Floor Statements

Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor 117 high school seniors and members of the JROTC from the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches for their commendable decision to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. Of these 117 enlistees, 71 are Army enlistees, 12 are Navy enlistees, 21 are Marine Corps enlistees, and 13 are Air Force enlistees. These young men and women have shown bravery and courage in their dedication to defend our country. It is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of strength and freedom in an often divided world.

The service of these young men and women must not go unrecognized. I want to personally thank these 117 local graduating seniors for their selflessness and commitment to our Nation by naming them here today: Charles Ballard, Joshua Blair, Colin Cervinsky, Kyle Crouch, Tyler Stone, Christopher Wentz, Johan Yardan, Frank Fuggetta, Mikayla Sulzer, Rodrigo Chong, Ricardo Ortega, Cory Dougherty, Joseph Evens, Robert Oliver, Kalib Perkins, Nathan White, Romahd Holman, Oscar Caceres, Cody Clendenin, Vanessa Dorrington, Miranda Egan, Samuel Hsu, Troy Macmillan, Kyleb Schenck, Anthony Tate, Michael Vanderburg, Tyler Wahl, Holsinger Kauffman, Alexander Lugo, Kyle Noel, Colton Picazio, Thomas Burns, Kyle Hale, Christien Lashinsky, John Sawtell, Andrew Schwier, Brittany Block, Irving Cintron, Randy Fernandez, Kevin Gama, Michell Holsinger, Michael Masters, Nicholas Morris, Delgado Ojeda, Anthony Rodriguez, Venezya Synakorn, Ronald Ferriera, Antoinette Johnson, Dyonn Lawrence, Delvaughn Marshall, Christian Prados, Traveon Stewart, Victoria Faulkner, Amanda Parsons, Scarlet Maldonado, Hayde Mickley, Cody Ehrland, Justin Thomas, Sergio Duque, Dominic Gardner, Yesenia Munoz, Audrey Wila, Lion Rojo, Meaghan Parish, Aaron Humyn, Brian Borgman, Joseph Riggio, Helena Thompson, Jairo Herrera, Nathan Smith, Shawn Gaines, Taphawah Thompson, Carlos Cabrera, Andres Chajud, Bradley Harpster, Matthew Cancino, Richard Jean Baptiste, Austin Mena, Matthew Cancino, Dany Salazar, Austin Sullivan, Juan Pepper, Julian Vazquez, Issac Velasquez, Matthew Colson, Kelsey Canapary, Connor John O'Donnell, Bryan Keoskie, Joseph Mazza, Anthony Armeli, Jamie Miller, Elena Jovanov, Shamsiddine El-Nil, Daniel Rubino, Deanne Collins, Yoshpal Harrow, Andrew Mills, Justin Kaufman, James Dixon, Cadlynne Dunhill, David Quintero, Dontrail Durden, Zachary Mccourt, Francisco Bacilio, Shivon Brijnath, Christopher Lopresti, Marcos Pinon, Zachary Porter, Breyer Bullock, Luis Damian, Katrina Williams, Shaklia Housen, Alex Slusher, Aaliyah Jackson, Ameen Sardar, Jason Audette, and Henry Paulk III. All will be recognized on May 9th at the Our Community Salutes event in Palm Beach Gardens.

These young men and women have shown bravery and courage in their dedication to defend our country. It is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of strength and freedom in an often divided world.

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. It is my honor to recognize these young leaders here today.

Thank you, Congresswoman Frankel.

First, I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences to all of those affected by the tragedy that occurred earlier today in Boston. My heart goes out to all the friends and families of those involved during this most difficult time.

I also want to take this opportunity to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the declaration of the State of Israel. Since David Ben- Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel on April 26, 1948, the United States and Israel have maintained an unbreakable bond. This bond is rooted in our shared values and common goals of democracy, freedom and a desire for peace. In this time of difficult security challenges and economic concerns, this partnership is more important than ever to the prosperity of both nations.

Bilateral trade between the United States and our ally Israel creates jobs here at home and contributes to the American economy. The United States' trade with Israel has reached over $40 billion, and Israel accounts for 25 percent of U.S. exports to the Middle East. The United States and Israel share a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that has attracted leading technology companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Google to Israel. At the same time, tens of thousands of jobs in the United States are created by Israeli companies, and Israel has the third most companies on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

In just 65 years, Israel has accomplished extraordinary achievements. Whether in technology, business, agriculture, or defense, Israel's innovations and advancements contribute to the daily lives of all Americans. For example, some of the most important technology we use every day, including instant messenger, voice mail, and computer processor, were developed in Israel. Additionally, Israeli medical advances are saving lives here in the U.S. and around the world, and Israeli-developed military technologies are protecting American troops stationed in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, our partnership with Israel is not just an investment in American jobs and American prosperity; it is an investment in freedom and democracy. Simply put, investing in Israel is investing in America, and we must continue to maintain our strong relationship with the State of Israel. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Israel on her 65th Independence Day and in reaffirming the lasting partnership between our two countries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Cadet Staff Sergeant Hunter Henry, a young man who passed away after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle to school on April 2, 2013 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He is survived by his three sisters and his parents Dan and Wendy Henry.

Cadet Staff Sgt. Hunter Henry was a 16 year old student at Port St. Lucie High School. Henry was known as a reserved and polite young man who enjoyed fixing things, especially bicycles, which he learned at a local store.

Henry also had a passion for service and helping others. He participated in the Jaguar Battalion--Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps in school and planned to enter military service. Additionally, following his mother's diagnosis with an autoimmune disorder that left her paralyzed, Hunter frequently donated blood and registered to be an organ donor. His selflessness has given many individuals across the country another chance at life.

Mr. Speaker, Staff Sgt. Hunter Henry was an outstanding young man who was taken far

too soon. It is an honor to recognize his life here today and extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this most difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant Gary Morales, who was laid to rest today after being killed in the line of duty at the age of 35 last Thursday in Fort Pierce, Florida. Sergeant Morales was a 12-year veteran with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and also proudly served our country as a member of the United States Air Force.

There has been an outpouring of support in the wake of the shooting, with the community coming together to support his wife, Holly, and their two young daughters, Brooklyn and Jordan. The community has also come together to share fond memories of a man that everyone remembers as being an outstanding officer with a bright future and someone who always went above and beyond to help others. It is clear that Sergeant Morales not only dedicated his life to service, but was a true leader and a selfless hero.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Gary Morales dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the Morales family and his extended family at the sheriff's office during these most difficult times. I am humbled to recognize him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Ron Davis, who as chair of the Neuroscience Department of the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has made exceptional contributions to the field of neuroscience and the treatment of neurological diseases. For his work on the complex biology of memory formation and the disorders that disrupt it, Dr. Davis has recently been awarded the prestigious $3.5 million Jacob K. Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award.

This award was first mandated by an act of Congress in 1983. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an agency within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awards this special merit grant to persons with a history of outstanding talent, imagination and distinguished scientific achievement within the field of neurological science. This is the second grant Dr. Davis has received from NINDS, showing his dedication to neuroscience research for over 30 years. Currently, Dr. Davis is an affiliate professor at the Department of Biological Sciences of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1979.

I am extremely proud of the research conducted by Dr. Davis and Scripps Florida, which Florida's 18th district is proud to be home to. TSRI is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Over the past decades, TSRI has developed a lengthy track record of major contributions to science and health, including laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. This new study by Dr. Davis will focus on an area of memory formation that has remained relatively enigmatic--the role that active forgetting plays in learning and memory. I look forward to the advancements gained through this new research in the next four years and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, the work of Dr. Davis is truly admirable and I am honored to recognize his accomplishments here today. I thank him for his lifetime of contributions to the field of neuroscience and offer my support of his continued research in the field.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn, whose memory was recently honored by a monument being dedicated in tribute to his service and sacrifice at the Sailfish Splash Water Park in Stuart, Florida.

It is most appropriate that the memorial is located at the Sailfish Splash Water Park. As Aaron's mother, Karen Vaughn, described at the memorial service, it is ``most fitting since inside those gates there will always be living, breathing representations of the things Aaron held most dear--love, laughter, family, friends and fun.''

Aaron Vaughn grew up in Florida's 18th Congressional district, where he attended Martin County High School and was a member of the football team. Aaron then received his Associate's Degree from Indian River State College, studying turf grass science. Aaron later enlisted in the Navy and became a member of the elite Navy SEALs.

Aaron bravely served as a Navy SEAL, a lifelong dream of his. Aaron's father, Billy Vaughn, said that ``the commander of SEAL Team Six said he was a fearless leader who was headed to the top.'' In August 2011, Aaron lost his life when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, Aaron Vaughn dedicated his life to this country and I am proud that the city of Stuart has recognized his service by dedicating this memorial in his honor. It is truly humbling to recognize his life and his great service to our country here today.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will be amended and immediately proceed to final passage.

I appreciate that the Republican leadership has put forward legislation that would raise the Nation's debt ceiling, agreeing that it is not an option for the United States to default on its obligations. I also support that Members of Congress should not be paid if they do not do their jobs, part of which is to pass a responsible budget, but I do not agree with the political gamesmanship of, once again, playing politics with our serious fiscal issues and using short- term gimmicks rather than working to find long-term solutions. We need to stop playing games with the debt ceiling and spend our time and energy on job creation.

I supported a clean debt limit bill. However, because in this version congressional pay has been tied directly to passing a budget, it is important to ensure that the budget that is passed is responsible and protects our most vulnerable citizens.

My amendment would not kill the underlying legislation. It would merely add commonsense protections to the bill for members of our Armed Forces, our veterans, and our seniors from the budget-cutting process. Anyone who supports the underlying legislation has no reason to not also support this amendment. If adopted, the debt limit would still be raised to allow the government to pay its obligations through May 19, and Members of Congress would still have their pay withheld if they fail to agree to a budget resolution by April 15. The amendment simply clarifies that the budget resolution protects our troops, veterans, and seniors.

I recently visited the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and spoke with both veterans and staff. I heard their very real fears that their benefits, which they fought for, would be threatened by the political gamesmanship in Washington. I saw that same anxiety in the eyes of seniors I recently spoke to from Nettles Island on the Treasure Coast, who worry that cuts to Medicare and the privatization of Social Security could lead to a choice between a meal or medicine. After hearing these concerns, I expressed time and time again throughout my district that I could not understand why anyone would oppose amending the underlying legislation to ensure veterans, troops, and seniors are protected from devastating cuts.

Madam Speaker, this amendment language should have the full support of the House. It simply states that we cannot cut benefits for veterans or members of the Armed Forces or cut benefits for seniors and that we will not gamble our grandparents' futures on Wall Street or turn Medicaid into a for-profit voucher system designed more to help out the big corporations than those who are struggling or disabled.

I also want to express my disappointment that the underlying legislation is another short-term fix when our country needs long-term solutions. I spoke to several business groups last week, and they want stability from our government. If they had certainty, they would begin investing capital back into our economy rather than sitting on it. Our dysfunctional Congress is to blame for slowing our recovery.

Now is the time to work together with courage and purpose and come to a grand bargain that will protect America's greatness for generations to come. Our Nation cannot afford to continue down the path of such fiscal irresponsibility. Such piecemeal approaches will not address our country's long-term fiscal health. Rather, we must look at reducing spending, generating revenue, lowering unemployment, addressing the long-term sustainability of Social Security and Medicare, and creating additional economic growth through job creation.

A real fix to America's long-term fiscal issues and deficit reduction can only come by truly coming to the table without personal agendas and with the recognition that America needs less political gamesmanship and more leadership. Unfortunately, the underlying legislation in its current form falls short of what our country desperately needs.

That is why I hope my amendment will be adopted here today as a first step towards putting aside partisanship and, instead, protecting our veterans, troops, and seniors. While the underlying legislation is not perfect and while it is not the grand bargain we were hoping for, it would show that there is willingness in the 113th Congress for compromise. As we move forward from the debate over the debt limit and on to other pressing fiscal issues, we can no longer settle for short- term approaches to our public policy but, instead, work together to come to the grand bargains that will ensure America continues to be the greatest country for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, my amendment is an opportunity to show the American people that this Congress is willing to work together and compromise to address our fiscal issues and to protect our troops, veterans, and seniors. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of my commonsense amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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