Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight our Nation's struggle to achieve a more perfect Union. As we look upon the political landscape this fall, it is impossible to ignore the backward steps we have taken.

In years past, elections signaled a time of hope and renewal: Hope that partisan politics would be put aside and renewal of our working relationships across the aisle and across the Capitol.

However, even as election results were being tallied earlier this month the new Republican majority was already highlighting the divisive actions they planned to undertake in the next Congress. Among these plans are efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act, and to shutdown the federal government or impeach President Obama over his immigration reforms.

Mr. Speaker, I see nothing but divisiveness and partisanship in these plans. In fact, investigations into the creation of the Affordable Care Act or the President's immigration policy do nothing to advance the needs of everyday Americans who continue to struggle making ends meet.

I urge my Republican Colleagues to abandon these frivolous efforts and instead focus on expanding opportunities for every American and creating a more perfect Union.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rex Tillerson. As the former President of the Boy Scouts of America and the current Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil, Mr. Tillerson has touched countless lives and impacted them in a positive way. A Native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Mr. Tillerson attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

He is one of the nation's most successful business leaders, but has always recognized the importance of charitable giving and community development. Mr. Tillerson's contributions to Texas and the country as a whole cannot be ignored. He served as the past national president of the Boy Scouts of America and is a former director of the United Negro College Fund. In those roles he influenced countless lives and provided a positive example for our nation's youths to follow. Under his leadership, Exxon Mobil has contributed greatly to K-12 STEM outreach programs, engaging students from all backgrounds in the STEM disciplines. Mr. Tillerson understands the importance of providing students with math and science skills, ultimately preparing them

for competition in a 21st century global economy.

I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating Rex Tillerson's accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, as we join in congratulating our friends in Taiwan on the occasion of their 103rd National Day, I think the best way to celebrate the tremendous progress Taiwan has achieved over the past decades, and its contributions to the world, is through the continuation of our efforts to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.

Twenty years ago, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, the Clinton Administration declared that it would support such participation, a pledge which successive Administrations have upheld.

Ten years ago, the House passed legislation in support of Taiwan's efforts to gain observer status in the World Health Organization. Last year, this House passed bipartisan legislation to secure observer status for Taiwan at the International Civil Aviation Organization, or

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the H.J. Res. 124, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution of 2015 with the McKeon Amendment, which would allow for the training and equipment of Syrian opposition. Should a clean continuing resolution to provide finding to the United States government come to the floor, I would support it. However, I cannot support an authorization for war.

Since this body did not pass a budget on time, our only option is to vote to keep the government open and operating until December 11, 2014. Funding our government should not hinge on a controversial amendment added at the last minute that provides the opportunity for an open- ended war.

I am not in favor of unilateral action or troops deployed to the region and I am committed to resolving this conflict through diplomacy. I fully support any efforts by our country to provide humanitarian aid to the countless innocent civilians displaced and injured by this conflict.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and push for a clean continuing resolution.

Mr. DeFazio. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is a growing regional threat that presents greater instability and turmoil across the Middle East. Today ISIL does not pose a credible strategic threat outside of the Middle East. So the U.S. response must reflect that reality. We cannot allow the Dick Cheneys of the world to use the horrific beheadings by ISIL as a call to war, just like the Gulf of Tonkin incident or the alleged weapons of mass destruction capabilities of Saddam Hussein. I am voting against this authorization to equip and train as yet unknown, perhaps non-existent ``moderate'' Syrian opposition forces to combat ISIL.

The three most successful ground forces fighting in Syria are ISIL who has ties with Saudi Arabia, the Syrian army backed by Iran, and Al Nusra which has ties to Hezbollah. The alliances between these forces are constantly shifting. One day ISIL and Nusra make common cause against the Syrian army and the other day they are all fighting each other. These sectarian wars are based on thousands of years of history and the U.S. has no role in sorting them out.

Congress is being asked to vote today on arming Syrian rebels that are yet to be vetted by the U.S. In fact, the text of this authorization requires the administration to report to Congress within 15 days on the plan for providing this assistance. Congress should know what the plan is before we vote on it. We should come back in 15 days or however long it takes for the administration to determine the scope and plan of this operation and who it is that the U.S. is going to arm in Syria. It is an abdication of our constitutional duties to vote on a vague authorization today instead of waiting and passing judgment on a more detailed assessment on this operation and an updated authorization for use of military force (AUMF).

If you turned to any of my colleagues today and asked the basic question who are the 5,000 fighters that the U.S. will train and equip in Syria, they could not give you an answer. Not even our intelligence agencies know who we can trust. Before granting authorization, Congress should at least know who it is we are giving U.S. weapons to and what their ideology and political goals are. This is a complex mess of various actors, many of whom cannot be considered trustworthy allies. The Syrian opposition is made up of hundreds of thousands of fighters from various factions that are also fighting amongst each other.

In Iraq, the U.S. is looking to form an alliance with a new government whose current Prime Minister has yet to prove he will bring Sunnis back to their proper place in an inclusive society. At the moment the Iraqi army barely exists on paper. It is extremely disturbing that the main Iraqi force currently fighting ISIL, Asaib Ahl al-haq, is incredibly hostile to the U.S. and was attacking our troops up to the last day of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

That is why it is so critical that Congress be presented with a detailed plan of this ``train and equip'' operation including who it is that we are arming before we vote and this amendment fails to do that.

Most importantly what we are voting on today is a small part of President Obama's larger strategy to go to war with ISIL. No President can declare war without Congressional authorization. If the U.S. is going to war with ISIL as it appears that we are, then my colleagues need to stay here and debate and vote on an AUMF. It is our constitutional duty and to leave town without a vote on the overall military strategy is disgraceful. The American people did not elect us to punt the responsibility for matters of war and peace to the President. The purpose of an AUMF is to lay out in detail the scope, plan, purpose, and duration of a military operation and to provide both classified and non-classified briefings to Congress and allow them to debate and express their opinions on the merits of this. Absent an AUMF from Congress, we are committing ourselves to an open ended war, declared by the President about which we have little to no details.

Lastly, history has shown that U.S. involvement in sectarian as well as civil wars raging in the Middle East does not benefit our interests. ISIL would not exist today if it were not for the unnecessary U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which I voted against. ISIL is a regional threat and it is time for Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, and other so- called ``partners'' to step up and fight this war themselves. They have no incentive to do it if we keep fighting it for them. Additionally, arming Syrian rebels could drag the U.S. into the Syrian civil war. General Martin Dempsey said yesterday in his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would put U.S. troops on the ground if he felt it was necessary despite the President's numerous statements that he would not put boots on the ground. Already you can hear the march to war. In fact, it is easy to argue that continued U.S. military actions in the Middle East only create more hatred directed at our nation and increase the risk of terrorism both here and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Ron Anderson, my dear friend, who passed away on September 11, 2014. I am humbled to have shared in his successes and to have been able to support his vision for transforming public health in Dallas County. Dr. Ron Anderson served as the CEO and President of Dallas' Parkland Memorial Hospital for twenty-nine years. I am deeply saddened by his passing, but I am honored to celebrate his legacy and contributions, not only to Dallas County, but to the global health community.

During my career as a psychiatric nurse with the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and as a state and federal legislator, I have never known a public health official who treated his patients with as much compassion as Dr. Anderson. His passion and commitment to treating each and every individual who visited his hospital is unparalleled. He dedicated his life to healing people, regardless of their race, economic class, ethnic origin or immigration status. He was steadfast and visionary.

Through his years of service to Dallas County's only public hospital, Dr. Anderson's name has become synonymous with Parkland. Dr. Anderson's tenure at Parkland began in 1973 as an intern seeking training in a large city. He grew up in poverty in Chickasaw, Oklahoma and was able to connect with the high population of low-income patients who sought health care at Parkland. Not only did he help to treat the underserved in Dallas County, he led the charge in advocating for every individual to receive the best care possible.

After he became President and CEO in 1982, Dr. Anderson lobbied tirelessly to stop patient dumping, or the practice of transferring unstable patients from private to public hospitals because of the patient's inability to pay. In 1986, federal legislation was passed and signed into law prohibiting patient dumping. Dr. Anderson also fought to allow Parkland's physicians to treat every patient, no matter their citizenship status. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Anderson became a national spokesperson when welfare reform proposals threatened to force health care providers to report undocumented immigrants to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He advocated for the preservation of the confidentiality of the physician-patient relationship.

Under Dr. Anderson's dynamic leadership, Parkland's system expanded to include twelve local primary care clinics and twelve school-based clinics. The Homeless Outreach Medical Services branch was also established, providing care in more than twenty homeless shelters in Dallas County. Hospital administrators travelled from all over the world to see Parkland and to learn from Dr. Anderson's visionary and compassionate leadership style.

In 2005, Dr. Anderson's colleagues recognized his leadership by awarding him the Dallas County Medical Society's Max Cole Leadership Award. He is responsible for the new $1.8 billion Parkland facility across the street from the original campus.

Mr. Speaker, my friend, Dr. Ron Anderson, dedicated his life to improve the lives of countless thousands of people. He exemplified the virtues of a true care-giver and was an exemplary model for other physicians. I urge my colleagues to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Ron Anderson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2996, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014.

When it comes to job-creating bills, many of our promises these days can seem empty. But the bill before us today will deliver results, not just rhetoric. This bill, if enacted and funded, will do more than any other measure this Congress has recently debated to revitalize American manufacturing and create high-skill, high-paying jobs in communities across the country.

The decline in U.S. manufacturing has been a threat to middle class jobs and to our entire economy for decades. Many of those jobs, however, were low-skilled jobs, never to return. But we have also seen a large number of higher-skilled jobs move offshore, along with the supply chain that supports manufacturing.

The good news is we experience a rebound in good-paying, high-skilled jobs as our economy continues to recover and manufacturers realize the advantages of remaining close to the world's greatest scientific and technological talent.

However, these gains remain modest. In the meantime, our international competitors are busy implementing and funding policies that will further threaten the American manufacturing base and send our best talents overseas.

I am deeply concerned that we could reach a tipping point beyond which it will be nearly impossible to rebuild a vibrant manufacturing sector here in the U.S. We must act now to ensure that American companies and factories maintain their capacity to be the most sophisticated in the world and that American colleges and universities graduate the workforce to fill advanced manufacturing jobs on our shores.

The Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act, or RAMI, is a critical step toward this goal. This bill makes strategic investments in advanced manufacturing research, development, and education across our Nation. In keeping with our entire history of innovation, this bill creates partnerships involving the public sector, the private sector, and our great research institutions for the benefit of Americans.

However, even if this bill gets enacted this month, our job is not done. Specifically, I am concerned about an unnecessary obstacle we have added to the bill that could make it difficult to stand up and sustain this program. To meet majority rules about offsetting all new authorizations, the bill that passed out of committee contained language that by some subsequent interpretations looked like appropriating on an authorization bill. I want to assure my appropriations colleagues that if I had my way, we would have written a straightforward authorization as we have always done throughout this committee's history.

Clarifying language has been added to the bill, but we now look to the appropriators to take the next step necessary of standing up for this program in fiscal year 2015. In that regard, I look forward to working with my appropriations colleagues to ensure that this program gets funded next year and for the duration of the authorization.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Reed, for their bipartisan work to develop this legislation and determination in moving it forward. I would also like to thank Chairman Smith for his efforts to bring this bill to the floor.

Finally, I am also pleased that this legislation includes the manufacturing strategy introduced by Mr. Lipinski and the reauthorization of the Regional Innovation program introduced by Mr. Hultgren and Mr. Kilmer. These are important steps in the right direction.

I strongly support this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 78, Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service Located at 4110 Alameda Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``George Thomas `Mickey' Leland Post Office Building.''

I had the pleasure of serving with Congressman Leland and even taking my first oath for public office together, along with Congressman Leland's successor, Congressman Craig Washington. Congressman Leland, my friend and mentor, made a lasting impact on Congress that has helped bring focus to aid parts of the world that suffered from extreme hunger and poverty. Congressman Leland was a transformative leader not only in our home state of Texas, but throughout the world.

Congressman Leland was elected to Congress in 1978 to represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas, filling the seat vacated by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan when she retired. He was a progressive leader that twice chaired the Congressional Black Caucus. Congressman Leland helped to form the House

Select Committee on World Hunger in 1984 which generated awareness within Congress regarding national and international hunger and prompted a bipartisan effort to find solutions to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world.

Congressman Leland made a lasting impact that can be felt today through the Congressional Hunger Center. Former Democratic Congressman Tony Hall, a close friend of Congressman Leland and former chair of the House Select Committee on Hunger, joined Republican Representative Bill Emerson to form the bi-partisan Congressional Hunger Center in 1993. Soon after its formation, the Congressional Hunger Center established the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program to serve as a living legacy to Congressman Leland and his world-changing work to end hunger. The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program trains emerging leaders during a two-year period to eradicate hunger worldwide.

Congressman Leland's legacy continues to thrive in Congress. I urge my colleagues to support Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office in Houston, Texas as the Mickey Leland Post Office building as a tribute to my dear friend and former colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5309, the ''Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2014''.

First, I want to thank the Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee, Ms. Bonamici, for her work on this legislation and her commitment to maintaining the health and vitality of the Nation's oceans and coastal communities. I would also like to thank Mr. Rohrabacher for joining her in this bipartisan effort. And finally, I want to thank the Chairman of the Science Committee, Mr. Smith, for helping to move this bipartisan bill to the floor today.

Over 120 million Americans call the United States coastline their home. These coastal communities--from major cities to small towns--play a vital role in sustaining the American economy, supporting commercial

fishing enterprises, tourism, and maritime commerce. In fact, approximately one-third of the U.S. gross domestic product has its origins in coastal areas. That is why the bill we are considering today is so important. It would reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act of 2006, and allow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue to protect Americans and our coastal economies from the threat of tsunami.

This legislation is a perfect example of a familiar saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Our tsunami warning program has been effective over the last eight years, but we must remain vigilant in our preparedness and continue to invest in the research and development, and education and outreach, necessary to improve the resiliency of our coastal communities to these destructive waves. We were reminded in 2004 in Sumatra, and again in 2011 in Japan, of the devastation that can be caused by a tsunami. Since the United States has not been struck by a major tsunami since 1964, I think it is useful to put the potential threat into perspective. I know I do not have to remind anyone of the amount of damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. A single tsunami event in the United States could dwarf the devastation caused by either of those disasters.

Billions and billions of dollars in economic damages and countless lives are at risk if we do not maintain, and improve, our tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities. H.R. 5309 advances NOAA's research efforts to do just that and may ultimately add minutes of critical response time to tsunami warnings. The bill also recognizes that the results of NOAA's research must be translated into outreach and education activities at the state and local level. The effective and timely communication of threats is critical in mitigating the impacts of a natural disaster. Increased warning times are only effective if people know how to respond. I am pleased that this legislation emphasizes and supports local community preparedness.

Resiliency to natural disasters is an important part of strengthening the nation's economic security. I want to ensure that our coastal communities have the resources and tools they need to minimize the loss of life and property caused by a tsunami. Reauthorizing NOAA's tsunami activities by passing H.R. 5309 is a key step in helping to do just that.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the implications of the crime committed against the late Michael Brown on August 9th, 2014 and the subsequent riots in Ferguson. It has been 59 years since the murder and kidnapping of Emmett Till, and in 2014, the cycle of mistreatment continues. What happened in Ferguson, Missouri was a tragedy. It is yet another reminder underlining the mistreatment of communities of color in the United States. The pain and discontent we all feel toward the Ferguson Police Department is valid, but we cannot express our anger without taking a formal stance against the militarization of law enforcement.

As Members of Congress who represent communities of color, the purpose of today's special order is to highlight community policing and lessons learned from Ferguson. Although, economic and social parity remain a constant issue in our communities, our focus now shifts to improper policing and blatant violations of civil rights. We are all citizens of this great nation, but we are also citizens of communities in crisis.

As a United States Congresswoman for over 20 years, I have fought to procure racial equity here in the United States. Though headway has been made, all of this work falls by the wayside when travesties like those seen in Ferguson continue to occur. Mr. Speaker, this is much more than a question of racial equality. It is a question of ``what can be done today to safeguard human rights and the protection of human life in the future.''

In the 1960's, the world watched in horror as civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama faced local police officers armed with fire hoses and attack dogs. In 2014, the citizens of Ferguson faced local police officers armed with automatic weapons, sniper assault weapons and armored tanks provided by the Department of Defense. It is unconscionable that the local police could use military tactics and armaments against citizens exercising their right to peaceably assemble.

The Department of Justice has had the legal authority to investigate whether a law enforcement organization is engaging in a ``pattern of

practice'' in civil rights violations, since 1994. However, despite dozens of allegations filed against law enforcement in the city of Ferguson, nothing has been done to address the use of excessive police force. As a result, heinous crimes like those seen in the cases of Michael Brown have become our reality.

For this reason, as we stand united against the crimes committed in Ferguson, we must also focus our efforts on ensuring that local police departments are not authorized to wage war against communities of color. We must put an end to the federal grants that encourage local police forces to create war zones within our communities. The lesson learned from Ferguson is clear. We must stand against the militarization of law enforcement and improper community policing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the three children who die every day as a result of drowning--and to recognize organizations, like YMCAs across the country, that are working to give children and youth the skills to prevent these tragic accidents from happening.

Drowning is the leading cause of death nationally for children aged 1-4, and is the second leading cause of death for children aged 5-9. For children between 5 and 9, the drowning rate for African American and American Indian children is roughly 3 times that of white children, and African American children aged 11 and 12 are 10 times more likely to drown in pools than their white counterparts. Regardless of race, lower income populations disproportionately bear the burden of drowning in their communities.

During 2013, 7 children drowned in the Dallas metropolitan area. In Texas, 82 children were victims of drowning. During 2012, 66% of child drowning victims in Texas were male.

Both in Texas and across the country, there is an opportunity and a need to save these children's lives--to reach out to communities that historically have not had access to swimming and drowning prevention programs. Many low-income children live in housing complexes with unguarded swimming pools, and in hot summer months, these pools may be the only way to cool down, as many of the housing units lack air conditioning.

The YMCA is one example of an organization that is changing statistics for children across the country. The YMCA is bringing swimming safety and drowning prevention programs to these community sites. YMCAs also partner with schools to bring kids to the Y for lessons and offer swimming lessons year-round. I am thrilled that the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is one of the 15 YMCAs across the country piloting a program to reduce youth incidences of drowning. The YMCA makes an effort to go into underserved communities to teach drowning prevention and water safety to children who otherwise would not have access to these life-saving skills. Moreover, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is one of 103 Ys providing additional scholarships to children in their community that may not otherwise have access to swim lessons as part of a nation-wide data collection project on effectiveness of skill instruction in all communities.

I would like to congratulate the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas on its innovative efforts to save the lives of all our children, and to join

them in educating parents and providing children the skills they need to swim safely and avoid harm.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding the 40th anniversary of the division of Cyprus, and to encourage a final settlement that makes possible a reunited island and a shared, peaceful and prosperous future for all Cypriots.

Over time, members of this House have delivered, and will deliver, statements denouncing Cyprus' status quo, while placing all responsibility of it with Turkey and its actions in 1974. It is scarcely noted that in 1963, as a result of ethnic tension, Turkish Cypriots were compelled to leave the joint institutions of the Republic of Cyprus. This hostile environment for the Turkish Cypriots continued and in 1974, the Cypriot National Guard, supported by Greece's military junta, launched a coup to secure enosis--or unification--with Greece. Following the coup, animosity towards Turkish Cypriots increased and the Cyprus that was once unified, became an environment where the Turkish Cypriots no longer felt safe nor welcome in their home country. Turkey defends it was within its rights to protect the population as a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.

Each year, we hear from one side that a final settlement can be achieved once Turkey withdraws its forces from the island. The Turkish government has previously stated time and again its desire for a final settlement that protects the rights and freedoms of both communities, and will allow Turkish troops to return home. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan called again this week for a political settlement based on mutual consensus and the political equality of both communities. Turkish Cypriots demonstrated their desire for the reunification of the island through their support--a decade ago--of the Annan Plan, which contained drastic compromises for both communities, yet was rejected by the Greek Cypriot community. The continuing isolation of Turkish Cypriots from the international community in the ten years since while Greek Cypriots, as the Republic of Cyprus, utilize EU membership and the global flows of commerce, is an imbalance that must be redressed.

The only solution to this imbalance, and the status quo in total, is a comprehensive agreement where the rights and equality of both communities are recognized, respected, and maintained. Both parties will have to give, if common ground is to be secured. I call upon both sides to continue their efforts on this front, and express my hopes that the Administration do everything within its power to support such a process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Emmitt and Pat Smith, the recipients of the Congressional Award Foundation's 2014 Horizon Award.

The Horizon Award is bestowed upon individuals who have made a significant commitment to expanding opportunities for all Americans through personal contributions. Emmitt and Pat Smith, exemplify the virtues of integrity, respect, accountability and character embodied by this award. Through their philanthropic activities, they have inspired young people throughout North Texas to reach for their dreams and to do the seemingly impossible.

The Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities create and fund unique educational experiences and enrichment opportunities for underprivileged youth. Because of their sacrifices and humanitarian efforts, these deserving children are given the opportunity to attend the most prestigious learning institutions throughout the city of Dallas.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Emmitt and Pat Smith's selfless contributions to the City of Dallas and communities beyond. Because of their partnership, the City of Dallas is better; our nation is better; and our future is brighter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a cherished colleague to the Science community, Dr. Cora Marrett. After serving with distinction for nearly two decades she will be retiring after serving as Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Dr. Marrett is a shining example of what it means to be an effective public servant She has built her career on bipartisanship, expertise and dependability. Dr. Marrett has always kept the needs of the American people close at heart. Dr. Marrett deserves to be commended for serving at the helm of NSF during tumultuous times, such as sequestration and the government shutdown. She earned NSF's Distinguished Service Award for her groundbreaking leadership of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorate.

As Ranking Member for the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I have the distinct pleasure of working closely with Dr. Marrett. Over the years, she has demonstrated a tremendous mastery of the political process and led NSF's mission to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels. She has shown a clear commitment to furthering scientific and intellectual advancement here in the United States. I am especially grateful for the insights she provided as a witness a number of times. I thank her for her service and wish her the best of luck in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American people will be losing a loyal advocate this August. I have an immense amount of respect for Dr. Marrett, and I wish her and her family all the best in any future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1022 and two other Science, Space, and Technology bills being considered today.

Earlier this year, all of my Democratic committee colleagues joined me in introducing H.R. 4159, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014. Two of the bills being considered today are similar or identical to provisions we included in our COMPETES bill, and the third bill similarly reflects a longstanding bipartisan effort, and I will speak briefly about each of the three bills.

First, I would like to speak in support of H.R. 1022, a bill that would authorize a research and development program to explore ways to sustain our supply of materials that is critical to a wide range of advanced energy technologies.

According to a recent study by the American Physical Society and the Materials Research Society, the U.S. is currently dependent on other countries for more than 90 percent of most of these types of materials. We are particularly dependent on China, which has demonstrated a willingness to at least temporarily cut off our supply of these energy critical elements in the recent past, so this bill is a timely contribution to our national, economic, and energy security.

I would like to thank my colleague and friend, Mr. Swalwell, for introducing this important piece of legislation, as well as Chairman Smith and his staff for working diligently with us to bring it to the floor today.

Next, I want to thank Mr. Bucshon for introducing H.R. 5035, a bill to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NIST is our Nation's oldest science agency and plays a very important role in U.S. innovation and competitiveness through advancing measurement science and providing unique measurement facilities to industry.

While we don't often think about measurement science, it is critically important. Anytime a technology is developed, measurement science is needed to ensure that the technology is working as intended and is compatible with existing systems. NIST plays a role in fields from bioscience to forensics to automobile safety technology.

NIST has also taken leadership roles in crosscutting Federal efforts in cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.

H.R. 5035 reauthorizes and makes important updates to the program at NIST, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which helps small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies create and retain American jobs.

My one concern with H.R. 5035 is the low authorization level. I hope that when this bill goes to conference with the Senate we can agree to give NIST an authorization level that allows it to fully realize its critical role in U.S. innovation and competitiveness. In the meantime, because the policy changes in this bill are good and important, I support it.

Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Hultgren and Mr. Kilmer for introducing H.R. 5120, a bill to provide important new tools to accelerate commercialization of new technologies developed by DOE laboratories and programs in partnership with the private sector.

This bill closely mirrors several critical provisions in the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014, as well as the Senate's bipartisan America INNOVATES Act sponsored by Senators Coons and Rubio.

It also reflects a number of recommendations found in a recent report produced by the Center for American Progress, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and The Heritage Foundation, three groups that you don't often find in the same line of authors.

I want to thank Chairman Smith and many other colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as the other side of the Capitol, for working with us to produce a strong bill that we can support. All three of these bills are products of strong bipartisan efforts, and I urge my colleagues to support them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA). I want to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for bringing this legislation to the floor today.

H.R. 3086 which permanently extends the moratorium on Internet access taxes and prohibits discriminatory taxation of internet commerce has 228 bi-partisan cosponsors. Originally passed in 1998 and extended three times since with broad bi-partisan support. H.R. 3086 encourages the flow of commerce and information over the internet and improves our nation's ability to compete in the global economy.

The original intent of this law was to protect and nurture what once was a fledgling industry. Today, access to the internet has become the engine of our 21st century global economy. The internet is one the primary drivers of U.S. economic growth innovation and productivity and it is indispensable for finding jobs and accessing education and health care resources. Permanently extending the ITFA protects citizens from a fee to access this indispensable tool while continuing to encourage the growth of a key driver for American global competitiveness.