Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I wished to do when my good friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) had the floor, I wanted to ask him a question. I was trying to understand and I was a little confused. Does the gentleman admit that 3 million jobs have been created in the last 18 months in this economy?

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the rule provides 1 hour of general debate, evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. It provides for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. I would like to take a moment to reiterate that we bring this rule forward under an open rule. Obviously, historically, appropriations bills have come to the House floor with open rules; and we continue to do so in order to allow every Member in this House the opportunity to submit amendments for consideration, obviously as long as they are germane. This is the last rule bringing forth an appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2006, Mr. Speaker; and I think that it speaks very highly of the Committee on Appropriations. Obviously, the chairman and the ranking member have had much to do with that, as well as all of the members of the Committee on Appropriations who have worked very hard in bringing forth all of these appropriations bills in such a timely fashion. The bill that we are bringing forward today appropriates over $66 billion for the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and independent agencies, an increase of 6 percent over last year. The bill is fiscally sound. It represents our commitment to provide necessary resources for programs and projects throughout the Nation, ranging from transportation, to housing, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, the District of Columbia. As all Members of this House know, the transportation infrastructure of the country is really the backbone of the economy, and its continued strength is essential to foster economic growth. The underlying legislation brought forth today goes far in ensuring that we have a reliable and stable transportation infrastructure to continue to help the economy grow. The bill includes $37 billion in funds for the highway system, representing an increase of almost $2 billion. H.R. 3058 includes $14.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, an increase of $887 million. Included in that amount is $25 million to hire and train 595 new air traffic controllers. I think it is vitally important as air traffic controllers retire and air traffic continues to grow. This is really essential to so many of our districts. In my district, home to Miami International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, without an increase in the number of air traffic controllers, MIA would not be able to continue its projected growth and continue to serve really as the hub of the Americas. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is funded at $37.5 billion, an increase of $1.5 billion. These funds will permit the Department to administer programs that assist the public with housing needs, economic and community development, and fair housing opportunities. These funds will also empower low- and moderate-income residents towards self-sufficiency. Under HUD, the bill includes funding for such important programs as Tenant Based Rental Assistance, also known as section 8; and Project Based Rental Assistance. These two programs serve almost 3.5 million households with vouchers and project-based housing. The bill includes $20.63 billion in funds for the program, an increase of almost $1 billion. In Miami-Dade County alone, which I am honored to represent, the housing authority uses the funds provided through these programs to house over 30,000 residents and for payment vouchers for 16,000 units. H.R. 3058 provides $5.8 billion for the judiciary, an increase of 6 percent over the current fiscal year. This will fully fund the courts' revised requests for security improvements at Federal judicial facilities and enable the courts to effectively process the priority criminal, civil, and bankruptcy cases. This legislation was introduced by the chairman of the subcommittee, who has done a tremendous job, the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Knollenberg), and reported out of the Committee on Appropriations on June 21 by voice vote. It is good legislation. It is essential to our continued commitment to the security and safety of all in the United States, and we bring it forth under a fair and open rule. Again, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Knollenberg) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver), for their leadership on this important piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), the chairman of the subcommittee, who, along with the chairman of the full committee, have done tremendous work in bringing forth these pieces of legislation, including the one on the floor today.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Maybe the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) could answer. Have 3 million jobs been created in the last 18 months, yes or no?

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think this is a very important piece of legislation that deserves our support. And, obviously, the rule bringing forth the underlying legislation in an extremely fair manner, with an open rule, deserves our support, but also the underlying bill, the underlying appropriations bill. It grows, it increases over last year by approximately 6 percent. It provides over $66 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury and HUD, the Judiciary, and Independent Agencies. That is an increase of six percent, Mr. Speaker. Now, we hear from our friends on the other side of the aisle more requests for spending, more and more and more and more. But I think it is important to keep in mind that what we are bringing forth, the bill that we are bringing forth to the floor increases spending, this bill increases spending by 6 percent over the current fiscal year. I think sometimes perspective is proper. So I wanted to mention that as I reiterate my support for the rule bringing forth this legislation as well as the underlying legislation and asking colleagues to support them both. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a couple of points to put the debate back in the perspective and the context of what we are doing today. We are debating the rule bringing forth the appropriations bill that funds the Department of Transportation, Treasury, Housing Urban Development, the Judiciary. This bill includes over $66 billion. It provides to those Departments being funded an increase of 6 percent over the current fiscal year, an increase of 6 percent. A number of issues have been brought out, for example, the issue of an amendment that was passed in the Appropriations Committee. The substance of that amendment was debated September 10 of the year 2003 here on the floor of this House on an authorizing bill, and again, this may sound technical to some folks, especially if they are watching on TV, the rules of the House say that appropriations bills should not be vehicles for legislating, in other words, for changing the law. Rather, they are vehicles to fund, to appropriate the Federal Government. Now, on an authorizing bill, which is expected and called for in the rules of the House, this credit card issue was brought forth and it was debated. Again, September 10, 2003. The amendment by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) on this issue was defeated 272-142. So I think it is important to mention that because facts, I think, should be relevant to debates. And then, Mr. Speaker, again, the issue of tax cuts. We hear time and time again, no matter what the issue before us, tax cuts for the wealthy, tax cuts for the wealthy. The policies under the leadership of President Bush that we have put into law, including tax relief have benefited all taxpayers. Every taxpayer, every payer of Federal income tax in this country received tax relief. Obviously, if you paid more in taxes than someone else, and everybody gets relief, you get more relief than if you pay less taxes. But everybody obtained tax relief under our policies. And I think it is relevant to put in context what has happened to the economy ever since we implemented those measures. Ever since we provided tax relief to the American taxpayer: 3 million jobs in the last 18 months alone, unemployment rate at 5 percent. I think it is relevant, Mr. Speaker, when we hear these attacks continuously against the policies of the majority, I think it is relevant to learn, to note what those policies have accomplished. And the creation of over 3 million jobs in 18 months, an unemployment rate almost at record lows are something that I think all of us should be proud of. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 342 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. With regard to some of the many, many points that were made by my distinguished friend, and I am certainly not going to address them all at this point, but I would like to make two points with regard to this foreign aid bill which we are bringing to the floor today with an open rule. We are providing over $20 billion in foreign aid in this bill. That is an increase of $73 million over last year. We are fulfilling our obligations and being quite compassionate as we do so. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We will get to the bottom of this problem. We will solve it, and we have heard from the chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the veterans issue to that effect. We will hear as well shortly from the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and when I say we are going to get to the bottom of this and solve it, it is coming from the history of the House of Representatives that in the last 2 years alone has increased funding for veterans medical care by 18 percent. We are very proud of our record, and we are going to continue to have a record to be proud of. So having said that, I would simply like to remind any colleagues who may be following this debate that with this rule what we are doing is bringing to the floor the foreign aid bill, the foreign operations appropriations bill, which includes about $22 billion, the foreign aid bill, includes about $22 billion, and it is almost $100 million over the amounts that we appropriated for the current fiscal year. That is what we are bringing to the floor again, Mr. Speaker, with this rule. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that my good friend from Florida, as he was wrapping up his remarks, as always with eloquence, talked about the ``yes'' votes and the ``no'' votes, because just 1 month ago, Mr. Speaker, when this House brought forth the bill to fund the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the appropriations bill to fund Veterans' Affairs, there was a very interesting ``yes'' and ``no'' vote on this floor; 425 yes and 1 no. So I simply want to put in context what has been said today. If we would be acting with such unfairness on the majority side, if we would be neglecting the interests of those men and women who we all hold in such admiration, then why was the vote to fund Veterans' Affairs 425-1 only 1 month ago? As we have heard from the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, from the authorizing committee, and the chairman as well of the Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations on these issues brought to our attention subsequent to that vote of 425-1, they are being addressed. They are being delved into. They will be solved. And we will continue to be proud of our record of support for our veterans. Now, with regard to what this rule does, the rule we have been discussing today, it brings forth for consideration by this body the foreign aid appropriations bill, over $20 million in foreign aid. A lot of important programs, humanitarian programs; support for allies and friends; for poor people throughout the world; for the sick and the infirm. It is a good piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker. So at this time, Mr. Speaker, I would request that the underlying legislation, the foreign operations legislation, be supported, as well as the rule that brings it forth, which is an open rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows: Previous Question on H. Res. 341 Rule for H.R. 3057 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs FY06 Appropriations At the end of the resolution, add the following new sections: Sec. 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution, the amendment printed in section 3 shall be in order without intervention of any point of order and before any other amendment if offered by Representative Edwards of Texas or a designee. The amendment is not subject to amendment except for pro forma amendments or to a demand for a division of the question in the committee of the whole or in the House. Sec. 3. The amendment referred to in section 2 is as follows: Amendment to H.R. 3057, as Reported Offered by Mr. Edwards of Texas At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following new title:

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 341 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, the rule provides 1 hour of general debate evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. I would like to take just a minute, Madam Speaker, to reiterate that we bring this rule forward under an open rule. Historically, appropriations bills have come to the House governed by an open rule, and we continue to do so, in order to allow every Member of this House the opportunity to submit amendments for consideration, obviously as long as they comply with all of the Rules of the House. Madam Speaker, the legislation before us appropriates over $20 billion, an increase of $73 million, for operations across the globe. The bill is fiscally sound while, at the same time, compassionate and globally responsive to the needs of those plagued by disease and international disaster. The bill bolsters the President's Millennium Challenge Corporation to $1.75 billion, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars more than in fiscal year 2005. The expansion of assistance is meant to help bring economic security and the rule of law to some of the most of the poorest nations of the world. The Millennium Challenge provides assistance through a competitive selection process to developing nations that are pursuing political and economic reforms basically in three areas, Madam Speaker: ruling justly, investing in people, and fostering economic freedom. Economic development genuinely succeeds when it is linked to free market economic principles as well as to democracy and where governments are committed to implementing reform measures in order to achieve these goals. Two years ago in his State of the Union address, President Bush announced the President's emergency plan for AIDS relief, the largest international health initiative in history initiated by a single government to address one disease. This bill shows Congress's continued support of the fight against HIV/AIDS, as it includes over $2.6 billion to continue the fight against that horrendous deadly disease. Our resolve to help all those across the globe who fight this disease is strong; it is serious. In addition to funding, the Federal Government enlists the expertise of various agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, which assures that the medicines we send to the developing world are safe and effective to help those with HIV/ AIDS. In other foreign assistance, H.R. 3057 funds the Andean Counterdrug Initiative at the President's request, $734 million, $9 million more than last fiscal year. Economic growth in the area since the start of Plan Colombia is proof that the assistance we have provided Colombia has made a difference, a very important difference in that country. I myself visited in April of last year and was able to see the extraordinary progress that the Colombian government and the Colombian people have made against the narcoterrorists, and they constantly reiterate their gratitude to this Congress for the important assistance, Madam Speaker, that we have provided them and continue to do so. However, we must not take progress in the Andean region for granted. If the United States turns its back on the region, a scenario may ensue which would require greater U.S. investment and involvement at a time when we obviously have significant responsibilities worldwide. Madam Speaker, the underlying legislation also provides over $2.5 billion for military and economic assistance to Israel. We must continue to ensure that our friends and allies remain secure. I am fully convinced that a strong Israel is necessary not only for Israel, but also for the security interests of the United States. We are committed to do everything we can so that Israel is safe and secure within its borders. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3057 was introduced by the gentleman from Arizona and reported out of the Committee on Appropriations on June 21 by voice vote. It is a good bill, essential to our continued commitment to the security and safety of all in the United States, and we bring it forth, as I stated before, under a very fair and, as a matter of fact, an open rule. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Arizona and the gentlewoman from New York for their leadership on this important issue, and I obviously would urge my colleagues to support both the underlying legislation as well as this rule. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our support for veterans. A few weeks ago, as a matter of fact, on May 25, this House of Representatives brought to the floor, considered and passed by a vote of 425 to 1 the appropriations bill for the next fiscal year on military quality of life. The legislation included over $28 billion for the Veterans Health Administration, including $21 billion for medical services. Medical services were funded $1.6 billion above the current fiscal year. Over the last 2 years, funding for the veterans medical care has increased by 18 percent. We are very proud of our support for veterans. And I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, that I know of no two Members of this House who feel and have more concern for the rights of veterans than the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), as well as the chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) of the appropriations subcommittee that funds veterans affairs. So this matter brought to our attention now of a shortfall is of extreme concern to them. And as we speak, Mr. Speaker, a hearing is taking place to fully investigate the causes and the issues of this shortfall, a hearing is taking place by the appropriations subcommittee dealing with this issue, Military Quality of Life Appropriations Subcommittee, called for by the chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh). And so not only are we not ignoring the issue, we are proud of our record of support for veterans and will continue to support veterans in a way which will make us all proud. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Alexis Rodriguez Fernandez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez is a member of both the Christian Liberation Movement and the Movement of Cuban Young People for Democracy. Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez believes in bringing freedom to an island enslaved by the nightmare that is the Castro regime. Unfortunately, Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez has been a constant target of the dictatorship. According to Amnesty International, in January 2002, Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez was attacked and threatened by plain clothes state security agents and later abandoned in a remote area. In March 2003, as part of Castro's heinous crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez was arrested. Subsequently, in a sham trial, he was sentenced to 15 years in the totalitarian gulag. Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez is currently languishing in an infernal cell in the totalitarian gulag. These depraved conditions are truly appalling. The State Department describes the conditions in the gulag as, ``harsh and life threatening.'' The State Department also reports that police and prison officials beat, neglect, isolate, and deny medical treatment to detainees and prisoners. It is a crime of the highest order that people who work for freedom are imprisoned in these nightmarish conditions. Let me be very clear. Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez is languishing in these depraved conditions because he believes in freedom. He believes in freedom of religion and human rights for every Cuban citizen. It is intolerable that freedom fighters like Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez are locked in gulags 90 miles from our shore because they believe in fundamental human rights. Mr. Rodriguez Fernandez is one of the many heroes of the peaceful Cuban democratic movement who are locked in the dungeons of the dictatorship for their beliefs. They are symbols of freedom and democracy who will always be remembered when freedom reigns again in Cuba. Mr. Speaker, it is condemnable and unconscionable that any person can be sentenced to 15 years in the grotesquely inhuman quarters of Castro's gulag for a belief in democracy. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Alexis Rodriguez Fernandez and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 334 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.