Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Victor Streit who passed away on April 22, 2014. He was a Blue Diamond Veteran who served 13 years in the United States Marine Corps.

Lt. Col. Streit joined the Marine Corps in 1937 while still in college. In August of 1940 he was commissioned as an officer. He served with the First Marine Division throughout the Pacific during World War II. When he was stationed on Wallis Island he was the only soldier in his unit who could speak French, so he played a vital role in the transfer of power between Vichy and Free French authorities who held the Island. During his service Lt. Col. Streit was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Guantanamo Bay, Fort Benning, and Camp Lejeune and deployed to Wallis Island, Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu. He retired in 1949 receiving a citation from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, a WWII Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Upon his retirement from the Corps, he worked as an administrator at Jonas Salk Junior High School in Levittown, New York. His devotion to education led him to help found Wesley College, a secondary school in St. George's Grenada, W.I. In addition to his work in Public Education, he was also extremely involved with the missionary work of his church. He moved to Tequesta, Florida in 1983 and then to Jupiter in 2012 where he had been an active member of the Treasure Coast community as well as the Military Officers Association of America Palm Beach/Martin County Chapter. He is survived by his wife, Mary, four sons, his daughter, and his ten grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Streit dedicated his life to this country. It is truly humbling to recognize his life and his great service to our country here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our Nation's veterans, the men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to our country.

I was honored to have the opportunity to spend Memorial Day with our troops stationed in Afghanistan. Sharing this most solemn holiday with members of our armed services, who go above and beyond every day, was truly a humbling experience.

It was an experience that reinforced my belief that one of the best ways Americans can pay tribute to the brave men and women who risk their lives fighting for us is to recommit ourselves to our duty to care for them when they return home. That is why I will be introducing three bills to help our troops and veterans.

Too often, we hear that our Nation's heroes, after fighting for our country, come home only to have to fight to get the care, support, and respect they so deserve. We must make sure that the brave men and women who have risked everything for our country are never forgotten or ignored, that we fight for them as they have fought for us.

For one thing, this means fully settling benefit claims in an efficient and timely manner and making sure that those veterans receive the proper care and compensation.

Currently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, or CAVC, is the court that veterans must appeal to if they were unfairly denied benefits, but it does not allow veterans access to the same judicial tools available in other Federal courts.

This court is terribly overburdened, with an appeal taking around a year on average, and that is on top of the nearly 4 years that a veteran has already waited by then. That is indefensible.

On the heels of damning reports about the VA's failing our veterans with wait lists that have even led to deaths while veterans wait for service, we must find ways to reduce the backlog and speed up the process.

That is why I have introduced a bill that would allow groups of veterans with similar claims to band together in their appeals. This would be highly efficient for both the VA and veterans by cutting costs, reducing decision times, and providing effective counsel, which many veterans lack under the current system.

This act would allow veterans to have their appeals heard in a class action, as was successfully used by veterans impacted by Agent Orange prior to the creation of the CAVC. For veterans facing disability due to the exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan, this could be an invaluable tool.

Another way to serve our Nation's heroes is by expanding educational opportunities. Veterans deserve the best training, so they don't have to fight for a job after fighting for our country.

Today, I am proposing to improve the post-9/11 GI Bill by expanding eligible expenses to include applications to college, graduate school, and law school, as well as technical and vocational schools. Applications to schools can be as high as $300 to $500 in out-of-pocket expenses for veterans returning from overseas.

Let's make it easier for our returning troops to pursue their educational and career goals by allowing our veterans to use the GI Bill to get reimbursed for expenses from applying to school.

Our veterans have tremendous discipline, responsibility, and leadership ability to offer businesses. By having access to educational opportunities, veterans will have the means to keep their job skills up to date and to stay competitive in today's evolving job market.

Finally, families are also impacted when their loved ones are deployed. Military spouses take on much of the burden and deserve great assistance. Currently, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program provides up to a $4,000 educational benefit while the spouse is overseas on active duty.

While we agree that this is a worthwhile benefit, it doesn't even get the

average person through a single semester. The average tour lasts about 10 months, long enough to complete a full year of school. An average year of tuition at a public university in the United States is almost $9,000.

Let's bump up the benefit, so it actually covers the cost of tuition. The families of our servicemembers are the backbone of our military.

The bills I have introduced are commonsense solutions to do just that. This is National Military Appreciation Month. Let's stand with our Nation's servicemembers and veterans. Let's express our gratitude for their service by recognizing the struggles they face and make sure we are there for them and recognize the sacrifices they have made.

I urge my colleagues to support these bills, so that our veterans, troops, and military families get the care, benefits, and support they deserve.

Madam Chair, I want to thank the gentleman from Washington for yielding. I want to thank the chairman for his efforts on this evening's work.

I rise today in support of my amendment to improve mental health and suicide prevention for our Nation's veterans.

Every day our country loses 22 of our Nation's heroes to suicide. This heartbreaking statistic remains a devastating reality that should shake every Member in this House. Truly providing our heroes with the respect and care they have earned means treating not only physical, but invisible wounds as well.

With damning reports about the VA failing our veterans and our country, my amendment would insist on more accountability by requiring an independent third-party evaluation of existing suicide prevention efforts to improve coordination and integration between the DOD and the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 23 high school seniors from the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches of Florida for their commendable decision to enlist in the

United States Armed Forces following their graduation this year. Of these 23 enlistees, 11 are Army enlistees, 4 are Navy enlistees, 4 are National Guard enlistees, 2 are Air Force enlistees, one is a Coast Guard enlistee, and one is a Marine Corps enlistee. These young men and women have displayed an unmatched sense of bravery and courage in their commitment to defend and protect our nation. Thus, it is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives, their communities, and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us who we are as a people, and that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of freedom, strength, and perseverance on the world stage.

The service of these young men and women must not go unrecognized, and so I want to personally thank these twenty-three local graduating seniors for their selflessness and commitment to our nation by naming them here today: Oneil Daley, Antonio Allen Jr., Juan Machuca, Mario Esquilin, Henry Thomas, Dion Yu, David Colton, Corbett Pervenecki, Matthew Connelly, Laquann Pitts, Corey Boyce, Jose Ruiz, Kristi McMillion, Selena Harrison, Ty Torres, David Tarrant-Schneiderman, Angela Fernandez, Tristan Sperling, Andrew Williams, Tyler Stewart, Brandon Hall, Dylan Reinhardt and Alicia Williams.

All will be recognized on May 8th at the Our Community Salutes event in Boca Raton.

Mr Speaker, we owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them and to all who defend our freedom by serving in the United States Armed Forces. That spirit of service and sacrifice is something we all can be proud of. For this very reason, it is my honor to recognize these young leaders here today.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership on this and countless issues that come before our committee.

I also want to thank the gentlewoman from West Virginia, the chair of Financial Institutions, for her constant willingness to come to the center and work for the greater good of our country.

I also want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for his outstanding leadership working for true regulatory relief to create jobs while protecting consumers. This is not the first bill that we have worked on together, and I hope it is not the last.

Across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, the constituents that I am privileged to represent know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They understand that capital is the lifeblood that enables those businesses to grow, spurring innovation and creating jobs.

Community banks are on the front lines providing that capital, but they are being strangled by well-intentioned but excessive regulation. Let me be clear: I am not against reining in the excesses of Wall Street banks.

After the financial crisis nearly took down the economy and cost Americans $17 trillion worth of wealth and equity, the country's biggest banks should be held to a higher standard. It doesn't take a CPA to see the difference between a $2 trillion interconnected, globalized Wall Street bank and the 550 community banks on the town square under $1 billion in assets that do not yet get the regulatory relief provided by the Fed policy statement. We are here today to change that.

This bill would provide much-needed regulatory relief to community banks. Everyone says they are for community banks. Today is the day to prove it.

Madam Speaker, I include a letter of support from the Independent Community Bankers of America into the Record.

Independent Community Bankers of America,

Washington, DC., May 5, 2014.

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the more than 6,500

community banks represented by the Independent Community

Bankers of America, I write to express our strong support for

H.R. 3329, which is scheduled for floor consideration this

week. Introduced by Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Patrick

Murphy (D-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and

Ann Kuster (D-NH), H.R. 3329 is bipartisan legislation that

would direct the Federal Reserve to increase the qualifying

asset threshold of the Small Bank Holding Company Policy

Statement from $500 million to $1 billion and allow small

savings and loan holding companies to be covered by its

provisions. This legislation is a key priority for ICBA and a

provision of our Plan for Prosperity: A Regulatory Relief

Agenda to Empower Local Communities. ICBA urges all members

of the House to vote YES on H.R. 3329.

Revising the Policy Statement will make it easier for small

bank and savings and loan holding companies to raise both

debt and equity and downstream the proceeds to their

subsidiary banks. The Policy Statement contains a number of

safeguards to ensure that the debt is managed responsibly and

subsidiary banks remain well capitalized. Increasing the

eligibility threshold to $1 billion to account for inflation,

industry consolidation, and asset growth will help an

additional 515 bank and savings and loan holding companies

raise capital for additional consumer and small business

lending, leading to job creation and community development.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Camden R. Fine,

President & CEO.

Madam Speaker, with that, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Luetkemeyer-Murphy bill, and with no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Salmon-Sinema amendment to increase funding for the VA Office of the Inspector General in order to provide accountability at the VA and increase quality of care.

It has been recently reported that veterans are dying while waiting for treatment, including at the West Palm Beach VA facility that serves my district. Following this news, allegations have surfaced that 40 veterans in the Phoenix VA health care system died while being placed on a secret wait list. This is beyond unacceptable.

Mr. Chairman, it is vital that the inspector general get to the bottom of these claims as soon as possible so that veterans of the Palm Beaches, Treasure Coast, and around the country who fought for our freedoms get the timely and high-quality care they deserve.

I thank my colleagues from Arizona, Congresswoman Sinema and Congressman Salmon, for their leadership on this pressing issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that would eliminate wasteful spending on unused facilities, which would save tens of millions of dollars for fiscal year 2015 alone.

The Defense Department has hundreds, possibly thousands, of buildings and structures that it has rated at zero percent utilization. This is an incredible number of useless facilities the DOD is paying to maintain.

Federal agencies, as a whole, must do a better job at managing their facilities. Taxpayers cannot continue paying for unused and underused buildings while the Nation is at record debt levels. That is not good government, and that is not smart spending.

That is why I joined with Representatives David Joyce of Ohio and Mike Coffman of Colorado to introduce the SAVE Act to root out about $230 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the next 10 years. This amendment is an extension of one of those commonsense solutions included in the bipartisan SAVE Act preventing the Department of Defense from spending money on facilities that the Department itself has rated at zero percent utilization.

I offered the same amendment last year, which this Chamber accepted by voice vote, and I ask for your same support today.

I understand the Department of Defense may be concerned that this amendment would prevent them from carrying out BRAC work. I believe BRAC is an essential process, and I have no intention of disrupting it. After investigating the Department's concerns, my understanding is that no additional BRAC work will happen before 2017 at the earliest, long after this appropriations bill has expired. Any ongoing environmental remediation from previous BRACs is exempted from my amendment, which gives the Department the flexibility to properly address any environmental threats at unused facilities, as well as maintain historic military sites.

With that said, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the committee to address any BRAC-related issues in conference.

Mr. Chairman, we all agree that we must rein in wasteful government spending. My amendment is a commonsense solution to do just that, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would authorize the U.S. Mint to produce gold, silver, and clad coins for resale in 2016. Proceeds from the sale of these coins will be used to help protect our national parks, so that our country's great natural and cultural resources will endure for generations to come. This bill comes at no cost to taxpayers.

National parks are not only crucial to preserve our natural, historic, and cultural treasures, but they are also economic engines to job creators. They generate tens of billions in revenue and support hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide.

This bill will help maintain and promote many beautiful and important

parks in our country, such as Everglades National Park, which is located near the district I am proud to represent.

The Everglades region is a large, interconnected ecosystem that is globally unique because of the hundreds of species and plants and animals that live there, such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.

This rare ecosystem also faces exceptional problems due to rapid development and outdated infrastructure in the area.

You may be wondering why someone from Florida's Treasure Coast is concerned with the Everglades. As my colleagues have surely heard me discuss, there are serious problems facing Florida's many waterways.

When there is heavy rainfall--also known as summer in Florida--the Army Corps, following the Lake Okeechobee release schedule, releases water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River in the east and the Caloosahatchee River in the west. These freshwater releases are heavy in nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria that then plague our brackish waterways.

Last summer, the St. Lucie River contained such high levels of bacteria that local officials posted public health warnings up and down the shore, and many residents reported infections resulting from their interaction with the water. Toxic algae blooms were also found throughout the waterways.

This pollution not only forces people to avoid contact with the water, which is frequently the center of their livelihood, but also is an extreme threat to the most biodiverse estuary in the country.

Just like the broader Everglades system, several species in the Indian River Lagoon are already being listed as threatened or endangered, and these releases jeopardize these species even further.

My constituents stress to me that the health of our environment cannot be separated from the health of our economy. In Florida's 18th District, the health of the Everglades and our waterways is critical to economic strength.

I will continue to advocate to even the most conservative of my colleagues that the economic impact of Everglades restoration projects provides a 4 to 1 return on investment in both short-term and long-term economic benefits.

So important are these restoration efforts, the Florida delegation continues to come together in a bipartisan manner in support of protecting our environment and the economic role it plays in our great State of Florida.

All members of our delegation understand that, for the entire system to benefit and for the Federal Government to work most efficiently, we must aggressively continue to push to complete Everglades restoration projects that we have already started.

It is clear that water quality and management decisions that impact one area of the Everglades system have residual impacts throughout the entire water system of central and south Florida and the Treasure Coast.

So while people who live along the Florida Bay may not immediately see the benefits of the C-44 Indian River Lagoon project in my district--and the same for residents of the Treasure Coast with the C- 111 spreader canal--you cannot look at one piece of the system in a vacuum. It is intensively interconnected.

That is why I have been so passionate on Everglades restoration issues, not only in my district, but throughout the State and the watershed and why today I stand in support of this bill that will help the Park Service continue its important work of preserving this and other critical habitats.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the gentleman from Minnesota and the gentleman from New Jersey for the spirited debate on the importance of America's national parks, including Florida's incomparable ``river of grass,'' the Everglades.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4167, to create jobs and prevent unintended consequences of the Volcker Rule, which I strongly support.

The bill before us represents a truly bipartisan compromise that balances the author's goal to preserve a proven financing mechanism with democratic concerns against watering down the Volcker Rule, which is designed to prevent banks from gambling on Wall Street with consumer deposits, the very type of behavior that nearly took down our financial system and gave us the Great Recession.

The truth is the Volcker Rule is not intended to capture debt. Debt is an everyday tool of plain vanilla financial institutions. No, the Volcker Rule is about equity ownership. We don't want banks owning hedge funds and private equity funds, but of course we still want banks out in the communities lending to the real economy.

I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky and the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for working together on a compromise that makes a narrow, commonsense fix to the Volcker Rule without undermining its core purpose: prohibiting risky proprietary trading by federally insured banks.

I also want to recognize Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for the truly bipartisan way this bill came to the floor by a vote of 53-3. I am hopeful that we will see more bipartisanship from our committee on the business of the American people: comprehensive community bank regulatory relief, TRIA, reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank to help American job creators access foreign markets, and reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to protect taxpayers without undermining the housing market and preserving the 30-year fixed rate mortgage for middle class families.

The bill before us would simply clarify that the right to vote to remove a CLO manager in traditional, creditor-protective circumstances, such as a material breach of contract, does not, by itself, convert a debt security into an equity security under the Volcker Rule.

It would also provide narrow relief to existing CLO securities as long as they qualify as debt under this bill. For CLOs that are not debt securities under this bill, banks will get an additional 2 years to divest, which will prevent a disruptive fire sale of these securities and cost as much as $8 billion.

At this time, I will insert the text of a letter from the Independent Community Bankers of America into the Record.

Independent Community

Bankers of America,

Washington, DC, April 28, 2014.

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the more than 6,500

community banks represented by ICBA, I write to express our

support for the Restoring Proven Financing for American

Employers Act (H.R. 4167), which will be considered on the

House floor this week. Introduced by Rep. Andy Barr, H.R.

4167 will allow community banks to retain debt securities of

collateralized loan obligations (CLO) issued before January

31, 2014. The Financial Services Committee reported H.R. 4167

by a nearly unanimous vote in March.

As you may know, the final Volcker Rule implementing a

provision of the Dodd-Frank Act, issued December 10, requires

banks, including community banks, to divest their holdings of

CLOs by July 2015. Though the compliance date was later

extended, this requirement could cause a significant,

immediate and permanent loss of capital for community banks

that hold these securities and are still recovering from the

financial crisis. H.R. 4167 would avert this damaging and

unanticipated outcome by repealing the divestment requirement

for CLOs issued before January 31.

ICBA urges you to support H.R. 4167. Thank you for your

consideration.

Sincerely,

Camden R. Fine,

President & CEO.

Once again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), who also is a member of the United Solutions Caucus and is dedicated to real problem solving and saving the partisanship for another day. He worked hard on this bill and was willing to reach across the aisle for commonsense compromise. As a result of this hard work, this jobs bill is on the suspension calendar and has earned a strong bipartisan vote.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano).

I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the gentleman from New Jersey for their thoughtful debate on this commonsense improvement to the Volcker Rule.

I appreciate my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle always keeping the focus on preventing some of the world's largest banks from subjecting the American people to another financial crisis.

However, I believe this bill strikes the right balance to protect the American people and create jobs. It was reported by the Financial Services Committee with a strong bipartisan 53-3 vote, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Washington for his advocacy and passion for this critical issue for our country and for American jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out on the urgent need for Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, boosting job growth at home and the export of American-made products abroad.

Coming from the private sector, one of the first things I did after being elected was embark on a jobs tour, which included over 70 meetings, roundtables, and company visits within the first year. I have taken ideas and suggestions from all of these conversations and have put them into a plan to grow jobs in the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast district that I am so proud to represent.

This plan consists of commonsense, pro-growth policies that allow new businesses to gain a solid foothold in a tough economy and for existing businesses to expand and prosper. One of the major focuses of this plan is on how the government can provide stability and certainty and resources to keep jobs at home by investing in our manufacturing sector and promoting exports of American-made goods abroad. Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank with greater lending authority is one pillar for how we can do this.

As my voting record shows, I have strong feelings about government overspending. As a former small business owner myself, I know that government does not create jobs. But government does have the responsibility to create an environment conducive to job growth, and that is exactly what the Ex-Im does at zero cost to taxpayers.

It is an unfortunate reality that the United States buys much more than it sells. In 2013 alone, we imported over $400 billion, about 25 percent of GDP, more than we exported. We need to reverse this trend by boosting U.S. manufacturing and exports.

Now, the world knows we have the best equipment and the most highly trained workforce, and our products are sought after around the world for their high quality and skilled workmanship.

We must better leverage these strengths and provide greater opportunity to export goods made in America. One of the best ways to do this is by reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank before its current charter expires on September 30.

Just a few months ago, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Ex- Im Bank

and its commitment to boosting the sales of U.S. products overseas. Ex- Im supported over 200,000 American jobs in 2013 alone and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2012. With my district being home to a growing manufacturing sector and its proximity to several major ports, export sales are a major economic issue for our community, contributing tens of millions of dollars to our local economy every year.

The Ex-Im Bank is especially beneficial to small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, creating two-thirds out of all new jobs nationwide.

More than 85 percent of Ex-Im's transactions benefit U.S. small- and medium-sized businesses, helping these entrepreneurs compete globally.

In my district, the majority of exporters are also small businesses. I recently met with one such business during my jobs tour, Locus Traxx Worldwide. They were recognized with an Export Achievement Award by the U.S. Department of Commerce for their successful entry into the international marketplace.

I also must commend our local Export Assistance Center for the great work they do with local businesses such as Locus Traxx, helping them utilize the Ex-Im Bank to promote the selling of goods made in America to buyers overseas.

You see, the Export-Import Bank makes a real difference to our economy at the local, State, and national level. It is a highly effective and completely self-sustaining mechanism that businesses of all sizes use to finance exports.

Even in times of intense partisanship, we should all be able to agree on the value the Ex-Im Bank provides to our economy. It would be shortsighted and detrimental to our economic recovery to allow its charter to expire.

We must work together to build a brighter future for our Nation, strengthen our workforce, grow our economy, and reduce our deficit. To do that, we must come together to continue to support successful programs like the Ex-Im Bank that help small businesses prosper, support American jobs, and boost our exports.

Now, we can have our differences, but at the end of the day we have to do what is in the best interest of America. And to do that, we have to work together. It shouldn't matter who gets the credit, as long as America and Americans succeed.

For 80 years, the Ex-Im Bank has been making sure that we succeed. I strongly urge my colleagues to join in calling for the commonsense reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank so that we may continue to support American businesses' access to global markets and increase our Nation's international competitiveness.

I want to thank the gentleman from Washington for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 20 high school seniors from the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches of Florida for their commendable decision to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces following their graduation this year. Of these 20 enlistees, 8 are Army enlistees, 4 are Navy enlistees, 4 are National Guard enlistees, 2 are Air Force enlistees, 1 is a Coast Guard enlistee, and 1 is a Marine Corps enlistee. These young men and women have displayed an unmatched sense of bravery and courage in their commitment to defend and protect our Nation. Thus, it is important they know that they have the full support of the U.S. House of Representatives, their communities, and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us who we are as a people, and that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of freedom, strength, and perseverance on the world stage.

The service of these young men and women must not go unrecognized, and so I want to personally thank these twenty local graduating seniors for their selflessness and commitment to our Nation by naming them here today: Oneil Daley, Antonio Allen Jr., Juan Machua, Mario Esquilin, Henry Thomas, Dion Yu, David Colton, Corbett Pervenecki, Matthew Connelly, Laquann Pitts, Corey Boyce, Jose Ruiz, Kristi McMillion, Selena Harrison, Ty Torres, David Tarrant-Schneiderman, Angela Fernandez, Tristan Sperling, Andrew Williams, and Tyler Stewart.

All will be recognized on May 8 at the Our Community Salutes event in Boca Raton.

Mr. Speaker, we owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them and to all who defend our freedom by serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. That spirit of service and sacrifice is something we all can be proud of. For this very reason, it is my honor to recognize these young leaders here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial anniversary of the City of Stuart, Florida, which I am so proud to have located in my Congressional District.

The City of Stuart, with its ideal location bordering the St. Lucie River and West of the Indian River, has long been a key destination for those looking to connect with the water, whether through fishing, boating, or other activities. Famed for its Sailfishing and other types of sport fishing, Stuart is known as the ``Sailfish Capital of the World.'' The city offers a scenic and historic downtown, with museums, live music, and numerous dining and shopping options.

For the past 100 years, the City of Stuart has worked to promote and advance the interests and well-being of its residents and of the environment. Stuart has played a leading role in protecting and restoring local waterways from pollution, understanding that this issue impacts the community's entire way of life. Stuart's water treatment facility has received numerous awards for its efforts and dedication to protecting our waters, including the Operations Excellence Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Medium Public Water System of the Year award from the Florida Rural Water Association.

I am incredibly honored to represent the City of Stuart in Congress. This is a city whose beauty is paralleled only by the work ethic and dedication of its people, creating jobs and boosting economic growth. This is a city that knows the importance of protecting our environment, and is working to preserve it for our children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate the City of Stuart on their centennial anniversary, and I wish them many more milestones to celebrate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Indian River State College swim team for winning yet another title for both the men's and women's teams during the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCCA) Swimming and Diving Championships. These championships were hosted by the IRSC in Fort Pierce from March 5 through March 8.

In a competition against sixteen other college swim teams from across the country, the IRSC Swimming and Diving men's team succeeded in extending their amazing winning streak to 40 consecutive swimming titles, the longest unbroken championship winning streak in any sport at the collegiate level in the country. In an equal display of strength and sportsmanship, the women's team proudly brought home their 36nd title.

These young men and women have demonstrated yet again that anything is possible through hard work, determination and a positive attitude. Their impressive accomplishments and unique sense of resilience inspire every single one of us, their fellow students, and their communities.

Mr. Speaker, the achievements of these remarkable individuals serve as an example that sports can have an outstandingly positive impact on our youth as they prepare to face the challenges of today's society. For this very reason, it is my honor to recognize these young athletes here today.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Madam Speaker, there are currently many concerns regarding health insurance in our country, especially among our Nation's seniors. At this time of major transition in our Nation's health care industry, it is critical that seniors enrolled in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage can keep the coverage on which they depend.

Unfortunately, proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage are putting these important benefits at risk. This is a very serious situation across the country, and it is of great concern to me, with Florida being home to over 4 million seniors. My district alone has over 160,000 seniors, with more than one-third of them choosing a Medicare Advantage plan whose coverage would be severely impacted by the proposed cuts released in the draft rule that CMS put out in February.

We are already seeing what last year's cuts to Medicare Advantage have meant: smaller networks of doctors, cuts to add-on benefits, and higher out-of-pocket limits. The additional proposed cuts to the program released in February have raised great concerns from my constituents about their coverage and about the potential of having to pay more and having fewer benefits. That is why we are here today, urging the administration to reverse course and keep rates flat for 2015.

At this point, I would like to yield to my good friend Ms. Sinema from Arizona, who has been fighting tirelessly to protect the seniors in her area as well.

I thank the gentlelady from Arizona for her comments and for reminding us that these aren't simply numbers on a ledger, that all of these beneficiaries are folks we know. These are our parents. These are our grandparents. They are more than just numbers.

And like Ms. Sinema, I am constantly hearing from residents in my district about the negative impact these cuts would have on the well- being of their spouses, their parents, or personally, including Cheryl from Palm Beach Gardens, in my district.

After doing everything right to plan for her retirement, like many seniors do, Cheryl and her husband saw their savings cut in half during difficult economic times. Now they are seeing their health care options limited and their out-of-pocket costs going up. These are changes they simply cannot afford.

I agree with Cheryl that it is unfair to shift the burden onto those on fixed incomes, those who have little resources to make up the difference. Seniors cannot afford further cuts and the negative consequences if these misguided proposals move forward.

At this point, I would like to take a moment to yield to the general, Mr. Enyart from Illinois, and thank him for his leadership in fighting for seniors on behalf of Illinois and the rest of our country.

I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois for his generous words and reminding us of the importance of Medicare and Medicare Advantage and what it means to so many folks across our great country.

At this point, I would like to take a minute to let the gentleman from Georgia talk about what is happening in his district. Mr. Barrow has been fighting for years up here in D.C. for Medicare and seniors across the country.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for sharing your thoughts and stories and reminding us that this isn't a partisan issue. It shouldn't be a Republican, Democratic, or Independent issue. These are seniors. These are folks that built this great country, many of whom are veterans who fought for our country and laid the foundation which we have today.

So thank you for reminding us of that and being here today and taking a moment out of your busy schedule to share your thoughts.

I would now like the gentleman from Arizona, who has been championing this issue back home, to talk about what he is doing with Medicare Advantage and why he is here today. Mr. Barber, thank you.

I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona for his leadership and for continuing to fight for seniors back home and continuing to be a champion here in Washington, D.C., for those folks. Thank you, also, for reminding us that this is a successful Medicare program that has already had a solid success record at reducing hospital readmissions and improving health outcomes, and continues to be a popular option for seniors, reducing annual out-of-pocket expenses from traditional Medicare and offering expanded benefit packages that include important dental, hearing, vision, and chiropractic care.

Medicare Advantage plans also normally include the successful and cost-saving part D prescription drug plan and come without an annual deductible. By offering great coordinated care and innovative health care approaches, this program is highly effective at keeping seniors out of the hospital. But, if they do end up in the hospital, Medicare Advantage helps them recover more quickly and with less chance of returning. We should be building on this success, not stifling it.

At this time, I would like to take a moment to yield to the gentleman from Florida who, similar to myself, has many seniors in the great State of Florida and will continue to be a champion for the seniors and is going to share with us some stories.

I want to thank the gentleman from Florida for continuing to fight for seniors and reminding us of what proposals on the other side might entail.

The political games being played are not necessary in today's environment. These are real people. These are seniors. They are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are our grandparents and parents. These are folks who fought for our country and fought for our freedoms.

Thank you for reminding us not to make this a political puck. This is serious, and we must work together as a Congress and the United States Government to ensure seniors are protected.

I want to take a second to look at another scenario, gym memberships. A common add-on benefit for Medicare Advantage plans is free or discounted gym memberships. Cut Medicare Advantage too deeply, too quickly, and gym memberships are gone. Some think that is a good thing. I disagree.

A recent study found that regular balance exercise for seniors reduces falls that cause injuries by 37 percent and broken bones by 61 percent. Most elderly Americans survive a broken hip, but it often undercuts confidence and diminishes quality of life.

If a fall robs an elderly woman of her independence, it is a financial and emotional hardship. Whether it is the cost of Medicare of a hospitalization or 2 months of therapy, the cost to Medicare and Medicaid for a nursing facility, or most importantly, the cost to the senior of her quality of life and independence, Silver Sneakers doesn't seem like much of a cost at all in comparison.

That is why, even during a time of great partisanship and gridlock in Congress, there is a growing bipartisan coalition calling on the administration to keep the rates flat for this year, putting the well- being of our Nation's seniors before party lines.

Together, we are making several recommendations for changes to CMS' proposals that we believe could contribute to stabilizing the program while preventing devastating impacts on the program and the beneficiaries it serves.

For example, providing more care at home, CMS could narrow the proposals on in-home health risk assessments and protect the benefit of medication management and continuity of care. If the visits are an important component of the disease management and provide value to seniors and taxpayers, they should be maintained. This is exactly the type of innovation we need.

At this point, I would like to take a moment to yield to the gentleman from California who has been a champion for seniors in his great State. He will share with us his leadership and what he has heard back home.

I thank the gentleman from California for taking a minute out of his busy schedule to come and talk about how important Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans are to you and your constituents back home.

Finding ways to collect better and more thorough health information allows for better coordinated care with convenience to our seniors. We should also continue to reward programs that are performing the highest and providing the best care to seniors.

To do that, CMS should also increase the percentage of rebates to reward and promote higher quality while averting negative consequences for beneficiaries.

Other recommendations include keeping beneficiary stability and continuous plan improvement paramount when Medicare Advantage's benchmark calculations and bidding rules.

By rewarding performance, while taking into account the challenges faced in low-income populations, Medicare would accelerate delivery system innovation and keep Medicare Advantage as a viable option.

These are just a few of the smart changes that we should be making to build off the success of this program, instead of cutting these beneficial plans to the detriment of our Nation's seniors.

I am proud to stand with my colleagues today to once again call on the administration to preserve the Medicare Advantage choice for beneficiaries after a lifetime of hard work.

Madam Speaker, we could be facing a serious situation throughout the country. Both sides of the aisle are concerned about the proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage.

Further cuts not only risk new health care efficiencies and innovation, but the health and well-being of seniors who depend on these plans. Simply put, these cuts are counterproductive if it means more hospital readmissions and worse health outcomes.

Cuts already happening this year have resulted in a 10 percent increase in overall out-of-pocket costs for seniors relying on Medicare Advantage, with the annual maximum for these expenses increased by $560.

For seniors on fixed incomes, that can mean the difference between being able to fill a needed prescription, making a mortgage payment, or putting food on the table.

If further cuts are made to this important program, it would be even worse, costing seniors an estimated $50 more a month in out-of-pocket expenses. It is wrong to shift this burden onto seniors.

From Cheryl and her husband from Palm Beach Gardens to Walter from Tequesta to Robert from Palm City to Gary from Port St. Lucie to Lorraine from Fort Pierce, this touches the lives of seniors across my district and across this country.

They deserve better after a lifetime of hard work than having to worry about losing their doctor or the affordable health coverage that works for them.

This doesn't just impact my constituents across the Treasure Coast and palm beaches, but seniors and families across this great Nation.

I thank my colleagues who stood with me today to urge the administration to protect seniors from further cuts, keeping rates flat for this year.

I am committed to fighting for the well-being for seniors on the Treasure Coast and palm beaches, the great State of Florida, and across our Nation, protecting their earned benefits.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, with all the questions surrounding health insurance today, it is vital that seniors can keep the health care coverage on which they depend. I remain committed to working in a bipartisan manner to address the long-term drivers of our debt. I also understand we must consider the impact the decisions we make have on real Americans.

Recent efforts to bring Medicare Advantage payments in line with traditional Medicare makes sense if you think of the budget solely as numbers on a spreadsheet; but we are seeing these cuts resulting in smaller networks of doctors, cuts to add-on benefits, and higher out- of-pocket limits, shifting the cost and burden onto our Nation's seniors on fixed incomes.

The Medicare Advantage cuts proposed for 2015 would be shortsighted and counterproductive if it meant elimination of health care innovations and led to hospital readmissions and worse health outcomes.

I add my voice to the growing bipartisan chorus calling for no more cuts to seniors on Medicare Advantage. I urge the administration to keep the rates flat for this year, protecting seniors' continued access to health care choices that they have earned after a lifetime of hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Whiticar Boat Works on the occasion of the 50-year celebration of their 1961 Motor Yacht Elegante, built in the same location that this family- run business still resides at in Stuart, Florida. Founded in 1947 by Curt Whiticar, who just celebrated his 103rd birthday last month, this renowned business has expanded but still remains family-run by Curt's son John Whiticar, and nephew Jim Dragseth.

Fifty years ago, Whiticar built the Elegante on the very location where they now celebrate the motor yacht's anniversary. Originally called Aphrodite, the yacht was built for Fishers Island, New York resident John Hay ``Jock'' Whitney, a U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom and publisher of the New York Herald Tribune. For many years, Jack Whiticar, a brother of the company's founder, served as the captain of the yacht for Mr. Whitney. The yacht, now known as the Elegante, is currently owned by Pat and Bill Anton and remains the sole motor yacht ever produced by Whiticar Boat Works.

I am extremely proud of Whiticar for the great work they have done for so many years on the Treasure Coast. From its founding over 66 years ago to the present day, Whiticar has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in serving the boating community and producing excellent custom sport fishing boats. Passed from fathers to sons, Whiticar is a testament to hard work and dedication, a reminder of the important role family-owned businesses play in strengthening our economy. But not only has Whiticar Boat Works contributed greatly to our local economy and boating industry, but has played an integral role in our community, supporting coastal cleanups and efforts to clean our local waterways, encouraging boating safety, and benefiting local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club. We are so very lucky to have Whiticar as part of our Martin County community.

Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate Mr. Whiticar and Whiticar Boat Works for the 50-year celebration of the Elegante, and I am honored to recognize the work they have done over these many years. I am proud that such a terrific organization has made its home in my district, and I wish them continued success and many more milestones to celebrate.