Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, I was unavoidably absent due to a spousal medical emergency. On rollcall vote No. 355, on H. Res. 641, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 356, on H. Res. 641, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 357, on H.R. 6, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 358, on H.R. 6, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 359, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

On Thursday, June 26, 2014, I was unavoidably absent due to a spousal medical emergency. On rollcall vote No. 360, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 361, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 362, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 363, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 364, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 365, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 366, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 367, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 368, on H.R. 4899, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Michael Murphy, and offer my condolences to his family and friends in light of his passing.

In his time as Grays Harbor County Commissioner and his years at the Washington State Auditor's Office he worked tirelessly for the community and local governments. His voice and support will be greatly missed.

Murphy graduated from Central Washington University and began his public service as a Radarman in the U.S. Navy. After his service he came to Washington, DC, and worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Don Bonker.

In 1977, he was elected to the Grays Harbor County Commission where he served for 11 years. During his tenure he worked to establish Vance Creek Park, the Grays Harbor County Fairground Pavilion, and helped preserve Grays Harbor's public forests. Under his leadership Grays Harbor became the only county in the state to manage its own tax-title timberlands, rather than grant that authority to the state.

After his time as a county commissioner, Murphy joined the Washington State Auditor's Office in 1996, and as Local Government Liaison worked closely with local governments who trusted him as a result of his excellent reputation and his intimate knowledge with the challenges of local government.

Murphy was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman, and a dedicated public servant. He had a passion for his work, for the people he served, and for the Pacific Northwest. He served for a time as Chairman of the State Liquor Control Board, and helped found what would become Venture Bank. As President of the Washington State Association of Counties he also advocated on behalf of local governments at the state legislature.

Mr. Speaker, Washington State and our nation owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Murphy for his dedication to serving the needs of those he worked for while helping local governments remain effective and efficient. His work and his experience left Washington better able to provide for its citizens. I am pleased to recognize his service to the community and honor his legacy today in the United States Congress.

Offered By: Mr. Kilmer

Amendment No. 17: Page 28, line 14, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $59,658,000)''.

Page 29, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $59,658,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ocosta High School in Westport, Washington for receiving the 2014 American Forest & Paper Association's School Recycling Award for Partnerships.

These partnership awards, offered by the AFPA, seek to recognize and promote new and innovative programs that increase the amount of paper recovered for recycling. Ocosta High School established a paper recycling program in 1992 when the nearby Port of Grays Harbor recycling program closed down. Since then, Ocosta High School's recycling program has evolved into a district-wide program, working not only with students at all grade levels, but local businesses and the community as a whole.

Ocosta High School also operates a baling machine which allows them to track the success of the program and compare amounts of paper recovered with past records. In 2013, over two decades since beginning the program, Ocosta High School recovered 24 tons of paper and paper- based products.

Programs such as Ocosta High School's recycling program are an essential component of our work for developing and expanding renewable resources. The commitment we share will ensure sustainability for future generations.

In receiving this special recognition, I am confident that Ocosta High School will inspire other schools to create new and innovative programs that will increase the amount of paper and paper-based packaging recovered for recycling. The high school's work for sustainability and environmental awareness has had a substantial benefit to our region and to the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by sending my best wishes for the school's continued success, and again applauding Ocosta High School's students and faculty on receiving the 2014 American Forest & Paper Association's School Recycling Award for Partnerships. I am proud to recognize their dedication to environmental stewardship and to their community, today, in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the city of Westport, WA, which is celebrating its 100th year as a city on June 26, 2014. This historic fishing community located on the beautiful coast of Washington State serves as a gateway to Grays Harbor and the majestic Olympic Mountains.

The city of Westport has a rich history. The coastal community and region is the ancestral home of several local Native American tribes who remain vibrant today. In the summer of 1857, Thomas Barker Speake and his family settled in what would eventually become the city known as Westport.

Among the earliest structures built, the Westport Lighthouse was dedicated on April 14, 1898, and still stands as a beacon for weary mariners anxious to return home from sea.

By 1914, Westport was a busy, though small, center for fishing, shellfish harvesting, seafood processing, and tourism. This history has given Westport a strong connection to its environment and natural resources. Today, with a population of over 2,000 citizens, Westport continues to rely on these resources for much of its livelihood.

Westport's centennial celebration demonstrates the vitality and continued excellence of the city's maritime and fishing heritage. I have seen firsthand some of the businesses that keep Westport moving forward, such as Ocean Gold Seafood and Westport Shipyards. I have enjoyed the extraordinary sense of community that happens during the annual Blessing of the Fleet.

The Founders Day celebrations will help ring in the 100th anniversary of the beloved City of Westport. I am proud to join Mayor Michael Bruce in his efforts to commemorate this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by again congratulating the City of Westport on their first centennial celebration. I am pleased today to recognize in the United States Congress the city's contribution to my home state's history and to a stronger nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor the sailors of the USS Pennsylvania's gold crew for completing a 140-day patrol.

This is the longest strategic deterrence patrol ever in an Ohio class submarine and the longest of any kind since the 1970s.

The servicemembers of the Pennsylvania ought to be proud of their accomplishments. They have done an extraordinary job of demonstrating the resilience of our sailors and the capability of our platforms.

We must also thank and pay tribute to the families of those servicemembers who went without their loved ones for more than one- third of a year.

President Kennedy once said:

Control of the seas means security, control of the seas

means peace, and control of the seas means victory.

The Pacific Northwest is proud--this country is proud--of the accomplishments and sacrifices of our sailors and their families. We are thankful for what you do for our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of Gig Harbor, Washington's Chief of Police, Mike Davis, for his many years of public service to our community.

Chief Davis's career is evidence of his commitment to serving the community. Davis joined the Kitsap County Sheriff's Department nearly 30 years ago on July 1, 1984. During his time in Kitsap County, he served as a corporal, sergeant, undersheriff, and sheriff.

Serving as Gig Harbor's Police Chief since 2004, Davis has been an invaluable resource to our community and has dedicated himself to ensuring the safety of all residents. Under his tenure, Davis has helped the department upgrade and streamline vital technology, has maintained the department's response time of less than four minutes, and has bridged the gap with the community by encouraging the department's customer-service directed model. With his upcoming retirement, he succeeds in being the longest-serving police chief in the city of Gig Harbor's history.

Davis has gone above and beyond to make our community a better place. In his work as a D.A.R.E. officer in the Kitsap County Sheriff's department, he worked to prevent drug abuse among the area's youth. As Police Chief of the Gig Harbor Police Department, Davis established the Jaycox Police Benevolent Fund. In addition to helping Project Safe Harbor and the department's Citizens Offering Police Support program, the Jaycox Fund provides scholarships to high school seniors who strive to work in criminal justice one day.

Davis has dedicated himself to serving his community, and as someone who lives in that community and who is raising two little girls, I'm enormously grateful for that. He will retire on June 30, 2014, after protecting our region for exactly 30 years. Despite his retirement, Davis's work will remain an inspiration in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by again applauding Davis for his dedication to serving the people of Kitsap County and Gig Harbor. He is an extraordinary first responder and a great American. I am honored to recognize his service today in the United States Congress.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my concern about the need for fully supporting Native American housing programs.

I recognize that my colleagues faced a number of difficult choices when crafting this bill, and I specifically want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their work in fully funding the President's request for Native American Housing Block Grants at $650 million. I am pleased to stand here today along with such strong advocates for Indian housing programs, and I am grateful for the leadership that each of the speakers today has shown.

I do share my colleagues' concerns over the adequate funding for our Native Hawaiian housing needs, and I am hopeful that, as this legislation moves forward, Congress can work to address this need as well as to resolve some serious issues with other parts of the bill.

Now, as the members of this committee well know, the challenges facing adequate housing for Indian Country are profound. The district that I represent is home to nine tribes. I have seen firsthand what a difference these housing programs make to individual families and to their communities, and the statistics bear out just how substantial the need is here.

In 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that more than 25 percent of Indian housing units lack basic facilities, are overcrowded, or cost more than 50 percent of residents' incomes. There is a need today for 200,000 more housing units in Indian Country. That is why I am hoping that this body will soon hold a hearing on the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act, or NAHASDA.

I know that there has been bipartisan work both in the House and in the Senate on identifying ways to increase the effectiveness of these programs and to reduce duplicative bureaucratic requirements; but there is another element of NAHASDA that I think is absolutely important not only to Indian Country but also to those who have worn the uniform in service to our country. That element is homelessness among our tribal veterans.

In December 2012, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness found that, while Native Americans make up 0.7 percent of the total population of veterans, they represent 2\1/2\ percent of veterans experiencing homelessness. In other words, homelessness disproportionately affects our tribal veterans.

Unfortunately, as I stand here today, we don't have the tools we need to help fight homelessness among our tribal veterans. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, which has made real and significant progress in tackling veterans' homelessness, does not have the authorities and flexibilities to provide support to the native veterans who are facing homelessness.

That is why I was pleased to join with Representative Cole--a true champion for Indian Country--in introducing H.R. 3418, the Housing Native Heroes Act. Our legislation doesn't cost any new money, but it would, instead, authorize existing funds to support a demonstration project that would allow tribes to manage this voucher program directly. In both the House and the Senate, the proposed reauthorization bills advance this proposal, making critical progress in the fight to reduce homelessness among tribal veterans.

We have an obligation--a trust obligation--to our tribes but also a sacred obligation to all of our veterans, which is to take care of them when they return home. We simply cannot turn a blind eye to the needs of our native veterans. If this Chamber can make progress in advancing the NAHASDA reauthorization, I am confident that we can end this anomaly that leaves our tribal veterans without the support they need.

I would like to conclude by noting that the underlying bill before us today provides $75 million for the HUD-VASH program, which is in line with the President's budget request.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their continued support for this program.

I ask, as this committee continues its work of combating homelessness among our veterans, that the challenges facing our tribal veterans not be forgotten.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment Offered by Mr. Denham

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Linda Joyce for her many years of public service to our community. As the Executive Director for the YWCA of Kitsap County for 20 years, Ms. Joyce has expanded the organization to better serve the needs of the community and has been an unyielding advocate for social justice.

Ms. Joyce's career path is a testament of her lifelong passion and commitment to serving the public. After receiving a degree in sociology, Ms. Joyce served as a social worker assisting families, children, and seniors. Later, her career path led her to work one-on- one with domestic violence survivors at a local shelter--a role that defined her mission in life and initiated her career at the YWCA.

One does not have to search long to find the positive results of Ms. Joyce's tireless work. Her leadership was instrumental in a three-phase renovation of the YWCA ALIVE Shelter and expanding and relocating the YWCA Community Center. Furthermore, Ms. Joyce has advanced community dialogue and awareness through the creation of public events such as Week without Violence, ArtsAlive, and the Women of Achievement Recognition Luncheon, where she herself was recently recognized.

The impact that these programs have had, and continue to have, is immeasurable and profoundly significant. Today, the YWCA of Kitsap County has broadened the local safety net and is accessed annually by over 6,000 community members seeking to overcome domestic violence or housing challenges, or to pursue opportunities to strengthen their careers and families.

Mr. Speaker, I have been encouraged by Ms. Joyce's community leadership and I applaud her for her celebrated tenure. Ms. Joyce's mission to ensure the welfare and dignity of domestic violence survivors as well as the empowerment of women has shaped our community for the better. I am pleased to recognize Linda Joyce in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Walt Washington for his many years of public service to our community.

Walt Washington is a decorated veteran with a long history of commitment to public service and community involvement. While he started his career in banking, he continued on to serve as a public official.

Serving as Kitsap County Auditor since 2008, Walt Washington has been a valued member of our state government. Walt has dedicated himself to ensuring accountability and accessibility to all Kitsap residents.

Walt Washington oversaw the implementation of more than 340 changes in federal and state laws to safeguard voters' rights and protect against election fraud. As Auditor, Walt has maintained Kitsap County's reputation for integrity in elections, and has encouraged civic involvement in election oversight and voter registration.

Mr. Washington's focus on fiscal accountability led him to receive a national award for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association. He is also the recipient of the Pioneer in Preserving Military Voting Award for his department's innovative efforts to make voting more accessible for U.S. citizens living and serving overseas.

Walt Washington has dedicated himself to serving his country. Despite his retirement, Walt Washington's work against voter suppression, voter disenfranchisement, and commitment to fair elections will surely continue in the Kitsap County Auditor's office and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by again applauding Walt Washington for his dedication to serving the people of Washington state. I am pleased to recognize Walt Washington today in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a historic leader for the Puyallup Tribe, for the State of Washington, and for our Nation. The longtime Puyallup tribal chairman, Herman Dillon, Sr., passed away last week at the age of 82.

Chairman Dillon led a life dedicated to ensuring that the tribe and our region can continue to thrive for generations to come.

Chairman Dillon began a long career of service first by joining the U.S. Naval Reserve. And during the Korean war, he was drafted into the Army and spent 2 years honorably serving our country in Pusan, Korea.

Elected to the Puyallup Tribal Council in 1971, Chairman Dillon played an

instrumental role in seeing through a number of historic achievements, including the Puyallup Indian Land Claims Settlement, the Washington State Gaming Compact, and key economic decisions that led to the Puyallup Tribe becoming the third largest employer in Pierce County, Washington.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman Dillon and his wife, Darlene, also served their community as foster parents, opening their hearts and homes to support many children in need.

The tribe and our entire region are stronger and more prosperous as a result of his vision and unwavering efforts to build a brighter future. He will be sorely missed by the tribe, by our region, and by me.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would increase funding for the Economic High-Tech and Cyber Crime Prevention grant program by $2 million.

In my home State of Washington, we develop some of the Nation's most advanced software and aircraft and tools for our men and women in uniform. We need to be ready to help our private sector partners protect their intellectual property, competitive edge, and the capabilities of our warfighters.

The Economic High-Tech and Cyber Crime Prevention program is one of the best opportunities for the Federal Government to assist State and local law enforcement entities to address cyber crimes through the funding of training and technical assistance projects.

Specifically, the program was designed to leverage State and local support to help national agencies involved in protecting our homeland security through the prevention of law enforcement against cyber crimes.

Cyber crime is not new, but it is becoming an even greater threat to our

families, our businesses, and to our national security. As far back as 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation made headlines for arresting dozens of cyber criminals worldwide who were involved in a complicated scheme.

Recently, the Director of the FBI testified before the other Chamber that state-sponsored cyber crime is ``an enormous challenge,'' noting the Department of Justice recently issued a 31-count indictment against hackers backed by the Chinese Government.

As a member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats, and Capabilities, I know that we need to double down on protecting our intellectual property from electronic theft and intrusion.

We cannot have innovation stifled out of fear of protection, loss of intellectual property, and future profits. After all, innovation is the engine behind our economy and our national defense. It is what keeps small businesses and large conglomerates devising the next tools to protect our servicepeople and keep shipping lanes open.

This amendment would help State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies with technical assistance, training, and outreach activities. It would provide training in the investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes, increasing the odds that those that seek to do harm are brought to justice.

Moreover, it gives the Federal Government a greater opportunity to leverage their counterparts' abilities to attain our national goals.

One month ago, I was privileged to join representatives of local utilities, the Washington State Military Department, academia, and law enforcement to discuss ways to protect our Nation's critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.

This summit provided an opportunity for us to bring all of the stakeholders into a room and discuss known vulnerabilities and how we can help each other.

One of the most important outcomes of that summit was the need to work together at the local, State, and Federal level, hand in hand with our private sector partners to fully address this threat. That is what this amendment does. It would provide Federal assistance to complement such efforts and would increase our security.

With my brief time remaining, I would just like to thank the ranking member and echo the good words of the previous speakers thanking the gentleman, the chairman, for his excellent work and partnership.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment includes two provisions that I authored. The first provision ensures that Navy employees, like those in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, can continue to earn the overtime pay that they deserve when working overseas.

This amendment supports our national security and ensures that we are standing up for our civilian workforce. It allowed nuclear engineers to earn the same amount of money when they work in Japan as they would when they work in the United States.

Without that authorization to pay overtime to the civilian personnel serving the mission, we will lose the ability to attract and retain qualified and experienced men and women to step up and serve in this capacity. The inclusion of this provision helps ensure our Navy's readiness and fairness to our civilian employees.

I am honored to have worked with Representative Forbes on this provision, but I would also like to thank Chairman Issa for his cooperation.

Mr. Chairman, this package also includes a provision that is aimed at saving taxpayer money, improving military readiness, and preventing needless delays and cost overruns that could harm our servicemen and - women.

Simply put, working capital fund employees should not be furloughed due to a lack of appropriated funds. They are not dependent on direct appropriations from Congress. As a result, furloughing working capital fund employees would save no money. Furloughing working capital fund employees would delay critical maintenance, drive up costs, and delay the availability of ships, planes, and other necessary tools that are critical to our national defense.

I am honored to have worked with Representative Cole on this provision.

Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues' support for this package and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the threat of ocean acidification to my region and others. I live in the most glorious part of this world. As a dad, it is a joy to share the Pacific Northwest natural resources with my two little girls.

But those natural resources don't just contribute to our recreational experiences; they contribute to our economy, too. In Washington State alone, the shellfish industry contributes more than $250 million to our economy and supports more than 3,200 jobs. Our coast depends on a strong fishing industry.

All of that is threatened by ocean acidification. Last week, in Tacoma, I listened to businesses, fishermen, and researchers detail how we are beginning to see the effects of our changing ocean chemistry. It has impacted shellfish--we know that--but we have not yet begun to comprehend how ocean acidification disrupts our larger marine ecosystem.

That is why this week I am introducing the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act, which would encourage Federal agencies to better leverage existing Federal dollars by creating incentives for the private sector and researchers to strengthen our ability to research, monitor, and mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification.

Mr. Speaker, we need to act now. Our economy depends on it.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Pacific Northwest-- and America--lost a true legend.

Billy Frank, Jr., the chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, made his mark on so many people and so many issues. His legacy on civil rights issues, on ensuring America lives up to its tribal treaty obligations and protecting our natural resources, has touched generations past and present.

When Billy spoke, you listened. We saw that firsthand just 2 weeks ago, when he commanded a room at a tribal summit in my district that included tribal leaders, Federal officials, and the Secretary of the Interior.

After a recent meeting with Billy, I was walking to my car with a member of my staff. Midway there, I said, Hold on for a second. He asked me what was up. I said, Can we just take a minute and appreciate the fact that we got to spend a few hours with an absolute icon.

I will treasure those hours, the entire time I spent with Billy, and the extraordinary work that he did for our region.

There is a Native American proverb that says we should make decisions with an eye toward how they will affect our children seven generations into the future. Billy Frank was the embodiment of that ethos. He will be missed.