Floor Statements

Offered By: Ms. Castor of Florida

Amendment No. 3: Page 3, line 9, strike the closing

quotation mark and the final period.

Page 3, after line 9, add the following:

``(4) Offshore exclusions.--The plan required by paragraph

(1) shall not include oil and gas leasing in any tract

located in the South Atlantic Planning Area, the Straits of

Florida Planning Area, or the in any area of the Eastern Gulf

of Mexico that is referred to in section 104(a) of the Gulf

of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.''.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding the time.

America should not be exporting our crude oil exports to an adversary, and that was our national policy for 40 years until a Republican-controlled Congress authorized sending American crude oil abroad in 2015.

China exploited that ill-advised policy change, and exports of American crude oil to China increased nearly a hundredfold during the Trump administration to about 391 million barrels.

Last year, in response to soaring gasoline prices caused by Putin's unprovoked attack on Ukraine, President Biden successfully used the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower prices at the pump and provide relief to American families. This was a commonsense strategy that worked.

Gasoline prices have fallen an average of $1.90 per gallon nationwide since their peak last June. However, we cannot keep relying on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to keep oil prices in check.

That is why Democrats have focused on lowering costs and avoiding price spikes through the Inflation Reduction Act because cleaner, cheaper energy is our future. It will lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and help us build safer, more resilient, and healthier communities.

Plus, this bill is way too narrowly tailored. What we should be debating today is the farsighted bill offered by my colleagues, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan and Congressman Don Bacon, a bipartisan bill that would completely ban all crude oil exports to China. That is a much stronger bill. In addition to China, it would ban crude oil exports to all of our adversaries, including Iran and North Korea.

In the end, America's future is in clean energy. That is how we are going to lower the cost of energy for American families, provide good- paying jobs, and make sure that we provide a livable planet to our kids and future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman and I congratulate Mrs. McMorris Rodgers for taking the gavel of the Energy and Commerce Committee and I look forward to working with her in the 118th Congress.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the service and dedication of the majority professional staff of the Select Committee of the Climate Crisis. As any Member of Congress knows, the unsung heroes are those working behind the scenes. With little fanfare and recognition, the long hours and personal sacrifices our staff makes are indispensable to the success of a Member or committee.

For the last 4 years, I have had the distinct pleasure to serve as Chair for this Select Committee. During this time, I have been fortunate to have worked with so many talented individuals.

Our professional staff comes from all backgrounds, spanning the gamut of personal and professional experiences. This staff banded together as a team, and their record of success speaks for itself.

From Day 1, this team took to heart the words of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that this Select Committee was not just an academic exercise but intended to deliver a roadmap of real policy achievements to tackle the challenge of a generation. Behind the scenes, the Select Committee staff built bridges to work closely with the incredible staffs of all the standing committees in the Congress, they reached across the spectrum of outside groups and advisors to foster new partnerships and forge compromise, while keeping our goals at the forefront of policy. In many ways the team served as a climate think tank for House Democrats, identifying ``Climate Wins'' and expanding the understanding of the climate crisis in all areas of policy and legislation.

As a result of their tireless work, the majority staff released a groundbreaking 2020 Climate Crisis Action Plan that has been called the most comprehensive climate policy plan ever in U.S. politics, which included a suite of 715 policy recommendations. And just this month, at the end of our tenure, the staff released a new report, Solving the Climate Crisis 2022: Key Accomplishments and Additional Opportunities. This 2nd report outlines the enormous record of success and progress, noting the more than 300 recommendations from 2020 that are now codified into federal law, the 430 plus that have passed the House under Speaker Pelosi's leadership, and outlining the necessary steps forward in future years for the Congress to continue to tackle the climate crisis.

The staff always had as its compass that solving the climate crisis must be guided by science, rooted in justice, and powered by American workers. Undoubtedly their work will help make communities more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis, create good-paying local jobs, slash energy bills, uplift disadvantaged communities, and position America to lead the emerging clean economy.

I would like to take a moment to specifically recognize our majority staff director, Dr. Ana Unruh Cohen. Over the better part of the last 20 years, Ana has dedicated her work in the Congress to tackling the climate crisis, both in the House and Senate. Her deep knowledge of policy, collaborative spirit, and sharp political awareness was critical to the Select Committee's effectiveness and success. Her tireless leadership is an inspiration for us all.

I would also like to recognize all our staffers, past and present, during the 116th and 117th Congresses:

Alison L. Cassady, Deputy Staff Director.

Eric S. Fins, Deputy Staff Director.

Fatima Maria Ahmad, Senior Counsel.

Loyle Campbell, Rosenthal International Relations Fellow.

Grace Chan, Professional Staff.

Sydney Devitt, Digital Assistant.

Ebadullah Ebadi, Policy Assistant.

Melvin Felix, Communications Director.

Javier Gamboa, Senior Professional Staff.

Dana Gansman, Clerk and Director of Operations.

Jacob Hicks, Digital Director.

Aaron Huertas, Communications Director.

Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl, Senior Professional Staff.

Mackenzie L. Landa, Counsel.

Jakob Lindaas, Ph.D., Professional Staff.

Raleigh L. Martin, Ph.D., AGI/AAAS Congressional Science Fellow.

Samantha A. Medlock, CFM, Senior Counsel.

Mariah A. Morrison, Digital Production Specialist.

Sebastian Pons, Staff Assistant.

Zachary D. Pritchard, Ph.D., ASME Congressional Science & Engineering Fellow.

Abigail Regitsky, Ph.D., Professional Staff.

Rachel St. Louis, Operations and Press Assistant.

In addition, the Select Committee benefited from the support and wisdom of Kenneth Russell DeGraff, Senior Policy Advisor to Speaker Pelosi.

Thank you is not enough. These staffers have heeded the call to service, and for that I, and the American people, are eternally grateful. As this Select Committee comes to a close and the staff turns to their next chapter, I have no doubt they will continue to work every day to make a difference and be successful in whatever they turn to next.

Madam Speaker, the people of Puerto Rico deserve to live in dignity with the freedom to determine their future. That is why I rise in support of the Puerto Rico Status Act.

The act simply provides Puerto Ricans the opportunity to determine their future and choose whether statehood, independence, or sovereignty and free association makes the most sense for them.

Colleagues, I hope we can all agree that we all value basic human rights, and that means, like every American citizen, our Puerto Rican neighbors deserve true representation, equal rights, and everything that flows from that.

After Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, boricuas in the Tampa Bay area came together to advocate for resources to rebuild the island. The disparate treatment became so plain at that time, but it has existed for decades, even as Puerto Ricans have given their life in service of America's freedom.

So it is time that the territorial status of Puerto Rico be reexamined. It is unsustainable and cannot continue. Puerto Ricans deserve the opportunity to have their say.

I thank Representatives Velazquez, Soto, Ocasio-Cortez, Gonzalez- Colon, Leader Hoyer, and Chair Grijalva for crafting this landmark legislation for self-determination per the democratic values that we hold dear.

Vote for self-determination and freedom and democracy for everyone. I urge you to adopt this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my longtime chief of staff, Clay Phillips, who is retiring at the end of this Congress. I thank him for his tremendous career of public service, including 16 years of service in the chief of staff role.

There are few people in the Tampa area who have not worked with Clay, and I am grateful for all the work that he has done to ensure that veterans receive the benefits that they have earned to ensure that our neighbors were able to stay in their house during the foreclosure crisis, all of his work on affordable healthcare, and for social justice.

He was also instrumental in Florida's new statue, the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune statue that all Americans will enjoy seeing. She is the first African American in history to represent a State in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

He has always stood up for the voiceless, and as President Kennedy encouraged, let public service be a proud and lively career.

Clay's career was proud and lively. I am grateful he has provided selfless service, and I am grateful for his friendship and his devotion to our neighbors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and contributions of Paul Lamison, a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community, who passed away on August 4, 2022. Raised in Lakeland, Florida as one of seven siblings, Paul took great pride in his roots. Paul's dedication to journalism and sharing moments in history, big and small, that chronicled and defined our Tampa community is worthy of recognition. His devotion to family also is a great example of the quiet heroes in our lives everyday who deserve praise and honor.

As Chief Photojournalist for Tampa's WFLA News Channel 8, Paul was a familiar voice and face for viewers and News Channel 8 staff alike throughout the course of his nearly 30-year career. Working firmly behind the camera for much of his career, Paul went on to be known as the man with `the best seat in the house' when he transitioned to his integral role on the morning team and as News Channel 8's `eye in the sky' in the Eagle 8 news helicopter. Reporting on events from the daily morning commute to celebrations of sports championships to the Gasparilla parade and special episodes in the lives of Tampa Bay area residents, Paul connected the community with professionalism and good cheer. Those who knew Paul loved him, describing him as a passionate, fun-loving person and a light that lifted up everyone around him. Paul's energy and joy was a constant, experienced both on and off screen. His authenticity and commitment have left an immensely positive impact on a generation of journalists, as well as his family and friends. Paul's legacy will continue to live through his siblings along with his wife, Nerissa, and their daughters Emily, Kate, Ava, and Emma.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the citizens of Florida, I am proud to honor Paul Lamison for his lifelong dedication to journalism and to sharing stories of all the great people and places that make up our community. We are all eternally grateful for his immense contributions. His legacy will live on and inspire many others in the Tampa Bay community and beyond for years to come.

Madam Speaker, as chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and as a mom, I am proud to say the Inflation Reduction Act is a big climate deal.

This is the largest investment in clean energy and climate solutions ever in U.S. history, and it comes at a crucial time.

We must urgently slash climate pollution to avoid the worst impacts and to lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and build safer, more resilient communities.

Today, I am optimistic that America will lead the world in solving the climate crisis, and I thank the young people all across this country who pushed us to take this historic step.

The Inflation Reduction Act is also good news for Floridians, as Democrats will lower the costs of prescription drugs, empower Medicare to negotiate drug prices, institute a $2,000 cap, and much more.

It is a big deal for the 2.8 million Floridians who purchase high- quality health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. With these tax credits, those policies will be more affordable.

Yes, this is good news indeed, a true people over politics moment for all of our neighbors, their health, their pocketbooks, and the obligation we have to our kids to provide a livable planet.

I thank Speaker Pelosi for her vision for the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and I also thank Chairman Frank Pallone and my colleagues for their inspiring work.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 263, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, as a proud cosponsor of this legislation for many years.

Big cats such as lions, tigers, panthers, and others deserve to live in the wild or in a safe and secure refuge like Big Cat Rescue back home in Tampa.

But too often these beautiful creatures are privately owned and exploited for profit in the exotic pet trade where they are owned by unfit individuals and kept in awful conditions. That is why we must pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act. It would be a catastrophe if we did not pass it.

Big cats are wild animals. They do not belong in backyards and garages and should not be in regular contact with people unsuited to take care of them. It is dangerous as well. We have seen numerous law enforcement and emergency calls due to the irresponsible private ownership of big cats fueled by those who are making money off of their suffering.

So I am proud to have advocated for this legislation with many of the cool cats and kittens, volunteers, and supporters of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa.

I thank Representative Quigley and the Natural Resources Committee Chair Grijalva for moving to protect big cats from exploitation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same with a big ``yes'' vote on the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

Madam Speaker, we are at a perilous time where an extremist Supreme Court and the GOP are rolling back our rights. They are rolling back the legal guarantee to control our bodies and to make our own decisions about when to have children.

In States like mine in Florida, the Governor has already instituted a cruel 15-week abortion ban, and recently struck a plan to provide contraceptive care to working-class women and girls for the second year in a row.

I have served in Congress for enough years to watch the GOP over time fight to eliminate birth control and family planning funds. They fought to eliminate the no-cost birth control under the Affordable Care Act, in addition to the Democrats fighting to establish this right to contraceptives.

This bill also would ensure that doctors can continue to do their jobs and provide contraceptives without being turned into criminals. Contraceptive use is crucial to preventing unintended pregnancies, preventing and treating countless medical conditions, and decreasing the risk of certain cancers.

Everyone should have equal access to necessary preventative care no matter which State you live in. On behalf of the women in the State of Florida and America, I urge my colleagues to support the right to contraceptives and the right of women to control their own bodies.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and contributions of Mary Mortellaro Caltagirone, a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community, who passed away on April 7, 2022, at the age of 99 after a lifetime of service as a devoted mother, educator and community volunteer.

A Tampa native of Sicilian decent, Mary grew up attending local public schools before leaving home to attend college, a rarity for a woman of her background at that time. Mary attended college at Florida College for Women, now Florida State University, and graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and Math in 1943. In addition to this, she earned a certificate in Elementary Education from the University of Tampa and was a member of three honor societies. Mary took all of the education and experience she gained and brought it back home to serve her community in Tampa. She went on to teach for 40 years in Hillsborough County public schools at various grade levels and I am very grateful and proud to have been one of her students myself.

Mary retired from teaching in 1983, though her promotion of education and her community involvement only grew from there. Honoring her Sicilian heritage and Ybor City roots, Mary was a founding member of Lucerna and its offshoot organization, Pan American University Women (PAUW), whose mission it is to unite women of Latin decent who are graduates of institutions of higher learning, to promote fellowship, encourage education and professional accomplishments and to provide charitable contributions to the Tampa community. Mary served as a four- time president and was twice honored as PAUW Woman of the Year. Other community organizations and philanthropic involvements of hers included the Italian Club and their Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of Italy, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Spanish Lyric Theater, Judea-Christian Health Clinic and the Ybor City Museum, where she amassed over 1000 hours of service! Mary's incredible devotion to these groups was extremely appreciated by their community members. In 2005, she was presented with the Italian Woman of Excellence Award for Cultural and Civic Involvement and in 2007, she was named Person of the Year for Outstanding Service by St. John's Presbyterian Church.

Mary was a truly selfless and loving individual, and her legacy will continue to live through her sons Sam A. and Vincent G. Caltagirone (Sue), former daughters-in-law, Norma Tomasello Caltagirone and Carol Bond Caltagirone, nephews Vincent and Douglas Mortellaro (Tracy), cousin George Garcia (Bonnie), grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many more extended family. Her memory will truly be a blessing for her family, her students and all in our Tampa Bay community who have known her, learned from her and worked alongside her.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the citizens of Florida, I am proud to honor Mary Mortellaro Caltagirone for her lifelong dedication to education and for her demonstrations of service above self. All in our community are eternally grateful for her immense contributions. Her legacy will live on and inspire many others in the Tampa Bay community and beyond for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlemen for yielding time, and I thank my colleague and friend from Florida as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2938 to name the Federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, for Judge Joseph Woodrow Hatchett. It is so appropriate for us to honor his life and legacy by naming the Federal courthouse in Florida's capital city for Judge Hatchett as he was a champion for fairness and justice.

He did have a hardscrabble background, being born to a maid and a fruit picker in the Tampa Bay area. He grew up in Pinellas County, but he was the pride of his family and his community through his graduation from Florida A&M University and with a law degree from Howard University. He served in the Army.

He was one of the first African-American Federal prosecutors--I believe the first in the Middle District of Florida. He was a Federal magistrate and served with distinction. Then he was tapped as the first African-American supreme court justice in the history of the State of Florida, and then on the circuit court of appeals, where he then served as chief judge.

Here is how various commentators, former clerks, and colleagues describe Judge Hatchett: he was unbelievably smart, he was a pioneer, a man of utmost integrity, a fine and decent judge who stood for racial justice and fairness, and a lifetime of work for ethics in government and justice in the courts.

One of his colleagues who served with him said that his external gentleness and calmness was wrapped around a steel core of dedication to equality and justice. His contribution to both of those ideals in Florida and this country throughout his life are immeasurable.

Madam Speaker, my Republican colleagues here who oppose the naming of the courthouse for Judge Hatchett now have an opportunity to do right by him.

One commentator described the changing of votes on the floor of the House that day and the votes against this honorable man as a new perigee of political pettiness, folks who wanted to reinforce their image as political heirs to this sort of mean-spirited and backward thinking that the South sent to Washington in a long-gone era.

So let's rise up against this thinking of us versus them, this capitulation to a MAGA mom. We are better than this in this House of Representatives, and it is time to honor this outstanding gentleman, Judge Joseph Woodrow Hatchett, for his life of integrity, fairness, and honor. He deserves so much more. But I hope we can all come together in a unanimous vote for this outstanding American.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and contributions of Dr. Walter Lee Smith, seventh president of Florida A&M University (FAMU) and outstanding citizen of Tampa and Hillsborough County, who passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at the age of 86. A scholar, historian, advocate and educational leader, Dr. Smith was a native of Tampa, Florida, but the impact of his great work reached far beyond our community, having touched the lives of those across Florida, our nation and the world.

Dr. Walter Lee Smith was born in Tampa, Florida on May 13, 1935, to the late Eva Smith (Reynolds). Raised by his mother and stepfather, Rubin Reynolds, a strong work ethic was instilled in Smith from a very young age and applied throughout his childhood raised in Florida, Georgia and New York. He excelled both academically and in sports, all while living through firsthand experiences of racism and segregation within his communities. Smith's perseverance during these instances not only showed signs of his strong character but would go on to influence his professional interests and achievements. Years down the line, Smith would go on to work for the federal government and help to develop Titles IV and VI programs for school desegregation.

As a young adult, Dr. Walter Lee Smith worked pushing clothing racks in the New York Garment district before he went on to enlist in the U.S. Army, having served his nation during the Korean war. Following his military service, Smith returned to Tampa Bay where he enrolled at Gibbs Junior College, the first of Florida's junior colleges for African American students. Smith was elected as the first student body president during his time at Gibbs. Following this, he went on to attend Florida A&M University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Chemistry and subsequently a Masters of Education. Smith completed his education by earning a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from The Florida State University.

Before becoming FAMU's seventh president, Smith worked in various roles throughout Tampa as: a 7-Eleven Store manager in Progress Village, a science teacher at Marshall High School in Plant City, assistant director of the Florida Education Association and provost at Hillsborough Community College. From 1974 to 1977, he served as president of Roxbury Community College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Smith was appointed the seventh president of FAMU in 1977, serving in this role until 1985. Under his leadership, FAMU as an educational institution was positively impacted in innumerable ways. The university grew to eleven schools and colleges. Among those added were the School of Allied Health Science, School of General Studies, the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. Various Graduate and Doctorate programs were established under Smith's administration, with the university having offered its first Doctor of Philosophy degree, a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, in 1984. Beyond academics, FAMU's athletic department was greatly developed during Smith's tenure and a $10-million Centennial Celebration Fund endowment was established, having since grown to more than $150 million.

But Dr. Smith's educational efforts did not stop there. Following his departure from FAMU, Smith was appointed as a senior Fulbright Scholar and worked abroad with the University of Malawi. In 1994 through 1995, he founded FUNDA, an American style two-year college, specifically in Malawi and South Africa. After his time abroad, Smith worked as a professor at the University of Florida until his retirement in 2000. In 2002, he opened a privately held community library in his hometown of Tampa.

Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Barbara Abrams Smith; children: Col. John L. Smith (ret.), Andre Smith, Salesia Smith-Gordon, Walter Lee Smith II, Tracey Abrams Butler; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other members of their extended family.

Along with his family, Smith's lifelong commitment to education will be carried on in a legacy across the various institutions he worked with. In 2007, FAMU named its School of Architecture and Engineering Technology building in honor of Dr. Smith. At the University of Florida, colleagues and former students of Smith's funded the creation of the Walter L. Smith Scholarship to support minority graduate students in educational administration. The Florida State University also holds a scholarship in Dr. Smith's name and in 2015, Hillsborough County Libraries named a reading room at the Robert Saunders Library in his honor as well.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor Dr. Walter Lee Smith and his selfless devotion of strengthening education institutions and expanding their accessibility in Tampa, Florida, the United States and beyond. Dr. Smith's legacy is cemented into the history of our community and will live on and inspire others for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the contributions of the nation's Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) and applaud the vitally important health care workforce programs they conduct to improve access to care for medically underserved individuals, particularly in the Tampa Bay area.

AHECs, established by Congress in 1971 as one of the Title VII Health Professions Training programs, are the workforce development, training and education machine for the nation's health care safety net programs. Over the past 5 years, the AHEC program has trained 2 million health care professionals who are prepared to deliver culturally appropriate, high-quality, team-based care, with an emphasis on primary care for rural and underserved populations.

The nation's 300 AHECs are in nearly every state and in multiple U.S. territories, offering hands-on and innovative health career curriculums for pre-college level students. They are committed to continuing education, clinical training of health professionals, and responding to community health needs. This is accomplished by forming academic and community partnerships that link the resources of academic health centers with the needs of the communities.

AHEC clinical training placements put health professions students in a variety of real-world settings, such as migrant, urban, and rural community health clinics and health departments that provide care to rural and underserved communities. Connecting students to their communities helps facilitate future engagement, encouraging health career students to remain in their clinical practice regions following their training. As the nation's population becomes more diverse, it is important that the health care workforce follows suit.

I have long supported the work of AHECs and particularly that of the University of South Florida AHEC program. Established in 1993, USF AHEC and its centers provide youth from diverse backgrounds with programs to inspire and support their interest in health careers through programs such as the Brain Expansion Scholastic Training (BEST), Recruitment and Education Assistance for Careers in Health (REACH), and AHEC Scholars. Students interested in medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and other disciplines are exposed to local free clinics in the Tampa Bay area--clinical training opportunities that illustrate the real-world impacts that poverty, racism, and inadequate access to health care have on the lives of their patients and families.

As part of a statewide system of 15 federally and state supported AHEC program offices and centers serving all of Florida's 67 counties, USF AHEC and its partners across the state have leveraged their statewide infrastructure to create numerous programs to benefit the residents of Florida. Since 2008, Florida's AHEC network has conducted a $10 million annual comprehensive tobacco education program and group cessation counseling initiative; worked with the state's Opioid Response Program to provide over $1 million in education and training on opioids for health care providers, students, and community health workers; and partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deliver HPV vaccine education and training programs.

Congress has tasked AHECs with an extraordinarily important mission, and the need to strengthen the health care workforce in our country continues to grow. According to a new report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. could see a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, and the American Hospital Association says more than 200,000 new registered nurses are needed each year to meet increasing health care needs and to replace nurses entering retirement. AHECs continue to be committed to addressing shortage areas and expanding the health care workforce, while maximizing diversity and facilitating distribution, especially in rural and underserved communities.

On behalf of my constituents at the USF Area Health Education Center and the AHEC program more broadly, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing March 28th to April 1st, 2022 as National AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and contributions of Todd A. Vega, a beloved member of the Tampa Bay community, who passed away on February 28, 2022 at the age of 60. A fifth generation Floridian born and raised in Tampa, Todd positively impacted our Tampa Bay community in countless ways.

Todd served for 34 years in the construction industry. A long-time Union member, Todd worked in various roles including pipefitter, organizer and most recently as Business Manager of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) Plumbers Pipefitters Local 123 in Tampa. He always stood firmly for what he believed in and served as a major advocate for workers' rights throughout his career. Todd's dedication to his work and the people around him greatly contributed to the training of countless apprentices and journeymen who continue to strengthen the industry's standards and quality of work put forward in our community.

Our community honors and grieves the loss of his tireless efforts and leadership on behalf of his members, the members of the West Central FL Labor Council and the Florida Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council and working families all over Florida. Todd was a big man, literally and figuratively, with a heart that was even bigger. The biggest gap in our community to fill may be his work for and devotion to children. Todd was always quick to help all as a friend and supporter, but it has been said of him that ``you sure never had to ask twice when helping kids was involved.'' The U/A Mechanical Contractors of Central Florida Charity Foundation exists to serve local children in need of school supplies, a toy or other resources that can brighten their lives and give them an opportunity.

Todd's family and the working men and women of Tampa Bay and Florida were at the core of his life. They and we are so much better for it. I have in my prayers his wife, Shari; daughter, Tiffany (Ed); father, Harold; brothers, Troy and James (Kathy); niece, Alisha; nephew, J.P.; and grandchildren, Coy, Andy and Legend. His memory will truly be a blessing for them and all of us.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the citizens of Florida, I am proud to honor Todd A. Vega, his devotion to all of us and particularly workers' rights and opportunities. The impacts of Todd's big heart will be felt throughout our community for years to come. All in our community and especially those of us who called him a friend are eternally grateful for him having passed our way. May his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, this Black History Month, I am proud to celebrate local trailblazers who have dedicated their lives to lifting up our community. I rise today in immense gratitude of Roosevelt ``Rocky'' Ratliff, III, a lifetime public servant. Born in Perry, Fla., at 2 pounds and 11 ounces, he gained the name Rocky by his delivery nurse because he was a fighter, despite his low birthweight. His parents, Roosevelt Jr. and Gloria, taught him that hard work and doing your very best in everything you do pays off. He moved to Tampa in 1984 and received his bachelor's degree in criminology from St. Leo University--becoming the first in his family to attain a college degree. He also attended Bethune Cookman University, where he was a member of the Marching Wildcats Band.

Mr. Ratliff joined the Tampa Police Department in 1998, patrolling the seven public housing properties that existed at the time. He led with his ``Boots on the Ground'' philosophy that stressed the importance of patrolling neighborhoods on foot to deter crime and foster invaluable relationships with the neighbors. This philosophy helped him work his way up the ranks to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before retiring as a major in 2018. He had a reputation for building strong community relationships throughout the City of Tampa. Because of his initiative, our communities became a safer place to live, work and play.

Major Ratliff pioneered the Community Oriented Program (COPs) in all three Districts and helped resolve community complaints and disturbances in city parks by serving as the liaison to the Parks & Recreation Department. After 30 years, Major Ratliff retired but continued his community involvement through mentoring. He is a member of the Pi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. that started a mentoring program at Just Elementary School for 20 young men in the fourth and fifth grades called the Gentlemen's Club. This program is vital in helping young men develop the proper skills needed to guide them throughout life and furthering their education. In addition, he is CEO of Strategic Community Engagement Consulting, LLC. He, along with Derrick Brooks Charities, developed a Community-Police Relationships (CPR) Zoom Forum to focus on addressing concerns between law enforcement and our Black and Brown communities. The Forum has been a major success throughout Florida. For decades, City of Tampa and Hillsborough County employees supported an annual local MLK tribute through a scholarship fund and downtown march, and Major Ratliff was part of that effort during his tenure at the Tampa Police Department. In 2018, he became a member of the MLK Parade Foundation. Today, the MLK Foundation hosts one of the largest MLK parades in the southeastern United States and engages with businesses, community organizations and entertainment--over the past few years, numerous bands from Historically Black Colleges & Universities have participated in the annual parade. In fact, 2022 was the first time ever that the largest HBCU bands in the country, Florida's own Bethune Cookman University and Florida A&M University, marched together.

Major Ratliff is married to Antoinette and is the proud father to four daughters, Tyrhonza, Bianca, Asia and Markayla.

Major Ratliff has always answered the call--the call to keep our community safe and the call to preserve our community's African American history. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation and Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize the service and leadership of Major Roosevelt ``Rocky'' Ratliff, III.