Jim Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Bernard B. ``Skip'' Garcia, a legend in Tampa's political circles, an asset to any Tampa politician who ran for office and a staple in the Tampa community. Skippy helped good people win elections the right way--by knocking on doors, talking to friends and shaking hands. Skippy's energy was boundless. He knew just about everyone in Tampa and they all knew how much he cared for his community. So when Skippy would call, people would listen. For someone who is trying to reach out to voters, that kind of help was essential. When Skippy wasn't helping win elections, he was always at work for our community. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and went on to work as a Hillsborough sheriff's deputy and deputy state fire marshal. Skippy supported the West Tampa Little League, the Boys and Girls Clubs, St. Joseph's Catholic School and Church and the Salesian Sisters, and he was an active Shriner, member of the Scottish Rite and a 32nd degree Mason. Tampa won't be the same without Skippy. On behalf of the entire Tampa community, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Ralph C. Dell, a prominent, greatly respected attorney whose passing is a tremendous loss to the Tampa Bay community. Raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ralph graduated from the University of Florida and earned his law degree at University of Florida Law School. Ralph settled down in Tampa and soon cofounded his law practice, Allen Dell, representing clients such as Tampa General Hospital and the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. Ralph gave all his work his very best, earning acclaim not only from his loyal clients, but also from his colleagues. In 1987, he was selected by the Hillsborough Bar Association to receive the prestigious Herbert Goldberg Award. He also served as a member of the board of governors of the Florida Bar and as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. But Ralph will also be remembered for his involvement in his community through a number of local organizations. An active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tampa, Ralph served as an elder and clerk of session and he taught Sunday school for nearly 60 years. Ralph's tremendous integrity, vivacious spirit, his dedication to the legal profession and the quality of his work will always be remembered. On behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I extend my deepest sympathies to Ralph's family.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, Congressman Lantos, for his support on this legislation that has been pending for about 3 years, and the chair of the committee, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, my colleague from Florida, and also the cosponsor of this legislation, Mr. King of New York, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. As has been described, this resolution is actually very simple. It is constructive pressure on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reform the content of their school system to rid that content of anti-Semitic, anti-Western extremist material that is forced upon the education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by radical extremists in the Wahhabi sect in Saudi Arabia. This legislation is the product of two trips I have taken to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Like many Americans, like many Members of Congress, I searched for the answers after September 11 to make sure that what happened on that day would never happen again. My personal search, my search as a Member of Congress, took me to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia just a few months after September 11. I visited, as did other Members of Congress, with the Minister of Education of Saudi Arabia and with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, now the King of Saudi Arabia. The King of Saudi Arabia understands this problem. For far too long, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allowed radical elements within the country to control the school system. As was mentioned by Mr. Lantos, it is not a coincidence that 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11, 2001, came from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. What this legislation specifically says is that the Congress is directing the President of the United States to provide a report to the Congress and to the American people as to the status of efforts by Saudi Arabia to reform their school system, and we are in fact pressuring and calling upon and encouraging the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to do exactly that. We need to have a relationship with this country that allows us to be open and honest in expressing our concerns. These are not just issues within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These are not just threats of terrorism to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. These are, in fact, as we sadly know from our history, threats to the United States as well. There has been a report card issued by the 9/11 Commission in the last few weeks about the efforts of this country to learn from September 11. I am sad to report that one of the areas that received a D was the failure of this Congress and this administration to openly discuss changes and to make changes in our policy towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is my hope today that this resolution represents an overdue step in that direction as Democrats and Republicans coming together, I believe unanimously, to say to the administration that it is time to speak out on this issue and to do so constructively. Mr. Speaker, on this Sunday in my hometown of Tampa, in my State, it is a game day for many communities. I believe what the United States Government needs in the war on terrorism is the same thing that the Tampa Bay Bucks need right now in my hometown, which is a strong defense and a smarter offense. A smarter offense is identifying the root causes of terrorism and aggressively addressing them. This is, in fact, one of the root causes of terrorism. It is the creation of extremism and extremists in the schools of Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And this bill represents an attempt to work with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to put an end to that root cause of terrorism as well as others. I want to urge my colleagues to join Congressman Peter King and me, Congressman Lantos, and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen in strongly and unanimously supporting this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Jack Wilson, a prominent real estate developer, who helped the Tampa Bay area evolve into the vibrant, bustling community it is today. Born in Royston, Georgia, Jack earned his bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his master's degree from Harvard Business School. He came to Tampa in the 1970's as Florida president of the Landmarks Group, but soon he was developing important projects through his own company, the Wilson Co. Jack rapidly put his mark on Tampa. The cofounder and first president of the Westshore Alliance, Jack helped turn this area around and make Westshore a hub of business activity. Jack also worked on revitalizing Tampa's downtown, renovating the Franklin Exchange and a number of office towers. Thousands of Tampa Bay residents have come to know Jack's projects--whether they work in Bayport Plaza or Cypress Center, have visited the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, or reside in one of the thousands of affordable rental housing units that Jack built. Tampa's sports fans owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jack as well. He supervised the construction of the New York Yankees Legends Field, helped secure public funding for Raymond James Stadium and headed up the task force that brought Super Bowl XXXV to Tampa. But Jack was always focused on more than just building his business. He also cared deeply about building up his community, and it showed in the quality of his work, the foresight in his development plans and the attention he paid to the impact of his projects on the environment. In fact, Jack was the first developer to receive an award from the Tampa Audubon Society. Jack served Tampa's business community as well, working as chairman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay Partnership and volunteering his time for a long list of other business and charitable organizations. In 2001, he was inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. Those who had the privilege of getting to know Jack will remember his generosity, his Southern charm, his thoughtfulness and his constant willingness to help others. There is no doubt about it--Jack had an enormous amount of class. On behalf of the residents of Tampa Bay, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Jack's family. His legacy will live on not only in the structures he built but in the community he improved.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Al Lopez, Tampa's beloved son and one of America's greatest baseball players and managers. Born in Ybor City as the son of a cigar factory worker, Al Lopez never forgot his roots. His devotion to his hometown as he rose through the ranks of baseball stardom was one of many reasons that ``Senor,'' as he was affectionately nicknamed, was so cherished in the Tampa community. Al was the first Tampa native to play in the major leagues. He launched his major league career in 1928 as a catcher for the Brooklyn Robins, soon to become the Dodgers. Al went on to catch for the Boston Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians. Al retired after 19 years in the majors, during which he was a two time All-Star and earned the record for the most games caught--1,918--a record he held until 1987. But AI's career was far from over. He went on to manage for 14 years, earning a .581 winning percentage and a spot in Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977. Al brought both the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox to the World Series and managed several All-Star teams. However, he may be best known for managing teams that finished ahead of the New York Yankees between 1949 and 1964. Al Lopez's success inspired countless Tampa youngsters to pursue their baseball dreams. In his honor, Tampa dedicated Al Lopez Field in 1954 and Al Lopez Park in 1992. Those who had the pleasure of getting to know Al remember him as being the consummate gentleman. In spite of his fame, Al was always kind and eager to hear what others had to say. AI's remarkable skill and performance as a player on the field and a manager on the sidelines was only exceeded by his exemplary character and the commitment to others he exhibited throughout his life. His very powerful example will undoubtedly inspire generations to come. On behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I extend my deepest sympathies to Al's family. Al gave so much to his hometown. In turn, Tampa will forever remember and honor Al Lopez.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of John Long, former Pasco County School Superintendent and former Florida House member whose sudden death last week is a terrible loss for our community and State. A Florida native, John earned his master's degree and doctorate in education at the University of South Florida. His impressive career with Pasco County Schools began in 1976, when he was hired to oversee employee relations, and culminated just one year ago when he retired after eight years of service as the Pasco County School Superintendent. During that time, John became known far and wide as an asset to Pasco's families and school children--a dedicated servant to the schools, a highly effective problem solver and a fair and principled leader with an open ear to all of the school system's employees. Whether he was listening and responding to the concerns of teachers, parents and students or lobbying for Penny for Pasco, a penny increase in the sales tax which voters approved in 2004 to benefit school construction and renovation efforts, John earned great respect for his tireless efforts. In 2000, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents acknowledged his work by naming him Florida's Superintendent of the Year. John also served Pasco County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1986 until 1994. During his tenure, John secured millions in State funds for his community and fought for fair funding for the State's public school system. John quickly became known for his integrity and his ability to bring his colleagues from both sides of the aisle together. In fact, John was on the verge of becoming Speaker of the House when he walked away from his successful legislative career in order to spend more time with his family. John's departure from the Florida Legislature was a major loss to the State. John was truly a representative for the entire State, especially in improving public education for all of Florida's schoolchildren. In addition to his enormous contributions to Florida and Pasco County's schools, John will probably be best remembered for his character. Always honest, always kind, John was beloved for his quick wit and his humble nature. I feel honored to have been among John's many friends. The vast community of those who loved John was deeply saddened by his loss. When John retired just last year, we were all happy to know that he would be able to spend his retirement with his greatest love--his wife and children. Their time together was rich and full, but all too short. Today, I extend my deepest sympathies to Marsha, Jennifer and Jessica. John Long's remarkable character and contributions will not be forgotten.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to pay tribute to Dr. Edmond Yunis, a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, who was recently named the 2005 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year by the Museum of Science and Industry, MOSI, in Tampa, FL. Dr. Yunis is well-deserving of this prestigious national award as he has made significant contributions in scientific and medical research. This research includes the genetic mapping of human major histocompatibility complex, MHC, genes and their role in immune responses, aging, and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Yunis' laboratory work identifying genes also has been especially important for matching donors and recipients for organ and stem cell transplants. Dr. Yunis was born in Sincelejo, Colombia, and he received his M.D. from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 1954. Dr. Yunis received his postdoctoral training in pathology at the University of Kansas, the University of Minnesota, and the Children's Hospital in Boston. He joined Harvard Medical School in 1976 as Professor of Pathology, and he became Chief of the Division of Immunogenetics of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute that same year. Along with being a professor of pathology at Harvard, Dr. Yunis currently is a member of the Department of Cancer, Immunology and AIDS at Dana Faber. Dr. Yunis has received numerous medical awards throughout his career for this outstanding work, and he and his wife, Borghild, have four children. The National Hispanic Scientist of the Year award was established 5 years ago to recognize an outstanding national Hispanic scientist who promotes a greater public understanding of science and who also encourages increased interest in science education by Hispanic youth. I'm also pleased to know the proceeds from MOSI's National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award Gala on October 22, 2005, go toward scholarships for Hispanic boys and girls to participate in MOSI's Youth Enriched by Science program, known as the ``YES! Team.'' Established in 1991, the YES! Team program is designed to help at-risk youth develop self esteem and to encourage them to study science and consider science-related careers. In conjunction with the weekend gala celebration, MOSI also is hosting a ``Meet the Hispanic Scientist Day'' where approximately 1,000 Hispanic students from the Tampa Bay area will get a chance to hear a presentation by this year's award winner and to get access to MOSI's hands-on science exhibits. Again, I want to congratulate Dr. Yunis for receiving the 2005 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year award. He serves as an outstanding role model for students in the Tampa Bay area and his visit will help motivate them to stay in school and to realize their dreams.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Wade Boggs, who will be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame this weekend. Wade represents the latest addition to Tampa Bay's proud history of achievement in sports, particularly baseball. Wade's success has come full-circle, from his beginnings in Tampa area Little League games, to the start of his pre-professional career at Plant High School, and finally the conclusion of his career with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Wade has been a strong community leader for the Tampa Bay area. Currently he assists the coaching staff of Wharton High School's baseball team, where his son Brett looks to follow in his dad's footsteps. Even a partial listing of Wade's career successes would be too lengthy, but one of Tampa's proudest moments is certainly when Wade got his 3,000th hit at home in a Devil Rays uniform. The Devil Rays will never forget Wade, as he hit the first home run in Tampa Bay's history. Two of baseball's greatest rivals also share Tampa's pride in Wade's achievements. The Boston Red Sox gave Boggs his first chance at a career in baseball when they drafted him right out of high school. As a player in the team's minor league ranks, Boggs bounded from New York, to North Carolina, and New England. In 1992, Wade signed with the New York Yankees, whose spring training facilities in Tampa once more brought him home. In 1998, as an expansion team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Wade to be a part of their inaugural season. There, Wade carried on his well-known idiosyncrasies such as eating chicken before every game and hitting exactly 150 ground balls during batting practice. Wade Boggs personifies the values of baseball, both on and off the field, and serves as an inspiration to many. The Tampa Bay area is privileged to count Wade among its sons, and congratulate him on his latest success.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Earl J. Lennard, who after 41 years of service to Florida's schools, students and teachers, is retiring today from his position as Superintendent of Hillsborough County School District. In his nine years leading one of our nation's largest school districts, Earl loyally and skillfully shepherded Hillsborough schools through a time of unprecedented change. When Earl graduated from the University of South Florida, he started teaching elementary school to save money to go to law school. Fortunately for us, Earl immediately fell in love with teaching and the opportunity it gave him to help kids. Always known for his strong rapport with students, Earl taught for 15 years before he moved into administration and rapidly ascended through the ranks, improving the school system as he progressed. In 1996, after only six months as deputy superintendent for schools, Earl was promoted to superintendent. Most anyone would have been daunted by the challenges he faced--rapidly growing student populations with ever tightening budgets--but Earl went straight to work and soon became one of Florida's most respected superintendents. During his tenure, Hillsborough schools gained nearly 49,000 students. Earl oversaw the design, construction and renovation of more than 60 schools, and thanks to these efforts, double sessions were eliminated and the number of portable classrooms was cut in half. Earl is a tireless advocate for our schools, and even in the face of political pressures, he always had the courage to openly and honestly speak out for students and teachers. Those who had the privilege to work with him know him to be loyal, kind and always friendly. I consider it an honor to call Earl my friend and I have always appreciated his thoughtful counsel on education issues as I have served in the Florida Legislature and in Congress. On behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Earl for his lifetime of service and wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the House passed H.R. 458, the Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act. This important piece of legislation prevents the sale of abusive insurance and investment products, such as contractual plans, to military personnel. Contractual plans, which have all but disappeared from civilian markets, offer individuals the opportunity to invest small amounts of money on a regular basis over an extended period of time. Generally, these contractual plans require that investors make monthly installments for a period of 15 to 20 years and charge up front the commission that would be expected over the life of the contract. Because these plans require that commission fees be paid in the first few years of the contract, the investor's account is not fully credited during this period. Furthermore, investors who drop out of these plans before the designated end of the contract sacrifice all the prepaid commission and often find that the number of shares they own is considerably less than what they could have purchased directly. A series of articles in the New York Times highlighted the abusive sale of these financial products to members of the Armed Services. While most financial service providers supply their military customers with honest and accurate information, some have engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in an effort to increase their own profits. The men and women who defend our country deserve better. I supported H.R. 458 because it ensures that our troops are protected from the potentially abusive sales of certain financial products. By enacting new regulations and prohibiting the sale of mutual funds sold though contractual plans, H.R. 458 provides military personnel with the proper assurances they need to make informed financial decisions.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 15 seconds to anyone who opposes this amendment, that wants to defend a policy that says that your family or mine or anybody's family cannot include aunts, uncles or cousins. I would be happy to yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart).

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, the silence is deafening here. With all due respect to my colleague, with whom I agree on many Cuba policies and respect, no one dares stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and answer the question why we are supporting a policy that says that your uncle, aunt or cousin is not a member of your own family, your own flesh and blood.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, this is not a debate about the embargo. This is a debate about who is considered a member of the family. No one dares stand on the floor of the House of Representatives today and answer the question why we are going to deny to an individual the right to visit a member of their own family who may be having a child, who may be dying. I represent people who every day are facing the cruel injustice of this policy. For them it is not about a message. It is not about rhetoric. It is about the facts. The fact is we are denying Sergeant Lazo, who was good enough to represent our country and our families, including our aunts, uncles and cousins in Iraq, the ability to visit his own sons in Cuba, including one who in the hospital. This is an unforgivable indefensible policy. I would urge Democrats and Republicans to once again adopt the amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, may I first ask, as a matter of procedure, who will be claiming time on the other side?

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2\3/4\ minutes. Today I am offering an amendment to repeal the administration's rules restricting family travel to Cuba. I offered this same amendment last September. It passed by a vote of 225 to 174. Unfortunately, the amendment was not included in the conference report. I am asking my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to join me again today in correcting this cruel injustice. As was just described in the prior amendment, the Department of Treasury introduced rules in June of 2004 that limit to once every 3 years the opportunity of anybody in my home State of Florida of the United States to visit their own flesh and blood, their family, in Cuba regardless of the circumstances. Furthermore, the policy that I seek to repeal through this amendment is an unforgivable policy that redefines the family to exclude aunts, uncles, and cousins. And I ask anybody on the floor of the House today to stand up and defend this indefensible aspect of the policy. A vote for my amendment is to reinstate the prior rule that allowed people here in the United States to visit their own family once a year and to apply for a specific license if there were an emergency: a birth, a death, or someone who is very sick and might die. I represent hundreds of people in the Tampa Bay area, like many Americans, who simply would like to be with their family in these tragic times. This policy prohibits it. Let me be clear. My amendment does not address the broader issue of the embargo or unfettered travel to Cuba. That is a debate for another day. This is simply about families. This Congress, this country should be in the benefit of supporting families, not undermining them, not separating. This policy punishes Cubans on both sides of the straits, and it has no positive impact on the embargo issue. I represent many people who are trying to reach out to their families at a time they have little hope, little support, under this oppressive regime in Cuba I have seen with my own eyes. As was mentioned earlier, Sergeant Lazo was good enough to be sent to Iraq to defend our country as part of the Washington National Guard. He has two sons in Cuba, one of whom, I understand, is in the hospital. He is not allowed to go visit his own son because he was in Cuba 2 years ago. A deputy assistant secretary of the United States State Department summed this up last year. He said, an individual can decide whether they want to visit Cuba once every 3 years and the decision is up to them, and if they have a dying relative, they have to figure out the best time to travel. These are words that no one would dare speak on the floor of this House of the United States of Representatives. How outrageous. This Chamber is constantly taking steps to defend and support families: tax relief, marriage penalty relief, child tax credits. Everyone on the floor of this House of Representatives talks about family values here and at home. This is a chance to act on family values. We have an opportunity today to support families who may be divided in geography, but they are not divided in flesh and blood and commitment to each other. I hope this body, which is divided on the embargo, will come together, support families, and adopt the Davis amendment. Today I am offering this amendment to repeal the administration's rules restricting family travel to Cuba. As you may remember, I offered this same amendment last September. The House of Representatives recognized this injustice and passed my amendment by a bipartisan vote of 225 to 174. Unfortunately, my amendment was not included in the conference report. I call on my colleagues to pass this amendment once again. On June 30, 2004, the Department of Treasury implemented new restrictions on family travel to Cuba. Cuban Americans are now limited to one 14-day visit with their Cuban relatives every 3 years. The administration has also attempted to redefine the Cuban family. Cuban-Americans are no longer permitted to visit their aunts, uncles or cousins in Cuba. My amendment would prohibit funds in this bill from being used to implement, administer or enforce the changes made to family travel. A vote in favor of my amendment is a vote to reinstate the previous policy, which allowed Cuban-Americans one trip per year under a general license, allowed for additional emergency visits under a specific license and kept aunts, uncles and cousins where they belong--as part of the family. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. This amendment deals exclusively with keeping families together and would not permit unfettered travel. But the United States should not be in the business of separating families. The new family travel rules undermine families, punish Cubans on both sides of the Florida straits and have minimal effect on the Government of Cuba. The Cuban people are talented and ambitious, but under Castro's oppressive rule, they are left with little hope. For many, their only lifeline is the emotional and financial support they receive from relatives in America. Mr. Chairman, I have spoken with numerous Cuban Americans in my district of Tampa Bay and across Florida who were heartbroken by these regulations. And, most recently, I met with SGT Carlos Lazo, a Cuban American who bravely served our country in Iraq. He is not even permitted to visit his two sons in Cuba. In fact, last year, a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Sate Department summed up the outrageous insensitivity of these rules when he was quoted by Reuters as saying, ``An individual can decide when they want to travel once every three years and the decision is up to them. So if they have a dying relative they have to figure out when they want to travel.'' Mr. Chairman, this chamber is constantly celebrating and supporting America's families. We've passed marriage penalty relief and child tax credits. But these sweeping changes on family travel to Cuba were enacted without so much as one hearing in Congress. Again, we have an opportunity to right this wrong. We have an opportunity to celebrate the positive relationships between the United States and Cuba. We have the opportunity to support families who may be divided in geography, but not in flesh and blood and certainly not in love. This body may be divided on whether the United States should allow travel to Cuba for tourism or business reasons, but I hope that today we can unite in support of families. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Davis amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. The argument has been made that this debate is about limiting resources. Does anyone want to stand on the floor of this House of Representatives and tell anyone that they cannot go visit a dying member of their family because that is an appropriate limitation on resources? I have been down to Cuba and seen with my own eyes the suffering and injustice and misery under this oppressive regime. This government is treating their people terribly. One of the few things they have left in life, apart from their own faith and pride, is the support of our own family. No one, no one dares stand on the floor of this House today and answer the question, what do you tell somebody I represent or you represent when someone in their family is having a baby, is approaching death or may die and cannot go down to visit their own family because they were just there 2\1/2\ years ago. That is indefensible. It is unforgivable. This is not a debate about the embargo. This is a debate about whether we are going to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and support families and support family values. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Ann Lowry Murphey, a tireless public servant who lost her struggle with cancer last month. Ann truly left no stone unturned in her quest to improve the Tampa Bay community. She energetically led a host of charitable and community organizations, and in attempting to highlight Ann's causes, any tribute will inevitably fail to recognize all of her contributions. A faithful servant of God, Ann was a long-time parishioner and member of the vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church. A supporter of the arts, Ann was active with The Tampa Philharmonic and The Museum Society at the University of Tampa. As a successful businesswoman, she served on the board of First Citizens Bank and Barnett Bank of Tampa and as Vice President of Murphey Capital. Ann worked on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 13th Circuit and was on the board of governors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. And Ann never just participated in any activities--she was a supreme doer and always a leader. Throughout her years, she was president and Sustainer of the Year of The Junior League of Tampa, president of the Lowry Family Foundation and served on the board of directors for The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. And in 1992, for all her hard work, the Tampa Civitan Club gave her the Citizen of the Year Award. But above all these contributions, Ann will be best remembered for her work on behalf of children--in particular, her efforts to transform The Children's Home. Whether she was serving as the organization's president of the board of directors, chairwoman of the board of trustees, associate director or director of development, Ann was constantly working not only to improve the quality of care that The Children's Home provides, but also to spend as much time as she could with the children who depend on these services. For all her efforts, it was fitting that last year Voices for Children chose Ann as the first recipient of its Guardian Angel Award. Through all her work, Ann was an unstoppable, passionate force for change. There were no bounds to her compassion and generosity. She was truly a blessing to the whole community. On behalf of all of those who benefited so greatly from her tireless efforts, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Ann's loved ones. Ann shared so much with us. We can only try to follow in her footsteps and do our best to live up to her very high standards.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Truett Ott, former Florida State Senator and District Court of Appeals Judge, whose passing last month was a great loss to our community. Always a dedicated public servant, Truett appropriately began his career by serving his country as a pilot in World War II and later as an officer at Tampa Bay's MacDill Air Force Base during the Korean War. But Truett would become better known for his work in the field of law-- a career which he launched by graduating with honors from the University of Florida Law School. He joined Tampa's Carlton Fields law firm before founding a firm of his own in 1956. Just ten years later, Truett set his mind to running for the State Senate and beat an incumbent to win his seat. Among his many notable accomplishments in office, Truett was a force behind legislation to improve our state's vocational schools and he convinced his colleagues to support a law providing judges discretion in sentencing for certain first-time drug offenders while increasing penalties for repeat offenders and dealers. Truett became known as a uniquely fair but independent minded lawmaker--a reputation which he would carry throughout his career. In 1972, Truett returned to the full-time practice of law, but just four years later he chose to run for a seat on Florida's Second District Court of Appeal. He not only won the seat, but was reelected in 1982 with a nearly 90 percent approval rating in a Florida Bar Association poll. When Truett retired from the bench in 1986, he was serving as Chief Judge. Truett Ott's service to his community did not end at the office door. A faithful servant of God, Truett taught Sunday school for 55 years and gave back to others through his work with a host of service organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, YMCA, United Way, Metropolitan Ministries, the Billy Graham Crusade, the Boys Club and the Pike County Association. Truett Ott was a role model for us all. On behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I would like to thank him for his service and extend my deepest sympathies to his family. His contributions and his character will not be forgotten and set high standards for generations to come.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. The argument that has been made in support of the amendment is that the price of natural gas is increased to the consumer. And we should address this as a Congress. But one of the points that has been overlooked here today is that this Congress passed an energy bill that provided initial financial incentives to drill in the central and western gulf, and that is a valid attempt by this Congress to address this issue. But to open up the eastern Gulf of Mexico would be a terrible mistake. There is a very small proportion available, and what is available is right off the coast of Florida. It has been suggested Florida should follow the standards of Texas with respect to our beaches. The beaches in Florida are a pristine treasure not to be experimented with. The truth of the matter is nobody here on the floor of the House knows what the risk is if you drill. This amendment may say gas, but it is about gas and oil. Because once you start drilling, you get what you get when you drill. So we should not sacrifice or risk the Florida beaches or the California beaches to get a small proportion of gas that can be more easily achieved, and which this Congress is promoting through deepwater drilling in the central and western coast.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise in opposition to the amendment and would like to again point out that this Congress has already taken a very significant step towards addressing the need for additional drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico. We are currently drilling in the central and western Gulf. This Congress has passed additional financial incentives for deepwater drilling. This is an important step towards addressing the problem of supply. This amendment goes much further than that and exposes areas for drilling just a few miles off the coast of Florida without any clear indication that there will be no risk to the beaches of Florida. This is very important to our economy. Many Members of Congress are rising today to defend the economy in their State. No one is going to stand on this floor and say that the beaches of Florida are not the most important part of our economy in addition to the work skills of our Floridians. We do not want to take this risk. There is a very small proportion of supply available off the coast of Florida. There is an enormous proportion available in the central and western Gulf. This Congress has already acted. We provide additional financial incentives to get the supply where it is to be had. I urge opposition to the amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Florida

Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Sam Rampello, a tireless advocate for Hillsborough County, Florida's public schools. Sam's passing this weekend silences a passionate voice for our young people. A Tampa native and graduate of Jesuit High School and the University of Tampa, Sam spent his career working to improve our local schools. He started by teaching history at Plant High School, and then went on to serve as a history professor at the University of Tampa. But it wasn't long before he came back to the public school system, working as dean of boys at Leto High School, then as assistant principal at Jefferson High School. In 1972, Sam worked as director of Hillsborough Community College's temporary airport campus and a year later joined the Hillsborough County planning commission. In 1976, Gov. Reubin Askew appointed Sam to the Hillsborough County School board, where he served for nearly 18 years. Humble by nature, Sam's focus was always on the best interests of his students and his persistent goal was to help make our schools the best they can be. His steadfast faith allowed Sam to see the potential in everyone--particularly our students and those who help them succeed. Last year, in honor of all his work, a school was named in Sam's honor. When the Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School open's next year, it will serve as a living testament to Sam's dedication to Hillsborough County Schools. On behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I would like to thank Sam for all of his good deeds and extend my deepest sympathies to his family.