Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 4, 2013, I was unable to be present for a recorded vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 7 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 41).

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, January 14, 2013, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 8 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 219), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 9 (on approving the journal), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 10 (on the motion to adjourn).

I do, yes.

I yield myself 3 minutes.

I, too, rise in support of the conference report. I want to particularly thank Chairman McKeon, Senator Levin, and Senator McCain, who worked with us to get this product, as well as all the members of the committee and staff. We truly did work on this in a bipartisan fashion. I don't think there's a single one of us that's completely happy with everything that's in this piece of legislation, but that's the nature of compromise and working together to get something done.

We need to pass a defense bill to support our troops and to get our troops the pay raise and the support that they need. So to get there, we have to work past our differences in order to come up with a product that we can vote for. We did that. It's proof that the legislative process can work.

This is a critical piece of legislation. First and foremost, it prioritizes support for our troops and their families. We have to remember that we still have over 60,000 troops deployed in combat in Afghanistan. Making sure that they have the equipment, supplies, and support that they need to do the job that they're being asked to do is our number one priority.

I'm pleased that we have a 1.7 percent pay raise included in this bill and pleased that we continue to support the effort in Afghanistan. I'm also pleased that we have language in this bill that makes it clear that it is time to end that mission in Afghanistan and bring our troops home as soon as we responsibly can. I believe that is also a critical priority going forward.

There are other critical provisions of this bill. Once again, the Senate added language to ramp-up sanctions against Iran to keep the pressure on them to, hopefully, discourage them from developing a nuclear weapon. That is a critical piece of legislation.

We also have in here reform to our satellite export regime. The cumbersome nature of that regime has significantly harmed the U.S. satellite industry. We've gone from having 65 percent of that market worldwide to less than 25 in the last 15 years. Getting back to a competitive place with that industry is critical to our national security. Those are companies that we're going to depend on to provide us the best equipment to best protect this Nation. That change is very welcome.

I am still disappointed in where we are at on Guantanamo Bay and detainee policy. This bill, again, though only for 1 year, not permanently, as they proposed in the Senate--I'm pleased that we were able to do that--tie the President's hands in how to deal with the people at Guantanamo Bay. We need to close Guantanamo and have the President have the freedom to deal with the inmates there in a way that is consistent with our values, our laws, and our Constitution.

We also do not fix the detainee problem. The chairman is correct. We once again state, basically, that if you have rights, you have rights, but we still hold open the possibility of indefinite detention of people on U.S. soil. I think that is wrong. I think that is something that we should change.

I will also disagree that habeas corpus is the highest form of protection for our rights. It is more like the last resort. It's the one thing that under no circumstances we can take away from you. The highest protection of individual rights is our Constitution and our article III courts that provide full due process and full rights to everybody facing criminal charges. So I hope we will fix that at some point.

Overall, this is a good bill that does one of our very important tasks here in Congress--to provide for the common defense--and I urge support of the measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island, the ranking member on the Emerging Threats Subcommittee, Mr. Langevin.

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished minority whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Davis), ranking member on the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez), the ranking member on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre), the ranking member on the Seapower Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), a member of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. And I really want to close just to emphasize how important the work is that our staffs do, both in the House and the Senate. The work that they've done ever since May, when we first put together the bill on the House side, and then the accelerated time schedule that they had to operate under because the Senate waited until December 4 to pass their bill, and we had to throw together a quick conference report.

There are an endless array of critically important legislative issues that are handled in this bill, and the staffs that we have do an amazing job under a tight timeline of working together to resolve differences and come up with the best legislation. We have an outstanding staff. We could not do this without them.

Again I will emphasize that I hope this bill shows that it's possible that people who disagree--and you can hear from our debate there are many things we disagree strongly about, certainly Republicans and Democrats, but also House and Senate. Yet somehow we come together and put together this 1,600-page bill to spend $633 billion and provide for the common defense of the United States of America.

So I urge support, and I thank all those involved in this work product.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, December 17, 2012, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on vote No. 627 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4606, as amended); and ``yes'' on vote No. 628 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 3193).

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, November 30, 2012, I was unable to be present for recorded votes due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on vote No. 612 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 6429 with instructions); and ``no'' on vote No. 613 (on passage of H.R. 6429).

I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Jeh Johnson, general counsel of the Department of Defense.

In navigating a wide range of important legal issues, Jeh has been an invaluable partner to the House Armed Services Committee over the last 4 years, and he is respected by Members on both sides of the aisle. Over the last 4 years, Jeh has advised the committee on numerous national security challenges, including cyberwarfare, counterterrorism operations, the legal boundaries of the conflict against al Qaeda and its affiliates, sensitive intelligence matters, and detainee operations worldwide. Jeh was integral to our efforts to reform military commissions--where those accused of planning and executing 9/11 attacks will be prosecuted. He has regularly testified before Congress and provided briefings on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law and policy, efforts to combat sexual assault in the military, changes to the combat exclusion policy, the membership of the Joint Chiefs, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

There has been no shortage of very difficult and very controversial issues. Jeh has always approached them intelligently and professionally and served this country, the President and Congress well.

The one thing I always noticed about Jeh is he liked coming over and talking to Congress, which is not always the case in the executive branch. He recognized the importance of the relationship between the legislative branch and the executive branch. He has served our country very well.

I wish him well in private practice and thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise in support of the resolution introduced by my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of the subcommittee.

Before I begin my remarks, I want to join the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), and of course the many others, in offering my condolences to the entire Coast Guard family for the tragic loss of one of their shipmates during a drug interdiction operation in the waters off of southern California this past weekend. We all recognize that the servicemen and -women of the Coast Guard willingly and routinely expose themselves to highly dangerous conditions on behalf of our Nation. Nevertheless, it is a profound tragedy when a servicemember makes that sacrifice, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Coast Guard at this time.

The legislation I stand in support of today has been developed as a compromise over the past 2 months during negotiations with the Senate. It would amend H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012, that passed the House last November, and it also incorporates numerous provisions from the amendments to H.R. 2838 that cleared the Senate in September. And I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) for his willingness to work with me on this legislation in a bipartisan and open manner. I'm confident in saying that this bill embodies a fair and bipartisan compromise for everyone involved and that we can feel proud of this work.

As the ranking member of the Coast Guard Subcommittee, it's been a high priority for me to advance policies to revitalize and expand our domestic maritime industries, and this legislation marks a significant achievement in doing just that. It creates jobs in the

shipbuilding industry by taking vital steps towards improving our icebreaker fleet and finishing the program of record for Response Boat- Medium.

Earlier this year, I had a chance to visit job-creating shipyards that will be a part of the modernization effort of the Coast Guard. These shipyards provide good-paying jobs for hardworking engineers, welders, electricians, and mechanics all over the Northwest and throughout the country. The reauthorization of the Maritime Administration will improve the fortunes of those shipyards, and I am pleased that that is included in this bill as well.

But we've also, in authorizing the Coast Guard, reformed a number of key programs. The Coast Guard has one of the most expansive missions in the Federal Government. This multimission maritime military service is responsible for a broad range of activities, including mariner licensing, emergency oil spill response, vessel inspections, and navigation safety. The Coast Guard remains indispensable to the maintenance of a reliable and secure marine supply chain that supports maritime cargo operations, which contribute $649 billion annually to the U.S. GDP, sustaining more than 13 million jobs.

This legislation authorizes funding levels for both the Coast Guard and the Reserve that provide for increased funding levels in fiscal years `13 and `14 over the fiscal year `12 level.

I believe the funding levels in the bill remain insufficient to address the documented needs of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has been asked to do more with less, and I'm afraid that their only choice during this time of budget uncertainty is to do less with less, and that's just wrong. So while I would prefer these levels to be higher, I understand that these funding levels are likely the best that can be provided under the constraints.

We must be aware, however, that funding levels in this legislation are absent any consideration of what will be needed to address the estimated $260 million in damages to Coast Guard facilities in the Northeast as a result of Hurricane Sandy. These costs will be addressed in the future, I assume.

And I want to highlight, as well, that this legislation contains several provisions that will improve the Coast Guard's readiness and capabilities in the increasingly important Arctic region. Specifically, this bill directs the Coast Guard to complete a business case analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of reactivating its heavy icebreaker, the Polar Sea. This analysis is overdue and it is vitally important.

At present, the Coast Guard has only one icebreaker, the Healy. Although the Coast Guard expects, in 2013, to reactivate the other heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, the plain fact remains that the Coast Guard's icebreaker fleet remains severely undercapitalized and overextended. As it will be years before a new icebreaker can be delivered, it's essential that we make informed decisions on the Polar Sea now in order to have a balanced assessment of Coast Guard polar icebreaker capabilities in the near term.

This legislation also advances provisions that address many administrative, personnel, procurement, and regulatory issues affecting the Coast Guard; specifically, several new authorities to bring the Coast Guard into parity with the other armed services have been included. Additionally, this legislation contains new authorities that will improve the efficiency and oversight of the Coast Guard's major acquisition programs, especially new advanced procurement authority and development of multiyear capital investment programs.

The bill includes language I authored that requires the Coast Guard to complete the procurement of 180 Response Boat-Mediums, or RB-Ms, as originally planned in the program of record for this vessel. This is a critical piece of maritime security, and the completion of these boats will lead to additional job creation in small shipyards.

Besides addressing the needs of the Coast Guard, this legislation also advances several important initiatives to support the U.S. Merchant Marine:

Title III of the legislation protects the Jones Act by strengthening the review and notice requirements for future administrative waivers. This provision, originally called for in H.R. 3202, the American Mariner Jobs Protection Act, should help preserve more opportunities for U.S. carriers and seafarers. The title also provides for a formal authorization for the Committee on the Maritime Transportation System;

Title IV of the legislation includes several provisions that will improve the Maritime Administration's ability to accept, manage, and recycle vessels held in the National Defense Reserve Fleet;

I'm also pleased title VI reauthorizes the Marine Debris Research, Reduction, and Prevention Act. More and more marine debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami continues to wash up on the shores of the Pacific coast, including in my State of Washington. Japan, in the midst of a recovery from this disaster, though, has shown extraordinary leadership and friendship with the United States by recently announcing that they will donate directly $5 million to debris cleanup.

It is important that we reauthorize the Marine Debris Act to ensure that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has the authority it needs to work with States to address this threat.

I very much appreciate the cooperation of Chairman LoBiondo for including this important environmental measure, and I also applaud my colleagues, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Farr, for their work to see this program reauthorized.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, this legislation reflects a fair and balanced compromise. We have an obligation to support the Coast Guard and support our U.S. merchant marine. A safe and secure maritime environment is good for job creation, good for the economy, and good for the American people. In my estimation, this legislation fulfills that obligation. I urge its passage today, and I just briefly want to thank once again Mr. LoBiondo for his incredible work to be bipartisan, open, and transparent in working to bring this legislation to passage.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the founders of OutSmart Office Solutions, George Pieper and Dawn Ackerman, for being honored with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's 2012 LGBT Supplier of the Year Award. George and Dawn have dedicated themselves and their careers to creating and strengthening an economy that fosters equality for all people.

George and Dawn founded OutSmart Office Solutions in 2007. They brought a combined twenty-three years of experience to provide office products that are environmentally sustainable and built a business that expands opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business owners.

As a certified Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender-owned Business Enterprise (LGBTBE), OutSmart Office Solutions partnered with Office Depot to distribute office furniture and supplies. Office Depot's Tier One Supplier Diversity Partnership enables OutSmart Office Solutions to provide the highest quality products and top-notch service to corporations and individuals while promoting workplace diversity.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize George Pieper and Dawn Ackerman. Businesses like OutSmart Office Solutions play a vital role in stimulating our economy and ensuring equality for all members of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mike Flynn on being honored with the Washingtonian of the Year award from the Association of Washington Generals. This annual award is given to a citizen of Washington State for outstanding community service.

Mr. Flynn worked for 24 years as the editor and publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal. In that position, he was widely recognized throughout the region's business community. He led the newspaper with a vision of not only reporting on the business sector, but using the print medium to foster valuable relationships throughout the community.

In 2006, Mr. Flynn retired from the Puget Sound Business Journal and turned his focus to community and non-profit causes. In that time, he has served on the boards of various community organizations. He continues to be dedicated to building relationships, helping start-up entrepreneurs, and expanding opportunities in rural areas.

Each year, the Association of Washington Generals awards the Washingtonian of the Year award to someone who has shown special dedication to serving Washington State. The Association is proud of the unique characteristics of Washington State--ranging from our State's outstanding physical beauty to the people who strive to make Washington a better place to call home. The Washingtonian of the Year embodies the Association's devotion to improving our State's communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Mike Flynn. His dedication to serving our community is an inspiration to others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Master Sergeant Michael S. Hunter of the 1st Special Forces Group from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, who has received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor. These medals were awarded by Major General Jeffrey Buchanan, I Corps Deputy Commanding General on September 12, 2012.

Master Sergeant Hunter performed many heroic acts during his deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He helped execute a joint raid with 28 Afghan commandos and three other American special operators. Master Sergeant Hunter put himself in danger to protect others and led the way for the U.S. and Afghan special operators. In June 2010, he delivered medical assistance to two injured soldiers during a long 16 hour firefight.

His courageous actions earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor. The Silver Star is the Nation's third highest medal for combat valor and ranked fifth in military awards. Master Sergeant Hunter's award is also the highest for combat valor that is not unique to a specific service branch.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Master Sergeant Hunter for receiving the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our great appreciation for his dedication to protect and serve our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Seattle, Washington chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP--Seattle) for being named the Chapter of the Year. The NAAAP--Seattle chapter bested twenty-seven others from across the United States and Canada to receive the honor.

This is the first time NAAAP--Seattle has been named Chapter of the Year. The organization stood out among the other chapters and associate chapters for its exceptional organizational involvement, membership development, and programs.

The NAAAP was established in 1979 and is now the largest and fastest growing Asian American professional non-profit organization in North America. Members are not required to be pan-Asian and come from all parts of the professional community.

The NAAAP works to empower leaders and connect professionals in the same region. In addition, members volunteer in the community. NAAAP-- Seattle has hosted many charitable events, including a dragonboat racing fundraiser to benefit the Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing, an event at Seattle Symphony to raise money for children's literacy programs, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a Walk for Rice fundraiser for the Asian Counseling & Referral Service, and many others. NAAAP--Seattle also hosts career fairs and professional development seminars throughout the Puget Sound.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the Seattle chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals. The organization's work to make meaningful contributions to government, education, business and society inspires leaders throughout the business community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Talbot Hill Elementary School, located in Renton, Washington, for being named one of the ``Coolest Schools in America'' by Parent & Child magazine. The school was also named a Washington State Designated Innovative School.

Talbot Hill Elementary School is part of the national MicroSociety program. In this program, students participate in a fully-functioning society. Students apply for jobs, earn money, pay taxes, and participate in government.

Each fall, the Talbot Hill Elementary School community elects a Legislature, comprised of a president, vice president, at-large members and senators and representatives from each grade level. Students work on a newspaper, run a post office, start small businesses, and manage a recycling center.

This unique school is made possible by parent and community support. Parents get involved to invest in the school and in their children's education. This includes spreading the word to the community about the needs of the school. The community's involvement is essential to the success of Talbot Hill Elementary and helps to build a generation of successful and innovative students.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the students, teachers, administrators, parents, and staff of Talbot Hill Elementary School. The school's groundbreaking educational techniques prepare students to be life-long learners and engaged members of their communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Jennifer Potter, the President and CEO of the Initiative for Global Development (IGD), on her retirement.

Jennifer has been with IGD since its creation in 2003, helping the organization achieve its goal to reduce global poverty through advancing business growth and investment. During her tenure at IGD, the Seattle-based group grew from an idea to a widely recognized international organization.

Under Jennifer's leadership, IGD has successfully leveraged millions of dollars in investments for the developing world and changed the way governments and businesses engage for the better. Her commitment has opened up the door for employment opportunities and increased market access for developing communities around the world.

Her inspirational drive and vision will be difficult to replace, as her efforts to achieve large-scale poverty reduction will be remembered and appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize and congratulate Jennifer Potter on her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Valley Medical Center, located in Renton, Washington, for being named one of the Best Hospitals in the Puget Sound by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also celebrating the one-year anniversary of Valley Medical Center's alliance with University of Washington Medicine. The alliance has increased the availability and quality healthcare to the Puget Sound region.

Since partnering with UW Medicine, Valley Medical Center has increased services and clinical expertise for residents by expanding coverage in neurological and thoracic surgery. Valley Medical Center has also expanded education and training programs. These programs create better access to primary care and other forms of specialized care when needed. The Best Hospitals ranking also honored Valley Medical Center for high performance in orthopedics, diabetes, and endocrinology.

Valley Medical Center hopes to bring more expansion in clinical areas as their alliance with UW Medicine grows. The alliance most importantly hopes to reduce the overall cost of healthcare and make access to care readily available. Since the recent enactment of healthcare reform, Valley Medical Center's clinics and UW Medicine's neighboring clinics have already improved their accessibility by having world class specialists readily available.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the accomplishments of Valley Medical Center and the one-year anniversary of Valley Medical Center's alliance with UW Medicine. I am confident that the alliance will strengthen and continue to provide remarkable care to the community for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Renton Housing Authority and congratulate them on the successes of the Sunset Area Community Revitalization Program. The commitment of all who work with the Renton Housing Authority has been instrumental in providing quality, affordable, and safe housing options for low-income individuals and families.

The Renton Housing Authority was established in 1941 to provide middle and low-income workers affordable housing near the Boeing B-29 and PACAR Sherman Tank manufacturing lines. In 1959, the Renton Housing Authority constructed Sunset Terrace.

The Sunset Area Community Revitalization Program is focused on the redevelopment of the Sunset Terrace public housing project. This effort is an important community enhancement that will help all residents of Renton, Washington have a safe place to call home.

The Sunset Area Community Revitalization Program will also receive a 2012 VISION 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council. This award is given to projects that are finding solutions to the Puget Sound region's expected growth, specifically projects that promote the well-being of our communities and economic vitality.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the valuable contributions of the Renton Housing Authority. The organization's dedication to helping people in our communities is laudable.