Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of what the chairwoman is doing on the U.N.

I think it is a disgrace that we continue to fund an organization like the U.N. when in fact they tend to hinder progress instead of help it.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, yesterday was a great day for democracy and freedom in this country. Yesterday, the Republican-led Congress voted to repeal a

health care law that was passed by the Democrats that would mandate, that would force people to buy something even if they didn't want to. It's unconstitutional, it's un-American, and it is not what this country stands for.

Now we are hearing a lot of our colleagues on the other side talk about how we want to strip away this and we want to strip away that and we are playing games and this resolution is a game. Well, let me remind you that it was the President of the United States in his State of the Union that talked about tort reform, which was not included in ObamaCare. We intend to include tort reform in this Congress. We also believe that association health plans are very important to ensure that more people have access to health care, something that your side of the aisle failed to do.

There are real ways to do commonsense reforms. It is not by having the government mandate what you have to buy as a citizen of this country. It is unconstitutional. It is un-American.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, I rise today with sadness in my heart and a bit of anger about what happened in Tucson.

I cannot help but think that, on that morning, a colleague of ours was doing what she enjoyed, doing what is expected of a Member of Congress--meeting with her constituents, talking about the important issues of the day. She went to work that morning, to the grocery store, to listen to her constituents. For someone to show up and pull the trigger is something that I don't think any of us will ever forget.

I pray for Gabby. My thoughts and prayers go to all of the family members who have been affected by this tragedy.

We hope and we cannot wait for that day when Gabby comes back to this floor--when she walks through that door, when she joins us again, when she casts a vote. Most importantly, though, I cannot wait to see that smile on her face. No matter who you are, whenever you met Gabby, she always greeted you with a smile, with kindness in her heart, with determination and strength.

Gabby, we are praying for you. We pull for you. Our hearts and prayers are with you. You are missed, and we look forward to seeing you back on the floor of the House.

Thank you and God bless you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my most trusted advisors and closest friends, Francis B. Gibbs, who is moving on to new opportunities in the private sector.

Many staffers come and go on Capitol Hill, as many Members can attest, but I've been fortunate to have Francis at my side for over five years. He has been a dedicated public servant and a terrific sounding board for me, and he has been an incredible advocate and mentor for my staff.

Before serving as my Legislative Director and then my Chief of Staff, Francis worked for Congressman Ander Crenshaw as his Legislative Counsel. A native Floridian, Francis understands the values and attributes of our great State.

More importantly, Francis shares a strong passion for the ideals of freedom and free markets. He is deeply committed to the Constitution and the principles of federalism, and his work reflects his commitment to limiting the size and scope of an ever-intrusive federal government. A famous man once said, ``No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.'' Francis has been, and always will be, a true patriot and defender of freedom.

While I am happy for Francis to begin this next phase of his professional career, make no mistake about it, he will be greatly missed. He has been a valuable member and an irreplaceable part of my team, but I know I can continue to count on his advice and friendship in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I would not be where I am today were it not for Francis' dedication, service and hard work. On behalf of the people of Florida's Fourteenth Congressional District, I want to thank Francis for his nearly ten years of service to the people of Florida and the Nation. He is my friend, he is a true public servant in every sense of the word, and I wish him all the best as he begins this new and exciting chapter of his life with his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Southwest Florida's most outstanding public servants, Collier County Commissioner Frank Halas, who is retiring after an exceptional career.

Frank has served on the Collier County Board of Commissioners for the last eight years, and during his time on the Board, he has been a strong force for the people of Collier County and all of Southwest Florida. One of his top priorities has been the preservation and protection of the Vanderbilt Beach area in Naples, and he has fought tirelessly to protect our region's delicate environment and water resources.

Frank's public service did not start with his stint on the Board of Commissioners, and I doubt it will end there. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school, and after 31 years with the Ford Motor Company in Michigan, he retired to Southwest Florida, where the ``quiet and sophistication'' of the area appealed to him and his family.

During his time here in our part of paradise, Frank has held countless positions on numerous civic and charitable organizations throughout Southwest Florida. He's the type of person who believes in giving back to his community tenfold and has done just that. From his work with the VFW, the Taxpayers Action Group, the Collier Audubon Society, and the Estuary Conservation Association, he has worked to make Southwest Florida a great place to live, work and visit.

Frank's enthusiasm and passion for serving the community is inspiring. He is the type of elected official that all of us in public service strive to be--accessible, dedicated, and effective.

I'd like to recognize Frank's wife, Diane, and his six children and nine grandchildren, for their support during his public service--I know he couldn't have accomplished so much without their love and support.

Madam Speaker, although we are sad to see him leave the Collier County Board of Commissioners, Southwest Florida is better off today because of Frank Halas' tireless work. I wish Frank and his family all the best as he enjoys his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, one year ago today, on June 28, 2009, the Honduran people chose to uphold their Constitution and the rule of law by removing former President Manuel Zelaya from power, a close ally of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez who was taking the Honduran people down the path of less freedom.

But even though the Honduran people were following the rule of law, the international community punished them for instituting what they believed to be a ``military coup.'' Honduras was suspended from the Organization of American States, OAS, and had their vital U.S. assistance temporarily frozen, causing them to permanently lose part of their Millennium Challenge Corporation project.

Even in the face of adversity (as well as a devastating tropical storm and the worst draught in 25 years), Honduras continued its fight for democracy and the rule of law. They withdrew from ALBA, an organization of leftist states in Latin America; they created a new human rights officer to respond to increasing attacks on journalists in their country; and their interim president, Roberto Micheletti, oversaw a peaceful, free and fair presidential election in November.

Honduras was able to accomplish great things for its democracy, all while dealing with charges and visits from our own government, which was focused not on helping our friend and ally, but shaming and threatening them into rewriting history.

A year after standing up to a ruthless leader who attempted to dismiss the country's constitution in an effort to maintain power, the Honduran people have their sights set on their nation's future.

President Lobo inherited a country that was in the worst shape it had been in over the past 40 years: a dire economic situation, a growing number of attacks on journalists, and a sharp increase in drug trafficking by illegal gangs. In fact, according to a Reuters report, some 1,600 people died in drug violence in Honduras in 2009.

Unfortunately, as a result of the shortsighted interference by the United States, the Lobo Administration has been forced to place its first focus on rebuilding its diplomatic relations with the international community, rather than tackling the many problems within their nation.

As we continue to work with Honduras to overcome the challenges it faces in providing freedom, security and prosperity to the Honduran people, I call on the State Department to provide one clear message: those who look conformity directly in the face, and choose the fight of freedom, are the heroes required to build a free and fair society, and will always have a place as a friend and ally of the United States.

I take this opportunity today, on the one-year anniversary of the removal of former President Manuel Zelaya, to encourage the Honduran people to continue their fight for freedom, security and prosperity, and I pledge my continued support for them in this noble goal.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the nearly 100 World War II veterans from Southwest Florida traveling to Washington, DC on the Honor Flight on Saturday, April 24, 2010.

Since its inception in 2005, Honor Flight has flown tens of thousands of World War II veterans to our nation's capital to view the World War II Memorial. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of volunteers and businesses around the country, these heroes have an opportunity to visit the Memorial that was built to honor their service to our great nation.

I would like to recognize the following men and women from Southwest Florida who are taking the Honor Flight to Washington, DC: Kurt Boenker, Fred Warner, Vincent Marinera, Carl Price, Joseph Harrington, James Jarvis, Norman Jarvis, David Smith, Lawrence Phelan, Thomas Withrow, Robert Bricker, Henry Chiminello, Robert Voege, Robert Schugg, Jack Anderson, James Cusick, Jr., Jack Blachley, Robert Hall, William Wardle, Ralph Cook, Leonard Nallman, Donald Lester, Thomas Mac Kimmie, Robert Stilson, John Drake, James Hausler, Alfred Pagles, Stanley Parks, Eugene Roaf, Edward Coombs, Bernard Brehm, Aubrey Smith, Ronald Birchler, Elwood Grube, Ira Weisblum, George Brown, John Nemeth, Kenneth Sayers, Edward Sturm, Eugene Poslaiko, Emmett Yoder, Jr., Charles Brandenburg, Eleanor Purser, Dorothy Kurtz, Louis Spencer, Joseph Beauchamp, David McKalip, Kenneth Ferris, Robert Partington, George Mann, Donald Bunger, Frank Parker, Michael Ursitti, Elias Ursitti, Charles Rogers, Forrest Yeager, Paul Groves, La Moine Heimstead, Edward Texley, Robert Demmink, Curtiss Sarff, Ervin Loche, Paul Wilcox, Dominic Franciose, George Doucette, John Heck, Frank Barletta, Frank Oden, Jr., Wesley Bates, Eugene Andrews, Jorgen Brinch, Frank Mazzarisi, Edwin Ratcliffe, Lewis Riggles, Charles Briner, Carl Loiocano, Carlton Carson, Lew Hall and Frank Burns.

Throughout our nation's history, men and women have answered the call of duty in times of peace and in times of conflict. These veterans and their sacrifices have helped to preserve liberty and freedom around the world.

I would like to thank these veterans for their commitment to our country. I am honored to have these brave men and women visit Washington, DC. Madam Speaker, it is a true honor to represent these heroes in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats believe that they can rewrite the Constitution. They believe in the power of government, not the power of the people. They believe that a better America goes through more and more

and more government. And it's clear they do not believe in the American people.

Americans have spoken loud and clear. We are saying ``no'' to more government control of our lives. We are saying ``no'' to higher taxes and deficits. We are saying ``no'' to this takeover of health care. The American people want Washington to get its irresponsible hands out of their pockets and stop their unconstitutional power grab.

The American people deserve to be respected. They deserve to be listened to. They deserve freedom, they deserve security, and they deserve prosperity. The Democrats need to stop and listen to the American people.

And hear me now. You may win this vote today through arm-twisting tricks and backroom deals, but let's see who's still here after the American people speak loud and clear in November.

I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Baird, for his work on this important issue. I also want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Hall, for his hard work and dedication.

I also want to recognize that in this bill, there may be a lot of people who have concerns about the funding levels, and I'll just pick up where the chairman talked about that this is an authorizing bill. This is not the appropriations process. But it is important that we recognize that for our researchers around the country, they need to be able to plan looking forward, and if they constantly are relying on funding to be done through the

appropriations process once a year, whether or not they're going to have the research dollars or not, that is no way to conduct quality research, especially on an issue that's so important, and I too call this red tide.

This is an important issue for all of us, not just those that live along the coast, but for all of us. It used to be thought that red tide was only something that affected the marine life, but now we have seen that this has crossed over and is affecting not only the quality of life for people who live or vacation at the beach but also can cause death. So I commend the committee for this bill.

Passing this important legislation is the first step in increasing research on red tide while ensuring that scientists and experts in the field, and not politicians, determine where research money is spent. And this is an important fact because right now, all of my colleagues and I, we try to make sure that we bring some money home for our local research organizations, which we support. But in this legislation what we're saying is, let's have a peer review group look at the research projects that are out there, and let them decide. Let scientists decide what's most important, what research is to be supported and funded.

This is very important for everybody at home. For those people who want to make sure that we control spending, one of the best ways to control spending through this bill is to make sure that peer review groups are deciding where the money's going, not everyone and Members of Congress fighting for their own little project in their backyards. So I see this in that light as well. There are great organizations out there, whether it's Woods Hole, or Mote Marine, or Florida Gulf Coast University, and also Ocean Champions, who have been working hard on this legislation, and we need to support them as well.

So on a last note, growing up in southwest Florida, I have spent my whole life on the water in Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach and Captiva, and we would have red tide maybe 1 week out of the year.

So we would have an outbreak maybe once a year for 1 week. Not too long ago, we had 13 months of straight red tide off the coast of Florida in southwest Florida. Clearly something is changing, something is happening. And right now, frankly, I don't know that we can trust all the research that's out there. This bill will ensure that we can trust the research that's happening, that it's done through a peer review group, through NOAA, and that we will have reporting to the Congress on those findings so we can continue to monitor and hopefully eliminate or begin to control red tide so the citizens of this great country can enjoy the beaches, our economies can grow, and the quality of life can improve.

Thank you for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Peter Hakim for his service at the Inter-American Dialogue. Peter has testified in front of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee several times and has always been a passionate advocate for issues in Latin America. His personal insight into the inner workings of Latin American politics has been both constructive and resourceful to our Subcommittee and to Members of Congress.

Madam Speaker, the Inter-American Dialogue is an organization that brings an incredible amount of information to the discourse on freedom in Latin America. Through discussions and lectures, the Dialogue has brought greater awareness to the current issues facing Latin America.

I would also like to honor Mr. Michael Shifter, the new President of the Inter-American Dialogue, upon his appointment to this important role. I'm sure the Dialogue will benefit greatly from Michael's leadership and experience, and I look forward to working with both Michael and the Dialogue as we work toward greater freedom, security and prosperity in Latin America and the hemisphere.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 3650, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act. I would like to thank Congressman Baird who took the lead this Congress, along with Congresswoman Kathy Castor and Congressman Allen Boyd, for their work on this important issue. Passing this important piece of legislation is the first step in increasing research for harmful algal blooms while ensuring that scientists and experts in the field, and not politicians, determine where research money is spent.

Last Congress, I introduced the Save Our Shores Act to increase our commitment to researching harmful algal blooms. Since then, my colleagues and I have worked together to tackle red tide and other harmful algal blooms. The committee has crafted new language to improve the legislation by including freshwater harmful algal blooms and instituting regional action plans.

These are important efforts and it is time we recognize that although harmful algal blooms affect our entire Nation, they are different throughout the country. I represent the coastal areas of southwest Florida. If you haven't been there, it's a beautiful part of the country, with miles and miles of white sandy beaches. For southwest Florida, like many communities, a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand. As a kid growing up in Cape Coral red tide blooms were short-lived nuisances that lasted just a few days. Today, however, these blooms continue for months at a time, and they have long-lasting implications that threaten the environment, people's health, and our overall quality of life. It is imperative that we do more to understand and combat this problem.

These blooms cause dangerous respiratory distress and burning eyes, as well as the potential for severe food poisoning from contaminated shellfish. Harmful algal blooms not only affect our personal health, they also affect the health of our economy. Red tide and other toxic blooms cost approximately $80 million annually to communities across the United States of America. From New England to the Great Lakes, from California to South Carolina, these toxic blooms affect us all.

Madam Speaker, by passing this legislation today, the House of Representatives is giving this important issue the attention it deserves. I salute Congressman Baird and all the other Members who cosponsored this legislation for bringing this matter to the forefront and making this research a priority. I urge all of my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Michael G. Rippe and the renaming of the Metro Parkway Extension in Fort Myers to the Michael G. Rippe Parkway.

Mr. Rippe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering Technology from the West Virginia Institute of Technology. He joined the Florida Department of Transportation in August 1989. From 2000- 2004, he served as the Director of the Southwest Area Office. Throughout this time, Mr. Rippe was an integral part in keeping Florida's roads safe and efficient.

In 2004, Mr. Rippe was appointed Director of Transportation Development for Florida Department of Transportation, District One. His work contributed to the development of many roads and bridges in Southwest Florida. Mr. Rippe's contributions to the Department of Transportation have been a huge asset for my district and the entire state of Florida.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rippe had worked closely on many major highway and bridge projects. He assisted in resolving various design and construction issues with local government and private citizens. His work on U.S. 41 projects accelerated job schedules and saved millions of taxpayer dollars.

I.would like to recognize Mr. Rippe for his numerous contributions to the citizens of Lee County, and I speak on behalf of all Floridians when I say that we are proud of his accomplishments. I strongly support renaming the Metro Extension Parkway in Lee County, Florida to the Michael G. Rippe Parkway.

Thanks to Mr. Rippe's commitment, the citizens and visitors of Southwest Florida will benefit from his lasting legacy of safe, modernized roads for many years to come. Madam Speaker, it is a true honor to represent dedicated public servants like Mr. Rippe in Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud a new Public Safety Partnership launched in my home state of Florida during this holiday season. This unique effort, entitled ``12 Days of Fugitives,'' is an innovative public outreach plan with the end goal of helping the state and local law enforcement apprehend 12 of Florida's oldest and most violent prison escapees.

The Florida Department of Corrections and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are working with the U.S. Marshals Service, local law enforcement, and the media on this new initiative. Specifically, members of the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association are donating space on digital billboards to display a tip line telephone number together with pictures of the fugitives. In addition, Florida newspapers have committed to feature the fugitives online and in print.

The idea is to empower the public to come forward with information about the whereabouts of these escapees. The most recent escape occurred in 2000; others have been on the run for decades.

Florida has consistently been a pioneer in these types of public safety partnerships. From the beginning, the outdoor advertising industry was part of the AMBER Alert system in Florida. Now, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children posts AMBER Alerts on digital billboards across the country.

Madam Speaker, protecting our society from violent crime is extremely important, and often overlooked during this holiday time. This intensive public outreach in the state gives hope to the families and friends of the victims of crime that the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice. I commend the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association and the media for working together to make Florida a safer place to live, work, and visit.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 (H.R. 2194). I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership and work to bring this legislation to the floor. I would especially like to thank them for working with me to ensure that language related to Venezuela and Iran was included.

Madam Speaker, Iran is not wasting any time in its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and this body must also not waste any time in making sure that this bill becomes law.

Today in the Western Hemisphere, Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah, are working hard to promote acts of terrorism.

Iran is also working diligently across the Western Hemisphere to acquire uranium. This would, of course, not be possible without the help of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Madam Speaker, my subcommittee held a hearing in which we addressed Iran's rising influence in the Western Hemisphere. All experts point to Venezuela when it comes to Iran's threat in our region.

Hugo Chavez has not only facilitated Iran's influence, but is a co- conspirator with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in both evading sanctions and procuring nuclear technology.

This bill targets Iran. And we should target Iran. But we must also be mindful of who is helping Iran avoid sanctions and who is helping Iran achieve its ultimate goals.

This bill rightfully adds the sale of gasoline to the list of sanctions for Iran. It should come as no surprise to this body that just a few months ago, Chavez and Ahmadinejad signed a deal that allows Venezuela to sell 20,000 barrels of gasoline each day to Iran.

Chavez's actions clearly undermine our efforts and bolster Ahmadinejad's ability to acquire a nuclear weapon. We in Congress must not stand for it. We must stem Ahmadinejad's growing influence in Latin America, and we can start by passing this important legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010.

Project Name: Interstate 75/Collier Boulevard/SR 84 Interchange Improvements

Requesting Member: Congressman Connie Mack

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010

Account: Federal Highway Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Florida Department of Transportation

Address of Requesting Entity: 605 Suwannee Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $800,000: The current interchange serves the east Naples area, Golden Gate City, and Marco Island, and is the closest interchange from the east to the City of Naples. The funding will be utilized for capacity improvements at the Interstate 75/Collier Boulevard/SR 84 Interchange and will improve traffic flow in the region.

Project Name: FGCU Impact of Freshwater Flow into Coastal Waters-- FGCU Coastal Watershed Institute

Requesting Member: Congressman Connie Mack

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010

Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Florida Gulf Coast University

Address of Requesting Entity: 10501 FGCU Blvd., South, Fort Myers, FL 33965

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $350,000; Florida's coast is a principal economic driver, attracting millions of tourists and thousands of residents to the coastal communities of Southwest Florida. Proper management of the freshwater that the coastal environment receives is critical to preventing toxic algal blooms and negative impacts on recreational and commercial fisheries. FGCU is requesting federal funding for their Coastal Watershed Institute to address the impacts associated with changes in the freshwater flows into the area. This project is geared to students learning about future management of our fragile ecosystems.

Project Name: Emergency Services Technology, Collier County, Florida

Requesting Member: Congressman Connie Mack

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010

Account: DOJ/COPS

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Collier County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 3301 East Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida 34112

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $800,000 will be utilized for the acquisition of public safety technology equipment for the Collier County Emergency Services Center. The funding is important because it will help to better equip Collier County's emergency service providers to respond to events that could endanger the safety and citizens of Collier County, Florida.

Project Name: FGCU Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Requesting Member: Congressman Connie Mack

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010

Account: DOJ/OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Florida Gulf Coast University

Address of Requesting Entity: 10501 FGCU Blvd, South, Fort Myers, Florida 33965

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $200,000 will be utilized for the development of tools for training and processing crime scenes for use by law enforcement and public safety officials. This work will be done at the Florida Gulf Coast University in its Law Enforcement and Public Safety Department.