Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, in the United States, rare disorders and diseases are defined as conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 Americans. These conditions range from neurological diseases to devastating disorders that affect development. One thing that all of the patients and families affected by these conditions have in common is the need for education, research and treatment.

Though supporting research and development at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, Congress has recognized the necessity for investment in lifesaving innovations that have an impact on rare diseases. On the last day in February each year, people all around the world unite to share their stories and educate communities of researchers, health professionals, governments, families and friends about how rare diseases affect them. I am introducing this resolution to encourage my colleagues in Congress to recognize the challenges facing the rare disease patient community and support efforts to improve access to treatments and cures.

Mr. Speaker, as Americans, we pride ourselves on being the most free and open society the world has ever known. Yet, for far too long, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans have been forced to live in the shadows because of who they are. Year after year, we see attacks on the LGBT community as governments at all levels look to institutionalize discrimination in the name of religious freedom. In 2015, we witnessed my home state of Indiana enact the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving businesses the right to refuse service based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

It is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of discrimination. After Indiana's law passed, the public and the business community came together to express outrage and successfully overturned Indiana's discriminatory law. However, we are still in need of a federal law to affirm the rights of all individuals to be protected from discrimination. That is why I am introducing the Equality for All Resolution to encourage Congress to take actions that ensure all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, know they are valued members of our society. From housing to employment to education, they deserve to live their lives like any other American, free from intolerance because of who they are.

Mr. Speaker, as we begin Black History Month, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali in recognition of his contributions to our nation. I believe it is long past time to recognize an American civil rights activist and sporting legend with Congress' highest honor. Unfortunately, Congress failed to act before The Champ's death last summer, at the age 74, so I ask my colleagues to join me now in honoring an American hero. Over the course of his illustrious career, Muhammad Ali produced some of our nation's most lasting sports memories. From winning a Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, to lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics, his influence as an athlete and a humanitarian spanned over fifty years.

Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1980s, Ali devoted his life to charitable organizations. Ali, and his wife Lonnie, were founding directors of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Clinic in Phoenix, AZ and helped raise over $50 million for Parkinson's research. In addition to helping families cope with illness, Ali led efforts to provide meals for the hungry and helped countless organizations such as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics.

Muhammad Ali's humanitarian efforts went beyond his charitable activities in the United States. In 1990 Muhammad Ali traveled to the Middle East to seek the release of American and British hostages that were being held as human shields in the first Gulf War. After his intervention, 15 hostages were freed. Thanks to his devotion to diplomatic causes and racial harmony, Ali was the recipient of many accolades, including being chosen as a ``U.N. Messenger of Peace'' in 1998 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President Bush.

Through his unyielding dedication to his sport and to struggling populations around the world, Muhammad Ali still serves an example of service and self-sacrifice for generations of Americans. The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting commemoration of his life and work, for which he is deservingly known as ``the Greatest.''

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our nation's most lasting and influential figures by signing on to this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the Transition- To-Success Mentoring Act to help local education agencies prepare at- risk students for the transition from middle school to high school.

During middle school, studies show that many students struggle to balance priorities between school, peer groups and their lives at home. Research also indicates that school-based mentoring is an innovative supplement to the traditional learning that takes place in the classroom. Mentoring provides underserved and at-risk students with much needed attention and support to help keep them engaged in school. For these reasons, I am proposing the creation of the Transition-To- Success Mentoring Program. With this bill, students participating in the program will develop and execute a plan for academic progress with the assistance of a school faculty member or volunteer from the community.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to reauthorize the pre-disaster hazard mitigation program.

First authorized in 2000, the pre-disaster hazard mitigation program has a proven history of saving taxpayer money by investing in cost effective projects that are designed to reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property in the event of a disaster. As the old adage goes: an ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold.

This is true for the pre-disaster hazard mitigation program. In 2005, the Multi Hazard Mitigation Council of the National Institute of

Building Sciences found that for every $1 spent on mitigation, $4 was saved in potential disaster costs. Other corollary benefits and indirect savings at the local level and within the business sector were also identified. Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed the cost savings of the program. Using a different analysis, the CBO found in 2007 that for every $1 spent on mitigation, $3 was saved in potential disaster costs.

But it is not just empirical studies that have confirmed the benefits of this program. There are numerous examples of flood control projects, voluntary acquisitions of real property located in flood zones, and the construction of safe rooms that have saved lives and prevented future damage. Areas that have experienced flood damage in the past, and have flooded again, experienced reduced or no damage thanks to effective mitigation. For instance, in Iowa, pre-disaster mitigation funds were used to purchase riverfront homes from homeowners that had suffered flood damage and then converted to green space. When the area subsequently flooded again, there was no new damage, thanks to the pre- disaster mitigation efforts.

With today's ongoing fiscal challenges, increasingly severe storms, and escalating effects of climate change, it makes sense for our country to prepare for these disasters now in order to prevent or reduce damage. Smart planning to mitigate the adverse impact of disasters not only saves lives, but saves money--especially over the long run.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy when there were initial damage estimates in the billions of dollars, many Members from both sides of the aisle streamed to the floor to express sympathy to the victims, as well as decry the extent of the damage and large costs. This program represents an opportunity to curb similar costs in the future while also saving lives and protecting property.

It is time to reauthorize the Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Program at a sufficient level to make an impact. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali in recognition of his contributions to our nation. I believe it is long past time to recognize and honor an American civil rights activist and sporting legend with Congress' highest honor. Over the course of his illustrious career, Muhammad Ali has produced some of our nation's most lasting sports memories. From winning a Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics to lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics, his influence as an athlete and a humanitarian has spanned over fifty years.

Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1980s, Ali has devoted his life to charitable organizations. Ali and his wife, Lonnie, are founding directors of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Clinic in Phoenix, AZ and have helped raise over $50 million for Parkinson's research. In addition to helping families cope with illness, Ali has led efforts to provide meals for the hungry and has helped countless organizations such as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics.

Muhammad Ali's humanitarian efforts go beyond his charitable activities in the United

States. In 1990 Muhammad Ali travelled to the Middle East to seek the release of American and British hostages that were being held as human shields in the first Gulf War. After his intervention, 15 hostages were freed. Thanks to his devotion to diplomatic causes and racial harmony, Ali is the recipient of many accolades, including being chosen as a ``U.N. Messenger of Peace'' in 1998 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

Through his unyielding dedication to his sport and to struggling populations around the world, Muhammad Ali serves as an example of service and self-sacrifice for generations of Americans. The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting commemoration of his life and work, for which he is deservingly known as ``the Greatest.''

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our nation's most lasting and influential figures by signing on to this important legislation.

I have to acknowledge my colleague, my friend, my brother, and leader, not only nationwide but internationally, but especially in Brooklyn, for his boldness, his tenacity, Mr. Speaker, his intestinal fortitude, and his ability as a sitting Member of Congress to still speak truth to power, Congressman Jeffries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to express my deepest condolences to the Brown family, who lost their son far too soon. As a parent, I can only imagine their pain and grief, Mr. Speaker. No parent should have to go through such an ordeal.

As a young African American man, I can relate to the frustration being felt on the streets of Ferguson and streets across our country. The history of this great Nation, Mr. Speaker, past and present, is plagued with incidents of bigotry and discrimination in our justice system. Racial injustice continues to afflict our communities, and with each incident like this one, old wounds are reopened. The feelings felt in Ferguson are real and cannot and should not be discounted.

Mr. Speaker, many right now feel abandoned by our justice system or unfairly singled out for suspicion. These are very legitimate concerns that cannot be ignored or overshadowed by those who have turned to violence.

Now, as a former police officer, Mr. Speaker, I want to say I do respect our system of justice, but I also recognize the shortcomings. We certainly have a long way to go to guarantee our country's children of color are protected equally under the law in every instance, every neighborhood, and all across this great Nation. Mr. Speaker, no community should have to doubt whether justice has prevailed when a decision like this one has been handed down.

We must not let Michael Brown's death be in vain. That would be a disgrace. That would be a tragedy. Today, our Nation is still struggling to heal. But this cannot truly happen until we honestly assess how justice is provided across our country.

This process starts with peaceful protests, yes, but it ends with lasting reforms that protect all Americans equally, Mr. Speaker. This will not be easy or quick. But what is clear is that this march toward a better, more equitable country must begin with a unified front.

Now through this tragedy we should bring about lasting change. And so tonight on that note, I want to ask, Mr. Speaker, all of my colleagues, my fellow Americans, to stand with the Congressional Black Caucus to make this dream a reality.

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

(Mr. CARSON of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I thank my very esteemed colleague from Florida, Chairman Mica.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 5448, which reauthorizes the Kennedy Center through fiscal year 2019 for operations, repairs, and capital projects. The authorization levels in this bill are derived from the Kennedy Center's 2014 comprehensive building plan and are supported by the Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Center is, first and foremost, a Presidential memorial. We have a responsibility to fund its maintenance, consistent with the dignity of a memorial to the 35th President of the United States of America.

Now, I strongly believe, Mr. Speaker, that allocating funding for proactive maintenance and repairs is in the best interest of our taxpayers. The Kennedy Center is one of the Nation's busiest arts facilities. It presents more than 2,000 performances annually and hosts thousands of theatergoers, visitors, and tourists.

To Chairman Mica's point, the Kennedy Center also provides educational programs for teachers and students from prekindergarten through college across the U.S. This includes a variety of events and activities across the great Hoosier State of Indiana.

These programs are supported by performance fees and donations and include professional development for arts, teachers, specially-designed concerts, phenomenal training programs for talented young musicians, and other outreach projects.

The Kennedy Center is providing tremendous value to taxpayers through educational opportunities and performances, promoting their mission of being a national cultural center.

President Kennedy once said, ``After the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contributions to the human spirit.''

In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting the John F. Kennedy Reauthorization Act of 2014, so we can continue this phenomenal work.

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

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

I rise in support of S. 1934, introduced by Senator John Barrasso.

It directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to transfer the Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse and the land underneath to Teton County, Wyoming.

The GSA has indicated to the committee that the agency has no need for the facility. This directed sale supports the GSA's efforts to downsize and dispose of underutilized properties. However, this bill breaks with precedent. Although the local municipality is required to pay for the fair market value of the building, the bill directs the land underneath the building to be sold for a nominal value. Typically, the building and the land underneath would all be valued at a fair market value when being sold.

The committee has consistently upheld the bipartisan principle that taxpayers are entitled to the full value of their assets in any sale. Nevertheless, the committee is supporting this unusual transaction because the underlying land was originally donated to the GSA by the local municipality, which is why I am supporting selling the land back to them for a nominal value.

The bill provides taxpayers with further protections, Mr. Speaker. The legislation requires that the future use of this property be restricted to public purposes. I urge the GSA to interpret this language consistent with restrictions typically used by the GSA when considering land transfers for public purposes under title 40.

I continue to support efforts to shrink the Federal footprint where appropriate while protecting taxpayer interests, and I urge Members to approve this legislation.

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

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

I rise in support of S. 898.

S. 898 directs the Administrator of the GSA to transfer the old Federal post office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the Amy Biehl High School Foundation in exchange for its fair market value.

The Amy Biehl High School is a public charter school that is sponsored by the foundation that was founded in 1999 and has been residing in the Old Post Office building since 2006. Currently, the public charter school has a long-term lease agreement with the GSA for a nominal rent. The GSA has indicated to the committee that the agency has no need for the facility and that this directed sale supports the GSA's efforts to downsize and dispose of underutilized properties.

My own subcommittee has approved a nearly identical bill.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the memory of Amy Biehl. Ms. Biehl was a 26-year-old Fulbright Scholar working in South Africa when she was tragically attacked and killed in 1993. In the aftermath, Amy's parents, Linda and Peter Biehl, started a foundation to build on their daughter's work toward peace, reconciliation, and multiculturalism in South Africa. The new school, which is located in New Mexico, builds on this great work.

Now, approving this bill to transfer the building at its fair market value will promote Amy's legacy and benefit the taxpayers. I will continue to support efforts by both the committee and the administration to reduce our Federal footprint.

I support this bill, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to approve it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from New Mexico, Madam Lujan Grisham.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend from Florida, Representative Murphy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a profound sense of sadness, as I grieve with so many of my fellow Hoosiers over the loss of a young man who cared deeply for his community. Today, we remember Haris Suleman, a 17-year-old student who passed away last week in a plane crash.

For the past month, Haris had been piloting a single-engine aircraft around the world with the hope of setting a world record and raising money to help build schools in his family's native country of Pakistan. He was a determined young man, who took interest in being a pilot after years of flying with his father, Babar. Sadly, his father, who accompanied him on this trip, is still missing.

Haris was going to be a high school senior this fall and he dreamed of becoming an engineer like his father. Although he was only with us for a short time, Haris made a positive and lasting impact in his community, and his passing is a great loss for so many. May his determination to reach his goals and his commitment to help others serve as an example for all of us to follow.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our thoughts and prayers to Haris Suleman's family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sadness and outrage over the violence that has ravaged my Indianapolis congressional district.

Eighty people, Mr. Speaker, have been murdered so far in 2014. In the last year alone, two police officers--Officer Rod Bradway and Officer Perry Renn--were senselessly gunned down in the line of duty.

Enough is enough. I am calling on my fellow Hoosiers to end this violence, and I am asking my colleagues here in Congress and in the administration for help.

With violence on the rise, police levels in Indianapolis have dropped below 1,500 officers, the lowest number in 7 years. We need increased funding for law enforcement and programs that keep our children off of our streets. We need the resources to not only combat crime, but prevent it from happening in the first place.

It is time for us to end the violence and make our streets safe again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a profound sense of sadness, as I grieve with the City of Indianapolis and the entire law enforcement community over the loss of a true public servant. Today, we remember Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Perry Renn, a fallen Hoosier who dedicated his life to serving others.

Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Officer Renn responded to a call where shots had already been fired at the scene. Upon his arrival, he acted without regard to his own life in order to protect those of his fellow officers and innocent bystanders. In doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

As a 20 year veteran of the IMPD, this was not the first time Officer Renn had risked his own life in an effort to protect his fellow Hoosiers. In 2003, he received the department's Medal of Bravery and later received a Letter of Commendation for his valiant effort to save lives after a stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. Officer Renn's years of heroism, dedication and self-sacrifice have left a lasting legacy on the Indianapolis community.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our thoughts and prayers to Officer Renn's wife and family, and pay tribute to his life by maintaining our steadfast support for local law enforcement officers who selflessly serve in our communities.

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

I also support H.R. 3786, which directs the General Services Administration, the GSA, on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, to convey 9 acres of property in Anchorage, Alaska, to the local municipality in exchange for its fair market value.

The GSA reports that this property is, effectively, underutilized, and I support selling the property for its highest value and best use. This bill, Mr. Speaker, protects the interests of taxpayers, and it allows the Federal Government to manage its property portfolio more efficiently. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3998 was introduced by Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham and directs the GSA to transfer the old Federal post office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the Amy Biehl High School Foundation in exchange for its fair market value.

The Amy Biehl High School Foundation runs a public charter school that was founded in 1999 and has been residing in the GSA-owned old Federal post office building since 2006. Currently, the public charter school has a long-term lease with the GSA for nominal rent.

GSA has determined that it would be best to remove the building from their inventory because the building does not generate significant revenue for the agency. In addition, the current lease is not consistent with GSA's mission.

The charter school has been working with GSA on transferring the building's ownership to the foundation since 2007. Today's bill, Mr. Speaker, will allow that transfer to happen very quickly, while protecting the taxpayers' interests.

I also want to take a moment to talk about Amy Biehl and the inspiration for this great charter school. Amy was a 26-year-old Fulbright Scholar working in South Africa when she was tragically attacked and killed in 1993.

Amy's parents refused to allow their daughter's violent death to become her legacy. Instead, Linda and Peter Biehl started a foundation to build on their daughter's work toward peace, reconciliation, and multiculturalism. The school in New Mexico builds on this work.

Approving this bill, Mr. Speaker, to transfer the lease at its fair market value will simply promote Amy's legacy and benefit taxpayers.

I support this bill, Mr. Speaker, and I certainly urge its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Lujan Grisham).

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