Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, Tampa police officers who were shot and killed in the line of duty Tuesday morning. Both officers were highly revered by their peers. Officer Curtis is remembered fondly for his positive outlook on life, his rational demeanor, and his devotion to this family. Many of those who know him comment about his dedication to his wife, Kelly, and four sons Austin, Sean, Tyler, and Hunter. He chose to work midnight shifts so that he would have more time to spend with them. Officer Kocab is described as a highly motivated individual--active and productive--always looking for the ``bad guys'' and an exceptional learner. He exuded a caring and compassionate temperament toward those around him. His colleagues comment that his family was the main focus of his life. He was tragically taken from his pregnant wife, Sara. Fine officers such as David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, who so selflessly sacrifice their lives, keep us safe in our communities. Though truly proud to have such upstanding officers in my community, it is with great remorse that I rise and commemorate their lives. It is such a tragedy that these remarkable men were taken at the prime of their lives. I extend my condolences to their families, friends, and colleagues. Although I did not have the honor of knowing Officer Curtis or Officer Kocab, I am thankful to know that because of their tireless work, so many lives have been enhanced and made safer.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Pinellas County's Ray Robson who, at the age of 14, became America's youngest chess grandmaster. Ray's passion for chess began at age three when his father, Gary Robson, brought home his first chess set. They played chess daily, with Ray's father beating him every time, until he was four. Ray continued to excel in chess, and his father soon lost track of how many times his son had beat him. By the time Ray was 11, he earned the distinguished title of chess master, and still holds the distinguished honor of being the youngest chess master in Florida's history. Over the past four years, his record-setting performances have continued to resound throughout the chess community. In addition to being an international master, Ray was also the youngest person to qualify for the U.S. Chess Championship, the youngest recipient of the Samford Chess Fellowship, and the youngest participant for the U.S. at a World Team Championship. Ray's dedication, perseverance, and achievements are truly remarkable. I cannot imagine the pressure he faced while challenging and defeating some opponents more than twice his age. I would also like to commend Ray's parents for their role in helping their son develop his talents and succeed. The national and international recognition Ray has earned is incredible, especially for a young man of only 15. It is my honor to stand before Congress and recognize the accomplishments of Ray Robson, and I wish him continued success in the future.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 1388, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week. As a representative of a Congressional District along Florida's Gulf Coast, many of my constituents have witnessed the destruction that hurricanes can cause. Although the Tampa Bay area has been fortunate enough to evade the path of a major storm for the past five years, we must not forget the importance of being prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that this could be an extremely active hurricane season, with 14 to 23 named storms. I worry that predictions of an active season exacerbated by the still unknown implications of the effects of the oil spill could be a recipe for the most devastating season we've yet to experience. Although we hope and pray that this will not become reality, we must also call to mind the memories of the power outages and physical damage caused by the high speed winds. We must put ourselves in a position of preparedness. I encourage all individuals, especially those who reside along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard, to take the necessary precautions to prepare themselves and their families should these predictions prove accurate. Develop an emergency plan. Make a disaster preparedness kit that includes water, nonperishable food items, a first aid kit, medications, and important documents. Know emergency evacuation routes. The best time to prepare is now.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dewayne Staats, the iconic voice of the Tampa Bay Rays. Broadcasting major league baseball for over 30 years and calling games for the Rays since their inception, Dewayne will call his 5,000th major league ball game tonight when the Rays play the San Diego Padres at St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field. In fact, I think they just got started this evening. Baseball fans all across Tampa Bay and Florida have watched and listened to games called by Dewayne as the Rays have grown from an expansion team to American League champions and one of the best teams in major league baseball. I think the best. Prior to joining the Rays, Dewayne spent years calling play-by-play for ESPN in a variety of sports, including major league baseball and NCAA baseball, basketball and football, as well as for several other major league teams, including the Houston Astros, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Yankees. Dewayne began his career as a sports reporter while a student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and at the time became the youngest active broadcaster when he began calling major league games in 1976. Remarkably, he has called six no-hitters, Wade Boggs' 3,000th base hit, and the game in which Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb's major league hits record. Among many accomplishments of an outstanding broadcast career, Dewayne Staats has been honored as one of baseball's all-time top 101 broadcasters by author Curt Smith. Aside from masterfully calling Rays' games from the broadcast booth, Dewayne and his wife Carla are pillars in the Tampa Bay community, actively supporting the Veteran Employment Transition Foundation and Quantum Leap Farm, a therapeutic and recreational facility for wounded warriors and disabled adults. Again, I congratulate Dewayne on the occasion of his 5,000th major league broadcast, and I look forward to hearing him call many more Rays wins.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 358 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 340 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in an effort to engage Floridians to talk about the challenges facing our country, I hosted an America Speaking Out town hall meeting in Plant City, Florida, late last week. City Hall was packed with people who are concerned about the direction our country is headed. Their message was loud and clear: Washington has ignored the voice of the American people and pushed through an agenda that does nothing but grow the size of government and our national debt. Mr. Speaker, instead of handing an IOU to future generations in an effort to radically grow the government, Washington should exercise fiscal restraint and produce economic solutions that let people and businesses keep more of what they earn so they can innovate, grow, and create jobs to kick-start our economy. Mr. Speaker, Washington can no longer ignore the voice of the people. Americans are speaking out and Washington needs to listen.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, this week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week and I encourage all Americans to ensure they are prepared in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Officials at all levels of government are working to ensure they are prepared to respond to any disaster that may impact their areas. However, disaster preparedness is not only a government responsibility. Individuals and families have an important role to play as well. Individuals should make a disaster preparedness kit with items like water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, flashlights, medications, and copies of important documents. The Florida Division of Emergency Management in my home State has a website, www.floridadisaster.org, which is a great resource for disaster planning. Other States provide these resources as well. Individuals can also visit Ready.gov and Hurricanes.gov for additional information. Madam Speaker, the time to prepare is now. I urge all Americans to take these simple steps to get prepared to weather the storm.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, during these difficult economic times, families and small businesses across Florida are making sacrifices when it comes to their own budgets, yet Washington continues to spend trillions of dollars on bailouts, takeovers and pet projects. Now comes news that the House majority isn't even going to produce a blueprint for how they are going to intend to spend taxpayers' dollars, hard- earned taxpayer dollars. Where is the budget, Mr. Speaker? Without a budget for the upcoming year, there will be no means to curb runaway government spending that has skyrocketed our debt to nearly $13 trillion. Unforgivable. Simply put, a failure to budget is a failure to govern. The American people have repeatedly made calls for fiscal responsibility. They are tired of Washington's irresponsible spending. Mr. Speaker, Congress should do its job by passing a budget and limiting spending.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 287, had I present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, recent events have highlighted gaps in our student visa laws that can be exploited by terrorists who attempt to enter our country under false pretenses and then disappear as they plot to attack us. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security disrupted schemes involving individuals holding student visas despite their violation of the terms. In addition, the recent Times Square bomber reportedly first entered the United States on a student visa in 1998. On top of that, several of the 9/11 hijackers had violated the terms of their student visas. Foreign students play an important role in our society, but we must ensure that terrorists do not use our student visa process as a back door into our country. The need to improve the system is clear. I introduced the Student Visa Security Improvement Act in order to improve screening of foreign students before they enter the U.S. and to ensure that they abide by the terms of their visa once they are here. Congress must act now to strengthen student visa security and pass H.R. 5208.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Student Visa Security Improvement Act, legislation that will strengthen the screening of those seeking student visas and enhance the monitoring of foreign students in the United States. I fully support allowing foreign students and exchange visitors to enter our country for legitimate academic and cultural purposes. However, recent media reports have disclosed schools that have helped individuals fraudulently obtain student visas or failed to report students that did not attend class. Several 9/11 terrorists overstayed their student visas and details are emerging that the suspected Times Square bomber, Faisal Shahzad, first entered the United States on a student visa. I am concerned that there are insufficient controls to ensure that those receiving student and exchange visas are properly vetted before being granted admission to the United States. Once they are here, we must ensure they are appropriately monitored. That is why I have introduced the Student Visa Security Improvement Act. This bill will require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel stationed at high-risk visa issuing posts overseas to review student and exchange visa applications and conduct interviews with applicants before they are granted a visa. These ICE agents bring enhanced security and law enforcement experience that will better ensure that prospective foreign students are not security risks. This bill also will require that foreign students are active participants in the programs in which they are enrolled and are observed at least once every 30 days during an academic term or every 60 days outside an academic term. In addition, the bill requires that changes impacting a student's nonimmigrant status, such as switching to a more sensitive academic major or transferring to another institution, will be reported to the Department of Homeland Security in a more timely manner. These improvements will reduce the opportunity for potential terrorists to use student visas as a back door into the country for the purpose of carrying out terrorist attacks, as happened on 9/11. Madam Speaker, I greatly value the contributions that foreign students and exchange visitors make to our nation and its cultural diversity. I believe that these bright young people are critically- important public diplomacy tools for our country. But we must ensure they are coming here for the right reasons. The Student Visa Security Improvement Act will enhance homeland security and ensure the integrity of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. I urge our colleagues to support it.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 212, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, Article I, section 7 of the Constitution says that in order for a bill to become law, it shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate; yet yesterday, Speaker Pelosi endorsed the so-called Slaughter rule, which would merely deem that the House has passed the Senate health care bill and then send it to President Obama to sign without a direct recorded vote. This scheme is misguided, arrogant, and fundamentally wrong. The Speaker reportedly added, nobody wants to vote for the Senate bill. Given the facts that, among other things, the $1 trillion bill is marred with special deals, mandates, tax hikes, and Medicare cuts, it is no wonder they don't want to vote for it. Considering the wide-ranging effects this trillion-dollar effort to change health care will have, the American people deserve a clear, up- or-down vote on this bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 605, which condemns the Chinese government's targeted, persistent and egregious persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This resolution was introduced last year to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's campaign to suppress the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Sadly, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and anyone associated with them, including lawyers who try to defend their human rights, continues today. Since 1999, 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been sentenced to prison, over 100,000 were sentenced to re-education through labor camps, and at least 3,000 died while in police custody. They have been sent to special high security psychiatric hospitals for the ``criminally insane'' against their will where torture has been widely reported. Lawyers trying to defend their rights have been harassed, beaten and attacked by police officers in order to intimidate them. One of China's most prominent human rights advocates, Gao Zhiseng, who has defended the rights of many individuals attacked for their religious beliefs, was detained by police in February 2009 and his whereabouts are still unknown. The government continues to deny any involvement in his case. The Government of China censors all media in China and actively opposes any information exposing its brutality and injustice. But the truth is clear to us today. This resolution is a testament to the millions of victims of the Chinese Communist Party that the Chinese government cannot hide the truth, and its victims will not be forgotten. This resolution also stands as a statement of the U.S. Congress's continued support for the inalienable right to freedom of religion and expression recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that applies to all people everywhere. To be taken seriously as a participant in the twenty-first century global economy, China must take the rights of their citizens seriously. Egregious injustices, such as those suffered by the Falun Gong practitioners and others targeted by the Chinese Communist Party, are unacceptable in a civilized world and must end today.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 102, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize George and Tina Sadlowski, who have two sons as well as a daughter-in-law who currently serve in the United States Army. Mr. and Mrs. Sadlowski have founded Operation Treasures for Troops, which provides food and other essential items to military personnel who are stationed overseas. The Sadlowskis began Operation Treasures for Troops during their oldest son's first deployment in order to provide their son with food and other items that are not available during their deployments. Currently, the Sadlowskis collect items for the troops through their church, the North Lake Family Church, in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and are in the process of recruiting stores to donate items, which would offset the costs of their organization. The Sadlowski's oldest son, Eric Sadlowski, is currently serving in Afghanistan after having previously served twice in Iraq. Andrew Sadlowski, their middle son, recently joined the military and is awaiting his first deployment. Andrew's wife, Nicole, is currently preparing to be deployed to Afghanistan. Because both are currently serving in the military, Andrew and Nicole have lived apart since they were married. Additionally, the Sadlowski's youngest son, Patrick, also desires to serve in the military. The Sadlowskis currently mail about 100 boxes to the troops per year, financing the postal and shipping costs themselves. H.R. 707, the Home Front to Heroes Postal Benefits Act, which I have cosponsored, would provide monthly vouchers so those at home could mail packages and correspondence to deployed soldiers without charge. This would allow more funding to be spent on items for the troops instead of on postal costs. Madam Speaker, I strongly commend the Sadlowski family for their extraordinary military service and for the selfless work that Mr. and Mrs. Sadlowski do to serve the troops overseas. I sincerely thank Eric, Andrew, and Nicole for their service for our country and the many sacrifices they make as they serve overseas. My most heartfelt thanks go to George and Tina as they voluntarily organize and send boxes to our troops overseas. The Sadlowski family has shown how much they care about our nation as each of them willingly serves our country, both by their military service and their service for our troops.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Dianne Villano, the founder of Support Our Marines, Inc., in St. Pete Beach, Florida, who has dedicated herself to sending packages and correspondence to Marines who are stationed overseas. For the past four years, Ms. Villano, the owner of a local fitness company, has gone out of her way to actively support the troops, donating over 30 hours a week of her time to directing her non-profit organization. After losing her fiance during the September 11th terrorist attacks, Ms. Villano began supporting the troops in 2005 by sending mail and packages to those serving overseas. In 2007, she officially founded Support Our Marines in order to send packages to Marines on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her initial contact with the Marines began when she discovered a Web site where Marines posted facts about their living conditions, experiences, and general needs while they were on duty overseas. She chose to focus her efforts on Marines stationed on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, because often, servicemembers in remote locations rarely receive packages. Since founding her organization, Ms. Villano has sent over 4,500 boxes of food and other items requested by the troops, between 40 and 60 packages a month, to over 115 contacts within the Marines who then distribute the items within their companies. Additionally, Ms. Villano works diligently to secure funding for her organization to pay the costs to ship packages overseas. Support Our Marines is a registered nonprofit in Florida and Ms. Villano recently filed for 501(c)(3) status in order to be able to more actively solicit donations. Currently, she funds much of the mailing and acquisition costs with her own paychecks. Ms. Villano also works to raise awareness about deployed Marines by competing in triathlons and running events while wearing military gear weighing about 20 percent of her body weight. She has competed in over 20 events, each of them with photographs of fallen Marines attached to her military gear and each in honor of a specific Marine from units she has adopted. Recently, Ms. Villano was honored by being named as the first runner- up for the local Jefferson Award for Public Service which recognized her outstanding community service and dedication to the troops. She chose to present her award to a wounded Marine who had inspired her during her work for the Marines and presented it to him at the James A. Haley Memorial Hospital where he was recovering from a head injury. Additionally, she has been named as an associate member of the local Marine Corps League and has received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Department of State. Madam Speaker, Ms. Villano is an extraordinary, selfless woman who deserves to be recognized for her outstanding service to the troops and for her continuing efforts to support them. I would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication as she continues to devote her time and attention to our heroes on the front lines of the war on terror.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Stephen Lucas, the director of the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics in Tampa, Florida, who is retiring after a distinguished 37 years of federal and military service. As the director of Haley Veterans' Hospital, Mr. Lucas oversaw one of the largest veterans' health care systems in the United States, comprised of the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and the associated outpatient clinics affiliated with the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Mr. Lucas, a Navy veteran who served on the USS Iwo Jima and in Vietnam, began his VA career in 1974 and since has served at multiple VA medical centers across the United States. Mr. Lucas also worked in the private sector, including as the senior hospital consultant with Sun Health, Inc., as the director of management engineering at the Madisonville Regional Health Center in Kentucky, and at the Baton Rouge General Hospital in Louisiana. During Mr. Lucas's tenure at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, he received awards recognizing his significant achievements and leadership skills, including the 2009 Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence award. Additionally, during his tenure at the Miami VA Medical Center and Clinics, the Medical Center received the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Award for providing the highest quality of care, as well as the Governor's Sterling Award, which recognizes organizations that have achieved performance superiority within their establishment. I also would like to recognize the contributions of Mr. Lucas's family, including his wife Sheri, his daughter Amanda and his two sons, Mathew and Thomas. The commitment by Mr. Lucas to the Haley Veterans' Hospital meant sacrifices from his family. Those sacrifices are highly appreciated by the veterans' community served by the hospital. Madam Speaker, Mr. Lucas is a true American hero who should be recognized for his outstanding military service, as well as his exemplary career. Haley's Veterans' Hospital has truly been blessed to have such a worthy and honorable citizen as its director. I wish him well on his retirement.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Zach Bonner, one of my young constituents whose humanitarian work has earned him the Most Inspiring Person of the Year award from Beliefnet.com. Zach created a charitable enterprise, the Little Red Wagon Foundation, when he was eight years old to help children in need. Zach has been doing humanitarian work since he was just six years old, handing out water from his red wagon after a hurricane. He has raised money to help provide meals to needy families during the holidays and has donated needed school supplies to children from lower-income families. Zach recently began a walk across America to raise awareness about the problem of youth homelessness in our country. Zach will be walking 2,225 miles to raise money to help homeless kids. He previously walked nearly 1,000 miles from Tampa to Washington D.C. for the same purpose. If he successfully completes his walk across the country--and I do not doubt that he will--Zach will become the youngest person to do so. Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent such a fine young man who has dedicated himself to helping underprivileged children. It inspires me that he has done so when he is only twelve years old himself. His age certainly belies his maturity. I want to commend this fine young man to all of our colleagues and hold him as an example of the good that can be done by one dedicated individual.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2278. I want to thank the gentleman from California, of course my good friend from Florida, and also the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley). My legislation will direct the President to transmit to Congress a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East. This nefarious activity is escalating in quality and quantity and is fueled by the rapid growth of satellite television throughout the Arab world. In 2008, al-Manar TV, which is run by Hezbollah, broadcast over two dozen video clips of insurgents' bombings against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. Further, Iranian state-controlled TV channels, such as al-Rafidayn, repeatedly broadcast calls for ``death to America.'' Al- Aqsa TV, an arm of Hamas, broadcast a puppet show depicting an Arab child stabbing the President of the United States. Instead of denouncing such incitement, many countries in the region provide financial, material, and technological support to the purveyors of incitement. Al-Manar and al-Aqsa, among others, are transmitted on the satellite providers Nilesat, which is controlled by the Egyptian Government, and Arabsat, which is controlled by the Arab League. Given the dangers such incitement poses to American soldiers and civilians in the region and at home, it is long past time for the U.S. and other responsible nations to stop this growing threat. The passage of H.R. 2278 is therefore critical. This legislation seeks to designate, under Executive Order 13224, specially designated global terrorist satellite providers which knowingly engage in contracts with entities already designated as specially designated global terrorists. This bill would also make it the policy of the U.S. to urge all governments and private investors who own shares in satellite companies to oppose transmissions of telecasts by any station that openly incites its audience to commit acts of terrorism or violence against the United States and its citizens. This bill requires the President to transmit a report to Congress that must include a country-by-country list and description of media outlets that engage in anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East and a list of satellite companies which carry such media. Most importantly, it must be the policy of the United States, in crafting its foreign policy, to consider the state sponsorship of anti- American incitement to violence when determining the level of assistance to and frequency in nature of relations with regional states. Finally, Madam Speaker, the broadcast of incitement to violence against Americans in our country on television channels and on other media that are accessible in the U.S. may increase the risk of the radicalization and recruitment of individuals into foreign terrorist organizations that seek to carry out acts of violence against American targets on American soil. This is a concerning trend that must be halted. Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of this very important measure, which I hope will improve our national security and the safety of our soldiers and citizens overseas. Again, I thank the gentleman from California and the gentlewoman from Florida. I appreciate it very much.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute to retired LTC Richard Klein Derridinger of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on September 4, 2009 after a long illness. Dick was a successful businessman, decorated military veteran, and devoted family man. Born on March 4, 1932, in Easton, Pennsylvania, Dick grew up in Chambersburg. He was a hard working young man and a devoted Eagle Scout. He attended Corpus Christi School and played football at Chambersburg High School. Dick then attended Gettysburg College and joined the Air Force to fly in Vietnam. Returning to the United States, Dick continued to serve as an instructor pilot for single engine fighters and became Captain of an air-refueling tanker for 6 years. His last assignment was Chief of Flight Tests at Rome Air Development Center where he earned the Flying Safety Award for saving the crew, passengers, cargo, and the aircraft after the KC-135 he was piloting experienced multiple mechanical failures. In addition to earning other decorations, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star for Valor. Dick earned his masters degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and after retiring from the Air Force, he became President of Air North in Vermont, and then president of Dolphin Airways in Tampa, Florida. Dick was an avid entrepreneur and started several additional businesses in Florida including a gift shop, a sheet metal business, and an interior landscaping company. Our hearts are with Dick's wife, Dawn, and his children and grandchildren in this time of sorrow. I hope my colleagues will join me honoring this remarkable man who was a lifelong patriot dedicated to his country and his family. His humility, kindness, and compassion continue to inspire those who knew him and he will be greatly missed in our community.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my outrage at President Obama's decision to bring terrorists being held at Gitmo to American soil for prosecution in our criminal justice system. This dangerous decision will grant these detainees, including the admitted mastermind behind 9/11, constitutional rights to which they most certainly are not entitled. Prosecuting these detainees in our criminal courts also will raise the risk that they could be released on technicalities and will force our soldiers to worry about such things as reading captured combatants their so-called rights and preserving the chain of evidence. Mr. Speaker, President Obama's decision is a gamble that we simply do not need to take. These detainees are enemy fighters who should be tried in the military justice system, not in American courts.