Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, allow me to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall and Subcommittee Chair Petri and Ranking Member Eleanor Holmes Norton.

I rise today in support of H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act for 2014.

In particular, the bill before the House this afternoon would do two things: first, it would provide a total of $35.3 billion for highway, public transit, and surface transportation programs; secondly, it would extend surface transportation programs authorized under MAP-21 through May 31, 2015.

I support this bill because it takes almost 60,000 construction jobs in Texas out of harm's way, and it ensures that over 3,500 active highway and transit projects in Texas will not be slowed or stopped by the highway trust fund's shortfall.

However, my support for this bill is reluctant, as I believe we have missed another opportunity to craft a long-term highway program yet again. While I am pleased that we have come together to address the impeding highway crisis, we are also kicking the can down the road again.

Today, 65 percent of our Nation's roads are rated at less than good condition, and 25 percent of our bridges require significant repair. In Texas alone, we have over 300,000 miles of public roads, 8 percent of which are in poor condition.

The measure before us today all but ensures that we will be having this exact same debate again sometime in the next Congress; rather, what we need to do is adopt a long-term plan that will provide certainty, increase transit investments, and keep workers in our construction industries on the job. When we return from the August recess, I urge my colleagues to work together and begin crafting a long-term surface transportation bill. We have seen again and again legislating by crisis is not effective.

I thank the gentleman.

As our roads erode and our transit systems decay, we owe our constituents no less than acting in their best interest and enacting a long-term bill as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5031 and the three 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. Three of the bills considered today are similar or identical to the provisions we included in our Competes bill, and the fourth bill similarly reflects a longstanding bipartisan effort. I will speak briefly about each of the four bills.

First, I want to thank Chairman Smith and my Democratic colleagues, Mr. Lipinski and Ms. Esty, for introducing H.R. 5031, the STEM Education Act of 2014. While we still have much work to do to improve access to high-quality STEM education for all young Americans, this bill is a good step in the right direction.

American students and American companies are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to having a well-prepared information technology workforce. While there is no silver bullet, it is important that we include computer science in the definition of STEM.

This bill also authorizes informal STEM education grants at the National Science Foundation. Learning happens in all settings at all times of the day, not just in the classroom.

While we know that informal STEM education holds great promise to increased engagement and learning in STEM by diverse populations, R&D and NSF helps ensure that we are developing and implementing the most effective programs.

Finally, H.R. 5031 amends NSF's Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship program to expand eligibility to current math and science teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.

This update ensures that we are tapping into our entire pool of talented STEM teachers who might serve as master teachers in their schools and districts. I urge my colleagues to support this good bill.

Next, I want to thank my fellow Texan, Mr. Neugebauer, who introduced H.R. 1786, legislation that would reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, or NWIRP. The last several years have been devastating years for natural disasters across the country. Tornadoes have resulted in significant loss of life and property across the Midwest.

Superstorm Sandy caused widespread destruction and death along the eastern seaboard, and it was not so long ago that Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast. We cannot stop these windstorms, but we must make sure our communities have the tools they need to prepare for and respond to and recover from these disasters.

H.R. 1786 reauthorizes NWIRP, an important program that helps our Federal agencies and communities across the Nation develop and implement new model building codes and many other measures to minimize the loss of life and property during windstorms and to rebuild effectively and safely after such storms.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important bill.

I also want to thank Mr. Bucshon and Mr. Peters for introducing H.R. 5056, the Research and Development Efficiency Act. I think we can all agree that when federally funded researchers are spending more than 40 percent of their time on administrative burdens rather than doing science, we are not getting the most we can out of our investments in

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Dale Morris, Regional Director for American/American Eagle Airlines. Mr. Morris served a total of 27 years at American Airlines, including his early years as a proteegee to former Chairman, President and CEO of American Airlines, Gerard J. Arpey. As he enters retirement, it is fitting that this body honors Mr. Morris and his illustrious career, given his personal and professional successes.

Mr. Morris was raised in Fresno, California, where he studied Journalism and Public Relations at Fresno State University. He maintained a firm connection to his roots as past president and current special advisor to the Fresno State Track & Field Commission. Among his various accolades, he is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Beta 311 Chapter.

In his role at American Airlines, Mr. Morris had the ability to navigate various legislative and regulatory obstacles to effectively advocate for American Airlines, thereby keeping American citizens and American skies safe. Over several decades, he has worked extensively with members of Congress, the White House, and the Department of State, always with the utmost integrity and trustworthiness.

Mr. Speaker, with Mr. Morris' leadership, officials at all levels of government made critical policy decisions that have improved the Nation's airports and many Americans' traveling experiences. I recognize Mr. Morris as a great American who has devoted his career to assisting those in public service and congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. DeMetris Sampson as she retires after 25 years of illustrious service from the Dallas-based law firm, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. Ms. Sampson was the first African-American woman named as partner at the firm, and she epitomizes the characteristics of a true servant-leader. It is often said that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others. I dare to say that DeMetris has found herself twice over.

DeMetris Sampson has provided outstanding community service throughout the City of Dallas. She has displayed a constant commitment to serving those whose life she has impacted through varied activities--from serving as president of the J.L. Turner Legal Association and the Dallas Association of Black Women Attorneys. She has been involved extensively with programs, such as Emerging Young Leaders and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

DeMetris Sampson is not only a leader; she is a person of incredible intellect who possesses the ability to build alliances with people and groups from diverse backgrounds and varying interests. She is a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Trinity Chapter of Links, Inc. No matter the organization or affiliation, integrity has always been the central element of Ms. Sampson's work. She can always be counted on to do what is right. She is a champion of justice and offers a resounding voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Ms. Sampson has received numerous awards for her dedicated service, including the 2012 Legacy of Service Foundation Award.

Mr. Speaker, I can say with great pride that the City of Dallas is a better place because of the dedicated and selfless service of DeMetris A. Sampson. Her unprecedented community involvement will impact the City of Dallas for years to come. I want to extend a personal thank you, and a thank you on behalf of the wonderful people of the great City of Dallas. Thank you DeMetris for your outstanding example. As you retire, you deserve to reflect upon your career with great pride in a job well done. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Ms. Sampson for her outstanding professional achievement and dedicated service.

Mr. Speaker, the Senate voted last week to pass comprehensive legislation aimed at addressing the longstanding issues within the Department of Veterans Affairs' health care system. Now it is time for the Republican House leadership to bring a comprehensive package to the floor.

With more than 8 million veterans turning to the VA for medical care each year, it is absolutely critical that we thoroughly address these issues in a timely fashion. That is why I commend Congresswoman Kirkpatrick for introducing companion legislation to the Sanders-McCain bill to improve the quality of care within the VA.

Our veterans should not have to endure excessive long waits, tolerate canceled appointments, and question the quality of care they are receiving, nor should the persons reporting these activities be punished. The legislation would increase access to care while also improving on the quality of care, and it is something that we can act upon today.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation will be judged by how we treat our veterans. I urge this Congress to act swiftly on comprehensive legislation so that we can bring real accountability--and some sanity--back to the VA.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.

Whereas the company that became Greyhound Lines, Inc., was started in 1914 by a Swedish immigrant, Carl Eric Wickman, who began by transporting miners from Hibbing to Alice, Minnesota in a 7-passenger ``Hupmobile'' for 15 cents;

Whereas in ensuing decades, Greyhound pioneered many bus industry innovations including the ``Super Coach'' (1936), the first bus with an all-metal body and rear-mounted engine; the fluted aluminum ``Silversides'' with air conditioning and diesel engines (1940); the most iconic Greyhound bus, the two-level ``Scenicruiser'' with onboard restrooms and under-floor baggage and express compartments (1954);

Whereas Greyhound played a crucial role in many historical events including transporting troops from coast to coast in World War II and carrying Freedom Riders through the Deep South to protest state- sponsored segregation in interstate transportation facilities;

Whereas Greyhound is the only nationwide intercity bus transportation company in the United States serving, along with its interline partners, over 2700 communities in all 48 continental states, and providing the only form of intercity public transportation in many of those communities;

Whereas Greyhound efficiently operates a complex network of services extending from Canada to Mexico, including services in both of those countries;

Whereas Greyhound has been a leader in safety innovations including developing and installing on all its new buses starting in 2009 radically redesigned new bus seats that provide the protection of lap/ shoulder safety belts while retaining the benefits of compartmentalization;

Whereas Greyhound continues to provide innovative new services such as the Greyhound Express and BoltBus point-to-point services while retaining its full nationwide network and provides all of its services in state of the art, 50-passenger motorcoaches with amenities such as expanded leg room, WiFi and electric plug-ins; and

Whereas Greyhound continues to do what Carl Wickman began 100 years ago, that is, providing affordable, safe, comfortable, and reliable intercity transportation to all members of the traveling public: Now, therefore, be it resolved that the United States House of Representatives:

(1) Honors the centennial anniversary of the founding of Greyhound Lines, Inc operated;

(2) Applauds and honors the president and CEO, executive staff, and all employees of Greyhound Lines, Inc. for a century of innovations in intercity travel, and it expresses hope that said service will continue for many years to come; and,

(3) Congratulates Greyhound Lines, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, for 100 years of outstanding service to the people of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 4412, the NASA Authorization Act of 2014.

This act has come a long ways from its original state nearly a year ago, when the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on which I serve as ranking member passed a different version of the bill on a party-line vote, a departure from the committee's traditional bipartisan approach to NASA.

However, much has changed since that time, and I want to recognize the efforts of the committee leadership, including Chairman Lamar Smith and especially Space Subcommittee Chairman Steve Palazzo and Ranking Member Donna Edwards, for their dedication and willingness to work together with me to achieve this bipartisan committee-passed bill, H.R. 4412, the NASA Authorization Act of 2014.

While this is not a perfect bill, especially in terms of its short duration and lack of meaningful funding guidance, the bill in its present form includes many important policy provisions that help guide the future of NASA at a critical time for our space program.

In that regard, just last week, a congressionally mandated report on human space exploration by the National Academies was released that stated:

A sustainable program of human deep space exploration

requires an ultimate horizon goal that provides a long-term

force.

The report further states:

There is a consensus in national space policy,

international coordination groups, and the public

imagination, for Mars as a major goal for human space

exploration.

I am pleased that H.R. 4412 is consistent with the National Academies' recommendation on both sides. It establishes a long-term goal for NASA's exploration program of carrying out a human mission to the surface of Mars, and it directs NASA to prepare a human exploration roadmap that will lay out the required milestones and capabilities for achieving that goal.

Achieving any of NASA's goals, including sending humans to the surface of Mars, however, requires investment across NASA's portfolio of programs. To that end and building upon past, successive NASA authorization acts, H.R. 4412 ensures the continuation of NASA as a multimission agency that includes programs in science, aeronautics, human spaceflight, and human exploration.

The bill also builds upon a pillar of Congress' oversight role for our civil space program, namely, ensuring the safety of our astronauts in outer space. Consistent with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, H.R. 4412 requires that safety be given the highest priority in the selection of a commercial human spaceflight system to transport our astronauts to the international space station.

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, NASA has enabled the discovery of new planets outside our solar system, landed

the Curiosity rover on Mars, and continued to study the Sun, our Earth system, and make other advances in space and earth science.

H.R. 4412 includes provisions to ensure the continued strength of NASA's space and earth science programs. It authorizes new studies and strategies on exoplanets and Mars robotic exploration, while also supporting work and future capabilities for astrophysical observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, and planning for a wide-field infrared survey telescope.

About a year and a half ago, a meteor exploded over part of Russia, bringing renewed attention to the risks of near-Earth asteroids. H.R. 4412 builds on the policies that Congress has set in past authorizations to research, survey, detect, and characterize near-Earth asteroids and their risks.

The bill provides direction on NASA's aeronautics research program, an important contributor to our competitiveness in aviation, and it directs a study to benchmark the position of the United States on the aeronautics research with respect to the rest of the world.

H.R. 4412 includes many other good government provisions, including those on orbital debris, information technology governance, and cost controls, among other areas. It is well known that many of our Nation's top engineers and scientists were inspired to pursue science and technology as a result of what we and NASA did with the space program during the Apollo era. NASA's ability to inspire and to engage is like no other part of our government.

While this bill makes clear that NASA's scientists and engineers, as well as NASA-supported researchers, need to continue to play a strong role in NASA's education activities to convey their knowledge and passion to the next generation, that is not enough.

We need a strong NASA with an inspired agenda for the next generation, and we need to fund it at a level commensurate with the task we have given it. Our children and grandchildren are our future science and technology workforce.

They will sustain our leadership on the global science and technology stage, maintain our competitiveness, and make the future discoveries in science and technology.

As I have said before, we must maintain our commitment to NASA to ensure our continued strength and leadership in space going forward.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4412, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman 1 more minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014.

S. 1254 is a bipartisan bill, and I want to thank my colleagues, Ms. Bonamici and Mr. Posey, for their hard work to advance this important legislation. It authorizes an interagency program led by NOAA to improve our understanding and response to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events.

Unfortunately, over the past decade, the distribution and frequency of harmful algal blooms--or HABs--has increased steadily. Today, nearly every State is threatened by this toxic algae.

HABs can have serious economic and public health effects. Shellfish beds along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coasts are often closed during a major event to protect the public from significant respiratory distress, shellfish poisoning, and other illnesses.

The economic impact these closures can have on the shellfish industry and tourism is quite large. A single event can cost a coastal community tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue.

While NOAA and the research community have made great strides since the establishment of this program, the need for continued research and tools to lessen the impact of these events is greater than ever before.

More accurate and efficient tools for detecting toxins, early warning of blooms, better predictions of bloom movement, methods for controlling outbreaks, and the development of local and regional partnerships will all allow for a more effective response.

For instance, in 2009, NOAA-funded scientists from Texas A&M University developed and deployed a sensor in Galveston Bay that can detect algae responsible for shellfish poisoning.

The sensor now provides an early warning to Texas State health officials, allowing them to temporarily close the bay to oyster harvesting. This early warning capability is a perfect example of how this program can minimize economic impacts and protect human health.

Addressing the many dimensions of HABs requires a coordinated multi- agency approach, and passage of S. 1254 and the reauthorization of this program will result in practical and innovative approaches to addressing hypoxia and HABs events in U.S. waters.

The health of our coast and waterways is critical to our economy, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 85th Anniversary of the Alpha Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated--the first Greek letter sorority for African-American women. The Alpha Xi Omega Chapter was established in Dallas, Texas on June 6, 1929. Since its inception, its members have provided outstanding community service throughout the City of Dallas. They have displayed a constant commitment to serving those in need through varied volunteer activities--from tutoring children, raising money to fight cancer, increasing awareness to combat AIDS, supporting research for sickle cell anemia to feeding the hungry.

Through programs of service, they encourage young men and women to develop high standards of character and excellence in education. They support a myriad of other programs, including: health and social services for women and children and the development of art, cultural and educational groups. They understand the great price of liberty--the duty of each of us to give back freely. They understand that by investing their time, energy and talent, they strengthen the very fiber of our Nation.

While my colleagues and I draft education reform legislations, we cannot be on the ground in every community: staffing after-school programs, coordinating back-to-school supply drives or organizing domestic violence seminars. Our success as a nation is, in no small part, due to the leadership and passion of citizens who are helping people lead healthier and more purposeful lives--those who focus on student achievement to foster innovation and creativity. The Alpha Xi Omega Chapter has improved the social stature of Dallas' youth by cultivating and encouraging high scholastic and ethical standards. Because of their work, the next generation of leaders is energized to innovate and move the country forward.

Mr. Speaker, I have been a Member of this organization for more than 40 years, and I can say with great pride that the City of Dallas is a better place because of the dedicated and selfless service of the distinguished women of The Alpha Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Their unparalleled and unprecedented community involvement will impact the Dallas community for years to come. They epitomize the power of an engaged citizenry and reflect our nation's great tradition of service. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their service today in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Madam Chair, I rise today to discuss an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2015 that would divert $10 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to go toward the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The recent shooting in Santa Barbara last week underscores the critical need to have a comprehensive and robust background check system in place to screen individuals who are looking to illegally purchase firearms. Over the last 20 years, more than 2.1 million illegal firearms sales have been prevented because of NICS. However, there are still gaps in the system, due in part because there is insufficient funding for States to keep adequate records on individuals who are not permitted to purchase firearms under the law.

Congress can do more to provide additional funding to help bolster NICS and its ability to keep firearms out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, or the mentally ill. Additional funding in the CJS Appropriations bill will help meet the demand from States to collect more accurate and more complete records of individuals who are ineligible to purchase firearms.

However, I have serious reservations that this amendment will decrease the administrative and grants management activities budget of the NSF by $10 million. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I cannot in good faith support an amendment which proposes to cut an essential function for the premier STEM education research organization in the country. This cut to NSF is a cut to the management of research which will ultimately determine our Nation's global competitiveness for years to come. For decades, NSF grants have resulted in the most effective and inspiring STEM curricula and programs in and out of the classroom. I cannot in good faith support an amendment which does harm to these important areas.

Madam Chair, I believe that this Congress can do more to prevent gun violence in order to avoid tragedies such as the recent shooting in Santa Barbara. However, I must object to the desire to draw critical funding away from the NSF's agency operations account in order to bolster NICS. Reducing funding for NSF is misguided, and I strongly urge my colleagues to reconsider their approach to this important amendment.

Madam Chairman, funding for research innovation and STEM education is an investment in our future, perhaps the single most important investment we can make.

Many of our competitors understand this and are striving to surpass the United States in innovation capacity and in the creation of a highly-skilled 21st century workforce.

It used to be that the world's best and brightest flocked to our shores. Now, many of our own best and brightest are finding better opportunities in other countries, or we are chasing them from STEM careers altogether.

In 2007 and, again, in 2010, the U.S. Congress passed the America COMPETES Act, recognizing the importance of increased investment in research, innovation, and STEM education, signed into law by Presidents Bush and Obama, respectively.

Appropriations have not kept pace with authorizations, but not from the lack of effort and commitment by appropriations colleagues, CJS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Wolf, Ranking Member Fattah, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Lowey.

I want to thank them, my colleagues, for their enduring support for science, even when it meant making very difficult cuts elsewhere.

As this is Chairman Wolf's last CJS bill, I want to express my personal gratitude to him in particular for being a strong and unwavering champion for the National Science Foundation and for STEM education. I will miss him greatly. We all will.

In sad and puzzling contrast, last week, my own committee debated COMPETES reauthorization legislation that would turn back the progress we have made in securing our Nation's future innovation capacity and voted out a bill this afternoon, a substitute today, without a single Democratic vote.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues, in the strongest possible terms, to add their own vote of confidence in our Nation's premier science agency, the National Science Foundation. It is the only agency to fund basic research across all fields of science and engineering, including, importantly, the social and behavioral sciences.

The returns on our 65-year investment in the National Science Foundation are too many and too significant to list here. But perhaps NSF's most important investment is the investment it makes in human capital--the great scientists, innovators, and job creators of tomorrow and the workforce for tomorrow's high-skilled, high-paying jobs.

Some of my colleagues' efforts to cut funding, to impose political review over peer-review, to establish a message of distrust of scientists, and to inhibit the normal advance of science, are sending a chilling message to smart young people across the nation to not bother entering or sticking with STEM studies or careers.

A vote to retain the modest 2.9 percent increase to NSF in today's legislation is a vote to hold onto our nation's future innovators and job creators.

I will make just a few brief remarks about other agencies within this appropriations bill.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is playing an increasingly critical role in cyber security, forensics, advanced manufacturing, and technology, and so many other topics critical to our nation's security and wellbeing. I just wish we could do more for NIST in this bill, but I understand this was one of the difficult decisions that the appropriations committee confronted.

I also want to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for their support for NASA. While I would like to see NASA funding at even higher levels, commensurate with the tasks that we are asking the agency to carry out, I am pleased that this bill proposes to fund NASA at an increase of about 1.4 percent over the Fiscal Year 2014 enacted appropriation.

In particular, I support the bill's sustained funding levels for exploration and the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, which are being prepared for critical flight tests in 2017 and 2021, and which will enable our nation's return to human exploration of deep space.

I also support the committee's emphasis on the need to enhance research on the International Space Station, a unique and perishable asset that is important for both basic and applied research and for enabling our goals in human exploration of outer space.

I am also pleased that the committee has sustained robust funding for NASA's science programs and, in particular, restored funding to NASA's planetary science program, which has experienced cuts in recent years.

In addition, I applaud the committee for providing a robust increase for NASA's aeronautics program, which provides critical R&D to benefit our nation's commercial aviation industry and helps sustain our nation's competitiveness in global aviation.

Finally, I must express one significant concern, and that is the large cut to climate research activities at NOAA. The level proposed in this bill is 44 percent below the President's request and 23 percent below current spending.

A number of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to bury their heads in the sand as it relates to climate change, but cutting the research that will improve our understanding of and our ability to adapt to the impacts associated with climate change is not the answer. If anything, given the uncertainties that remain, we should be supporting increased funding not less. I hope the needed funding will be restored when this bill is conferenced with the Senate.

In closing, I again want to thank Chairman Wolf, Ranking Member Fattah, and the rest of your Committee members for your efforts to protect and grow our nation's science and innovation capacity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vivian Castleberry, recipient of the 2014 Visionary Woman award given by Juliette Fowler Communities. Ms. Castleberry became the first female editor of the Dallas Times Herald in 1957 and spent twenty-eight years there before her retirement to pursue a second career as a profound peace activist.

A Texas native, Ms. Castleberry co-founded The Dallas Women's Foundation, The Family Place, and the Women's Center of Dallas and founded Peacemakers Incorporated. Her work as a ``grassroots Citizen Diplomat'' included traveling to Russia to meet and interview women entrepreneurs who were educated in the United States and returned to Russia to use their skills to build their own communities.

Since retiring from the Dallas Times Herald, Ms. Castleberry has written four books: Daughters of Dallas, The Texas Tornado, Sarah the Bridge Builder, and Seeds of Success. Because of her success in journalism, Ms. Castleberry has won numerous awards like the ``Katie'' awards given by the Press Club of Dallas, two United Press International awards, a Buck Marryat Award for ``outstanding contributions to communications,'' among others.

Ms. Castleberry was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1984 which is the same year of its creation. A journalistic pioneer, I am proud that Ms. Castleberry is a member of the Dallas community. Ms. Castleberry is said to have been the ``godmother'' of the women's movement in Dallas. Her success in shining the light on capable and accomplished women contributes to today's women's movement.

Please join me in recognizing Vivian Castleberry, a woman I count on as one of my good friends and supporters over the years, not only for her earning the 2014 Visionary Woman award, but for helping to bring women to the forefront of our society.

Mr. Speaker, when our men and women in uniform take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, they enter into a contract with our government; and if they survive and return, they are veterans. Part of that contract entitles these veterans to quality health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Recently, it seems as though we are failing to uphold our part of this agreement. More than 8 million veterans seek medical care through the VA each year. Yet each year, we hear the same complaints of long wait times, canceled appointments, and concerns about the quality of care being administered.

One of the largest VA facilities in District 30 of Texas, which is my district, has major problems that are not new and have been reported time and time again, year after year, with little change. This is simply unacceptable. We owe it to our veterans to provide timely and quality health care. Anything less should be met with great criticism and responded to with much-needed reform.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation will be judged by how we treat our veterans. Our veterans put their lives at risk every day while deployed. Their lives should not be at risk while seeking medical care here at home.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman

and ranking member for bringing forth this report.

Mr. Shuster, Mr. Rahall, the subcommittee chair, and the subcommittee ranking member, this really is a very special time. Since last year, conferees and staff have diligently been working to resolve the differences between the House and Senate measures.

It has been 6 years since Congress last passed a water resources bill, and the state of our water infrastructure has continued to decline. I am pleased, however, with this final product, as it provides for maintenance of our ports and waterways as well as critical flood control projects around the country. The bill provides new ways to maintain and protect our water infrastructure, ultimately creating jobs and shoring up our economy.

We have also addressed many important policy reforms in this bill, including reforming the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, encouraging the creation of jobs through targeted water resources infrastructure, and it goes on.

I am confident that the Senate will comply and pass it. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Judge L. Clifford Davis. After 65 years of service, Judge Davis was awarded the Blackstone Award by the Tarrant County Bar Association. The Blackstone Award is given to distinguished individuals who have demonstrated unwavering integrity and courage during their careers.

Judge Davis has a rich history of demonstrable courage as a lawyer. Judge Davis became licensed in Texas in 1953 and eventually moved to Fort Worth where he led the charge on desegregating the Mansfield and Fort Worth Independent School Districts. Today, the Mansfield and Fort Worth Independent School Districts rank among some of the top public school districts in Texas. In 1983, Judge Davis was elected one of the first African-American state district judges in Tarrant County.

Judge Davis was recognized by the NAACP, inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame, and was awarded the Silver Gavel Award by the Tarrant County Bar Association. Judge Davis is also widely recognized by his peers and his neighbors for strengthening the integrity of our judicial system.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Davis has dedicated his life to empowering individuals who would otherwise be without a voice. Judge Davis had a direct hand in the fight for equal justice during the Civil Rights movement, and has contributed greatly toward improving the legal and public school systems in Texas. We are grateful for Judge Davis' service to our country and courage in the face of adversity and I am proud to recognize Judge Davis.