Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an outstanding teacher in my district.

I stand today to celebrate Dunbar High School teacher Jill Borstelman Klausing of Cape Coral. She returned to the classroom after a 16-month hiatus due to stage 3 breast cancer. After months of extensive treatment, she is blessed to continue her passion of teaching.

Jill has devoted almost two decades to teaching intensive reading at Dunbar High School and has had a lasting impression to countless students. Her high energy and determination is unmatched and enhances the learning environment every day.

I wish her and her family the best as she continues her recovery. The students and faculty of Dunbar are in a better place with Jill in the classroom. This has been a challenging start to the school year, and I wish all our local educators the best.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to speak a little bit here about the tax reform opportunities that we are seeing now.

Some people don't like to admit it, but there is a proven, inescapable correlation among tax treatment, capital investment, and job creation. As this chart right here shows, unequivocally correlating an investment of capital with economic change, when you have more money put in, you get more jobs and more economic growth. And some people don't like to admit that connection, but it is inescapable. It has been that way ever since the first commerce took place in the Roman era.

We have a second chart that shows the post-World War II GDP change, an average of 3.1. The American middle class was built on opportunity, lower taxes, economic stimuli, and growth. It wasn't built on this 2.3 to 1.6 that we are going to get if we don't get back to some serious business-centric, investment-centric tax reform.

There is another equally inescapable fact, and that is that capital is fungible. If tax treatment nurtures it, like watering your yard, it will grow. If not, it will be invested somewhere else. Just look at Texas, just look at my home State of Florida, and look at Ireland, for example.

When the tax climate is nurturing and favorable for investment, you get money put in, you get jobs created, you get economic growth. Investment goes where it is most favorably treated. So going to 20 and 25 percent from 35 to 40 percent will unleash a torrent of capital investment and job formation.

Rapid capital recovery by expensing capital assets purchases will attract massive investments, stimulate our economy, make our manufacturing companies do better, and build up the capital stock of our country again, like we used to do. This is going to create one thing: job-creating economic growth.

That is what we need and that is what the Republican reform program offers.

It also offers one more thing and it changes treatment of foreign income, which is something I have some experience in, and it will incentivize companies to keep their income here. That is a good thing for America.

So I might just mention for just a second about what they say and what we say. They say tax cut for the wealthy. No, it is not a tax cut for the wealthy. It lowers taxes on all businesses and middle class Americans.

They say rising brackets on low income. This is an absolute incorrigible falsehood. No. We are taking the 10 percent rate to zero. We are taking the 15 percent rate to 10. By the way, Ronald Reagan reduced the 11 percent rate to zero.

They say it will explode the deficit, but we all know that economic growth shrinks deficits. Ronald Reagan proved that in spades, and we are going to see it again. When we eliminate many of these narrowly-crafted, special interest, lobbyist- driven credits and deductions, we are going to save enough money. Especially when we eliminate the State and local tax deduction, we are going to save a couple of trillion dollars that will help balance this.

Then they say loss of itemized deductions is a bad thing. When we double the standard exemption, no one is going to need to itemize. The people that do itemize, fine, they can have mortgage interest reduction, charitable reduction, whatever. But most Americans are going to be able to pay their taxes on a postcard.

In the polling in this country, the frustration of Americans with the IRS is directly related to the fact that nobody can fill out a tax form anymore. So we have great progress here.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to speak.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary actions of the Lee County Emergency Management Team. With Hurricane Irma hitting Lee County, the Lee Emergency Operations Center (EOC) took decisive action coordinating emergency responses and recovery efforts throughout Lee County.

The employees and volunteers staffing the EOC went above and beyond the call of duty keeping residents informed and sheltered, and are now working to clean up the damage left behind by the hurricane.

I applaud Sheriff Mike Scott, Sheriff Carmine Marceno, County Manager Roger Desjarlais, Director Benjamin Abes, Director Lee Mayfield, Chief Cochran, Chief Diggs, and all city and local officials for their tireless work in keeping our community informed and safe before, during, and after Hurricane Irma.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Collier County Emergency Management Team. In the wake of Hurricane Irma in Collier County, the employees and volunteers of Collier County Emergency Management (EM) worked diligently to keep residents informed and safe both before and after the storm.

I applaud and thank Sheriff Rambosk, Director Summers, County Manager Leo Ochs, Deputy County Manager Nick Casalanguida, Chief Schettino, Chief Weschler, Chief Murphy, and all city and local officials for their tireless work in keeping our community safe and secure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Morgan of Naples, Florida. David is a rising senior at Seacrest Country Day School and has committed to play golf at the University of Virginia.

This past week, David advanced to the match play round at the 70th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kansas. For 70 years, the USGA has organized the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship for players under the age of 19. It is designed to determine the best junior golfer in the United States. He was one of just 64 golfers in the entire country to advance to this stage, achieving a dream held by every young golfer. This was truly an extraordinary accomplishment.

I congratulate David and wish him the best of luck during his senior-year season as well as in his future at Virginia as a student- athlete.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Lt. Scott Wilson of the Greater Naples Fire and Rescue District. On Sunday, July 23, Lt. Wilson took part in the 10th Annual Brotherhood Ride to honor the 20 first-responders who fell in the line of duty in 2016. This weeklong ride started in North Naples and will finish in South Miami.

The purpose of this 600-mile ride is to bring awareness and support for the first-responders' fallen colleagues. Over the last decade, the group has raised over $379,000 for the families of our fallen heroes. Lt. Wilson has participated in every ride this group has completed.

We are fortunate to have leaders like Lt. Wilson serve our community. I thank him and all our first-responders for making Collier and Lee counties the perfect place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Norm Alpert in his 30th year as owner and founder of WAVV 101.1 FM in Naples. 30 years ago, Norm moved to the area and started his radio station to provide the people of our area quality jazz music to bring timeless entertainment to our community.

Norm fulfilled the American dream by starting his business from the ground up. He has proven to have found his calling, as his station consistently ranks among the top stations in the region. Further, he has helped our economy by providing jobs and advertising for businesses that reach across the state.

I congratulate Norm on his successes and look forward to see what he will accomplish and bring to the community in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a true pioneer and icon for the City of Cape Coral. Paul Warren Sanborn was a man of commitment; to his wife of 70 years, Mildred, to his daughters, Carol, Donna, and Mary, to his friends, and to the community he loved, and that loved him back. There are far too many accomplishments in a life well lived to fit into this writing, but to put it simply, Paul was Mr. Cape Coral.

Paul Sanborn served his country as a B-24 gunner and radio operator with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Upon moving to Cape Coral in 1962, Paul immediately turned his service towards the small community of 1,100 people; as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Cape Coral and American Legion Post 90, Chamber of Commerce President, Cape Coral Hospital Board member, Lee County Mosquito Control official, Cape Coral High School task force member, and official city historian. During his 55 years in Cape Coral, countless other charitable, business and civic organizations benefited from his generosity. Paul was named citizen of the year in both 1968 and 1992. By the time that Paul Sanborn Park was dedicated in 2008, the city had grown to a population of over 160,000.

Mr. Speaker, there is no greater example of service over self than Paul Sanborn. His wit, wisdom, generosity and friendship will be missed by all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of NFL player De'Vondre Campbell. A native of Fort Myers, Campbell is returning to his home town to host a summer football camp for our community's youth. As a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons, Campbell forced a fumble, recorded forty-eight tackles, and had one interception.

Campbell is the epitome of hard work and determination as he paid his way to Hutchinson Community College, then earned a scholarship to the University of Minnesota. He did not let this nor his necessary Lasik surgery deter him from achieving his dream of playing in the NFL. At his camp, he will teach young boys not only the fundamentals of the game, but also the value of teamwork, perseverance, and self- discipline. I commend Campbell for giving back to our community and look forward to seeing his accomplishments in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the nine swimmers from the Cape Coral swim team who qualified for the Florida Age Group Championships this weekend.

Swimmers Brent Baker, Evan Baker, Maddie Lehman, Jacob Bilancione, Hayden Tedhams, Skylar Gusler, Natalie Handzlik, Anne Kokosinski and Melana Greene have displayed tremendous skill and determination to qualify for this competition. All under fourteen years of age, these swimmers have shown commendable character as they have practiced tirelessly for this opportunity.

I would also like to honor veteran coach Ed Collins for his dedication to the swim team and the City of Cape Coral. His hard work has brought a record of nine swimmers from the team to this elite competition this year and his three decades of service have inspired many children in our community.

I am honored to have the Cape Coral swim team and Coach Collins represent our district at the championships in Sarasota this weekend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize several outstanding individuals from my district who have received prestigious Fulbright awards during this past academic year. They are Cristaly Carrion, Debra Darnell, Emilio Feijoo, Joy Hazell and Mark Simpson.

Established by Congress in 1946, the Fulbright Program attempts to forge relations between Americans and emerging leaders around the globe through international education exchange. Each year, over 3,000 U.S. students and professionals in a myriad of disciplines are offered merit-based Fulbright grants to lecture, study, and conduct research all over the world. Alumni of the Fulbright Program have gone on to achieve distinction in science, the arts, business, and several other fields.

The five grantees from my constituency traveled to a diverse array of host countries--Cristaly to Spain, Debra to Peru, Emilio to the United Kingdom, Joy to Dominica, and Mark to Rwanda. Under the Fulbright Program, they worked with a wide range of partners and gained valuable skills and expertise that will serve them well in any endeavors they may wish to pursue. The relationships they formed will help build a foundation of trust on which the U.S. may advance global peace and security.

I congratulate Cristaly, Debra, Emilio, Joy and Mark on their outstanding honors, and wish them the best of luck as they continue toward their academic and professional aspirations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of George Takacs, a student at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, who recently committed to play football at the University of Notre Dame. By signing his commitment, George fulfilled a lifelong dream to attend the University he has admired throughout his life.

Selected as an Army All-American, George has proven his dedication to the sport and achieving his goals. He will be on the field with some of the finest athletes in the country, while pursuing his academic goals with some of the finest scholars in the world.

I congratulate George on his perseverance and look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in South Bend over the course of his collegiate career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the JROTC teams of Mariner, Riverdale, and Gulf Coast high schools. These teams recently competed in the National All- Services JROTC Academic and Leadership Bowl Competition in Washington D.C. and all three placed in the top fifteen of 64 teams.

For over a century the JROTC program has instilled in students the value of teamwork, citizenship, and public service. This competition tests students in both academics and leadership. To get to the national competition, the three schools competed against a combined 2,600 teams.

It is humbling to see the young men and women of Collier and Lee Counties excel and show their knowledge and passion for civil service. I look forward to seeing what these young scholars will accomplish for our community and our country in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Captain Wayne Smith of Naples in honor of his sacrifices to this country during his service in Vietnam.

As pilot, Wayne flew 90 missions over North Vietnam until he was shot down and taken prisoner in 1968. Wayne spent five years and two months as a POW, where he suffered continuous torture, isolation, and separation from his family.

In recognition of his service, Wayne was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, seven Air Medals and the Purple Heart.

Since his time in the military, Wayne continued his career as a pilot in the private sector and he has remained an active member in our community. I would like to thank Wayne for his unwavering service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jonathan Isaac of Naples on being the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft to the Orlando Magic. Isaac spent part of his high school career playing for Baron Collier High School in Naples and he continued to amaze fans of the game during his time at Florida State University.

During his freshman year at Florida State, Isaac averaged 12 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He also led the Seminoles to one of the most memorable seasons in program history with a 26-9 record, and an advancement to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I am look forward to seeing what Jonathan will accomplish as he continues to make his home of Naples and the entire state of Florida proud.