Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that addresses a problem relating to the American citrus industry and implementation of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. Chairman, the Congress approved the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, and it was signed by the President in 2011. The agreement has increased opportunities for U.S. businesses, farmers, and workers through an important access to a vital foreign market.

Under this agreement, over 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free within 5 years of the date of the agreement. For American agricultural products, the U.S.- Korea agreement immediately phases out tariffs and quotas on a broad range of products.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that annual U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea will increase by a minimum of $1.9 billion upon full implementation. In particular, the free trade agreement eliminated South Korea's 54 percent tariff on frozen concentrated orange juice, and it phases out the tariffs on fresh grapefruit and freshly squeezed orange juice over 5 years.

The negotiated removal of such tariffs will allow the American citrus industry to grow and expand. It will create jobs in America, including jobs related to citrus growers, maritime businesses and ports such as my home port, the Port of Tampa. This is great news for my home State of Florida and other States across the U.S. where they grow citrus. It's vital to our economy and local communities.

But we have hit a little bit of a stumbling block with South Korea during the implementation of the free trade agreement. South Korea is resisting the USDA's country-of-origin certification for U.S. citrus.

My amendment, the Castor amendment, seeks to correct this problem by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that the Department's certificates of origin are accepted by any country with respect to which the United States has entered into a free trade agreement providing for preferential duty treatment.

Fortunately, the Congressional Budget Office says there's no new cost for this amendment. I would like to thank my colleagues from Florida, Congressman Webster and Congressman Hastings on the Rules Committee, for their support in getting this amendment made in order. I'd like to thank Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson for their fair consideration.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Castor amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.

I thank the chairman of the Agriculture Committee and the ranking member and thank them for including the Castor amendment in the farm bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, America faces so many challenges today: How do we create more jobs? How do we boost economic growth? How do we support middle class families and small businesses, build things in America again, improve our schools, and invest in our infrastructure?

So is Congress considering any of these important matters today? No. In fact, here in the middle of June, the Republican-controlled Congress has not scheduled any legislation on any of those important matters. Instead, their priority today is H.R. 1797, where the all-male House Judiciary Committee and the House Republican leadership intends to interject themselves into the private medical decisions of women and their doctors. They discount the health of the woman. They run counter to what medical professionals, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, say is appropriate.

So I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 1797. Do not obliterate our constitutional right to privacy. Do not take such personal decisions out of the hands of women and their doctors. Reject this extreme bill.

I thank my colleague, the ranking member of the Rules Committee, for yielding the time and for being a consistent voice on behalf of families and students across America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republicans' Making College More Expensive Act and the rule, and I rise on behalf of students all across America, particularly back home in Florida and in the Tampa Bay area.

Mr. Speaker, we know that a college education is key to success in life, and that the rising costs of attending college can be an impediment to a student's ability to get into the classroom and get the courses that they need.

About 10 days ago, I was at Tampa's Robinson High School talking with graduating seniors, and they implored me to please stand up for them and be a voice because they see the direct connection on the money that their families have to spend and on their ability to attend college. That is why this Republican Making College More Expensive Act would be so detrimental to the future of our country and to those families and students that really want to get ahead in life.

For example, the GOP's bill is projected to nearly double student loan rates by 2016, and by the time next year's freshmen graduate and start repaying their loans in 2017, the interest rate is expected to more than double beyond today's current rate.

So I think about the 34,000 students in my district who rely on loans, whether they're at Hillsborough Community College, St. Pete College, the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa, or wherever. This Congress has got to stand up for families and students for a change.

So I urge my Republican friends to cross over and join us and to block this student loan increase that the Republican leadership is proposing, side with students and families, oppose the rule and oppose the bill.

Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is working for families and small businesses all across America.

Did you know that the Affordable Care Act provides tax credits to small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees and that over 360,000 small businesses have taken advantage of those tax credits so far and millions more remain eligible?

Speaking of young people, in the State of Florida alone, over 224,000 young people have been able to have health insurance because they've now been able to stay on their parents' policies.

Mr. Speaker, 1.3 million Floridians have received $124 million in rebates from insurance companies, an average of $168 per family, because of important consumer protection provisions in the law that say insurance companies can't charge families too much.

Medicare is stronger, the doughnut hole is closing, and the Affordable Care Act is a godsend to so many families who have preexisting conditions, whether it is cancer or diabetes or some other chronic condition.

To my Republican colleagues, let's come together to work on the economy and creating jobs rather than another deja vu of repealing health care and wasting time.

I urge everyone to vote ``no'' on the Patients' Rights Repeal Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement into the Record opposing the GOP's awful Mother's Day gift--more work and less pay for working moms. Happy Mother's Day.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague, Mr. Van Hollen.

Mr. Chairman, Democrats and Republicans agree that deficit reduction is important; and, in fact, over the past year and a half, we've achieved over $2.7 trillion in debt reduction. But now, the Republicans want to take us through a charade with this Tea Party budget.

If enacted, the Republican budget would weaken America's recovery. It would undermine what makes America great and what makes America strong, like education, the ability of students to attend college, medical research and innovation, the ability of our older neighbors to live their lives in dignity in their retirement years through Medicare and long-term care.

Now, we get a lot of advice, and economists across the board, in fact our own Congressional Budget Office, advise that the best and fastest way to reduce the deficit is to make sure that people across America have jobs and are working. So it is inexplicable that the Republican budget proposes to eliminate jobs in construction, in education, scientific research, and instead heap the burden on middle class families.

Experts predict that the Republican budget will result in job losses of 2 million fewer jobs next year alone, and that's on top of 750,000 jobs lost by the end of the year due to the sequester Republicans will not replace, just as the economy is improving for our neighbors and small businesses back home.

In contrast, the Democratic alternative will generate 1.2 million more jobs and stop the sequester. And in committee, Democrats proposed to close those special interest tax loopholes that riddle our Tax Code, and Republicans said, no. Democrats proposed to offset unwise Republican cuts to medical research like Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes research at NIH; Republicans said, no. Democrats tried to cut the special interest spending in the Tax Code to offset Republican cuts to students who rely on Pell Grants; but Republicans said, no.

I thank the gentleman.

Democrats in the Budget Committee proposed to strengthen Medicare and replace the Republican plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program. All it does is simply shift the cost to our families and older neighbors.

Mr. Chairman, this Republican budget is not consistent with American values. It is not fiscally responsible. It is a charade. It is a capitulation to the Tea Party. It does not serve us well in economic recovery and the ways we want to grow America. It's a plan for economic weakness. It's a receding vision of American greatness in education, scientific research and infrastructure, and dignity for our parents and grandparents in their retirement years.

I urge you to vote ``no'' on the Republican budget and support the balanced Democratic alternative.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Mr. Frederick Karl. His extensive contributions to numerous private and public agencies, including all levels of government in Florida, have left an unforgettable legacy for community leaders across the country to learn from and follow.

Mr. Karl was born in Daytona, Florida, where he attended high school and was voted ``Most Personal'' by his senior class. He was born into the Great Depression, but also born into a family of public service; his mother, Mary, was a public school teacher who later founded a vocational school, now Daytona State College. She was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.

The attack on Pearl Harbor compelled Mr. Karl to join the U.S. Army in 1942 and he was commissioned as a lieutenant at age 18. After fighting throughout Europe, he came home at the end of World War II, bearing the silver and bronze stars for valor and a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained from German shrapnel during the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his return, he pursued higher education and earned a law degree from Stetson University. He started a distinguished career practicing law.

By 1956, Mr. Karl's calling for public service steered him towards politics. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served for eight years. His devotion to fairness and high ethical standards earned him the reputation as ``Conscience of the House''-- this would become his legacy.

Serving as a state representative was the beginning of a long career in public service for Mr. Karl. After a run for the Governor's office, beginning in 1968, he spent four years in the state Senate. He presided over the trials of 52 officials suspended by the Governor, establishing a Rules for Suspension and Removal of Public Service from Office. In 1974, he was named Florida's first public counsel, a lawyer who argues for citizens on utility rate cases before the Florida Public Service Commission. In 1976, he became the last state Supreme Court Justice to be elected by Florida voters.

In between service at the state level, Mr. Karl also contributed to his local community, as attorney for the Volusia County School District, and the Cities of Daytona Beach and Ormand Beach.

In 1984, Mr. Karl's stature was called upon after ethics and creditability rocked Hillsborough County government following the arrest of several commissioners on bribery charges. Mr. Karl soon became Hillsborough County administrator, where he was known for his keen balance of thoughtfulness and decisiveness. He helped establish a new health care plan that integrated social services to provide a link to the various problems and challenges faced by indigent residents. The program has since been acclaimed nationally and served as a model for communities across the country. As a proponent of fairness, he took the lead on establishing diversity within county government, naming special officers that would ensure inclusion at all levels of government, from hiring, to procurement to leadership.

Today, a 28-story building where most Hillsborough County government business is conducted bears Mr. Karl's name. Capitalizing on the real estate recession of the early 1990s, he engineered the purchase of the building to bring together more than 1,700 employees and more than 30 county departments and agencies under one roof, saving taxpayers money and increasing customer convenience for those seeking multiple services from their county government.

Even after more than 50 years of dedication, Mr. Karl left Hillsborough County and continued sharing his wisdom and leadership. He served as president of Tampa General Hospital, lead attorney for the City of Tampa and a consultant for Poe Financial Group in Tampa as well as the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.

Mr. Karl passed away March 7, 2013, at age 88. He was a true professional who provided his tremendous legal skills, service and talent to our community, as well as to so many communities throughout Florida. We were fortunate to benefit from his commitment to fairness, diplomacy and fortitude, and we should forever be grateful for his contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Black History Month and to honor and highlight the distinguished career of Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich's contributions to civil rights, education, and public service have left an indelible mark on our country.

Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich has dedicated the majority of her life to public service. Born in Niagra Falls, New York, she completed her elementary and high school education in Buffalo, New York. After high school, she earned her Bachelor's Degree, with honored distinction, in Political Science from North Carolina Central University. She went on to earn a master's degree in Public Administration from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Finally, Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich earned her Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She was also the first African-American to be awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, which she used to study political science at both the Free University in Berlin, Germany, and the Deutsche Hoch Schule fur Politik. Her impressive educational background has earned her teaching positions at some of the country's most revered universities, including Howard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the George Washington University.

Her commitment to public service has been evident as well. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich has served as Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was also New York State Housing Commissioner under Governor Mario Cuomo and has served as the Executive Director of President Carter's Urban and Regional Policy Group. Here, she worked to issue America's first formal National Urban Policy, a significant accomplishment. Additionally, as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc., Dr. Scruggs- Leftwich worked tirelessly to facilitate dialogue between the leaders of the African-American community while also working to design opportunities for collaboration across racial lines.

As residents of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich and her husband, Reverend Edward Leftwich, have launched the Quantum Opportunities after-school program through the Center for Community and Economic Justice. This program works to help at-risk teens become community leaders through tutoring, internship opportunities and training in civic leadership skills. Her unwavering dedication to encouraging a commitment to education and community service with at- risk teens has contributed in countless ways to the Tampa Bay area.

Her impressive volunteer endeavors continue to make Dr. Scruggs- Leftwich's dedication to community service clear. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation's Board of Trustees, Executive Director of the Center for Community and Economic Justice, and is Member at Large of the Black Leadership Forum.

The Tampa Bay Community is proud to recognize Dr. Yvonne Scruggs- Leftwich for her outstanding career and significant contributions to the fields of education, public policy, and civil and community activism. Her dedication to advancing the rights of others through both public and community service makes her an inspirational leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for her dedication to our community and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Mr. Vyrle Davis. His contributions to education and social reform in the Tampa Bay community and throughout the state of Florida are worthy of recognition by all.

Mr. Davis, a native of the Tampa Bay community, attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, before beginning his teaching career at 16th Street Elementary and Junior High School in 1960. Inspired by both his grandfather, a teacher who established the first school for African-American children in Jackson County, and his mother, who taught African-American students in a one-room schoolhouse within the Citrus Park community, Mr. Davis broke both racial and social barriers within his profession.

In 1971, Mr. Davis was named assistant principal at Gibbs High School and two years later he became principal at St. Petersburg High School. In 1986, he overcame countless obstacles to become Pinellas County's first African-American superintendent, a position he held for nine years.

Mr. Davis was also an advocate for social reform. In 1984, he established the Ebony Scholars program, providing institutional and financial support to high-achieving African-American students. Not only did Mr. Davis participate in raising money for his organization, he also contributed a significant amount of his own time and money. To date, the program has allocated over $500,000 to students.

By 1990, Mr. Davis had left an indelible mark by reforming the role of African-Americans in political office. He founded multiple organizations, such as the African-American Voters Registration and Education Committee, that advanced both the political and educational causes of African Americans. He formed a coalition of other activists, whose mission was to help minorities attain elected

positions within their neighborhoods. Specifically, he played a momentous role in the campaign of Mary Brown, a woman who became the first elected African-American Pinellas County School Board member.

Although he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2004, he never let his illness deter him from doing that which he truly loved. He was admired by the Tampa Bay community, and those who knew him, revered him.

As I join with Mr. Davis's family and friends in mourning the passing of an outstanding individual, I know they are incredibly proud of the contributions he has made to the Tampa Bay area. The entire Pinellas County community honors and remembers the 76 year life of Vyrle Davis. Mr. Vyrle Davis molded the lives of generations of students through his dedication to education and to the community as a whole. His example will continue to live through those that worked with him and those who learned from him. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lifetime of achievements and career of Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. Dr. Wright's desire to help others, along with his achievements and service to the Tampa Bay community is worthy of recognition by all.

A native Floridian, Dr. Wright grew up in Boynton Beach. In 1974, he graduated, with honors, from the University of Florida with a degree in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences and a degree in Psychological Foundations from the College of Education. He later continued his studies at the University of South Florida where he completed his doctorate in Special Education Administration and Supervision.

After serving as the first black City Councilman in Boynton Beach, Dr. Wright moved to Tampa in 1985. He was hired by the University of South Florida to plan, create and coordinate student programming for minority students. At the time, black students accounted for less than 5 percent of the student population. He made it his mission to improve student enrollment for minorities. He later served for 13 years as the university's assistant director for multicultural admissions, allowing him to recruit, enroll, mentor and retain minority students, fostering diversity on USF's campus. After serving as associate dean of student relations and director of multicultural affairs at USF, Dr. Wright is now the USF student ombudsman, a position where he cherishes the opportunities to mentor students through the challenges of college and cheer on their successes.

Aside from his accomplishments with the University of South Florida, Dr. Wright's commitment to the Tampa Bay community has been unwavering. In 2001, he organized the first Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, a multicultural celebration, now held annually, in honor of black history and culture in the Tampa area. Dr. Wright also serves as the vice president of the Hillsborough County NAACP and has served as a Board member with the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition, he is actively involved at the state level as a member of the African American Task Force and, in 2010, he was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to serve as a board member of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Glazer's Children's Museum.

After 27 years with the University of South Florida and countless contributions to the Tampa Bay community, Dr. Wright is retiring. It is clear that he has contributed to the growth and diversity at USF in countless ways, while also influencing and effecting students on a personal level. While his contributions to USF will be missed, his impact on the Tampa area will no doubt continue for years to come.

The Tampa Bay community is proud to recognize Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. for his steadfastness and desire to enrich the people of our community. His outstanding career and significant contributions have made him an inspirational leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our state.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and highlight the distinguished life of Bill McBride. Mr. McBride's contributions to the Tampa Bay community, the State of Florida, and the country are worthy of recognition by all.

Born on May 10, 1945, Mr. McBride moved to Florida at the age of 9 and spent most of his childhood in Leesburg, Florida where he attended high school and distinguished himself on the football field as a fullback and linebacker. While attending the University of Florida on a football scholarship, his football career was derailed by a knee injury. Mr. McBride then turned to public service, becoming an active member in Florida Blue Key honor society and president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

At the height of the Vietnam War, Mr. McBride dropped out of law school and enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He volunteered for combat duty, rose to the rank of captain, and was awarded a Bronze Star with a Combat V for valor for his wartime service. After returning from Vietnam, Mr. McBride finished law school. At that time, he became a civic leader in such organizations as the United Way and the Florida Holocaust Museum. He also became a managing partner of Holland and Knight, one of Florida's largest law firms.

Bill McBride was a force for good in the Tampa Bay community and a strong advocate for public education and civil rights in Florida. As a gubernatorial candidate in 2002, he championed smaller class sizes, greater support for teachers, and encouraged greater investment in education. Throughout his life he promoted equality in Florida as well, advocating for the survivors of the Rosewood racial massacre, pro bono legal work, and gay rights. His mission in life was to serve Florida, and he accomplished that in innumerable ways. His selfless dedication to our community and State will be greatly missed.

The Tampa Bay community is proud to recognize Bill McBride for his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of Floridians. His outstanding commitment to the State made him an inspirational community leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of Florida's brightest sons, Corporal Michael, P. Nicholson of The United States Marine Corps, Echo Company. On July 6, 2011 in an IED blast Corporal Nicholson was almost mortally wounded when he lost his legs and part of his left arm and numerous other injuries. His personal decorations include The Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other service awards. Michael was 2nd Platoon Mortar Chief and Assistant Patrol Leader. This strong young man from Tampa has been through hell and back and with much more to overcome he has been a shining example to all, and makes you proud to say you're an American. The Tampa Bay community honors his service to our great country. What Michael ``Stands For,'' is magnificent, and few of us will ever reach the

heights to which he has already scaled in his short lifetime and will into the future. A Marine's Marine, our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I submit this poem penned in his honor by Albert Caswell.

Stand For Something

Stand!

Stand for something,

or live for nothing at all!

Die for something,

or the rest of your life so crawl!

Stand!

Better to give up your strong arm and legs,

then look back at all of that emptiness that you so gave this

world, you saw!

And so realize,

that your life really meant nothing at all!

Stand for something!

So noble and so very tall!

Better,

to make a difference with it all!

And so answer that most heroic of all calls!

That call to arms!

That call to war!

That call to death,

for all of our freedoms to so insure!

Because,

moments are all that we so have!

To stand tall!

To change the world!

To go off with our flags unfurled!

To stand for something!

All in that blood that binds you,

but to so answer that most noble cause!

To stand for something,

to where only such hearts of honor are so called!

Yea Stand!

Stand for something,

or live for nothing at all!

To shine,

to make a difference with it all!

But,

To wear those magnificent shades of green!

And be but only one of ``The Few'',

But to be only one of The very Bold!

To have and to hold!

Our Nation's most precious of all Gold!

A United States Marine!

One of the best damn things,

that this country has ever seen!

As already Michael,

in your short life as you have so convened!

All in that fight,

with all your might!

As you were so magnificently seen!

As it was on that fateful day,

when your fine life almost went away!

As a IED explosion,

halfway to Heaven on that day!

When,

something so deep down inside of you would not give way!

Because you were born to lead,

even in your darkest days!

As the tears ran down your most heroic face!

Because Nicholson,

your fine life that still had so much more to say!

For you had miles to go,

and mountains to so climb on your most heroic way!

And so many hearts to so heal,

and to so inspire,

lifting them all so ever higher!

While, all of the Angels for you so prayed!

As you Michael,

still have such life of happiness that which before you so

awaits!

As you Michael may have lost your two strong legs and arm!

But they'll not touch your great heart of amazing grace,

that which so inside of you so beats and burns so very warm

this very day!

The one that which you were so born with,

that which so says Marine get up and move on . . . the course

to stay!

And Pity is not a town where you will ever stay!

As you so teach us!

As you so reach us!

As you so beseech all in every way!

With the kind of lessons about life that only a kid like you

could say!

As you rain mortars of hope down upon us all,

all in what your fine heart has so to convey. . .

Because, already in your short life Michael. . .

you've traveled higher and farther than any of us ever will

or may!

Because, you so Stood For Something!

And as you Still Do, To This Very Day!

For Something, So Noble and So Brilliant, and So Bright!

Someone To So look Up To,

whose most courageous heart brings such light!

These rays!

Marine, I could climb the highest mountain,

and yet never would I reach where you stand this day!

For only a few in heaven will so stand, as they!

And if ever I had a son Michael,

I wish he could but be half the man you are in every way!

Who Stands for Something so very brilliant,

that which most of us never may!

All in you in what I saw,

as our hearts to you Michael so run!

Because in The Game of Life,

you are a Champion in every way!

Oh how I wish I could stand as tall as you this very day!

What have you stood for, out on life's way?

Stand!

I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, there are a number of reasons why H.R. 6190 is poor public policy, but I'd like to focus on just one, and that is the unfair advantage that this bill will grant to a single business to the detriment of other businesses and manufacturers. And, in fact, the Congress has received a letter from the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium:

On behalf of the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol

Consortium--an association of companies that manufacture

medicines for the treatment of respiratory illnesses, such as

asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--I am

writing to you today in opposition to H.R. 6190.

IPAC's members include AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and a

number of other manufacturers. They say that they strongly

oppose efforts within the House of Representatives to lift

the December 31, 2011, ban on the sale of CFC-based

epinephrine Primatene Mist because such drastic reversal in

settled law will be, one, unnecessary to protect the public

health of asthma patients; and, two, it's contrary to the

United States' important and long-standing commitment to

international treaties.

They point out that this has been ongoing for two decades. The companies involved in international manufacture, national manufacturers, have known about this for a long time. They say the only possible beneficiary of a reversal of the ban on Primatene Mist would be its manufacturer, which stands to garner a financial windfall if its limited stocks are sold. Granting extraordinary, unwarranted special treatment to a single company would send an extremely negative signal to manufacturers that responded to the U.S. Government's call many years ago to be a partner in meeting our commitment. Similar prior requests for deadline relief have been firmly denied by all of the relevant agencies.

Now, here's the problem: I was contacted by a Florida company some months ago. Part of the early rationale for this bill was there was no alternative. But this Florida manufacturer that played by the rules called me up. They said, We hear about this hearing on Capitol Hill. Do you know that we are manufacturing an alternative to Primatene Mist that will be over-the-counter and that will be affordable?

Nephron Pharmaceuticals has developed such a product, Asthmanefrin, a handheld, battery-operated device that will allow asthma patients to inhale a drug similar to epinephrine in Primatene Mist. It is readily available at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, CVS.com. It's also accessible through McKesson Drug, a national wholesaler; Smith Drug, a wholesaler covering the Southeast; and OptiSource. They are doing a national TV campaign now. They have starter kits. This is available. So that rationale, that early rationale that there is no alternative does not exist anymore.

But here's the important point: We can't have the Congress granting an advantage to a single company to the disadvantage of other companies that have played by the rules. This bill would seriously undermine the investment decisions of innovative companies like Nephron that have developed alternatives and solutions to short-term asthma relief. Congress should not pick winners and losers.

Colleagues, we repeatedly heard the rationale for this bill: there was no alternative. That rationale is incorrect. It's inaccurate. Congress should not pull the rug out from under companies that have followed the rules and expect regulatory certainty in order to benefit another single company.

I urge you to vote ``no'' on H.R. 6190.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on World AIDS Day to highlight the remarkable progress that has been made over the past 30 years in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

I commend local leaders from my Tampa Bay area district like the Reverend Dr. James Favorite, who understands the importance of speaking to his congregation about HIV and AIDS. Reverend Favorite has urged more than 100 local churches and pastors across the Tampa Bay area to put AIDS and HIV awareness at the heart of their sermons. Reverend Favorite's impact has garnered national acclaim from the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.

I also commend the Test Tampa Bay campaign, which is an initiative designed to intensify HIV education, awareness, and prevention brought along by local health departments and other health advocates. Test Tampa Bay aims to increase the number of Tampa Bay residents who know their HIV status by encouraging HIV testing.

Finally, I would like to voice my strong support for H.R. 6138, Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Act, by Representative Barbara Lee and others, of which I'm a proud sponsor. We must remain committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic and improving the lives of those infected with the disease.

We are at a tipping point in the fight against AIDS, so let's recommit to ensure that America continues to lead the way to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

I thank my good friend from Florida on the Rules Committee for yielding time.

I rise to oppose the rule and the underlying bills, particularly H.R. 6082, because that bill unreasonably expands offshore drilling without the corresponding and necessary safety standards.

The Republicans are ignoring the lessons that we learned after the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. Again, they are putting the profits of the oil companies ahead of the safety and larger economic concerns of families and businesses all across our great country.

Certainly, memories cannot be so short that we don't remember the devastation caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout and disaster. That oil spewed for months and months, and they could not cap the well. In the meantime, it caused serious economic damage, not just to my home State of Florida and to the tourism industry and fishing and to the hotels and motels and restaurants, but all across the gulf coast and all across the country.

I recall very well, prior to the blowout, they said it was safe. They said drilling in deep water and offshore was safe and that there hadn't been very many accidents. But they were wrong. I remember Tony Hayward came in front of our committee, and he said, We were wrong. We didn't anticipate this would happen.

You've got to anticipate that it will happen.

Unfortunately, in the aftermath, we appointed a blue ribbon commission, the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. They issued their report in January of 2011. They had many recommendations from experts in how you make offshore drilling safe. The Congress has not acted on any of those recommendations to make it safe. Yet, in this bill, they press ahead to open even more areas for oil drilling. That's not right. You're putting our economy and our environment at risk when you do so.

This was a great commission, by the way, because they didn't just stop there. They've issued progress reports along the way. I know people oftentimes don't like report cards, and the Congress is not going to like this report card. They've broken it down into safety and environmental protection, spill response and containment, and ensuring adequate resources.

Under safety and environmental protection, they say Congress has done nothing to make permanent the improvements that have been made by industry and the Obama administration. We've got to enact these into law before we go forward with more offshore drilling in new and pristine areas.

They say Congress has provided little support for spill response and containment. If we're going to expand drilling--and it certainly has to be part of our energy portfolio--we have to be able to respond to a disaster, and yet Congress has done nothing there.

It says, although the administration has provided increases in funding to oversight, Congress has taken little action to adjust the unrealistic limits on liability. Who is going to pay? It shouldn't be the taxpayers who pay for these disasters. Right now, they have not adjusted the outrageous liability limits that these oil companies have when there are accidents.

What you're doing is really thumbing your nose at--you're turning a blind eye to--the hard work done by the commission, the commission that proposed to protect us if we were going to rely on offshore oil. I think it's going to be part of our portfolio, so why not adopt reasonable safety standards?

I know some of my colleagues say, Well, we don't like red tape. I don't like red tape either, but this isn't red tape. These are vital environmental and economic safety standards to ensure that the $60 billion tourism industry in Florida is maintained. Those are hardworking folks and good jobs back home. For the hotels and motels, even though the oil was coming out of the ocean 350 miles away, their businesses fell off. All we ask is that simple safety standards be adopted.

Mr. Markey and Mr. Holt have proposed some of those as amendments. The Republicans rejected other ones. We need to adopt these. Otherwise, it is irresponsible to press ahead with expansive, new deepwater drilling in deeper areas, in pristine areas.

These recommendations are reasonable. And if the Republican Congress cannot take up reasonable safety standards in the wake of one of the worst economic and environmental disasters in our history, then I'd hate to say what's at risk for this great country.