Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3016, as amended, the VA Provider Equity Act. The provisions of title I directly affect the health of veterans by making podiatrists equal to other doctors in the VA, by making Medal of Honor recipients a top priority in receiving health care at the VA, and by making the newborn babies of servicemembers eligible for VA health care in the first 6 weeks of life, to follow their mothers' eligibility at the VA. The legislation authorizes a GAO audit of the Veterans Health Administration's budget. I feel that the Veterans Health Administration has been more responsive under the leadership of Dr. David Shulkin, but I agree that everyone would be better informed of how the VHA is working if we are all starting on the same page. I am also pleased that a successful dog training program will be expanded to other parts of the country to help veterans who are recovering from TBI and PTSD. I am particularly pleased to support provisions in H.R. 3016 which improve the veterans' education and rehabilitation program and which increase limits on the veterans' home loan program while maintaining the VA's strict lending requirements. H.R. 3016 also contains several important improvements in education and employment programs for veterans. Representative Takano will have more to say because he has taken the lead on these as the ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. I also want to thank Chairman Miller for compromising on the establishment of a new administration within the VA, called the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. While I appreciate the chairman's attempt to compromise on another key provision, I want to make it clear that I oppose the policy to cut in half the living stipend for the children of servicemembers who have received their parents' transferred GI Bill benefits. We promised the men and women who signed up to serve in our Nation's military that they would be able to transfer their entire GI Bill benefits to a dependent spouse or child. It is unfair that we are now breaking part of that promise. While I understand that this change pays for the other essential provisions in this bill, I would have preferred that we would have kept the promise we made to servicemembers while finding other ways to pay for this package. As this legislation moves forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues to find a different way to pay for these provisions that does not violate the promise we made to our veterans. I had hoped our Republican colleagues would have brought this bill to the floor under an open rule so as to have given us the opportunity to propose amendments and to debate ways to improve the more controversial provisions of this bill. I am disappointed that we are not able to offer amendments to improve the bill today. Yet I will support this bill overall due to the number of positive improvements. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2360, the Career-Ready Student Veterans Act. Mr. Speaker, I do so for two important reasons. The first is that it protects veterans using their GI Bill benefits by requiring that all career education programs meet proper accreditation, licensure, and certification requirements in order to be eligible for the GI Bill. The second reason I am so happy to support H.R. 2360 is that it represents the very best of the legislative process. It is the product of collaboration between the majority and the minority, but it is also a collaboration between Congress and the VSO and academic communities. I want to give due credit to the bill's original author, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member Mark Takano, and Chairman Wenstrup and his staff for working so hard to ensure that the bill meets its goal of preparing student veterans for their chosen fields of study. The Career-Ready Student Veterans Act puts in place a protection for student veterans which already exists for servicemen who use the Department of Defense tuition assistance benefits. I am pleased that the bill creates this basic fairness and ensures that the GI Bill benefits help veterans earn credit that will lead to meaningful employment. In addition to ensuring that career-education programs meet proper accreditation requirements, the bill also requires that they publicly disclose any additional steps that the student veteran needs to take to prepare them for entry into their chosen profession. I understand this legislation has passed out of committee in the Senate and enjoys bipartisan support there. Again, I want to congratulate the bill's original authors on this side and offer my strong support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2360. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, H.R. 4056, introduced by my colleague from Florida, Mr. John Mica, will authorize the VA to convey to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs The Community Living Center at the Lake Baldwin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Orlando, Florida. When the Orlando VA center is fully completed, it will include 134 inpatient beds, an outpatient clinic, parking garage, chapel, and central energy plant. One of the first buildings opened at the Orlando VA Medical Center was the 120-bed Community Living Center and the 60-bed domiciliary. Both are now open and accepting veterans. With the new facilities, it is not necessary for the VA to keep two facilities open in close proximity. I am pleased that Mr. Mica was able to work with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs to take over this facility and continue to serve the veterans of central Florida. Let me just say one other thing. I am just very impressed with the opening of this facility, the domiciliary, and also the clinic. We were able to get that facility open before the hospital opened, and it was taking veterans. In addition to that, the Department of Defense gave that facility to the Department of Veterans Affairs--institutional memory is very important--and I am just very pleased that we will continue to use this facility for veterans. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Mica for bringing this before the House. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Mica for his leadership in this area. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 4056. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their work in moving the Coast Guard bill forward. Transportation is one of the most bipartisan bills in this Congress. I am just so proud that we are really moving this Congress forward and putting the American people back to work. The Coast Guard personnel serve this country and do a wonderful job, and I truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of these fine servicemembers. The Coast Guard has been protecting our shores for more than 200 years and has done an outstanding job. The Coast Guard was the first agency to react to the terrorist attacks on September 11 and provide critical assistance during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This bill provides the resources and policy provisions that the Coast Guard needs to continue their critical mission. Assisting migrants and stopping drug shipments at sea, search-and- rescue missions, monitoring our ports, and protecting our homeland are just a few of the vital services that the Coast Guard provides, all of which is critical to my home State of Florida, where 14 deepwater ports and 1,200 miles of coastline are the gateway to America. This legislation also includes important provisions I have long championed that bring maritime laws into the modern era and recognize the positive changes that have taken place in employment rights. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the men and women serving the Coast Guard for their hard work and their vigilance in protecting our country. This is a good bill, and it will allow the Coast Guard to continue protecting our Nation. I strongly encourage its passing in both the House and the Senate and for the President to sign it into law.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this certainly is a great day for the people in this country, and I want to thank the leadership on this committee. I believe wholeheartedly that this surface transportation bill will give the economy just the type of boost it needs. A long-term transportation bill will strengthen our infrastructure, provide quality jobs, and serve as a tool to put America back to work long-term. This important legislation includes a critical freight grant program, additional funding for transit systems and pedestrian safety program, includes funds to speed the implementation of positive train control, improves the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan program, and creates a disadvantaged business enterprise program at the Federal Railroad Administration. It also includes additional funds for Amtrak, moves us closer to restoring passenger rail for the Gulf States, and protects our ports from unnecessary paperwork. Transportation and infrastructure funding is absolutely critical to this Nation. If properly funded, it serves as a tremendous economic boost. For every billion dollars we spend in transportation, it generates 44,000 permanent jobs. When we pass this legislation, we will put millions of hardworking Americans back to work to fix our Nation's crumbling infrastructure and prepare our country for the future. Mr. Speaker, there is no better present for the people in this country than to pass this transportation bill. Merry Christmas, and God bless America.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Reps. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) and I rise within the 100 days remaining to reaffirm our support for the President's Vow to End Veterans Homelessness by December 2015. We also reaffirm the First Lady and Dr. Biden's White House Joining Forces Initiative aimed at supporting military families, and last year's Mayor's Challenge to End Homelessness among veterans. We also want to recognize the legendary Hon. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who was the first to call attention to our nation's greatest failing `the plight of our homeless veterans' in 1992, on the heels of the seminal report `Heroes Today, Homeless Tomorrow.' That report revealed that 250,000 men, or one of every three single homeless men sleeping on the streets or in shelters, on any given night, were veterans and 40% were Black. Now, 23 years later the Hons. Charles Rangel, Sanford Bishop, Jr, and I convened the forum, ``President's Vow'' to review the past 20 year's accomplishments and shortfalls against the backdrop of Rep. Rangel's `Yesterday's Military Heroes Ought Not be Today's Homeless,' where high unemployment, homelessness, and health concerns prevailed. The forum successfully blended the President's Vow and First Lady's Mayor's Challenge, along with Congressional efforts, while placing Black and women veterans homelessness within the framework of the national dialogue, or discussion. Furthermore, the forum succeeded in impressing upon lawmakers and the audience a fundamental truth that `race and gender matter' in our comprehension of 21st century at-risk and homeless veterans. It argued the persuasive case of urban veterans' homelessness, joblessness and incarceration, the link between homelessness, poverty and hunger among veterans across America, disparities in health outcomes for male and female veterans, the triple disadvantages for African American female veterans, and the need for more case management services, transitional housing and permanent affordable housing development. It also exposed the need for better case worker-to-veteran ratios. We began the forum with a musical prelude performed by David Bratton, known as the DC Lou Rawls, and the traditional military presenting of colors. In addition, Dr. James Averhart, Past President of the Montford Point Marine Association led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Chaplain Michael McCoy, Associate Director of VA Chaplains offered the invocation and benediction. Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) then introduced Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF, Iraq Combat Pilot and Executive Director of the White House Joining Forces Initiative, who brought greetings from First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden as a morale booster. Accompanying greetings came from Hon. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) and Hon. Corrine Brown's (D-FL), who also introduced the new VA UnderSecretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin, MD for keynote remarks. Afterward, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) introduced our impressive panelist and Executive Director Ron Armstead as moderator for the panel discussion to come. The panel discussion consisted of the following members: Col. Eugene Scott, USA, Ret., President of Chicago Defender Charities, started by focusing on the Chicago Defenders more than 100- year history in defense of the black community. However, he was more outspoken about veterans' homelessness and in highlighting veterans' hunger in Chicago. Georgia State Legislator Calvin Symre, who is also Past President, National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) stated that NBCSL is formulating and leading discussions around homeless veterans policies with the White House and other agencies. The intention is to mobilize everyone at the state, city and local levels for support, because the struggle doesn't end, and there is always the need for more people to be involved. Nan Roman, President/CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), presented statistics on veterans homelessness and discussed the overrepresentation of African Americans, who represent only 10% of the general veterans' population, adding that, although numbers appear to be declining, there still is a discrepancy. Gregory Scott, President/CEO, New Directions for Veterans (ND), talked about his father (a troubled Korean war veteran) who died all too soon and about his family knowing nothing about PTSD, thus establishing the importance of the connection between veterans and their families, in identifying with not only the homeless, but with all struggling veterans. Baylee Crone, President/CEO, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) described the coalition, its services and its efforts to end chronic homelessness as well as the importance of listening to its founders, such as Ralph Cooper, M.Ed., a co-founder of NCHV, and others. Steve Peck, President/CEO of U.S. VETS, suggested the need for a long-range plan beyond December 2015. Carlyre Holder, President, National Association for Blacks in Crimination Justice (NABCJ), spoke about the criminal justice system and the need for reform--noting that President Barack Obama is the first president ever to visit a federal prison--in addition to expressing the NABCJ's support of social justice and veterans' courts. Ed Jennings, Southeast Regional Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), indicated that the vast majority of the First Lady's Mayor's Challenge and state and other official signers come from the southeast region of HUD. The latest numbers being 555, out of 854 nationally from Region 4. The question-and-answer period was a lively exchange between attendees and panel members reflecting motivation, stimulated thinking and enthusiasm; Anthony Love, VA Senior Advisor and Director of Community Engagement remained throughout in order to answer questions and address concerns regarding homelessness. The Veterans Braintrust Homeless Forum was significant for its timing--we were 100 days away from the December 2015 deadline for ending veterans homelessness. And we are embracing the First Lady's and Dr. Biden's agenda, along with fulfilling our central mission of advocating nationally and articulating clearly the message that ``Blacks are continually overrepresented among the homeless veterans population, despite being only 10% of the general veterans population.'' The key question--why are Black veterans disproportionately represented among the homeless--remains essentially unanswered, as does the issue of why ``women veterans are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, particularly single women with children.'' Therefore, more needs to be done before the national media declares victory, and the `political and public will' goes away. Although, we are watching the national homeless statistics in order to anticipate and formulate the next steps, we envisioned the forum as part of an ``all hands on deck'' effort and opportunity for enhancing homeless veterans policy, programs, services with outside-the-box problem solving. Yet, we realized that representatives from the DC area alone were absent for some unknown reason. Further, despite not requesting the Friday morning forum be recorded, we did manage to audio record the Saturday homeless advocates and providers roundtable discussion as per Dr. William Lawson's advising the need to write, publish and develop articles, policy papers, and talking points, as a way of contributing to the literature. Furthermore, charter member Tom Harris suggested that the recording be sent to members across the country, so it can be shared locally for people to hear and discuss. Most importantly, the forum feedback was highly favorable, with comments like `the forum was on point,' `I learned so much,' `great job,' `increditable,' `awesome,' `phenomenal,' `I thought it was great for Congressional representatives to focus on homeless veterans,' `impressed with panel and listened intensely,' `made good contacts,' `well organized,' and `it was a one stop shop of information giving a broad perspective (from coast to coast), or a snap shot of black veterans status, or circumstantial situation, particularly for those of us on limited budgets and fixed incomes.' The general consensus was that we are making progress, but we still have work to do. Consequently, two tangible forum outcomes under serious consideration are crafting a position/policy paper and creating a new Veterans Braintrust Homeless Committee consisting of advocates and providers from the community or grassroots level. Also under consideration is planning a follow-up session with the strong support of the National Alliance to End Homelessness and others to include either a Capitol Hill Briefing and/or high level meetings with Congresswoman Brown (D- FL) and other leaders in Congress. The Annual Gala Reception and Awards Ceremony was, as usual, `a standing room only' affair in the Cannon House Office's Room 334 (Veterans Hearing Room). With a musical showcase performed by DC's Lou Rawls, followed by Congresswoman Brown's welcome and introduction of Veterans Affairs personnel, committee staffers and Don Phillips, Minority Staff Director, House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HCVA), in addition to our very special guest Martin Luther King III, and Pastor Leon Bryant, Sr., who blessed the food. In his role as Master of Ceremonies Executive Director Ron Armstead presented a series of gifts to Congresswoman Brown: first, a mug inscribed `The Best Man for the Job is a Woman'; second, a civil war book titled ``Firebrand of Liberty--The Story of Two Black Regiments that Changed the Course of the Civil War'' by Stephen V. Ash, and third, a special Josiah Walls citation on behalf of Dr. Frank Smith, Jr., Founder of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, located in Washington, DC. Deserving 2015 Awardees were: Andrae Bailey, Abraham House-El, Gregory Crawford, Dr. Sharon Elliott-Bynum, Duery Felton, Jr., Irvin Goodwin, Clifton Lewis, Bruce Marks, Ivan Mason, Wendy McClinton, Col. Eugene Scott, USA, Ret., Gregory Scott, M. William Sermons, Darryl Vincent, Cordell Walker, Martha Watts, Alshi Williams, Larry Williams, A Step Forward, Inc., Catholic Charities St. Leo Campus for Veterans, Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, Final Salute, Inc., Greater Chicago Food Depository, Healing with CAARE, Inc., Joseph's Place, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of American Veterans, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, Samuel L. Felton Community Center, The Jericho Project, United States Veteran Initiative (U.S. VETs), United Way of King County, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, Veterans on the Rise, Michigan Veterans Foundation, Stand Down House, Film: `Sweet Georgia Brown' and Historical Group: National World War II Museum Traveling Exhibit: `Fight for the Right to Fight: The African American Experience in World War II.' The official awards ceremony concluded with the playing of Ray Charles' rendition of ``America the Beautiful,'' coupled with times are ``Changin'' by Brass Construction to underscore the important historical changes taking place: from the Civil War to Josiah Walls, Florida's Black Congressman of Reconstruction, to the 50th Anniversary of the successful passage of the Voting Rights Act, to Rep. Brown's election to Congress after the passage of 127 years, and her present status as Ranking Democratic member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. But, the recent Florida GOP redistricting plot and TVOne Roland Martin interview where she states ``if you are not at the table, you are on the menu,'' is cause to rethink the earlier musical premise. Special acknowledgements go to Ralph Cooper, Mel King, Pamela King, Eva Kerr, South End Technology Center at Tent City, Julius Hayes, Allene Carter, Dr. Fari Nzinga, Todd Williams, Ronald Jackson, Sr., Wendy McClinton, Larry Williams, Gregory Crawford, Jas Boothe, Irvin Goodwin, Dr. Virginia Brown, Dr. William Lawson, Prof. Joel Beeson, Prof. Chad Williams, Ernest Washington, Jr., Henry `Tabu' Taylor, Bonnie Perry, T. Michael Sullivan, Anthony Hawkins and Shantrel Brown; Congressional staffers Ronnie Simmons, Rontel Batie, Stephanie Anim- Yankah, Nick Martinelli, Chester Glover, Reginald McGill, Jackie Gray, Carla Wiley, Jonathan Halpern, William `Bill' Golembiewski, Hannah Kim, and Reba Raffaelli. Finally, we close by quoting decorated Korean War veteran Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)--``No American let alone African American who serves this great nation deserves to be left on the streets of America homeless or alone. And shouldn't disproportionate African American homeless veterans be a 21st century civil rights issue?''

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me just say that we just finished celebrating Veterans Day, and as the ranking member, I support veterans 100 percent. Also, as a minority, I have a question for the gentlewoman because we just celebrated the 1965 Voting Rights Act and, of course, minorities have had a tough time participating in many programs. Can you tell me, if this amendment passed, how will this affect the MBA, the minority business program in transportation? We have both been on this committee. I have been on it for over 23 years, and we know it has to be narrowly tailored, or else we will have no programs.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of my friend Mr. Shuster's Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act. This legislation will require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the unclaimed remains of veterans. Our Nation continues to be challenged by local and privately owned cemeteries that fail to identify and provide the VA with uninterred veterans' remains. It is our intent that the VA look into this issue and come up with some solutions to assist privately and locally owned cemetery homes with the information and the support they need to transfer those remains to the VA's National Cemetery Administration. Our Nation's veterans have earned a proper and honorable burial for their service. This legislation will help the VA to help our veterans. I urge all of my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge my colleagues to support the passing of H.R. 1338, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I stand before this body to support legislation introduced by my friend and colleague from Minnesota, Tim Walz. As a retired guardsman himself and as the highest ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress, I know this bill is near and dear to his heart. The Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act closes a long-existing gap. Federal law has neglected to acknowledge our guardsmen and -women and reservists who have served fewer than 180 days of Active Duty service as ``veterans.'' This law would remedy this longstanding oversight by legally recognizing Guard and Reserve retirees as American veterans. Our military is more dependent on Reserve components than they have been since the dawn of modern warfare. These are men and women who have stood ready and trained to serve our Nation at war. They have served a dedicated 20 years of service. At the very least, we should acknowledge the dedication of these servicemembers by legally recognizing them as American veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 1384. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, my State of Florida could receive $35 million in revenue and $8.7 million in maintenance savings annually for the program. At this time, revenue is flat-funded. This is a ``may.'' The States don't have to participate in it. It is a pilot program. It is flowers, and it is friendly. I support it, and I would urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chair, let me just say first to Mr. Shuster and Mr. DeFazio that I want to thank them for their leadership in getting this bill to the floor. I am just going with the new Speaker, who said, ``the will of the House.'' And I am sure the will of the House will pass this amendment. Why? Because one thing is that transportation is intermodal. I was here in 1994, when we said we were not going to have a patchwork and we were not going to have each State with their own rules and regulations. I say let's move forward. In my opinion, we need to reinstate the intentions of the Congress in 1994.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank the committee leadership for developing a fair bill that addresses many of the most pressing needs of our country. Particularly, I want to thank Mr. Shuster and Mr. DeFazio. This important legislation includes a critical freight grant program, but we need to ensure that all modes of transportation are treated equally in the program and should remove any caps on funding for these entities. It also continues the Transportation Alternatives Program, TAP, and creates a new non-motorized safety grant program, which is critical to my home State of Florida, where several cities have the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the Nation. Transportation is the backbone of our country. Unfortunately, without critically needed additional funding, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul and forcing our State and local transportation agencies to pay more. Like most Members and stakeholders, I miss the past when our committee developed long-term bills with dedicated funding that gave States, local governments, and other transportation stakeholders some stability to plan for future transportation needs and make the investment in equipment and manpower needed to implement these projects. Transportation and infrastructure funding is absolutely critical to our Nation and, if properly funded, serves as a tremendous economic boost and job creator. In fact, Department of Transportation statistics show that for every billion dollars invested in transportation, it generates 44,000 permanent jobs and $6.2 billion in economic activity. We are no longer competing, as States; we are competing with China, Japan, and the European Union, all of whom are spending much more on transportation and infrastructure than the United States. We are the caboose, and they don't even use cabooses anymore. Sadly, the Republican leadership lacks real vision. Without vision, the people perish. The traveling public is pleading with Congress to make transportation and infrastructure a priority. When this happens, we can put millions of hardworking Americans back to work fixing our Nation's crumbling infrastructure and preparing our country for the future.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chair, I have amendment No. 15 at the desk.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chair, the amendment I am offering with my colleagues, Representatives Titus and Rice of South Carolina, simply creates a national advisory committee on travel and tourism infrastructure. The committee will advise the Secretary on current and emerging priorities and funding needs related to the use of the Nation's transportation system to help facilitate travel and tourism. The advisory committee will gather information, develop technical advice, and make recommendations to the Secretary on policies that maximize the benefits to the Nation that are generated through the United States travel and tourism industry. The committee will then share this information with Federal, State, and local officials making investment decisions relating to transportation projects that improve travel and tourism. Advisory committee members will be appointed by the Secretary of Transportation and will include representatives from public and private sector stakeholders involved in the travel and tourism industry. The travel industry generates $1.8 trillion in economic output and supports 14.1 million jobs. I represent central Florida, which includes Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, NASA, the Citrus Bowl, world famous beaches, and hundreds of other tourist attractions with over 50 million visitors each year. Not only is it critical to ensure the best infrastructure for the efficient flow of these visitors, but ensuring best practices and sharing information will help move people out of harm's way in case of a manmade or natural disaster. I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).