11.03.08

Durbin Welcomes State Senator Dave Koehler as Special Guest to the Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) and his wife, Nora Sullivan, as his guests to an address by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel to a joint session of Congress. Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guest after the joint session.

 

“Today’s Joint Session of Congress is a celebration of the ongoing partnership between the United States and a unified Germany,” said Durbin. “I am honored to welcome Senator Koehler as my guest to the Joint Session. He has worked tirelessly in the Illinois State Senate to improve the lives of people in his district and around the state.”

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to address the United States Congress this morning to mark the twenty year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This is Merkel’s first trip to the United States since winning a second term in September 2009. Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany, will be only the second German chancellor to address Congress. The first, Konrad Adenauer, spoke to both the House and Senate separately in 1957.

 

Senator Koehler, a third-generation German-American, has served Illinois’ 46th State Senate district since 2006. The district includes Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, and Canton. He chairs the Local Government committee, is vice-chair of the Energy committee, and serves on the Agriculture and Conservation, Higher Education, and Transportation committees. He has lived in Peoria since 1978, was first elected to public office in 1982 after running for a seat on the Peoria County Board, where he served until his election to the Peoria City Council in 1989.

 

“I appreciate Senator Durbin extending this invitation to hear Chancellor Merkel speak to a joint session of Congress,” said Koehler. “I also appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Senator Durbin and discuss the important issues and concerns facing the people of the 46th district.”

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) and his wife, Nora Sullivan, as his guests to an address by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel to a joint session of Congress.  Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guest after the joint session.

 

“Today’s Joint Session of Congress is a celebration of the ongoing partnership between the United States and a unified Germany,” said Durbin.  “I am honored to welcome Senator Koehler as my guest to the Joint Session.  He has worked tirelessly in the Illinois State Senate to improve the lives of people in his district and around the state.”

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to address the United States Congress this morning to mark the twenty year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  This is Merkel’s first trip to the United States since winning a second term in September 2009.  Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany, will be only the second German chancellor to address Congress.  The first, Konrad Adenauer, spoke to both the House and Senate separately in 1957.

 

Senator Koehler, a third-generation German-American, has served Illinois’ 46th State Senate district since 2006. The district includes Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, and Canton. He chairs the Local Government committee, is vice-chair of the Energy committee, and serves on the Agriculture and Conservation, Higher Education, and Transportation committees. He has lived in Peoria since 1978, was first elected to public office in 1982 after running for a seat on the Peoria County Board, where he served until his election to the Peoria City Council in 1989.

 

“I appreciate Senator Durbin extending this invitation to hear Chancellor Merkel speak to a joint session of Congress,” said Koehler. “I also appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Senator Durbin and discuss the important issues and concerns facing the people of the 46th district.”