[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO THE COUNTY OF WILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2004

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the County of Will as 
it is recognized as the 2004 recipient of the Joliet Region Chamber of 
Commerce's annual ``Salute to Industry Award''. The County will be the 
28th recipient of this award and lies within my 11th Congressional 
District in Illinois.
  Will County was first established in 1836 by an act of the Illinois 
legislature, which subdivided it from Cook County. The area was a 
favorite hunting ground for the Indians as it had an abundant supply of 
water and timber. Travel was facilitated by the old Sauk Trail and by 
the Des Plaines, DuPage, and Kankakee Rivers.
  Today, the County is the fastest growing county in Illinois and the 
fourth-fastest growing county in the nation. According to the U.S. 
Census the population of Will County as of April 2001, was a little 
over 502,000. It is estimated that Will County's population will reach 
over 800,000 by the year 2020 and over 1 million in 2030.
  Will County is the only county in the State of Illinois that has the 
County Executive System. Mr. Joe Mikan is the current County Executive. 
The County Board is comprised of 27 members, of which three represent 
each of the nine districts.
  County Executive Mikan and Will County elected officials are always 
striving for new advances to make it easier for constituents and 
businesses to operate in the County. They have streamlined business 
procedures, opened a Workforce Services division, and developed the 
Will County Archives Center. The County is also pursuing co-sponsorship 
of the future South Suburban Airport.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other 
counties in their own districts whose actions have so greatly 
benefitted and strengthened America's families and communities.

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