Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Ron Legler.

Ron is President and CEO of Florida Theatrical Association (FTA). Of his many accolades, Ron was recently recognized as Orlando Business Journal's Most Influential Businessman (Non-Profit) and the Downtown Orlando Partnership's Downtowner of the Year (DOTY). The Metropolitan Business Association of Orlando also awarded him the Debbie Simmons Community Service Award in 2013.

Ron is extremely active in the Orlando community. He serves as a Mayor-appointed Board Member of See Art Orlando. He is also a member of Leadership Orlando--Class of 55 and the Broadway League. Ron has previously served as an Arts Groups Advisory Board member at the Downtown Performing Arts Center, Vice President of the Central Florida Performing Arts Alliance, Chairman of the Downtown Arts District, Vice President of the Central Florida Performing Arts Alliance, and Vice Chairman of Orlando's International Fringe Festival.

Aside from his work with FTA, Ron has helped to spearhead the revitalization of the South Eola district of downtown by purchasing 25,000 square feet of space in The Sanctuary. Ron developed new offices in this space and opened two amazing new entertainment venues, The Abbey and The MEZZ. He formed a partnership with the surrounding businesses and branded the new area ``Eola Square.'' Ron has worked with the Orlando

Ballet, Orlando Philharmonic and the Central Florida Jazz Society to develop intimate programs in The Abbey and The MEZZ that attract new patrons and give donors a closer look into the artistic side of the organizations, all in a risk-free rental environment.

In his more than 13 years as the leader of FTA, Ron has doubled the number of season ticket holders, making Orlando one of the country's top one-week Broadway markets. He also works with Broadway producers to attract the best possible touring shows to the Orlando market.

I am happy to honor Ron Legler, during LGBT Pride Month, for his work to further the arts in Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Chris McCullion. Since 2000, Chris has served in various positions in local government, finance, and economic development. Chris was appointed Orlando City Treasurer by Mayor Buddy Dyer in 2008.

Chris does his part to support causes that further the goal of equality for all people. He has worked with leaders in City government to advocate for policy changes that would improve the City of Orlando's already strong rating in the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Municipal Equality Index. The Index examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities across the country and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of the LGBT community.

Chris has also been a member of HRC's Federal Club and has supported LGBT and LGBT-friendly candidates for elected office. Chris is proud to have played a part in electing Central Florida representatives who support the LGBT community at the local, state, and national levels.

Chris serves on the boards of directors for the Orlando Federal Credit Union and the Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission. He is a member of the Florida League of Cities Finance, Taxation and Personnel Committee and the Florida League of Cities Investment Advisory Committee. He holds a master's in business administration and bachelor's degrees in finance and political science, from the University of Florida.

I am happy to honor Chris McCullion, during LGBT Pride Month, for his work to secure equality for LGBT community in Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Ted Maines. Born and raised in the New York City metropolitan area, Ted started doing volunteer work as a teenager in high school. He was taught at an early age that ``giving back'' was not only expected of everyone who was capable, but that over time it would also serve to define his character and give his life meaning.

Upon moving to Central Florida in 1986, Ted realized that he was at the point in his life where he had the means and the time to make a difference in his community. Ted became a board member at AIDS Resource Alliance/Serenity House, an organization providing assistance to HIV positive adults, children, and their families. After the LGBT March on Washington in 1993, Ted joined, and quickly became an officer of both the Orange County Rainbow Democratic Club, and Central Floridians United Against Discrimination, helping to advance the issue of LGBT Equality. Ted and his partner, Jeff Miller, also began fundraising for local, statewide, and national Democratic candidates, which they continue to do today.

Ted has served on several City Boards, most notably serving five years on the City of Orlando's Historic Preservation Board, including two years as Chair. For the past four years he has also served on the Orange County Library System's Board of Trustees, of which he is currently President.

In addition to political fund raising, Ted served as Chair of Hope & Help's Headdress Ball in 2005 and 2006, and is an honorary Co-Chair again this year. Ted and his now husband, Jeff, have been Chairs of the Holocaust Memorial Center of Central Florida's Dinner of Tribute in 2012 and 2013, and Chaired the Orlando Ballet's 40th Anniversary Gala, `Expose!', in 2014. The Gala was so successful that it has become an annual event that Ted and Jeff will co-chair again in 2015. Ted and Jeff are also Co-Chairs of the Grand Opening Gala for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Ted is proud to currently serve on Nemours Children's Hospital Council, on the Board of the Orlando Ballet, as President of the Orange County Library System's Board of Trustees, and his Homeowners Association Board of Trustees. Ted and Jeff are supporters of the Holocaust Center's UpStander Anti-Bullying program, which was founded by Jeff. They are members of The Orlando Museum of Art's Acquisition Trust, University of Central Florida's Flying Horse Press, Hope & Help's Circle of Life, Equality Florida, and Human Rights Campaign's Federal Club.

Marrying Jeff, his partner of 31 years, last August in New York City fulfilled a lifelong dream. Ted and Jeff are both strongly committed to realizing the goal of achieving Marriage Equality in all 50 states, including their home state, Florida.

Ted and Jeff have been extremely proud and grateful to have had their contributions and achievements acknowledged in their local community. They were named to Orlando Magazine's ``50 Most Powerful'' list for the past five years, and in 2012 they were named Orlando's ``Most Powerful Couple'', quite an achievement for a same-sex couple and truly a sign of progress for the LGBT community.

I am happy to honor Ted Maines, during LGBT Pride Month, for his work on behalf of HIV/AIDS patients, the LGBT community, and the arts in Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Carlos Carbonell.

Carlos has more than 15 years of media and technology experience, and a reputation for creativity, versatility and innovation across numerous industries. In 2008, Carlos founded Echo Interaction Group, one of the nation's leading mobile application development companies. Under his leadership, Orlando-based Echo has built a portfolio that includes more than 60 apps for Apple and Android devices.

An active member of the community, Carlos is not only an advocate for the LGBT community, but also a leader in the technology, business and Latino community. He is often seen as bridging the gap between these four, sometimes distinct, groups. Carlos was on the Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and a founding member of the HRC Central Florida Steering Committee. He currently serves as the Orlando Tech Association's first President. In addition, Carlos serves as Editor-in-Chief for Vision Magazine and sits on the City of Orlando's Hispanic Advisory Committee.

Carlos has received numerous awards and recognitions. This year, he received the Governor's Business Ambassador Award. In 2013, Carlos was named one of Orlando's Power Brokers by the Orlando Sentinel and in 2012 he was selected as one of Orlando Business Journal's 40 Under 40. HRC awarded Carlos an Individual Achievement Award for his work on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Carlos graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in advertising and an outside concentration in civil engineering.

I am happy to honor Carlos Carbonell, during LGBT Pride Month, for his contributions to the LGBT, business, and Latino communities in Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize the life of Charles ``Chase'' Smith, who passed away on August 28, 2013, at the age of 41. He left this world, surrounded by his close family and friends.

Born on April 3, 1972 in Blountstown, Florida, Chase is a graduate of Hardee High School and Barry University. Chase was successful in many areas of his professional life. After hand-writing letters to every voter in Wauchula, he was the youngest person ever elected to the City Council at the age of 20. He served three four-year terms on the City Council, before moving to Orlando and working as Commissioner Patty Sheehan's Aide for seven years. Chase was beloved by the neighborhood and business people he worked with. He was Commissioner Sheehan's confidant and friend.

Chase moved from City to County Government where he was an Aide to Orange County Mayor Theresa Jacobs from 2011 to the time of his death in August 2013. Mayor Jacobs appointed him to be Orange County's first Ombudsman. Chase's personal integrity and work ethic enabled him to excel in the position.

We will never forget Chase's beautiful smile, compassion for those less fortunate, and ability to rock an Easter Bunny costume. He was a proud gay man and fashionista, frequently giving his boss, Patty Sheehan, fashion advice. He loved wearing bow ties and decorating for Halloween and Christmas.

Chase was a lifelong Democrat, but worked well with people from all party affiliations. He was the very definition of a public servant Chase loved public service with his whole

heart, and lived his life in service to others. He touched many lives with his care and genuine concern for others.

Chase was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert. He is survived by his mother, Frances, brother, Bryan, and a countless number of friends and extended family of loved ones.

The day of his funeral, Tuesday September 10, 2013, was declared Charles ``Chase'' Smith Day in the City of Orlando and Orange County. While we all miss him terribly, we can honor his legacy by serving our community to the best of our ability. He would have wanted it that way.

I am saddened by the loss of such a valuable member of the Central Florida community and extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the IRS, to conduct a study on the feasibility of using individual income tax returns as the primary form of application for Federal student financial aid applications.

Personally, Mr. Chairman, I see no reason why American families are required to submit two exhaustive overviews of their financial situation to the Federal Government each year if they have a family member who is seeking a student loan. Individual tax returns provide a complete picture of the taxpayer's financial situation. Why should they also be forced to fill out a secondary onerous financial aid form to the Department of Education as well?

In the past few years, the Department of Education has built an IRS data retrieval tool into the financial aid application form in order to reduce the amount of time spent completing the form. It is my hope that we can take this feature a step further.

I support efforts to streamline the financial aid process. I think that using one form already required of all income-earning Americans is the best way to do it.

My amendment today would simply ensure that Congress has all the information it needs in order to accomplish such a transition. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to streamline the student aid process.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is identical to other amendments that have been inserted by voice vote into every appropriations bill that has been considered under an open rule during this Congress. It is also identical to the amendment I offered to last week's Energy and Water bill, which was passed by voice vote.

My amendment expands the list of parties with whom the Federal Government is prohibited from contracting due to serious misconduct on the part of the contractors. It is my hope that this amendment will remain uncontroversial, as it has been, and will again be passed unanimously by this House.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

I thank the gentleman and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would end the Federal Government's practice of paying poverty wages to its workers and hopefully set an example for the private sector to stop paying poverty wages to its workers.

My metropolitan area of Florida has the lowest average wages of any of the 50 biggest cities in America. It is time to end this and to pay people fairly. A fair day's work should result in a fair day's pay.

The reason why we have to end poverty wages in America is simple. It is just too expensive to be poor in America. If you are poor, it is difficult to buy or rent a place to live, to buy or lease a car to drive, even to get electricity from a utility company, to save any money at all, or even open a bank account. It is just too expensive to be poor in America.

Journalist Barbara Ehrenreich put it best:

If you can't afford the first month's rent and security

deposit you need in order to rent an apartment, you may get

stuck in an overpriced residential motel.

If you don't have a kitchen or even a refrigerator and

microwave, you will find yourself falling back on convenience

store food, which--in addition to its nutritional deficits--

is also alarmingly overpriced.

If you need a loan, as most poor people eventually do, you

will end up paying an interest rate many times more than what

a more affluent borrower would be charged.

To be poor--especially with children to support and care

for--is a perpetual high-wire act.

Mr. Chairman, when I say ``it's too expensive to be poor in America,'' I am not just quoting a poverty advocate. I am quoting Noah Wintroub, an official for JPMorgan Chase. Yes, even the bankers are telling us that it is too expensive to be poor in America.

Right now, the Federal Government can pay as little as $8.62 an hour for a grade 1, step 1 worker. That is not enough. You get what you pay for. That is the capitalist way. If a government worker has to take another job just to get by, then that worker can't focus on doing a good job serving the public. If a Federal worker is working 80 hours a week instead of 40 just to survive, he is not going to do a good job at either job.

My amendment simply would not allow the government to pay anyone less than $10.10 an hour--still a very modest amount. According to CBO, it doesn't cost the government a single dime extra. It is supported by the American Federation of Government Employees. Paying Federal workers $10.10 an hour is still not enough, but at least it is a start.

Right now, the minimum wage gives you $1,200 a month to live on if you work a full-time job for 40 hours a week. From that $1,200 a month, you must pay your Social Security taxes, your Medicare taxes, pay for your food, your clothing, your housing, your transportation. You must also pay, by the way, for the food and clothing of your children.

That is not possible. It is simply not possible to live that way, and we can't expect people to do that. In fact, the taxpayers end up subsidizing them through food stamps, Medicaid, the earned income credit, and a dozen other ways that we make up for the shortfall when their employers are not paying them enough to keep them alive.

I think it is time that we take a stand. I hope this body sees the wisdom of paying at least Federal workers, to start, above poverty wages. I urge this body to accept this amendment and set a proper standard for labor in this country. Let's have $10.10, not $7.25. You can't survive on $7.25.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the creativity of my colleague from Florida's argument, but no one is suggesting Federal employees have to work for free. All this amendment does is simply eliminate the poverty rates set forth in the General Schedule and replaces them with the existing higher rates.

All we are saying here is that grade 1, steps 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are below poverty level; grade 2, steps 1 and 2 are below poverty level.

I don't see how this amendment could possibly lead to the scenario that the gentleman from Florida, the chairman, is describing. It simply would mean that these workers would no longer be paid poverty wages. They would be paid under the existing GSA schedule a proper day's pay for a proper day's work.

Therefore, and given the fact that the AFGE, which is responsible for representing these workers, supports this amendment and rejects the nightmare scenario described by the gentleman from Florida, I would hope to have the gentleman from Florida's consent and support for this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 12: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Sec.__ None of the funds made available by this Act may be

used to enter into a contract with any offeror or any of its

principals if the offeror certifies, pursuant to the Federal

Acquisition Regulation, that the offeror or any of its

principals--

(1) within a three-year period preceding this offer has

been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against it

for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection

with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public

(Federal, State, or local) contract or subcontract; violation

of Federal or State antitrust statutes relating to the

submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft,

forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records,

making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal

criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; or

(2) are presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or

civilly charged by a governmental entity with, commission of

any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1); or

(3) within a three-year period preceding this offer, has

been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in an amount

that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains

unsatisfied.

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague from Florida and the gentleman from New York for consideration of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, budgets are about choices. We have a choice to make here that is an interesting one, and I wanted to point it out in the form of presenting this amendment.

The Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence is one of the most important functions of the Treasury Department. Economic and trade sanctions are issued and enforced by the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and they protect the financial system from criminal and illicit activities and counteract national security threats from drug lords, terrorists, weapons of mass destruction,

proliferators, and rogue nations, among others.

In addition to that, this office provides vital analysis with regard to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence across all elements of the national security community. I think it is fair to say that this office has done excellent work in connection with the Iran Sanctions Act, which is an act within the jurisdiction of my committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The committee involved here directs the Department of the Treasury to post online and disseminate publicly those companies that are not compliant with the Iran Sanctions Act as well as any foreign entities doing business with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps. In addition to that, this office has done excellent work with regard to cutting back on the threat of genocide in Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Despite the essential functioning of this office for the purpose of our carrying out American foreign policy, this office has a budget of only $120 million for the entire year. I contrast that with the budget being proposed of $158 million for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

In short, we are spending, or proposing to spend, $38 million more for the Treasury inspector general to inspect the IRS than we are proposing to spend for the Treasury to carry out its essential functions of economic trade and trade sanctions. These functions basically make our troops safe and keep America safe. Without the economic sanctions that we imposed against Iran, we might see American troops fighting today in the Middle East. It is essential and important that these functions be carried out without being curtailed for a lack of money.

I don't suggest that we equalize these two accounts, although I think a good argument could be made to do that. Rather, I suggest that we reduce the disparity between these two accounts by adding $5 million to allow the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to carry out its essential functions for U.S. foreign policy and reduce the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration budget by a corresponding $5 million.

Again, budgets are about choices. I think that our national security is our number one priority, and I think that whatever may be that is being done by the Treasury inspector general to investigate the IRS, it can wait as long as that money is needed to keep America safe.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like a few more dimes and nickles for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program offers free tax help to individuals who are age 60 years old or older. I am not there yet, but I hope to be there one day.

Cooperative grant agreements are entered into between the IRS and eligible organizations to provide tax assistance to elderly taxpayers. The funds provided by the IRS are used by organizations to reimburse volunteers for their out-of-pocket expenses, including transportation, meals, and other expenses incurred by them in providing tax counseling assistance at locations convenient to the taxpayers.

This is very important because what we are saying here is that this money leverages volunteer help. There are tens of thousands of volunteers all around the country, including in my district in Orlando, that rely upon this funding to be able to provide the services that are needed by our elderly citizens.

One of the good things about my proposal here, Mr. Chairman, is that we are not taking this $2.8 million from any other account. Rather, there is a $2.13 billion account for taxpayer services, and this simply adds the carveout from that total for Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

Let's think about this. There are over 50 million seniors who qualify around the country for this program--that is one-quarter of our adult population--but the percentage of this account for taxpayer services, this $2 billion account, is not one-quarter for this program. It is not even 1 percent for this program. It is one-quarter of 1 percent of the total amount that we are allocating here for taxpayer services.

I modestly propose that we increase that amount from one-quarter of 1 percent to three-eighths of 1 percent.

I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Reclaiming my time, I am happy to accept your acceptance of this amendment. I am very grateful to you, Mr. Chairman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, this amendment is identical to other amendments that have been inserted by voice vote into every appropriations bill that has been considered under an open rule during this Congress.

It is also identical to the amendment that I offered to last year's Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which passed by a voice vote.

My amendment expands the list of parties with whom the Federal Government is prohibited from contracting due to serious misconduct on the part of those contractors. It is my hope that this amendment remains uncontroversial--as it has been--and, again, will be passed unanimously by the House.

I yield to the gentleman from Idaho.

Thank you very much. I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 11: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), add the following new section:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize John Edward Barber. John was born to Nancy and Robert Barber on December 3, 1972 in Winter Garden, Florida. John graduated from West Orange High School in 1991 after spending a year in Germany on a Congress-Bundestag Scholarship through AFS.

John then went on to study Political Science and Women's Studies at the University of South Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1995. While in college, John and Sam Singhaus teamed up to perform as their drag characters, Tweeka Louise Weed and Miss Sammy, doing shows in Orlando and Tampa.

John moved to Miami's South Beach, then to Atlanta, before moving back to Orlando to attend cosmetology school. He built a faithful following as a hair stylist, working most recently at Vamp Hair Salon in Orlando's Thornton Park neighborhood. He was voted Favorite Local Hair Stylist in Watermark magazine's 2008 ``Wave Awards''.

He stayed active in politics, using his Tweeka Weed persona as a political and social commentator on radio station 106.7 FM (WXXL) during the 2008 elections. He was also a volunteer during Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's campaign and an active political fundraiser and supporter. John was also an advocate for HIV and AIDS awareness.

John was seldom without his sense of humor. He was a consummate entertainer wherever he was, whether it was talking to customers as he styled their hair or raising funds for a political candidate or charity.

John died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, after a ten-month battle with cancer. He was just 38 years old.

John's legacy lives on in Orlando through The Barber Fund which he founded while undergoing intense cancer treatment. John touched many lives and will be remembered as someone who spent his time on Earth making our community a better and more beautiful place.

He is survived by his mother, Nancy Barber; his grandmother, Nancy Arnold; his sister, Nancy Barber; his sister and brother-in-law, Robin and Ron Branch, and their children, Ellie, Steve, and Bobby Branch; his aunt and uncle, Fran and Dan Arnold, Jr.; and his aunt, Carol Booth.

I am proud to honor the memory of John Edward Barber, during LGBT Pride Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Danny Humphress and Enrique de la Torre.

Business owners and philanthropists, Danny Humphress and Enrique de la Torre are longtime supporters of LGBT equality in Greater Orlando and across the State, providing financial support, volunteering their time, and opening their home to host events benefiting the LGBT community. Danny has served on numerous committees, including chairing events that have raised more than $400,000 for LGBT equality. During important news events, such as 2013's United States v. Windsor Supreme Court decision, they have acted as spokesmen telling their personal story and the larger story of the continuing LGBT struggle for equality to the media.

A devoted couple since 1989, Danny and Enrique were thrilled to have their relationship finally legally recognized in 2010, when they were married in Washington, DC. Both continue to fight to have that basic right afforded to everyone in their home state of Florida and across the United States. Recognizing that the struggle for equality doesn't end with marriage rights, they are dedicated to continuing their service to the community until true equality is achieved for all.

I am happy to honor Danny Humphress and Enrique de la Torre, during LGBT Pride Month, for their efforts to further LGBT equality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Nadine Smith. Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, the state's largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 1986, Smith served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Organization. Smith has been recognized as a national leader by organizations including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Task Force of Florida, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum.

A former award-winning journalist, Smith has written syndicated columns for various gay and mainstream publications. Smith was also an award-winning investigative journalist for WUSF, a National Public Radio affiliate in Tampa, and later became a reporter for the Tampa Tribune.

In 1993, Smith was part of the historic oval office meeting between then incumbent President Bill Clinton and LGBT leaders. Smith was co- chair of the 1993 March on Washington, coordinating national and international media. She also served four terms as co-chair of the Federation of Statewide LGBT Advocacy Organizations.

Smith attended the U.S. Air Force Academy after graduating High School in Panama City. She left after the passage of Don't Ask Don't Tell in 1993. She earned a Masters in Communication from the University of South Florida.

In 1995, Smith served as campaign manager for Citizens for a Fair Tampa, a successful effort to prevent the repeal of the city's human rights ordinance, which included sexual orientation. Smith has been an outspoken advocate for hate crimes and anti-bullying legislation. In 2008, Equality Florida's efforts resulted in the passage of a statewide anti-bullying law that has spurred school districts across the state to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies.

From 2006 to 2009, Smith served on the Board for Fairness for All Families, a grassroots effort to protect LGBT families in the face of a ballot measure that banned recognition of marriage between same sex couples. The measure, which passed with approximately 62 percent of the vote, also banned protections that are the ``substantial equivalent of marriage''.

Smith has served as a spokesperson for Equality Florida denouncing the ban on adoptions by LGBT individuals. In particular, Smith challenged the state for using huge sums of taxpayer dollars to fund a discredited anti-gay activist as their star witness for the ban.

In 2013, Smith was named one of the state's ``Most Powerful and Influential Women'' by the Florida Diversity Council. She was also given the League of Women Voter's Woman of Distinction Award earlier this year. She lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Andrea and son Logan.

I am happy to honor Nadine Smith, during LGBT Pride Month, for her tireless efforts on behalf of the LGBT community nationwide and in Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Alan Ray Jordan. Alan was a bright light whose flame was extinguished far too early. Born and raised in Georgia, Alan moved to Orlando later in life.

Soon after Alan moved to Orlando, he met Billy Manes. Alan and Billy knew, almost immediately, that they had found someone special in each other. Billy described Alan as ``a charmer who looked like a black-and- white film star and talked like John Wayne.''

In 2003, Billy was asked to run for interim Mayor of Orlando. Alan was Billy's biggest supporter, becoming his campaign treasurer and coach. Alan was the rock behind Orlando's first openly-gay candidate for Mayor. Billy's candidacy, with Alan's help and support, would change Orlando's political landscape.

Alan's friends recognized his selfless commitment to Billy through his celebration of Billy's accomplishments. He was Billy's partner in helping to highlight the inequalities that gay couples faced in making lives together.

Alan's health began declining in 2006, forcing him to go on long-term disability. With the help of Billy, Alan was able to stay active and take care of his family despite his ailing health. Billy and Alan decided that they needed to protect themselves in a state that refused to recognize their union.

In 2007, Alan joined Billy in testing the legal limits in gaining rights as a same-sex couple. Alan allowed his life with Billy to be detailed in an Orlando Weekly article in an effort to examine the injustice faced by gay couples seeking marriage equality. Alan's courage in helping to reveal the struggle that same-sex couples face, helped to give fuel to the marriage equality movement in Florida.

Alan's health took a turn for the worse in 2011, and despite Billy's heroic efforts to stop his decline Alan would ultimately take his own life in the spring of 2012.

Alan Ray Jordan was a gift to our community. His support of one of Orlando's foremost advocates for equality, peace, and justice and his own voice and struggle for the community have made the world a better place.

I am honored to recognize Alan's commitment and sacrifices for our community and lament the fact that he is no longer with us. Alan Jordan's legacy will be one that inspires generations to come and helps to remind all of us of the human toll that inequality and prejudice will take if not corrected.

On behalf of Billy Manes and the Central Florida community, I am proud to honor Alan Ray Jordan, during LGBT Pride Month.