[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING THANET NATISRI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thanet Natisri of 
Marion, Illinois, for his role in rescuing 12 young soccer players and 
their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand earlier this month.
  Thanet, a groundwater expert educated at SIU Carbondale, began doing 
charity work in his native country of Thailand 3 years ago. He was in 
Thailand assisting rural residents in fixing their water problems when 
he got the call from the Thai military. Within 3 hours, he was on a 
plane to go help divert rising water levels in the cave.
  The rescue operation used his expertise to divert water and allow 
divers to reach the soccer team. After 18 grueling days, which 
captivated the world, the boys and their soccer coach were safely 
rescued.
  Thanet, you played a vitally important role in saving 13 lives. 
Southern Illinois is proud.


                    Recognizing Officer James Holder

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer James Holder 
of Pinckneyville Police Department for receiving the Illinois State Bar 
Association's Law Enforcement Award. The Law Enforcement Award 
recognizes officer conduct that promotes justice and brings honor and 
respect to the entire criminal justice system.
  Officer Holder was acknowledged for his involvement in a search and 
rescue operation during a major fire in an apartment building next to 
the Perry County Jail. He forcibly entered the building, notifying 
residents to immediately evacuate and clearing housing units to ensure 
no one was present.
  He proceeded to identify the source of the fire and work with other 
first responders as traffic and crowd control.
  Thank you, Officer Holder, for your brave service, and thank you to 
all of our first responders who are out there risking their lives every 
day to keep our communities safe.

                          ____________________