Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize today's guest chaplain, Chaplain Thomas E. Fussell, Jr., and welcome him to the United States House of Representatives.

Chaplain Fussell, a major in the United States Air Force, is currently assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Florida. The duties of the 45th Space Wing--including supporting the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and commercial manned and unmanned space programs at Patrick Air Force Base--are critical to the success of space programs operating out of Cape Canaveral.

As Deputy Wing Chaplain to the 45th Space Wing, Chaplain Fussell advises commanders and first sergeants, ensures the free exercise of religion, and provides spiritual care, moral and ethical advice, and pastoral care and counseling to all military personnel and their families. Along with other chaplains serving in the Space Command, he is part of the spiritual backbone of American operations in space.

Chaplain Fussell received his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2000. In 2004, he was ordained as an elder in the South Georgia Conference and, in 2005, he commissioned as a chaplain.

In light of his many years of service, I am thankful that Chaplain Fussell could be with us today and offer a prayer in anticipation of Memorial Day. May the Lord bless all the brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives to protect our great nation, the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, on Saturday, May 11, 2019, thousands of residents from across Central Florida will gather at the Cocoa Beach Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in the Eighth Annual ``Footprints in the Sand'' Cocoa Beach Kidney Walk. Katie and I have joined others in our community in participating every year 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:

Ellen Tuech on behalf of Geoffrey Wasden, Donna Oakley on behalf of James ``Jimmy'' Gregory Fisher, Dawn Futch on behalf of Michael-Gene Futch, Diana Couch on behalf of Linda Couch, Billie Lomonaco on behalf of Tiffany Accardi, Jasmine Persaud on behalf of Anand Persaud, Sherri Wilson on behalf of William Garrett Coe, Pat Brown on behalf of Michael Brown, Laila Merolle on behalf of Mario Merolle, Maria Isabel Almonte on behalf of Xavier Emilio Lara Almonte, Josefina Merizalde on behalf of Emily Baquerizo, Laura Dawkins on behalf of Brooke Dawkins, Mary Carpenter on behalf of Shawn Carpenter, Patricia Rivera on behalf of Sebastian Rivera, Donna Kinney on behalf of Matthew David Hartmann, Shebna Dorsey on behalf of Andrew Dorsey, Deborah Harder Thorpe on behalf of Jessica Harder, Vivian Pogeler on behalf of Scott Pogeler, and Susan Hahn and Teresa Jamison-Hahn on behalf of Bill Hahn.

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.

Madam Speaker, my return flight to Washington, D.C. was delayed due to technical difficulties, and I was unable to attend the legislative session on April 1, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 137; yea on Roll Call No. 138; and nay on Roll Call No. 139.

Madam Speaker, my return flight to Washington, D.C., was delayed due to technical difficulty, and I was unable to attend the legislative session on March 5, 2019.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 104, and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 105.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding the opportunity to speak about H.R. 1.

You have heard it called the ``Welfare for Politicians Act''; you have heard it called the ``Democrat Politician Protection Act''; and you have heard it called a very partisan proposal to hijack elections. I think it may be all those things.

Historically, elections are based on three principles: number one is fairness to everybody who votes, number two is that every vote counts, and number three is that every voter should have the assurance or the confidence that their vote was counted equally and was not compromised in one way or the other. This bill does none of those things. If it did, and if it was at all fair, it would have bipartisan support.

In 2000, after the contentious election between Bush and Gore, I was chairman of the elections committee in the Florida Senate and charged with reforming the election laws.

Working with the minority leader at the time, Steve Geller, we did some historic things. We pioneered the provisional ballot. We pioneered early voting. We got rid of punch cards and went to precinct-based optical scanners that they said would cost Republicans 100,000 votes statewide. It seems like the Republicans knew how to vote and the other side didn't.

We did those things because it was fair and it was the right thing to do. And as a result, for the past 19 years, our elections have worked very well down there, except for two counties, very highly partisan counties who didn't follow the rules.

The measure of credibility for election bills is whether or not you have bipartisan support. Our legislation passed nearly unanimously, if not unanimously. Here, this is very one-sided. It is not fair. If it were fair, you would have a lot of support from this side.

And so I am for the other side to try and consider fairness a little bit in this process so we don't go from one regime to another, back and forth with election law that is not stable, is not good for the voters, is not good for the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, on March 5, 2019, Citizens from across the country will gather in our nation's Capital to help raise awareness about kidney disease and advocate for public policy solutions as part of the National Kidney Foundation's Annual Patient Advocacy Summit. In all my years of service, I have yet to meet more caring and tireless advocates.

Their advocacy is important because of the number of people kidney disease affects--nearly one in three adults are at risk of developing kidney disease. Nearly thirty million Americans have kidney disease and approximately ninety percent don't even know it. It sneaks up on you and that's why raising awareness is a key component to combating this disease and ultimately saving lives.

Sadly, on October 10, 2018, we lost one of our great advocates and champions--our friend Bill Hahn of Rockledge, Florida, passed away. Bill was one of those unspoken heroes who got up every morning and fought to keep going, for himself, and so many other people struggling with kidney disease, recovering from transplant surgery and waiting to receive the special gift of life.

From an early age, Bill believed in physical fitness and leading a very active and healthy life. As a young man he was a male model and later a professional surfer with the famous Salick surf team winning numerous awards. A graduate of Florida State University, he owned and operated a successful health fitness business selling exercise equipment in Melbourne, Florida. Even with his dedication to a daily exercise regiment, at the age of twenty-six, Bill was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Living with Diabetes can be a difficult struggle, even for someone as physically fit as Bill Hahn. Over time the disease began to take a toll on Bill's health as he suffered from many of its complications including blindness, nerve damage and even coma. Unfortunately, Bill suffered renal failure at age fifty-one, but his physical routine never stopped. When Bill was on dialysis, he was walking ten miles a day. And because of his fitness level, he was a good candidate for transplant surgery. On New Year's Eve 2008, Bill received a true gift of life--a new kidney and pancreas.

Since his surgery, Bill dedicated his life to helping patients struggling with kidney disease and other serious medical conditions. In 2012 he joined with surfing legend and fellow transplant recipient Rich Salick and co-founded the annual Cocoa Beach ``Footprints in the Sand'' Kidney Walk. Katie and I have been involved in the Kidney Walk each year and it continues to grow and draw participation from all over Central Florida thanks in large part to Bill's work and other volunteers from our community.

Bill was a constant advocate for this cause, especially in the last years of his life. And, if you knew Bill Hahn, helping others is what

kept him going. He worked closely with my office on various projects throughout the years and brought to my attention many important pieces of legislation moving through Congress that are critical to winning this battle. In 2017 Bill lead a successful effort to declare May 13th ``Living Kidney Donor Day'' in the State of Florida. He is also the author of three books including More Than A Conqueror Legacy, a spiritual healing guide for patients; The Silver Lining, a chronicle of Bill's journey through recovery; and The Window Box, a book of poetry.

I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the efforts of Bill Hahn and the many other Americans who have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about kidney disease and advocate for patients in need.

Madam Speaker, on February 27, 2019, the City of Palm Bay will recognize the courage and bravery of the City's law enforcement officers and civilians during their Annual Award 's Ceremony to be held at the Dragonfly Farms located at 750 Osmosis Dr. in Palm Bay, FL. Over two-hundred Law Enforcement Officials and Civilian Employees make up The City of Palm Bay's Police Department.

The 166 Sworn Officers, and all the men and women that make up the Palm Bay Police Department lay down their lives on a daily basis as peacekeepers, maintaining law and order for the protection and enhancement of our community. Their motto of Connect, Serve, and Impact speaks of officers connecting with the community as they serve with pride to provide a positive impact to its citizens. Their selfless actions are right and noble. Their actions help keep our community safe.

The Palm Bay Police Department obtained its State of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation status on October 31, 2007, from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. and has successfully reached reaccreditations over the last twelve years.

I am honored to show my support for the law enforcement personnel of the Palm Bay Police Department and their heroic acts. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families.

Among those to be recognized are the Officer of the Year Recipient, Agent Sean Pindar, the Civilian of the Year Recipient, Crime Analyst Dawn Strickland, and the Telecommunicator of the Year, Shift Supervisor Magan Salender.

The Distinguished Service Cross Award Recipients: Corporal Neal Valenti and Officer Christina Martin.

Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Life Saving Award: Officer Matthew Boggess, Officer Thomas Danti, Officer Joseph Moreno, Officer John Neal, Officer William Pennington, and Officer Brandon Williams.

Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Meritorious Service Award: Sergeant Steve Shytle, Agent Sean Pindar (second award), Officer Aaron Arndt, Officer Christopher Jones, Officer Edwin Lutz, Officer Frank Tobar, and Officer Thomas Trotter.

Officers and Civilian Recipients of the Community Service Award: Lieutenant Steve Bland, Lieutenant Lance Fisher, Sergeant Jeffrey Spears, Sergeant Tina Hensel, K9 Officer Byron Patrick, YSU Officer Roy Lavanture, Officer Ryan Austin, and School Crossing Guard George Henderson (second award).

Mr. Speaker, on December 21, 2018, I experienced technical difficulties with the electronic voting machine on the House floor, and my vote for S. 3628, the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act, was not recorded. My intention was to vote yea for roll call No. 500.

Mr. Speaker, on December 15, 2018, Brevard County families, businesses and local community organizations will gather together to celebrate the Tenth 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, the City of Palm Bay Parks & Recreation, Gator Automotive, Thrifty Produce, Chick-Fil-A, and Church on the Rock, Elevation Church, Calvary Chapel Melbourne, Discover Life Church, Victory Church, Jornada Church, Bay West Church, Victory in Christ Church, and several other business partners have recognized the importance of

providing a positive venue for residents and children to celebrate Christmas. There is no cost to attend the Family Christmas Extravaganza as everything is absolutely FREE to the public. The sponsors of this annual event have committed to serving others during this Christmas season and that's what makes the Family Christmas Extravaganza so special.

The Heritage High School and Bayside High School Marching Bands will be performing along with local band members. This year the Family Christmas Extravaganza will feature Beckah Shae, a popular American Christian-pop-worship singer-songwriter. ``I am excited and honored to participate in such a worthwhile event, and I am grateful to be able to bring my talents to share with the community with a message of Hope,'' said Shae.

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'.''

This year the City of Palm Bay issued a proclamation designating December 15, 2018 Family Christmas Extravaganza Day. Mayor William Capote said: ``The Family Christmas Extravaganza is a wonderful annual tradition in the great City of Palm Bay. I am proud to be the Mayor of a City where groups like The House church spend so much time and energy selflessly giving back to our community. The House has captured the giving spirit of the holiday season with this event, providing a day of celebration and Christmas joy completely free of charge. I've seen the positive impact of the Extravaganza over the years and I am excited to see this event continue to grow!''

Reverend Rob Medina, Director of Ministries at The House at Palm Bay said: ``The Family Christmas Extravaganza has exponentially grown throughout the years because of the collaboration of so many entities. The template we use of partnership with Government, Churches, and Businesses should be replicated throughout our nation and moreover the entire globe. It is an outstanding example of sharing the Christmas Spirit as we acknowledge the Greatest Gift freely given to mankind. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, so we proudly say Happy Birthday Jesus.''

Many communities across our great nation have seized upon this opportunity to spread the Christmas spirit, through good deeds and charitable acts. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting these great Americans and in congratulating all those who have worked so hard to make the Annual Family Christmas Extravaganza possible.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize Bill and Sue Welser for their leadership in the Space Coast Honor Flight program, which serves Florida's Brevard and Indian River County veterans.

Space Coast Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that honors our World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans by taking them to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C.

A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General, Bill first became involved with the Honor Flight Network when he volunteered to serve as a guardian for a WWII veteran on the local chapter's second flight. This moving experience led Bill to work with a small cadre of volunteers to develop and run what would eventually become Space Coast Honor Flight. Bill has served as the president of the organization for more than eight years.

Seeing the profound impact that Space Coast Honor Flight has had on our veterans, Bill's wife, Sue, joined the board and quickly became an integral part of all its activities. Sue serves as one of the veteran coordinators for the organization and is responsible for helping to create honor flight experiences for hundreds of veterans.

Bill and Sue have also tirelessly given their time to organizing Space Coast orientations, flight departure ceremonies, veterans' reunions, and luncheons across the Space and Treasure Coasts. They have spent countless hours visiting our veterans in nursing homes and hospitals. They have attended a number of funeral services for our veteran heroes--Space Coast Honor Flight is often the first to be called when our veteran families lose a loved one.

For the past eight years, Bill and Sue have been responsible for organizing, scheduling, and leading 52 flights, allowing 1,375 veterans to spend time at their war memorials in Washington, D.C. Bill has pat1icipated in every single flight.

One of the greatest privileges Katie and I have is greeting our veterans as they depart on their honor flight to our nation's capital or greeting them in Washington, D.C. as they arrive on the National Mall to visit their memorials. Our veterans' courage and service to the country has helped change the course of history and has protected America and the freedoms we hold dear. Hosting these honor flights is the least we can do to acknowledge their service, and I am thankful for the work that Bill and Sue have done to make these flights possible.

I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in saluting the passion, dedication, and commitment of Bill and Sue Welser. Their efforts and service honors our veterans each and every day and has been vital to the success of the Space Coast Honor Flight mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 60th anniversary of Florida Institute of Technology (``Florida Tech''). Dr. Jerome P. Keuper founded this private, non-profit university as a ``night school for missilemen,'' allowing workers at Cape Canaveral to pursue graduate education. Initially named ``Brevard Engineering College,'' Florida Tech held its first classes on September 22, 1958.

Since its humble beginnings, Florida Tech has soared to great heights. The university now serves nearly 10,000 students through its Melbourne campus, its extended study sites across the nation, and its online facilities.

Boasting more than 60,000 alumni around the world, Florida Tech has earned a spot in U.S. News & World Report as the number one national university in attractiveness to international students. This is the fourth year in a row that Florida Tech has been recognized for its diverse student body.

Florida Tech has also been recognized for the remarkable leadership of President T. Dwayne McCay and First Lady Mary Helen McCay. This past November, the couple was inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame in honor of the 15 joint patents they hold in the field of metallurgical engineering.

Mayors Kathleen Meehan of Melbourne and Hal Rose of West Melbourne have testified to the significant educational and cultural contributions that Florida Tech has made to the region, the state, the nation, as well as the globe. Through ``the university's core values of research to benefit all humankind; student success for a lifetime; and good global citizenship,'' Florida Tech has raised the bar for every institution of higher education.

Last month marked 60 years since the founding of the university that began its life as ``countdown college.'' Mayor William Capote of Palm Bay delivered remarks at the anniversary celebration, and, in a fitting touch, Florida Tech commemorated its achievement by launching fireworks into the sky, reminding many graduates of the rockets and satellites they have helped launch beyond Earth's atmosphere.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Florida Tech, as well as its faculty, staff, students, and graduates. Please rise in honor of the university's 60 years of educating excellence.

Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Estuary Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of our nation's estuaries. This marks the 30th anniversary of National Estuary Week, and on Monday, September 17, I joined my fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Estuary Caucus and Restore America's Estuaries in kicking off this celebration with the 2018 National Estuaries Week Hill Expo. This Expo was a great showcase of research and resources for coastal habitats. The Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were on hand to talk with staff and Members and explain how we can improve the health of our estuaries.

Former Congressman Jim Gerlach taught us ``Estuaries are coastal bays, harbors, sounds and lagoons, places where rivers meet the sea.'' My own Eighth District of Florida is home to the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most diverse estuaries in North America and the world. I grew up around Cocoa Beach, raised my family along the Lagoon, and worked in local real estate for many years. I learned firsthand why it's so important for us to work together to care for our environment.

That is why, in early 2017, I founded the bipartisan Congressional Estuary Caucus with several of my colleagues to give the nation's estuaries a stronger voice and presence in Congress. Since that time, more than forty Members of Congress have joined the Estuary Caucus and become actively engaged in our efforts to support estuary restoration and conservation. The Caucus has already held eleven briefings on Capitol Hill about the critical role these delicate ecosystems play in our communities.

Stretching 156 miles along Florida's east coast, our Lagoon is a sanctuary for nearly 4,000 species of wildlife, an economic engine for our community, and an invaluable recreational and educational resource for residents and visitors. Since estuaries are places where freshwater mixes with saltwater, preserving the delicate balance is as critical as it can be difficult. Our quality of life, economy and tourism, property values and the survival of many indigenous species of plant and wildlife depend on our efforts. Scientists often call them ``nurseries of the sea'' because estuaries are the nesting and feeding habitats for many aquatic plants and animals. Experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimate that up to 80 percent of the fish and shellfish that we catch spend at least part of their lives in estuaries. That catch includes salmon, herring, and oysters, and our fishing industry is valued in the billions of dollars. Estuaries also contribute to healthy ocean environments by filtering out sediments and pollutants from rivers and streams before they flow into the oceans. Estuaries are also important recreational destinations. Millions of people each year boat, swim, watch birds and other wildlife, and fish in our nation's estuaries. Coastal recreation and tourism generate billions of dollars to our economy.

Many estuaries, including our lagoon, are experiencing challenges like harmful algae blooms, declines in sea grass, and invasive species. These threats require our immediate attention. Acidification also presents uncertainties within our precious estuaries. The problem of estuarine acidification is less well understood than acidification in the open ocean and could pose severe effects for the biodiversity of our estuaries like the Indian River Lagoon.

As we seek to restore and protect our estuaries, I believe we have to adopt the proverbial ``all of the above'' strategy. That means a coordinated effort involving federal, state and local cooperation with each level of government doing what it does best. Our state and local government will lead the efforts that improve our water quality and will provide leadership in assuring we adapt to sea level rise in the way we build and manage our land use. The federal government supports state and local leadership with restoration programs that include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I've joined my colleagues, Congressman Brian Mast and Congresswoman Bonamici, in introducing legislation aimed at mitigating and solving our hypoxia and toxic algal bloom challenges. In Florida, we are working to raise the priority of projects that benefit the estuaries within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

To get a leg up on the challenges to our estuaries posed by acidification, I've introduced the National Estuaries and Acidification Research Act of 2018. This legislation creates a research program so that we can understand how better how acidification works in estuaries and how we might be able to combat it.

For the 2018 Fiscal Year, the Interior Appropriations bill includes $16.8 million that will provide $600,000 to each of the 28 estuaries, and also includes my plan to direct $1.5 million for the National Estuary Program's competitive grants program for special projects and prevention and mitigation focused research. This is a win for our estuaries, communities, and economy.

This week, millions of Americans will show their commitment to our estuaries through volunteer efforts. We all have a role to play in caring for our environment. It is a matter of awareness and of action. We must look for even more opportunities for our ``all of the above'' strategy for keeping our estuary economies sustainable and resilient. Advancing common sense ideas that strengthen our economy, protect our estuaries including the Indian River Lagoon, and preserve our natural beauty remain a top priority for me. I'm grateful for the work of millions of dedicated professionals and volunteers across this nation.

National Estuary Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of our estuaries to our way of life and our well-being. Estuaries provide indispensable services to our ecology and our economy. Our estuaries are irreplaceable and we must protect, sustain, and restore them.

National Estuary Week is also a time to review our progress in assuring the continued productivity of our estuaries, celebrating our successes and renewing our commitment to ensuring that future generations will enjoy these precious resources. I ask all Members to join me and the Congressional Estuary Caucus in that commitment. The challenge is critical and we can meet it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 25th anniversary of Christian Care Ministry, an outreach of the American Evangelistic Association. Based in Melbourne, Florida, this not-for-profit organization was founded by Dr. E. John Reinhold as a formalized approach to sharing healthcare burdens.

Beginning with a mere 600 households in 1993, membership in Christian Care Ministry's Medi-Share program has skyrocketed over the last 25 years. Through Medi-Share, over $2.6 billion in medical bills has been shared and discounted by more than 400,000 members across the nation.

``Launched from a kitchen table at our home, Christian Care Ministry has served hundreds of thousands through providing a mechanism for mutual care. I am proud to have founded this ministry and to have been part of what it has meant to so many,'' Reinhold shared.

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Christians recognized an opportunity to be part of something bigger than healthcare--a sharing community that met the requirements of the new healthcare law without compromising their values.

Christian Care Ministry has not only helped many to faithfully handle expensive medical bills, it has also been a boon to the economy of Brevard County.

The mayor of Melbourne, Kathy Meehan, stated, ``by providing more than 430 jobs at its Melbourne headquarters and making significant financial investments in its facility, Christian Care Ministry has made a substantial economic impact on our community. We are proud to have the ministry in the City of Melbourne and are grateful for the benefits it has provided to our community for the past 25 years.''

Christian Care Ministry has more than 600 faithful and dedicated employees nationwide and are proud of their diligence in providing outstanding customer service.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Christian Care Ministry for 25 years of service and for their dedication to assisting those who need medical care.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Chairman Goodlatte for introducing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this bill we are considering is, obviously, as you heard from both sides, a great piece of legislation that will ensure American victims of international terrorism can obtain justice in U.S. courts by holding accountable those who commit, aid, or abet terrorist activity abroad.

I have long been fighting for victims of terrorism. In fact, in 2014, I introduced legislation that would allow victims of narcoterrorism to recover court-awarded damages. A version of the bill, known as the CAPTIVE Act, passed the House by unanimous consent in 2016.

I am ecstatic that we have a bill that seeks to help a number of victims, including those I have been fighting for since 2014.

On February 13, 2003, four Americans who were Department of Defense contractors on a U.S. Government counternarcotics flight mission in Colombia were shot down by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC. It is a violent guerilla gang heavily involved in narcotics trafficking.

The pilot, Tom Janis, who was immediately executed by the terrorists, and three Floridians, Keith Stansell, Mark Gonsalves, and Tom Howes, who is my constituent, were kidnapped, held hostage in the jungle, and tortured for more than 5\1/2\ years until they were rescued by the Colombian army. These heroes are seeking long-deserved justice for themselves and their families against those who carried out unthinkable acts of violence.

Today, victims cannot access frozen assets under the Kingpin Act. The bill before us, the Anti-terrorism Clarification Act, would change that by finally closing the loophole to allow these former hostages and the family of the slain pilot access to the assets of narcotics-trafficking partners of the foreign terrorist organization FARC and other organizations that are frozen under the Kingpin Act. We owe it to these brave Americans and others, and their families, to make them whole again.

Mr. Speaker, it is a simple piece of legislation. It would make it easier for all victims of narcoterrorism to recover court-awarded damages. I urge support.

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

Mr. Chairman, this is really pretty simple.

A constituent came to me with a problem concerning procurement for aviation helmets. He has a manufacturing company here in the United States, but he is not able to sell his helmets to the Department of the Interior.

His helmets are not inferior. They are used by many industries. They are used in many countries. But he is not on the approved list for Federal agencies. Currently, the approved list includes only one manufacturer.

My amendment will change this by providing additional options through competition. The amendment requires compliance with the Federal acquisition regulation policy that ensures a full and open process in procuring aviation helmets.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this great amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.