[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3715-H3716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING DR. NGOZI EZIKE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Foster) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ngozi Ezike, 
a dedicated public servant whose last day as director of the Illinois 
Department of Public Health was yesterday.
  For the past 3 years, Dr. Ezike worked tirelessly to protect the 
health and well-being of the people of Illinois, including leading our 
State's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of 
historic challenges, she remained dedicated to her job and making sure 
that the people of Illinois always had the most accurate information 
about how to best protect themselves and their families.
  Amid an onslaught of social media misinformation and conspiracy 
theories, Dr. Ezike helped make sure that Illinois' COVID response 
operated in reality and was grounded in science. She always made sure 
that the scientists and public health experts were heard by our elected 
officials.
  Dr. Ezike is a trailblazer--not only because she was Illinois' first 
Black woman to serve as the director of the department of public health 
but because she was called to lead a Statewide public health response 
to an unprecedented pandemic, and she did not blink.
  There is no doubt that her work helped save lives in Illinois. So on 
behalf of the people of our State, I thank Dr. Ezike for her service, 
and I wish her nothing but the best in whatever she decides to do next.


                Community Projects: Clean Drinking Water

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades the city of Joliet has lived 
under the threat of unsafe drinking water from lead pipes used in 
service lines to individual homes. In recent years, the lowering of the 
water tables has threatened even the long-term availability of drinking 
water to Joliet, and that is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus 
recently passed by Congress included $3.5 million for the city of 
Joliet to help tap into Lake Michigan as the primary source of drinking 
water and to accelerate the replacement of lead service lines, thereby 
helping to secure clean and safe drinking water for the entire Joliet 
community for decades to come.
  Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile 
projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire 
community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent.


                  Community Projects: Stepping Stones

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades substance abuse disorder has 
torn apart families in Will County and around the country. Often 
families with young children had nowhere to turn to. That is why I am 
so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included 
$2 million for Stepping Stones--a nonprofit that provides clinical 
services and recovery support for those seeking treatment for substance 
use disorders so that they can build new housing units for women 
seeking treatment.
  Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile 
projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire 
community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent.


                 Community Projects: Affordable Housing

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades, Will County has grappled with 
issues of affordable housing, an issue that has become more and more 
important in communities large and small across our country.
  That is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by 
Congress included $3 million for the Housing Authority of Joliet to 
help turn a shuttered golf course into quality, affordable housing for 
hardworking families who deserve access to the dream of homeownership.
  Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile 
projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire 
community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent.


               Community Projects: The Old Joliet Prison

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades the Old Joliet Prison has 
served as the backdrop of Hollywood movies like ``The Blues Brothers'' 
and hit TV shows like ``Prison Break.'' But years of neglect have left 
the site unsafe and closed to visitors.

[[Page H3716]]

  That is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by 
Congress included $3 million for the Joliet Area Historical Museum so 
that they can rehabilitate the site of the Old Joliet Prison and make 
it safe for visitors once again and enhance its potential as a tourist 
attraction. This project is shovel-ready and will help create and 
sustain much-needed construction jobs while restoring a historically 
and culturally significant site in an economically challenged part 
of the city.

  Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile 
projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire 
community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent.


          Community Projects: Aurora Quad County Urban League

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades, America has faced a deficit 
of job training opportunities from underserved and underrepresented 
communities, and that is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus 
recently passed by Congress included $425,000 for the Aurora Quad 
County Urban League so that they can launch a youth careers program in 
Aurora to connect young people with jobs and apprenticeship 
opportunities in construction, transportation, distribution of 
logistics, and all fields facing an increase in and need for Federally 
trained workers.

                          ____________________