[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3600]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    AMY SCHULZ CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2010

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the 20th anniversary 
of the Amy Schulz Child Advocacy Center in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
  The center was born from tragedy when, in 1987, 10-year-old Amy 
Schulz of Kell, Illinois, was murdered. Her father, Dennis Schulz, was 
determined to do all he could to see that no other families had to face 
the kind of devastating tragedy like that which afflicted his family. 
Mr. Schulz lobbied legislators for greater protection of children from 
violent criminals and started the Amy Center to keep the advocacy work 
going.
  Starting with just a one-room office twenty years ago, the Amy Center 
has expanded and helped more than 100,000 children in several counties 
in south-central Illinois. Its advocacy efforts and education programs 
have had a lasting, positive impact.
  I stand before this House to thank Dennis and Esther Schulz for their 
determination to protect children from violence. I also commend 
Executive Director LaDonna Richards and the staff of the Amy Center, 
past and present, who have done so much good work for the children of 
south-central Illinois. Their positive efforts and big hearts have done 
much to make our community a better, safer place to live. I extend my 
appreciation on their 20 years of service.

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