What Bill Foster said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Buss Ford Lincoln for receiving the Robert O. Covey Award for embodying the spirit of American ingenuity and community engagement. For decades, Buss Ford Lincoln has exemplified what it means to be a pillar of the local business community through its commitment to civic leadership, community development. and dedication to local partnerships.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Herbert L. Salberg, Jr., an educator, coach, athletic administrator, and public servant whose dedication to students and athletics strengthened the College of DuPage community and inspired generations across northern Illinois and beyond.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the Very Reverend Father Samuel Thabet, priest of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Chicago in Burr Ridge, as he marks his Golden Jubilee--50 years of faithful and devoted priestly service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Juneteenth Celebration hosted by the African American Men of Unity (AAMOU) at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Belvidere Lions Club as it celebrates its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades of outstanding community service and dedication to meeting local needs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michelle Kidd for receiving the Robert & Rosemary Blazier Memorial Award. She has spent more than 27 years as an educator in the community, helping prepare students academically, professionally, and personally for life beyond high school.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jason Herbster for receiving the esteemed Carl E. Wehde Award. This award, presented in memory of the late Mayor Carl E.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary Margaret Maule for receiving the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. This distinguished award honors individuals who have demonstrated excellence, creativity, and initiative in their professional endeavors.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act, or SMART Act, which provides thoughtful examination relief to qualifying community banks and credit unions, while maintaining appropriate safeguards.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Johnny McGowan, who has dedicated over 45 years of his life to Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Peggy Hicks, founder of the Hicks-Wright Organization, for receiving the Lifetime Achievement award from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which requires the Federal Reserve to conduct a comprehensive review of discount window operations, including its technological infrastructure, cybersecurity, communications, real-time monitoring, and oversight mechanisms across the Federal Reserve System.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the FSOC Improvement Act. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to protect working families, taxpayers, and the broader economy from consequences of unchecked financial risk.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which makes improvements to Federal programs that will support housing development and affordability.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to open the Special Order hour to discuss the expiration of the New START treaty, the importance of arms control, and the urgent need to strengthen global nuclear security.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, I have to say the gentleman is absolutely right about the messaging that is surrounding the Golden Dome effort.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the many excellent points he made, one of which was how foolish it would be for the United States to resume testing of nuclear weapons.”

“Let me quote from Michael Klare, an arms control expert at Hampshire College and a constituent of mine: ``February 6 is likely to bring us into a new era, not unlike the early years of the Cold War, in which the major powers will be poised to ramp up their nuclear warfighting capabilities without any formal restrictions whatsoever.”

“Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Massachusetts is absolutely right. Diplomacy is not a lost cause. There have been some big wins from diplomacy. Back when I was younger, the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons was higher and then decreased.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Takano for reminding us of Hiroshima. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity for the first time in my life to visit, and the things that stick in your mind are hard to describe.”

“Mr. Speaker, I have to say Ms. Titus is absolutely right about the fact that there is no necessity to resume nuclear testing. We have a very extensive program.”

“Finally, I thank all of my colleagues who joined me tonight in this Special Order hour. Preventing nuclear war has never been a partisan goal, and history shows that bipartisan cooperation is not just possible, but it is necessary.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Aurora Actionaires, a remarkable milestone for an organization that has stood as a beacon of service, leadership, and community empowerment in Aurora, Illinois, for half a century.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Oswald's Pharmacy as they celebrate their remarkable 150th anniversary. Since its founding in 1875, Oswald's Pharmacy has been one of Naperville's oldest continually family-run businesses and the longest running family pharmacy in business.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kaptur and Congresswoman Budzinski for giving us a chance to set the record straight on President Trump's abject failure to restore the strength of U.S. manufacturing, perhaps his number one campaign promise.”

“States, and it is something I am very proud of. I think it is significant also that now, 50 years after we started that company, due to an employee stock ownership plan, it is 100 percent owned by the employees who built the company.”

“Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise first with an acknowledgement that, due to the efforts of the ranking member and chair of the Subcommittee on Water and Energy Development and Related Agencies, this bill could have been far worse.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Castro and Representative Kim for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act. This legislation represents an important step forward in our country's ability to collaborate with our international partners.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for holding this Special Hour to discuss the dangers of nuclear weapons. Mr. Speaker, when I first entered Congress, I was the third Ph.D. physicist elected to this body.”

“We have spent over $200 billion on it. We have never tested it once against the kind of countermeasures that we know any competent opponent would deploy. Even if we succeed at stopping ballistic missiles, there are, unfortunately, many other ways to deliver nuclear weapons that we can never stop.”

“Secondly, the CLARITY Act also lacks the basic investor protections present in the securities laws. For example, firms are not required to serve the best interests of their investors or to separate critical market functions and many other basic protections.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District as they celebrate their 100th anniversary, marking a century of wastewater management and environmental stewardship.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Batavia Depot Museum, a prominent landmark and vibrant cultural institution that celebrates the town's history and community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Richard Garwin, known to all as Dick Garwin, a physicist whose intellect shaped the modern world and whose conscience helped protect it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Neighbor Project, an exceptional partner in expanding access to homeownership in Aurora, Illinois, and in surrounding communities led by my friend, Rick Guzman.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out the Trump administration for yet another reckless assault on science and education. Recently, the Trump administration slashed over 1,000 fellowships from the National Science Foundation's graduate research fellowship program, cutting financial support from graduate student researchers in STEM fields.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for the community of Crystal Lake, Illinois, which, along with over 100 communities nationwide, just had a $5.6 million student mental health program abruptly canceled by the Trump administration.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the free people of South Korea for their commitment to democracy following today's election of Lee Jae-myung. Like us, the people of South Korea have witnessed the mortal danger to democracy posed by lies, by corruption, and by illegal actions directed by those at the very top.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stevens and Congressman Subramanyam for organizing this on such an important topic. As Congress' sole Ph.D. physicist, I spent 25 years of my life, before coming to Congress, working at the Department of Energy Office of Science supported laboratory.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Merkling for receiving the Robert O. Covey Business of the Year Award. This award pays tribute to the late Robert O.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Crystal Lake Strikers for receiving the Carl E. Wehde Award. This award honors the late Carl E. Wehde and celebrates outstanding contributions that enhance the quality of life for the people of Crystal Lake.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rhienna McClain for receiving the ATHENA International Leadership Award. This award celebrates the leadership of women who create opportunities for other women.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to yet another decision by the Trump administration that puts Americans' lives at risk. On April 1, 2025, almost the entire Division of Blood Disorders and Public Health Genomics, a department of the CDC established to combat blood infections in the wake of the AIDS epidemic, was placed on administrative leave.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary life and leadership of the late Mayor William F. Murphy, a public servant who dedicated his career to the betterment of Woodridge and its neighboring communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a milestone in Illinois' transportation history, the 40th anniversary of Metra, which has been an essential part of the fabric of our region's transportation network.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert ``Bob'' P. Hubbard for receiving the 2024 Citizen of the Year Award in the City of Batavia. The Citizen of the Year Award celebrates individuals who have made a profound impact towards inspiring and uplifting the City of Batavia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Delia ``Dee'' Nila Basile, whose spirit, energy and unwavering dedication to her family, community and heritage left an indelible mark on the City of Aurora.”

“Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate March 14, 3.14, or Pi day. Pi is a Greek letter, and in mathematics it is a symbol for the number you always get when you divide a circle's circumference by its diameter.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will first thank my colleagues on the Democratic Rapid Response Task Force and Litigation Working Group for helping us with these various Special Order hours discussing the Trump administration's various reckless actions.”

“Mexico, our largest corn export market, knows what they are going to do because they did it last time. When Trump did various things to insult the people of Mexico and assault their economy, they simply stopped buying corn from the United States and began buying it from Brazil.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stansbury for speaking today and for sharing how some of Trump's policies are going to harm her constituents. In her State and near her district are national security workers, atomic scientists at Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs, who were fired and then unfired and are still being threatened with being fired.”

“Mr. Speaker, at the time of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine held the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. According to the Arms Control Association, this included approximately 1,900 strategic warheads, 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and 34 strategic bombers, an arsenal large enough to annihilate every person on Earth.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Theodia Gillespie, President and CEO of the Quad County Urban League for receiving the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board--a fitting tribute to nearly four decades of tireless commitment to empowering communities and changing lives.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Reverend Jesse Hawkins, Pastor of the Cathedral of Grace St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Aurora, Illinois, for receiving the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board--a well-deserved recognition of his unwavering dedication and impactful leadership.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Family Counseling Service (FCS) in Aurora, Illinois. For a century, FCS has been a pillar of compassion, support, and guidance, providing critical mental health and social services to individuals and families in need.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise as a Ph.D. physicist in Congress, who spent most of his career in the national laboratories of the Department of Energy, to share the story of a research engineer at a national lab who was recently fired without cause by President Trump and Elon Musk.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Tonko for holding this Special Order hour on preserving scientific integrity. Mr. Speaker, I am a scientist. For 25 years before entering Congress, I worked at Fermi National Accelerator Labs, smashing protons and antiprotons together to make particles that have not been around since the Big Bang.”