Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 17 members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School community in Parkland, Florida, and do so in the presence of some of their classmates:

Alyssa, Chris, Meadow, Scott, Luke, Helena, Martin, Cara, Alex, Nicholas, Gina, Carmen, Aaron, Joaquin, Peter, Jaime, and Alaina.

On February 14, 2018, they were killed in yet another senseless act of gun violence.

As we bow in silence, I ask that we remember those we lost, I ask that we lift up the families who are grieving, and I ask that we offer prayers of healing for those who were injured and prayers of peace for the 3,300 survivors.

I ask that our quiet contemplation stir courage within the Members of this body--the courage to take action to ensure the freedom of our students, the freedom to learn without fear, and to take action to secure the freedom of all Americans to live in communities without gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, opioids are prescribed to reduce acute pain and are used as anesthesia during surgery. But, as we are all too aware, they have a high potential for abuse. Approximately 2.4 million Americans are currently battling an opioid-use disorder.

In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died from an opioid-related overdose. In 2016, this number jumped to over 42,000. These tragic numbers show a worsening epidemic, which has been declared a national public health emergency.

Mr. Speaker, this epidemic significantly impacts our nation's youth, with the rate of nonmedical use of opioids by adolescents and teens doubling from 1991 to 2012. The rate of teen drug overdose deaths skyrocketed 19 percent from 2014 to 2015, with 772 drug overdose deaths reported nationwide for teens aged 15 to 19.

Students throughout Palm Beach County, Florida have responded to this emergency in an effort to save lives by raising community awareness of the epidemic and by reaching out to elected officials to urge them to action.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these students and the work they have done to address this national public health emergency.

Mr. Speaker, last year, American culture experienced a moment of reckoning. It doesn't matter what political party; it doesn't matter what industry; it doesn't matter when or where: sexual harassment and sexual violence are unacceptable.

America has been willfully blind to abuses of power for far too long. The bravery of survivors of sexual assault and harassment has changed that, has changed our country, and it is time for Congress to follow their lead.

I am grateful to introduce this bill with my colleagues: House Administration Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady; my counterpart on the House Ethics Committee, Chairwoman Susan Brooks; all of whom worked so hard to develop these reforms.

I am going to thank Representative Byrne for his commitment to this effort, sharing his experience. And my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, deserves particular appreciation and acknowledgment for her strong leadership not just in crafting this bill, but throughout her career in standing up for the rights of women; but, in this case, for crafting a bill that will produce lasting change for the United States Congress.

This bill will allow survivors to speak out, ensure that legal resources are available to them, and offer justice without fear of retribution. This bill will not only strengthen our out-of-date workplace protections, but it will send an important message to the entire country that Members of Congress will be held accountable.

Also with this legislation, the Office of Compliance must provide the House Ethics Committee with all of the information required for the transparent pursuit of full accountability.

It is time to end protections for powerful abusers and to empower survivors. Each survivor must be heard, allegations must be taken seriously, and abusers and harassers must be held accountable.

Every congressional employee and every American deserves an equal chance at success in their careers, free from sexual harassment and free from retaliation for defending themselves and asserting their rights.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to do the work necessary to change our culture. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill and ensure that Congress does its part in that important work.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania, and I greatly appreciate the chairman for his unanimous consent request.

I want to thank Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for her tremendous leadership in helping advance H.R. 2646, the United States Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act. This bill is important because our partnership with Jordan is important, and I want to quickly explain why my constituents back home believe that this is important.

Those good-news headlines that we have read about, U.S. military success against ISIS, are, in part, thanks to Jordan. Jordan is a key partner in the international coalition to defeat ISIS and has fought airstrikes right alongside us. Just last week, the U.S. finished delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to Amman that are used to take terrorists off the battlefield, helping to keep both our nations safer.

The bill before us today ensures that Jordan continues to get this critical military assistance, but it does more than that. It also ensures that Jordan gets the economic support it needs to care for over 1 million Syrian refugees now living in Jordan as a result of the war next door. This influx has taken a huge toll on Jordan's resources.

Today, we are helping ease that burden with emergency services, education, and access to clean water. In fact, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and I had an opportunity just a few years ago to see firsthand a USAID project: a wastewater treatment facility that, today, is providing access to clean water for millions of Jordanians.

This is the right thing to do both for America's strategic interests and for American values. Jordan's stability is vital to regional stability. Our commitment to an enduring strategic partnership with Jordan is critical to our mission of defeating ISIS, caring for the victims of war, and pursuing end-of-conflict agreements throughout the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this piece of legislation, and I urge all of us to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 2646.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from the Philadelphia area who has introduced this important piece of legislation with Mr. Fitzpatrick, another fine Representative from the Philadelphia sports- loving area, which gives me the opportunity on the House floor to claim my Pennsylvania roots and to congratulate the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the U.S.-Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act introduced by Mr. Boyle and Mr. Fitzpatrick. I thank Chairman Royce for his ongoing leadership on this issue.

The director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, said last week that he has every expectation that Russia will again try to meddle in our elections. That should concern us. It should also concern us that the President has decided to ignore Congress and not impose sanctions against Russia.

But Russia's attacks on the United States follow a playbook that they have used in their own region, most recently against Ukraine.

In addition to rampant disinformation campaigns and political interference, Russia has launched numerous cyber attacks against Ukraine, including knocking out large swaths of its electrical grid in massive attacks. Those capabilities could one day be used against us here at home.

That is why the U.S.-Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act is so important. The United States has an interest both in defending Ukraine from Russian aggression and in securing our own defenses. Helping Ukraine actually teaches us best practices for hardening our own defenses against potential Russian attacks on our critical infrastructure.

That is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1997, the U.S.- Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great Floridian, Irwin Stovroff, who passed away peacefully this week at the age of 95.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Irwin served in World War II as the 2nd Lieutenant in the 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group. He was captured by the Germans as a Jewish prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1 and later received the Purple Heart for his courageous service.

Mr. Stovroff's dedication to veterans was the focus of his life. He founded Vets Helping Heroes, a nonprofit group to help veterans in need of service dogs, and it is through his efforts that the NDAA of 2010 included language from the Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act. Mr. Stovroff also volunteered as a National Service Officer for ex-POWs at the Palm Beach VA hospital. His selfless service to others embodied the commitment to national service that distinguishes the Greatest Generation.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to have known Irwin. He and his dog Cash were frequent and welcome visitors to my office, when Irwin and I would discuss ways our community could better serve our veterans.

Mr. Stovroff was an American hero. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Doris, the rest of Irwin's family, his many dear friends, and all those who were touched by his kindness, compassion and dedication to our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Stovroff's life and the lives of all veterans. Our nation is better because of Mr. Stovroff's service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the important work done by the Rotary Club of Boca Raton and to congratulate the recipients of their Outstanding People and Leaders (OPAL) awards. This year's honorees are Billi and Bernie Marcus, Jerry and Joan Glassman, Frank and Laura Frione, Summer Faerman, and Reverend Bill Mitchell.

Each of these honorees have made a lasting impact on our South Florida community. Their philanthropy, service, and selfless sacrifices have touched countless lives.

I extend my most sincere congratulations to all of tonight's honorees. Looking ahead in this new year, I am confident that the Rotary Club of Boca Raton will continue to be a cherished institution in South Florida that betters our community. I greatly appreciate the Club's work and am pleased to honor their OPAL award honorees.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Patrick McMullen for his service to the Committee on Ethics. Patrick has been a dedicated public servant, and has worked hard to ensure that all House Members, officers, and staff meet the highest ethical standards.

During his tenure with the Committee's investigations team, the Committee has conducted more than 225 investigations. As Director of Investigations, he has helped the Committee assemble and has overseen a terrific team of nonpartisan attorneys and professional staff who make this possible.

Patrick's commitment to conducting fair, thorough, and nonpartisan investigations and leading the investigations team with these principles has been an asset to the Committee and its Members as they carry out the Committee's important service to the House and the public.

On behalf of a grateful Committee, we thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his transition to the next phase of his career.

Mr. Speaker, in the past couple of weeks, tens of thousands of Iranian citizens from a broad cross-section of society took to the streets to demand accountability and change in their country. This was the largest mass protest since the Green Revolution in 2009.

Tragically, both ended in the same predictable darkness: harsh government crackdowns in which innocent peaceful protesters were arrested, were jailed, and were killed.

In the latest episode, more than 3,700 Iranian protesters were arrested and nearly two dozen were killed. The Iranian people deserve better and they deserve the support of all peoples who value and yearn for freedom.

Today's resolution sends an important message to the Iranian people, that we stand with them in their legitimate pursuit of reforms from a regime that would silence their voices and steal their fundamental liberties.

I also believe we should do more. I am proud to have introduced with Chairman McCaul, along with support of Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act that goes one step further than condemnation to actually impose sanctions against those Iranian officials perpetrating these egregious human rights violations, as well as those responsible for kidnapping Americans, Americans like my own constituent, Bob Levinson, who has now spent more than 10 years in captivity.

Last week, we welcomed in a new year, and Bob's family again ushered in that new year without Bob by their side. For his sake and for the sake of the Iranian people trying to hold their own regime accountable for caring more about Assad and Hamas than they do about helping their own citizens, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 676 to help bring the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to the floor, and let's make sure that human rights remain exactly where they should in American foreign policy, right at the center of our agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost 5 years to the day that 20 6- and 7- year-old babies were slaughtered in Newtown. It has been about a year- and-a-half since 49 people were killed in my home State of Florida, 58 more being injured. In October, 59 people were killed and 500 injured at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. And in November, 26 people were killed and injured as they worshiped in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The response to all of this tragedy is a bill to make it easier for people to carry concealed weapons in every corner of this country.

I don't know whose idea--other than the gun corporations, I don't know whose idea it was that this would be the way that we honor the memories of those who have been killed, that instead of commonsense gun safety legislation that the overwhelming majority of people in this country support, we get a bill to make it possible to carry concealed weapons in every State, in every corner of this country.

When my friends on the other side say this doesn't override any laws, that is absolutely untrue. In States that have State laws that govern where you can and can't carry a gun, this bill overrides that and says you can bring any gun into the State, whatever your regulations are about what you can carry.

This is a bill that doesn't make us safer. It doesn't make us stronger. But make no mistake, it makes the bottom line, the profits of the gun makers in this country, a little bit healthier.

As we enter the Christmas season and we think about the 20 6- and 7- year-old kids whose lives were taken 5 years ago today, whose parents, whose families suffer every day with that loss, whose kids aren't there to receive Christmas presents, I ask my friends on the other side: Why is it that we respond to that by giving this enormous Christmas gift to the NRA?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, my friend, the ranking member, for yielding.

I rise in support of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act.

Mr. Speaker, the pursuit of a negotiated two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a commitment to peace, but it is impossible for the Palestinian Authority to demonstrate that commitment to peace while paying terrorists for attacks on innocent civilians. But that is the reality today, and that is what this bill seeks to end.

Under current Palestinian law, the PA pays salaries to terrorists and their families more money for worse crimes, typically well exceeding the mean salary for Palestinian workers. If a terrorist is sentenced to life in prison for a horrific attack that kills Israeli citizens, he will get a four-times higher monthly salary than if he had been sentenced to only a couple of years in prison for a lesser attack. This is blatant incentive to terrorism; the same type of terrorism that we have seen tear through buses, shopping malls, nightclubs, and places of worship around the world.

In March of last year, during a surge of deadly stabbings, shootings, and car rammings in Israel, we saw the consequences of this incitement and incentive to terror.

Taylor Force, a 28-year-old American tourist, a West Point graduate and then-Vanderbilt graduate student, who

had fought in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was stabbed to death on a promenade in Jaffa by a young Palestinian terrorist.

Taylor, by all accounts, was loved and humble. He enjoyed playing the guitar. He was an Eagle Scout and an Army veteran. His father described him as an all-American kid who made sure that everyone around him felt good. A friend of his in Nashville said simply: He made people better.

But rather than unambiguously condemn this attack against innocent civilians, as any responsible government would do, the PA instead has rewarded these types of attacks by paying more than $1 billion to convicted terrorists over the past decade.

It is the job of the Palestinian Authority, like any responsible government, to deliver services to its people, including welfare to those who need it most, like a grieving widow who suddenly has to take care of her family without the breadwinner. But this is not welfare.

The current law essentially tells Palestinians: If you tragically die in a car accident, your family gets nothing; but if you die driving your car into a group of Israeli civilians, your family will be taken care of for life.

That is not welfare. That is incentive to terror. It is pay for slay, and it must end.

I am proud of the bipartisan manner in which today's bill was crafted, and it is carefully written in a way that targets only those funds that directly benefit the Palestinian Authority, thereby creating real incentives for the PA to end this practice without damaging the vital U.S. investments in humanitarian assistance and grassroots people-to-people programs that are essential to achieving our overall objective of peace.

Taylor Force served our country to advance and protect peace. His life was taken by terrorists seeking to undermine peace.

It is our duty to call on the PA to end this indefensible practice of rewarding terror and to demonstrate a real commitment to peace, a peace where Israel can live safely and securely as a Jewish and democratic state next to a Palestinian state that does not seek its destruction.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors Taylor Force's name and memory by stopping an abhorrent practice. In his name, and in the name of peace, the PA must end these payments to terrorists, and I urge my colleagues to support this effort to make them stop.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican tax plan that provides massive, permanent tax cuts to the largest corporations and tax increases for millions of middle class Americans is bad tax policy.

Let's be honest about what it does. This $1.5 trillion tax cut will trigger cuts to domestic programs in the amount of $150 billion every year, including $25 billion in cuts to Medicare, with 55 million Americans who rely on it being put at risk if this bill becomes law.

Mr. Speaker, it is bad enough that this tax policy favors the largest corporations over middle class Americans, but to effect these kinds of massive cuts by tricking the American people in order to try to do it is shameful.

We have to defeat this bill, prevent these massive cuts, and protect the 55 million Americans on Medicare from a $25 billion cut.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lipinski, for yielding and for his thoughtful and passionate leadership in combating climate change, and thanks to the strong bipartisan cross section of Members who have come to the floor tonight to talk about the importance of tackling climate change.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues, all of them, to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. I started this caucus with my fellow Floridian, Congressman Carlos Curbelo, to start a new dialogue around climate and Congress because we are already facing difficult challenges. We can't ignore it. We can't bury it in political fights. We need to have an open discussion not only for our future, but for the impact of climate change that we are facing today.

It is no coincidence that this project started with two Members from south Florida. A 2015 study projected that some south Florida cities could be underwater within this century. The study's author said some cities appear already to be lost.

Climate change is already here for Floridians. The effects have hit Florida first.

Scientists have warned of warming average global temperatures and the changing climate for decades. Dr. Andrew Clarke of the British Antarctic Survey has spent 40 years at the bottom of the planet watching it disappear. Dr. Clarke said: ``You can see the entire environment changing in front of your eyes.''

We now have climate change right before our eyes in south Florida. We see the rate of sea level rise outpace the global rate tenfold. We see the high-water mark jump 1 inch every

year. Just this week, we see the tides flooding our neighborhoods.

The limestone that serves as the foundation of our State is porous. Saltwater pushes up through the limestone from below the surface.

Lower bridge heights will block boats from reaching open waters. With 165 miles of canals, Fort Lauderdale faces significant threats of rising seas. Who in south Florida hasn't driven around their neighborhood and noticed more puddles, more water accumulating on the sidewalks and streets?

While many Americans might be able to ignore climate change, ignore the science, based on their own personal experience and your own personal experience at home, we can't. Looking out our windows, we see what is already there.

By the year 2100, almost 300 U.S. cities would lose at least half of their homes, and 36 American cities could be completely destroyed. One in eight Florida homes could be underwater. Those Florida homes represent half of the total expected loss in housing value caused by climate change over the next 84 years. These aren't risks of a distant future. These are the burdens we are placing on our children and on our grandchildren.

In response, and through the work of the South Florida Climate Compact, Miami Beach has initiated a sea level rise plan to lift roads, build up seawalls, and install pumps to clear water in the streets. Fort Lauderdale is fixing roads and drains and sending vacuum trucks into the streets to prevent saltwater damage, upgrading building codes and flood elevation requirements, and requiring higher seawalls.

In Florida, you can't put climate change out of sight or out of mind, but it is not just hitting Florida and it is not just the sea level rise or increasing temperatures.

The National Climate Assessment has documented regional climate impacts hitting every area of the United States:

In the Northeast and Midwest, dramatic increases in heavy precipitation events overwhelm drains and levies, causing flooding and accelerating erosion;

In the Great Plains and Southwest, drought and wildfires strain demands for scarce water resources;

In Alaska, receding sea ice and melting glaciers are damaging infrastructure;

On the coasts, increases in carbon dioxide and warming seas lead to coral bleaching and ocean acidification that is taking its toll on fisheries and the ecosystems.

The diverse and interconnected impacts that we already see throughout our country explain why we already have 60 Members who belong to this new dialogue, the Climate Solutions Caucus, 30 Democrats and 30 Republicans committed to changing the conversation and pushing solutions that will create more resilient communities.

We are committed to understanding the impacts of climate change, the impact on our national security; to investing in clean, innovative energy protection; to protecting our public health; and to overcoming the political obstacles that hold up public policy solutions.

It is time for Congress to come together and admit the challenges that our constituents are already facing at home. It is time to build consensus.

Through the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, we have brought together Members from regions in every part of the country who are experiencing their own climate change challenges. I invite every Member of the House of Representatives to join us. Lift up the voices of your constituents, your farmers, your city officials, your developers, doctors, scientists, and, most importantly, the families whom you represent.

If you are watching at home, call your Member of Congress and urge them to join the Climate Solutions Caucus and help us start the difficult work of building truly bipartisan consensus that will help us tackle climate change together and help us create resilient American communities of the future.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, Mr. Lipinski, again for organizing tonight's discussion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David Donzella on the occasion of his retirement as Fire Chief for the city of Lighthouse Point, Florida.

Chief Donzella was born in Tarrytown, NY as the grandson of Italian immigrants. He began his fire service career after graduating in 1976 from McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida David was hired as a Firefighter Paramedic with the City of Pembroke Pines Fire Department and ascended through the Department to achieve the rank of Battalion Chief, later being promoted to Division Chief of Rescue Operations.

After Hurricane Andrew, David was instrumental in promoting changes to the fire service in the City of Pembroke Pines. One highlight of his career was securing the coveted ISO Class 1 rating for the Department, making it the first Department in Broward County and the 44th in the nation at the time to obtain that rating.

David retired from the Pembroke Pines Fire Department in 2004, but chose to join the Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue Department in 2006, where he has served as Chief since 2007.

Chief Donzella has also served as President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County and Chair of the ``First There, First Care EMS Conference'' which over the years has grown to be the largest EMS conference in the State of Florida. He has secured numerous grants for both fire and EMS personnel to better serve their communities.

His community service also includes involvement with the Davie Kiwanis Club, Leadership Broward, and the Pompano Beach Exchange Club Most recently, David received the Shining Star Award from the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce in honor of his community involvement throughout the years.

I join Broward County in offering my sincere thanks and appreciation to Chief Donzella for his years of service and contributions to the South Florida community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors, Florida for being named by the Human Rights Campaign as top cities fostering LGBTQ equality and inclusivity.

Each of these cities received an exceptional score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's sixth annual Municipal Equality Index. Fort Lauderdale received 87 out of 100 points, Oakland Park received 99, and Wilton Manors received a perfect 100. These three cities are among just 86 nationwide with top scores from states without comprehensive nondiscrimination laws.

These cities showcase South Florida's long and meaningful history of LGBTQ civic engagement and support for equality. Each year, more and more municipalities are recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for their growing efforts to ensure LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law, policy, and services. I encourage all cities in South Florida to follow the examples set by Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors in making theirs a city where LGBTQ individuals thrive.

As a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and as an original sponsor of the Equality Act, I am especially honored to represent these cities in the U.S. House of Representatives. Again, congratulations to Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors.