JERRY COSTELLO

Mr. Speaker, genocide is the most potent of all crimes against humanity because it is an effort to systematically wipe out a people and a culture as well as individual lives.

Through these adversities, Israel has endured with continued strength, conviction, and faith.

With faith and courage, generations of Armenians have overcome great suffering and proudly preserved their culture, traditions, and religion and have told the story of the genocide to an often indifferent world.

This Nation has realized significant environmental improvements over the last three decades.

Every day, hundreds of thousands of men and women protect and serve, often putting their own lives at risk.

The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 completely crippled our Pacific Fleet.

We have an extensive system of highways, ports, locks and dams, and airports.

Maintaining clean, safe water remains one of our greatest national and global challenges and responsibilities.

Since September 11, 2001, many in this nation and this Congress have a deeper appreciation for the importance of the sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers.

While some people are certainly seeing economic benefits, many others are unemployed, underemployed, without health insurance and struggling to make ends meet.

In celebration of this Earth Day, I encourage all Members of the House to support legislation aimed at investing in the improvement of water quality in our Nation's lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries.

Since 2000, we have lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs, of which 500,000 jobs were in high-tech industries such as telecommunications and electronics.

As Members of Congress and people of conscience, we must work to overcome the indifference and distortions of history, and ensure that future generations know what happened.

Population growth and development place additional stress on the Nation's water infrastructure and its ability to sustain hard-won water quality gains.

Make no mistake, our troops will be in Afghanistan and Iraq for a long time.

This was a tragic event in human history, but by paying tribute to the Armenian community we ensure the lessons of the Armenian genocide are properly understood and acknowledged.

Train service is particularly vital for the students and employees of Southern Illinois University.

Amtrak is extremely important to the economy of Southern Illinois and I will continue to work with state and local leaders and my colleagues in Congress to secure the necessary funding to maintain full service.

The United States transportation system is the envy of the world.

It is clear that the economy has not gotten better for everyone.

Every day more Americans watch their jobs being shipped overseas.

The State of Israel has faced obstacles and challenges to its very survival, with conventional military attacks leading the way to suicide bombers who have killed innocent Israeli men, women, and children.

Almost 70 percent of U.S. ag exports travel the upper Mississippi River and the Illinois waterway system.

Pope John Paul II brought hope to all corners of the world, to people of all faiths and backgrounds, with his powerful belief in the human spirit.

Jobs are disappearing from every sector of the economy, from engineering to health care workers, forcing hundreds of thousands of families into unemployment and low-paying jobs.