Carlos Curbelo

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank the ranking member, Mr. DeFazio, for his statement and for his cooperation on this legislation. I also want to thank Chairman Shuster. As the gentleman mentioned, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is oftentimes an example of how we can put politics aside to work together and do good things for the American people. This legislation is very important to my constituents in south Florida, in the Florida Keys, and, really, to coastal communities all over the country. So I thank the gentleman for his statement. I thank everyone who had a part in crafting this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Murphy), whom I saw in the Everglades on Friday. We were celebrating another great victory for Floridians there. Here today we are again celebrating that we have been able to get something done with the support of our colleagues on behalf of the people of our State. We decided early on in this Congress that we would work together to protect our coastal communities, and that is exactly what we are doing here today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize April as Autism Awareness Month, an opportunity for our communities to come together and become more educated and understanding of autism and its impacts on our students and society. Reports from 2014 state that autism affects 1 in 68 children in the United States, a 119 percent increase from the year 2000. Despite the great scientific strides that have been made to understand autism, not much is known about how the disorder actually develops in the brain. The BRAIN Initiative is an ambitious program which aims to advance our understanding of how the brain functions. It is my firm belief that the BRAIN Initiative is an instrumental step toward revolutionary breakthroughs in neuroscience. For these reasons, I introduced the Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act to help raise additional funding for the BRAIN Initiative, at no expense to taxpayers. I am confident that together we can make great strides for autism awareness, and I hope that you join me in lighting it up blue for the rest of April. Team Vision

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize M- Vision Miami, a group comprised of young professionals in the Youth Leadership Miami program, sponsored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. M-Vision, in partnership with PACE Center for Girls, has worked to create a career development and college preparatory lab for PACE students. The M-Vision program focuses on financial literacy training, interview etiquette, college preparation, career awareness, exploration, and community service. This group, which is completely volunteer based, has dedicated countless hours to building relationships throughout Miami-Dade County in order to support their mission. I thank M-Vision and centers like PACE Miami for their efforts to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic class, have an opportunity to achieve college and career success. They have done a remarkable job, and I am certain that they will continue doing great work for years to come. Congratulating Debbie Brady

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Debbie Brady, the executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau, who will be retiring this year after a life dedicated to educating others on the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. Debbie is also the president of the Florida Agri-Women, a member of the American Agri-Women, and a longtime resident of South Dade. She has worked in agribusiness for over 30 years and has a true passion for farming. Her knowledge and experience are unparalleled, and she will be greatly missed. I have had the privilege of meeting with Debbie on many occasions and know how much of a resource she has been to both me and my staff. We have strongly advocated together on behalf of the South Dade farmers, especially during the recent oriental fruit fly quarantine and devastating floods that crippled the region's ag community. Her immense knowledge of the issues has helped us make very positive gains on behalf of the farmers in South Dade. Debbie, thank you for dedicating your life to helping our community. We wish you the best in your retirement. You have certainly earned it.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last year I was proud to introduce the Small Entrepreneur Subcontracting Opportunities Act, or the SESO Act. The bill would hold agency officials accountable for small-business subcontracting during their annual performance evaluations. Subcontracting is an important entry point for new Federal contractors. If we have fewer subcontractors today, we will have fewer prime contractors tomorrow. In turn, this would mean fewer small suppliers, manufacturers, and innovators and higher costs to the Federal Government or the taxpayers. We must ensure a healthy industrial base at all levels in our country. I would like to thank Small Business Committee Chairman Chabot and Armed Services Committee Chairman Thornberry for supporting that important language to hold agency managers accountable for meeting subcontracting goals included in the Defense Authorization Act that was signed into law. However, large contractors must also be held accountable for meeting subcontracting goals. While the vast majority of contractors honor these goals, some do not. Currently, the Small Business Act holds bad actors accountable by imposing liquidated damages if prime contractors fail to make a good faith effort to meet the goals. However, SBA regulations only offer examples of what they are supposed to do, not what would constitute a violation. Consequently, the last time the law was enforced was in 1982. Because of this ambiguity, bad actors are able to continue receiving Federal contracts. My legislation, H.R. 4284, the Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act, or the SPOC Act, simply requires the SBA to issue rules explaining what a failure to act in good faith means, ensuring transparency and accountability in the subcontracting process. I want to thank Congresswoman Yvette Clarke for her leadership promoting small-business participation in the procurement process and for cosponsoring this bipartisan effort. I also thank chairman Steve Chabot for his leadership and Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez. I thank the chairman for being an original cosponsor of this bill and for being a strong advocate for our Nation's emerging entrepreneurs. We must ensure that our local businesses have access to Federal contracts and subcontracts. It is not just about helping the entrepreneurs. It is also about helping the workers they employ and keeping our community strong and prosperous. We should never forget the vital role that our local businesses play in our neighborhoods. The reason small business is important, Mr. Speaker, is because small businesses have access and know the people who are in most need of jobs and opportunities. Think of the immigrant family that recently arrived in this country and is hungry for opportunities to work or the kid who had to drop out of college to help his family. It is these small firms, these small entrepreneurs, that have access to these needy people and can really help them rise up and give them these opportunities to work and prosper. So I thank my colleagues for their support. I urge passage of H.R. 4284.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. I thank the chairman for his steadfast leadership and advocacy on behalf of our Nation's small entrepreneurs. Mr. Speaker, small business size standards are used by the Federal Government to determine eligibility to receive certain Federal contracts and SBA guarantee loans. They are also used by Federal agencies when they analyze the economic impact of new regulations on small businesses. Size standards for most industries are developed through a congressionally mandated rulemaking process that is transparent and allows small businesses to provide input. The Small Business Administration analyzes a number of factors--average firm size, startup costs, entry barriers, industry competition, and the distribution of firms by size--and then proposes changes to small business size standards through the notice and comment rulemaking process. However, there is one glaring exception: the existing size standard for agricultural enterprises is established in statute and has not been updated in over 15 years. The current standard for small farmers is $750,000 in annual receipts. It applies to 46 different agricultural subsectors, from citrus groves to beef cattle ranching. Small farmers and ranchers have been neglected for too long. The size standard setting process for agricultural enterprises needs to be modernized. The existing statutory size standard does not account for changes in industry structure, cost of production, economic conditions, or other factors. Florida is the country's largest producer of squash, fresh tomatoes, and fresh snap beans, among a great deal of other fruits and vegetables. Obviously, this would not be possible without the hard work of our Nation's small farmers and ranchers. I am proud to join Ranking Member Meng in cosponsoring the Small Agriculture Producer Size Standards Improvements Act, which was introduced by Representative Bost. H.R. 3714 would strike the $750,000 statutory size standard and require the SBA to establish size standards for agricultural enterprises through the notice and comment rulemaking process. It would also require those size standards to be periodically reviewed at least every 5 years. This will ensure that size standards for small farmers and ranchers are up to date so that they are able to compete for Federal contracts, have access to SBA guaranteed loans, and are considered when agencies draft new regulations. Again, I want to thank Mr. Bost and Ranking Member Meng for their legislation. I also want to thank Chairman Chabot and Ranking Member Velazquez. These are the types of bipartisan bills that will really improve the quality of life for our farmers and for all Americans. I urge passage.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

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 H.R. 4618.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4618) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 121 Spring Street SE in Gainesville, Georgia, as the ``Sidney Oslin Smith, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4618 would designate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 121 Spring Street SE in Gainesville, Georgia, as the Sidney Oslin Smith, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Following his service in the United States Army during World War II, Judge Smith received his law degree and went into the private practice of law. In 1965, he was appointed to the Federal bench as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by President Johnson, and he served until his retirement in 1974. Given his commitment and dedication to our Nation and the law, I think it is fitting to recognize his service by naming this courthouse after him. I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for his leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleagues for coming to the floor today in support of this legislation. Clearly, we are taking the opportunity--and the House has the opportunity before it--to honor a man who inspired his community, who served with honor, and who, quite frankly, was a role model to so many in the State of Georgia. I would respectfully ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 119) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

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 to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 119.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H. Con. Res. 119 would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 18. I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for introducing this resolution and for his long-time support of this event. This annual event is designed to encourage children to show off their work, ingenuity, and creativity as they compete for trophies. These races have been run nationally since 1934. Today, they are held throughout the country, and a few are held throughout the world. The winners of each division are then qualified to compete in the All- American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in July. I support the passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I congratulate the gentleman from Maryland on the 25th anniversary of his bringing forward this resolution. The gentleman from Maryland is someone who respects the traditions of this House and who, through his example, teaches younger and newer Members to also respect the traditions of this House. I am proud to support this resolution today, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Captain James T. Dean, Jr., an Army veteran from the Vietnam war. Jim was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1944. In 1962, he joined the Army and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in Korea with a Sergeant missile unit before being deployed to a beautiful place during an ugly time. He served in Vietnam from January 1968 to September 1969, serving with the 2nd Battalion, 40th Field Artillery, of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. A proud redleg, Jim received the Bronze Star with ``V'' device for heroism in ground combat, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces, the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, along with numerous other awards and decorations for his service. Following his service, Jim and his wife, Carla, moved to Naples, Florida, where he started several businesses before returning to his true passion, horticulture. Jim worked for the city of Naples as the assistant parks and parkway supervisor. He was proud to have played a significant role in the Naples-scape project to beautify the city. He was a civic leader, serving on the board of the Greater Naples Better Government Committee as well as the Marco Island Kiwanis. He was an ordained elder within the Presbyterian Church, and he and Carla were members of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee. Jim also battled bladder cancer and, with Carla and other friends, formed the Bladder Cancer Foundation of Florida to raise awareness. Sadly, Jim succumbed to bladder cancer and passed away last month, on March 23. His name will not appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall; however, make no mistake about it, like too many other survivors, Jim was a casualty of the war due to his exposure to Agent Orange. Recently, the National Institute of Medicine forwarded to the VA that ``there is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between chemicals of interest and bladder cancer.'' Adding bladder cancer to the list of medical conditions that qualify veterans for a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange would allow veterans easier access to critical healthcare benefits. Unfortunately, it is too late for Jim, but many Vietnam veterans continue to suffer from this disease. I call on VA Secretary McDonald to approve this designation so our Vietnam war veterans can receive the help that they have so solemnly earned. I know I speak on behalf of the entire Congress and a grateful Nation to express our deepest condolences to his widow, Carla; daughter, Michelle; and his many friends and loved ones. I pray for God's mercies upon them as they cope with their pain.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Rotary Club of Key West, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this April. The Rotary Club was chartered in our Florida Keys community in 1916 under the principle of ``service above self,'' an excellent reminder to all of the importance we have of helping our fellow Floridians. The Rotary Club of Key West is compromised of active members of our south Florida community who find it not only important, but also absolutely necessary to give back to their local neighborhoods. They provide scholarships to local school children, including $25,000 to one graduating senior, and have even established a Rotary Dental Program to help children who otherwise would not be able to receive dental care. I would also like to recognize Rotary legends Jefferson B. Browne, Robert Carraway, Edward B. Knight, Gerald ``Moe'' Mosher, Greg O'Berry, John G. Parks, Jr., Paul J. Sher, Edward Toppino, Robert Walker, and Alton Weekley. Their dedication to remaining loyal to the Rotary Club's vision has helped to shape it into the wonderful organization it is today. We are fortunate to have experienced their leadership. Once again, congratulations to the Rotary Club of Key West on an advantageous 100 years. May the next 100 be even more prosperous. Vasundara Govindarajan, Spelling Bee Winner

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Vasundara Govindarajan of Archimedean Academy, who will be representing Miami-Dade County in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C., this May. The two-time winner comes from a family of excellent spellers. Her older brother, Vaidya, has even competed on the national stage. Vasundara won the Miami Herald's 76th Annual Spelling Bee with the word ``epulation,'' meaning feasting or banqueting--a word not typically found in your average sixth-graders' vocabulary. But Vasundara is clearly not your typical sixth-grader, and was able to take home the trophy over approximately 150 other students who were vying for this prestigious prize. Congratulations, Vasundara, on this accomplishment. We are all very proud of you and look forward to watching you represent Miami-Dade County on the national stage. And don't forget to stop by my office when you come to Washington. Sea Level Rise Solutions Conference

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sea Level Rise Solutions Conference, which will be held by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce this April. The conference brings together members from across Florida to have a constructive dialogue about ways to confront sea level rise in our communities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to be updated on the South Florida Regional Climate Compact and receive recommendations from the Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Task Force on the best ways to incorporate new methods to deal with climate change in our daily lives. The individuals who attend this conference have a passionate desire to keep our south Florida communities safe and viable for generations to come. Sea level rising is an important issue not only in south Florida, but a topic that should be discussed in a bipartisan manner at the national level as well. I commend the attendees of the Sea Level Rise Solutions Conference for their leadership and for taking proactive steps to address rising sea levels.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 192) to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 S. 192.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker, for decades, the Older Americans Act has been a vital resource for the Nation's seniors. It established and has sustained a number of services, including nutrition services, family caregiver support, community service employment, and elder abuse prevention. These and other services have allowed seniors to stay active and independent. They have helped them live healthy, independent lives in their homes and their communities, and in many cases, they have enabled older Americans to remain out of institutional care. This bill updates and improves the law to ensure it continues to serve a senior population that has changed significantly since the Older Americans Act was first enacted more than 50 years ago. One of the hallmarks of the original law--and something that this reauthorization maintains and strengthens--is the flexibility it provides States and local entities to serve the specific needs of seniors in their communities. This bipartisan legislation maintains that strong commitment to State and local control and makes a number of commonsense reforms to the law. For example, the bill includes specific measures to better protect seniors from abuse and neglect. Among those measures is a provision to strengthen a program designed to investigate and resolve complaints from residents of nursing home facilities and other adult care homes. It also clarifies responsibilities related to the development and implementation of programs related to the health and economic welfare of older individuals. The bill also continues support for Senior Medicare Patrol, a program that helps train senior volunteers to prevent and identify healthcare fraud and abuse. Congress should continue to fund this important initiative because it is good for seniors and it helps save taxpayer dollars by protecting the integrity of healthcare programs. Additionally, this legislation improves alignment between existing programs designed to provide employment and community service opportunities to older Americans. It simplifies and clarifies how services are funded and includes responsible and defined authorization levels. These are just a few of the important changes and updates this bill makes, in addition to the many vital services it continues, to help seniors age with dignity and independence. I urge my colleagues to support the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, who has worked tirelessly on this reauthorization.