Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our office and the Central Florida community, I want to honor and celebrate the distinguished career of Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, an innovative thought and spiritual leader who after an impressive decades-long career serving Christ and his community, has decided to retire.

Bishop Reid is a 5th generation AME minister whose father and grandfather served the African Methodist Episcopal Church as Bishops. Thus, it was no surprise that in 2016, Bishop Reid was elected as the 138th Bishop of the AME Church, marking the first time in AME history that three generations from the same family were elevated to the Episcopacy. Bishop Reid serves as the Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District which includes, Florida and The Bahamas, and Chair of the Commission on Christian Education for the AME Church.

Bishop Reid, III, is an internationally known leader, innovative thinker, and preeminent power speaker. His unwavering commitment to putting people first, whether in service as a missionary pastor or as a Bishop, has transformed and empowered the lives of countless individuals within and beyond church walls.

Although Bishop Reid has received countless awards and accolades, his greatest legacy is his faith and family.

It brings me great joy to congratulate Bishop Reid on his retirement and thank him for his outstanding spiritual guidance and compassionate pastoral care for the past 50 years. On behalf of Florida's Tenth Congressional District, I want to thank Bishop Reid for his leadership on behalf of the 118th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, today, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of New Image Youth Center located in the Parramore neighborhood of Orlando. New Image Youth Center's contributions over the past 20 years cannot be measured. With just $5 and a game of Monopoly, the mustard seed was sown, and NIYC was born. Founded by licensed therapist, entrepreneur, and author Dr. Shanta Barton Stubbs, her goal was to transform the narrative of the Parramore community and shift the mindset from surviving to thriving.

New Image Youth Center prides itself on being a safe haven for K-12 Orlando youth. For the past 20 years, their dedicated staff and volunteers have equipped their youth with the tools and space to pursue their wildest dreams. New Image provides mentorship and programming rooted in mental health counseling, academic support, social development, and more. Their love for their kids goes beyond the call of duty by serving and supporting them till their adult years as they seek employment and post-secondary education.

I thank New Image Youth Center for 20 years of dedication and service. Their contributions continue to make a profound difference in our community, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to make Central Florida a better place for all.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call No. 319.

Mr. Speaker, today, I celebrate the significant contributions of Orlando Elks Lodge to the Central Florida region. Starting in New York City, The Elks organization has grown to over 1,900 lodges throughout the United States and Canada. The Orlando Elks Lodge was established in 1907 and is now celebrating over 100 years of service.

Every year, the Orlando Elks Lodge spends over $50,000 on programs that benefit special needs children, nourish our marginalized communities, and support our veterans. They also contribute significantly to the Edgewater Children's Ranch to help children from the Central Florida community who come from vulnerable homes.

The Elks remain steadfast in their founding principle of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. I thank Orlando Elks Lodge for their century-long dedication and service. Their contributions make a profound difference in our community, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to make Central Florida a better place for all.

Mr. Speaker, this month, I celebrate the significant contributions of Rosen Hotels to the Central Florida region. Starting with only one hotel, the Rosen organization has grown to over seven hotels, employing over 4,000 Central Floridians. The Rosen Hotels were established starting in 1974 and are now celebrating 50 years of service.

Every year, the Rosen organization provides over 500 scholarships that benefit students in the Tangelo Park and Parramore areas. Most notably, Rosen Hotels has donated millions over its 50 years to creating the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management, which now ranks No. 1 in the Nation.

The Rosen hotels have provided employment, welcoming stays, and memories to last a lifetime for many Floridians. I thank Rosen Hotels, for 50 years of dedication and service. Their contributions make a profound difference in our community, and we are grateful for their support and commitment to make Central Florida a better place for all.

Madam Speaker, today my heart is heavy. I am brought back to this moment in history where, on June 12, 2016, 49 angels were murdered in cold blood on the dance floor and on the floor of Pulse nightclub in my city, in my district, and in my home of Orlando, Florida.

I am angry. I am angry that we live in a world and that we live in a country where gun violence can drastically change or end your life. I am angry that I serve in a Chamber where seemingly most of the folks here don't want to do a single damned thing about it. I am also angry that I have been fighting for this since I was 15, and we are still in this fight.

I express my condolences and send immense amounts of love to the families and to the survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre and tell them that we will continue to honor the lives of those 49 angels with nothing but action, with nothing but sweat equity, until we end gun violence in this country. True justice isn't one person behind bars, but it is when we can wake up with the confidence to say that this will never happen again.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call No. 227.

Stated against:

Mr Speaker, on May 18th, we celebrate Haitian Flag Day to commemorate and celebrate the pride, strength, history, and courage the Haitian flag represents.

With over 30,000 Haitians in Central Florida, Haitians' work and passion have profoundly impacted the lives of countless people in Orlando and beyond. Their commitment to serving our community is a testament to the strength and solidarity that defines the Haitian people.

I want to express my gratitude to the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce for all they do to contribute to Orlando's economic and cultural vibrancy.

The humanitarian crisis in Haiti weighs heavy on the hearts of countless people, especially as individuals see friends and family enduring unimaginable hardships. During these times, it is important to be mindful of the importance of community, compassion, and unity in the face of adversity.

In Congress, I am advocating for the aid and support that Haiti urgently deserves, not just deserves but needs and demands, by advocating for efforts to invest in Haiti's economy, create jobs, foster trade, and provide stability.

Especially on Haitian Flag Day, remember that pride, history, and culture will help guide us all in the fight for a better day for the people of Haiti. The work that our Central Florida Haitian community is doing is critical to these efforts. I will continue to fight for and with the Haitian people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, just 1 week after his heavenly birthday, to honor one of the legends and icons of jazz music, the great Ira Sullivan.

Ira was many things: a jazz great, an educator, a mentor, a father, a husband, and a friend of mine. I remember first meeting Ira as a jazz student at the University of Miami's Young Musicians Camp Honors Jazz Program.

I remember walking in when I was very young. I think I was in the eighth or ninth grade. He asked me to play vibraphone on a jazz song. I had auditioned as a drummer, so to me that was a very foreign thing. I wasn't hip to the history of jazz vibraphone, so I felt almost like he was asking me to play timpani and play timpani on a jazz song.

Either way, the next day, he came in and gave me a pair of Gary Burton mallets and told me to try playing the vibraphone to jazz. Believe it or not, I was still very confused.

Either way, that decision changed my entire life. From then on, I started practicing jazz vibraphone and became very obsessed with it.

Years passed, and he would always invite me to come back to perform with him in the new class he was teaching, all young people that Ira had inspired and whose lives he changed.

Ira Sullivan also achieved technical skills not achieved by many, a multi-instrumentalist in the truest sense of the word, fluidly being able to play the trumpet, the saxophone, the flute, the drum set, the piano, and many other instruments.

He was born in Chicago but moved to Miami in the sixties to perform and teach. Ira had the ability to be both a jazz great in the history books but also remain an accessible educator for artists of many different levels and calibers.

Ira mentored jazz greats like Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. He also taught high schoolers at the Young Musicians Camp at the University of Miami, where I met him.

Today, I want to honor Ira Sullivan for inspiring so many people.

I stopped playing jazz a few years ago, and I have been telling myself I would get back into it. Just a few days ago, I joined a high school jazz combo from central Florida, Freedom High School, and played drums on a standard tune. I am going to start practicing again in honor of Ira.

May Ira rest in peace, a jazz legend and great teacher.

Celebrating Rosen College of Hospitality Management's 20th Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida.

Established through a transformational $18 million donation from Mr. Harris Rosen, the college advances educational and community development initiatives that bolster Florida's leading industry, tourism and hospitality.

UCF Rosen College is consistently ranked as the top hospitality college in the Nation and among the top five globally, a testament to its educational excellence and leadership in hospitality research.

Committed to advancing knowledge, embracing innovation, and serving humanity through hospitality, the college stands out not only for its top rankings but also for its extensive range of programs that provide a 99 percent job placement rate for their graduates.

It is an honor to be able to represent the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management here in the Halls of Congress as they propel Florida's primary economic sector forward and enrich our State and the global hospitality landscape.

Women's History Month Honorees

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor four extraordinary women for their impact on central Florida and beyond. Their tireless efforts, unwavering determination, and profound achievements have shaped our local history and continue to inspire generations to come. We honor them for their strength of character, unwavering spirit, and profound influence they have on our community.

They are Onchantho Am, associate general counsel at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine; Graciela Noriega Jacoby, chief operating officer for Heart of Florida United Way; Dr. Marie-Jose Francois, founder of the Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention; and Pastor Sharon Y. Riley, founder and pastor of Agape Perfecting Praise and Worship Center.

I celebrate these women for all that they are: trailblazers, visionaries, scientists, educators, and leaders. Among countless others, they have left behind a legacy of compassion, innovation, and empowerment in a State that needs that now more than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the reauthorization of the Weather Act. Since its passage in 2017, the Weather Act has been the driving force behind faster and more precise hurricane and tornado forecasting.

This reauthorization will build upon that research by updating existing projects and adding new project programs focused on coastal flooding, storm surge, and improving weather radar. I am also proud that included in this package is my bipartisan bill, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act, co-led by my colleague from Florida, Congressman Daniel Webster.

Congressman Webster and I know that we need to do more to keep our people and most at-risk communities safe during extreme weather events that due to the climate crisis are continuing and happening more often in Florida and across the entire country.

Our bill works to better protect the lives of seniors, folks with disabilities, and non-English speakers during hurricanes. Our bill instructs NOAA to evaluate the level of people's preparedness for hurricane-prone areas; better understand how at-risk populations receive, interpret, and react to emergency notifications, including seniors, people with disabilities, communities with language barriers, and rural, suburban, and urban populations; and, finally, examine the unique risks for areas with large senior populations, like retirement communities, before, during, and after a hurricane.

This bill was inspired by devastating national data and conversations with my own constituents in central Florida who have experienced some of the worst storms that our State has ever seen. Floridians speak to me about living in neighborhoods that quickly flood, confusing messaging from the media on whether they should evacuate or not, and alerts that are usually just in English or Spanish.

While inspired by the needs of our constituents, this bill will help folks far beyond just the State of Florida. When these storms come, people with disabilities must undergo evacuations at far greater rates than others, yet folks have told me that they feel like an afterthought when it comes down to the accommodations.

Folks with disabilities and seniors oftentimes get stuck without electricity. As a result, seniors are most likely to die during a hurricane, making up two-thirds of the deaths from Hurricane Katrina, Florence, and Ian.

As part of the Weather Act, the Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act will save lives, reduce fear, and help Floridians and Americans. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical legislative package.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the place I get to call home and serve--the 407, known as the City Beautiful.

From its charming mom-and-pop shops to world-class attractions, the success of our city is a testament to the incredible and unwavering spirit of our community.

Orlando is a place like no other.

At the heart of our city is a thriving small business community whose passion and dedication are felt by everyone they serve, especially when it comes to Orlando's amazing and diverse food scene.

As we celebrate the spirit of community, pride, and support that defines the 407, let us reaffirm our commitment to its continued success by uplifting our local businesses.

In supporting them, we ensure that Orlando remains not just a place full of potential but a city that can truly thrive.

Recognizing Extraordinary Black Luminaries

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize extraordinary Black luminaries from around central Florida and their achievements and contributions to our city.

Their dedication shapes our everyday history, reminding us to uphold Black voices in government, community, business, and all spaces of power.

I recognize: Carolyn Fennell, Shanta Barton-Stubbs, Ms. Mary Maxwell, Reginald B. McGill, Tanisha Nunn Gary, Joseph Caesar, Reverend James T. Morris, Ronald O. Rogers, and Thomas Chatmon.

I am reading their names into the Congressional Record today because nobody can erase their contributions to building a better central Florida.

Honoring Bob Graham

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because yesterday the State of Florida and our entire Nation lost a dedicated servant, Senator, Governor, respectable statesman, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Bob Graham.

Bob Graham dedicated his life to public service. He dedicated his life to the people, and he was a champion for all of us.

From his work on protecting the Everglades and fighting for our environment to fighting for education and opportunity for all students to even teaching citizenship before he was elected at Miami-Dade County High School, Bob Graham's legacy can be seen everywhere across the State of Florida and in all of us. He truly represented a time in Florida politics that we could all be proud of.

Recognizing Four Extraordinary Women for Women's History Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor four extraordinary women for their impact on central Florida and beyond.

Their tireless efforts, unwavering determination, and profound achievements have shaped our local history and continue to inspire generations to come.

We honor them for their strength of character, unwavering spirit, and profound influence that they have on our community.

These women are: Graciela Noriega Jacoby, chief operating officer of Heart of Florida United Way; Dr. Marie Jose Francois, founder of the Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention; Pastor Sharon Y. Rule, founder and pastor of Agape Perfecting Praise and Worship Center; and Oncantho Am, associate general counsel at the University of Central Florida.

I want to celebrate these women and all that they have done for our community.

Honoring Sheila DiCiccio

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Winter Park's new mayor, Sheila DeCiccio.

Winter Park is a historic and unique community in my district filled with charm and beauty that attracts new visitors but has fostered a deep sense of community for many of central Florida's residents.

Mayor DeCiccio is a longtime Winter Park resident and has always put her community first by volunteering, sitting on the city's board of commissioners, and now will be serving as the city of Winter Park's first woman to be mayor.

Winter Park faces unique challenges--responsible growth, affordable housing, and infrastructure improvements. But Mayor DeCiccio's deep roots in the community and her passion to tackle these challenges with

her community's best interests at heart will ensure that she and the city of Winter Park are successful.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mayor DeCiccio, and I am eager to work alongside her to work for and with the people of Winter Park.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this week the Biden administration took yet another massive step in the fight to end gun violence and save innocent lives.

Yesterday, the administration took historic action to reduce the number of firearms sold to people without background checks. This is the largest expansion in the history of the background check system or in the past 30 years.

From Columbine to the Midland-Odessa shooting, background check loopholes and unlicensed gun dealers have contributed to some of the most horrific and senseless tragedies of our time.

For years, people across our country have marched, fought, and raised their voices calling on leaders in power to give a damn about the innocent lives being taken away from us.

President Biden is listening. Under his leadership, this Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Under his leadership, we have created the first ever Federal White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Under his leadership, we are one more massive step closer to universal background checks that will undoubtedly save lives. Now, it is time for this Chamber to follow suit and pass universal background checks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida for their unwavering commitment to uplifting and celebrating the contributions of Black-owned businesses in the central Florida community for over 75 years.

This weekend, the chamber will host its 20th annual Eagle Awards, a culmination of two decades of the chamber's efforts to spotlight central Florida's most dynamic businesses and entrepreneurs.

This award ceremony is a celebration of resilience, innovation, and community building, reflecting on the impact these businesses have on driving the growth and development of our diverse business landscape.

Over the last decade, Black-owned businesses have grown exponentially in central Florida, yet access to capital remains a limiting factor to the success.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting our local chambers of commerce that champion minority-owned businesses and bring forth legislation to address the specific challenges faced by Black- and minority-owned entrepreneurs to create a future where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my frustration with the Republican obsession with LNG and fossil fuels. I commend the Biden administration on this decisive and very important step to fighting the climate crisis.

Republicans have been making the same argument since the nineties even as the realities of the argument have been changing. Green energies like wind, solar, and hydro are no longer the future. They are the present, and they are now cost competitive with fossil fuels and continue to become even cheaper, not to mention that they don't leave lasting damage and impact to our planet that we will have to clean up later.

LNG is dangerous, it is dirty, and it leaves lasting environmental and health damage to the community where it is produced.

I want to be even clearer. According to the Department of Energy, the more LNG that we export, the more expensive prices will be for gas at the pump, and our electricity bills will be even higher.

Additionally, LNG, which is 90 percent methane, heats the atmosphere at 80 times the rate of carbon dioxide, and for my fellow Floridians, we are having hotter and hotter summers and record heat. This means even hotter summers, even deadlier summers and faster sea levels rising.

LNG is a loser for our pockets. It is a loser for humanity. It is a loser for our communities, and it is killing us.

To hear my colleagues say that: Oh, the President is pandering to the climate movement. Two things: Number one, I can only hope, pray, and fight to make sure that we build off of this victory to get to a green, clean future. Number two, the climate activists, advocates, and organizers are heroes for fighting to protect all of us, even your constituents.

So Republicans have been fighting on behalf of their friends in Big Oil for longer than I have been alive, and I am asking for the sake of humanity, for God's sake, please find better friends.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to honor the rich history and unwavering resilience of Black small business owners during National Entrepreneurship Week.

Mr. Speaker, 17 percent of Black-owned firms are family run, providing jobs for over 160,000 Americans. In my district, my constituent Nick Aiken, Jr., owns and operates Nikki's Place with his family in the vibrant community of Parramore in Orlando.

For 25 years, Nikki's Place has been a hub for warm service and authentic and delicious soul food. Nonetheless, like so many small and minority-owned businesses, they have faced countless hurdles, specifically in securing affordable financing.

All Nick, his family, and their 12 employees want to do is to continue to contribute to the vibrant culture of Orlando and what makes Orlando beautiful.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to work with me and ensure that we invest in small businesses like Nikki's Place to ensure they receive the investment and support they need to continue making amazing and beautiful communities like mine thrive.