Curt Clawson

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rokita for those kind words and for his friendship and support and his flexibility in this House. There are very few people like him, and I will miss him. The first thing I have to say today is Boiler Up, Mr. Speaker, Boiler Up. I am from Florida. I proudly represent southwest Florida that I love so much, but I went to high school and college in Indiana; so part of me will always be from Indiana and I will always love the State and its wonderful people. In 1976, my dad moved the family of 7 kids to southeastern Indiana from the South, and we went to a small town in southeastern Indiana called Batesville, kind of a typical town of 4,000 or 5,000 people, typical hotbed of basketball and shooters, with well-known sports names in the area, like Paul Ehrman, the co-chairman, going into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame next year, Ace Moorman, Dave Galle, among other basketball and sports greats in southern Indiana. My parents immediately loved the Indiana culture that we were exposed to in Batesville, best summarized by words of my dad who would say something like this: Work hard; don't complain; put the group, the team, and the family first; go to church on Sunday; actually kneel down and pray; and show a little humility. Right, Dad? Eventually, trying to do as best I could to follow my father's counsel, I went to Purdue to play for the College Hall of Fame coach, Coach Gene Keady, and I have to tell you how much of an honor that was and a memorable experience in my life. Before continuing on a little bit about Coach Keady, I want to compliment our current president at Purdue, the former Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, who moves our university into the future with a new business model of innovation and leadership. President Mitch is a leader who is not afraid of change, and I admire that because, without change, tomorrow you lose. But back to Coach Keady. Our senior year, Mr. Vitale on TV picked our team last because we had lost our best player to the NBA draft. I went to Coach Keady's office before the season as one of his senior captains, and I asked him: Coach, how do you feel about this team? Do you believe we are going to be last? He said: No, we are not going to be last. I asked: How do you know, Coach? How do you know? He said: Because I like my locker room. I asked: What does that mean? He said: I know you all are going to listen to me, and you will follow what I say. I know you will share the ball, and I know you will outwork the competition. Well, of course, Coach was right. We went from being picked last to winning the Big 10. Coach Keady's first of six Big 10 championships in 25 years at Purdue, four consensus national coach of the year, six national coach of the year in one media, service, or another, and, importantly, in 25 years at Purdue, a winning record against the coach down in Bloomington. I want to honor Coach Keady today, and I want to end by thanking our president at Purdue University, Mitch Daniels. I honor and admire Coach Keady for what he has accomplished. Most of all, I want to thank Coach Keady for his loyalty to me. My last game was bad. I have to live with that forever, but for 30 years now, I have lived in his umbrella of love and loyalty. He has always been there for me, and I honor him for that. I appreciate his loyalty as the last important lesson of so many that he taught me. Happy birthday to our wonderful State of Indiana and our wonderful people with our basic cultures of believing in God and treating one another with love and respect.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Lee Memorial Hospital recognized 100 years ago that Lee County needed a quality healthcare provider, so it opened its doors at that time to a 15-bed hospital back on October 3, 1916. That small hospital has now grown into a world-class premier healthcare system in southwest Florida providing top quality care throughout the area. Lee Memorial today has a team of over 15,000 highly qualified and skilled staff members and volunteers making it one of our largest organizations in southwest Florida. I want to thank the Lee Memorial team, and particularly those who took care of my mom during her final days. When loved ones are sick, what we really want is for those that take care of them to show love. For that, I express appreciation to the Lee Memorial folks. Numerous times Lee Memorial has been recognized with national and State awards for outstanding performance. My constituents and I are blessed and grateful for the staff members, physicians, and volunteers who work at Lee Memorial. I am certain that they will continue to provide top quality care for 100 more years and beyond. On another personal note, I want to express my big thank-you to Jim Nathan, president of the system, for his leadership and for his selfless service to our community for so long. Jim, I don't know what we would do without you. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Lee Memorial Health System for its commitment to southwest Florida as it celebrates 100 years.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

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

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I especially have full appreciation and admiration and respect for the chairman. I know he is going to go against me and this is going to get voted down, but as both a leader and the chairman, I have full admiration for what he does for our country, and he is an example to people like me, by the way. My amendment would move $50 million from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve account into the Army Corps' construction account, which finances our Nation's water infrastructure projects. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve account, currently funded at $257 million, has increased by millions of dollars in each omnibus. This funding is currently $68 million higher than it was back in the 2014 omnibus. There is a management/cost question here because, at the same time the costs have been going up at a significant level, the amount of oil a barrel stored has stayed flat or gone down. The American taxpayer is paying more and more every year, in a low inflation environment, mind you, for the same amount or less oil. I just think we ought to put the pressure on people to manage within their cost structure as opposed to asking the taxpayer to pay the increase. Moreover, I want the Army Corps' construction account to increase by $50 million because in South Florida we are suffering a year of ecological and economic disaster. It is an El Nino year, and the rains have raised the levels of stagnant water in Lake Okeechobee beyond the capacity of the Herbert Hoover Dike. Consequently, unwanted fresh waters flow east and west down the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers, polluting the Gulf of Mexico. Countless fish and wildlife pay a price with their lives, and our fishermen and tourism industry pay a major economic price as well, while the cost structure of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve account goes up. As summer approaches, Lake Okeechobee water levels are, again, rising dangerously and we are about to have another ecological disaster. It is on our doorstep, and it is not right. My people can hardly bear it. So I say let's do the right thing and move $50 million more into the Army Corps' construction account for projects that will help my district and other districts around the country with similar projects. To quote the conscience of our Congress, John Lewis, I think he would say: let's make this place a little cleaner, let's make our environment a little greener, and maybe our country a little kinder. Less money for SG&A costs, more money for fresh water and for our environment and for our economy. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. With all humility, I appreciate the increase in the projects and understand that you all are doing a great job. You all have to understand that this is a disaster and everybody gets disaster funding in our country but my district and my State. So when there is a hurricane somewhere else, the President says it is emergency funding and everybody gets their money. But when it is an El Nino year and all that dirty water comes down that river and my district gets wiped out by it, the President doesn't do anything. We don't do anything. It is about to happen again in August. You all have to understand, for my constituents, that lake is up high again and it is rainy season. We are going to say, no, my bill is not going to get heard on the floor of the House, and my district is going to be underwater with dirty water. There is going to be fish piled up on the beach, and we are going to be a Congress that hasn't done anything about it. So I hear you all and understand and agree with it and appreciate it. But we have to have a bias for action, in my view. So I am just going for more. I hope you all forgive me for wanting a recorded vote, but you all have to understand my folks are suffering right now. I hope Members understand that. This is a big deal to us.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

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

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Dent; full respect for what he does and, more importantly, how he does it. Agree or disagree, the gentleman does it the right way, and I appreciate his leadership style. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to offer my amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. May 30 is Memorial Day, a day we set aside to recognize the tremendous debt of gratitude for those who have selflessly sacrificed for our liberties. From constituent discussions in my district, I am acutely aware that customer service for our vets often falls short of the mark. Far too many of our vets, I am told, simply do not receive timely responses to their healthcare questions. We can do better. My amendment, which I am proposing, is directed at improving customer service problems by improving the information technology at VA facilities. My amendment would enhance veterans' customer service experiences by funding improved, service-based, commoditized technology and telecommunications. For this, my amendment would add $5 million to the information technology systems account, specifically the funding directed at the development, modernization, and enhancement of the current IT infrastructure. In the proposed budget, this account is currently funded at $4.23 billion, $50 million short of the President's budget request of $4.28 billion in this area. My amendment would offset this $5 million by reducing the general administration account, currently funded at $336 million. The redirected $5 million would be used in acquiring new technologies to provide more acceptable customer satisfaction and delivery measures. I am the proud son of a veteran who served overseas. In my role in Congress, it is a great honor and privilege to serve over 100,000 veterans who call my district home. We all know vets--friends, neighbors, family, and, in my case, a nephew just returning from Afghanistan and a father who served a long time ago. Let's do right by these brave folks by improving their customer service and response. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to present H.R. 890, which adopts new Coastal Barrier Resources System maps for the southern part of my district, Florida 19, in southwest Collier County, Florida. A special thanks to my fellow Members--Don Beyer, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Chairman Rob Bishop--for their support and helping me push this through. I urge support of the passage. On a personal note, it has been my lifelong concern for the environment and involvement in water quality issues in my hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida, that led me to Congress on an unknowing path really. So introducing this bill, to me, today is really special and personal. A special note of thanks to those who helped--so many folks-- particularly Bob and Jack for their perseverance. Perseverance paid off. Also, I thank Cherie for her abiding inspiration and to Yodi. The CBRS was created by Congress with the 1982 Coastal Barrier Resources Act. This initiative preserves the ecological integrity of coastal areas while still protecting private property rights. This initiative preserves the ecological integrity of coastal areas that serve as important barriers against wind and tidal forces caused by coastal storms, and reduces further development in these sensitive areas. In other words, it creates a perpetual protected area for our wonderful Gulf wildlife. These new maps have passed public review, OMB review, and have been released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is the southern part of my district. The new maps correct errors from 40 years ago, which seriously hurt some 1,600 of our constituents and hurt their access to flood insurance, home mortgages, and refinancing. These new maps also add 17,000 acres in perpetuity to CBRS, 17,000 acres principally in this zone right here, between Naples and Marco Island and also a little bit south. Keewaydin Island--that you see right here, just south of Naples--and Cape Romano are part of the pristine, picturesque Ten Thousand Islands chain that begins 20 miles of Naples. These newly preserved areas highlighted on these charts cover five geographical units, part of now over 40,000 continuous acres that will be permanently protected. This is government doing something right for all stakeholders and for all the generations that will follow us. H.R. 890, protecting 15 miles of natural coastal barriers, is sound economics. It is a piece of what needs to be done toward growing southwest Florida's multibillion dollar private and commercial real estate values and south Florida's tourism industry, which brings in over 5 million visitors to my district. It also employs one out of every five people in the local workforce. I am proud to report that this bill will create the largest grouping of CBRS units nationwide, protecting our unique Florida Everglades and ecosystem, aquatic plants and animals, other wildlife, and also protecting private properties from storms and floods. Keewaydin Island right here, just south of Naples, is one of the largest, if not the largest, sea turtle nesting areas in Florida and in the United States. Depending on the time of year, these are the nests that we see throughout our district on the beach. Also in this area, we see lots of the beautiful spoonbill that you can't find in too many different places. The Florida Everglades are a natural treasure. It is home to wildlife and plants that are unique in our Nation: fish, tortoises, reptiles, and insects. It is our duty to protect these species. This bill will have a permanent, positive impact on preserving this fragile ecological area and quality of life. Three years ago, I waded into the Gulf of Mexico with my folks. They urged me to get involved in local politics, hoping that I could have just a small impact and make a small, positive difference in the health of the waters of southwest Florida. My mom is gone now, but she always hoped that a moment like this would come.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is a moment that we can accomplish something positive for our constituents, positive for our economy, and positive for our waters of south Florida. I am very appreciative to have a small role, and I acknowledge that we have so much more to do to conserve the beauty of southwest Florida for generations to come.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2722.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I start by thanking Representative Jolly for his leadership and persistence on this issue-- it is so important to my district--and to the chairman for allowing disagreement. Disagreement allows learning, and we appreciate your leadership in this regard. I speak in full support of Representative Jolly's amendment. I base my support on the enormous all-time high, proven reserves elsewhere in our country and a conviction that we can focus in areas other than the Gulf. The private sector definitely needs cheap oil, and our businesses, our manufacturing companies, cannot be successful without low energy prices. I know it, because I lived it. But let's drill where drilling makes sense. And to us, it doesn't make sense to drill in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The recent BP settlement, the highest such settlement ever, is evidence that the economic and environmental risk of drilling in the Gulf greatly offset any potential returns. For those of us who live, work, or have business in the Gulf, we were told that an oil disaster could never happen, and then it happened. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I say it is not worth the risk. I say let's do everything we can to never have more drilling in the eastern Gulf.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. I have an amendment for consideration, please.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief and also try to improve just a little bit on a very good bill. My congratulations to the team and to the ranking member and to the chairman. Included in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife resource management account is funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System. By my amendment, we ask that an extra $1 million be added to this account. We are offsetting the increase by taking $1 million from the $2.4 billion Environmental Protection Agency programs and management account, hardly a stretch. The National Wildlife Refuge System has grown to over 563 national wildlife refuge and 38 wetland management districts, 150 million acres in all. We have several of these national wildlife refuges in my district or near my district, including J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge outside of Naples. The ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, in particular, sets itself apart as a leading contributor to the economy, with 816,000 visitors a year. Importantly, my hero, my mother, loves to go there, and I love to take her there in the autumn of her lifetime. I ask my fellow Members to support this $1 million adjustment to these national treasures.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and the ranking member. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, by this amendment, we are asking for an additional $1 million to be put towards Everglades restoration to be paid for with a decrease in the Environmental Protection Agency's environmental programs and management account. I first want to say that I am grateful to my Democratic colleague from Florida, Patrick Murphy, who has supported me on this and repeatedly supports our important Everglades initiatives. Shortly after retiring from the private sector 3 years ago, I took a walk in the Gulf with my father. When we waded into the Gulf, we got to about knee depth of water, and we looked down and we couldn't see our toes because that was a bad year for all the discharges into the Gulf of Mexico. So my dad said to me: Can you do something about this? Just get involved. I said: Dad, what can a retired auto parts executive do to help this situation? He said: If you get involved, you will figure out what to do. From there, I got involved in local matters and then eventually came here to Congress. In Florida, we are indeed blessed to have an extensive network of over 1.5 million acres of freshwater and saltwater, known as Everglades National Park. It is the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the United States, and it serves as home to numerous beautiful species, including a number of endangered species. For these reasons, we must guarantee the Everglades continue to reflect our shared values of healthy landscape through effective stewardship and conscientious management, and that is why I offer this amendment today.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. There are too many of them.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am for opportunity for everyone and fairness for everyone, including American companies and American workers. Since leaving my career in the automotive industry, I often run into folks that I used to know from the industry, except now they work at CVS or they work at the TSA. They say: Mr. Clawson, any chance the plant is going to open back up? I am having a hard time making ends meet. I am having a hard time paying for my kid's college education. I, unfortunately, can't give them much hope. If those plants close because of lack of American competitiveness, I can swallow hard, and I can accept it; but when those plants close because of currency manipulations, which is an afterthought today, then I don't accept it, and my sadness for this unemployment turns to hardness, which is where I am today. This is not about American competitiveness; this is about getting a chance for world-class manufacturing facilities who eliminate jobs. I say currency manipulation, no way. I say TPA, no way. I say vote ``no.''

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Heartfelt. Thanks.

Mr. CLAWSON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment before the floor for consideration.