Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of a local hero, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, who sadly passed away on August 28, 2023, in the line of duty.

Battalion Chief Jackson proudly served the people of Broward County for 19 years. He began his fire rescue career in March 2004 in Deerfield Beach and joined the Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) in October 2011. Chief Jackson joined the Air Rescue 85 team as a flight

medic in July 2013, and on February 24, 2016, he was promoted to Captain. Broward County has acted to posthumously promote Chief Jackson from the rank of Captain to the rank of Battalion Chief.

As a flight paramedic, he impacted the community daily, providing critical patients with the highest prehospital care. He consistently showed an unmatched passion for the job. He always provided expert care, compassion, and reassurance to those during their most significant time of need. He is survived by his parents, son, daughter, and siblings.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the life and service of Chief Terryson Jackson. May his memory bless his family, friends, and the Broward County community to whom he dedicated his life in service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th Anniversary of the City of Coral Springs.

Coral Springs is one of Florida's first truly planned cities. It was first incorporated on July 10, 1963, as ``the last piece of gold on the gold coast'' and has since become home to more than 134,000 residents. Now a thriving city with ``Everything Under the Sun,'' the Coral Springs community is proudly celebrating the city's past, present, and future during this Diamond Anniversary year with memorable family events, limited-edition merchandise production, and yearlong initiatives that aim to promote a sense of community pride and historical appreciation.

Comprising 24 square miles and nestled in the northwest corner of Broward County, Coral Springs is known for its family atmosphere, thriving business community, a vast array of parks and recreational facilities, and top-rated schools. As one of the fastest growing cities, and now considered fully ``built-out,'' it is hard to believe the same land was merely a green bean farm on the edge of the Florida Everglades just over 60 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the City of Coral Springs and a special thanks to the residents, past and present, for making it the thriving community it is today.

Mr. Speaker, last week, we saw this House floor, the people's House, taken hostage by Republican Members from Republican Members.

We were sent home early. Bills were canceled. Committees were canceled because they couldn't pass the rule.

Why are we back here? Why are things functioning now? What was the one thing that brought all the Republicans together based on some of the public reports and statements that have come out? Guns.

We need to figure out in this country how we can solve this issue. The idea of more guns, more gun accessories, that is the issue that brought the Republican Conference together. That was the issue that broke the logjam of letting the people's House function again: guns potentially in the hands of people who are mentally ill, and gun accessories in the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or a danger to others. They are so lost on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Denise St. Patrick-Bell, Debby Eisinger, Aurelio Fernandez, Janet Groman, Renee Herman, Diane Lade, Edythe Lamb, Elaine Schwartz, Diane Wilen, and Marlene Maragh-Williams who are being honored by the Broward Senior Hall of Fame administered by the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County (AAABC).

The AAABC is a nonprofit organization serving Broward County's senior residents, age 60 or older, and is part of a state network, which contains a total of 11 Area Agencies on Aging in Florida which each have their own planning and service areas.

The Broward Senior Hall of Fame comprises seniors, 60 years of age and older, who have performed outstanding volunteer work in Broward County for 5 or more years. They are nominated by residents and selected by a special committee. These elders are honored at a Senior Hall of Fame Breakfast, taking place on May 25, 2023, during Older Americans Month, and their names are placed on the Senior Hall of Fame plaque, which hangs in the Broward County Government Center.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing these honorees for their outstanding service to the people of Broward County in Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 30 years of ``The Moving Wall,'' a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Traveling Half-Size Replica, while it stops in Coral Springs. Florida from May 5th to May 7th

The wall, a half-size replica of the permanent memorial in Washington, D.C., is sponsored by the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs and the City of Coral Springs. Veterans built the Moving Wall replica and are traveling throughout the United States from April to November 2023. It has been touring the country for more than 30 years, marking the second time the Moving Wall will make its way to Coral Springs, previously having stopped in 2015.

The Vietnam War was one of America's longest and most challenging. From January 12, 1962, to March 29, 1973 the United States was engaged in combat operations against the Viet Cong. Over that time nearly nine million servicemembers contributed to the war efforts around the world. Battle of the jungles of Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia resulted in 47,434 deaths and 2,583 Americans did not return home.

Many who returned home from Vietnam faced an imperfect Nation, one that they had risked all to defend. They returned to unfair treatment, to a lack of support, and a lack of public recognition of their service. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to each and every man and woman who served in our armed forces. Regardless of politics, we must never forget those who have risked all in the name of our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing the 30 years of the Vietnam Veteran Moving Wall, the Coral Springs Veterans Coalition and giving a special thanks to the City of Coral Springs for sponsoring the visit of the Moving Wall.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of my friend, Andrea Levy Goldman, who sadly passed away on December 10, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones.

Andrea was born on March 27, 1985, to Mark Levy and Jo Ann McClosky Levy. She was the granddaughter of Donald and Judy McClosky, and Richard and Beatrice Levy. She was the middle sister to Brian and Evan. She was the twin flame to her husband, Adam Goldman, and a loving mother to Bryce. She was also a proud aunt to her nieces and nephews Mason, Decker, Sunday, Layla, and Henry.

After graduating from Pine Crest School in 2003, Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University.

Andrea was a proud third-generation Floridian who loved spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, going to the beach, volunteering with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and supporting the Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the life of Andrea Levy Goldman. May her memory be a blessing to her family, friends, and those whose lives she has touched.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate all the teachers being honored at this year's Rotary Club of Boca Raton 37th Annual Boca Raton Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration. As a father of two growing boys eager to learn, I am acutely aware of educators' lifelong impact on their students and families. Education is the foundation of our country's future. As a community, we depend on our teachers daily to prepare the next generation of Americans.

We are gifted with extraordinary teachers in Florida's 23rd Congressional District. Despite the challenges of the past few years, our teachers have been committed to their students. From navigating a global pandemic, nothing has stood in the way of their dedication to their student's futures; we are beyond grateful.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating all the teachers being recognized this year at the Rotary Club of Boca Raton 37th Annual Boca Raton Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration: Christopher Clevenger, Kelly DeForrest, Jacqueline Steinberg, Shelly Wasrshawsky, Jonathan Greene, Breana Kone, Kelly Burton, Elizabeth Lean, Amy Goldberg, Lara Lee Evans, Elizabeth Gottlieb, Aureole Van Heerden, Megan Jones, Lauren Rigler, Amanda Aiello, Lisa Kranitz, Aria Doeck, Nicole Borden, Melanie Kramer, Marisol Velasquez, Christina Feraco, Satoko Nourishirazi, and Klaudia Romano.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Congregation Kol Tikvah's Sisterhood's 25th Annual Woman of Valor Honoree, Dr. Barbara Weinstein, and her significant contributions uplifting children and families in need in South Florida.

Barbara has dedicated her life to the support and enrichment of children. Following a career as a teacher, she joined Family Central as CEO in 1985. Since then, her mission has been to ensure South Florida's children are given a fair start in life. She has worked tirelessly to eliminate the increasingly long wait list for services, provide every family in need financial assistance with critical child-care services, and provide a support system for parents.

Barbara and her husband, the Honorable Peter Weinstein, have two sons, Andrew and Michael, and a daughter-in-law, Anne. She is the proud grandmother to Amanda, Matthew, and Daniella.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating Dr. Barbara Weinstein's outstanding contributions to the children and families of South Florida. She is truly an inspiration to us all, and we cannot thank her enough for committing her life's work to help so many in need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the historic achievement of the Florida Atlantic University Men's Basketball team, the Florida Atlantic Owls, in the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

The Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament only twice. The first time in 2002 and again this year, where for the first time, they finished in the Final Four. To celebrate their success, I include in the Record their names so their achievements may be remembered forever:

No. 0, Brenen Lorient from Ocala, Florida

No. 1, Johnell Davis from Gary, Indiana

No. 2, Nick Boyd from Garnerville, New York

No. 3, Giancarlo Rosado from West Palm Beach, Florida

No. 4, Bryan Greenlee from Gainesville, Florida

No. 5, Isaiah Gaines from Pensacola, Florida

No. 11, Michael Forrest from Lauderhill, Florida

No. 12, Jalen Gaffney from Columbus, New Jersey

No. 13, Jack Johnson from White Plains, New York

No. 15, Alijah Martin from Summit, Mississippi

No. 21, Alejandro Ralat from San Juan, Puerto Rico

No. 23, Brandon Weatherspoon from Canton, Mississippi

No. 25, Tre Carroll from Punta Gorda, Florida

No. 30, Leo Beath from Malibu, California

No. 50, Vladislav Goldin from Nalchick, Russia

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's 23rd Congressional District, please join me in congratulating the FAU men's basketball team's historic Final Four finish in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. They should be genuinely proud of their accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my District Director, Ms. Wendi Lipsich, for her remarkable 26 years of public service in the House of Representatives.

Since the age of 26, Wendi has been instrumental in helping multiple Members of Congress successfully serve our constituents. Wendi launched her career as a Congressional District Director to former Congressman Robert Wexler in 1997, soon after she graduated from the University of Miami Law School. While working for Congressman Wexler, Wendi married her husband Todd, and had 2 beautiful children, Taylor and Joey.

In commemoration of such a noteworthy career, I would like to relay a message from Congressman Wexler:

With an infectious smile and positive spirit, Wendi Lipsich

has been a public servant in the truest sense for three

decades. Wendi has helped countless people solve problems big

and small. Everyone--and I mean everyone--loves Wendi. And

for a good reason. Wendi personifies impeccable character and

integrity. What joy it was for me to work alongside Wendi for

15+ years. The people of Palm Beach and Broward Counties owe

Wendi enormous gratitude for her never-ending dedication and

kindness. Wendi is one of a kind, amazing!

Immediately after Congressman Wexler retired, she was hired as the District Director for my predecessor and friend, former Congressman Ted Deutch, from 2010 to 2022. Congressman Deutch had this to say about Wendi:

Wendi is more than the district director. She is and will

continue to be a good friend to anyone needing assistance.

Even if it's not related to Congress, people know Wendi will

happily do anything she can to try to help them. She cares so

deeply about our community and about all of the talented

people she has worked with to help our constituents.

Everyone, literally everyone, loves and appreciates Wendi

Lipsich.

Mr. Speaker, I have always known Wendi to be a selfless public servant, and I am eternally grateful for her service to the constituents of Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

In addition to enjoying her professional life, Wendi goes above and beyond to give back to her community. She is the founder and Co-Chair of the Boca Raton Lupus Walk with the Alliance for Lupus Research and continues to play an active role in raising awareness and funds to help cure lupus. Wendi has also been the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach Board Member and Chair of the Student Life Committee, Guardian Ad Litem Child Advocate with the 15th Judicial Circuit of West Palm Beach, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Business and Professional Cabinet Co-Chair and Board Member, KidSafe Foundation Board Member, Spanish River Community High School Foundation Board Member, Junior League of Boca Raton's Volunteer of the Year honoree, Democratic Professionals Council of Palm Beach County, Alliance of Delray Association, Democratic National Convention Delegate and a supporter of many other charities.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating my friend and colleague, Ms. Wendi Lipsich, as she embarks on the next chapter of her career. I am eternally grateful to her for her years of service to our Nation and wish her all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 22 years of service by Coconut Creek Commissioner, Becky Tooley.

Born in 1948 in Newark, Ohio, Mayor Tooley has a long history of service to the community of Coconut Creek. Before her election to the Coconut Creek City Commission, she served on the City's Environmental Board and the Planning and Zoning Board.

Her public service continues beyond city government, mentoring the youth of Coconut Creek at the Atlantic Technical Center and Coconut Creek High School. She also serves on the Boards of numerous community organizations, including the Coconut Creek Woman's Club, Alzheimer's Family Center Board of Trustees, Northwest Medical Center, Coconut Creek Democratic Club, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 157, and the board of the Broward League of Cities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing Mayor Becky Tooley for her outstanding service to the people of Coconut Creek in Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my hometown, the City of Parkland, in celebration of its 60th anniversary.

Parkland is a diverse community of more than 34,000 people that was established in 1963. Nestled in the northwest corner of Broward County at the edge of Everglades National Park, Parkland is unique amongst its neighbors in its dedication to protecting its park areas. Given its name, Parkland boasts nine parks that span the city's landscape, each providing unique opportunities for recreation and relaxation for families. Beyond the parks, Parkland is a picturesque city, with numerous lakes dotting the landscape and tall trees lining the residential streets.

Unfortunately, Parkland has also experienced significant loss. On February 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School my alma mater, which educates many of Parkland's children, became the scene of one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. But together, the resilience of this community was shown not only by its ability to unite and heal--but by its strength to transform this trauma into change.

Parkland's residents only add to this beautiful city's wonderful disposition. Family focused, Parkland is a compassionate community united by its resident's diverse lifestyles, promoting a kind and peaceful suburban setting.

For this momentous occasion, the City of Parkland plans to celebrate Parkland Day on March 11, 2023. The first Parkland Day celebration occurred in 1967 when Mrs. Betty Bell, a local artist and two-term commissioner, held an event to show horses on her property. Since then, the event has changed venues to include classic games, such as barrel riding, apple bobbing, egg balancing, cake and pie walks, and horse contests. As the celebration grew, stage performances, live music, food, and new games were added. However, at the center of these events was the continuation of Parkland's community efforts to keep a neighborly hometown feel a central aspect of each Parkland Day.

Mr. Speaker, I again extend a heartfelt congratulations to my hometown on its 60th Anniversary. I grew up in Parkland, my kids are growing up in Parkland, and I hope to see it flourish for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this body of the 5-year anniversary of the shooting at my high school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, in my hometown of Parkland on February 14, and the 17 lives we lost that day.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. My wife called. I was on the floor of the Florida legislature, and she told me that she had just passed the high school, and she had never seen that many police officers in her life.

We would soon find out that 17 people didn't make it out of the building, most of them children. I went home. I went to the school. I saw what it looks like when a mass shooting comes to your neighborhood, to your high school.

I went to the hotel where they were keeping the families of the children that were missing. I knew they weren't missing. Eight hours those families were in a hotel ballroom waiting to hear from the local police department and the FBI what floor their kid died on in the building.

I didn't hear crying. I heard screaming. It haunts me.

I brought my colleagues to the school from the Florida legislature, Republicans and Democrats. They got to see what it looks like when backpacks are piled up outside, when bullet holes are trying to go through classroom glass, what it looks like when homework is scattered in the hallway and where there is blood outside the front door where someone passed away.

These parents now have empty rooms in their homes, empty chairs at the dinner table. There is no graduation. There is no college. There is no wedding. There is no tomorrow, no future.

My 4-year-old went to school right around the corner from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, one traffic light away. He was in a writing class that day because he needed to learn how to write his name. The teacher that put him into a closet when they went into a lockdown procedure during the shooting was Jen Guttenberg, Fred Guttenberg's wife. She was protecting my son when her daughter Jaime was killed at Douglas.

Five years later, my 4-year-old is now 9, but Jaime and the other kids are forever the age they were. She is forever 14.

On February 14 of this year, the 5-year anniversary of the shooting at Parkland, parents will do what they have been doing for the last 5 years, visiting their children at a cemetery.

I remember the parents telling me that the only thing they did wrong that day was send their kid to school. That is not a statement. It is an indictment on us. Government failed those families that day.

We did respond. We did pass the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act. We did raise the age in Florida to buy any gun to 21. We did institute red flag laws that have been used 9,000 times since we put them there. We did place more school resource officers and

mental health counselors in all of the high schools. We passed that on a bipartisan basis. We passed it with Democrats and Republicans. It was signed into law by a Republican Governor who became a Republican Senator. Not one Republican who voted for that law to make kids safe in school lost their reelection, not one.

I am going to read the names into the Record, Mr. Speaker, and then I am going to use the rest of my time to take a moment of silence for the victims:

Alyssa Alhadeff, Martin Duque Anguiano, Scott Beigel, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Carmen Schentrup, Alex Schachter, and Peter Wang.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 382, and I urge my colleagues to support my motion to recommit which would prohibit this legislation from going into effect if it will negatively impact Medicare beneficiaries.

Speaker McCarthy has publicly stated that cuts to Medicare will be off the table in any debt ceiling negotiations, but that commitment clearly does not carry over to today's legislation.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 382 would increase patient costs and cut hospital payments to Medicare beneficiaries.

In its nearly 68 years of existence, Medicare has given millions of Americans access to affordable healthcare coverage. Generations have been given peace of mind knowing that they will have comprehensive available coverage to them as they age, regardless of their financial status.

In 2021, nearly 64 million Americans, including 4.8 million Floridians, were enrolled in Medicare. These individuals are Democrats, Republicans, and everything in between. They are our friends, our family members, our colleagues, our neighbors, our mentors. We must ensure that these beneficiaries can continue to rely on the lifesaving coverage provided through Medicare.

The President has announced his intention to end the public health emergency on May 11, providing a glide path to smoothly transition out of the emergency era programs. As Florida's former director of Emergency Management during the early days of the pandemic, I helped stand up many of the public health emergency initiatives that provided Americans with COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines at no charge. These initiatives offered enhanced social safety net benefits to help the Nation cope with the pandemic and minimize the impact.

What would an instant cut to the social safety net mean for Medicare beneficiaries and their families? The American family could face an abrupt increase in costs and decrease in care. What would this mean for your local hospital back home?

Hospitals could see a cut of 20 percent for care of COVID patients. Without a responsible plan in place, millions of patients, including many veterans and children, would abruptly face increased barriers to critical hospital care. Rural patients and those with behavioral health needs would be among the most impacted.

So why are some of my colleagues pushing for this to happen? Because it is rooted in political messaging, not thoughtful policy.

An instant termination to the public health emergency without proper coordination with agencies, States, and providers, would interrupt insurance coverage, access to care, increase patients' out-of-pocket costs, and threaten provider payments.

I, like many of my Democratic colleagues and millions of Americans, want to officially end the pandemic and the emergency. As I mentioned, President Biden has announced his intention to do so while taking the time necessary to absorb the impacts.

Pushing for an immediate cessation of the emergency initiatives for messaging purposes could leave millions of Medicare beneficiaries unexpectedly without access to programs that they are currently on.

Mr. Speaker, it is for those reasons that I submit a motion to recommit that will prohibit the bill from going into effect if it will negatively impact Medicare beneficiaries.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to add the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.