Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding the time. I rise today in support of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act, H.R. 729. I also rise as a proud Floridian and as the chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Our select committee is tasked with developing a climate action plan in the coming months. Communities across America are grappling with the rising costs of the climate crisis. Here in Congress, we are working to be good partners with our neighbors and communities back home and provide the tools they need to take care of America's diverse and vital coastal communities. That is why, last month, I visited two of my colleagues in south Florida, Congresswoman Donna Shalala and Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel- Powell--they are in the Florida Keys and Miami Beach--to see how their communities are responding to climate change. Here we are with Lad Akins of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. They are doing a lot, but we have to do more. Across the Keys and Miami Beach, and all across this great country, local officials are taking bold action to adapt to sea level rise and make their communities more resilient, but they need our help. That is why Congress must ramp up bold climate legislation, like this bill, which includes 10 separate measures to help coastal communities become more resilient. One of these bills will create a grant program for coastal communities to create living shorelines. Another will expand the use of climate data, which is so vital to determining how we are going to mitigate and how we are going to adapt. This Congress will continue to act on the climate crisis. Next spring, our select committee will release a bold climate action plan, which will serve as a roadmap for committees to take additional action. But Chairman Grijalva and the Natural Resources Committee are ahead of the game, and I want to thank him and his committee members and professional staff for their deep commitment to America and the places we hold dear as we work to tackle the rising cost of climate.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and contributions of a tireless leader of the Tampa community, Victoria ``Vicki'' J. Pollyea. Vicki was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. At an early age, Vicki learned how to take on challenges after being diagnosed with Charcot- Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Vicki used her hard earned ability to ``fight through'' for herself and others her entire life. For example, having to undergo strenuous physical therapy in her youth, inspired her to pursue Occupational Therapy so she could be a source of strength and healing for others. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida, Vicki worked as a pediatric occupational therapist until CMT forced her to retire. Again, even though she retired early from formal work, she kept her skills honed and never ceased using them to help others. And, being unable to continue practicing as an occupational therapist, she used her strength and energy to plunge into advocacy for CMT. She served as the web page moderator for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA); realized the impact that CMT had on her neighbors in Tampa and helped found the CMTA Tampa branch. Vicki then became a branch leader and a Support Group Leader for CMTA. She was always there for the newly diagnosed as a shining real-life example of perseverance. Vicki's involvement and commitment to the Tampa community grew when she co-founded the Bayshore Gardens Neighborhood Association. She served as president for more than two decades. In addition to her position, she hosted annual holiday gatherings for neighbors, including many who didn't have anywhere else to go. Vicki also served on the Mayor's Neighborhood Task Force and helped draft the City of Tampa's tree-protection code and her efforts to improve Bayshore Boulevard are evident every day. Vicki used her voice to advocate for her South Tampa neighborhood and indeed the entire city. She helped manage the urban forest and ensured all neighborhoods had their voices heard. Shortly before her death, the Tampa City Council honored her with a commendation for her community service and a CMT walk-n-roll event has been named in her honor. Vicki is survived by her husband, Archie Giannella; sister and brother in-law, Lisa and Gordon; niece, Claire; stepson, Brock Heinz; godson, John Helmiere, Randi, John, and many beloved cousins. She also leaves behind a community of children, from babies to adults with babies of their own, who cherish her as a beloved ``aunt''. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful and saddened Tampa community, I am proud to honor Victoria J. Pollyea's life. Vicki was admired by her neighbors for her advocacy and her will to never let any challenge dim her passion to help others. Her devotion to her neighbors and Tampa inspires us still and will live on always in our hearts.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life and contributions of a fierce advocate and vital member of the Tampa Bay community, Roger A. Vaughan, Jr. who passed away on July 3, 2019, at the age of 84. Roger positively impacted Tampa Bay in innumerable ways. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean, their 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and 4 siblings. Roger was born in Washington, D.C. and attended St. Anselm's high school. He graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, and earned his law degree from George Washington University. Roger was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1964, and just three years later co-founded his own law firm, located in beautiful downtown Tampa. Roger became a nationally respected maritime lawyer and represented the claimants in the Sunshine Skyway Bridge case. Roger fought for the victims of one of the worst bridge disasters in history after a freighter ship struck a pier supporting the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. His efforts ensured that the victims and their families were properly compensated and that those at fault were held responsible. Roger was beloved in the community for his generosity, his selfless disposition to serving those in need and loyal devotion to his family. He also dedicated a large part of his life to helping seamen, other maritime workers and the maritime legal community. He co-authored: ``Maritime Law & Practice,'' The Florida Bar, 1980 Education, 1987 Edition. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor Roger A. Vaughan, Jr. Roger represents the best Tampa has to offer, his advocacy on behalf of victims and families in the Tampa Bay community is worthy of our respect. Roger A. Vaughan, Jr. leaves behind a legacy of fierce advocacy, service and family. His legacy is cemented into the history of our community and will never be forgotten.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chairwoman, I want to thank Chairman Grijalva for being a champion for America's natural resources. In doing so, the gentleman is a champion for jobs and the economy. We know this in Florida. That is why I rise in strong support of H.R. 205, Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act of 2019. It is a pleasure to be here on the floor with my Republican colleague, Francis Rooney. He is passionate about protecting the State of Florida because our way of life is at risk when you put oil rigs off of our beaches. It threatens our way of life. And the gentleman understands very well, as a successful businessman, that when you threaten our way of life, and you threaten our natural environment and our beaches, you are threatening our economy and jobs. Even though it was 9 years ago, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster is still fresh in my mind, and it is fresh in the minds of my neighbors who live all across the Gulf Coast. It was devastating. April 20, 2010. You all probably remember because CNN had the video from the oil well that continued to spew oil into the Gulf of Mexico through May, through all of June, all of July, August, and they didn't cap the well until late in September. It wreaked havoc not just on Florida's economy and not just on our beautiful environment, but on people's lives. I remember very well holding a woman in my arms who was a small business owner from the Clearwater area. The oil didn't even wash up on the shores of Tampa Bay or the beautiful Pinellas coast beaches, or down to Sanibel Island, but the economy took a hit. They lost everything they had. It wiped out mom-and-pop businesses, restaurants, hotels, and everyone that relies on clean water and clean beaches for their livelihood. Fishermen couldn't fish. It was a catastrophe. Gulf seafood was off the menu. That meant people weren't coming to the mom-and-pop restaurants for their meals. In addition to all of that, whether it was deformed fish and species, there was permanent damage to the ecosystem. Researchers that I work with at the University of South Florida say that even today on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico in the trench off of the beautiful Florida Panhandle, there is still a layer of what they call dirty snow. Because if you remember, they had to pour dispersants and chemicals onto the area of the blowout to make sure that the oil dispersed. Well, that didn't just disappear. It ended up in the food chain and in the entire ecosystem, and it is still out there today, impacting the food web and everything we love about the State of Florida. In fact, the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science has done a lot of research on this. They did 12 separate voyages over 7 years on the USF Research Vessel Weatherbird II. They say, interestingly, the areas where you have oil rigs, they have determined that fish species in that area of the Gulf are gone. There is lack of diversity there. The entire food web is impacted. This is going to impact us for decades to come, and there is no way to make it up. The deep sea is not recovering. In fact, clearly visible abnormalities have been chronicled just recently. The environmental impact is right in front of us; the economic impact, as well as the impact on small business owners. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that we lost $22 billion due to the BP disaster. Our bill will ensure that that never happens again because it says permanently. That moratorium that had a bipartisan vote that Congress took in 2006 which said that until 2022, you can't drill in that part of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, this bill will extend that permanently because this is a dangerous, dirty business. Florida, over time, has chosen not to industrialize its coastline. Our economy is based on clean beaches and clean water. And Floridians have spoken, by the way. Last November, there was a constitutional amendment on the ballot that said we are going to ban offshore oil drilling in State waters. It often is just a few miles off the coast. It passed by 69 percent. I wish the Trump administration would listen. But when you install an oil lobbyist as the head of the Interior Department, I guess we know that Big Oil is calling the shots. We are going to say no today. We are going to say, the people of Florida--in a bipartisan way with a united Florida delegation--we are going to say no. It is not needed. It is not wanted, and it is not the future. It is not needed because America is already an exporter of oil and gas. We don't need to expand into areas that are too precious to drill. It is not wanted. It is not welcome. Even the Department of Defense has said that this is an important military testing area off of the bases in the panhandle. They have already weighed in to say: Don't bring the oil rigs into this military testing zone. It is too special to drill. Today, once again, a united Florida delegation is asking Congress to continue to recognize this part of Florida as a special place, and to continue the moratorium permanently. Floridians and folks all over the country that come to our beautiful State to vacation, they know. It is not wanted. It is not needed. Our future is clean energy. That is what we should be investing in. That is what we should be debating and spending time here today on. That is the future of the United States of America. That is where the jobs of the future are going to come from. Jobs in solar and wind energy are already far surpassing jobs in fossil fuels. The climate crisis requires that America be smarter, and we don't double down on the dirty policies of the past--dirty oil drilling. For all of those reasons, let's demonstrate it here today and push back on the Trump administration's attempt to open up the Gulf beaches to oil drilling. Let's say no. We have got a bipartisan Florida delegation that is standing up, united, and I want to thank all of my colleagues from Florida for their leadership year in and year out on this issue. Let's send a strong vote today. Let's send a strong message today and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 205.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Dena Gross Leavengood, a tireless advocate for Florida, our Tampa Bay community and indeed our planet. Her determined advocacy has left a profound impact on our community and almost impossible shoes to fill. A Florida native, Dena graduated with a bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Florida and received her master's degree right here at the University of South Florida. Dena was a driving force behind The Florida Aquarium because, even then, she realized its key role in fighting climate change and saving our planet. Dena served the Aquarium in key positions, including director of educational outreach and community liaison. There are so many areas where Dena was indispensable. I remember her perhaps most fondly when in my time as a County Commissioner, she worked with me to fight for health care for working families in her role as the founder of the Hillsborough Health Care Coalition. Dena was legendary in leadership roles for women with the League of Women Voters and Athena, to name a few. Tomorrow Matters and the Sierra Club were among so many other places where Dena left her inimitable and indelible stamp. As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Member of Congress and as her friend, I witnessed Dena's tenacity and steadfast commitment on behalf of her neighbors, friends, Tampa Bay families and people she would never know, except in her heart. Dena's decades of activism and professional accomplishments earned her the love of our community and numerous accolades, including the 2010 Education Award from the Health Council of Pinellas County, the 2003 Human Rights Award from the Tampa Human Rights Council. She also received national recognition as community liaison with The Florida Aquarium. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful and saddened Tampa Bay community, we promise to reflect on Dena's life of service to improve the lives of our neighbors, our community and our country, and have it serve as a beacon and inspiration as we undertake the hard work of going forward without her--as Dena would certainly insist on us doing. Dena earned a special place in my heart and of the entire Tampa Bay community. Dena would be sorely missed in all times but especially in these challenging times--we will strive to remember our indefatigable, Happy Warrior, Dena, if ever we get discouraged.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration and respect to honor the life and unselfish works of Amy Shimberg. Amy's remarkable contributions to our hometown of Tampa had a tremendous impact on our neighbors and is worthy of recognition. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, brother and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved very much. Amy was born, raised and educated in New York City. She obtained her bachelor's degree from New York University and her master's in education from Columbia University. After teaching in New York, she followed her parents to Florida where she continued teaching. Amy met the love of her life and life partner in doing good, Jim, on a blind date. Jim and Amy started their 50-year marriage and settled in Tampa in 1958. Amy was a tireless community volunteer with a very strong interest in public education. She served as PTA president of every school her children attended and continued her involvement with the PTA after her youngest graduated from high school. Many organizations in the Tampa Bay Area benefited from her tireless advocacy and passion. She served on the Citizens Advisory Board to the Hillsborough County School Board and the board of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels in the 1970s and continued serving for more than 25 years, twice as president. She loved helping her neighbors in such a direct and personal way. In a window into Amy's heart, she believed that she gained more from neighbors she visited and delivered meals to than they did. In addition to her direct work delivering meals, she was instrumental in raising funds for Meals on Wheels and was the honorary chairperson of the capital campaign to build a new facility. Her dedication to this cause that brightens the days of so many is unmatched and one of the main reasons Meals on Wheels is such a success and Amy is so revered in Tampa Bay. Amy was instrumental in helping not just our senior neighbors, but children as well. She co-chaired a fundraising campaign for Nature's Classroom to benefit future generations of sixth graders. She was recognized for her wonderful work, including receiving the Community Hero Award from the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation in 2014. The philanthropic contributions of Amy and Jim improved the lives of many people in the Tampa Bay area and the James and Amy Shimberg Charitable Trust and the James and Amy Shimberg Foundation, will keep the good deeds going for more generations. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor Amy Shimberg for her formidable efforts and selfless devotion to the people in our community. The time and energy she put into making Tampa Bay a better place to live are unmatched. Volunteering thousands of hours to those in need must be celebrated. Amy Shimberg taught us the true meaning of the word mitzvah and her legacy as a tireless advocate will live on and inspire others in the community.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hillsborough Community College (HCC) for its 50th anniversary. Since 1968, Hillsborough Community College has provided the people of the Tampa Bay community with an affordable and quality education. Ever since holding its first classes at Hillsborough High School in my hometown of Tampa, Florida, HCC has since grown to become an accredited institution serving over 44,000 students each year across 5 campuses and 3 training centers. HCC has expanded to offer 190 academic programs, ranging from Paralegal Studies to Engineering Technology. More than 84 percent of HCC graduates remain in Hillsborough County after graduation. Their contributions to our community are irreplaceable. HCC's graduates make Hillsborough County a better place. HCC is a vibrant and diverse community with students of many different backgrounds. HCC also has been recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution, meaning more than 25 percent of full-time HCC students are Hispanic or Latino. The 50th graduating class included students aged 16 to 72 years old. To celebrate the diversity of their campuses and encourage retention, in 2006 HCC hosted its first Annual Black, Brown & College Bound (BBCB) Summit. The Summit brings accomplished professionals and scholars together with Black and Latino male students to discuss barriers that affect persistence and completion among minority males. In its 13th year, BBCB has grown nationally to include more than 150 different colleges and universities from 40 states. HCC has is not just be an institution of higher learning, but part of the fabric of our community--hosting events such as a hearing of the United States Senate on small, premium cigar businesses in the college's Cigar City campus, forums to address the persistence of sexual harassment in the workplace and enrollment events for the Affordable Care Act to expand health care coverage to our most vulnerable neighbors. Hillsborough Community College plays a critical role in preparing young students for promising futures in the workforce. I applaud HCC's success in preparing students for continued education and professional careers. I am eager to see where HCC's next 50 years will lead students in the Tampa Bay community.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the selfless pro bono work of Tampa attorney, Michael Bedke, who will receive the Florida Bar Foundation's 2019 Medal of Honor Award this week. The Medal of Honor is the Foundation's highest honor. Michael Bedke works to ensure the wheels of justice turn for everyone. He has devoted a large portion of his distinguished legal career in service to his community and his country. He has provided extensive pro bono service and advocacy for AIDS patients, domestic violence survivors and individuals in need. He also has maintained an unfailing commitment to improve the lives of veterans. He spearheaded the ``No Place Like Home'' initiative which establishes permanent supportive housing for neighbors in need of mental health services or who are at risk of chronic homelessness. Throughout his life, Mike always has recognized his duty to serve his neighbors and country in a wide variety of ways. He is constantly thinking of ways to meet unmet legal needs and has a unique ability to develop effective plans for meeting those needs. As a young lawyer, Mike took on pro bono cases to represent persons with AIDS in the 1980s, a time when the general public was both fearful and uneducated about the disease. True to his style of leading by example, by taking on these cases and serving on the board of the Tampa AIDS Network he encouraged colleagues to take similar action. After Category 5 Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992, Mike worked to pass Good Samaritan legislation that removed an impediment to lawyers providing pro bono help to disaster survivors. He also led legal relief efforts in response to Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and September 11. He founded the Greater Access and Assistance Project while chair of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyer's Division, modeling it after the Courthouse Assistance Project he created at home as a member of Bay Area Legal Services' board of directors. Mike has worked to empower domestic violence survivors for more than 25 years. He was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women in 2002 and has served on numerous boards working to improve access and support for survivors. He worked with the Women's Caucus of the Peruvian Parliament to draft model domestic violence legislation. Mike received his bachelor's degree with high honors from the University of Florida in Gainesville and served as student body president. He then completed his juris doctorate with honors from the University of Florida. He developed a program at his alma mater to recruit and retain minority law students. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law. Close to my heart and so many in the Tampa Bay area is Bay Area Legal Services that provides legal aid to people who need it. As president of the Board of Directors for Bay Area Legal Services, in 2015, Mike spearheaded a fundraising effort that created a $400,000 endowment for a veterans program. He also led the development and implementation of Bay Area's ``No Place Like Home Project'' to provide pro bono help to low-income homeowners experiencing title issues. He is a partner in the Tampa office of the distinguished international law firm, DLA Piper. While Mike is much sought after in his specific area of practice, he was called to do more in service to his community and country--and we are better for it and grateful for his vision and commitment. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of America, the State of Florida and my neighbors across our hometown, I am proud to mark Mike Bedke's lifetime of leadership.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has broad authority to protect consumers and is tasked specifically with targeting fraud, deceptive advertising, robocalls, identity theft, and online privacy. Hardly a day goes by when personal private or financial data isn't lost to an online data breach or theft. Americans deserve to have greater privacy protections for what they do online. And we need an FTC that has the tools necessary to go after bad actors and hold them accountable. I'd like to compliment the Appropriations Committee for providing the FTC with a $40 million increase from FY19. FTC needs more resources to protect our personal online data, but I remain concerned that the FTC will still struggle to fulfill its mission and hold companies accountable for violations of the law, data breaches and particularly our children's online privacy. Every week there is a new report of companies skirting the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. When the FTC does go after bad actors it is often too late and the penalties are too insignificant. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, my colleagues and I are working to improve children's online privacy protections. Recently, as part of that work, FTC Chairman Simons testified that a FTC $5.7 million settlement with a company that illegally collected information on children, in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, was the largest civil penalty in an children's online privacy case. Unfortunately, the penalty was too low to ensure online companies are following the law. The video social networking app Musical.ly, now known as TikTok, settled very serious case where TikTok was collecting location data on children that was discernible to people in the neighborhood. TikTok made it very difficult for children and parents to close accounts. TikTok made it practically impossible to complain. And TikTok would not delete profiles after someone did close an account. TikTok is now owned by Chinese company Bytedance, which is valued at $75 billion. That means that the FTC's record setting fine was 0.0076 percent of Bytedance's value. No CEO is going to blink an eye at a fine that inconsequential. Companies will just see small FTC fines as a cost of doing business and will continue to elevate profits over privacy, especially when it come to our kids. The FTC also has launched a probe of You Tube for potential violations of COPPA and a broad consensus has emerged that many other bad actors violate the law on a regular basis. One of the reasons for the lack of enforcement is too few resources focused specifically on children's privacy. Currently the FTC only has 40 full time staff devoted to protecting privacy and data security for the entire country. In comparison, the U.K. which has 1/5th the population of the U.S. has 500 full time staff in its Information Commissioners' office. Ireland, which has 1/65th the population of the U.S. has 110 full time staff in its Data Protection Commissioner's office. Something does not add up here. My amendment encourages the FTC to take enforcement action against companies that fail to protect children's privacy and encourages Congress to give the FTC the resources it needs to fulfill its overall mission.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chairwoman, my amendment is an important one for American families who are grappling with healthcare costs. My amendment is an important one for the over 130 million Americans who have a preexisting health condition like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or Alzheimer's. My amendment takes aim at a proposed rule by the Trump administration that encourages insurance companies to issue junk insurance plans. Everyone calls them junk insurance plans because they often don't cover vital health services. They may not cover a trip to the hospital or the emergency room. They may not cover prescription drugs. They may not cover mental health services that you need. They are often marketed as a good deal, but they don't show a person the fine print that they may cap benefits. What they do is they allow discrimination against our neighbors who have a preexisting health condition. This is not in question because in committee, I asked the HHS Secretary Azar point blank, I said: ``These short-term, limited- duration plans known as junk plans, they allow insurance companies to discriminate against you if you have a preexisting health condition; right, Mr. Secretary?'' He said: ``Yes.'' The law of the land after we passed the Affordable Care Act says that no longer are we going to allow insurance companies to discriminate against our neighbors who have preexisting health conditions. So how can the Trump administration be moving forward? Well, they are moving forward with a proposed rule that would allow these plans to operate for 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years. That is not a short-term, limited-duration plan. These are junk. Just over a month ago, Democrats here in the House stood up for our neighbors back home and passed a bill, H.R. 1010, that would halt the Trump administration's dangerous expansion of junk health plans that weaken the protection for Americans who have a preexisting condition. Today, we are building on H.R. 1010 by offering this amendment with my colleagues, Representatives Underwood, Barragan, DeSaulnier, Spanberger, Moore, and Slotkin, to prohibit any funds from being used to implement, administer, or enforce the administration's expansion of junk plans. We are going to safeguard families from Republican attempts to push them into junk insurance plans that don't cover the essential healthcare services that they need. The mandate from our neighbors back home is clear. They value affordable healthcare and the bedrock protection of the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination based upon a preexisting health condition. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chair, instead of ripping affordable coverage away, my Republican colleagues and the administration should be working with the Democrats to lower healthcare costs for American families and protect coverage for preexisting conditions. One way that we can do that is by supporting this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is a healthcare champion.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, after a number of years of consecutive blue team victories, I am here to congratulate the red team and my good friends Congressman LaHood and Congressman Bacon, the co- chairs of the Congressional Soccer Caucus. Truly, the real winners are the kids across America, who we are able to raise charity funds for, to help make sure that they can all experience a beautiful game, the beautiful game of soccer. The U.S. Soccer Foundation funds fields and equipment all across the country, particularly in the underserved areas. Madam Speaker, I invite everyone to join the soccer caucus and help stand up for your kids back home. I do have to say, on the eve of the Women's World Cup, with the defending World Cup champions, the U.S. Women's National Team, there is a little bit of girl power not only here in the House, but we intend to repeat the win of the Women's World Cup. Let's cheer them on and cheer on what they have done in standing up for pay equity and equal treatment as role models for girls and young women all across this country.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am saddened to hear of the passing of a truly great Floridian, Sandy D'Alemberte. As it does for so many, his passing pains me both personally and for our state and country. Sandy was a voice for reason, the rule of law, decency and kindness--a ``necessary man'' for all his time and certainly for these times. It is enough to remember him as a brilliant legislator, president of the American Bar Association (ABA), Florida State University (FSU) president and Florida Constitutional scholar. And, much loved dean while I was at FSU College of Law. However, Sandy was indispensable in so many instances in Florida's history--both the big moments and some moments that most of his fellow Floridians might never know about but which were just as grand. One of the latter was his embrace of Jose Manuel Godinez- Samperio and his fight to be admitted to the Florida Bar. Jose graduated valedictorian of his class at Armwood High School in Hillsborough County, Fla. and went on to attend FSU College of Law. Jose made history when he graduated from FSU College of Law and passed the Florida Bar exam, but when he sought admittance to the Florida Bar as an undocumented immigrant, this great American Story almost came to an end. Sandy's belief in the law, fair play and young people caused him to take on this injustice. He brought together a team, including me, past presidents of the ABA, bipartisan members of the Florida Legislature and others, to successfully confront this quiet individual inequity just as he had taken on more large and public challenges for all of Florida. Like so many public officials, I can say that Sandy has helped make me a better representative for my neighbors in Tampa and throughout Florida. I sought his counsel for Florida's future as recently as last fall. The gracious efforts by Sandy on behalf of the small and the grand, and the foundation he has laid for the legal community, higher education, his state and his country will hopefully be of some solace to Patsy and his family.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, Democrats are doing everything that we can to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, so I strongly support the act that is on the floor today. It contains two bills that I authored. First is H.R. 1010, which prohibits the expansion of these junk insurance plans. Junk insurance plans are the ones that do not cover preexisting conditions. You can often be tricked into buying one of these plans and find out it doesn't even cover the trip to the hospital. In fact, I asked Secretary Azar, in committee, about this. I asked him: You are aware that these junk plans do not cover preexisting conditions? He said: That is correct. The bill also contains another section that I authored, the ENROLL Act, to restore funds to our independent navigators who are helping American families choose the right health insurance options for them. Agents and brokers are important, but they are no substitute for independent navigators who are trusted in the community. We have got to pass these bills today to lower healthcare costs for families all across the country and lower prescription drug costs. I am very proud to have authored two portions of this. Let's not let them expand these junk plans and leave you on the hook. Let's make sure that families have the independent advice that they need to choose what makes the most sense for them.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, we are trying to turn back the sabotage of the Trump administration on people's healthcare for the folks back home who we represent. The Trump administration has done everything they can to make it more expensive, whether we are talking about prescription drugs or that all-important health insurance policy. Don't just take it from me and my Democratic colleagues. Take it from folks who are on the side of our families day in and day out: the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association. I could go on and on. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record letters from over 20 health groups that represent our families back home who say: Pass this bill. May 15, 2019. Hon. Kathy Castor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Castor: The 23 undersigned organizations, representing millions of American patients, providers, and consumers, write today in strong support of H.R. 1010, To provide that the rule entitled ``Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance ``shall have no force or effect,'' which is now included in H.R. 987. Our organizations strongly support providing protections for patients from short-term, limited-duration (STLDI or short-term) plans and support preventing action on implementing or enforcing the ``Short- Term, Limited-Duration Insurance'' final rule (83 FR 38212, published August 3, 2018). Our organizations remain concerned about this final rule which expands the maximum duration of short-term health insurance plans from three months to 364 days. Previously, short term plans were available to fill a temporary gap in coverage, such as gaps in employment. However, since the rule was finalized, the growth and availability of these products continues to threaten patients with pre-existing conditions because insurers offering these policies can either deny coverage or charge higher premiums to individuals with pre-existing conditions. Expanding access to these policies could cause premiums in the marketplace to increase, as younger and healthier individuals choose to enroll in the short-term plans. This forces individuals with serious or chronic conditions into a smaller, sicker risk pool to obtain the coverage they need to manage their health. Premiums for these comprehensive plans would likely skyrocket, making insurance unaffordable. Short-term plans also lack patient protections guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), severely impacting individuals with serious or chronic health conditions. Plan providers are permitted to consider pre-existing conditions in decisions to deny coverage, charge higher premiums, or not cover certain care and treatments. After enrolling in a short-term plan, providers are permitted to rescind or amend coverage based on new health issues. Short-term plans are not required to cover all of the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) categories outlined in the ACA, potentially forcing individuals to pay out-of-pocket for expensive treatments. These plans can also impose lifetime and annual limits on coverage and do not require limits on out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles. H.R. 1010 would both protect patients and consumers from substandard insurance products and assist in stabilizing the marketplace. The decreased up-front costs of short-term plans may be more appealing to younger, healthier individuals, thus, dividing the individual marketplace risk pool. Segmenting the market in this way will result in increased premiums for comprehensive ACA-compliant plans in the marketplace, decreasing marketplace stability, and reducing affordable access to insurance. It is for these reasons we enthusiastically endorse your legislation and urge Congress to act swiftly to limit the sale of short-term insurance plans. People with pre-existing conditions need access to adequate, affordable health insurance. Again, our organizations thank you for your leadership on this critical issue for people with pre- existing conditions, and we support your efforts to expand access to affordable health insurance. Sincerely, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Hemophilia Federation of America, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lutheran Services in America, March of Dimes, Mended Little Hearts, Muscular Dystrophy Association. National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Health Council, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National Psoriasis Foundation, Susan G. Kamen, The ALS Association, Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I wanted to make one more important point. I have heard so much misinformation today from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have denigrated our navigators. They say agents and brokers can do the job of helping to sign up our neighbors for health insurance. Boy, that is not the case. Yes, agents and brokers are important, but we heard expert testimony in our committee that the navigators provide independent, trusted advice. They are our community-based folks at community health centers and groups like the American Cancer Society, who I mentioned, that understand how important it is. A lot of the agents and brokers send their customers over to navigators to sign up because the agents and brokers are not interested in going over to folks who rely on Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration and respect to honor the life of true civil rights champion, James Hammond. Retired Lt. Col. U.S. Army James Hammond was born on November 11th-- Veterans Day, a fitting beginning for a man who would give so much to our state and our country. A pioneering civil rights leader, Mr. Hammond helped shape my hometown of Tampa and we will remember his legacy for the stands he took, the differences he made and the lives he touched. Born in Tampa, FL, Mr. Hammond graduated from Middleton High School and later attended Hampton University earning a degree in electrical engineering. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Texas, Germany, England and Washington, rising all the way to the rank of lieutenant colonel. While serving in the Army he created the Hammond Electric Company. He became Tampa's first African-American, licensed, class-A electrical contractor. He would go on to use his experience in business to help create the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan--working to bring affordable housing and business incubators to underserved areas. Mr. Hammond served as the First Commissioner of Community Relations for the City of Tampa. In that role he was tasked with working towards racial equality during the mid-60s. He worked to bring people together, while constantly pushing our community to improve. His work led to more training and jobs for African-Americans in city government. He partnered with U.S. Congressman Sam Gibbons to secure a federal grant to create our county's first preschool program. He worked to integrate Tampa's downtown businesses. Where there was discrimination, he worked for change; where there was injustice, he worked to overcome it; and where there was an opportunity to improve the lives of his neighbors, he seized on it. Mr. Hammond's commitment to education lasted throughout his life. He and his beloved wife Evelyne established a scholarship fund at their alma mater, Hampton University. At the elementary school named for him, students and families would often see him at school events. As Hammond Elementary School principal Sheri Norkas described, ``He would tell the students to repeat after him, and they happily repeated, `I will be somebody.' '' Mr. Hammond was part of the fabric of the Tampa community, helping improve lives every day. He served as Chairman of the Civil Service Board, District Chairman Boy Scouts of America, Board of Director Member of The Greater Tampa Urban League, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Community Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the NAACP. He has been honored on this floor before, when my friend Congressman Alcee Hastings proclaimed May 4th as National James A. Hammond Day. Madam Speaker, on behalf of America, the citizens of Florida and my neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor James Hammond for his courage and selfless devotion to the people in our country and our community. The time and energy he put in to improving the lives of every person he met are unmatched. Today, we all pledge to carry on his work and practice what he preached, the ``Three P's'' of patience, persistence and positive thinking. He lifted up others and inspired our greater Tampa community to bridge our differences for the benefit of all. He walked humbly and was full of grace.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend from Florida for yielding the time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the two very important bills the House of Representatives will consider. The first is H.R. 986 by my colleague, Representative Kuster from New Hampshire, that will work to protect our neighbors who have preexisting health conditions, like cancer or heart disease. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is trying to weaken those protections. They are doing so in the courts and through Congress. So it is very important that the House of Representatives pass into law protections for our neighbors with preexisting conditions. In fact, the name of the bill is ``Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act.'' Passing this bill will help keep healthcare accessible and affordable for all Americans. The second bill is also very important, H.R. 2157. It provides about $17 billion in disaster relief to Americans who need it, who have suffered through horrendous natural disasters. It was October 10, 2018, when Florida took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. It was one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in the United States. It slammed into the panhandle and caused tremendous damage and destruction. To help meet disaster needs, the House of Representatives, the Democratic-led House, one of the first bills we passed was a disaster relief package on January 16, 2019. It passed by a wide margin with a bipartisan vote. Unfortunately, it ran into opposition from the Senate and the White House. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues now to come back together in a bipartisan way and use this bill to break the logjam in the Senate and keep the focus on our fellow Americans who need disaster assistance. Disaster relief used to be bipartisan. We need to return to those days and pass it in a timely manner.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to stand up for my neighbors--including those with preexisting conditions--by supporting H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act. Health care in American should be affordable and accessible to all. Passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 ensured that our neighbors with a preexisting condition, like asthma, heart disease or cancer, would no longer be denied insurance. It is unfortunate that the President and Republicans in Congress have made it their mission to sabotage the affordable health care of hardworking families, including gutting protections for people with preexisting conditions and take away affordable, quality health care from millions of Americans. I am cosponsoring the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act to safeguard Americans from the Trump administration's efforts to undo the affordability and comprehensiveness of our health care. H.R. 986 will overturn the Trump administration's expansion of Section 1332 waivers that were originally included in the Affordable Care Act to give states flexibility to experiment with insurance reforms that could improve the health and well-being of citizens. Unfortunately, the administration would instead use those waivers to weaken standards put in place to protect the health of Americans--especially our neighbors with preexisting conditions. H.R. 986 would end the administration's push of Americans into sub- par and deceptive junk plans that many times exclude coverage for preexisting conditions. These plans do not provide basic benefits or financial protection standard and would return patients to the days when they would discover only when they get sick or God forbid get a cancer diagnosis that their plan imposes unreasonable limits on coverage and excludes vital benefits. They discriminate based on age, health status and gender. Democrats will not allow the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans to drive premiums higher in the individual market and rip coverage away from those that need it the most. I want to thank my colleague Rep. Kuster for helping lead this charge and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 986 and support our neighbors with preexisting conditions.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Engel of the Foreign Affairs Committee for yielding the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise humbly as a Representative of my home State of Florida and as a patriotic American but, especially today, as a mother of two daughters and future generations because I feel the weight of our moral responsibility to address climate change. This is a historic day here in the House of Representatives. This is the first time in 10 years that major climate legislation is being heard in the people's House. H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, is where we will start by honoring America's commitment to address the climate crisis, and it is a crisis. The last time global monthly temperatures were below average was in February of 1985. That means everyone who is 34 years of age or younger has grown up in a world that has been forever altered by the change in climate. How severe the impacts of climate change will be to us personally over time depends on the actions that we take now. Based on the latest science from the administration's own National Climate Assessment, we have reason to worry. Seas are rising. America's heartland and farms have suffered unprecedented floods. Snowpack is shrinking, and that is bad for clean water supplies. Droughts are getting worse. Hot, humid heat waves are becoming more intense, with more days where people cannot safely work or play outside. Higher temperatures mean that pollutants, like ground-level ozone from car exhaust, will become more damaging to our health. One-and-a-half years ago, I had to pack up my home, board up the windows and doors, pack up my most cherished belongings, and flee as Hurricane Irma, that monster hurricane, threatened the State of Florida. We were scared of a huge storm surge coming up from the Gulf of Mexico and into Tampa Bay. We were petrified. Fortunately, we had time to get out of the way, but that isn't true for so many Americans who have suffered floods, fires, and more. They haven't been as lucky. And the risks and costs going forward are likely to be more severe. What is necessary to combat the climate crisis is to stop carbon pollution from accumulating in the atmosphere. That requires action, urgent action, ambitious action. Fortunately, we have made some progress in recent years in cutting carbon pollution. Thousands of businesses, houses of worship, States, and communities are taking action. Now they are demanding that we do the same. A few years ago, there was also good news. After years of finger- pointing, the United States, China, India, Europe, and other countries, all of the countries around the world, came together and agreed to cut carbon pollution. With America's leadership and engagement, the U.S. led other nations in committing to take climate action in an international agreement called the Paris climate accord. The agreement was a breakthrough. After years of playing the blame game, nearly every other country said, here is our plan, and each country developed its own individual plan, and America has done just that. That plan has incredible upsides. We are creating millions of clean energy jobs right now, and they are good-paying jobs. We are saving billions of dollars on home energy bills, and businesses are saving huge amounts of money through energy efficiency. We can finally address climate injustice. And despite what the Trump administration says, America is still in the international agreement. We have not formally withdrawn. If this bill becomes law, we never will, because America does not cut and run, America keeps its commitments, and we will recommit to doing so when we pass this bill. My Climate Action Now bill is straightforward. It would block the administration from spending any money on withdrawal, and it would require the Trump administration to release its plan to cut carbon pollution. Americans overwhelmingly support U.S. leadership on the climate crisis because they understand that when America leads, we win. Ask the 23 States, 300 cities, and more than 2,000 businesses who have pledged to honor the Paris goals. Now they will be joined by the House of Representatives. Some of the fastest growing jobs in America are clean energy, engineering, green building, solar installers, and wind turbine technicians. This is just the beginning, but we have to stay on course.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. In addition to sending an important signal to clean energy, job-creating businesses, this will send an important signal to our allies across the world. We expect ambitious action from them. I have heard my friends on the other side of the aisle say, but China. Well, if the President forces a retreat here, other countries will retreat, as well. A vote against H.R. 9 is a vote to let China off the hook. This is a patriotic vote. Vote for America, vote for our future, and keep us in the climate Paris Agreement. I thank the hundreds of my colleagues who have joined this, and I thank the brave Republicans who will join us in this patriotic vote for Climate Action Now.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, Dr. Ruiz, for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of families of children with complex medical needs--and there are many families like this all across America--I rise to urge approval of H.R. 1839, which includes a bill I have been working on for a number of years with my colleagues, including former Representative Joe Barton. It is called the ACE Kids Act. We drafted the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act a few years ago with a simple but important goal of putting children and their families first. The bill authorizes the creation of cost-saving and time-saving health homes where specialized care is coordinated in a high-quality setting. Mr. Speaker, the children with complex medical conditions and their families are heroic, like Caroline West in my hometown of Tampa. She has a rare genetic condition, cerebral palsy, and a seizure disorder. She can't walk, and it is very difficult for her to speak, but she attends school part time and enjoys the life of a typical teenager, in many respects. Lucy Ferlita is the only living person in the United States with early onset myopathy with areflexia, respiratory distress, and dysphagia. Very little is known about this disease, but we know that it is very difficult for her to eat. She has to have a feeding tube, a ventilator to breathe, and nursing care 24 hours a day. Jaden Velasquez has a congenital heart defect. Lakota Lockhart has a central nervous system disorder that causes him to not be able to breathe while he sleeps. I met all of these kids back home in Tampa at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. St. Joe's has a world-renown Chronic-Complex Clinic that was started 16 years ago by a compassionate pediatrician, Dr. Daniel Plasencia. This ACE Kids Act is modeled upon their work and the other good work being done at children's hospitals across this country. The bill provides an incentive for States to establish health homes to better coordinate care for kids with medical complexities. It also directs HHS to provide guidance to States on best practices. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this bill with the ACE Kids Act included. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from a whole host of organizations thanking us for our leadership and for introducing this bipartisan legislation to improve care for children with complex medical conditions. March 25, 2019. Hon. Chuck Grassley, Washington, DC. Hon. Michael Bennet, Washington, DC. Hon. Kathy Castor, Washington, DC. Hon. Gus Bilirakis, Washington, DC. Hon. Anna Eshoo, Washington, DC. Hon. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington, DC. Dear Sens. Grassley and Bennet, and Reps. Castor, Bilirakis, Eshoo, and Herrera Beutler: As national organizations committed to children's health, we write in strong support of the ``Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2019'' (ACE Kids Act, S. 317/H.R. 1226), which has been incorporated into the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1839). We thank you for your leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation to improve care for children with complex medical conditions in the Medicaid program. Children with complex medical conditions have chronic life- limiting illnesses and disabilities, and often see six or more specialists and a dozen or more physicians. Under the current Medicaid system, parents of children with multiple, life-threatening disabilities struggle to coordinate the complex care of their kids, which often requires travelling to out-of-state providers. The ACE Kids Act works to create a patient-centered, pediatric-focused delivery system for this unique population of children. It is an important step in fixing the current fragmented system for children with complex medical conditions, ensuring ready access to care and reducing the burden on their families. Under the ACE Kids Act, specially-designed health homes created for children with complex medical conditions will employ national quality standards and coordinate care--both essential to improving overall quality of care. These health homes will include the full range of acute, post-acute and primary care providers, and will focus on outpatient care to ensure children get the care that they need in the most appropriate setting closest to home while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The ACE Kids Act--which is voluntary for states, families and providers--will also help families access the array of outpatient and community services and supports needed by these children. Providing children with complex medical conditions enrolled in Medicaid the best possible care is a national challenge, and the ACE Kids Act will bring us closer to ensuring these vulnerable children receive the care they need. We are proud to support the ACE Kids Act, and we look forward to working with you to advance this critical legislation this year. Sincerely, American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work; American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; The American Board of Pediatrics; American College of Cardiology; American College of Surgeons; American Heart Association; American Physical Therapy Association; American Psychological Association; American Society of Echocardiography; American Thoracic Society; America's Essential Hospitals; Association of American Medical Colleges; Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs; Autism Society of America; Autism Speaks. Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy; Children's Hospital Association; ChildServe; Epilepsy Foundation; Family Voices; March of Dimes; Maxim Healthcare Services; Mended Little Hearts; Moms Rising; National Association for Children's Behavioral Health; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Board for Certified Counselors; National Down Syndrome Society; Pediatric Congenital Heart Association; Tricare for Kids Coalition; Vizient.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a third- generation servant leader from my community of Tampa, Florida, Harold A. Jackson, Jr. who was born at Tampa Negro Hospital to the late Jacqueline Haynes Jackson and the late Harold A. Jackson, Sr. Jackson learned about service at a young age as his father served in the U.S. Army during World War II and returned to Tampa to become one of our hometown's pioneering African American civil rights attorneys and led local desegregation efforts. His mother was a beloved educator and retired after 33 years as an elementary school teacher in Tampa. Mr. Jackson followed in his parents' footsteps of service and dedicated his professional life to the health and well-being of our community. In 1978, Mr. Jackson started a 30-year plus career with the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. He rose through the ranks to become a Recreation Area Supervisor during a time of tremendous growth and change for this county. He planned, organized and directed the overall operations of community-based recreation programs, which are critical in promoting healthy, prosperous and connected communities as well as building social equity and support for working families. During his tenure with Hillsborough County, he continued to build on his legacy of community service. For 27 years, he served on the board of directors for Tampa Family Health Centers, a federally qualified health center. He was elected chair and vice chair of the board of directors on several occasions. During this time, Tampa Family Health Centers grew from one clinic to 14 and greatly expanded access to comprehensive health care services for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, especially uninsured or underinsured individuals. After retiring from the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, Mr. Jackson began a leadership role for Tampa Family Health Centers as Community Relations Liaison. He truly extends himself to help meet the needs of the medically underserved, whoever and wherever they are. His efforts while serving on my 14th Congressional District of Florida Puerto Rico Recovery and Assistance Task Force were nothing short of extraordinary and very meaningful at a time when displaced Puerto Rican families faced significant challenges in re-establishing their lives following the devastating landfall of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Mr. Jackson ensured families who relocated to Tampa had access without barriers to the services of Tampa Family Health Centers, facilitating their medical appointments to cut down on wait times with scheduling and transportation challenges. He is a graduate of St. Peter Claver Catholic School in Tampa, a 125- year old historically black school that today proudly continues to provide families and students excellence in education. Mr. Jackson returned to St. Peter Claver to serve on the school's board of directors and in 1994, as president of the school's development council, he launched a $2 million capital campaign to establish a state-of-the-art learning environment. Mr. Jackson also graduated from Tampa Catholic High School in 1974 and went on to complete his criminal justice degree from the University of Tampa. Mr. Jackson strongly exhibits the unequivocal mark of a servant leader, one who quietly aspires and inspires leadership by consummately doing good--going the extra mile. His contributions to community initiatives are numerous--helping to launch the University Area Community Development Corporation, cofounding a youth council in our community that has now grown to be one of its largest and serving as organizer for Tampa's largest Veterans Day Parade. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Mr. Harold A. Jackson, Jr. for his servant's heart and carrying forth his family's legacy of community service across the Tampa Bay Area.