Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to the actions taken by the Obama Administration in December to re-establish relations with Cuba. Among other reasons, Castro's Cuba has been entirely uncooperative with the United States by providing safe harbor to numerous American fugitives, with offenses ranging from hijacking to murder.

One of the most notable fugitives hiding out in Cuba is the known terrorist William Morales. Morales was a leader of the terrorist organization FALN, which has committed numerous terrorist attacks on United States soil, including the 1975 bombing of Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. This attack killed 4 and injured more than 60 others.

I urge the Administration to reevaluate its stance towards Cuba and make it a top priority to extradite William Morales and other fugitives evading justice in Cuba to the United States immediately.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Neugebauer for yielding and for all his efforts on this. I also appreciate the fact that he said my efforts were tireless. Chairman Hensarling, at times, thought they were tiresome.

I want to thank the chairman for putting a good spin on it, but very seriously, I want to thank him for his efforts. This is a bill where a number of us started off from different positions, from different perspectives. In true legislative form, we came together.

This bill that we passed in December was a solid bill. Unfortunately, it was not taken up by the Senate, but it is essential that we pass it today because, as my good friend Mrs. Maloney said, this could have a devastating effect on the construction industry and on the American economy if it is not renewed as quickly as possible. This has to be reauthorized. It is absolutely essential.

I want to thank Chairman Hensarling again for his efforts throughout this. Again, it has been a long process, but we stayed at it, and I thank him for that. Obviously, I thank Mrs. Maloney and the ranking member, Ms. Waters. Also, Mr. Capuano has been a fighter on this from the start. Again, we came together.

This is a bill that, as I have said a number of times, was absolutely essential after September 11, when terrorism risk insurance could not be obtained. It even became more obvious as time went on how essential it was, how we desperately need it, and we have to preserve it.

Also, not one Federal dollar has been expended on it; yet billions of dollars in revenue, construction projects, jobs, and expansion of the economy has resulted because of it.

We are voting today, in a way, on a bill which, as Mrs. Maloney said, is going to go on for another 6 years. That gives it permanence and stability. It gives the construction industry, the real estate industry, and the people on the ground who want those construction jobs the ability to go forward. It lets municipalities know there is going to be construction going ahead in their jurisdictions. It is a plus- plus all the way.

The changes that were made, the reforms that were made, I didn't believe they had to be done, but the fact is they are done, and they are not going to change the overall impact. They are not going to have any meaningful determinative effect whatsoever.

Again, I am proud to support this bill in all its aspects. Mr. Scott from Georgia had a great concern about the insurers. I share that also. I think it is important that be in this bill. I know that was a bit of an obstacle in the Senate, but it shouldn't be. It had overwhelming support in the House. I know the great majority of the Members in the Senate support it.

Now, we pass this on suspension today, sending a strong signal how we support this bill in its entirety. From my conversations--and I think Mrs. Maloney has had the same conversations--we feel confident that the Senate is going to pass it.

When they do, it will be a victory for the American people, a victory for American business, a victory for American labor, and a victory for the American people to show that we have fought all the way back from the horrors of 9/11, and we are going to make sure that never again are we put in that position as far as the damage it can have on our economy.

I would end this by saying that when we saw the attack in Paris today, we realized what can happen with a terrorist attack, how it can happen at any moment, and why it is essential this be reauthorized.

Again, I thank the chairman for his efforts and patience over the last several years.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank the Chairman and Ranking Democrat of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. John Kline and Rep. George Miller, for their efforts to seek a bipartisan solution for the problems facing the nation's multiemployer pension plans. I am very familiar with those problems, having constituents who are both active workers and retirees who are participants in those multiemployer plans.

The legislation being advanced today will allow Plan Trustees of these troubled plans to have additional tools to maintain the solvency of the plans. Specifically, the legislation will allow trustees to better align benefit levels to available resources; it will clarify that the PBGC has the ability to assist plans well before they reach insolvency; and finally, to facilitate plan mergers. Taken together, these initiatives will assist troubled plans in avoiding insolvency.

However, I do have a concern regarding the timeline for implementation of the new legislation. Some of these troubled plans need to move on with the needed benefit adjustments, along with the authority to merger and receive financial assistance from the PBGC, sooner rather than later. I would strongly urge the Treasury Department, along with the Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, to move quickly on implementation of this legislation. For some plans, time is not on their side.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his mostly kind words.

Very seriously Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. At the outset, let me thank Chairman Hensarling; Chairman Neugebauer; Ranking Member Waters; my good friend, Mrs. Maloney from New York; and also Senator Schumer.

As the gentleman from Georgia said, this has been a long and winding road, but we have arrived at a compromise which I believe is worthy of the support of all Members of this body, certainly those of us who strongly support TRIA.

I have been a supporter of TRIA going back now 12, 13 years because after 9/11, we realized it was absolutely essential that TRIA be enacted for not just New York to be rebuilt, but also so that construction be allowed to go forward anywhere around the country where there could be a risk of a terrorist attack which is why Major League Baseball, the NFL, NASCAR, and virtually every large university in the country supports TRIA.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this is a compromise, and it is a compromise where all of us can find some fault with it, but the bottom line is the essence of TRIA has been sustained, and as we go forward, it is essential, I believe--strongly believe--that it be extended.

Let's make it clear there has not been 1 cent of Federal money expended on TRIA, but during the 13 years it has been in effect, we have had billions of dollars in construction, jobs, and revenues coming into the Federal Government. There is also not one Federal employee involved in administering TRIA.

Mr. Speaker, we are where we are, and 6 years to have that certitude is absolutely essential. I respect those on the other side who may have objections to added provisions in the bill. I would just say: let us keep our eyes on the prize. For those of us who realize how important TRIA is, we are never going to get all we want. I happen to fully support the provision for end users, but even if I didn't, I would still support this bill because it is so essential.

Mr. Speaker, let me just also say in closing that in addition to those I have mentioned, let me also acknowledge Congressman Grimm for the outstanding work that he has done on this from the day he first came to this body.

In closing, I urge all Members, both parties and both Houses, to support this bill. It is a solid piece of legislation, and all of us can be proud for voting for it.

I thank the chairman for yielding. I thank him for his effort in putting together this amendment, and, before he leaves the floor, I would like to commend my friend, Mr. Engel from New York, for the very vigorous bipartisan speech that he gave here today because this is what this issue warrants. Chairman McKeon has shown it, and I think all of us have to come together to the extent we can to support the President.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I have been critical of the President. I believe that action should have been taken earlier against ISIS, but we can have these debates. That is all in the past.

The fact is that ISIS is a real threat to the United States. As someone who comes from a district that lost over 150 people on 9/11, I never, ever want to go through that again.

I can say right now that ISIS is more powerful than al Qaeda was on 9/11. They have more financing. They have more weapons. They have more members. They have more of their fighters who have passports that will enable them to come into the United States. And we know that they are committed to destroying Western civilization, so it is essential that we take action against ISIS and take it quickly and take it emphatically.

I believe the President has the constitutional and statutory power to act, but I also think it is important for Congress to work with the President. The President has asked for this power to train moderate Syrians, and now I am not certain if that would work. I think it is going to be difficult to vet a sufficient number. It will be difficult to find them, to work with them.

Having said that, as Commander in Chief, the President is entitled, I believe. That is his prerogative, and we should stand with him on that, because if we can put together an effective fighting force on the ground, that would make our airpower all that more effective.

It is also important that we try to put together a coalition, and I believe Congress standing together as one, by

showing strong support for the President, that will encourage other countries to join with us. They will realize we are in this for real, that we are not just making empty gestures. It is important for Congress to come forward at this time.

Now, having said that, I also believe that the President should be more open with the American people and say this is going to be tough. And I believe that there are going to be boots on the ground. Now, I don't believe we have to have combat troops, per se. This is not going to be easy.

Mr. Speaker, we have to realize that no matter how well a war is planned, no matter how specific our strategy is, the fact is that there are going to be tough days ahead. This is going to be very rough. This is not going to be easy. And we have to condition the American people, prepare them for that and be honest with them.

We as Republicans, I believe, have an obligation not just to be critical, but to stand with the President if we believe overall that ISIS has to be stopped, and we have to support our Commander in Chief in doing that.

So what happened in the past is in the past. I don't want the past to be prolonged, but we can work constructively and positively and to make sure that the job gets done because too many lives are dependent on it.

I am not in this for Iraq. I am not in this for Afghanistan. Yes, that is important. I am in this for the people in the United States, people who never, ever should be attacked again, and our forces overseas who are in harm's way. That is our main obligation, and that is who I am voting for today when I vote for the chairman's amendment.

Again, I thank him for the outstanding job he has done; and since this may be my last time, to also commend him for the great job he has done as chairman over the last several years.

With that, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Foreign Terrorist Organization

List is widely recognized as a powerful tool in the fight against terrorist networks around the world. Designating a terrorist group as an ``FTO'' makes it clear that organizations that engage in terrorist activity should not be welcome in any civilized society, while the wide-ranging effects of designation can hamper a network's financing and operations. Often, when the United States adds an organization to the FTO List, they are leading the global community in taking on extremist groups willing to murder innocent civilians, and therefore, the value of a credible, potent, and reliable designation process is immense.

The Secretary of State's role in managing the FTO List in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality act is complemented by consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury. Each of these cabinet level officials plays a role in enforcing an FTO designation, and their assistance in considering potential additions to the list is absolutely vital. However, since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)--which also has responsibility for many of the enforcement tools of FTO Designations-- the role of the Secretary of Homeland Security in the FTO process has not been codified in statute.

As an example, DHS is the only Cabinet-level Department whose first three missions are the prevention of terrorism and enhancement of security; securing and managing borders; and enforcing and administering immigration laws. Each of these is a major component of the FTO List, which is designed to mitigate the terrorist threat and prevent members of designated organizations from entering the United States. Further, DHS already plays a significant role in assisting the Department of State in making FTO designations by providing information gathered by component agencies and DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis. The Immigration and Nationality Act should codify the reality of the responsibility DHS has to assist in these designations.

Additionally, DHS personnel have a large presence in foreign countries, and DHS employees interact with individuals attempting to enter the United States thousands of times each day. DHS personnel contribute to screening FTO members who attempt to enter the United States.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an office within U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is the second-largest federal investigative agency in the country. The National Security Investigation Division of HSI ``enhances national security through criminal investigations; prevents acts of terrorism by targeting people, money and materials that support terrorist and criminal activities; and identifies and eliminates vulnerabilities in the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security.'' This mission is intimately linked to the FTO list.

Many recent FTO designations have been issued for groups that have already attacked U.S. interests, U.S. citizens, or the U.S. Homeland. At the same time, many of these organizations engaged in terrorist activity and have been viewed as terrorist networks long before their inclusion in the FTO list. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan, Boko Haram, the Haqqani Network, and al Shabaab are some such examples. Yet the FTO list was intended to proactively respond to the threat of terrorism, and should be utilized as a weapon in the fight against all terrorist entities, not merely a declaration of the obvious and measure of last resort.

With this in mind, it is important to balance the diplomatic concerns of the State Department with the law enforcement concerns of the Departments of Justice and Treasury, and the security concerns of the Department of Homeland Security. Terrorist groups, and their members, should be identified as terrorists and barred from the United States according to the threat they pose. Adding the Secretary of Homeland Security to the formal designation processes in statute will help achieve that goal.

The FTO Reform Act of 2014 will strengthen the FTO process and ensure all relevant considerations are taken into account when considering potential FTO designations. Lastly, the bill enhances Congressional oversight and creates greater visibility into the impacts of these designations and how they are used.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. Throughout the past 100 years, the Congressional Research Service has been of great importance to members of Congress. It has provided insightful research analysis necessary to effectively legislate.

CRS professionals have expertise in a range of matters spanning across foreign and domestic affairs. Their reliable and efficiently prepared analyses provide all members of Congress with a deeper understanding of the important issues that challenge our country every day. As evidence of their fine work, the CRS website holds nearly 10,000 reports that are easily accessible and well organized.

I speak now with great gratitude for CRS's dedicated analysts, legislative attorneys and information professionals. I hope that the beneficial relationship between the CRS and Congress only enhances in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters) be removed as cosponsor of H.R. 4615.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of the Long Island delegation to offer our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Robert ``Bobby'' Knight, former Chief of the Sayville Fire Department of Suffolk County, New York. Congressmen Bishop, Israel, McCarthy and I had the sincere pleasure Of working with Chief Knight on important fire services issues that directly impacted the safety and wellbeing of our constituents. His tireless service to the firefighter community has been invaluable, and his counsel was always sought by lawmakers. He honorably served with the Sayville Department for 35 years. He was also a former member of the East Hampton Fire Department, 1975-1979, and the North Patchogue Fire Department, 1968-1969.

Bobby was loved by everyone who knew him. His selfless commitment to the safety and security of our state was evident in his work as the Legislative Committee Chairman for the Firemen's Association of the State of New York. He passed in the Line of Duty doing what he loved-- advocating for the needs of our first responders. I know myself and many of my delegation colleagues met with him just hours before his unexpected passing. He didn't feel well, but he was more concerned with carrying the message of the Long Island firefighters than he was for his own well being. We have lost a true advocate and friend.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 4278, the Ukraine

Support Act. One of the many important initiatives included in this legislation is language urging the President to greatly expand the list of Russian officials and others who have been sanctioned for gross human rights violations. Until this past week, only eighteen had been sanctioned. This is unacceptable. After the recent actions of the Russian Federation, we must expand this list beyond those involved in the death of the Russian anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, whose imprisonment and subsequent death was the impetus for the creation of these sanctions. I am glad to hear that the President just sanctioned 20 additional individuals, freezing their assets and barring U.S. travel. However, more must be done.

Others who deserve to be held accountable for their human rights abuses include militant anti-Westerner Dmitry Kiselyov--head of the Russian government-owned news agency and called the ``Kremlin's New Chief Propagandist'' by the Moscow Times--who was recently sanctioned by the European Union, and Maxim Martsinkevich, head of Neo-Nazi extremist group ``Occupy Pedophilia'' which has engaged in kidnapping and torture. There are others who are allies and friends of Vladimir Putin whom the Administration seems to have avoided placing on the list to avoid Russian retaliation--but it is clear a policy of appeasement has done nothing to deter Putin's government.

Last month, the State Department released its 2013 county report on human rights practices in Russia, which documented widespread human rights abuses under the Russian government. The report found that ``[t]he government continued its crackdown on dissent that began after Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency,'' seeking ``to harass, pressure, discredit, and/or prosecute individuals and entities that had voiced criticism of the government.'' It depicted a suppressive environment where ``law enforcement personnel engaged in torture, abuse, and violence to coerce confessions from suspects,'' politically motivated disappearances continued to occur, and conditions in prisons could be harsh or life-threatening. The State Department noted that Russia had adopted several laws discriminating against LGBT individuals, continued to prosecute some religious minorities, and found some authorities ``discriminated against ethnic minorities, arbitrarily detaining thousands of migrant workers amid a wave of anti- immigrant sentiment. Laws, actions, and official rhetoric restricting the rights of the LGBT community, migrants, and other minorities coincided with a marked increase in violent attacks against these groups.''

This scathing report makes clear there are more Russian individuals who belong on the sanctioned list. I strongly urge the President to hold these human rights abusers accountable for their crimes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 3370. At the outset, let me thank Congressman Grimm, Congressman LoBiondo, and Ranking Member Waters for the work that they have done in bringing together a true, bipartisan bill to this floor.

The Biggert-Waters bill was well-intended, but there were unintended consequences, and some of those consequences would be absolutely devastating to hundreds, if not thousands, of constituents in my district who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

I would just state for the record that these people are not millionaires. They complied with the law, with all the building codes, all the ordinances. They never had any flood damage in their 50, 60 years prior to this--but their homes are devastated. To add to that the incredible increase they will get in premiums for flood insurance would be even the ultimate devastation.

So this bill is absolutely essential. Ironically, it will actually decrease Federal spending over the next 5 years, but it is important that we stand together to help those in need, people who complied with the laws, hardworking, blue-collar Americans who are proud of their homes, proud of their families, and want the opportunity to get back on their feet.

They were devastated once. Let's not allow Congress to devastate them again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for full funding of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The largest source of funding for medical research in the world, the NIH has supported more than 130 Nobel Prize winners.

Medical breakthroughs funded through the NIH include new treatments for cancer and chronic conditions. Clinical trials hosted at the NIH award patients newfound hope that they will be able to overcome debilitating diseases or conditions.

While the significance of NIH funding can be measured through patients reached and treatments developed, it can also be gauged through economic impact. For every dollar of NIH funding spent in New York State, more than twice as much is generated in economic output. In 2011, NIH grants and contracts created and supported more than 33,193 jobs in the state alone and more than 500,000 jobs nationwide.

Due to budget cuts, the NIH funded approximately 700 fewer research grants in 2013 than 2012 and admitted 750 fewer patients to the NIH Clinical Center. Almost immediately, these cuts affected patients hoping to be admitted to clinical trials and research jobs at universities nationwide. In the long term, these cuts will almost certainly delay progress in medical breakthroughs.

We must not allow the significant legacy of the National Institutes of Health be diminished by the harmful effects of funding cuts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1846, to amend the Act establishing the Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site. This piece of legislation would extend the boundaries of the Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site in New York City to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum's 103 Orchard Street location. This bill would at no additional cost to taxpayers ensure the preservation of a site that embodies the struggles and resilience of immigrant families and the essence of who we are as Americans. I urge my colleagues to ensure that this important chapter in the American story will remain for future generations by supporting

Mr. Speaker, I rise to reflect on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall one year ago.

Super Storm Sandy was the second largest natural disaster in our nation's history and the second costliest. New York State alone incurred $32.8 billion in damage, $8.4 billion of which was on Long Island. 305,000 homes and 265,300 businesses in the state were damaged or destroyed. While these numbers are shocking, they don't begin to tell the story of the suffering my constituents experienced.

This devastation was exacerbated by the failure of Congress to provide immediate aid to the affected communities. The Northeast was forced to wait more than three months for a federal aid package, thereby delaying the region's recovery. Fortunately, this assistance is beginning to flow and communities are in the process of rebuilding.

While we have made progress, the road to recovery remains long and difficult. Thousands of New York and New Jersey residents are still displaced and others are living in partially repaired homes. Infrastructure throughout the region awaits repair and needs to be hardened. I am confident that with the continued commitment of state and federal partners, our communities will rebound and come out stronger than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Shetal Shah and his efforts to promote the well-being of our nation's most vulnerable population, our children.

As a neonatologist and researcher, Dr. Shah has made many meaningful contributions to the medical field, notably in the area of vaccination rates. As legislative chairman of District II of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Shah has been tireless in his advocacy efforts in pursuit of increased access to health care for children and greater funding for pediatric research. His breadth of knowledge has helped to inform policy decisions on both the state and federal level.

I offer my gratitude to Dr. Shah on behalf of myself and on behalf of those who are undoubtedly better off due to his efforts.