Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I am one of the newest Members, and I have to tell you it is amusing to find the paradox on the other side of the aisle that, yesterday, we were being criticized for not considering a bill. Today, we are being criticized for considering a bill.

I sat in my office, just like many others today, and watched the President of the United States attempt to admonish the House for working. I want to make something very clear to the American people tonight. The President's plan for the crisis on the border was rejected not just by this body, but by the Senate.

There is not a majority in the Senate or in the House willing to consider and approve the President's plan for the crisis on the border. That plan is dead on arrival, with a majority in the Senate controlled by his own party and a majority in this House, and so the Senate brought up its bill, and it was rejected.

The Senate, controlled by the President's party, left town. This House, this body, this Congress, this caucus, is working.

I am new to this body, and I find it fascinating that the media and the pundits and the consultants can take a set of facts and suggest that, because we are working together, somehow we are dysfunctional.

That is an absurdity. We are working. What is dysfunctional is the other side of this Capitol. What is dysfunctional is the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue. This body is working.

We are sitting here complaining on both sides of the aisle--some in my own caucus--about what is not in this bill, but the fact is what is in this bill is the right solution. This is a good bill, and I would say to the folks on my side of the aisle, I know a lot of folks have concerns about this.

For conservatives, this is the bill we have been asking for, for years. This is a responsible, commonsense approach that says if you come here illegally, you will be returned into the responsible and caring hands of your government, and frankly, let's put in the hands of everybody a packet that says how to immigrate here legally.

We are a loving and caring Nation, and we are better for that, but we are also a Nation of laws. This bill says enforce the law. It is accountability. That is all it is.

Where the President has proposed nearly $4 billion, this body has proposed less than $700 million, fully offset by cuts to other Federal programs. This is a conservative bill. It pays for itself. It is about enforcement. It is about accountability.

Lastly, I will say this as a new Member of this body. I admit my naivete. I am a Pollyanna. I actually believe this body can work. I believe what is good and right about this body. I believe we can work.

Let me tell you why we ended up here today and we didn't get a bill done yesterday is because we have Rs and Ds next to our names. If we drop the Rs and Ds, we had enough votes last night to pass this bill. We know it on both sides of the aisle.

This is a commonsense bill that addresses the priorities of the American people, and if we were here yesterday not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Members of Congress that know what is right for the future of this country, we could have passed this bill yesterday.

So instead of complaining yesterday that we didn't pass a bill and complaining today that we are here working on a Friday night to pass a bill, we can keep it honest, drop the partisanship, and pass what the American people expect, which is responsibility and accountability and commonsense solutions. That is why we are here tonight.

I think we need to pass this bill. I think every Member of Congress should pass this bill. This is a good bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce to my colleagues and to this House our guest chaplain for the day, Pastor Jeff Parish.

Pastor Jeff serves as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Florida. Pastor Jeff first entered the ministry in 1986, sharing with others the message of Christian salvation and of the redeeming love and grace of the God in whom we put our trust, and counseling fellow believers along their personal faith journey.

Pastor Jeff is joined in his ministry by his wife, Martha, and by the congregation and community of believers at First Baptist Indian Rocks, a church family that, for 50 years, has shared its message of faith with the Pinellas County community but also in remote lands around the globe.

I welcome Pastor Jeff today, and I thank him personally for the ministry he leads every day that has had an impact on the life of this Member but, likewise, on many thousands of others he has touched during his career of service to our loving God.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4450, legislation to reauthorize the public-private program that is often known as Brand USA. This is a bill that was passed unanimously by the subcommittee and by voice vote through the full committee. I understand questions have been raised today, so let's address some very specific, important components of this legislation.

First, in 1981, Ronald Reagan signed the National Tourism Policy Act to promote the United States as a destination for international tourism, to expand our economy, and to grow jobs here in the United States. In 2009, this body passed the Travel Promotion Act.

Second, this is an activity that extends across State lines bringing this bill, this legislation, within the article I Commerce Clause authority of this body, the constitutional authority of this body.

Third, no Federal taxpayer dollars are used to fund Brand USA. It is funded by industry contributions and by international visitors. The United States is the only major destination that does not fund its promotion programs through taxpayer dollars. It is through private contributions of industry matched by international traveler fees.

There is a cap on the program, the amount of funds it can expend from those fees collected from international visitors; and when the funds exceed that cap, that money is returned to the Treasury for deficit reduction. In FY13,

that was $27 million in deficit reduction to benefit the taxpayers. This bill was recently scored, and over the next 10 years, this would reduce the deficit, contribute to the Treasury $231 million not from taxpayers but from international travelers.

This bill rightly is supported by associations and organizations across the country, from hotel and lodging, including those in Florida, from business travel to cruise lines to amusement parks, shopping malls, restaurants, convention and visitors' bureaus, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and in my home State, by the organization Visit Florida. And rightly so.

Let's revisit why. There is no cost to the Federal Government by this program. There is no cost to the U.S. taxpayer for this program. This program reduces the Federal deficit, and it fosters economic growth in communities across the country, in each and every one of our congressional districts that we are sent here to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the discussion that is being had on this bill, but I ask my colleagues, let's not stand in our own way when it comes to sensible, good legislation that we can pass to promote the economy across the country and in the communities that we represent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, respectfully, to this motion not because anybody here opposes expanded access to care. I believe we all do. But I oppose it today because it interferes, I believe, with the urgency of getting a clean bill out of conference.

Mr. Speaker, the chairman has done great work. There are bills over there that the Senate could approve tomorrow. But if we encumber our conferees and we encumber this conference committee any more, we risk delaying final passage of a bill that is intended to get health care to the veterans now to clear the wait list now. That is the urgency.

We all have ideas for long-term reforms. This Member has his own ideas for long-term reform. We have to work those through the process. I believe we should consider giving every veteran a Choice Card and let them choose where they want to go. I believe we should consider competitively awarding management contracts for many of our VA health care facilities so that veterans who want to stay in the VA health care system can do so but can rely on more efficient and more responsible management. I think we should consider streamlining DOD health with TRICARE, with the VA, and look for efficiencies there.

But those are all matters for another day, for another committee hearing, for another bill, and for another piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we should not encumber our conferees any more than they already are in having to negotiate with the Senate. The fact is the Senate bill is encumbered with labor provisions and directed projects, and these labor provisions and these directed projects do absolutely nothing--nothing--to get the veterans off the wait list now.

Let's have the conferees agree to what we can agree to, which is, if you live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility, then give them immediate access to private care. If they are on a wait list, give them immediate access to private care. We can pass those now. The conferees can agree to that.

And here is the absolute absurdity to all of this. I am a new Member with a new perspective. I understand how this body works. But we have 2 to 3 weeks left before we go back to our districts for August recess. We have a President who, every single day, demands that this Congress provide funding for expanded health care to those who are coming here illegally right now. We cannot honestly have a dialogue and suggest that we need to immediately fund health care for those who are coming here illegally if we have a VA bill that is stuck in a conference committee and is encumbered by unnecessary provisions.

We should demand that our veterans receive the health care services that they deserve before we begin to have a conversation with the President about how we ever expand health care services to those who come here illegally.

So I appreciate my colleagues' concern for expanded care, and I agree with that. There is a bill that has been passed and is sitting in the Senate. The Senate should pick it up and pass it. But encumbering the conferees is not the right way to do this. Frankly, it complicates the process and delays the process. We need a VA reform bill back here from conference committee as quickly as possible to ensure that our veterans receive the health care that, frankly, this House supported with 390 votes when this bill passed. This is not a controversial measure.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's work on this, and I know that the chairman has the same dedication that my colleague does to expanded care. We will continue to work these issues. But the immediate need is to expand health care choices for our veterans today, and as I mentioned, before we ever begin to talk to the President about expanding health care for those who come here illegally.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 2014.

Madam Chairwoman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairwoman, I rise for the purpose of entering into a colloquy with Chairman Wolf, someone I have great respect for, and I compliment him on a bill that he has prepared, along with the ranking member.

I prepared an amendment at the desk this evening that would reduce $8 million from the Census Bureau and instead move that money to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's operations, research and facilities account for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations--essentially, NOAA marine research.

I appreciate the chairman's comments about continuing to slice at the Census Bureau account, and for that reason, I rise for purposes of a colloquy.

I understand the bill includes $175 million to operate and maintain NOAA's ships. While I would have liked to see that number increase, I understand it does match the President's budget, and in fact represents an increase of over $5 million above the enacted level from last year for purposes of funding additional days at sea.

NOAA marine research is critical for a number of reasons. I represent a gulf coast district. Many Members of this House do. One of the purposes of NOAA marine research and one of the benefits that we see from it is more and better stock assessments when it comes to fisheries.

We need to do better as a Nation in our stock assessments and how we study fisheries. We need to have additional study and research into the survivability of juvenile stocks. We need to have better research into invasive species and how that leads to closures. Perhaps the best way we could ever address closures is with additional research into studying the survivability of juvenile stocks.

NOAA marine research also advances our interest in water quality. It educates us and provides additional research for Federal agencies when it comes to emergency situations like oil spills; red tide plumes, which are critical in the gulf; as well as responding to the stranding of endangered marine mammals.

NOAA marine research also, ultimately, improves the economy for areas along the gulf and other areas in the Nation. It affects the quantity of fish that we are able to produce for our food supply, but it also addresses quality of life for communities like mine in Pinellas County. It also assists the economic development of regional economies that depend on a robust fish stock.

The increase that I would have proposed tonight was in an effort to help NOAA better fulfill this research mission as something I believe we need to continue to put an emphasis on. I thank the chairman for his commitment thus far already in the chairman's mark in the bill we are considering today when it comes to NOAA marine fisheries and marine research, but I would simply ask the chairman to consider continuing this commitment as this process winds its way. As you get to conference, if there is an opportunity to identify additional resources, I certainly would appreciate the chairman and the ranking member's consideration.

I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment Offered by Mr. Nugent

Offered By: Mr. Jolly

Amendment No. 17: Page 7, line 17, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $8,000,000)''.

Page 13, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $8,000,000)''.

Page 14, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $8,000,000)''.

Page 14, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $8,000,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest condolences--and those of Florida's 13th Congressional District--to the family, friends, and fellow police officers of Mr. Douglas H. Carey, who tragically lost his life earlier this week.

Officer Carey began his service with the Clearwater Police Department as a patrolman on December 9, 1968. For nearly two decades, he assisted the people of Clearwater as a patrolman, a field training officer, and eventually as a detective. But his retirement from police work in 1987 was hardly the end of service.

Following his retirement, Officer Carey served on the security staff of Morton Plant Hospital. In 2010, he rejoined his brothers and sisters within the police department as a school crossing guard.

Officer Carey lost his life while doing what he loved and what he did best: protecting and serving his community. He was 70 years old.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to honor the life and service today of Officer Carey, who is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Jean; his son, Brian; his daughter, Toni; and his young grandson, Dylan.

Officer Carey will be greatly missed, but his spirit lives on through the many, many lives he has touched in our community of Pinellas County, Florida.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation, but also out of great concern for the shocking developments that we have learned of within the VA health care system. Perhaps more importantly today, after hearing the President's press conference, I rise out of concern over the complete failure of our President to address this issue.

The VA health care system is experiencing an historic crisis; yet, today, the President's solution seems to be business as usual bureaucracy. The President has done nothing to ensure that we, as a Nation, immediately address the systemic problems within the VA system or to address the threat to human life that has been created by incidents of bureaucratic incompetence.

Earlier today, the President spoke rhetorically about unacceptable wait times for veterans, but he did nothing to address the American people's wait time for this administration to solve this problem now. It has been 23 days, and there is no sense of urgency.

What we heard today was of more bureaucracy, more investigations, more studying of the issue, and ultimately, a continuation of business as usual until the President and his Secretary determine in due time when they will act.

He spoke of holding personnel accountable, but he never once spoke of terminating personnel. That is why I rise today to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, a resolution necessitated today by a crisis in trust, a crisis in trust between this Congress and this administration.

This body has the article I constitutional authority to provide oversight over the administration, an authority that has been repeatedly ignored by this administration, and ignored with an audacity rarely seen in modern politics. Today, with this resolution, we confront that audacity.

Here are the facts. We have a President that rules by pen and a phone. We have an Attorney General that selectively enforces laws when he wishes to and in which States he wishes to. We have a Veterans Affairs administration that is withholding documents about the death of veterans.

We have agencies that legislate by regulation, and we have an Internal Revenue Service that has targeted organizations and refuses to testify about it. So is it any surprise that, last week, additional information comes to light about Benghazi? No, it is not.

This administration has kept information from this Congress, and they have refused to recognize the gravity of this obstructionism. They have done so in the context of a loss of American lives and a loss of life that is personal for a family in my district. That family deserves answers.

Yes, we have a crisis in trust between this Congress and this administration, but this is not political theater. This has not been brought upon this House by this side of the aisle. It has been brought upon this house by the stonewalling of the administration.

It is a rightful execution and a proper execution of the article I oversight authority of this Congress. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American hero, a quiet legend in the special operations community and in military medicine, Master Chief Petty Officer Gary ``Doc'' Welt.

Doc Welt passed away on April 8 due to complications of ALS. He passed away in Seminole, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was only 55 years old. He dedicated his life to service--service to his country, to his family, to those in the ALS community, and service to his brotherhood of special operators.

He joined the Navy in 1976, becoming a Navy SEAL in 1980, proudly serving on SEAL Teams 2, 4, and 8. He also served instructor tours at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and the Naval Special Warfare Center. After retiring in 2006 as a USSOCOM senior enlisted medical adviser, Doc continued to serve as a contract specialist, conducting counterterrorism and counter-piracy operations until 2012.

Doc is survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Brenda Ann Thompson Welt; his son, Robert; his daughters, Crystal Lynn Elliott and Sabrina Audell Ranford; his brothers, Robert Welt and Donald Wolford; as well as his four grandchildren, Lillian, Meadow, Andon, and Michael.

Mr. Speaker, two communities gathered at MacDill Air Force Base last week. One was the community of Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area, who knew and loved Doc. The second community was the special operations community, who loved Doc. It was a fitting tribute to a great man.

Today, we honor his life, his legacy, and his service. We pledge and commit to carry on the fight that Doc fought against ALS. We commit to not quitting until that fight is won.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to a great man from Seminole, Florida, who had an impact across this world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of critical importance to my community, to Florida's 13th Congressional District of Pinellas County, Florida, but also to coastal communities around the country--the issue of beach renourishment.

There is an urgency that I want to express today on behalf of communities like Treasure Island, Florida. The Federal Government has invested in beach renourishment for the past 50 years, and it has done so alongside State and local municipalities and State and local governments, who have also made a priority in investing in beach renourishment.

This year alone, State and local governments will likely invest nearly $100 million in beach renourishment projects, and it is for good reason. Beach renourishment addresses a very critical issue of pre- storm mitigation, it protects communities from flooding, it protects communities from losses to property, from losses to critical infrastructure, and it ultimately reduces disaster assistance when such assistance is needed.

Beach renourishment also protects our environment, it protects against damage to habitats critical to environments, it encourages stronger environments, cleaner environments; and, perhaps most importantly, beach renourishment programs invested in by State and local governments and our Federal Government contribute to jobs and economic growth in communities across the country.

We have industries that exist in communities in my district, like Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, and in communities across the country whose jobs and economic growth and local economy rely on international visitors and visitors from around the country.

In Florida alone, we will more than double visits to our beaches as compared to visits to all U.S. national parks combined. It takes jobs and employees to support those visitors, and it is critical to our local economy that we continue the investment in beach renourishment projects.

So I rise today with a sense of urgency. When this House, this body, considered the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, it passed a responsible bill, but one that did not include continued authorization for important beach renourishment projects. That legislation is now in conference, and I am here today to ask my colleagues that we not let this provision slip by. We must reauthorize these programs.

So I would urge the conferees on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act to strongly consider bringing back language that reauthorizes programs, or at least allows for the reauthorization of programs, that are soon to expire. I ask my colleagues to be receptive to that language should it come back.

I would like to thank today my chairman on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for allowing me to work with him in the very few weeks that I have been here on this issue that is of critical importance to my district, but also to districts around the country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you and my new colleagues. Ms. Ros- Lehtinen and Ms. Brown, thank you very much. To the people of Florida's 13th Congressional District, I want to say thank you today for giving me a remarkable life opportunity, the opportunity to serve.

For my new colleagues, I simply want you to know two things about this new Member. First, I believe in this institution, the people's House. I believe in all that is good and right about this institution, the opportunity that this institution has to make our Nation better, to direct our Nation down the right path, to solve problems for all of us, and to secure for every American the sacred blessings of liberty.

The second thing I would like you to know about this new Congressman is I believe in civility. I had a wonderful opportunity to work for a man with whom you each served, and he left an indelible legacy in this House--one of civility. We are all elected to fight for our communities and to fight for our constituents. We are elected to fight for our convictions, for the causes we believe in, but it is a fight for the future of our country; it is not a fight against each other, and I know that.

We have had a nationally watched race. That race is over, and now it is time for me as a Member of Congress of this body to join with each of you to follow in the footsteps you have made in serving your community as I begin to serve mine.

You have my commitment today to work with each and every one of you. I look forward to it. I look forward to working with each and every one of you, and I would like to say thank you one more time to my friends and neighbors and my community, Florida's 13th Congressional District, that has given me this honor today. God bless each and every one of you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this moment.