Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona.

As a nation, we have a debt of gratitude to our veterans, a debt that will be very difficult to repay; but, nonetheless, we must make every effort to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I spent the last few weeks meeting with veterans in my district and getting firsthand accounts of their experiences at the hospital as well as its supporting clinics in south Florida.

While secret wait lists and months-long waits are inexcusable, it has become clear that the problems are much deeper than that. So many of my veterans felt that their concerns weren't being heard--and they were absolutely right. On top of the long waits for appointments with doctors, we heard about the need for better transportation, greater use of technology, reduced wait times and more convenient hours.

Just this week, we held our first working group meeting in my district with local veterans as well as the director of the hospital and his administrative staff. It is an important step to a dialogue that is sorely needed.

While we in Washington can wait and bicker about this issue and the ongoing relationship between us and the hospital system and the Veterans Administration, what there is no question about is that the time has come to solve this problem. We as a nation must renew our commitment to serve our veterans with the same dignity and respect with which they served us. It is the absolute least we can do. By instructing House conferees to accept the McCain-Sanders compromise, we can quickly get the bill to the President and get on with the business of ensuring every veteran gets the care and need they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant Alberto Santiago from Homestead, Florida, who has served our country with courage and honor for over 40 years.

During his career, Master Sergeant Santiago has deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Djibouti, Niger, Somalia, and many other countries in the Horn of Africa and is a veteran of Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Desert Shield, and New Dawn.

For his service, he received the Bronze Star, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. Master Sergeant Santiago and his family have made tremendous sacrifices in the defense of our country.

As Master Sergeant Santiago retires from the U.S. Army Reserve, I would like to honor his service and wish him the best in all his future endeavors and extend the thanks of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Military Appreciation Month and to honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our military.

I am proud to represent countless inspiring veterans who have served our country and continue to serve in our communities--veterans like Carlos Cruz, who served in the Army during Vietnam and regularly volunteers with disabled veterans whenever he is able; Dr. Anthony Atwood, who served in the Navy for over 20 years and, today, works to preserve the history of Miami veterans as executive director of the Miami Military Museum and Memorial; Clifton Riley, an Army veteran who served during Desert Storm and started his own business, where he strives to hire veterans.

Carlos, Anthony, and Clifton are just three examples of the many veterans who remind us of the responsibility to uphold promises we made to our veterans as they have upheld their promises to us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Foster Care Month.

In my home counties of Miami-Dade and Monroe, there are 3,500 children in foster care who need loving families and the promise of a bright future.

I would like to take a moment to recognize Bunchy Gertner, a true leader in south Florida in the cause to help these children. Working with the local organization Our Kids, she has led efforts to collect Christmas gifts for thousands of foster children, ensuring that they experience the joy of Christmas morning. Additionally, Bunchy has helped provide children aging out of the foster care system with the Good Housekeeping gift, basic household items that help ease the often too difficult transition to independent life.

We should take inspiration from Bunchy's charity and recommit ourselves during this month to guarantee that all children in the foster care system receive the support that they need and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support small business owners in south Florida and across the country.

The economic recession devastated the economy, hitting older Americans especially hard. In fact, older workers

once unemployed are more likely than others to remain unemployed, which is why we need to revitalize our economy by supporting those who found themselves out of work before retirement.

Earlier this week, I introduced the bipartisan Empowering Encore Entrepreneurs Act, which will support older Americans working hard to start or expand a small business.

There are currently over 7 million self-employed workers in the U.S. age 50 or older, which demonstrates a tremendous capacity of older workers to contribute to our economy and create jobs when given the right resources.

My bill, which is supported by the AARP, will improve the capacity of entrepreneurs to begin small businesses and help successful small business owners make their enterprises even more prosperous.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of National Teacher Day, a day when we honor our teachers who contribute so much to our students, our schools, and our country.

I am pleased to recognize Myrna Betancourt, Miami-Dade's Teacher of the Year. She and other former Teachers of the Year like recipient Fred Ingram, who now leads the United Teachers of Dade, are shining examples of the kind of educators who find the best in their students.

My brother, Gaby, and his wife, Cathy, are both teachers who inspire every day with their dedication to their students. When I was a student, one of my own teachers, Pat Collins, helped fuel in me a passion for learning and kindled my lifelong commitment to public service.

All over the country teachers make a difference in the lives of their students every day. We owe them our deepest appreciation.

I rise today to recognize Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

All over the world, people like south Floridian David Mermelstein, who is currently in Poland on the March of the Living, are honoring the memories of all those who suffered and died.

We must also redouble our commitment to the survivors who are still with us. This past Sunday, I had the privilege of attending a Yom Hashoah ceremony at the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial and hearing from the survivors.

It is unacceptable that billions are still owed to deserving survivors and that many insurers have made it nearly impossible for beneficiaries to collect their payments. These are men and women who suffered from unimaginable physical and emotional pain and who carry their injuries and scars with them to this day. We must do right by them.

I urge my colleagues to honor the dead as well as the living and take action to return what is due to the Holocaust survivors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 45th anniversary of the Minority Business Development Agency. Throughout its history, MBDA has spurred business development and worked tirelessly to advance the growth and global competitiveness of the minority business community.

These businesses fuel the economic engine of our country, revitalizing our communities by creating hundreds of new jobs. In my home State of Florida, this agency helped create 2,500 jobs in 2009, including over 800 new jobs in the past year alone.

At a time when many communities blighted by recession continue to struggle, the Minority Development

Business Agency will strengthen businesses on the verge of recovery.

I look forward to seeing this agency continue to create jobs and prosperity both in Florida and across our country.

Madam Speaker, I have always been a strong supporter of Medicare for the simple reason that our Nation's seniors deserve to keep their hard-earned health care.

That is why we have been working on a bipartisan basis to fight any potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

I am pleased to announce that, yesterday, the administration reversed potential cuts to these health care plans.

I would like to say a few words in Spanish:

(English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows.)

Mr. Speaker, I always have and always will support Medicare for the simple reason that our nation's seniors deserve to keep their hard- earned health care.

That is why I have been working on a bipartisan basis to fight any potential cuts to Medicare.

I am pleased to say that the Administration stepped up yesterday and reversed potential cuts to Medicare Advantage health plans.

I'd like to say a few words in Spanish for my Spanish language constituents.

Siempre he apoyado y voy a seguir apoyando a Medicare porque creo que las personas mayores de nuestro paiis merecen mantener su seguro de salud que han ganado.

Por esa razoon es que he colaborado con mis colegas de ambos lados para combatir los cortes potenciales de Medicare.

Me complace anunciar que la Administracioon escuchoo nuestras preocupaciones y ayer eliminaron los posibles recortes a los planes de salud de Medicare Advantage.

Es un buen dia para los mayores de nuestra nacioon.

It is a good day for our Nation's seniors.

I would like to thank my colleague from Florida and my good friend, Mr. Murphy, for his fight for seniors.

I rise today to express my strong support for Medicare and my opposition to any cuts to Medicare. Medicare is one of our Nation's greatest achievements. For half a century, this program has lifted millions of seniors out of poverty and provided seniors with the health care they need, they have earned and they deserve.

In Congress, we have a responsibility to strengthen and modernize Medicare to ensure that it continues to provide seniors who have worked all their lives to receive those Medicare benefits they have earned and they depend on.

Medicare Advantage serves over 1 million seniors in Florida, and it provides innovative treatments and care. In my district, I hear firsthand from so many seniors how well Medicare is serving them.

This is not a political issue. This is not a partisan issue. While outside groups have been misleading my constituents and others on my record on Medicare, I have been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose cuts to Medicare.

My colleagues and I are strongly advocating against changes to Medicare that would disrupt the lives of seniors.

I have spoken to the President about this. I have spoken to the Secretary and CMS about this issue. We have written letters to the administration, and we stand here today. I am committed to continuing to do everything I can to protect Medicare for our Nation's seniors.

With that, I want to again thank Mr. Murphy for all of his efforts. He has been a leader in our caucus, he has been a leader in this Congress in fighting for seniors, and I am proud to stand by his side, just as I am sure that Mr. Murphy will fight against cuts like the ones proposed in the Ryan budget, which cuts over $800 billion from seniors and Medicare, which puts the hole back in the doughnut, and I just want to thank him again for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me here today, as well as those advocates tirelessly working for comprehensive immigration reform.

Nine months have passed since the Senate moved on a strongly bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill. In that time, we have heard nothing but excuses and empty promises from the Speaker.

Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed what so many of us already know: immigration is a boon for our economy. It will reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion, raise wages, and increase the Nation's productivity. It will make our country richer and create opportunity for all. But because the Speaker refuses to give us a vote, we have seen more families ripped apart, more jobs go overseas, and more people get stuck in a broken, outdated, and inefficient system.

We can't afford to wait any longer for this House to take up immigration reform. The time has come to move this forward.

Immigration reform isn't just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. Our country needs it, the American people support it, and there are enough votes today in the House of Representatives to pass it.

I invite all my colleagues to join me in signing the discharge petition so we can finally bring immigration reform to a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 15 to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that unites our families and moves our country forward.

Mr. Speaker, last week marked 1 month since Leopoldo Lopez was unjustly arrested in Venezuela for his role in demonstrations against the ineptitude of the Venezuelan Government.

Mr. Lopez is one of the best-known prisoners in Venezuela, but he is not the only one: 121 people remain behind bars; over 2,000 have been detained while the democratic protests continue.

Despite these arrests, despite the hundreds of injured, dozens killed, the demonstrations continue. The voices of reform will not be silenced. Every day, the Venezuelan people are fighting for freedom, pleading for a better future, demanding their basic rights.

While much of our attention has been focused on the events in Ukraine and Russia, few nations are more closely tied to our national interests than Venezuela. The time for America to act is coming.

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

I am opposed.

Mr. Speaker, this is a final amendment to the bill. This will not delay the bill. This will not kill the bill. This will not send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will proceed immediately to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, we should all be able to agree that just as it is absurd to say that all regulations are good, it is absurd to say that all regulations are bad. Unfortunately, this bill does just that.

It assumes that all regulations are bad; it weakens or delays them. Even those that advance important bipartisan priorities are going to be hurt. That is why my amendment is so important. It will ensure that this bill does not create unnecessary hurdles in several important areas, including those that help veterans find jobs, keep health care safe and affordable, and rebuild communities after natural disasters.

Mr. Speaker, there is probably no issue where there is more bipartisan support than in the need to support our Nation's veterans. Those who have risked and sacrificed more than anyone else deserve for us to help keep them safe: veterans, veterans like my constituent George Martinez, who found a job through the program for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, an important program overseen by the VA.

This bill will unfortunately weaken or delay regulations that help veterans like George find jobs when they leave the service. It would have delayed an important regulation that was finalized last year, a regulation that requires contractors to set goals for hiring veterans and list job openings so that veterans can apply for them.

According to estimates, this regulation could ultimately find additional employment for 200,000 veterans. With unemployment for veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan being at almost 10 percent, we should not be delaying this kind of regulation.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment would also keep the bill from creating unnecessary hurdles on regulations that protect patient safety. This bill would unnecessarily create hurdles for regulations that protect patient safety in hospitals and nursing homes, and lower out-of-pocket costs of health care.

These are especially important issues in my home State of Florida where 70,000 nursing home residents live, more than almost any other State in the country. These are our parents, they are our loved ones who should receive the best care possible in their latter years. That is why we must ensure that nursing homes remain a safe place of rest and care for our seniors and remain an affordable option for those

who need them. That is exactly what my amendment will do.

Finally, this amendment will ensure that the bill does not create unnecessary obstacles for regulations that help protect and rebuild communities after natural disasters. In south Florida, we are all too familiar with the devastating effects of hurricanes and natural disasters when they strike. Rebuilding communities in their aftermath can take years, as my constituents in Homestead know all too well. That is why we need to move forward with my amendment. We need to have an amendment that ensures this bill does not weaken or delay regulations that facilitate the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we face so many important issues, we here in Congress need to come together and do what is right. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to ensure that we support unemployed veterans, keep health care safe and affordable, and protect our communities from natural disasters.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.