I rise today to recall a tax imposed on our colonial forefathers by the British monarchy in the days before the birth of our Nation. Like the British monarchy, the United States Postal Service has imposed a Stamp Tax upon the American…

while the other side is becoming increasingly hysterical every time evidence is unearthed, I would ask my Democratic friends a few questions. What do you suppose Webster Hubbell meant when he said on tape, so I need to roll over one more…

obeying the law should be the first tenet of campaign finance reform. The White House insists time and time again that they are cooperating fully with the various investigators charged with finding the truth about illegal campaign…

From the 20th District of Illinois comes one consistent message on the budget surplus: Pay down the debt. Pay down the debt. Pay down the debt. It is the best way to ensure economic growth and opportunity for all, and the most important…

I come to the House floor to praise the heroic action of 8-year-old Christopher Simmons of Mount Vernon, Illinois. On April 6 of last year, Christopher and his younger brother Michael were helping their neighbor with some yard work when…

I rise to recognize the hardworking men and women that are in town this week for the American Soybean Association's annual conference. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to speak at the conference and bring them up to date on…

school choice works. Consider the recent example of Albany, New York. Philanthropist Virginia Gilder identified one of the worst schools in the entire city and offered every student a scholarship of $2,000. One-sixth of the children at…

broadcasters across this Nation have a single mandate from the Federal Government, to serve the public interest in the communities where they operate. I am pleased that the Illinois broadcasters in my State do such an excellent job both on…

it is time for the Federal Communications Commission to do something to safeguard the telephone rates that people living in rural America pay. When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 passed, there was one thing Congress wanted to ensure…

Last month Andrew Taylor, a 4-year-old boy from Springfield, IL, succumbed to a brain tumor and lost his life. Many Members may remember Andrew. As a 3-year-old he received national attention when he became a hero by saving the life of his…

as a former teacher in Edwardsville, IL, I often use my 1-minutes to praise teachers and students who have touched so many lives in central and southern Illinois. My past in education also makes me very aware of the need for reforms in our…

I rise today to commend the young members of the Mt. Vernon, IL Future Farmers of America who have won the Illinois FFA career development contest and will soon head to the national contest in Kansas City, MO. As part of the contest, this…

I rise in support of H.R. 1534, the Private Property Rights Implementation Act. Allowing property owners their day in court to defend their constitutional rights should be an easy vote. Why should property owners face enormously expensive…

In September 1987, the Carlinville High School, which lies in the 20th District of Illinois, was destroyed by fire. In a move that is common in my area of Illinois, Carlinville High School Principal Dick Spohr rallied students, parents…

I rise today to ask support from my colleagues for legislation I introduced with the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. McCarthy] to classify biodiesel and its blended versions as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992…

In 1992, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act which set Federal requirements on the use of alternative fuel vehicles such as ethanol-powered cars. This legislation required Federal, State, and city fleets to use vehicles that are cleaner…

I rise today to commend a true gentleman and educator from the 20th District in my hometown of Collinsville, IL. This man is Neal Strebel, who, after 37 years of teaching music and directing school bands, has retired from his profession…

this debate speaks highly in support of tax reform, a fairer, flatter, simpler Tax Code, but as a new Member this debate has also been very disheartening. As a West Point cadet I lived by a motto: I will not lie, cheat or steal nor…

I rise today to commend a growing group of Americans who are at the heart and soul of America's thriving economy, America's small business owners. During this week, Small Business Week, I want to recognize small business owners for their…

I rise today to again commend the leaders of Congress and the President for coming together on a consensus to balance the budget and to encourage them to keep up the work. This issue is too important to allow it to be sidetracked. Although…

I proudly rise this morning to acknowledge an exemplary group of young athletes from Illinois who have persevered in reaching a common goal for the second year in a row. This group of young women have demonstrated the true hearts of…

as a former U.S. history teacher, I taught that the U.S. Constitution was a living document, let it live. This debate is about the Federal Government's ability to raise taxes. It should be very hard to do and it should not be easy. As a…

according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air in this Nation is getting cleaner. Major metropolitan areas are experiencing fewer and fewer days of dirty air, and it is time to thank the EPA for a job well done. In fact…

it is no secret that the Tax Code hurts our economy. We all know that Americans who try to save get penalized and that most Americans need a tax attorney to help them file their returns. I want to speak briefly, however, on a part of the…