Political Quotes

“I am pleased we were able to move the bill through the House and I am working with my Senators to ensure that the legislation moves quickly through the other body with bipartisan support. I would like to take a minute to speak briefly about the importance of this legislation. This bipartisan measure is supported by virtually the entire Illinois delegation, the Governor of Illinois Jim Edgar, a large number of veterans, environment and conservation organizations, business and labor, private citizens and a broad coalition of groups interested in making this project a reality. H.R. 714 serves as a model for communities looking at future use for closed and surplus military facilities. This innovative land use plan could very well be seen as a model for converting base closures into peacetime uses. It will create the largest national tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi, and will have enormous environmental, economic, and educational benefits to offer for many years to come.”