Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 17 high school seniors from Palm Beach County who plan to enlist into the military after graduation this spring. Their maturity and courage are a testament to their dedication to our country, and they rightfully deserve our recognition and admiration.

I am proud to represent a district that is home to such a large number of men and women in the military, veterans, and their families. I feel tremendous gratitude to those who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and to a new generation of heroes from the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. My father, Bernard Deutch, volunteered to fight in World War II as a teenager where he earned a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. It was his example of service to our nation that motivated me to serve in Congress.

Congratulations to Christopher Barnikel, Arturo Ipina Jr., Jose Pascual Tomas, Justin Grad, Adam Pendleton, Jason Marlin, Charles Green, Alexander Costello, Marc Velazquez, Sumer Boardman, Mauricio Alvarez, Trystan Anderson, Aprilday Lytal, Samuel Steinhouse, Elyzae Reina, Shereek Powell, and Rebecca Gonzalez for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 16 high school seniors from Palm Beach County who plan to enlist into the military after graduation this spring. Their maturity and courage are a testament to their dedication to our country, and they rightfully deserve our recognition and admiration.

I am proud to represent a district that is home to such a large number of men and women in the military, veterans, and their families. I feel tremendous gratitude to those who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and to a new generation of heroes from the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. My father, Bernard Deutch, volunteered to fight in World War II as a teenager where he earned a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. It was his example of service to our nation that motivated me to serve in Congress.

Congratulations to Christopher Barnikel, Arturo Ipina Jr., Jose Pascual Tomas, Justin Grad, Adam Pendleton, Jason Marlin, Charles Green, Alexander Costello, Marc Velazquez, Sumer Boardman, Mauricio Alvarez, Trystan Anderson, Aprilday Lytal, Samuel Steinhouse, Elyzae Reina, and Shereek Powell for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 11 outstanding seniors from my district that have been selected to be part of the Broward Senior Hall of Fame. Through the generous donation of their time and resources, these exemplary seniors have displayed a level of commitment to public service that can be admired by all.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County offers this annual distinction to seniors who have dedicated themselves to improving their community in South Florida. From ordinary citizens and businesspeople to public servants and advocates, they have gone above and beyond to serve both the elderly and those in need. The amount of time, money, and effort these individuals have expended for the betterment of their community is truly admirable and exhibits a level of passion worthy of recognition.

Congratulations to Margaret ``Marnie'' Allen, William Edelstein, Rose Manni, Rita Martin, Carmen Morales, Anthony C. Musto, Soutien Peng, Jackie Rosen, Joseph ``Joe'' Schwartz, Lucy Stevens, and Ilene Weisberg on their election to the 2014 Senior Hall of Fame. I hope that by honoring them in the Congressional Record that they can continue to inspire South Floridians to live by their example.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Anthony P. ``Tony'' Reardon, Deputy Director of Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. A command navigator from West Palm Beach, Florida, with 1,700 flying hours in the RF-4C, Tony Reardon has excelled both in the cockpit and at the Pentagon. I want to offer him my congratulations on his recent selection as Director of Strategy, Resources and Integration for the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs.

This recent promotion is no surprise to anyone who knows Tony. Throughout his life, he has displayed exceptional leadership and judgment. He graduated in 1977 from Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, and even then he was known for his intelligence, his loyalty, and his integrity. He was a drummer in the marching band, a pitcher for the baseball team, and a participant in the American Legion Boys State program, which encourages young people to grow into engaged and responsible citizens.

After graduating from Florida State University in 1981, Tony was selected to attend undergraduate navigator training at Mather Air Force Base in California. He quickly garnered the role of RF-4C instructor weapon systems officer in the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. Tony's talents were needed on the front lines of the cold war, and he was reassigned to Zweibrucken Air Base in Germany. Following the end of the cold war, Tony was transferred back to Bergstrom, where he continued to pass his wealth of knowledge and experience on to the next generation of weapon systems officers.

Realizing his talent for leadership, his commander transferred him to Air Combat Command Headquarters at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where he excelled in the Plans and Programs Directorate. After a successful tour, he was once again sent overseas, this time as an air liaison officer at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. Later, he was assigned to Pacific Air Forces Headquarters, returning to the Plans and Programs Directorate at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. After 3 years in Hawaii, he began numerous assignments at Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon.

As Deputy Director of Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of

the Air Force, Tony has supported Air Force leadership by engaging Congress on programs and weapon systems authorizations, constituent inquiries, and other congressional interests. Among some of his more notable accomplishments during his tenure as Deputy Director, Tony prepared the Air Force team for confirmation hearings for the Air Force Secretary, Under Secretary, Chief of Staff, and the Vice Chief of Staff, all in an unprecedented 2-year time frame. He also supported more than 1,500 Air Force senior leader visits to the Hill as well as over 1,000 wing commander Hill visits, more than 450 congressional delegation and congressional staff trips, over 200 congressional hearings, and countless other Air Force Hill engagements.

Today, I would like to wish Mr. Anthony P. ``Tony'' Reardon good luck and Godspeed in his next assignment as the Director of Strategy, Resources and Integration for the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs. We know that this next chapter of his distinguished career will be one of even more success.

On behalf of the Congress and of the United States of America, I thank Tony; his wife, Dee; and their children, Maggie and Trip, for their patriotism, commitment to country, and service to Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mitchell Libman of Hollywood, Florida, who for more than five decades worked to ensure a dear friend received the recognition he deserved for his heroism and sacrifice during the Korean War.

In 1951, Mr. Libman learned that his childhood friend, Private First Class Leonard Kravitz, lost his life during combat and received the Distinguished Service Cross for his service. After hearing about Private Kravitz's heroics from some of the soldiers who fought by his side in Korea, he was inspired to dig deeper into the circumstances of his death.

Mr. Libman found that his friend's service was indeed extraordinary. During an ambush of Communist forces, Private First Class Leonard Kravitz sacrificed his own life when he took over a machine gun so that his platoon could retreat to safety. It became clear that Private Kravitz's heroism qualified him for the Medal of Honor and yet he never received one. During his years of research, Mr. Libman began to suspect that Private Kravitz could have been bypassed for the Medal of Honor due to possible prejudice in the military against his Jewish heritage. He decided to take the issue to Washington.

As a result of Mr. Libman's heartfelt advocacy, Congress passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2002 requiring the Pentagon to undergo a review and determine if Jewish and Hispanic Americans serving in our Armed Forces could have been overlooked for the Medal of Honor due to bias in the military.

The Pentagon's review did more than confirm that Private First Class Leonard Kravitz indeed fit the criteria for the Medal of Honor. It also revealed 23 additional cases of soldiers who went above and beyond the call of duty and yet never received the Medal of Honor for their extraordinary service. Last fall, I was pleased to pass H.R. 3304, an amended version of the National Defense Authorization Act ensuring that every soldier discovered during this review to be worthy of the Medal of Honor would finally be recognized.

On March 18, 2014, Mr. Libman's decades of work culminated in President Barack Obama awarding all 24 soldiers with the Medal of Honor. Seeing the President finally issue these long overdue awards should remind us all of the power every American citizen has to make a difference, and I am profoundly grateful for Mitchell Libman's years of determination and love of country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Autism Awareness Month, a special opportunity to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism and to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Autism is a developmental disorder that by some estimates affects 1 in 88 children age 8. These rates mark dramatic increases from just decades ago, and I believe it is vital that more research be done to investigate the causes of autism and to determine prevention tactics, as well as treatments and possible cures for people already afflicted. As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Autism Research and Education, I have long supported increased funding for medical research to combat this unfortunate condition.

I would also like to recognize Rising Tide, which will celebrate its first anniversary on April 1. Rising Tide embodies the spirit of National Autism Awareness Month. Founded by John D'Eri and his son Thomas to create a supportive environment for Thomas' autistic brother Andrew, Rising Tide is a carwash that employs forty-three men and women with autism. The mission of this company is to empower autistic individuals and inspire communities to redefine their perception of the capabilities that people with autism have. Rising Tide is the largest single store retail employer of individuals with autism in the United States.

I am proud to recognize National Autism Awareness Month and the hard work that advocacy groups are doing in communities across the country to increase autism awareness in our community and make the world a better place for individuals with this diversity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Private First Class Leonard Kravitz, who gave his life during the Korean War in an extraordinary act of heroism and posthumously received the Medal of Honor on March 18, 2014. PFC Leonard Kravitz fought valiantly to protect our country and rightfully deserves our recognition and admiration.

I am proud to represent a district that is home to such a large number of veterans, and I feel tremendous gratitude to the heroes of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and to the new generation of veterans from the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. My father, Bernard Deutch, volunteered to fight in World War II as a teenager where he earned a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. It was his example of service to our nation that motivated me to serve in Congress.

PFC Leonard Kravitz sacrificed himself for his platoon when he took over a machine gun, fired into an ambush of Communist forces, and stayed behind so that his fellow soldiers could withdraw safely. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for his sacrifice. PFC Leonard Kravitz was also recommended for the Medal of Honor, but he never received it due to widespread prejudice in the military against Jewish and other minority servicemembers. His childhood friend, Mitch Libman, a resident of South Florida, worked tirelessly for decades to ensure that the courageous sacrifice of his dear friend would not go unnoticed. This heartfelt act of advocacy led to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2002 and H.R. 3304, a bill that I introduced, which ensures the recognition of all soldiers who never received the Medals of Honor they deserved.

In this era of partisan vitriol and gridlock in Washington, our leaders can always look to veterans as an example of how individuals from all walks of life can put their differences aside in order to accomplish great things. PFC Leonard Kravitz has finally been recognized as the hero he is, and his friend Mitch Libman reminds us of the duty we all have to ensure that no soldier becomes a forgotten hero. I urge every citizen of this great country to live by their examples.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the 26th anniversary of Young Israel of Boca Raton, Florida synagogue. I would like to recognize them for their service to the Jewish community of South Florida and the local community as a whole.

Founded in 1988, Young Israel of Boca Raton has served as a center of Jewish identity and education for the South Palm Beach County community. I want to particularly acknowledge Rabbi Mayer and Henna Englander and Yaakov (Jay) and Dr. Jorie Lyons, the special honorees during the anniversary celebration, for their dedication to the synagogue and its emphasis on prayer, study, and community service.

I would like to congratulate Young Israel of Boca Raton synagogue, an extraordinary Jewish community of South Florida, on their 26th anniversary. Through their example, Young Israel's philosophy and spiritual guidance can extend far beyond South Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 488, supporting the Democratic aspirations of the people of Venezuela.

I would like to thank my friend, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, for her leadership and for always fighting for democratic principles. I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working to bring this resolution to the floor.

I strongly condemn the violence used by the Maduro regime: 17 dead and 261 injured in the recent protest. Peaceful assembly should never be met with the use of deadly force. This government has resorted to political intimidation and free media censorship to squash the voices of the people.

I join my colleagues today in support of the people of Venezuela to determine their own political future. It is their democratic right to seek government policies that put their country on a path to democratic and economic prosperity for all Venezuelans.

By passing this resolution, Congress will send a clear message to the people of Venezuela--and to all those around the world struggling to achieve true democracy and freedom--that we stand with you. We support your most democratic rights of free expression and peaceful assembly. Any true democracy must be accountable to its people. We call on the Maduro government to work with the people, not against them, to end the violence, and to find a political resolution.

This resolution, Mr. Speaker, makes clear to the Venezuelan people and to the Maduro regime that the United States stands for freedom and democracy, and that the human rights of the Venezuelan people matter to the American people, and they must be defended. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is the product of a real bipartisan commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship.

I would like to thank Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel for making this bill a priority of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and ensuring its consideration on the floor here today.

I would especially like to thank and recognize my colleague, my friend, my fellow Floridian, chairman emeritus of the full committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for her leadership on this legislation, but not just for that, for her ongoing commitment to the strength of the U.S.- Israel relationship and for standing up, as she always does, in support of people in need in every part of the world. We are so grateful for your work.

The U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act aims to strengthen the ties that bind our two nations and enhance cooperation in multiple ways. The legislation reflects the simple truth--a very simple truth that the U.S. relationship with Israel is bound not only by mutual interests, but it is bound by deeply shared values.

Indeed, the provisions of this bill, H.R. 938, mirror the broad cooperation between the United States and Israel when it comes not only to security, but to trade, research, energy, and so much more.

This bill is, of course, crafted with the heightened security risks that Israel faces every day--with those heightened security risks in mind. The Middle East region is as volatile as ever, and the world must know that our commitment to Israel's security has never been stronger than it is at this moment.

From the threat of daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups that send rockets at Israel citizens indiscriminately, to the risk of spillover from the Syrian conflict, the growing humanitarian crisis there, and to the existential threat of a nuclear- armed Iran, Israel faces an array of very complex security challenges.

Recognizing these threats, the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act includes measures to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge in a tough and all too often hostile neighborhood.

H.R. 938 extends authority for the United States to expand our own forward-deployed weapons stockpile in Israel. This stockpile is critical to maintaining U.S. military readiness in the region and ensuring that our Armed Forces have access to the equipment they need to defend our interests at a moment's notice.

This legislation also reaffirms Congress' support for Israel's right to self-defense by authorizing continued cooperation between the United States and the state of Israel on innovative missile defense programs, like the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David's Sling.

These systems have proven remarkably successful at intercepting rockets and protecting the safety of the Israeli people.

Yet, even as this bill advances the security of Israel, it ultimately serves as a reminder to the world and as a reminder to America of the depth of the United States-Israel relationship. H.R. 938 highlights Israel's enormous contributions to water and irrigation, agriculture, homeland security, and cybersecurity by authorizing further cooperation with the United States in these fields. It significantly expands the breadth of U.S.-Israel cooperation on energy and alternative energy forms, and I would like to thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman for their work on this critical language. The bill also strengthens our trade ties to Israel by initiating a process to include Israel in export license exemptions programs and, lastly, by affirming Congress' support for Israel's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.

Despite facing enormous security challenges, our ally Israel has thrived as an open and free society with a vibrant economy, a strong democracy and as a global innovator in agriculture, energy, and countless other fields. The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act reflects our bipartisan commitment to a safe, to a secure, and to a thriving Jewish State of Israel.

I am deeply moved by the tremendous support for Israel in this Congress, with more than half of its membership signed onto this bill. But why should this be a surprise? The security of the State of Israel is important to our national security. A thriving economy in the State of Israel, with investments made by so many American companies, is important to our own economy. Most importantly, having an ally that shares our values, our commitment to democracy and to the rule of law is something of which the value cannot even be measured.

I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation and to send the world a message that our bond with Israel will remain unshakable.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Approximately 30 million Americans battle eating disorders at some point in their lives. Eating disorders affect both women and men and span nearly every socioeconomic and racial demographic.

Yet, due to widespread stigma, those who struggle often struggle alone. Eating disorders are the most deadly form of mental illness. Between 10 and 20 percent of those suffering from anorexia do not survive their disease.

Indeed anorexia, binge eating, bulimia, and other eating disorders often lead to serious medical complications, including organ failure and heart disease.

Despite this grave threat to public health, our research, prevention, and treatment efforts remain shamefully underfunded.

This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I urge my colleagues to take action and to join me, cosponsor H.R. 2101, the Federal Response to Eliminating Eating Disorders Act. We can and we must do better.

I thank my friend for yielding.

Madam Speaker, last week, the President called on Congress to embark on a year of action--one in which we all work together to put opportunity and financial security within the grasp of America's families.

Just a few days later, the Senate took bipartisan action to protect thousands of homeowners in my home State of Florida and across the country from massive premium hikes on their flood insurance. These hikes are breaking the backs of America's families. They are bringing down home values at a time when our housing market is just starting to pick up again.

There is no question that the financial health of the thousands of families who could lose their homes as a result of these premium rate increases has to be an urgent priority of this House. Rather than gutting environmental protections, let's focus on the concerns of real homeowners. Let's pass the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act so that FEMA can reform the flood insurance program and protect America's families at the same time.

It is urgent that we move forward. I thank the gentleman for making this an urgent priority. The way to do this is to proceed with this today.

Mr. Speaker, it is cold outside, and for too many Americans who have been unemployed for too long because this Congress has failed to act, it is now a little bit harder for those Americans who are actively seeking work to get the emergency unemployment benefits that they need so that they can keep their homes warm for them and their families as they continue to seek employment.

For the 1.3 million Americans that we left behind by failing to extend emergency unemployment benefits before we left, this is the week when the check stops. This is the week when it becomes more difficult for them to keep a roof over their heads, to keep a warm environment for their families as they continue to seek employment.

Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to move forward and make sure that those benefits are continued. It is the right thing to do. It is time for this Congress to act.

Mr. Speaker, the list of issues that the 113th Congress has failed to address is long: immigration reform, gun violence, long- term joblessness. Yet on this list of opportunities squandered by Republican obstructionism and indifference is also the threat of global climate change. As a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, I want to emphasize that this threat is real, and it needs real solutions.

In south Florida, we know that unchecked carbon pollution poses an existential threat to our communities. Rising sea levels endanger the safety of our residents and the viability of our economy. That is why Palm Beach, Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Broward Counties have formed a climate compact dedicated to mitigating climate change.

Local task forces cannot replace national leadership. We need a nationwide effort to limit carbon pollution, speed the adoption of clean energy, and protect our people from unprecedented natural disasters.

Every Member of this House belongs on the Safe Climate Caucus. Don't we all agree that, as Americans, it is our responsibility to pass on a healthier and safer environment to the next generation?

Mr. Speaker, addressing global climate change will take courage. Anything less, I am afraid, is cowardice.

Mr. Speaker, Speaker Boehner says that the Hastert rule demands that he only allow votes on bills that are supported by a majority of his own party instead of a majority of the whole House.

Last weekend, a constituent asked me where the Hastert rule came from. I did a little research. It doesn't exist. Not a single page of this book--the House manual of rules and procedures--contains the Hastert rule. That is because bills in the House need votes from a majority of all Members, not by a majority of any party.

The Speaker, himself, knows that the Hastert rule is no rule at all. That is why, whenever extremists bring us to the brink of default or insist on a costly government shutdown, the Speaker brushes it aside and relies on support from reasonable Republicans and Democrats.

The Hastert rule is only used to prevent votes Americans actually want. They want us to pass reasonable gun laws, to pass ENDA, to protect LGBT Americans from discrimination. They want us to pass commonsense immigration reform, and they want us to pass a minimum-wage increase.

This week, the GOP reminded us that it has no agenda. Don't use the nonexistent Hastert rule to block the agenda of the American people.