Ander Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I reluctantly rise to oppose the gentlewoman's amendment, my good friend from Tennessee. I appreciate her concern for the out-of-control spending that goes on in Washington. I think a lot of people are concerned about that. The problem is that she has got the wrong approach. She pointed out very clearly that we have already reduced the spending in this bill by 6.5 percent. We oversee and fund about 20 different agencies, and we have said we are going to reduce the overall spending by $1.5 billion, 6.5 percent. But when you do an across-the-board cut, you lose sight of the fact that some programs are actually working well and others are wasting money. And we did that. That is what the appropriations process is about. We have eight different full hearings. We have 1,800 Member requests from both sides of the aisle. While we reduce spending overall, we have some good programs that I think my good friend probably really doesn't want to cut. For instance, we have something called the Small Business Administration. That is an agency that helps small businesses finance their next big deal, and we increased the spending for SBA because they are the ones that create jobs. They are the ones that grow the economy. They have programs that help women-owned businesses, and I don't think she really wants to cut them because they are doing the job they ought to do. You have got other things like HIDTA. You hear people talk about that, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. This is a combination of the Federal and the State and local government. They all work together to stop this epidemic of drugs. Opiates, we have got more people dying from heroin overdose than we have 4 straight years. Those are programs that we added money to while we reduced the spending overall. When you cut across the board, you treat all the agencies just alike. Her amendment would treat the IRS just like the SBA, and, obviously, they are different, because one of the things we do, we reduced spending heavily with the IRS. We cut them $236 million. So that is the right approach. This appropriations subcommittee has taken that approach. We have looked hard. The programs that work, we fund them, give them additional money; programs that don't work, that waste money, we cut them. So that is the way you do it. We have done it here well, so I am going to have to reluctantly ask everyone to actually oppose this wonderful amendment that my good friend has brought. It is just a little misguided. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, can you tell me how much time I have left?

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, why not 2 percent? Why not 5 percent? Why not another 10 percent? The point is, Mr. Chairman, this subcommittee has done its job. It has reduced spending, 6.5 percent cut. We take the IRS back to what they were funded in 2008. We have done our job, and good programs receive more money. We ought not to be cutting them. So I appreciate her interest in controlling spending, and I guess she would compliment us for the work that we have done and, therefore, we don't need the amendment that she has offered. So I urge everyone to vote ``no'' and reject that. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).

Mr. CRENSHAW. I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz- Balart).

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 25 Offered by Mr. Davidson

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and life of Rear Admiral Kevin Francis Delaney, USN (Ret.), who defended our nation with distinction for 34 years as a member of the United States Navy. He died on April 7, 2015, but on June 10, 2016 we have yet another occasion to honor his service to our country and community. On that day, Hangar 1122 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jacksonville) will be named in Kevin's honor for his outstanding airmanship and courage, his exceptional stewardship of natural resources, and his leadership and concern for the sailors of the United States Navy. I'd like to take a moment to share some of Kevin's accomplishments through the course of his career both in and out of uniform. His commitment to our country did not end with retirement: He used his quality leadership skills, infectious charismatic spirit, and deep- seated care for his fellow citizens and worked hard in our Jacksonville, Florida community to make it a better place. Kevin was a proud Vietnam Veteran. He flew helicopter gunships on 686 combat missions in support of the Navy riverine forces and SEAL units in the Mekong Delta. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on one of those missions, Kevin was awarded the Silver Star. In all, Kevin received 98 awards and decorations of which 64 were for combat action and also included the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Single Action Air Medals, 26 Strike/Fight Air Medals, and six Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses. Kevin served in six operational aircraft squadrons, had multiple major staff assignments, and was air boss on the USS Guadalcanal off the coast of Beirut. His naval career included six command tours including two aviation squadrons, an aircraft wing, and NAS Jacksonville. Under his command, the base was selected as the Navy's top shore installation in 1991. Kevin was awarded the Legion of Merit as Commanding Officer of NAS Jacksonville for, among other things, enhancing the quality of life for all personnel and improving the profitability of morale, welfare, and recreation programs by 107 percent by utilizing a unique Treat Everyone As Myself (TEAM) approach. Kevin's final command, headquartered at NAS Jacksonville, was as the Navy's Regional Commander for the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Rear Admiral Delaney was responsible for over 40 commands, including 17 major naval installations. He received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his work as the Commander. The accompanying citation says: A brilliant visionary, he built solid and ambitious professional partnerships with local community agencies. Kevin came to our town in the military, but he remained as a veteran and became a great civic leader. He was recognized as one of Jacksonville's 10 Most Influential Business Leaders of the Decade in 2000. The list of volunteer activities of Kevin Delaney is both long and varied. He served on the boards of 19 area non-profit organizations and was past chairman or president of the following organizations: the Ronald McDonald House Advisory Board, Florida State College of Jacksonville Foundation, Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Northeast Florida Safety Council, United Way of Northeast Florida, and Jacksonville Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Kevin was appointed by the Governor of Florida to serve on the Florida Defense Support Task Force and also served on the U.S. Small business Administration's National Advisory council, and on the National Board of Directors of The Wounded Warrior Project. In 2014, Kevin was honored by the SBA as the Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for Florida, by the Jacksonville Business Journal as a Veteran of Influence, and by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce as the first member of its Military Hall of Fame. It was later named in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in saluting the life and service of Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, USN (Ret.).

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the military service of Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene M. Pigg, USA, as she officially retires on September 1, 2016, after an exemplary 20-year career. Lieutenant Colonel Pigg is finishing her career as the commander of the Army's Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion which covers 45,079 square miles, 609 zip codes, 87 counties, and is in the jurisdiction of 377 public schools. In this role, she has matched our tremendously talented Northeastern Florida youths with rewarding careers in the United States Army. First enlisting in the Florida Army National Guard in 1991, she served in communications and public affairs while earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science at Stetson University and also participating in the ROTC program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Upon graduation, as a Distinguished Honor Graduate, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in aviation in the United States Army. She later completed the Army Command and General Staff College. Over the years, her career has led her to many and varied assignments both in the United States and overseas. They include: 160th Signal Brigade Adjutant at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; Aide de Camp to the Army Forces Command Deputy Commanding General; and Team Chief, Army Forces Command G-1 Strength Management Branch at Fort McPherson, Georgia; Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan; Recruiting Operations Officer for Georgia Tech Army ROTC, Atlanta, Georgia; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1/210th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Battalion S-1, 1/52nd Aviation Battalion, K-16, Korea; Assistant Brigade S-2, 159th Aviation Brigade, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Platoon Leader, A/5-101st, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3/6 Cavalry Squadron, Camp Humphreys, Korea. Prior to coming to Jacksonville, Florida, Lieutenant Colonel Pigg served at the Pentagon in two assignments: first as the Officer Policy Integrator for the Director of Military Personnel Management, Army G-1 and most recently, as the Women in the Army Branch Chief. In this position her team drafted the details of the Army's plans to integrate women into combat units. She will join her husband Chad Pigg and their young son, Beckam, in Atlanta, Georgia, upon relinquishing her duties as Battalion Commander on June 3. I send Lieutenant Colonel Pigg my thanks for a job well done and a career of service in the United States Army. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in congratulating Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Pigg on her hard work and dedication to the country during her career in the Army. We wish her, her husband Chad, and son Beckam all of the best.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life work of Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne, Ph.D. We in Jacksonville, Florida, will be celebrating 99 years with our friend, Dr. Fran Kinne, on May 22 of this year. Dr. Kinne is first in Florida in many ways. In 1979, she became the first woman president of a Florida college, Jacksonville University, JU. Prior, in 1961, she became the founding dean of JU's College of Fine Arts, the first woman in Florida to hold such a position. In fact, it was her idea to form the college where she had been a humanities professor for several years. She was the first woman elected as president of the International Council of Fine Arts, and not only the first woman in Florida's first rotary club, the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, but she later became the first woman president of that club. She also became the first woman member of a club in Jacksonville called the River Club. Again, the first woman member. As you can tell, Dr. Fran Kinne was first in many ways and a role model to not only women in Jacksonville, Florida, but all across this great country. To those of us who know her well, she is also first in our hearts. A tireless advocate for education and young people, Fran Kinne always reminded us that life is not about us, life is about others. She would tell her graduates each year to go out into the world and make the world a better place. One of those graduates, Tim Cost, is now the president of Jacksonville University. So many of her students have made a difference not only in Florida, but all across this great land. Last year, at the age of 98, she became the Nation's oldest commencement speaker at a major college or university. The wife of an army colonel, Fran spent years overseas following World War II. She was in Germany, she was in Japan, and she was in China. While her husband worked, so did Fran. She created postwar education programs for children in Japan, and she went to class with young German students who accepted her as the caring American that she was. She numbered among her friends Bob Hope, Winston Churchill, Charlton Heston, Billy Graham, and Steve Forbes. Fran Kinne brought Bob Hope and Jack Benny together for their only joint appearance, and that was at Jacksonville University. She is listed in over 25 ``Who's Who'' and similar publications, and six facilities in Iowa and Florida are named in her honor. Her autobiography is aptly named ``Iowa Girl: The President Wears a Skirt.'' Never intending to live in Florida, Fran came here with her husband, and, thankfully, for those of us in Jacksonville, she never left. She was born in Iowa. She was educated at Drake University and graduated with a bachelor's and a master's in music education. She remains a member of the Board of Trustees at Drake University and is on the board of the Mayo Clinic in Florida. Since 1994, she has been the chancellor emeritus at Jacksonville University. Her infectious enthusiasm for life and positive thinking goes on and on. I visited her the other day, and she reminded me: If you laugh 100 times a day, that is the same thing as 20 minutes of physical exercise. She would say: If you keep a positive attitude and if you smile a lot, that will add 10 years to your life. Fran and I have always been good buddies, and she has been a mentor to me just as she has been to thousands of her former students. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of this House to join me in celebrating the outstanding 99 years and counting of one of Florida's most outstanding citizens: my good buddy, Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the incredible service of Captain David A. Chase, as he prepares to retire after 30 years of Commissioned Service to the United States Navy and for his extraordinary dedication to duty and to the United States of America. I have worked with Captain Chase personally over the past three years in his capacity as Director of the Navy Appropriations Matters Office (FMBE) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller), and I would like to share some highlights of his fine career. Captain Chase graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He also holds Masters Degrees from the Naval War College and National Defense University Eisenhower School. During his illustrious Naval career, he commanded the Mine Countermeasures Ship USS Avenger (MCM 1) from 1999-2001, Guided Missile Frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) from 2004-2006 and was the Commodore of a squadron of fourteen mine warfare ships, their crews, and a command staff of 85. Highlights of his Command tours include deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and Western Pacific, operating with Kitty Hawk Strike Group as part of the Japan- based Forward Deployed Naval Forces, and preparing ready and capable mine warfare ships and trained crews to support Seventh and Fifth Fleet operations. He also served with distinction in a variety of assignments ashore: Flag Aide to Commander Naval Base San Francisco/Commander Logistics Group One; Financial Analyst on the OPNAV staff (Surface Warfare Directorate), where he was responsible for developing shipbuilding budgets; and as a Politico-Military Planner for the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff (J5), where he developed and oversaw Theater Security Cooperation activities in Pacific Command area of operations. His efforts helped to build and strengthen America's ties with our Southeast Asian partners and allies at a critical time in our nation's history. In his current assignment as the Director of Navy Appropriations Matters Office, during a time of significant readiness and manpower challenges, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and foresight, engaging Members of the Appropriations Committee and its staff to provide information essential to resourcing the Navy for its role as the world's dominant sea power. In an increasingly difficult budget environment, Captain Chase provided essential support in shepherding four Navy budgets through the appropriations process. He served our Navy and nation with integrity, insight and dedication. My office, the subcommittee staff, and I have found him to be a pleasure to work with and respect his professionalism. There is a saying in the United States Navy when a person retires that ``this sailor stood the watch,'' and today, Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in saluting my friend, Captain David A. Chase, for a job well done. He has faithfully stood the watch all these years and now his watch stands relieved. To Dave, his wife Caroline, and his three children Kirsten, Evan, and Sophie, we wish them ``Fair Winds and Following Seas.''

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the veterans who served our country during the Vietnam War. On March 29, 2016, a Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War will be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery as part of a 13-year program to honor and give thanks to the men and women who defended freedom in Vietnam. The Vietnam War was one of the longest conflicts American forces have known and one of the most deadly. Before the war ended in 1975, over 58,000 Americans would die and another 304,000 would be wounded. We do not have to relate those statistics to our Vietnam Veterans. They know them by heart. It has been said that no event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. History has told us that unlike in other wars, our troops were not driving across a country to hold land and capture territory. Many of the missions were designed to find and harass a jungle-hidden enemy, inflict casualties, and fall back to a well- protected base. Our troops fought in canopied jungles, rugged mountains, on rivers, and through swampy lowlands. Many spent days-- weeks--in wet rice paddies far from any base. They fought for the noble cause of protecting the ideals we cherish as Americans. During our Commemoration, we will gather to thank them for their sacrifices and for the incredible dangers and hardships they endured for our country and for the ideals of freedom. This ceremony is a small gesture of grateful appreciation for the service these veterans gave our country. Each year I hold a ceremony to recognize veterans. I have been honored to learn the stories of more than 500 Vietnam Veterans over the years. In citations that accompanied the many medals they received, these veterans were commended as members of our Nation's and the free world's most versatile and potent striking forces. It was in Vietnam that helicopter-based, air-mobile operations first demonstrated their combat potential. Some were shot down; some wounded; and many served multiple tours. Collectively, veterans in my District received hundreds of medals including Bronze and Silver Stars and, of course, Purple Hearts. Several were POWs for long, agonizing years. Their service included jumping from aircraft despite enemy sniper fire to go to the rescue of downed soldiers trapped in battle. They worked tirelessly to direct tactical air strikes and artillery fire so their comrades could be airlifted to safety. They flew over the Red River into North Vietnam, and patrolled the brown waters of the Mekong River. They drove trucks through hostile territory to supply fellow soldiers and marines and ferried the injured to safety. Nurses and doctors administered aid and pastors heard too many final words. They provided maintenance to keep planes ready. Some walked through jungles and rice paddies and claimed they were just grunts. But, for those in the field there was often no hot chow, no showers, and no clean socks. For them, the fight was often against the weather, the red ants, the scorpions, and the leeches. The nights were long and punctuated with the distinct sounds of AK rounds, grenades, and M-16s. They sought out and destroyed the enemy and defended key airfields and routes of communication while extending protection to millions of South Vietnamese. They did their duty and tried hard to leave no one behind. The memory of lost comrades never subsides. Their names are beautifully remembered on The Wall in Washington, D.C. Each name engraved in the black granite has a story that speaks volumes about bravery, ingenuity, and drama. When people say, freedom isn't free--the names on The Wall seem to answer, ``It was paid for by me.'' The Commemoration ceremony in Jacksonville is a tribute to the service of all who served during that turbulent time. The unrelenting combat spirit and initiative of Vietnam Veterans bears testimony to individual acts of personal heroism and daring. Their loyalty, diligence, and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military services and reflect great credit upon them and our country. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in thanking our Vietnam Veterans for their valiant fighting spirit, perseverance, resolute courage, and selfless devotion to duty to each other and to our country.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the new United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) building that is being dedicated on March 30, 2016 in Florida's Fourth Congressional District. Thanks to several years of dedication and focus on the common goal of maritime safety and border protection, both offices can now operate in one building. This achievement means a safer and more secure First Coast, through an efficient and effective USCG/CBP operation. The road to this achievement has been a long one. USCG and CBP personnel are tasked with keeping our waterways safe and our borders secure. However, since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, these agencies were never provided adequate office space and were forced to consolidate. Later in 2007, CBP/USCG Senior Guidance recommended the construction of a new joint CBP/USCG facility in Jacksonville. The idea of a one- stop shop for maritime security would streamline and improve joint field operations while also reducing facility costs. Acquiring this building was no easy task because local CBP and USCG had to clear the hurdle of a heavy bureaucratic process. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, I kept a close eye on the process on Capitol Hill. Thanks to the continued leadership of the local CBP/USCG offices, the goal of this facility was never abandoned. Now, with personnel, assets, and more importantly, strategic capabilities all headquartered in one building, the facility will serve as the cornerstone of maritime security for years to come. The center is immensely important to a community like Jacksonville, and I am honored to have played a role in acquiring it.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Laura Kraus for her outstanding service to her country through her volunteer work with the Learn to Read program. Since 1975, Laura's volunteer work has exemplified her love for people and her tireless efforts to give back to the community. Her commitment was no secret: the neighborhood held banquets in her honor, television stations recognized her, and even the nation's leaders honored her service. President Barack Obama signed a letter of recognition and Neal Bush presented the Presidential Bronze Medal of Volunteering Service. Still, she found the most satisfaction seeing the impact from the people she helped themselves. Her work has always extended to those in the greatest need regardless of physical or psychological obstacles. Volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation, Laura spent time with physically disabled members of the community through Horses for Therapy. In addition, victims of domestic abuse in a Hubbard House, a 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter, were touched by her support as well. Laura began her training with the Learn to Read program as an intern, eager to assist adults and already willing to persist with compassion and patience through the challenges that were to come. Only a year and a half into the work with her first student, the impact that Laura had on her student was not only evident but incredibly touching, particularly for Laura herself. Anthony was only 23 years old when he became Laura's first student in the Learn to Read program, struggling to read because of a learning disability. Yet Anthony was dedicated to his goal to create a better future and he never failed to be prompt and respectful every session. After a year and three months of the hour and a half routine, he articulated a simple and profound truth representative of the impact Laura's work has had for many: ``Miss Laura, you have changed my life.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Laura Kraus for her tireless dedication to serving each person with the care and opportunities that they deserve as a citizen of this great nation.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter Ter for his outstanding service to his country through his volunteer work with the Peace Corps. Peter Ter was born in southern Sudan, although his exact birth date is not known because his family, like many others, did not keep these records. His father and mother, a cattle keeper and farmer respectively, were both illiterate. He lived with his family, including five sisters and three brothers, in a small hut built with wood and mud and thatched with grass. However, Peter's childhood was cut short due to the breakout of the Second Sudanese Civil War that began in 1983 and lasted for twenty-one years. Like thousands of other children in Sudan, Peter became a ``Lost Boy,'' losing his family in conflict between the warring Sudanese government and the Sudanese People's Liberation Army. After fleeing the violence and enduring a grueling journey, Peter ended up in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, living what he described as a hopeless life. While living in the Kakuma camp, Peter completed an application for refugee status in America. In the application, he had to write one page on why he wanted to go to America. He wrote of living a hopeless life in the refugee camp and of how he yearned to go to a place where he could restore his dignity and educate himself--the United States of America. After two years, Peter's application was approved, and he was resettled in my congressional district in Jacksonville, Florida. Peter went on to graduate from the University of Florida and attended graduate school at Brandeis University in Boston. After graduation, Peter knew he wanted to give back to the country that had saved him, so he volunteered for the Peace Corps. Since 2009, Peter has served as a cultural ambassador and an international development practitioner in Azerbaijan, China, and the Republic of Georgia, promoting the values of the United States along the way. In his work abroad, Peter has faced many challenges, including blatant racism. However, having faced greater challenges before, he doubled down on his commitment to service and eventually earned respect in the villages and cities where he served. As the co-chair of the House Peace Corps Caucus, I have the privilege of interacting with and supporting the work of outstanding individuals, such as Peter Ter. America is the world's most generous country, made up of people from around the world, and Peter is proof that this generosity touches those who need it most. I am proud that Peter calls Jacksonville, FL home. Peter has fully utilized the great opportunities presented to him by the United States of America and has dedicated his life to helping others around the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Peter Ter on overcoming great obstacles in his life and on his continued success abroad on behalf of our great nation.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patricia Vail for receiving The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the 4th Judicial Circuit. In her legal career, she has served in several capacities, from statewide coordinator for Florida Legal Services to corporate counsel for CSX Transportation. In addition, Patricia has also served on the board of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Upon retirement from CSX Transportation, Patricia served in The American Bar Association's Collaborative Europe and Eurasia Law Initiative program as a volunteer lawyer in Kazakhstan. Patricia's commitment to pro bono work for low- income people and her positive impact have been quite remarkable. Since 2008, Patricia has been a regular presence in Northeast Florida senior citizen centers and HUD residential facilities, where she has become a trusted pro bono legal resource. Patricia meets with individuals and groups as legal questions arise, and she helps prepare simple wills, durable powers of attorney, designation of health care surrogate, and designation of pre-need guardian. For nearly three years, Patricia provided these services single-handedly. When it became clear that the need far exceeded one attorney's ability in 2011, Patricia initiated a program to serve more area seniors with comprehensive and scheduled legal services called Advance Directives for Seniors Project. The Project provides 60-80 seniors annually with complete advance directive packets and has expanded to include senior patients at medical clinics and seniors at the Councils on Aging in Clay and Nassau counties. In recognition of all her countless hours spent helping needy Jacksonville area residents through pro bono legal work, Patricia Vail was selected to receive The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the 4th Judicial Circuit. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Patricia Vail on winning the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Michael Ward, for his outstanding service to his country through his volunteer work with City Year. Michael has invested tremendous amounts of time, energy and resources to support City Year, an education-focused national service organization that is dedicated to helping our students and school succeed. City Year provides high-impact student, classroom and school- wide support to help students stay in school and to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. City Year is partners with 27 urban, high-poverty communities across the United States and abroad, and Michael was instrumental in bringing City Year to Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSX Corporation, Michael is a dedicated Trustee of City Year and is the Chairman of the local City Year program. In addition to his work with City Year, Michael also serves on the board of United Way of Northeast Florida and on the board of Hubbard House, which helps victims of domestic violence. Earlier this year, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees millions of American volunteers, faced significant budget cuts that would have forced many national service programs to close. However, Michael took action and led the effort to remind my colleagues that federal investment in national service is vital to improving lives, strengthening communities and uniting the nation. The drive to protect federal funds for national service succeeded in no small part thanks to the contributions of Michael Ward. In recognition of all of his many contributions to national service, Michael Ward was recently awarded the Citizen Service Award by the Voices for National Service. As a Member of Congress, I have the privilege of supporting the work of outstanding individuals, such as Michael Ward. Michael has striven tirelessly to ensure to promote education across the country and in my district, and I am proud that Michael calls Jacksonville, Florida home. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Michael Ward for his tireless dedication to educational attainment and congratulate him on receiving the Citizenship Service award.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Carly Crump on her outstanding research work on the transmission of the dengue virus and on her invitation to attend Nobel Prize Week in Stockholm, Sweden. As the U.S. Congressman of Jacksonville, Florida and the co-chair of the Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases it is an honor to recognize Carly for her exceptional accomplishments. Carly, a graduate of Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Florida, first began her work in her parents' garage breeding mosquitos. Eventually, Carly's work evolved from offering blood meals to these mosquitos to studying the proteins involved in the transmission of the dengue virus, related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever, that can lead to the dengue fever. In her most recent research at Johns Hopkins University, Carly helped identify 11 proteins that may be involved in the transmission of dengue virus 2 and could set the basis for vaccine development. As a result of her prestigious work, Carly was invited to attend Nobel Prize Week in Stockholm, one of only 26 young people from 19 countries invited to attend. There, Carly gave a presentation to 1,000 students on her work and interacted with another 2,000 students who stopped at her booth to discuss her project. Carly has also been recognized as one of the nation's top 16 young STEM researchers by US News and World Report and has won first place at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the Florida Science Fair, and the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Currently, Carly is studying microbiology at the University of Florida and hopes to be a surgeon like her father and her grandfather and to continue her research. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Carly Crump on the success of her research and on attending Nobel Prize Week in Stockholm. Her research and the research of many other rising talents will lead the world to develop cures for this and other devastating diseases that cripple both Americans and our foreign partners alike.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Local Initiatives Support Corporation Jacksonville for its outstanding service to the Northeast Florida community through its transformative efforts to empower citizens and to build up the neediest neighborhoods. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a nationally known nonprofit that works with local leaders to invest in housing, health, education, public safety, and employment. This year marks the 15 year anniversary for its involvement in the Jacksonville community. Over the last 15 years LISC Jacksonville has leveraged almost a quarter of a billion dollars to create affordable housing and community development all while fostering financial stability within the Jacksonville community. LISC Jacksonville's invaluable efforts within our local community from supporters across the country have turned out $62.6 million in grants and loans, $220.7 million in leveraged investments, and $20 million for the Jacksonville property tax rolls from new homes developed within our community. Much more than large dollar amounts, multiple areas in Jacksonville are building up an infrastructure able to sustain and promote community development. Approximately 295 homes and 1,509 apartment units were built and 3,100 jobs were created. Tax credits helped to finance the first KIPP charter school of Florida, investments were made in the EverBank Stadium neighborhood, and a business incubator was established with the Beaver Street Enterprise Community. Representing Northeast Florida, I have the privilege of interacting with and supporting the work of outstanding nonprofits such as LISC Jacksonville and its dedicated workers. The remarkable transformation of our community is proof that no neighborhood is outside the possibility of revitalization and redevelopment. I am proud that these devoted constituents call Jacksonville their home and I believe every community can experience similar success. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in recognizing LISC Jacksonville for its belief in holistic change, and its long-term commitment that will continue to create a flourishing community for so many people who call Jacksonville home.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Basma Alawee for her outstanding service to her country through her work in the community advocating on behalf of fellow refugees. Basma's impact began two years ago, when she came with her husband, Ali Aljubouri, and their daughter Dana, to Jacksonville, Florida from Iraq in order to escape persecution resulting from their assistance to the United States. Not only did they come to America for a better life, but they have bettered the lives of those now around them. Now in North Florida, the two have both given much back to their adopted community. Basma teaches middle school girls at the Foundation Academy much more than just math and science. Through example, she instills the value of taking initiatives and the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. To do this, she brings her classes to visit a local nursing home and organizes clothing at the church's thrift store. Her husband, Ali, contributes to the Christian academy through his work as a chef and a soccer coach, both bridging gaps in different religious communities. For Basma, the work doesn't end when the school day is over. Basma has been volunteering with refugee-resettlement agencies, working as the Florida delegate to the UNHCR, and even founding the Iraqi Family Organization so that the Iraqi community could support one another. The increasing conflict in the Middle East has threatened the future of refugees to the United States. Basma, who became an American citizen in July, wrote an essay with great courage, telling her own story in response to the political rhetoric about banning Muslims and refugees from certain countries. Her expressions of the struggles she faced and the love she had for America were simple, yet the message was clear and powerful. As a Member of Congress, I have the privilege of interacting with and supporting the work of outstanding individuals, such as Basma Alawee. America is the world's most generous and diverse country, and Basma is proof that this generosity touches those who need it most. I am proud that Basma and her family call Jacksonville, FL their home. Basma has fully utilized the great opportunities presented to her by the United States of America and has dedicated her life to fostering community in Jacksonville and around the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Basma Alawee, not only for overcoming incredible challenges as a refugee, but for her dedication making this country a home for her family, her neighbors, and those who have dreams of escaping conflict for a better life.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mildred Atkinson Ogilvie, for celebrating her 100th birthday on January 1, 2016. Mildred Ogilvie was born the youngest of nine children to Jesse and Agatha Atkinson in Callahan, Florida on January 1st, 1916. Mildred's parents passed away when she was still young, but her older siblings kept the family together and continued to raise them in Callahan. In 1932 at the age of 16, Mildred married Bill Ogilvie. Mildred and Bill had four children together--Marlin, Dallas, Harold, and Cheryl. Mildred has lived her entire life in Northeast Florida. While raising her four children, Mildred also helped her husband Bill run his many businesses, including grocery stores and laundromats. Mildred celebrated her birthday at the Jacksonville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by 35 family members, including nieces, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren. Her niece, Gwen Harvey, fondly recalled walking to Mildred and Bill's grocery store to see their beautiful smiling aunt, knowing that she would walk away with a cold Pepsi-Cola. Despite being orphaned at a young age, Mildred and all eight of her siblings went on to become successful adults. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Mildred Ogilvie on overcoming great obstacles, serving as a model for a life well lived, and on celebrating 100 full years of life.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the incredible service of Capt. William P. Bosworth, MC USNR (RET). Captain Bosworth served on active duty from Sept. 1953 until Jan. 1958. After attending medical school at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri, he joined the Navy Medical Corps and again served his country with distinction from June 1972 until March 1999. As an Osteopathic Physician, Dr. Bosworth provided operational medicine and primary care to hundreds of patients at his various duty stations. He retired in 1999 as a Captain but continued to serve the Navy Reserves three to four days per month here at NAS Jacksonville until today. In fact, Bill Bosworth volunteered as a Reserve Medical Officer for 456 consecutive months from 1976 until 2013 and logged approximately 792 drill weekends at our military bases. He is the epitome of the dedicated officer. It is his voluntary reserve service that I would like to applaud. Dr. Bosworth applied for permission to participate with the Navy Reserves in a retired status with no points accrued for retirement, with no payment authorized, and with no travel authorized. He served because Bill loved the men and women in the Navy and wanted to assist them in any way he could. Year after year, he performed physicals and primary care for all the sailors in our local Naval Reserves. Of course, that kept him busy on weekends, but he also remained an active physician on the staffs of two local hospitals. He was licensed in three states: Florida, Georgia and Tennessee so he could better serve his sailors. He is a Lifetime Member of the Duval County Medical Society and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is Past President of the Duval County Academy of Family Physicians and Former Chairman of the Duval County Hospital Authority. One Commanding Officer wrote that Captain Bosworth ``demonstrated unparalleled leadership and skills in the superior performance of his duties.'' I couldn't agree more. But there is another side of Bill Bosworth that many may not know. Bill and I share a love for the game of basketball. Yes, Dr. Bill Bosworth is an active participant and officer in the National Men's Masters Basketball Championships. Every year, he teams up with such basketball greats as Artis Gilmore and Sam Jones and brings the game to Jacksonville. Just two weeks ago, the games were played at the Jacksonville Sportsplex. This endeavor has developed into national events and has been included in the World Masters Games and the World Senior Games. Bill and his wife Wanda both serve on the Florida Division of the National Basketball Tournament Committee. There is a saying in the United States Navy when a person retires that ``this sailor stood the watch'' and today, Mr. Speaker, I ask you and Members of the House to join me in saluting my longtime friend, Dr. William P. Bosworth, MC USNR, for a job well done. He has faithfully stood the watch all these years and now his watch stands relieved.