Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, the videos keep being referenced here on the floor. I want Members to understand, I want the American public to understand that the first four short videos released on YouTube have 40 separate splices and edits that remove crucial context. They remove exculpatory statements like, ``Nobody should be selling tissue; that is not the goal here,'' and, ``This is not a service they should be making money from. It is something they should be able to offer to their patients in a way that doesn't impact them,'' or, ``We are not looking to make money from this. Our goal is to keep access available.'' In one of the videos there are at least 16 substantial unexplained edits, including the removal of nine instances where Planned Parenthood staff said there is no profit related to tissue donation. Doesn't that seem misleading and fundamentally dishonest to remove statements like that, and then base a smear campaign and bring it to the floor of the United States Congress for policymaking? I think so. That is why these videos have been denounced across the country by independent editorial writers. They have called them distorted and unfair, dishonest, grossly misleading, and politically irresponsible and swift boating. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), my friend

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, the repeated references to these false videos do a real disservice to this Congress and to people all across America. The false claims against Planned Parenthood have been widely discredited. The videos that so many have referenced are heavily edited. They have edited content out, and they have edited false images in. Politicians who are latching onto this smear campaign do so to further their personal agendas to the detriment of women's health care across America. What has happened here since these videos were released in July is a coordinated smear campaign against trusted Planned Parenthood clinics. Let me give you some evidence directly from my home State of Florida. In July, with absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing, Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott ordered investigations of Planned Parenthood clinics. It had all the trappings of a witch hunt. In August, after the Agency for Health Care Administration had determined and written a draft press release that said: ``However, there is no evidence of the mishandling of fetal remains at any of the 16 clinics we investigated across the State.'' That didn't fit Governor Scott's political narrative, so his office scrubbed the press release of that language. I submit for the Record a copy of the press release that was drafted by the Agency for Health Care Administration for Florida before Governor Scott's office scrubbed the language on the finding. [For Immediate Release--Aug. 5, 2015] Original Proposed Release From AHCA to the Governor's Office Planned Parenthood Inspections Find Deficiencies at Clinics Agency findings include issues with the record keeping of fetal remains at one clinic and unlicensed procedures being performed at three clinics Tallahassee, FL.--Our investigations last week into Planned Parenthood clinics found three facilities performing procedures beyond their licensing authority, as well as one facility not keeping proper logs relating to fetal remains. However, there is no evidence of the mishandling of fetal remains at any of the 16 clinics we investigated across the state.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. In fact, the press secretary for the agency said: ``I would have thought a line on no handling of fetal remains would be included, as that is what questions will be on.'' The agency's secretary wrote back, and she said she agreed. Reporters subsequently obtained the scrubbed press release. Apparently, these had to go to the Governor's office to be purified and sanctified. What happened earlier this week is that the communications director for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration resigned. This is another example of the coordinated smear campaign based upon the false videos that have captured attention. They are outrageous, but they are false, and they have been proven to be false. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, the repeated reference to these false videos is a true disservice to this Congress and to the people all across America. These false claims against Planned Parenthood have been widely discredited.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has established that not all services currently provided by Planned Parenthood could be furnished by other health clinics and medical practitioners if Planned Parenthood were defunded. A George Washington University professor confirmed this in a column this week. The reason is that so many of the services provided relate to gynecological services and personal female healthcare needs. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I will reiterate again, there is no evidence whatsoever of any wrongdoing, and I maintain that this is a distraction from the Republican's fundamental failure to pass a budget 5 legislative days before a government shutdown. Madam Speaker, I am honored to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the ``Deny Women Health Care Act.'' Madam Speaker, congressional approval ratings are at an all-time low, and here is another example of why: Republicans in Congress have failed to fulfill their fundamental responsibility to our great Nation again. Republicans have pushed America to the brink of another government shutdown, and we are a mere 5 legislative days away. Republicans in Congress have refused to sit down and negotiate a bipartisan appropriations plan despite the urging of Democrats, business leaders, military servicemembers, and citizens all across America. The bill brought to the floor today is an attempt by Republican leaders to distract the American public from their failure to do their job. Last spring, we urged Republicans in Congress to sit down and hammer out an appropriations plan. They refused. Instead, the Congress adjourned at the end of July. Nothing happened in August. Nothing has happened since the Congress has returned after Labor Day. Now the Republican dysfunction in this House will have very serious consequences for our neighbors back home. A Republican shutdown would hurt thousands of disabled veterans, disadvantaged children, small businesses, working families, and taxpayers. The last time Republicans shut down the government for 16 days, the economy lost $24 billion and 120,000 private sector jobs. Here is what happened: The Republican shutdown stalled veterans disability claims, creating additional needless delays for our heroes seeking help. Hundreds of critically sick Americans were prevented from enrolling in the NIH clinical trials, with 98 percent of the National Science Foundation, nearly three-quarters of NIH, and two-thirds of CDC employees furloughed. Head Start grantees, serving thousands of children, were forced to close. American entrepreneurs and small businesses were cut off from millions of dollars in SBA loans. Small businesses with government contracts faced abrupt payment delays and cutbacks. Almost $4 billion in IRS refunds were delayed. The Republican Congress' continuing dysfunction and inability to govern are having real impacts on hard-working Americans. The American people are tired of their relentless failure to govern and the culture of crisis. Again and again Republicans have chosen to put their radical special interest agenda ahead of the priorities of hard-working Americans. The American people deserve better, especially in this case, because the Deny Women Health Care Act is a cynical attack on the ability of women across America to receive the health services that they need at trusted Planned Parenthood clinics. I know many are passionate about these personal issues. That is why the Republicans advance this bill on this topic. They know it is sure to inflame passions. But to date, despite congressional inquiries into these false videotapes, there has been no wrongdoing uncovered whatsoever, no evidence to substantiate the allegations. What has emerged since the false videos were posted on YouTube is a coordinated, broad-based smear campaign based upon false, manufactured videos that are full of distortions and misinformation. The bill is one more assault in the long list of Republican assaults on women's health care over the last two decades because simply defunding Planned Parenthood would leave millions of American women without key preventative services, including birth control, family planning, lifesaving cancer screenings, testing and treatment of infections, well-women exams, and advice on family planning. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, while the investigation may be ongoing, there have been no cases of born alive. The one case from some time ago, a doctor is in prison for that. This simply is not accurate. Now, what we know from ongoing investigations here currently is there has been no substantiated allegation against Planned Parenthood. What we have seen is this Center for Medical Progress that posted these YouTube video. They have made a number of misrepresentations that may have broken several Federal and State laws, including violating Federal tax laws, violating criminal laws, violating the Invasion of Privacy Act out of California, violating California's penal code by making false charitable solicitations. Now, we have heard that the attorneys for the director, Mr. Daleiden, for CMP, his attorneys have advised a Federal district court that he intends to invoke his Fifth Amendment in the investigation of him for his violation of Federal and State laws. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Beulah Baptist Institutional Church in Tampa, Florida in celebrating its 150th anniversary. Founded by freed slaves in 1865, the church holds a unique place in history. It has served many generations and the entire community with its mission of freedom of worship and dignity of the individual. Established at the conclusion of the Civil War, Beulah became Tampa's first African-American Baptist Church. Over its 150 years, the Church has grown to be a symbol of social justice. Beulah has remained committed in focusing on education and civil rights. This diligent commitment has surely ensured a brighter future for its congregates and the community as a whole. The lasting influence the church has had on Tampa is a testament to its congregants and, certainly, to its leaders. The late Reverend Dr. A. Leon Lowry, Sr. who served from 1956 to 1996, was a leader in the fight for civil rights in Tampa in the 1950s and 1960s as well as the State President of the NAACP. Reverend Lowry then went on to become the first African-American elected to office countywide--the Hillsborough County School Board. He was one of the Theology professors of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The A. Leon Lowry, Sr. Elementary School in Tampa is named in his honor. The current pastor, Reverend Dr. W. James Favorite, has continued the church's pivotal role in community advancement. With a strong philosophy that serving the church is more than just ministering on Sunday, Reverend Favorite serves on many community initiatives including Pastors on Patrol, the African American Family Support Initiative, Childcare Facilities Advisory Board, and the Tampa Urban League board. As the Chairman of the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS of Tampa Bay, Reverend Favorite has spearheaded the effort nationally to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS by calling on clergy all across the bay area and America to put AIDS and HIV awareness at the heart of their sermons. With 150 years of service and stewardship, the church enters into its next 150 years with enthusiasm. The church is looking forward to its upcoming projects including Senior housing initiatives, job preparation and technology training, sponsorship of Jamaica Outreach ministry, Summer Instructional camp, and an after school e-Library facility. On behalf of the Tampa Bay community that has greatly benefitted from the church's continuing presence and guidance, I am honored to congratulate the Beulah Baptist Institutional Church on their 150th anniversary.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a true public servant, Sarah Stroud Wynn in honor of her 100th birthday. Her remarkable career in public service has had a tremendous impact on the Tampa Bay community and is worthy of recognition by all. Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Ms. Wynn moved to Florida at a young age. She graduated from Florida A&M College and the University of South Florida. Her diligent, caring nature and passion for service made Ms. Wynn an effective advocate for education. During her nearly 40 years of public service, Ms. Wynn taught elementary school students as well as served as a junior high school librarian. Through her tireless work, she has impacted a countless number of students' lives. Ms. Wynn's outstanding service did not end with her work in education. She used her tremendous talent and vision for the good of Florida families by volunteering as a tax preparer for those needing assistance. She is also active in church as a supporter of Sunday school, White Robe Choir member, and secretary of the Trustee Board. Ms. Wynn has always been an engaged community leader. She serves as a member of the Greater Tampa Urban League, the Retired Teachers Association, and the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. Her engagement and tireless work has created a legacy for her family and the Tampa Bay community at large. Ms. Wynn has embodied servant leadership throughout her life. The education of the children of the Tampa Bay community is forever bettered thanks to her everlasting service. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Tampa Bay community, I am proud to recognize Sarah Stroud Wynn for her lifelong service to the State of Florida and wish her a happy birthday.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and to recognize Robert Fisher upon his recent election to the Board of Directors at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Mr. Fisher has served as the President and CEO of Grow Financial Federal Credit Union for 23 years and his dedication to the community has been an outstanding asset to the Tampa Bay area. It is a testament to his leadership that Grow Financial is ranked as one of the best places to work in the Tampa Bay Times' employee survey of Top Workplaces. Mr. Fisher has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Partnership Regional Economic Development Group, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jacksonville Branch, and he has chaired the Finance committee of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mr. Fisher's knowledge and experience with serving his community and the financial services sector will undoubtedly benefit National Association of Federal Credit Unions as he has a deep understanding of the challenges and issues that lie ahead with credit unions at both the state and federal level and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in thanking Mr. Robert Fisher for his exceptional service, not only to our district, but to the State of Florida.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, my amendment requires the owners and operators of coal ash ponds to immediately clean up pollution from spills or disasters that involve their coal ash waste. The underlying bill inexplicably did not contain such a requirement. I know that is hard to believe, in the face of the horrendous coal ash disasters of the past 2 years, that my Republican colleagues did not include such a requirement. So my amendment reinstitutes the requirement for cleanup of these disasters. Now, the EPA rule requires an owner or operator of coal ash waste to respond immediately to a spill or release, whether it is through the air, water, or soil. The rule requires the polluter to alert both the local authorities and the public and to immediately prepare a cleanup plan. I mean, that is a fundamental concept of doing business, isn't it? Yet the Republican bill eliminates that requirement for owners and operators. They would no longer have to be responsible for their pollution or a disaster? That is a scary proposition after the Dan River Duke Energy spill in North Carolina that spilled over 39,000 tons of coal ash and 140,000 tons of toxic wastewater, and after the TVA blowout that they say will cost over a billion dollars to remediate that community. Now, there are over 600 coal waste disposal impoundments across the Nation, and more than 100 million tons of coal waste are generated each year. In my home State of Florida, there are over 42 coal ash ponds at 8 power plants, 27 of which are unlined, and 13 landfills, 6 of which are unlined. My local power provider alone has 11 coal ash ponds and one landfill. Over 6.1 million tons of coal ash are generated in Florida each year, yet Florida does not really regulate coal ash ponds, and that is similar to a lot of communities across the country. But we have learned the hard way that we need to have some basic standards to prevent these type of disasters. The EPA has identified 170 coal ash ponds and landfills that have contaminated groundwater, surface water, or otherwise increased risks of harm to human health over the past years. These surface impoundments where coal ash is stored in ponds pose a threat, and even a threat to loss of life, if they fail. Coal ash ponds are located in 33 States, and 50 impoundments are currently considered high hazard, meaning that a failure would probably cause loss of human life. One such impoundment was at the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant, which burst on December 22, 2008, releasing 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash to the Emory and Clinch Rivers and surrounding areas, creating a Superfund site that could cost about $1.2 billion, they estimate. The initial release of material created a wave of water and ash that destroyed three homes, disrupted electrical power, ruptured a natural gas line in the nearby neighborhood, covered railways and roadways, and necessitated the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood. This disaster forever changed the lives of farmers, ranchers, and families. More than 1 billion gallons of waste washed down the valley like a wave, covering more than 300 acres. The volume of ash and water was nearly 100 times greater than the amount of oil spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported since this occurred at night while people slept. And since 2008, we have had three major coal ash disasters, including the largest toxic waste spill in United States history. In addition to the TVA disaster, the Dan River plant spill in North Carolina was absolutely horrendous. February 2014, a pipe burst beneath an unlined coal ash impoundment, sending over 82,000 tons of coal ash slurry into the Dan River, spreading 70 miles downstream. The cost of cleaning up spills and leaking dumpsites has already snowballed, with six companies reporting liabilities that exceed $10 billion. And we want to let them off the hook? I don't think so. We have got to correct this by adopting my amendment. Without Federal action to guide cleanup within a reasonable time, we are going to let folks off the hook, and that would not be fair. The chronic risks are significant. The risks to public and private property are significant. The risks to public health are too significant to ignore. So Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt the Castor amendment. Vote ``yes'' to restore the rule's requirement to clean up releases of pollution caused by these coal ash impoundment ponds. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts, for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule and in strong support of the 21st Century Cures bill that was voted unanimously, in a bipartisan fashion, out of my Energy and Commerce Committee. America is the world leader in medical research, and we have got to work to keep it that way. That has been at risk lately because of congressional budget battles. The resources that our researchers need to find the cures and treatments of the future have been at risk. Our commitment to medical research has eroded over the years, but this 21st Century Cures bill would put us now on a stronger path forward. I have advocated for more NIH research dollars for many years to boost our patients back home suffering from the debilitating diseases. I have offered amendments in the Budget Committee to shift money from discretionary to mandatory because it is mandatory in America that we respond and we research the cures of tomorrow, such as precision medicine like they are doing at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Now that we have mapped the human genome, we can find and provide precise cures and treatments to our neighbors and family members with cancer. I am disappointed that the amount of money has been eroded. I am very disappointed that the Hyde rider was added at the last minute behind closed doors; it was not voted on in committee, but simply stated, this bill is too important not to pass it. I would like to thank my colleague Chairman Upton and my good friend Diana DeGette from Colorado for leading the charge. We are firmly with you, and we are with the patients and the researchers in America that will benefit from this terrific piece of legislation.