Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of September 9, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Monday, September 9, 2013: Rollcall No. 448: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2052, ``yea''; rollcall No. 449: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2844, ``yea.''

Tuesday, September 10, 2013: Rollcall No. 450: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1155, ``yea''; rollcall No. 451: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2747, ``yea''; rollcall No. 452: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 130, ``yea''; rollcall No. 453: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 304, ``yea''; rollcall No. 454: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 256, ``yea''; rollcall No. 455: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 459, ``yea''.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013: Rollcall No. 456: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 2775, ``nay''; rollcall No. 457: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing the Rule on H.R. 2775, ``nay''.

Thursday, September 12, 2013: Rollcall No. 458: On Passage of H.R. 2775, ``nay''; rollcall No. 459: On passage of the Journal, ``aye'' 621.

Mr. Speaker: I was unavoidably absent during the week of July 29, 2013. If! were present, I would have voted on the following:

Rollcall No. 419: Gallego of Texas Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 420: Young of Alaska Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 421: Grayson of Florida Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 422: McClintock of California Amendment No. 4, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 423: First Hastings of Florida Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 424: Second Hastings of Florida Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 425: Third Hastings of Florida Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 426: Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911--Smarter Solutions for Students Act, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 427: H.R. 850 Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 428: Waxman of California Amendment No. 1, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 429: Connolly of Virginia Amendment No. 3, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 430: Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment No. 6, ``nay'';

Rollcall No. 431: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 1582, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 432: Final Passage H.R. 1582--Energy Consumers Relief Act, ``nay'';

Rollcall No. 433: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2879, H.R. 367, and H.R. 2009, ``nay'';

Rollcall No. 434: H. Res. 322--Rule Providing for consideration of H.R. 367, H.R. 2009, and H.R. 2879, ``nay'';

Rollcall No. 435: H.R. 1897--Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013, ``yea'';

Rollcall No. 436: H.R. 2879--Stop Government Abuse Act, ``nay'';

Rollcall No. 437: Scalise of Louisiana Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 438: Smith of Missouri Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 439: Latham of Iowa Amendment, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 440: Nadler of New York Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 441: Johnson of Georgia Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 442: Jackson-Lee of Texas Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 443: Moore of Wisconsin Amendment, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 444: Motion to Recommit With Instructions for HR 367, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 445: Final Passage of HR 367, ``no'';

Rollcall No. 446: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for HR 2009, ``aye'';

Rollcall No. 447: Final Passage of HR 2009, ``no'';

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of July 22, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Rollcall No. 375: H.R. 1542--WMD Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2013 (Rep. Meehan--Homeland Security), ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 376: H. Con. Res. 44--Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 377: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 2397 and H.R. 2610, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 378: H. Res. 312--Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 2397 and H.R. 2610, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 379: Gabbard of Hawaii Amendment No. 3, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 380: Blumenauer of Oregon Amendment No. 10, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 381: Polis of Colorado Amendment No. 14, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 382: Blumenauer of Oregon Amendment No. 15, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 383: Nugent of Florida Amendment No. 17, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 384: Nadler of New York Amendment No. 20, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 385: Moran of Virginia Amendment No. 23, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 386: Poe of Texas Amendment No. 25, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 387: Walberg of Michigan Amendment No. 27, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 388: Cicilline of Rhode Island Amendment No. 28, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 389: Cohen of Tennessee Amendment No. 29, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 390: Coffman of Colorado Amendment No. 30, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 391: Garamendi of California Amendment No. 33, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 392: Fleming of Louisiana Amendment No. 35, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 393: Rigell of Virginia Amendment No. 36, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 394: Flores of Texas Amendment No. 41, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 395: DeLauro of Connecticut Amendment No. 44,``aye.''

Rollcall No. 396: Lee of California Amendment No. 45, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 397: Quigley of Illinois Amendment No. 46, ``no'' (check past).

Rollcall No. 398: Denham of California Amendment No. 47, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 399: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question of H.R. 2218 and H.R. 1582, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 400: H. Res. 315, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 401: Jones of North Carolina Amendment No. 48, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 402: LaMalfa of California Amendment No. 51, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 403: Mulvaney of South Carolina Amendment No. 55, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 404: Stockman of Texas Amendment No. 60, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 405: Walorski of Indiana Amendment No. 62, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 406: Bonamici of Oregon Amendment No. 65, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 407: Kilmer of Washington Amendment No. 67, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 408: Nadler of New York Amendment No. 69, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 409: Nadler of New York Amendment No. 70, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 410: Schiff of California Amendment No. 73, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 411: Pompeo of Kansas Amendment No. 99, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 412: Amash of Michigan Amendment No. 100, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 413: Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 2397, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 414: Final Passage of H.R. 2397--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2014, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 415: Waxman of California Part A Amendment No. 2, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 416: Tonko of New York Part A Amendment No. 3, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 417: Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 2218, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 418: Final Passage of H.R. 2218--Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013, ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, as you may know, on July 1st the rate for subsidized Stafford student loans doubled from 3.4% to 6.8%. Today, students already face over $1 trillion in student loan debt nationally and any effort to further indebt hardworking students and families would be disgraceful. This Congress needs to act in a responsible fashion in order to help alleviate the cost prohibitive status of higher education in this country. Today, I am pleased to say that this Congress has acted to help students and families by putting forward H.R. 1911, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, legislation that I am proud to support.

Unlike the proposals floated earlier this Congress by the House majority, this bill offers students and families a reasonable way to finance higher education. As opposed to rates that fluctuate throughout the life of the loan, H.R. 1911 allows for a variable rate for new borrowers that adjusts yearly but is fixed for the life of the loan once borrowed. Further, the bill offers lower interest rates for undergraduate borrowers of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans by pairing them to the 10 yr Treasury (T) bill + 2.05% as opposed to the 10 yr T bill + 2.5% in the original House majority proposal. Lastly, the bill offers interest rate caps for borrowers to ensure that interest

rates do not soar to undesirable levels in the years to come.

If this bill is signed into law, rates on new subsidized Stafford and PLUS loans will go down this year. Undergraduates would borrow at 3.86%, a cut from 6.8%, graduate students would borrow Stafford loans at 5.4%, a cut from 6.8% and parents and graduates borrowing PLUS loans would borrow at 6.4%, a cut from 7.9%. For a freshman undergraduate beginning school this year and taking out the maximum amount of loans, he/she will save $3,300 in interest payments over their college career as compared to current law and undergraduate students would save $25 billion in debt relief, according to CBO projections, over the next five years as compared to current law. While this bill represents a significant improvement for students, I do have reservations that the undergraduate interest rate cap, currently set at 8.25%, is too high. While it is widely believed that students will enjoy low rates in the short-term, there is a strong possibility that rates will skyrocket as our national economy improves. I believe that, for undergraduates, a lower cap should be considered and I would welcome its continued review by this Congress in the years to come.

Overall, Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that will give students and families alike significant financial relief and stability in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of July 8, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Monday, July 8, 2013: rollcall No. 305: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1341, ``yea''; rollcall No. 306: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1564, ``yea''; rollcall No. 307: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1171, ``yea''.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013: rollcall No. 308: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 2609, ``nay''; rollcall No. 309: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution on the Rule H.R. 2609, ``nay''; rollcall No. 310: Motion on Approving the Journal, ``nay''; rollcall No. 311: Moran of Virginia Amendment No. 1, ``aye''; rollcall No. 312: Moran of Virginia Amendment No. 2, ``aye''; rollcall No. 313: Takano of California Amendment No. 2, ``aye''; rollcall No. 314: Perry of Pennsylvania Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 315: Broun of Georgia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 316: Cohen of Tennessee Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 317: Broun of Georgia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 318: Swalwell of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 319: McClintock of California Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 320: Peters of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 321: Perlmutter of Colorado Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 322: Connolly of Virginia Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 323: First Takano of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 324: Second Takano of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 325: Heck of Nevada Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 326: Butterfield of North Carolina Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 327: Foster of Illinois Amendment, ``aye''.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013: rollcall No. 328: Hastings of Florida Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 329: Garamendi of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 330: Broun of Georgia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 331: Jackson Lee of Texas Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 332: Quigley of Illinois Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 333: Heck of Nevada Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 334: Polis of Colorado Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 335: First Burgess of Texas Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 336: Second Burgess of Texas Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 337: Titus of Nevada Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 338: Lynch of Massachusetts Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 339: Whitfield of Kentucky Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 340: Fleming of Louisiana Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 341: Garamendi of California Amendment No. 28, ``aye''; rollcall No. 342: Speier of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 343: Chabot of Ohio Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 344: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 2609, ``aye''; rollcall No. 345: Final Passage of H.R. 2609--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014, ``nay''.

Thursday, July 11, 2013: rollcall No. 346: Motion to Adjourn, ``yea''; rollcall No. 347: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair for H. Res. 295, ``no''; rollcall No. 348: Motion to Adjourn, ``yea''; rollcall No. 349: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution for H. Res. 295, ``no''; rollcall No. 350: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair for H.R. 2642, ``nay''; rollcall No. 351: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair for H.R. 2642, ``no''; rollcall No. 352: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 2642, ``aye''; rollcall No. 353: Final Passage of H.R. 2642--Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, ``nay''.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of July 15, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013: rollcall No. 354: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 355: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 356: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, ``yea.''

Wednesday, July 17, 2013: rollcall No. 357: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 2667, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 358: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution providing the Rule on H.R. 2667 and H.R. 2668, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 359: Motion to Adjourn, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 360: On Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 2667, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 361: On passage of H.R. 2667, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 362: On Motion to Recommit with Instruction H.R. 2668, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 363: On Passage of H.R. 2668, ``nay.''

Thursday, July 18, 2013: rollcall No. 364: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 5, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 365: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing the Rule on H.R. 5, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 366: On passage of the Journal, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 367: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Young of Alaska, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 368: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Luetkemeyer of Missouri, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 369: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Meehan of Pennsylvania, ``nay.''

Friday, July 19, 2013: rollcall No. 370: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Culberson of Texas, ``nay;'' rollcall No. 371: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Jackson Lee of Texas, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 372: On Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Miller of California, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 373: On the Motion to Recommit with Instructions H.R. 5, ``yea;'' rollcall No. 374: On Passage of H.R. 5, ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of June 24, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013:

Rollcall No. 287: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2383, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 288: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1092, ``yea.''

Wednesday, June 26, 2013:

Rollcall No. 289: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 1613, H.R. 2231, and H.R. 2410, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 290: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution on the Rule H.R. 1613, H.R. 2231, and H.R. 2410, ``nay.''

Thursday, June 27, 2013:

Rollcall No. 291: Grayson of Florida Part A Amendment No. 1, as Modified, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 292: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 1613, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 293: Final Passage of H.R. 1613--Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 294: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1864, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 295: Hastings of Florida Part B Amendment No. 2, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 296: Flores of Texas Part B Amendment No. 4, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 297: Cassidy of Louisiana Part B Amendment No. 5, as Modified, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 298: Rigell of Virginia Part B Amendment No. 7, ``no.''

Friday, June 28, 2013:

Rollcall No. 299: DeFazio of Oregon Part B Amendment No. 8, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 300: Broun of Georgia Part B Amendment No. 9, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 301: Grayson of Florida Part B Amendment No. 10, as Modified, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 302: Capps of California Part B Amendment No. 11, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 303: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 2231, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 304: Final Passage of H.R. 2231--Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of June 17, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Monday, June 17, 2013:

Rollcall No. 245: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 876, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 246: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 253, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 247: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 862, ``yea.''

Tuesday, June 18, 2013:

Rollcall No. 248: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 1947 and 1797, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 249: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution on the Rule for H.R. 1947 and 1797, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 250: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1151, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 251: Final Passage of H.R. 1797--Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 252: H.R. 1896--To amend part D of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that the United States can comply fully with the obligations of the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, ``nay.''

Wednesday June 19, 2013:

Rollcall No. 253: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 1947, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 254: Motion on Agreeing to the Resolution on the Rule for H.R. 1947, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 255: Motion on Approving the Journal, ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 256: McGovern of Massachusetts Part B Amendment No. 1, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 257: Foxx of North Carolina Part B Amendment No. 3, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 258: Broun of Georgia Part B Amendment No. 5, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 259: Blumenauer of Oregon Part B Amendment No. 8, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 260: Blumenauer of Oregon Part B Amendment No. 9, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 261: Kaptur of Ohio Part B Amendment No. 14, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 262: Royce of California Part B Amendment No. 15, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 263: Chabot of Ohio Part B Amendment No. 16, ``no.''

Thursday June 20, 2013:

Rollcall No. 264: Brooks of Alabama Part B Amendment No. 18, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 265: Butterfield of North Carolina Part B Amendment No. 25, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 266: Marino of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 26, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 267: Schweikert of Arizona Part B Amendment No. 30, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 268: Tierney of Massachusetts Part B Amendment No. 32, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 269: Polis of Colorado Part B Amendment No. 37, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 270: Garamendi of California Part B Amendment No. 38, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 271: Marino of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 41, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 272: McClintock of California Part B Amendment No. 43, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 273: Gibson of New York Part B Amendment No. 44, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 274: Walorski of Indiana Part B Amendment No. 45, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 275: Courtney of Connecticut Part B Amendment No. 46, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 276: Kind of Wisconsin Part B Amendment No. 47, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 277: Carney of Delaware Part B Amendment No. 48, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 278: Goodlatte of Virginia Part B Amendment No. 99, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 279: Radel of Florida Part B Amendment No. 49, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 280: Walberg of Michigan Part B Amendment No. 50, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 281: Pitts of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 98, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 282: Fortenberry of Nebraska Part B Amendment No. 100, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 283: Huelskamp of Kansas Part B Amendment No. 101, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 284: Southerland of Florida Part B Amendment No. 102, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 285: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 1947, ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 286: Final Passage of H.R. 1947--Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of June 10, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013: rollcall No. 212: H.R. 251, South Utah Valley Electric Conveyance Act, ``yea''; rollcall No. 213: H.R. 1157, Rattlesnake Mountain Public Access Act, ``yea ''.

Wednesday June 12, 2013: rollcall No. 214: H. Res. 256--Rule Providing for consideration of H.R. 1256 and H.R. 1960, ``nay''; rollcall No. 215: H.R. 634--Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2013, ``yea''; rollcall No. 216: H.R. 742--Swap Data Repository and Clearing House Indemnification Correction Act of 2013, ``yea''; rollcall No. 217: Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 1256, ``yea''; rollcall No. 218: Final Passage of H.R. 1256--Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act, ``yea''; rollcall No. 219: H.R. 1038-- Public Power Risk Management Act of 2013, ``yea''.

Thursday June 13, 2013: rollcall No. 220: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 1960, ``nay''; rollcall No. 221: H. Res. 260--Rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 1960, ``no''; rollcall No. 222: Blumenauer of Oregon Part B, ``no''; rollcall No. 223: Lummis of Wyoming Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 224: Coffman of Colorado, ``no''; 'rollcall No. 225: Rigell of Virginia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 226: McGovern of Massachusetts Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 227: Goodlatte of Virginia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 228: Smith of Washington Amendment, ``aye''.

Friday, June 14, 2013: rollcall No. 229: Turner of Ohio Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 230: Holt of New Jersey Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 231: McCollum of Minnesota Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 232: Nolan of Minnesota Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 233: Larsen of Washington Amendment, ``aye'' rollcall No. 234: Gibson of New York Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 235: Coffman of Colorado Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 236: Walorski of Indiana Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 237: Smith

of Washington Amendment, ``aye'' rollcall No. 238: Polis/Andrews Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 239: Polis Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 240: Van Hollen of Maryland Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 241: Blumenauer of Oregon Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 242: DeLauro of Connecticut Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 243: Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 1960, ``aye''; rollcall No. 244: H.R. 1960--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, ``aye''.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent the week of June 3, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Rollcall No. 184: ``Yea,'' H.R. 1206--Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013;

Rollcall No. 185: ``Yea,'' S. 622--Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013;

Rollcall No. 186: ``Nay,'' Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule to H. Res. 243;

Rollcall No. 187: ``Nay,'' H. Res. 243--Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 2216 and H.R. 2217;

Rollcall No. 188: ``No,'' Broun of Georgia Amendment;

Rollcall No. 189: ``Aye,'' Amodei of Nevada Amendment;

Rollcall No. 190: ``Aye,'' Moran of Virginia Amendment;

Rollcall No. 191: ``No,'' King of Iowa Amendment;

Rollcall No. 192: ``Aye,'' On Motion to Recommit with Instructions

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today against the Making College More Expensive Act. Let me tell you why.

I represent a pretty large minority area, and over the last several years, we've seen those scores in those students going up and up. For the first time, we're seeing a higher rate of young people going to college. This is not the time to be looking at making college more expensive. They are first-time-generation students going to college. This is wrong. This is supposed to be a family-friendly bill. For whom? It's certainly not for my constituents.

I'm sorry also to say that what we're going to be seeing is that after this bill passes--and it will probably pass today--it dies. The Senate is not going to pick this up. So, again, we have wasted all our time instead of working together to come to a solution.

Again, as you heard, according to the CBO, if Congress did nothing and let student loan rates double on July 1, students would be better off.

This is not a good bill. I ask my colleagues to vote against it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that we acknowledge the significant contributions nurses make to our society on a daily basis. This year, the week of May 6th is National Nurses Week. During this week, we are asked to pause and recognize the courageous men and women who serve our communities as nurses. The American Nurses Association has designated this week to honor nurses and incorporate one of the most famous nurses, Florence Nightingale, in the ceremony as well.

I would like to draw special attention to the nurses at South Nassau Communities Hospital. The men and women of South Nassau Communities Hospital show a consistent dedication to ensuring and improving the health of their community. For over 80 years, these men and women have worked diligently to improve the lives of Long Islanders. The tradition passed down throughout the years was exemplified by the selfless efforts of the nurses at the hospital during Superstorm Sandy. I was inspired by their efforts in assisting people of Long Island gravely affected by Sandy. They rose to the occasion without hesitation or complaint providing care to people in their time of great need. And they did so without expecting any expectation of glory.

These men and women exemplify the great values of America on a daily basis. They set an excellent standard for each of us to live up to. I wanted to take this moment to honor them and thank them. We do not say it often enough to our public servants, but without the men and women of the nursing profession, America would be a much different place. The care provided by the nurses at Nassau South Communities hospital is vital to the life of Long Island. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they do for our neighbors and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Carol Burris on being named New York State's 2013 High School Principal of the Year. Principal Burris has proudly served as Rockville Centre's South Side High School's Principal for 13 years. She was chosen as Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State because of her exceptional contributions to the educational process and her commitment to her students and the community. It was because of her tireless efforts that so many were moved to submit letters of nomination for this award.

Praised for her bold ideas to improve the education system, Ms. Burris is well known for her opposition to using standardized test scores as an evaluation tool for teachers and the use of tracking at the high school level. She believes that tracking, which separates students by achievement level for all classroom subjects, limits a student's academic potential. This belief led her to establish paths of more rigorous study and increased opportunity for every student at South Side High School. She established a mandate that all 11th graders complete the very challenging English class, International Baccalaureate Language and Literature. Her high standards for all students--regardless of social, economic, or racial background-- resulted in 99% of her students, including 95% of minority students, graduating with a Regents diploma last year. These extraordinary results have led to U.S. News and World Report to select South Side High School as the top-ranked high school on Long Island.

Ms. Burris is known as a leader amongst her coworkers and students. She works with teachers to regularly to collaborate, develop new ideas for lesson plans, improve instruction tools, align curriculum to be highly effective. The impact of her leadership on her school and her students is evident. Please join me in honoring Carol Burris for the momentous achievement of becoming New York State's Principal of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that we acknowledge the significant contributions of a great public servant and loyal family man, Richard A. Hill, Jr., who was taken away too soon from us, and from his beloved wife Anne and their two fine children Regina and John. Richard Hill joined the Department of Health and Human Services in 1989, and later the Social Security Administration in 1995, following successful completion of Fordham School of Law where he earned honors, demonstrating the same dedication and drive that was to characterize his successful performance of duty in later years. Richard Hill was always mindful of the vital role that the Social Security Administration's program played in the lives of the American people. He received numerous awards recognizing his service, including Vice President Albert Gore's Government Reinvention ``Hammer'' Award, Commissioner of Social Security Citations, and most recently the Louis J. Lefkowitz Public Service Award from his alma mater, Fordham School of Law. As attorney, supervisor, Deputy Regional Chief Counsel, and Director of Learning Initiatives at the Social Security Administration's Office of the General Counsel, Richard Hill had inexhaustible passion, a natural intellectual curiosity, and a never- ending wealth of information regarding the work he did at the Social Security Administration. As Director of Learning Initiatives, Richard Hill developed, shaped, and implemented the Office of the General Counsel's national training program for its new attorneys, and he was most proud of his part in training young attorneys en route to careers dedicated to helping others. Richard Hill's warm and kind spirit, collaborative nature, and unparalleled dedication to federal service and the American people will truly be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and former classmate, Chief Louis Santosus, on the occasion of the celebration of 50 years of service to the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department.

A life-long Mineola resident, Chief Santosus and I were classmates at Mineola Public Schools. After graduation, Chief Santosus joined the Mineola Junior Fire Department in 1963. In the 50 years since, he has remained an active firefighter committed to serving his neighbors with great selflessness and dedication.

Chief Santosus has served in many capacities including Vice President and President of Company No. 1 of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department. Throughout his service, he rose through the ranks to serve as Captain, and then as Chief, of the Mineola Fire Department. He was an integral part of building up the Mineola Junior Fire Department into the Junior Fire Department, as it is known today throughout the region. He has been honored as Company No. 1 Firefighter of the Year, Town of North Hempstead Firefighter of the Year, and Firefighter of the Year of the Mineola Fire Department. These great distinctions are just some of the examples of the value Chief Louis Santosus brought to his community and his peers.

In addition to his commitment to the fire department, Chief Louis Santosus has held positions on the Village of Mineola Board for 17 years as Trustee and Deputy Mayor. Presently, he serves as a member of the Fire Council and the Nassau County Critical Incidence Stress Management Team.

Chief Santosus and his wife, Patricia, have four children--Patti, Bonnie, Gary, and Brian--and nine grandchildren. Both Brian and Gary currently are Lieutenants in the FDNY, and Brian is an Ex-Captain of Company No. 1.

Today I join the officers and members of Company No. 1 of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department in celebrating and honoring my long-time friend Chief Louis Santosus' 50 years of dedication and service to the people and communities of Nassau County, Long Island.