Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Rodney David Cannon as our congressional guest chaplain today, not only one of our prominent pastors in the district, but also our mayor in Frostproof, Florida.

Born in Kansas, raised in Fort Meade, and having lived all over Polk County, Rodney settled down in his new hometown of Frostproof, where he lives with his wife, Lindsey, and their children.

As a child, Rodney lived in Highland City, Bartow, and eventually Fort Meade, where he graduated high school in 1995. After graduation, Rodney accepted a music scholarship and began his higher education journey. First he attended Brevard Community College, then transferred to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Throughout their 15-year marriage, Rodney and Lindsey have lived in various places. Rodney served as a youth pastor in Fort Meade, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, and Englewood before planting a church in the Daytona area. After 2 years there, the opportunity came for Rodney to become a senior pastor in Frostproof.

It was also in 2015 that Rodney decided to run for city council. He won the seat that year by only 20 votes. In his first city council meeting, he was elected by his peers to serve as vice mayor. During that first year on the council, Rodney was able to save the city residents and businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars by working hard to keep the volunteer fire department open.

In 2016, he was elected to serve as mayor after only 1 year on the council, and the next year, reelected to serve another 1-year term as mayor.

Thank you, Pastor Cannon, for all you do for the Frostproof community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, H.R. 1279, and I will talk a minute about one of my own constituents, Brian, who is facing this very dangerous condition.

From the summer of 2004 through 2009, my constituent Brian was deployed a total of six times on combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as a United States Marine Corps helicopter mechanic.

As a junior marine, he would haul trash daily to the airbases' burn pits. He helped burn all the unit's trash and stood security watch on the burn pits, which are always located near work or housing areas in airbases.

During each deployment, Brian would smell the trash burning in the pits and was always in the path of the smoke. He would often wear rags across his mouth and nose to reduce the foul smell and filter the smoke from the air he was breathing.

After some time, Brian developed breathing troubles, and the base medical center provided inhalers that helped temporarily. When he was home in between the deployments, he had breathing treatments and was diagnosed with bronchitis on multiple occasions.

In 2013, Brian developed a serious case of pneumonia. An abscess had formed in the lower lobe of his left lung. It ruptured, filling the lobe with fluid. The doctors removed a portion of Brian's left lung to save his life. The surgery kept him alive but greatly reduced lung capacity and functionality.

In 2016, Brian was offered the option to retire early from the United States Marine Corps. The Veterans Administration reviewed his case and determined a 100 percent disability rating. He is currently going through more testing due to undiagnosed heart issues and elevated blood level count for his blood cells, and he is still being treated for lung problems.

To this day, Brian reports having rib cage pain and nerve damage from the lung surgery on a daily basis.

Brian is, unfortunately, not the only servicemember whose health is deteriorating due to exposure to harmful substances from burning of waste in military bases.

While we are glad to see action taken in the NDAA for fiscal year 2018, we need a more permanent solution. I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 1279, Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, that would create a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs to better understand the health effects and treatments associated with burn pits.

I also encourage our United States military to provide proper breathing safety apparatuses and reconsider their current policy of having burn pits on or near our bases.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and these reforms because we all have an obligation to care for our veterans.

Honoring Dr. Cyndia Morales Muniz During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Cyndia Morales Muniz.

Dr. Cyndia Morales Muniz serves as an assistant director at Hispanic Initiatives in the president's division at the University of Central Florida, affectionately known as UCF in central Florida. As chair of UCF's Hispanic Serving Institution, HSI, Task Force, she facilitates communication and collaboration within the university community to strengthen UCF's Hispanic-serving efforts.

As founding president of the Latino Faculty & Staff Association, LaFaSA, at UCF, Dr. Muniz has been the catalyst that has elevated Latino programming at UCF. With grant support from the Hispanic Federation, she established the CREAR Futuros Mentoring Program at UCF in 2016. The following year, she planned UCF's inaugural Latino graduation ceremony, Nuestra Graduacion.

In the local community, she supports the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando.

Dr. Muniz is highly regarded in the central Florida community. She also advocates for Latino student success at the national level, helping lead two national projects in partnership with Excelencia in Education and serving as the UCF representative within the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. She also coleads the Puerto Rican Education Relief Team at UCF, helping support displaced students affected by Hurricane Maria in their transition to central Florida.

Having been a first-generation, low-income college student, she takes full advantage of opportunities to discuss and elevate best practices and policy implications for underrepresented communities.

Dr. Muniz earned a bachelor's degree in sociology at Binghamton University, a master's degree in sociology at St. John's University, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Central Florida. Most recently, she was selected as a 2018 College Board Professional Fellow.

Dr. Muniz is a proud Puerto Rican and resides in Orlando with her loving husband, Antonio.

For that, Dr. Cyndia Morales Muniz, we honor you.

Honoring Vetnah ``Yemen'' Monessar During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Vetnah ``Yemen'' Monessar.

Vetnah ``Yemen'' Monessar is a community organizer and political activist with over 13 years of experience in mobilizing and elevating the narrative of Muslim Americans in our community.

She has led legislative and electoral campaigns at all levels of government, advocating for equitable healthcare, education reform, fair access economic development, and human rights, in addition to numerous other issue-based campaigns.

Vetnah serves as the executive director of Emgage Florida, a civic engagement nonprofit that aims to educate, engage, and empower Muslim Americans in the civic engagement process.

She made history as the first hired woman State director for a Presidential campaign as the State coalition director for Hillary for America.

Vetnah currently serves as the vice president of the Orlando American Muslim Chamber of Commerce, on the Young Professionals Board of Harbor House, and on the Orlando Chapter 57 Citizen Review Board and has received numerous community service and leadership awards.

She received her degree in Islamic studies and religion from the Islamic University of Dr. Bilal Philips, as well as a degree in paralegal studies with a focus on transactional and litigation law.

As a community leader, she is a constant champion of those who traditionally do not have their voices heard and empowering them to be involved in the democratic process.

For that, Vetnah ``Yemen'' Monessar, we salute you.

Honoring Margie Viera During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Margie Viera.

Margie Viera is a force of nature and an inspiration to us all.

She works with community leaders, government, and businessowners from all industries to bring opportunities and growth to the central Florida region. She has influence in major areas, including public affairs, education, business development, international commercial import and export, and strategic alliances.

She helps businesses, big and small, to achieve growth. Her work has made an impact globally in major world centers, including in Puerto Rico; California, Texas, Florida in the United States; as well as Latin America, Spain, among other countries.

Margie is passionate about volunteering and mentoring. She is the development director at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, one of the Nation's leading organizations committed to the economic development of the Hispanic community directly impacting the central Florida region. Throughout her tenure as development director, Margie has engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across education, economic, social, and cultural spheres.

In the educational industry, Margie worked transforming lives through her service as the daytime program director at Ana G. Mendez University System, where she started the first bilingual program that serves Hispanic youth and empowered her students by giving them access to professional opportunities and skills development.

She is the cofounder of the Aspire to Inspire Youth Mentorship Program, which impacts underserved students to inspire them to become the next generation of leaders. Aspire to Inspire is a community organization that inspires Latin youth to stay in school and reach for the stars while creating a culture of #Paying IT Forward in her community.

Born in Puerto Rico and the single mother of two boys, Margie understands firsthand the challenges of living on the mainland away from her family on the island. She is a woman of valor, a loving mother, and a fierce advocate for education.

Margie Viera is a Latina leader using her powerful voice for our most vulnerable in central Florida.

For that, Margie Viera, we honor you.

Honoring Karen Cooper Welzel During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Karen Cooper Welzel.

Karen Cooper Welzel was born in Michigan. Both her parents fought for workers' rights and led the formation of the United Auto Workers union. Her family history became the basis for Karen to become politically active and as involved as she is today. Karen and her husband, George, moved to central Florida in 1994 and soon thereafter joined in the Polk Democratic Executive Committee meetings and the local Democratic club meetings.

Karen worked in human resources and later became a corporate HR director for a private hospitality company, overseeing five hotels and other properties.

Karen volunteered for the Howard Dean Presidential campaign in 2003 and continued in local politics by participating in Democratic clubs and the Polk County Democratic Party. She attended training sessions, served as a delegate to the Florida Democratic Party conventions, and encouraged and supported local candidates.

Karen was later elected chairwoman of the Polk County DEC. She chartered five new Democratic clubs in the county and opened two campaign offices. She also serves on the board of directors of Side Street Art Beat, an organization that provides opportunities for creative self-expression and support for individuals with special needs.

In 2014, Karen started a local chapter of the Democratic Women's Club of Florida in East Polk County. She currently serves as the chair of the Candidate Screening Committee.

In 2016, she was elected by the Polk County DEC members to serve as the State Committee Woman and currently is chairing the Polk DEC Campaign Committee. Karen and members of the DWC East Polk Ridge Club organized two women's rallies that resulted in the creation of the DWCF Lakeland Club.

Karen has stood before the Polk County Legislative Delegation several years in a row demanding voting rights for all citizens and gun safety measures.

Karen is the mother of two sons and now proud to be a grandmother.

For that, Karen Cooper Welzel, we honor you.

Honoring Ybeth Bruzual During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor of Ybeth Bruzual.

Ybeth Bruzual is a beloved Venezuelan-Puerto Rican journalist in our community who has lived in central Florida since 1981 and considers our area her home.

Ybeth is an anchor for Spectrum News 13. She also hosts ``Political Connections'' on Sundays.

She is a three-time Emmy nominee and won an Emmy in 2016 for the Pulse Vigil live coverage at Lake Eola. Bruzual was honored with the UCF Department of Political Science Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015 for her political coverage.

She is fascinated by politics. She earned a bachelor's degree in international politics from the University of Central Florida. She puts that knowledge to good use in her job at News 13.

Ybeth bleeds black and gold and is a proud member of the UCF Alumni Association. She enjoys cheering on the UCF Knights at sporting event at Spectrum Stadium.

She also earned an AA degree from Valencia College, where she served as a writer and circulation manager in the 1990s on the school's newspaper, Valencia Voice.

She calls herself an endless prisoner of hope, and demonstrates that by her many community activities. She is a past board member for both Shepherd's Hope Clinic and Central Florida Chapter Board for Lighthouse of Central Florida, offering service to the blind, and a former mentor for the Compact Program for Orange County Public Schools.

Ybeth is the past president of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and is a proud lifetime member of that organization.

Ybeth and her husband, Alfredo, have a young son.

And for that, Ybeth Bruzual, we honor you.

Honoring Lisa Ann Franchina During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lisa Ann Franchina.

Lisa Ann Franchina is a local attorney. She is also a member of many civic organizations, and has served on many community boards in central Florida.

Born in Queens, New York, Lisa received her bachelor of arts in humanities from Hofstra University, and her juris doctorate from the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University.

After her graduation from law school, Lisa was an assistant public defender in Orlando, handling trials and appeals in criminal court. For the last 25 years, Lisa has been a small-business owner, operating her own firm.

In 2016, Lisa received a Spotlight Award for her service on the membership committee of the family law section of the Florida bar.

In additional, Lisa is an active member of our community. She is a current member and past secretary for the Orange County League of Women Voters, and a member of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida as well. Lisa has served as President of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, as a director and executive committee member of the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, and as a board member for the Orlando Marine Institute.

Lisa is currently serving her third term as president of the Board of Trustees for the Orange County Library System, and her second term as chair of the Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board.

Lisa is a shelter volunteer at the Orange County Animal Services, and has donated over 5,000 volunteer hours in the past 2 years.

Lisa was named as 2016 Orange County District Four Citizen of the Year for her service to the central Florida community.

And for that, Lisa Ann Franchina, we honor you.

Honoring Daisy Lopez-Cid During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Daisy Lopez-Cid.

Not many people can say that, in the height of a financial meltdown and national housing crisis back in 2008, they would venture out on their own to open up a real estate brokerage.

While most were downsizing, Daisy Lopez-Cid was planning her empire. In 2007 and 2008, she dove in feet first and opened her office. By 2016, office number two made its debut, and both have been churning out steady numbers since their doors opened.

Daisy was ranked in the top 250 sales agents in the country 4 years in a row; and, in 2015, she was ranked number 3 in the Nation.

She joined NAHREP, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, in 2008, and quickly realized how the association's mission to advance sustainable Hispanic home ownership lined up with her core values as a real estate professional.

To give back to the organization that has empowered her for so long, she now serves as the NAHREP 2018 national president.

Recently, when Hurricane Maria hit our native island of Puerto Rico, she traveled down there for over 2 weeks, bringing down thousands and thousands of pounds of supplies: food, water, medications, clothing, and so many other of the bare essentials that we need for living every day.

She went down door to door, and people in Puerto Rico welcomed her into their homes and welcomed the much-needed help that helped lift up the island, along with so many entrepreneurs in central Florida who helped with our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.

Although real estate was not her first career, it was clear to see that this former New York paralegal had found her calling in real estate. Daisy is someone you want to have in your corner, as her zest for success is contagious, and her wisdom speaks beyond her years. Her vast real estate knowledge and love for education and for educating her agents has allowed her firm to grow on Broadway in Kissimmee, and to put more families into homes.

Daisy has a passion for customer care that is contagious, and her 50 agents will tell you that she is in it to win it.

Her goal is and has always been quality over quantity, and that makes Daisy a success. It is a priority for her to educate her agents and equip them with the tools they will need for success.

She also serves as a trustee in our local community college, Valencia College, where we worked together to create Poinciana Valencia campus, which now is up and running and serving thousands of folks in south Osceola County.

And for that, Daisy Lopez-Cid, we honor you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 7 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, March 15, 2018, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, I rise for the 92,000 Dreamers in the State of Florida. Tonight, I rise for the 3.6 million Dreamers across this Nation.

President Trump may have terminated the DACA program this week, but the dream will survive.

These Dreamers are serving in our military. They are our teachers. They are students and businessowners, lawyers, doctors, and engineers. They are an ambitious group of young people who are renewing our democracy and who are some of the very best of what the next generation has to offer.

I have no doubt, despite this termination this week, these young people will continue to fight, and we in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will stand with them. We in the Democratic Caucus will continue to stand with them.

I hope some of my colleagues who have signed on to this bill in the Republican Conference will continue, but we need a vote on the floor.

Seventy percent of Americans already stand with our Dreamers.

It is true that the Federal courts this week have continued with their injunction enjoining the termination of the DACA program. This will help those who are already in the program, but that is a small fraction of the Dreamers in this country.

It is a sad state of affairs that Dreamers could only find justice in our courts. This is the people's House, and the people's business needs to be done. It is time to have a vote on the floor in a bipartisan fashion--a clean Dream Act now, or in November the voters will have their own vote regarding Dreamers.

Honoring Seretha Tinsley During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Seretha Tinsley.

Seretha Tinsley is a Winter Haven resident, trailblazer, and overachiever. She was the first African-American female to attend and graduate from Wesleyan College, in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Seretha became one of the first Black female general managers in radio.

In 2008, she became the first African-American president of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

She is an entrepreneur, civic leader, mother, and wife.

Desiring to become a missionary, she took a trip to West Africa, visited six countries, and studied with educators. Consequently, she became an educator so that she could have a greater impact empowering young lives with knowledge.

Tinsley served as executive director and cofounded Chain of Lakes Achievers, an achievement center devoted to empowering youth through tutoring, leadership, and life skills training. She maintains her passion for teaching by mentoring on a daily basis.

She is a businesswoman who takes pride in assisting others in reaching their phenomenal potential. Tinsley is the CFO/owner of several family businesses, KFC, Tinsley Family Concessions, where she oversees administrative and fiduciary responsibilities.

Seretha's community service and progressive leadership have earned her

numerous honors, recognitions, and media coverage.

Seretha is involved with multiple organizations in the community. She is a Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce business member; First Missionary Baptist Church trustee; life member of the NAACP; Polk Academies Advisory Board; Winter Haven Chamber; past president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Polk County Chapter; among many other accomplishments.

Seretha Tinsley, we honor you.

Honoring Lisa Landers During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Lisa Landers.

Lisa Landers has served in the executive director position of the Winter Haven Housing Authority since 2009. She leads in the overall operations of the agency's public housing Section 8, low-income tax credit, and multifamily housing programs.

Known for her tenacious spirit, Lisa has been recognized for successfully transforming a once nonperforming troubled agency into one now competitively recognized by Florida housing officials.

Prior to joining the WHHA in 2004 as a volunteer, Lisa championed research on infant mortality and neonatology for the late Florida Governor Lawton Chiles and wife, Rhea Chiles, at their Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Ms. Landers is also an award-winning journalist for The Tampa Tribune.

Her career includes leadership as director of public relations for The Spring of Tampa Bay, one of Florida's largest domestic violence centers.

A graduate of Florida A&M University with a B.S. in journalism, Ms. Landers has also pursued advanced studies in public administration at USF and holds the distinguished Executive Director's Education Certification from Rutgers University's Center for Government Studies.

Among her board and outside interests, Ms. Landers is a member of the Winter Haven Leadership Class of 35, currently serves as the Florida State public relations representative for the Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and its Southeastern Regional Council, and is currently a member of the Leadership Polk Class XI.

Lisa Landers, we honor you.

Honoring Twanna Dewdney During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Twanna Dewdney.

Twanna Dewdney is a Winter Haven resident and proprietor of Salon Ashanti. She has proudly operated her salon in Winter Haven for over 13 years and considers it a vital resource to the community.

As a community activist, Twanna advocates for HIV and AIDS education and prevention. Her salon is an HIV testing site for the Polk County Health Department.

Salon Ashanti also serves as a location for voter outreach, registration, and school supply drives. Children within the neighborhood utilize Salon Ashanti as a place of refuge, and she prides herself as a mentor to young women.

Her ministry extends beyond her local community, as she also organizes toiletry drives for women's and men's prison ministries.

Twanna began Project Park Bench as a drive where warm items and food could be brought to the salon for donations to the homeless. Items are then donated to the Mission of Winter Haven.

Further, she also uses her salon to promote other entrepreneurs.

In 2010, Twanna received the Community Service Award from the Jewett Alumni Association and the Bringing Your Business Back Award from the

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Glenda Jones.

It has been said that humility is often found in those who serve others. Glenda Jones best personifies that statement.

For 45 years, Glenda has and continues to champion the elderly by seeking to empower them with knowledge, skill, and resources through the Winter Haven Neighborhood Service Center Inc.

As a registered nurse, she provides care and compassion for her community through civic engagement. Glenda actively serves her community and has been recognized for her participation with a number of organizations in our community.

Glenda won Woman of the Year, the highest honor in Winter Haven, in the 2008 Banker's Cup. She is involved with St. Joseph's school board, the Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful organization, a charter member of the East Central Democratic Club, secretary for the Polk County Democratic Black Caucus, and the United Way of Central Florida board of directors.

She is also a current member of the Agricultural and Labor Program board of directors, PRIDE of Polk County, the Women's Club of Winter Haven, Silver Life member of the NAACP, and chair of the Winter Haven Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Commission as well.

Glenda has been an official sponsor of the Winter Haven MLK Parade and other activities during King Week. She is current chair of the Florence Villa CRA in the city of Winter Haven and a past recipient of the Winter Haven Girls, Inc., She Knows Where She's Going Award.

Glenda Jones, we honor you.

Honoring Lakecia Gunter During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Lakecia Gunter.

Lakecia Gunter is a Haines City native. She is currently Intel's chief of staff and technical assistant of Intel. Prior to her current role, she was the general manager of the consumer desktop segment marketing team in the client computing group, where she was responsible for maximizing desktop profitability to grow the desktop P&L.

She is an active member of the Intel Black Leadership Council, Intel's network of Intel African Americans, and Women at Intel.

Lakecia started from humble beginnings, growing up in a single-parent household. Her late mom, Barbara Griffin, always described her as a curious child. She is a trailblazer who has never been afraid to be the only one.

``If they let me in the door, I'm going to make the entrance wider,'' she says. And she does just that by sharing her time and talents with several nonprofits focused on improving educational outcomes for high school dropouts and underprepared college students. In her mentoring, she tries to impress upon kids that challenges are designed to help them grow.

Lakecia earned an MS in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering from the University of South Florida. She also earned her project management professional certification.

Her efforts in the engineering career field and the community have garnered her national recognition. She recently was named to Business Insider's list of the 26 most powerful female engineers in 2016. She was the recipient of the Society of Women Engineers' Prism Award for demonstrating outstanding career technology leadership as well as leadership in STEM and in the community.

Further, she was named to Diversity MBA Magazine's 2014 list of top 100

under 50 diverse executive leaders for her technology leadership and achievements at Intel and in the community.

For that, Lakecia Gunter, we honor you.

Honoring Gloria Niec During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Gloria Niec. Ms. Niec is the executive director of the Celebration Foundation and has tackled serious issues affecting Osceola County.

In 2012, the Celebration Foundation led the effort to increase awareness of those experiencing hunger in the county by creating Osceola Connected. The group became very involved in combating childhood hunger. Today, Osceola Connected provides food to over 1,000 Osceola County elementary students every week during the school year.

While handing out bags of food or taking children to summer camp, Gloria learned that many graduating seniors had no postsecondary plans. Once she learned that most students had never even visited a college campus before, Gloria and her committee began sponsoring campus tours of Technical Education Center Osceola and Valencia College Osceola Campus. The first year, just over 100 students toured the campuses. Since then, over 6,000 students have toured the campuses, which have helped improve the county's college-going rate.

Education is one of the cornerstones of Celebration Foundation's mission ``to work hand in hand with our neighbors to build a strong and caring central Florida community.''

Gloria was concerned about the effect of media on girls and young women. She convened a group of talented women, and they formed WINGS, Women's Initiative Nurturing Girls' Strength. The goal is to help girls and women create powerful life journeys.

Gloria also gathered a group of architects and urban planners who are committed to preserving, protecting, and advancing the principles upon which Celebration was based. They teach at Lifelong Learning, lead tours, and sponsor an annual speaker.

The Concert Series, in its 16th year, is enjoying robust attendance and sponsorship. Gloria has helped to grow the series, which offers a cultural opportunity for residents in Celebration, Osceola County, and central Florida. She has also been involved with Thriving in Place and Lifelong Learning, programs that enable seniors to live healthy, safe, independent, and have enriched lives.

And for that, Gloria Niec, we honor you.

Honoring Heather Wilkie During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Heather Wilkie.

Heather Wilkie is the executive director of the Zebra Coalition, a network of community organizations which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and all youth. Following the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting, the Zebra Coalition evolved as a leading organization in the community's provision of services to victims and their families, and Wilkie continues to lead these efforts to ensure the LGBTQ-plus youth in central Florida have a safe space to turn.

Wilkie serves on the task force for the LGBTQ Alliance, a group of appointed LGBTQ organizations and community leaders formed to address our community's needs as a result of the Pulse shooting.

She is an experienced executive leader in the nonprofit sector with over 13 years of personal commitment and dedication to community service. A dynamic and energetic advocate for global change and equality, Wilkie contributes a strong passion for social justice.

Prior to joining the Zebra Coalition, Wilkie served as chief operating officer for the leading central Florida domestic violence organization Harbor House. During that time, she chaired the LGBTQ Caucus with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she led the statewide initiative to enhance services for LGBTQ survivors of abuse.

Wilkie holds a master's degree in mental health counseling from Rollins College.

And for that, we honor you, Heather Wilkie.

Honoring Mary Downey During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Mary Downey.

Reverend Mary Lee Downey is the executive director and founder of the nonprofit Community Hope Center. The Community Hope Center is a one- stop shop providing services to the homeless and disenfranchised in Osceola County. In 2016, the Community Hope Center was awarded the prestigious Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award and, in 2015, the Bob Allen Award by Walt Disney World for innovative approaches to helping the homeless in the community.

In the last five years, the Community Hope Center has served over 25,000 individuals in the central Florida area. The Center focuses on a ``housing first'' model of care while also including a strong position regarding poverty alleviation.

Reverend Downey is a deacon in the United Methodist Church for the Florida Annual Conference. Her focus is on missional outreach through social justice in the nonprofit organizations. She is also a clergy at the Spring of Life United Methodist Church.

Previously, Mary served as the deputy director of Helping Others Make the Effort, HOME, a nonprofit committed to ending homelessness in Osceola County. She was also the program and evangelism director for the First United Methodist Church of Kissimmee, where she focused on spiritual formation, outreach, and missions.

Before moving to central Florida, Mary was a journalist. In 2004, Mary graduated cum laude from Henderson State University in Arkansas with a bachelor of art in mass media. In 2016, she graduated from Henderson State with a master of art in art history and liberal arts. In 2012, Mary graduated with a master of Christian leadership with an emphasis in missions from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Mary and her amazing husband, Martin, have three children. She enjoys writing, preaching, and reading. In her free time, you can find her and her family enjoying the theme parks in central Florida.

And for that, Mary Downey, we honor you.

Honoring Sheri Morton During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Sheri Morton.

For over half a century, Sheri Morton has volunteered for progressive causes. From the peace, civil rights, and women's movements in the 1960s to voting, equal rights, and quality affordable healthcare, Ms. Morton has volunteered tens of thousands of hours to help improve the quality of life for people in our community, our country, and our world.

Ms. Morton began volunteering as a teenager and continued doing so during her undergraduate years, when she was the first woman from her high school to attend Harvard College. She earned a master's degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she later worked.

After receiving her JD, she became an attorney and is now retired.

Sheri has held numerous volunteer political positions as well as served on the Osceola County Library Advisory Board.

A lifelong supporter of quality affordable healthcare for all Americans, she was a local volunteer spokesperson, encouraging enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges.

Ms. Morton's volunteer work has ranged from teaching English to immigrants and tutoring a blind student in high school math to collecting food for Appalachia's needy and warm clothes for the homeless. Currently, she regularly volunteers hosting Jewish cultural events for the residents of a local assisted living facility.

After half a century of volunteering, Ms. Morton's dedication to improving the lives of others continues unabated.

And for that, Sheri Morton, we honor you.

Honoring Kathleen Plinske During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Kathleen Plinske.

Kathleen Plinske serves as campus president of the Osceola, Lake Nona, and Poinciana campuses at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, and in central Florida. She has served as an advocate for increasing access to higher

education in historically underserved communities and has been instrumental in Osceola County's ``Got College?'' efforts, which have resulted in an increase in the community college's going rate by more than 20 percent over the last 5 years.

Prior to joining Valencia in 2010, Plinske began her career at McHenry County College, rising up to ultimately becoming interim president of institutional effectiveness. A graduate of Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Plinske attended Indiana University Bloomington as a Herman B. Wells scholar, earning a bachelor of arts in Spanish and physics with highest distinction and honors. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she completed a master of arts in Spanish from Roosevelt University, a doctorate in education technology from Pepperdine University, and a master of business administration from the University of Florida.

Actively involved in her community, Plinske has served as a board chair of the Education Foundation of Osceola County and as president of the Rotary Club of Lake Nona. She has also served on the board of CareerSource Central Florida, the Osceola Center for the Arts, Junior Achievement of Osceola County, and the Lake Nona Education Council.

In 2010, Plinske was recognized as one of 24 emerging leaders in the world by Phi Delta Kappa. In 2012, she was named Woman of the Year by Orlando Business Journal in its 40 Under 40 competition and the Outstanding Young Alumna by Indiana University.

In 2014, she received the Compadre Award from the Hispanic Business Council of the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce and the Don Quijote Hispanic Community Champion Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.

Plinske was selected as an Aspen Presidential Fellow in 2016 and was named Pepperdine University's Distinguished Alumna in 2017.

And for that, Kathleen Plinske, we honor you.

Honoring Kathy Wandel During Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Kathy Wandel.

Kathy Wandel comes from a career in transportation, which focused on sales, operations, and training. Upon her retirement, she and her husband relocated from Texas to central Florida.

She served on the board of directors for the Senior Resource Alliance, the Area Agency on Aging for Central Florida, representing Osceola County, and was board chair for three years. She also delivered Meals on Wheels for the Osceola County Council on Aging.

She became a volunteer guardian ad litem, helping to provide a powerful voice in court on behalf of Florida's abused, neglected, and abandoned children in 2003.

She was soon invited to join the local nonprofit for the Guardian Ad Litem Program in Osceola County, Voices for Osceola's Children, where she is serving as board chair. This nonprofit supports the efforts of over 200 certified local volunteer GALs, as well as provides for the unmet needs of over 500 local children while they are under the supervision of the court dependency system.

She is a longtime member of Rotary International's Kissimmee West Rotary Club in Osceola County. She plans on continuing to support her club's fundraising efforts through local causes, including the Adopt-A- Precinct program for the Osceola County Supervision of Elections.

She finds the Rotary ideal of ``Service Above Self'' a wonderful way to meet new people who share the ideal and work to give back to the community.

For that, Kathy Wandel, we honor you.

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

Madam Speaker, I do not rise today for another moment of silence for Parkland, Florida, for the semiautomatic weapon and shooter who wielded it already silenced 17 Floridians and injured countless others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Instead, I rise to make their voices heard. I rise to call for action on sensible gun reform. The Parkland shooter likely got his semiautomatic weapon through a private sale or a gun show without a background check, in spite of a record of mental health issues.

It is time to close that loophole. The Las Vegas shooter used a bump stock to convert a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic weapon--which is already illegal. Bump stocks should also be illegal.

Why is nothing happening? In my own home of Orlando, the shooter at the Pulse nightclub was on the FBI watch list. Imagine if we passed no fly, no buy and stopped that from happening.

Now is not the time for silence. Now is the time for action, and now is time for solutions.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I first would like to take a moment to remember a hero of the civil rights movement in central Florida.

Harry T. Moore was born on November 18, 1905. He was an African- American educator, a pioneer leader of the

civil rights movement, and founder of the first branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP, in Brevard County, Florida.

Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Vyda Simms Moore, who was also an educator, were the victims of a bombing of their home in Mims, Florida. On that fateful Christmas night in 1951, he died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital in Seminole County, while she died January 3, 1952, at a hospital also in Sanford, Florida.

Forensic work in 2005 to 2006 resulted in the naming of the probable perpetrators as four Ku Klux Klan members, all long dead by the time of the investigation.

The Moores were trailblazers as the first NAACP members to fight for civil rights, and, unfortunately, were murdered as a result of their activism. Moore has been called the first martyr of the early stages of the civil rights movement.

Mr. Harry T. Moore and Harriette Vyda Simms Moore, we salute and honor you.

Saluting and Honoring Captain Keva Harris

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Captain Keva Harris, born in Bartow, Florida, and raised in Haines City, Florida, in a family that stressed community involvement.

While in high school, Ms. Harris worked with her grandmother to raise funds for band instruments and school trips. After her high school graduation, she started studying tae kwon do, opening a school for the Oakland community with her future husband, Ricky.

She attended Polk Community College, and was hired as Haines City's first African-American female officer in 1993.

While on the force, Captain Harris attended Warner University, graduating with a bachelor's degree and an MBA.

She also attended the University of Phoenix, graduating with a master's in science and criminal justice.

She is also the first Black woman in the city's history to hold an administrative position with the police force, but always coming back to community involvement, she became commander of the community service division in 2015.

Harris became a lieutenant in 2006, and later that year was promoted to captain.

In addition to her police duties, Ms. Harris is a longstanding member of the Haines City branch of the NAACP, which her mother-in-law served as a longtime president.

Captain Harris is a member of the Northeast Revitalization Group, an organization that serves the Oakland community with neighborhood cleanup, a Christmas breakfast, a local museum, and the city's annual Martin Luther King, Jr., parade.

She is also part of the Unity in the Community, started by a group of local pastors that give back to the community through backpack drives for schoolchildren, holiday turkey giveaways, and a health fair.

She is a member of the New Beulah Missionary Baptist Church.

Captain Keva Harris, we salute you.

Saluting and Honoring the Austin Family of Lake Wales, Florida

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize the Austin family of Lake Wales, Florida.

James P. Austin, Jr., was born in 1919. He served in the United States Army as a staff sergeant during World War II. Mr. Austin served as the Lake Wales NAACP president for over 33 years, founding the branch along with his wife, Jeresa Austin, and Reverend W.J.H. Black.

During his tenure, both Austins were instrumental in the sit-ins and swim-ins as far away as Ocala and St. Augustine in the 1960s, as well as the integration of the Polk Theatre in Lakeland in 1976.

Mr. Austin was elected to the Lake Wales City Commission, vice mayor, and became the first African-American mayor of Lake Wales in 1987.

As well as a civil rights leader, Mr. Austin was a major developer in Lake Wales, building many of the homes on the northwest part of the city, and had a community center named after him.

Jeresa lived for about 4 years after her husband's death, serving as a teacher in Polk County schools.

James' brother, Reverend Allen Austin, was a longtime pastor of the First Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Wales, and for the past 5 years has served as pastor of the First Baptist Hilltop Church in Frostproof.

James' sister, Lula Jones, was born in 1925 in Lake Wales, Florida. After graduating, Ms. Jones worked as a housekeeper and, along with her brothers, was a member of the Lake Wales branch of the NAACP.

Ms. Jones is involved with the American Legion Post 71 Auxiliary in Lake Wales, supporting veterans in the community.

Ms. Jones said of her family's service to the community: ``We remember how it was back in the day and always worked to make it better for our children.''

Ms. Jones is highly regarded as a pillar of the community. For that, we salute the Austin family.

Saluting and Honoring Dr. Barbara M. Jenkins

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Dr. Barbara Jenkins.

Dr. Jenkins is the superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. She is a recognized education leader, who has been dedicated to serving the needs of students for over 30 years.

In January 2017, she received a presidential appointment as director of the National Board of Education Sciences. She serves on the executive board of directors of multiple councils in the central Florida area.

Also in 2017, she was named the Florida Superintendent of the Year, and she was one of four finalists for the national title. The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents named her Hispanic-Serving School District Superintendent of the Year. The Florida Association for Career and Technical Education named her CTE Superintendent of the Year.

Under Dr. Jenkins' leadership, the district won the prestigious 2014 Broad Prize for Urban Education, which earned a half a million dollars for student scholarships.

The district also received the Governor's Sterling Award in 2014 and 2015, and the Sustained Excellence Award in 2017.

Deeply engaged in the community, Dr. Jenkins serves on the board of directors of United Arts of Central Florida, Orlando Economic Partnership, Florida Hospital, Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, and the Orange County Youth Mental Health Commission.

For that, Dr. Barbara Jenkins, we salute you.

Saluting and Honoring Lawrence Epps

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Lawrence Epps.

Lawrence Epps moved to Lake Wales with his grandmother when he was 12 years old. As a Boy Scout, he and his troop shoveled out the graves, quickly changed into their uniforms during the funerals, then changed again and dashed back to the cemetery to cover the graves back up, just as a young boy.

About 4 years ago, he began driving the ambulance on calls while also working for James P. Austin Construction Company, preparing the newly built homes for occupancy. An alumnus of Roosevelt High School, he transferred to Lake Wales High School in his senior year in 1969, the first year that the schools in Polk County were integrated.

Epps completed his associate's degree in mortuary science at Miami- Dade Junior College in 1973, and returned to Polk County serving as a special deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office from 1974 to 1980. Epps, who was barely 26 when he began Epps Memorial Funeral Home in 1976, has served the bereaved of the community for over four decades.

In 2013, the State organization named him Mortician of the Year, which Tommy L. Hayes, president of the Florida Morticians Association, says is an honor bestowed by Epps' peers.

Two decades later in 1996, Epps achieved a personal goal when he was ordained a minister through the Progressive Missionary & Educational Baptist State Convention.

Mr. Epps has been president of the Roosevelt Alumni Association since 1978, an organization that helps raise money through scholarships and school

supplies for students of Lake Wales. He also is a member of the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of the board since 1998.

Epps has said that the mortuary business is a lot of hard work and dedication, but the rewards that come with helping people get through a difficult time are great. He is a firm believer in the adage, ``The village raises the child,'' and plans to continue giving back to his adopted home for many years to come.

And for that, Mr. Epps, we salute you.

Saluting and Honoring Russell Drake

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Russell Drake.

Russell Drake is the president of the Orange County Democratic Black Caucus. He is a Christian man, community activist, engineering professional; and he attended Howard University with a focus in systems and computer science.

Upon finishing school, he moved to Orlando, Florida, where he has worked as a systems engineer at two Fortune 500 corporations over the last 15 years.

Outside of work, Russell has a focus and passion for uplifting the community, leading him to be a very active member in the Orlando metropolitan area through individual and group efforts of service.

On his own accord, Russell is a supporter of various youth programs, mentoring activities, food drives, homeless empowerment initiatives, voter action rallies, and civic and political awareness causes.

Mr. Drake is part of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Central Florida Urban League Young Professionals, National Pan-Hellenic Council of Metro Orlando, NPHC, the NAACP Orange County Branch, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida.

Mr. Drake's active nature has earned him appointments to the African American Advisory Board of WESH 2 News Orlando and to the Boy Scouts of America, Whitney M. Young Council.

In spiritual life, Mr. Drake is a member of the Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church where he serves on the trustee board, usher board, praise and dance team, and men's choir.

Last but not least, Mr. Drake regards his lovely family to always come first. For that, Mr. Drake, we salute you.

Honoring the Life of Recy Taylor

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Recy Taylor.

Recy Taylor was a 24-year-old African American in 1944 when she was kidnapped and raped maliciously by six White men in Abbeville, Alabama.

The NAACP sent a young activist, Rosa Parks, to investigate this travesty. Like so many other crimes involving African-American victims in this era, this crime was never brought to trial.

After reporting the crime to local officials, Mrs. Taylor was intimidated to recant by vigilantes, but she did not. Even after an all-White, all-male jury dismissed the first case after 5 minutes of deliberation, Recy Taylor, with the help of Rosa Parks and the NAACP, continued to organize and form the Committee for Equal Justice for the Rights of Mrs. Recy Taylor.

This committee had 18 chapters across the Nation and included activists such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary Church Terrell, and Langston Hughes. The committee lobbied Alabama Governor Chauncey Sparks until he called for another investigation.

In the documentary, ``The Rape of Recy Taylor,'' Mrs. Taylor said: `` . . . they didn't try and do nothing about it. I can't help but tell the truth of what they done to me.''

Mrs. Taylor's acts of courage were one of the catalysts that led to the modern-day civil rights movement. She was also recently referenced by the famous and world-renowned Oprah Winfrey in her ``Time's Up'' speech and will forever be memorialized as a result.

Many of the members of the committee went on to plan and lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott as well.

Today, I posthumously honor this long-term Winter Haven resident in my district, Recy Taylor, for her act of courage and bravery, and for that I recognize you, Mrs. Taylor.

Honoring Desmond Meade

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Desmond Meade.

Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually be the current executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, chair of the Floridians for Fair Democracy, chair of the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and Black Men's Roundtable.

Desmond is a graduate of the Florida International University College of Law. As president of the FRRC, which is recognized for its work on felon disenfranchisement issues, Desmond led the citizen's initiative to allow Florida voters to decide to end the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with felony convictions, create a more human reentry system that will enhance successful reentry, reduce mass incarceration, and increase public safety by empowering those impacted by our criminal justice system.

Desmond spoke before national organizations, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Bread for the World, on the challenges of returning citizens as well.

Desmond recently orchestrated a historic meeting at the White House between returning citizens and the President's administration. He was recognized as a foot soldier on the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC.

Desmond recently successfully got a restoration of rights amendment onto the ballot which gives Floridians the right to vote to end this legacy of Jim Crow laws in the South that bar felons from restoring their rights after they have fulfilled their sentences and met their debt to society. We are one of only four States left with this terribly discriminatory law.

Desmond is married and also has five beautiful children, and for that, Mr. Meade, we honor you.

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

Mr. Speaker, first, I take a moment to acknowledge that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Signed into law February 5, 1993, FMLA established the right for many workers to take an unpaid leave from work for serious illness, adoption, or to care for newborns or family members.

Unfortunately, unpaid leave is still inaccessible for 63 percent of working Floridians because they are ineligible for the FMLA or cannot afford to take unpaid leave. This means 63 percent of Florida's families face an impossible choice: work or family responsibilities.

Failure to guarantee paid family leave not only hurts our economy, it hurts our families, and it is women who suffer most. In Florida, 79 percent of Black mothers, 56 percent of Latina mothers, and 53 percent of White mothers are key family breadwinners. Paid family leave means these mothers can stay in the labor force and care for their families' medical needs.

We must also think about our seniors, medical circumstances arising from military service, and those in need of support battling addiction. Paid leave not only supports American families, it boosts economic activity. We must expand FMLA to cover more workers for the next 25 years and beyond.

Honoring Black History Month

Mr. Speaker, I take a moment to reflect on the invaluable contributions of African Americans and what they have done throughout our Nation's history and for our community in central Florida.

We are incredibly blessed to stand on the shoulders of so many greats who have come before us. We give thanks to Dr. King, Rosa Parks, my colleague, the legendary Congressman John Lewis, to A. Philip Randolph, and so many others who have been critical heroes in this story, countless brave men and women whom we honor for demanding equality for all.

Today, I want to celebrate and honor the leaders in central Florida who have influenced and continue to make an impact throughout their day-to-day lives in our community. They are an inspirational group who remind us that America is made stronger and greater by the countless contributions of our African-American community.

Recognizing Richard Hall

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Mr. Richard Hall. Mr. Hall is one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, the country's first Black military aviators in the U.S. Air Force--back then, the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Born in Georgia, Hall moved to central Florida with his parents when he was 5 months old. A graduate of the Robert Hungerford Boarding School in Eatonville, Hall received a 4-year scholarship to Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He joined the Army Air Force Reserves and, in 1942, was sent to fight in World War II in France.

Mr. Hall was among the first African-American chief master sergeants after integration in 1949. He served his country for over three decades and completed tours on four continents, including the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as World War II.

In 2007, Mr. Hall, along with other Tuskegee Airmen, received the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush, and in central Florida, he was honored with a life-sized sculpture that sits outside of Hannibal Heritage Center in Winter Park.

Mr. Hall retired to Maitland in the 1980s and continues to call central Florida his home.

I was honored to be able to interview Mr. Hall last week for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, and it was an absolutely amazing story of a man from central Florida who traveled around the world defending our country and finally made it back home.

Recognizing Elizabeth Jones

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Elizabeth Jones. Mrs. Jones was born in 1942, in Savannah, Georgia. She made her career in military banking from Bank of America and retired with 29 years of experience in managing support for our soldiers in Germany.

Betty arrived in Orlando and started working for Presidential campaigns by volunteering on phone banks to get out the vote. She also worked for various candidates who were running for office by distributing campaign literature and helping the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee. As a member of the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee, she became the precinct representative for her community in Wedgefield.

In March 2016, Elizabeth joined the Orange County Democratic Hispanic Caucus and was elected to the executive board. She became a very active member within the Hispanic Caucus by registering new voters, being engaged in Orange County, and supporting various initiatives within the Hispanic community.

Elizabeth also volunteers for various organizations within her community, including Give Kids the World in Kissimmee, which cares for children with cancer; the VA hospital in Lake Nona that we are proud to have in our district to serve our veterans; and the Florida Baptist Mobile Dental Bus for communities that are disenfranchised and in need of free dental care. She has been volunteering for the mobile dentist bus with her husband for more than 5 years.

Ms. Jones, we honor you.

Recognizing Stewart Moore

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Stewart Moore. Stewart Moore coanchors WESH 2 News on CW 18 and has been an important voice for the central Florida community. He joined the WESH news team in August of 2011. He is originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Since arriving in central Florida, Stewart has made a tremendous impact on our local community. He volunteers at schools, sits on multiple community boards, and has moderated several townhall discussions on major issues in our community.

While at WESH, Stewart has won two Emmys and two Associated Press awards for his breaking news coverage of the Pulse nightclub shooting and as a member of the team that won an Edward R. Murrow Award for the same coverage. He has covered major stories, including the George Zimmerman trial, Pulse shooting, and the 2012 and 2016 Presidential elections.

Before joining WESH, Stewart worked as a morning anchor in South Carolina and WTXL in Tallahassee, Florida. At WTXL, he began reporting and anchoring while still in college at Florida State University. He majored in creative writing and minored in communications.

Stewart also interned at CNN in Atlanta.

In South Carolina, Stewart won a consumer reporting award for his profile of a South Carolina shrimper and covered the 2008 Presidential election.

A news junkie who keeps us all informed, Stewart is a vital voice and an exemplary member of our central Florida community.

Stewart, we honor you.

Recognizing Roxanne ``Roxsy'' Harvey

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Roxanne ``Roxsy'' Harvey. Roxanne Harvey is currently the president of the Democratic Women's Club of Osceola County. She is the senior pastor of the Real Love Christian Center, an international missionary, recording artist, and a prolific motivational speaker.

As president of the DWCOC, Roxanne has had the honor of uniting people of this great community by recruiting new members, mentoring, educating, empowering others, and uniting the Democratic Party through events and education.

Roxanne established Real Love International, where her overall vision is to help people discover and develop new skills that will enable them to move from poverty into abundant living, from helplessness to hopelessness, and from victims to victorious living through ministry, education, and motivation.

She developed programs such as Transformation Technology Station, a 6-week computer training program that assists and educates low-income and at-risk families in computer technology, and Diamonds in the Rough, a mentoring program to help at-risk teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age to help develop self-esteem, academic achievement, social and interpersonal skills, and a spiritual foundation.

As a result of this explosive dedication, she has held crusades, clinics, and fed the poor in various countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Honduras, in my family's native island of Puerto Rico in the United States, Jamaica, Uganda, Africa, and has led thousands of people to hope, purpose, destiny, and, most of all, God.

Wherever Roxanne goes, she exhorts and encourages people to arise to their divine calling and destiny.

Roxanne, we honor you.

Recognizing Shawn W. Kinsey

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Shawn W. Kinsey. Shawn Kinsey is a true example of a servant leader in the city of Winter Haven, Polk County, in the State of Florida.

He is the current chairman of the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee and is the incoming chair of the Democratic County Chairs Association. He has been the president of East Central Polk Democratic Club and of Polk County Democratic Black Caucus, as well as assistant secretary for the Florida State Conference of the NAACP and board member at large.

Moreover, Shawn is a member of the Winter Haven Public Education Partnership board of directors and the immediate past president of the Winter Haven branch of the NAACP.

Lastly, he was the past president for the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida and Polk County Executive Committee in which he was recognized as the Lawton Chiles Outstanding Democratic Man of the Year.

Shawn attended and graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic School in Winter Haven and Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland, Florida.

After graduating from high school, he attended Florida A&M University and the University of Phoenix, where he received respective degrees in business administration and health administration.

Shawn's consistent community involvement is clearly based upon his heartfelt commitment to contribute to the overall uplifting and engagement of all residents of Polk County in the State of Florida.

Shawn, we honor you.

Recognizing Rhetta Peoples

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I recognize Rhetta Peoples. Rhetta Peoples has been working in the community as a community activist, journalist, and volunteering to help get voters to the polls and beyond with a career spanning back to the 1990s in media.

As a volunteer, Rhetta helped candidates get and maintain direct access to voters in central Florida all along the I-4 corridor through grassroots marketing and the promotion of forums and townhalls. Rhetta also served as president of a thriving nonprofit organization, and she is a small-business owner.

She began studying media and marketing in high school and graduated from Florida A&M University, majoring in broadcast journalism. During college, she worked as a radio announcer in Tallahassee and with Cox Radio in Orlando.

Rhetta takes pride in being an award-winning journalist for the Black press because she says writing for Univision's The Root and an Orlando- based newspaper, the Florida Sun, unites her with the community.

Rhetta also studied the history of clinical trials in African Americans as a fellow at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and was awarded the outstanding reporter award for the Florida Public Health Association for excellence in communications and reporting in public health issues.

After working for Post-Newsweek, CBS, Cox Communications, and Comcast, Rhetta decided to start her own marketing and public relations firm.

Rhetta, we honor you.

Recognizing Dawn Chantel Curtis

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Dawn Chantel Curtis.

Dawn Curtis is a native of a small urban town called Franklinton, Louisiana. She has worked with the government sector for over 15 years. In conjunction with the government sector, she has also worked with nonprofit providers to help them build relationships in organizations within the community. Dawn has experience with assisting nonprofit committee boards in clarifying their organizational goals and identifying the leadership qualifications necessary to achieve those goals.

In addition to her professional experience with governmental and nonprofit agencies, Dawn is an active board member with a number of community organizations. She currently serves as the first vice president of the Orange County Democratic Black Caucus, treasurer for the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee, and secretary for the National Congress of Black Women.

Dawn is a member of the NAACP, where she serves as a member-at-large and is the chair of the Environmental Justice Committee. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Psi Theta Omega Chapter, where she serves as the co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Dawn received a bachelor of science degree from Florida State University and a master's degree in business administration and human resources from the University of Phoenix.

Dawn serves her community with great humanity and passion. She feels it is her moral obligation to give back to the community. Therefore, she has

dedicated her life to service and community activism.

Dawn, we honor you.

Recognizing Wanda Faye Howard

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Wanda Faye Howard.

Wanda Howard is a Lake Wales native. She became the first African- American female president of the Lake Wales branch of the NAACP. Prior to that, she was the former youth adviser of many years for the Lake Wales NAACP Youth Council.

Wanda has been a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Lakeland Alumnae Chapter since spring of 1998. At the regional level, she served on the regional committee in Tennessee and program planning and development at various regional and national conventions.

Wanda has been a school volunteer at two schools in Lake Wales, Florida. She was once a member of the League of Women Voters of Polk County and spent time volunteering at the Lake Wales Boys and Girls Club. She enjoys giving her time, talent, and resources to the Lake Wales NAACP ACT-SO and Back to School/Stay in School programs. Wanda is also a very active member of her church, the Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lake Wales, Florida.

Ms. Howard continues to visit with the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Wales, Florida, to talk with them about civil rights and Black history.

Wanda, we honor you.

Recognizing Dr. J.A. Wiltshire

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Dr. J.A. Wiltshire.

Dr. J.A. Wiltshire is the first African-American physician in Lake Wales. He was born in New Jersey and served in the Army Specialized Training Program from 1943 until 1946, reaching the rank of second lieutenant.

While serving in the Army, he earned his bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Tennessee and entered Meharry Medical College, graduating with honors in 1946. Dr. Wiltshire moved to Tallahassee to become the chief of staff at Florida A&M University's hospital in 1947. He moved to Lake Wales in 1948 and opened up his practice on B Street, later moving to another office on 1st Avenue.

Dr. Wiltshire delivered an amazing 2,500 babies in almost 50 years of practicing medicine in Lake Wales before retiring in 1995. His wife, Laura, said that he never turned away a patient and always stayed past office hours and made a lot of night house calls.

Dr. Wiltshire was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Post Number 213 of the American Legion; and the Imperial Twenty-Five Club, a Bartow social club; and many other organizations, as well as helping the community with housing and medical care.

In 1984, he received the Annual Medical Award from the Polk County Chapter of the United Negro College Fund. Dr. Wiltshire was chosen as Lake Wales Citizen of the Year in 1988. In 2004, a street in Lake Wales was named after him: Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue.

Dr. Wiltshire, we honor you.

National Debt

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a little bit about the national debt and what we see going into 2018.

It was reported this week that the U.S. Government is set to borrow over $1 trillion in 2018--approximately $955 billion--which is an 84 percent increase from 2017.

The Congressional Budget Office reports quite clearly: Tax receipts are going to be lower because of the new tax law.

This is increasing bond yields, which is directly related to the recent stockmarket decline of nearly 1,800 points that we have seen over the last 2 days of trading, because we see higher interest rates, the highest for bonds since 2014. As a result, we have been watching a precipitous decline--the largest in American history--by actual number of points.

President Trump's Department of the Treasury forecasts borrowing over $1 trillion in 2019 and over $1.1 trillion in 2020.

President Trump has described himself as the ``King of Debt,'' despite campaigning on reducing the national debt. What we worry about is that the tax plan will be mortgaging our future for today.

And guess who pays the bill?

Our children, who will have to repay a massive debt; our seniors, who could face cuts to Medicare and Social Security; and every American, due to a declining economy.

We must take this seriously. And $1 trillion being doubled the year before and going over $1 trillion next year, and $1.1 trillion the following year is not sustainable for our Nation. I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to fix this growing crushing debt before it is too late.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 52 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Castro for his great leadership on this issue.

I want to take a moment to talk about the story of Mariana Castro. Mariana is going to be interning for us this year, and she is an ambitious young DREAMer from Florida.

In 2005, Mariana left Lima, Peru, at the age of 10 with her mother, leaving her father and brothers behind for a safer life.

She was in the high school IB program. Not until the 10th grade did she realize that regardless of her excellent grades and involvement in hundreds of hours of community service, her undocumented status would be a hurdle to pursuing higher education.

A few months before graduation, DACA--Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals--was a miracle. She would now be able to provide for her family, drive, and no longer live in the shadows.

Mariana enrolled in the University of Florida, but faced severe financial difficulties due to her status. As her only way to higher education, she temporarily paused her education and fought for tuition equity in the State of Florida. I had the honor of having a role in that, having been in the Florida Senate at the time when we passed instate tuition along with a bill that I had that admitted DREAMers into The Florida Bar. This would spark her passion for social justice.

Throughout her time at UF, she utilized her voice to speak for immigrant rights and human rights by taking several leadership positions within Chispas, the only student-led immigrant advocacy organization at UF.

She has helped start programs that provide training for professional staff under student affairs about relevant immigration laws that affect students as well.

She has helped raise thousands of dollars for Out of the Shadows, a scholarship specifically for undocumented students in Florida that she oversaw for 3 years.

She spent a semester working for the Florida Senate and has also worked as a Know Your Rights trainer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, where she was able to educate the immigrant community about their rights in the United States through mobile consulates.

Due to her status, she is unable to qualify for loans and only qualifies to be eligible for a very limited amount of scholarships. Mariana has been paying for her education out of pocket, working 20 to 30 hours during school and 50-plus hours during school breaks.

Her only close relative in the States, her mother, has been undergoing difficult medical procedures, including treatment for human papillomavirus

and, most recently, severe glaucoma, making her unable to support her daughter.

After graduation, she hopes to attend law school to continue her fight for immigrant families across the Nation. But if the DACA program doesn't exist, if DREAMers aren't given their rights, then she will never be able to practice law under Florida law.

I am proud to announce that Mariana will be completing a congressional internship in my office this semester.

In Florida, we have 92,000 individuals who would be eligible for DACA, 92,000 DREAMers, and I have met so many of them. They are ambitious. They are attending college. They are starting small businesses. They are joining our military. They are the very best of what this Nation has to offer. Their struggles have shaped them. Their obstacles have made them better, sharper, and hungrier for it.

We need to encourage these new American DREAMers, much like so many generations before them, in fact, the generations of ancestors of so many who occupy the seats in this Chamber. The time for action is now.

We want to have a clean Dream Act. That is our priority. But at the very least, rather than talk about shutdowns, let's talk about solutions.

There is a bill in the Senate. It is not perfect. There are things in there that I really don't like at all and that I know a lot of the members on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus don't like--in the Graham bill, along with Senator Durbin--but it is a compromise and it is a start.

I challenge for them to put it on the floor, have a vote, and send it over to the House. And then I challenge Speaker Ryan to put this bill, whatever comes over from the Senate, on the floor. Let's put together amendments. Let's take the very best of our debate, of our ideas in this august Chamber, and let's put forward a product that deals with DREAMers, that deals with TPS, that deals with border security, and let's put it on the desk of the President. Let's dare the President not to sign something that could be the embodiment of a generational opportunity to resolve so many issues that are so important to both parties.

Mr. Speaker, let us not talk about shutdowns. Let us talk about solutions. I am honored to be here today with Congressman Castro to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for giving me that opportunity.

Florida has every color in the rainbow, every religion, every background. Where you have Mickey Mouse, you tend to have a lot of folks around the world who are familiar with Orlando. So we have Haitians who are DREAMers. We have Peruvians who are DREAMers. We have folks from Vietnam and from Laos who are DREAMers. We have folks from every continent other than Antarctica.

I want to make this point: the law makes all the difference in these statuses.

I am of Puerto Rican descent. My father was born on the island, so, therefore, he is a citizen by a statute. We have a large Puerto Rican population, where most of my constituents who are from the island are only citizens because of an act passed over 100 years ago.

We also have a huge amount of Cuban Americans. Because of wet foot, dry foot policy, and because they were escaping tyranny, they are citizens.

So a law makes all the difference, and we know that for a fact and we live it every day in Florida, and that is what these kids need. The law needs to be on their side because it is the right thing to do. A law makes all the difference in these families' stories and these kids' opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman again for giving me this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of an Orlando favorite son, a hero that we lost this past weekend, Astronaut John Young, who was inspirational and legendary to our community and who grew up in College Park in Orlando, Florida. Streets named after him span our district, as well as Congresswomen Murphy's and Demings' districts in central Florida.

He was described by our local paper as a ``country boy who grew up in Orlando, Florida, back when it was mostly farmland.'' He even got in trouble for smuggling a corned beef sandwich into space on Gemini 3.

He was mostly known for his coolheadedness and calm demeanor as he took numerous trips into space with NASA. Some of the flags and mission patches he flew into space are on display in our Orlando Science Center. In central Florida, we are proud to have the John Young Parkway bear his name. He died on January 5, this past Friday, at his home in Houston.

Mr. Young was NASA's longest-serving astronaut. He was the first person to orbit the Moon by himself and the ninth person to walk on the Moon as well. He was the first person to travel to space six times during NASA's Gemini and Apollo lunar missions, and into the space shuttle programs as well.

John Young commanded the first space shuttle flight mission, an iconic view that so many central Floridians and so many Americans have seen over the years during that program. He was awarded the prestigious Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1981. He represents the very best of the Orlando area.

Rest in peace, Astronaut John Young.

Mr. Speaker, over 250,000 of my fellow Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria. The tax bill on top of that absolutely is going to decimate the manufacturing sector there, which is going to only hasten further of my brothers and sisters to my home State, the great State of Florida.

We have done our best as a host State to ease school enrollment for our young people, to have instate tuition for our college students coming here from the island. Our hospitals are doing their best to meet the challenge, and many are getting jobs, although not as high paying as we would like.

We also are putting bills forward to speed up Medicaid qualification and expand Section 8 housing. But, most critically, Florida faces a housing crisis of epic proportions.

On January 15, the FEMA hotel vouchers expire. This must be extended for another 6 months. In addition, we are leading a bipartisan effort in Florida to directly seek approval of FEMA direct lease vouchers so that people can have a place to stay.

I am appointing a bipartisan Federal task force on Puerto Rican arrivals in central Florida to help in this very good work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill, H.R. 4042. I would like to thank the gentleman from Montana and my colleague, the gentlewoman from Orlando, Florida, for their kind and historic words.

This bill would name the United States Post Office at 1415 West Oak Street in Kissimmee, Florida, after the 65th Infantry, also known as the Borinqueneers, named after the indigenous Taino word for Puerto Rico, ``Borinquen,'' which means, ``the land of the brave Lord,'' where the name of the Borinqueneers was derived from.

This was a segregated unit, one of only a few that we have in history, much like the heralded Tuskegee Airmen, and they fought for our country bravely even while facing discrimination and segregation. They quickly gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the 3rd Infantry's most reliable units.

Their bravery inspired General Douglas MacArthur, then the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, to write: ``The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations which the Americans of the continent and Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism in battle, and I am indeed proud to have to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them.''

I had the opportunity a couple of months ago to go to the demilitarized zone in Korea, and I thought, as I saw those hills and those mountains that were filled with trees and with forests again, about the stark difference that some of my constituents, whom I have gotten to speak with personally, saw there in Korea. There was nothing left but muddy, cold hills, freezing temperatures. These folks, who lived their whole lives on an island in the Caribbean, were surrounded by both the Chinese and Korean Armies. And to talk with some of our local veterans like Luis Pastrana and Lou Boria--who actually lives in Congresswoman Demings' district in Apopka--about how different what they faced that day is compared to the semi-serene DMZ now. Obviously, we face other threats there. It reminded me of just how far they had gone and what they did, literally crossing the globe to make sure that our country was safe.

As the gentleman from Montana and the gentlewoman from Florida mentioned, we ultimately recognized that valor and the fact that they fought so bravely, even in the face of discrimination, on June 10, 2014--the Congressional Gold Medal, becoming the second Hispanic set of Americans here after Roberto Clemente received this award. Many folks who were born and raised on th island and served in Korea, in World War II, and ultimately in Vietnam after the unit was desegregated, now live in Kissimmee, Florida, and in central Florida, and are represented by many of us, including Congresswoman Demings.

This is a very important place to recognize a group of heroes who defied expectations and really cemented a legacy of heroism that all Americans can be proud of. I want to thank the members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for passing this bill favorably with unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to provide every American with a plot summary of the GOP tax scam.

Step one: cut taxes for powerful billionaires and millionaires.

Step two: grow a giant, $2.5 trillion debt.

Part of that is to also grow the deficit so we can get to step three: use that to justify cuts to Medicare and Social Security for our seniors.

Our ability to protect our environment for the future, education, infrastructure, research and development, homeland security, and our military all will see cuts if this goes through.

If you are worried about income inequality, this puts that disparity on steroids by charging the credit card and getting rid of popular deductions to boot, and it will ship jobs overseas by lowering the abroad tax rate.

But don't take my word for it. While Main Street continues to suffer, Wall Street is throwing a party with record stock increases today.

It is time to take a stand against the GOP tax scam.

Mr. Speaker, in 2010, Tea Party Republicans were swept into office on a passionate plea to eliminate the deficit, to reduce the national debt, and to not pass on a great fiscal burden to our children.

Upon election, they boldly formed the Freedom Caucus, the fiscal watchdogs of the House. At the time, the national debt, in 2010, was $13 trillion, and many were deeply concerned about our Nation's fiscal situation, and they made a promise to do everything in their power to rein in wasteful spending and to get government's fiscal House in order.

Now here we are in 2017, after nearly 7 years of a Republican- controlled Congress, and the debt is over $20 trillion. That is 7 years of a Republican-controlled Congress and $7 trillion in additional debt.

Now we have a tax giveaway of an additional $2.5 trillion to pass on to our children. I ask all the so-called fiscal conservatives in this Chamber, all the so-called Freedom Caucus members, where is your big talk about the debt now? Is your desire to claim a victory worth betraying your deepest principles forever?

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and privilege to recognize the life of fallen Kissimmee Police Officer Matthew Baxter, who passed away August 18, 2017. Matthew and his supervisor, Sergeant Sam Howard, were fatally wounded while responding to a shots-fired call in the northern area of Kissimmee. Both officers sacrificed their lives in the line of duty protecting a woman, whose own statement said, ``without question,'' the two men were responsible for saving her life.

Matthew lived and served honorably, proving that no matter where you come from or where you are going, you can make a difference. Matthew was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout his youth Matthew demonstrated his energetic personality and desire to be a role model in the community through his participation in athletics like basketball, football, and wrestling. His motto was ``pursue the dreams closest to the heart and never giving up,'' led to his graduation from Jefferson High School in 2009, graduation from Valencia College with a degree in Criminal Justice, and his pursuit of a graduate program at Eastern Florida State College.

Matthew joined the police academy to give back and help his community. Through his participation in programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and through his role as a police officer, Matthew was able to mentor youth. Instilling in them his dedication to pursue a path of helping those around them for the betterment of the community.

Matthew's message of love, encouragement, strength, and community live on in every one of the people he touched in the community and with his family; which includes his wife, Sadia Baxter, and his four daughters Sariah, Isabella, Zarah, and Sofia. For those who put the wellbeing of others before their own, they will never be forgotten.