Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of 14-year-old Richard Newton from my district, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor, let alone a moment of action.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on energy and clean air policy for all of America. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4775. The Republican bill is a radical attempt to gut the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act has been one of our bedrock environmental laws for America since the 1970s. So for 50 years it has worked well to ensure that it protects our health while businesses thrive. It has made such a difference in our lives. I heard my good friend from Houston say he has seen the air cleaned up. The same is true in the Sunshine State of Florida. I remember those smoggy days in the late sixties and early seventies. I watched the impact of the Clean Air Act make it healthier for us to breathe, to grow up, to live healthy lives. All you have to do is look across the globe at China and India and the struggles they have with their economy because they are not able to control their pollution. The great thing about the Clean Air Act is that it is based on science. It requires the EPA every 5 years to bring scientists together and do a health check, do a check on the air quality standards all across America. Then they can--they are not required to--say: we are going to improve the air quality standards. And then they leave it up to States and stakeholders at home to determine how best to control air pollution. It has been extraordinarily effective at cleaning the air. EPA has set air quality standards for six different pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter. Between 1980 and 2014, emissions of these six air pollutants dropped by 63 percent. During the same period, the Nation's gross domestic product increased by 147 percent, vehicle miles traveled increased by 97 percent, energy consumption increased by 26 percent, and the U.S. population increased by 41 percent. These emissions reductions have generated dramatic health effects. There is a balance in the law already. A recent peer-reviewed study says the Clean Air Act will save more than 230,000 lives and will prevent millions of cases of respiratory problems like asthma and other problems in 2020 alone. It will also enhance our national productivity by preventing 17 million lost workdays. These public health benefits translate into $2 trillion in monetized benefits to the economy. Again, from the Sunshine State's perspective, we have a booming tourist economy largely because we have clean water and clear air. Everyone wants to come to Florida. They are very discerning with their tourist dollars and where they are going to take a vacation. They look across the world, and one of the reasons people travel to America or you travel to the Sunshine State is because it is healthy and clean; and it is largely because of the Clean Air Act that we have been able to do that. So this bill is irresponsible because it will take us backwards. And let's talk a few specifics. The bill dramatically delays implementation of the 2015 ozone air quality standards by up to 8 years. It says to America: we are going to ignore the science, we are going to ignore the new standards that have been developed with thousands and thousands of comments, and we are going to ignore the fact that these improved standards will net benefits of up to $4.6 billion in 2025 alone. Second, the bill doubles the air quality standard review period for all criteria air pollutants to every 10 years. Currently, the Clean Air Act says: EPA, every 5 years, look at the best science. Now, this bill says to ignore the science. Again, we will wait 10 years. That is not smart and that is not helpful to our communities and our neighbors back home. The bill also gives new and expanded facilities amnesty from new air quality standards. And this is where I think my Republican friends are going to invite a lot of litigation. Before I came to Congress, I did a little bit of environmental law. Current existing industrial users and businesses will have to bear the burden because the new polluters will get a break--they will get amnesty--while our existing businesses will have to make up the difference. That is not smart, and I think that is going to create a lot of lawsuits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi from India was here today. One of his messages, besides what a great democracy America is and what a great democracy India is, is that we have to think about the future. And we can tap the American ingenuity and what we have already done to clean air and grow business at the same time. Other nations are realizing now what we have learned long ago: unregulated emission of dangerous air pollutants is unsustainable. The Clean Air Act has helped us make dramatic improvements in air quality over the past decades. Our economy has grown at the same time. So I would urge my colleagues, do not gut the Clean Air Act. Vote ``no'' on H.R. 4775.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman, Ranking Member Rush, for his leadership on energy solutions for America. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Republican amendment because it is a giveaway to special interests and it is a missed opportunity to craft a bipartisan package of energy policies that meet the challenges of the 21st century and boost America's clean energy economy. The GOP-led Congress is out of sync with the American public and out of touch with what is happening in electricity generation across America. The future is about energy efficiency and geothermal, renewables like solar, wind power, and biomass. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says renewable energy is the world's fastest growing energy source. That means innovative, cost-saving energy investments for our neighbors and businesses back home. That means we are going to create jobs through the clean energy economy and, at the same time, reduce carbon pollution. Instead, in this amendment, the GOP doubles down on dirty fuel sources. It logrolls 36 bills into a single package that, in many cases, eliminates environmental reviews, and the experts say the bill will actually accelerate climate change. So if the Republican energy package was a car, it wouldn't just be stuck in neutral, it would be stuck in reverse because it harkens back to the energy policies of decades ago rather than America's growing clean energy economy of the future. Let's not go backwards. Let's move Americans forward and put money back into the pockets of our hardworking neighbors. I urge the House to reject the GOP amendment.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I am opposed to the bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker and Members, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. We don't have time for that. If it is adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, America has a public health emergency at its doorstep, and it requires a robust and urgent response. Yet the Republican bill utterly fails to deal with the emergency posed by the rapidly spreading Zika virus, and it leaves our neighbors and our communities at risk. So the amendment I am offering today provides the resources requested by our public health experts and researchers to combat Zika, the $1.9 billion to help prevent, detect, and respond to Zika in contrast to the paltry $622 million in the Republican bill. I would like to thank Mrs. Lowey, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Graham, Mr. Ruiz, and everyone. I would like to thank the March of Dimes, which is advocating for full funding, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Why? Microcephaly. Microcephaly is a severe brain abnormality that is now linked to the Zika virus, as are other anomalies where brain and skull development are affected. We are talking about a lifetime of seizures and developmental delays, such as problems sitting, standing, walking, seeing, hearing, and feeding problems. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika infection. Brazil has reported the highest incidence of microcephaly, with over 4,000 suspected cases tied to Zika. Microcephaly has also been detected among women who contracted Zika in Colombia, Panama, and U.S. territories. In fact, in the U.S. and U.S. territories alone, we have 1,200 cases. Thirty-two of these are pregnant women, two cases of microcephaly. The Florida Department of Health says we have 120 Floridians diagnosed with Zika, including pregnant women. Because there is no cure for the Zika virus, Congress must act to do everything we can to prevent it. We need the diagnostic tests, we need the vaccines, we need research, and we need tools for our communities back home. We have got to educate our neighbors. This Republican bill is woefully inadequate. It puts our neighbors back home at risk and could subject us to huge economic risks as well. Let's get specific. The GOP's Zika bill provides less than one-third of the funds requested by public health experts. I heard the Republican appropriators say they intend to do more next year. The mosquitos don't know that, do they? The mosquitos are not going to wait until next year. That is unconscionable. It is unconscionable that such underfunding does not allow the development of vaccines, the diagnostics, and the research in birth defects. The most immediate needs are woefully underfunded in the Republican bill. The CDC requested $740 million for public health activities like mosquito control. The House bill provides $120 million, 84 percent below the request. That means the CDC is not going to have adequate funding to assist our local communities. The House bill cuts the request by the National Institutes of Health for research and development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics by $132 million, or 28 percent. The House bill completely neglects immediate needs of American citizens in Puerto Rico. The administration asked for $256 million. What does the Republican bill provide? Zero. Furthermore, the State Department and USAID will only get $119 million. Now, if we learned anything from Ebola, it is that addressing the health threat overseas can be extremely effective, but you give it short shrift here. Colleagues, this is a public health emergency, but it is not the only one. It is not the first one, and it will not be the last. It requires a serious, thoughtful response, one with adequate funding, not a feeble attempt to demonstrate you are trying to do something. Now, not only will the GOP obstruction likely prove dire to the health of our neighbors, but there is going to be a huge economic impact as well. Currently, pregnant women and men who hope to have a baby are advised by CDC to avoid traveling to Brazil and other areas. What if there is a similar traveling advisory for the State of Florida, the Texas coast, New Orleans, Charleston, and Mobile, Alabama, all communities that rely on the tourism dollar, from small businesses to large? So you are asking not only for a public health emergency, but for an economic emergency as well. Members, this call to action requires actual action. This call to action was made months ago. Your answer needs to be equal to our challenge. Please pass my amendment so that we can fully fund the Zika response. Don't give the short shrift Republican bill a hearing. Vote ``no'' on the bill vote and ``yes'' on the MTR. I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on May 10 and 11, 2016 I was absent. Vice President Biden gave an important address about U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere in my District and I was part of the program. Had I been present on Tuesday May 10, I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 4957 and H.R. 5052. Had I been present on Wednesday May 11, I would have voted ``no'' on the Previous Questions on H. Res. 720, ``no'' on Agreeing to H. Res. 720, ``yes'' on H.R. 4843, and lastly, had I been present I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 4641--the same way I voted in Committee when we were considering the bill in the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Markup on April 20, 2016 and in the full Energy and Commerce Committee Markup on April 27, 2016.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of a true champion of progress during Black History Month and all year long, Barbara Shorter. Her invaluable contributions to the Tampa Bay community is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her selfless dedication and honor her valuable service to our community. Ms. Shorter grew up in St. Petersburg, graduating from Gibbs High School. She matriculated from Florida A&M University where she then began her illustrious career as an Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Home Economics. She dedicated the next decade to teaching before continuing her own education at Florida A&M when she received her Master's in Guidance and Counseling. Soon after graduation she accepted a position as the Assistant Principal at Northeast High School, becoming the third African American teacher ever assigned to an all-white high school in Pinellas County. Returning to her own Gibbs High School as Principal, she became the first female African American High School Principal in Pinellas County in 100 years. Most recently, she was an Adjunct Instructor at the University of South Florida. Ms. Shorter is a longtime leader in the African-American community. She was recognized as Tampa Bay's Black Most Influential in 1983 as well as Pinellas County's Educator of the Year for two straight years. Her local successes were recognized on the national level upon an invitation from Secretary of State Colin Powell to President Clinton's Summit on Education Issues from 1997-2000. Ms. Shorter service was not limited only to her work in the educational field. Throughout her life, she displayed a passion for civic engagement. She inspired the next generation of leaders in the African-American community by being actively involved in more than a dozen associations. Her most distinct honor was being the President of the Pinellas County High School Principals Association and the minority member for the Florida Association of School Administrators. She currently is a member of the Florida A&M University Alumni Association and has been an active member of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, having had longest active membership at 70 plus years. Ms. Shorter was an unabashed environmentalist. Her heroic commitment to environmentalism made an unforgettable mark on the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Bay is a better and more beautiful place to live thanks to her efforts. Ms. Shorter has selflessly dedicated her life to our community and the children of Tampa Bay. Countless students and young professionals have benefited from her immeasurable efforts and unabashed enthusiasm. Her commitment will always be remembered and appreciated. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Barbara Shorter for her lifelong exemplary service to the State of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2666, the No Rate Regulation Act. Many small businesses and many of my neighbors in the Tampa Bay area have experienced loss of internet, TV and phone services. I want to ensure that my neighbors and businesses are protected--I am fighting for them to receive the services they paid for. The No Rate Regulation Act aims to dismantle the open internet and take the ``cop off the beat'' by hamstringing the FCC's ability to protect the consumer. Because of these concerns on behalf of my neighbors and small businesses, today I will vote against this bill. This is timely legislation for all the wrong reasons. On April 1 of this year, Frontier Communications assumed Verizon's TV, internet and land-line phone services in the Tampa Bay area. Since the transition, small businesses and individual consumers in Florida have experienced loss of internet, TV and phone services. Consumers are paying for services they are not receiving. Even now, customers are reporting waiting for Frontier's technicians that are ``no shows''. Frontier appears to be unable to provide the necessary services to my neighbors, at the present time. I am here today to ensure all customers are protected. I have been fighting to protect the consumer and for robust public interest reviews. On February 2nd I stated in my letter to the FCC regarding the proposed Bright House Networks/Time Warner Cable/Charter merger that it is appropriate for the FCC to investigate that ``best practices'' are present on behalf consumers. The awesome power of the internet should be used to build up our community and grow opportunity for our children. I am proud that last year Tampa was selected as one of only 27 communities nationwide to participate in ConnectHOME, which promotes locally tailored solutions to help bridge the gap in digital access for working-class households by addressing the barriers they have to high-speed broadband. We should be dedicated to significant community boosts in access to digital opportunities for our students. We should be working with all agencies to develop the types of skills needed to secure today's higher paying jobs for all our kids. Instead of inviting a promising tomorrow, Republicans have chosen to focus on a bad bill with no future today. On the House floor Republicans have offered the No Rate Regulation Act. If passed it could undermine key provisions in the FCC's Open Internet order and harm the Commission's ability to protect consumers. This bill simply fails to define a clear definition and experts assert that the bill could result in unintended consequences. The No Rate Regulation Act is overly broad and extends far beyond the goals of codifying the FCC's forbearance from applying provisions of the Communications Act related to tariffs, rate approval, or other forms of utility regulation. The FCC should not be stymied in their participation of mergers and acquisitions like the Bright House/TWC/ Charter proposal. For example, I have said that BHN's Connect2Compete Program should be maintained, but as written, this legislation could undermine the FCC's ability to encourage customer service agreements that protect the most vulnerable. We have seen the Comcast Universal merger approval include the supply of an affordable internet program called the Internet Essentials. These stipulations are important and should be maintained in other deals moving forward. Mr. Chair, today I will vote against this Republican bill that could undermine key provisions in the FCC's Open Internet Order and harm the FCC's ability to protect consumers. We should not be undermining the FCC. This legislation could exacerbate already negative consequences for my neighbors in the Tampa Bay area. I will continue work to protect consumers and neighbors in my community and vote no on the No Rate Regulation Act.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary Beth Radigan, an outstanding educator and Hillsborough County's 2016 Teacher of the Year. After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in Special Education, Ms. Radigan began her illustrious career in special- education classrooms, including nine years in Hillsborough County as an educator for autistic and intellectually delayed students. She currently serves as special education teacher at Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. As a proud parent of a Plant High School student, I know firsthand how invaluable an educator is in developing the potential in all children. Ms. Radigan's passion for education is so well established in our community that she was selected from a pool of hundreds of nominees as the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year. Accompanying her passion in the classroom, Ms. Radigan serves as a Special Olympics coach. Students in her classroom learn important life skills through numerous additional programs that she has spearheaded. In 2012, Ms. Radigan's class founded Pawbucks coffee, a coffee service, where her students have the opportunity to improve their job skills, social skills and independence. They are responsible for managing the business by making coffee, setting up the carts, selling and delivering coffee, answering phone orders and counting the total daily sales. Beyond practical skills, Pawbucks coffee has given students the opportunity to feel a great pride and a part of the school community. In addition to the coffee service, she and her students founded an organic garden that recently received a Florida Agriculture in the Classroom grant to buy a hydroponic tower. You can also find her students leading the cheering section at the weekly football games through the Paw Prints Cheerleading. Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year Mary Beth Radigan has shown time and time again her unwavering commitment and compassion to go above and beyond for her students. She has created a meaningful and enriching experience for all of her students and will leave a lasting legacy as a teacher with endless compassion and drive. It is one of my greatest honors to champion our community's excellent students and educators in Congress. On behalf of the constituents of the Fourteenth District of Florida it is our honor to recognize Mary Beth Radigan for her exemplary career of educating our community's youth.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay. With much of the world engulfed in conflict in 1939, the War Department selected Tampa to house a new military air field which would go on to become MacDill Air Force Base. With Tampa's natural and strategic location, MacDill has grown and expanded over its 75 years serving as a testament to our nation's military might and Tampa's dedication to supporting the brave men and women of the Armed Services. Officially activated on April 16, 1941, MacDill trained World War II airmen to fly and operate bombers including the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-26 Marauder. Throughout the Second World War, MacDill saw thousands of servicemen train to lead the force in the dangerous skies over Europe. From start to finish, MacDill played a critical role in our country's great military achievement. After World War II, the bombers gave way to fighters when MacDill became a Tactical Air Command. The turmoil in the 1960s again highlighted the strategic importance of MacDill's location. Throughout the Vietnam War and up until the first Gulf War in 1991, Tampa became a home for the F-4 Phantoms and later F-16 Fighting Falcons. Between 1979 and 1993, about half of all F-16 fighter pilots trained at MacDill Air Force Base. Currently, MacDill houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 39 Mission Teammates, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. MacDill is home to more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel and about 170,000 retirees live in the Tampa area and depend on the base for many necessary services. MacDill remains a vital economic driver and a source of good paying jobs for Tampa Bay residents. MacDill extends the global reach of U.S. air power through global air refueling and airlift operations and is a mission our community embraces. In facing our nation's ongoing and future national security challenges, I am confident that MacDill will continue to play a vital role in protecting the safety of our families and all Americans. Tampa is proud to host and I am honored to represent MacDill Air Force Base every day and today on its 75 year anniversary.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the millions of Americans who will mark the annual celebration of March as Women's History Month. During Women's History Month, we celebrate the successes of America's women throughout our history and the sacrifice of the bold women who broke down so many barriers. This year I would like to devote Women's History Month to saluting our female veterans and military members who work to keep us safe. And even though the Department of Defense 3 months ago announced that females will now be able to serve in military combat roles, women actually have been serving in combat since the Civil War; like Army Specialist Brittany Gordon of St. Petersburg, Florida, who was the first woman from the Tampa Bay area killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2012 at the young age of 24. And like the many women who serve at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, whether it is at Air Mobility Command, Special Operations Command or Central Command, you women are making history, and you are doing so while you are working to keep us safe. We are grateful for your service to this country during Women's History Month and every year.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary leader and pillar of the Tampa Bay legal community, Mr. Delano Stewart. Delano Stewart retired in July 2015 after an illustrious 50-year legal career in the state of Florida. A graduate of Hillsborough County public schools, Mr. Stewart went on to matriculate from Morehouse College and Howard University Law School. His memorable career began as the first African-American Assistant Public Defender in Hillsborough County's history. In 1970, he went on to open the first integrated law firm in the state of Florida. In addition to his legal work, Mr. Stewart was the first African-American elected to the Board of Directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the first African-American member of the Rough Riders civic club. Mr. Stewart's memorable career was shaped by many stalwart figures in the civil rights movement. At the age of 12, inspired by a visit from Thurgood Marshall, who was in Tampa as an NAACP attorney assisting in the African-American teachers' campaign for equal pay, Mr. Stewart desired to become a lawyer. His passion for the civil rights movement was further stoked upon traveling to Washington, DC for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s ``I Have a Dream'' speech. Additionally, Mr. Stewart is proud to champion Garland Stewart, the first African-American administrator in Hillsborough County school district history who played a key role in integrating the district, as the greatest influence on his life. Beyond his legal career, he founded The Delano S. Stewart Diversity Award which is given each year to an individual for lifetime achievements in improving the lives of African-Americans and promoting diversity in the legal profession. During this new chapter of his life, Mr. Stewart plans on spending more time with his wife and their six children and eight grandchildren as well as working on his novel. In Delano Stewart's own words he is not retiring, rather he is finding new ways to help people with his specialized legal training. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in honoring Mr. Delano Stewart for his lifelong commitment to fairness and justice for all.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to honor the life of an extraordinary leader and passionate advocate for freedom and justice, Ms. Patricia Spencer. Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1930s, Patricia Spencer followed in her mother and grandmother's footsteps, becoming a member of the NAACP at the age of seven, a group of which she was still a member 72 years later. At the age of nineteen, while serving as secretary of the local NAACP branch, Ms. Spencer received the news that her mentor on the NAACP Youth Council, Rosa Parks, was arrested while riding the Montgomery bus. Ms. Spencer immediately started churning out fliers urging others to boycott the bus. During this time Ms. Spencer also babysat Yolanda King, the first eldest child of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ms. Spencer attended Alabama State University and then moved to Orlando, FL to take a position as an operator with Southern Bell, the first African American to hold this position. From there she moved to Detroit and served 13 years on the local school board. In recognition of her service to the Detroit area, the Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Auditorium and the swimming facility at Charles Kettering High School bear her name. In the mid 1990s she moved to Tampa, FL. Once settled in she immediately started to volunteer with the Hillsborough NAACP branch, where she used her vast knowledge of the organization's rules to mentor members and secure funding for the branch. She served as Membership Chair and Area Director for the NAACP's state conference as well as Secretary of the Hillsborough County branch. She will forever be remembered for her constant efforts to boost NAACP membership. As a notable NAACPer, Ms. Spencer also co-chaired the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technologic and Scientific Olympics. This program recruits high school students to compete in science and visual arts competitions. Though she gave countless hours to the organization as a volunteer, she still had time to serve others. She was affiliated with other local organizations as well. At WUSF Radio Reading Service, she was a reader for the visually impaired listeners tuned in to the station. She was a Board Member of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI-USF), a non-degree-seeking program at the University of South Florida and she also served on the Board of the Early Learning Coalition. The American Red Cross was one of her favorite charities and she was the Vice President of Sisters Network, Inc., Tampa Chapter. She also was Chair of the Hillsborough County Public Schools--School Choice Committee. In 2007, Governor Charlie Crist appointed her as a member of the Hillsborough County Civil Service Board. Ms. Spencer will be forever remembered as a leader in the Tampa Bay community for her unequivocal support of justice and fairness. On December 14th, 2015, she passed away two days following her 79th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in honoring Ms. Patricia Spencer for her lifelong commitment to service.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I am opposed.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker and Members, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I rushed to come to the floor to offer this motion to recommit because this bill, H.R. 766, is so outrageous. Under this bill, the Republicans in Congress are poised to give a get out of jail free card to big banks and Wall Street interests when it comes to fraud. Republicans propose to take away tools and investigatory powers from the Department of Justice in cases of fraud and undermine the Department of Justice's ability to prosecute mortgage fraud and other crimes to the detriment of American families and our neighbors back home. Americans expect that the big banks that have broken the rules be held accountable for any of their financial misdeeds. However, the House Republicans are trying to give their special interest friends a break they do not need at the expense of hardworking Americans. Shortly after I was sworn into Congress in 2007, my neighbors started to come to me and express, sincerely, about a problem that was happening. It started in Florida almost earlier than anywhere else. As the financial crisis took hold and people began to lose their jobs or their employers cut back on their hours, they couldn't keep up with their mortgages. The deeper we dug in to it, we began to see a pattern of fraudulent practices by many in the mortgage loan business. After 2007, I had six foreclosure prevention workshops. At that time, I will never forget looking into the eyes of my neighbors, who asked for a little bit of breathing room, a little bit of help. We came to Washington and we asked for that help on behalf of American families, not to let them off the hook for their mortgages, but to give them a little breathing room. The response here in Washington was, instead, the huge, multibillion-dollar Wall Street bailout. We asked, as part of that Wall Street bailout of the big banks: Could you allow homeowners to have a little more breathing room so they could stay in their homes? But, no, that couldn't be part of the multibillion-dollar Wall Street package. That was a lesson to everyone across America who really holds the power here in Washington, D.C. Next week, I am still going to have another foreclosure prevention workshop with HOPE NOW and my local partners, because people are not healed and the fraud continues. On Monday of this week, I sat down with my U.S. attorney in the middle district of Florida, one of the busiest districts in America, especially when it comes to fraud. Do you know what U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said? He said we need more tools to fight fraud. They are winning big cases and big settlements when it comes to Medicare fraud and mortgage fraud and rooting out waste in the system. So it is appalling. You bring H.R. 766 to take away those investigatory tools, the subpoena powers, for white-collar crime. Today, House Republicans are aiming to weaken the vital financial fraud fighting law, Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act. This is irresponsible. House Republicans should be called out for it. Republicans will eliminate the authority of thousands of Federal prosecutors to issue subpoenas for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting any big banks or other financial institutions that engage in financial fraud or other financial crimes. So I am offering an amendment, a motion to recommit, that, instead, sides with our hardworking families back home. My amendment will prevent the legislation from taking effect until the Department of Justice and banking regulators certify that no financial institutions that are covered by the act have broken the law by taking advantage of servicemembers or by perpetrating abuses in the mortgage market. That is the very least my Republican colleagues could do. In the meantime, American families who are appalled at this kind of action in the Congress should know that the Democrats are united for opportunity for hardworking Americans, especially for servicemembers and homeowners who are seeking to enjoy the American Dream. Americans should be appalled that Republicans want to take the financial cops off the beat and take tools away from our Department of Justice and U.S. attorneys. I ask my House Republican colleagues to join us in working to build an economy that works for all Americans, not just for the privileged few. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion. Side with American families. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service and dedication of an extraordinary community servant, Mr. Jarvis Glover. Born and raised in Port Tampa, Mr. Glover has been fondly known as its unofficial Mayor. Mr. Glover started his career with Hillsborough County in 1975, at a time when our nation, and our own community, was progressing and on the cusp of tremendous growth. Beginning as a groundskeeper, Jarvis served to improve the lives of the citizens of Hillsborough County, Florida in many capacities throughout the following four decades of his tenure. Mr. Jarvis recently retired from Hillsborough County, after serving with unwavering discipline and integrity and inspiring future generations of public servants. Mr. Glover's outstanding work ethic and stalwart dedication have made an indelible mark on day-to-day County business and represents the values that this community upholds. Mr. Glover has had a big heart for public service, which has perhaps made him Hillsborough County's greatest ambassador and he is revered by everyone. Mr. Glover's commitment and devotion begins with his family. He is quick to credit his loving wife, Clara, as a driving force in his life. His own children, La'Daishia and Jarvis Jr., have supported and followed in their father's lofty footsteps into public service. Mr. Glover's praise and admiration by everyone he meets has not happened overnight. He has earned it by demonstrating a daily pledge to serve his colleagues and neighbors with respect and hard work. His example of genuine enthusiasm for public service should serve to motivate so many answering the call to join our public agencies, which have a profound impact on millions in almost every aspect of their lives. Hillsborough County is a better place because of Mr. Glover. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the Hillsborough County community in thanking Jarvis Glover for his decades of exceptional service.

Mr. CASTOR of Florida

Mr. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of an extraordinary leader and passionate advocate for freedom and justice, Ms. Patricia Spencer. Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1930s, Patricia Spencer followed in her mother and grandmother's footsteps becoming a member of the NAACP at the age of seven, a group which she was still a member of 72 years later. At the age of nineteen, while serving as Secretary of the local NAACP branch, Ms. Spencer received the news that her mentor on the NAACP Youth Council, Rosa Parks, was arrested while riding the Montgomery bus. Ms. Spencer immediately started churning out fliers urging others to boycott the bus. During this time Ms. Spencer also babysat Yolanda King, the first eldest child of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ms. Spencer graduated from Alabama State University and then moved to Orlando, FL to take a position as an operator with Southern Bell, the first African American to hold this position. From there she moved to Detroit and served 13 years on the local school board. In recognition of her service to the Detroit area, the Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Auditorium and the swimming facility at Charles Kettering High School bear her name. In the mid 1990s she moved to Tampa, FL. Once settled in, she immediately started to volunteer with the Hillsborough NAACP branch, where she used her vast knowledge of the organization's rules to mentor members and secure funding for the branch. She served as Membership Chair and Area Director for the NAACP's state conference as well as Secretary of the Hillsborough County chapter. She will forever be remembered for her constant efforts to boost NAACP membership. In addition to her work with the NAACP, Ms. Spencer also co-chaired the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technologic and Scientific Olympics. This program recruits high school students to compete in science and visual arts competitions. In 2007, Governor Charlie Crist appointed her as a member of the Hillsborough County Civil Service Board. Ms. Spencer will be forever remembered as a leader in the Tampa Bay community for her unequivocal support of justice and fairness. On December 15th, 2015, she passed away two days after her 79th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in honoring Ms. Patricia Spencer for her lifelong commitment to service.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Democrats in Congress begin the new year with a renewed commitment to working families across this great country and a commitment to standing up to the special interests that hold so much sway here in Washington, D.C. In contrast, House Republicans begin the new year with the first vote that is a vote against women, a vote against women's health, and a vote to target Planned Parenthood all rolled into one. Now, women across this country will not forget the coordinated smear campaign against Planned Parenthood last year that was based upon false, manufactured videos full of distortions and misinformation. We will not forget how Republicans in Congress acted in concert with the shady group and used the controversy to eliminate family planning support and vital cancer screenings for women across the country. It is especially troubling that my GOP colleagues begin the year targeting folks who really need the help the most: working families, young women, and women of color. While Republicans choose to start the year this way, what I hear from women, parents, moms, and dads at home is that they want greater economic security and greater personal security. That is what Congress should be focused on in 2016, not an attack on women's health.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Reclaiming my time, I include in the Record a page that summarizes the GAO report from a few years ago, because I know folks think this is a partisan fight. And don't take it from us. Take it from the independent GAO. It states: ``Membership in a terrorist organization does not prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives under current Federal law.'' [From GAO Highlights, May 5, 2010] Terrorist Watchlist Screening: FBI Has Enhanced Its Use of Information From Firearm and Explosives Background Checks To Support Counterterrorism Efforts Why GAO Did This Study Membership in a terrorist organization does not prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives under current federal law. However, for homeland security and other purposes, the FBI is notified when a firearm or explosives background check involves an individual on the terrorist watchlist. This statement addresses (1) how many checks have resulted in matches with the terrorist watchlist, (2) how the FBI uses information from these checks for counterterrorism purposes, and (3) pending legislation that would give the Attorney General authority to deny certain checks. GAO's testimony is based on products issued in January 2005 and May 2009 and selected updates in March and April 2010. For these updates, GAO reviewed policies and other documentation and interviewed officials at FBI components involved with terrorism-related background checks. What GAO Recommends GAO is not making new recommendations, but has made prior recommendations to the Attorney General to help ensure that background checks involving individuals on the terrorist watchlist are properly handled and that allowable information from these checks is shared with counterterrorism officials, which the FBI has implemented. GAO also suggested that Congress consider adding a provision to any future legislation that would require the Attorney General to define when firearms or explosives could be denied, which has been included in a subsequent bill. What GAO Found From February 2004 through February 2010, FBI data show that individuals on the terrorist watchlist were involved in firearm or explosives background checks 1,228 times; 1,119 (about 91 percent) of these transactions were allowed to proceed because no prohibiting information was found--such as felony convictions, illegal immigrant status, or other disqualifying factors--and 109 of the transactions were denied. In response to a recommendation in GAO's January 2005 report, the FBI began processing all background checks involving the terrorist watchlist in July 2005--including those generated via state operations--to ensure consistency in handling and ensure that relevant FBI components and field agents are contacted during the resolution of the checks so they can search for prohibiting information. Based on another recommendation in GAO's 2005 report, the FBI has taken actions to collect and analyze information from these background checks for counterterrorism purposes. For example, in April 2005, the FBI issued guidance to its field offices on the availability and use of information collected as a result of firearm and explosives background checks involving the terrorist watchlist. The guidance discusses the process for FBI field offices to work with FBI personnel who conduct the checks and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to obtain information about the checks, such as the purchaser's residence address and the make, model, and serial number of any firearm purchased. The guidance states that any information that FBI field offices obtain related to these background checks can be shared with other counterterrorism and law enforcement agencies. The FBI is also preparing monthly reports on these checks that are disseminated throughout the FBI to support counterterrorism efforts. In April 2007, the Department of Justice proposed legislative language to Congress that would provide the Attorney General with discretionary authority to deny the transfer of firearms or explosives to known or suspected ``dangerous terrorists.'' At the time of GAO's May 2009 report, neither the department's proposed legislative language nor related proposed legislation included provisions for the development of guidelines further delineating the circumstances under which the Attorney General could exercise this authority. GAO suggested that Congress consider including a provision in any relevant legislation that would require the Attorney General to establish such guidelines; and this provision was included in a subsequent legislative proposal. If Congress gives the Attorney General authority to deny firearms or explosives based on terrorist watchlist concerns, guidelines for making such denials would help to provide accountability for ensuring that the expected results of the background checks are being achieved. Guidelines would also help ensure that the watchlist is used in a manner that safeguards legal rights, including freedoms, civil liberties, and information privacy guaranteed by federal law and that its use is consistent with other screening processes. For example, criteria have been developed for determining when an individual should be denied the boarding of an aircraft.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I had to take this opportunity to come to the floor to urge my GOP colleagues to allow a vote on closing the loophole that allows terrorists and terrorist suspects to go and purchase firearms and get a license for explosives. It is unbelievable that this loophole still exists. This is something that we can work together on to help keep our families safe all across America. And here is the state of the law. Currently, if you are a felon, you cannot purchase a firearm. If you are a fugitive, you cannot purchase a firearm. If you are a drug addict, you cannot purchase a firearm. If you have been convicted of domestic violence, you cannot purchase a firearm. Here is the loophole: If you are on the terrorist watch list and you cannot fly, you can still go into the gun store and purchase a firearm. This really is truly unbelievable. I ask the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) to tell us again the statistic, based upon the GAO report, of how many people, terrorists, suspected terrorists, have been able to purchase firearms. Do you know?