Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, last weekend, I had the honor of attending the centennial commemoration of Rose Historical Cemetery in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Rose is the oldest African-American cemetery in Pinellas County and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was an especially meaningful ceremony because it was held on Juneteenth, the anniversary marking the end of slavery in the U.S. Those who have been laid to rest at Rose represent a major part of Tarpon Springs history and culture. Civil rights pioneers, veterans, and many others, including friends I grew up with in Tarpon, are buried there. I would like to especially thank Tarpon Springs Mayor Chris Alahouzos, Annie Dabbs, a member of the cemetery's board, and the dozens of volunteers who work tirelessly year-round to preserve the legacy of Rose Cemetery. Because of their dedication, Rose continues to be a beautiful, historical site for our community.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress to express my deep sorrow after yesterday's shooting. At the end of the day, we are not Republicans or Democrats; we are Americans. We may disagree with one another, but we cannot allow those disagreements to change how we treat each other as fellow human beings. I believe we need to change our tone and bring more civility to our political discourse. Young people across the country look to us to set an example, and we all must rise to the occasion. This horrible violence will not divide us and it will not stop us from getting back to business on behalf of the American people. Let us come together as Americans above all else, and, of course, keep our good friend, Steve Scalise, and all of those affected by the shootings in our prayers.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the VETERAN Act, H.R. 2372. Our Nation's veterans must have access to affordable, quality healthcare options. I know that is one thing, of course, everybody can agree on, particularly when it comes to our veterans. The VETERAN Act codifies an important protection for those who served. Veterans who are not already enrolled in health insurance through the VA will continue to have the option to purchase coverage on the individual insurance market. Under the American Health Care Act, those veterans seeking coverage on the individual market will be eligible for tax credits to purchase the plan that is right for them. It is only right. This bill ensures our veterans have more options and more control over their healthcare. Mr. Speaker, again, this is something we can all agree on. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, and I urge passage.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act. This legislation is part of our continued focus on improving the Nation's healthcare system beyond the passage of the American Health Care Act. The bill ensures those who receive help to purchase health insurance are truly eligible. What is wrong with that? Under the Obama administration, an estimated $750 million in tax credits have been awarded to over 500,000 individuals who were later determined to be ineligible. For the sake of hardworking Americans everywhere, we need to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars. That means verify first. Why not? The Verify First Act protects taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse under ObamaCare and, in the future, under the American Health Care Act. This bill is good for taxpayers and good for America's healthcare future. It is as simple as that.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. As a grateful nation, we must implement meaningful VA reform. Every day veterans contact my office seeking assistance in dealing with the agency. Like many of my colleagues here, I have full-time staff specifically dedicated to helping veterans with VA casework. I hear from veterans every day who are waiting for care, waiting for an answer, or simply waiting to finally be heard and recognized. These are true American heroes, Mr. Speaker. We must do all we can to help them. The VA should be rolling out the red carpet for our veterans and treating them like the heroes they are. The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act is good, commonsense legislation. If a VA employee is involved in misconduct, they should be demoted, suspended, or fired--certainly not promoted or given a bonus. If a VA employee sees misconduct and wants to report it, they should not fear repercussions. Of course, the vast majority of VA employees are hardworking and dedicated professionals. At the end of the day, this bill is about holding the bad actors accountable and protecting the whistleblowers and refocusing the VA on its mission to serve our Nation's heroes. With the passage of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, we are turning the page to a fresh start for the VA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Roe for doing such an outstanding job and also the ranking member for working in a bipartisan fashion. I appreciate it so very much. This is the way Congress should operate. God bless our veterans.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, impacting more than 500,000 people in Florida, and 5 million Americans nationwide. It is also the only top 10 cause of death in America that cannot be prevented or cured. Beyond the statistics, finding treatments and cures for Alzheimer's is a deeply personal mission to so many people, including myself. In Florida, the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute at USF is one of the largest freestanding institutes dedicated to Alzheimer's research in the Nation. Their work brings us closer to cures and treatments every day. We are also making great strides in the fight against Alzheimer's with the 21st Century Cures Act. This historic, nonpartisan legislation, which was signed into law late last year, creates a national data collection system for neurological diseases. Better data will pave the path forward to better treatments.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, with hurricane season underway, my constituents in Florida and all Americans living in coastal regions are susceptible to these devastating storms. Disaster can strike at any time, often with little warning. It is never too early to prepare. Know your evacuation routes and have a supply kit ready. Also important, ensure your home is structurally sound to withstand intense winds and rain. Taking steps now to reinforce a roof covering or protect an exterior window could mean the difference between saving money in the long run and dealing with major property damage. That is why I am introducing the SHELTER Act, to provide tax credits to encourage people to stormproof their homes and properties. This legislation is about helping our communities be proactive when it comes to preparing for hurricane season. Our local emergency managers in Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties do an incredible job of ensuring our communities are ready. But preparedness must also begin at home.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this truly is a bipartisan committee under the able leadership of Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz. Again, I am proud to serve on this committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1329, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. Passage of this bill gives our Nation's veterans the same cost-of-living adjustment as those receiving benefits through Social Security. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy on a daily basis. As a grateful nation, we must ensure that those who put themselves in harm's way are able to receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. Providing for our Nation's true American heroes is not a partisan issue, but simply the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, approximately 1.6 million veterans reside in the great State of Florida, where so many veterans call home after serving in the military. As vice chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am so very proud that Florida is considered one of the most veteran friendly States across the country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Mike Bost from Indiana, for introducing this very important piece of legislation. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1329, I urge all of my colleagues to support our Nation's heroes and pass the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mrs. Walorski doing an outstanding job with this bill. The chairman and the ranking member are champions of veterans. Again, I rise today in support of H.R. 467, the VA Scheduling Accountability Act, because all veterans deserve timely access to quality health care. In 2014, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee uncovered the use of unauthorized waiting lists at the Phoenix VA healthcare system in Phoenix, Arizona. As a result of these waiting lists, no less than 40 veterans died while waiting for care. This is unacceptable. It is heartbreaking and completely, as I said, unacceptable. These are true American heroes, and we cannot allow something like this to ever happen again. Our investigations found that noncompliance with the VA's scheduling policies was a widespread and systematic problem. This bill today requires that all VA medical center directors certify each year that their facility is in compliance with the scheduling directive. If a VA medical center is found noncompliant, H.R. 476 will hold those leaders accountable. Our bill makes certain that those who fail in their duty to serve our veterans will not be receiving bonuses or awards anytime soon. Lack of oversight, lack of accountability, and lack of transparency led to the 2014 wait-times crisis. The VA Scheduling Accountability Act will help ensure those mistakes are not repeated, and improve access to timely care for our Nation's heroes. Again, I thank the sponsor of the bill, Mrs. Walorski. It is one of the most important bills that we will pass this year, in my opinion, and I urge its passage.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with our law enforcement officers and in support of the rule and passage of the Thin Blue Line Act. This bill makes sure that anyone who targets and attacks a State or local law enforcement officer is held accountable. The men and women who serve in our local police forces put their lives on the line to keep us safe. They are our everyday heroes, Mr. Speaker. In 2014, Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek was shot and killed by a fugitive while on duty. Officer Kondek represented Tarpon Springs. He worked there for 17 years and did a wonderful job keeping us safe. These ambush-style killings of law enforcement officers have increased across the country by 167 percent. This is unacceptable. The Thin Blue Line Act brings us one step closer to justice for these horrific crimes, so let's pass this bill. Of course, we have to pass the rule first so that we can pass this good bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this week recognizes National Police Week. I would like to especially highlight the small but significant things officers do for our communities. Police officers in Clearwater, Florida, surprised a 10-year-old robbery victim with lunch after his lunch money was stolen as he walked to school. Hillsborough County sheriffs will drive homeless men and women to the Social Security office and help them with paperwork. These are extraordinary individuals, Mr. Speaker. There are countless examples of local law enforcement doing good every day. This week we commemorate the fallen officers. Florida lost 11 officers in the past year, including Deputy Sheriff John Robert Kotfila from Hillsborough County who was killed after a collision with a wrong- way driver. We also remember the Tarpon Springs officer, Officer Charles Kondek, who was fatally shot by a fugitive while on duty in 2014. Thank you to our law enforcement officers in Florida and nationwide who keep us safe.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2192 to ensure Members of Congress and staff are not exempt from the American Health Care Act. Making good on our word, this legislation will be passed alongside the American Health Care Act and fixes a technical error made to comply with the Senate rules. In our country, lawmakers are not above the law. Elected officials and the people we represent should have the same health care, period. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 2192, I believe this is common sense. It is straightforward legislation, and it is necessary as a companion bill to the American Health Care Act. It is really quite simple: Congress should live by the same laws it creates. When the American Health Care Act becomes law, Members of Congress and staff will have the same health care as the American people. I urge passage of H.R. 2192, in conjunction with the American Health Care Act.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record a letter from the American Hellenic Institute regarding President Trump's upcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I have advocated for the rights of Greece and Cyprus against the intimidating actions of Turkey. Since Turkey's Presidential referendum vote, Erdogan's government continues to ignore and violate long-standing international law and treaties--a threat to regional security and an impediment to regional interests, stability, and prosperity. As we have done times before, we must continue to condemn these acts of aggression and renew our call for President Erdogan's government to demonstrate to the international community that it is committed to all international laws and agreements. Additionally, the United States and our strategic regional allies must be better prepared to respond quickly and forcefully to transgression of international law from any nation including NATO ally Turkey through targeted sanctions and foreign aid restrictions. President Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the nationwide membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), I write in advance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Washington to raise the Institute's concern about how Turkey is a significant force of instability. In recent months, Turkey has elevated tensions in the Aegean Sea with NATO ally Greece, threatened Cyprus' sovereign right to explore for natural gas within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and has infringed upon Cyprus' EEZ, and President Erdogan has directed alarming rhetoric toward the European Union and its citizens. In February, I wrote to urge the administration to act to uphold the rule of law and to call on Turkey, the provocateur of these tensions, to cease and desist with its actions that have dire implications to U.S. security interests. Now, AHI requests these issues, which demonstrate the instability for which Turkey is responsible, to be placed on your meeting agenda with President Erdogan on May 16. Aegean Sea Historically, Turkey has violated Greece's sovereignty in the Aegean Sea on an almost daily basis. In 1996, Turkey's claims to the Imia islets nearly led the two NATO allies to war over the islands. In recent years, the Institute notes Turkey's frequent and egregious violations of NATO ally Greece's sovereignty in the Aegean Sea: In 2014, there were 3,045 total violations of Greek national airspace and Infringements of Air Traffic Regulations (ICAO) that resulted in eight engagements with Hellenic Air Force interception fighters, according to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff. On March 1, 2015, Turkey unilaterally issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), a move to reserve extensive airspace over the Aegean Sea for military maneuvers that Greece protested. On March 3, 2015, Turkey canceled the NOTAM thanks to pressure from the U.S. and NATO. On July 15, 2015, six Turkish fighters crossed into Greek airspace 20 times--in a single day. On February 15, 2016, six Turkish fighter jets and a CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft violated Greek airspace 22 times-- again, in a single day. In sum, 2,573 infringements and violations of Greece's airspace occurred in 2016 In fall 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has elevated tensions unnecessarily by publicly calling into question the integrity of the Treaty of Lausanne. Now, on one day during the week of January 29 to February 4, 2017, Greece's Ministry of Defense recorded 138 violations of Greek airspace over islands in the Aegean Sea, which had to be intercepted. This is unprecedented. On the sea, Greek and Turkish ships were involved in a ``faceoff' when a Turkish navy missile boat, and supporting crafts, entered and violated Greece's territorial waters by the Imia islets. These Turkish provocations have caused Greece's Defense Minister, Panos Kammenos, to state, ``The Greek armed forces are ready to answer any provocation.'' President Trump, Greece's sovereignty in the Aegean Sea and respect for the Treaty of Lausanne, both of which are in the best interests of the United States, must be respected. Greece must expend immense financial resources to defend its sovereignty--upwards of $400 million a year--during an economic crisis from which it is in the best interest of the United States for Greece to emerge. Moreover, despite its economic difficulties, Greece continues to be of vital importance for the projection of U.S. strategic interests by its geographic location and its strong, unwavering support for NATO. As home to the most important naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea, NSA Souda Bay, Crete, Greece has been critical to the delivery of U.S. troops, cargo, and supplies, providing access and extending the U.S. and NATO's reach into the Middle East and North Africa. To illustrate, in 2015, more than 70 U.S. Navy and NATO ships and vessels visited Souda Bay and more than 2,830 U.S. Air Force and NATO planes utilized the 115th Combat Wing on Crete. Also, more than 65 U.S. ships and more than 1,200 trainees utilized NMIOTC. In addition, Greece is a top contributor to the defense efforts of NATO, spending an estimated 2.38% of its GDP on defense. Greece is second behind only the United States in this regard. Greece aspires to achieve complete normalized relations with Turkey, however, the latter, as official policy, continues to threaten Greece with war (casus belli) and promotes territorial claims that are unfounded and devoid of any legal basis. These claims disregard all relevant treaties and agreements in force, including the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty under which the Dodecanese Islands and adjacent islets were ceded by Italy to Greece. Because the U.S. is a signatory to the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, this Treaty is U.S. federal law which the U.S. is bound to enforce. Turkey's ongoing dispute of Greece's sovereignty in the Aegean was reaffirmed by policy analysts following Turkey's National Security Council meeting held in late March 2017, according to a press report. The analysts observed ``. . . fiery rhetoric emanating from Ankara is not just to win over a domestic audience, saying that it underlines its core policy objectives with regard to the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.'' Cyprus In March 2017, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Cyprus' research for natural gas within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In recent years, Turkey has violated international law by practicing ``gunboat diplomacy'' in the eastern Mediterranean with an incursion into Cyprus' EEZ. This has led Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to express concern about Turkey sparking a ``hot incident'' in the eastern Mediterranean. He stated, ``I fear the period from now until the referendum in Turkey, as well as the effort to create a climate of fanaticism within Turkish society,'' To further illustrate Turkey's provocative actions are ongoing, Turkey issued a Navtex on April 19, 2017 that according to one press report reserves ``an area inside the island's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), off Famagusta, to carry out seismic surveys between April 30 and June 30.'' The report elaborates on coverage of the Navtex, stating it not only includes Cyprus' EEZ, but it also extends into a part of Cyprus' territorial waters. Adding to this development is Turkey's intensified military presence in an area stretching south from Rhodes to the coast of Paphos in Cyprus and the issuance of three consecutive Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) for military exercise over Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. Moreover, these threats in Cyprus' EEZ are an endangerment to U.S. companies, such as ExxonMobil and Noble Energy, who have been, or will be, working to explore for hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean. The Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right under international law to explore and exploit its natural resources within its EEZ. The United States has repeatedly stated it supports Cyprus' sovereign right to explore energy in its offshore areas. Cypriot government officials, such as Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, have stated the island's natural resources belong to all its people and that once a settlement is reached, potential revenues would be shared. Furthermore, regarding the Cyprus settlement talks, which are at a near stand-still, instead of helping to provide stability by promoting a just settlement supported by both communities, Turkey continues to insist on antiquated and obstructive stances. For example, Turkey's insistence the Treaty of Guarantee allows for future unilateral Turkish military interventions, which is completely unacceptable and contradicts the governing principals of a European Union member state. Moreover, Turkey refuses to withdraw its 40,000 illegally-stationed troops on Cyprus. The withdrawal of Turkish troops would be a significant confidence building measure in the peace process. Meanwhile, Turkey's relations with the European Union are at low-point. President Erdogan's consolidation of power following the referendum vote of April 15 is of concern, leading to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to announce it will begin re-monitoring Turkey and also leading some members of European Parliament to state the EU will have to reassess its position on Turkey. In the lead-up to the April 15 referendum, President Erdogan called Europe the ``center of Nazism.'' This does not bode well for the fragile EU-Turkey deal on the migrant crisis, which if it falls apart, will have a detrimental effect on Greece, which took the brunt of the crisis in 2015-16 with more than one million arrivals. Finally, AHI understands fully well that defeating ISIS will be at the top of your agenda with President Erdogan. However, the United States cannot depend on, or trust, Turkey as an ally in this important fight. ``Erdogan long played footsie with the Islamic State; his government apparently helped arm, sell oil from, and open Turkish territory for use by ISIS. More recently he has targeted the Syrian Kurds, U.S. allies against ISIS,'' writes Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, an April 26, 2017 opinion piece. Bandow concludes, ``In the case of Turkey, President Erdogan has abandoned its long-standing affinity for the West.'' Moreover, in a 2015 article, Robert Ellis cited a UN Security Council report that he states concludes: ``Turkey has also provided the primary routes for arms smuggled to ISIL and the Al-Nusrah Front, an Al-Qaida affiliate.'' Additionally, Turkey only agreed to help after the Turks ``forced the U.S. into a yearlong negotiation'' to use Incirlik air base to strike the Islamic State, according to Wall Street Journal commentary. As a result, policy analysts have openly questioned whether Turkey should be a NATO member. To further illustrate this point, Turkey undermined the coalition's efforts to combat ISIS when it killed partner forces in a series of airstrikes in Syria and Iraq on April 25th. Therefore, AHI cautions that whatever future assistance Turkey should grant the United States on ISIS must not come at the expense of true and tried allies who promote and advance U.S. national interests in the eastern Mediterranean region. President Trump, AHI's perspective on these pressing issues are founded on the rule of law and are based on what is in the best interests of United States security in the region. Given the conduct and policies of the Erdogan regime, it is essential that the U.S. fundamentally re-assess our alliance and overall relationship with Turkey. We hope that you will make this point to President Erdogan. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nick Larigakis, President.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Travel and Tourism Week, which runs from May 7 to May 13. I grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where our historic sponge docks, authentic Greek communities, and beautiful waterways draw visitors from around the State, country, and the world. As a young kid, I worked in my grandfather's bakery in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Many of our customers were tourists coming to sample Greek pastries on their visit to Tarpon Springs. Today, tourism remains important to businesses in our community. And in 2015, both business and leisure travelers spent $2 billion in Florida's 12th Congressional District. Travel and tourism is one of the largest industries in the United States. Last year alone, it generated more than $2.3 trillion in economic output, and it is responsible for 15.3 million jobs nationwide. In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, I thank the people who work each day to welcome travelers and keep this important industry strong.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I recently visited The Next 24, an addiction recovery residential home in New Port Richey, Florida. They do fantastic work to give those impacted by addiction a second chance. After all, the opioid crisis is not only a national epidemic; it is happening here in our local communities. Addiction knows no bounds and does not discriminate based on race, age, income, or ZIP Code. It seems like so many people have a story about how they have been affected. Thanks to the 21st Century Cures Act, Florida will soon receive $27 million in new grant funding to help fight the opioid crisis. The $27 million will go towards increasing access to treatment and recovery services, strengthening public education efforts, and improving pain management practices. This critical grant is the first of two rounds of funding to support an all-hands-on-deck approach in Florida to combat opioid abuse and save lives.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, while the Veterans Choice Program is by no means perfect--the chairman said this, as well as the ranking member--many of our men and women who wore our Nation's uniform rely on it for increased access to quality health care. I strongly support S. 544 because veterans should have certainty that their care will continue, and I am optimistic that our efforts to reform and build upon the Choice Program will yield positive results going forward. The intentions and goals of the Choice Program are good, giving our true American heroes more choices and more focused care; but, clearly, some areas of the program need improvement. I hear that from my veterans. We have already taken some solid steps to make the program work better for veterans, but not enough. We will have the opportunity to fix this in a bipartisan fashion; for example, one positive step: The eligibility rules initially stated that a veteran had to live 40 miles as the crow flies from the nearest VA facility. We changed it to 40 miles driving distance. That is just common sense; isn't it? I think it is. We have also made reforms to increase the number of non-VA providers who are allowed to participate in the program and expand eligibility to all enrolled veterans. There is much work to be done, there is no question. The only way we can continue improving the Veterans Choice Program and ensure that veterans see no interruption to their health care is to eliminate the sunset date. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 544.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Florida's Consul General of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Adamantia Klotsa, a model foreign representative and distinguished member of the Greek community in my district. Ms. Klotsa was recently honored by the Federation of Hellenic American Educators for her ``continuous effort to execute professional and outstanding duties towards the language, the culture and services for the Greek community of Florida.'' Before her diplomatic mission in Tampa, Ms. Adamantia Klotsa was born in Athens. She holds B.A.s in both Archeology and Law as well as an M.A. in Prehistoric Archeology from the University of Athens. Ms. Klotsa entered the Diplomatic Service of the Hellenic Republic in 1998. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, she served in the Office of the Secretary General, the NATO Department, and the Personnel Department. As the co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus and the Congressional Hellenic-Israeli Alliance and a former member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I deeply appreciate the hard work and consummate professionalism displayed daily by our foreign diplomats, especially Ms. Klotsa. As a proud Greek-American, I am thankful that Ms. Klotsa in her official capacity has encouraged Greek-Americans fully appreciate the diversity of their heritage. As a young boy, my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles instilled in me an appreciation for our beautiful culture, which focuses on family, community, and faith, and it is with great pride, that I continue to uphold these values today. Ms. Klotsa's current diplomatic mission in Tampa has also served to reinforce Florida's possession of remarkable Greek cultural treasures like Tarpon Springs in my district, home to the largest Epiphany celebration in the Western Hemisphere and world renowned Sponge Docks, and St. Augustine which boasts the earliest colonization of Greeks in the New World. Additionally, she recently introduced the application of a Sisters City relationship with the city of St. Augustine and Koroni, Greece. Initiatives like these will continue to contribute to the rich cultural and economic success in Florida's Twelfth Congressional District for years to come. I commend the Federation of Hellenic American Educators for recognizing the contributions of Ms. Klotsa, and I hope every foreign diplomat can learn from and emulate the dedication of this Greek public servant to peace and prosperity between our nations.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight legislation I recently introduced, the VA GORDIAN KNOT Act, which would help improve and reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. In Greek mythology, the Gordian knot represents a complex problem that needs out-of-the-box thinking to solve, and that is exactly what we need. The VA's Gordian knot is its repeated manipulation of key data and overall lack of accountability. The VA has been known to yield less- than-truthful information when it comes to collecting and reporting data about patient care, appointment wait times, and employee hiring and firing practices. This behavior is an erosion of public trust and a disservice to our Nation's veterans, our true heroes. It also makes it difficult to properly address the VA's shortcomings and enhance its successes because there are successes as well. The VA GORDIAN KNOT Act requires the VA to standardize its data collecting and reporting mechanisms and increases oversight of the integrity and accuracy of the information. I believe this bill is absolutely necessary to reform the VA and assist in its mission to care for our true American heroes.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I have enjoyed working with my chairman, and, of course, our ranking member, on behalf of our true American heroes over the years, and we have got much more good work to do for our heroes. Mr. Chairman, too often, the VA has failed to hold employees accountable when they do not uphold their duty to care for those who served. The vast majority, as has been said by our chairman, are hardworking and dedicated to our Nation's heroes. But those bad actors are harmful to veterans and the VA's reputation as a whole. They must be fired. If a VA employee fails in their duty to care for veterans, they should be removed, as I said, from their post swiftly, no matter how senior their position. It is unacceptable that it can take a year, or even longer, to remove, demote, or suspend a VA employee. The VA Accountability First Act would remove those bureaucratic roadblocks and rid the agency of its toxic culture of mediocrity. The bill would also safeguard whistleblowers--that is necessary--from retaliation and protect employees' due process rights. I am proud to cosponsor the VA Accountability First Act, and I strongly urge passage.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, in recent weeks, I held three townhall meetings and a roundtable discussion about health care in my district. Hundreds of constituents attended, and altogether I spent more than 10 hours listening to our folks. The best ideas come from the people, Madam Speaker. I know you know that, and I feel it is my duty as a Representative to hear my constituents' input. The American Health Care Act reflects what I have heard from patients, families, doctors, and many others over the past 8 years. Our bill will lower costs, increase choices, and give patients greater control of their health care. We are helping middle-income Americans gain access to affordable coverage. It also protects those with preexisting conditions and allows young adults to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26. Most importantly, this legislation is moving through the Congress in an open and transparent manner. I invite the people of Florida's 12th Congressional District and everyone to read and share the American Health Care Act at readthebill.gop.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, as President Trump remarked in his joint address, we must work to bring down the high price of prescription drugs. Too often we have seen the price of lifesaving medication skyrocket due to bad actors taking advantage of monopolies in the market. We witnessed it in 2015 when Turing Pharmaceuticals hiked the price of Daraprim, a drug to treat HIV patients. We saw it again with Mylan Pharmaceuticals raising the cost of the EpiPen by 400 percent. We cannot allow this to continue. I am proud to join my colleague, Congressman Kurt Schrader, to introduce the Lower Drug Costs Through Competition Act. Our bill is a bipartisan approach to tackle the issue of high drug costs head-on. Our legislation uses the free market to incentivize competition among drug makers, encouraging them to bring new generic drugs to market. My constituents in Florida and folks nationwide need relief. Let's get this done.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 30 million Americans affected by a rare disease. An astounding 95 percent of rare diseases have no approved treatments or cures. My bill, the OPEN Act, seeks to change that. The OPEN Act provides incentives for drug makers to repurpose major market treatments for rare disease patients. It could open the door for a surge in biotechnology jobs and investment. Most importantly, the OPEN Act would help make sure those suffering from a rare condition can finally find safe, effective, affordable medication. I was inspired to write the OPEN Act after meeting with folks who live with rare diseases, like Ashleigh Pike, Candace Lerman, and Kelly Freeman from Florida. The ideas that shaped this legislation came from those who it will help most, rare disease patients. After all, rare diseases are not a rare problem. The OPEN Act has the potential to bring hope to millions of patients and their families.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous materials.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), a good friend and a strong advocate for our veterans.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. Representative Yoho does outstanding work. He traveled to VISN 8 in St. Petersburg, Florida, which is about 3 hours away. We had a discussion about this particular issue. He came up with the suggestion, and he is following through with it. It is a good piece of legislation. Let's get it through the Senate this time. I yield back the balance of my time.