Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, 11 days ago, the Bush administration came to Congress with a $700 billion emergency ``handout plan'' for its friends on Wall Street. The Bush plan had zero accountability and allowed Wall Street executives to push their bad investments and losses on to American taxpayers. Then, after the American people cleaned up the mess and we righted the ship, the Bush plan would allow these same Wall Street executives to once again make obscene incomes and bonuses. A return to business as usual.

Madam Speaker, the good news today is that the bipartisan legislation negotiated with the Bush Administration coming before Congress holds Wall Street accountable. It provides for independent oversight and transparency. It protects taxpayers by requiring the Administration to report back on the program's progress and allows for corrections to be made if the program does not work. It eliminates excessive executive compensation and ensures that every tax dollar spent to purchase illiquid assets is an equity investment that gives taxpayers an upside. Once we are through this crisis, the legislation ensures that any taxpayer losses are repaid by the industry.

The events over the past weeks have shown that Main Street has rightfully lost confidence in Wall Street because this Administration has eliminated safeguards and turned regulatory oversight over to the industry. I want Americans to know that this legislation is not a silver bullet, and that by itself will not fix the economy. We still have tough times ahead. I can tell you as an entrepreneur and businessman for almost thirty years that our economy is on the brink and inaction is not an option. A vote for this legislation is a vote to protect every American's investment in their homes, their savings, and their businesses. I call on all my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, beginning November 1st, 2008 Charlotte County will begin a Veterans Appreciation Celebration leading up to Veterans Day. This celebration will honor the Veterans in our area who have bravely served our country. It is my honor to recognize and thank the Veterans who made this day possible and the community leaders who helped to put this wonderful celebration together. Events included in this 18-day celebration are:

A Homeless Stand Down on November 1st, 2008, being hosted by the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition and the Charlotte County Veterans Service Office. The stand down will attempt to increase the community's awareness of homeless veterans and bring a variety of social service providers together to help these veterans. During the stand down, showers, haircuts, food and clothing will be provided for homeless veterans, as well as medical and counseling services.

A Purple Heart Memorial Dedication Ceremony to honor all branches of service on Tamiami Trail and Cochran Blvd in Port Charlotte, Florida. This ceremony will take place on November 2nd, 2008.

A Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Veterans Day Celebrations throughout the community on November 11th, 2008.

An Army/Navy youth football game at Franz Ross Park on November 16th, 2008.

A Veterans Appreciation Dinner hosted by the Disabled American Veterans on November 17th, 2008 in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Without the service of our great Veterans, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we do today. On behalf of Florida's 16th Congressional District, I applaud Charlotte County in their efforts to honor these men and women who so bravely served our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a resolution introduced by my colleagues Reps. Frank Pallone and Ralph Hall that will create National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. This day will raise awareness and encourage all of us to do more to prevent elder falls.

More than one-third of adults 65 and older fall every year. And almost 2 million of them end up in the emergency room as a result. Falling is also the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those 65 and over.

In fact, according to the National Falls Free Coalition, 436 people fall per year and die as a result--in Florida ALONE. With the baby boomers aging, the U.S. Census Department estimates there will be almost 55 million Americans aged 65 and older by 2020. What's more, the CDC projects that direct treatment costs from older adult falls will escalate to $43.8 billion annually by 2020. This is unacceptable. Older adults living in America deserve more attention.

It is our responsibility to promote awareness of this important public health problem in an effort to reduce the incidence of falls among older Americans.

I hope that you will join me in recognizing the importance of establishing a National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to raise awareness and encourage prevention of falls among older adults. More funding, research and community pilot programs will hopefully follow, and that is our ultimate goal.

Madam Speaker, on September 16, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and unable to vote on rollcall votes 592 and 594.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 592 and 594.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6772, my bill to name the United States Post Office at 1717 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, Florida after CeeCee Ross Lyles, a true hero from my district who died tragically on September 11, 2001.

I would like to thank Chairman Waxman and his staff for their help in moving this very important piece of legislation to the floor. I would also like to acknowledge my distinguished colleague, Mr. Hastings, who also represents Fort Pierce, for his support of the bill, and all the other colleagues who represent the State of Florida who unanimously support this important piece of legislation.

CeeCee Ross Lyles was a flight attendant on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field on September 11. Passengers on the flight, along with CeeCee and other flight attendants, fought back against the hijackers after learning that other planes had been flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Shortly before Flight 93 crashed, CeeCee called her husband, Lorne, and told him she loved him and she loved her children.

CeeCee was born and raised in Fort Pierce where she served as a police officer for 6 years. In those years as a police officer, she had worked her way from patrol officer to detective, and was respected for her willingness to tackle fleeing criminals.

Fulfilling a lifelong goal to travel, she became a United Airlines flight attendant in 2000, where she served with distinction.

CeeCee had a true and giving spirit. She loved her volunteer work at a women's shelter that two of her aunts helped found in Fort Pierce. Through her work at the shelter she served as a role model, showing women that they could make their own way if they tried hard enough.

I am proud to name this post office in honor of a true American hero, CeeCee Ross Lyles. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this most worthy hero.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my good friend and colleague, Representative Crowley, in supporting H. Res. 1069.

I have seen the workings of Hamas first-hand on a trip to Israel. Their rockets and attacks kill innocent Israelis. And now, by using of Al-Aqsa TV programming to promote hate and violence among Palestinian children, they are poisoning another generation.

There is no place for cartoon characters telling children they ``will finish off the Jews and eat them'' or depictions of President Bush being murdered. Children should be taught to respect and accept all people, no matter their faith.

This blatant propaganda aims to indoctrinate children, incite hatred and violence towards Israel, and undermine efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

At a time when the United States is working to bring peace to the region, it is incomprehensible and counterproductive to be filling Palestinian children with more hatred and fear.

If lasting peace is to be achieved, this type of anti-Semitic and anti-American propaganda must be stopped.

Today, we are sending a clear message to Hamas that this type of behavior must come to an end. I thank my colleagues for their support.

Madam Speaker, as I stated for the record on June 26, 2008, I missed votes on June 25, 2008, due to the funeral of my friend, Mason Smoak.

One of the votes I missed was a vote on the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). I applaud our leadership for its work to ensure that the AMT does not hit middle- and working-class families in a way that would not increase our national debt. I have voted against the AMT in the past-- and, had I been able to vote on June 25, 2008, I would have voted ``no''--because changing the taxation on carried interest sends the wrong message that Congress values money more than ingenuity, with the unintended consequences potentially being a constriction of private capital to America's small businesses. It is my hope that Congress will continue to address this vital issue responsibly and in a bipartisan manner.

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, I was unable to be in Washington, D.C. due to my attendance at the funeral of a personal friend in my district.

Had I been able to vote, I would have voted the following ways on the below listed rollcall votes: 449--``yea''; 450--``yea''; 451--``yea''; 452--``yea''; 453--``yea''; 454--``nay''; 455--``nay''; 456--``yea''; 457--``yea''; 458--``nay''; 459--``yea''; 460--``yea''; 461--``yea.''

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. MAHONEY of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I want to thank Chairman Oberstar for bringing this bill, the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008, to the floor today.

Madam Chairman, 232 years ago, this country fought to gain its political independence. Today, as we approach Independence Day, it is time that we must fight for energy independence.

Madam Chairman, as we all know, Americans are suffering because of high gas prices. But some of the recent proposals we have seen in the past week are political opportunism at its worst. Take the proposal to end the moratorium on offshore drilling. Not only could drilling imperil Florida's $65 billion tourist industry, but there is insufficient oil to meaningfully address demand.

In 2007, the Energy Department found that drilling off the coast would not add to domestic production before 2030, and that the impact on gas prices would be insignificant. Further, the U.S. proven reserves are approximately 2 percent of the world's supply, yet we continue to be the number one consumer of oil in the world, consuming about 25 percent of the world's production. So anyone who stands here and says we are going to drill our way out of this problem is not being honest with the American public. It is time to get real, and it is time to take action now.

While there are no easy answers, there are significant steps that we can take to stabilize gas prices.

First, I am a proud cosponsor of the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008, and I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation. At a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, oil and gas companies should not be allowed to stockpile leases and they should be required to drill on the leases they own. They should use it or lose it.

Second, Congress needs to investigate the impact of speculation in the commodities market and the impact that has on the price of oil. It is time to know whether energy speculators are gaming the system to make money at the expense of hard-working Americans.

Third, we must continue to bring alternative energy to the country and to Florida. Recently, the farm and energy bills have set the stage for Florida to become the biofuels capital of America. We must continue to invest in cellulosic ethanol so we can become energy independent.

Fourth, we must recognize that the reckless fiscal policies of this administration have racked up a $6 trillion debt and this debt is ravaging the value of the dollar. In the past 6 years, this has contributed to a 40 percent devaluation of the dollar, and the fact that oil is a dollar-indexed commodity, the American people now know that when the value of the dollar goes down, the price at the pump goes up. The American people can no longer afford these reckless policies and this reckless deficit spending, and this Congress must make it stop.

Lastly, we need to reduce the barriers to importing Canadian oil, which is why I am offering my amendment today which would clarify language in section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 so that it does not apply to Canadian oil.

I appreciate the hard work that my colleagues Congressman Boren and Congressman Lampson have already done on this issue. For those of you who don't know, section 526 prevents the U.S. Government from purchasing an unconventional fuel whose carbon footprint is higher than a conventional fuel. Canada has vast supplies of natural gas and has the world's second largest proven reserves of oil in the world, and Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil and refined products to the United States, supplying approximately 13 percent of total U.S. imports.

My amendment will clarify that section 526 does not preclude Federal agencies from purchasing generally available fuels, and that includes fuel from Canada's oil sands, refined using existing commercial processes. Through my amendment, we can address both a national energy supply issue and a national security issue. After all, who would you rather import oil from; our good friends up north in Canada, or from the Middle East?

The time has come for real solutions, not rhetoric. Today's actions take important steps to help us stop skyrocketing gas prices and put us on the road to energy independence. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay my deepest condolence to the Smoak family and to honor the passing of a great American and close friend. Mason Smoak was an outstanding human being, whose bravery and character left lasting impressions on all who knew him. This kind gentleman exemplified the meaning of leadership. Mason was loved by all in his community, a lifelong resident of Lake Placid, Florida who dedicated his life to his wife, children, and church, as well as the University of Florida his alma mater. Unfortunately, Mason passed away on Friday, June 20, 2008 at the age of 33.

His accomplishments within the agricultural community will serve as inspiration and guidance for aspiring citrus growers. Mason promoted awareness of agriculture and citrus issues in both Washington and Tallahassee, often testifying at the request of elected officials. He enjoyed fruitful partnerships with UF/IFAS and served the community as the current President of the Highlands County Citrus Growers. He was also the Chairman of the Heartland Agricultural Coalition, a Board Member of the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity and Florida Citrus Mutual's Federal Political Action Committee, and Past President of Highlands County Farm Bureau and the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers.

Florida will miss Mason's dedication and dogged determination to Florida citrus. Madam Speaker, I will miss Mason as a true friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Floresta Elementary School of Port St. Lucie, Florida. The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Youth Award has selected Floresta Elementary as Florida's Rookie Elementary School of the Year. Floresta was also selected as a Finalist for Rookie of the Year Elementary School at the National Level for 2008.

Floresta Elementary's school-wide project, ``Floresta Dolphins NEED Energy,'' gave students from kindergarten through the fifth grade the opportunity to learn about renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Students in the fifth grade specifically focused on wind energy and worked to increase community awareness regarding Florida Power and Light's wind turbine project on the local coastline. The entire school also took part in Energy Star's Change a Light, Change the World campaign that encourages citizens to conserve energy by switching to more energy efficient light bulbs.

I am proud that the teachers, staff, and students of Floresta Elementary School are working to educate themselves and their community on what we can do to meet our country's critical energy needs.

I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Floresta Elementary School.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 12, 2008 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 413.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I've read the President's reasons for vetoing this farm bill, and it's clear that even though he owns a ranch, he's not a rancher. It's clear he doesn't understand that to have national security, America needs food security. It's clear that while the White House whines about crop subsidies, that his administration's failed economic policies have resulted in $4 per gallon diesel and skyrocketing fertilizer costs that are driving farmers in Florida out of business.

Although not perfect, this farm bill, for the first time, gives Florida agriculture some of the monies we need to help market and protect our crops. It ensures that our Nation's hungry children and seniors get Florida's fresh fruit and vegetables. It invests in conservation that will speed up our efforts to save the Everglades.

Finally, this farm bill, in combination with the energy bill, provides rural Florida a new beginning by breaking the corn ethanol monopoly, and ensuring that Florida, the biggest biomass producing State in the Nation, takes its rightful place as a leader in renewable energy production.

I call on my colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, to vote to override the President's veto.

Thank you, Chairman Cardoza.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Peterson and thanking Chairman Cardoza for their tireless resolve to bring this historic legislation to a vote today. I also want to thank Commissioner Bronson and my good friends and colleagues, Allen Boyd and Adam Putnam, for their work in delivering to the ranchers, farmers and growers of Florida the best farm bill in history.

This farm bill, in combination with the energy bill already signed into law, completes the foundation upon which Florida will build a biofuels industry that will power America's engines and make us more secure. It means more jobs for our State. It means our children will be able to stay in rural Florida and have jobs for the future. This farm bill, after more than 70 years, begins to give Florida's growers and farmers parity with commodity crops.

In Florida, we grow over 270 different varieties of specialty crops. I welcome this $1.3 billion investment in new programs that supports research, pest management, trade promotion and nutrition for the industry.

Finally, this bill makes an investment in our environment by making an additional $7.9 billion available for conservation programs. This bill brings farmers and environmentalists together to protect our land, our waters, and one of our Nation's greatest treasures, the Everglades.

As a Blue Dog Democrat, I am especially proud that we have been able to accomplish all of the above without having to raise taxes or go into debt. We don't have to mortgage the farm to pay for this farm bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Chairman Cardoza, for all of your work on behalf of the farmers and growers of Florida.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two soldiers and brothers, Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley of LaBelle, Florida.

Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley bravely served their country in Iraq when Luke was severely injured by a land mine in December 2007. Upon returning home, Joshua received orders to return to Iraq. Joshua felt he could best serve his brother and his country by helping his brother and fellow soldier, Luke, recover and petitioned to stay in the United States.

The Department of the Army reassigned Specialist Joshua Shirley to a post in the Washington, DC area to allow him to be close to his recovering brother. Sgt. Luke Shirley's courage in battle and Specialist Joshua Shirley's devotion to his brother and his country exemplify what it is to be true American heroes. These brave young men put their lives on the line to serve our country. America owes them a debt of gratitude.

On behalf of LaBelle, the 16th District, and the United States, I would like to express my immense gratitude to Sgt. Luke Shirley and Specialist Joshua Shirley. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring these remarkable young men.

Below is a poem written by Bert Caswell to honor the Shirley Brothers.

The Book of Luke

The Book of Luke . . .

Written by a fine young Man, of Character, Courage, Honor and

Truth!

Who went off to war, as had all his fine family of patriots .

. . so many times as before.

It's all about a family. . . .

Who but for, God and Country. . . . so much pain and

heartache endured! All for Our Freedom to ensure, as

what they have given. . . . all in their living, they

bore!

Luke, an Army Man. . . .

Who as one fine warrior, of strength in honor . . . and

character does stand!

As him and his brother Josh too, both were on their third

tours. . . . as together they would band!

When, in The

Face of Death!

With, only but an arm and leg so left . . . he would stand .

. . all in this his most heroic quest!

To rebuild, as his heart to all so instills . . . of what is

good, is great . . . of what is best!

For in him, there are no regrets!

Not looking back, for in life it's only about what you do in

your short time . . . in those pages you have left!

As he has our Nation so blessed, as his soul to our's does so

caress!

As this book he so writes . . .

To all hearts so invites, for us to look into our own live's

. . . between what's wrong, and is right!

To so find in this world, what it is which burns bright . . .

and what really counts, on this very night!

Chapter and Verse!

What have the words, of our lives so versed?

What have we so written, which so comes first?

For it's only the few, who have so who . . . have written and

so shined so too . . . that for Heaven does search!

For we write the words, that our Lord and his Angels have

read and so heard . . . which burn bright!

Found in all of our lives of courage, faith and sacrifice . .

. are inspiration, touching all souls here tonight.

When, all is said and done . . . in what's really to be won

when we leave this light!

Could we but write?

With our hearts and our souls, such a courageous fight . . .

to march off into the dark, to leave the light!

To go off to war, for your country . . . such heartache and

burdens bore . . . and rebuild, with no hope in sight!

In The Book of Luke, he has spoken . . .

Of chapters of faith he's invoking, of character and courage

spoken . . . all in his actions invoking . . .

Of an American Hero, A Tale of Hope then . . . and

Inspiration, To Teach our children, worth quoting!

The Heart!

The greatest of all things, which can not so be stopped nor

so broken!

Which pound's, with his words of faith, courage and hope

then, in The Book of Luke he has spoken!

In honor of Luke Shirley, and his brother Josh both in The

United States Army . . . who came home with him to help him

heal, and their family of generations who have fought for our

country and given so much throughout the generations so we

could live free. . . . Their uncles, Dwight Harris Williams

Jr., Kenneth Wayne Williams, John Dennis Williams were all

Marines and did tours in Vietnam.