Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Muslim Alliance of Florida. This organization does excellent work for so many people around the State.

Foremost among those is its annual scholarship dinner for graduating high school seniors. Now in its sixth year, the scholarship program received applications from 138 students at 56 high schools across Florida, and will present ten winners with an award on June 1, 2013.

Past awardees have enrolled in some of America's most prestigious colleges and universities, as well as continued to excel in their chosen fields of study.

I am very proud of the Alliance, and am privileged to have so many of its members live in my Congressional district.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize the American Muslim Alliance, and express my most sincere gratitude for all that they do in our community. I also want to congratulate this year's winners, and wish them much success in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in recognition of May as National Foster Care Month. National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness for the hundreds of thousands of children and youth who are in our nation's foster care system. Each one of these individuals is part of a network of dedicated professionals, foster parents, and advocates who work 365 days a year, and for that they must be commended.

Furthermore, I believe that it is imperative we focus on the day-to- day successes of these children and their allies. In March 2012, I was proud to host a listening tour through Broward and Miami-Dade counties to bring greater attention to the efforts of local communities striving to improve our foster care system.

As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am distinctly aware of the issues facing our child welfare system. Currently, there are over 400,000 children in our nation's foster care system, many of whom have serious emotional or medical problems. On average, these children wait three years for permanent families, with many aging out of foster care without the love and support from family. These children deserve permanent loving families, and it is our responsibility as legislators to create policy that will help to that improve their outcomes.

At times, the frailties and stark statistics of the foster care system can seem overwhelming. However, as I have seen from my own experience, when given a voice and a chance, foster youth are resilient, capable, and yearning for success. It is up to all of us to nurture the greatness in these youth.

Investing in our children's future is an investment in the future of our nation, and that is why I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to move this country forward on issues critical to their success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the contributions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

CITES was created in 1973 to ensure that international trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. Launched with a few signatory nations, CITES has now 178 parties that have an international obligation and responsibility to protect our planets' endangered animals and plants. Nearly 5,000 species of animals and 29,000 species of plants are protected by the Convention against over- exploitation through international trade. Adherence to these protective measures has benefited the conservation of animals and plants worldwide.

Unfortunately, more and more species are at risk of extinction and international trade, both legal and illegal, has exacerbated the dangers. International wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars per year and to include hundreds of millions of live plants and animals and derived products such as food products, leather and fur, ornamentals, medicinal, and timber. Such high levels of exploitation of and trade in wild animals and plants, together with other factors

such as habitat loss, are capable of bringing some species close to extinction.

Every two to three years, the parties of CITES meet at the Conference of the Parties to review the status of species in danger of extinction and establish trade restrictions. The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties was held in March 2013. Several proposals were submitted during the summit, some of them ensuring better protections for endangered species, others trying to downlist species and re-open trade. While proposals to up listing five valuable kinds of shark species were successfully adopted, proposals to establish stronger protections for the polar bear and other species were unfortunately rejected. I am saddened to see that economic interests have prevailed over species conservation, risking to bring species close to extinction. This is unacceptable.

My resolution will recognize the important contributions the Convention has made in regulating international trade in endangered species and protecting endangered species worldwide. It will also applaud the Convention's leadership in protecting the African elephants, five sharks and other endangered species. Lastly, the resolution will urge all parties to the Convention to collaborate effectively to curb excessive exploitation of species for international trade and to adopt stronger protections for several endangered species at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in South Africa in 2016.

Mr. Speaker, the United States has a moral obligation to protect endangered species and their natural habitat. Wild animals are a very important part of our commonly held natural resources and contribute to the diversity and stability of our environment. We must continue to maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem that allows for the coexistence of both human beings and the world's most incredible species. It is essential to work with the international community to ensure the survival of these species. I believe that the stakes are too high to let national interests and differences hinder the future of our planet.

I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting wildlife and promoting environmental conservation across the globe by supporting this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ismael Guzman, a senior at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. Ismael is fine young man who has received good grades, and will graduate later this month. He has courageously chosen to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

Ismael should be extremely proud of his decision to serve this nation. It is thanks to the commitment and dedication of individuals such as him, that we are able to meet here in the House of Representatives, and openly debate and legislate on the many issues facing our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Ismael Guzman for his selflessness to enlist in the Marine Corps. I am certain that he will serve with honor and distinction. We owe him, as well as all the men and women serving in uniform a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bernard Gray, a senior at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. Bernard is a fine young man, who has compiled a very good academic record at Glades Central, and will be graduating later this month. He has proudly chosen to enlist in the United States Army.

I want to congratulate Bernard on his decision to serve his country. It is thanks to the dedication of fine individuals such as him, that we are able to meet here in the House of Representatives, and openly debate and legislate on the many issues facing our nation.

Mr. Speaker, Bernard Gray is a selfless and courageous individual. I am certain that he will make us proud with his service. We owe him, as well as all the men and women in uniform an enormous debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Jacoby Dickens, who passed away this month at the age of 82. Jacoby was a prominent business leader, and served as Chairman of Seaway Bank & Trust Co., which is the largest black-owned bank in Chicago. He also served on the boards of Chicago State University, the School of Business at Florida A&M University, and the Chicago Urban League. He was a well-known philanthropist, and donated more than $1 million to Chicago State University, where his name adorns the main athletic center.

Jacoby truly embodies the American dream, as his inspiring success story is rooted in the humblest of beginnings. He was one of six children, growing up in Panama City, Florida. His family moved to the South Side of Chicago in 1946. A teenager at the time, he attended Wendell Phillips High School.

Always possessing a knack for business, Jacoby began saving money while working as a building engineer. With these savings, he invested in real estate, and eventually purchased and managed a large number of apartment buildings in the South Side before selling his holdings in 1971. In time, he expanded his investments into other parts of Chicago, primarily investing in several bowling alleys. Seen as a financial up- and-comer, Seaway Bank & Trust Co. asked him to join their board in 1979. He became Chairman of the bank in 1983. Seaway was one of very few banks willing to provide loans in tough neighborhoods on the South Side, and saw Jacoby as a model of success for potential investments.

Building a half-billion-dollar organization, perhaps the most profound aspect of his legacy is his dedication to serving African- Americans in their community at a time when many were unwilling to take such risks. Countless businesses, families, and communities at large were positively impacted by his trust in people. Jacoby believed that people are equal and deserve the opportunity to better themselves. Originally only one of few black-owned banks in the city of Chicago, Seaway is now by far the largest and most successful.

Mr. Speaker, Jacoby Dickens was a dear friend of mine. He was a great American who gave back to his community and this nation. I am truly saddened by his passing. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay to tribute the life of the Rev. Herman C. McCray, who died on April 16, 2013, at the age of 72. Rev. McCray was a resident of Riviera Beach, Florida and a 1959 graduate of Roosevelt High School. He was a civil rights leader and founder of McCray's Backyard BBQ. Additionally, he was a veteran of the United States Air Force, and an assistant pastor at Greater Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Riviera Beach.

Education was very important to Rev. McCray. He worked very hard to try to prevent the closing of Roosevelt High School in 1970, when it became a Middle School.

Rev. McCray will be remembered by his friends and family as ``a good talker and a good listener,'' and someone who ``wanted everyone treated equally.'' Furthermore, in 2010, the bridge on Congress Avenue that connects Riviera Beach to West Palm Beach was dedicated in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, Rev. McCray was truly loved by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, a retired schoolteacher, his sons, Derrick McCray, Sr., Demetrius McCray and Herman McCray III and a sister, Cynthia Morrow.

He is somebody who loved his community, and fought all of his life for the betterment of humanity. Rev. McCray was a great friend to me, and will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Before I begin, I would like to take a moment, as have almost all of our colleagues that have spoken here today, to offer my sincerest condolences to the people of Boston, Massachusetts, following the deadly explosions at

Monday's marathon. I can't speak for everyone here, but I believe that most of us would say that the thoughts and prayers of the United States Congress are with the victims, their families and friends at this most difficult time. Those responsible for this act of terror will be brought to justice.

Mr. Speaker, while I rise today in support of H.R. 624, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, better known as CISPA, I do not support the rule. My friend from Georgia spoke about how important it is that we have the reading of the rule, and one of the particular efforts of Congress that allows for there not to be any abridgement of that, but I do believe that we would be better served if this were an open rule.

Last night, during our Rules Committee hearing, the majority blocked several germane Democratic amendments which would have further helped to balance cybersecurity concerns with smart policies that protect our citizens. I spoke to those issues last night, and I raise them again, particularly the two amendments offered by our colleagues, Ms. Schakowsky and Mr. Schiff, and others.

However, the underlying CISPA legislation is, as my friend from Georgia said, a bipartisan bill that aims to safeguard our Nation's computer networks and critical infrastructure by allowing for two-way cyber threat information sharing on an entirely voluntary basis, both between the private sector and the Federal Government, and within the private sector itself.

In his March 12, 2013, testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, stated for the first time that cyber attacks and cyber espionage have supplanted terrorism as the top security threat facing the United States.

In recent months, media reports have highlighted cyber attacks on several major U.S. companies, including Facebook, Google, and the network security firm RSA, as well as The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Washington Post newspapers.

Furthermore, government networks such as those of the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States Senate have also been targeted by hackers. Waves of cyber attacks have sought to disrupt operations at financial institutions and service providers, including American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, MasterCard, PayPal, and Visa.

The fact of the matter is that state actors, terrorist organizations, criminal groups, individuals, and countless persons that describe themselves as hackers attack our public and private computer networks thousands of times every day. Many foreign hackers seek to steal valuable trade secrets, which results in the loss of countless American jobs. There are estimates that have been quoted of loss from economic espionage that range as high as $400 billion a year.

Unfortunately, the same vulnerabilities used to steal trade secrets can be used to attack the critical infrastructure we depend on every day. Our economy, our power grids, and our defenses are increasingly reliant on computers and network integration. These networks power our homes, provide our clean water, protect our bank accounts, defend our intellectual property, guard our national security information, and manage other critical services. In addition to intellectual property and national security intelligence, personal finance, health care, and other private records are prime targets for hackers to steal.

According to the Information Technology Industry Council, 18 adults become victims to cyber crime--including identity theft and phishing campaigns--every second. This adds up to 1.5 million cyber crime victims each day.

Cyber attacks present a very real and dangerous threat to the United States. However, the government currently does not have the authority to share classified cyber intelligence information with the private sector.

While private companies have taken considerable measures to protect their networks, they often have limited information and can only respond to known threats.

Cyber threats evolve at the speed of technology, and CISPA, this measure, helps the private sector protect against cyber attacks by providing companies with the latest cyber threat information from the intelligence community, which has timely, classified information about destructive malware. This cyber threat intelligence is the information that companies and the government need to protect and defend their networks.

The so-called ``signatures'' are primarily made up of numerical codes consisting of zeros and ones, without any personal information attached.

CISPA is the product of close cooperation between the intelligence community, the private sector companies, and trade groups and, to a certain degree, the White House, as it pertains to many of the measures that are included in this legislation.

During their efforts to improve the bill, they also maintained a dialogue with privacy advocates in an effort to strengthen civil liberties protections and oversight.

I add a personal note here for the reason that, over a period of 10 years, I served 8 of those years on the Intelligence Committee, and the now-chairman of the Intelligence Committee and ranking member were both junior members of the committee that I served on. They have risen to the position that they are in and have acted in an extremely responsible way, over a 2-year period of time, trying to bring a measure as complicated as this one, contemplating all of the factors that I've identified and more, including the members of the committee.

I would urge Members of the House of Representatives--many of them continue to have concerns, not only about this particular legislation, but about other intelligence matters, and rightly so are they concerned. But let me remind them that they are Members of a body that allows, if they wish to go into the spaces of the Intelligence Committee and to be briefed by staff and Members there on classified information, upon appropriate undertakings, they too can gain the information and insight that's needed in order to make an intelligent determination when they are voting, rather than come out here and criticize the people that do that hard work. They get no benefits, no concerns from the Members, and yet, cannot say all of the things that are needed to say or be said to the American public.

The same holds for Adam Schiff and Jan Schakowsky and others that I won't mention that I served on that committee with. These are conscientious people who spend more time than almost any Member of Congress on any matter that he or she is attending to, and I have great respect for them. I don't agree with everything that either or all of them say, but I know they put their heart and time, both in the amendments that are offered, as well as in this bill and the particulars that are being put forward to this body.

As a result of their work, 19 improvements to enhance privacy and protect Americans have been adopted. Chief among them, this CISPA measure that requires the government to eliminate any personal information it receives that is not necessary to understand the cyber threat.

It creates no new authorities for any agency, and I can't say that enough. It creates no new authorities for any agency.

It gives companies the flexibility to choose which agency within the intelligence community they would like to work with to protect the cyber networks. It requires an annual review and report by the intelligence community's inspector general of the government's use of any information shared by the private sector.

And I would urge Members, when we increase the responsibilities of the inspector general that we also give the inspector general the resources in order to be able to do the necessary oversight that is required in this legislation.

It includes something that I very much support, and that is a 5-year sunset provision. I've supported other 5-year sunset provisions in the intelligence community and would have preferred, in this instance, that it be a 3-year provision. But the fact of the matter is, it's 5, and we will learn an awful lot during that period of time, and we will be back here dealing with

this same subject at some point in the future.

Allowing for the appropriate sharing of cyber threat information between the government and private sector is key to protecting our Nation from those who would do us harm. CISPA balances the critical need to strengthen our cyber defenses while protecting Americans' individual privacy.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I'm privileged to yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my colleague on the Rules Committee.

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), my friend and a distinguished member of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire about how much time remains on both sides?

With that, Mr. Speaker, in an effort to respond to my colleague and friend from Georgia, I yield 1 additional minute at this time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Mr. Speaker, again, for purposes of clarity, I yield 1 additional minute to my colleague from Colorado (Mr. Polis).

Mr. Speaker, I would advise my friend from Georgia that I'm the last speaker. If he is prepared to close, I am prepared to close.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I thank the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee, my good friend, Mr. Sessions, for his explanation of the measure going forward. I certainly do not anticipate that my side will oppose the measure as offered.

In addition thereto, I would highlight what he did eloquently point out, and that is the bipartisan effort that has been put into this, including all of the negotiations leading up to now what will be the McCaul amendment offered by Mr. Woodall.

CISPA, Mr. Speaker, provides the government and private sector with the tools they need to secure our networks and prevent future cyber attacks, while respecting the privacy of individuals.

In bringing private companies and trade groups to the table, as well as taking into consideration the concerns expressed by civil liberties organizations, CISPA has been improved to better address the growing cybersecurity risks faced by the Federal Government and private sector, provide greater oversight, and protect Americans' privacy. We can take significant steps to reduce our vulnerability to cyber threats today.

I have had the honor and privilege of meeting many of our intelligence professionals when I served as a member of the Intelligence Committee; and since that time, I cannot overstate how much I appreciate, and am humbled by, their service.

Furthermore, I want to take this moment of personal privilege to thank my good friends, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Ruppersberger, and to underscore one of the unnoticed and hardworking staffs' efforts, and that would be the House Intelligence Committee staff, for their hard work and dedication in helping to see this and other measures having to do with the intelligence of this committee to the House floor, as well as in cooperation with their colleagues and ours at the United States Senate.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to Mrs. Jeanette Gobin, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. On this day, she will be honored with a birthday celebration at Savannah Court in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Born in Ontario, Canada on April 30, 1913 to Arthur and Clara DesRoches, Ms. Gobin is the eldest of two children. After completing her education, Ms. Gobin got married and relocated to Detroit, Michigan with her husband. Ms. Gobin developed a love for traveling. She went out on the road with her husband who was a sales representative for a major tool and die company. After Ms. Gobin and her husband retired, they relocated to Rivera Beach, Florida in the late 1970's. When not traveling, Ms. Gobin volunteered her time at local hospitals helping others.

She is a devoted catholic and said: ``My life is an open book. I have lived for 100 years, and have seen almost everything.'' When asked for her secret to living a long life, she said that it is to live life to the fullest, enjoying each day, learn how to laugh and most importantly help others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to an outstanding citizen and woman of faith, Ms. Jeanette Gobin, as she and her loved ones celebrate her 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2013, which will help protect our nation's veterans from unfairly losing their pensions benefits because they received payments to cover expenses incurred after an accident, theft, loss or casualty loss.

When assessing a veteran's eligibility for a pension, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considers a variety of sources of revenue to determine a veteran's annual income. If such income exceeds the income limit set by the VA, the veteran does not qualify for a pension or loses their benefits. Currently, the VA considers any reimbursement that compensates a veteran for his/or her expenses due to accidents, theft or loss as income. Only reimbursements of expenses related to casualty loss are currently exempted from determination of income.

Under current law, if a veteran is seriously injured in an accident or the victim of a theft and receives insurance compensation to cover his/or her medical expenses, or the cost for pain and suffering, he or she will likely lose their pension. This means that the law effectively punishes veterans when they are involved in an accident or theft.

Such a tragedy happened to one of my constituents, a Navy veteran with muscular dystrophy who was hit by a truck when crossing the street in his wheelchair. His pension was abruptly cut-off after he received an insurance settlement payment to cover medical expenses for himself and his service dog, as well as material expenses to replace his wheelchair. As a result, he could not cover his daily expenses and mortgage payments and almost lost his home.

There is clearly something wrong with a law that cancels veterans' pensions following the award of an insurance payment, which was only intended to cover exceptional medical expenses. I am distraught that the VA can cancel the pensions of unemployed and disabled veterans without further notice. The VA has a moral responsibility to care for our veterans and ensure that they live decent lives.

This happens, because the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considers a variety of sources of revenue to determine a veteran's annual income, when assessing a veteran's eligibility for a pension, including medical expenses reimbursements/pain and suffering reimbursements. If a veteran's income exceeds the limit set by the VA, then the veteran does not qualify for a pension or loses his/or her benefits.

For this reason, the bill is being reintroduced to include language from the original bill that addresses the issue of medical expense/pain and suffering reimbursements.

The majority of the original bill, H.R. 923, was passed into legislation in the form of PL 112-154. However, while the law addresses veterans' eligibility for pensions (and surviving spouse/children) in regard to their reimbursements (for any accident, theft or loss, or casualty loss), it does not specify medical expenses or pain and suffering reimbursements.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will ensure that pensions are issued to veterans who legitimately meet the income criteria and rely on such benefits to survive. We must enact regulations that help veterans live better lives, not hurt them. At a time when our nation's servicemen and women are fighting two wars abroad, we have a duty to our past, present, and future veterans to provide them with the very best services and benefits. We owe our veterans an enormous debt, and cannot thank them enough for their service. On behalf of the unfortunate veterans who have slipped through the cracks due his punitive law, such as my aforementioned constituent, I ask for your support of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, you and I were in Rules last night when I made the statement that I'm going to make here today. When I was a child, I learned that you can be penny-wise and pound foolish.

What winds up happening here is for a protracted period of time, we have not been able to retain the kind of staff, the hardworking people that really do the grinding work in committees, as Mr. Hoyer pointed out, and we leave them without the ability to get a raise. And I don't know about you all, but what's going to wind up happening with my staff is some of them are going to get better jobs because they are better served by going into the private sector.

If we want to retain good people, we have to pay good people. And at a time when the public is more aware of what we are doing and making more demands, as rightly they should upon us, we decide to put ourselves in a position to not be able to serve the public.

In the final analysis, some of what we are doing is trying to save our Republican colleagues. They get two-thirds of whatever it is that we're talking about. But we should not be ashamed of what we do here. We deserve the honesty that we would want the American public to expect of us as we conduct our work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution honoring Yoani Sanchez, a courageous blogger and activist for freedom in Cuba, for her ongoing efforts to challenge political, economic, and social oppression. She has become a prominent voice through social media for millions of Cubans who reject the oppression of the Castro regime, having said, ``We Cubans don't deserve what we are living through. I think Cubans deserve to be citizens of the 21st century, in all senses, to test the challenges of modernity.''

Yoani Maria Sanchez Cordero was born in Havana, Cuba on September 4, 1975, and went on to major in Spanish Literature at the Pedagogical Institute before completing a degree in Hispanic Philology at the University of Havana in 2000. While working at Editorial Gente Nueva, Sanchez came to the realization that, like many Cubans, the wages she earned legally were not enough to support her family and highly qualified individuals were unable to find sufficient work. Disenchanted and seeking greater economic opportunities, she moved to Switzerland in 2002 but returned to Cuba in the summer of 2004, discovering her passion for computer science.

In 2004, Sanchez and a group of like-minded compatriots founded Consenso, a magazine of reflection and debate, and three years later she worked as a web master, columnist, and editor for the website Desde Cuba. In April 2007, Sanchez created the blog known as ``Generation Y,'' which started as an outlet for self-expression but has since found an audience with half a million people around the world. Through her weekly blog posts, tweets, and Facebook updates, made possible thanks to the donations of online supporters and Sanchez's unwavering persistence, she has provided an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of day-to-day life in Cuba.

The Castro regime branded Sanchez as a dissident and, since March 2008, blocked access to her blog from within Cuba, where mobile phones, flash drives, and used laptop computers have become lifelines of communication given economic and government barriers to the internet. Sanchez refused to be silenced and continued to write with the help of friends and volunteer collaborators abroad, who post her entries in solidarity and have translated Generation Y into 20 languages.

Sanchez attempted to travel outside of Cuba on 20 occasions, but was repeatedly denied the required exit visa. In January 2013, the Cuban government lifted travel restrictions for citizens and issued Sanchez a passport, allowing her to embark on an 80-day international tour, including Brazil, the Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico, and the United States, to share her experiences living under the Castro regime firsthand. On her first U.S. visit, she will meet with Members of Congress in Washington, D.C. Following her tour, Sanchez intends to return to Havana, where she lives with her husband Reinaldo and their 20-year-old son Teo, and dreams of starting an independent news outlet, saying, ``Life has taught me that the wall comes tumbling down only when you push it.''

Sanchez is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for her activism. In 2009, she became the first blogger to ever interview U.S. President Barack Obama, who applauded her efforts to ``empower fellow Cubans to express themselves through the use of technology.'' She has also received the Ortega y Gasset Award for Digital Journalism in 2008, was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in the ``Heroes and Pioneers'' category for 2008, been awarded the Maria Moore Cabot Prize from Columbia University in 2009 for coverage of Latin America, and received the International Woman of Courage Award from then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, which honors Yoani Sanchez and commends individuals like her who have dedicated their lives to protecting and strengthening civil rights in the face of adversity. Despite violent attacks and protests from Castro supporters and leftists, she has vowed to never stop writing until the people of Cuba are able to express their views freely. I join Yoani Sanchez and her fellow activists in looking forward to the day when all Cubans can freely express themselves in public without fear of reprisal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Everglades for the Next Generation Act.

Everglades restoration is unfortunately at a standstill. All of the projects that can be started are already underway and nearing completion. It has been six years since the last Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Projects (CERP) were authorized. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is supposed to be the vehicle for these authorizations, but clearly is not sufficient. In the 12 years since CERP was signed into law, Congress has passed only one WRDA bill. An awkward state of limbo is not the future Congress had in mind for the Everglades when it passed CERP, and it is not the future that the American people deserve. Congressional inaction has persevered for far too long despite bi-partisan support for restoration.

Regardless of the real progress, restoration efforts will not succeed without the next generation of projects, which cannot begin without further Congressional authorizations. That is exactly what this bill does: authorizes the shovel-ready projects which have been awaiting another WRDA. Additionally, this legislation will make it easier for the Army Corps of

Engineers to move on many of the remaining projects in order to prevent future Congressional bottlenecking.

Restoration is not a theoretical exercise. CERP has demonstrable successes and biennial reports from the National Academy of Sciences. We know that the federal and state governments can successfully work together with private businesses and landowners to reach mutually beneficial agreements that restore the health of this unique, beautiful, wild, and wonderful resource that is absolutely essential for Florida.

I urge my colleagues to support critically important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Lena Horne Recognition Act. This bill would award Lena Horne with a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the Civil Rights Movement. A symbol of elegance and grace, Lena

Horne created a legacy by not only entertaining Americans for over 60 years, but by breaking many racial barriers as a singer, dancer, and actress. Ms. Horne passed away in New York City on May 9, 2010 at the age of 92.

Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Her path to international stardom began in Harlem's Cotton Club, where she was first hired as a chorus dancer at the age of 16. From there, her career continued in Charlie Barney's jazz band, where she became one of the first African-American women to tour with an all white band, to Hollywood and Broadway.

In the 1940s, Ms. Horne was discovered by a Metro Gold Mayer talent scout and moved to Hollywood to be an actress. She was the first black artist to sign a long-term contract with a major studio. Despite her beauty and talent, however, she was limited to minor acting roles because of her race. She was passed over for the role of Julie in the movie Show Boat because the studio did not want the film to star a black actress, and the Motion Picture Code did not allow the depiction of interracial relationships. Nonetheless, she dazzled audiences and critics in a number of films, including Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather.

The struggle for equal and fair treatment was an inseparable and increasingly political part of Ms. Horne's life. During WWII, she toured extensively with the United Service Organizations on the West Coast and in the South in support of the troops. Ms. Horne was outspoken in her criticism of the way black soldiers were treated. She refused to sing for segregated audiences or to groups where German prisoners of war were seated in front of the African-American servicemen.

During the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, Ms. Horne was blacklisted as a communist for seven years due to her civil rights activism and her friendships with Paul Robeson and W.E.B. DuBois. Despite facing continued discrimination, Ms. Horne's career flourished in television and onstage throughout the country. It was during this time that she also established herself as a major recording artist. In 1957, she recorded Lena Horne at the Waldorf Astoria, which reached the Top 10 and became the best selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor's history.

Ms. Horne used her talent and fame to become a powerful voice for civil rights and equality. In 1963, she participated in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She also performed at rallies throughout the country for the National Council for Negro Women and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Ms. Horne finally received the break she had been waiting for her in 1981, which was a one woman Broadway show. Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, was the culmination of her triumphs and struggles. The show enjoyed a 14-month run and earned her a Tony Award and two Grammy Awards.

Furthermore, she received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in both motion pictures and recordings, as well as a footprint on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

Mr. Speaker, Lena Horne was an extraordinary woman who refused to give up her dreams and used her beauty, talent, and intelligence to fight racial discrimination. I urge my colleagues to support the Lena Horne recognition Act, in order to honor her life and legacy with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia, for yielding the customary 30 minutes to me. I rise obviously in opposition to the rule for consideration of H.R. 273, to eliminate the 2013 statutory pay adjustment for Federal employees.

I just heard my colleague from Georgia say that this is a good rule; but I've also heard him say what I agree with very frequently, and that is that this body should proceed toward regular order, allow the committee process to go forward in a meaningful way, to have hearings, and to let the will of the body be worked here in the people's House. I've also heard him talk about closed rules; and it's for that reason that I believe that this process is not a good process because it is a closed rule, and this couldn't, in that sense, be good. There were no hearings.

He talks about this one week, one bill. Why this week for Federal employees? Last night, I talked with six members of the American Federation of Government Employees, some of them older, some of them younger, and all of them agonizing, as are Federal employees around the country.

Let me get to the point. The Republicans have decided that they want to continue in the same shortsighted and counterproductive campaign against Federal employees that we saw in the last Congress. When they introduced this very same bill in the 112th Congress, it passed the House and then went nowhere and accomplished absolutely nothing. I'm quite certain--and I'll bet--that it will face the same fate this time around.

Just last week, the Rules Committee considered H.R. 444, the Require a PLAN Act, which should have been called the ``Republicans Have No Plan Act.'' Instead of offering real solutions to the challenges facing our Nation, my Republican colleagues continue to introduce do-nothing legislation that will do nothing to help the American people.

Obviously, all of us know that we face $85 billion in sequestration cuts in a matter of weeks. These cuts were intended to be a fail-safe. They were supposed to be so unpalatable, so horrible for everyone, that Congress would never allow them to go into effect. Yet, instead of making sure that these massive cuts don't threaten the progress that we've made, my friends on the other side would rather play politics at the expense of the middle class and the working poor, underscoring the working poor.

As the President put it in his State of the Union address: ``Arbitrary deficit reduction is not an economic plan.''

Deficit reduction is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. It is just one tool that will help us get our country back on the right track. You can't build a house with just a saw. Deficit reduction needs to be part of a comprehensive economic plan, one that will stimulate growth and create jobs.

A serious economic plan is one that does not take potshots at our economy and our Nation's full faith and credit for political purposes. We must, in this people's House, move beyond politics and work to avoid a dangerous backslide in our Nation's economic recovery.

For the life of me, I can't even begin to understand why House Republicans continue to pick on Federal employees. It's as if the people that keep the Capitol clean, the police officers that keep us safe, the countless people that work right here on this Capitol complex do not deserve this paltry raise and are to be picked on.

My AFGE friends were saying to me last night that Federal employees have already contributed $103 billion towards deficit reduction. Furthermore, Federal employees and retirees have contributed $15 billion in savings over 10 years through an increased pension contribution. A 2-year Federal pay freeze has been in effect since 2011 and will produce an additional $60 billion in savings. The reduction and delay of a 2013 pay increase included in the current continuing resolution will yield $28 billion in savings.

At what point does enough, as my friend from Virginia said, become enough? What's more and puzzles me--and I asked the question of the scrivener of this bill last evening--is: Why aren't Federal contractors, who make twice as much as Federal employees, included in this pay freeze? He gave me some political fogging. I don't know what it was and don't care to even bother to try to remember.

During the debate over the fiscal cliff, Republicans said that we shouldn't ask corporations and the wealthiest in our society to pay their fair share. The reason that was put--this is a while back during the debate on the fiscal cliff--was that if we tax the wealthy, they won't work as hard if they're taking home less money. What about Federal employees? Why is it that that logic does not apply here? It's incomprehensible that we find ourselves in this position.

Mr. Speaker, if the Federal Government is not paying realistic salaries, then we can't expect to be able to provide for people to allow for themselves and their families to have a decent living.

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that the Federal workforce is smaller now than it was in 1988, a historic low compared to the size of the national population. There are fewer Federal workers now than at any time during President Reagan's administration. Something has got to give.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would advise the gentleman that I was a businessperson, too, and there is a distinction between private businesses and civil servants of the Federal Government.

I'm pleased at this time to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman on the Rules Committee and my good friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, before yielding, I would ask

my good friend from Georgia a question: If we are leaving here, as I suspect we will tomorrow for a week, why don't we just stay here and get this done rather than go on vacation or waycation or whatever we do?

I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

He doesn't control the House, Mr. Woodall.

I continue to yield.

In reclaiming my time, one thing is absolutely certain: the majority whip controls the floor, and the Speaker controls the House, and if they chose for us to stay here, we could stay here.

With that, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my very good friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from New York, who is my ranking member on the Rules Committee, Ms. Slaughter.

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlelady.

Mr. Speaker, would you be kind enough to tell both of us how much time remains.

Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased at this time to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera), a new, very thoughtful Member of the House of Representatives.

Will my colleague yield?

But we have the power in the Rules Committee to waive that germaneness, and we could have done that and allowed Mr. Bera's measure to go forward. I thank my colleague for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), my good friend, the former mayor of his city.

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

I yield the gentlewoman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I would alert my colleague from Georgia that I have no further requests for time, and I'm prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance my time.

I really like and have great affection for my friend from Georgia, and I understand exactly what he just did with reference to the President's commission as appointed by Senator Simpson and Erskine Bowles, but the fount of wisdom with reference to what is required in order for this Nation to right its ship doesn't emanate from just any one commission. And while this particular proposal may be listed as an idea from the Simpson-Bowles Commission, I would urge my friend from Georgia to read the whole thing, which does contemplate shared sacrifice. And that's what I tried to get across to my colleagues here in this institution.

As a person that lived as a child during the Second World War, I saw what sacrifice meant, and I saw the people that did the sacrificing. And they did it together, differently than us today. And that's why I think it's wrong to cherry-pick and then use a sledgehammer against Federal employees for something that is not likely to become the law of the land. It's a waste of time.

The only good thing that I have to say about the bill before us today is that it has zero chance of becoming law. I anxiously wait for my friends on the other side, particularly the leadership, to actually start considering legislation that will help, not hurt, the American people.

Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment which would allow the House to vote on replacing the entire sequester for 2013 with savings from specific policies that reflect a balanced approach to reducing our national debt.

There are only 6 legislative days left until the sequester hits. Now is the time to act. Smart government is not about sequesters; it's about solutions. And it's time to work together for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record along with extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and defeat the previous question.

I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time with the final thought that we don't have that much time to waste, and we are wasting the American people's time.

I know you're on a roll, but will my friend yield for just 5 seconds?

I thank you so very much.

I just want to say America ain't Greece; it ain't going to be Greece.

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

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