Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my good friend, and the chairman, whom I am very, very lucky and honored to serve under and serve with.

Madam Speaker, I oppose this amendment. It is not an easy vote. I have been looking for reasons to support this amendment and I can't find it.

This amendment does nothing to destroy the Islamic state. This amendment does not crush the Islamic state. What this amendment does is start training Islamists to fight Islamists, and we may have that Islamist army to fight Islamists in a matter of a few years.

I will not vote for something that I know will not work. Arming Islamists to fight other Islamists is not a winning strategy. I don't believe the weapons and tactics that we bestow to the Islamists will only be used against America's enemies. We have been through this before in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think I am one of the only people speaking here today who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a confusing situation with many warring factions on all sides, the last thing that we should do is arm Islamic rebels to fight other Islamic rebels.

The truth is that the President invited the Islamic State into Iraq when he removed our eyes and ears on the ground and removed the U.S. military from Iraq 2 years ago. We will continue to be at war with radical Islam in this area well into the future, but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that the Islamic State is on the march, and it presents a serious regional threat.

We need to crush the Islamic State. We need to kill them. We need to destroy them. We need to burn the Islamic State to the ground, and you don't do that by training Islamic Syrians. You don't crush the Islamic State by training Islamists to fight other Islamists.

Arming Islamic fighters is no longer a viable strategy. It was a year ago, it was 2 years ago, but it is not now. There is no confidence that we are arming the right people, and there is no assurance that those weapons and U.S. tactics and U.S. communications gear won't fall into the wrong hands.

The Saudi Arabians are going to help us fight in Syria. If I remember right, Madam Speaker, the Saudi Arabians provided the majority of the hijackers who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11. I refuse to stand with the Saudi Arabians.

We need to crush ISIS, not work on training more Islamic radicals.

Mr. Speaker, within this great institution, we often honor notable Americans who dedicate themselves, whether personally or professionally, to serving this nation and strengthening its core. I am honored today to continue this tradition and pay tribute to Robert Kilpatrick, who recently retired after many good years as President and General Manager of BAE Systems, San Diego Ship Repair.

Robert was no stranger to shipyards--notching more than 30 years of experience in an industry that is critical to both America's global security and competitiveness. He started with the company in 1981, when he joined what is now BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair as an Electrical Estimator for shipboard communication and power installations. In the years that followed, Robert held various positions within the company and in January 2004, he was promoted to President and General Manager. Ask anyone who knows Robert and they'll tell you he's a proven leader with authentic talent and skills.

Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that a strong Navy and sealift capability is the foundation of our nation. As a Marine, I never floated, meaning I never went out to sea, but you don't have to be on a vessel or part of an ocean crew to appreciate the value and the power of a steel-clad ship that is capable of sailing the world. The ingenuity and know-how required to build and maintain these vessels is a national asset--and so too are the men and women who work in America's shipyards. Robert's experience and leadership has been invaluable and surely his mentorship will be no less influential for the future of San Diego Ship Repair.

I want to congratulate Robert on his retirement and wish him happiness in the years to come. I also want to recognize Robert's wife of 26 years, Michele, and his two sons, Keith and Kyle. Surely, they are proud of Robert for an honorable and distinguished career. And, on behalf of this body, we are thankful for his service and wish him all the best as he enjoys his retirement.

Mr. Chair, I rise to express my appreciation for all the good work that has gone into in the FY 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. I know a lot of difficult decisions had to be made but I wanted to express my concern over a $20 million reduction in funding for the Maritime Security Program (MSP).

The U.S. flag fleet is critical to our military in delivering cargo overseas to our military to ensure proper readiness and sustainment. The Department of Defense (DOD) for well over a decade has relied on MSP-enrolled vessels for sealift of necessary cargo into conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other troubled areas in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of what it would cost DOD to replicate that sealift if it had to build its own vessels. These military-sensitive cargoes are handled by U.S.-flag ship operators and mariners that must meet DOD and homeland security standards. They have a demonstrated record of delivering these cargoes efficiently and safely.

I would like to encourage the bill's managers to bring the program's funding level to $186 million in conference with the Senate. This program also has significant support from House members and I am including a letter signed by members in support of this funding. Finally this is the same amount appropriated in FY 2014, authorized by the Armed Services Committee in the NDAA, and requested by the President.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, March, 2014.

Hon. Tom Latham,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban

Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on

Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Ed Pastor,

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and

Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on

Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor: We are

writing to request that $186 million in funding for FY 2015

for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) be included in the FY

2015 appropriations bill for the Departments of

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related

Agencies. This is the congressionally authorized amount

necessary to ensure that the U.S. Maritime Administration, in

conjunction with the Department of Defense, has the necessary

funds available to fully implement the MSP. It is the same

amount appropriated by Congress for the program in FY 2014.

The MSP was originally enacted to ensure that the United

States has the U.S.-flag

commercial sealift capability and trained U.S. citizen

merchant mariners available to crew the government and

privately owned vessels needed by the Department of Defense

in time of war or other international emergency. Most

importantly, the Maritime Security Program and the

uninterrupted operation of its maritime security fleet of 60

U.S.-flag militarily useful commercial vessels ensures that

America will in fact be able to support and supply our troops

overseas. It guarantees that American-flag vessels and

American crews will continue to be available to transport the

supplies and equipment our troops need to do their job in

behalf of our nation.

Failure to approve the requested funding for the Maritime

Security Program not only will put American troops at risk

but will weaken America's overall security interests and will

cost the American taxpayer significantly more than the amount

requested for FY 2015 for the MSP. Without having the MSP and

its maritime security fleet to rely upon, the options

available to the Department of Defense and to our country to

meet America's commercial sealift capability requirements are

totally unacceptable.

On the one hand, our country would be faced with the option

of giving foreign-flag shipping interests and their foreign

mariners--interests who may not share America's goals,

objectives and values--the responsibility for supporting and

advancing America's security interests overseas. These

foreign-flag shipping services will have to be paid for by

the United States, and it means our country will be

encouraging the outsourcing of American maritime jobs as we

spend taxpayer dollars on foreign-flag ships and their

foreign crews.

On the other hand, our country would be faced with the

option of having the Department of Defense build, maintain,

and operate the requisite vessels itself, at a tremendous

cost to the American taxpayer. In fact, a 2006 report

prepared for the National Defense Transportation

Association--Military Sealift Committee concluded that ``the

likely cost to the government to replicate just the vessel

capacity provided by the MSP dry cargo vessels would be $13

billion.'' In addition, the United States Transportation

Command has estimated that it would cost the U.S. Government

an additional $52 billion to replicate the ``global

intermodal system'' that is made available to the Department

of Defense by MSP participants who are continuously

developing, maintaining, and upgrading their systems. In

contrast, the commercial maritime industry, through the MSP,

will provide the Department of Defense with these same

vessels and global intermodal system at a cost to the

taxpayer of $186 million in FY 2015, a fraction of what it

would cost our government to do the job itself.

In other words, without funding the MSP and ensuring the

continued operation of its maritime security fleet, America

would either have to place the safety of our troops and the

security of our nation in the hands of foreign shipping

interests or be forced to spend billions of dollars more of

the taxpayers' dollars to achieve the commercial sealift

capability that will be lost if the requested funds for MSP

are not appropriated.

During congressional consideration of the reauthorization

of the MSP in 2003, General John W. Handy, then-Commander in

Chief, United States Transportation Command, told Congress

that: ``As we look at operations on multiple fronts in

support of the War on Terrorism, it is clear that our limited

defense resources will increasingly rely on partnerships with

industry to maintain the needed capability and capacity to

meet our most demanding wartime scenarios . . . MSP is a

cost-effective program that assures guaranteed access to

required U.S.-flag commercial shipping and U.S. merchant

mariners when needed . . . MSP is a vital element of our

military's strategic sealift and global response

capability.''

We again ask that you support this highly efficient and

low-cost public-private partnership by including $186 million

in your Subcommittee's FY 2015 appropriations legislation in

order to fully implement the MSP. In so doing, you will be

saving the American taxpayer billions of dollars because the

Department of Defense will be able to utilize privately owned

U.S.-flag vessels to meet its commercial sealift requirements

rather than buying and maintaining this capability on its

own.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Respectfully,

Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,

Chairman,

Committee on Armed Services.

Adam Smith,

Ranking Member,

Committee on Armed Services.

Duncan Hunter; Corrine Brown; Scott Peters; Frank

LoBiondo; Elijah Cummings; Nick Rahall; Bennie

Thompson; John Garamendi; John Duncan; Don Young.

Dutch Ruppersberger; Gary Miller; Rick Larsen; Randy

Forbes; Robert Wittman; Derek Kilmer; Jim Brindenstine;

Scott Rigell; Peter King; Leonard Lance.

Suzanne Bonamici; Carol Shea-Porter; Michael Michaud;

Daniel Lipinski; Suzan DelBene; Michael Grimm;

Frederica Wilson; Cedric Richmond; Sean Maloney; Chris

Gibson.

William Enyart; David Joyce; Brian Higgins; Linda

Saanchez; Howard Coble; Paul Cook; Janice Hahn; David

McKinley; Tim Bishop; Jim McDermott.

Joe Courtney; Steve Israel; Michael Turner; Alan

Lowenthal; Tulsi Gabbard; Denny Heck; Marc Veasey; Lois

Frankel; Madeleine Bordallo; Albio Sires.

Peter DeFazio; Karen Bass; Pete Gallego; Rick Nolan; Tim

Walz; Ed Perlmutter; Ron Barber; Andree Carson.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise to engage in a colloquy.

Mr. Chair, there is a situation right now that you and I have discussed several times already involving a former U.S. marine imprisoned in Mexico for making a wrong turn at the U.S.-Mexican border while in possession of three legally owned firearms.

Andrew Tahmooressi endured two combat tours in Afghanistan. He was meritoriously promoted to sergeant on the battlefield, a high honor for any serviceperson; and he, like others returning from war, has been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress. That is why he was in San Diego, so he could seek therapy at the high-level institutions we have for that disorder in San Diego.

For 2 months now, Andrew has been in jail in Mexico. He has been mistreated. We found out yesterday he had been beaten. He had been chained to the wall and beaten by his Mexican imprisoners. He has been threatened; and he has been looking for a way out since that night he was pulled over in secondary screening, he acknowledged his mistake and disclosed his firearms and wanted to come back to America. That was not good enough for Mexican authorities, and the legal proceedings in Andrew's case are only just beginning.

My problem, Mr. Chair, is that the State Department, beyond the consulate in Tijuana, has done nothing. Our Justice Department has done nothing, despite numerous appeals from me and a growing list of others, including yourself.

Mr. Chair, I know that we agree that Andrew served with honor and distinction, and an all-hands-on-deck approach is owed to him in return. I hope we can continue working together to ensure this Federal Government is doing all it can for Andrew. I hope you

can weigh in also with the Department of Justice, encourage their coordination with the Department of State and urge greater action to support Andrew's legal defense.

I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Thank you.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the meritorious service of Colonel Joseph A. Simonelli, Jr., who will transfer in June from the Secretary of Defense's Office of Legislative Affairs.

Prior to his tenure in Legislative Affairs, Colonel Simonelli has already had a long and distinguished career in the United States Army. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, he received his commission in 1987 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He served 27 years with great distinction in the field and in command. Prior to his work in the Secretary's office, he was the Garrison Commander at Fort Bliss, Texas. He also served as the Director of Operations for the Multi-National Security Transition Command (Iraq) and the Executive Assistant to the Vice Director of the Joint Staff's Director of Operations.

Colonel Simonelli is no stranger to the halls and offices of Capitol Hill, having spent the last two years in Legislative Affairs as the Director of House Affairs and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for House Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs (OASD-LA).

His character, capabilities, and good humor enabled him to interact effectively with Members of Congress and their staffs and other Executive agencies under the most strenuous circumstances. Colonel Simonelli's work ultimately led to successful legislative outcomes on a wide-range of issues critical to our national defense and to the enhancement of the lives of the country's military men and women.

Colonel Simonelli represents what our military seeks in a congressional liaison and officer in uniform. His dedication to service, commitment to excellence, and performance of duty have been extraordinary throughout his career and most recently in the Office of Legislative Affairs. I am proud to share in the celebration of Colonel Simonelli's tour on Capitol Hill, and I join his colleagues in honoring his distinguished service.

Colonel Simonelli was supported, encouraged, and nurtured by a strong and loving wife, I would like to recognize his wife, Bettye Marie. As he goes on to pursue new endeavors and challenges as the Chief of Staff of the Arlington National Military Cemeteries, I wish Colonel Simonelli and his family well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father Owen J. Mullen, a dedicated member of my Service Academy Selection Committee and an outstanding person who will be celebrating 50 years service as a Catholic Priest on May 16, 2014.

Born in Troy, New York in 1938, Father Mullen attended Mount St. Mary's University and Seminary for eight years in Emmitsburg, Maryland before being ordained a priest for the Wilmington Diocese in Delaware on May 16, 1964. He was then sent to Villanova University in Philadelphia in order to obtain a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and it was here that he worked for the next 17 years serving as both a teacher and a high school administrator. Following Villanova, Father Mullen became Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chestertown, Maryland.

Aside from serving in his church, Father Mullen also proudly served our nation. In 1968, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Delaware National Guard and in 1979 was transferred into the Army Reserves where he was stationed at the United States Military Academy Admission Office counseling candidates for West Point. During the summer he also served as a Chaplain for the incoming Cadets at Beast Barracks and continued doing so for the next 20 years. In 1981, Father Mullen accepted a position to become Associate Chaplain at the University of San Diego until 1989.

Father Mullen was again invited to serve our nation's young military cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point as an active duty Army Lieutenant Colonel Catholic Cadet Chaplain for the United States Corps of Cadets, where he served from 1989-1997. Father Mullen was then promoted to full Colonel and assigned as the Senior Army Chaplain in Hawaii.

Despite retiring on August 31, 2001, as a Colonel in the US Army after 30 years of active and reserve service, Father Mullen continued his service by becoming Pastor at Holy Family Parish and Academy until June 2004. He then returned to the University of San Diego as a University Chaplain with a multitude of responsibilities, including Chaplain for the Football, Baseball, Basketball Teams and the Lacrosse Club. Father Mullen also found the time to serve as an Advisor to the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and recently became the twenty-fourth alumnus to be elected as Phi Kappa Theta's Fraternity President.

During his time in San Diego, Father Mullen has served as a member of the Service Academy Selection Committee for both me and my father, former Congressman Duncan L. Hunter. In this capacity he has provided much needed insight and guidance to many young men and women as they prepared for careers in the military.

The common theme throughout Father Mullen's career has been one word--service. As Father Mullen knows well, Jesus taught his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew, ``But the greatest among you shall be your servant.'' This biblical principle has been the standard to Father Mullen's approach to any request, challenge or need, and we have all benefitted from his commitment to this standard. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating and thanking Father Mullen for his 50 years of service to both his community and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important national holiday that will be celebrated this week by our friends in Poland, May 3rd, Polish Constitution Day. On May 3, 1791, Poland adopted the first constitution of its kind in Europe and second in the world following what had occurred here in America only a few years before.

This new constitution in Poland sought to supplant the prevailing anarchy fostered by some of the country's magnates with a more democratic constitutional monarchy. It introduced elements of political equality between townspeople and nobility and placed people of all classes under the protection of the government, thus mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. It banned pernicious parliamentary institutions such as the liberum veto, which had put the Sejm (Polish Assembly) at the mercy of any deputy who could revoke all the legislation that had been passed by that Sejm.

The citizens of Poland knew this constitution was special and May 3rd was declared an official Polish holiday, Constitution Day, two days later on May 5, 1791. As with all new efforts toward freedom and greater democracy, the Polish Constitution met resistance and was banned during the partitions of Poland but eventually reinstated in April 1919 under the Second Polish Republic--the first holiday officially introduced in the newly independent country. The holiday was again outlawed during World War II by both Nazi and Soviet occupiers, only to be celebrated in Polish cities in May 1945 in a mostly spontaneous manner.

The 1946 pro-freedom demonstrators competed for attention with the communist-endorsed May 1 Labor Day celebrations in the Polish People's Republic. Until 1989, May 3 was a frequent occasion for anti-government and anti-communist protests and Polish Constitution Day was restored as an official Polish holiday in April 1990 after the fall of communism. In 2007, May 3 was declared a Lithuanian national holiday and Polish- American pride has been celebrated on the same date here in the United States as well. For instance since 1982 in Chicago, the Polish-American community have marked May 3rd with festivities and the annual Polish Constitution Day Parade, and in my own district, Polonia United, San Diego led by its President Zdzislaw (George) Juchum and its Vice President Miroslaw Gomy work tirelessly to inform and involve the San Diego community of this important event.

The Constitution of May 3, 1791, is evidence of successful internal reform and serves as a symbol of the eventual restoration of Poland's sovereignty. Congratulations to our friends and allies in Poland. As you celebrate Polish Constitution Day on May 3, please be assured that the United States stands beside you as a fellow defender of freedom and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the unselfish contribution of Henry Gamboa, Robert Rodriguez and Daryl Idler and to recognize their tireless support of the patients of Balboa Naval Medical Center San Diego.

For eight consecutive years, the ownership of the Cottonwood Golf Club, 3121 Willow Glen Road, El Cajon, CA, has consistently and generously donated their two 18-hole golf courses, golf carts, equipment, staff and their time for the success of the annual Duncan L. Hunter Wounded Marines Golf Classic. Their contribution represents as much as $15,000 annually in lost revenue, employee salaries and miscellaneous expenses for the day of the tournament, as well as the weeks and months of preparation prior to the actual event.

Because of their dedication to the patients at Balboa, more than a quarter million dollars have been raised during the eight-year history of the tournament. This year's classic is the largest to date in terms of numbers participating and in dollars raised, expected to exceed $75,000.

Always family oriented, Cottonwood Golf Club has the same small-town values that make the course such a great place to play. Some of the biggest events in East San Diego County that are inspired by their family values include the previously mentioned Duncan L. Hunter Wounded Marines Tournament, the Mother Goose Parade Tournament, the Jack-a- Lopes Classic and a wide variety of local and regional community and charitable events.

What makes the Duncan L. Hunter Wounded Marines Golf Classic truly unique is the fact that every dollar raised goes directly for patient's care. Armed Services, YMCA, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, administer the Restricted fund, meaning every penny goes for the patient's creature comforts.

As the Congressman whose district includes the Cottonwood Golf Club, I am proud to have the honor and privilege of representing these businessmen and their great business. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Henry, Robert, Daryl and everyone at Cottonwood Golf Club for continuing to demonstrate to all of us that caring for those who defend our freedom is more than words, it's a commitment to following through on what needs to be done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the rich history and proud legacy of the Grossmont Union High School District in my congressional district of East San Diego County. On May 1, 2014, the District will host a grand reopening of their District Office building to rededicate a historical landmark in the City of El Cajon, the original Grossmont High School Building.

Originally constructed in 1922, the Grossmont High School Building for decades was home to the teachers and students that made up the oldest high school in East San Diego County. As the campus expanded, new buildings were added and this facility eventually became the District Office. The project was actually two buildings, a stone veneer over cast-in-place (CIP) concrete at the front and a two-story conventional wood-framed and plaster building in the rear. The structures were independent of each other and both required seismic upgrades. The necessary improvements consisted of a shotcrete membrane for the inside of the exterior walls at the stone section and full- height steel brace-frames in the wood-framed building.

Standard improvements to the building include all new HVAC, plumbing, electrical, lighting, Fire Alarm and communications. Newer styles have been blended with the traditional as significant efforts were made to honor the features of the original structure. The original stone veneer has been refurbished and upgraded original-style wood windows have been installed in line with the original theme. Also keeping with the original motif is the reuse of existing wood flooring. Newer amenities such as modern steel and tile stairs with stainless and glass handrails, glass conference rooms and curvi-linear (arched panel) ceilings have been added to complete the transition to new as well as honoring the old traditions.

The majority of the funding for this project was provided from former redevelopment funds, primarily from the City of El Cajon. The remaining balance of the project funding was allocated from the District's capital facilities fund and Propositions H and U, which were specifically utilized to bring the structure into compliance with ADA standards, including an elevator and wheelchair accessibility.

Besides refurbishing this proud local landmark, I am particularly proud to see redevelopment funds stay within the City of El Cajon thereby benefiting students in the District and those who support student achievement. I have always appreciated the hard work and dedication the Grossmont Union High School District has shown to furthering the educational goals of our students and I congratulate them on this achievement and continued investment into our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Lieutenant Colonel Kevin S. Cochie, a true gentleman, a Soldier's Soldier, and friend. Lieutenant Colonel Cochie retires from the US Army on June 31st after serving the US Army in uniform for over 20 years. A veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, he faithfully served the Special Operations community and the Secretary of the Army with distinction.

Kevin served as a Special Operations helicopter pilot in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers. His operational experience served as the catalyst for a successful acquisition career. Because of his efforts, highly advanced and specially modified helicopters were made even better, resulting in life saving survivability improvements and mission essential improvements that directly contributed to the removal of multiple high value enemy targets from the battlefield.

LTC Cochie's career culminated with an assignment serving the Secretary of the Army as a Legislative Liaison, advocating for Army Aviation. He quickly rose to the status of ``Master Jedi Knight'' among all Defense Department legislative liaisons. His ability to socialize to Congress program details and urgent requirements was nothing short of impressive. For years to come, Kevin's example of how to engage Congress will serve as a benchmark for other legislative liaisons to follow.

In conclusion, God bless Kevin, his wife Sara, and daughter Madison for their service to the Army, the Defense Department, and our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4005) to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 and 2016, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4005.

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

H.R. 4005 is the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. It reauthorizes funding for the Coast Guard through fiscal year 2016 at levels that are fiscally sound and will reverse the misguided cuts proposed by this administration. The President proposed to slash the service's acquisition budget by over 20 percent, reduce the number of servicemembers by over 1,300, undermine readiness by cutting programmed hours for aircraft, and jeopardize the success of research and rescue missions by taking fixed-wing aircraft crews off of immediate alert status.

The President's budget request will only worsen the Coast Guard's growing gaps in mission performance, increase acquisition delays, drive up the costs of the new assets, and deny our servicemembers the critical resources needed to perform their duties.

H.R. 4005 provides sufficient funding to ensure these cuts do not happen and the service has what it needs to successfully conduct its missions.

In 2012--that is the last year we have the numbers for--the Coast Guard responded to over 19,700 search and rescue cases; saved over 3,500 lives; conducted over 20,000 safety, security, and environmental inspections of U.S. and foreign flag commercial vessels, more importantly; and interdicted over 2,900 undocumented migrants and 163 metric tons of illegal drugs.

The Coast Guard is our first line of defense in this country. H.R. 4005 is going to fund the eighth national security cutter. That is the last one. It is a 425-foot frigate that the Navy is even jealous of.

It funds six fast response cutters over the next 2 years. It also prepares us to buy the new offshore patrol cutter, and it also transfers 14 C-27Js from the Air Force to the Coast Guard for not a penny--not a dime--not a penny--totally free--transfers it from the Air Force to the Coast Guard. It can put those into effect.

The bill also makes several reforms to Coast Guard authorities, as well as laws governing shipping and navigation. Specifically, H.R. 4005 supports Coast Guard servicemembers by authorizing military pay raises and enhancing military benefits.

There are about 42,000 Active Duty Coast Guardsmen patrolling all the navigable waters throughout the United States in rivers, bays, and seas and also every single piece of coastline that we have--42,000.

Compare that to the Marine Corps numbers, over 175,000; the Army, over 400,000; yet the Coast Guard is responsible for every single piece of American water, every inland waterway, the Great Lakes, and every river. That is what the Coast Guard is responsible for.

If you talk about weapons of mass destruction coming in through American ports from the ocean, the Coast Guard is our first line of defense there, too.

This bill improves Coast Guard mission effectiveness by replacing and modernizing Coast Guard assets in a cost-effective manner. It enhances oversight of the Coast Guard, reduces inefficient operations, and saves taxpayer dollars by making commonsense reforms to Coast Guard missions and administration.

The bill helps veterans make an easier transition from the Coast Guard into the life of a mariner, so they can get out and get good- paying jobs in industry, so it gives them time and service for their Coast Guard time, as opposed to making them go through all of the hurdles, jumps, and hoops that you would have to go through otherwise.

It encourages job growth in the maritime sector by cutting regulatory burdens on job creators, and it reauthorizes and reforms the structure and operations of the Federal Maritime Commission.

H.R. 4005 is a bipartisan effort that was put together in close consultation with the minority. I want to thank Ranking Members Rahall and Garamendi for their efforts and Chairman Shuster for his leadership.

I would also like to thank John Rayfield and Geoff Gosselin on the committee staff, whose depths of knowledge on the Coast Guard and Maritime issues are unfathomable, and Lieutenant Commander Stephen West, my Coast Guard fellow that was our reality check in this committee by giving us great, sane advice when we needed it.

Finally, I want to take a minute to point out that this will be the last Coast Guard authorization bill that will benefit from the advice and support of the only Member of Congress with service in the Coast Guard, our colleague and friend, Howard Coble.

Howard is a Korean war veteran with 5 years of Active Duty in the Coast Guard and another 18 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. He is the founder of the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, as well as an active member and former chairman of our subcommittee.

Throughout his career in Congress, Howard has been a tireless advocate for the men and women of the Coast Guard. I thank him and commend him for his service to our Nation and his contributions to this and past Coast Guard authorizations and to this Congress.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Armed Services,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, February 20, 2014.

Hon. Bill Shuster,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 4005, the Howard

Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, as

amended. This legislation includes matters that fall within

the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services.

Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 4005, and

the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Our

committee also appreciates efforts by your staff to

coordinate on matters that fall in our Rule X jurisdiction in

advance. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to

jurisdiction over this legislation, I do not intend to

request sequential referral on H.R. 4005. By waiving

consideration of the bill, the Committee on Armed Services

does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the

subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its

Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to

name members of this committee to any conference committee

which is named to consider the provisions over which we have

jurisdiction.

Please place this letter and your committee's response into

the committee report to accompany H.R. 4005 and into the

Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on

the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in

which you have worked regarding this matter and others

between our respective committees.

Sincerely,

Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

To the extent that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over this issue, I look forward to working with the gentlelady from California to include her proposal to include cybersecurity as an element in facility security plans required under chapter 701 of title 46 because it is important, and we need to figure out who is the best at it, who can do it.

It might not be the Coast Guard. It might not be the actual ports. It might be the Navy. I think it is important, and I look forward to working with you on the issue.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

Will the gentleman yield?

Yes, it is.

To the extent that these issues are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I look forward to working with the gentleman from Alaska with respect to resolving the disposition of the assets associated with the Coast Guard LORAN stations in a manner satisfactory to the longest-serving member of the subcommittee and its predecessors.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Will the gentleman yield?

That is my understanding as well.

That is also my understanding.

To the extent that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over this property, I will work with the gentleman from Washington to convey the property to the city.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

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

One thing that this bill does is not only does it inventory this property--or it would--it also works to reduce the Coast Guard's excess property in general.

It requires the Coast Guard to conduct an inventory of all of its real property and to determine which property can be divested or consolidated to save taxpayers money and to give the land back to the municipalities and cities and counties in which it resides.

This is not just a Coast Guard bill. As the ranking member spoke about--and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Shuster, it is beyond the Coast Guard in that this bill is important because it deals with maritime transportation. A healthy maritime industry is vital to our national security.

Throughout our history, the Navy has relied on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels, crewed by American merchant mariners to carry troops, weapons, and supplies to the battlefield.

When I deployed on my second tour to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 out of San Diego, I was in charge as the logistics officer of driving down all of our equipment with Humvees and our big battery cannons down to the local pier in San Diego. We then put this on a roll-on/roll-off boat.

I made sure everything was the way it was supposed to be, and that is how all of our equipment got over to Iraq. This boat was driven--manned by American merchant mariners.

It was not driven by the Navy or the Coast Guard, but by civilian mariners that do this for us; so I have a very close personal relationship, if you will, because all of the gear that we fell in on in Fallujah was stuff we had shipped over from San Diego to Iraq.

During Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom, U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transported 63 percent of all military cargos, like mine, moved to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Since we cannot rely on foreign vessels and crews to provide for our national security--let's say we relied on the Russians to move our military equipment like we rely on them to move our people and equipment into space--it is critical that we maintain a robust fleet of U.S.-flagged vessels, a large cadre of skilled American workers, and a strong shipyard industrial base.

Let me go through what the maritime sector provides to our economy

very quickly. The U.S. maritime industry currently employs more than 260,000 Americans, providing nearly $29 billion in annual wages.

There are more than 40,000 commercial vessels currently flying the American flags on our waterways, and the vast majority of these vessels are engaged in domestic commerce, moving over 100 million passengers and $400 billion worth of goods between ports in the U.S. on an annual basis.

Each year, the U.S. maritime industry accounts for over $100 billion in economic output, and these are not just port cities that get this. It is the inland waterways, the Mississippi, the Great Lakes, all of the different locks and dams throughout Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including the Colorado River.

Those are places where the Coast Guard is hard at work and our maritime industry is creating jobs and keeping people's mortgages paid and food on their table.

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

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

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

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

I would like to thank the ranking member, Mr. Garamendi from California. He was great to work with on this. We had some disagreements, but we agree on the majority of it.

I would like to thank you for your support. It was great working with you, and we will do it more in the future.

I would also like to take into account what Mr. Garamendi said about an icebreaker. America is the only Arctic nation with no icebreaker. We don't have one. China has them; Russia has them; Canada has them. Just about everybody else that has any Arctic in its sphere of influence has an icebreaker, except for the United States; meaning, if an American oil ship got stuck in the Arctic, guess who would bail them out? Our good friend the Russians, maybe our good friends the Communist Chinese. The Canadians, if we are lucky, will have a ship available so we can at least go with a free country if we had to get that ship out of trouble.

We don't have an icebreaker. That is a travesty. Icebreakers are expensive, especially if you just buy one. They are about a billion dollars by the Coast Guard's account.

There are other options to get an icebreaker. You can lease an icebreaker like you lease a car, and it can be operated by merchant mariners, the same ones that we have been praising. Talking about this bill, that is who could run this icebreaker. We are going to work on that, and that should be this subcommittee and this committee's crowning achievement is getting an American icebreaker on the high seas to support American industry and American seafarers in the Arctic.

Number two, maritime transportation is more than just important to this country; it is what this country is all about. There is an old saying in the Department of Defense--and I was a marine, so let me just throw this out there--whoever controls the oceans controls the world. Now you can say whoever controls space controls the ocean, but whoever controls the oceans controls the world.

America is surrounded by water for the most part. All of our trade comes in through the Pacific or the Atlantic.

It is more than important. It is the most important thing out there that we make sure of two things: that we protect these trade routes on the high seas for goods coming in and out of this country; number 2, we have to secure our ports and coastline from drugs, from illegal immigrants, and, most importantly, from a weapon of mass destruction that might be smuggled to our shoreline and then detonated by one of our port cities. That is easier to do than it is now to fly an airplane and land in an American airport and set something off. It is also easier to do than it is to cross the southern border and sneak across with some weapon of mass destruction. It is easier to get a ship or a cargo container ship with a weapon of mass destruction off of an American coast than it is to get it into this country any other way.

When it comes to maritime transportation, Americans are leading the way in making these ships. We just made in San Diego, a company called NASSCO, a shipbuilding company in San Diego just built or is in the process of building right now the very first liquified natural gas- powered ships. They are not container ships that carry liquified natural gas, LNG, but they are powered by it. They are the first ones in the world. They are being made here in this country. So we might not be able to make cheap ships as easily as nations that don't have the same labor laws or environmental laws, but we can still make the most technologically advanced ships in the world, and we are doing that today.

Lastly, the Coast Guard, approximately 41,000 military personnel--and to my friends that say that the U.S. Coast Guard should be under Homeland Security, the Coast Guard is a fifth branch of the U.S. military. It is actually under DOD. So if we want to move it anywhere, I would say put it under the Armed Services Committee.

Approximately 41,000 military personnel, 8,000 reservists, 8,500 civilian employees, and 30,000 volunteers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary comprise this adaptable responsive military force within the Department of Homeland Security.

As one the Nation's five Armed Forces, the Coast Guard also is prepared to operate as a specialized service to the Navy in times of war or at the President's direction. The Coast Guard is instrumental to the security of our Nation and our maritime transportation system of this Nation which, both of those, are, in turn, the most important things that we can look at when it comes to the high seas and maintaining a robust economy and secure shores.

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

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman, the ranking member, and the committee as well, for putting in H.R. 2463, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, that Congressman Walz from Minnesota and myself wrote.

Basically, what this does is allow Americans to use Federal lands that they pay for in order to go out and shoot for sport at target ranges. With fewer ranges today, providing greater flexibility to States for the purpose of maintaining public shooting venues will go a long way to restoring recreational opportunities and promoting gun safety.

In San Diego, there are no public ranges that we can use. We have to go to an indoor range or to someone's private ranch. There are no more public facilities.

The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act uses existing resources to allow Americans greater access to lands on which to safely practice recreational and competitive shooting. Shooting sports participants already provide significant support to conservation efforts through excise taxes on firearms and ammunition. Public shooting ranges will continue to serve the interests of families and communities, providing a safe place for target practice and instruction while also sustaining jobs and supporting local businesses.

This is a great bill. I would urge my colleagues to support it because shooting--and shooting well--is an American tradition. You shouldn't have to join the Marine Corps to learn that.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and honored to rise today and join in the Centennial Celebration of one of the most committed, hard-working and influential groups in San Diego County, the San Diego County Farm Bureau. 2014 marks 100 years of leadership for this non- profit membership organization, founded with the objective to promote and protect local agriculture.

Since 1914, the San Diego County Farm Bureau has served as the leading advocate

for the farming community and works with elected officials, government agencies, educators, the media and the public to create an environment that allows for the continued growth and sustainability of local agriculture. The first formal meeting of the San Diego County Farm Bureau was held on February 20, 1914, at the Speckles Theater in San Diego where 383 family farmers paid $1 in dues to be eligible to vote on creating the organization. It was here that the San Diego County Farm Bureau became the third of 53 county farm bureaus formed in California. Judge W.R. Andrews of Spring Valley was elected as its first president and the Bureau's longevity can be directly attributed to a proud lineage of 51 presidents and legion of volunteers who have given unselfishly of their time in support of our local farming community.

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that America's agriculture industry is steeped in tradition and was an integral industry upon which the economy and self-sufficiency of our young nation was built. America's ``agrarian republic'' represented the hope of new beginnings and many of our founding fathers believed the character of leadership and necessary virtue would be found in those who worked the soil, in those who invested their time and effort into the production of their crops both for their own existence and that of their community. James Madison extolled the value of connecting with one's land and it was Thomas Jefferson who said, ``Agriculture. . . is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.''

While there was an initial debate on the long-term viability of agriculture's role in developing America's manufacturing base, our nation's productivity in this industry proved to be an immediate return on investment and indicative of the ability of the American people to thrive in any circumstance. As our nation grew, so did the importance of agriculture, particularly in California. Today, California leads all other states in farm income. With 73 percent of the state's agricultural revenues derived from over 200 different crops and 27 percent of revenues generated by livestock commodities, California is our nation's leader in agriculture production. San Diego County has one of the country's largest farm economies and has more small and organic farms than any other county in California. San Diego County leads the nation in production of its two major crops, ornamentals and avocados, and is successfully invested in the areas of nurseries, cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, field crops, vineyards, livestock, and poultry.

This production and success is not by chance, it is a direct result of the hard work of San Diego County's agriculture community and the tireless advocacy of the San Diego County Farm Bureau on their behalf. While our nation and my home state of California continue to face many economic challenges, particularly in the agriculture industry, we move forward with full confidence knowing that groups like the San Diego County Farm Bureau are leading by example and utilizing a wealth of experience that will continue to allow us to take advantage of our full potential. Congratulations again to the San Diego County Farm Bureau on 100 years of service and I look forward to their continued success well into the future.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey and all of my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee who are bringing this up so quickly and for fast-tracking it.

Mr. Speaker, I was in the Marine Corps. I did three tours: two in Iraq, one in Afghanistan. I served with these men and women. I have met their wives, their husbands, their kids, their families. I sat down with them. I've had dinner with them. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for the shameful act of the administration's lawyers in determining that

what we passed last month does not count for paying this death benefit.

When the lawyers in the administration made the decision to not count the death benefit, they broke a sacred trust with our U.S. military men and women and those on the front lines. It is up to us in this Congress to restore that trust for the American people and for our military that we have sent to war for whom we have a responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, on the one year anniversary of the terrorist attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya, I rise to honor Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, two former Navy SEALs that were killed during the attack.

Glen was born in Massachusetts and always had a sense of adventure. He became a pilot, and enjoyed skiing and whitewater rafting. His desire to serve his county led him to join the Navy and become a Navy SEAL, where he was part of the team that responded to the attack on the USS Cole. Several years later, Glen fought in Iraq, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.

Tyrone grew up in Oregon and was the father of three children. After high school he joined the Navy with the goal of becoming a SEAL. During his first attempt at SEAL training, Tyrone suffered an injury, but his perseverance led him to try again, and he earned his trident in 1991. During his 20 years of service in the Navy, Tyrone participated in Operations in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, where his bravery earned him the Bronze Star with combat ``V'' device.

After both men left the military, they continued to serve their county by protecting Americans serving overseas. On night of September 11th, 2012, our consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was under siege by terrorists. As the coordinated attack unfolded, Glen and Tyrone exposed themselves to enemy fire as they engaged attackers that were armed with guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. Their ultimate sacrifice saved the lives of numerous American personnel that were rescued and safely returned to their families. Despite their brave actions, Glen and Tyrone's heroism and sacrifice has not been recognized through a formal awards process.

In recognition of their sacrifice, I have introduced H.R. 1186, which would award Glen and Tyrone the Congressional Gold Medal. As we remember those that we lost on that tragic day in Benghazi, we must not forget the heroic acts and selfless courage displayed by Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.