Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, as a former small businessman, I am acutely aware of the strain unnecessary regulations have on businesses. While I strongly support the underlying bill's goal of reducing the regulatory burden on American companies, truly smart regulatory reform would preserve government's ability to enforce clean air laws, food safety, and consumer protections. It would not pile on duplicative procedural hurdles on already inefficient agencies, gumming up government bureaucracy and obstructing agencies' most basic functions.

Too often, the debate up here is about more regulations versus fewer regulations, but we should be focused on smarter regulations.

We should all be able to agree that government has a role to play in clean water for Americans, an issue the people in the Treasure Coast are all too familiar with.

We should all be able to agree that when a consumer walks through the door of a bank looking for a mortgage, that government has a role to play in protecting that consumer, but these regulations should help the public without unnecessarily hindering business, our Nation's economic engine. We must both protect Americans and enable commerce. The business community is not against all regulation, they are against excessively burdensome regulation.

In my district, business owners believe that protecting the environment and clean water standards is not antigrowth. In fact, it is pro-jobs.

When I recently toured the family-run Armellini trucking company in my district, the Armellinis were not against truck safety standards. They do the right thing by their workers, and they abide by safe driving rules. They want regulations to ensure that others do the same. What they are against are new truck safety standards that hinder growth without actually making trucking any safer.

Smarter regulations should protect good businesses from bad actors.

I will give another example. Denny Hudson runs Seacoast Bank, a small community bank in Stuart, Florida. Like many small financial institutions, Seacoast weathered the financial crisis because they were not involved in risky financial behavior. They expected mortgages to be repaid on time, and they wanted the small businesses they supported to succeed.

After the financial crisis of 2008 nearly took down the global economy, most people agreed that government regulators needed to better protect our financial system, but if new regulations keep community banks like Seacoast from getting creditworthy young families into their first home, or providing capital to new small businesses, that is a problem.

My amendment is simple. While recognizing the goal of the underlying legislation to improve the regulatory process, my amendment maintains the government's responsibility to protect the environment, consumer health, and workplace safety. I propose removing costly hurdles that would make government less efficient, while protecting the right of the American people to hold their government accountable when it fails to protect their health, safety, and civil rights.

My colleagues across the aisle frequently complain about too much bureaucracy. We should not compound the problem by creating duplicative government processes. Let's examine the effectiveness of regulations already in place.

Senator King introduced a bipartisan bill that would do exactly that. It would establish a process to identify and either strike or improve outdated and obsolete regulations. We should be doing the same thing in this body. At a time when we should be doing more with less, can we really afford to increase spending with more government bureaucracy?

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment to improve the underlying bill, save the partisan fight over controversial sections for another day, streamline the regulatory process, and save 70 million taxpayer dollars. I thank my colleagues.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the City of Port Saint Lucie, Florida for earning the rank as one of the 25 best places to retire in the United States.

For the third time since October, Forbes.com has listed Port Saint Lucie as one of the top places to live or do business, and I am delighted to recognize the recent Forbes.com list that names Port Saint Lucie as one of the 25 best places to retire in 2014.

Forbes cites excellent climate and air quality, lower cost of living, median home price, and low crime rate as their key criteria for the ranking. Just months ago, Forbes selected Port Saint Lucie as one of the best places in the country for business and careers based on education data, job growth, and the lower cost of doing business.

In addition to Forbes, last September, Movoto.com, a national online real estate broker, claimed Port Saint Lucie as number one on their list of the 10 best places to live in Florida based again on the city's low crime rate, cost of living, and housing among other factors.

Port Saint Lucie commands national attention for its incentives for families, entrepreneurs, and international business leaders alike and a perfect balance of warm yet temperate year-round weather. As a major city on the Sunshine State's Treasure Coast in Florida's Eighteenth Congressional district, I am honored to represent Port Saint Lucie in the United States House of Representatives.

Madam Speaker, last week, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to fix the National Flood Insurance Program to protect homeowners from unaffordable rate hikes. It is beyond time for the House to follow suit by passing this bipartisan bill, which will help millions of Americans facing steep flood insurance rate increases, including thousands of residents across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.

The bill includes additional funding for FEMA to redraw flood maps accurately so homeowners do not face erroneous rate hikes in my district and around the country. Any proposed rate hikes must be delayed until the affordability study gives Congress a better understanding of how unaffordable rate hikes would negatively impact the Flood Insurance Program.

I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can pass this bipartisan, commonsense solution that will provide much-needed relief for homeowners across America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Joe Crankshaw for his 56 years in the newspaper business. Mr. Crankshaw was born during the Great Depression, an era in journalism known as the ``Age of the Columnists'' which saw a rise in photojournalism and 35mm photography. It was the heyday of newsreels and copy was still done by typewriters and edited with scissors and glue.

Mr. Crankshaw began his career in 1958 when he was hired by Ernie Lyons, editor of the then-weekly Stuart News. After five years, Mr. Crankshaw moved on to The Florida Times Union and The Miami Herald where his stories consistently made the front page.

In 1991 Mr. Crankshaw rejoined the Scripps Treasure Coast team where he was recognized as one of the best by his publisher and colleagues. In the years since, Mr. Crankshaw has been quick to take advantage of modern technology and the many more recent innovations in media. According to a Scripps Treasure Coast reporter, Mr. Crankshaw received an iPhone for his 80th birthday and within a few days was sharing apps with co-workers half his age.

It is humbling to recognize Mr. Crankshaw's engagement and activism outside of the newsroom. In addition to being a family man with two daughters and two stepchildren, Mr. Crankshaw loves sharing his knowledge and experiences to those with journalistic ambitions. Last year, he presented a guest lecture to journalism students in Utah where he was warmly welcomed via video conferencing. A Korean War veteran, he has always made it a mission to keep the best interests of our military and veterans and their families a priority; and ultimately, Mr. Crankshaw has served as a role model and inspiring figure in northern

Palm Beach and Treasure Coast communities. Though he will be sincerely missed in the newsroom, I wish him the best in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for their victory in the 7A State title game. In a well contested battle at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, the Dwyer Panthers defeated Niceville High School 55- 39 to win their second State football championship.

Panther's coach Jack Daniels took his team to the title game with a perfect 15-0 record, the school's first undefeated season. After 15 consecutive playoff appearances, Dwyer High School can now call themselves repeat State champions in football, and I am honored to recognize them today.

Throughout the football season, these student-athletes balanced the pressures of both academics and football. As student-athletes across the country, myself included, can tell you, this is a challenge that tests one's patience and perseverance, and I commend the team for their successes in the classroom as well as on the field.

The Dwyer Panthers handled themselves with class in front of thousands of fans on a big stage. I hope all of the players, faculty, and parents who showed their support continue to enjoy the school's rank of 2013-2014 7A football champions for the State of Florida. I wish all of the graduating seniors the best in their future academic and athletic endeavors. To those returning next season, continue to work hard and take pride in everything you do. Congratulations again to the 2013-2014 Dwyer Panthers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 15 World War II veterans currently residing in Mariner Sands, a community in the city of Stuart, FL. These men, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, are a part of the Greatest Generation, and I am grateful to have the privilege of recognizing their service as our nation approaches Veterans Day.

These 15 veterans, honored for their service including one awarded with the Silver Star, were engaged in active duty missions in Africa and the European and Pacific theaters where they were present for some of history's most poignant and influential battles. One Marine recounts a vivid tale set in a foxhole at the battle of Iwo Jima. He notices his fellow Marines on higher ground unpredictably congregating in the distance. He directs the attention of Marines nearby to the mountaintop scene, and as he watches Marines raise an American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, he does not yet realize that he is witnessing first-hand one of the most quintessential images of the Second World War.

I am privileged to recognize these 15 World War II veterans and give special recognition to Brigadier General Joe McCormick who turned 100 years-old this year. To all who have donned the uniform of a member of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for your service.

Thank you, Mr. Green, for organizing this special hour.

I also want to thank Mr. Poe, Ms. Edwards and Mrs. Ellmers for their leadership on this important issue.

I rise today to speak out against domestic violence and to demand that Congress act in a bipartisan manner to fight back against this plague on our country. The domestic violence statistic rates in our country are staggering. One out of every three women will be the victim of domestic violence in their lifetime. Four are murdered by their intimate partner every day in the United States.

Further, a woman is battered in the United States every 15 seconds. You do the math; that is 240 incidents every hour.

We, as a society, have a responsibility to work to protect the most vulnerable among us, and must do everything we can to address these unacceptable rates of domestic violence. That is why one of the first pieces of legislation I cosponsored as a Member of Congress was the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

Protecting people from violence by their partners should not be a partisan issue, and it was appalling in the last Congress that such vital legislation got caught up in this partisan gridlock.

With that in mind, I am thrilled to see Members from both sides of the aisle speaking today on this important issue. You will notice both Democrats and Republicans wearing purple pins or purple ties to highlight October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic violence is not a partisan issue, and not just a woman's issue. It is a family issue, it is a community issue, it is an economic issue and a moral issue. That is why I specifically recruited male colleagues to participate in this Special Order hour, and you will see many of them here today wearing purple ties.

We, as men, can help draw awareness not only to how important it is to work toward ending domestic violence, but also to the fact that domestic violence is an issue that we have a responsibility to engage and not to dismiss as only a women's issue.

As role models and other males, we have a crucial part in this fight, and stopping domestic violence will only occur when the main perpetrators of these crimes, which are men, learn to stop hurting their partners. We, as men, not only can, but we must make addressing this issue a priority.

On International Women's Day, I hosted a roundtable discussion at a shelter in my district called SafeSpace, where I heard from both survivors and advocates about the challenges they face to keep women and children safe, and the importance of Federal funding to keep these programs operating. This roundtable highlighted the urgency of working together to address this pressing issue.

I am honored to have Jill Borowicz, the CEO of the shelter that hosted this important roundtable, here in attendance with us today and want to take this opportunity to thank her for her work on behalf of all the survivors of domestic abuse.

Unfortunately, what we are doing here today almost was not able to take place, due to the government shutdown. Jill knows all too well what the shutdown did back home and what the effects of it were on our district and across the country.

One of the less-talked about effects of the shutdown was its impact on shelters and services like SafeSpace that were forced to close their doors and suspend services for more than a week because VAWA funds were unaccessible.

Let me repeat: the government shutdown directly prevented women and children who were facing the threat of domestic violence from receiving services and shelter. This is unconscionable.

While the crisis may have been manufactured, the shutdown was very real, and the consequences were also real. It has shown that partisanship and dysfunction in Congress are a serious threat to the prevention of domestic violence. I hope we can all agree that this should no longer be tolerated.

I look forward to working together with my colleagues, both male and female, and Members from both parties to continue to fund important programs that help provide assistance and shelter to the victims of domestic violence, resources to law enforcement to help them adequately address these issues on the ground, and investments in programs that can help stop and break the vicious cycle of domestic violence in our communities.

Again, I want to thank Mr. Green for his leadership on this issue. It is important we bring this to the forefront. No matter where you are from or what party you are from, this is something that needs to be discussed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of the first African-American paratrooper to be enlisted in the U.S. Army. Walter Morris, a retired Second Lieutenant who passed away at the age of 92, was the first African-American man accepted for airborne duty in the Army. At a time where segregation existed prevalently in our country, Mr. Morris broke a barrier, setting the precedent for an additional 400 Black paratroopers to serve before the end of World War II.

At the time, then Sergeant Morris led training sessions to mimic parachute practice after duty hours to raise the morale of African- American soldiers. It is the strength, courage, dedication, and camaraderie of Mr. Morris for which I am humbled to honor his life here today.

Mr. Morris was an original member of the Triple Nickels, a battalion later assigned to a secret mission titled Operation Firefly, a maneuver for the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. The Triple Nickels had to minimize the damage from aerial attacks by Japanese balloon bombs over the Pacific Northwest coast. The Army kept this operation secret because they wanted to disguise the fact that the Japanese balloon bombs had actually reached the U.S. coastline.

Mr. Morris's actions paved the way for African-American soldiers to become part of one of the most prestigious departments of the U.S. Army, the 82nd Airborne Division. He cofounded the African-American Cultural Association, an education facility for adults and children. Now in its 34th year, the association is a way to ensure the legacy of the Triple Nickels.

Together with Lt. Morris's two daughters, grandson, and two great- grandsons, we remember the life of an American Hero--someone who stood tall in the face of adversity and in unison with his fellow soldiers and his country.

Mr. Speaker, on October 3rd, we held an historic bipartisan Congressional briefing on issues affecting the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee waterways, bringing national attention to the issue of toxic waters that have been plaguing the Treasure Coast. For both those who were unable to attend and for those that were there, I hope the following summary of the briefing will be helpful. For more information on the briefing, including a full transcript and video and presentations from panelists, please visit: www.PatrickMurphy.house.gov/IndianRiverLagoon.

Community Voices

It was great to see so many familiar faces from the district who were able to attend our briefing. There was an overwhelming showing of support, with over a hundred community members who came to bring national attention to this pressing issue, leaving us with standing room only. The bus full of dozens of residents that held fundraisers to make the long journey up to Washington, D.C. was unprecedented, and their presence helped demonstrate the gravity of this issue and its impact on the lives of those in the affected communities.

We heard from a variety of community members throughout the briefing including children who told of how their summer was dramatically affected by the pollution in the river, and long-time residents who have seen the problem year after year. We all came together to send many decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels a clear message: This is a serious problem that demands solutions.

Panelist Input

Though because of the government shutdown our federal agency panelists could not attend the briefing, our state and local panelists gave many perspectives and insights into federal, local and state work underway and also discussed what else needs to be done in order to fully address the issue. They included:

Secretary Herschel Vinyard, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Ernie Barnett, Assistant Executive Director, Everglades Ecosystem Restoration, South Florida Water Management District

Dr. Tom Van Lent, Senior Scientist, Everglades Foundation

Senator Joe Negron, Chair of State Select Committee on the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin

Representative Matt Caldwell, Florida House of Representatives-- District 79

Representative Heather Fitzenhagen, Florida House of Representatives--District 78

Thomas MacVicar, MacVicar Consulting, Inc.

Mark Perry, Executive Director, Florida Oceanographic Society

Martin County Commissioner Chair Sarah Heard

St. Lucie County Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson

Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker

Mayor Kevin Ruane, Sanibel, Florida

Todd Bonlarron, Legislative Director, Palm Beach County

Mr. Roland Ottolini, Director, Lee County Division of Natural Resources

Dr. Brian LaPointe, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University

The panelists highlighted many important points and everyone agreed that continuing to fight and urge for funding for existing Army Corps projects is crucial, such as the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project, Herbert Hoover Dike repairs, and other Everglades restoration projects to provide relief to our imperiled waterways. There was also consensus that provisions in the House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) will help to move forward on Everglades ecosystem restoration, which has a huge impact on our area. After passing WRRDA, we will continue to pressure the Army Corps to complete the Chief's Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project so that these important projects can move forward as well.

Member Advocacy

I also was thankful that over 20 Members of Congress came to learn more about this issue and to hear directly from community members on how these toxic waters have affected them. Below is a list of which Members of Congress attended and some of the comments they made:

Senator Bill Nelson--

``There are way too many nutrients in [the water], and I am sure you have already had the testimony of what happens when there is too many nutrients. It is not only that bottle, but that has been going on for years.''

``We have got to continue the appropriations for the Everglades restoration. We have to keep the fire under the Army Corps of Engineers.''

``My ask of you all would be to keep up the pressure.''

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi--

``When Patrick Murphy came in with that bottle I was not sure what was going on. When he told me what that water was, it was really shocking.''

``The fact that all of you are here is a tribute to how important the issue is . . . I think your being here and their support for this elevates this to an issue of national significance.''

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (who was so moved by the briefing that he visited the district on October 14th to see the problem firsthand)--

``This is a crucially important issue, not just for Florida, but also for our nation. This is an extraordinary resource, and Florida is a resource. I want to thank you for doing those carwashes to come up here. Saying democracy works is a little tough today, but I have been in office for 45 years. Democracy works. Democracy works because conscientious people take their time and effort to communicate their concerns.''

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster--

On WRRDA legislation: ``We worked very hard in the committee to produce a bipartisan product and went through a number of listening sessions from local stakeholders to industries and companies that have interests in the ports, harbors, waterways, and environmental restoration projects.''

``Both Republicans and Democrats both saw the need to make sure we move these projects forward faster and I think anybody that runs any type of organization knows that time is money. So, we get this done faster and we can save money and get these projects closer to completion.''

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio

Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment Ranking Member Tim Bishop

Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus and the Florida Delegation Rep. Alcee L. Hastings

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Rep. Cheri Bustos

Florida Congressional Delegation Members: Rep. Corrine Brown; Rep. Ted Deutch;

Rep. Lois Frankel; Rep. Joe Garcia; Rep. John Mica; Rep. Bill Posey; Rep. Tom Rooney; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Rep. Daniel Webster; Rep. Ted Yoho.

Every Member who attended was provided a comprehensive information on this issue, as well as actions Congress can take to help address this problem.

While I was extremely pleased to have a number of my colleagues attend this briefing to hear directly from our community, we have a long and challenging fight ahead of us to get the message to 200 other Members of the House to ensure that Congress continues to fund and authorize projects and initiatives that will help clean the waters of our local rivers and estuaries.

Common Goals

One of the goals of this briefing was to isolate common goals among the many parties and stakeholders in the room. Some of the reoccurring points many stakeholders agree on that need work on the federal level are:

Continue to advocate to Members of Congress the importance of

Everglades restoration funding

The shocking photos provided by local residents depicting this devastation to the ecosystem were on full display to all Members, as well as the presence of so many concerned citizens speaking personally about how these discharges have impacted them and the community. This education aspect of the briefing was crucial. With the 22 Members who attended, they now can help garner support for important measures related to local environmental projects when they come up for a vote, helping us advocate for the passage of the House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and including needed funding in the Administration's budget. But our advocacy work isn't done. We still must make the case that Everglades restoration funding is an important goal that ALL Members of Congress should support.

Funding to complete Everglades restoration projects

Everyone agreed that continuing to fight and urge for funding for existing Army Corps projects is crucial. With the involvement of Congress and federal agency officials, we can work together to prioritize funding for ongoing projects such as the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project, the Kissimmee River restoration project, and other Everglades restoration projects that once completed will provide relief to our imperiled waterways. In order for the entire system to function better, many key components must be able to function. Completing projects that are already under construction will help us most effectively clean the waterways of southern Florida.

Continued funding to rehabilitate the Herbert Hoover Dike

One of the biggest problems affecting our waterways is that Lake Okeechobee can only retain a specific amount of water safely. That is why the community agrees that the Army Corps must continue its work of rehabilitating the Herbert Hoover Dike to get it to a state where it can contain more water safely. Holding more water in the lake is the most effective method of water retention in the area, and while this will be a long term project, Congress must act to continue to fund the critical work of rehabilitating this vulnerable structure.

Passing the House WRRDA bill

There was also consensus that provisions in the House WRRDA bill will allow state and federal actors to move forward on Everglades ecosystem restoration, which in turn benefits our district. In addition to passing WRRDA, we also need to continue to pressure for the Chief's Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) so that these important projects can move forward as well. While the CEPP Chief's Report isn't scheduled to be complete until 2014, the timing of passing a final WRRDA bill will be crucial.

Urging the Corps to safely reexamine the Lake Okeechobee

Release Schedule

Another issue that was discussed is the need for the Army Corps to reevaluate at what level the lake can safely retain water by reassessing the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS). I sent a letter to Army Corps officials just prior to the briefing but we must continue to urge them to take this action to reduce these harmful discharges from the lake into the St. Lucie.

Getting federal agencies more involved on the ground

Unfortunately, due to a government shutdown, our federal agency panelists were unable to attend. Although we were still able to have a robust and important conversation, it is vital that these federal agencies become more involved. They each have a role to play, and their engagement can be helpful to addressing the river issue. I will be working with my colleagues who attended the briefing to push for this involvement from agencies such as the Army Corps, NOAA, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as invite these officials to see the damage firsthand so they see the urgent need to move forward with these ongoing projects.

There was also unity on the state moving forward quickly and aggressively with their water quality implementation plans.

Moving Forward

The briefing successfully brought this important issue into the national spotlight. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a Congress that could not even come together to keep the government open, so a fight for funding to address the pollution impacting our local waterways in the current ``no spending'' climate will be a challenge, but is a challenge we must take on. There is a difference between wasteful spending, something I've been tackling in the past 10 months, and smart investments such as these projects needed to help our local environment, that provide a three-to-one return on investments. While I can't promise that this issue will be solved in the next year or even the next several years, I do promise to do everything I can to move us towards this end. I remain focused on this issue of great concern to our community, our environment, our economy, and our entire way of life.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to submit for the Record a summary of the transcript of the bipartisan briefing I recently hosted along with my good friend from the great State of Florida, Trey Radel, on the crucial environmental issues facing our waterways in Florida. During a time of the most discouraging examples of partisan gridlock, we were able to come together with many people on both sides of the aisle to work toward solutions to the ongoing crisis in our waterways.

There is no denying that an environmental crisis is taking place up and down the Indian River Lagoon. Record-breaking rainfall, out-of-date engineering, and urban and agricultural runoff are all damaging our waterways. To bring attention to this important matter, we invited community members who have been directly impacted by the water so polluted with bacteria and toxic algae that health officials told people to avoid contact with the water. In an area where the economy depends on water for our local livelihood, this pollution is having devastating effects.

Members of our community took great lengths to make their voices heard in Congress. Many flew up here, others fundraised to take a bus, using money out of their own pocket to make sure that Washington heard how they have been directly impacted by polluted and toxic waterways.

Despite the government shutdown and the inability of any Federal agency officials to attend, we were pleased to see so many engaged constituents in the room with us as we spoke to many Members who have important leadership roles in the House itself--the Appropriations Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and many among the Florida delegation.

At the briefing, we not only discussed the problems but the solutions, both short-term and long-term, that can only come from a mutual understanding of the problem and cooperation of local, State, and Federal entities. Solutions such as completing Everglades restoration projects like the Indian River Lagoon-South project and funding the completion of C-44 components of this project as soon as possible to grant relief to the already battered St. Lucie Estuary are critical. We must also fight for quick and effective repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike that will allow for the safe retention of more water in Lake Okeechobee.

There was also broad agreement on the importance of passing WRRDA so we can move forward with Everglades restoration efforts that will benefit all of our communities. Additionally, WRRDA will streamline processes so ongoing and future projects can advance more efficiently and expeditiously.

It has been almost 7 years since the last water resource bill was authorized, stalling progress on local environmental projects, so I am beyond pleased to see the House take up this important bill today.

After passing WRRDA, we need to continue to pressure for the chief support for the Central Everglades Planning Project so that these important projects can move forward as well. In the current no-spending climate in Congress, it is difficult to fight for funding for these critical projects to address the pollution impacting our local waterways, but there is a difference between smart investments and wasteful spending, which is something I have been working hard to tackle these past 10 months.

Infrastructure and environmental projects are not only crucial to improve the health of our waterways but to provide a 3 to 1 return on investment. Furthermore, funding for Everglades projects is equally matched by the State so they, too, have skin in the game, highlighting the importance of cooperation across all levels of government to work towards real solutions to address the challenges facing our waterways.

Mr. Speaker, these issues are simply too important to ignore. That is why I am here today with this bottle of polluted water behind me to show the severity of this ongoing crisis. I remain focused on this issue of great concern to our community, our environment, our economy, and our entire way of life. No one person can make all these things happen. It takes advocacy and action at all levels of government. To that end, I will include a summary of this briefing to be entered into the Congressional Record to educate all Members of Congress on this important issue and the role we all play in addressing it.

I thank the gentlewoman for the yielding.

I rise once again, Mr. Speaker, to discuss an environmental catastrophe taking place in my district. While I strongly support the underlying bill, without the amendment, it would force my constituents and residents from Florida to wait at least another 2 years for projects critical for our environment and our economy.

The Central Everglades Planning Project, critical to the deteriorating health of the waterways in my district, is nearly ready to go.

The project will safely move more water south of Lake Okeechobee, instead of forcing polluted fresh water into brackish rivers to the east and west, causing immeasurable damage to our environment and our local economy.

I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and support the commonsense, bipartisan Brown-Frankel-

Crenshaw-Posey amendment that would allow the Army Corps to complete its work on authorizing several important projects that are in the final stages of approval.

I spoke on the floor earlier today about the importance of acting now on initiatives that will help address the environmental crisis occurring in our area. Today we have that chance. My constituents and our waterways cannot wait.

Defeat the previous question and support the Brown amendment.

First, I want to thank my good friend from California (Mr. Peters) for organizing this important discussion this evening and reminding all Americans how important it is to end this ridiculous and disgraceful shutdown we're in right now.

The damage this manufactured crisis is causing is unacceptable. I've heard daily from hundreds of my constituents who have already felt the pain from the shutdown over the past 4 days. They all express the same sentiment: Enough already. I share this frustration.

I received a letter today from a local Navy veteran, and it particularly stood out to me. I just want to share a brief part of this story that I read.

I'm a recently discharged veteran of the U.S. Navy.

During the 5 years I served, I was told continually that

when I left the service behind, I would be taken care of, and

I believed that implicitly. Well, I couldn't have been more

wrong.

Since I was discharged over 2 months ago, I've struggled to

get unemployment and find work. I am currently receiving VA

disability for service-connected injuries, or at least I was

before the government shut down yesterday.

I rely on my disability to survive, and now I don't even

know when the next payment will arrive. To complicate matters

further, I've attempted to start up school and use my GI

benefits only to find out that the VA will run out of money

by the end of this month if the shutdown continues. So no

more disability or education benefits, benefits I've earned,

benefits I got for sacrificing 5 of the best years of my life

for. So, essentially, I paid into this program, made

sacrifices too numerous to count, was deployed around the

world twice in support of the global war on terrorism, and

now I come to find out all of that amounts to nothing.

This shutdown has negatively impacted my life more than I

ever thought possible. The mere fact that veterans benefits

were even on the table as part of the shutdown is an outrage

in itself. Have we not done enough? What more do I need to

sacrifice? We have a hard enough time surviving overseas, and

this is the treatment we come home to, our own government

shutting down and unable to take care of us.

I plan on applying for food stamps soon. I never dreamed my

life would come to this, especially after serving my country.

But, hey, I guess that's what our government has come to.

Please do whatever it takes to end this shutdown.

Well, Joshua, I never dreamed it would come to this either, that our Nation would be willing to break its promise to the brave men and women like you over partisan games.

I called Joshua today to let him know that I, too, am appalled and that I am here fighting for him, alongside my colleagues, alongside our Nation's veterans, seniors, and all Americans who have had enough, enough of the shutdown, enough of the games,

enough of these manufactured crises. That is why I'm leading efforts urging leadership to immediately vote on reopening the government. Our fragile economy cannot afford one more day of this disgraceful shutdown, and neither can veterans such as Joshua.

I urge the House to pass a clean spending bill immediately and put an end to this nonsensical shutdown.

First of all, I would like to thank the gentlelady from Arizona for bringing us all together for this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of my colleagues who are here today who support our brave men and women of the United States military-- those who were willing to give life and limb in service of our great Nation. Those who fought for our freedom have earned America's gratitude and support as they reenter society after the trauma of serving in prolonged war zones. Our Nation must remain focused on the health and well-being of the brave men and women who have served. This means treating even the wounds that are not visible.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and it is incumbent that every one of us take the time to reach out to servicemembers and veterans who may be struggling. It should shake every Member of this body to know that we lose 22 heroes every day to suicide.

Yesterday, I was honored to join with local veterans groups to bring attention to this troubling issue. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mary Hinton with the Renewal Coalition, Dr. Deepak Mandi with the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, and Dr. Raul Diaz with the Jupiter Veterans Center for not only joining me at this important event yesterday but for the important work they are doing to assist the veterans and their families in our community every day.

I want to recognize the great work of the Veterans Crisis Line, which has fielded over 890,000 calls since 2007 and provides important, comprehensive mental health care at VA medical centers across the Nation.

I also want to thank Lynn Szymoniak for her hard work and dedication with Angel Fire, another organization in my district which helps our wounded veterans transition back to civilian life.

For Suicide Prevention Month, let's recommit ourselves to providing our heroes, who have sacrificed so much for our Nation, with the respect, the benefits and the care that they have earned through their service by raising awareness, ending the stigma, and treating their invisible wounds.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of the Van Duzer Foundation and its founder, Mr. Scott Van Duzer of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, in honor of his philanthropic efforts, which have touched many lives across the Treasure Coast.

Scott started the Van Duzer Foundation in 2008 to help families and individuals impacted by tragic and often unforeseen circumstances. Since its inception, the foundation has organized blood drives garnering more than 7,000 pints of blood and raising over $800,000 for families and individuals in need. The Foundation's family-friendly fundraising events are well attended by many in the community and positively serve as a model of civic engagement.

A few years ago, Scott learned about two boys who were in desperate need of a blood transfusion. Because of a shortage, one of the boys waited nine hours for life-saving blood to arrive. Rising to the call of activism, Scott collaborated with his board of directors to partner with Florida's Blood Centers to host a blood drive where initially over 300 pints of blood were collected. The Foundation later hosted their inaugural Be a Hero Day where 1,000 pints of blood were donated. Having hosted several blood drives since, the 7,000 pints of blood collected by the Van Duzer Foundation have impacted over 21,000 lives, a figure of three lives per donation of blood. In recognition of the work of the Van Duzer Foundation, last year Scott was honored by a visit from President Obama at his local pizza shop where he gave the President a much-publicized bear hug. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the great work of the Van Duzer Foundation and to call Scott not only a constituent, but a friend. In today's busy, complex world we must recognize the depth of philanthropy and its impact. We better ourselves by improving our communities and being our neighbor's keeper. As evidenced through Scott Van Duzer and the Van Duzer Foundation, it is through these means in which all Americans can participate in perpetuating a prosperous pathway for our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Martin County North Little League All-Stars and their accomplishment in winning the 2013 Florida State Little League Championship.

As a baseball player and former Little Leaguer myself, I am very proud to that my district is home to this year's state champions. Not only did these athletes compete to make it to the Florida State Tournament; but once there, they bested seven other teams, which is no easy feat. After four rounds of competition, Martin County North made it to the title game on July 29th where they defeated Sarasota American, in a 7-1 victory.

I would like to take this moment to also reflect on the inspiring nature of the team's manager, Mark Rodgers. Coach Rodgers successfully led his team to victory through hard work and dedication as well as a love of the game. He was able to instill in these twelve year-olds that with a supportive community, the goal of winning the Florida State Little League Championship was more than possible. He taught them ``pride, passion, and purpose.'' As the mentors of my youth also did, Coach Rodgers laid the foundation in understanding how these are essential elements of success and how to always go after your dreams.

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged today to have this opportunity to recognize Coach Tom Galinis, Blaine Kilbreth, Zach Galinis, Cam Provines, Payton McIntosh, Hunter Wentworth, Tibur Rivero, Richie Pfluger, Wyatt Menendez, Jacob Rader, Dominick Thompson, Justin Altieri, Taylor Higgins, Marcus Mastellone, Coach Andrew Rodgers, and Manager Mark Rodgers on being the Sunshine State's 2013 Little League champions. I am proud that they represent my district and wish them continued success both on and off the field.