Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize all the hard- working nurses across America. Nursing is our country's largest healthcare profession. There are more than 3.1 million registered nurses working on the front lines with patients across the country. Beyond working in hospitals, nurses work at private practices, public health agencies, primary care clinics, home health care, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities. Nurses perform a number of important duties. They are a pillar of our healthcare system and are vital in creating a healthier America. An increased emphasis on preventative care means nurses will become even more important in the future. Nurses do important and fantastic work and are an integral part of our healthcare system. If you know a nurse--or the next time you see one--thank them for what they do.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Parkinson's Awareness Month. People close to me have been impacted by Parkinson's disease. For me, it is personal. I am proud to serve as a cochair of the Parkinson's Caucus. It is just another way that I can get involved. Sadly, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Treatment is available, but it is often costly or marginally effective. This is not acceptable, as far as I am concerned. People tell me, Just increase funding at NIH. In the early 2000s, we did; we doubled the budget at NIH, but we didn't double the cures. In addition to adequate funding, we need to think critically about structural changes in our healthcare system. We need to rethink what we are doing and how we are doing it. The 21st Century Cures initiative is giving us an opportunity to find new cures and treatments for people living with rare and chronic conditions like Parkinson's disease.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 2, to repeal and replace the SGR. This bill will replace the SGR with the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, or MIPS. MIPS means physicians are practicing better medicine to keep their patients healthier. Healthier people utilize less health care, which means a lower cost to the taxpayer. Nearly 150,000 seniors live in my district. This bill gives them certainty that their doctor will see them. It provides seniors with better care. H.R. 2 includes a 2-year extension for community health centers funding, which is very important to my constituents. This bill is pro- senior, pro-doctor, and pro-patient. This is a historic moment, nearly 20 years in the making. We have a chance to make a huge difference for seniors. The benefits of repealing the SGR are clear. Support this bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 194th anniversary of Greek independence. Citizens of Greece have always been a proud people, in body, mind, and spirit. From Pericles, the Greek statesman and general, dubbed ``the first citizen of Athens''; to Plato, who laid a groundwork in philosophy so vast that the entirety of European philosophical tradition is said to simply be a footnote to his work; to Count Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first head of state of an independent Greece, Greeks have been exceptional. I am almost certain that Thomas Jefferson cast an eye across the Atlantic towards Greece when he uttered these words in 1821: ``The flames kindled on the 4th of July 1776 have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism. On the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.'' It is no coincidence that the Feast of Annunciation--Evangelismos--a commemoration of the conception of Jesus Christ, is also celebrated on March 25, just as Greek Independence Day is celebrated. I am blessed to be of two cultures that have been beacons of freedom for all of civilization: the place of my birth, the land of the free and the home of the brave, the United States of America; and the land of my ancestors, the birthplace of democracy, the Hellenic Republic. Many Greeks fought for years, holding on to their heritage, culture, and faith. Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the emblem of freedom for Hellenes, the flag bearing a white cross and nine blue and white stripes representing the nine letters in Eleftheria, meaning freedom. Eight years of bloodshed and battle led to the Treaty of Adrianople, the formal declaration of a free and independent Greece. Greece was the world's first advanced civilization, one that provided a cultural heritage that has influenced the world. Firsts in philosophy, mathematics, politics, sports, and art all stemmed from a free Greece. Liberty and justice, freedom to determine the path of one's own life, these are human desires, and they were embodied by Greece throughout their fight for independence. Those unyielding Hellenes paid life and limb for those desires, and generations of Greeks for decades to come owe their ancestors thanks. As George Washington once said: ``Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.'' This held true in Greece in 1821, as it did in America in 1776. ``Freedom or Death'' was the battle cry of the revolutionaries nearly 200 years ago. It rings true today. Freedom is a powerful and beautiful notion. The Greek people achieved that for themselves 194 years ago, and I am proud to celebrate in memory of those who fought bravely to shed the shackles of the Ottoman Empire. We celebrate Greek independence to reaffirm the common democratic heritage we share. And, as Americans, we must continue to pursue the spirit of freedom and liberty, which characterizes both of our great nations. God bless America. Long live Greece--Zito i Ellas.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Women's History Month. Many famous women have shaped the course of our country's fate; however, there are also women of note in our local communities that have made a real impact. I would like to highlight a constituent of mine, Paula O'Neil, Ph.D. Dr. O'Neil was elected as the first woman to serve as clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller in Pasco County's history. A true role model, Dr. O'Neil has a long history of exemplary public service in government and serves as a professor at Saint Leo College, now Saint Leo University. She has also been a courageous voice for others as she bravely battles cancer, stressing the importance of early detection. This National Women's History Month, I am happy to honor Dr. Paula O'Neil and recognize all women making a positive impact in our communities.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Thank you, Dr. Burgess. You are doing an outstanding job with this course and health care in general. I appreciate it so very much. I know my constituents do. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying bill to repeal and replace the President's health care law. Health care reform should lower costs and increase access; instead, the President's signature piece of legislation didn't let people keep the plans they liked, raised health care premiums, and cut Medicare by $500 billion. When the President said, ``If you like your plan, you can keep it,'' my constituents told me that wasn't true. On average, a 30-year-old woman in Pasco County, Florida, will see her prices increase over 30 percent. Costs haven't been lowered. It is as simple as that. The Obama administration willingly cut Medicare to pay for a health care law that was poorly written and implemented. Support H.R. 596, and repeal this law, and support a patient- centered, free market alternative that will lower costs and increase access to care.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) as well. I also want to thank the ranking member for doing such a great job and working on this piece of legislation. I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act. This legislation would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify that grant funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to enhance medical preparedness and purchase medical countermeasures. I originally introduced the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act in 2012 after a series of hearings on medical countermeasures when I proudly served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications. At these hearings, the need for this legislation was highlighted when we received numerous testimonies from the emergency response community on the importance of stockpiling medical countermeasures in the event of a WMD attack. This includes predeployed medical kits for first responders, as Mr. Carter said, their families, and immediate victims of widespread terrorist attacks on our homeland and natural disasters, resources similar to those provided to postal workers participating in the national U.S. Postal Medical Countermeasures Dispensing Pilot Program. The grant guidance for the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative currently permits this funding to be used to procure medical countermeasures. It also allows for other medical preparedness and medical surge capacity equipment and activities. However, this guidance is developed on an annual basis. There is no guarantee that these uses will be authorized in the future. To be clear, as Mr. Carter said, no new funding is authorized in this bill. However, the expenditures authorized and codified by the bill we are considering today can make a big difference in protecting the public. If we are not safe, Mr. Speaker, nothing else matters. Codifying this authority will assist emergency responders in the event of an attack, providing certainty that grant funding may be used to support them now and in the future. We must have certainty. I consistently find myself in awe of our first responders and the sacrifices that they make on the public's behalf. In the wake of recent terrorist attacks, such as the Boston Marathon bombing, I am committed to ensuring Congress fulfills its obligation to support those brave men and women responding to these various threats. I thank my colleagues, Representative Susan Brooks and Representative Peter King, for being original cosponsors and for their continued support with this legislation. I would also like to commend the chairman of the full Homeland Security Committee, Chairman McCaul, for his leadership in making this initiative a priority and also for being a cosponsor of this good bill. Finally, I would like to note that the Emergency Services Coalition for Medical Preparedness continues to endorse this bill and its intent. The Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in the last two Congresses; however, the Senate never acted on this measure. With new leadership in the Senate, Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that they can take this measure up quickly so that we can get this before the President to be signed into law. We have a responsibility to ensure our communities are prepared, equipped, and capable of executing countermeasures for future terrorist threats and natural disasters. Passage of H.R. 361 would truly aid our first responders in this endeavor. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this great bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Thank you for holding this very important Special Order. Way back in the Florida Legislature, when I was a member of the Cuban Caucus, so proud to be a member of the Cuban Caucus, I started speaking out against the Castro brothers' brand of oppression. Over the past 5 years, I joined with all of you to decry Alan Gross' arrest. I am thankful for his recent release. Alan Gross' freedom was long overdue, we all agree. I am glad he is safely on U.S. soil, but a large injustice remains: the plights of Cuban citizens, who have suffered for over five decades under the Castro regime in search of basic human rights and political freedoms that we as Americans, frankly, take for granted. Then, almost out of nowhere, the Obama administration decides to normalize relations with Cuba. This will allow American dollars to the rescue of the Castro brothers at a critical time. Their normal economic benefactors--Russia and Venezuela--cannot afford to help. Now, more than ever, economic sanctions can be used as an effective tool to force the Castro regime to afford basic human rights and political freedoms to all of Cuba's citizens. Scholars have noted that normalizing our economic policy with oppressive countries, like China or Vietnam, have produced no significant improvements in human rights treatment. Given the precedent, there is no reason to believe the situation with Cuba will yield significant different results. In fact, we already know that the suffering for Cuba's citizens will continue, unfortunately. Raul Castro proclaimed that there would be no renunciation of any of their principles. Cuban restrictions on free speech, assembly, and press will remain. They proved it just this last week. Travel and tourism will remain strictly controlled by the Castro regime. Tourism dollars that Americans will spend will go directly to the oppressors. We cannot ignore the sense of betrayal that Cuban defectors feel in response to the President's plan. We should be demanding genuine freedom: release of all political prisoners, universal human rights, Democratic principles, and a free market for the Cuban people. In order to ensure the citizens of Cuba stand a chance to benefit from this ill-advised agreement, Cuba's despots must relinquish control and eradicate their tools of tyranny. Actual human rights reforms must occur before any commercial or political normalization takes place. I will continue to monitor the actions on the island in search of positive movement.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. ``Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this week is Florida's First Responder Appreciation Week. Every day, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. Sadly, in my district, Tarpon Springs police officer Charles ``Charlie K'' Kondek was shot and killed right before Christmas as he patrolled the streets on the midnight shift while the rest of us slept securely in our homes. There is no such thing as a typical day for first responders. On average, an officer dies in the line of duty every 58 hours--150 deaths per year. This week, and every day, we should be thankful for the first responders serving our communities. Let us never forget the sacrifices of Officer Kondek and others who have fallen in the line of duty. These brave officers and their families are in our prayers. They are remembered.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced legislation to prevent illegal immigrants from claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit. The refundable child tax credit provides cash payment to low-income families who pay no income tax. The program was intended to be an additional cash benefit for families who receive the earned- income tax credit. While administered through the tax code, it is a means-tested welfare expenditure. Since Social Security numbers are issued only to those who have the legal right to work in the United States, illegal immigrants use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN), which are issued by the IRS regardless of legal status. ITINs allow a person to file a tax return and thus claim the tax credit. The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Certifying Agent Program, which allows a person to apply for an ITIN on behalf of an individual with no verification of their immigration status, has compounded the abuse of ITINs for fraudulent tax claims. With no verification of a person's status on their tax return or at the issuance of an ITIN, the system has a significant fault, which allows taxpayer dollars to go to those who are not eligible. The Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has reported that illegal immigrants claimed $4.2 billion through this child tax credit in 2010. With the federal government borrowing heavily to finance deficits of nearly $1 trillion, we need to ensure federal benefits are only going to law-abiding citizens. We must take steps to solve this waste of taxpayer money by ending this gap in the tax code. If enacted, this legislation would require those claiming the tax credit to list their social security number or other proof of lawful immigration status on their tax return. It would also require the IRS to verify the proper documentation before issuing ITINs. The TIGTA has estimated this legislation would reduce federal spending by $8.4 billion over two years. At a time when the federal government is operating under significant deficits, we must ensure scarce taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Allowing them to go to those who are in this country illegally is grossly irresponsible. This simple and common sense measure will ensure better accountability to all taxpayers, while also saving money. In short, this legislation will ensure this welfare program is only available to its intended recipients, ensuring those who follow the law can continue to receive this assistance. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation through Congress.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the 30 million Americans who suffer from a rare disease. One in ten, Mr. Speaker, 10 percent of the country suffers from a rare disease. Over 95 percent of these diseases have no treatments because each rare disease impacts a small number of patients. That is why I introduced the OPEN Act, the Orphan Product Extensions Now Accelerating Cures and Treatments. My bill has the potential to help millions of people, and the idea was born from an event in my district. Over the summer, I held two 21st Century Cures roundtables in my district. The 21st Century Cures is a bipartisan initiative to examine and improve the discovery-development- delivery cycle. Treatments for patients suffering from chronic and rare diseases, whether it is from medical devices or medicine, must be discovered on the ground level through basic science; developed into a practical, usable, and marketable product; and delivered to the patients so that the treatment may be effectively utilized. Mr. Speaker, the first roundtable featured patients and patient advocates. From some of those patients, I heard about the importance of repurposing drugs. This led to the introduction of the OPEN Act. My bill will leverage the free market to incentivize drugs to be repurposed to treat rare diseases and pediatric cancers. Repurposing drugs has a twofold benefit. First, the OPEN Act has the potential to result in new treatments for individuals with rare diseases. As I mentioned, the vast majority of individuals suffering from rare diseases don't have treatments, let alone cures; yet I hear often about individuals with rare diseases who will take medication that has not been tested for their condition. The OPEN Act incentivizes the testing of mainstream drugs on rare diseases. This bill opens the door for new treatments. The OPEN Act can also create a new surge in biotechnology jobs and investments. Creating jobs and helping the sick are laudable goals, Mr. Speaker. My bill takes a step toward accomplishing that. This bill can help millions of people. It will ensure repurposed medications are safe and effective for rare conditions and can be reimbursed through insurance coverage--so important. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation which I introduced with my colleagues, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Hastings. Helping those with rare diseases is a cause worth supporting, and I am proud to have introduced the OPEN Act.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 669) to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life, with the Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 2917) to expand the program of priority review to encourage treatments for tropical diseases, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my alma mater, Tarpon Springs High School, and its outdoor ensemble for winning the 2014 Bands of America championship. This is their sixth championship in 14 years, Mr. Speaker. They have won a total of 11 grand championships in Bands of America regionals in Georgia and Florida. The Tarpon Springs marching band has also been dubbed Grand Champions at the Seminole Sound Spectacular for the past 13 consecutive years. The Sponger band, named for the early 20th century sponge divers who migrated from Greece to Tarpon Springs, Florida, are the single most dominant and accomplished marching band in Florida. Congratulations to the students; the band leader, Kevin Ford; and the parents involved in this year's championship. ``Go, Spongers!'' Mr. Speaker, I am so proud.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5441, which will amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to reflect the service of women in the Armed Forces. This legislation is a common-sense update of an 80-year-old charter to better reflect the makeup of the modern military--namely, the inclusion of women in prominent roles throughout several branches of the military. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a premier Veterans Service Organization, with more than 2 million members of all ages across our great country. All Veterans are heroes regardless of their gender, and this legislation reflects that equality in the formal charter of a remarkably successful organization that exists to support all Veterans, and their spouses.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important anniversary. In two days, the Daughters of Penelope, an international woman's organization and affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), will celebrate its 85th anniversary on November 16. Founded in San Francisco, the Daughters of Penelope originally worked to improve the status and well- being of women and their families. They also sought to provide women with the opportunity to make significant contributions to their communities and country. After successfully achieving many of their early goals, the Daughters of Penelope now promote the ideals of ancient Greece: philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, and family and individual excellence, achieved through community service and volunteerism. I am a proud Greek-American. As a young boy, my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles instilled in me an appreciation for our beautiful Greek culture, which focuses on family, community, and faith. As Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, it is with great pride that I see these values shine through the Daughters of Penelope today, across all of its 250 chapters worldwide. Through the exceptional Penelope House in Mobile, Alabama and Penelope's Place in Brockton, Massachusetts, the organization vigorously supports efforts to combat domestic violence in Greece as well as the United States. The development of these shelters brought renewed hope to many areas with suffering families who previously did not have access to the same level of care. As a member of the Congressional Cancer Caucus, I am impressed with the organization's efforts to provide financial support and raise awareness for medical research on treatments for breast cancer, Thalassemia (Cooley's anemia), muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer's disease. The Daughters of Penelope are also a leading sponsor of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program, which offers affordable housing to senior citizens in Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas. In addition to helping the elderly, the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., supports the educational objectives of the Daughters of Penelope by providing tens of thousands of dollars annually for scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, and donating children's books to schools, shelters and churches through the ``Penelope's Books'' program. Last year, the organization worked with our Hellenic Caucus and the Embassy of Greece to promote the health related benefits of eating a ``Healthy Greek Diet'' here in Washington, D.C. After eighty-five meaningful and productive years, it excites me to see what the Daughters of Penelope will accomplish and how they will help our country and our culture in the next eighty-five years.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act. This bill is a substantive step towards more affordable energy prices and job creation across the country. Today's average gas price of $3.28 is well up from the $2.35 per gallon in 2009. Not only are gas prices up, but so too are the prices of groceries and the prices for heating and cooling your home. Among other important measures, this bill would approve the Keystone pipeline. Friday marks 6 years of delays on Keystone by this administration. That is too long for a job-creating measure. Domestic energy production helps middle class Americans with their everyday costs. Vote ``yes'' for the middle class. Vote ``yes'' for jobs and more affordable energy. Vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of pancreatic cancer awareness. There are no early detection methods for pancreatic cancer, and treatment options are limited. Over 130 million Americans suffer from a chronic condition or rare disease. Like pancreatic cancer, many have no cures and limited treatment options. The 21st Century Cures initiative is a bipartisan effort to get cures and treatments to patients more quickly. Millions of Americans who suffer from cancer, including the nearly 50,000 with pancreatic cancer, will benefit from this initiative. I held two 21st Century Cures roundtables in my district in August to hear from patients, patient advocates, researchers, clinicians, and representatives from medical device companies. Pancreatic cancer advocates participated as well. Together, we can raise awareness and find cures and treatments for chronic and deadly diseases like pancreatic cancer.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today, we bow our heads in solemn remembrance of the victims lost in the terror attacks on this country on September 11, 2001 and in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. On September 11, 2001, America changed. Terrorists who despise all that is good and true about America killed thousands of innocent citizens. On September 11, 2012, more Americans were killed at the consulate in Benghazi. We were reminded the fight is not over, and that America still has enemies. We reflect with gratitude on all of the men and women who have bravely fought to defend us from anyone seeking to harm the United States and her citizens. We pray for all those still fighting, and for those who answer the call of duty in years to come. On this somber day in our nation's history, we stand united as Americans and steadfast in our resolve to ensure that our sacred ideals of freedom, justice, and prosperity continue to shine as a beacon of hope for future generations around the world. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this piece of legislation, also the sponsor, Dr. Cassidy, for his leadership on this particular piece of legislation. I rise today in support of the Employee Health Care Protection Act. When the President said, ``If you like your plan, you can keep it,'' that was deemed PolitiFact's Lie of the Year. Then, millions of Americans across the country in the individual market received cancelation notices. They felt the impacts of the broken promises of the President's health care law. Now the specter of cancelations looms again. Up to 50 million people who get health care through their employers could have their plans canceled or disrupted because of rules and regulations in the President's health care law. That is 1 in 6 Americans, Mr. Speaker. If one of my constituents wants to keep their plan, they should be able to. Support this bill, and make the President keep his promise to the American people.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, Job Corps is the largest career technical training and education program for low-income students ages 16 through 24. There are five centers in Florida--Pinellas County, Jacksonville, Miami, Gainesville, and Homestead. In Florida, approximately 27,000 students are trained annually. The contributions of Job Corps to these young men and women, the future of this community, cannot be overstated. That is the essence of this country--men and women who did not believe there was a ceiling on their capacity to achieve greatness; men and women who reached higher, and wanted to do better. Students who work to graduate from Job Corps are emulating and realizing those distinctly American values. We have fallen on hard times--a lot of Americans are out of work, and people in all walks of life are feeling the impacts of an economy still on the rebound. It is men and women like the graduates of Job Corps who will help bring this country back to greatness and economic prosperity. We are a nation of doers, and we are at our best when we are creating things and ideas. Hard work is a virtue that no one can take from anyone else. Each day, you decide what to give; you decide how hard you will work, how hard you will try. ``Pull yourself up by your bootstraps'' is a phrase often used with respect to doing a job. It is not often so simple. To pull yourself up, you must be armed with the skills to do so; armed with the skills to succeed. By coming here, to the Job Corps, each and every one of those young men and women chose to get those skills. That in and of itself is commendable--they made the choice to work to better themselves. That choice sets Job Corps graduates apart, and they are all extraordinary. Today, I want to express its appreciation to the Pinellas County Center for their outstanding service in improving the lives of youth.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today I rise in support of the VA conference report on H.R. 3230. The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 is a positive first step toward reforming the VA, which provides, among other things, relief to veterans who have waited excessively to receive the health care they have earned at a level of quality they deserve, Mr. Speaker. This bill also includes real accountability provisions, allowing the VA Secretary to fire or demote Senior Executive Service employees for lack of performance and management negligence. This reform package is focused around ensuring the veteran has timely access to quality care and includes language to authorize 27 major medical facility leases, including one in Pasco County, Florida, in my congressional district. The veterans in my area will soon have the ability to seek treatments at a consolidated clinic, thanks to Chairman Miller, as opposed to having to travel between the main clinic and four other satellite facilities. Authorizing these leases will improve the timeliness for veterans to receive care in Pasco County and in 17 other States throughout the Nation, as well as Puerto Rico. Passage of this bill is the beginning, not the end. Obviously much work needs to be done. However, immediate action needs to be taken to get veterans off waiting lists and ensure they receive care within the VA health system or in the private sector, if they so choose. The veteran should have the choice. We need to get this done for our veterans. I urge passage of the bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his good work on this bill, as well as his leadership on this very important subcommittee, and I appreciate it very much. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act, which would reauthorize Brand USA for a limited time, adds numerous accountability measures and strengthens the transparency of the public-private partnership that promotes increased tourism to the United States. Passage of H.R. 4450 will be good for the economy. It is a jobs bill, Mr. Speaker. A recent analysis performed by the independent firm Oxford Economics estimated that, in fiscal year 2013, Brand USA generated 1.1 million additional international visitors who spent an estimated $3.4 billion, generating economic revenue and supporting job creation in communities across America. Brand USA does not impose a cost upon the Federal Government. It has helped to reduce the deficit during the last 2 fiscal years and is expected to continue to do so. In fact, the respected and nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 4450 will reduce the deficit by $231 million over 10 years. It is a win-win, Mr. Speaker. It is important to note that Federal taxpayer dollars are not used to fund Brand USA. Brand USA is supported by international visitors and voluntary private sector contributors. After it receives contribution from the private sector, Brand USA can only collect up to $100 million in matching funds from fees paid by foreign travelers. Amounts collected in excess of that cap are returned to the Treasury for deficit reduction. Finally, given the benefits to the economy across State lines, as well as the competitive nature of foreign competitors in travel promotion, Congress is well within its authority under the Commerce Clause to extend the Travel Promotion Act. Small State and local tourism offices and local small businesses across America are some of the strongest supporters of the Travel Promotion Act and benefit greatly from international tourism. Brand USA helps bridge these communities and opens up new markets to American competition. I appreciate consideration of this legislation, which several commentators have noted includes important reforms. This bill improves an already existing partnership, Mr. Speaker. I thank Chairman Upton for his leadership, again, the subcommittee chair, Chairman Terry, doing an outstanding job, all those who have contributed to this bill, our lead cosponsor, Mr. Peter Welch, and the cochair of the Tourism Caucus, Mr. Farr--who I believe will speak in a few minutes--for their work on this legislation, and also the ranking member of the subcommittee, Ms. Schakowsky. I urge support of this prudent and narrow reauthorization of the Travel Promotion Act.