Floor Statements

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 38: 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 transfer aircraft (including unmanned aerial

vehicles), armored vehicles, grenade launchers, silencers,

toxicological agents (including chemical agents, biological

agents, and associated equipment), launch vehicles, guided

missiles, ballistic missiles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs,

mines, or nuclear weapons (as identified for demilitarization

purposes outlined in Department of Defense Manual 4160.28)

through the Department of Defense Excess Personal

Property Program established pursuant to section 1033 of

Public Law 104-201, the `National Defense Authorization Act

For Fiscal Year 1997'.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 39: 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 ``consult'', as that term is used in reference to the

Department of Defense and the National Security Agency in

section 20(c)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and

Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3(c)(1)), in contravention of

the provision therein which mandates:

``to assure--

(A) use of appropriate information security policies,

procedures, and techniques, in order to improve information

security. . . ''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Billy Manes. Billy Manes is senior staff writer for Orlando Weekly, an alternative newsweekly dedicated to giving the deserved breadth, character and feeling to stories that are often overlooked.

Immediately after graduating from the Florida State University, Manes began a career in journalism, helping to launch an alternative weekly out of the Tallahassee Democrat offices in 1995.

In 1997, Manes moved to Orlando and began freelancing for Orlando Weekly, soon developing a following as a pop-cultural raconteur and nightlife columnist. In 2005, he ran for Mayor of Orlando in a special election which was later cancelled. Nonetheless, Manes caught the political bug, and soon became a full-time news reporter for Orlando Weekly.

In 2007, Manes detailed the difficulties facing gay couples who were seeking legal validation for their relationships in the face of an imminent marriage ban in Florida. Controversy arose when a photo of Manes and his longtime partner kissing was used as the cover photo of Orlando Weekly for the article.

In 2012, that story would prove all too prescient, when Manes' partner of 11 years, Alan Ray Jordan, passed away, setting off a string of horrible events pitting Manes against both his partner's family and the laws of the State of Florida.

Manes went on to document that fight in what would become a globally circulated story and later, a documentary. He traveled to Tallahassee two years in a row to fight for a statewide domestic partnership registry so that others might not have to experience the pain that he had.

In addition to numerous awards over the years from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the Sunshine State Awards, and the Florida Press Club, Manes was named a 2013 Voice of Equality by Equality Florida.

He would like to dedicate this honor to his family and, most especially, to the man who taught him the most, Alan Ray Jordan.

I am happy to honor Billy Manes, during LGBT Pride Month, for his contributions to the LGBT community and the State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Boyd Lindsley. Lindsley openly identified as a gay cisgender male as a teenager. By allowing himself to be authentic, he was able to find his voice for activism. Since identifying, he has been a stalwart advocate for the LGBT community and women's reproductive rights.

Lindsley serves on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando. He is also the founding President of the Pride Faculty and Staff Association (PFSA) at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he is a faculty member and the assistant director of the Nicholson School of Communication.

As president of PFSA he oversaw the official incorporation of the organization, the creation of bylaws for the organization, the recruitment of a significant membership, the execution of events, and initial fundraising for PFSA's operational costs and student scholarships. In this role, Lindsley advocated for domestic partner benefits for UCF employees, met with the UCF police department to address safety concerns for UCF's LGBT community, and petitioned the Orange County Mayor and Orange County Commissioners to support a Domestic Partner Registry for all Orange County residents.

Lindsley is also an active member of Equality Florida (EQFL), the state of Florida's largest LGBT civil rights advocacy organization. He attends events throughout the state of Florida supporting EQFL and serves on the host committee for the Greater Orlando Equality Florida Gala (the annual fundraiser for the organization). Additionally, he volunteers on campaigns for pro-LGBT leaders on the local, state and national stage.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Advertising-Public Relations with a minor in Psychology, and a master's degree in Communication with a concentration in Interpersonal Communication from UCF. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Executive Leadership.

I am happy to honor Boyd Lindsley, during LGBT Pride Month, for his activism on behalf of women's reproductive rights, and his contributions to the LGBT and Central Florida communities.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, Grayson Number 8.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment increases the Defense Health Program account by $10 million in order to help find a cure for Gulf War illness. Currently, there is no cure for Gulf War illness, and it affects over a third of the veterans who served in the first Gulf War.

This amendment is identical to an amendment offered last year that passed this body by a voice vote. I respectfully urge the same today.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would increase funding for prostate cancer research under the Defense Health Program by $10 million.

This increase would result in a total funding level of $90 million, which is still $10 million below what this account was funded at in 2001, more than a decade ago.

This amendment passed the House as part of an en bloc amendment last year. I hope we will all agree on its passage again this year.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

I thank the chairman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. 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.

My amendment would expand the list of parties with whom the Federal Government is prohibited from contracting because of serious misconduct on the part of those contractors. It is my hope that this amendment will remain noncontroversial and that it will, again, be passed unanimously by this House.

I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Reclaiming my time, I thank the ranking member for making that notation.

We have compared that language to this language. We respectfully believe that this language is broader and covers more situations, more contractors who have committed wrongdoing, but I appreciate the ranking member pointing that out, and I certainly support the provision that he cited.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, in the interest of brevity, I respectfully ask unanimous consent to have the point of order, if any, heard now in advance of my argument.

Mr. Chair, I respectfully am willing to yield my time to the gentleman from New Jersey if the gentleman will explain to me what part of this provision offends----

I will reiterate what I just said, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I did ask that I wanted to yield to the gentleman from New Jersey to specify.

I understand that, Mr. Chair.

I am asking if the gentleman from New Jersey would provide additional information as part of my argument.

Yes, Mr. Chair. I will say it again.

I am offering to yield to the gentleman from New Jersey if the gentleman from New Jersey will identify any part of this amendment that offends the relevant rule.

Mr. Chair, I think it is clear that there is no part of this amendment that offends the relevant rule.

I yielded to the gentleman from New Jersey who raised the point of order. I am still willing to yield to the gentleman who raised a point of order.

If there is no part of this amendment that can be identified as offending the relevant rule, clearly it does not offend the relevant rule.

This, in fact, does not in any way legislate. I invite any Member of this body here today who can identify any part of this amendment that constitutes legislation on the relevant rule.

Since no one can, it follows that the point of order must be overruled.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to address a growing problem throughout our country, the militarization of local law enforcement agencies.

Police in our communities should be engaged in community policing. Unfortunately, all too often, local police departments have begun to look like

military units preparing for battle on America's streets.

We fight our wars abroad, not at home, and the weapons and tactics used on our local streets should reflect that fact.

The New York Times recently reported that:

Police departments have received thousands of pieces of

camouflage and night-vision equipment and hundreds of

silencers, armored cars, and aircraft.

I think this is appalling. My amendment would prohibit the Department of Defense from gifting excess equipment, such as aircraft--including drones--armored vehicles, grenade launchers, silencers, bombs, and so on to local police departments.

There is no mass rebellion brewing here in the United States. There are no improvised explosive devices on the sides of our roads, but the abuse of military equipment to ward off these nonexistent threats is happening nonetheless.

So, of course, what you would expect to happen is happening. As The New York Times article, ``War Gear Flows to Police Departments'' explains:

Police SWAT teams are now deployed tens of thousands of

times each year, increasingly for routine jobs. Masked,

heavily-armed police officers raided a nightclub in 2006 as

part of a liquor inspection. In Florida in 2010, officers in

SWAT gear and with guns drawn carried out raids on

barbershops that mostly led to charges of ``barbering without

a license.''

DOD equipment is changing the mentality of police departments throughout our country. Recruiting videos now feature clips of officers storming into homes with smoke grenades and firing automatic weapons into homes, as well as clips of officers creeping through the fields in camouflage--war camouflage. This is not policing; this is war.

One South Carolina sheriff's department now takes its new tanklike vehicle with a mounted .50-caliber gun to schools and community events. The department spokesman said his tank is a conversation starter. That is not a conversation I want us to have.

I think this is wrong. The Federal Government should not be encouraging our public servants to view America as occupied territory. I prefer the views of Ronald Teachman, the police chief in South Bend, Indiana.

According to that New York Times article, he decided not to request a mine-resistant vehicle for his city of South Bend, Indiana. He said:

I go to schools, and I bring ``Green Eggs and Ham.''

Let's encourage leaders like the very appropriately named Ronald Teachman. Let's not treat our citizens as terrorists, and let's help our police act like the public servants they need to be.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Point of Order

Yes.

There is no new determination out of this amendment. I call your attention to the specific language here. It says:

None of the funds made available in this act may be used to

make aircraft (including unmanned aerial vehicles), armored

vehicles, grenade launchers, silencers, toxicological agents

(including chemical agents, biological agents, and associated

equipment), launch vehicles, guided missiles, ballistic

missiles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, mines, or nuclear

weapons (as identified for demilitarization purposes outlined

in Department of Defense Manual 4160.28).

In other words, all the terms that I just described are as identified for demilitarization purposes as outlined in Department of Defense Manual 4160.28. Since they are in the Department of Defense Manual 4160.28, they require no new determination of law.

I will continue:

Available to local law enforcement agencies through the

Department of Defense Excess Personal Property Program.

Again, local enforcement agencies is a defined term under statute. The Excess Personal Property Program is established, as this amendment indicates, pursuant to section 1033 of Public Law 104-201, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

Therefore, every single term that is used here is a term defined in law. There is no new determination to be made by anybody, including the people who enforce this amendment.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 9: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 10: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

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

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

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

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 13: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 15: Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount

insert the following: ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 33, line 11, after the dollar amount insert the

following: ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 33, line 19, after the dollar amount insert the

following: (increased by $10,000,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 16: Page 31, line 18, after the dollar

amount, insert the following: ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Page 33, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert the

following: ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Page 33, line 19, after the dollar amount insert the

following: ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

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

Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this amendment is to reverse $5.5 million in cuts for food safety and food inspection here in the United States.

Currently, the Food Safety and Inspection Service is funded at $1,005,189,000 in this bill. That is $5.5 million below the current enacted amount and $17.581 million below the Senate allocation in their agriculture appropriations bill.

This bill seeks to remove $5.5 million from a pay-for from the Farm Service Agency. The Farm Service Agency is funded at $1,205,068,000 in this bill. That is over $27 million above the current enacted amount, and it is $65.5 million above the President's request and $22.5 million above the Senate allocation.

Certainly, farm conservation and regulation is very important, and that is the function of the Farm Service Agency. However, food safety and food inspection is paramount because of all the problems that the country is facing today on this count.

According to this study by Robert Scharff that I have in my hand here from the Journal of Food Protection, dated 2012, the economic burden of health loss is due to foodborne illnesses in the United States. The cost of foodborne illnesses in the United States each year is $77.7 billion. That is $77.7 billion. Food safety and food losses and foodborne illnesses lead to 128,000 hospitalizations every year and, unfortunately, 3,000 deaths every year in the United States.

Specifically, we have a total of 3,036 deaths caused by bacteria, by parasites, and by viruses. The shame of it, Mr. Chairman, the ultimate shame, is that food poisoning is 100 percent preventable. Every single instance of death, hospitalization could be avoided if we had a properly funded and fully funded food inspection system. That is the dilemma that faces us today.

Each year, under this bill, the inspectors are required to inspect every animal before slaughter and each carcass after slaughter, in order to ensure that public health requirements are met.

In one recent year, this included 50 billion pounds of livestock carcasses, 59 billion pounds of poultry carcasses, and 4.3 billion pounds of processed egg products. At U.S. borders, they also inspected 3.3 billion pounds of imported meat and poultry products.

Increasingly, food safety is a global concern. Globalization of food production and trade increases the likelihood of international incidents involving contaminated food. Imported food products and ingredients are common in many countries, including our own.

Stronger food safety systems in export countries can reinforce local and cross border health security, but, frankly, the ultimate responsibility is ours.

Seventy-five percent of new infectious diseases affecting humans over the past 10 years were caused by bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that started in animals and in animal products. Many of these diseases are in people who are related to the handling of infected domestic and wild animals during food production, in food markets, and at slaughterhouses.

Preventing disease starts at the farm, which is where the inspections take place. Preventing animal infections at the farm level can reduce foodborne illnesses.

For example, reducing the amount of salmonella in farm chickens by 50 percent through better farm management and inspections results in 50 percent fewer incidences of people getting sick from the bacteria. Salmonella-free chicken herds are what this country needs.

It is fundamentally irresponsible for this body to be cutting the Food Safety and Inspection Service budget. God help us all if there is some widespread outbreak in this country where we don't have 3,000 deaths a year, we don't have 30,000 deaths a year, but we have 300,000 deaths a year caused by poor food inspection standards.

We must restore this money to the budget, and I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would simply submit that we cannot expect more for less. If we are going to be reducing the budget for food inspection in this country, we will have less food inspections, we will have more disease, we will have more hospitalizations, and we will have more deaths.

That is not something that I want on my conscience. God help us all if such a thing happens, but I want to know that I did everything I could to avoid that from happening. It is fundamentally silly and wrong to think that we can cut the budget and somehow expect people to do more for less.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 12:

Page 19, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $5,500,000)''.

Page 20, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert

``(decreased by $5,500,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.

recognizing the leadership of state representative joe saunders

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize State Representative Joe Saunders. Representative Saunders was elected to the Florida House on November 6, 2012 to serve House District 49 in East Orange County, and made history as one of Florida's first openly gay state lawmakers.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida's Political Science, Women's Studies, and Legal Studies programs, Joe began his political work as a community organizer on campus. As a campus leader, Joe fought for environmental protections, affordable tuition rates, and stronger anti-discrimination policies. He also ran civic engagement programs to register and empower young voters.

After graduating in 2005, Joe began working for Equality Florida, a statewide civil rights group dedicated to educating and advocating for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Over the past ten years, he has led coalitions that have won non-discrimination

protections for over 1.5 million people in Central Florida. Joe was also a key leader in the 2008 passage of the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act, Florida's first anti-bullying law.

In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Saunders currently serves as the Director of Civic Engagement for the Equality Florida Institute where he works to register and engage progressive voters in the political process. He also directs the Equality Florida Institute's Equality Means Business program where he works to improve Florida's national and international reputation by spotlighting major employers in Florida who are leading the way on inclusion and diversity.

Joe has held leadership roles with Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, the Central Florida Disability Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Democratic Executive Committee, and was a board member at Mad Cow Theatre.

A respected leader in arts education, for several years Joe has chaired the Osceola Arts for a Complete Education Coalition which advocates for quality arts education in K-12 public schools. He is a member of ``The Circle'' coalition for the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and a past board member for the arts education non-profit, Applause Academy. Recognizing Joe's contributions, the Florida Alliance for Arts Education awarded him with their 2013 Leadership Award.

During the 2013 and 2014 legislative session, Rep. Saunders filed the Florida Competitive Workforce Act which would ban employment and housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bi-partisan bill earned 35 co-sponsors including 10 Republicans.

Rep. Saunders serves on the House Education Committee, Higher Education and Workforce Subcommittee, Health Quality Subcommittee and is the Ranking Democratic member of the Choice and Innovation Subcommittee.

I am happy to honor Representative Joe Saunders, during LGBT Pride Month, for his leadership and service to the Central Florida community.

Recognizing the Contributions of Michael Slaymaker

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Michael Slaymaker. Michael has a phenomenal record of success in his career as a fundraising professional and a gay rights advocate. Whether the nonprofit organization was large or small, Michael's knowledge, skills, abilities, and dedication to the mission of these organizations earned the same results--he doubled the fundraising revenues, in some cases increased the revenues ten-fold. During his career, Michael Slaymaker has generated over $33 million for nonprofit organizations.

Michael started out as a volunteer fundraiser for the Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) in August 1998, but was quickly hired as a part rime contract employee to help the small arts organization. During his tenure, he helped OGC increase their annual budget from $28,000 to $189,000. Raising funds for a gay organization in Orlando was a challenge, but Michael's commitment to diversity and his belief in the chorus' vision to use music to change images and attitudes, build a stronger community, and make the world a better place created a tremendous impact. Many local arts organization in Orlando have closed their doors, but due to the ten years of success from Michael's fundraising efforts, OGC continues to entertain audiences and remain solvent.

Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA) provides a safe space for Central Florida gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teenagers through support groups, and social, educational, and recreational activities, so that none of the youth will ever feel that suicide is the answer. In 2007, Michael Slaymaker became the volunteer Board President. Although the organization was founded in 1990, it took Michael's leadership and knowledge to secure a 501(c)(3) designation and take this tiny nonprofit organization to new levels. Michael strengthened the board and volunteer structure and increased the number of chapters, so that the number of youth being served could increase significantly. Michael serves as the main volunteer fundraiser and leader today. He has increased their annual campaign from $1,900 to a high of $49,000 for this all-volunteer organization. Over the past 25 years, OYA has impacted the lives of 1,300 young people and not a single one has committed suicide.

After being denied a job by a local non-profit because he was gay, Michael recruited a group of volunteers to change local ordinances and policies to make sure what happened to him would never happen to anyone else. In April, 2000, Michael founded the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee (OADO). The mission of OADO is to secure protection for Central Florida residents from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Under Michael's leadership, drive, and direction the group has amended or updated a staggering 15 ordinances and policies in Orange County, Florida.

I am happy to honor Michael Slaymaker, during LGBT Pride Month, for his contributions to the Central Florida community.

Recognizing the Contributions of Randy Stephens

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Randy Stephens. Raised in rural Alabama by blue collar parents, Randy learned activism at an early age. Both parents were officials with local unions and were role models for employee activism. The picket line was Randy's childhood playground. Upon graduation from Talladega High School, Randy attended Auburn University where he became involved in student government. His interest in government grew while attending Cumberland School of Law from which he graduated in 1981.

After serving as staff attorney for Justice Eric Embry of the Alabama Supreme Court, Randy took a position with the Alabama Education Association (AEA). While serving as attorney and lobbyist, Randy worked on influencing politics by using a statewide network of teachers and support personnel in local campaigns. As a result, AEA was a dominant voice in state politics for decades.

Looking for a change, Randy relocated to Florida in 1992. The activist in him began to get restless. He became involved in, and later chaired, the Rainbow Democratic Club and became the GLBT Democratic Caucus's Region Director for Central Florida. Randy helped lay the groundwork for identifying and registering LGBT persons in Orange County. Thousands of members of the community were registered, giving the community increased influence in many local and statewide elections. Randy also served as a member of the Orlando Anti- Discrimination Ordinance Committee (OADO) which successfully championed for equality rights in both the City of Orlando and the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Randy has served as the Executive Director of the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida for the past four years. During this time ``The Center'' has become a vital part of the GLBT Community, hosting numerous Town Hall meetings and providing the community with useful information on issues like marriage equality. Also, during Randy's tenure, The Center expanded its HIV testing hours, becoming the first center in Florida to test seven days a week and one of the largest HIV testing centers in the state.

Recently married to his partner, Thomas Berthier, Randy anticipates the overturning of the remaining sections of the Defense of Marriage Act and the Florida ban on same sex marriage. Randy always looks for ways to ensure equality for all.

I am happy to honor Randy Stephens, during LGBT Pride Month, for his contributions to the Central Florida community.

Recognizing the Contributions of Maria Ruiz Margenot

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Maria Ruiz Margenot. Born in Cuba during Castro's Revolution, Maria witnessed the debilitating effect of a culture robbed of its freedoms, rights, and voice. Her parents, Victor and Rosaura Ruiz, at immense personal sacrifice, took their young children and fled political oppression. Upon arriving in the United States, her family was classified as political refugees and they were able to obtain green cards.

Maria's family began anew at the Jersey shore. From her experience as a refugee, Maria learned to value the right to vote, to speak out, and to seek social justice.

Maria moved to South Florida, where she found her niche in the hospitality industry, as well as a large community of Cuban exiles. There, she was able to raise her daughter, Ashley, and experienced and embraced both her Cuban and American heritage.

Through passion and commitment, Maria has become a formidable leader in both her industry and community. She is an instrumental figure at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, one of the most recognized and respected hospitality companies in the world. She serves as Senior Vice President of Sales Development, Recruiting and Training. Maria has impacted her company by fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity. She has championed diversity efforts to ensure everyone will feel accepted and valued in the workplace. As a result of employees like Maria, Wyndham Vacation Ownership is consistently named a Best Place to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality.

As her company's highest-ranking Hispanic woman, she was the founding executive sponsor of FUERTE!, a Hispanic employee resource group. Maria has shared her personal story through WynPride, her company's group for LGBT employees and straight allies. Her work isn't confined to the walls of her office

building, as she's a strong voice for the LGBT population in the business community.

Maria volunteers for the Human Rights Campaign and serves as Fed Club co-chair. She's a member of various civic groups, such as Equality Florida, 100 Women Strong, the Florida Diversity Council, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, MBA Orlando, and NCLR (National Council of La Raza). Following in her mother's footsteps as a strong supporter of organizations committed to women's reproductive health, she also serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando.

Maria has represented Wyndham Worldwide at the Top 50 Latina Women Award at the White House, has received the Multicultural Leadership Award from the Florida Diversity Council, and has been recognized as Woman of the Year by the National Professional Women's Association.

I am happy to honor Maria Ruiz Margenot, during LGBT Pride Month, for her contributions to the Central Florida community.

Recognizing the Contributions of Mary Meeks

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Mary Meeks. As a child Mary learned fearlessness from her mother, Syble Meeks, who taught her to recognize injustice and stand up for herself and others. Even back then Mary knew she wanted to be an attorney and when she grew up and entered law school, civil rights and constitutional law became her passion and life's work.

Mary has practiced law in Central Florida since 1988, where she has represented individuals, small business owners, and Fortune 500 companies for over 26 years. But nothing has been more important or gratifying to her than fighting and dismantling discrimination, whether on behalf of a client or on behalf of an entire community.

Currently, Mary is a member of the legal team representing six plaintiff couples and Equality Florida who have filed a historic lawsuit challenging Florida's two state statutes and state constitutional amendment which ban marriage equality. She is honored to be working alongside Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the most influential attorney in the national LGBT rights movement, to bring marriage equality to Florida.

Mary has worked extensively with municipal and state government to write and advocate for legislation to legally protect LGBT individuals, couples, and families in Florida. Her work has resulted in numerous Human Rights Ordinances and Domestic Partnership Registries, and a multitude of Employee Benefits being implemented throughout the state. Mary co-authored the 2012 Orlando/Orange County Domestic Partnership Registry Ordinance which became model legislation for other local communities in Florida. She is also the co-author of Florida Senate and House Bills which have been introduced to create a statewide domestic partnership registry to provide important legal protections to same-sex couples no matter where they live or travel.

Mary has served the LGBT and wider community in many leadership positions, including serving on the Boards of the National LGBT Bar Foundation, the Central Florida ACLU Legal Panel, the Orlando Anti- Discrimination Ordinance Committee, the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association, and Equality Florida's Central Florida Steering Committee. Mary has taught Employment Discrimination Law and Florida Civil Practice as an Adjunct Professor at Barry University School of Law, and has served as a consultant to The Orlando Business Journal and The Orlando Sentinel on employment issues.

Mary is a frequent speaker and author on employment and civil rights issues. Her column, ``Living Loud,'' is featured regularly in The Watermark, Florida's statewide LGBT publication. Mary and her wife, Vicki Nantz, have produced a series of acclaimed documentaries on social justice subjects and have traveled together throughout the state advocating for equality.

I am happy to honor Mary Meeks, during LGBT Pride Month, for her contributions to the Central Florida community.