Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, last week our allies in Colombia struck a blow for freedom against the terrorist organization known as the FARC. As we all know, the FARC supports its war against our friends in Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, and the murder of innocent civilians. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been vocal in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United States and Colombia, it is now clear that Chavez is increasingly intertwined with the FARC and is now giving aid and comfort to terrorist organizations.

During last week's raid in Ecuador, the Colombian authorities recovered records that clearly show that Chavez has been giving the FARC millions of dollars, weapons, and safe passage in Venezuela. Last night, published reports indicate that the Bush administration has taken the first steps towards naming Venezuela as a state sponsor of terrorism because of its support of terrorist organizations just like the FARC.

I am pleased that the Bush administration has initiated the process of including Venezuela on the list with the likes of Iran, Cuba and North Korea. Madam Speaker, the time has come to once and for all take the steps that will cripple the ability of the Chavez regime to fund its terrorist friends and allies. By adding Venezuela to the list of official state sponsors of terrorism, we will help do just that. Furthermore, Congress must act now on the Colombian Free Trade Agreement to promote freedom and prosperity in the region. By passing the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, we will show our allies we stand with them and against the tyranny of Hugo Chavez.

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, March 6, 2008.

Hon. George W. Bush,

President of the United States, The White House, Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of the Nation's greatest treasures and to express my continued support for this important resolution introduced by my colleague from Florida which recognizes the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. It is our responsibility to ensure that a healthy and vibrant Everglades is there for future generations.

In addition to being an international center for business, tourism, and agriculture, the Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and is home to numerous rare and endangered species. Growing up in southwest Florida and so close to the Everglades, I was able to experience all the Everglades has to offer.

This resolution recognizes the continuing impact the Everglades has made on individuals throughout the world with the inception of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, CERP. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is one of the most extensive ecosystem restoration efforts ever created which will restore and protect one of our Nation's greatest natural resources. CERP's main goal is to capture fresh water that now flows to the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and redirect it to the areas that need it most. The majority of water will be devoted to environmental restoration, and the rest will enhance water supplies in south Florida. Make no mistake: the Everglades and Florida's unique environment are vital to our quality of life.

Mr. Speaker, protecting the Everglades is important for the overall health of south Florida's environment and way of life. It is our responsibility to ensure that a healthy and vibrant Everglades is there for our children and grandchildren. I urge all of my colleagues to recognize and support this important bipartisan resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Naples High School Football Team for winning this year's Class 3A Florida State Championship at the Citrus Bowl last week.

Trailing 10-7 against St. Augustine, the Naples High Eagles turned an errant snap into a game-winning touchdown to win the game 17-10. The win keeps the Eagles' 15-0 season record spot-free and makes it the first undefeated season in school history.

Vince Lombardi once said, ``. . . You've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.''

The young men of the Eagles Football Team have proven what Coach Lombardi said, and what he meant. Any of us who have played competitive sports understands the valuable lessons of hard work, teamwork and commitment. These memories and lessons will stay with these players for the rest of their lives and are made all the sweeter by their incredible season.

Madam Speaker, I know the people of Southwest Florida join me in offering our heartiest congratulations to the Naples High School Football Team, their coaches, students and fans. We couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments this season.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor F. Brent Leatherwood for his years of exemplary service in my office and to the constituents of the Fourteenth Congressional District of Florida.

I first met Brent shortly after he graduated from college at the University of Central Florida. When I met Brent, he was working for former Congressman Bill McCollum. I was impressed by Brent's energy, his passion for the Constitution, his dedication to the principles of federalism, and his strong work ethic. Because of this, I hired him to be my Legislative Assistant when I was first elected in 2004. It was here that Brent honed his skills serving in my office.

Over the past few years, Brent has worked closely with members of Congress, his fellow staffers in the House and Senate, and others on various projects and legislative initiatives. One of the most important of these ventures Brent worked on was the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act. Brent crafted a strategy and worked with members of Congress and congressional staff in order to ensure that many Constitutional safeguards were included in the final legislation. He brought a passion to this debate like no other and was one of my key advisers in this arena. Freedom and federalism is at the core of Brent's philosophical beliefs and he constantly reminded me of Ben Franklin's famous quote, ``Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.''

In mid-2005, because of the skill and diligence he brought to the job, Brent was promoted to Senior Legislative Assistant. Brent has served in that capacity to this date.

Brent has always had a love, respect, and passion for the rule of law and he has now been presented with a tremendous opportunity to return to his native Tennessee and begin his formal study of the law. While I am excited for Brent to begin the next phase of his life, make no mistake about it, he will be greatly missed. He has been a valuable member and an irreplaceable part of my team.

I have valued his advice over the last few years. And I am proud to call him my friend. On behalf of the Fourteenth Congressional District, I'd like to thank Brent for his years of service to the people of Southwest Florida and indeed our nation. He is a true patriot and we wish him all the best for a lifetime of happiness and great success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Nancy Keefer, Bonita Springs 2007 Citizen of the Year, for her years of dedicated service to southwest Florida. Nancy exemplifies the ideals that we in southwest Florida hold dear.

Over the last decade, Nancy's energy and dedication for Bonita Springs has led to great service and leadership in our community. In addition to serving as the president of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce since 1997, she is a member of the Bonita Springs Rotary Club, on the Bonita Springs YMCA board of directors and is a member of the International College President's Council. Nancy is also a member of the Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative.

We all owe a tremendous amount of appreciation to Nancy for showing our community what leadership and service truly means.

I'm honored to represent such a remarkable individual, and I would like to thank citizens like her for making southwest Florida a great place to live, work and visit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for House Resolution 435, concerning Iran's growing influence in Latin America.

I also want to thank my colleague from Florida, Congressman Ron Klein, for all of his hard work on this resolution.

He is passionate about Latin America and it has been a pleasure to work with you to get this important resolution to the floor today.

This resolution, which has garnered wide, bi-partisan support, formally expresses what many of us have known for quite some time: Iran's growing ties and meddling in Latin America is a grave concern for us all.

There is no doubt that Iran has given strategic, financial, logistical, and tactical support and safe haven to terrorists groups such as Hezbollah and others.

And, according to military leaders at U.S. Southern Command, there is no doubt that Islamic terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah, have infiltrated indigenous groups throughout significant areas of Latin America in order to develop terrorist networks throughout the region.

Of particular concern to me is the growing and burgeoning friendship between Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Iran, in my opinion, is seeking to do in Venezuela what the former Soviet Union did in Cuba: establish a base of operations in the Western Hemisphere in order to foment hatred and instability throughout the region.

This should cause great alarm for us all.

But this problem is bigger than Iran and Venezuela alone.

For far too long we have ignored growing unrest and loss of freedoms and the foundations for democracy throughout Latin America.

I have publicly and privately urged this administration and Congress to embrace our allies and do more throughout the region.

Our neglect has allowed leaders such as President Chavez to whip up opposition to the United States.

And further neglect, should we not act now to support our friends in the region, will allow Iran and others to continue to grow their terrorist networks throughout Latin America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the North Fort Myers Elks Lodge # 2742 for their tireless and dedicated service to Southwest Florida's veterans.

The Elks are committed to the ideals of charity and patriotism and have a long tradition of supporting service projects throughout their local communities. No lodge fits this ideal better than the North Fort Myers Elks Lodge #2742, who will be recognized for their service to the Southwest Florida veterans community next week at the Florida Elks' State Convention in Orlando.

Since 1917, the Order of Elks has pledged to never forget our nation's veterans. The men and women of the North Fort Myers Elks have taken the Elks' pledge to heart. Their record of service to the veterans of Southwest Florida is inspiring and worthy of commendation.

Over the last several years, the North Fort Myers Elks have served over 14,000 hot meals and provided over $107,000 in food items, necessities and clothing to the region's homeless veterans; have logged over 90,000 miles transporting veterans to the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida; and have repeatedly been recognized by the national Elks organization for their service to veterans, taking first place four years in a row.

We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who have served our country valiantly, and the North Fort Myers Elks have shown their community what compassion and service to our nation's veterans truly means.

I'm honored to represent these caring and hardworking individuals in Congress, and thank them for their efforts in making Southwest Florida a great place to live, work and visit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, once again, in defense of liberty and to tell my colleagues they should vote against this Rule.

While I find it honorable that several of my colleagues have attempted to work to find a compromise in this legislation, I have concluded it still does not often enough protections for the rights of our citizens.

It is the duty of Congress to strike the appropriate balance of freedom and liberty with the assurances of security and stability. But, we must constantly ask ourselves, are we going too far in one direction?

And I have always maintained that if a threat is imminent and known, the administration should be given the temporary powers needed to keep our homeland secure and Congress should exercise its inherent power of oversight over that authority.

I advocated this throughout the PATRIOT Act reauthorization and maintain it is the correct stance for us to take in times of crisis.

While I am encouraged by the inclusion of sunsets in this proposal and additional roles for the FISA Court, this legislation still does not bring us back to where we were earlier this summer--the administration needing a clarification on foreign-to-foreign and foreign-to-domestic communications.

Instead of taking the simple tenets of the Constitution and applying it to this debate, we in Congress like to overcomplicate the issue. We all agree these are important issues that deserve our time and attention but we need look no further than the Constitution for the right answers.

Mr. Speaker, the proper route we should have taken in crafting the answer to the FISA problems is H.R. 11--The NSA Oversight Act. This bipartisan bill has the answers, in very clear terms, to what the administration has sought Congress to address.

It allows for emergency surveillance and doesn't overly impede the work of intelligence officers;

It places the FISA Court in a more proper role for reviews of the tactics used and warrants needed;

And it ensures Congress conducts vigorous and smart oversight of these activities, all while protecting the individual freedom of Americans.

And that is the goal we should be aiming for, Mr. Speaker: the protection of our rights and the upholding of our Constitution.

If we fail to adhere to the Constitution and ``sacrifice our liberty,'' then we will have lost this great experiment we began over 220 years ago and the terrorists will have accomplished the very thing they set out to do on that morning in September seven years ago.

We should vote down this Rule, go back to the table and report back a bill that preserves liberty and strikes a more proper balance between freedom and security for Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my continued support for children's vision awareness and the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007 (H.R. 507). Unfortunately, millions of children in the United States suffer from vision problems, many of which go undetected and negatively affect a child's life.

I know all too well how important it is to have a regular eye exam. When I was young, my own eyesight problems caused me to struggle in school until those problems were properly diagnosed and corrected.

This legislation will help improve access to eyesight testing and follow-up treatment for children so they can see, study, and learn to the best of their ability. I hope the Senate will pass this critical legislation so we ensure that our children are receiving the best eye care possible.

Madam Speaker, I urge everyone to support this legislation and I look forward to working with my colleagues as we strive to increase awareness in preventive vision care for children.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor over 20 brave men and women of our armed forces that were wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and enjoyed some rest and relaxation in Fort Myers last weekend.

The soldiers are currently recuperating at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and came to Fort Myers for the weekend because one man, Cliff Naylor, wanted to show his appreciation for the sacrifices these soldiers have made.

Mr. Naylor was injured himself during the Vietnam War. During his recovery, he spent a restful weekend in Miami, thanks to the hospitality of local organizations in the area. Now, 30 years later, Mr. Naylor repaid the same favor to a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war soldiers in his hometown.

Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the people of Fort Myers, these heroes were able to enjoy some much-deserved rest as well as some of what Southwest Florida has to offer, including our sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Local businesses and veterans organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, offered free meals, lodging, transportation, and activities for each soldier. The entire weekend would not have been possible without the support and generosity of these businesses and organizations, and in particular, Mr. John Ebling, the Director of Veterans Services for Lee County, who assisted with preparations for the event.

I was fortunate to have met these gracious soldiers during a special event that was held in their honor on Monday. I was struck by their perseverance, determination, and commitment to their fellow soldiers. Their strength and hope is an inspiration to us all, and I hope they were able to feel the love and appreciation of our grateful community.

The 24 soldiers that Fort Myers honored with its generosity are: SFC Edgar Abrams, SSG Bernard Behrens, SSG Gregory Burton, SPC Amos Casillas-Hernandez, SPC Denver Dalton, SPC Crystal Davis, SSG Kevin Elliott, 1SG Joseph Gardocki, SPC Ephraim Giron, SGT Matthew Goodwin, SGT Joseph Gose, SPC Nash Marlow, SSG Paul Mullis, CPT Simon Obeng, SPC Andres Perez, SSG Hugh Pettigrew, SGT Tommy Richardson, SFC Corey Robinson, CPL David Rodrigue, SGT Scott VanNatta, SPC Marcus Varnell, SSG Carl Watson, SGT Safari Williams, and SSG Calvin Wilson.

Madam Speaker, I join all the people of Southwest Florida in thanking these courageous men and women for their service to our Nation. They've given so much in defense of our freedoms, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for their personal sacrifices.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a bill that is critical to improving our country's water quality and infrastructure, the Water Resources Development Act.

I am glad we're finally able to pass a WRDA conference report. For far too long, Congress has stalled on moving this critical legislation, creating a backlog of projects in the country, including many in Southwest Florida.

This legislation is vital to protecting our environment and improving water quality in Florida and the rest of the country. The bill will help to restore the Everglades and parts of coastal Louisiana affected by hurricanes. It will also assist in protecting our beaches and coastal areas from floods and storms and is vital in facilitating commerce at our Nation's waterways and ports.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will pay untold dividends in the years to come. We all agree that our children and grandchildren deserve to inherit a fiscally responsible government, but we also agree that they deserve to inherit clean water, clean air and a healthy environment.

I hope that the President won't act on his veto threat and instead will sign WRDA into law. We need this legislation to protect our environment for future generations. We can't delay in moving forward on these critical infrastructure projects.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Walter Hart of Lehigh Acres, Florida upon earning the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boys Scouts of America.

Mr. Hart's honor is truly significant because he earned the rank 70 years after completing the requirements for the award. Before he could collect his award, Mr. Hart joined the Navy and served for 2 years aboard the USS Alfred A. Cunningham during World War II.

Mr. Hart earned 23 merit badges during his time as a Boy Scout, fulfilling requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. As only 5 percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Mr. Hart's accomplishment is quite notable and worthy of distinction.

Mr. Hart's service didn't end with the Boy Scouts. He fought for our country overseas during World War II and continued to serve his community at home when he returned from the war--no doubt in part because of the skills and values he learned as a member of the Boy Scouts. Mr. Hart is part of a prestigious group of accomplished men who have served our country well.

Madam Speaker, I know the people of Southwest Florida join me in offering our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Hart upon this great honor. We're proud of him and all of his accomplishments. I wish Mr. Hart and his family all the best as he continues to serve our community as an official Eagle Scout.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Florida's most outstanding public servants, State Representative Mike Davis (R- Naples), who is retiring after an exceptional career.

Mike was first elected to the Florida Legislature in 2002, and from the first time I met him, I knew he'd be a great leader. Mike is one of the hardest-working people I know and his enthusiasm and passion for serving the community is inspiring. Mike's the type of elected official that all of us in public service strive to be--accessible, dedicated, and effective.

I've known Mike for over 5 years and had the opportunity to serve in the Florida Legislature with him. He is one of the most talented and committed representatives. He truly represents the ideals of our region and has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make Southwest Florida a great place to live, work and visit.

Southwest Florida has experienced tremendous growth over the last several decades, and Mike understands the importance of ensuring that we have an infrastructure that can support this growth. As Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, Mike successfully fought to improve our regional transportation system, pushed for growth management solutions, and worked to ensure that our airports are safe and reliable. He's also worked to make housing more affordable for Floridians.

Of course, Mike's public service does not end with his stint in the Legislature. Mike's 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 working with Boy Scout Troop 225, to serving as President of the Naples chapter of the Rotary Club, to volunteering with Hospice of Naples--he's left an indelible mark on your community.

I'd also like to recognize Mike's wife, Patricia, and his two children, Christian and Natasha, for their support during his public service--I know he couldn't have accomplished so much without their love and support.

Madam Speaker, Southwest Florida is better off today because of Mike Davis' tireless work. I wish Mike and his family all the best.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to briefly lend my support to the conservative goal of congressional oversight.

I have heard from many individuals and business leaders about section 505. It has caused the financial services sector to work overtime in complying with the section, and it has laid the foundation for an explosion in the use of National Security Letters.

Section 505 allows the executive branch to bypass the Constitution's procedures for search warrants and grants authority that Congress has a legitimate interest and role in monitoring.

This amendment simply asks the DOJ to conduct a review of their activities and ensure that the civil liberties of law-abiding Americans are not getting swept up in the process of keeping our Nation safe.

Mr. Chairman, we all agree that protecting this country is a top priority, but alongside that should be ensuring that our freedom is not threatened along the way. The best way this body can do that is through smart and direct oversight. This amendment calls for that.

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, a wise man said, ``Freedom is the core of all human progress.'' It is my belief that he is right.

Since coming to Congress, I have often been an advocate of oversight. My colleague from Arizona routinely comes to this floor urging us to make oversight a larger part of the congressional process, and I agree with him. It is an area where we all need to pay more attention.

Unfortunately, when we turn our attention away, it is often at the expense of our own liberty and freedom. This amendment seeks to spotlight a particular area of concern, the so-called exigent circumstances letters sent out from the FBI to obtain highly sensitive information.

While I support using the proper tools to keep our Nation safe, particularly in the war on terror, these letters seem to fall well short of constitutional checks and balances. My colleagues and I fear that innocent citizens are being netted in the process.

But, Mr. Chairman, how are we to know that? The very limited justification that comes from the Department of Justice stands on shaky ground. The rest of the time they hide behind national security as a reason for not telling us more. While I am pleased the FBI is taking internal steps to clarify the scope and use of these letters, I believe we should raise the process up by codifying it to ensure there are no questions that civil liberties are not being violated and the information that is coming from these searches is not being used for wrongful purposes.

Thankfully, article I of the Constitution says we are a coequal branch of government charged with cooperation and oversight of these types of activities. Mr. Chairman, when it comes to our freedom, we all need to be diligent. We all need to exercise care and we all need to be cautious of government. Though it often seeks to protect us, it always ends up capturing more of our precious liberties.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my colleagues as well. I think this demonstrates that there is bipartisan support on this issue, and at the heart of this is to preserve and protect the citizens of this country's freedoms and liberties.

So I want to thank again my colleagues and the staff on both sides for working this.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.