Kazakhstan is a former Soviet Republic that held great promise early in this decade for moving toward democracy and a free market economy. But there has been a steady and alarming deterioration in recent years.

The Nazarbayev regime has employed authoritarian methods to threaten and silence the witnesses who will testify today.

This is an unacceptable way to treat an opposition leader.

No democracy, especially the United States government and this Congress, should tolerate such conduct.

The zoo's mission is to focus on enhancing visitor understanding of the critical need for people to live more sustainable and harmoniously with the natural world through naturalistic environmental settings and accompanying interpretive…

I invite all my colleagues to join me in celebrating the opening of the Salt Creek Wilderness exhibit, which, I am certain, will greatly strengthen the zoo's mission.

With the assistance of these project partners, the new exhibit will help to raise awareness of the importance of protecting not just animals in other parts of the world, but also species and natural habitats in our own communities.

I am pleased to announce that on August 14th Brookfield Zoo will celebrate the grand opening of its newest attraction, the Salt Creek Wilderness exhibit.

It came as a pleasant surprise.

I am very pleased to see our community coming together to remember our veterans and take pride in our local heritage.

I would like to take this time to commemorate the historic Hazel Dell farm.

The owners of the farm say it was a natural place for the celebration because the original owner of the farm, Col. William Fulkerson, fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Last year, the 1866 Fulkerson Mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic places and a brief dedication was held during which the new National Register plaque was unveiled.

His grandson died battling the Germans in World War II, and his grandson died in Vietnam.

He enjoyed the simple things of life, church with his family, backyard barbeques, trips back to Arkansas and Louisiana, family re-unions, poker games with the boys, interacting with his peers and students, attending community meetings or…

Notwithstanding all of his professional accomplishments, Judge was most known for his involvement in public activity and his willingness to reach out and help others.

Judge was much too young to die, and yet he did probably because like many other men and especially African American men, did not adequately look after his health.

He would not be moved, he would not be compromised and he shall not be forgotten.