjoying that $22 a month premium and seeing real savings. I note that seniors across the board are seeing real savings. There are 23 drug plans in the district I represent that have a zero premium for low-income seniors. There are 34 drug plans in the district I represent with zero deductible. And on average, in the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, seniors are saving an average of $1,200 over their previous medicine expenses because of Medicare part D. It is working. At the same time, seniors have more choices. We have seen a 13 percent increase in the number of medications they have available, again because of Medicare part D. That is why 80 percent of seniors say they like Medicare part D. They like the plan they have. That is why so many are concerned about those who want to have the government interfere in the health of our seniors, who want to get the government into our medicine cabinets. My Democrat friends claim that this legislation will repeat practices used by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but if you look at the record, not only is that approach harmful to Medicare beneficiaries, it has been harmful to our veterans. Every time Congress has enacted pharmaceutical price control legislation, the Veterans' Administration has experienced significant increases in its pharmaceutical costs. That is why groups like the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the American Legion have said H.R. 4 is not in the best interest of America's veterans and their families. That's right. Let's join our veterans' organization and vote ``no'' on H.R. 4.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, we owe our veterans a great debt of gratitude. Their sacrifices have protected the democratic ideals that are the foundation of our country, and their heroism continues to be an example for all Americans. Perhaps now, more than any time in recent history, it is important to remember that our Nation has remained strong because of those who have fought and died for our country. By answering the call of duty and risking their lives to protect their fellow citizens, these patriots have inspired us with their courage, compassion, and dedication. Many of these brave men and women become severely wounded due to combat related injuries, and are forced to retire as physically unfit to perform his or her duties. Once forced out of the service, many are unable to find gainful employment due to their injuries while at the same time being rated at less than their actual disability rate by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They have little to fall back on and deserve better for their sacrifice. That is why I am reintroducing the Combat Military Medically Retired Veterans Act, (H.R. 995 in the 109th Congress), which allows combat military medically retired veterans who received the Purple Heart to collect their prorated military retirement pay. This legislation differs from the current concurrent receipt benefit because it exempts combat military medically retired veterans from the current 20-year service requirement. The benefit will match their time of service. The Congressional Budget Office scored my bill at $496 million over ten years, certainly a small price to pay for those who have sacrificed so much for our great nation. I am proud to state that my bill has been endorsed by the American G.I. Forum of the United States; American Legion, Department of Illinois; American Legion, National Office; Blinded Veterans Association; Gold Star Wives of America; and the Hispanic War Veterans of America. All military combat veterans who are military medically retired from combat related disabilities and have been awarded the Purple Heart should be exempt from the requirement of 20 years of service in order to be entitled to their prorated military retirement pay. America's disabled combat veterans gave their all for us and should not be penalized just because they are receiving compensation from the VA. While many disabled veterans go on to enjoy happy productive lives, many are unable to due to the severity of their wounds. Under any doctrine of fairness it is our moral obligation to ``care for him who shall have borne the battle.'' This bill is a good step in correcting the inequity of retirement and disability benefit to our combat disabled veterans.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as we move through the 21st Century, we are constantly facing new challenges to our public welfare that we had not previously seen. A more recent challenge that has surfaced is the relative epidemic of obesity, and the onset of disease and health care difficulties resulting from lack of a healthy lifestyle. I think that many agree with me that a key component of living a healthy productive life is found through regular exercise and the benefits that it brings. The Department of Health and Human Services predicts that spending on healthcare will consume 20 percent of the nation's gross domestic product by 2015 if current trends hold true. At this rate of growth, America is on track to spend roughly $4 trillion on healthcare within the next ten years. This level of spending for medical treatment is unsustainable and can only be curbed through efforts to prevent disease before treatment is necessary. Given the healthcare crisis we are facing in this country today, I strongly believe that creative solutions are necessary to improve the nation's fitness levels. This need for creative solutions is why I am reintroducing the The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Bill, (RR. 5479 in the 109th Congress). This bill allows for expenditures for exercise and physical activity, such as health club memberships, some exercise equipment, and sports programs, to be payable out of various tax-favored investment accounts: flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), medical savings accounts (MSAs) and/or medical reimbursement arrangements, up to $1,000. If enacted, PHIT would give parents the opportunity to pay for their children's soccer league fees out of their HSAs. They could join a fitness center and pay for the membership fees with pretax dollars or they could purchase a home gym to help them fight the onset of obesity, a primary risk factor for developing anyone of several chronic diseases which are currently fueling the frightening increase in our national healthcare expenditure. Depending upon a consumer's individual income tax bracket, the PHIT initiative could help Americans save 25-30 percent on their exercise costs. Health experts agree that regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk and symptoms of numerous diseases and medical conditions and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physicians' visits, and medications, resulting in lower healthcare costs. The PHIT tax incentive represents an important step to induce more people to get the levels of exercise they need to improve their level of fitness and help lower healthcare costs for all Americans, which is why I am proud to reintroduce this bill.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, commentators on the political left and right agree about one thing: There are too many political disagreements in Washington, D.C. Of course, the best way to change that would be for those of us who are lawmakers to find common ground and begin passing legislation that virtually everyone can agree on. Where to begin? How about with a program that has the support of moderates, liberals, and even the conservative Heritage Foundation? That program is KidSave. This common-sense program would allow every American child-- regardless of parental income--to save up tens of thousands of dollars for retirement. KidSave is fairly simple. If it was in effect today, at birth every child would receive a loan of $2,000 from the Social Security Administration. The initial amount would be linked to inflation, so it would increase slightly year to year. The money would be deposited into an account that couldn't be opened until the owner retires or dies. This account would be managed by the Thrift Savings Plan, the same plan that federal employees--including those of us in Congress--use to manage our retirement funds. Right now there are three low risk, low- cost options offered through the TSP: A government-bond fund, a corporate-bond fund and a stock index fund. The child's parents would decide which fund to deposit the initial investment in, and it would grow untapped for decades and decades. According to a study by the Heritage Foundation, the opportunity for growth is so great that, even if no money was ever added to the initial investment, that loan could still grow to $50,000 by the time the child reached retirement age. Parents and grandparents also could contribute additional money tax- free. They could add as much as $500 per year every year until the child turned 19, and that money could be diverted from their own retirement plans. That's an additional $9,500, all of it being compounded year after year until retirement. This is one of those rare Washington programs with the power to change everyone's outlook for the better. Wealthy people have long taken advantage of long-term investments-- indeed, families such as the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts have lived for decades off the money earned by their forefathers. Today, thousands of middle-class grandparents are opening education accounts for their newborn grandchildren. But KidSave would allow all children to enjoy the benefits of compound interest. Imagine an entire generation of working-class senior citizens with tens of thousands of dollars to spend as they wish. They'd be virtually guaranteed a secure retirement and could spend their newfound wealth on themselves or share it with their children and grandchildren. A portion of this money would be passed from generation to generation, either as gifts to grandchildren or through donations to churches or community groups. That would help build a more secure future for generations to come. Best of all, KidSave is a loan from Social Security, not a gift or a new government entitlement. That's one reason it enjoys such broad support. And it doesn't end up costing taxpayers anything. When the account owner reaches age 30--an age at which most people are well along in their working lives--the original loan would be repaid in five annual installments. The repayment amount would be linked to inflation, so an initial $2,000 loan would be returned to the government as, say, $3,500. Lawmakers today are deadlocked over how to reform Social Security, how to improve welfare and how to close military bases, to name just three difficult issues. But we could get started on solving those if we'd first implement common-sense programs that enjoy wide support. KidSave seems like a good place to start building a better future for all Americans. That is why I am reintroducing for the 110th Congress, this important bill.

Mr. WELLER of Illinois

Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as we move further into the 21st Century, I continue to have deep concerns over the need to maintain America's competitive edge as we continue to grow our Nation's economy. As the U.S. economy becomes more dynamic, the types of growing industries are also changing. Increasingly new jobs in many fields require the application of technology skills. These include workers across all industry sectors, not just in the IT industry sector. In order to keep up with the rapid rate of technological changes, expanded information technology (IT) skills education and training in many industries is essential to create a more effective and productive workforce and remain both domestically and globally competitive. In recognition of the growing importance of information technology skills to the competitiveness of the U.S. workforce there needs to be greater awareness on the importance of increased investment in worker IT education and training That's why I am introducing the Technology Retraining And Investment Now Act (TRAIN Act), a bill that will improve opportunities for America's workforce in an ever-changing world. The TRAIN Act would provide a tax credit for an amount equal to 50% of information and communications technology training (ICT) program expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer for the benefit of: an employee of the taxpayer; or, an individual who is not employed on up to $10,000 per year. Expenses may include payments in connection with: course work, certification testing and other expenses that are essential to assessing skill acquisition. This tax credit is necessary because technology skills are increasingly important to workers in more and more industries. It is no longer just the software programmers who create the technology, but increasingly engineers, machinists, architects, call center workers and many others who must continuously upgrade their skills in the use of the ever-changing tools of technology if they are to remain competitive in an increasingly global and service-oriented workforce market. Just as the research and development tax credit helps companies make continuous investments in new product development, today a complimentary human resources technology development tax credit is now equally necessary to assure that there is a continuous investment in the technology skills of the U.S. workforce so it is competitive in the new worldwide economy.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Joseph L. Imesch who will celebrate 50 years of priesthood on December 16, 2006. On June 21, 1931 in Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan, Dionys and Margaret Imesch became the proud parents of Joseph L. Imesch. Bishop Imesch spent his early years in Michigan attending the following schools: St. Ambrose and St. Paul Elementary School, Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College. In 1953, the Bishop went to Rome where he attended the North American College and received his STL degree. He attended the Gregorian University from 1969 to 1970. On December 16, 1956, Bishop Joseph L. Imesch was ordained in Rome. Most of the Bishop's pastoral ministry was spent in Michigan. From 1957 to 1959, he was the assistant pastor to the St. Charles Parish in Detroit, Michigan. From 1959 to 1971, the Bishop served as a secretary to John Cardinal Dearden, Archbishop of Detroit. In 1971, Bishop Imesch became the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows' Parish in Farmington. On April 3, 1973, Joseph L. Imesch was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and was the Regional Bishop of the Northwest Region, Archdiocese of Detroit from 1977 to 1979. On August 28, 1979, Bishop Imesch was installed as the third Bishop of Joliet. During his tenure, Bishop Imesch served on many committees including: Catholic Relief Services Board, Board of Trustees of Archdiocese of Chicago Seminaries, Chairman of the NCCB Committee on Women in Society and the Church, Chairman of NCCB Committee Writing the Pastoral on the Concerns of Women, the Marriage & Family Life Committee, Committee for Stewardship, Chairman of NCCB Committee for Pastoral Practices, the Retired Religious Grant Review Board, the Society of St. James Board, the USCCB Administrative Board, and Chairman of Bishops of Region VII. Bishop Imesch retired as Bishop of Joliet on June 21, 2006 shortly after his 75th birthday. According to Bishop Imesch his only regret is that he turned 75 much too quickly and could no longer serve. The Diocese of Joliet was established in 1948 and has a Catholic population of approximately 636,862. It comprises the counties of DuPage, Kankakee, Will, Grundy, Ford, Iroquois, and Kendall. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other persons in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership in the last 6 years in the House Ways and Means Committee. It has been a privilege to serve with you and under your leadership. I rise in support of this legislation, which is known as the extender legislation, extending tax provisions which expired this past year, all tax provisions that have an economic impact on investment decisions affecting the economy in my district and the economy of our Nation. I am pleased that we are extending the work opportunity tax credit. I am pleased we are extending the welfare-to-work tax credit. I am pleased that we are combining these two to make them much more efficient. When Ronald Reagan created the welfare-to-work tax credit back in the early 1980s, his goal was pretty simple: let us give those who are on the welfare rolls an opportunity to get a job and incentivize private employers to do that, and it has worked. In the district I represent, an estimated 700 workers today have jobs because of the work opportunity tax credit. Most are pleased that this legislation extends and expands the brownfields tax incentive. I represent an oil industrial area. They have brownfields, old industrial parks. We want to recycle them. We want to reclaim them. We want to revitalize the neighborhoods they are located in. The brownfields tax incentive provides that incentive for private investors to purchase it, help recover their costs in environmental cleanup. Also in this legislation we expand it. Forty percent of brownfields have petroleum contamination. If you are driving through a community and you see that old abandoned gas station that has been there for decades and you wonder why somebody has not bought it, that is because there is petroleum contamination. This tax incentive will help clean that up and revitalize that strategic corner in your community. Also, I want to commend this House and this committee on moving forward on extending the energy-efficient homes tax incentive. When you often think about it, 20 percent of the energy we consume in America is consumed in our residences, in our homes, and people when they put a little extra money in their home, they want to make their bathroom nicer or they want a nicer, fancier kitchen, they do not always think about the need to conserve energy. The energy-efficient homes tax incentive encourages home builders, those building new construction, new homes to make them better insulated, better windows, better doors and ceilings and reducing energy costs. I would note that both brownfields provisions and the energy- efficient residential tax incentive are both important environmental initiatives as well. We often talk about jobs being created, but when you reduce energy consumption, when you clean up and revitalize old industrial parks and, frankly, when you give those on welfare an opportunity to work, we all win. So I encourage bipartisan support for this legislation, urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer congratulations to Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) in Ottawa, Illinois for its remarkable accomplishment of winning the Illinois State Music Championship for the tenth consecutive year. Much of the credit for this amazing achievement must be attributed to the strong leadership of Mr. Roger Am, Vocal Music Director, and Ms. Sarah Reckmyer, Director of Bands. Clearly, their hard work and commitment to the program over the years have developed an environment of high expectations. Further credit for the OTHS success is due to the support of the school administration; the work of the music staff at the elementary schools which feed into Ottawa Township High School and the OTHS students themselves who have refused to accept any outcome short of victory in the state music competition. It is quite refreshing to see a public high school with such a strong commitment to the fine arts. In addition to its obviously outstanding music program, Ottawa Township High School also possesses and displays a truly remarkable multi-million dollar collection of artwork--a fine arts attribute which surely few public high schools in the nation can match. In closing, let me state just how proud and pleased I am to have this chance to provide my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives with this shining example of a public educational institution which believes so strongly in offering its students this type of fine arts opportunity. I encourage my colleagues to share this example with the high schools in their own congressional districts in hopes of spurring interest in the fine arts in our young citizens across our nation.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5428, legislation I introduced to honor Joshua Adam Terando by naming the Morris Post Office Building in his honor. I also want to thank my good friend from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) as well as my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their help on floor today. Joshua Terando is a local hero from Morris, Illinois. He gave his life for his country when he was killed on November 10, 2005, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today this House will be voting on legislation I introduced, along with the cosponsorship of the entire Illinois delegation, including the Speaker of this House, which designates the Morris Post Office the Joshua A. Terando Post Office Building. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Army Sergeant Joshua A. Terando was born and raised in Spring Valley, Illinois, until his family moved to Morris in 1990. Sergeant Terando graduated from Morris Community High School in 1996, and after his graduation, Sergeant Terando pursued work as a welder and went on to enlist in the United States Army in 1998, where he served his country for 3 years. After Sergeant Terando finished his enlistment with the Army, he joined Boilermaker Union Local One in Chicago and worked as a boilermaker apprentice from 2001 to 2005. In June of 2005, Sergeant Terando returned to the United States Army and was deployed to Iraq. He served as a sergeant, lst Battalion, 110th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division. His other service duty included HHC 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; HHC 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, HHC 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry; and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division. He was affectionately nicknamed ``Scrumpy'' by members of his platoon who were very fond of their comrade and leader. In October of 2005, Sergeant Joshua Terando showed all of us the true meaning of being a hero when his unit was sent to help evacuate fellow soldiers caught in enemy fire. Accounts by members of Sergeant Terando's unit hold that he saved at least one life on that mission, that of a fellow sergeant whose body Sergeant Terando shielded with his own until the man was evacuated by medical personnel. It is actions like these that make our men and women in uniform some of the bravest individuals in the world. On November 10, 2005, according to accounts, Sergeant Joshua Terando's unit, which was a quick response unit, was sent in to provide security for a mission to retrieve a disabled M1A1 Abrams tank near Khalidiyah, Iraq, a town approximately 40 miles west of Baghdad. An enemy sniper was preying on that tank crew and Sergeant Terando's tank crew was disbursed to clear the sniper. After a successful evacuation of the tank crew, Sergeant Terando was fatally wounded in the course of this engagement and gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Grundy County is my home county and Sergeant Terando was Grundy County's first casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was honored during his service with the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terror Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Combat Infantry Badge for heroism in the line of fire; the Armed Forces Reserves Medal with M-Device; the Army Service Ribbon; Parachute Badge; Ranger Tab; and a Weapons Qualification Badge, Expert Rifle. Posthumously, Sergeant Terando was honored with the Bronze Star for bravery in combat; the Purple Heart; the Meritorious Service Award; and a Good Conduct Medal. Sergeant Terando's heroism was honored by the presentation to his parents, Jerry and Jeanine Terando, of the Gold Star, signifying that their son gave his life in combat. Sergeant Terando left many friends in Morris, Illinois, and this legislation will honor his memory and his patriotic service to our Nation. Local veterans have always reminded me that it is important to honor our soldiers and veterans every day. By naming our post office in our hometown of Morris, Illinois, after Sergeant Joshua Terando, we effectively honor all of them. Our thanks to Sergeant Terando and his family, and the honor of renaming this post office can never match the gift which Joshua has given our Nation. This honor merely represents that we will never forget the sacrifice which he and all who have died serving our Nation have made for all of us. We are eternally grateful. I know that we all maintain the family of Sergeant Terando and those of his fallen comrades in our prayers. I ask again that you join me in honoring and remembering this extraordinary young man, whose heroism exemplifies everything that America stands for. I ask for your support for H.R. 5428, the Joshua A. Terando Morris Post Office Designation Act.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of what we have before us, which is good legislation, a package of legislation that is good for workers and a package of legislation that is good for small business. This legislation deserves bipartisan support. First, this bill raises the minimum wage. Today, the minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. Under this legislation, we raise it to $7.25 an hour. That is a 40 percent increase in the minimum wage. It is about time. I support this minimum wage increase. It is the right thing to do. This legislation does more, because it is a package. Of course, when you look into the package, look at the details, you see some good things that help our communities. One example is an important environmental cleanup tax credit, the brownfields tax credit, which is extended for 2 more years under this legislation. Not only is it extended, it is expanded to be able to do more. There are almost 2,000 so-called brownfields in the region that I represent in the Chicago area. Forty percent of them have petroleum contamination. You think of that old abandoned gas station on that one prominent corner in your home community that has been sitting there for years and you always wonder, why doesn't somebody buy that and do something with that strategic corner in our town. It is because it has petroleum contamination. This tax incentive will help encourage private investors to buy that old abandoned gas station and other petroleum contaminated sites to recycle, revitalize and help rebuild neighborhoods. It is good legislation. And if you care about low-income workers, particularly those who are on welfare, and you want to encourage them to get a job, you should vote for this legislation because we extend the work opportunity tax credit. We extend the welfare to work tax credit. This past year almost half a million American citizens had the opportunity to leave welfare and go to work. This legislation deserves bipartisan support.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 400 and commend my chairman, Mr. Burton, for his leadership on this issue. This important resolution expresses this Congress's concern and frustration about the rising proliferation of narcotics from Venezuela and reaffirms the United States' commitment to stability and freedom in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuela historically has the potential to be a key ally in the global war against the narcotics trade. However, its government is not stepping up to the plate. According to the State Department, approximately 150 metric tons of cocaine and increasing quantities of heroin move through its territory annually. Mr. Speaker, Venezuela is becoming a safe haven for the drug trade and those who profit from it. Corruption is a growing problem in the Venezuelan government, and the airports are not immune. Simon Bolivar International Airport is becoming a haven for crime, where personal property theft, muggings and ``express kidnappings'' have become the norm. One of the nation's main transportation hubs, this airport has millions of dollars of narcotics flowing through it annually, and in the past year an estimated 90 percent of the cocaine and heroin trafficked through this airport have not been intercepted. These illicit drugs are headed to locations through our hemisphere and pose a significant threat to the health and safety of U.S. citizens. The Government of Venezuela has failed to adhere to its obligations under international narcotics agreements; and, despite credible evidence that the airport is a transit point for the trade, they have not taken any unilateral steps on their part to prosecute corrupt airport officials involved in drug trafficking. Mr. Speaker, the Government of Venezuela has repeatedly assured us they would sign the new DEA Implementing Accord, an affirmation that Venezuelan and U.S. law enforcement would cooperate to combat trafficking and distribution of narcotics. The signing date for this accord has come and gone with no satisfactory explanation and no new firm signing date. With this resolution, we are expressing our apprehension over the lack of law enforcement cooperation the Government of Venezuela will allow and our concern about the growing use of Venezuelan territory as a transit route for drug trade in our hemisphere. Mr. Speaker, the United States and Venezuela cooperated successfully historically in the past; and we need to continue to do so in the future. Narcotrafficking is a direct threat to democracy, a threat to peace, a threat to security within the Western Hemisphere, and together the U.S. and Venezuela must work together to combat it. I sincerely hope that Venezuela will step up to its responsibility as a leader in our hemisphere by restoring cooperation with U.S. law enforcement and fulfilling its obligation to combat narcotrafficking within its own borders.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of turn.

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to come to the floor tonight to express my strong support for S. 203, the National Heritage Areas Act of 2005. This legislation was debated earlier in this day, and amongst its many provisions the bill contains my legislation, H.R. 1820, the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Act Amendments of 2005. S. 203 reauthorizes the Illinois and Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor to receive appropriations and transfers management entity status from the Federal I&M Commission to the not-for-profit Canal Corridor Association. I would like to commend Chairman Pombo and the House Committee on Resources for their hard work on this important piece of legislation which has previously passed the House twice before. The I&M Canal, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, changed the Nation in 1848 when it opened its first shipping route between New York and New Orleans, designating Chicago as the Nation's greatest inland port at that time. While the canal eventually fell into disuse due to new transportation methods and routes, in 1982, business and industry leaders founded the Canal Corridor Association to help revitalize the I&M Canal region, and in doing so created a national model for regional partnership, conservation, and renewal. I am proud to say that the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor was America's first charter national heritage area, being created by an act of Congress in 1984, thanks to the efforts of former Congressman Tom Corcoran and former Senator Chuck Percy. For 20 years now, the Federal I&M Commission has worked to carry out the mission of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. Its efforts have been particularly successful during the past 5 years that Phyllis Ellin has provided strong leadership as the executive director of the commission. Since 1984, the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor has increasingly become an engine of economic growth in communities up and down the length of the corridor, primarily through an increase in tourism, but also in the use of the corridor for recreational purposes. I decided to move forward with this legislation after consulting with local officials and those most interested and involved in preserving the heritage of the I&M Canal. This private sector approach contained within my legislation offers more advantages to handle the increased workload brought on by the recent success of the canal and interest in heritage tourism. As a result, S. 203 designates the Canal Corridor Association as the new management entity of the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor. The CCA seeks to enhance economic vitality by raising awareness of and expanding the parks, trails, landscapes and historic sites that make the I&M Canal region a special place. They have also successfully implemented educational programs and improved the cultural, environmental, historic, and tourism resources that the Canal Corridor offers. Under the leadership of the Canal Corridor Association, the I&M Canal Reauthorization will continue to successfully educate citizens of the nationally historical importance of the I&M Canal and to play a pivotal role in the continued economic development of our home region. Through the Canal Corridor Association's governance, we will now be able to better enlist private support for the Canal Corridor and promote tourism in our home region. Once again, I would like to thank Chairman Pombo and the entire Resources Committee for making sure this important legislation passes before we break for the August district work period. I particularly want to thank Speaker Hastert for his assistance and leadership in this issue as well as Chairman Craig Thomas in the Senate for moving forward with this critical legislation

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of what is a very good trade agreement, both for the United States as well as for our friend and ally, the nation of Oman. It was interesting, I hear a lot of references in this body to those who argue that every one of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations should be implemented. Today, we have before us one of those recommendations, that is, the 9/11 Commission recommended that we as the United States work to further expand trade agreements with our friends and allies in the Mideast, and Oman is one of our oldest allies. As my colleague from Virginia noted, we have 170 years of friendship with the small nation known as Oman, a friend and ally, a cooperative partner. This agreement that is before us is good for U.S. manufacturers, it is good for Illinois manufacturers, it is good for Illinois workers, it is good for Illinois farmers. Immediately, once it goes into force, 100 percent of manufactured goods exported from the United States to Oman are duty free. Immediately, 87 percent of U.S. farm products, corn and soybeans from Illinois, are duty free, and the remaining tariffs are phased out over a short period of time. Again, this is good for Illinois workers and manufacturers and farmers. Also know that Oman has implemented significant labor reforms, enacted major labor reforms in 2003 and, like Bahrain, has followed up with specific commitments to ensure that its laws provide protections for workers. Again, this is a good agreement for workers as well. Some on the other side of the aisle are trying to manufacture new issues; trying to claim that somehow by having a trade agreement with Oman, a Middle Eastern country, that we are jeopardizing our port security. It is a red herring. It is a phony issue. The Congressional Research Service has stated that those statements are misleading. Under the review process this agreement is not affected. This agreement deserves bipartisan support.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support for H. Res. 921, condemning the recent attacks against the State of Israel. With this resolution, the United States of America reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of Israel, denounces the use of terrorism as a tool of influence, and condemns those states that encourage its use. Iran and Syria's support for the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, does not go unnoticed. I urge the President of the United States to continue his support for Israel, as it responds to the armed attacks against it, and I support bringing the full force of sanctions: economic, political and diplomatic, against these state-sponsors of terrorism. Madam Speaker, Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right to defend itself and protect its citizens by deterring further attacks by the terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Since its founding, Hezbollah has been actively supported by both Syria and Iran. These two countries are estimated at providing Hezbollah with $100 million annually in addition to providing regular weapons shipments. These weapons range from rockets, mortars and small arms, to mines, explosives and anti-tank missiles. Hezbollah is by no means an innocent victim in an offensive war. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, which has put the people of Israel, and the people of Lebanon, in harms way. The United States of America knows all too well what drives this organization: the taking of innocent life. Before 9/11, Hezbollah single handedly killed more Americans than any other terrorist organization. In 1983, Hezbollah killed 257 Americans when it bombed the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut. Between 1982 and 1992, more than 30 Westerners were abducted by this organization, some tortured and killed. In 1996, 19 American servicemen were killed in the bombing of a U.S. military housing facility in Saudi Arabia. Madam Speaker, this resolution sends an important message: the United States of America will not stand by and silently accept terrorism as a viable option with which to negotiate. Terrorism is not a viable option; it is not an option at all. The United States must continue to lead in efforts not only to keep a check on the danger presented by Hezbollah and its sponsors, Syria and Iran, but also to help achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East. I join my colleagues from both parties today in support of Israel's right to self-defense and in condemnation of Hezbollah's decision to put the people of Israel and Lebanon in danger. Madam Speaker, thank you for bringing this important resolution to the floor and I urge my colleagues to vote in its favor.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 375, 376, and 377 my flight was delayed and I did not arrive in Washington until after the votes were over. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. This legislation is an important recommitment of our dedication to the principle that all United States citizens, regardless of race, have equal opportunity to cast their vote in our democracy. Mr. Chairman, The Voting Rights Act, and civil rights in general, have always been a part of Republican legislative history. During the 152 year history of the Republican Party, we have not wavered in our fight for the freedom of individuals. Our party played a significant role in bringing an end to slavery, worked diligently to extend the right to vote to all U.S. citizens, regardless of race, gender or creed, led the civil rights legislation of the 60's, and, today, is continuing to advance the cause of freedom around the world. In 1866, Republicans in Congress passed the nation's first ever Civil Rights Act. Three years later, in 1869, Republicans proposed a constitutional amendment, guaranteeing minorities the right to vote. Ninety-eight percent of Republicans voted for this amendment, which led to its passage and inclusion as the 15th amendment to our Constitution. Continuing the Republican legacy of advancing individuals civil rights, U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen, from my home state of Illinois, was responsible, more than any other individual, for the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. His leadership paved the way for its passage and the enormous support from Republicans for this Act carried over into 1965, when a higher percentage of Republicans in Congress voted for the Voting Rights Act than did their Democratic colleagues. H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, will extend and revise the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to enhance the intended purpose of protecting the constitutional right of all citizens to vote and, in effect, their right to actively participate in the governing of our county. This bill protects the ability of all citizens to elect their preferred candidate by prohibiting discriminatory voting qualifications and prerequisites. By supporting this bill, we are not only defending the rights of U.S. citizens, we are adding to our country's long history of protecting liberty and freedom. I believe it is imperative that this legislation garner the strong support of the entire House of Representatives. The Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 carries on the legacy of its 1965 predecessor and creates greater safeguards for all American voters. I would like to thank our distinguished Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois, for his leadership on this legislation and for bringing it to a vote on the floor. I urge all my colleagues to protect our citizens, and our constitution, by voting in favor of this legislation.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Kennedy to H.R. 5672, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007. The amendment in question would increase the funding for the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program by $50 million which would bring the committee's total mark for the program to $608 million. I strongly believe passage of this amendment is critical. The Edward Byrne Justice Grant Program provides States and local units of government the necessary flexibility in creating programs to address local needs when it comes to crime prevention and enforcement. A prime example of how this funding can lead to great success in a community happened just yesterday back in my home district. In LaSalle County, Illinois, a anti-drug task force was established to address the growing problem of drug use in many of their communities. Yesterday, this anti-drug task force arrested the brother of the head of the Chicago-based gang called Gangsters Disciples for dealing heroin and cocaine in the county. The apprehension of this dangerous criminal will further reduce the heroin and cocaine flowing into LaSalle County. The reason this arrest was such a great success story of the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program is that the task force is funded almost entirely by Byrne grant funding. The success story in LaSalle County, Illinois, is one of many from the Byrne grant program. In closing Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Frank Wolf for providing a $142 million increase from last year's funding level for our local police forces. I also want to thank Congressman Kennedy for offering this critical amendment that will provide our local law enforcement officers with a larger pool of funding to further protect our communities. I urge all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support its passage.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Village of Peotone which is celebrating its 150th birthday. The Village of Peotone lies wholly within the 11th Congressional District in Illinois. In 1856, the Illinois Central Railroad was completed. Land not held by the railroad was to be occupied by settlers. Thus, the Village of Peotone saw its first residents. Two years later the population of the town was 125 people and the first school began to teach classes in 1860. In 1869, you could find dirt streets, several homes and a few businesses. The first Village Board was also formed in 1869. In 1871, Frederick Rathje and Christoph Elling agreed to construct a windmill to grind the grain from area farmers. In 1872, Fredericks son, H.A. Rathje built the Peotone Windmill. When the mill came into production it provided a variety of grain products such as fine wheat flour, rye, buckwheat flour, and cornmeal. The mill was also a primary source of feed for the local livestock industry. In 1982, Henry's grandson donated the mill and the land upon which it stands to the Village of Peotone. The H.A. Rathje is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Village of Peotone continued to grow and prosper. Many new businesses such as a photo gallery, an opera house, and blacksmith shop opened for business. Today, Peotone is a thriving community with over 3,385 residents and over 60 businesses located within the Village. The Village boasts the tranquility of a country life-style where the streets are wide, curbed and shaded with ancient trees of all varieties. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other communities in their own districts which can be shown as an example of living the American dream.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our Nation's continuing dedication to the War on Terror and this resolution we are debating today. When we think of the War on Terror, we immediately think of the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan where our soldiers are bravely fighting for the hope and promise of freedom. But this debate today should not be limited to debating the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. This resolution is about freedom and our dedication to eliminating terror globally. This resolution puts in writing that we, the Congress of the United States of America, will honor all Americans who have supported the war on terror as well as our international partners in the struggle to defend freedom. The War on Terror is not only being fought overseas. This war is being fought, and fought successfully, everyday on our own soil by our own law enforcement agencies and the law enforcement agencies of our allies. We have great partners working with us around the globe to win this fight for freedom and, fortunately, one of these great allies is also one of our closest neighbors. On June 2nd and 3rd a series of counter-terrorism raids by Canadian law enforcement teams successfully thwarted possible attacks planned by seventeen Al Qaeda inspired terrorists, terrorists who have been found to have ties not only in Canada, but in many other countries as well. These terrorists took actions to obtain three tons of ammonium nitrate and were allegedly planning to use it against the Government of Canada and the Canadian people. This is more than three times the amount of ammonium nitrate used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. This successful raid on behalf of the Canadian law enforcement bodies, including the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team which coordinated the efforts of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, and other local police forces, illustrates both the strength of local law enforcement as well as the growing weaknesses of the Islamist militant network. Their achievement has made our hemisphere safer and brings optimism that other nations around the world will have similar triumphs over terror. We all salute Canada for its unwavering commitment in the global war on terror. Their success only emphasizes that we must continue the fight against terror on all fronts: foreign and domestic. We must continue to promote peace, security, and the promotion and protection of liberty, while being vigilant against those extremists who want to do harm to freedom- loving countries. We must continue to support our armed forces, first responders, and our international allies in this war and we must continue to work with our close friends, such as Canada, to promote the principles of a free and democratic society. I urge strong support for this resolution.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jack and Evon Keck who recently pledged $1 Million to assist in the funding of Silver Cross Hospital's Emergency Department expansion. Jack and Evon Keck are constituents in my 11th Congressional District. The newly expanded Silver Cross Emergency Department will have the capacity to care for 60,000 patients annually. A new waiting area will also be added for children, with amenities like video games, flat screen TVs with VCR/DVDs and an aquarium that will catch the attention of the children and make the wait a little bit easier for parents. The Kecks are longtime residents and business leaders in Joliet, Illinois. Jack and Evon attended and met one another at Joliet Township High School. In 1942, only three months after marrying Evon, Jack joined the Seabees and served as a 1st Class Electrician in the South Pacific during WWII for three years. During this time, Evon worked for the phone company. Jack is a former partner of William Keck and Sons Electric Company and the original founder of the Joliet Equipment Corporation, which today is one of the largest motor repair and sales companies in the Midwest. As a business man, Jack was successful in selling the largest motors ever build to Pacific Steel. It took two railroad cars to transport each motor. He also purchased all the superchargers in existence that were used in B-29 airplanes. General Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, commander of the Army Air Forces in World War II and the only air commander ever to attain the five-star rank of General of the Army, ordered the purchase of nine car loads to be used in the planes supplying the Berlin Aircraft. At the age of 65, Jack bought the Wisconsin Steel Mill, dismantled it in the middle of winter, and moved it to Joliet to be cleaned and sold. The Ked's are the proud parents of two children, Ricky and Cynthia. Today, they enjoy spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other individuals in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE), H.R. 5252. This is an important, bipartisan bill that will benefit the consumers I represent, especially those in rural areas. While the cost of wireless minutes has fallen more than 77 percent in the past 10 years, the cost of cable rates has done the exact opposite, increasing over 86 percent during that same time frame. The COPE bill will bring choice and competition to television and the Internet. Through this bill, the market will have a chance to expand to areas in which competition does not currently exist. As we have consistently seen in other industries, competition helps the consumer through more choices and lower prices. For example, my own parents live in a small rural community. Mom and dad are retired on a fixed income. Like millions of other Americans living in small towns or rural communities, they have limited options when it comes to cable service. With the COPE bill, my parents and countless others will have increased access and competition. It should be noted that this bill is about more than just lowering prices and creating a competitive marketplace. Significant benefits will be brought uniquely for rural communities. It will bring faster broadband to more places, especially rural areas. It will also mean the opportunity for distance learning and distance medical diagnosis and treatment for those living in rural communities. These are new and important opportunities for improving the quality of life for rural America. This legislation really is about choice, competition, and rural access. I urge my colleagues to support the Barton-Rush COPE Act, an important bipartisan bill.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor to congratulate the Speaker of the House. I have known Denny Hastert since the late 1970s. I remember Denny Hastert as a high school wrestling coach, history teacher. The Yorkville Foxes would come down to our high school and pretty much beat us every year under the leadership of Coach Hastert. When I met Denny Hastert, he was a public school teacher interested in public service, thinking about running for State legislature, volunteering to campaign. Today he is Speaker of the House. One thing I have always known about Denny Hastert; he is respected as a listener. He is a solid leader, a man of integrity. But I want to congratulate the Speaker, because this coming week, Denny Hastert will become the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives in the history of the United States Congress. It is my understanding that he will also be the third-longest Speaker in the history of the United States. As a Member of the Illinois Delegation I extend my warm congratulations to Dennis Hastert, who has been a great Speaker of the House, a man of tremendous integrity. I salute him for his leadership to the House of Representatives and our Nation.