Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, December 9, 2010, Tuesday, December 14, 2010, and Wednesday, December 15, 2010, I was not present for twelve recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way: Roll No. 626--``yea''; Roll No. 627--``yea''; Roll No. 628--``yea''; Roll No. 629--``nay''; Roll No. 630--``yea''; Roll No. 631--``yea''; Roll No. 632--``yea''; Roll No. 633--``yea''; Roll No. 634--``yea''; Roll No. 635--``nay''; Roll No. 636--``yea''; Roll No. 637--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, I was not present for three recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way:

Roll No. 608--``yea.''

Roll No. 609--``yea.''

Roll No. 610--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, December 2, 2010, I was not present for 12 recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way: Roll No. 596--``nay''; Roll No. 597--``nay''; Roll No. 598--``yea''; Roll No. 599--``yea''; Roll No. 600--``yea''; Roll No. 601--``yea''; Roll No. 602--``yea''; Roll No. 603--``yea''; Roll No. 604--``nay''; Roll No. 605--``yea''; Roll No. 606--``nay''; Roll No. 607--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, November 18, 2010, Monday, November 29, 2010, and Tuesday, November 30, 2010, I was not present for seven recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way: Roll No. 580--``yea''; Roll No. 581--``yea''; Roll No. 582--``yea''; Roll No. 583--``nay''; Roll No. 584--``nay''; Roll No. 585--``yea''; and Roll No. 586--``yea''.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, November 15, 2010, and Tuesday, November 16, 2010, I was not present for 6 recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way: roll No. 566--``yea''; roll No. 567--``yea''; roll No. 568--``yea''; roll No. 569--``yea''; roll No. 570--``yea''; roll No. 571--``yea''.

Madam Speaker, the week of Tuesday, September 14, 2010, through Thursday, September 16, 2010, I was not present for thirteen recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way:

Roll No. 519--``yea,'' Roll No. 520--``yea,'' Roll No. 521--``yea,'' Roll No. 522--``yea,'' Roll No. 523--``yea,'' Roll No. 524--``yea,'' Roll No. 525--``yea,'' Roll No. 526--``nay,'' Roll No. 527--``nay,'' Roll No. 528--``yea,'' Roll No. 529--``yea,'' Roll No. 530--``nay,'' Roll No. 531--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Brandon Academy of Brandon, Florida, for winning the prestigious 2010 National Blue Ribbon Schools award. This recognition of incredible accomplishment was bestowed on the Academy by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Brandon Academy is a private school in Hillsborough County that provides for the intellectual development of 227 pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students. It boasts one of the most well-balanced curriculums in the nation, offering exceptional instruction in math, science, writing, and the arts. Thus, the Academy equips its students with the skills they need to become upstanding, productive, and well- informed citizens. The high achievement of the Academy's student body is in no small part due to the involvement of parents in their children's education.

The Blue Ribbon Schools award is considered the highest honor an American school can obtain. Schools singled out for this national honor reflect the goals of our nation's education reforms for high standards and accountability. Specifically, the Blue Ribbon Schools program is designed to honor public and private schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

I applaud Head of School Robert Rudolph and Principal Sondra Cliggitt, as well as the teachers and students of Brandon Academy for their hard work and commitment to excellence. A good education is essential to ensuring that future generations lead more successful, fulfilling lives. They are making a true difference in the lives of so many, and building communities that improve students' learning.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Florida Air National Guard Major General Douglas Burnett. General Burnett's hard work helped rise through the ranks over the years earning a number of awards over his illustrious career.

Retiring from the Air Force, General Burnett capped his 47 years and 4 month long career as Florida's Adjutant General. Taking the position in November 3, 2001, General Burnett was the first Air Guard officer to preside over Florida's 12,000 member National Guard.

In his opening remarks that November, General Burnett stated, ``Let us, as we respond to the national crisis before our nation, seize this opportunity to re-calibrate our priorities and realize that freedom is the common bond among America's diverse culture . . . something that must always be protected . . . something that those who come to America's shores value highest.''

General Burnett presided over the Florida National Guard's response to some of region's most severe natural disasters. A record four hurricanes in one year hit Florida in 2004, including Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. The following year, General Burnett led the response to Hurricanes Dennis, Wilma, and Katrina. More recently, he set in motion the Florida National Guard's part of bringing aid to earthquake stricken Haiti. After his long years of service, General Burnett earned the respect and admiration from the military and civilian side in efforts to make Florida the best National Guard state in the nation.

The leadership General Burnett demonstrated in these responses was forged over a long career of impressive accomplishments. General Burnett has received the Legion of Merit award with one oak leaf cluster. General Burnett has also received the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters. The Air Force began commending this award in 1958. Locally, he has received the Florida Cross, the Florida Distinguished Service Medal and the Florida Commendation Medal.

Such a noteworthy career began in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. After spending some time in military service, he then went on to graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration. After many years in the service, General Burnett later capped off his education by completing work at the Command and General Staff College and the Air War College.

After high school, General Burnett began his military career at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi under the Florida Air National Guard. He then started what became a lifelong flying career in 1969 by enrolling in the Undergraduate Pilot Training program at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. Earning dual qualifications in military and transport aircraft, he took his first assignment as an Alert Pilot in the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

General Burnett also flew commercially for Pan America World Airways and United Airlines until 1996. During his extensive time as a military and commercial pilot, he logged over 20,000 flying hours over 22 years in the F-102, F-106, C-26, C-131, C-13011, Boeing 727, and McDonnel- Douglas DC-10.

General Burnett served on a number of posts. He was the Chairman of the National Guard Bureau's Domestic Operations Advisory Board. He sat on the Reserve Forces Policy Board and is actively involved with the National Guard Association of the United States where he previously served two terms on the Executive Council. He was elected the President of the National Guard Officers Association of Florida in 1993. Finally, General Burnett also served on the Florida Council of 100.

On behalf of the 12th Congressional District and all of Florida, I want to thank General Burnett for his long years of service as a proud member of the Florida Air National Guard. I congratulate him on his successful completion of a 47 years career with the Florida Air National Guard and wish him well in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, on October 15th, the EPA will finalize the first phase of an unprecedented statewide water quality regulation which will have significant impacts on Florida's economy. While these regulations only apply to Florida, it could have a regional impact if our State's taxpayers are held accountable for the quality of water flowing from neighboring States. My colleagues should take note of this as these regulations are likely to arrive in your States and districts soon without your input and without a debate on this floor.

Last year, the Obama administration and the EPA entered into a legally binding agreement with environmental activists seeking to

impose stringent numeric nutrient criteria for water bodies in the State of Florida. It was lawyers in a courtroom and not scientists in a lab who set the standard and timeline on what will be a costly endeavor that has not been backed up by science.

These regulations could not come at a worse time as they pose a significant threat to Florida's already weakened economy. A joint Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida study indicates these regulations could cost Florida over 14,500 jobs and $902 million to $1.6 billion annually, with additional indirect economic impacts to the State of over $1 billion annually.

Even worse, there is significant debate in the environmental community as to whether these federal regulations will even benefit the environment. The comments expressed by the State and local agencies charged with protecting Florida's waters raise serious concerns about the methodology EPA used to develop these regulations. Our State Department of Environmental Protection says that ``compliance will force an investment of billions of dollars without environmental benefit.'' The scientists at DEP further claim that ``EPA proposed criteria do not reflect a true relationship between nutrient enrichment and the biological health of Florida's surface waters.''

The South Florida Water Management District--the lead State agency charged with the restoration of the Everglades--calls the current proposed implementation timeline ``unrealistic'' and that the proposed methodology has real potential to disrupt Everglades restoration.

It is also questionable as to whether the technology even exists for our local governments and private industries to meet the standards proposed by EPA. Even if it does, the costs imposed will flow to the consumer in the form of higher utility bills.

But despite all the legitimate science based concerns, EPA marches forward bound by a consent decree they did not have to sign in the first place. When members of the Florida delegation met with EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, she promised to review the rigor of their science. The problem is, she did not have the flexibility in time to review their own science without getting permission from the ones who sued them. Will this be the EPA's standard business practice for water quality regulations in the future?

When Congress passed the Clean Water Act, its intent was to create a collaborative approach with the Federal Government partnering with the States to clean our Nation's waters. It was not intended to promote a heavy handed Washington-knows-best agenda.

Of course, Floridians want cleaner water--which is why our State has invested millions collecting data on the effects of nutrients. Over the past three decades, Floridians have successfully committed to substantial reductions in phosphorous levels through an EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load, TMDL, program. We are seeing the positive results of these programs in water bodies across the State.

I was pleased to learn that EPA would submit the part of its proposed rule which would apply to estuaries, coastal waters, and flowing waters in South Florida to their internal Science Advisory Board. When EPA made this announcement in June, their own press release quoted the assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water as saying:

An independent scientific peer review by the SAB will

ensure that the best available science is our guide in

developing clean water standards for Florida's coast.

Shouldn't the best available science be afforded to north and central Florida as well?

Florida is one the most diverse States in terms of its aquatic ecosystems, from the rare coastal dune lakes in the panhandle to the mangroves, swamps, and spring-fed lakes and rivers throughout central Florida. An SAB review of only South Florida waters ignores this diversity in the rest of the State.

I urge EPA to conduct a full SAB review of this proposed rule for all Florida waters and to modify its rulemaking in accordance with SAB's analysis so that Floridians can continue to enjoy clean water, protected by a standard that is achievable and supported by the best available science.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Florida Southern College for celebrating its 125th anniversary. Florida Southern is rapidly rising among the Nation's best private colleges under the leadership of its 17th president, Dr. Anne Kerr.

The Lakeland College enrolls 1832 full-time residential undergraduate students from 44 states and 31 countries. To further its focus on engaged learning, it guarantees every student an internship and study abroad experience. The college also has distinguished graduate programs in business, nursing, and education. Ninety-four percent of students report landing a job in their respective field or furthering their studies at another institution within 3 months of graduation.

The Princeton Review has given Florida Southern its ``Best Southeastern College'' and ``Best Value College'' awards in addition to including it on its ``Best 366 Colleges'' list.

Rounding out its pedigree, the Florida Southern Moccasins have brought home 26 NCAA Division II championships, including 11 in men's golf, 4 in women's golf, and 9 in

baseball. The golf program has been successfully turned several players into members of the PGA Tour, including Rocco Mediate, Lee Janzen, and Jeff Klauk.

Florida Southern has overcome many a hardship to keep its educational dream alive. Since its inception in 1852 when it was founded by the Methodist Conference at the Florida Seminary in Micanopy, Florida Southern has moved four more times before settling into its present location in Lakeland, Florida.

Florida Southern won its charter after moving to Leesburg and awarding its first college degree. At the time, the university went under the name of the Florida Conference College and moved from Leesburg to Sutherland to Clearwater and finally to Lakeland due to devastating freezes hurricanes, a fire and a flu epidemic.

The campus itself is an international treasure, having been designated as a National Historic District due to having the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. Wright's relationship with the college began when Florida Southern's 1938 president Dr. Ludd Spivey invited the internationally-renowned architect to design ``a great education temple in Florida.'' Wright designed 18 structures for the campus, 12 coming into fruition.

In his over 500 completed works, Wright promoted a style he called organic architecture--which aimed to harmonize the building with the natural world around it. In first tour of the Lakeland area, he reportedly envisioned buildings rising ``out of the ground, into the light and into the sun.'' These beautiful and unique buildings have helped make Florida Southern College a top destination for education.

On behalf of Florida's 12th Congressional District, I wish to congratulate President Kerr and the Board of Trustees for leading Florida Southern to such tremendous success. Florida Southern College is well on its way to another stellar 125 years.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the women's bowling team of a college located in my district, Webber International University. In their inaugural year as a team, the Lady Warriors took home the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship.

The United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Bowling National Championship was held this year in El Paso, Texas on April 15 through April 17. The tournament pitted together teams from NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA colleges.

I want to acknowledge what an accomplishment it is for the Lady Warriors to bring home the championship title on their first year in competition. This feat has not been done since 1975. To reach this, the Webber team first defeated a team from Robert Morris College twice in the semifinals. Advancing from there, the Lady Warriors claimed the championship over the team from McKendree University. The final round ended in a 2-1 victory in a best out of three series.

The team's anchor, Hayley Beavis, was later named the National Tournament MVP. This victory is extra sweet for her because she sprained her ankle a week before the tournament in training and was unsure if she was even going to compete. Teammate Ashley Galante was named as a National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American for the season. They were both backed by the strong contributions from fellow teammates Yoselin Leon Garcia, Stephanie Martins, Jessica Santiago, Katie Thoronton, and Brittney Mari. The team was coached by Head Coach Randy Stoughton and assistant coaches Joe Slowinski and Del Warren.

The same team later received the Polk County Female Collegiate Team of the Year Award. This is the first team from Webber International University to receive such an award. The Polk County All Sports Award is meant to honor the areas best high school, college, and professional athletes.

Established in 1927, Webber International University hosts just over 600 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Supported by 45 faculty members, this Babson Park institution not only achieves excellence in sport, but their long tradition of superb education.

On behalf of Florida's 12th Congressional District, I wish to congratulate Hayley Beavis, Ashley Galante, and the whole Lady Warriors team.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, July 26, 2010, I was not present for three recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way:

Rollcall No. 467--``yea.''

Rollcall No. 468--``yea.''

Rollcall No. 469--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Monday, July 19, 2010, I was not present for three recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following way: roll No. 448--``yea''; roll No. 449--``yea''; roll No. 450--``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant, who has made an invaluable contribution toward safeguarding the future of agricultural production in our State and Nation. Richard D. Gaskalla, serving as Director, Division of Plant Industry, has distinguished himself through a marked career at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His exemplary service over the last 25 years is to be commended. I rise to honor Richard Gaskalla on the occasion of his retirement from the Florida Department of Agriculture, and congratulate him on his future endeavors as he moves on to serve and protect our Nation through the Department of Homeland Security.

Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Gaskalla graduated from Florida State University in 1975 with a degree in Biological Sciences. He began his career as a District Agricultural Products Specialist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Bureau of Plant Inspection.

He quickly progressed, promoted to Agricultural Products Specialist Supervisor responsible for interpretation and dissemination of plant import and export regulations, post entry quarantine programs, and the Bureau of Plant Inspection's interactions with the Division of Inspection, Bureau of Road Guard Agricultural Inspection Stations. In 1988, he was appointed Director of the Division of Plant Industry overseeing all division programs, including emergency pest and disease eradication activities and other functions.

Under his direction, the Division of Plant Industry has strengthened the state of preparedness against threats of serious agricultural- pests and diseases. His steadfast and committed efforts, in collaboration with many agencies and organizations at the State, regional, and national level have directly enhanced policies affecting Florida and U.S. agriculture.

As a dedicated and knowledgeable leader in the field of plant pest regulatory programs, Richard Gaskalla has made valuable contributions through his service on many national panels and oversight bodies. His work on the Safeguarding American Plant Resources Review set forth a comprehensive policy designed to improve United States agriculture protection programs. Mr. Gaskalla also served on the National Plant Board Advisory Council, which provides a direct line for input and communication on policies, issues, quarantines that affect U.S. and international agricultural production.

He has facilitated safe trade among nations, based on sound phytosanitary scientific standards, formulating several successful export certifications for U.S. agricultural products to foreign markets. In his tenure with the Division of Plant Industry, Mr. Gaskalla was involved in several efforts to combat dangerous pests and disease threatening the State and region's agricultural production including the Mediterranean fruit fly, imported Fire Ants, shipment and preservation of nursery and foliage stock, biological control activities against exotic predators, and noxious weed detection. In addition, his leadership responsibilities strengthened and bolstered other regulatory programs involving honey bee inspections, boll weevil eradication, Caribbean fruit fly protocol, and commodity treatments.

Most recently, Mr. Gaskalla has been involved in the development and implementation of the Citrus Health Response Program, a critical national program designed to help mitigate the impact of dangerous pests and diseases facing North American citrus.

Richard Gaskalla has been awarded numerous awards and citations, including among other prestigious honors, the United States Department of Agriculture Honor Award.

It is my privilege to honor Richard Gaskalla's outstanding public service upon his retirement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and thank him for his countless contributions and tireless efforts to safeguard and sustain American agriculture. I commend and recognize his efforts, and am pleased that our nation will continue to benefit from his future endeavors to protect America's valuable resources and secure our food supply.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the 15th Anniversary of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC). This state of the art facility is located on 200 acres in Polk County, Florida--within the 12th Congressional District, which I have the honor of representing.

The Ringling Bros. CEC is a facility dedicated to the research, reproduction, and retirement of Asian elephants. Since this facility opened in 1995, it has tirelessly worked to fulfill its mission to ``preserve and sustain the endangered Asian elephant.''

In addition to the important care and research performed at the Ringling Bros. CEC, it is also home to the most successful Asian elephant breeding program in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, their most recent calf was just born on April 3, 2010, and is appropriately

named April. This calf represents the 23rd Asian elephant birth at the CEC. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted the Ringling Bros. CEC with F2 status in 2007, which essentially designates the elephants as a self sustaining herd as a result of successful reproduction.

While the ivory trade remains a threat to the Asian elephants, a loss of habitat continues to plague elephant populations throughout south and southeast Asia. Estimates indicate that only about 30,000 Asian elephants live in the wild today. Conservation programs to protect this species are vital and must be supported throughout the world and Ringling Bros. has been among the leaders in advocating and supporting conservation of the Asian Elephant.

I have had the honor of visiting the Ringling Bros. CEC and seeing-- first hand--the important work completed and the care provided to these elephants. The success of the Ringling Bros. CEC and the commitment Ringling Bros. maintains to saving Asian elephants has contributed greatly to conservation efforts throughout the world.

I applaud the efforts of the Ringling Bros. CEC and their staff of trained professionals on the remarkable success of this important facility over the last 15 years. The progress they have made in growing the Asian elephant population is remarkable and I am proud that such amazing work is being done within the 12th Congressional District.

I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Ringling Bros. CEC on their 15th anniversary and the contributions they have made to the conservation of the Asian elephant.