Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as B'nai B'rith International celebrates 170 years of advocacy and leadership in support of the security of Jewish people around the world, including the Jewish State of Israel, and to recognize its local chapter for the Great Lakes region.

When it was founded in 1843, the members B'nai B'rith set out to create a support network for newly arriving Jewish immigrants in the United States. Among its first actions, B'nai B'rith created an insurance policy to provide members' widows with resources to cover the cost of funeral services and a weekly stipend for the remainder of their lives. It also provided a stipend to each member's children and assured male children that they would be taught a trade. From these initial programs, which were an immediate response to the living conditions of Jewish immigrants in New York, B'nai B'rith rapidly grew, with many fraternal lodges and chapters in the United States and around the world.

As it grew, B'nai B'rith quickly became involved in international affairs which became necessary to respond to rising anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe. As part of its response, the United States opened its first Consulate General in Romania, expanding the reach of American diplomacy. From this initial foray into foreign policy, B'nai B'rith has developed into a global voice for the safety and security of the Jewish people and their homeland.

In addition, to its international initiatives, B'nai B'rith has cultivated and maintained a number of programs to address the changing needs of the Jewish American population. As the Jewish population in the United States has aged, B'nai B'rith has responded to the needs of seniors, opening its first senior residence in 1971 which has grown into an international network of forty residences worldwide. The

array of services offered by B'nai B'rith now includes programs for youth, seniors, humanitarian aid and young professionals, as well as programs that are designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue.

In the Great Lakes region, we are fortunate to have an active and dedicated local chapter of B'nai B'rith which is celebrating its 156th year of service to communities across the upper Midwest. Among the local programs it supports are scholarships for college-bound students, Project H.O.P.E. to provide special kosher food to seniors and community members in-need during Passover, and countless cultural events that share the richness of Jewish traditions with the community at-large.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the outstanding advocacy and leadership that B'nai B'rith has displayed in the last 170 years on behalf of the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel. I am further pleased to congratulate B'nai B'rith's local Great Lakes chapter for its incredible work, not only as a leading voice for the Jewish community of the Greater Detroit, but as an important partner that enables cross-cultural dialogue that strengths the region. I congratulate all of my friends in the Great Lakes chapter of B'nai B'rith and I wish them success as they continue to be a clear and passionate voice for the Jewish communities in the Midwest and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to once again recognize the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, this time on the occasion of its Seventy-fifth Anniversary of service to the residents of the Greater West Bloomfield community. Just two years ago, I was honored to recognize the Library as it was awarded a National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an award given to only five libraries each year and which is the top honor that can be bestowed upon a public library.

The residents of West Bloomfield Township and its neighboring cities are fortunate to have access to this great educational and community resource. What began as a small project by the Keego-Cass Women's Club in 1934 has grown into a library system with a 63,000 square feet state-of-the-art main branch and a satellite branch in the Westacres subdivision that serves residents in the northern area of the township.

Public libraries occupy a vital function in our communities; they equalize the access to information, making it accessible to everyone in the areas they serve. The West Bloomfield Township Public Library is an exemplary institution that embodies this important role--providing computers to assist residents with job searches, helping seniors with Internet access, implementing outreach programs that provide residents with opportunities to build important life skills, and creating programs that foster a lifetime of literacy and love of reading in our children.

For the Greater West Bloomfield community, its library has been an important part of its residents' lives--providing programs that help them attain the American Dream. For children, the Library has created its Grow Up Reading program, which works with youth from birth to the elementary school years and partners them with a family member, childcare providers or educators to cultivate literacy skills that will assist them later in life as they grow and join the American workforce. As part of its commitment to the newcomers to our nation, the Library offers English as a Second Language discussion groups that assist them on their journey to become Americans. For students, the library assists them with preparation for SAT, ACT and AP exams by providing physical and electronic study materials. And to help all residents, the Library offers career empowerment classes that help them hone their job skills and increase their ability to obtain employment.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly proud to celebrate and recognize this award- winning community institution that continues to make a positive impact on the lives of all residents in the Greater West Bloomfield community. Seventy-five years is a great milestone in the Library's service to its community and I congratulate its staff and trustees on all of the accomplishments they have made in fulfillment of its mission. I know their passion, their advocacy and their determination to will continue to result in future generations of West Bloomfield residents that possess a lifelong love of reading and I wish them success in the Library's future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cantor Samuel Greenbaum and his wife, Mona, on the occasion of their fortieth year of service to the members of Congregation Beth Shalom.

As a leader at Congregation Beth Shalom and in Greater Detroit's Jewish community, Cantor Greenbaum has been present for thousands of Jewish Michiganders at every stage in their lives. Throughout his decades of service, Cantor Greenbaum has been involved in every facet of Beth Shalom's community. From his mastery of the liturgy at religious services to his lessons as a teacher of Jewish education for members at all periods in their lives, Cantor Greenbaum has approached his work with a thoughtful balance of compassion, levity and pastoral care that have enabled him to effectively guide members of his congregation on their lifelong journey in establishing a deep and meaningful connection with their faith. One of his most important responsibilities is the commitment he makes to Jewish boys and girls as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor--serving as a key advisor to the youth as they take on increased responsibilities in the Jewish community.

Furthermore, it is not surprising that Cantor Greenbaum's profound enthusiasm for his faith has led him to work that goes beyond the congregation of Beth Shalom and affects the broader Jewish community in Southeast Michigan. As one of just a few certified mohels in the Greater Detroit region, Cantor Greenbaum has been instrumental to thousands of newborn boys as they enter the covenant of Judaism and has taken part in the naming ceremony for thousands of newborn girls. He has been with families at moments of great joy, officiating countless weddings, and been of comfort to families while mourning the loss of loved ones. In recognition of his service to the Jewish community, Cantor Greenbaum was honored with an honorary Doctorate of Music degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

As is often the case for spiritual leaders, Cantor Greenbaum is joined in life by his dedicated partner Mona, who mirrors his compassion and commitment for the well-being others. Mona has supported Beth Shalom through her work as a teacher in Jewish Day School and in the public school system.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mona and Cantor Samuel Greenbaum on this tremendous milestone in their service to Congregation Beth Shalom and the Jewish community of Greater Detroit. For forty years, the Greenbaums have practiced compassion and dedication to their congregation and community--a shining example of service above self for all of us that seek to make a difference in the lives of others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the congregation of New Liberty Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan as it celebrates seventy-five years of fellowship and service in its community.

New Liberty was founded in 1938 by a small and dedicated group of Detroit residents who sought a local house of worship where they join together in spiritual fellowship with their neighbors. From its humble beginnings, the congregation of New Liberty has grown and prospered with increasing membership and more outreach programs. In its mission to serve the Detroit community, the congregation of New Liberty has called many sites home, but regardless of its location, the members of New Liberty have never wavered from their determination to help their friends and neighbors. In its seventy-five year history, New Liberty has had just four pastors: its first pastor, Reverend J.B. Coates; Reverend E.A. Rundless; Reverend J.L. Stevenson and currently, Reverend Maurice Stimage, Jr. Together with his First Lady, Renita, Pastor Stimage has been providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the congregation of New Liberty since his arrival in 2006.

New Liberty has been dedicated to service, even when it requires sacrifice. Throughout its history, the congregation of New Liberty has not only worked to obtain a stronger spiritual bond, but also reached out into the Greater Detroit community to strengthen it and support residents that are in-need. To carry out its mission, the congregation has created many ministries that assist members and the broader community with a wide range of issues from bereavement and arts programs to youth empowerment and support of senior citizens. Through its commitment to service, the congregation of New Liberty has been able to impact the lives of so many people in Southeast Michigan and improved the vitality of the community.

Mr. Speaker, over its seventy-five year history, the congregation of New Liberty Baptist Church has been true to the tenants of the Baptist faith and service. At a time when face such significant economic challenges, congregations like New Liberty are on the front lines, holding neighborhoods together and caring for the community at large. I congratulate Pastor and First Lady Stimage, as well as the congregation of New Liberty on achieving this great milestone in their church's history and wish them success as they continue to make a difference in the lives of others in the Greater Detroit region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Oakland County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. as they celebrate thirty-five years of service to Southeast Michigan.

Seventy-five years ago, Jack and Jill of America was founded by Marion Stubbs Thomas, a mother and concerned member of the Philadelphia community, who organized twenty other neighborhood mothers concerned about the well-being of their youth during the Great Depression. From a small community group, the Jack and Jill organization quickly grew to ten chapters by 1946, and today there are more than 220 chapters across the United States with over 30,000 members. For the last thirty-five years, the Oakland County Chapter of Jack and Jill has been an important part of the organization's infrastructure in Michigan, providing support to at-risk children and families.

Over its three and a half decades of service, Jack and Jill's Oakland County Chapter has been a leading voice in the Greater Detroit region in the effort to promote the development of youth with a strong appreciation of good citizenship and community stewardship. Jack and Jill has achieved this goal through its support of programs that advance the virtues of social, cultural, educational, recreational and community service opportunities for youth.

Specifically, as it creates projects that fulfill vital needs in the communities of Southeast Michigan, Jack and Jill carefully crafts those projects with service roles for both youth and their parents. Through the example set by their parents, youth are instilled with a deep appreciation for the value of helping their friends and neighbors.

The programs that Jack and Jill's Oakland County chapter supports have had a profound impact on the communities of Southeast Michigan. Each year, Jack and Jill sponsors a blood drive with the American Red Cross that provides local health services organizations with a vital lifesaving resource. Jack and Jill has also brought in resources from the Jack and Jill Foundation that have enabled local Boys and Girls Clubs and the Pontiac Library to better serve their communities, as well as assist the Southfield Field Zone Leadership program and provide community prep courses for college-bound students taking the ACT exam. Additionally, Jack and Jill supports college-bound students with scholarships.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly proud to have so many outstanding community organizations like the Oakland County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America in my district, and it is with great appreciation for its ongoing commitment to creating a better future for the Greater Detroit region that I congratulate its members on thirty-five years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Credit Union ONE as its employees, executives, members and the communities it serves celebrate seventy-five years of operations. Over its seven-and- a-half decades of business, Credit Union ONE has remained true to its roots in the Southeast Michigan community.

Credit Unions are important local financial institutions that know their neighbors and use their unique understanding to serve their communities with the tools that are necessary to grow and prosper. Credit Union ONE was founded in 1938 when fifteen neighbors in Ferndale, Michigan came together to create the Ferndale Co-Op Credit Union, and is a shining example of the strong connection credit unions have to the communities they serve. These concerned neighbors worked together with the shared goal of helping the neighborhoods of Ferndale thrive. With its strong roots in the Greater Detroit region, Credit Union ONE has grown to be one top ten credit unions in Michigan with over 106,000 members--a long way from its humble start in the basement of church in Ferndale. Over the years, Credit Union ONE has substantially expanded the services it offers to its members from its nineteen branches across Michigan, rising to meet their needs

with a full range of financial tools to assist members with personal financial planning, home ownership, retirement and small business support services.

The key to the success of Credit Union ONE has been its ongoing commitment as an active stakeholder in the well-being of its members and communities across Michigan. As part of its mission Credit Union ONE has partnered with local health care service organizations, including the nationally renowned Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute of Michigan, to support cancer care and research. Additionally, Credit Union ONE has hosted numerous free fraud/identity theft seminars and financially literacy sessions, as well as workshops for first-time homeowners and financial planning, for both its members and the broader community. As a further benefit to its members, Credit Union ONE offers a scholarship to college-bound high school graduates of their families which can substantially assist a student with the cost of higher education. Furthermore, as part of its dedication to the vitality of Michigan, Credit Union ONE was an official 2010 Census Partner, educating the public on the importance of responding to the Census to maximize the resources available to its community partners across the state.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize Credit Union ONE for seventy-five years of successful operations across Michigan. Throughout its history, Credit Union ONE has been more than just a local member-based financial institution; it has been an important strategic partner for residents, small businesses, and local governments across Michigan that has worked with them to improve their quality-of-life. The success of Credit Union ONE is a success for Michigan, especially the Greater Detroit region where it is based, and I wish its members, employees, and its executive leadership many years of future success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Allan Gilmour, the President of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, for his lifetime of service to the people of Michigan in both the public and private sectors. In August, Allan will be stepping down from the presidency of Wayne State, where he has been since his appointment as Interim President on January 18, 2011.

In his more than two-year tenure as Wayne State's President, he has focused on transforming the school's position within the Greater Detroit community. Among his top initiatives have been to enhance the quality of education both in academic and practical settings, increase interdisciplinary research, and strengthen Wayne State's ties to Michigan's business community. Having worked in the private sector for many decades, Allan understands the significant connections between academic institutions that develop the leaders and researchers of the future and the business community that relies on the talent, innovative thinking, and dedication of young adults as they join the workforce. The construction of a state-of-the-art Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, where researchers from the entire spectrum of natural scientific fields can interact to solve complex biological questions, is just the latest example of projects that have occurred under Allan's leadership.

While Allan's work at Wayne State is impressive, it is just his most recent endeavor; prior to his tenure as Wayne State's President, Allen worked for Ford Motor Company for almost forty years. Allan's story is one of dedication and hard work, that saw him grow from a Financial Analyst when he joined Ford in 1960 to become Ford Motor Company's Chief Financial Officer from 1986 to 1987 and then again from March 2002 to July 2003. During his time at Ford he also served as its President from March 1990 to January 1993. In his leadership positions at Ford, Allan made a tremendous impact on an organization whose products are vital to continued economic vitality of our nation.

Even with all of his professional success and the impact he has made on Michigan in his professional roles, nowhere has Allan's commitment to his neighbors, friends, and his state been greater than in his philanthropic endeavors. Currently, Allan serves a Chairman for the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, taking a leadership role in a non-profit that has invested substantial resources into the revitalization of the Greater Detroit region. Allan also serves on boards for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the Detroit Zoo, the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Midtown Detroit. Each of these organizations is dedicated to improving the lives of Michigan residents and vitality of Southeast Michigan. With his experience and expertise, Allan continues to be a strong and effective advocate for the people, businesses and communities of Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the profound impact Allan Gilmour has made on Michigan and, specifically, the Greater Detroit region. I am fortunate to count Allan as a friend, and even more fortunately as a trusted advisor. I wish Allan and his partner, Eric Jergens, well as he enters a new chapter in his life, and I know that he will continue changing the lives of Michigan residents for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Denso International America as it celebrates twenty-five years of operation. Two and a half decades ago, Denso opened the doors of its North American Headquarters and Technical Center in the heart of Southfield, Michigan, and became part of the business community in the Greater Detroit region.

Founded internationally in 1949, the heart of Denso's business strategy is its work force, which it describes as a core element of its global organization. In its primary function, Denso believes that its first business is the development of people and from the development of people it achieves its goal of making products which improve the world. As a firm that is heavily invested in its work force, Denso seeks to ensure that it achieves excellence by encouraging its employees to harness their creative power and work cooperatively to achieve personal growth.

With a commitment to its employees' development serving as the foundation of its organization, Denso is committed to creating high quality products for use in automobiles. The extent of Denso products to the automotive industry include radiators, driving control systems, fuel pumps, electronic fuel injection systems, and wiper systems, all manufactured with the principle of smaller, lighter and more efficient design. As its business has grown, Denso has dramatically increased its footprint in North America, bringing high skilled jobs to communities in Michigan, where it currently operates five major facilities, and across the United States, with twenty-five facilities in total.

Denso's commitment to excellence for employees is one that it also extends into its own activities in the communities where it operates. On numerous occasions Denso has been cited as a model for implementing environmentally conscious policies, while creating manufacturing techniques that increase productivity. In 1993, Denso was recognized for its work by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a corporate leader in protecting the ozone layer with the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award. Just five years later, Denso voluntarily moved to ISO 14001 certification for its manufacturing in Michigan, choosing to adhere to a high standard of excellence to decrease its environmental impact. As further recognition of its efforts to be a good corporate partner and custodian to the communities it employs, Denso was awarded the EPA's Climate Protection Award in 2002.

Denso's leadership has not only been recognized by the government, but also by many of its business partners. In 2012, it was recognized by Caterpillar as a Platinum Supplier and by John Deere with its Achieving Excellence Award. Over the last few years Denso has been recognized by each of the Big 3: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler for its outstanding work as a supplier to each of them. In addition to its recognition from its corporate partners, Denso has been recognized by communities that have benefited from the work of its foundation, which supports disaster relief and science education programs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Denso International America for twenty-five years of excellence in manufacturing, in leadership on being a corporate steward of the environment and on the tremendous impact it has made in each of the communities its facilities call home. I am honored to have such an outstanding company headquartered in my district, and I look forward to continuing my work with Denso to support advanced manufacturing techniques that will revitalize the economy of Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize that this is the first time Republicans have embraced that the Affordable Health Care Act is law and supported its implementation starting in 2014. By offering and supporting H.R. 2667, House Republicans are finally voting for the health care law mandates to be implemented a year from now.

For too long, Congress has been brought to a level of inaction that is unprecedented. The gridlock has frustrated me as well as the hard working men, women, small business owners and middle class families in my district in Michigan.

Instead of working toward solutions and fixing a broken health care system, House Republicans wasted time and resources voting 37 votes to repeal The Affordable Care Act wholesale. Without the health care law, families would continue to fear illness because getting sick could mean bankruptcy. Michigan's middle class can't afford to continue without changes to our health care system, and the Affordable Care Act goes a long way to solve these problems.

Today, every Republican who casts a vote to delay the employer and individual mandates is voting to get the implementation of the Affordable Care Act right and implement the law in full starting in December 2014.

The President has already granted businesses one more year to implement the health care law. Without offering Michigan families the same temporary, one-year extension without penalty, businesses lose the incentive to offer coverage one year from now because their employees have already purchased insurance in the interim. These mandates work best in tandem as they will in the coming years.

I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans to improve the transition to more affordable health care coverage for Michigan families and businesses when the law is fully implemented.

The Affordable Care Act will help lower health care costs for women, ensure coverage for children with pre-existing conditions, and curb the overall cost of health care.

That is why I voted for the Affordable Care Act, and that's why I am voting today to get this law implemented fairly and in a way that

supports businesses and middle class families.

Offered By: Mr. Peters of Michigan

Amendment No. 6: Page 28, line 10, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $15,000,000)''.

Page 60, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $15,000,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the harmful ``King Amendment'' to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 2217). I believe it will negatively impact Michigan's agricultural industry and hinder states' ability to maintain high dairy standards and to protect its citizens from livestock diseases and invasive pests.

I am disappointed that the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture adopted the controversial King amendment and that floor amendments to strip this harmful provision were not allowed to be voted on by the full House The King Amendment precludes positive state regulation because it authorizes the federal government to nullify state laws and to change current animal welfare standards.

I have consistently made animal protection a priority. In 2010, I co- authored the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act that was later signed into law by President Obama. During my time in Congress I have supported and championed legislation aimed at protecting the welfare of animals. I will continue to fight to uphold ethical animal welfare standards.

While I have deep concerns with the substance of the King amendment and a legislative process that barred full House consideration thereof, I believe it is critical to provide necessary resources to our agricultural producers in Michigan and across our nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to enact a farm bill that supports our agricultural industry while maintaining high animal welfare standards.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my longtime friend, Dr. Nazmul Hassan, as he is recognized by the Bangladeshi-American community in Michigan for his many years of stalwart guidance and leadership. Known to friends as Shahin, Dr. Hassan has been a strong voice for Bangladeshi-Americans, not just in Michigan, but across the United States of America. As an immigrant to our nation, Shahin is emblematic of one of the greatest strengths of our nation, our ability to bring the best and brightest from across the world.

Before coming to Michigan, Shahin was a leader in his birth country of Bangladesh. His commitment to service is an ideal he learned at a young age, from watching his father, who was an educator and prominent elected leader in Bangladesh having served as a Member of Parliament for four terms. The value of service to the community is one that Shahin brought with him when he arrived in the United States as a student in 1991. Shahin later went on to earn a Masters of Science in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in 1996, and in 2011, he completed his Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from Wayne State University. In his professional work, he worked for both Delphi Automotive and Ford Motor Company.

While his educational and professional pursuits are impressive, nowhere has his passion been felt more greatly than in his tireless advocacy for the Bangladeshi-American population. In his tenure as the President and Chairman of the Michigan Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus (BADC), Shahin has

worked within his community to organize its members and raise issues of importance to them in the public arena. His work has included assisting community members with a wide range of issues, from immigration to helping families in need obtain basic necessities. He has been a source of information for his community on pressing policy issues such as human rights, foreign affairs and health care. In particular, during the debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act he organized discussions within the Bangladeshi community to raise awareness of health care issues.

In my time representing Michigan in the United States Congress, I have been fortunate to call Shahin a valued friend and trusted advisor. Thanks to his leadership, I have developed close relationships with Bangladeshi constituents and am honored to serve as a leader of the Bangladeshi Congressional Caucus in Washington, D.C. Shahin's passion for his community and his support of cross-cultural dialogue, both in Michigan and across the country, have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2011 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Award from the Michigan Democratic Party.

Mr. Speaker, our unparalleled ability to attract the best and the brightest from around the world and bring them to our country, where they make significant contributions to our future, is one of our nation's greatest strengths. Dr. Nazmul Hassan's life is an embodiment of the American Dream and for his work, our nation is a better place. I am grateful to both Shahin and his family for the many experiences they have shared with me and I wish Dr. Hassan well as he continues to represent the interests of Bangladeshi-Americans in his new endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the administrators, educators and students of Ealy Elementary School in West Bloomfield, Michigan as they gather to reflect on the 47 years the school has served the community. For nearly five decades, the education professionals of Ealy have been making an impact at some of the most important moments in children's lives.

Opened in 1966 to meet the needs of a rapidly booming population in West Bloomfield, the faculty and staff of Ealy have diligently carried out the school's mission of providing an educational environment that creates a co-operative link between students' home, school, and community. As part of its mission, the educators of Ealy focus on providing each student with a uniquely challenging curriculum to unlock their fullest potential. This focus not only includes, a strong curriculum in the classroom, but also extends into initiatives and programs that reach students beyond the walls of the school.

In the classroom, the teachers at Ealy have been committed to using technology to enhance the educational experience of their students. With classrooms equipped with the latest computers, Ealy has focused on creating an interactive educational environment for its students. Additionally, each classroom at Ealy features an interactive smart board that further improves the learning experience for its students. The school's commitment to employing technology in the learning process also provided its students with some unique educational opportunities, such as a direct connection to NASA which allowed them to communicate with astronauts during their missions.

Furthermore the faculty and staff of Ealy Elementary understand how the development of good communications skills early in life is an important tool for youth as they develop into adults. As part of the school's commitment to honing this skill in its students, they are required to each complete and publish a non-fiction book annually.

Beyond the walls of their classrooms, Ealy students are exposed to programs which engrain the importance of involvement in their community and world. Students have organized events that support our men and women in uniform, including adoptions of soldiers serving overseas and organizing care packages for entire units of soldiers. The educators of Ealy have also worked with their students to organize fundraising drives that have supported the victims of hurricanes and tsunamis, as well as create donations drives.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the administration and faculty of Ealy Elementary for the dedication to their students--working day in and day out to ensure that each student has the opportunity to discover and unlock their full potential. Thanks to their hard work, and the support of their parents, Ealy alumni have gone on to make significant contributions to communities around the world. While Ealy may be closing its doors at the end of this school year, the spirit it has imbued in the community will live on as its alumni continue to make a difference in the lives of others and as its dedicated educators continue to impact new students in their future endeavors.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2014. I remain firmly committed to the security of the United States and the Department's mission of ensuring our communities are safe and secure from terrorism and other threats. However, I have serious concerns about a provision of this bill that cause me to be unable to support it.

I am disappointed that the House adopted the controversial King amendment. This amendment offered by Representative Steve King will prohibit the administration from implementing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Children who were brought to the United States at a young age should not be penalized for the actions of their parents. These individuals, commonly referred to as DREAMers, may only know the United States and speak English. Deporting them to a country they may know nothing of, where they may not speak the language or know any relatives, is counterproductive to the principles that define our nation. I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform which addresses the issue of DREAM Act eligible youth and develops a framework for ensuring they can maintain a legal status in the United States. That is why, as a member of Congress who voted for the DREAM Act, I cannot support the King Amendment.

While I agree with the necessity of providing adequate resources to the Department of Homeland Security, due to the inclusion of this unnecessary and controversial ban on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, I am unable to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 17, I was unable to be present to cast my vote on four matters before the House.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 157, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 158, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 159, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 160, I would have voted ``no.''