PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 99th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Captain Kip Troeger, Chaplain of the 2nd -- excuse me, Chaplain of the 2 of the 106th Cavalry, Illinois National Guard.
(Prayer by Captain Kip Troeger)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Friday, May 22nd, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to… Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Lisa Chess-Gustafson of the Blueroomstream.com seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 objection, permitted -- permission granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution -- Senate Resolutions 581 and 582, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. Senate Resolution 585, offered by Senator Manar and all Members. And Senate Resolution 586, offered by Senator McCann and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 583, offered by Senator Sullivan. And Senate Resolution 584, offered by Senator Cunningham. They are substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 2139, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Senate Bill 32. Together with the following amendment which is attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 32. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 44, with House Amendments 8, 10 and 11; Senate Bill 66, with House Amendments 2 and 3; Senate Bill 90, with House Amendment 1; Senate Bill 107, with House Amendment 4; Senate Bill 202, with House Amendment 1; and Senate Bill 220, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amended, May 25th, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 813. (Secretary reads title of bill) Passed the House, May 22nd, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 38. Offered by Senator Lightford. We have received like Messages on House Joint Resolution 39, offered by Senator Lightford, and House Joint Resolution 40, 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 offered by Senator Lightford. Adopted by the House, May 22nd, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. They are substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 813, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 990215 Acting Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation's salaried appointment William Grunloh Chief Procurement Officer, Illinois Department of Transportation Appointment Message 990216 Governor's salaried appointment Joseph Gomez Member, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990217 Governor's salaried appointment David A. Gonzalez Member, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990218 Governor's salaried appointment Craig Johnson 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Member, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990219 Governor's salaried appointment Nicholas Sauer Member, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990220 Governor's salaried appointment Robert Schillerstrom Member, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990221 Governor's non-salaried appointment Dr. Vincent Bufalino Member, Illinois State Board of Health Appointment Message 990222 Governor's non-salaried appointment Alice Marie Jacobs Member, Illinois Board of Higher Education Appointment Message 990223 Governor's non-salaried appointment John Aguilar Trustee, State Employees Retirement System of Illinois Appointment Message 990224 Governor's non-salaried appointment Yasmin Bates-Brown Trustee, State Employees Retirement System of Illinois Appointment Message 990225 Governor's non-salaried appointment Rosemarie Andolino Member, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Appointment Message 990226 Governor's non-salaried appointment Jeffrey Yordon Member, Illinois Sports Facility {sic} (Facilities) Authority Appointment Message 990227 Governor's non-salaried appointment Jorge Perez Member, Weatherization Initiative Board Appointment Message 990228 Governor's non-salaried appointment Robert Wordlaw Member, Weatherization Initiative Board
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive Appointments, reports Appointment Messages 990025, 990042, 990070, 990080, 990081, 990082, 990083, 990087, 990093, 990102, 990113, 990116, 990118, 990119, 990130, 990131, 990132, 990133, 990135, 990136, 990137, 990138, 990139, 990140, 990141, 990142, 990143, 990144, 990146, 990147, 91 -- 990148, 990151, 990153, 990165, 990186, 990187, 990188, 990202, and 990203 Do Recommend Advise and Consent.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all Members on the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? Will all Members of the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? And will all Members at the sound of my voice come to the Senate Floor immediately? All Members at the sound of my 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 voice, please come to the Senate Floor immediately. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I have two wonderful young men as my guests here. They're acting as Pages today. And they both reside in Springfield. And the first person is Charlie Newman. He is the -- the -- the son of my legislative aide, Lucretia Newman. And Charlie is thirteen years old and he will be in eighth grade. He attends Washington Middle School. His hobbies are football, basketball, and boxing. His favorite school subject is language art -- arts and art. And when he grows up, he'd like to go to the NFL, as well as become a businessman. And my other guest is Randy Dixon. And Randy is twelve years old and he will be in eighth grade. He also attend Washington Middle School, here in Springfield. And Randy's hobbies are basketball and football. And Randy's favorite subject is math. And when Randy grows up, he would like to become a contractor. And I'd like for my colleagues to welcome both of these fine young men to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Purpose of introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015
To my right, I have a very special guest, Markell Johnson. As you can recall, he was a former Page with us last Session. Now he's in the Marines. He's also from the 14th Legislative District, my district. But he's in the Marines in Virginia and he graduates from basic security guard school on January 23rd. So he came down here to join us on this special holiday and to say hi to some of the folks he used to serve here as a Page. Welcome Martell {sic} to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you for your service. Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. One second.
I wanted to acknowledge that today is Memorial Day. And I found an interesting tidbit in history surrounding the creation of Memorial Day. It's something that I tend to speak about whenever I talk at Memorial Day observances, when I remember my own grandfathers, my grandfather in particular, Everett Scoville Walker, Sr., who was a Marine in World War II. And the thing that he taught us was that he had a little black jar of sand by his bed that we were not allowed to touch. And we didn't know why we weren't allowed to touch it. I didn't find out till later that he was at Iwo Jima. And one of the things that was left to the Negro troops in World War II was to recoup the bodies. It was their job to bag the bodies and make sure that they came home and were given 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 proper burial after their service in the war. So it was unique to me to find out that Memorial Day was actually created by a former slave on May 1st, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina, to honor two hundred and fifty-seven dead Union soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. Memorial Day, as we know it today, is not just to celebrate the lives of people who've given their life, who've given their life and paid the ultimate price for their -- for our ability to live free, but it was for all the lives, including those of former slaves and the communities that surround them as they fought in a war that was meant to free them. That's where Memorial Day came from. And I wanted to make sure that, in the record, we recognize that on its hundred and fiftieth anniversary. So happy Memorial Day, everybody. God bless you for your service and may we remember all the lives that contributed to the freedom we know as America today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Appropriations I Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2029, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2030, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2031, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2032, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2033, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2034, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2035, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2036, and Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2037; refer to Insurance Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Senate Bill 54 and Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 750; re-refer from Revenue Committee to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1046. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. In the gallery on the Republican side, I have some folks from my hometown and -- and area: Mark and Terri Swegle; and mother -- mother-in-law, Donna Miser; and their son, David Swegle; and their friend, Brett Buhrow. And Brett's dad is on the county board. Please, if you would, give them a warm Springfield welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all Members at the sound of my voice - we will be going to Executive Appointments immediately - please come to the Floor. All Members at the sound of voice - we will be going to Executive Appointments - please come to the Senate Floor immediately. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Mr. President, thank you very much. I know that many people 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 in the Senate are aware of the fact that I have a secretary, Kathryn Underwood, who does a phenomenal job, and so today, on Memorial Day, she has brought her two daughters to the Senate Floor, Kaila {sic} (Kaiya) and Gianna, and they brought their friend, Avery Goetz, all from Chatham, Illinois. So can we welcome -- please, Kathryn Underwood's children?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To fulfill our responsibilities under Article V, Section 9 of the Constitution, we will now proceed to the Order of Advise and Consent. Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the appointments set forth -- Messages 990025, 70, 179, 180, 181, and 182.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz moves the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on Appointment Message {sic} just read. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate resolves into Executive Session. On page 36 of the regular Calendar is the Order of Executive Appointments - Appointment Messages. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99-0179.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive… Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following salaried appointment: To be a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections, William J. Cadigan. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Pursuant to Section 5-1A-4 {sic} (5/1A-4) of the Election Code, a three-fifths vote is required for confirmation. The question is, shall the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Message just read. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A three-fifths majority of the Senators elected concurring with a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99-0180.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following salaried appointment: To be a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections, Andy Carruthers.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Pursuant to Section 5-1A-4 {sic} (5/1A-4) of the Election 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Code, a three-fifths vote is required for confirmation. The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Message just read. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A three-fifths majority of Senators elected concurring a -- by a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99-0181. Can we please keep the noise down? Please. Mr. Secretary.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following salaried appointment: To be a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections, John Keith.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, pursuant to Section 5- 1A-4 {sic} (5/1A-4) of the Election Code, a three-fifths vote is required for confirmation. The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Message just read. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A three-fifths majority of Senators elected 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 concurring by a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99- 0182.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following salaried appointment: To be a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections, William McGuffage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, pursuant to Section 5- 1A-4 {sic} (5/1A-4) of the Election Code, a three-fifths vote is required for confirmation. The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Message just read. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A three-fifths majority of Senators elected concurring by a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. On Supplemental Calendar 1 is the Order of Executive Appointments - Appointment Messages. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99-0025.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 salaried appointment: To be Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Randall Blankenthorn {sic} (Blankenhorn).
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Messages {sic} just read. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring by a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Message 99-0070.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate Do Advise and Consent to the following salaried appointment: To be the Assistant Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Richard Brauer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 the Senate advise and consent to the Appointment Message just read. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring by a record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, I move that the Senate arise from Executive Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz moves the Senate arise from Executive Session. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate has arisen from the Executive Session. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. For the purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Mr. President, I just want to notify the Senators that we've filed some amendments in the Senate tonight dealing with our State budget. The House has filed similar appropriation bills over in the House. We have shared this information with the -- the Senate Republicans over the weekend and so tomorrow we expect to go to committee to have the Appropriations Committee take up the start of the budget. If there's any amendments that anyone wants to file, we'd ask that they get those filed by 3 o'clock tomorrow. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 That's why we shared the information with the Republicans over the weekend, if they have any amendments that they wish to make. So, same thing is true for any Democrats, if you have any amendments, by 3 o'clock tomorrow. The budget that's in the Senate is one- half of the budget. The House has the other half. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Noland, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. This being…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Hold on one second, Senator. Can we have everybody in their chairs, please? Everybody in their chairs right now. Senator Noland.
Thank you, Mr. President. This being Memorial Day, it is the custom here in our Chambers to afford those who have served in our Armed Forces an opportunity to address the Chamber regarding the observation of Memorial Day. And, Mr. President, you may know that Memorial Day, unlike Veterans Day, is that day -- Veterans Day, of course, being that day that we honor all veterans. Memorial Day, in contrast, is that day that we set aside to honor those who have lost their lives on the field of battle. And I want to say at the outset that I myself very fortunate never ever to have been in harm's way, unlike our Senators Haine and Hastings, who have entered the field of combat. I served eight years in the Navy, four years at Great Lakes Naval Hospital, serving stateside my entire time, and then also attached to the 4th Marine Division at -- at Waukegan, again, never in harm's way. If it can be said at all regarding any acts of heroism on my part, it was that I 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 fought the battle of Great Lakes. But that being said, Mr. President, I think that it's really important for us to make this distinction, because I believe that we hold those who enter the field of combat and, of course, those who lose their lives on that battlefield, that we hold them in a special place. And I often wonder what any one of them, those that we honor today, if they were able to return to us and perhaps share a moment and some thoughts with us, what they might have to say to us on a day like today, on this solemn occasion. And I believe if they were here now, they may say something like this, "Senators, you are the men and women who hold high places. You are the ones who can create this world yet anew. You are the ones that can open the door of opportunity for those willing to walk through it. You are the ones who are able to assist those willing, but unable. And you are those who may command those who are able, but yet unwilling." And I believe that they would continue by telling us that "You know, Senators, as you forge perhaps this -- this new reality that you make it so that the great powers of the world need not war over the increasingly scarce resources of this fragile planet; that you make it so that our greatest treasure, our children of our State and of this great nation, would no longer be cut down in the flower of their lives, whether by foreign enemies or by unfriendly neighbors." And I believe that they would ask us to make it so that the brotherhood of man fills this sometimes empty earth with hope - hope, such that the governed shall forever harvest the fruit of peaceful governance. And, finally, I believe that they would say to us, "Dear Senators, make it so that we always consider the blessings of the liberty that we enjoy on this day, not only as something that we have been bestowed upon -- that 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 has been bestowed upon us by those having made the ultimate sacrifice, but as something we are to pass on to those yet unborn and all who would stand in -- in the defense of freedom." That's what I believe they might say to us today. God bless the men and women of our Armed Services and the great nation for whom they sacrifice. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, for what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I, too, stand to give thanks, honored and humbled to be here before you in this great Senate Chamber, before so many great Americans. I know in the -- in the coming days and maybe hours so many of us will stand and -- and speak to issues on our minds for which we may not agree to the solution, but for this moment, we're going to take this moment to reflect on something for which I think there is no disagreement here. We love our country. We love the history of those who have served, fought, and sacrificed so that we could have the freedoms that we have today. And I love Memorial Day. This morning -- you know, and for so many of us in public office, Memorial Day and 4th of July and so many holidays are about parades, where we're participating in those parades and we're giving out trinkets and candy and otherwise. The Barickman family spent this morning taking the kids out to the parade just to watch, and it was fantastic. We've got two little children, a four-year- old and a two-year-old, and like we did last year, we just took 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 the kids to the parade, not to walk, but just to observe. And the kids sat on my shoulders. They waved their flags and they watched the fire trucks come by, blaring their horn. They saw the marching bands going by, beating their drums. They saw veterans walk by in uniforms. And it was a great morning. And the -- you know, the hope for me is that I can instill in my children some of which I believe has been instilled in all of us, through our parents and our family and by being Americans. We have this pride in our nation, in our country, and that pride is worn proudly on days like today. But we also hope to instill not only in our children that pride, but that understanding of the sacrifices that so many Americans have had to put us where we are today. I think these are incredibly important values to pass to our children. You know, in -- in my life - I was born in 1975 - I have known freedom in every day of my life, and I pray that my children will also know the freedom that we have today. We hope they will continue to have that freedom. We know that the freedom that we have here in America is more than is found anywhere on this earth. But the price for which Americans have paid for that freedom is high. And the price that some have paid has been their life. They have given truly the greatest sacrifice so that we can have the freedoms that we have today. So, for me on this day, it is a privilege to stand before you today, a privilege to stand here as we honor those who have fallen, and I simply want to say thank you. Thank you for giving us this great nation. Thank you for giving us freedom. God bless each and every one of you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Tom Cullerton. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. It was my honor in 1990 to enlist in the United States Army and serve in the infantry, Echo Company, 1st and the 12th. It was my honor to be a soldier from '90 to '93. It was my honor to also watch as our country came together and treated veterans unlike they had in previous wars. Our country came together back at -- during Desert Storm and treated every veteran with respect. Memorial Day is for those who didn't come back. It is an opportunity for us to say thank you. It's an opportunity for us to honor those who never made it back from whatever shore they went to, from whatever shore they came from. I take pride in my time in service. I know many others do who served as well. The fact is, today is a -- is a great day to celebrate the lives of those who didn't make it back. I'm not very good at long speeches, which most people will probably say I'm very good at long speeches, but I'm not. So I want to say thank you. I want to say it's my honor to have served. And I wish all of you a happy Memorial Day and to remember truly what this holiday is about. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I spent the last weekend at Fort Hood with soldiers and officers that currently serve in our Armed Forces and it made me think about all the debate that we have here in Springfield, and 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 I think the one thing that came out of this weekend, outside of Shiner Bock, was the fact that we live in a great country and, regardless of the debate on the different problems that we have here in our State, we live in an awesome state. I really like Illinois. We have great people here. We have a form of government in our country that although may not be perfect, it's one that people across the world look to for leadership, guidance in their time of need. I graduated from West Point two years after the attacks on 9/11, which is forty-five miles northwest of where I went to school. It was a very eye-opening experience for a young twenty-two-year-old man. Almost my entire graduating college class deployed into combat zones across the world or in theaters supporting those combat zones. I've lost more friends than I care to count. In our great State of Illinois, we've lost more than fifty men and women to the Global War on Terror and over two hundred and fifty that have been wounded in action. Officer or enlisted, let me assure you that bullets or rockets do not discriminate. I think that what General MacArthur said in his final address at West Point captures the war fighter, past and present, both men and women, those that have given the ultimate sacrifice. He said it masterfully. He said, "I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I (do) know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, they died uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: Duty, Honor, Country. Always their blood, their sweat, their tears, as they saw the way and the light." And on this Memorial Day, let us honor the fallen, but let us -- let it -- this day serve as a very clear reminder that we face an enemy that despises us and our way of life. Contrary 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 to our nation's leader's statements of not being at war, we'll be in war for very many years to come. The conflict that rages in the Middle East is only a few flights away from coming home again and that is why, as leaders of this State, we step forward to encourage our youth to serve, to -- to include our own children. And I ask that we use Memorial Day to remember the past so we don't make the same mistakes that history teaches us. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I, too, rise -- stand to honor our fallen who have given the ultimate sacrifice that they've made for their country, from all branches of the service, from the beginning, from the Civil War, all the way now in the Middle East. Whoever would have thought now being fourteen years in the Middle East? After what our men and women have been going through, a lot of 'em haven't come home and from prior wars as well. And I can only tell you this, as we honor them, it is a good thing. It is sad for a lot of families. You know, I was fortunate enough for my son to come home, but there's a lot of his colleagues, Marines, didn't come home and a lot of friends that I know, and as well as other veterans that are here. But, you know what we can do? Keep honoring them. And it's great to go to the parades. We need to teach our children to 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 keep that dream of always being there for vets, taking care of their families even though they lost their loved ones in combat, because they gave their life for this great country. And let us not forget the men and women who are in harm's way today. Let us keep them in our prayers always. And to you, I say, thank you for all of us standing up and being there to thank them for what they've done for our country. Last, I'd like to acknowledge a -- a former colleague of ours. Some of you will remember. I'll never forget, from the time I first got here, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis, who served in World War II as an intelligence officer. I used to remember she always fought with leadership - no matter what President that was sitting in the dais that day - we need to take care of business and that business was to honor immediately Memorial Day for the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. God bless them. God bless their families. And most of all, God bless America.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.
I rise on a point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I appreciate very much the remarks previously made by my colleagues on this Memorial Day, especially the remarks of Senator Hutchinson, who pointed out that Memorial Day began as a result of the Civil War - a war that was one of our most defining moments. Three wars, we -- many of us have been in wars, but the three most defining struggles for our nation were the Revolutionary War, the 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 Civil War, and World War II. The Civil War, literally the country was at stake. The idea of liberty, all citizens are equal before the law, the end of chattel slavery - all of those issues were in question. World War II, the life and liberty of the civilization and our Republic was at stake again. That war could have gone either way, just as the Civil War. So it's well we know the words of Lincoln at Gettysburg. I'd like to take a moment to call our attention to the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the -- of -- the President during World War II. He said on the morning of June the 6th, 1944, in his address to the nation concerning the Normandy invasion -- the landing at Normandy which was in question. It could have gone either way. In fact, General Eisenhower had written a note taking responsibility for the catastrophic disaster that may have occurred on that day. He was not certain. President Roosevelt, in his message to the Nation, put it in the form of a prayer, and this applies to all of our wars and our struggles. He refers to this as a mighty endeavor. That includes Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, all of the rest. He states to the people of
"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic…and to set free a suffering humanity. … They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest - until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic" -- their -- "Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom." On this Memorial Day of 2015, we echo President Roosevelt's prayer for those who did not return, or returned broken in body or mind or spirit as a result of the violence and terror and pain of battle. We have confidence in a merciful God, that he will remember the courage of the men and women and the cause for which they suffered and died. As the Psalm 32 put it: You are my shelter; from distress You will preserve me, O Lord; With glad cries of freedom You will ring me round. Amen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I served in the Illinois National Guard from 1970 to 1976. In fact, the first year of my service after basic training was full-time. I worked as a Nike technician up in Chicago and I wore the uniform of our country every day. Back then, at the height of the Vietnam War, the military did not have the respect that, fortunately, they have now. And when I wore that uniform, I would get some looks, some disrespectful looks from people in Chicago back then. But I was always very proud to wear the uniform and to serve my country. And I think really often about the last day of basic training in Fort Ord, California, with our company at attention, and I knew that I was a National Guardsman; I was going back to Chicago. But all those young men that I had gone through basic training with, virtually every one of 'em was on their way to Vietnam. And I can only imagine how many of them did not come back and that's why we're here today, to celebrate their dedication to the country. 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 47th Legislative Day 5/25/2015 I'd also like to mention a number of our doormen have served in the service, various branches, and I'd like to name them: Gary Knight, U.S. Army; Paul Nevitt, U.S. Army; Jim Mitchell, U.S. Marine Corps; Larry Tumulty, U.S. Army; John Watts, Air Force; William Kelley, U.S. Army; Tom Mann, U.S. Army; Larry Stelivan, U.S. Army and Air Force; and, of course, Joe Dominguez, our Sergeant-at-Arms, U.S. Marine Corps. He actually looks like a Marine, even right now. I -- and I think that's why we haven't had a lot of problems on the Senate Floor. So thank you very much, Senators, for your attention today, to come here into Session on Memorial Day. And for all the veterans in the -- in the Chamber, thank you for your service. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) I would ask all people arise for a moment of silence for all those who have served our nation and for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. (Moment of silence observed) One announcement: Insurance will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Room 400. Insurance, tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Room 400. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned till the hour of 11 a.m. on the 26th day of May, 2015. The Senate stands adjourned. 27