Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives unexpectedly lost a true public servant this week. My Chief of Staff, George Cecala, served with me from the day I was sworn into office on January 3, 2009, until his life was cut short earlier this week, suffering from a heart attack at the young age of 49.

George was a loving husband and father and leaves behind his wife Jennifer, whom he cherished and their daughter Genny who was the joy of his life. He also leaves a record of remarkable and sacrificial service to this institution and to the people of Florida's Space and Treasure Coasts.

Whether it is Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Port Canaveral or our beautiful beaches, citrus groves or improvements to our highways or airports, George had a hand in it.

I saw both gentle care and dogged tenacity as George worked tirelessly against what seemed insurmountable odds to secure the safe return of abducted children from a war-torn region of the world to their grieving mothers.

To those who worked with George he was always encouraging. When someone was troubled or struggling, George was always there to offer a word of encouragement.

George was always attentive to the needs of those around him--the colleague sitting beside him, the visitor who just walked in the office door, the intern looking for that first job on the Hill, or the constituent on the other end of the line, calling the office to tell George how to fix Washington. George always went out of his way to serve others--the hallmark of a public servant.

He loved his Lord and Savior. He loved his church. He filled our office with stories of delight over Genny's latest achievements and her excitement over life's joys. And, he loved his community, even running for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.

The House of Representatives is a better place because of George Cecala. George will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, December 8, 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the ``Town'' of Sebastian, which was followed by the re-incorporation of the ``City'' of Sebastian in 1925, the same year Indian River County was created by the Florida Legislature. During a meeting on December 8, 1924, at 7:30 p.m., eighty-two of the 105 registered voters were present and voted on motions to incorporate the proposed corporate limits as outlined in the meeting notice, selecting the name of the new municipal corporation as the ``Town of Sebastian'', creating the official seal for town business, and electing the mayor, five aldermen, a clerk, and marshal.

The town took its name from the St. Sebastian River, which was named for the martyred Roman Christian, who was martyred by the Emperor Diocletian around 288 A.D. The Roman Catholic Church canonized Sebastian in 374, and he has been named the patron saint of archers, athletes, migrants, and pin-makers. Beginning in the 1880s, the community was named New Haven after Thomas New, a retired Methodist minister who moved from Michigan. Mr. New worked to establish the community's first post office and served as the first postmaster. This was the first post office between Melbourne and Fort Pierce.

However, long before European and 19th-century settlers arrived in the area, the indigenous Ais Indians lived on the east coast of Florida between Cape Canaveral and Jupiter for hundreds and possibly thousands of years. The Ais were hunter-gatherers and caught fish, turtles, and shellfish in the St. Sebastian River, Indian River Lagoon, and the Atlantic Ocean, and picked sabal palm berries and other fruit in the area. The Spanish even referred to the Indian River Lagoon as Rio de Ais because the Lagoon was so important to the tribe for food and transportation.

One of the most significant events to happen to Sebastian was the arrival of the Florida East Coast Railway in de 1893 to 94. Another major change was the intensity by which commercial fishing started in 1895 after a disastrous freeze in 1894. By the end of 1895, nearly 104,000 pounds of fish were shipped from Sebastian, mostly to New York, Richmond, and New Orleans. Sebastian residents also grew truck crops such as beans, winter vegetables, and pineapples. Resident Paul Kroegel worked to protect local pelicans from being killed for their feathers which were used in the hat industry, which ultimately led to President Theodore Roosevelt creating the first migratory bird refuge in the United States on Pelican Island in 1903.

In the early 20th century, Sebastian, like the rest of the nation, suffered during the Great Depression, but World War II and the postwar era brought immense change. The Mackle Brothers, a developer based in Miami, which later became General Development Corporation, bought land throughout Florida for planned communities in rural parts of the state, including 1,345 acres in Sebastian in 1957 to develop Sebastian Highlands.

By the 2000 census, Sebastian became the most populous city in Indian River County, and by 2023, the population had grown to 26,825. Besides having the distinction of being the home of Pelican Island, Sebastian has been named a Millenium City and a Tree City USA. The city has a strong retirement community, with 35 percent of the population 65 or older. Almost 21 percent of the jobs are in health care and social assistance, 18 percent in retail, and 12 percent in accommodations and food service. Sebastian has a median household income of nearly $73,000, and almost 30 percent of residents 25 or older hold a bachelor's degree or other advanced degree. The city also possesses first-class schools, roads, health care and recreation facilities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Centennial of Sebastian. Here's to 100 more years of memories and community.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 11, 2024, thousands of residents from across Central Florida will gather at the Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in the Thirteenth Annual ``Footprints in the Sand'' Cocoa Beach Kidney Walk. Katie and I have joined others in our community in participating since the first walk was organized in 2012 by Rich Salick, Bill Hahn and volunteers with the Florida Affiliate of the National Kidney Foundation.

The ``Footprints in the Sand'' Kidney Walk brings our community together to show our love and concern. So many of us have family, friends and loved ones that are afflicted by kidney disease, and they need our strength and support. The road ahead is not easy for them, but as the kidney walk demonstrates, they do not have to travel that path alone.

The National Kidney Foundation of Florida, its supporters and activists have made a significant difference in people's lives. They not only raise awareness about this disease, but they have helped push for much needed changes in our laws and new innovations to give patients more treatment options and a better quality of life. This year organizers of the kidney walk will recognize organ donors and their families for giving the precious gift of life so that others could receive a second chance and continue with their lives.

Those recognized include:

Dawn Futch honoring Michael-Gene Futch, Paola Solis honoring Amishadai Solis, Nancy Velazquez honoring Pedro Batista, Monica Beyrooti honoring Seth Anthony Beyrooti, Giselle Rivera honoring Sean Bridges Rivera, Pat Brown honoring Michael Brown, Mary Carpenter honoring Shawn Carpenter, Kayla Carroll Lopez honoring Keegin Carroll, Leslia Collins honoring Jose Collins, Diana Couch honoring Linda Couch, Laura Dawkins honoring Brooke Dawkins, Shebna Dorsey honoring Andrew Dorsey, Jen Eden honoring Blake Eden, Annmarie Wong-Allen honoring Chadale ``CJ'' Grey, Cheryl Harrington honoring Brenton Lee Harrington, Siena Monroe honoring Jacob Emery Monroe, Jasmin Persaud honoring Anand Persaud, Donna Ramirez honoring Corey Ramirez, Tammy Lee honoring Dylan Rowe, Amber Shillingford honoring Brad Shillingford, Lucille Timms honoring Crystal Simmons, Tonnia Bennett honoring Tekeya Smith, Shereese Thompson honoring Deja Thompson, Traci Tracy honoring Zoe Tracy, Ellen Tuech honoring Geoffrey ``Geoff'' Wasden, Sheryl Walker honoring Donald Walker, Jr., Carol LoBianco honoring Stacie Ann Wheeler and Cathy Woodall honoring Shawn Woodall.

I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the strong will of these caring families, their loved ones and all those who have joined the effort and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about kidney disease.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to congratulate Dr. Terrence Cronin on his completion of his term as the American Academy of Dermatology President. For eighteen years, Dr. Cronin has been involved with the Academy at a leadership level and helped represent thousands of dermatological physicians and the patients they serve.

As President, Dr. Cronin led the world's largest dermatologic society, representing more than 20,800 physicians. He has also been a staunch advocate for Medicare payment reform to help ensure good quality of care for seniors by fighting cuts to physician reimbursement.

Dr. Cronin earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and completed his dermatology residency at the University of Miami. At the University of Miami, he also served as the chief resident, where he oversaw clinical scheduling, managing resident education programs, and served as a liaison between the residents and the facility.

Before his term as President, Dr. Cronin served as a chair of the Academy's Advisory Board, as well as being a member of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Dr. Cronin on a fantastic job as the American Academy of Dermatology President and wish him well as he continues his work with the Academy and his private practice in Melbourne, Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for yielding and for bringing forth this great bill to protect Americans.

Over the last few days, I have heard more lies about the immigration crisis at our southern border than any other issue since ObamaCare.

Mr. Speaker, you remember ObamaCare. We promised that you could keep your own insurance company, promised you can keep your own doctor, and promised it would cost less. These were all lies, but the lies about immigration are even greater this year.

This week I heard a Member across the aisle in an apparent theatric and disingenuous gesture of good will falsely refer to me as being his friend as he hurled lie after lie denigrating my colleagues and me. Although I do have friends on the other side of the aisle, this is not my kind of friend.

He hurled lie after lie and insult after insult as he theatrically appealed to those listening or watching on this House floor--which incidentally is against the rules of the House, and I am surprised the Speaker did not call him out of order--as he referred to my colleagues and me as MAGA Republican extremists.

Some people are called Trump phobic. They can't say Trump's name without Republican extremist attached to it.

He claimed that we didn't want to solve the crisis at the border. Calling anyone who wants our country to have a secure border a MAGA Republican extremist is not only a clear sign of acute Trump phobia, but it is clear evidence of just how out of touch some people are with the overwhelming majority of Americans and reality for that matter.

There may be some--however, I don't know them--Republicans, Democrats, or Independents who actually believe

that when somebody breaks into your home, that they are entitled to become a member of your family.

How about being honest here for a change?

He knew, I know, everyone knows, even the most challenged Trumphobics know that, despite President Biden's and Secretary Mayorkas' numerous fantasy denials, there has, in fact, been a crisis at our southern border, and it began when the President took office.

Now, our President finally acknowledges that we have a border crisis and said he will fix it, but only if we give him more money to more quickly process more illegals. That will not fix the crisis at the border.

The bizarre proposal that the border can be secured while still allowing 5,000 illegals a day to invade our country is like claiming it is possible to be half pregnant.

You have a right to stand with the drug cartels, but I and the rest of the MAGA Republicans stand with Texas and the United States of America.

The sovereignty of our Nation, the safety and security of American communities is not up for negotiation. It can only be fixed by the President reversing his executive orders that created the invasion in the first place, or the adoption of H.R. 2.

In the meantime, I am more than happy to support Congressman Moore's H.R. 6976 to save American lives.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to congratulate the Cocoa High School football team on their sixth state championship win. On December 8th, the Cocoa Tigers clinched the victory and ended the game with a score of 20-6 against Bradford High School.

This win was the second state championship win in a row for the Tigers, having defeated Florida High last year with a score of 38-31. The Cocoa Tigers also won state championships in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2016.

Bradford High had come into the game having been undefeated in their season with a 14-0 record. Cocoa High finished its season with a 14-1 record. However, The Cocoa Tigers outscored their opponents in the playoffs by a 184-30 margin.

Bradford High scored the first touchdown of the game against Cocoa, taking a 6-0 lead with only just over six minutes left in the opening quarter.

However, the Cocoa Tigers didn't let an early lead startle them, returning with a 36-yard touchdown two minutes later, gaining a 7-6 lead.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the Cocoa High School Tigers football team on their remarkable season. We continue to wish them luck in keeping up this momentum for next year while they aim to clench the title for the third year in a row. Let's go Tigers.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to congratulate Mr. Chad Knaus who will be formally inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 20, 2024. For twenty years. Mr. Knaus was one of the greatest crew chiefs in NASCAR history, winning seven championships in his tenure.

Having been a racer, owned a racetrack, and as a Chairman of the Congressional Motorsports Caucus. I've enjoyed racing from almost every perspective. I know NASCAR Championships require nothing short of perfection, hard work, and relentless attention to detail.

Chad Knaus began his career as a teenager, leading his father to multiple championships. Eventually, he got his start with NASCAR, working as an assistant in the Hendrick Motorsports body shop where he learned under Ray Evernham--a fellow Hall of Famer.

In 2002, Knaus was paired with Jimmie Johnson, a rookie driver, on a fourth Hendrick team. With Johnson, Knaus won a record-setting five championships in a row, bringing his total to seven won championships.

As crew chief for Johnson, Knaus won 81 races over 19 seasons, including the Daytona 500 in 2013, two Southern 500s, four Coca-Cola 600s, and four Brickyard 400s. Knaus won his 82nd and final race as crew chief for William Byron in 2020, placing him in 3rd place for all- time wins by a crew chief. Currently, Chad Knaus serves as the Vice President of Competition for Hendrick Motorsports.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join with me in congratulating Chad Knaus on his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This honor is well deserved for such a distinguished career and winning record.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize Robert Cabana for his years of service in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mr. Cabana is retiring at the end of this year after serving as the agency's associate administrator, making him the highest-ranking civil servant.

Robert Cabana acts as the agency's chief operating officer and manages more than 18,000 employees. Before serving in his position, Mr. Cabana served as the director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in my district. There, he oversaw all NASA facilities and activities at the spaceport.

Robert has spent countless years serving his country, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 and commissioning as a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Robert Cabana retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in September 2000 as a colonel.

Robert Cabana has recorded four space flights, logging a total of 38 days in Space. Cabana was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and named an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He also received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, and the National Space Club Florida Committee's Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award. Col. Cabana is also a recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement's National Space Trophy.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Col. Robert Cabana and his dedication to serving his country. While he will be sorely missed, I would like to wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. George Trosset of Rockledge, Florida, for his charitable work in creating and organizing a popular local event called Surfing Santas. Surfing Santas is an annual event hosted by the Florida Surf Museum Charity in Cocoa Beach that raises money for charities like Grind for Life, which helps individuals with cancer.

Surfing Santas is a Christmas Eve spectacle where participants are encouraged to wear Christmas attire and surf on Cocoa Beach. When Trosset began the organization in 2009, there were two participants, himself surfing as Santa, and his son, George Jr., surfing as an elf. Trosset also had two spectators, his wife Nina, and their grandson Anderson.

Today, Surfing Santas regularly has 400 to 500 participants and close to 10,000 spectators. The Christmas event, which is now in its 15th year, has grown to include a costume contest, live music, and a show by a local Hawaiian Dancers group.

Surfing Santas is a widely beloved event that has made at least 8 billion people around the world smile and has raised close to $250,000 dollars towards charity. Last year a Surfing Santa plush toy blasted or aboard a private Blue Origin space mission.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing George Trosset and his family, as well as saluting all the Surfing Santas participants for their charitable spirit and their efforts to bring people together in a fun and festive way during the holidays. SurfIng Santas is an incredible community event that has quickly become a tradition for families on the Space Coast.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, December 16, 2023, Brevard County families, businesses and local community organizations will gather to celebrate the 15th Annual Family Christmas Extravaganza. This wonderful event, which will take place at Fred Poppe Regional Park in Palm Bay, FL, will provide an uplifting message of hope and future during this Christmas season.

The House Church, River of Life Christian Center, Elevation Church, Eastwind Pentecostal Church, Grace Bible Church, Jornada al Cielo, Church on the Rock, Truth Reveal Ministries, Wings of Grace Ministries, CITA Rescue Mission, have all united to bring the 15th Annual Family Christmas Extravaganza to our City and County.

Working with several community and business partners such as the City of Palm Bay Parks & Recreation, Thrifty Specialty Produce, Chick-Fil-A, Fruits of my Labor, Engel & Volkers, Gator Automotive, the Mortgage Firm, Frog Bones-Family Shooting Center, Z88.3FM, All Digital All Day, Grifols Plasma Distribution Center, Double Scope, Al Dia Today Newspaper, Martin's Famous Potato Rolls, SMTC Manufacturing, and Premiere Oaks 10 Cinema, the mission is to provide a positive venue for residents and children to celebrate Christmas, serve others and give back to their community.

Over sixty local businesses and organizations have made donations of toys, food, gift certificates, equipment, finances, and goodie bags, and will feature musicians and artist such as Unified Sound with Joel Lopez, Peabod, Carl Lewis and the Intensity Band, Eddie Anthony as Eddie Frost, Jalixa Morales as FA-LA-LA-LA-LIXA and Corey Sprenkle with S & S Sound.

Senior Pastor Ken Delgado of The House at Palm Bay said: ``With today's news being filled with division, contention, and expressions of hatred, it is exciting to see the City of Palm Bay, along with the city's businesses and the citizens, create an event where love, joy and peace are expressed. The Family Christmas Extravaganza is the greatest expression that so many people yearn for and is what the angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus, saying `Peace and good will towards all men'.''

The Mayor of the City of Palm Bay, Rob Medina, issued a proclamation in support for this year's celebration, recognizing the Extravaganza has become the largest Christmas party on the Space Coast and December 16, 2023, as Family Christmas Extravaganza Day.

The spirit of the holidays is all about giving and spending time with loved ones. This year's Extravaganza brings our community together to remind us of that. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting all those who are doing their part to spread the Christmas spirit this holiday season and those who have worked so hard to make the 15th Annual Family Christmas Extravaganza possible.

Mr. Speaker, due to a transportation delay, I was unable to attend session on November 28th. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 676, and YEA on Roll Call No. 677.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to clarify that it was my intent to be recorded as YEA on Rollcall No. 572, on Amendment No. 66 to the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior and related agencies appropriations bill offered by Rep. Harshbarger of Tennessee on Thursday, November 2, 2023. I believed that my vote was recorded as YEA at that time, but I apparently did not complete execution of my vote. I wish to make it clear that I intended to vote for the amendment. The amendment would have provided that: ``None of the funds made available by this Act shall be available for the United States Board on Geographic Names.''

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

Mr. Chair, my amendment would reduce the EPA environmental programs and management account for the Office of Air and Radiation by 50 percent.

This office has destroyed an entire industry already and is currently working hard to bankrupt a family-owned business in my district. The EPA's OAR used the regulatory process to destroy the glider truck industry in favor of a Chinese-owned trucking industry. Many of these glider trucks are operated by small mom-and-pop businesses.

Now, the same EPA is targeting a family-owned business in my district that supplies the only domestically manufactured outboard motors preferred by the U.S. Navy SEALs and other Special Operations Forces, including those of our allies.

They are putting their Green New Deal agenda ahead of our national security and the safety of our men and women on the front lines protecting our freedom.

My amendment reduces the number of unelected, unaccountable, and unrecallable bureaucrats from vetoing the U.S. Navy SEAL military equipment they direly need, and I ask my colleagues to support me in joining this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

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

Mr. Chairman, we are talking about a rogue agency here that is not only failing to do the job that they are supposed to do, but they are out harming people.

They are harming the heroes who are on the front lines that direly need their supplies while they fiddle or faddle in the back room, whatever they do, and deny those supplies, while they themselves are gorging upon $10 million in combat materials and weapons.

I asked the administrator about this in a meeting a couple weeks ago. I said, Tell me why the EPA needs the $10 million in combat-grade arms.

He said, Well, I didn't know we got it.

He said, I will get back to you. I will explain it to you.

I am still waiting to hear the answer.

There needs to be some accountability for agencies that are going off the track, and I think this is really a good start.

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

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I would like to recognize Dawn Futch, her husband Mike Futch, and their daughter Stephanie Futch for their charitable service towards the people of Brevard County. After the sudden and tragic passing of Dawn and Mike's son Michael-Gene, the Futch family created the Michael-Gene Kids Basketball Foundation.

When Michael-Gene Futch passed away in November of 2010, his family requested basketballs instead of flowers due to Michael-Gene's love of the sport. When over 1,500 basketballs came, the Futch family decided to donate those basketballs to underprivileged children in Brevard County.

This charitable donation led to the creation of the Michael-Gene Kids Basketball Foundation, which aims to help underprivileged families. Since the Foundation was formed, it has grown far past donations of basketballs. While continuing basketball donations year-round, the Futch Foundation also hosts a back-to-school drive, sponsor-a-family thanksgiving, and a gift drive for the holiday season.

The Futch Family also holds an annual black-tie affair to raise money for charity. The Futch family plans to continue their many years of charity work for the children of Brevard County.

I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the Futch family and saluting their selfless service. The Michael-Gene Kids Basketball Foundation is an inspiration and blessing to underprivileged children, and families in our community.