Recognizing Dr. Ngozi Ezike
Floor Speech
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ngozi Ezike, a dedicated public servant whose last day as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health was yesterday.
For the past 3 years, Dr. Ezike worked tirelessly to protect the health and well-being of the people of Illinois, including leading our State's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of historic challenges, she remained dedicated to her job and making sure that the people of Illinois always had the most accurate information about how to best protect themselves and their families.
Amid an onslaught of social media misinformation and conspiracy theories, Dr. Ezike helped make sure that Illinois' COVID response operated in reality and was grounded in science. She always made sure that the scientists and public health experts were heard by our elected officials.
Dr. Ezike is a trailblazer--not only because she was Illinois' first Black woman to serve as the director of the department of public health but because she was called to lead a Statewide public health response to an unprecedented pandemic, and she did not blink.
There is no doubt that her work helped save lives in Illinois. So on behalf of the people of our State, I thank Dr. Ezike for her service, and I wish her nothing but the best in whatever she decides to do next. Community Projects: Clean Drinking Water
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades the city of Joliet has lived under the threat of unsafe drinking water from lead pipes used in service lines to individual homes. In recent years, the lowering of the water tables has threatened even the long-term availability of drinking water to Joliet, and that is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included $3.5 million for the city of Joliet to help tap into Lake Michigan as the primary source of drinking water and to accelerate the replacement of lead service lines, thereby helping to secure clean and safe drinking water for the entire Joliet community for decades to come.
Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent. Community Projects: Stepping Stones
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades substance abuse disorder has torn apart families in Will County and around the country. Often families with young children had nowhere to turn to. That is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included $2 million for Stepping Stones--a nonprofit that provides clinical services and recovery support for those seeking treatment for substance use disorders so that they can build new housing units for women seeking treatment.
Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent. Community Projects: Affordable Housing
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades, Will County has grappled with issues of affordable housing, an issue that has become more and more important in communities large and small across our country.
That is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included $3 million for the Housing Authority of Joliet to help turn a shuttered golf course into quality, affordable housing for hardworking families who deserve access to the dream of homeownership.
Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent. Community Projects: The Old Joliet Prison
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades the Old Joliet Prison has served as the backdrop of Hollywood movies like ``The Blues Brothers'' and hit TV shows like ``Prison Break.'' But years of neglect have left the site unsafe and closed to visitors.
That is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included $3 million for the Joliet Area Historical Museum so that they can rehabilitate the site of the Old Joliet Prison and make it safe for visitors once again and enhance its potential as a tourist attraction. This project is shovel-ready and will help create and sustain much-needed construction jobs while restoring a historically and culturally significant site in an economically challenged part of the city.
Altogether, our office secured nearly $19 million for very worthwhile projects in Illinois' 11th District that will benefit our entire community, and this will be taxpayer money well spent. Community Projects: Aurora Quad County Urban League
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Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, for decades, America has faced a deficit of job training opportunities from underserved and underrepresented communities, and that is why I am so proud that the Federal omnibus recently passed by Congress included $425,000 for the Aurora Quad County Urban League so that they can launch a youth careers program in Aurora to connect young people with jobs and apprenticeship opportunities in construction, transportation, distribution of logistics, and all fields facing an increase in and need for Federally trained workers.
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