Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Mr. Ron Heymann, although he doesn't look a day over 45, I think the secret must be the early morning workouts at the YMCA.

Mr. Heymann's life reads like the All-American story. Born on June 2, 1934, to Florence and Russel Heymann, Ron grew up in New Jersey where he attended Phillipsburg-Easton High and Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers in 1956, Ron served his country in the Army Reserves in El Paso, Texas and at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

On June 22, 1959, Ron married his sweetheart, Barbara. They will soon celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Ron and Barbara are blessed with two children, Carol and Ron Jr., and a daughter-in-law Raegan.

After his service to our country, Mr. Heymann spent most of his career working for Bell Telephone. He left the telecommunications world for a stint in politics, working for Governor William Cahill of New Jersey, as the Director of Motor Vehicles, and as a consultant to President Richard Nixon's administration. Ron often says he did such a good job eliminating bureaucracy at the New Jersey DMV, the Heymann cars never passed another vehicle inspection until the family moved to the free state of Florida upon Ron's retirement in 1991, taking up full time residence on Amelia Island.

Since that time, Ron has been very active in the Fernandina Beach community. He worked as a docent at the Amelia Island Museum of History, directed traffic at the Presbyterian Vacation Bible School, and is an avid supporter of local charities. Of course, he has also spent hours shuttling his three grandchildren Megan, Kate, and Jack around the Island. On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Florida, I thank him for his support to the community, his leadership in the Republican Party, and his dedication to his family.

Mr. Speaker, if you want Mr. Heymann's secret to staying youthful, you too can join me in an early morning workout at the YMCA and wish Mr. Heymann a very special 90th birthday.

Madam Speaker, it is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt, especially when it comes to youth sports, but that is where JSMP comes in.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, which allows local youth to slam dunk and swing for the fences without fearing for their safety.

It was always a joy to watch my kids play ball, but what if they get hurt? In northeast Florida, we know the answer. We turn to the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program. Established in 1984, they have been a guiding light for countless families, coaches, and doctors in sports safety. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death for kids in sports, but thanks to JSMP, over 50,000 student athletes have received free screenings. That is a stadium full of lives.

We commend the leadership of Bob Sefcik, Dr. Jennifer Maynard, Jeff Ferguson, and Allegra Jaros for their unwavering commitment to this cause. I congratulate the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program for 40 years.

JSMP, play ball.

Mr. Speaker, as the song goes, if there is something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? If there is something weird and it don't look good, who you gonna call?

Mr. Speaker, don't call Ghostbusters. Call the police.

Mr. Speaker, I rise during National Police Week to salute the brave patriots who keep America safe. I want to share my appreciation to members of our law enforcement community--our officers, deputies, and troopers, and especially the families of those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

It takes courage to wear a badge. It takes even more courage to respond to an emergency, to step into harm's way, to face dangerous uncertainty. For our police, it is just part of the job.

Unfortunately, our law enforcement community doesn't get the recognition and the respect that they deserve. So on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to say two words our incredibly brave patriots don't hear enough: Thank you. I thank them for protecting our families and communities. I thank them for their service.

As Representative for Florida's Fourth Congressional District, I want our law enforcement officers to know we salute them. We will always back the blue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Coen Brehmer, a Yulee High School Hornet who recently won the Florida High School weightlifting championships which is impressive at any age, but even more so as only a junior in high school.

Coen qualified for both the Olympic and traditional in the 119-pound weight class. At the state championship, Coen stung the competition, winning first in the Olympic lift and finishing second in traditional. He pulled off a 160-pound snatch, a 205-pound clean-and-jerk, and a 215-pound bench to bring home the gold. The victory was as sweet as honey and the crowd was buzzing at his magnificent displays of strength.

The Hornets, under the leadership of Coach Kyle Dougherty, performed incredibly well across the board this season. Coen's teammates, Zachary Kruger and Kevin Harris, also qualified for state after exceptional performances this season.

Coen is a fantastic representation of Northeast Florida. He is a kind friend and a great teammate. His hard work paid off and he became Yulee High School's first male state champion in any sport.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's 4th Congressional District, I ask that my colleagues in Congress join me in congratulating Coen Brehmer on this remarkable achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 70th birthday of Mr. Jeffrey Lee Harper, who made his entrance into the world on April 26, 1954 in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Manchester High School in June of 1972 and stayed in the Richmond area as he continued his post-secondary education.

Jeff went on to marry the love of his life, Carole Chalkley, on September 11, 1976. Three years later their daughter, Jamie, was born.

From a young age, Jeff's athletic abilities gained him accolades on the tennis court and the golf course. He played on the high school golf team and showed off his short game by winning a Putt-Putt tournament. As a member of Meadowbrook Country Club for 25 years, he won back-to- back championships at the Walt Disney World Pro-Am Golf Classic in 2008 and 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The 2009 championship was the sweetest since it was also the year that his first and only granddaughter, Rachel Elizabeth was born. She

shares his enthusiasm for the game, and he claims full credit for her talent.

Jeff's ambition, business acumen and mathematical prowess led to a long and successful career in insulation contracting and made him revered in the industry. After many years of dedication to his firm, he retired from Old Dominion Insulation in 2014. As native Virginians, he and Carole traded in long, cold winters for sunshine and warmth and moved to the free state of Florida where they currently reside in The Villages.

Jeff is a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a loyal friend to many. He enjoys traveling to new places, listening to his favorite jazz musicians, and sipping a fine glass of wine.

Mr. Speaker, like a fine wine, Jeff has only gotten better with age. Please join me in toasting to his 70 years and wishing him many more.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chair, Ms. Foxx, very much for the time.

Mr. Speaker, every 40 seconds in America a mother or father will experience the worst nightmare, a missing child. The reason can be as benign as a simple misunderstanding or a serious abduction by a stranger.

In fact, nearly half a million children are reported missing every year, but astonishing as that number is, the real number could be much higher since many children are not reported missing.

However, Mr. Speaker, it didn't always used to be this way.

In the 1970s when I grew up--hard to believe that--but when I grew up in the 1970s, I remember that we had unfettered play activities outside as long as you are home before the streetlights came on. We were there for dinner. Unsupervised outdoor activity was a safe, integral part of adolescence and we lived in a high-trust society. Though, over time that image of society slowly faded away due to several high-profile child abductions, including the tragedy of Adam Walsh.

Now, the world feels much less safe.

Each year, threats to our children grow just as the avenues for reaching them are expanding. Predators are more sophisticated about how they gain access to children, their actions are more brazen, and those threats have found a way into our homes.

The proliferation of the internet and smartphones have enabled child sex trafficking and other forms of child exploitation. Consequently, the number of reports of online photos and videos of children being sexually abused is at record levels.

Bottom line: Our children deserve to grow up in a safe environment. It is our duty to protect our most precious and vulnerable citizens and for our law enforcement to be prepared to respond efficiently and quickly when the unthinkable happens.

That is where the Missing Children's Assistance Act, the MCAA, comes in. Enacted in 1984, the MCAA allowed the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, to serve as the national resource center with the goal of protecting children from abduction, exploitation, and abuse.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helps locate missing children and provides support for victims of abduction, exploitation, and abuse. The organization works tirelessly to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the first place, creating a safer world for our children.

Here are some numbers, Mr. Speaker, and they are big numbers, too. In 2023, NCMEC received 148,695 calls, and the organization assisted law enforcement, families, and child welfare with 28,886 cases of missing children, recovering 88 percent of those cases. For 40 years, NCMEC has led the fight to protect children across the Nation, recovering more than 400,000 missing children.

By supporting NCMEC, we contribute to the safety and well-being of all children, ensuring they can grow up in an environment where they are protected, nurtured, and allowed to flourish.

That is why I am proud to join Representative Joe Courtney to introduce the companion to this bill. The Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023 makes critical updates to help the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children better support youth who are missing, to reduce child sexual exploitation, and to prevent child victimization. This bill also provides critical transparency requirements to better assess the performance of specific scientific techniques and NCMEC's forensic partners to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Specifically, this bipartisan, bicameral bill will improve NCMEC's ability to assist law enforcement to:

Identify, locate, and recover missing and exploited children;

Develop educational materials to reduce the risk of child sex trafficking, online enticement, sexual extortion, and cyberbullying;

Provide education and technical assistance to help conduct background checks on individuals working with children;

Offer support to missing and exploited children and their families; and

Facilitate requests to have child sexual abuse materials removed from the internet.

As the father of three, I can't imagine the pain of having a missing or exploited child. It is why I am voting ``yes'' on this bill, the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023. I strongly urge the entire body, all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to join me and support this bill and uphold our solemn duty to shield children from exploitation and danger.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, ERROR: 404 not found. It is the dreaded computer message that appears when you visit a website or access a file that no longer exists.

Unfortunately, it is also the message that more than 1,000 critical development projects throughout the free State of Florida may receive due to the uncertainty surrounding the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's continued ability to issue section 404 program permits.

Lake County, Florida, alone estimates a billion dollars of economic development that now faces uncertainty. This is due to a District of Columbia Federal judge's decision to vacate Florida's 404 permitting program, a decision that will have serious implications for the future of our environment and our economy.

The ability for States like Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey to take the lead in regulating their natural resources is vital, but it is especially important for a State like Florida where our growing economy is contingent on the continued protection of our environment.

That is why my amendment simply seeks to provide permitting certainty to the now more than 1,000 projects that are lined up in limbo by codifying Florida's successful 404 program. Our program has proven time and time again that Florida can do a much better job, more efficiently and effectively, issuing permits for necessary projects better than the Federal Government has.

Mr. Chair, as Floridians, we understand the important role our environment plays in our economy and in Floridians' way of life.

Florida, please, is asking everybody to join us because we need the flexibility to make decisions that are best suited for the Sunshine State's environmental and economic needs, reduce project costs, and save taxpayer dollars, all while improving responsiveness to applicants and the communities' projects they serve.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues for their support of this important amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, the Environmental Protection Agency still maintains a strict permit-by-permit oversight of Florida's permitting decisions, but you have heard me say that thousands of projects are on hold.

You may ask: What are you talking about, Congressman Bean? What projects are we talking about? What projects are on hold right now?

Let me tell you what is on hold, Mr. Chair: Projects to restore Florida's Everglades and prevent damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee are on hold; public projects to build sidewalks, improving bridges, utilities, roads, highways across the Sunshine State are on hold. We can't do them. Solar energy projects, including solar power stations and other electric utility projects impacting our grid in the Sunshine State are on hold; stormwater infrastructure repairs at U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola damaged due to Hurricane Sally, but the repairs are on hold because we can't get the Federal Government to act fast. We are ready to go. We are ready to go.

What else is on hold? We have a school in Jacksonville, a desperately needed school ready to be built. It is on hold because the Federal Government put everything on hold.

Give us the chance to continue this important work in the State of Florida. I ask my colleagues to reconsider their opposition. Join us and let's take the Sunshine State back on course to bring these projects to light.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Isle of Eight Flags, Fernandina Beach, Florida is home to many great things, whether it be the beaches, parks, or our pirate legacy; now we are also home to a wrestling state champion.

I rise today to celebrate Enzo Gamba, a Fernandina Beach High School Pirate from my hometown of Fernandina Beach who recently won the Florida High School Athletic Association wrestling championships.

Enzo, just like the Fernandina Beach pirates of old, went for the treasure and brought home gold. Competing in Class 1A at the 157-pound division, Enzo won the final by decision, 8-4. Not only did this victory win him a state championship, but it also capped off an undefeated season for Enzo. Fifty-four matches, Fifty-four victories.

Enzo was phenomenal all season long and winning the state championship firmly lands him on the map as one of the all-time great Pirate athletes. We are exceptionally proud of this young man.

The Pirates team, led by Coach Eric Kubatzke, brought home four individual state medals in total at the wrestling championships. All of Fernandina Beach High School, under the leadership of Principal Chris Webber, played a role in this success.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Fernandina Beach and Florida's 4th Congressional District, I ask that my colleagues in Congress join me in congratulating Enzo on this remarkable achievement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Gerold Schiebler, a pillar of the Florida medical community.

Dr. Schiebler passed away on Amelia Island at the age of 95. In 1960, when he joined the faculty of the University of Florida, he was the very first pediatric cardiologist in north Florida.

In addition to saving lives in the hospital, Dr. Schiebler saved lives with his lifelong advocacy, having established protocols for pediatric cardiology and the Florida Poison Control Center.

Along with his late wife Audrey, Dr. Schiebler launched Child Protection Teams and the Guardian ad Litem program. Protections for kids that we take for granted today were established by the Schieblers.

Perhaps his finest moment was this past year when his late wife Audrey was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She left him a list of things that he needed to finish in their lifelong advocacy in the medical and child welfare fields, and I believe that he did.

He was a friend. I loved him, my family loved him, and we will miss him. I ask my colleagues to join in celebrating the amazing life of Dr. Gerold Schiebler, along with offering our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Arc Nassau's founding. On this remarkable milestone, we commemorate five decades of service and their commitment to enhancing the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental differences in Northeast Florida.

The Arc Nassau's vision of education and motivation is realized through life skills training, vocational opportunities, and long-term employment. These programs provide the individuals with a sense of belonging in their community.

As we celebrate The Arc Nassau's impressive tenure, let us look towards the future with a renewed commitment to their mission. In this spirit, I am pleased to announce that The Arc Nassau and Northeast Florida Advocates for Autism and Related Disabilities have merged to strengthen their long-standing services to the community,

Northeast Florida, let us follow The Arc Nassau's example, and see the able, not the label.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing The Arc Nassau. Here's to another fifty years of impact, progress, and transformation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor State Senator Betty Holzendorf, a Jacksonville native who dedicated her life to improving the lives of all Northeast Floridians.

At the age of 84, Senator Holzendorf passed away on February 29, leaving behind legions of supporters and friends who were lucky enough to have known her bright spirit.

A mainstay of Florida politics whose long career spanned across both chambers of the legislature, Senator Holzendorf was a true woman of the people who never stopped fighting for her constituents.

One of Senator Holzendorf's greatest passions was fundraising for universities and scholarships in Northeast Florida. As a science teacher, Betty knew that Florida is only as strong as its youth, so she championed education as an avenue to brighten the minds and futures of her constituents.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the long and fruitful life of Senator Holzendorf, along with offering our deepest condolences to her friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach, Florida, and our bold spiritual leader, Pastor Zach Terry.

My wife and I have discovered that First Baptist is a place to find strength and hope in times of adversity and to feel God's love. It is an incredibly welcoming place, and I challenge anyone to make it from the parking lot into the sanctuary without getting welcomed at least twice.

First Baptist is a cornerstone of our community, having reached and transformed countless lives, both in northeast Florida and, really, all over the world. Through its outreach programs and compassionate ministries, the church has been a steadfast advocate for the greater community, serving neighbors and sharing God's grace.

On October 7, Hamas had its attack in Israel. There were 54 members of the First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach who found themselves stuck in Israel. Airports closed. Roads shut down. There was limited travel. It was indeed a scary time for getting these pilgrims out of that country safely.

Every day, we would text or communicate with the group, including Pastor Terry, about options, how we do it, what we could do. There was a lot of hunkering down. After a very, very long bus trip to Jordan over a week later, the team made it out.

During that time of chaos, Pastor Zach made several videos saying: We are calm. We are good.

Being a spiritual, dedicated shepherd, he reminded everyone what Mark 11:22 says: ``Have faith in God.'' By faith and hope in a God who never fails, our congregation did make it safely back home.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome Pastor Zach Terry; his wife, Julie; their children, Cole, Caitlyn, and Carly; and Pastor Zach's mother, Ms. Teresa Terry.

There are dozens of members of the congregation here in our Nation's Capital. It is a big day for everybody from the small town of Fernandina Beach.

Madam Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Moore for yielding.

Madam Speaker, as I stand before you, America is being invaded.

Right this minute, criminals, human traffickers, drug lords, and kingpins are taking advantage of our porous border. If that thought wasn't terrifying enough, hundreds of individuals on the U.S. terror watch list are entering our country as if we don't even have a border.

Secretary Mayorkas is welcoming our enemies into our great Nation and doing it deliberately.

Madam Speaker, I have visited our southern border twice now, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt it is a turnstile for crime, cartels, and drugs.

Secretary Mayorkas has allowed this to happen at the direction of the Biden administration. He has unilaterally disarmed the border by refusing to enforce the existing laws and blatantly disregarding his oath of office, but that is not all. We know that Secretary Mayorkas has issued guidance stating that an illegal immigrant's presence alone is not grounds for deportation. Not even criminal charges or convictions or gang membership are enough for deportation.

Only in crazy town can you break the law and be rewarded.

Madam Speaker, Secretary Mayorkas doesn't want to end the mayhem at the border. Rather, he blatantly supports and is forcibly pushing for this madness. That is why there has been over--here are the numbers:

8.3 million illegal crossings nationwide;

Over 7 million illegal crossings at the southern border;

1.7 million known got-aways; and

169 terrorists caught trying to cross the border, which is an all- time record.

Do we know who is coming in, and do they wish to do us harm?

That is the point, Madam Speaker. We don't know.

What we do know is that Secretary Mayorkas has failed us all, and it is not just bad in Texas. From California to the free State of Florida, States across the country are now feeling the consequences of the border crisis.

In recent days, Border Patrol's Miami sector arrested an illegal resident with an Interpol red notice for homicide in Nassau, Bahamas;

An illegal immigrant convicted of attempted indecent liberties with a minor; and

An illegal immigrant with over five DUI convictions.

It is out of control, Madam Speaker.

Florida is located more than 1,000 miles from the southern border, but my constituents bear the brunt of this disaster, from strains on our schools and healthcare systems to fentanyl on our streets and strains on our law enforcement.

Planeloads of illegal immigrants are being off-loaded in our communities during the middle of the night at taxpayers' expense.

Madam Speaker, the border is a fight, but it is a fight worth having. When it comes to the border crisis, Americans are looking for leadership, not denials, distractions, or deflections. It is time to impeach.

Mr. Speaker, the Biden economy has taken its toll on Main Streets in northeast Florida and all across America. From stores struggling, to jobs lost, to limited research and development, to chaotic inflation, we are in need of tax relief.

There is a bill that gives immediate tax relief for families, farmers, and small businesses, that launches our economy forward, and finally ends the COVID giveaways. It is projobs, protaxpayer, pro- America.

Mr. Speaker, with the exception of Joe Biden, I don't believe there is another American who genuinely believes our Nation is headed in the right direction.

I have got good news for America. The House has passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Help is on the way.