We cannot shy away from our responsibility. We must rise to the occasion and pass meaningful gun safety legislation that will help end the cycle of violence.

Common sense dictates that we, as representatives of the American people, support this measure.

This amendment is not about taking rights away from law abiding citizens. It is about closing a loophole in the law that gives criminals a free pass at gunshows.

I want to commend Connie and Randy as well as Jim Simpson, Dave Weese, Bob Teel, Ben Booth and all the other volunteers involved in this worthwhile effort.

Today, it serves perhaps an even more important role as a reminder of the way things used to be.

Prairie Mills was built by Henry R. Emminga in 1872. It operated for 60 years and served as a key component of Golden and the surrounding area.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Connie Loudermilk and the Golden, Illinois Historical Society for their efforts to preserve Prairie Mills in Golden.

The efforts they are making will last for generations to come.

I challenge my colleagues to work towards its passage.

As a member of this body, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Earth Day.

Earth Day matters. It raises the awareness of Americans and is a catalyst for positive change.

I am proud of my strong environmental voting record.

Earth Day must also serve as a reminder that even today, we still have a need for improvement.

Environmental Justice matters.

Earth Day has been a catalyst for the enactment of some of our nation's most important laws.

We must begin to eliminate the mentality that our nation's poorest communities can be used as dumping grounds for our industrial achievements.

We now must begin to realize the responsibility we have in providing under developed nation with the environmental technology that will allow them to grow as they move towards a more industrialized society.

It is not a question of whether we can afford to protect the environment, rather it is a question of whether we can afford not to.