I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236.

Today I proudly also recognize the McKendree University women's bowling team for winning the 2017 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship. These young women made history by becoming the first NCAA Division II program to win that championship…

Earlier this week, I had the honor of welcoming to Washington, D.C., more than 50 of our Southern Illinois veterans. The visit was put together by the Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, a nonprofit organization that transports veterans to…

And then I want to go down the panel with the same question. But the only thing I would say is, is one thing that we are known for, and that is the big fear, is that if we do nothing, nothing will be done.

I have many veterans in my district who have spoken to me repeatedly about this issue.

The $10 fee is basically a tax increase because basically it is everybody who fills out a form will then pay a $10 fee.

This bill enjoys broad bipartisan support from this Congress and I will say I am strongly supportive.

I want to be paying for them.

Let me ask this. And you know that I am going to do everything I can for the veterans.

The seven bills we will talk about today address issues that are very important to veterans and their families.

H.R. 299, the Blue Water Veterans--Navy Vietnam Veterans Act is brought forward by Representative Valadao, who I see has already joined us and is on the first panel.

As a lender, do you believe that the current limits on FSA guaranteed loans are adequate to support the needs of the modern farmer?

You can learn a lot when you listen. During times like these, when political infighting makes it difficult to hear everyone's voice, we need to try even harder. Today I would like to encourage all of my constituents in the Illinois 12th…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Add at the end the following new section: SEC. 14. PLAN TO HIRE DIRECTORS OF MEDICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT…

Thank you for the opportunity to serve on this committee. It is kind of a committee that is near and dear to my heart.

what we are doing is not any intention to privatize or anything like that.

I am a little concerned, and the Department itself has estimated that it can treat and cure most of the remaining 124,000 diagnosed cases of hepatitis C within the next 3 years.

It's promising to see you undeterred from farming after the way the market's been.

I will be a morally religious person that can self-govern.

As my colleagues and I examine changes to the farm bill, the current farm bill, you can hate it or you can love it. But it delivers the most abundant and safest and affordable food and fiber supply of any developed country in the world.

What are you willing to do to defend this Constitution?

It is a republic, Madam, if you can keep it.

Farm Credit supports Rep. Mike Bost's BALE Act, H.R. 831, which among other things, would increase the FSA guaranteed loan limit to $2.5 million.

A republic, if you can keep it.

It's not partisan; it's a group of people that understand the issues and want to work forward to make it better.