Floor SpeechCeremonial2024-12-19

HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN

TaxesEnvironmentInfrastructure

Context

On 2024-12-19, Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL-16) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, infrastructure.

Full Text

HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)] [House] [Page H7365] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my fellow Peorian, Omer Osman, on his retirement as secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Omer comes from very humble beginnings. Born in the country of Sudan the fourth of 11 children, he learned English by watching American Westerns and soap operas on television. He moved to the United States as a young man for college and graduated from Southern University, where he studied civil engineering before beginning a career in Peoria, Illinois. Osman began at IDOT, the Illinois Department of Transportation, as a civil engineer in 1989 and worked his way up the ranks, becoming, in 2019, Illinois' 13th transportation secretary. In 2021, he was the first person of color to be confirmed in the role. Along the way, he became a proud graduate of Bradley University, located in my district, with a master's degree in civil engineering in 1995. In his role as transportation secretary, Omer oversaw over 80 airports, an expansive waterway infrastructure system, and 300,000 miles of roads, bridges, and railroads that transport 25 percent of the country's freight, which passes through Illinois. The bottom line is that Secretary Osman has lived the American Dream and has been an integral part of preserving and growing the infrastructure we have today in Illinois. His legacy will last for years to come. It is my privilege to congratulate my good friend on his retirement and wish him and his lovely wife, Magda, and their three children all the best. ____________________

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HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)] [House] [Page H7365] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING AND CONGRATULATING OMER OSMAN (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my fellow Peorian, Omer Osman, on his retirement as secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Omer comes from very humble beginnings. Born in the country of Sudan the fourth of 11 children, he learned English by watching American Westerns and soap operas on television. He moved to the United States as a young man for college and graduated from Southern University, where he studied civil engineering before beginning a career in Peoria, Illinois. Osman began at IDOT, the Illinois Department of Transportation, as a civil engineer in 1989 and worked his way up the ranks, becoming, in 2019, Illinois' 13th transportation secretary. In 2021, he was the first person of color to be confirmed in the role. Along the way, he became a proud graduate of Bradley University, located in my district, with a master's degree in civil engineering in 1995. In his role as transportation secretary, Omer oversaw over 80 airports, an expansive waterway infrastructure system, and 300,000 miles of roads, bridges, and railroads that transport 25 percent of the country's freight, which passes through Illinois. The bottom line is that Secretary Osman has lived the American Dream and has been an integral part of preserving and growing the infrastructure we have today in Illinois. His legacy will last for years to come. It is my privilege to congratulate my good friend on his retirement and wish him and his lovely wife, Magda, and their three children all the best. ____________________