Carlos Curbelo

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in remembrance of Ramiro ``Toti'' Mendez, who tragically passed away 15 years ago. Toti was an accomplished baseball player. While at Westminster Christian School in 1998, he was the Miami-Dade County Player of the Year. He was sitting out the season as a medical redshirt at Florida International University when he suddenly and heartbreakingly passed away from viral cardiomyopathy, which is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle. It was a tragedy that came so unexpectedly for family and friends, including me. Toti was just 20 years old, with a bright future ahead of him. New developments in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suspected of having this condition are starting to be utilized, but the early detection of cardiac issues is imperative to saving lives. Earlier this week, I had the honor of participating in the dedication of the Toti Mendez Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic Suite at Florida International University. This facility will give medical students an opportunity to enhance the art of auscultation, allowing for cardiac abnormalities to be detected sooner. I am proud that FIU is honoring Toti's legacy with the opening of this important facility. I also want to recognize the work of Toti's mother, Maruchi Mendez, to bring awareness to this very important issue through the establishment of a scholarship fund and a foundation in honor of her son, who was beloved by every single person who knew him.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. First, Mr. Chairman, let me offer my support for the underlying bill, H.R. 702. Over the August district work period, I had the opportunity to visit an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and see firsthand the safety regulations and enhancements that have been put in place by the industry in recent years. Two of the primary topics of discussion during our visit were safety and the environment. I was glad to learn the industry has put a lot of contingencies in place to make sure we can continue drilling for oil in a manner that is safe and responsible. I have joined my colleagues Mr. Delaney and Mr. Gibson in offering this simple amendment that would recognize our country is making progress in becoming more energy efficient; and that is better for the economy and the environment. It is also very important to note the other forms of energy that are benefiting our country's economy and its national security. Wind, solar, natural gas, and nuclear energy are all contributing greatly to our energy independence, and this amendment before us today acknowledges that we should continue to promote an all-of-the-above energy strategy for this 21st century. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this amendment.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Saturday, September 19, as International Coastal Cleanup Day. I encourage everyone nationwide to participate by visiting a local beach and assisting with this special event. Ocean pollution is a serious problem that negatively impacts wildlife, humans, and our economy, including many small-business owners. Debris found in ocean water and on shores is detrimental to aquatic life and has the potential to injure water sports enthusiasts and beachgoers, as well as destroy boats and their propellers. In 2012, more than 10 million pounds of trash were collected by 500,000 volunteers in 97 countries. Earlier this year, my staff and I spent a morning cleaning up the beaches on Stock Island in the Florida Keys and saw just how much trash washes ashore. Unfortunately, this amount is just a snapshot of an even larger problem. Though International Coastal Cleanup Day happens annually, it is important that we make a stronger effort to protect our beaches more than once a year.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the tragic humanitarian crisis currently underway with the migration of refugees from Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey making their way into Western Europe. With the unfolding of the horrific conflict in Syria and the continuing grotesque violence of ISIS, we can only expect that hundreds of thousands more will attempt to flee hostile regions for the safety of Europe and beyond. Since 2011, at least 4 million Syrians have fled their country, uprooting their families to escape brutal violence and miserable living conditions. However, the refugees' plight for a safe environment since leaving Syria and escaping to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey has been bleak. In just the last few days, we have seen heartbreaking images of refugees making the difficult journey to enter European countries, sometimes paying with their lives. These migrants and refugees will do anything for a better future. I was proud to see the leadership of Angela Merkel in Germany accepting so many of these people in need. I strongly encourage all European Union countries to follow Chancellor Merkel's lead in welcoming these migrants and refugees and also supporting Germany's efforts in ensuring this undertaking is spread across the continent. Most importantly, the United States must also offer any humanitarian assistance we can to ensure these vulnerable refugees have all available resources to return to a sense of normalcy. The world must step up, and I hope this Congress will play a role in the process of assisting these refugees. Mr. Speaker, the conflict in Syria is one of the great blemishes on human history. Approximately 250,000 people have been killed. This administration said early on that Bashar al-Assad had to go. Nothing happened. The administration then said that, if Mr. Al-Assad used chemical weapons, then he really had to go. The dictator did, gassing innocent people, including children, and the world did nothing. This is a heavy burden we carry now, and that is why it is essential that we do everything we can to assist these refugees. My parents were refugees; my grandparents were refugees, and the United States took us in and gave us an opportunity. The world must also now account for our failure in Syria and do everything we can to help these innocent people. World Suicide Prevention Day

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today, September 10, as World Suicide Prevention Day. Anyone who has been impacted by the horrible tragedy of a suicide, whether it be a family member, friend, or colleague, is well aware of the devastating impact when one person they love takes their own life. It is critical that we continue the conversation about not only suicide, but mental health issues as well. People of all ages, races, and socioeconomic status can be plagued with mental health problems, and we must ensure those who are suffering receive the proper diagnosis and treatment. In addition, communities must work together to foster understanding rather than judgment. If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulties, I encourage you: Please, take the time to seek counseling from a professional. Every life is worth living, and every life is precious. Let's come together to support our friends and neighbors and work to address mental illness and prevent suicide. Maduro Border Closing

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it was recently announced by Venezuela's de facto dictator, Nicolas Maduro, that the single remaining border crossing with Colombia will be completely bolted. This action is only the latest example of Maduro's weak attempts to search for phantom scapegoats of his regime's failed economic policies. The figment of Maduro's imagination is Colombians are the cause of food shortages, the collapse of the Venezuelan currency, and his country's rampant crime. As a result, the Venezuelan dictator has ordered the border between Colombia and Venezuela closed. Colombians living in Venezuela have been unlawfully arrested and have had their homes bulldozed, leaving them with no other option but to flee; but with the latest and final border closure, Colombians are forced to return to their home country using very dangerous routes. This has been dubbed a humanitarian crisis by the United Nations. Make no mistake, this crackdown by Maduro is a sick and twisted attempt to distract the Venezuelan electorate from Caracas' failed socialist and antidemocratic policies ahead of the December elections. Unfortunately, the horrible suffering these policies have caused for both Colombian refugees and the Venezuelan people are all too real.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues have come to the floor today and have stated that this is the most important vote or the most important series of votes that we will take in this Congress. I agree with them because these votes boil down to the fundamental question: What kind of a world do we want to live in? What kind of a world do we want for ourselves? for our children? for our grandchildren? for future generations? Do we want to live in a world where we legitimize the most radical, the most extremist, the most terrorist government in the world--a government that has a long and well-documented history of lying to the world? of holding Americans hostage? of hanging homosexuals from cranes? of executing juveniles? Do we want to empower that government with an investment of at least $56 billion, a portion of which will surely go to terrorist activities not just in the Middle East but all over the world? Do we want to guarantee that whether it is in 10 years or in 13 years or in 15 years or in 20 years that that same government will have the ability to build a nuclear arsenal? Do we want to afford that same government--the mullahs in Iran--the ability to have intercontinental ballistic missiles? Those aren't for Israel. Those aren't for the Middle East. Those are for us. The only purpose of those missiles is to carry a nuclear warhead. What kind of a world do we want to live in? I believe, Mr. Speaker, that, many years from now, my daughters, ages 5 and 3, will look up how their dad voted on this critical issue. I think--and I am very hopeful and I am confident--that they will thank me, because this is a bad deal. This is a deal that not only endangers our allies in the Middle East, it endangers us. This is a deal where we have to ask ourselves who we are, what we stand for, and what kind of a world we want to live in. For that reason, I am opposing the Iran deal, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to recognize the 24th of August as the 23rd anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. On this date in 1992, the category 5 storm made landfall on Elliott Key, and then Homestead, Florida, killing 26 immediately, with dozens more fatalities from injuries stemming from the storm's aftermath. We continue to mourn this loss of life. The winds of Hurricane Andrew were calculated at 164 miles per hour and completely wiped out Homestead Air Force Base. Until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Andrew was the costliest storm in U.S. history, totaling $43.7 billion when adjusted for inflation. As officials assessed the damage, they noticed that much of the destruction was due to substandard construction methods. As a result, Florida now has the strongest building codes in the Nation. Furthermore, homes are now required to have storm shutters or impact- resistant glass. While we will never be able to fully prevent damage from a serious storm, we can mitigate the damage caused and thus reduce the costs of rebuilding our neighborhoods. The National Hurricane Center, located at Florida International University in my congressional district, provides important research on the effects these storms have on our coastlines and maintains a continuous watch on developing weather patterns that could become a tropical storm. I was able to tour this center earlier in the year, and I commend their efforts. The memory of Andrew forces us to remain cautious and vigilant so our communities and homes are protected. In the midst of this hurricane season, I strongly encourage all those in the potential paths of these storms to have a plan already in place to secure property and protect loved ones. By taking the appropriate preventative measures, we can assure that our families and neighborhoods remain safe. Key West Terrorist Detained

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my sincere gratitude to the brave law enforcement officials who prevented a terrorist plot from unfolding in Key West. On July 28, it was announced that a Key West man was arrested and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Key West is the southernmost point of not only my congressional district, but the entire United States. Anyone who has visited the Keys knows how truly special this part of our country is, not just for its natural beauty, but for the welcoming and creative people who call the Keys home. A terrorist attack occurring anywhere in the United States is a cause for serious alarm, and I am glad the efforts of one lone wolf were thwarted. It is important to recognize the FBI, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Key West Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and other law enforcement agencies for working together to neutralize this threat to Key West and our country. Because of their efforts, an untold number of lives were saved. Unfortunately, this incident reminds us that we continue to be targeted by those who wish to do us harm. We must remain vigilant against these ongoing threats and ensure our law enforcement agencies continue to have the necessary resources to execute their critical mission. Miami Dade College/Job Fair

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank all those who attended the job fair in my district office hosted last month for employers and workers in the Kendall area of south Florida. We were able to connect over 1,000 of our friends and neighbors who are looking for work with hundreds of businesses, agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The feedback was positive from countless participants who said they were able to collect resumes from well-qualified potential candidates for job opportunities. One of my main priorities here in Congress is helping those who are most in need, and events like this job fair are an excellent way for our communities to come together and find opportunities for people with all sorts of different skill sets. I would also like to give special thanks to Miami Dade College for hosting this terrific event. They provide excellent opportunities to south Florida residents who are looking to further their education and learn new skills to enhance their job credentials. I am also very proud to note that Miami Dade College was recently named a ``great college to work for'' for the seventh consecutive year by the Chronicle of Higher Education. South Florida is fortunate to have a strong network of business leaders who work closely with educational institutions to help people find work. Every job is an opportunity, and today we celebrate the constituents in my district who have found gainful new employment as a result of the job fair at Miami Dade College.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize leaders of Miami-Dade County Public Schools for attending a recent meeting at the White House to discuss school discipline. The purpose of the discussion was to determine alternatives to common school disciplinary measures to keep students focused on learning. Exclusionary discipline has become far too common, often exacerbating the problems for students who struggle in school. This leads kids down a path where they fall behind other students and sometimes end up in the juvenile justice system. A change in school discipline procedures is long overdue. Rather than promoting an atmosphere of compounding punishments, we need to help our students get back on a positive track and help them succeed while also maintaining the safety of their classmates and teachers. Prior to being elected to Congress, I served for 4 years as a board member of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. I have seen firsthand the bold efforts to reform disciplinary tactics and reverse the trend that plagues so many school districts. For example, Miami-Dade has created sites across the county for suspended children to attend rather than forcing them to waste their time out of school. I applaud the board, led by Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho for their leadership on this issue and their willingness to participate in this important discussion. I look forward to working with them to promote proper and safe school discipline that benefits the students, their parents, and their teachers. STEM Education

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and also recognize the great work being done in the 26th District of Florida to encourage these classes. It is no secret that jobs that require a STEM-related background are projected to outpace other fields as many companies struggle to hire qualified candidates. We need to encourage our students to pursue these fields early on in school and ensure that our educators have the necessary tools to help cultivate an interest in STEM classes for our students. In an effort to reach the goal of graduating more STEM students, Miami-Dade County has launched an innovative new training and certification program for teachers in collaboration with Florida International University. FIU has developed a program that promotes STEM teacher training for first-year college students, where they are paired with Miami-Dade County public school teachers to give them firsthand experience in the classroom. The goal is to encourage more STEM majors to go into teaching. I applaud the work being done in Florida's 26th District and look forward to further promoting STEM education in south Florida's classroom. Congratulations, again, to FIU and to Miami-Dade County public schools. Startup Day Across America

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Wednesday, August 19, as Startup Day all across America, and I encourage everyone to visit at least one small business in your community on this day. Startups are quickly developing right before our eyes. Throughout our country, there are countless small businesses that range from retail to health care, and these companies are changing the workforce as we know it. Entrepreneurs are leading the way to a brighter future by using innovative solutions and reinventing the way we look at small businesses. Our local businesses employ our friends and neighbors, helping them to pay their bills and provide a better life for themselves and their families. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I recommend that we never forget the vital role that our local businesses play in keeping our neighborhoods strong and prosperous. Again, I encourage everyone to participate in Startup Day across America on Wednesday, August 19, and help these small businesses continue to grow. 225th Birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate August 4 as the 225th birthday of the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is one of our Nation's five branches of the armed services and can trace its origins back to August 4, 1790, when the first U.S. Congress appropriated the funds to construct 10 vessels. These ships were designated with enforcing tariff and trade laws, while also preventing smuggling and protecting the collection of Federal revenue. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly proud to represent Coast Guard Sector Key West, a base located in south Florida that covers 55,000 square miles. The coasties stationed at Sector Key West are tasked with the same responsibilities as their predecessors and also have the crucial job of combating drug smuggling from the Caribbean and South America. This is no easy task, but I am proud of the work the Coast Guard continues to do to stifle drugs from entering our communities. Semper Paratus--Always Ready--this is the motto of our beloved Coast Guard, and our Nation owes a sincere debt of gratitude to the coasties and all those who protect our great country.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of my constituents, Lieutenant Colonel Eldridge Williams, a Tuskegee Airman who passed away this month at the age of 97. Born in Texas in 1917, Lieutenant Colonel Williams graduated from Xavier University in 1942 and immediately applied for the Army flight program. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Miami Beach in 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Williams trained Tuskegee Airmen who flew overseas to escort bomber planes across Europe. Though he didn't make it overseas, he flew at the Tuskegee Institute and trained other pilots until the end of World War II. He continued to serve during the 1948 Berlin Airlift and the Korean war. In 1949, Mr. Williams moved to Richmond Heights, a community in South Miami-Dade established for Black servicemen returning from the war. Mr. Williams taught physical education at Richmond Heights Middle School and was soon after promoted to administrator, serving as director of desegregation for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He retired from the school system in 1985, but remained committed to overseeing programs aimed at assisting kids that had dropped out of school. President George W. Bush presented Mr. Williams and the other living Tuskegee Airmen with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. This was an honor long overdue to these trailblazing heroes. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I send my deepest condolences to Mr. Williams' loved ones and the many lives touched by his positive influence. May they take solemn pride in a life well lived. FIU Veterans and Small Farmers Outreach

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Florida International University and their outreach to those in our agriculture community. I recently learned of a new program created by FIU to give veterans, along with minority and women farmers, the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the agriculture business. The Veterans and Small Farmers Outreach program will provide direct benefits to not only our brave men and women returning from harm's way, but also to the countless small farms in Homestead, an agriculture- focused community in south Florida. The students currently enrolled in the Veterans and Small Farmers Outreach program at FIU have the opportunity to learn more about tending crops and raising livestock through apprenticeships throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. I am confident these students will soon enter our workforce and be productive members of the agriculture community. We will all truly benefit from the fruits of their labor. I thank FIU for their continued innovation in bettering the south Florida community and wish only the best of luck to the hard-working students of this newly created program. Iran

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my serious concerns over the Iran deal that was recently announced. So far, it appears that this agreement is bad for the United States and bad for our allies in the region. As I have said before, a weak deal that gives Iran any possibility of achieving a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. Key components of the nuclear program are still in place. Iran will still be allowed to have centrifuges and continue research and development on them. The Natanz and Fordow facilities will remain in place to purportedly continue their nuclear activities for peaceful purposes. In addition to these troubling facts, the Iranian regime is going to receive an exorbitant amount of money that they will undoubtedly use, at least in part, to fund Hamas and Hezbollah. Mr. Speaker, from what I can tell, this deal does not prevent Iran from having the parts needed to reach the nuclear threshold capability down the road and it will boost the regime's ability to support terror in the region. I strongly urge my colleagues to continue to carefully monitor this situation and consider the security interests of the United States and our allies as we continue analyzing this deal. Eagle Scout Rank Congratulations

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two students from my district, Daniel Auster and Sebastian Torra, who have both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 69 of Homestead, Florida. This prestigious accomplishment has only been achieved by 4 percent of Boy Scouts nationwide. Daniel was the first scout in Troop 69 to attain an Eagle Palm pin in the last 15 years. His fellow troop member, Sebastian, completed 173 volunteer hours at Jack D. Gordon Elementary School for his Eagle Scout project, both impressive accomplishments. Daniel and Sebastian are exemplary of the Boy Scout slogan ``Do a good turn daily.'' I applaud their hard work and dedication to achieve this honor. They truly embody the Boy Scouts' commitment to our community. I am always pleased to see young people with such dedication to giving back and making our neighborhoods better. Once again, congratulations to Daniel and Sebastian.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on Small Business for yielding, and I also thank him for his leadership on all of these important issues. I also want to commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton) for his work on this important piece of legislation. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 2670, the Microloan Modernization Act of 2015. The microloan program is unique due to its focus on merging technical assistance with access to capital. For several micro- entrepreneurs, particularly those in underserved markets, this offers a way to get the small dollar loans, which a conventional bank would otherwise deny, while learning important skills, such as developing a business plan, that will be critical as the company finds success and grows. Last year alone, the microloan program was responsible for providing nearly $56 million in capital and aiding small businesses in creating or retaining 15,000 jobs. However, after listening to several entrepreneurs and microloan intermediaries, it became clear that for the microloan program to truly tap into its potential, changes were necessary. H.R. 2670 strives to make those changes and better support entrepreneurs. For example, currently, the statute says that microloan intermediaries may make short-term fixed-rate loans to small firms. Short term can mean different things to different people, but according to SBA regulations, short term means 6 years. While in some instances this may make sense when the loan is a lower amount, this one-size-fits-all approach is not beneficial to small firms. This bill would remedy that by establishing maximum term limits for loans made by intermediaries to their borrowers: 6 years for loans under $10,000, and 10 years for loans over $10,000. While this may seem like a minor change, we all know that allowing borrowers to get the best repayment terms possible is crucial for ensuring low default rates and increasing participation in the microloan program. Mr. Speaker, in summary, this is a commonsense, bipartisan reform that will increase access to capital for those most challenged to receive--our micro-entrepreneurs. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, and I congratulate Mr. Moulton for advancing this bill and Chairman Chabot for bringing it to the House floor. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2670 and remind them that the reason we in the Small Business Committee work so hard for these entrepreneurs, for these people that are making a difference, is because they hire those in our society, in our communities, that most need jobs. Think of the college graduate who is looking for a job; think of the immigrant who arrived in this country and is looking for a way forward. It is small businesses that oftentimes give these people their first shot at success.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to strongly urge my colleagues to visit an exhibition happening right now in the Rayburn foyer. The graphic display, which includes a remarkable collection of photos, is entitled the Venezuela of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. It is a reminder of the hard work being done every day by Venezuelans and Venezuelan Americans in their pursuit to restore democracy in a country ravaged by economic turmoil and a regime filled with corrupt leaders who will persecute anyone who voices disagreement. It is more important now than ever for the United States to remain firm in our support for the people of Venezuela. We must remain strong in solidarity with the people who fight for a truly democratic Venezuela free from tyranny and the fear of a regime that promotes violence against its own people. Again, I encourage my colleagues to take advantage of this opportunity to join the Educational Foundation for Democracy and IVAC in the promotion of a better future for Venezuelans and everyone in our hemisphere.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking my colleague for her steadfast leadership on this issue, but really on all issues having to do with foreign relations in this Chamber for so many years. She has set the example and a very high bar for all of us who serve in this Chamber. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by reiterating just how serious the security threat Iran is to the United States and to our allies. As my colleagues have expressed here, Iran can never attain nuclear capabilities. Any deal reached must ensure that the Iranian regime completely abandons its nuclear ambitions and dismantles its nuclear infrastructure. It is absolutely critical that the Obama administration be unyielding when dealing with Iran. Additional concessions are simply not an option. A weak deal that gives the regime an opening to obtain nuclear weapons down the road is not good for the United States or its allies, especially Israel. It isn't good for the entire world. Even while nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran took place, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei openly supported the destruction of Israel and supported Hamas' attacks against Israel from Gaza. He also boasted Iranian technology was being used by Hamas to attack Israel and openly called for all Palestinians in the West Bank to join Hamas in Gaza in an armed rebellion against Israel, promising to arm those who participated. We cannot continue to view Iran's nuclear program as existing in a vacuum. It would be irresponsible to ignore the regime's continued support for terrorism, its pursuit of ballistic missiles, and its failure to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Moving forward, several things must be present in an acceptable deal, including a robust inspection regime and the resolution of issues of past and present concern. Only then could a deal even begin to be considered as acceptable. Snapback sanctions relief could be difficult to implement and is not in the best interests of the United States. We must protect the sanctions infrastructure that this body put in place rather than rely on reactive tactics if the Iranian regime does not comply with the terms of the agreement. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to an agreement with Iran, we need to ask ourselves: Does this agreement prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities and keep the United States and its allies safe? Anything other than that is totally unacceptable. The central question here, Mr. Speaker, is: What kind of a world do we want to live in? What kind of a world do we want for our children, for our grandchildren, for our families? A world in which the most radical terrorist regime acquires nuclear weapons--whether it is in 2 years, in 5 years, in 10 years, or in 15 years--is totally unacceptable. This is a government that, again, has pledged to annihilate the only democracy in the Middle East, our best ally in the world, the country that stands with us no matter what, our friends in Israel. Some in this administration have unjustly criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu. For what? It is for simply wanting his country to survive and his people to live in peace and security. This is the same government that when the Ayatollah sent their representative--then Mr. Ahmadinejad--to Cuba in 2007, he pledged that, together with Cuba's dictators and the rest of their rogue allies throughout the world, they would bring the United States to its knees. I know my colleague recalls that. What kind of a world do we want to live in? It is still not too late to walk away from this table and to tell the mullahs that they will never acquire nuclear weapons as long as the United States is the greatest superpower in the world and a beacon for democracy, for peace, and for opportunity for all people. I, once again, thank my colleague for this special opportunity to highlight an issue that is of vital importance for the entire Nation and for the entire world.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 5, to include corrections in section numbers, section headings, cross references, punctuation, and indentation, and to make any other technical and conforming change necessary to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month. Currently, 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's and it is projected that the number will increase to a staggering 16 million by 2050. In my home state of Florida, an estimated 480,000 people are living with the debilitating disease. Alzheimer's is devastating for patients and their families and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Early this year, I had the opportunity to speak with a representative from the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association about priorities related to research and care planning. I want to give a special thanks to the local chapter I am honored to represent in Miami Dade and Monroe Counties for providing patient services like a 24 hour dementia specific helpline. Today, Alzheimer's cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed, but there are many things we can do as lawmakers to support patients and their families. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help move towards eradicating this terrible disease.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Lee Klein on her 50th anniversary at the Children's Cancer Caring Center, or CCCC. Lee has dedicated her life to caring for South Florida children and their families who are affected with cancer by providing them comfort and support as they fight the deadly disease and return to a sense of normalcy. Lee currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the CCCC Board. She began her career in 1956 as a charity worker for children's causes, and nine years later, founded a treatment clinic for cancer-stricken children which today we call CCCC. She also serves as Patient Program Director at the center, where she becomes personally involved with the patients and their families. Lee has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2004 Junior League of Miami ``Women who make a difference'' award and 2003 Big Brothers Big Sisters ``Miracle Makers'' award. Mr. Speaker, these children and their families battling cancer deserve all the love and support they can get during the unfathomable difficulties that no young person should have to endure. I am proud to recognize that on June 27, Lee will have served the Center and our South Florida community for 50 years, touching the lives of thousands of our friends and neighbors. I wish her the best of luck in the future and offer my sincere gratitude for the work she has done.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Florida International University on the celebration of their 50th anniversary earlier this week on June 22. This great accomplishment gives all Floridians an opportunity to recognize this special institution and all who have contributed to FIU's success throughout the years should be proud. FIU is located in Florida's 26th Congressional District, where over 17,000 of my constituents are enrolled as students and an additional 2,400 graduated last year. In my time serving south Florida in Congress, I have witnessed this university's passion for helping students seek higher education to better themselves while giving back to our community. Mr. Speaker, south Florida is a place where people from all over the world come seeking opportunity and success; many find it at FIU. On the occasion of FIU's 50th anniversary, I salute all those who have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of scholars. I know many proud graduates who today are leaders in our community. Once again, congratulations. I know that the next 50 years will bring even greater success and achievement. Go Panthers.