Trey Radel

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for this time.

We are here today trying to do some pretty simple things--trying to support our veterans, keep open Veterans Affairs, open up our parks around this

great Nation, and even keep open schools right here in D.C. Heck, I take the Metro every single day. I am here supporting this. Do you know what? Even last night we saw House Democrats that are supporting the same causes.

The problem today really lies with Senate Democrats. They simply are refusing to come to the negotiating table just to even talk with us.

I have been in Washington working through the weekend--many of us have been here until 3 in the morning every night working--to simply keep the government open. But no offer has been good enough for the Senate, not one. They have rejected every single compromise that we have sent them.

Compromise is essential, especially when we have a time of divided government, because we are here to pass laws--sometimes repeal them-- but most of all to govern, to give certainty and stability to this great Nation.

We have sent four different bills to the Senate to keep government open. All of them have been rejected. We even sent legislation to simply offer a small group of Members to come to the negotiating table to compromise, again, with the Senate to keep government open. The Senate rejected us time and time again.

It is a sad day when we can't even get Democrat Senators to come to just have a conversation with us to keep government open. In fact, this is ridiculous. It is a disservice to the American people. I knew Washington was broken before coming here, but the Senate's pure refusal to even work with the House is an all-time low.

As a result of the Senate's actions, we now have a government officially shut down. Parents all across the country are now worrying where their next paycheck is going to come from, how they are going to pay their mortgage, how they are going to pay their rent, how they are going to put food on their kid's table all because Democrats won't have a conversation.

I don't think it is unreasonable for us in all of these compromises that House Republicans--and some House Democrats--I don't think it is unreasonable to ask for a simple 1-year delay of the individual mandate. After all, the President himself has already delayed ObamaCare for big business. Think about that. Big business, big corporations, are exempt from this law, but you are not.

He has delayed this, he has delayed the launch of online enrollment for small business, even delayed the Spanish language version of the Web site: If you all speak Spanish, good luck--si ustedes hablan espanol, buena suerte.

The President has been willing to exempt everyone from this signature piece of legislation, except for you. Yesterday, when you went to healthcare.gov to sign up, most people saw glitches and errors. The administration has had 3 years--3 years--to build a Web site which a 14 year old can do in his parents' basement today.

Again, ObamaCare is just not ready for prime time. All we are asking is just for this small piece to be delayed. It is a compromise that I think all of us can live with.

I stand here ready to work with the Senate to get the government open and do the right thing for you and this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill introduced by my colleague Representative Neugebauer.

This bill reduces costs for homeowners and renters not only in my home State of Florida, but for everyone throughout the entire country.

Today, insurance brokers and agents face hurdles when they try to work across State lines. What this bill does is make it easier and less expensive for them to get licensed in multiple States. The best part about this is ultimately it saves you, the consumer, money.

This legislation streamlines the Federal role in real estate licensing while allowing States to continue setting standards for the work that best fits their States because, after all, we know what's best for our States and our communities.

Lowering costs for insurance agents and brokers means more options and lower prices for consumers. I am glad to support this bipartisan legislation.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for the NARAB Reform Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address some of the statements conveyed in this House concerning the continuing division of the island of Cyprus, a division that has now, unfortunately, approaching four decades.

I believe that the time is long overdue for a final agreement between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots--one which is arrived at together by both parties, with the support of the international community, which respects the human rights of all Cypriots. I call upon the Administration to reenergize its engagement on this issue, one that has largely been tolerated through Administrations and Congresses of both parties, and unfortunately by many Cypriots themselves.

While I do not wish to revisit the history that has led to this division, I would ask my colleagues to note that Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ``UN Plan for a Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem'' in the simultaneous referenda held on both sides of the island, conveying to their Greek Cypriot neighbors, and the wider world, its desire to solve the Cyprus problem, and become integrated into the life of Europe and the international community. Additionally, Turkey has been stating that it would welcome a resolution of the Cyprus issue, as long as the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community are guaranteed. I do not believe this is an unreasonable request. Indeed, it should apply to all Cypriots.

The Greek Cypriot community, as the Republic of Cyprus, enjoys all of the rights and privileges of European Union membership, and participates freely in the international community. Turkish Cypriots continue to endure international isolation and embargoes--a status quo that can never be considered a long-term, permanent solution. The time has come for both parties to work together to secure a political settlement, and to put this long, sorry chapter behind them. I ask my colleagues to recommit themselves to supporting a just and comprehensive solution to the division of Cyprus.