Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida and myself, I rise now to offer my heartfelt condolences and pay special tribute to the life of, Ms. Anne Mitchell Felder, a woman of many talents and passions, who honorably served our country in The United States Army, and who worked as an educator and was a faithful servant to her community and church. Anne Mitchell Felder was a hero, humanitarian, community leader and friend.

We are inspired when we recall the accomplishments of a woman whose lifetime of service and dedication served many and whose lasting influence changed the lives of those around her. Beginning her career as an educator at Lincoln High, in Bradenton, Florida for six years, Anne Mitchell Felder went on to serve in The United States Army's, Women's Army Corps (WAC), where she became a medical laboratory technician at the Reception Center in Ft. Benning, Georgia. A recipient of the WAC three-year Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, the Army Commendation Ribbon, and Victory Pin, Ms. Felder was a hero. She returned to civilian life to follow her passion of educating the young minds of tomorrow by teaching at Jones High School for over 22 years, teaching mathematics, serving as Guidance Counselor and later as Dean of Students. A religious woman who remained active in her church, The New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando, Ms. Felder was secretary to the Charter Trustee Ministry from 1992-1996 and most recently a member of District Five and the Sanctuary Sunday School Class.

A woman for whom education was important, Anne Mitchell Felder received an Associate of Arts degree from Bethune-Cookman College; a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College; a Master of Science Degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; and studied at Columbia University in New York. And, she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an honorary society for students in education. She also understood and valued her obligation and duty to serve our society and those in need and did so through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she was a Golden Life Member, a 60Years-Plus Member, and a charter president of the Orlando Alumnae Chapter, who enjoyed the status of a Delta Dear.

The life of Anne Mitchell Felder was one of accomplishment and service. We are aware that a life well lived is a life well shared. As an educator and hero, she gave of her talents and gifts to benefit the community, the nation, and her family. In her passing, we pay tribute to an exceptional leader whose courage, strength, and love of her community left an indelible legacy for future generations. She will be remembered and respected because she had an awesome gift of teaching and providing love and support to those who knew her. We offer our prayers for her immediate family and host of loving relatives and friends whose lives have been forever changed by this exceptional woman. We thank our Heavenly Father for allowing us to be blessed with the time spent with Anne Mitchell Felder, our friend, mother, sister, and hero.

Anne Mitchell Felder is survived by her daughter Vicki-Elaine Felder, and brother Thomas Watson Mitchell.

Mr. Speaker, the poor will always be with us, but our job is to help raise the standards. I've got to tell you, if it were not already invented, I would say this Congress invented the words the ``do nothing Congress''--do nothing.

Today is the second day that we are debating the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Let me be clear that not one single person who has come to this floor debating doing away with it doesn't have insurance, because we have the best insurance. In fact, my blood pressure is up, so I went downstairs. Because I have insurance, I was able to test my blood pressure and get some additional medication. In fact, later I was able to go to the dentist because I have insurance. Yet what we are debating is you at home not having health care, because we--everybody in this House, every Member who has come to this floor--has health care.

Every single President, since Theodore Franklin Roosevelt, for 75 years has tried to push some form of universal health care, and I want to thank President Barack Obama. They like to say ``ObamaCare.'' I want to say, ``President Barack Obama cares, and he was able to accomplish something.'' Let's be clear that the President proposes, and the Congress disposes. So it had to be the Congress. It was the Democratic Congress, the Democratic Senate, and the President that passed the bill.

Instead of discussing health care repeal, we should be debating VA construction. In my State as of July 1, the VA paid an additional $500,000 to rent a portable operating room for a project that is 95 percent complete, but we haven't had a chance on the floor to take up VA construction. We have 31 times that we're taking up repealing health care. I visited that facility last month, and I found out that it would have been a health risk not to expand the program for the veterans in that area.

People often say, ``What did the Democratic House, President, and Congress do?'' We passed the largest VA budget in the history of the United States of America. We took care of the veterans. We had a far- reaching budget. We gave care to the caregivers of our veterans. It goes on and on.

I really do believe to whom God has given much, much is expected. He expects us to work to empower the American people with jobs and health care. Basically ``do nothing'' is the label of this Congress, the Do- Nothing Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I wholeheartedly support the Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2012, H.R. 4114. While this committee does not control the amount of the COLA, it is critical that we pass the bill so that it can be put in place when the Social Security COLA is enacted. It is so important that the payments that our veterans, their families, and survivors receive keep pace with inflation and better enable them to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that last year's veterans COLA increase was 3.6 percent for 2012 and that we can likely expect an increase for 2013. The exact figure will be tied directly to the Social Security COLA, whose beneficiaries will also see the same increase in their payments.

As it has since 1976, Congress, through the passage of the Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, directs the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of basic compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation to their survivors and dependents. This bill will benefit disabled veterans, their families, and their survivors from the World War I era through the current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Many of the over 3.5 million veterans who receive disability compensation benefits depend on these payments not only to provide for their basic needs, but for those of their spouses, children, and parents as well. Without an annual COLA increase, these veterans, their families, and survivors will likely see the value of their hard-earned benefits slowly eroding.

Mr. Speaker, I think we would be derelict in our duties if we fail to guarantee that those who sacrifice so much for this country are able to receive benefits and service that keep pace with their needs and inflation.

We fund the wars; let's fund the warriors. Let me repeat: we fund the wars; let's fund the warriors.

I urge my colleagues to support the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Adjustment Act of 2012, H.R. 4114, without delay.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last month we were honored with the presence of over 400 Montford Point Marines in the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. From 1942 to 1949, almost 20,000 African American Marines experienced basic training at Camp Montford Point near the New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

These heroes fought on two fronts, at home against discrimination, and across the sea to defend our Nation. This highest civilian award in the United States was first presented during the Revolutionary War to George Washington. It is fitting that this latest award should go to those men who, years before Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks, joined the Marines to defend their country.

During this week when we are going to be debating the Affordable Care Act, we need to discuss a project that affects veterans health in my State of Florida. On July 1, the VA paid an additional $500,000 to rent a portable operating room for a project that is 95 percent complete in the Miami VA Medical Center. When this renovation was first proposed, two minor projects, each costing $10 million, were sponsored to fulfill the requirements of the project.

I visited the medical center last month and heard directly from the administrators of the facility about the project. The planners on the ground soon realized that patients could have been put at risk due to contamination of the operating rooms by the construction on the other side of the room.

Veterans health care was being put at risk, and rather than let this happen, it was decided by those who know the veterans health the best-- those at the health facilities--to combine the projects into one and rent the portable operating rooms.

We need a procedure to give the Secretary the ability to correct these kinds of projects and not waste taxpayers' money. I will soon be introducing legislation to give the Secretary the help he needs to save taxpayers money.

In the last Congress, our Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate, with President Barack Obama, we were able to pass the largest increase in the veterans budget in history. We also passed advanced appropriations for the VA health care so that veterans would not be subject to the deadline that Congress seems to miss every year to pass a proper budget. It allows the VA to plan for the following year's health care needs and reassure veterans that they will be able to get the care that they need.

We also passed the caregivers law to help those who are taking care of the members of the military, funded PTSD and TBI mental health programs, homeless programs and rural health care in the veterans homes. It is the least we can do for those who have given so much to protect our freedom. We did not just talk the talk but walked the walk.

And since we're discussing repeal of the health care law tomorrow, I would like to briefly discuss how, in fact, the Affordable Care Act benefits our Nation's veterans and all Americans. Although not a perfect bill--and no bill is since there are many compromises made-- this is a perfect start, and attempting to obtain universal health care has been a primary goal of every single President and Congress since the days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had fought for quality, accessible health care insurance reform for all Americans. And now, 75 years later, after the Supreme Court ruling just over a week ago, our Nation has finally attained that goal.

Millions of Americans have already come to rely on the wide-ranging and lifesaving benefits of the Affordable Care Act.

And let me just say, I keep hearing ObamaCare. Let me just be clear. Obama cares for the American health care.

Before Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, nearly one in five citizens in the wealthiest country in the world had little or no hope of affordable insurance and access to regular health care. When fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will cover an additional 30 million Americans and 3.8 million African Americans who otherwise would remain uninsured.

Already under the Affordable Health Care Act, 17 million children with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage; 105 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their coverage; 32.5 million seniors received free preventive service in 2011; 54 million Americans in private plans have received free preventive services; 6.6 million young adults up to the age of 26 have obtained insurance through their parents' plan; and 5.2 million seniors and disabled people save an average of $704 each on their prescription drugs; 360,000 small businesses received tax credits to help them afford coverage for 2 million workers; 13 million families will receive insurance premium rebates averaging $151 in 2012.

However, instead of debating a health care repeal, we should be debating a construction reauthorization bill to deal with the waste of taxpayer dollars, like I indicated in Miami--$500,000 this month for a portable operating room.

In closing, let's get to work.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you very much for leading this discussion on health care.

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. And as we begin to discuss repealing the health care law tomorrow, I would like to discuss just how exactly the Affordable Care Act benefits all Americans. Although not a perfect bill--and I've been elected in Congress for 20 years and I've never seen a perfect bill, but a perfect beginning. And the reason why it's not perfect is because you make compromises throughout the process. This is a perfect start. Attempting to obtain universal health care has been a primary goal of every single President and Congress since the days of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who fought for quality access to health care and health care insurance reform for all Americans. And now, 75 years later after the Supreme Court ruling just over a week ago, our Nation has finally attained that goal. After 75 years, every single President has tried to implement some form of universal health care.

In fact, millions of Americans have already come to rely on the wide- ranging and lifesaving benefits of the Affordable Care Act. And let me say that as far as Obama health care is concerned, let me clear something up. It's President Barack Obama. And let me be clear, he does care. Let me say again, President Barack Obama does care. He cares deeply about the health and well-being of every American.

Before Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, nearly one in five citizens in the wealthiest country on Earth had little or no hope of affordable insurance or getting access to regular health care. And when fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will cover an additional 30 million Americans and 3.8 million African Americans who otherwise would remain uninsured.

Already under the Affordable Care Act, 17 million children with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage, 105 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their coverage, 32 million seniors received free preventive care in 2011, 54 million Americans in private plans have received free preventive services, 6.6 million young adults up to the age of 26 have attained insurance through their parents' plan, 5.2 million seniors and disabled people saved an average of $704 each on prescription drugs, 360,000 small businesses received tax credits to help them afford coverage for 2 million workers, and 13 million families received insurance premium rebates averaging $151 in 2012.

In my congressional district of Florida, 6,900 young adults in the district will receive health care insurance, 6,200 seniors received prescription drug discounts worth $3.6 million, and the average savings is $600 per senior. And 20,000 children and 80,000 adults now have health care insurance that covers preventive services without co-pay, co-insurance, or deductibles.

Every American who has benefited from this needs to let their local Representatives, their Senator and their Governor know. We all have a dog in this fight.

The Republican Party is constantly complaining about a tax and how this law will raise taxes. But I'd like to reply to them the American taxpayers are already paying a hidden tax right now. Every single time one of the millions of our citizens who lacks health care insurance receives emergency care, that cost is passed on to paying customers through higher fees and premiums.

So the question is, how can we begin to bring our country's health care costs down? And this law is the first step in achieving this.

In closing, as I always say, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

I have one question before I leave. The question of tax penalty is a very debatable question. But my concern is anyone that has insurance is not affected, veterans are not affected.

And you will not pay that penalty unless you do not--if you can afford it and you don't have it, then you're going to pay some minimum amount?

Can you explain that to people who are watching? Because, basically, it is just for those small, less than 1 percent, who do not try to get coverage.

The question is if you go to the hospital--and I was on the plane with one of the business persons and he was talking about it, and I said, you know, you are already paying. If someone on this plane passes out, they're going to the hospital, they're going to service them, and it is called, what, cost shifting? So you are already paying the cost of the most expensive way to provide health care. And many people do it. They wait until Friday, 5 o'clock and they go to the emergency room, which is the most expensive way to provide it.

Last question. These Governors, Texas you mentioned, Florida, these Governors are saying, we are not going to take advantage of the expansion. As a private citizen, what can I do? Because the President, just like the Governors, they can only propose. But the legislators are the ones that dispose. The President brought his proposal to Congress, but we had the ultimate decision as to what the final bill would look like. And that is as true in the State houses also.

Where are the health care providers and the people that provide the additional services? How should they weigh in?

I want to thank you again for your leadership on this matter. You've worked throughout the process in keeping us informed. I think you're the only physician----

I understand. But you are the only female physician in Congress.

Well, you are certainly mine, and I thank you for your leadership.

I had much higher hopes for this transportation reauthorization bill and long for the days that our committee worked together in a bipartisan manner, but this is a good day for the traveling public and for the American economy. This transportation bill will strengthen our infrastructure, provide quality jobs, and serve as a tool to put the American people back to work.

Although I would have preferred a long-term bill with much more funding for infrastructure, and I'm disappointed that we did not include a rail title or give our local transit agencies the flexibility they asked for during these economic times, this bill will give States, local governments, and other transportation stakeholders some stability to plan and build critical transportation projects.

This bill provides steady funding for both highway and transit programs, maintains the 80-20 split between highway and transit, speeds up the permitting process for projects, includes important safety measures that will save lives, and maintains OSHA oversight of hazardous materials.

I am also pleased that this legislation includes the RESTORE Act, which will help gulf States like my State of Florida recover damages and plan for and prevent future oil spills. Florida's economy is based on tourism and would be destroyed overnight if an oil spill reached our beaches.

This isn't a perfect bill, but I am going to vote for it. I want to thank the Senate, and I want to thank Senator Boxer, Mr. Mica and Mr. Rahall, and all for working together. My understanding is that this is a clean bill and we can vote for it. No riders are included is my understanding. So I will vote for it, and I will recommend my colleagues vote for it too.

Mr. Speaker, the Montford Point Marines, were the first enlisted Blacks ever to serve in The United States Marine Corps. Today we honor these magnificent heroes with the presentation of Congress's highest civilian award, The Congressional Gold Medal. These heroes fought on two fronts: at home against discrimination and across the seas to defend our nation. Beginning in 1942 they served in the Pacific Theater, and fought as valiantly as any Americans ever have. Their courageous lives have helped bring this Nation one step closer to equality. I ask in honor of all of these heroes living and deceased, this poem be placed in the Congressional Record.

On Point, Shades Of Black And Green

(by Albert Carey Caswell)

On . . .

On Point!

All in those Shades of Black and Green!

As a war can so be fought on two fronts sometimes so sadly

seen!

As had all of those Montford Point Marines . . .

All in their most magnificent shades, shades of Black and

Green . . .

For only The Few, Shall Ever Be United States Marines!

As a Nation's dark deep past so convened!

All in what discrimination so really means!

As throughout all of those generations,

and all of those tears and pain upon a Nation!

But, To Be A United States Marine!

But, some dreams never die as so it seems!

To walk so proudly and wear those brilliant shades of Green!

And to go so boldly forth,

all in your most heroic course!

As A United States Marine!

And even though what we so did to them was a disgrace as

seen,

these fine heroes would not so lost pace, these Marines!

As they so heroically marched off into that shadow of death

with high esteem!

While, all of their most brilliant hearts so gleamed!

OohRah!

Because, discrimination is no match for A United States

Marine!

With the world at its edge,

as Mankind bled . . .

To Save The World, all in those magnificent shades of black

and green!

So that into a future, A King Among could so speak of his

Dream!

Because, no more fiercer warrior has so been seen!

Than, all of those Magnificent Montford Point Marines!

As I pity those poor Japanese,

who had to so face all of their most heroic screams!

As Jesse Owens,

had already laid the ground work in Germany it seems!

When, the second wave came crashing in as seen!

Bringing a setting sun in the land of the Japanese!

As what their fine hearts for our country tis of thee would

mean!

All in that Pride,

that which so dwells deep inside of being a United States

Marine!

As their courage and their faith,

put our Nation one step closer to that place!

Where all of our forefathers' hearts had so truly dreamed!

For all men are created equal all in this golden theme!

So on this day,

look around you and pray and so say thank all of these

Marines!

All in their most magnificent shades of Black and Green!

Whose courage and undying faith,

so made this our world a much better place all of these

Marines!

Listen closely, can you but not hear the liberty bell!

Ringing out for the freedoms that they so fought for across

the shores so well!

For all these magnificent men where On Point,

as our Lord God knows so very well!

All in their most magnificent shades of Black and Green!

All of these Magnificent Montford Point Marines . . .

As time and history would tell!

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Ms. Suzanne Goss, Government Relations Specialist for JEA (Jacksonville Electric, Water & Sewer) on her election as the new President of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, NACWA.

Ms. Goss is an accomplished leader and committed environmental steward who played a prominent role in seeking a sound direction for the implementation of the Clean Water Act. Throughout her career in the water industry, Ms. Goss has exemplified what it means to be a public servant. She is ideally suited to serve as President of one of the nation's leading associations responsible for environmental policies that advance clean water. Ms. Goss will continue to ensure that Florida's, and the nation's, clean water agencies are sustainable, that the environment continues to improve, and that public health is protected.

At JEA, Ms. Goss works for an advanced publicly owned water, electric, and sewer utility, providing invaluable services to approximately 420,000 people in Northeast Florida. Ms. Goss effectively engages in complex state and federal legislative and regulatory issues involving wastewater and drinking water with an in-depth knowledge of the affordability concerns of her community and the need for a partnership between all levels of government. She also manages JEA's Grant Program.

A member of NACWA's Board of Directors since 2007, Ms. Goss has served as the organization's Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President, and has been a member of many NACWA committees and workgroups. She has played a leading role in NACWA's pretreatment program and is also one of the drivers behind the organization's funding efforts. In 2005 she received the President's Award for her work as Vice Chair of the Clean Water Funding Task Force.

Ms. Goss has experience in both the energy and water fields, as JEA provides both services to its customers. As the clean water industry and NACWA increasingly define the ``Water Quality Utility of the Future,'' JEA and public servants like Ms. Goss exemplify the need to break down traditional silos and move toward a watershed approach, as well as a focus on the energy-water nexus. JEA stands as a model for other utilities seeking to adopt these ideas.

In addition to her work with NACWA, Ms. Goss is an active member of local, regional, state and national professional organizations. These include the American Water Works Association, the New Water Supply Coalition, the Florida Municipal Energy Association, the Florida Water Environment Association, the Florida Energy Coordinating Group, the Pinellas County Sewer System and the Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology Sustainable Infrastructure.

Ms. Goss has selflessly shared her time, passion, energy and ideas to carry out the objectives of the Clean Water Act.

It is my sincere pleasure to congratulate Suzanne Goss on becoming President of NACWA, and I am certain her actions will ensure continued water quality progress for the Jacksonville area, the state of Florida and the nation.

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

I rise today to speak on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill on the floor.

First off, I want to say that whether it's the mayor of Jacksonville, Florida; Orlando; California; or Texas, every single mayor that I've talked to--Democrats or Republicans--support Community Development Block Grants and are very concerned with what we're doing here and making sure that we send funds that they can decide how the community is to use the funds to meet their needs.

In addition, I want to talk about transportation. I've been on the Transportation Committee for the entire 20 years that I've been here in Congress, and transportation has always been bipartisan. It did not matter who the President was, and it did not matter who the Speaker was. In fact, when Newt Gingrich was the Speaker and President Clinton was the President, the House passed the transportation bill over both of them and funded the Transportation Committee for 6 years.

This House has not been able to pass a transportation bill. For the first time, you see people who really don't want to put America to work because

the Transportation Committee is the committee that put the American people to work. When you look at the engineers or architects, they rate America as a ``D minus,'' as far as our infrastructure is concerned. Yet you have people that do not want to put the American people back to work.

In my home State of Florida, we received close to $3 billion for a high-speed train from Orlando to Tampa. What did we do? We sent it back. Eighteen States have our money, and they are putting people to work. We're talking about transportation money.

When you have people with other agendas besides putting people to work, that is a real problem in the area of transportation. We know that for every $1 billion we invest, it generates 44,000 permanent jobs. Yet you have people in this House with a different agenda, and their agenda has nothing to do with jobs and putting people to work. It is a sad state of affairs. But I've often said you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida and myself, I rise now to offer tribute to the career and success of my friend, Mr. Ronald Blocker, who served as the Superintendent for Orange County Public Schools for the past 12 years. A visionary and scholar Mr. Ronald Blocker is a true leader of the Central Florida Community, and the great State of Florida.

We are encouraged by Mr. Blocker' s accomplishments while serving as the superintendent since July 2000; it was under his leadership that the graduation rate in Orange County, Florida, is at the highest level it has ever been with the dropout rate at the lowest. A man dedicated to education, Ronald Blocker earned degrees in educational leadership and counselor education from the University of Florida. He worked as a school psychologist and principal. As the districts first black superintendent, Mr. Blocker made a name for himself and in 2011 he was named Florida Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District Superintendents.

Mr. Blocker has received many accolades and honors including the John M. Tiedtke Lifetime Achievement Award from United Arts of Central Florida; he was named the District Reading Leader of the Year by the Florida Department of Education's Just Read, Florida! Division; named the Florida Art Education Associations Superintendent of the Year; and received the Florida Superintendent's Award for Volunteer/Community Involvement. Recipient of the Chairman's Award from the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Mr. Blocker has made a lasting contribution to the economy of Orange County. His influence in the Central Florida community has not gone unnoticed either, he was ranked eight on a list of the 50 most powerful people in Central Florida and among the top 25 most powerful by a panel of community leaders.

He served as the President of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents; a member of the American Association of School Administrators; Florida Association of School Administrators, and the Council of Great City Schools.

Described as an ``advocate of children'', and ``a teacher's superintendent'', Mr. Blocker was able to build new schools, and replace and upgrade 128 older facilities. With 33 new schools opened under his guidance and 62 replaced or restored, Mr. Blocker reduced overcrowding and removed 1,000 portable classrooms and raised the Orange County School District to an ``A'' Rating 3 years in a row.

Recently by virtue of Orange County and the School Board, he has been honored with the renaming of the Orange County Public School building to the ``Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center.'' Mr. Blocker has worked to ensure healthy revenue that will continue to preserve the quality of education that the Third Congressional District and Central Florida Community deserves and needs, with his high expectations for employees and students. Mr. Blocker' s theme of ``One Vision, One Voice,'' is a message we can all truly stand by.

I have an amendment at the desk.

I'm going to offer and withdraw my amendment but would like to continue to work with the committee to ensure our busiest airports have the Customs and Border Protection personnel they need to operate efficiently.

It is clear from the amendment being offered and statements being made that we have a severe need for additional Customs and Border Protection officers at every point of entry into the United States. Airports across America are losing customers and alienating foreign visitors because of the lack of Customs and Border Protection officers and the major delays it causes. Many foreign tourists anxious to spend money in the U.S. are kept on the tarmac for hours waiting to get processed by Customs and Border Protection. This is unacceptable and is forcing tourists to travel to non-U.S. destinations. This is also causing significant economic harm to many of our country's busiest cities.

My home airport, Orlando International Airport, which is one of the busiest ones in the U.S. and the number one tourist destination, bringing tourists from all over the world to visit our amazing amusement parks, universities, and business centers, is a prime example of the problem.

Since 2009, Orlando International Airport traffic has grown by more than 17 percent without any increase in Customs and Border Protection personnel. The results are waiting times that exceed 2 and sometimes 3 hours. However, this does not take into account those all too frequent instances where passengers are required to remain onboard the arriving aircraft, parked on ramps for up to an additional hour because the lines in the Federal Inspection Station are too long to securely and efficiently process them.

President Obama recognized this fact when he traveled to central Florida to announce his Executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Commerce to develop and implement a plan within 60 days to increase nonimmigrant visa processing capacities in China and Brazil by 40 percent in the coming year. Clearly, increased visitation to the United States means jobs, yet without additional Customs and Border Protection resources, Orlando International Airport will not be able to help the President achieve this goal.

With just 15 new Customs and Border Protection agents, the airport could accommodate additional flights that would generate 2,000 jobs and generate revenues of $360 million a year. That is a great return on our investment and exactly the kind of shot in the arm that our region desperately needs.

I know we're not going to solve this problem today, but I want to encourage this committee and the Department of Homeland Security to make every effort to ensure that a simple lack of Customs and Border Protection personnel isn't costing thousands of jobs and millions in economic development.

I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my Resolution to allow the Ceremony honoring the Montford Point Marines to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

As you know, I was honored to have introduced the legislation that granted the Montford Point Marines a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed for an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.

I was pleased to work with the General James F. Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, in support of this resolution.

Years before Jackie Robinson, and decades before Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., these heroes joined the Marines to defend their country and do their job.

At the end of this month, over 500 Montford Point Marines will descend upon Washington and receive the honor that is due them. I am pleased to be able to make the Capitol available to them.

The concurrent resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on this bitter sweet occasion. My heart goes out to Chuck's family and friends, too numerous to mention, and the City of Washington, DC that mourns with you.

I could not let this moment pass without saying a few words about a man who was a great artist, consummate professional and wonderful man. I have been a public servant for 30 years and I truly believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. Chuck Brown is the ultimate example of that statement.

Chuck believed in giving back to the community. He inspired young people through his mentoring efforts and positive music. His brand of ``Go-Go'' inspired generations of musicians. Over the past six years I have gained firsthand knowledge of the versatility and vastness of his works as he has performed for me and my colleagues at events surrounding the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference as well as the historic inauguration of our current president, President Barrack Obama. At each program the crowds double in capacity making his performance one of the signature events.

I will tell you a funny story about how I discovered Chuck Brown's music. My long time friend and scheduler Darla Smallwood-Wran suggested I consider a local artist for entertainment during an event I host during an annual conference. She played the music for me over the computer and I liked it. Being from Florida, I had never heard of ``Go- Go''. I was so excited about what I heard that I began to tell my colleagues and friends I was having Chuck Berry performing at my event! My staff quickly corrected me and we all had a good laugh. Then I went to the event and I was filled with the warmth and love of his music and his character. He was always reliable, always professional and he always turned the party out. The only thing he asked in return was to take care of the ``family'' and the band that travelled with him.

Chuck Brown was the sound of the people. His music transcended generations weaving the best elements of Black music into a sound that called to our African ancestry. Jazz, funk, soul, blues, Latin and African rhythms--Chuck took that new sound with its familiar notes that called to the soul of our people and he called it ``Go-Go''. He wrapped it up and gifted it to DC and it has been the sound track of the people of DC for more than 30 years.

He was deeply loved and he will be sorely missed. I know, through my faith, that this is a time to rejoice because he has gone home to be with the Father where there is no more pain and suffering. God Bless you all.

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I rise today as the House of Representatives returns from Memorial Day events around the country to honor our Nation's servicemen and their families.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, I want to thank our servicemen and - women for their sacrifices in defense of the freedoms we all hold so dear. As President Obama has said, it is important to follow these words with deeds, that we must do what we can for the veterans of past, present, and future conflicts.

I am pleased to have been a Member of Congress in 2009 when a Democratic President, Democratic House, and Democratic Senate passed the largest budget in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, we made sure that the VA was not subject to the whims of government shutdown, and the subject of the health care budget of the VA to advanced appropriations, removing the worry for our veterans that their health care would be available.

I am looking forward to the ceremony to be held at the end of June to honor the Montford Point Marines. It is necessary to honor all of America's war heroes' service and sacrifice, and in particular those who served at Montford Point, the marines who were the last group to integrate who are about to be officially recognized as a rich legacy of our Marine Corps. They answered our Nation's call at a time when our society was deeply divided along racial lines.

As our servicemembers continue to deploy, we need to ensure that we're doing everything we need to do to help the families. One item that has often been overlooked is the care of our servicemembers' children when they are deployed. H.R. 4201 would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to help protect the child custody rights of servicemembers being deployed overseas. This bill would protect a servicemember's custodial rights by requiring that temporary custody orders based solely on the servicemember's deployment will be exactly that--temporary--and that when the servicemember returns, the custody order in effect before deployment will be reinstated.

This bill provides important safeguards and peace of mind to our servicemembers facing overseas deployment and puts the interests of children first. This bill was passed by the House last Congress, and we should do it again.

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

Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I don't have any other speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you, Chairman King and Ranking Member Thompson, for bringing this bill to the floor as we return from Memorial Day events with our constituents.

When the TSA was formed in the wake of 9/11, the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States, Congress was attempting to consolidate many of the Nation's security duties that were spread out over all of the Departments. We were dedicated to the proposition that this event should never be repeated. Our response was quick that our civilian transportation system should never be used for attack ever again.

Out of the need for better airport security, the Transportation Security Administration was born. However, at the time, Republicans did not want to give the same rights to those Members of the Federal workforce as other Federal employees enjoy. One of those rights was USERRA, the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Under USERRA, individuals retain certain rights when that person needs to be absent from his or her civilian employment to serve in this country's uniformed services.

This bill would require the TSA to comply with USERRA when dealing with air transportation passengers and property screeners.

I support this legislation as a good first step toward giving the same rights available to all Federal employees.

And let me just take this moment to thank TSA for their hard work and dedication in keeping us safe. Sometimes I know it is inconvenient to the traveling public, but remember that they're there to protect us and they would not be there if 9/11 had not occurred. Thank you for your service.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I say goodbye to a great artist, consummate professional and my friend, Chuck Brown. Chuck dedicated over 50 years to filling the hearts and spirits of both young and old with the infectious sound of his soulful music. No man, woman or child could remain seated when Chuck took the stage, as he played his signature brand of music that he coined ``Go- Go.'' While my friendship with Chuck only begin 6 years ago, the ``Godfather'' as he is affectionately known by DC natives, has been rockin' and rollin' since the early 60s.

He was deeply loved and he will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to his family, loved ones and Washington, DC. We truly lost a legend yesterday.