Carlos Curbelo

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Irma's direct hit to the lower and middle Keys was devastating to my district. Many lost everything to the storm's 130-mile-an-hour winds and significant storm surge. Some lost their lives. But fortunately, the Keys' recovery is well underway, and the resiliency and generosity of Conchs and other south Florida residents have been on display before, during, and after the storm. While facing the prospects of receiving the full force of the storm, Key West police and fire departments decided to remain on the ground, risking their personal safety. They wanted to be there for their neighbors when the storm had passed. Navy personnel, under the leadership of Captain Bobby Baker, who sacrifice for our country every day, once again answered the call to serve and stayed behind to ensure they would be there to get the runways open and ready to receive aid. Coast Guard Captain Jeff Janszen also stayed to make sure the Port of Key West could open. Two days after the storm had passed, I visited with both of these leaders. They were working tirelessly to stand up their bases and had not yet checked on the interior of their own homes. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay rode out the storm at the Marathon shelter because he felt it was his responsibility to be there to protect his community. Officials from local municipalities from the city of Key West to Ocean Reef have been working around the clock with their teams to get utilities up and running, roads cleared, and government offices operational. I am grateful to our first responders and all the public officials and employees who have been working hard to serve the people of the Florida Keys. I also want to thank my office's Florida Keys director, Nicole Rapanos, who has dedicated long hours to assist our constituents and our neighbors in the Keys so that they can get the resources they need. I am grateful for her dedication to her neighbors and proud to have her on my staff. Community organizations are also playing an instrumental role in the Keys' recovery. Nonprofit groups like Star of the Sea Outreach, Rotary Club of Key West, and the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, just to name a few, have been volunteering their time, coordinating donations, and serving direct relief to the community. Private companies and small businesses have also stepped up to help. Robert Spottswood, whose family owns the Marriott Beachside, opened up the hotel to first responders, Navy personnel, and others who chose to ride out the storm. Baby's Coffee, which was left with its own damage from the storm, was providing their entire stock to residents of Key West, along with hot meals and coffee. Ikon Builders and UDT have brought supplies to the food banks and donation distribution centers. The Marathon EOC, which has been operating 24/7 and where approximately one-third of employees had lost their homes, these people continued working to help in recovery and rebuilding, and the list goes on. On the individual level, people have gone above and beyond to show their true Conch spirit. They have shared their own supplies and taken time to go help neighbors. The outpouring of support from local heroes in the Florida Keys has been so extraordinary, I could be here all day telling the stories of thousands upon thousands of acts of kindness. This powerful sense of community and humanity is one of the many reasons I am proud to represent these local heroes. Mr. Speaker, clearly the Keys' recovery is well underway. Tourism will be opening up again next week, nearly 3 weeks earlier than anticipated. I have no doubt continued recovery efforts will make the Florida Keys an even greater one-of-its-kind paradise Americans from across the country and people from all over the world have come to love. But the truth is, the Keys' tourism-based economy has been stalled, and perhaps the greatest devastation is the financial strain on individuals, families, and small entrepreneurs. Many of those facing hardship are themselves working to assist their fellow survivors, putting their personal interests aside. This community is doing its part to help their own, Mr. Speaker. Now it is time for Congress to do our part to help our fellow Americans in my district and in similar communities throughout my home State of Florida, in Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. When we debated this bill on Monday, I told my colleagues about how the tax credit for wages would allow small business owners like Owen, a crab and lobster fisherman whose traps were destroyed in the storm, to claim a tax credit for 40 percent of employee wages, up to $6,000 per employee, helping him get his team back to work as soon as possible. This legislation would also allow up to 415,000 hurricane survivors in Miami-Dade and nearly 7,500 in Monroe County keep more of their paycheck by referring to earned income from the immediately preceding year for purposes of determining the earned income tax credit. We are also making it easier for taxpayers to deduct more of the costs from the extensive property damage these storms left behind and allowing anyone struggling with initial recovery efforts to have immediate access to their retirement savings without penalty. Lastly, this legislation will encourage more American businesses and individuals to continue generously supporting qualified hurricane relief organizations by lifting caps on charitable giving to these groups. Mr. Speaker, hardworking Americans in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico need Congress to act. On Monday, this bill was derailed by political games, posturing, and name calling. I hope that will not be the case today because my constituents and those in other communities like my district don't have time to wait. This tax relief package deserves bipartisan support from my colleagues. I want to thank Chairman Brady and the Ways and Means Committee staff for allowing me to shape this legislation for the benefit of south Florida residents, especially those in Monroe County who were hardest hit by Hurricane Irma. I want to thank Chairman Sessions and the Rules Committee for making in order my amendment that will provide additional benefits that are critical for our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, they are facing a terribly difficult uphill battle to rebuild their communities. I stand in complete solidarity with my friends Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico, and will work to get them everything they need to rebuild their communities. I hope for their sake we can finally get this done today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers), the distinguished chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I truly deplore the way some colleagues have decided to politicize such a sensitive, urgent, and important issue. There are people in my community who are suffering, who lost their homes, yet they are still working hard to help their neighbors rebuild. For them to find out that this institution would oppose a measure to help them because some colleagues think it is just not good enough-- now, you heard them. They recognize there is a lot of good in this package, but it is not enough. I am the Representative of the district that was hit the hardest by Hurricane Irma. Chairman Brady was here. He has been working hard back home to help his community recover while managing his responsibilities here as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He is calling for passage of this legislation that he sponsored. Also putting their names on this legislation, Jenniffer Gonzalez- Colon, the Resident Commissioner elected by Puerto Ricans on the island to this Chamber, she has added her name to this legislation. Also, Stacey Plaskett, a member of the minority who represents the Virgin Islands, she has added her name to the amendment we filed to make this legislation even stronger. So the Members representing the districts that were hit the hardest, where people are suffering--and the gentlewoman from New York is absolutely correct; the suffering in Puerto Rico cannot be compared to anything else that we are seeing here on the mainland--their representatives want to see this legislation pass, but some of our colleagues say it is just not good enough. So because this is not good enough for them, people should get nothing. We wonder. We wonder why so many Americans don't trust this institution, why so many Americans are frustrated with the politics in this country: because if it isn't perfect, if it isn't exactly what I want, then I am against it. Now, fortunately, not all of the Members of the minority agree with this. When we first had this vote on Monday, 26 Democrats voted in favor of the legislation. And I thank them--not just for me, but on behalf of all of my constituents, the people of the Florida Keys, south Florida, and, of course, the people of Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. I thank my Democratic colleagues and all of my Republican colleagues that supported this package. I invite more Members from both parties to support this package today because this is not the time to play political games. Now, I understand some people here are frustrated about what may have happened in the past. I wasn't here, and I belong to a new generation of Members of this institution. Quite frankly, I think none of us on either side is interested in relitigating the old fights and the old debates. We want to see the solutions for today and tomorrow. The people of Florida--Monroe County, the Florida Keys, and Miami- Dade--the people of Texas, Louisiana, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, they need us now. They need this solution now. Can we do more later? Absolutely. Everyone knows that this Chamber and the other will soon consider additional funding for FEMA--much-needed funding. I will support a robust package for FEMA because the agency is strained and it is working hard to help people all over this country and out in the Atlantic. But to say that this is not good enough, so instead we will do nothing is just unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to reconsider because I think it is important that we send a message of national unity to help those who are hurting. If we can do more in the future, we will and we should. So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just thank all of my colleagues that understand how urgent this situation is, how much pain and suffering are being experienced in these communities, and I ask them respectfully to please support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, since Hurricane Irma hit south Florida earlier this month, my staff and I have been on the ground in the Florida Keys and South Dade helping our district with immediate recovery efforts and listening to what our constituents need going forward. In the lower and middle Florida Keys, it is hard to find someone who hasn't been affected financially by this storm's devastation. From restaurant workers who have been without a paycheck to fishermen whose boats or traps were damaged, small businesses and the families that depend on them are really struggling. In South Dade, crops and agricultural structures critical to daily operations were devastated by wind. Some small farms that were already struggling to make ends meet have now exhausted their cash on hand to pay for cleanup, leaving them little to pay workers or keep up with their planting schedule. Mr. Speaker, my district and similar communities throughout Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands need relief, and this bill is a great start. Through the business tax credit for wages, small-business owners like Owen, a lobster and crab fisherman whose traps in the middle Keys were destroyed by Hurricane Irma, will be able to claim a tax credit for 40 percent of employee wages. That is money Owen can use to get his employees back to work as soon as possible. The bill will also allow taxpayers to refer to earned income from the immediately preceding year for purposes of determining the earned income tax credit. That is over 415,000 hurricane survivors in Miami- Dade, and nearly 7,500 in Monroe County, who will be able to keep more of their paycheck when the time comes to pay taxes next year. We are also going to make it easier for individuals and businesses, like farmers struggling in South Dade and fishermen in the Keys, to deduct more of the costs from the extensive property damage these storms left behind. This legislation would also give anyone struggling with initial recovery immediate access to their retirement savings, without penalties, so they can make ends meet and take care of their families. Lastly, this legislation will lift caps on charitable giving to qualified hurricane relief organizations, encouraging more American businesses and individuals to continue generously supporting their fellow citizens. Mr. Speaker, Americans in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico need Congress to act. My constituents and those in other communities like my district don't have time to wait. They certainly don't have time to play political games. The Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017 will give them the means to recover faster and rebuild their communities better and stronger than before. This tax relief package we are considering deserves bipartisan support from my colleagues. I thank Chairman Brady and the Ways and Means Committee for allowing me to shape this legislation for the benefit of south Florida residents, especially those in Monroe County who were hardest hit by Hurricane Irma. I hope we can get this done today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3823) to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to provide disaster tax relief, and for other purposes.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill currently under consideration.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, briefly, I want to first convey my gratitude to the gentleman from Massachusetts because, indeed, the first day I returned after being back home helping my community recover, the gentleman expressed his disposition to work together. That really meant a lot to me, and I know it meant a lot to all of our colleagues who represent areas that were hit hard by the storm. We should work more closely together. We can always do better. However, let's not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The bottom line is that there are a lot of provisions in this legislation that are supported by Members of both parties, and there are millions of Americans who are suffering, especially in south Florida and especially in Puerto Rico that was hit hard by Maria just a few days ago, and they are counting on us to deliver something. We can always do more later, but this is a good package that will help people get back up on their feet. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, no one was laughing at anything that the gentleman said. We were listening intently. The reason that we are all here is because the people of Florida, the people of Texas, the people of Louisiana, the people of Puerto Rico, and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands need our help. They were hit in the last few weeks, and they need our help. There are people struggling in all of these communities. Is this bill perfect? No. I have never seen one. Can we do more? Yes. We must do more, but this is an important first step. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the distinguished chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Brady and the Ways and Means Committee staff for their work on this legislation. It has been a tough couple weeks in the State of Florida, especially down in my community. Again, I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts, Mr. Neal. As I said earlier, when I came back here, the first conversation we had was about helping south Florida, and he said he was willing and certainly able to do it. Here today, we are trying to take that first step to help the people of Florida, to help the people of Texas, of Louisiana, of the Virgin Islands, of Puerto Rico. But as often happens in the House, if something isn't perfect, then we get nothing. That is wrong. That is wrong, because there are people out there who need the help, people who don't have a roof, people who don't have a home, people who have been without power. I visited the Marathon Emergency Operations Center, Mr. Speaker. It was replete with people buzzing, everyone working hard, full of energy, even though they hadn't slept in days. The emergency operations manager there told me that a third of the employees there who were helping their fellow residents, conchs in the Florida Keys, had lost their homes. This is about them, and we can help improve their lives today, and we can work together to do more later, and we should. But why should the perfect be the enemy of the good? Why, when we have the opportunity to help people, because some think we should be doing even more, we are going to give them absolutely nothing? I think that is a major mistake, and it sends the wrong message. Throughout this debate, we have seen everything from posturing to name calling, and we wonder why so many Americans reject this institution and are disappointed by it. We have to do better, and we can do better. It would send a strong message if we all voted for this legislation to take this first step to helping the people of the Florida Keys, of south Florida, of Texas, of Louisiana, of the U.S. Virgin Islands, of Puerto Rico, help them get back up on their feet. Mr. Speaker, this is very important, and on behalf of my community and a lot of people who have, quite frankly, lost their lives, I ask all of my colleagues to join together and to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I left Washington last week to be with my family and community as Hurricane Irma headed straight toward south Florida. Some in the lower and middle Keys lost everything to the storm's 130- mile-per-hour winds and 10-foot storm surge. Some lost their lives. But with the Keys' tourism-based economy currently at a standstill, perhaps the greatest devastation will be the financial strain on individuals, families, and small entrepreneurs. But there is hope. Conchs are resilient and generous people. It will be a long road, but coordinated local, State, and Federal resources have ensured the Keys recovery is already underway. I have returned to Washington briefly to urge my colleagues to support two critical needs here in Congress: long-term, robust funding of FEMA, and a tax relief package for those trying to rebuild and recover after disasters like Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. Mr. Speaker, this can happen to any district or community. Whether it is a hurricane, wildfire, or earthquake, we have a responsibility to come together when large groups of Americans are in desperate need. I look forward to working with my colleagues to do just that.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Chair, on August 26, 2015, several Oriental Fruit Flies were found in South Miami-Dade County, Florida. The discovery of this pest was cause for serious concern, as the very destructive Oriental Fruit Fly has been known to infest over 430 kinds of fruits and vegetables, including main crops grown in Florida like avocado, mango, tomato, squash, and peppers. Unlike other states, Florida's farm production provides essential produce during, and immediately following, each winter season, and the spread of this pest can have a devastating impact on our nation's food supply. In coordination with state and federal officials, a quarantine was implemented in October 2015 to cover 98 square-miles in South Miami- Dade County. Through the dedicated work of officials at USDA and Florida Department of Agriculture, there have been no new discoveries of flies. The quarantine was lifted in February 2016. While the quarantine was absolutely necessary to ensure complete eradication of the Fly, it had a devastating effect on the farmers located in the designated area. We cannot let an outbreak like this happen again. A better understanding of how this pest spreads in our region would help lessen the impact of this threat. The $1.5 million my amendment provides to the USDA's Agricultural Research Service would go towards studying inspection breakdowns at ports of entry, how weather patterns influence the migration of Oriental Fruit Flies, and other factors are essential in discerning effective mitigation strategies. This is a small, but smart investment to help protect Florida's $120 billion agriculture industry. I urge all my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act. This legislation conditions financial assistance from the United States on the Palestinian Authority's termination of support for terror committed by individuals under its jurisdictional control. In order for the Palestinian Authority to receive aid, it would also be required to condemn acts of terror and cease providing payments to those who have committed such acts. The bill is named after Taylor Force, a former U.S. Army officer who was stabbed to death during a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. This legislation is a commonsense solution that we must address. The Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, has continued to support efforts that undermine attempts at peace between the Palestinians and our great ally Israel. The blatant encouragement of terrorist activity by the Palestinian Authority must end. Why should we be rewarding this kind of behavior? The Palestinian Authority perpetuates terrorism by paying salaries to terrorists who are in prison. To make matters worse, those salaries increase the longer they are in jail, thus encouraging these terrorists to commit more violent acts. This is unacceptable. The United States must do something to end this conduct because the reality is it is costing innocent lives. I believe the goals of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act, are a step in the right direction, and I urge my colleagues to join me in calling for its consideration and passage in the House. Low Income Housing

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw much-needed attention to our Nation's rental affordability crisis, from rural America to the suburbs, to the big cities, this problem grows in severity each day, limiting Americans' abilities to provide quality food, medical care, and safety for their families. My home State of Florida has been particularly hard-hit, ranking third among States with the greatest number of severely cost-burdened renters. In my district, the Florida Keys continue to face an affordable housing crisis that has made it difficult for the workers and entrepreneurs of its ever-growing economy. That is why, earlier this year, I attended the opening of the first- ever affordable housing project for low-income seniors outside of Key West. I have also been working to ensure Naval Air Station Key West, which currently has 166 units on base that have sat vacant for several years, is put to better use. While the process is slow, I am grateful for the Navy's assistance as we work to explore the possibility of opening these units for more affordable housing in the Keys. Mr. Speaker, finding solutions to making housing more affordable for our constituents, especially the most vulnerable, is a priority of mine here in Congress. I am proud to stand with Mr. Tiberi of Ohio and over 70 bipartisan Members to support his efforts to reform and strengthen low-income housing tax credits. It is time for Congress to work towards responsible solutions and make the rental affordability crisis a priority. Passage of Sanctions Package

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the passage of sanctions against the Iranian, Russian, and North Korean regimes. This package of sanctions sends a strong message to these regimes that the United States will not tolerate their rogue actions. These sanctions will hold accountable those involved in the Iranian regime's ballistic missile program, those who attempt to destabilize the region and threaten Israel, as well as those responsible for Iran's ongoing human rights abuses. The legislation also sets us on a path to deter conventional Iranian activities in the region and imposes sanctions on any individual that contributes to Iran's ballistic missiles or to terrorism. The sanctions against North Korea will respond to its increasingly hostile threats against the United States and our allies in Asia. By increasing the President's authority to impose sanctions on persons in violation of United National Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea, we are ensuring action can be taken swiftly when necessary. Last, but certainly not least, we have strengthened sanctions against Russia in response to cyber attacks and interference in Ukraine. Specifically, we are increasing sanctions on human rights abusers, those who supply weapons to the Assad regime in Syria, and those conducting cyber activity on behalf of the Russian Government. Given the seriousness of Russia's aggression, we are strengthening the existing sanctions contained in executive orders on Russia and mandating a congressional review if any sanctions are relaxed, suspended, or terminated. I strongly encourage the President to sign this bill into law and will continue to impress upon all of my colleagues the need to not treat Russia lightly. These threats posed to our national security by Iran, Russia, and North Korea cannot be understated. With passage of this sanctions package, Congress is doing its job to ensure they will be held accountable.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share and honor the story of Hadar Goldin, an Israel Defense Forces soldier who was killed by Hamas terrorists and whose remains have yet to be returned to his family. I met Hadar's parent in south Florida earlier this year, and they told me about their son, his love of freedom that inspired his service to Israel and their just cause. On August 1, 2014, 23-year-old Hadar was killed by Hamas terrorists. His body was then dragged away from his home and into an underground tunnel. Hamas terrorists then stripped him and left his clothing and took his body with them. For nearly 3 years, Hamas has held Hadar's remains from his parents, who merely want to give their son a proper burial. Mr. Speaker, Israel is one of our strongest allies, our greatest ally, and our support sends a clear message to all terrorists, including Hamas, that the United States will continue to firmly stand with Israel and its people. No parent should ever face the heartbreak of outliving a child, but those who do should expect a proper burial. Hadar's parents have been denied that basic decency by the Hamas terrorists that murdered their son. So today I am urging those holding Hadar to let him come home so that his parents can say good-bye. Solidarity with Venezuela

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Venezuela, once a beacon of economic prosperity in South America, has descended into chaos and turmoil. An oil-rich nation, it now struggles as Maduro's policies have led Venezuela to having the hemisphere's highest inflation rate, resulting in critical shortages of food and medicine, as well as the collapse of the Venezuelan currency and rampant crime. The Maduro regime's incompetence in managing Venezuela's finances and systemic corruption has led to a crackdown on human rights and violence against democratic demonstrators. The country is lurching towards single-party, totalitarian rule. Rather than working with the opposition to serve the interests of the Venezuelan people, Maduro is using his influence to grasp onto power, first, by having his henchmen on the Supreme Court attempt to strip the National Assembly of its powers, and now, by calling for an unelected constituent assembly to rewrite Venezuela's Constitution. This is just another attempt to usurp and replace Venezuela's Democratic National Assembly with a puppet parliament loyal only to him. This idea was recently rejected by 98 percent of the 7.2 million Venezuelans that participated in a nonbinding referendum last week. Fortunately, the United States has been quick to show solidarity with these freedom-loving people. I am grateful for the President's show of support and his direct warning to Maduro of the strong and swift economic sanctions the United States will take if he proceeds with the constituent assembly. The United States will no longer stand by and watch Maduro and his thugs ignore human rights and the rule of law. There is a bipartisan consensus that Maduro's undemocratic and tyrannical rule is unacceptable. All options are on the table, and I look forward to continuing to work with this administration and my colleagues here in Congress to stand in solidarity with the democratic opposition and the people of Venezuela.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Chair, Naval Air Station Key West provides key training and support for the nation's military operations and readiness. The base trains fighter pilots from all branches and is home to the Joint Interagency Task Force South, which combats illicit narcotics. However, most of the land in the Florida Keys lies at elevations 3 feet or less above sea level, making the Naval station extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. But this threat is not unique to that station; many of our bases across the, country and around the globe are susceptible to the effects of climate change. Recognition of this threat, and prudent planning for these contingencies, are vital to our military bases and maintaining the national security interests of the United States abroad. I congratulate the gentleman from Rhode Island, and the Committee, for recognizing this and including language in the underlying bill asking the Pentagon to report on the vulnerabilities posed by climate change so we can responsibly identify and implement adaptive measures. This includes an honest discussion of the realities of our changing environment. As co-chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus, I urge all my colleagues to reject the Perry Amendment.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and as the son of parents who fled Castro's Cuba, like so many other residents of south Florida, I am especially proud of my district's rich immigrant history and culture. From small-business owners to law enforcement, hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their descendants across south Florida are contributing to our economy, culture, and local communities as living examples of American success. I know from firsthand experience the great and generous spirit of the American people and the unimaginable opportunities our Nation provides to all who are willing to work for them. Despite the longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants to our shores, our Nation continues to have vigorous debate about immigration policy. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the current debate has left thousands of immigrant children, who were brought to this country by their parents, in constant fear of deportation to countries of origin many of them don't even remember. They have attended school with our own children, graduated high school, sometimes even serving in the military, and today are seeking to contribute to American society and help grow our economy. Mr. Speaker, the President, the former President, and Members of Congress in both Chambers and from both parties agree that these young people, commonly referred to as DREAMers, should be treated with compassion. I too agree, which is why I introduced legislation that would give these young people the certainty that they deserve. The Recognizing America's Children Act creates three pathways to legal status for them: academic, military service, or employment. All qualified applicants would be thoroughly vetted, and any individual who has been involved in serious criminal conduct will be disqualified. Mr. Speaker, immigration reform means strengthening security at our border and modernizing our visa program to keep Americans safe, but it also means offering immigrants who love our country just as much as we do the opportunity to fully participate in the American experience. It is my hope that this Immigrant Heritage Month will lead us to act in this regard. Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, neurological and psychiatric disorders have exacted a tremendous toll on our society. Despite the great scientific strides being made daily in neuroscience research, the underlying causes of conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, and traumatic brain injury remain unsolved. For true breakthroughs to occur, researchers require additional data to better treat these conditions. To address this, the previous administration announced the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative in 2013. Known as the BRAIN Initiative, this collaborative public-private research will advance our understanding of how the brain functions as researchers work to map the brain and study how individual cells interact in both time and space. The data generated from this research will help scientists fill in the gaps in our current understanding and provide unprecedented opportunities for exploring how the brain enables us to record, process, utilize, store, and retrieve vast quantities of information. This information will also provide researchers with a better understanding of mental illness and posttraumatic stress disorder in hopes of better treating these diseases and reducing the number of suicides each year. I was pleased that the 21st Century Cures Act, which I supported here in the House and was signed into law, authorized $1.51 billion for this important research. Mr. Speaker, to help accelerate this project and raise public attention to this initiative, today I introduced the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act with Representative Grace Napolitano to raise awareness for this important cause. This would come at no cost to taxpayers. Revenues generated from the sale of a specialized postage stamp would be directed to the National Institute of Mental Health to further this ambitious program that has the potential to revolutionize neurological and psychiatric care all around the world.