Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, this is an important account to beef up. Remember, we are under the sequester caps, and then we are $4 million under the budget request even with this amendment. Now, the Secretary's Office is the best place to go for an offset. The Secretary's account is $452 million above fiscal year 2015 levels and $389 million above the budget request. I would put to you that it would be a better investment for our communities back home to allow them this little seed money, this little matching money, to redevelop properties, rather than fund the bureaucracy at the EPA. I urge approval of the Castor amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the House's consideration. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to restore brownfields funding to fiscal year 2015 levels and to make the point that when we help redevelop contaminated properties, we generate a large return on investments that lift our communities back home. My amendment increases EPA's Environmental Programs and Management account by a modest $1.9 million to be offset by the same amount from the Office of the Secretary. Even with this modest boost, the proposed bill on the floor, unfortunately, would remain $4 million below the budget request. Mr. Chairman, when a contaminated property achieves a brownfields designation and a grant, local communities and businesses can clean up the property and put the property back into use. This type of economic redevelopment is key to our neighborhoods and communities, rural or urban. It increases property values and creates jobs with just a little bit of seed money from the EPA through brownfields. A 2014 study concluded that cleaning up brownfields leads to nearby residential property value increases of 4.9 to 11 percent. Another 2007 study found that an average of 10 jobs are created for every acre of brownfields redevelopment. And based on historical data, we know that $1 of the EPA's brownfields funding leverages between $17 and $18 in other public and private financing. Mr. Chairman, I have witnessed great success in brownfields redevelopment back home in the Tampa Bay area. For example, when the existence of the Old Mercy Hospital in Midtown St. Petersburg was in jeopardy due to environmental contamination on the site, the city of St. Petersburg and the EPA stepped in to turn the Old Mercy Hospital into a flourishing community health center. The project created 80 jobs, saved existing jobs, created new jobs, and it stands now as the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Community Health Center, which is the linchpin to Midtown St. Petersburg community redevelopment efforts. Similarly, in Tampa, the Tampa Family Health Centers have redeveloped a number of brownfields sites, including one on the site of a closed car dealership, that have had a very positive impact beyond the health care of thousands and thousands of my neighbors in a severely underserved area. It is one of the primary examples of the growing healthfields initiative which targets redevelopment through brownfields to help improve access to health services for our neighbors. Mr. Chairman, the return on investment is so great across America. The Congress must invest much more in our communities, and brownfields redevelopment is simply smart policy, especially in places where these resources are scarce. It is also a critical part of EPA's environmental justice efforts and its Environmental Justice 2020 Action Agenda framework. When the EPA released its Environmental Justice 2020 framework, I convened local community leaders across the Tampa Bay area to solicit their opinions, and brownfields redevelopment was at the top of their list. Mr. Chairman, we can do better here, and I hope as the appropriations process goes on we will find ways to help communities redevelop with this small seed money through the brownfields initiative. I would like to thank Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. I urge my colleagues to support the Castor amendment to revitalize our communities back home, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member. Mr. Chairman, this is the climate change denial bill. Don't be fooled by its name. Ignoring the impact of climate change will heap huge costs on taxpayers. This bill is a disservice to America. And in addition to being very costly to consumers, it shirks our responsibility for addressing the costly impacts of the changing climate. The bill we are considering today shows that the Republicans' plan is to just say no and to let our children and grandchildren suffer the consequences of the changing climate without doing anything meaningful to protect them. This position is indefensible, and it will prove very costly, indeed. Today's bill would essentially amend the Clean Air Act to give a free pass to States that refuse to comply with the requirements of the clean power plan. Unless we work together to meet the modern challenge of the changing climate, this is going to be very expensive for our friends back home, especially in States like mine--Florida. Here are some of the huge costs we are looking at already: rising property insurance rates and flood insurance rates because of extreme weather events; Federal emergency aid that we have to pay out for things like Superstorm Sandy and other storms, tornadoes, electrical storms, tropical storms, drought, fire, and extreme heat. In addition to property insurance and flood insurance, property taxes are going to go up because our local communities are going to be saddled with the cost of repairing storm water infrastructure and addressing drinking water. This is going to be very expensive. In Florida, we already see saltwater intrusion into our drinking water aquifers because of rising tides. There is a terrible drought in California. These are going to require very expensive solutions unless we tackle it on the front end. And I am fearful that there will be economic harm to coastal communities like mine in the Tampa Bay area where we will have to pay more to renourish our beaches and take care of the lifeblood of our economy, which is tourism, fishing, for a beautiful, healthy economy. I recommend a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support the Cohen amendment and urge the House to oppose the excessive cuts to the nonprofit and independent Legal Services Corporation. Legal Services has a mission to ``provide equal access to the system of justice'' in America. It is the most important provider of civil legal aid for Americans who cannot afford high-priced legal counsel. In fact, legal representation often is out of reach for many American families. This amendment will make the lives of millions of American families even more challenging. Plus, if you take away legal counsel, you also complicate the resolution of disputes for businesses and others as well. You all know Legal Services is not a Washington- based bureaucratic program. To the contrary, there are legal aid attorneys and professionals in every State, with more than 800 offices. Legal Services' moneys are put to work back home across America outside of Washington. In my Tampa Bay community, Bay Area Legal Services helps to keep the wheels of justice turning for everyone. What type of legal help? Foreclosure, consumer assistance, domestic violence. Many of the domestic violence victims are simply trying to keep their children safe and their families together. Others include veterans returning from war, families with housing issues, those that were hit hard by natural disasters and are dealing with the aftermath, and families involved in child custody disputes. I have seen these advocates in action. Many Members of Congress actually refer cases to Legal Services groups in our area. They help families navigate the justice system. They also boost the economy through avoided costs and swift resolution of disputes. I would also like to remind my colleagues that Legal Services has already undergone significant cuts over the past few years. Funding for Legal Services was $420 million in fiscal year 2010. It was cut-- especially after sequestration in 2013--and any further cuts will do severe damage. This amendment jeopardizes access to justice and the rule of law. This year's bill is a destructive step backwards which threatens these vital community services by slashing funding by $75 million. This is the lowest level of funding since FY 1999. These devastating cuts will terminate over 1,000 full time staff including 430 attorney positions. Under these draconian cuts, Legal services offices across the country will be forced to close 25 offices, complete 150,000 fewer cases, and serve 350,000 fewer people. In exacting such severe cuts, your advice to families is, ``You can't get help''. ``You can't avoid a foreclosure''. ``You can't escape an abusive relationship or defend yourself against consumer scams''. We cannot allow hundreds of thousands of American veterans, elderly victims of foreclosure, and women and children desperate to escape domestic violence to be denied assistance. So I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on the Cohen amendment.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding work of a trailblazing public servant and one of the champions of the Florida equal rights and civil rights movements, the late Florida State Senator Helen Gordon Davis, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Legislature from 1974 until 1992. Senator Davis devoted her public service career to confronting and changing the inequalities in economic, legal and social status for women and African Americans. She was a true pioneer for pay equity for women. In 1980, Mrs. Davis was presented with the Florida ACLU Bill of Rights Award as a testament to her dedication for civil liberties for all. Senator Davis was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 1974 as the first woman from Hillsborough County to be elected to the Florida Legislature. She was subsequently re-elected six times. In 1988, Senator Davis successfully ran for the state Senate where she fought for economic equality for women, and sponsored the first legislation on sexual harassment. Among her many achievements, Mrs. Davis created the Marriage License Trust fund for Spouse Abuse Centers, Court Depositories for Child Support Payments, the Displaced Homemakers for Divorced Women Act, and doubled the penalties for hate crimes. With passion and courage, Mrs. Davis paved the way for future generations of Hillsborough County women in politics. Before her time as an influential legislator, Mrs. Davis was president of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County from 1966-1969. In 1971, Mrs. Davis founded Florida's first women's center which sought to help women succeed in the workplace and helped many gain tangible professional and life skills. Mrs. Davis was the first recipient of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County's Lifetime Achievement Award. Mrs. Davis was born on Christmas Day, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. Originally a stage actress, Mrs. Davis moved to Tampa in 1948 with husband Gene Davis, where she was a high school drama teacher and regular fixture in the community theater. Although Mrs. Davis passed away on May 18, 2015, her legacy will continue through her broad-based legislative accomplishments, the Women's Centre in the Hyde Park community of Tampa, and the women she championed both professionally and personally. Mrs. Davis is survived by her daughters Stephanie and Karen, her son Gordon, her sister Jeanne, and her two grandchildren. On behalf of the Tampa community, I am proud to recognize Helen Gordon Davis for her dedication to Hillsborough County, the State of Florida, and to women everywhere.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank my colleague. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Castor amendment, which is an amendment in support of military families across the country. It expresses the sense of Congress that, when it comes to housing military members, the Pentagon should factor in the commuting times for base personnel and the land available for on-base housing. On-base housing is a critical readiness issue. Having our servicemembers as close to their assignments as possible is vital. DOD must ensure that the decisions relating to base housing take into account relevant factors, and each base is different. For example, at MacDill Air Force Base in my hometown in Tampa, Florida, it is home to the 6th Air Mobility Wing, United States Special Operations Command, and United States Central Command. The recent expansion of on-base housing for military families has been a great success. Pursuant to a public-private partnership that was authorized in 2007, 572 homes have been constructed on the base. This has been a godsend for the families at MacDill, and here is why: the neighborhoods closest to the base are expensive and out of reach for many military families, so servicemembers oftentimes buy homes about 30 miles away and then commute to the base. This recent public-private partnership at MacDill has been a win-win for the military and the families who serve. In fact, one top Pentagon official who oversees installations noted that the MacDill Air Force Base housing initiative was one of her favorites, forcewide, and was exceptional. Think about the difference it makes to that military family when they can live close to where they work and where their children attend school. Now, until recently, the Air Force and the housing contractor were discussing the next phase of on-base housing. MacDill has over 330 families on a waiting list. Unfortunately, despite the long waiting list, the obvious demand, the Air Force has inexplicably terminated discussions. If this is happening in my community, it could be happening in yours, and with scarce Federal dollars, we must continue to encourage fruitful public-private partnerships and the best interests of our brave men and women in the service. I thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, and Mr. Larsen for their support of the amendment, and I urge adoption.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House should focus on the real priorities of America instead of another attack on women's health care.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, my amendment increases the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account by $266 million, to simply restore it to last year's levels, with an offset from the fossil energy account. My amendment will boost energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives across America that have a proven return on investment for taxpayers. This amendment is paid for by reducing--but not by eliminating-- accounts that do not have the same return on investment for taxpayers. Unless we adopt this amendment, America's commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy will be slashed by $266 million below the 2015 enacted level and over $1 billion below the budget request. Now, Mr. Chairman, I wish that we could meet the budget request this year, but that doesn't appear possible, but we should at least restore the money back to last year's levels, which is still a very modest investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy for America. Investments in energy efficiency create jobs and help make our businesses more competitive compared to businesses all across the globe. In addition, energy efficiency reduces costs for consumers. Wouldn't that be revolutionary, that we put money back into the pockets of our neighbors back home? The amount proposed for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Republican bill is so low that America will have to reduce the number of research, development, and demonstration projects with industry, with our universities, and in our national labs. America should be a leader in innovation and technological advancement, but instead, the Republican bill says America should take a back seat. Well, Mr. Chairman, America should take a back seat to no one. We are in the midst of a technological revolution when it comes to energy. Look at what is happening across our great country. We have an incredibly diverse energy portfolio and a growing clean energy and efficiency sector. This is especially important as we tackle the challenges of the changing climate. Yet the Republican bill reduces investment in solar energy technology R&D within the Solar Energy Technologies Office by $81 million, or 35 percent, from last year. That means the Department of Energy's exciting SunShot Initiative goal of enabling cost-competitive solar electricity without subsidies by 2020 will be delayed for years. That is extremely detrimental to the U.S. solar industry and the jobs it creates that currently employ over 174,000 Americans. It will send an unfortunate signal to the Chinese and foreign competitors that we are ceding this clean energy industry to them. The Republican bill also would result in a significant reduction in core solar R&D and the national labs, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, necessitating reductions in force. The Republican bill will also eliminate support for solar industry job training for students and military veterans at more than 400 community colleges across 49 States. This network has been a critical source of trained employees in an industry that is growing and is expected to grow even more with over 200,000 jobs by the end of 2015. Finally, the recently piloted Solar Ready Vets program would be at risk, and the planned expansion from 3 to 10 military bases would be affected and canceled. Veterans currently make up 10 percent of the solar industry. If we do not unleash American ingenuity now, our neighbors back home will face increased costs of the changing climate, such as increases in property insurance, increases in flood insurance, all of this from extreme weather events, increased property taxes from having to protect drinking water supplies, and storm water infrastructure. I would say instead, let's invest in America. My amendment shifts a little bit, not all, from older technologies into cutting-edge energy efficiency and clean energy that are so vital to America's future. I appreciate Ranking Member Kaptur's vision. She understands that this is our future. We are talking about American jobs in American manufacturing. I appreciate her work. And I appreciate Chairman Simpson's work on the appropriations bill. I ask for an ``aye'' vote on the Castor amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would say that the burgeoning jobs being created in American manufacturing and energy efficiency and renewable energy are more than just cute. They are the jobs of the future in America, a clean energy future. I urge my colleagues to adopt the Castor amendment: vote for America, vote for American jobs, and vote for the future. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important, bipartisan, landmark bill. Our parents and grandparents who rely on Medicare and the doctors that take care of them can breathe easier today because of this bill. Medicare will be stronger, and it will be more efficient. We are going to put ``modern'' into modern medicine by transitioning the Medicare health system into one that focuses on quality rather than quantity. I would like to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone, Mr. Pitts and Mr. Green, and Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi for also adding into this important package new assurance for children across America, for our community health centers. The State Children's Health Insurance Program now gets a very significant boost, along with our health centers that take care of so many of our neighbors. Thanks again to the professional staff, to the great public servants in the Obama administration. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important, landmark bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank my colleague, Mr. Van Hollen, for yielding time. Mr. Chairman, we are debating the Federal budget at a time when America is experiencing an economic recovery--unemployment is down; gas prices are lower, and retirement accounts are healthier--yet that is at risk if the Republican budget is adopted. It would weaken America's recovery. How? The Republican budget turns its back on what makes America grow and on what makes America strong, including our students, medical and scientific research, and modern transportation systems and infrastructure. Democrats will offer a more optimistic vision for America that builds on our economic recovery. Democrats want everyone to succeed while Republicans shower tax breaks on the wealthy at the expense of hard- working families. The people I know and meet work hard every day. They value good jobs, good schools, safe communities, and the promise of, when they retire, that they can live their retirement years in dignity. The Republican budget is not one for the hard-working people of America. The Republican budget is crafted by the special interests for the special interests. Republicans stack the deck against working families and small businesses. They refuse to find one tax loophole to close or change. If you are incredibly rich, then you are incredibly lucky because this Republican budget is for you; you pay less. If you are like the vast majority of Americans, hold on because you are going to pay more. If you are a student who wants to attend college, Republicans make it harder by cutting Pell grants and student loans. If you have a job in transportation, infrastructure, or at a port or at an airport, the Republican budget could cost you your job. It will, at the very least, put us farther behind. If you believe that America should remain the world leader in medical research and innovation, sorry, as the Republican budget slashes research at the National Institutes of Health, at our universities, and at research institutions. If you are an older American, the Republicans ask you to pay much more for Medicare and long-term care. Republicans take away that secure lifeline that has existed for decades since the Democratic Congress passed Medicare and Medicaid. In doing so, the Republicans break the promise to older Americans that, after working hard all of your life, you can live your retirement years in dignity, without the fear of poverty in your old age; you will pay more. The Republican budget is a cynical, special interest driven vision of America. In contrast, the Democratic budget invests in what makes America great and in what makes America strong.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. One noted economist recently advised that America has the strongest economy in the developed world right now, but the Republican budget puts that at risk in order to boost a special few. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic plan and what makes America great: a growing, healthy economy; our students; scientific research; modern infrastructure in America; and the great promise of our country.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this rule and H.R. 5. One of the hallmarks of America is our system of free, local, public schools. America is the envy of the world because a quality K-12 education is key to opportunity and a pathway to success. To build on that fundamental premise, 50 years ago, the Congress adopted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure that all children, no matter their background, family income, their race or religion, could have equal access to a high quality public education. This Republican bill, unfortunately, strikes at the heart of this fundamental American principle, and it tips the scales in favor of the well-to-do to the detriment of millions of other students. While the bill grants important flexibility to States in some areas, Republicans let States off the hook for maintaining their commitment to students in schools that oftentimes do not have the extras. The Republican bill takes away millions of dollars from students in schools in my home school districts of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties in Florida. Overall, Republicans in Congress propose to cut Florida schools by $33 million in fiscal year 2016 and by a whopping $437 million through fiscal year 2021. In doing so, they cut at the heart of our ability to give teachers the tools they need to teach and our students the ability to learn. Now, Mr. Speaker, many amendments will be debated, and some could improve the bill while others will not. But in the end, other than the Democratic substitute, there is no way to fix this Republican bill that would harm so many students and schools across America. So I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and send the committee back to the drawing board.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of African Americans during Black History Month and all year long. I am proud to pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify the spirit of selfless and patriotic service. I rise today to honor a dedicated community leader and equal rights champion, Gwen Reese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Ms. Reese was born in St. Petersburg and is a proud graduate of Gibbs High School as well as St. Petersburg Junior College. Ms. Reese has dedicated her career to supporting initiatives that lift families. She began as a counselor for Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Services for the YWCA of Tampa Bay. Thanks to her passion and diligent work, she was consistently promoted, rising to become the Director of Administrative Services of the YWCA of Tampa from 1994-1999. Ms. Reese continued to be a voice for Florida families by serving as a Coordinator for both Healthy Start of Pinellas and the Midtown Health Council. In both capacities she focused on reducing infant mortality as well as other initiatives designed to improve the effectiveness of health care delivery and outcomes. Ms. Reese's unrelenting service has led her to play an important role in numerous service organizations and projects in Tampa Bay. Currently, she serves as the District Manager of Professional Opportunities Program for Students (POPS) Inc. which provides career seminars, college tours, internships, and community service projects to assist area high school students in exploring and experiencing different career goals. Furthermore, Ms. Reese organizes the annual Stand Against Racism event and the Week Without Violence activities. These events bring attention to significant issues facing our community. Ms. Reese has been an outspoken advocate for preserving the history of African Americans' contributions to the St. Petersburg community. Her passion led to her selection as the President of the African American Heritage Association. Under her leadership, the African American Heritage Association developed a walking trail through historic neighborhoods in St. Petersburg. It captured the oral histories of the great people like those who built tracks for the Orange Belt Railway, laid Augusta blocks in the Historic Old Northeast, and made the prized hex blocks seen on some city sidewalks. Ms. Reese brought the St. Petersburg community together through this project. She has witnessed great moments in the community created by the project. Her favorite instance was when 25 high school students from Gibbs High School, Pinellas County's first public high school for black students, interviewed the residents who had witnessed immense changes in the community on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We truly appreciate the outstanding work that Ms. Reese has done to preserve and venerate the history and contributions of African Americans. Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending Ms. Reese for her wonderful service to Pinellas County and to the State of Florida.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of African Americans during Black History Month and all year long. I am proud to pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify the spirit of selfless and patriotic service. I rise today to pay tribute to a truly gifted leader of the Tampa Bay community, Evangeline Best. Her boundless energy and unending civic engagement are an inspiration to all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her innumerable contributions to Hillsborough County. Evangeline Best is a native Floridian who was raised in Tampa. She earned a Bachelor's degree from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Masters in Education at Florida A&M University. Ms. Best has been a tireless advocate for community development and education as a means of ending poverty. Ms. Best's impressive career in education began in Tampa where she worked for over 27 years as a Family Services Worker for Hillsborough County Schools and completed the last 5 years as the Family Services Coordinator. Beyond Ms. Best's professional career, she also committed her personal life to the betterment of her neighbors in Hillsborough County. She served as Chairman of the East Tampa School Community Partnership as well as Vice Chairwoman of the Heart of East Tamp-Front Porch, Inc. Both are organizations critical to the success of East Tampa and Hillsborough County. Currently she serves on a number of vital committees including Vice Chair of the Corporation to Develop Communities in Tampa, Inc., and as a member of the Board of Directors with the West Central Florida Area Aging Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the Florida State Fair Diversity Committee. She also volunteers weekly with the Abe Brown Ministries Family Reunification Video Visitation Program and is a consultant for REACH UP, Inc. Given her outstanding efforts, Ms. Best has received a number of honors and awards including the 2010 Bank of America ``Volunteer Hero Award'', the 2005 National Head Start Association ``Lifetime Achievement Award'', and the 2005 Neighborhood Works New Horizons ``Dorothy Richardson Award'' for Community Leadership and Commitment Revitalization America's Neighborhoods. Her accomplishments include 50 years of community involvement as a member of the First Baptist Church of College Hill, the Tampa Urban League, as well as the Hillsborough Educators Association. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Best's diligent and unrelenting service has made my Tampa Bay community a better place to live--one filled with more hope and opportunities because of her attention and love for others. She has set an example of how to be a devoted public servant, mother, and friend. Please join me in celebrating her outstanding efforts to make this world a better place.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of African Americans during Black History Month and all year long. I am proud to pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify the spirit of selfless and patriotic service. I rise today to honor the life of a true champion of education, Lew Williams. His 36-year career in public service and his tireless efforts to improve the lives of children will be remembered forever. Born in Baker County, Georgia, Mr. Williams grew up in poverty and knew education was his ticket to a better life. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina and his Masters Degree from South Carolina State University. He married his beloved wife, Arthurene Sims and they had two children: Brandi, a literacy specialist at Melrose Elementary, and Brandon, a student at Stetson University College of Law. In 1970, Mr. Williams began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Dunedin Middle. He soon rose to be principal of Fairmount Park, South Ward, Dunedin Elementary, and Seminole Middle as well as Pinellas Park High. He became the Director of School Operations in 1987 and was promoted to Associate Superintendent for Pupil Assignment and Area II Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools before his retirement in 2005. Mr. Williams was elected to Pinellas County School Board in 2010. Although Mr. Williams was a soft-spoken man, when he spoke people listened. In his tireless dedication to his students, he wanted not only to educate them through books, but to equip them with life skills to succeed. He recognized the challenges that low-income and minority students faced, so he worked tirelessly to build relationships and connect with children and their families. He constantly pushed to create opportunities for those students some may have forgotten. Mr. Williams always seemed to have the pulse of the district's needs and how to address them. He faced budget crises head-on while closing the achievement gap between races and income levels. He saw the need and spearheaded an effort to implement measures that dealt with chronically disruptive students in ways that integrated rather than alienated. He strived to give parents the tools they need to help their children succeed in academics and life. After his retirement in 2005, he and his wife ran a preschool and he subsequently won the School Board seat. His slogan was ``Keep the main thing the main thing.'' And that philosophy defined his approach of always putting children first regardless of status or race. Mr. Williams passed away December 3, 2011 but his legacy will live on through the many student's lives he has changed for the better.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of African Americans during Black History Month and all year long. I am proud to pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify the spirit of selfless and patriotic service. I rise today to pay tribute to a truly gifted leader of the Tampa Bay community, Mr. Jetie Wilds. Mr. Wilds dedicated his life to educating people about public service, bringing communities together, and inspiring a way forward for all people in Tampa. Today it is a privilege for me to honor his incredible legacy. Mr. Wilds was born in Tampa, Florida to a family of 12 children. At a young age, Mr. Wilds volunteered on political campaigns and developed a passion for political activism and engagement. This strong commitment to bettering the community led him to Morehouse College in Atlanta where he obtained a Bachelor's degree. He was deeply involved in the civil rights movement by regularly participating in peace marches and sit-ins. During this time, Mr. Wilds married his wife of over 49 years, Ozepher. Mr. Wilds then began his career staying true to his roots as a public servant by becoming a middle school math teacher. Mr. Wilds' public advocacy was not limited to civil rights; he was an ardent environmentalist who served as a community organizer for greater environmental regulations in Portland, Oregon. While there, he obtained a Master's degree in urban planning at Portland State University. His knowledge of environmental policy later led him to Washington, D.C. where he conducted research on the impact of environmental regulations on the African American community. Mr. Wilds returned to Tampa in 1996 and spearheaded his now locally renowned radio show, Citizen's Report. During each broadcast, Mr. Wilds brought to light the significant issues facing the Tampa Bay community. He quickly developed a rapport with his audience because of his intellect and candor that kept the show on air for over 15 years. His efforts to educate and inspire action on important political issues continued through his weekly column in Tampa's trilingual newspaper, La Gaceta. This column consistently provided a profound perspective on issues that transcended cultural and racial boundaries. Mr. Wilds' leadership and tireless work earned him numerous accolades including Man of the Year from the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce, Boss of the Year from the Professional Women's Organization and Distinguished College Alumnus from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Mr. Wilds will always be remembered as a leader who united people of all races and ethnicities for the common cause of community betterment. Whether he was running for office, teaching a class or providing an insightful voice for our community on the radio--Jetie Wilds was a true public servant. On September 21, 2014, Mr. Wilds passed away at the age of 74. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in thanking Mr. Jetie Wilds, Jr. for his lifelong service to the State of Florida.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is a great help to American families. Most Americans have health insurance through their employer. The ACA provides important consumer protections for those families. They cannot end your policy if you get sick, your copayments and premiums have to go to health services and not to profits for insurance companies, and kids aged 26 or younger can stay on your own health insurance plan. For Americans on Medicare, the ACA is saving you money. In fact, since passage of the ACA, more than 7.9 million people who rely on Medicare have saved almost $10 billion on prescription drugs. You have new wellness checkups, and the Affordable Care Act extended the life of the Medicare trust fund for more than a decade. Finally, before the ACA, many Americans were barred from health insurance because of a previous diagnosis of cancer, diabetes, or something else. The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for them because it ended discrimination and created new marketplaces for Americans to shop for the best plan for their families. In Florida alone, my home State, 1.5 million Floridians have already signed up for a plan in the marketplace in the upcoming year. That is 1.5 million Floridians. Please, colleagues, don't take this away. Vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, this is a terrible time for Republicans in Congress to play political games with America's homeland security. Our country and its citizens must remain safe and secure. International travel, border crossings, and our transportation systems must be protected. In Florida, this is an economic issue as well. In a recent Gallup Poll, Americans named politicians as their top concern over even the economy and jobs, and this Republican bill is a fine example of why that is: at the heart of the House Republicans' obstruction of homeland security is their inattention to bipartisan solutions and their continued dodging of needed immigration reform. Remember last session? The Senate passed a bipartisan bill. It was passed overwhelmingly, but it hit a roadblock here in the House, and this roadblock continues to be a drag on the economy. One particularly heartless amendment will be offered by Republicans that directs young DREAM Act students to pack their bags and leave America, even though America is the only country they have ever known.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I am perplexed with the heartless amendments from the Republicans in Congress because, in the State of Florida, our Republican legislature passed a law last year to provide instate tuition to the same DREAM Act students. Now, the Republican Congress wants to send them packing. This is unnecessarily harsh, and it is inconsistent with our American values. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Section 2: ``The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. ``A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another State, shall on demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime.''