Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this short-term continuing resolution. This CR simply keeps the government funded at the current fiscal year rate, which is, by the way, in line with the Ryan-Murray budget agreement that was passed by Congress last year under the steadfast leadership of Chairman Rogers, of our subcommittee chairmen and chairwomen, and of the ranking members. The House is doing its work. The House has done its work. We have passed 11 of the 12 bills out of the full committee, and seven of those appropriations bills, under regular order and through immense debate, have actually passed the floor of the House. Yet the Senate has passed how many appropriations bills? Mr. Speaker, not even one. That is why we are here, once again, with this continuing resolution. Our record very clearly shows that, unlike the Senate, the House is committed to actually doing the hard work--to going line by line to fund the vital programs and looking at opportunities to eliminate waste and to reduce spending. Again, we have done our work. Now we need a willing partner, Mr. Speaker, on the other side, in the Senate, to do their part so then we can go to conference and negotiate the differences, but that is not in our hands. That is in the hands of the American people. We are now at the end of this fiscal year, as the chairman said--just a couple of weeks away. The key is to pass this continuing resolution to keep the government running. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the weeks ahead and continuing to go line by line, agency by agency, looking for waste, making sure that we are doing what has to be done. I also know that the House will do its job. Mr. Speaker, I commend the chairman and the members of the Appropriations Committee. Let's get this done.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of the McKeon amendment to train and equip vetted Syrian opposition groups. ISIL is a terrorist group, organization, that threatens our allies, savagely murders Americans and others. It threatens our national security interests, and it must be destroyed. It must be destroyed, including in Syria. Now, however, Mr. Speaker, I have serious reservations about the President's plan. It is no lie that there is a trust gap with this President. Unfortunately, the President has consistently ignored what was clear to just about everyone else. The President must start listening to the advice and the guidance of our senior military commanders. Against the advice of his generals, the President prematurely withdrew from Iraq so he could claim a political victory. Unfortunately, the enemy continued to fight. There is a trust gap. More recently, according to press reports, the President has already dismissed some of the preferred recommendations of his generals in favor of a more limited role for our Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, there is a trust gap. We know that airstrikes and training and equipping and vetting the Syrian opposition groups are necessary, but as we have heard, it is not sufficient. Will the President do what is sufficient, what is necessary? There is a trust gap. What President are we supposed to believe and trust, the one who, in August, said that those Syrian opposition forces were, frankly, not a real thing, or the one who now says that they are the ones who are going to defeat ISIS? There is a trust gap. Unfortunately, the President has refused to lead until the opinion polls kind of pushed him to it. So that is why I am so grateful, Mr. Chairman, for the language that you have to have robust oversight and increased transparency and that the administration must keep Congress up to speed on planning and logistics. Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can stop repeating the mistakes of the past. It is time for the President to treat this threat like what it is--a national security threat to the United States--and that he listens to his generals.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Padron family on the 50th anniversary of Padron Cigars founding. Padron Cigars is a landmark institution in the Miami community, and is well-deserving of recognition. Mr. Jose Orlando Padron arrived in Miami in 1962 from Cuba. He was thirty-six years old and soon began work as a carpenter, after receiving a small hammer from a friend. With that hammer he worked day and night in order to establish himself, and not live off government assistance. He toiled for months with the goal of opening his own cigar factory, so that he could produce cigars just like the ones he used to smoke in Cuba. After managing to save $600 he was able to open Padron Cigars on September 8, 1964 in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. Mr. Padron began by using tobacco from Connecticut. However, in order to meet demand he opened a factory in Nicaragua in 1970. Political turmoil at the time led to the burning of their factory in 1978, but it was restored in 1979. Further issues arose in 1985, which forced him to shift production to Honduras. However, today his company continues to thrive, and is back to manufacturing its award-winning cigars in Nicaragua. Padron's cigars are continuously rated as one of the best cigars in the world, and have won yearly awards for their exceptional quality. Mr. Padron himself has been inducted into Cigar Aficionado's Hall of Fame. On a more personal level, I have known the Padron family for many years. Jose and my father were very good friends, and the family has since become very close friends of mine. They are truly one of the most exceptional, loyal, trustworthy, and caring friends I have and I cherish our families continued friendship. It is a privilege to know Jose, his children, and the rest of the Padron family. In addition, they have been devoted to their company, their employees, and the Miami community since its inception. Today, the Padron family's dedication has made Padron Cigars an irreplaceable company for South Florida, and their family has become a treasure for the community. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Padron Cigars, and the entire Padron family, as they celebrate this milestone. I am certain that we can all look forward to many more years of outstanding cigars, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their outstanding achievement.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 337 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of this important resolution, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act. I first, Mr. Speaker, want to start by thanking my dear friend, a tireless champion for human rights and democracy around the world. She has thanked, and rightfully so, a number of people who have helped with this important legislation. But we would not be dealing with this issue on the floor if it weren't for the tireless effort, the constant and tireless struggle, fight, solidarity, and efforts of my dear friend, my sister, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Those people around the world who are struggling in gulags and struggling for their freedom know that they have in Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a true champion, and, once again, we see that leadership here today. Mr. Speaker, since mid-February, the people of Venezuela--led mostly by students, by the way--have risen up to protest the corruption, the food shortages, the crime rates, and the alarming repression that have worsened during Maduro's few months in office, in control. In response to these legitimate peaceful grievances, Mr. Speaker, what the Venezuelan regime has done is they have ordered security forces to brutally crack down--brutally with great force and brutality--crack down on the opposition. They have used unlawful force. They have used severe beatings and beatings of unarmed protesters, mostly students, and, by the way, even shooting some of them pointblank. They even jailed some of the main opposition leaders on phony charges, Mr. Speaker. Since the protests began, as you have already heard, more than 40 people have been killed, about 3,000 people have been arrested, many have disappeared, and hundreds more have been injured, Mr. Speaker. In addition, Maduro's regime has instituted a virtual media blackout, blocking images even over the Internet and, by the way, even expelling journalists, including CNN and NTN. Just this past weekend alone, the Venezuelan regime blocked a CNN news crew from covering local elections. Obviously, they don't want anybody there who can show when and how they are stealing those sham elections. It is shameful, Mr. Speaker, that the Chavez-Maduro regime policies have managed to really get one of the richest economies in Latin America, the largest oil exporter in Latin America, and they have made it apparently a poverty-ridden nation. People now face shortages of some of the most basic commodities, Mr. Speaker. And, by the way, inflation is about 50 percent over the last year. So no wonder the people are struggling. Maduro has intensified his intimidation tactics, though, by increasing political arrests and by militarizing his response, using thugs to respond to the peaceful opposition members and students who are in the streets demanding freedom. He has been labeling those unarmed opposition leaders as terrorists and also enemies of the state. We have heard that before, Mr. Speaker. This bill, frankly, just directs our administration to rightly deny visas, to freeze assets, and prohibit financial transactions to the members of the Venezuelan regime responsible, Mr. Speaker, those responsible for committing these human rights abuses. These corrupt cowards who now have blood on their hands shouldn't be allowed to travel to our country while they continue to brutalize their fellow students, the students who are in the streets demanding freedom and the regaining of their sovereignty. It is time to hold these human rights abusers accountable. Those complicit with those egregious acts of human rights violations, Mr. Speaker, they have to be named. They must be named and shamed. And they need to suffer the consequences of their actions. So, Mr. Speaker, I have the great fortune and privilege of representing a patriotic and vibrant Venezuelan American community in southern Florida. They continue to bring attention to these deplorable conditions of those in Venezuela while the vast majority of the international community that some would like us to yield to their wishes, but yet they are not saying anything. The Venezuelan people are standing up--in many cases dying in the streets--and the vast majority of the international community is silent. So some would have us just also be silent. With the passage of this bill, the United States House of Representatives will send a strong signal that we stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people. As they struggle to regain democracy and to regain their freedom from the Maduro regime, this House, the United States of America, the people's House, stands with them. So I urge the support of my colleagues on this commonsense resolution. I keep hearing people that I greatly respect: Well, but not all Venezuelans support sanctions. No. The regime doesn't support the sanctions. But this House, led by this leader right here sitting next to me, was instrumental in strengthening sanctions against Iran when a lot of the international community was against it and, frankly, when the administration--our own administration--was lukewarm at best. But this House stood firm. This House stands for freedom and democracy. And, today, once again, this House can stand proudly side by side with those who are giving their all in the streets of Venezuela to regain their freedom, their sovereignty and their dignity. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I had the honor of taking part in a video conference with President of Taiwan, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. President Ma offered his insights on the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship, especially timely given the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. President Ma's speech follows below: Opening Remarks I would first like to extend my appreciation to the Center for Strategic and International Studies for organizing this videoconference for the third time. I believe this is the second time Dr. Hamre has hosted this event, and I want to thank him wholeheartedly. On the eve of the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), a landmark piece of legislation that has laid the cornerstone of the robust relationship between the Republic of China and the United States, I am especially pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the unique partnership between our two countries with such a distinguished audience. A Strong and Long-standing Friendship The friendship between the Republic of China and the U.S. dates back over one century. It all began with a desire for mutual understanding. The Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program was established by the U.S. in 1909 with an endowment of 10.8 million U.S. dollars. The scholarship allowed Chinese students to study in the U.S., and in 1911 helped establish the forerunner of the prestigious National Tsing Hua University, which has educated generations of young talent in mainland China and Taiwan, including three Nobel laureates. My hat is off to my American friends for having the foresight to initiate such a beneficial scholarship program. The idea behind it was the American vision to provide educational opportunities for a vast but poor and backward Asian country surrounded by insatiable imperialist powers. During the first half-century of our partnership, the United States played a vital role in ensuring the Republic of China's survival and development. In August 1941, for instance, four months before the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. dispatched the Flying Tigers to help in China's difficult war against Japan. They shot down more than 200 Japanese military aircraft during the first seven months after their arrival in China. In January 1943, the U.S. abrogated the 100-year old unequal treaty system, with its extraterritoriality and consular jurisdiction, and signed the Sino-American New Equal Treaty with us in Washington, a signal that the U.S. sought a truly equitable partnership with the Republic of China. On December 1st, 1943, the United States, United Kingdom, and Republic of China issued the historic Cairo Declaration, in which they demanded that Japan restore all territories stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Taiwan, and the Pescadores, to the Republic of China. This position was reconfirmed in the Potsdam Proclamation on July 26th, 1945 and realized 38 days later with the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2nd. We truly appreciate America's vital military and diplomatic role during this period in helping the Republic of China recover sovereignty over Taiwan. From 1950 to 1965, the U.S. provided Taiwan with 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in economic aid. Our two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1954 under which the U.S. guaranteed our security. This provided a peaceful external environment that enabled Taiwan to create an economic miracle. Since then, the U.S. has stood by Taiwan through thick and thin. 35th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act Relations between the ROC and U.S. changed drastically in 1978, a year that I look back upon with profound regret. In December that year, President Jimmy Carter decided to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. To remedy the situation, the Carter administration submitted a draft version of the TRA to the Congress. But because of the inadequacies of the draft, Congress made many crucial improvements. On April 10th, President Carter signed the bill into law, and made it retroactively effective from January 1st, 1979. The TRA, according to an American scholar at the time, re-recognized Taiwan after it had been de-recognized by the Carter administration. I was glad to learn that just two days ago, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the U.S. to the TRA. The TRA provides the legal framework for many agreements signed between Taiwan and U.S., including a potential bilateral investment agreement. With solid bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, our two countries have maintained strong political, security, economic, and cultural ties that have helped ensure and enhance peace and stability in East Asia. Another U.S. commitment was the Reagan administration's Six Assurances to Taiwan in July 1982, in which the U.S. reiterated its continued commitment to Taiwan's security. When I took office in May 2008, I made it my top priority to improve Taiwan's relationship with the U.S. by restoring high-level mutual trust, which was nearly nonexistent at the time. Today, ROC-U.S. relations are the strongest they've been in 35 years or more. With U.S. support, Taiwan has been able to improve cross-strait relations and confidently engage Beijing from a position of strength. Continued American backing, under the mandate of the TRA, for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations is another present-day example of U.S. support for our foreign policy goals. In May 2009, the ROC health minister attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva after an absence of 38 years. In September last year, the Director- General of our Civil Aeronautics Administration was invited as a guest of the President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to attend ICAO's 38th Assembly in Montreal, Canada, after an absence of 42 years. These were major steps forward in our efforts to achieve more international participation. The ROC: A Peacemaker and Humanitarian Aid Provider Using what I call the policy of ``viable diplomacy,'' we have expanded Taiwan's international space, and strengthened relations with our allies and neighbors. Taiwan contributes to regional peace, prosperity, and stability through timely and concrete actions. As many of you know, Taiwan, mainland China, and Japan all claim sovereignty over a group of small islets in the East China Sea known as the Diaoyutai Islands. These islands are uninhabited, but are located near rich fishing grounds, undersea hydrocarbon deposits, and some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. In recent years, the danger of confrontation over the Diaoyutai Islands has grown tremendously. That is why I proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative in August 2012. I wanted to demonstrate that a different path and a more hopeful outcome are possible. This initiative elevates peaceful negotiation over confrontation. It de-emphasizes the territorial nature of the dispute and focuses on resource sharing and cooperation. On April 10th last year, exactly a year ago tomorrow, we signed the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement. There had been 16 rounds of fruitless negotiations in the previous 16 years, but we were able to get it done in the 17th round. We achieved success by proceeding on the basis that ``while sovereignty cannot be compromised, resources may be shared.'' The agreement allows fishing boats from both countries to operate, for the first time in more than 40 years, in disputed waters twice the size of Taiwan near the Diaoyutai Islands. Meanwhile, the territorial claims of both sides remain intact thanks to the inclusion of a ``without prejudice'' clause. The agreement embraces the spirit of the East China Sea Peace Initiative, and has won wide support within Taiwan and Japan, from the U.S., and in the international community in general. We also acted in line with the East China Sea Peace Initiative to resolve a dispute with the Philippines after the Philippine Coast Guard shot a Taiwan fisherman dead in May last year. After months of intense negotiations, the Philippine government made an official apology, provided compensation for the victim's family. The perpetrators were charged with homicide by the Philippine Department of Justice last month. In addition, the two sides agreed to refrain from the use of force in law enforcement actions, to notify the other side before taking any enforcement action, and to promptly release detained fishing vessels and crew in case of arrest. Then, in November last year, when the Philippines was hard hit by Typhoon Haiyan--known there as Typhoon Yolanda-- causing more than 6,000 deaths, we immediately delivered 680 tons of relief supplies to the devastated area on 18 air force cargo flights and one naval vessel. The donations were worth 12 million U.S. dollars. After the Japanese earthquake in March 2011, which took more than 18,000 lives, my government immediately announced a donation of 3.3 million U.S. dollars to assist in the rescue effort. In the following two months, the people of Taiwan donated around 230 million U.S. dollars. This was the single largest amount of foreign assistance ever donated by the people of Taiwan. In fact, it exceeded the sum total of donations provided to Japan by 93 other countries that provided assistance. I would add that my wife and I also played a small part when we joined a telethon to solicit donations. These measures reflect our determination to be a peacemaker and a provider of humanitarian aid in the international community. To forestall the possibility of military conflict over the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, I issued the Statement on East China Sea Air Space Security on February 26 this year. In this statement, I proposed that all parties concerned should seek to resolve disputes by peaceful means pursuant to international law and the East China Sea Peace Initiative. I also proposed that the parties should formulate an East China Sea Code of Conduct and set up a multilateral negotiation mechanism. I was pleased to learn of the testimony given by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel on February 5 this year before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. He mentioned that the principles of the East China Sea Peace Initiative ``are at the heart of the U.S. strategy and the U.S. effort, namely respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes.'' In fact, the spirit of the East China Sea Peace Initiative could also apply to the South China Sea. A Peaceful Taiwan Strait Now, let us turn to cross-strait relations. Since I took office in 2008, I have pursued a cross-strait policy of maintaining the political status quo. This means ``no unification, no independence, and no use of force'' under the framework of the ROC Constitution. It also means maintaining peaceful cross-strait relations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, namely, ``one China, respective interpretations.'' And in order to ensure sustainable peace across the Taiwan Strait, I have also formally announced that we will not pursue policies such as ``two Chinas,'' ``one China, one Taiwan,'' or ``Taiwan independence.'' Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, cross-strait relations are at their best state in over six decades. To date, the two sides have completed 10 rounds of talks, signed 21 agreements, and plan to exchange representative offices in the future. Some of the main areas covered under the 21 agreements include economic cooperation, transportation, health, science, agriculture, and mutual judicial assistance. The number of regularly scheduled direct cross-strait flights has increased from zero to 118 per day. The number of mainland visitors per year has gone up from 290,000 to 2.8 million, nearly a tenfold increase. And the number of mainland students in Taiwan has jumped from 800 to 24,000, a thirtyfold increase. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies from Taiwan and the mainland have cooperated to arrest nearly 6,000 criminal suspects. As a result, the number of scam cases has been cut by 60% from its peak, and the resulting financial losses to victims in Taiwan have fallen by 80% from its peak. It is evident that improved cross-strait relations bring tangible benefits to Taiwan. We'll continue to focus on similar topics. We do not exclude political topics, however, if the people of Taiwan support it. Our Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-Chi visited mainland China last February to meet in Nanjing with his counterpart, Minister Zhang Zhijun of the Taiwan Affairs Office. This was the first official meeting of its kind since the two sides came under separate rule 65 years ago. This meeting represented the gradual institutionalization of the cross- strait relationship, and was a historic milestone on the path toward sustainable peace and prosperity. These developments prove that viable diplomacy and cross-strait relations are indeed complementary and constitute a virtuous cycle. Again, I want to thank the United States for Assistant Secretary Daniel Russel's recent testimony in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he said, and I quote, ``we very much welcome and applaud the extraordinary progress that has occurred in cross-strait relations under the Ma administration.'' Enhancing ROC-U.S. Economic Relations Trade and investment relations between the ROC and U.S. have always been close. In 2013, Taiwan was the 12th largest trading partner of the U.S. for goods, with 57.7 billion U.S. dollars in two-way trade. The United States is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Taiwan, cumulatively investing 23 billion U.S. dollars as of January 2014. In March last year, we resumed talks under the 1994 Taiwan-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), and we just successfully concluded the 8th TIFA meetings last week in Washington. I want to praise the hard work of both sides and the positive outcome achieved in the meetings. I hope that we can launch the negotiation of a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) in the near future. A BIA would serve as the beginning of a more robust and comprehensive economic relationship between our two countries. Taiwan is an important security and economic partner of the U.S., as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in 2011. To further demonstrate our commitment to enhancing trade and investment relations with the U.S., Taiwan sent a delegation of 42 business leaders to the SelectUSA Investment Summit last fall. Our delegation was the third largest among over 60 participating countries. We also dispatched a high- level CEO delegation led by former ROC Vice President Vincent Siew to the U.S. last November to promote investment in the U.S. from Taiwan. ROC's Determination to Actively Participate in Regional Economic Integration To improve Taiwan's competitiveness and avoid the danger of being marginalized, I began pursuing deregulation and market opening immediately after taking office in 2008. The lack of diplomatic ties makes it difficult for us to negotiate free trade agreements (FTAs) with our major trading partners. To break the isolation, we decided to start with mainland China, our largest trading partner since 2003. We successfully concluded the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010. This was followed in 2011 by an investment agreement with Japan, our second largest trading partner and investor. Last year, we signed an economic cooperation agreement (ANZTEC) with New Zealand in July, and an economic partnership agreement (ASTEP) with Singapore in November. We are also in contact with other potential partners in Asia and Europe in the hope of concluding more such accords. In addition to bilateral trade negotiations, we must also take part in regional arrangements. Taiwan has highly developed markets, and shares Pacific borders with the world's three largest economies--the U.S., mainland China, and Japan. The ASEAN nations are also nearby. Taiwan should not be excluded from the process of economic integration in East Asia. Given that Taiwan's trade with the 12 members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2013 came to nearly 200 billion U.S. dollars and accounted for 34% of Taiwan's total external trade, we believe Taiwan's membership in the TPP would definitely be beneficial not only for Taiwan, but also for all TPP member states. Moreover, a TPP with Taiwan's membership would not only assure Taiwan's economic security, but would also help strengthen the economic presence of the U.S. in the Asia- Pacific region. In this regard, I am pleased to acknowledge the statements made by Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kin Moy recently at Congressional hearings. At the hearings, they both stated that the U.S. welcomed Taiwan's interest in the

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Representative Kathleen Passidomo, an outstanding individual and someone who has been an inspiration in the South Florida community, specifically in Naples. Representative Passidomo grew up in New Jersey and received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1978. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1979, and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer. Rep. Passidomo has had a distinguished career in law, receiving multiple Attorney of the Year Awards and the 2010 Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for providing free legal services to the disadvantaged. She is also a past President of the Board of Directors of the Collier County Bar Association and of the Collier County Women's Bar Association. Rep. Passidomo has served in the Florida House of Representatives since November 2010, representing District 106. She is currently the Chairman of the Ethics and Elections Subcommittee of the State Affairs Committee, and also serves on the Judiciary Committee as well as the Select Committee on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She is also a partner in the firm of Kelly, Passidomo & Alba LLP, and serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Collier County Foreclosure Task Force. Rep. Passidomo has served in more than 60 leadership and membership roles in professional and community organizations and has been recognized with countless awards for her service within Collier County. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hodges University, and is a founding director of the Collier County Senior Resource Center, Inc. Rep. Passidomo has lived in Naples with her family for 34 years and in 2000 she, along with her husband were co-recipients of the Naples Daily News Collier County Citizen of the Year award. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Representative Kathleen Passidomo for her continued service to the Naples community and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Dr. Kamela Patton, an outstanding individual and someone who has been an inspiration to the South Florida community. Dr. Patton received her degree in Elementary Education from Messiah College in 1985. She later received her Master of Science, Reading and Education from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, and her Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership in 2003 from the University of Miami, Florida. Dr. Patton had a 24 year career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country which serves over 300,000 students, before becoming Superintendent of Collier County Public Schools in 2011. Since becoming Superintendent, Dr. Patton has revised and improved existing programs by instituting new technological tools in order to increase student achievement. As a champion of technology in the classroom, Dr. Patton was one of a select group of educators invited to Washington, D.C. to speak with the Federal Communications Commission chairman to discuss the transition to digital learning. Dr. Patton was recently named an eSchool Learning 2014 National Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award Winner. She also received the 2013-2014 Sunshine State School Public Relations Association Outstanding Superintendent Communicator Award. She was named by Gulfshore Business as one of the 41 People with the Most Clout in Southwest Florida and a Power Woman by Florida Weekly Magazine. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Dr. Kamela Patton for her continued service to the Collier County Public Schools, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Ms. Carrie Kerskie, an outstanding individual and someone who has continuously supported the South Florida community. Ms. Kerskie is currently President of Marcone Investigations, Inc. and is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer and consultant specializing in identity theft protection, detection and restoration. Prior to her work with Marcone Investigations she worked for some of the top investment and insurance companies in the country. She is also an accomplished author, penning Your Public Identity; Because Nothing is Private Anymore. On top of all this, Ms. Kerskie is the founder of the Association of Certified Identity Theft Investigators, and created the Certified Identity Theft Investigator Program. She developed this program after her years of experience working with identity theft victims had given her ample knowledge to develop procedures that greatly reduce the restoration process of these victims, saving them time and money. Ms. Kerskie's expertise in the identity theft field has made her a featured guest on NBC News, ABC News, and Fox News. She has also written articles, and been highlighted, in Gulfshore Business, Southwest Florida Business Today, PI Magazine, and Adverse Witness. Her tireless efforts have also garnered her recognition, being given the 2010 American Business Women's Associations Neapolitan Chapter ``Woman of the Year'' award, the Harvey R. Morse Founder's Award given for outstanding service to the Florida Association of Private Investigators and the private investigation industry, and in 2009 was selected as one of Gulfshore Business' ``Top 40 Under 40''. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Carrie Kerskie for her continued service to South Florida and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History Month, I rise today to honor Rosa Maria Paya Acevedo, an outstanding individual who has been a strong advocate for a democratic Cuba and an inspiration to women around the world. Ms. Paya Acevedo was born on January 10, 1989 in Havana, Cuba. She graduated with a degree in physics and is an active member of El Cerro en La Habana, a Catholic parish where she participated in youth groups and parish activities in her childhood. Her parents, Oswaldo Paya Sardinas and Ofelia Acevedo Maura, were the leaders of the Christian Liberation Movement, and she soon became very involved in the organization herself. Ms. Paya Acevedo collaborated with Harold Cepero Escalante to coordinate the younger members of the Christian Liberation Movement and eventually published ``Somos Liberacion,'' a newsletter the group still continues to write. Unfortunately, her life took a tragic turn in July of 2012 when her father and Mr. Cepero Escalante were both killed in a car crash under suspicious cirumcstances. There is significant evidence, including statements from Angel Carromero, the Spanish politician who was driving the car, that the Castro regime is responsible for the deaths of Mr. Paya and Mr. Cepero Escalante. After her eloquent speech before the U.N. in February 2013 about the need for a formal investigation of the accident, she returned to Cuba and began receiving death threats. This has forced her to live in exile in the United States, where her relentless journey to achieve justice for the death of her father and Mr. Cepero Escalante continues. Her courageous and determined spirit is truly inspiring. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Rosa Maria Paya Acevedo for her continued fight for democracy and truth against the murderous Castro regime, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera, an outstanding individual and someone who has been an inspiration to the Cuban community. Ms. Aguilera was born in Cuba, and joined the Pedro Luis Boitel National Civic Resistance Movement in 1999. This organization was formed by families of Cuban political prisoners to fight for their freedom. Ms. Aguilera's brother, Mario Perez Aguilera, was a political prisoner at that moment. In 2009, Ms. Aguilera helped found the Rosa Parks Feminine Civic Rights Movement, and is currently the leader of the group. This movement carries out weekly public demonstrations in different provinces of Cuba to pray for the martyrs of the Cuban dictatorship. The movement also performs humanitarian campaigns to help homeless women and children. Through Ms. Aguilera's endless efforts, tenacity, and spirit the movement is able to find these homeless people food and shelter, despite resistance from Cuban authorities. During the public demonstrations of the group, Ms. Aguilera and other members of the Rosa Parks Movement have been brutally beaten and have suffered from arbitrary detentions and even death threats by the Castro regime. Ms. Aguilera herself has been threatened with sexual assault in Santa Clara by State Security agents. Ms. Aguilera has participated in conferences and meetings around the world in order to denounce human rights abuses on the island, and continues to work tirelessly for the freedom of its citizens. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera for her continued efforts against the regime in Cuba, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Maria Corina Machado, an outstanding individual and someone who has been an inspiration to the global community, and Venezuelans everywhere. Ms. Machado was born on October 7th, 1967 in Caracas. She earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, where she graduated first in her class. She obtained her post-graduate degree in Finance from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion. In 2009 she was invited to attend the Yale World Fellows public policy and leadership program in Connecticut. She was a professor of Human Resources Management at the Industrial Engineering Department of her alma mater and in 2005 received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Ballenger Foundation. Ms. Machado is currently a member of the National Assembly of Venezuela for the state of Miranda. She leads the Independent Parliamentary Faction and sits on the Interior Policy Committee. During her tenure as a Member of Parliament, she has been a firm critic of the Hugo Chavez-Nicolas Maduro regime and is a founding member of the opposition political movement, VENTE. She also co-founded SUMATE, Venezuela's leading watchdog for electoral transparency and civil rights. For her role in guiding SUMATE, she has been accused by the Chavez-Maduro government of conspiracy and treason, and was forbidden from leaving the country without judicial authorization for several years. In addition, Ms. Machado ran as an independent candidate in the 2012 Presidential Primaries and was subsequently named Chairwoman of National Movements for the campaign. Most recently, Ms. Machado spoke at the Organization of American States detailing a firsthand account of the Venezuelan unrest. For this action she lost her seat in the legislature and is no longer immune from prosecution for her alleged role fomenting violence in anti- government protests. Outside of her professional career, Ms. Machado was the co-founder of Funacion Atenea, a center for the care and rehabilitation of orphaned and at-risk youths. It was the first non-profit organization in Venezuela to employ a model of public infrastructure and private sector management and financing. She also founded and directed Fundacion Oporttunitas, a private organization that provides financing, technical and operational support to social development programs aimed at children in poverty. She has also sat on board of Siderurgica de Venezuela S.A., and is currently a member of the Venezuelan Chapter of the International Women's Forum. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Maria Corina Machado for her continued service to Venezuela. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual, and to continue to monitor the ongoing situation in Venezuela, and the tireless efforts of Ms. Machado.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Brain Awareness Week, which runs from March 10-16 of this year. Brain Awareness Week serves to educate students and the general public on brain science in Miami, and across the country. During this week, neuroscientists around the world educate individuals through informative activities on the wonders of the human brain. These activities contribute to a public understanding of brain function, scientific research, and also bring awareness to the brain disorders and diseases that affect the lives of the nearly 100 million Americans. In recognition of Brain Awareness Week, I would like to specifically highlight the Miami Brain Fair. At this year's Miami Brain Fair, students from the area will be able to learn about the brain through hands-on activities and participate in either the Brain Bee or Brain Jeopardy competitions. In previous years, over 3,000 children attended the event. This year's event will include five local universities, and over 70 scientists presenting at 30 different exhibits. Serving as a member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, I understand that programs like the Miami Brain Fair play a major role in inspiring the next generation of scientists. It is imperative that we support important educational activities such as the Miami Brain Fair, so that we can continue to improve the lives of the nearly 100 million Americans who suffer from brain-based diseases and disorders. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Brain Awareness Week and I ask my colleagues to join me in observing the contributions that thousands of dedicated scientists are making in the field of brain science.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Dan Kimball, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Kimball is an outstanding individual who has served as the Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. A 27-year veteran of the National Park Service, Mr. Kimball has previously served as Chief of the NPS Water Resources Division. In this capacity he successfully led efforts to settle national park water resources, specifically in the western United States in parks such as Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Mr. Kimball has also served as Assistant to the National Park Service Deputy Director in Washington, DC, Incident Commander representing the U.S. Department of the Interior, and at the Florida Peninsula Command Post in response to the Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill. Throughout his career, Mr. Kimball has been recognized for his exceptional work. His vast array of awards includes the Department of the Interior's Superior Service Award, the Pacific Northwest Regional Director's Award for Professional Excellence in Natural Resources, the Southeast Region's Superintendent of the Year Award, the President Rank Award--Meritorious Executive, and the American Recreation Coalition's Legends Award. Having known Mr. Kimball for a number of years, I know that he has consistently demonstrated the highest degree of integrity, character, and professionalism. He has been dedicated to his career and has worked tirelessly for the protection of our environment and, more specifically for Florida, the preservation of the Everglades. The state of Florida and the nation as a whole have truly been lucky to have such an exceptional individual heading our national parks. Beyond that, over the years I have had the privilege of getting to know Dan on a personal level, and am honored to now call him my friend. I wish nothing but the best for Dan, his wife Kit and their son, and again congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Dan Kimball for his tremendous service to Florida, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this House resolution introduced by my dear friend and one of the great leaders and champions for freedom around the world, Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen. I also want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, speaking of folks who believe in freedom and are always looking out for those who are repressed. For the last several weeks, Mr. Speaker, the people of Venezuela have risen up to protest the corruption, the food shortages, the soaring crime rates, and, most important of all, the increased and alarming repression by the Maduro regime. In response to those legitimate protests--those peaceful protests--the Venezuelan regime has ordered security forces to, frankly, brutally crack down on the opposition. Since the protests began, Mr. Speaker, more than 500 people have been arrested. Those are the ones that we can document. Approximately 150 have been injured, and more than a dozen--more than a dozen--have been killed. Not only that, Mr. Speaker, but the Maduro regime has instituted something which should not surprise us, a virtual media blackout. They have blocked out images. They tried to block out images over the Internet. They even closed down, in certain parts of the country where they had the ability to do so, parts of the Internet, including Twitter. They have thrown out independent news organizations like CNN and NTN. Why? Why are they doing this? They are doing this because the Venezuelan people are fed up with the corruption; they are fed up with, as my father would have said, this so-called ``decaffeinated dictatorship.'' And why would he have said a ``decaffeinated dictatorship''? It is a dictatorship that got there, arguably, through democratic means that then has done everything to eliminate all semblance of democracy, all semblance of human rights, all semblance of freedom of the press, and all semblance of the basic institutions of democracy. And not only that, Mr. Speaker, there are reports of thousands of Cuban special operation forces and also intel forces that are helping the Maduro regime in the crackdown of the Venezuelan people. So at a time when a lot of the so-called international community, particularly in our hemisphere, stays quiet to the reality of the Venezuelan people's struggle for freedom, I am so proud of this Congress--this Congress, this House--that once again is standing with those who are oppressed and standing with those who are struggling for freedom. This is a House that traditionally has done that. This is a House that traditionally, in a bipartisan way, has done that, which is why I am, again, so grateful, particularly to the chairwoman, to my, I would say, younger but wiser sister, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to the chairman and to the ranking member; for when others are silent, they are demonstrating that the United States House of Representatives will not stay silent. We will continue to support the Venezuelan people. We will stand with the heroic Venezuelan people, those students who have hit the streets demanding their freedom. I urge every single one of our colleagues to express solidarity with those like over 200 years ago, how people in our country went out and struggled for freedom. Now we see that the Venezuelan young people, that the students, are doing the same thing. How proud of this House, how proud I am to see this House stand with those heroic Venezuelan people, the heirs of Simon Bolivar--los herederos de Bolivar--who are trying and will succeed in recapturing their sovereignty, their freedom, and their democracy.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the last several weeks, the people of Venezuela have risen up to protest the corruption, the food shortages, the soaring crime rates, and particularly, the alarming repression in Venezuela. Mr. Speaker, since the protests began, more than 500 people have been arrested, approximately 150 injured, and over a dozen have been killed. It is disgraceful to think the Chavez-Maduro regime has actually managed to devastate the economy of Latin America's largest oil exporter to the point where, now, the Venezuelan people are facing shortages of basic goods, like cooking oil and even toilet paper. Maduro has intensified his intimidation tactics by increasing political arrests and violence, labeling the opposition as terrorists and enemies of the State, and actually even expelling independent media, such as CNN. Mr. Speaker, I urge the international community to aggressively express their commitment to the basic freedoms that are under assault in Venezuela; and I also, Mr. Speaker, urge our administration to--at the very least--demand that the OAS immediately convene its Permanent Council to invoke the democratic charter, since it has clearly been violated. Now is the time to stand with the Venezuelan people.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the actions his government is taking to combat anti-Semitism. Under his leadership, Hungary has stressed a ``zero tolerance policy'' toward anti-Semitic attitudes, and has focused on law enforcement and legal measures, Holocaust education and remembrance, and support for Jewish cultural renaissance in Hungary. Measures implemented by Prime Minister Orban and his government, including the 50 percent pension increase to Holocaust survivors and the agreement on compensation of Holocaust survivors living in foreign countries, are only two of the numerous actions Hungarians are taking to ensure that those who have suffered have a dignified retirement. We must never forget the terrible atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. I want to remind my colleagues that steps can be taken to aid the painful memories and create awareness of these past events. Prime Minister Orban is taking a leading role in the battle against anti-Semitic voices in Europe and throughout the world. Later this year, Hungary will inaugurate a memorial site to commemorate the child victims of the Holocaust. In addition, Hungary is investing resources to include Holocaust Remembrance Day in public schools and is recognizing the people who helped save Jewish lives during that time period. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in standing in solidarity with those that have been oppressed and to continue to shine light on this dark history to ensure that it doesn't happen again. I am honored to pay tribute to Prime Minister Orban and his government for their continued service to the people of Hungary on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these remarkable efforts.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Mario Murgado, an outstanding individual and someone who has become one of the most highly regarded business leaders in Southern Florida. Mr. Murgado currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Brickell Motors in Miami, FL. He began his career as a sales representative at a different car dealership, but quickly moved up the ranks. Working through sales, management, and finance, he eventually became President and CEO of Braman Imports. Throughout his career Mr. Murgado has been credited with reviving numerous dealerships in and around Miami, and helped transform them into top performers. Additionally, he has served as Chairman of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association and the American Honda National Dealer Advisory Board, and was a member of the General Motors advisory boards for marketing and fixed-operations dealers. Currently, he sits on the board of the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association. Outside of his business, Mr. Murgado is an active member of numerous civic and community organizations. He served as finance chair for the commissioning of the USS Gridley, a guided-missile destroyer in the first naval vessel ever commissioned in Miami. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Thomas University in Miami, dual role at Miami Children's Hospital Board and Foundation and is Vice Chair, and he is also a member of the World President's Organization. Throughout the years, Mr. Murgado has been consistently recognized for his achievements. He received the TIME Dealer of the Year award, awarded annually to only 60 dealers nationwide. He has also been awarded the American International Automobile Dealers Impact Award, and was an inductee into the Miami-Dade Hall of Fame. Over the years I have also had the privilege of getting to know Mario, and his wife Bibiana, on a personal level and hold them in the highest regard. They are truly one of the most exceptional, loyal, trustworthy, and caring families I know, and I am lucky to call them my friends. I look forward to many more years of friendship and wish nothing but the best for Mario, Bibiana, and the entire Murgado family. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Mario Murgado for his continued service to Southern Florida and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Munilla Construction Management (MCM) on their 30th anniversary, and to commend its exemplary service to the Miami community. MCM is a construction company founded in Miami, FL in 1983, which specializes in Heavy Civil and Building Construction. However, their history dates back to 1941 where for nearly two decades Fernando Munilla, Sr. was one of Cuba's premier builders and a pioneer in construction methodology. His endeavors included an engineering firm, three of the largest concrete plants, and a construction management company. His work in Cuba included major projects such as the Jose Marti Monument in Havana, and the Cuyaguateje River Bridge. However in 1960 Fidel Castro confiscated his firm and the Munilla family was separated. Four of his sons were brought to the United States through the Pedro Pan airlift operation, only days before the Bay of Pigs invasion. Two more brothers remained in Cuba with their mother, Maria. Fernando also remained in Cuba where he led covert operations along with the CIA. He later managed to escape where he eventually reunited his family, and settled in Miami. It was there that MCM was founded and thrived, earning a reputation for managing the construction of some of the most complex and challenging projects in South Florida. The commitment and hard work of MCM's personnel has resulted in it being named one of the fastest growing Hispanic Construction Firms in Florida. Not only that, they are the 7th largest Hispanic contractor in the United States as ranked by Hispanic Business Magazine (2012), as well as being ranked among the top 400 contractors in the United States by ENR magazine. They have also been awarded numerous accolades including the Florida Transportation Builders Association (FTBA) Design-Build Project of the Year for 2010, the Hispanic Company of the Year 2008 by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Contractor of the Year 2008 by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Having known the Munilla family for years, I can attest to their high degree of integrity, character and professionalism. They have also become very close friends of mine and are truly one of the most exceptional, loyal, trustworthy, and caring friends I have. It is a privilege to know all six of the Munilla brothers and their families. In addition, they have been devoted to their company, their employees, and the Miami community since its inception in 1983. Today, the Munilla family's dedication has made MCM an irreplaceable company for South Florida, and their family has become a treasure for the community. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Munilla Construction Management, and the entire Munilla family, as they celebrate this milestone. I am certain that we can all look forward to many more years of outstanding service, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing their outstanding achievement.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Chairman Mica, thank you for bringing us together today. Madam Speaker, you have heard of Bill Young, the statesman, and that he was. We all know how he was, perhaps, the best friend and strongest ally of our troops, men and women in uniform, those in battle, those currently in uniform, and those who are veterans. But those of us who worked with him and got to know him here know him, frankly, almost as like a godfather to all of us. There is not one time that we didn't go to him that he would not be helpful. I remember after those storms in Florida, when we had a bunch of hurricanes, going to see Bill Young about getting help for the folks who had been hurt by the storms. His wisdom and his desire to help was always so present. He was always helpful, whether it was Everglades restoration, because he was also such a champion for the environment. Again, always with a smile. Then I got to know him better when I, again, served with him in Appropriations and was able to see how he mastered that appropriations process like, frankly, potentially nobody before him and I think potentially nobody after him will again. But I will tell you, Madam Speaker, the part that to me was a real privilege was that he was one of the people that I whipped. He was on my whip card. So I would go on different issues and talk to him about the issue and find out if he was leaning one way or another. Every time I went there, what I got from Bill Young was, frankly, a lesson. He instructed. I was never able to inform him about what the issues were; he informed me. He instructed me like he always instructed all of us. And always, Madam Speaker, with that incredible, warm smile, with that warm, firm handshake, which he had until the very end. He never complained. We all know that for a long time he was in pain and yet never complained. He always wanted to make sure that you were feeling good, and he always wanted to know what he could do for you, never asking for himself. I said recently--and I have got to find out who said this--but I heard or read someplace that ``to be a great man you first have to be a good man.'' Madam Speaker, Bill Young was a great man for so many reasons: for all that he did for this country, for all that he did for the State of Florida, for all that he did for our troops and the environment, the way he helped his colleagues, or how generous and how humble and how caring and loving he was. He was an incredibly, an incredibly good man. And yes, if there is anybody that applies to, that before you can become a great man you have to be a good man, if there is anybody that that describes, it is our chairman, Bill Young. To his family, to his constituents, to the troops, and the veterans who are, in essence, his family as well, our deepest condolences. Bill Young is irreplaceable. There will never be somebody like him again. What a privilege and what an honor. One of the privileges and honors, the greatest privileges and honors of my life, was to be able to work with him, to get to know him, to be his friend. So again, to his constituents and to his family, our condolences. We will miss him, and he will never be forgotten.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Chairman Miller for bringing this important piece of legislation forward. We literally could be here days speaking about the many accomplishments of Chairman Young, and those days would not suffice. I got a chance to work with him on the Appropriations Committee. I will tell you that so many times I went to him for advice, for help. Bill Young was one of those people that you always went to when you needed help, when you needed advice. He was such a wise man. As I just said, since we would never have enough time to talk about all of his great accomplishments--and you have heard not only about his accomplishments but just the fact that he was an incredibly honorable, caring, wise--``statesman'' is the word that comes to mind. Since my time is limited, I just want to echo something that I heard. I am not quite sure, Mr. Speaker, who said it. But somewhere I once read that ``to be a great man, you first have to be a good man.'' If there is anybody that that phrase reminds me of, it is Bill Young.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, we have heard a lot of things today. We have heard from those of us who think that it is a good program, that it has been efficient, and that it hasn't cost the taxpayers money for the last 10 years; and we have heard from the other side that it is not efficient. We have heard conflicting numbers of jobs, about potentially what jobs may have been lost. But what is not debatable are the jobs that are created by the sugar industry, including 142,000 nationally and 12,000 jobs just in Florida alone. We are going to continue to hear conflicting sides here, but let me tell you what is not really debatable. What is not really debatable is that this is an industry that, around the entire planet, is subsidized. And what we are talking about here is a unilateral disarmament of the U.S. industry that creates, again, 142,000 jobs. I keep hearing, also, the fact that consumers here are struggling. Wait a second. Sugar here for consumers is among the lowest prices on the entire planet. And then I have heard, again, that it is affecting the food manufacturing industry. By the way, now we are getting to the real substance of the issue. But let's ask the question: prices of sugar have dropped dramatically this year. Have you seen a dramatic shift, the lowering of prices in the food manufacturing industry? By the way, let me not get that dramatic. Have you seen a dramatic lowering of prices of diet sodas versus ones that contain sugar? No. Look, if that was the case, if the price reductions were going to be passed on to the consumers, then you would see, obviously, products that don't contain sugar would be a lot less expensive than the ones that do contain sugar. Again, we are going to hear a lot of conflicting issues, but let's not forget the basic principle here: We have thousands of jobs that depend on this industry, including in Florida. We have, again, some large manufacturers that want lower prices, and I don't blame them. But please don't say they are going to pass them on to the consumer, because they never have. Just look at the price of Diet Coke versus regular Coke.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, today we have just heard the words of Pastor Guillermo Maldonado. We are honored to have him as our guest chaplain in the House. Pastor Maldonado is the founder and senior pastor of King Jesus International Ministry in Miami. His ministry, Mr. Speaker, is one of the fastest-growing multicultural churches in the United States and is recognized as the largest Hispanic church in the entire Nation. Pastor Maldonado, by the way, along with his family, has demonstrated unsurpassed leadership and dedication not only to his local ministry but to communities and ministries across the Nation. He and his lovely wife, Ana, are dear friends of mine and my family who I trust and I greatly admire. So again, we are truly blessed to benefit from his spiritual wisdom and his guidance.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an important day, the National Day of the Republic of China, commemorating the beginning of the Wuchang Uprising of 1911 that led to the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. This is a significant day for the Taiwanese people and the United States. For decades, Taiwan has been a vital ally to the United States, and we share common security, economic, and political interests. The United States and Taiwan enjoy strong cultural, security, economic, and political ties and an even stronger friendship. Taiwan is a model democracy in the Pacific region where the people of Taiwan value freedom and liberty. Taiwan is a top United States trading partner as well as a champion of human rights. With a robust trading relationship between our two countries already in place, I urge the Administration to finalize the Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan in order to protect private investment, develop market-oriented policies, and to promote U.S. exports. Given Taiwan's establishment as a major trading leader in the Asia Pacific region, I urge the facilitation of Taiwan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Taiwan has already proven itself as a leader on the global stage.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, due to a death in the family I was unable to cast the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: rollcall vote 458--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 459--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 460--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 461--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 462--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 463--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 464--I would have voted ``yes,'' rollcall vote 465--I would have voted ``yes.'' I would have voted in favor of H.R. 2775 because I believe there needs to be protocols in place to verify eligibility of taxpayer funded benefits. Without these practical verifications in place there will be billions of dollars in fraud that will go undetected. We need to do everything we can to protect the hard earned dollars of the taxpayers and that's why I support this commonsense piece of legislation.