[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF ROBERT CHILES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the actions of 
Robert Chiles as well as honor all American citizens who embody the 
spirit of our early patriots.
  Beginning on April 15, 2009, Mr. Chiles began circulating a Tea Party 
Declaration in Springfield, Illinois, requesting the end of ``massive 
government driven bailouts,'' ``so-called economic stimulus plans,'' 
``trillion dollar spending schemes,'' and ``out of control government 
spending.''
  This petition is nearly 60 feet long and contains about 1,000 
signatures. The organizer, Mr. Robert Chiles of Rochester, Illinois, 
says that the petition is signed by ``electricians, plumbers, 
construction workers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, ministers, teachers, 
democrats, republicans, law enforcement officers, retired military, 
stay at home moms, small business owners, you name it.''
  The document begins, ``When, in the course of human events, it 
becomes necessary for like-minded patriotic Americans to rally as one 
against the powers that threaten to alter, diminish and destroy this 
country we love, proper respect for the opinions of our fellow citizens 
requires that we should clearly state the grievances that impel us to 
gather at this Springfield, Illinois, tea party to protest peacefully, 
but passionately in the tradition of our forefathers whose Boston Tea 
Party resonated around the world.''
  I salute these modern day patriots and want to publicly thank them 
for this petition.

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