Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Heavenly Angels Daycare Center.

The Heavenly Angels Daycare Center opened on August 8, 2006 with Mrs. Emma Bell as owner and director, in Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi on Church St.

Mrs. Bell loves children and started Heavenly Angels Daycare Center with 8 enrolled from 6 months to 3 years old. She also had an After School Program with 6 children up to 12 years old.

Through the years, the Heavenly Angels Daycare Center has grown and in 2008 a Pre-K Center was included to better equip children who started in the center to be able to successfully start 1st grade.

Heavenly Angels Daycare Center has been progressing for 8 years with a current full capacity of 87 children, who are enjoying the process of learning and the After School Program has 27 children.

Mrs. Bell, because of her hard and diligent work at Heavenly Angels Daycare Center has received a trophy honoring her as Businesswoman of the Year.

Mrs. Bell has been married for 25 years to a husband that loves and supports her. They have 5 children: 4 boys and 1 daughter, Janice, who has worked with Heavenly Angels Daycare Center since its opening and graduated from Jackson State University with a Business Degree.

Heavenly Angels Daycare Center's slogan is: To look, listen and learn and every child succeeds. Mrs. Bell stated that ``When they come through our doors, we make sure that they get the learning that they need. They all are smart children.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Heavenly Angels Daycare Center for caring and educating children.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Canton, Mississippi.

The population of Madison County, Mississippi has been predominantly African-American since 1840. Prior to 1865, some members of the African-American population, most of whom had arrived in the county as slaves, were permitted to attend worship services, to be baptized and to be married in the area churches. They were also allowed to join established white congregations.

Early county records indicate that slaves were a part of the church communities. The Old Madison Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian, and the First Baptist listed a total membership of one hundred and thirty-four. One hundred were slaves and the other thirty- four were whites.

After the Civil War and freedom, African-Americans naturally desired to establish their own houses of worship. In 1865, the newly freed members of the congregation of First Baptist, with encouragement and financial assistance from their white counterparts, organized Mount Zion Baptist Church. Rev. T. J. Drane, pastor of the white church, served as minister receiving for his services a monthly salary of one dollar.

In 1870, Drane and R. B. Johnson donated two acres of land on the northern boundary of the plantation to Mount Zion. The first church was erected on Freedman Hill, located at the corner of North Railroad and Bowman Streets, according to the 1898 George and Dunlap map of Canton. Rev. Drane called for a meeting with council along with Mr. Will Powell from the white Baptist Church to help establish the church.

In addition to serving as pastor, Rev. Drane ran a day school and was assisted by Lillian Highgate, a white female. Rev. Drane received an additional $1.50 a month for his services. He also organized and maintained the first Sunday school class. All other organizations came into existence after Rev. Drane's resignation. Rev. Jordan Williams replaced him.

Newspapers frequently carried announcements concerning Mount Zion's activities. For example, ``Several converts at the Colored Baptist Church were baptized at the railroad culvert,'' or ``Rev. Williams, pastor of the Colored Baptist Church, immersed ten converts last Sunday night''. The second church site was across the street where the TWL parking lot is now located.

The third and fourth pastors were Reverends Mass and Davis. The fifth pastor, Rev. R.T. Sims, served for eighteen years and Rev. W. L. Varnado for seven. The seventh through the tenth pastors were as follows: Rev. Bradley, Rev. Morris, Rev. Drew, and Rev. A. D. Purnell.

By the 1920's, the congregation had outgrown the church and Rev. Purnell, along with members, began raising money for a larger building. The new lot for our present church was purchased from Jack Warren. Rev. Purnell asked Mr. S. M. Reddrick, Vice President of Madison County Bank, to serve as custodian over the church's building funds. He also asked if he would direct the building of the church and issue bonds to underwrite construction costs.

The bank issue $14,000 in bonds. Raymond H. Spencer was the architect of the neoclassical brick structure. He also designed the First Methodist Church of which Reddick was a member. The building was erected in 1929 at the cost of $35,000. The congregation moved into the new structure February 1930.

Rev. P. F. Parker, the eleventh pastor, with the help of God and members, burned the mortgage. Under his leadership the church grew. For example, the following organizations played an active role in missionary work: Senior Missionary Society, Junior Matrons, Young Woman's Auxiliary, Red Circle/Sunshine Band, Sunday school, Baptist Training Union, Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus, Junior/Beginner's Choir, New Membership Club, Pastor's Aide, Boys' Bible Club and Usher Board. Rev. Parker served until his death in 1970.

Mount Zion continued to serve the African-American community religiously and socially. During the summer of 1964, Mount Zion was the location of a pivotal moment in our state's civil rights struggle. In her autobiography, Coming of Age in Mississippi, Ann Moody notes that Mount Zion was the biggest Negro church in Canton and the center of the local marches.

On Friday, May 29, 1964, on the church lawn, six hundred community and church members witnessed the near death beating of McKinley Hamilton, a young African-American man. As a result, eighty church members marched on the Madison County jail in one of the first protest marches in Canton. Mount Zion became known as the ``Church of Refuge''. In 1968, twelve hundred students from Rogers High School marched because they were outraged over the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A group of parents led them to Mount Zion. Rev. Parker opened the doors of the church to them, thus saving them from injury by law enforcement officers waiting for them on Hickory Street in front of High's Funeral Home.

Dr. W. L. Johnson, our twelfth and present pastor, has served for twenty-nine years. His words have power through the Holy Spirit. Under Dr. Johnson's leadership, the church has continued its growth. For example, the church has been air-conditioned, carpeted throughout, a fellowship hall and recreation center built and equipped, four parking lots purchased and surfaced, restrooms were remodeled, a lounge installed, pews padded, a new intercom system purchased, speakers installed in the pulpit and choir loft, additional chairs purchased for the choir and seating areas in the wings, two new copiers, a computer, storage room, and a fifteen passenger van and twenty-seven passenger bus were also purchased. The stained glass windows were repaired, and the pastor study was moved upstairs.

We now have a summer recreation program Our membership is approximately 500 and still growing. The church is one of the most monumental, intact, and historic resources associated with the Canton African-American Community. As a result of this, the church was recently placed on the registry of Historical Buildings.

Our aim is to give every God-seeking person an opportunity to receive salvation. The church clearly reflects the importance of the social and religious life of the African-American community from its birth in 1865 up to the present. Let us resolve to make service to Christ a priority in our lives.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge Ivory Britton, a Justice Court Judge of District 2, who is a native Jacksonian.

Judge Britton was reared on Tougaloo Street in the Virden Addition Community.

Judge Britton attended Brinkley Elementary School, which is now Walton Elementary School, and graduated from Brinkley High School. He attended: the University of Judicial Court, National Judicial College, Reno, NV, National Judges Association, American Judges Association, and National Center for State Courts.

As a Justice Court Judge, Britton works hard to ensure fair and equal treatment for all litigants of his court. He has increased his knowledge of the judicial process to enable citizens to easily use the Justice Court System. Judge Britton will continue to be fair and accessible to all citizens and be knowledgeable and obedient to the laws of The State of Mississippi.

Judge Britton is married to Liza Britton and they have three children: Perry, Dexter and Tabathia. He is a member of Cade Chapel M. B. Church.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Judge Ivory E. Britton.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable educator in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Mrs. Takiya Frye-Lewis is the daughter of Ms. Carolyn Frye and the late Mr. Levester Frye, Sr. She is married to Mr. Casey T. Lewis and is the mother of two girls; Ciera and Keziah and is expecting a son in July of 2014 who will be named Casey, Jr. Although born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Takiya Frye-Lewis has been a resident of Bolivar County, Mississippi for 17 years and she considers herself a ``transplanted native.''

Mrs. Lewis graduated from Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1997 and received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mississippi Valley State University in 2005 and her Master of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2008 from Mississippi Valley State University.

Mrs. Lewis serves in the capacity of a Pre-K teacher at the Coahoma Opportunities Incorporated Head Start Center in Clarksdale, Mississippi. During her 7 years of teaching diverse socio-economic youths ranging in the ages of 3 to 5 years old, she has found it challenging and rewarding. She desires that all of the children in her classroom and care receive the necessary tools to advance their understanding, knowledge of all subject matter which is taught, even devoting time for individualized coaching and tutoring.

Mrs. Lewis loves teaching and believes in helping children and adults strive towards their life endeavors. Her future objectives are to take the teachers exam and become a kindergarten teacher in a public school district.

Mrs. Lewis devoted endless hours to running errands, home care needs, feeding and clothing the less fortunate. Also, she is active in her church by serving as Vice President of the Youth Department, President of the Purity Class, and President of the Youth and Adult choirs.

Mrs. Lewis is a member of the NAACP and Congressman Bennie Thompson's Bi-Monthly Municipal Meetings which is hosted by his Mound Bayou District Office where she is outspoken on issues which affects her community and our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing Head Start professional for her dedication and service to educating the youths.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4450, the ``Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014.''

I am pleased that the Energy and Commerce Committee made important enhancements to H.R. 4450 during its recent markup, significantly improving the bill before us today.

Specifically, H.R. 4450 now includes a provision to enhance accountability of the program by requiring Brand USA to establish performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of its marketing efforts; whether increases in visitors are due to Brand USA's efforts or outside factors; and any cost or benefit to the U.S. economy.

It also includes a provision requiring the Secretary of Commerce to establish formal procedures for revising the policy governing in-kind contributions or resolving disputes about the value of in-kind contributions with Brand USA.

These provisions are responsive to findings in a July 2013 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled ``Brand USA Needs Plans for Measuring Performance and Updated Policy on Private Sector Contributions.''

Given my strong desire to stimulate new tourism to the United States, I requested GAO to examine the effectiveness of Brand USA so that Congress could be informed as to whether the corporation was positioned to achieve its mission.

In that report, GAO concluded that Brand USA has taken some steps to measure its performance but has not yet developed a plan to monitor and evaluate whether its efforts are increasing travel to, and travelers' spending in, the U.S.

GAO also found that there were possible problems with current valuation methodologies for in-kind contributions and cited disputes between the Commerce Department and Brand USA about whether certain types of in-kind contributions are allowed under the law.

For the Federal government's part, the resources that are provided to Brand USA are derived from a fee assessed to foreign travelers that Customs and Border Protection collects. Given the well-documented resource challenges within CBP, I have no doubt that CBP would welcome the opportunity to retain more of these funds for its own traveler facilitation programs and operations but, as a policy matter, Congress has said it must go to this corporation to advertise and promote travel to the U.S.

For its part, it falls to Brand USA to show us that we made the right call by delivering data showing how the ad campaigns and media efforts undertaken by this corporation have impacted travel and the overall economy.

The bill being considered today will help ensure Brand USA addresses deficiencies found by the GAO and utilizes its funding in the most effective and efficient manner possible, as we extend authorization for the program through 2020.

Because of these improvements to the bill, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4803, the ``TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014''.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from South Carolina, Representative Sanford, for his leadership on this legislation.

Upon its creation, TSA was given broad authority to hire, fire, and set the terms of employment of its personnel.

This has resulted in employees, such as Transportation Security Officers, lacking the due process rights afforded other Federal employees.

It has also resulted, in some cases, of abuses of the system for the gain of a few.

According to the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, TSA's Office of Inspection has been gaming the system by employing a bloated number of personnel as ``criminal investigators'' for years.

Those who are designated as ``criminal investigators'' receive additional compensation and are afforded the right to retire early.

H.R. 4803 will put an end to these abuses by requiring the Inspector General to approve the method used by TSA to designate personnel as criminal investigators and by requiring TSA to certify to Congress that only those individuals performing the requisite criminal investigation work are designated as ``criminal investigators''.

According to the Inspector General, properly classifying individuals within TSA's Office of Inspection could save taxpayers as much as $17 million over five years.

During Committee consideration of this measure, I offered an amendment on behalf of Representative Loretta Sanchez that addresses revelations about misuse of Federal Air Marshal Service official's relationships with private vendors to obtain discounted or free firearms by TSA personnel.

Specifically, in April, the Committee became aware that the former director of the Federal Air Marshal Service bought several guns from an employee who is under investigation for using his position to obtain free and discounted firearms.

Unfortunately, TSA was less than forthcoming with Congress regarding this investigation, leaving many questions unanswered about how the investigation was conducted and the number of FAMs officials involved.

The exploitation of official relationships for personal gain is a serious matter.

Such misuse occurring within the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Law Enforcement component within TSA is unacceptable.

To address the lack of transparency regarding the investigation, the Committee accepted language I offered to require TSA to provide information and materials associated with the Office of Inspection's review of the allegations to Congress.

With that Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4803.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4802, a bill I am pleased to cosponsor.

The shooting at LAX last November not only took the life of Officer Hernandez but also served as a stark reminder of the dangers that the men and women on the front lines of securing our aviation sector face.

Unarmed and exposed, Transportation Security Officers perform the often thankless task of screening 1.8 million passengers per day.

They do so with limited workplace protections and the great responsibility of preventing another terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11.

Given their vulnerability and the critical role they play in protecting our homeland, it is essential that airports and the law enforcement agencies that protect them have the resources, training, and plans in place to ensure a swift and effective response to a security incident.

In March, as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I had the opportunity to participate in a site visit and field hearing at Los Angeles International Airport that focused on the tragic November 1, 2013 shooting.

We learned that while the response of the individual police officers was heroic, the overall response at LAX left much to be desired.

Panic buttons at the checkpoint were not in working order.

The emergency phone Transportation Security Officers have been trained to use did not display the location of the incident to the command center.

Police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel responding could not communicate via interoperable radios.

The bill before us today represents a bipartisan effort to remedy many of these issues.

Additionally, during Committee consideration of the bill last month, Representative Payne offered an amendment to the bill requiring TSA to conduct a nationwide assessment of the interoperability capabilities of emergency responders at airports.

I am pleased that the amendment was adopted and is included in the bill before the House today.

Such an assessment will help inform future efforts to address communications gaps at airports.

Before yielding back, I am compelled to point out that it has been over eight months since Officer Hernandez was shot and killed, leaving his wife without a husband and his children without a father.

Members on both sides of the aisle have expressed their condolences to the Hernandez family for their loss.

Indeed, we did so in person during our visit to LAX in March.

What we have not done, however, is provided the Hernandez family with all the potential benefits due when an officer dies in the line of duty.

Under current law, the families of individuals serving a public agency in an official capacity as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or chaplain receive compensation if their loved one is killed in the line of duty.

The same is true for families of employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and members of rescue squads or ambulance crews.

Unfortunately, the law has not been updated to include Transportation Security Officers within the definition of what constitutes a public safety officer.

As a result, the families of TSOs who are killed in the line of duty are not eligible for funds from the Public Safety Officer's Benefits Program.

While I am pleased the Appropriations Committee has included language in its Homeland Security bill addressing this issue for the Hernandez family, I would note that the legislation has not come to the House floor.

There is another, more direct effort underway. H.R. 4026, a bill introduced by Representative Brownley of California, would address this issue directly by designating Officer Hernandez, and his fellow Transportation Security Officers as public safety officers.

That bill, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, has thirty-seven cosponsors.

Unfortunately, not a single Republican has signed on to support the measure.

I implore my colleagues to support that legislation so that the families of the men and women on the front lines of protecting our aviation sector are properly compensated should tragedy strike.

With that Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 4802.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4812, the ``Honor Flight Act.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Louisiana, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Richmond, for introducing this bipartisan legislation.

We owe a great debt to the men and women of this country who have served to defend our liberty and freedom.

The Honor Flight Network is one organization that attempts to repay these veterans, by bringing them to Washington, DC, to visit the war memorials commemorating their dedication and sacrifice.

I have seen how these trips have enriched the lives of veterans. In my district, fifty (50) servicemen and women registered with the Honor Flight-Mid South in Tunica, Mississippi.

Enactment of this legislation will, in some small way, express the tremendous appreciation and gratitude that we have for these veterans and their families.

We are all aware of the steps that the Transportation Security Administration takes to ensure the security of the flying public, as well as the amount of time that this process can consume.

We are also aware that the veterans that the Honor Flight Network currently serves are mostly World War II veterans.

These heroes, who in some instances require additional assistance, are often wheel-chair-bound, and have other ailments that can make security screening very time-consuming.

To provide these veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has partnered with TSA to expedite the screening for veterans.

The legislation before us today will ensure that these veterans continue to receive the respect and consideration they deserve when traveling to the capital.

H.R. 4812 represents one of many pieces of legislation that Democratic members of the Committee on Homeland Security have proposed to support veterans.

Former Representative Hochul's ``Clothe a Homeless Hero Act'', signed into law last Congress, ensures that unclaimed clothes that TSA collects at airports is provided to homeless or needy veterans.

Earlier this Congress, Representative Gabbard's ``Helping Heroes Fly Act'' was signed into law by President Obama.

That legislation ensures that severely-injured service members and veterans are provided expedited screening by TSA.

Now we have the opportunity to extend such treatment to our veterans of World War II and, in years to come, to the other selfless men and women who served our country.

Mr. Speaker, we recently commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the D-Day invasion as well as 238 years of American independence.

Let us continue to support and honor the men and women who made these commemorations possible by enacting the ``Honor Flight Act.''

With that Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of the most important laws enacted in this country. President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, signed this critical piece of legislation into law. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is recognized as one of the most significant turning points in America's political and social development. In a country divided by racism and bigotry, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discriminatory practices in education, public establishments and by employers, illegal. This historic legislation served as a catalyst for efforts towards equality across the country. In addition, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, along with Freedom Summer marked the climax of intensive voter-registration activities in the South that began in 1961.

Prior to 1962, Mississippi faced significantly low levels of African- American voter registration. In fact, less than 7% of African-Americans were registered to vote within the state. In order to increase those numbers and register voters across the state Freedom Summer was born. While serving as an expanded voter registration project, Freedom Summer also helped to address the issue of the separate and unequal public education system. Efforts enacted during Freedom Summer established over 41 Freedom Schools attended by more than 3,000 young African- American students throughout the state.

Despite major challenges, Freedom Summer left a positive legacy. The well-publicized voter registration drives brought national attention to the subject of black disenfranchisement, leading to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, federal legislation that among other things outlawed the tactics Southern states had used to prevent blacks from voting. Freedom Summer also instilled among African Americans a new consciousness and a new confidence in political action.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Roveta F. Simmons.

Mrs. Simmons was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She is married to James A. Simmons of Chicago, IL. They have two children: Michael A. Walker, 37 and Jamal L. Walker, 24.

In 1999 Mrs. Simmons received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, VA. That same year she received her Collegiate Professional License for the Commonwealth of Virginia Elementary Education, kindergarten through fifth grade.

Mrs. Simmons is the Director of Little Rock Child Development Center. She is assigned to the 19th Force Support Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. She is the director over the Infant Toddler Center.

The Little Rock Child Development Centers both are NAEYC accredited programs. The CDC maximizes availability and affordability of child care to include weekly, hourly, surge and emergency care, offering early intervention and provides the highest quality childcare that meets the development needs of each child and enables military and Department of Defense (DoD) parents to fulfill their military missions.

Mrs. Simmons began her Department of Defense career as a Palace Acquire Intern with the Department of the Air Force in June 2004. She completed her two year Child Development Specialist Internship at Randolph AFB, TX and was assigned to Keesler AFB, MS as the assistant director.

After two years she was promoted to Director of Keesler Child Development Center. She has worked tirelessly to create a well oiled machine. The Keesler CDC turned a failing budget around--from a $70,000.00 loss to a $12,000.00 profit year to date. Mrs. Simmons also served on active duty for the United States Air Force for 21 years where she retired at the rank of MSgt. Her last assignment was the Superintendent, Wing Operations Center, 402 TFW Holloman AFB, NM.

Among her many recognitions she has received the Exemplary Civilian Service Award, the Meritorious Service Medal, 1 Bronze Oak Leaf, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit 3 Bronze Oak Leaf, Air Force Good Conduct Medal 1 Silver and 1 Bronze leaf. She has also received the National Defense Medal 1 Bronze, a Service Star, Air Force Overseas Long Tour, Air Force Longevity Ribbon 4 Bronze, and the NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Roveta F. Simmons for her years of dedication and hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Jacque Johannes who is retiring after 27 years as a Department of Defense civilian with the United States Air Force.

She received an Associate of Arts in Education from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, in 1975 and her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas in 1977.

That same year, she married Don Johannes and began traveling the world and working for the DoD as the spouse of an active duty Air Force member. For her first jobs she worked as a substitute teacher in the Denver Public Schools system and then as a cashier for the base commissary.

In 1979, she moved with her husband to Hellenikon Athens, Greece and worked as a substitute teacher for the DoD schools and eventually as a clerk for the Hellenikon AFB Child Development Center.

In 1982, she moved again with her spouse to Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota where Jacque worked for the base commissary as a cashier. In 1984, she and her family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and this is where she found her most rewarding career working with young children.

In 1988, she began teaching preschool for the evening classes at the Little Rock AFB Child Development Center. The next year, she became a full time preschool teacher and taught three and four year olds in the Air Force Preschool. In 1997, she became the first USDA/Resource & Referral for the Family Child Care (FCC) Program.

In 2000, Jacque was hired as the junior FCC Coordinator and during this time helped to win the provider of the year for 2004. In 2005, she took over the lead coordinator's position and with the help of her fellow Coordinator, Jill Lund, she was able to train and establish the first three National Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accredited FCC providers at Little Rock AFB.

During her years as coordinator, Jacque's program was selected to be a test base for the Mildly Ill Program and the new AF Expanded Child Care Programs.

In 2007, with the hard work and dedication of Jacque, the FCC Program won AETC FCC Program of the Year for the first time since the inception of the child care programs at Little Rock AFB. When the program was under the AETC Majcom, Jacque was asked by AETC staff to mentor new providers.

She would also work closely with fellow coordinators from other bases to gain new ideas or find better ways to improve the FCC program at Little Rock.

Jacque has a love of music and especially enjoys singing. She is a member of Park Hill Christian Church Chancel Choir and also performs solos for special music functions and serves as Chairman of the Trustees for PHCC as well as serving on the Church Cabinet and Church Board. She is also a member of the Arkansas Chorale Society (ACS) where she sings in the Messiah and their spring concerts. During these concerts she has provided various solos. Jacque previously served on the Board of Directors for the ACS and as a judge for the Arkansas Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year in Little Rock.

Jacque sat on the planning committees for the annual Spring Family Fun festivals and the 4th of July celebrations. She along with her providers would have a game/information booth at the Fun Festival each year.

Jacque lives with her husband Don in Cabot, AR. Her children and grandchildren are the lights of her life. Jacque's sons, Josh and wife Jennifer along with their children Holt and Violet reside in Sherwood, and son Chris and wife Leah along with their children Aliden and Ava reside in North Little Rock. Her daughter Amanda and husband SSgt. Kevin Schroeder along with Amanda's daughter Aislinn Grubb are stationed in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Jacque also has a step- grandaughter, Sylvia Schroeder, who resides in Manhattan, KS.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Jacque Johannes for her years of dedication and hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014.

Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security decided to alter the focus of Customs and Border Protection's preclearance program from one aimed at passenger facilitation to one intended to enhance security--or, at least, that is what we were told when a bipartisan group of Members led by Representatives Meehan and DeFazio began asking hard questions about why a preclearance facility was being opened in Abu Dhabi, an airport at which no U.S. flag carriers operate.

Since preclearance operations commenced in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, representatives from DHS, including Secretary Johnson, have repeatedly stated that they are looking to expand the program to other high-risk overseas airports. Enactment of H.R. 3488 would ensure that, before DHS entered into another preclearance agreement, thoughtful consideration is given to the potential homeland security benefits of such an expansion, as well as the potential impacts to CBP staff at domestic ports of entry. Importantly, the bill also requires DHS to report to Congress on the potential economic, competitive, and job- related impacts opening such a facility would have on United States air carriers.

During committee consideration of the bill, an amendment that I offered was accepted that would require any passenger arriving in the U.S. who is determined to be a selectee to undergo security rescreening by the Transportation Security Administration before being permitted to board a domestic flight in the United States. This provision would ensure that any traveler that is determined to be potentially dangerous undergoes security screening on U.S. soil before being allowed to board a domestic flight.

Finally, the bill prohibits the opening of a new preclearance facility unless at least one United States passenger carrier operates at the airport where preclearance operations would be established. This provision will ensure that we do not see a repeat of the circumstances surrounding the opening of the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi, where a foreign airline was provided a significant competitive advantage over U.S. carriers.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4007, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4007 authorizes the Chemical Facility Anti- Terrorism Standards Program within the Department of Homeland Security. At the outset, I would acknowledge that, during consideration in committee, a somewhat inclusive approach was taken, and, as a result, a number of amendments offered by Democratic Members were accepted.

It is regrettable that, now that H.R. 4007 is before us today, this same opportunity is not being afforded to my colleagues in the House. The decision of the Republican leadership to bring this measure up under suspension of the rules limits debate on the measure and effectively prevents any Member from offering an amendment to make further improvements to the bill.

Despite my reservations about process, I am generally supportive of H.R. 4007, as it would give DHS and chemical facility owners and operators some measure of confidence about the program's future. Since coauthoring legislation in the 109th Congress to grant DHS authority to regulate the chemical sector for security, I have consistently supported efforts at enacting a comprehensive freestanding authorization bill.

As those who have followed the CFATS program know, jurisdictional challenges have consistently complicated authorization efforts. As a result, renewal of the program has been at the mercy of the appropriations process since 2006.

H.R. 4007 is the Committee on Homeland Security's latest effort at achieving the goal of enacting CFATS legislation. The most significant prior effort was back in the 111th Congress, when the House approved H.R. 2868, legislation that I introduced with then-Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, after a year and a half of intense negotiations.

That bill eliminated the regulatory exemptions on water and wastewater facilities that have been a major concern of every Secretary of Homeland Security, especially Secretary Michael Chertoff in the Bush administration.

The bill under consideration today bears little resemblance to H.R. 2868, but, I suppose, reflects the political realities of the 113th Congress. I am disappointed that it does not directly tackle the water and wastewater exemptions that put communities and neighborhoods that are near these facilities at risk, though I note that the bill requires a security assessment of those exemptions, so that the next time Congress looks at reauthorizing CFATS, the debate will be better informed.

I am pleased that, in response to the deadly April 2013 explosion at a plant in West, Texas, H.R. 4007 gives DHS now authority to compel action by facilities that, to date, have not participated in the program that DHS views as potentially high-risk facilities.

I am also pleased that H.R. 4007 includes language authored by Representative Yvette Clarke to ensure the Department takes a commonsense approach to vetting transportation workers who service chemical facility shipping needs.

That said, there are a couple of areas that should be addressed before this measure reaches the President's desk. Specifically, H.R. 4007 should provide adequate whistleblower protections for those risking their jobs to report violations of law or security vulnerabilities, ensure workers have a meaningful role in developing the security plans for their facilities, and promote greater adoption of best practices and inherently safer and securer technologies among high-risk facilities.

The bill before us today is a good start, but there is more work to be done.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, Ms. Yvette Clarke, the ranking member on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee on the Homeland Security Committee.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and if the gentleman from Pennsylvania has no more speakers, I am prepared to close.

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

In closing, while I am supportive of advancing this legislation to the Senate in the hopes of moving the process forward to provide a multiyear authorization for the CFATS program, there is more work to be done.

Should H.R. 4007 be approved today, I will work with my colleagues in the other body to work towards ensuring that the legislation provides adequate whistleblower protections for those risking their jobs to report violations of law or security vulnerabilities, ensures workers have a meaningful role in developing the security plans for their facilities, and promotes greater adoption of best practices and inherently safer and securer technologies among high-risk facilities.

The bill before us today is a good start, but there is more work to be done.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4263, the Social Media Working Group Act.

Since I arrived in Congress, I have seen the destruction caused by man-made and natural disasters.

From the September 11th attacks--to Hurricane Katrina--to the mass shootings that have devastated communities across America, one truism that has repeatedly been identified is that early alerts and timely information saves lives.

Toward that end, the Committee on Homeland Security has worked hard to support the Department's efforts to harness all means of communication to ensure that that public can take appropriate action before, during, and after disaster strikes.

To date, Federal efforts have focused on the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and the Integrated Public Alerts and Warning System.

But, as we have seen during recent disasters, social media allows the government and private sector to disseminate useful information to hundreds of thousands of people.

I support the innovative use of social media in disaster preparedness and response because it has the ability to make more people safer, faster.

It can also help first responders work more quickly and more efficiently.

That said, we must work to implement practices to ensure that social media is used appropriately and effectively, and that the information distributed is reliable.

It is critical that information after a disaster must be accurate. There needs to be guidance and policies in place to ensure that widely- distributed disaster-related information is accurate, or to correct the information when it is not.

I am hopeful that H.R. 4263 would provide a forum for government officials and the private sector to come together to address this and other challenges related to the use of social media during disasters and to share best practices.

I congratulate Subcommittee Chairwoman Brooks and Ranking Member Payne, Jr. on their work to ensure that government officials and first responders take full advantage of the technology available to communicate with the public during a disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 4289, the ``Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act.''

One of the major lessons of the September 11th attacks was that operable and interoperable communications are imperative to an effective response.

Simply put, when law enforcement and other first responders have interoperable communications during an incident or disaster, lives are saved.

As a Nation, we have invested over $13 billion on interoperable communications. However, the goal of achieving interoperability continues to evade us--even at the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal agency that is in charge of driving efforts to achieve interoperability at the Federal, State, and local levels.

In November 2012, the Office of the Inspector General reported that DHS' interoperable communications capability was deficient.

For example, of the radios examined during the OIG's audit, only 20 percent of them were set up to use the common channel.

The Inspector General recommended that stronger Departmental governance be established to ensure communications policies are fully implemented.

At the time, DHS explicitly rejected the OIG recommendation that a stronger governing structure be established and, instead, insisted that its existing structures were sufficient.

Nevertheless, the interoperability problem at DHS persists to this day.

This past May, Inspector General John Roth appeared before the Committee on Homeland Security and said: ``I am frankly concerned that as we speak today a Secret Service agent in New York can't get on his radio and talk to a Federal Protective Service officer in New York or a CBP officer in El Paso can't talk to a Homeland Security Investigations Agent in the same city.''

H.R. 4289 would require the Department to undertake the planning and oversight necessary to ensure that achievement of interoperability within DHS.

I would like to congratulate Subcommittee Ranking Member Payne, Jr. and Chairwoman Brooks for their commitment to addressing this critical issue. I wish them success in their efforts and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4289.