Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jesse Katzeff of Naples, Florida, who has just recently earned the Congressional Gold Medal Award.

The Gold Medal award program presents an opportunity for young people to set and achieve challenging goals that build character and foster growth. It demands a significant time commitment of several hundred hours devoted to community service, personal development and physical fitness.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress may bestow upon a young civilian. This year, Jesse Katzeff is one of just 373 young people from across 39 states to have earned it.

Jesse volunteered with Teen Court and the Sheriff's Department while also completing two summer internships at a local museum. This allowed him to learn more about his community while devoting his time for the benefit of others. Jesse learned to fly a plane while taking part in the Civil Air Program for nearly 5 years. Additionally, he competed on a local swim team while also improving his physical fitness with CrossFit. He chose to go hiking in the mountains of West Virginia, giving him the opportunity to learn more about himself while outside of his comfort zone.

The Congressional Gold Medal Award program has allowed Jesse to lay a foundation of engagement, determination and fortitude that will serve him immensely well going forward. I congratulate Jesse on this truly extraordinary honor, and wish him the best of luck as he continues to grow and advance in life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chloe Eagan from North Fort Myers High School.

The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists has selected Chloe as one of the delegates to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at the University of Massachusetts Lowell later this month.

Chloe will be joining hundreds of other students from around the country in an honors-only program for high schoolers who wish to become physicians or go into the medical research field. I am proud that Chloe is representing our southwest Florida community.

She and her fellow delegates will be meeting with a distinguished group that includes Nobel Prize-winning laureates, top medical school deans, and leaders in medical research. The goal of the program is to honor, inspire and direct top students like Chloe toward their desired goals in the medical field.

I commend Chloe for her outstanding performance in her studies which led to her selection to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. I wish her continued success on her path to fulfilling her aspirations in the medical field.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dan Czahor of Fort Myers and Madison Heinrich of Naples. It has come to my attention that these two students have been selected to represent the state of Florida at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Lowell, Massachusetts later this month.

The Congress is an event headed by the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists and is an honors-only program whose intention is to motivate the top students of the country, who are interested in a career in science or technology, to achieve their goals. The Academy selects all delegates based on nominations from teachers, proven academic excellence, and leadership ability. Further, their alumni include Nobel Prize winners, top scientific university deans, and other leaders in the STEM field.

It is encouraging to know that Dan and Madison are among these five hundred nationally selected students to go to the conference.

I look forward to the work these two individuals will do in the years to come and wish them the best of luck in their future academic studies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jeffrey Passantino, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. Passantino is an alumnus of Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, and most recently played at Limpscomb University.

This season at Limpscomb, Jeffrey had a 4-3 record with a 3.09 Earned Run Average and 95 strikeouts. During his career at Bishop Verot, he helped lead the Vikings to three straight state title appearances, which included one championship in 2011. It was during this time that he also posted an impressive 22-4 record on the mound.

I would like to congratulate Jeffrey for his hard-work, dedication, and leadership on and off the field. I look forward to hearing about his future accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Sam Keating and his recent selection to the San Diego Padres in the 2017 MLB draft. Keating, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in the fourth round and has already signed with the organization.

Keating's high school career was one to be remembered as he led the Canterbury Cougars to back-to-back Class 3A championships. In his senior year, he went 11-1 on the mound with a 1.06 Earned Run Average and 93 strikeouts.

I would like to congratulate Keating for taking the first step into the professional realm. His hard-work and dedication are paying off, and I look forward to hearing about his successes in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Emily Browne on winning the Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award.

Due to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Browne managed to be the star athlete of both her basketball and lacrosse teams at Barron Collier High School, all while maintaining a stellar grade point average. Her successful balancing of athletic and academic activities shows maturity and discipline beyond her years.

I am proud of Emily's achievements on and off the field. The award is well deserved.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Bill Kramer and the news of his induction into the Florida High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame for the Class of 2017.

Coach Kramer has led the Naples High School football team since 1998. Under his leadership, the Golden Eagles won two state championships, six regional titles, and fourteen district titles.

Additionally, Coach Kramer is dedicated to teaching young men how to cope with many of life's difficulties. He works to instill the values of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline in his players. I thank Coach Kramer for the positive impact he has made, and will continue to make, on the Naples community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Canterbury School's men's baseball team for their second consecutive Class 3A State Championship. The Cougars clinched the Title following their tremendous 4-1 victory over Jacksonville University Christian at Hammond Stadium in their hometown of Fort Myers. This triumph came through their outstanding teamwork and ability to adapt during games. The Title caps off an excellent season where the team achieved an astounding record of 27 wins to just 5 losses.

I congratulate the Canterbury Cougars and Head Coach Frank Turco for an excellent season and this unforgettable win. I look forward to seeing the accomplishments of these young men in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 14-year-old Taylor Sanders on her tremendous achievement in winning the ``Kids BBQ Championship'' on the Food Network. I am delighted that she represented our Naples, Florida, community in front of a national audience with excellent cooking skills and selfless character.

The $10,000 reward for her victory is well deserved for all of her hard work. She is a very considerate and mature young person, as illustrated by her donating a portion of her reward to a charity, Take a Soldier Fishing. This is a wonderful organization and I am proud that she chose to honor our soldiers.

Taylor's barbeque skills and generosity show sophistication beyond her years. I know that our Southwest Florida community is extremely grateful for her contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Kent Durante, who received his Eagle Scout pin posthumously this past Saturday.

Kent lost his brave battle with cancer last November before he could fulfill his dream of becoming an Eagle Scout. Last weekend, he was honored at a ceremony along with two of his fellow scouts, where they achieved the highest rank Boy Scouts can achieve.

For over a century, the Boy Scouts of America have had an honored tradition of teaching young men essential life skills including outdoor survival and leadership skills. As told to me, these times were cherished by Kent as, even after his diagnosis, he continued to remain active in his troop and even graduated cum laude from Estero High School.

It is understood in the scouting community that only about 4 percent of scouts attain the rank of Eagle. It is humbling to know that Kent is among this distinguished group. I would like to honor Kent for this well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Fort Myers High School's softball team and their first state championship in program history. The Green Wave struck a decisive victory over the Niceville Eagles by a margin of 7-1. This triumph merely closes an already excellent year for the high school's athletic program where they collectively won two team state titles and six individual championships. All this was done while maintaining excellent academic standards.

I congratulate the Fort Myers Green Wave and Head Coach Johnny Manetta for this most cherished win. We look forward to seeing what this young team will accomplish in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the special diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Holy See.

As a non-hegemonic sovereign, the Holy See plays a unique role in world affairs through its use of the soft power diplomacy through moral persuasion that only it can exert. This gives the Holy See unparalleled influence in diplomacy and as a mediator in international disputes.

The United States and the Holy See have complemented each other in the past in combatting extremist ideologies, such as Nazism and communism, and on promoting human rights. From 2005-2008, I witnessed this first-hand as United States Ambassador to the Holy See. President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI worked together on combatting human trafficking, AIDS in Africa, promoting religious freedom and in denouncing radical Islamic extremism.

The strength of this relationship depends on how highly each president views the Holy See's soft power in world affairs. President Trump's choice to visit the Vatican on his first overseas trip is a good step toward a close relationship between the United States and the Holy See going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out the hypocrisy of the United Nations. The behavior of the United Nations contradicts its charter, which states the organization should promote ``better standards of life'' and ``international peace and security.''

If these are truly the goals of the United Nations, then why is the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations agency, preparing an international patent application for North Korean production of sodium cyanide, a substance used to make nerve gas that is banned from North Korea by the UN Security Council?

It is disturbing that the United Nations would grant legitimacy to North Korean production of a dangerous gas that can be used as a chemical weapon. Even more concerning is that the UN would do this during a time of escalating North Korean aggression, with its increasing illegal missile tests and threats of mass destruction. This action undermines sanctions against the unstable regime which threatens the very ``international security'' the UN claims to promote.

The United Nations must stop rewarding rogue regimes that undermine global security, or the United States must reconsider participation in this illegitimate body.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important leader in our southwest Florida community.

T. Wayne Gale serves our community as Executive Director of the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD), one of the largest mosquito control districts in the United States, with a budget of $23 million. LCMCD monitors threats posed by these insects and controls populations to reduce mosquito-borne diseases. Additionally, Mr. Gale serves as President of the American Mosquito Control Association.

This is a very important role as mosquito season approaches, given the threat of Zika in Florida. This dangerous mosquito-borne virus can have devastating effects on infected individuals and presents a severe risk for expectant mothers. The LCMCD is proactive in spreading awareness to our community to make sure citizens are informed about how best to prevent infections, and is one of the most advanced mosquito control districts in the country.

We are thankful for dedicated leaders such as Mr. Gale in our community, and appreciate his leadership in the mosquito control industry.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jim Nathan, a leader in Southwest Florida who has helped define our community-centered health system.

Forty-two years ago Jim Nathan interviewed at Lee Memorial Hospital. He expected to complete a one-year administrative residency and then return back to Cincinnati. However, after more than four decades later, he is still in Fort Myers serving the healthcare needs of our community.

I thank Jim Nathan for his decades of service and success to Southwest Florida, and I wish him well in his endeavors. I know Lee Health will continue to be caring people, inspiring health.