[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H239-H241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SERVING NORTH CHICAGO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous honor, excitement, and 
humility that I rise to the floor of this great Chamber to represent 
the aspirations and hardworking values of Illinois' 10th Congressional 
District--Chicago's north and northwest suburbs.
  Let me begin by expressing our thoughts and prayers remain with 
Congresswoman Giffords as she undergoes her recovery. My heart goes out 
to her and her family, along with the other families whose lives have 
been changed by this tragedy in Tucson on January 8.
  Tonight I am here to continue the tradition of this congressional 
seat by delivering a speech that lays out how I intend to legislate and 
explains the manner in which I will work with my colleagues to move 
this country forward.
  Over the past 18 months, I have traveled all over our great district 
trying to ask people what keeps them up at night. Stretching from 
Wilmette to Waukegan, Libertyville to Glenview, Highland Park to 
Palatine, I am fortunate to represent a congressional district that 
encompasses a diverse community that asks its political leaders to 
tackle a wide-ranging ambitious agenda. And from all conversations I've 
had at train stations and town centers, at countless small businesses, 
in diners and in town hall meetings, there is one thing I know: the 
112th Congress must focus on jobs and the economy, on reining in the 
out-of-control spending here in Washington, and to make sure that our 
country remains safe and free.
  Beyond talking with members of my community, I also took the time to 
study the heritage of the congressional seat representing the people of 
northern Cook and eastern Lake Counties. Beginning with our first 
representative, John McLean, upon Illinois' founding, statehood in 
1818, ours is an area that has always demanded a high standard of 
leadership, a commitment to local issues, and yet an eye towards 
American leadership in the world.
  Our community is bound by deep-rooted characteristics--namely, a 
desire for pragmatic, effective leadership; vigorous independence; and 
the ability to work with the other side of the aisle in a civilized and 
bipartisan manner. These are the virtues that I pledge to continue in 
Congress as I begin my service to the people of the 10th Congressional 
District.
  In looking at the work of my predecessors, I have come across a 
number of individuals who served our area in the highest tradition of 
public service with the commitment to the greater good. Tonight, I 
would like to take a moment to speak about a few of them.
  The first woman to represent northeastern Illinois in Congress did so 
with remarkable distinction, skill, and effectiveness. Marguerite Stitt 
Church took to Congress in 1949, succeeding her late husband, 
Congressman Ralph Church. She served until 1962 promoting fiscal 
restraint, equal pay for women, and civil rights initiatives. She held 
a healthy disdain for extravagant Federal spending, which we can all 
certainly appreciate today. And foreshadowing the men who would follow 
her, Marguerite Church encouraged democratic reforms abroad from her 
position on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Mrs. Church retired in 1963 only to be succeeded in the 88th Congress 
by a man who also took to the causes of fiscal conservatism and 
American leadership in the world: Donald Rumsfeld. The people of 
northeastern Illinois elected Secretary Rumsfeld--a fellow New Trier 
High School graduate--to Congress at the young age of 30. From 1963 to 
1969, he served our area with great distinction. He had a spot on the 
Joint Economic Committee, and during perhaps the most critical time in 
the development of our space program, he sat on the House Committee on 
Science and Aeronautics. As many know, his tenure in Congress was just 
the beginning of a long career in public service.

  Ten years later saw the beginning of another incredible career 
devoted to public service. For 21 years, John Porter served the people 
of the 10th district. In that time, he made his great mark both at home 
and abroad. Serving on the Appropriations Committee and as the chairman 
of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, 
John Porter achieved a record of tremendous legislative success. 
Reflecting on the values of his district, he advocated for scientific 
funding and advancements in health care research, displayed a 
commitment to the environment, championed a strong respect for the 
taxpayer, and set a standard for high quality constituent service.
  John Porter also recorded impressive accomplishments in the area of 
foreign policy. After a trip to the Soviet Union, he founded the 
Congressional Human Rights Caucus. This led him to help free refuseniks 
in Russia, fight for the rights of North Korean refugees,

[[Page H240]]

and work for religious freedom in China. I am honored and fortunate to 
have Congressman Porter's support and valuable mentorship as I begin my 
career in this body.

                              {time}  2000

  For the past decade, and following in Congressman Porter's footsteps, 
the people of the 10th Congressional District have been tremendously 
fortunate to enjoy the representation of Mark Kirk. In Congress, Mark 
Kirk set the standard for thoughtful, independent leadership. And his 
centrist pragmatism mirrored the values of our district. His success is 
no secret to me or anyone who followed his career. Mark Kirk worked 
tirelessly in all areas of our district.
  The Illinois 10th Congressional District is a unique area that 
demands sensible, independent leadership. Congressman Kirk knew the 
people, he knew their concerns; and perhaps most importantly, he knew 
how to translate that into action and legislative successes. To look at 
his record of accomplishments in the areas of foreign policy, defense, 
environmental protection, human rights, transportation, and on the 
economy is to see a Representative who knows what his constituents 
value most. His record as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, 
his desire to reach across the aisle in search of the best ideas, these 
are the qualities that I hope to carry forward as I begin my career in 
public service to the people of the 10th District.
  I am honored and fortunate to call now-Senator Kirk a close friend, a 
valued mentor. We are comforted by the fact that Senator Kirk continues 
to represent the State of Illinois, and all Americans, in the United 
States Senate. And the communities of northern Cook and eastern Lake 
Counties are privileged to share his talents with the rest of the State 
and the country.
  Like Congressman Porter and Congressman Kirk, I too will represent 
our independent-minded congressional district by working in a 
bipartisan fashion, by listening to all people for the best ideas, and 
by governing in a pragmatic, sensible manner. The American people 
demand solutions, and I will always remember that all of us are here to 
improve the lives of all Americans.
  While we can and should disagree at times, I am committed to the 
principles of open debate, the free exchange of ideas, and to 
charitably interpreting and considering other positions, all with a 
common objective: improving the lives of America. To that end, I will 
be the strong and independent fiscal conservative and social moderate 
that I believe matches our community's values, as so accurately and 
valuably represented before me by Congressman Porter and Congressman 
Kirk.
  I ran for Congress because I wanted to get this Nation back to work. 
To me, that centers on three things: jobs and jump-starting the 
economy, reining in the out-of-control spending here in Washington, and 
making sure that our country remains safe and free. Our first priority 
in this Congress must be to help ensure that the best conditions exist 
to create good jobs, high-paying and secure jobs for all people across 
this country, and to preserve those that already exist. It's jobs, 
first and foremost.
  As I have so often been reminded, the unemployment rate nationally is 
9.4 percent. In Illinois, it's even higher. And in certain communities 
within the 10th District, the unemployment rate is higher than 20 
percent. To me, this is simply unacceptable, which is why I will 
highlight, strengthen, and support those local institutions that 
provide critical job-skills training to the unemployed.
  On a more fundamental level, however, we need laser-like focus on job 
creation. This means establishing certainty across America for 
employers, keeping taxes low, maintaining vigorous oversight on Federal 
regulations, and expanding opportunities so that businessmen and -women 
can do what they were meant to do: to innovate, to prosper, to grow, to 
invest, and to hire.
  We need to ensure that the Federal Government is not making it more 
difficult and more costly for businesses to put the key in the door and 
open up their businesses each and every day. As a small business owner 
myself, I am here as part of a wave of people who know firsthand what 
it takes to run a company, to meet a payroll and to meet a budget, and 
to create jobs. This is not theory, but rather this is a commonsense, 
proven, practical approach which will guide my philosophies in this 
Congress. This is a great American priority, and we must get it right.
  Next, we must tackle Federal spending and get it under control, to 
get our fiscal house in order. There can be no greater example as to 
the urgency of this matter than what happened in my home State of 
Illinois this last week. During the final hours of the State's 
legislative session last Wednesday, Illinois State lawmakers passed a 
massive State income tax increase to make up for the State's rampant, 
unchecked spending.
  With a 66 percent increase in personal income tax rates, and 
corporate income tax rates also rising dramatically, families and 
businesses in Illinois are being punished because the politicians 
cannot control themselves and the spending. This acts as a 
huge additional burden, with no meaningful State commitment to cut 
spending. This is devastating for job creation in a State that so 
desperately needs it. We need to encourage job creation, and this will 
only increase the trend of employers not hiring, laying off, and 
potentially even leaving the State.

  I will work hard to make sure that the 10th District, American 
families, and businesses are not put in a similar position, crippling 
themselves here at the Federal level. And that work begins immediately.
  Tomorrow afternoon, this House will vote on health care reform, an 
area where I think last year we missed a golden opportunity. Last 
year's health care overhaul addressed access to insurance, but it 
failed to address cost or quality of health care. Earlier today, I held 
an event in my district in Vernon Hills to highlight yet one small, 
very small, section in this legislation, one that will have a 
devastating impact on businesses, the new 1099 rules. This provision 
will unfairly burden small businesses with mounds of paperwork and 
compliance fees and will certainly hinder the economy at the worst 
possible time.
  Fortunately, I believe that most in this body see the wisdom in 
correcting this terrible legislative mistake. I am proud to be a 
cosponsor of this bill to repeal these unworkable and unnecessary and 
unproductive 1099 rules. I look forward to working with both 
Republicans and Democrats to keep this legislation simple, and to pass 
it as soon as possible.
  Now, when we look at health care, there are certainly some good 
aspects of this law. The coverage of preexisting conditions, for one, 
should be strongly considered. Going forward, there is also keeping 
children on your insurance until they are 26. But there's a lot, plenty 
that needs to be corrected. And we need to put a better system in 
place. I firmly believe that affordable and accessible health care is a 
vital issue, and we need to make sure that it is available to all 
Americans; but we need to be talking about meaningful malpractice 
reform, interstate competition, consumer-driven care, and tax breaks 
for individuals to purchase insurance on their own, just like 
businesses have today.
  The American people deserved better. They deserve health care reform 
that passes the House with broad bipartisan support. One of the reasons 
for the major flaws in this health care law is that broad bipartisan 
cooperation did not happen. Rather, the law grew out of a closed 
legislative process, where some of the best ideas to lower costs and to 
raise quality were ignored. We cannot afford another missed 
opportunity. As such, I invite all Members of this Congress, 
Republicans and Democrats, to reach across party lines so that we can 
produce the best bill with the best ideas for the American public.
  In that spirit, it is my intent to introduce a practical and centrist 
alternative to the current health care law. This plan will reduce 
health care costs and expand insurance coverage without raising taxes 
and will guarantee that the government does not come between a decision 
you make with your doctor. It will address malpractice reform and allow 
any individual who finds a plan that better suits them anywhere in our 
Nation to be able to purchase it. It is critical that we move forward 
in this area of health care reform so that we can have the best system 
possible, one that works for all Americans.

[[Page H241]]

                              {time}  2010

  This is a sentiment that I have consistently heard in communities all 
across the 10th District.
  Another concern I hear all over our district, and a major priority of 
mine, is to keep our Nation safe and free. The 10th District is 
fortunate to have a tradition of congressional leadership on national 
defense and foreign affairs, and I look forward to stepping forward in 
this area.
  I will always be focused on keeping our Nation strong and free, and 
it will be an honor to work to support the incredible men and women who 
wear our Nation's uniform and service.
  On a more local level, I will be an advocate for our veterans as they 
return home and become acquainted with the beautiful Captain James A. 
Lovell Federal Health Care Center in north Chicago. This is the first 
fully integrated Federal health care center between the VA and the 
Department of Defense, and we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to 
Senators Kirk and Durbin, along with many others, for bringing it to 
our community. This facility shows our commitment to those who serve, 
but it is also a reminder of the sacrifice required to protect American 
freedoms.
  Currently, I believe Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon to be the 
biggest threat to our national security and to our democratic allies 
abroad. The sanctions that Congress passed last year are clearly having 
an impact on the Iranian regime, but I believe that we cannot rest 
until the Iranian nuclear threat is affirmatively and effectively 
dismantled. I pledge to aggressively monitor developments in this area 
and search for ways in which I can help in Congress, because a nuclear-
armed Iran is simply unacceptable.
  In my mind, one of the best ways to combat this Iranian threat is a 
strong U.S.-Israel relationship. I traveled to Israel this past year in 
order to see firsthand the security challenges the United States and 
Israel currently face together in the Middle East. As such, I fully 
understand why a strong U.S.-Israel relationship is critical for the 
United States, and I look forward to using my voice here in Congress to 
continue to advocate for its strengthening.
  Finally, I would like to turn to two areas that are particularly 
important to me and to the people of my district, education and the 
environment.
  I believe that education is the building block for the prosperous 
America of tomorrow. We must encourage schools to prepare our students 
for success in the jobs our modern economy demands, and I am confident 
in the ability of our local school districts to prepare our students 
appropriately. I do believe a one-size-fits-all model stymies 
innovation in education. Accordingly, we must give more authority and 
control to local school districts.
  However, we must not allow unfunded Federal mandates and programs to 
get in the way of our local school districts providing high-quality 
education.
  As a scout, a Boy Scout and now a scout master, I was taught by my 
scout masters Lee Getchow, Charlie Barnes and Artie Bergman to love the 
outdoors and nature.
  In northeastern Illinois we are fortunate to be stewards of one of 
the greatest natural resources in the world, Lake Michigan. With 26 
miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the 10th Congressional District 
enjoys tremendous benefits from its precious resource. We have an 
important obligation to preserve and protect this great natural 
resource that is vital to the 10th District and to the entire United 
States. From drinking water to recreational opportunities, I will work 
diligently to protect the lake to improve her water quality.
  I will also work with local, State and Federal parties to clean up 
Waukegan Harbor and de-list this wonderful resource as an area of 
environmental concern once and for all.
  Focusing on jobs and the economy, reining in Federal spending, and 
keeping our Nation safe and free and working to strengthen our Nation's 
health care system, our education system and our environment, these are 
major legislative goals for the 112th Congress. And in the tradition of 
those who have served the people of Chicago's north and northwest 
suburbs before me, I look to be a voice of pragmatic, centrist ideas, 
someone who listens to all people on both sides of the aisle and looks 
for ways that we can work together to best serve the American people.
  As a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, I am a firm believer 
in smaller government. This will guide my service in this House. I have 
some very large shoes to fill; but it is my promise that I will 
represent this office with dignity, distinction, honor and, above all, 
integrity.
  I thank the people of the 10th District of Illinois for the 
opportunity to serve them. I will never forget why I am here or who I 
am here to represent.

                          ____________________