Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Black History Month and to honor and highlight the distinguished career of Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich's contributions to civil rights, education, and public service have left an indelible mark on our country. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich has dedicated the majority of her life to public service. Born in Niagra Falls, New York, she completed her elementary and high school education in Buffalo, New York. After high school, she earned her Bachelor's Degree, with honored distinction, in Political Science from North Carolina Central University. She went on to earn a master's degree in Public Administration from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Finally, Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich earned her Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She was also the first African-American to be awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, which she used to study political science at both the Free University in Berlin, Germany, and the Deutsche Hoch Schule fur Politik. Her impressive educational background has earned her teaching positions at some of the country's most revered universities, including Howard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the George Washington University. Her commitment to public service has been evident as well. Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich has served as Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was also New York State Housing Commissioner under Governor Mario Cuomo and has served as the Executive Director of President Carter's Urban and Regional Policy Group. Here, she worked to issue America's first formal National Urban Policy, a significant accomplishment. Additionally, as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc., Dr. Scruggs- Leftwich worked tirelessly to facilitate dialogue between the leaders of the African-American community while also working to design opportunities for collaboration across racial lines. As residents of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich and her husband, Reverend Edward Leftwich, have launched the Quantum Opportunities after-school program through the Center for Community and Economic Justice. This program works to help at-risk teens become community leaders through tutoring, internship opportunities and training in civic leadership skills. Her unwavering dedication to encouraging a commitment to education and community service with at- risk teens has contributed in countless ways to the Tampa Bay area. Her impressive volunteer endeavors continue to make Dr. Scruggs- Leftwich's dedication to community service clear. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation's Board of Trustees, Executive Director of the Center for Community and Economic Justice, and is Member at Large of the Black Leadership Forum. The Tampa Bay Community is proud to recognize Dr. Yvonne Scruggs- Leftwich for her outstanding career and significant contributions to the fields of education, public policy, and civil and community activism. Her dedication to advancing the rights of others through both public and community service makes her an inspirational leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for her dedication to our community and our nation.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lifetime of achievements and career of Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. Dr. Wright's desire to help others, along with his achievements and service to the Tampa Bay community is worthy of recognition by all. A native Floridian, Dr. Wright grew up in Boynton Beach. In 1974, he graduated, with honors, from the University of Florida with a degree in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences and a degree in Psychological Foundations from the College of Education. He later continued his studies at the University of South Florida where he completed his doctorate in Special Education Administration and Supervision. After serving as the first black City Councilman in Boynton Beach, Dr. Wright moved to Tampa in 1985. He was hired by the University of South Florida to plan, create and coordinate student programming for minority students. At the time, black students accounted for less than 5 percent of the student population. He made it his mission to improve student enrollment for minorities. He later served for 13 years as the university's assistant director for multicultural admissions, allowing him to recruit, enroll, mentor and retain minority students, fostering diversity on USF's campus. After serving as associate dean of student relations and director of multicultural affairs at USF, Dr. Wright is now the USF student ombudsman, a position where he cherishes the opportunities to mentor students through the challenges of college and cheer on their successes. Aside from his accomplishments with the University of South Florida, Dr. Wright's commitment to the Tampa Bay community has been unwavering. In 2001, he organized the first Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, a multicultural celebration, now held annually, in honor of black history and culture in the Tampa area. Dr. Wright also serves as the vice president of the Hillsborough County NAACP and has served as a Board member with the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition, he is actively involved at the state level as a member of the African American Task Force and, in 2010, he was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to serve as a board member of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Glazer's Children's Museum. After 27 years with the University of South Florida and countless contributions to the Tampa Bay community, Dr. Wright is retiring. It is clear that he has contributed to the growth and diversity at USF in countless ways, while also influencing and effecting students on a personal level. While his contributions to USF will be missed, his impact on the Tampa area will no doubt continue for years to come. The Tampa Bay community is proud to recognize Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. for his steadfastness and desire to enrich the people of our community. His outstanding career and significant contributions have made him an inspirational leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our state.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Mr. Vyrle Davis. His contributions to education and social reform in the Tampa Bay community and throughout the state of Florida are worthy of recognition by all. Mr. Davis, a native of the Tampa Bay community, attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, before beginning his teaching career at 16th Street Elementary and Junior High School in 1960. Inspired by both his grandfather, a teacher who established the first school for African-American children in Jackson County, and his mother, who taught African-American students in a one-room schoolhouse within the Citrus Park community, Mr. Davis broke both racial and social barriers within his profession. In 1971, Mr. Davis was named assistant principal at Gibbs High School and two years later he became principal at St. Petersburg High School. In 1986, he overcame countless obstacles to become Pinellas County's first African-American superintendent, a position he held for nine years. Mr. Davis was also an advocate for social reform. In 1984, he established the Ebony Scholars program, providing institutional and financial support to high-achieving African-American students. Not only did Mr. Davis participate in raising money for his organization, he also contributed a significant amount of his own time and money. To date, the program has allocated over $500,000 to students. By 1990, Mr. Davis had left an indelible mark by reforming the role of African-Americans in political office. He founded multiple organizations, such as the African-American Voters Registration and Education Committee, that advanced both the political and educational causes of African Americans. He formed a coalition of other activists, whose mission was to help minorities attain elected positions within their neighborhoods. Specifically, he played a momentous role in the campaign of Mary Brown, a woman who became the first elected African-American Pinellas County School Board member. Although he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2004, he never let his illness deter him from doing that which he truly loved. He was admired by the Tampa Bay community, and those who knew him, revered him. As I join with Mr. Davis's family and friends in mourning the passing of an outstanding individual, I know they are incredibly proud of the contributions he has made to the Tampa Bay area. The entire Pinellas County community honors and remembers the 76 year life of Vyrle Davis. Mr. Vyrle Davis molded the lives of generations of students through his dedication to education and to the community as a whole. His example will continue to live through those that worked with him and those who learned from him. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our State.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and highlight the distinguished life of Bill McBride. Mr. McBride's contributions to the Tampa Bay community, the State of Florida, and the country are worthy of recognition by all. Born on May 10, 1945, Mr. McBride moved to Florida at the age of 9 and spent most of his childhood in Leesburg, Florida where he attended high school and distinguished himself on the football field as a fullback and linebacker. While attending the University of Florida on a football scholarship, his football career was derailed by a knee injury. Mr. McBride then turned to public service, becoming an active member in Florida Blue Key honor society and president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. At the height of the Vietnam War, Mr. McBride dropped out of law school and enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He volunteered for combat duty, rose to the rank of captain, and was awarded a Bronze Star with a Combat V for valor for his wartime service. After returning from Vietnam, Mr. McBride finished law school. At that time, he became a civic leader in such organizations as the United Way and the Florida Holocaust Museum. He also became a managing partner of Holland and Knight, one of Florida's largest law firms. Bill McBride was a force for good in the Tampa Bay community and a strong advocate for public education and civil rights in Florida. As a gubernatorial candidate in 2002, he championed smaller class sizes, greater support for teachers, and encouraged greater investment in education. Throughout his life he promoted equality in Florida as well, advocating for the survivors of the Rosewood racial massacre, pro bono legal work, and gay rights. His mission in life was to serve Florida, and he accomplished that in innumerable ways. His selfless dedication to our community and State will be greatly missed. The Tampa Bay community is proud to recognize Bill McBride for his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of Floridians. His outstanding commitment to the State made him an inspirational community leader. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable citizen for his service to our community and our State.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of Florida's brightest sons, Corporal Michael, P. Nicholson of The United States Marine Corps, Echo Company. On July 6, 2011 in an IED blast Corporal Nicholson was almost mortally wounded when he lost his legs and part of his left arm and numerous other injuries. His personal decorations include The Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other service awards. Michael was 2nd Platoon Mortar Chief and Assistant Patrol Leader. This strong young man from Tampa has been through hell and back and with much more to overcome he has been a shining example to all, and makes you proud to say you're an American. The Tampa Bay community honors his service to our great country. What Michael ``Stands For,'' is magnificent, and few of us will ever reach the heights to which he has already scaled in his short lifetime and will into the future. A Marine's Marine, our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I submit this poem penned in his honor by Albert Caswell. Stand For Something Stand! Stand for something, or live for nothing at all! Die for something, or the rest of your life so crawl! Stand! Better to give up your strong arm and legs, then look back at all of that emptiness that you so gave this world, you saw! And so realize, that your life really meant nothing at all! Stand for something! So noble and so very tall! Better, to make a difference with it all! And so answer that most heroic of all calls! That call to arms! That call to war! That call to death, for all of our freedoms to so insure! Because, moments are all that we so have! To stand tall! To change the world! To go off with our flags unfurled! To stand for something! All in that blood that binds you, but to so answer that most noble cause! To stand for something, to where only such hearts of honor are so called! Yea Stand! Stand for something, or live for nothing at all! To shine, to make a difference with it all! But, To wear those magnificent shades of green! And be but only one of ``The Few'', But to be only one of The very Bold! To have and to hold! Our Nation's most precious of all Gold! A United States Marine! One of the best damn things, that this country has ever seen! As already Michael, in your short life as you have so convened! All in that fight, with all your might! As you were so magnificently seen! As it was on that fateful day, when your fine life almost went away! As a IED explosion, halfway to Heaven on that day! When, something so deep down inside of you would not give way! Because you were born to lead, even in your darkest days! As the tears ran down your most heroic face! Because Nicholson, your fine life that still had so much more to say! For you had miles to go, and mountains to so climb on your most heroic way! And so many hearts to so heal, and to so inspire, lifting them all so ever higher! While, all of the Angels for you so prayed! As you Michael, still have such life of happiness that which before you so awaits! As you Michael may have lost your two strong legs and arm! But they'll not touch your great heart of amazing grace, that which so inside of you so beats and burns so very warm this very day! The one that which you were so born with, that which so says Marine get up and move on . . . the course to stay! And Pity is not a town where you will ever stay! As you so teach us! As you so reach us! As you so beseech all in every way! With the kind of lessons about life that only a kid like you could say! As you rain mortars of hope down upon us all, all in what your fine heart has so to convey. . . Because, already in your short life Michael. . . you've traveled higher and farther than any of us ever will or may! Because, you so Stood For Something! And as you Still Do, To This Very Day! For Something, So Noble and So Brilliant, and So Bright! Someone To So look Up To, whose most courageous heart brings such light! These rays! Marine, I could climb the highest mountain, and yet never would I reach where you stand this day! For only a few in heaven will so stand, as they! And if ever I had a son Michael, I wish he could but be half the man you are in every way! Who Stands for Something so very brilliant, that which most of us never may! All in you in what I saw, as our hearts to you Michael so run! Because in The Game of Life, you are a Champion in every way! Oh how I wish I could stand as tall as you this very day! What have you stood for, out on life's way? Stand!

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

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

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, there are a number of reasons why H.R. 6190 is poor public policy, but I'd like to focus on just one, and that is the unfair advantage that this bill will grant to a single business to the detriment of other businesses and manufacturers. And, in fact, the Congress has received a letter from the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium: On behalf of the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium--an association of companies that manufacture medicines for the treatment of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--I am writing to you today in opposition to H.R. 6190. IPAC's members include AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and a number of other manufacturers. They say that they strongly oppose efforts within the House of Representatives to lift the December 31, 2011, ban on the sale of CFC-based epinephrine Primatene Mist because such drastic reversal in settled law will be, one, unnecessary to protect the public health of asthma patients; and, two, it's contrary to the United States' important and long-standing commitment to international treaties. They point out that this has been ongoing for two decades. The companies involved in international manufacture, national manufacturers, have known about this for a long time. They say the only possible beneficiary of a reversal of the ban on Primatene Mist would be its manufacturer, which stands to garner a financial windfall if its limited stocks are sold. Granting extraordinary, unwarranted special treatment to a single company would send an extremely negative signal to manufacturers that responded to the U.S. Government's call many years ago to be a partner in meeting our commitment. Similar prior requests for deadline relief have been firmly denied by all of the relevant agencies. Now, here's the problem: I was contacted by a Florida company some months ago. Part of the early rationale for this bill was there was no alternative. But this Florida manufacturer that played by the rules called me up. They said, We hear about this hearing on Capitol Hill. Do you know that we are manufacturing an alternative to Primatene Mist that will be over-the-counter and that will be affordable? Nephron Pharmaceuticals has developed such a product, Asthmanefrin, a handheld, battery-operated device that will allow asthma patients to inhale a drug similar to epinephrine in Primatene Mist. It is readily available at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, CVS.com. It's also accessible through McKesson Drug, a national wholesaler; Smith Drug, a wholesaler covering the Southeast; and OptiSource. They are doing a national TV campaign now. They have starter kits. This is available. So that rationale, that early rationale that there is no alternative does not exist anymore. But here's the important point: We can't have the Congress granting an advantage to a single company to the disadvantage of other companies that have played by the rules. This bill would seriously undermine the investment decisions of innovative companies like Nephron that have developed alternatives and solutions to short-term asthma relief. Congress should not pick winners and losers. Colleagues, we repeatedly heard the rationale for this bill: there was no alternative. That rationale is incorrect. It's inaccurate. Congress should not pull the rug out from under companies that have followed the rules and expect regulatory certainty in order to benefit another single company. I urge you to vote ``no'' on H.R. 6190.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on World AIDS Day to highlight the remarkable progress that has been made over the past 30 years in the fight against HIV and AIDS. I commend local leaders from my Tampa Bay area district like the Reverend Dr. James Favorite, who understands the importance of speaking to his congregation about HIV and AIDS. Reverend Favorite has urged more than 100 local churches and pastors across the Tampa Bay area to put AIDS and HIV awareness at the heart of their sermons. Reverend Favorite's impact has garnered national acclaim from the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. I also commend the Test Tampa Bay campaign, which is an initiative designed to intensify HIV education, awareness, and prevention brought along by local health departments and other health advocates. Test Tampa Bay aims to increase the number of Tampa Bay residents who know their HIV status by encouraging HIV testing. Finally, I would like to voice my strong support for H.R. 6138, Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Act, by Representative Barbara Lee and others, of which I'm a proud sponsor. We must remain committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic and improving the lives of those infected with the disease. We are at a tipping point in the fight against AIDS, so let's recommit to ensure that America continues to lead the way to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank my good friend from Florida on the Rules Committee for yielding time. I rise to oppose the rule and the underlying bills, particularly H.R. 6082, because that bill unreasonably expands offshore drilling without the corresponding and necessary safety standards. The Republicans are ignoring the lessons that we learned after the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. Again, they are putting the profits of the oil companies ahead of the safety and larger economic concerns of families and businesses all across our great country. Certainly, memories cannot be so short that we don't remember the devastation caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout and disaster. That oil spewed for months and months, and they could not cap the well. In the meantime, it caused serious economic damage, not just to my home State of Florida and to the tourism industry and fishing and to the hotels and motels and restaurants, but all across the gulf coast and all across the country. I recall very well, prior to the blowout, they said it was safe. They said drilling in deep water and offshore was safe and that there hadn't been very many accidents. But they were wrong. I remember Tony Hayward came in front of our committee, and he said, We were wrong. We didn't anticipate this would happen. You've got to anticipate that it will happen. Unfortunately, in the aftermath, we appointed a blue ribbon commission, the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout. They issued their report in January of 2011. They had many recommendations from experts in how you make offshore drilling safe. The Congress has not acted on any of those recommendations to make it safe. Yet, in this bill, they press ahead to open even more areas for oil drilling. That's not right. You're putting our economy and our environment at risk when you do so. This was a great commission, by the way, because they didn't just stop there. They've issued progress reports along the way. I know people oftentimes don't like report cards, and the Congress is not going to like this report card. They've broken it down into safety and environmental protection, spill response and containment, and ensuring adequate resources. Under safety and environmental protection, they say Congress has done nothing to make permanent the improvements that have been made by industry and the Obama administration. We've got to enact these into law before we go forward with more offshore drilling in new and pristine areas. They say Congress has provided little support for spill response and containment. If we're going to expand drilling--and it certainly has to be part of our energy portfolio--we have to be able to respond to a disaster, and yet Congress has done nothing there. It says, although the administration has provided increases in funding to oversight, Congress has taken little action to adjust the unrealistic limits on liability. Who is going to pay? It shouldn't be the taxpayers who pay for these disasters. Right now, they have not adjusted the outrageous liability limits that these oil companies have when there are accidents. What you're doing is really thumbing your nose at--you're turning a blind eye to--the hard work done by the commission, the commission that proposed to protect us if we were going to rely on offshore oil. I think it's going to be part of our portfolio, so why not adopt reasonable safety standards? I know some of my colleagues say, Well, we don't like red tape. I don't like red tape either, but this isn't red tape. These are vital environmental and economic safety standards to ensure that the $60 billion tourism industry in Florida is maintained. Those are hardworking folks and good jobs back home. For the hotels and motels, even though the oil was coming out of the ocean 350 miles away, their businesses fell off. All we ask is that simple safety standards be adopted. Mr. Markey and Mr. Holt have proposed some of those as amendments. The Republicans rejected other ones. We need to adopt these. Otherwise, it is irresponsible to press ahead with expansive, new deepwater drilling in deeper areas, in pristine areas. These recommendations are reasonable. And if the Republican Congress cannot take up reasonable safety standards in the wake of one of the worst economic and environmental disasters in our history, then I'd hate to say what's at risk for this great country.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman. And this is especially meaningful coming from Chairman Young. No one has been more attentive to military families and our servicemembers--no matter what service, no matter their veteran status--than Mr. Young, my colleague and friend from Florida. I thank the gentleman and yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I rise for the purpose of a colloquy regarding an amendment that I had intended to offer relating to military families. Mr. Chair, our military personnel have access to great health care through TRICARE, but in certain cases--and many would be surprised to learn this--TRICARE does not cover every health service. And this comes into play sometimes with children of military families with special needs. There's also a circumstance when someone in the military is separating from the military but they don't have retirement benefits, and their family, their children, may not have access to health insurance. I ran into this in a case back home in Tampa, Florida, at MacDill Air Force Base, not unlike many of our colleagues here who participate in forums for veterans and job fairs and the like. The military health folks didn't know a lot about Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, whether it applied to military families that they talked to all of the time or those families that are separating from the military and are no longer covered by TRICARE. So we tried to investigate this with the Pentagon a little bit, but they were not able to clarify anything for us. I have done a little research. There was one report, entitled, ``Medicaid's Role in Treating Children in Military Families.'' That report advised that 1 in 12 children from military families rely on Medicaid for some health service; and for children with special needs in the military families, 1 in 9. I was surprised to learn that, frankly. Plus, we have many that have served in the military and have come back from Iraq or Afghanistan and have a lot of questions about what it means for them finding a job, finding coverage for their family as they move on in their lives. So I had intended to offer an amendment that simply clarifies the fact that nothing prohibits DOD from providing that information at a job fair, a health fair, or advising military families that the Medicaid coverage or the SCHIP coverage could be an option. So I would really like to work with Chairman Young, the Department of Defense, and Ranking Member Dicks so that our military families don't have to worry about health coverage, whether they're in the military, they have children, children with special needs, or they're separating from the military and they just simply need answers to questions about where they can turn. I yield to the chairman.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero who is being laid to rest back home in Tampa, Florida, today. Staff Sergeant Ricardo Seija was killed on Sunday, July 8, when his armored vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Seija was 31 years old. Known as Ricky, Sergeant Seija was a graduate of Leto High School. He joined the Army in 2000 and was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas. His mother, Ignacia, said, ``Since he was a child, he wanted to defend his country. He very much loved liberty. He wanted a free country without war, without problems.'' ``Ricky died like a hero, fighting for his country,'' she said, ``not just for his country but for all of us who live in America. He loved this country very much.'' He is survived by his wife, Sunny; son, Ricardo; his mother and father, Ignacia and Ricardo Seija of Tampa; and two older brothers, Jose and Eduardo. On behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I salute Staff Sergeant Seija for his service and for his ultimate sacrifice to our great country, and I ask that all Americans recognize this remarkable patriot.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Chairman Pallone for yielding the time. He started off the debate by saying this debate reminds him of the movie ``Groundhog Day.'' I think he's right. It reminds me of a summer rerun. Republicans are forcing another political debate on the Affordable Care Act--a tired rerun--when the Republicans should be joining us in focusing on creating jobs and boosting the economy. That is our number one priority this summer. It's a real shame. In fact, it's disheartening to hear my Republican colleagues urge repeal of vital consumer protections for American families. My Republican colleagues are undermining the economic security of middle class families in doing so. They are urging the elimination of important improvements to Medicare, like closing the doughnut hole, putting cash back into the pockets of seniors who need it at this time. And what they're saying is that it's okay that people don't take personal responsibility for their health and their health care, and I think that's wrong. It is not fair that if you pay those health insurance premiums time after time and those copays, that you end up picking up the tab for those who do not. That's not fair. The Affordable Care Act targets that for replacement and encourages personal responsibility. I urge my Republican colleagues not to waste our time here, but let's come together. Let's work and focus on improving the economy and creating jobs. That really is our number one priority.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievement and career of Colonel Dennis L. Beatty. Beatty is the current Deputy Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. In this capacity he serves as AMC Command Surgeon in the Surgeon's absence to advise and represent the AMC commander on all aspects of the command's medical service mission. This includes supervising and monitoring the peacetime healthcare at AMC's 12 community-based medical treatment facilities comprised of approximately 6,600 medical personnel who provide health care for more than 429,000 beneficiaries using an operating budget of $672 million and assets exceeding $1.3 billion. He also serves as 18th Air Force (AFTRANS) Surgeon. After serving assignments in Texas, Colonel Beatty was competitively selected for an Air Force Institute of Technology scholarship in 1992 and was admitted to the Washington University Health Administration Program in 1993. In 1994, he was accepted into the Washington University School of Engineering under a dual degree program in Information Management. He successfully completed masters' degrees in Health Administration and Information Management in June 1995, both with honors. Upon graduation, Colonel Beatty was selected for assignment to the 375th Medical Group at Scott AFB, Ill., as the Resource Management Flight Commander. He was assigned to the Medical Manpower Division, Directorate of Programs and Resources, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, D.C. from June 1997 to July 2001. Colonel Beatty served as commander of the 45th Medical Support Squadron from July 2001 to July 2003. In July 2003, he assumed command of the 42nd Medical Support Squadron at Maxwell AFB, Ala. In July 2005, Colonel Beatty became Chief of the Medical Programming Division, Directorate of Plans and Programs, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Colonel Beatty became the commander of the 6th Medical Group on 3 July 2008. From Dec. 2009 to June 2010 he was deployed as the Deputy Group Commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Colonel Beatty was the previous commander (CEO) of the new clinic at MacDill Air Force Base (6th Medical Group) from 2008-2011. In his current position at Air Mobility Command headquarters in Tampa, FL, he continues to oversee medical operations at MacDill as well as all other Air Mobility Command hospitals and clinics at Travis AFB, CA; Scott AFB, IL; McGuire AFB, NJ as well as others. The Tampa community and MacDill Air Force Base are proud to recognize Colonel Beatty for his outstanding career and his many significant contributions to the Air Force and our country. His determination and hard work have made him an inspirational leader within our nation's Armed Services. I ask that you and all Americans recognize such a remarkable patriot for his service to his country.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Missouri and also my colleague from Texas. I rise in strong support today of H.R. 3276, a bill to name the post office located at 2810 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida, as the Reverend Abe Brown Post Office. I introduced this bill to honor the life and the accomplishments of the late Reverend Abe Brown. Reverend Abe Brown was an educator and a pastor, and he devoted his entire life to helping others, whether it was in the classroom, in the guidance office, on the football field, in church, or through his ongoing ministries. Reverend Brown was a Tampa native. He was a 1946 graduate of the great Middleton High School and a 1950 graduate of Florida A&M University. He came home after he graduated from A&M and started work at Hillsborough County public schools. He worked for the school district for 38 years--as a teacher, coach, dean of students, and an administrator. As an educator and a coach, he promoted 16 athletes to professional football. He loved football. These professional players attribute their success in life and not just on the football field to the firm foundation and inspirational teachings of their beloved Middleton High School coach, Reverend Abe Brown. I had the honor of attending Hillsborough's Chamberlain High School when Reverend Brown served as the dean of students before he retired in 1988, and he was tough. He was tough on the outside, but inside he had a heart of gold. Reverend Brown also served as the pastor for the First Baptist Church of College Hill for many years. His deep and abiding faith called him to found the Prison Crusade Ministries, which was renamed the Reverend Abe Brown Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit organization that enables offenders, ex-offenders, their families, and others at risk to achieve productive and spiritually fulfilling lives. It has made a real difference throughout the Tampa Bay area. Reverend Brown continued his social outreach, and in 1991 he received nationwide coverage and honor through an article in the Reader's Digest regarding his active establishment and implementation of an effort to stop drug street sales in Tampa's College Hill community. Reverend Brown passed away in September 2010 after serving the Tampa Bay area in many capacities for many years. With the help of the East Tampa community, we fought to keep this particular post office open last summer. It was considered for closure, but it is a real focal point for the East Tampa community, and it is a very busy branch. So I look forward to dedicating this station to Reverend Abe Brown, as does our entire community. He was a role model for young people and an inspiration for our entire community. He selflessly devoted his life to others and, instead of abandoning those who had lost their way, he worked tirelessly to help them get back on track. I thank the entire Florida delegation who sponsored this legislation on a bipartisan basis, I thank the committee, the ranking member and the chair, and I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3276 in honor of Reverend Brown's selfless service to the Tampa Bay community.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, if the other side of the aisle has no further speakers, then I'm prepared to yield back.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee asked me to convey that he has no objection to the bill. Mr. Aderholt's bill provides the flexibility for walk-in coolers and walk- in freezers to meet the applicable energy-efficiency standards with technologies other than foam insulation. The bill ensures that the alternative technology reduces energy consumption at least as much as the insulation that is currently required. We think this is a reasonable approach, encourage Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding the time. Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise to oppose the rule and the underlying bill for three primary reasons. First, the package is very poor public policy. Second, I offered a commonsense amendment, and the Republican majority blocked it from being debated, so it will not be heard today, unfortunately. And third, the House of Representatives shouldn't be wasting its time on a package that's not going anywhere. Instead, we should be focused on job creation, especially passage of the transportation bill, through which we could create thousands and thousands of jobs across the country. But first, as we marked up part of this package in the Energy and Commerce Committee, it became apparent that this package is chock-full of detrimental policy decisions for America. It creates new bureaucracies when it comes to energy policy and undermines the Nation's energy security. It rolls back policies that support the continued growth of safe and responsible energy production in the United States. And it improperly removes protections that we enjoy under the Clean Air Act that protect the health of American families all across this great Nation. Second, if my colleagues recall, following the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, a major flaw in the law came to light: that the Department of Interior's maximum penalty for companies violating offshore drilling laws is limited to $40,000, and for major onshore drilling violations, it's only $5,000. So these amounts are not enough of a deterrent for bad behavior. That's why I offered an amendment to give the Secretary of the Interior the authority to increase civil fines against oil companies that violate the law while drilling. But unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have once again blocked sensible policy in order to protect Big Oil. The Deepwater Horizon disaster was a major economic blow to my home State of Florida. If our laws do not establish appropriate deterrents, then you put our jobs at risk. Our tourism industry, small businesses, restaurants, fishermen, and the military rely on clean water and clean beaches. And our laws should protect American families and businesses, and not just Big Oil. Finally, I strongly disagree with the Republican majority's decision to block the transportation bill and the thousands and thousands of jobs that are dependent on it. The Republican inaction on a bill that passed the United States Senate in a bipartisan way with over 70 votes is being blocked here on the floor of the House, and people should be up in arms. At a time when we've got to make greater progress when it comes to putting people back to work, that's the best path forward. I think the Republican inaction is causing great economic harm across the country, and that is what we should be debating today.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Rule and urge a ``no'' vote on the flawed bill my Republican colleagues will bring to the floor. They had an opportunity to bring the bipartisan Senate Violence Against Women Act, but chose not to. The Violence Against Women Act has been bipartisan and noncontroversial for almost 20 years now. The update passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis just last month. Why does everything have to be a partisan fight? Over the past year, my Republican colleagues in the House have blocked an important jobs package, stalled the national transportation and infrastructure bill, dragged their feet on help for students and the impending increase in the student loan rate, and now they have turned what has been a bipartisan effort to protect the victims of domestic violence into a senseless political fight. Republicans would not even allow debate on any amendments so we could address its flaws. In fact, their legislation not only rolls back longstanding, bipartisan provisions, but it leaves out protections for our LGBT community, Native American women and immigrants. Unlike the bipartisan Senate version, the House Republican bill does not include a provision prohibiting any Violence Against Women Act funds from discriminating against anyone based on their sexual orientation. The House Republican bill also does not include language explicitly including the LGBT community in the ``STOP Grant program'' that provides funds to domestic violence service providers. Studies have shown that the LGBT victims face discrimination when accessing domestic violence services. We should be working towards stronger domestic violence protections for the LGBT community--not trying to exclude them from domestic violence protections, as the Republican bill would do. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Many of these domestic assaults go unreported by the victims for fear of retaliation by their abuser. Immigrant victims are oftentimes the most vulnerable to this cycle because their abusers use their immigration status as a tool to manipulate and control them. That is why in the 1994 Violence Against Women Act Congress included the ``self-petition'' provision to ensure that immigrant victims of domestic violence could leave their abuser without fear of losing legal status. The Republican bill would delay and deny that protection for many immigrant victims. In my home state of Florida there were 113,378 crimes of domestic violence reported in 2010. If the Republican bill were to pass, more domestic violence crimes would go unreported, more abusers would be free, and more victims would be harmed. More children, families, and women would be at risk of continued abuse by their abuser. This bill works in opposition to the very purpose of the legislation--to protect victims of domestic violence. Not just some victims--all victims. So advocates across the country who are on the front lines in aiding women and victims everyday have announced their opposition. Please defeat the rule, so that we can call up the bipartisan, improved version from the Senate.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and urge a ``no'' vote on the flawed Violence Against Women Act that my Republican colleagues will bring to the floor. They had an opportunity to bring the bipartisan Senate bill to the floor, but chose not to do so. That's a shame, because the Violence Against Women Act has been a bipartisan and noncontroversial effort for almost 20 years now. The update passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis just last month. Why does everything have to be a partisan fight here on the floor of the House? Over the past year, my Republican colleagues here in the House have blocked an important jobs package; they have stalled the adoption of the national transportation and infrastructure bill; they've dragged their feet on help for students and the impending increase to the student loan rate; and now they have turned what has been a bipartisan effort to protect the victims of domestic violence into a senseless political fight. Republicans would not even allow debate on amendments so that we could improve their flawed bill. And this is serious, because in my home State of Florida, there were over 113,000 crimes of domestic violence reported in 2010. If the Republican bill were to pass, more domestic violence crimes would go unreported, more abusers would be free, and more victims would be harmed. This bill works in opposition to the very purpose of the legislation to protect all victims of domestic violence. Not just some victims, but all victims. Advocates across the country who are on the front lines in aiding women and victims every day have announced their opposition. Please defeat this rule so we can call up the bipartisan and improved version from the Senate.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the ranking member. Mr. Speaker, two of the most prominent independent scholars on Congress, Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein, recently completed a detailed research initiative. They've never been shy in criticizing either side of the aisle. But their latest research concluded that the Republican Party has become ``ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence, and science.'' And they said: When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the Nation's challenges. The Republican budget is a perfect example of that. The Republican budget shields special interests from participating in deficit reduction, and instead says, We want to end Medicare as we know it. We target children and our older neighbors and middle class families for the overwhelming burden of deficit reduction. If a political party wanted to undermine the health and economic security of millions of American families, well, then, this is the way to do it. And it's too bad, because I believe Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for deficit reduction, but we have starkly different visions on how to get there. Others have called this Republican budget extreme, reverse Robin Hood, destructive, and a threat to middle class security. And here's an example. In the Budget Committee, I offered an amendment to say, It's time. We don't have the luxury to be giving big oil companies tax breaks any longer. Instead, let's make sure that children across America can see a doctor, can get the immunizations that they need. But what was the vote? The Republicans rejected that commonsense amendment. It was paid for by eliminating these Big Oil subsidies. This is what Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein mean by they are ``ideologically extreme.'' It's not in keeping with our values, as Americans. And I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Republican budget and sequestration plan.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and commend the efforts of the Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign; a grassroots organization founded by college and high school students toward promoting greater awareness and respect for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Created by young people with disabilities and their typical peers, Spread the Word to End the Word promotes the undeniable truth that everyone matters, everyone is accepted and, most importantly, everyone is valued. Today, young activists across the country are leading local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges from peers and the community to vow not to use the word ``retarded'' and recognize the first Wednesday of every March as a national awareness day for The Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. Best Buddies and Special Olympics participants across the nation have enthusiastically taken the pledge to stop the derogatory use of the word ``retarded,'' and have collectively encouraged hundreds of thousands of others to do the same. I am proud to speak about this amazing group of young activists who are spreading hope each and every day; not just in their own communities but across the country and the world by making communities inclusive of people of all ability levels. I am proud to have taken the pledge, and I thank all who also pledge to think of others before they speak and, in so doing, promote universal human dignity.

Ms. CASTOR of Florida

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the ranking member very much. The Republican budget makes something very clear, and that is, Democrats and Republicans have very different visions for our great country. The Republican vision is harsh, and independent commentators have said a few things about their proposed budget. They've called it reverse Robin Hood. They've called it disturbing. And they've called it extreme. And I think one of the primary reasons is that the Republican budget breaks the promise that this country has made to generations of Americans that is Medicare. The fundamental promise of Medicare is if you work hard and you play by the rules and you pay into Medicare every year, as you are working, that it will be there for you in retirement, and you can live your retirement years in dignity. Even in the face of a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or cancer, you will not go bankrupt, and your children will not go bankrupt. Medicare makes America great. But unfortunately, through this budget, the Republicans say they don't share that view. Specifically, the Republican budget ends guaranteed coverage that our parents and grandparents have paid for, cuts Medicare benefits. It increases premiums and co-pays, and it scraps all of those important democratic cost saving reforms that strengthen Medicare. I offered an amendment in the Budget Committee that would retain closing of the doughnut hole, the annual wellness visit, and other benefits, but unfortunately, it was voted down. It ends Medicare as we know it and forces the average senior to pay twice as much for half the benefit. Americans need to ask why. Why do they want to cut Medicare while at the same time protecting corporate tax subsidies and loopholes like the ones for Big Oil? Why do they want to cut Medicare while at the same time increasing tax breaks for millionaires? The Republican budget proposes a harsh vision indeed, a vision that is contrary to our values for American families.