[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Chicago's 
``idea a minute'' Mayor Richard M. Daley. On September 7, 2010, Mayor 
Daley announced that after his 22 years in office, he would not seek 
re-election. But during those 22 years, Chicagoans were privileged to 
be served by a man with such vision, passion, and inimitable love for 
our city.
  Mayor Daley not only improved the quality of life in Chicago, but 
also made it one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the 
world. He did so by encouraging businesses to use green technology and 
helping companies save money by becoming more sensitive to the 
environment. Mayor Daley directed the planting of thousands of trees, 
the building of green roofs, and construction of nearly one-hundred 
square miles of landscaped medians. Mayor Daley also built and improved 
infrastructure, such as the 1996 revamp of State Street and the 2002 
rebuilding of Wacker Drive.
  Many new tourist attractions were overseen by Mayor Daley during his 
time in office, as he was committed to ensuring Chicago remained a 
world-class city. In 1998, the Museum Campus opened to the public. The 
campus formed an uninterrupted, pedestrian-friendly green space for 
Chicago's three natural science museums. Later, in 2004, he unveiled 
Millennium Park. Continuing Chicago's tradition of sculpture and 
architecture, the park includes Anish Kapoor's ``Cloud Gate'', also 
known as ``The Bean,'' an interactive multimedia fountain of faces 
created by Jaume Plensa, and a beautiful garden designed by Kathryn 
Gustafson. Mayor Daley also played an instrumental role in the 
renovation and transformation of Navy Pier into Chicago's most popular 
tourist attraction.
  Along with beautifying the City, Mayor Daley made Chicago a safer 
place for our children and families. From creating the City's first 
community policing programs to installing safety cameras outside 
schools to working closely with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Mayor 
Daley has made fighting neighborhood crime and education a priority. He 
has improved the performance of Chicago's public schools by enhancing 
school safety and creating after-school and early childhood education 
programs. Because of Mayor Daley's focus on education, fewer students 
are dropping out of school and more are moving on to higher education.
  Our city's outgoing mayor was also a good friend to the LGBT 
community and a national trailblazer for equality, because it was the 
right thing to do. He formed an LGBT Advisory Council for the city, and 
Chicago remains the only city in the country to recognize the civic 
contributions of the LGBT community in an annual ceremony recognizing 
our LGBT Hall of Fame, into which Mayor Daley was inducted in 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mayor Richard M. Daley, 45th 
mayor of the City of Chicago. I commend him for his 22 years of service 
on the fifth floor and throughout the neighborhoods that make our home 
the best city in the world. He leaves a legacy of service and passion 
for preserving and improving the city we all know and love, Chicago. 
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for everything. I wish you, Maggie, and your 
entire family nothing but the best.

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