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State Sen. Chris Lauzen and his wife, Sarah, met privately for 30 minutes with Romanian President Traian Basescu during his visit to Chicago for the NATO summit.

The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen their relationship and to discuss economic development opportunities that will create jobs in Kane County, Illinois and Romania, states a news release.

Lauzen was helped by Kane County constituents and Illinois friends to gather proposals of mutual interests. These ideas included an export plan for Romania of higher value cuts of meat sold to the G-7 (Germany, France, etc.) using Illinois feed, agricultural equipment and market information technology; petroleum and natural gas exploration applications; environmentally-friendly, waste-to-energy innovations; and private funding of for-profit university education best practices, the release states.

President Basescu is a former ship captain in the Romanian merchant fleet, former mayor of Bucharest, and is particularly proud that he is the only president in the European Union to win reelection after the economic recession.

All four of Sen. Lauzen’s grandparents emigrated from northwestern Romania to the United States in the early 1900s. He has traveled at his own expense three times to Bucharest, Brasov, Bran, Cluj, Timisoara, Arad, Satu Mare, and other towns and regions, including the Carpathian Mountains, states the release.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and privilege to help build peace and prosperity among the 12.5 million people of Illinois and the 24 million of Romania," Lauzen said in the release. "In the American Midwest and South Central Europe, we share the attributes of hard work, practical intelligence, love of family and country, and reverence for God."

In 2006, President Basescu presented the Star of Romania to Sen. Lauzen in a ceremony in Washington, DC.  The Star of Romania is the highest civilian recognition given to a citizen of another country.  The honor includes a series of ranks with other notable recipients being Queen Elizabeth II, Albert II of Monaco and former U.S. President George W Bush.

The next step, according to the release, is organization of a trade mission from Illinois to Romania, including Midwestern export powerhouses like Caterpillar, John Deere, Monsanto and others with commercial interests in agriculture, manufacturing, seed technology and education. These activities will be coordinated through the Romanian ambassador to the United States, Adrian Vierita, within the next year, the release states.

State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, issued the following press release:

The Illinois House today passed legislation sponsored by State Rep. Kay Hatcher rejecting cost of living pay raises for lawmakers, the governor, and the constitutional officers, and in fact cutting lawmakers’ pay by requiring them to again take unpaid furlough days in the coming fiscal year.

“We were elected to lead, and this is one area in particular where we must lead by example,” Hatcher stressed. “Our state is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, and families are struggling. Cutting our own pay is one way that lawmakers can truly be part of the solution.”

As amended, House Bill 3188 requires lawmakers to take 12 unpaid furlough days in fiscal year 2013, and prohibits any cost of living salary increase. Representative Hatcher noted that this is the fourth year in a row lawmakers have rejected cost of living increases for themselves, and the fourth year in a row they have taken furlough days which equates to a pay cut of approximately $3,120.

The bill passed today also continues the cuts to legislators’ per diem and mileage compensation implemented last year.

“Compared to the size of our state budget, the savings these cuts will produce are not huge – about $650,000 – but when we are searching for ways to provide crucial funding for our schools, for seniors and other needs every single dollar counts,” Hatcher said.

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, is asking each Congressional conferee who will decide the fate of this year’s transportation authorization bill to consider commuters.

Conferees from Illinois include U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jerry Costello (IL-12).

On Jan. 1, 2012, commuters using public transit to get to work saw their transit benefit almost cut in half, while the benefit for people choosing to drive to work increased slightly.

Hultgren has asked that conferees preserve Section 40204 of the Senate’s Map-21 bill (S.1813), which would extend parity for public transit commuters at $240 through December 31, 2012. 

“Why would we punish people taking the train or subway to work, while simultaneously rewarding people who drive and then park at the office?” said Hultgren. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Hultgren also reminded conferees of a letter originally sent to the House Rules and Ways and Means Committees on this topic in April. Full text of that letter can be found [ http://images.politico.com/global/2012/05/120517_hultgrentransit.html ]here.

The April letter was cosigned by a bipartisan group of 34 House members. It states, “If we do not act quickly, millions of middle-class transit and vanpool riders who generally live in suburban settings and have the longest and most expensive commutes will continue to be taxed more than their fellow commuters who drive alone to work.

“This inequity will force many commuters out of trains, buses and vanpools, and back into their cars leading to increases in congestion, fuel consumption, lost production and wasted time.”

Co-signers of the April letter included seven other members of the Illinois delegation: Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05), Rep. Bobby Schilling (IL-17), Rep. Judy Biggert (IL-13), Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL-03), Rep. Bob Dold (IL-10), Rep. Bobby Rush (IL-01), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Rep. Tim Johnson (IL-15).

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, released the following statement after the Oversight & Government Reform Committee and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee jointly  http://transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1627 issued a report documenting millions of dollars of waste and ongoing management failures at the Transportation Security Administration.

“We learned in this week’s committee hearing that the TSA has nearly $200 million in equipment in Dallas, Texas- collecting dust. Worst of all, TSA management tried to hide the equipment inventory from Congressional staff.

“The committees have recommended several courses of action, and I agree: it’s time to freeze new bulk equipment purchases for the TSA unless it can prove a bona fide need. Its whole procurement process must be overhauled and the agency itself should undergo an unclassified audit. While the CIA is uncovering actual terrorist plots, the TSA is playing hide-and-seek with Congress… and with taxpayers’ money.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren with Northern Illinois University students Mischelle Nelson, Lauren Grabstanowicz and Megan Murtaugh.

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U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, released the following statement after receiving the George E. Brown Jr. Science-Engineering-Technology Leadership Award in recognition of his commitment to and support for science, engineering, technology and basic research. 

“As a member of the Science Committee, and as Fermilab’s representative in Congress, I have been proud to be an outspoken advocate for basic scientific research and STEM education,” said Hultgren, a member of the Science, Space & Technology Committee. “I firmly believe that the story of American exceptionalism is directly tied to our successes and achievements in science and research, and I will continue to be an advocate for these critical national priorities. I’m honored to receive this award, and I’m thankful for all that The Working Group does on behalf of science and research in the United States and around the world.”

Hultgren is the first member of Congress to ever win the award during their first year in office. Hultgren received the award from Dr. Petr Vanysek, President of the Federation of Materials Societies and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Northern Illinois University. The Science-Engineering-Technology Working Group is a network comprising professional scientific and engineering societies, higher education associations, institutions of higher learning, trade associations and individual companies. Member organizations include (but are not limited to): the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Astronomical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Physical Society, the Federation of Materials Societies, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Materials Research Society, The Science Coalition, and the Task Force on American Innovation.

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren issued the following news release:

Despite the United States’ serious fiscal issues, U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, says the time is now to act on a longterm transportation bill.

“It’s about America believing in itself enough to pay it forward,” Hultgren said. “This is one the things we can get done and should get done.”

Hultgren, a Republican from the 14th District, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce leaders addressed about 20 area business owners at the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce Thursday.

Hultgren, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said improving the nation’s infrastructure remains a key factor in retaining and creating jobs. A transportation bill needs to make as large an investment as possible, he said.

“I fear that 12-, 18-, 24-month bills are too short of a bill. Then you just get shovel-ready projects,” Hultgren said. “I’d really like to have it be as long as possible.”

In March, Congress failed to agree on a long-range plan to keep federal highway and transit programs running. Instead, Congress passed a stopgap funding measure, avoiding the shutdown of federally funded transportation projects.

The Senate brought up a two-year, $109 billion transportation bill earlier this year, but House leaders refused to bring it up for a vote.

The last four-year transportation bill expired in 2009. Hultgren said the nation is operating on a ninth short-term extension, slated to expire on June 30.

Alex Herrgott, a lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said an infrastructure transportation bill is a top priority, and something the Congress can get done this legislative session.

“Roads are at the end of their useful life, and we have no money to repair them,” Herrgott said. “The federal gas tax hasn’t been raised since '93.”

Herrgott said American businesses struggle to compete because the United States has failed to adequately maintain infrastructure.

“When it comes to roads, we need to remind people why it’s important,” he said.

Herrgott said states have used transportation dollars to maintain existing infrastructure instead of creating new capacity on roadways. But truck traffic is expected to increase 20 to 30 percent through 2020, he said.

Keith Wheeler of Oswego-based Responsive Network Services asked Hultgren Thursday if an Oswego Metra stop was likely.

“I think it is,” Hultgren said. “I believe the people of Kendall County are supportive of it.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, has been named as a recipient of the 2012 Thomas Jefferson Award by the International Foodservice Distributors Association.

During each Congress, IFDA presents the Thomas Jefferson Award to Senators and Members of Congress who demonstrate their commitment to increasing opportunity and reducing government regulation.

The award is based on voting records on issues critical to the prosperity of the foodservice distribution industry and our nation’s overall economy.  Recipients of the award have shown their dedication to restoring our nation’s economic and fiscal health during the 112th Congress.

“Representative Hultgren’s votes in the 112th Congress demonstrate a belief in the free market system and commitment to stimulating economic growth through strengthening the private sector. The Thomas Jefferson Award is the foodservice distribution industry’s way of recognizing and thanking legislators who stand true to the ideals of Thomas Jefferson by working to protect America’s businesses and reducing the involvement of government in our economy,” said IFDA President and CEO Mark S. Allen.

“Our nation faces a number of critical challenges and Representative Hultgren and all of the Thomas Jefferson Award recipients have answered the call to help return our nation to prosperity.”

Recipients of the award supported IFDA’s position on at least 70 percent of 9 House votes deemed critical to the foodservice distribution industry and the Jeffersonian ideals of free enterprise.

These included votes on the Repealing the Job-Killing Healthcare Law Act (HR 2), the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act (HR 3094), and the 3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act (HR 674) among others. The complete list of votes can be found on the IFDA web site www.ifdaonline.org.

The program, introduced in 1992, was inspired by Thomas Jefferson, who in his first inaugural address said, “A wise and frugal government … shall leave men … free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”

The award itself is a custom-crafted replica of Jefferson standing in his Memorial, framed by his four pillars of prosperity: agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation.

The office of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk released the following statement at the request of Sen. Kirk's family: 

"We are happy to say that after suffering a stroke in January, Mark has progressed to the point where he can move home with his family. He will continue to work on his recovery as an out-patient at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He has begun a rigorous walking study program to further his mobility and independence while maintaining his schedule with staff." 

"We are grateful for the wonderful doctors and personnel at the RIC for their care of Mark, and to the residents of Illinois who have given him privacy and time to heal. We also thank everyone who has shared their prayers and wishes for his return to the U.S. Senate as soon as possible."

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, released the following statement after the Department of Labor withdrew a proposal to ban children from working on farms.

“Family farmers spoke up on this issue, and the administration heard them loud and clear. Illinois is losing farmers every year and had the original rule from the Department of Labor gone through, it would have been even more difficult to start an agriculture career in our state.

“As I stated last December with several other cosigners in a letter to Secretary Solis, ‘Training the next generation of farmers and ranchers is necessary to ensuring a stable food supply for our nation.’ For this reason, I’m very relieved to see that the rule was withdrawn, and I invite Illinois farmers to continue communicating with me when Washington is holding them back. This is how the system is supposed to work, and in this case, it did.”