Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Coach Fred Pennington of Evans High School. Coach Pennington began his coaching career at Evans in 1959 as the school's junior varsity basketball coach. His leadership was immediately evident, and after becoming the school's varsity basketball coach, his first varsity team won 20 games in the 1961-1962 season. Coach Pennington's 1968 team was state runner-up, and in 1975, he led the Trojan team to victory in the state championship. One of his players, Darryl Dawkins, became the first player drafted directly out of high school into the NBA.

While we celebrate Coach Pennington's public successes, the unwritten story of his influence is his undoubted impact on young people's lives. He inspired young people to meet high standards, to function as part of a team, and to achieve set goals. In the process, he gave them important tools with which they could improve their lives and the lives of others.

Throughout his career, Coach Pennington has demonstrated outstanding leadership on and off the court. It is my distinct honor to recognize Coach Pennington for his dedication to the students and athletes of Central Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize SCORE Orlando on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 10 million Americans on their path to entrepreneurship.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, the Small Business Administration, and other partners, SCORE Orlando is able to offer its services at little to no cost to their customers.

In 2013 alone, SCORE volunteers donated over one million hours nationwide. These volunteers helped start up more than 38,500 companies, create over 67,300 jobs, increase revenue for 40,000 clients and mentor and train more than 124,600 business owners and entrepreneurs.

I am pleased to recognize SCORE Orlando for its dedication to equipping entrepreneurs with tools for fulfilling and successful careers, and I thank the SCORE Orlando volunteers for continuing to bolster the economy as well as the passions of people who are driven by new ideas, hard work and the desire to succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Auburndale City Hall on the occasion of its addition to the National Register of Historic Places.

Designed by Polk County architect Roland Buckley and contractor Paul Smith, the 87-year-old Italian Renaissance-style building has housed the library and Chamber of Commerce, most of the cities departments and even jail cells throughout its existence. It is currently home to the city's Information Technology Office.

Noted for its Romanesque architecture, open arches and ornate masonry work, City Hall is now among four National Historic buildings in Auburndale. It joins the Holland Jenks house, the Baynard House and the Auburndale Citrus Growers Association Packing House. It is the twelfth city hall in Florida to have secured a spot on the Register.

It is a privilege to serve the residents of Auburndale, and I thank them for their tremendous contributions to the Central Florida community.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the National Center for Simulation (NCS), headquartered in Orlando, Florida, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. Since 1993, NCS's mission has been to ``serve as the nation's focal point and as a catalyst for the development, understanding, and advancement of simulation and related technologies; to improve defense readiness and facilitate space exploration; to support education and training initiatives; and to extend useful applications of simulation.''

NCS is a consortium that facilitates collaboration and networking among its local, national and international membership. Home to acquisition commands for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the University of Central Florida, the Air Force Agency for Modeling Simulation and over 150 industry companies, Orlando is a focal point for cooperative and collaborative efforts across diverse fields.

NCS fosters relationships between these varied communities to help disperse resources and innovations in modeling, simulation and training to those industries which may benefit from the knowledge. These relationships result in new understandings in fields such as health care, transportation, entertainment or even military readiness. In addition, their advancements support our workforce and business development, as well as growth in education.

As membership continues to grow and strengthen bonds across diverse communities, I would like to congratulate NCS on its successes and advancements thus far, and trust NCS will continue to provide us with the latest ideas and efforts in simulation, modeling and training.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Winter Garden, Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

The railroad station, built in 1913, was purchased in 1973 for one dollar by the Central Florida chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Located in the historic Tavares and Gulf Railroad depot, the Central Florida Railroad Museum opened in 1983. Through partnership with the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, extensive private collections of local, state and national memorabilia have been made accessible to the public.

I commend the Winter Garden, Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot for their preservation of the rich history of Central Florida's railways.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Full Sail University on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. Since its founding in 1979, Full Sail's vision has been to help creative students pursue their dreams in the entertainment industry.

When Full Sail first opened its doors 35 years ago, it aimed to couple traditional classroom work with career-specific development as well as training in real world production studios to propel students into the sound and music industry. As its students' dreams and passions grew, so did the university. Full Sail quickly evolved and now offers 44 unique degrees including animation, games, web design and film. In 2013, Full Sail earned a top ten spot on StudentAdvisors.com's list of ``Top 100 Social Media Colleges.''

Full Sail University boasts over 42,000 graduates, and is currently providing its 17,000 students with an innovative education to help achieve their goals. Graduates have continued on to companies such as Disney, ESPN and HBO Studios.

I am pleased to recognize Full Sail for its dedication to equipping students for fulfilling careers, and I thank the University for continuing to bolster the educations and passions of future generations.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize one of my constituents, Dr. James Syvertsen, on his selection as a Fulbright award recipient. Dr. Syvertsen, a professor in biology at the University of Florida, taught in Uruguay as a Fulbright scholar from September through November 2013.

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is supported by the United States, participating foreign governments and the private sector. Established by Congress in 1946, the Program's purpose is to ``build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world.'' Fulbright awardees are selected for academic excellence, professional achievements or demonstrated leadership in their fields.

I thank Dr. Syvertsen for his commitment to education and for representing the United States through the Fulbright Program in Uruguay.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Linda Martin, a finalist for the 2014 School Counselor of the Year award. This distinguished award, presented by the American School Counselor Association, honors school counselors ``who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to students, the school community, and the school counseling profession.''

Mrs. Martin has led the Comprehensive Guidance Program at Palm Lake Elementary School for 20 years. As an innovative teacher, she founded the Kids Who Care program to serve Palm Lake Elementary, the Orlando community and Nkomo Primary School, a sister school in South Africa. Her classroom lessons cover a wide range of topics including character development and leadership.

Mrs. Martin's remarkable service has also been recognized on the county and state levels. In 2012, she was named Orange County School Counselor of the Year, and, in 2013, was awarded Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Florida School Counselor Association.

School counselors play an invaluable role in students' academic and personal development, teaching important life skills and compelling them to strive toward their goals. It is my pleasure to recognize Mrs. Martin for her exemplary dedication to the students of Palm Lake Elementary.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 501 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying bills.

House Resolution 501 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 2641, the Responsibility of Professionally Invigorating Development Act, known as the RAPID Act. The resolution also provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 2824, Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America.

Lastly, the resolution provides suspension authority for legislation to provide much-needed financial relief to the government of Ukraine.

The resolution makes in order all of the amendments submitted to the Committee on Rules regarding the RAPID Act. It makes in order half of the amendments submitted to the Committee on Rules regarding the coal jobs bill.

Of the amendments made in order, more than half are sponsored by my colleagues across the aisle. The resolution provides for a robust debate in the House of Representatives.

In July, the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial, and Antitrust Law held a hearing on H.R. 2641. The subcommittee reported the bill favorably, without amendment, by voice vote. On July 31, the Committee on the Judiciary ordered H.R. 2641 favorably reported without amendment.

In August, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held hearings on H.R. 2824. In November, the Committee on Natural Resources, by a bipartisan vote, voted favorably for the bill and reported it out.

Mr. Speaker, the bills before us today garnered majority support and bipartisan support for one simple reason: they ensure the regulatory process works for Americans, as intended by Congress.

Across the Nation, energy and infrastructure projects are being significantly delayed. In some cases, the environmental reviews have continued on for a decade or more. According to a study by the Chamber of Commerce, current delays are costing more than $1 trillion in economic development; and those delays are also prohibiting the creation of 1.9 million jobs.

As our country continues to struggle through a lackluster recovery, ensuring these beleaguered studies are completed would help generate jobs and create economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, in 2011, President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness recommended action to simplify regulatory review and streamline project approvals to accelerate jobs and growth.

Just this year, in his State of the Union, President Obama called for permit streamlining. He said action must be taken to ``slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible.''

News reports like to highlight our disagreements. In fact, it often seems that there is nothing that we can agree on. That is not true. Earlier this term, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. That bill passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 417-3.

The RAPID Act is nearly identical legislation to streamlining provisions contained in H.R. 3080 and the streamlining proposals from the President.

The House-passed WRRDA provided a process for Army Corps of Engineers-led studies to be concurrently reviewed in more of a parallel, as opposed to a linear fashion by multiple agencies. The President initiated a similar proposal, where studies had to be completed within 3 years.

The President and each Member of Congress who supported WRRDA should support this bill. The RAPID Act is simple. It allows multiple agencies to study the environmental impacts of a project at the same time. Because the agencies will have a better process by which to study a project, the RAPID Act establishes a reasonable and efficient timeline for completion of the study.

That is it. The RAPID Act provides a better process and a better timeline. The RAPID Act does not alter or weaken any of our environmental laws. The RAPID Act does not require that environmentally sensitive areas be developed.

The RAPID Act does not force agencies to approve projects. It simply reforms our permitting and regulatory

process to allow our Nation's most important infrastructure projects to move forward in a timely manner.

The President has asked for this to happen. 417 House Democrats and Republicans have supported this already. The bill should pass the House overwhelmingly with bipartisan support. This bill will get Washington out of the way of our economic growth and put unemployed Americans on a pathway back to work.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 2824, Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America. H.R. 2824 stabilizes the out-of-control regulatory scheme involving the Department of the Interior.

In 2008, after a 5-year exhaustive process, the Office of Surface Mining finalized a rule to protect our streams from excessive coal waste. The rule was supposed to go into effect on January 12, 2009.

However, the process was sidelined by a sue-and-settle gambit that the OSM, under President Obama's administration, used to attempt to rewrite the already finalized rule.

Since that settlement, the administration has spent 5 additional years and billed hardworking American taxpayers an additional $10 million attempting to rewrite the rule.

H.R. 2824 is simple. It tells OSM to put in place the 2008 rule, study the results, and report to Congress. If the study reveals a need to draft a new rule, then a new rule should be drafted. By putting in place the already finalized 2008 rule, H.R. 2824 ensures that our streams are safe while further study is conducted.

It is easy to see why these underlying bills should garner strong bipartisan support. They are measured and balanced in their approach to our project study and regulatory processes. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying pieces of legislation.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bills.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, we had someone show up, and so the gentleman from Florida has allowed the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) to speak.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado.

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

This rule provides for ample and open debate. It makes in order amendments from both sides of the aisle. Further, it advances bills that were favorably reported out of committee and will receive bipartisan support.

The RAPID Act is good for our infrastructure needs. It puts in place a good process that helps our agencies conduct quality and timely environmental reviews.

This bill should receive overwhelming bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats have supported these same provisions already in this Congress.

The Florida delegation knows all too well the impact that delayed studies have on moving our critical projects forward. Port Everglades, which is in the district of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), has been under review for 17 years. That is too long. It is too much. It needs to be completed. The study of the project at Port Everglades is a prime example of Washington bureaucracy crushing America's jobs and America's future.

The RAPID Act would make it possible to move projects forward while protecting our environment. Mr. Speaker, the President has proposed a similar solution. The House passed a similar solution in the WRDA bill. We should pass this bill and give our infrastructure projects a good review process.

Our Nation's economy is sagging under an inefficient government. Our unemployed friends and neighbors are being hurt by our stagnant regulatory review system. The RAPID Act provides a better process and a better timeline. It does not change our environmental standards. It does not require agency approval of projects. It simply reforms our permitting process.

The coal jobs bill puts in place an already approved rule. It ends the regulatory limbo that has existed since 2009. It gives certainty to those who work in the coal industry.

Let's reform our review methods. Let's give our government the tools and the incentives to move America's infrastructure projects forward. When we do, we will release economic activity. We will strengthen our economy, and we will put Americans to work.

Mr. Speaker, the underlying bills are good. I urge Members of this House to vote for the rule, vote for the bills, and move our country forward.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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

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

I thank Chairman Goodlatte and Mr. Marino for putting forth this bill, the RAPID Act. This bill is a giant step toward implementing an environmental review process that works. I offer an amendment today not to alter the process, but to ensure that projects that are currently languishing in current environmental review have an opportunity to access the tools provided in this bill.

Infrastructure projects are vital to my home State of Florida. From port infrastructure to airports to seaports, road projects, even the Everglades restoration projects, my State's economy is supported by wise in investment in infrastructure.

Two projects in my State have suffered greatly under the current environmental review process. Orlando International Airport has had plans to develop a piece of property for airport services for more than a decade. The expansion would create skilled, high-paying jobs, and would be a boost to central Florida's economy. The plans have been under environmental review since 2008. A simple environmental assessment should not take more than 6 years.

Another project in our State, Port Everglades, involves deepening an existing channel by a few feet. The deepening of the channel at Port Everglades will allow more exports to flow out of our State on Post Panamax ships. This project is vital to our State as a whole, but also important to central Florida due to the large amounts of citrus that ships out of our State through Port Everglades. The more citrus we can ship, the more jobs we create. However, the channel deepening has been under environmental review for more than 17 years. For nearly two decades, Port Everglades has been caught in an endless cycle of review. The Florida delegation is committed, both Republicans and Democrats, to getting this project complete.

My amendment today is offered with these projects in mind. This amendment simply applies the same timelines that the RAPID Act establishes for new projects to projects that are currently under review.

Does it mean that they would be automatically, if it is already 4\1/ 2\ years into the project? No, it just means that timeline would not go beyond another 4\1/2\ years.

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

Mr. Chairman, I want to make sure everyone understands what this does. It would limit to 4\1/2\ more years. So we have a project 17 years in. Now we are saying, all right, can you give us an answer in 4\1/2\ more years? Over two decades, and we can't get an answer? I don't know; maybe we won't. But if the answer is ``no,'' say it. That is all they have to do. This doesn't automatically approve anything. What it says is, Give us an answer. Isn't 21 years long enough?

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino).

I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his support, and I urge Members to vote for this amendment. It is a good amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Orlando Museum of Art. Since its founding, the Museum has remained committed to enriching the cultural life of Florida and developing inclusive programs that serve every segment of a diverse community.

In 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art began as a small group of artists who met informally to display and discuss their work. They formed the Orlando Art Association, teaching art classes and arranging exhibits. In 1987, the name was officially changed to the Orlando Museum of Art, and within two years, it was acclaimed as one of the best in the region. The Museum features a dynamic set of collections ranging from contemporary art to Golden Age masterpieces and has hosted various high-profile exhibits.

The Museum has maintained its national accredited status by the American Association of Museums without interruption for over 40 years and continues to provide excellence in the visual arts. I thank the Orlando Museum of Art for its ongoing dedication to advancing the arts in our community.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sincere appreciation that I recognize Julie Young for her extraordinary leadership of Florida Virtual School. This month, Julie announced her retirement after 30 years of service in public education, including 17 years as President and CEO of Florida Virtual School.

Julie took the helm of Florida Virtual School, the country's first, state-wide Internet-based public high school, at its inception in 1997. Building upon her previous experience as a teacher and Education Instructional Specialist with IBM, Julie's vision to provide high quality, online courses to students throughout the state of Florida has met our students' needs and revolutionized education. Florida Virtual School has grown exponentially to provide online learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through high school, including a wide offering of elective and advanced placement courses. Today, Florida Virtual School is an award-winning Florida public school district serving more than 410,000 enrollments.

Julie has earned numerous awards for her leadership and innovation in education. Last year, Julie received the Orlando Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award which honors Central Florida's most influential business women. In recent years, Julie has also been awarded the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council Women of Distinction in Central Florida Award, Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Champion of School Choice Award, Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education Award, Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning Award and the Florida Diversity Council's Multicultural Award in Education, just to name a few.

Florida Virtual School has received state, national and international awards for pioneering online education. Among the numerous awards received last year, the School received Elearning! Media Group's 2013 Learning! 100 Award for being named one of the top 100 learning organizations in the world.

I am truly grateful for Julie's work to provide world-class, accessible online education to Floridians and students around the world. Our community, our state and our students are better due to her service.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the Woman's Club of Ocoee, a chapter of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), for 90 years of volunteer service to the Central Florida community. The Club, organized in 1924, aims ``to associate its members in study and efforts to advance the social, civic, educational and moral welfare of Ocoee and vicinity.''

Members of the Woman's Club of Ocoee selflessly devote their time, efforts and resources to meet the needs of our community. In 2013 alone, Club members contributed more than 11,000 service hours to schools, hospitals and various community organizations.

Since its establishment in 1890, the GFWC has supported the arts, advanced education, promoted healthy lifestyles and encouraged civic involvement both domestically and internationally. Members of GFWC, whether they are advocating for congressional legislation to prevent violence against women or mentoring at-risk girls in local schools, have a ``national voice and a local passion.''

It is a privilege to recognize the contributions of the Woman's Club of Ocoee on this 90th anniversary. They truly demonstrate the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism for the betterment of our community.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 56, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Florida Business Development Corporation for their contributions to the Central Florida business community.

Organized in 1989, Florida Business Development Corporation has grown to be the second most active Certified Development Company in the United States. The company works with private lenders to provide businesses with long-term, affordable financing that allows them to grow more quickly. Florida Business Development Corporation recently constructed a new building to accommodate its expansion, creating new employment opportunities for local residents and strengthening the economy.

Business development is essential to growing local economies and keeping hard-working Floridians employed. I commend Florida Business Development Corporation for their work to assist healthy, growing small businesses in Central Florida, and I wish them continued success.