Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Ms. Phillis Oeters, an outstanding individual who has continuously supported the South Florida community. Ms. Oeters currently serves as the Corporate Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Baptist Health South Florida, the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. As Corporate Vice President, Ms. Oeters is responsible for strategic planning of government and community relations, developing a state and federal legislative agenda consisting of health-care funding, insurance regulation, and general health policy development. Additionally, Ms. Oeters serves on many community boards including the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she will assume the position of Chairman in June 2012. She also serves on the boards of Beacon Council, United Way, Nat Moore Foundation, Orange Bowl, among many others. From 2003 to 2008, she was Chairman of the Board of the Neurologically Injured Compensation Fund for the State of Florida, a billion dollar fund responsible for caring for children injured at birth. Ms. Oeters is a founding member and former Chairman of the President's Council of 100 for Florida International University. Ms. Oeters has been a long-time supporter of the American Red Cross and was Chairman of the Board for Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter for three years. Amongst her countless duties she has chaired the Spectrum Awards for Women since 1997. She was recently recognized for her community service by receiving ``The Champion of Fundraising Award'' and ``Building our Community Humanitarian of the Year Award'' from the March of Dimes. The American Cancer Society awarded her the ``Inner Circle of 12 Distinction,'' which honors 12 outstanding women for their leadership, volunteerism, community involvement and dedication to the ACS mission. In addition to her admirable accomplishments, Ms. Oeters finds the time to be an adventure traveler, avid sailor, and equestrian. In 1988, she was the first woman to win the J/30 North America Sail Championship presented by the American Yacht Club. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Phillis Oeters for her continued service to the South Florida community and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this extraordinary individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month, I rise today to honor Ms. Mary Finlan, an exceptional individual who has served South Florida for decades. Ms. Finlan began her work at the Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce in 1998, and was promoted to Executive Director a year later. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly for the community, earning the respect and trust of many in South Florida. After Hurricane Andrew, she worked for four years with Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Disaster Response, and ICARE to rebuild homes and clean up the disaster. During this time, she also worked to gather volunteers and raise funds nationwide. From 1987 to 1992, Ms. Finlan served as Executive Director of the USO of Dade and Monroe Counties headquartered on Homestead Air Force Base before Hurricane Andrew. The agency provided services to the U.S. and allied military personnel and dependents from Opa-Locka to Key West. During that time she was a member of the Military Affairs Committees of the Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce, the South Dade Chamber of Commerce (now Chamber South) and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Finlan is a charter member of the Miami-Dade Defense Alliance, and works diligently on behalf of Homestead Air Reserve Base and the other military installations to protect them from closure. She currently serves as Chairman of the board of the Everglades Community Association for migrant housing. She also sits on numerous advisory councils including the Miami-Dade Farm Worker Jobs and Education Program, the board of Rural Neighborhoods, Inc., and the Industry Advisory Council of the Homestead Job Corps Center. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Mary Finlan for her continued service to the South Florida community and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a remarkable individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History month I rise today to honor Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, an admirable individual who has served South Florida with distinction. Commissioner Sosa was first elected to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners in June 2001 to represent the residents of District 6. She has since been re-elected three times, most recently in 2010 without opposition. Prior to joining Miami-Dade County, Commissioner Sosa served as mayor of the City of West Miami for seven years. During her tenure, the city recovered from a 52 percent budget deficit, thus removing it from the State Governor's Emergency list. She was essential in securing more than $5 million in grants for capital improvement projects for the city, as well as improving its drainage and parks system. Commissioner Sosa currently serves as Chair of the Miami-Dade County Economic Development and Social Services Committee. As Chair, she is responsible for providing oversight and guidance to several departments and agencies responsible for the economic development and revitalization of the community, by creating an atmosphere that promotes public and private partnerships. She is also a member of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, whose mission is to identify the long-term challenges and opportunities facing Southeast Florida. She also assists the region's leaders in developing and implementing creative strategies that promote a more prosperous and equitable community, a healthier and cleaner environment, and a more vibrant economy. She devotes her free time to civic activities, which include serving as the first Vice President of the Miami-Dade League of Cities, Chair of the West Miami Financial and Budget Committee, the West Miami Hurricane Preparedness Committee, among many others. Commissioner Sosa has been consistently recognized throughout her careeer and was recently awarded the ``Government & Law'' award during the 21st Annual ``In the Company of Women'' Award Ceremony. The award is a testament to her leadership, creativity, and vision in addressing community issues in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Commissioner Rebeca Sosa for her continued service to the South Florida community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dear friend and remarkable individual. I wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I rise to honor one of South Florida's finest community leaders, Ms. Sylvia G. Iriondo. Sylvia was born in the city of Havana, Cuba and currently resides in Key Biscayne, Florida. She has spent over 40 years in the real estate business, serving as Co-Owner and President of two successful businesses: Tarafa & Iriondo Corporation/Realtors and Tarafa & Iriondo Corporation/Property Management Services. She also currently serves as a Broker-Associate with the prestigious real-estate firm of Esslinger- Wooten-Maxwell, Inc. of Key Biscayne. Sylvia has served the real estate community as Key Biscayne Chairperson for the Miami Board of Realtors, Founder and first President of the Real Estate Professional Association of Key Biscayne, and Board Member of the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce. Sylvia has made a tremendous impact in Miami and throughout the state of Florida with her civic engagement. She served as a United Way of Dade County volunteer Board Member for eight years, the maximum allowable term, and also was appointed member of the Advisory Board and Chairperson of the Program Committee for the Salvation Army. Additionally, Sylvia was appointed by Florida Governor Bob Graham to serve on two major statewide initiatives concerning elderly residents: the Governor's Commission on Aging and the State of Florida Department of Elderly Affairs. Staying true to her cultural heritage, Sylvia has also devoted her life to advocacy for, and service to, a free and democratic Cuba. Her work began with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the first agency in Miami to provide assistance to thousands of Cuban refugees fleeing Castro's communist regime, and the State Department of Public Welfare--Cuban Refugee Emergency Center. Sylvia continues fighting relentlessly for Cuba's freedom today, as a co-founder of M.A.R. por Cuba (Mothers & Women Against Oppression), and the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance. This organization is committed to the defense of human rights and freedoms of Cuban people, the support of Cuban political prisoners and their families, and advocating for measures and sanctions against the Castro regime. Sylvia works daily to accelerate democratic change in Cuba; her solidarity to the Cuban people is truly inspiring and admirable. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Sylvia G. Iriondo for her continued service to the Miami community. She is a woman of unmatched compassion and dedication, serving as a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, businesswoman, leader, activist and philanthropist. Sylvia's impression upon the Miami community will last for decades to come, and she will surely inspire countless young women to follow in her footsteps. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding individual, and I wish her continued success and happiness in the future.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I'm glad, sir, that you just mentioned that, because I just heard here that, no, no, it's not maybe X thousands of jobs that are going to be lost; it is X minus a few thousand jobs that are going to be lost. What? Did I just hear that? I just did. Rarely do you see such a reckless and immoral disregard for American families, for American farmers, for American farmworkers, for hardworking people than what we have in front of us and what this bill is trying to solve in a bipartisan way, because this does have bipartisan support. I keep hearing about all of these horrors. But wait a second. Take a step back, Mr. Speaker. These are farmers who have been farming that very land for generations. This is not like they are trying to do something new. They've been doing this for generations. Can you imagine the circumstances if the Federal Government steps in and says, ``No, we are going to cut off your water. You're not going to be able to farm, and forget about those jobs. Go do something else,'' just because some bureaucrat someplace decides that they found a fish all of the sudden after these farmers have been there for generations? Sometimes a little common sense has to prevail and sometimes a little moral sense has to prevail. Let's stand up for these farmers who have been there for generations. Let's stand up for these farmworkers, the poorest, hardest working individuals for generations. Let's say ``no'' to a Federal Government that thinks that, oh, just a few less jobs won't hurt, won't matter. This is grotesque. This is immoral. Let's stand up together in a bipartisan way to stand up for American families, for American farmers like they deserve this Congress to do for them.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Robert C. Grant, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Captain Grant is an outstanding individual who served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Seventh Coast Guard District since coming on Active Duty in April of 1998. Captain Grant first entered military service as a medic in the U.S. Air Force Reserve in December 1966, serving at both Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, FL and Homestead Air Force Base in South Florida. In April 1974, he received a Direct Commission in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and served as a drilling Reservist in various Coast Guard Reserve Units in the Seventh District until coming on Active Duty in April 1998. Most notable of his Reserve Unit assignments was his three year tour as Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Unit Marine Safety Office Miami, during which the majority of the 90-member unit was activated in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. During his tenure as Deputy Chief of Staff, Captain Grant served as a senior advisor to eight Admirals. He was the primary District liaison to Congressional Members and their staffs from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. His efforts assisted Congress in passing legislation that has proved instrumental in addressing new maritime smuggling tactics that constitute a threat to the United States. Among his many achievements, Captain Grant was active in strengthening the relationship between the Coast Guard and the South Florida Hispanic and Haitian communities through a dedicated public outreach initiative. In the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he also supported such large-scale responses as Operation Unified Response and Operation Southeast Watch-- Haiti, which led to the evacuation of over 1,150 US citizens, 250 medical evacuations, the transport of over 715 first responders, and the delivery of over 1.1 million pounds of critically-needed relief cargo and equipment by Coast Guard aircraft. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Captain Robert C. Grant for his continued service to our nation, and more specifically South Florida and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding individual.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, next week, we will commemorate the two- year anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo. Orlando Zapata Tamayo was a member of the pro-democracy organizations Movimiento Alternativa Republicana and the Consejo Nacional de Resistencia Civica. He was arrested several times; the last arrest occurred on March 20, 2003 during Cuba's notorious ``Black Spring,'' while he was taking part in a hunger strike at the Jesus Yanez Pelletier Foundation in Havana, to demand the release of Dr. Oscar Biscet and other political prisoners. Amnesty International began calling for Orlando Zapata Tamayo's release shortly after his arrest and referred to him as a prisoner of conscience who should be released immediately. He spent more than a year in prison before he was actually tried and sentenced in May of 2004. Although he was originally sentenced to three years in prison for ``disrespect,'' ``public disorder,'' and ``resistance,'' the length of his sentence was extended several times so that he was serving a thirty-six year sentence at the time of his death. During his many years in prison, he suffered beatings, humiliation, and long periods of solitary confinement. According to Amnesty International, on October 20, 2003, he was dragged on the floor of Combinado del Este Prison by his jailers after requesting medical attention. The abuse left his back full of lacerations. Orlando Zapata Tamayo began a hunger strike on December 3, 2009 to protest abhorrent prison conditions and the arbitrary extensions of his sentences. His hunger strike lasted more than 80 days. During that time, he was deprived of water and ultimately developed pneumonia after being kept naked underneath an air conditioner. He died at the hands of the Castro regime on February 23, 2010. Reina Luisa Tamayo, Orlando Zapata Tamayo's mother, declared that the regime murdered her son and loudly condemned the atrocity. As a consequence, Castro's thugs punished her with harassment, barbaric acts of repression, and beatings by hateful mobs in the days and weeks following her son's murder. Sadly, the two years since Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death have been years of increased repression and more murders by the Castro regime. The number of political arrests doubled between 2010 and 2011. Furthermore, since Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death, the Cuban regime has murdered three other brave prisoners of conscience--Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia (d. May 8, 2011), Laura Pollan, inspirational leader of the Ladies in White (d. October 14, 2011), and Wilman Willar Mendoza (d. January 19, 2012). They are all heroes, and their deaths were all immeasurable losses. While we continue to mourn the loss of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, and the senseless deaths of so many other brave activists, his spirit and mission have strengthened Cuba's courageous pro-democracy movement. Immediately following his death, other political prisoners picked up his cause and began hunger strikes of their own. Another great pro- democracy activist, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez (``Antunez''), renamed his pro-democracy organization the ``Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Front for Civic Resistance and Civil Disobedience,'' which continues to organize protests and oppose the Castro dictatorship. On June 30, 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies unanimously passed a resolution honoring that organization and acknowledging its importance to the pro-democracy movement in Cuba. I remain outraged that the regime in Cuba robbed the world of such a remarkable and courageous leader. But, in many ways, Orlando Zapata Tamayo lives. Within the pro-democracy movement that still honors him, and among the courageous activists that were emboldened by his sacrifice, Orlando Zapata Tamayo has become a symbol of perseverance in the face of crushing totalitarianism. His life will forever be a blessing to Cuba's brave pro-democracy movement, and his memory will outlast the horrors of the dying Castro regime. When the Cuban dictatorship is finally relegated to the ash heap of history, Orlando Zapata Tamayo will be remembered as a hero who helped to lead Cuba into freedom.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. It was a privilege for 2 years to be the ranking member of this subcommittee, and I will tell you that this subcommittee has never been a partisan subcommittee, and I commend Chairman Denham for keeping that tradition of focusing on the issues and working with both sides of the aisle to try to get good products without getting into this partisan melee. So I commend the chairman for continuing in that tradition. He's done so in a marvelous way. And here's another example: he sat down with the ranking member, and they worked out all these issues. The chairman actually went to the Rules Committee, testified in the Rules Committee in favor of making these amendments, the ranking member's amendments, so that they would be in order. Lo and behold, the Rules Committee did what both of them, in a bipartisan way, asked for. They allowed for those amendments to be in order. Now, I have the highest admiration and respect for the ranking member. I have worked very closely with her, but I'm a little bit, frankly, intrigued. So the ranking member now says, well, if her amendments that the chairman asked to be made in order, the amendments that he supported, that he continues to support, that he says that he supported, that he supported in the Rules Committee, she says if those amendments don't pass, well, then she would vote against the bill, so therefore she's not going to bring up the amendments. Excuse me? What usually happens is, heck, you bring up amendments even if the ranking member or the chairman doesn't agree with you. But if you have the agreement of the chairman of the committee, he's here again stating it, who's worked with you the entire process, the chairman of the committee helped you get those amendments made in order in the Rules Committee, they come to the floor made in order, here they are ready to discuss, and then you say, no, now I'm not going to put up the amendments because if they don't pass, now I'll vote against the bill. I agree with the chairman. Put the amendments up. If the amendments don't pass, even with the support of the chairman and the ranking member, then there's good reason for the ranking member to vote against it. But to withdraw an amendment when you have everybody's support, when you are pretty much guaranteed----

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, is it not true that if this language would have been in the bill, that there's no guarantee that somebody would have not done an amendment in the Rules Committee to take it out, so that there is no more different guarantee if it was in than if it was out? Is that not true?

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. You're pretty much guaranteed as much as you are in this process that they're going to pass because you have the ranking member of one party and the chairman who has worked with the ranking member, they both agree, they're noncontroversial, they're ready to go, and, all of a sudden, the ranking member pulls them back and says, for some reason, I'm going to pull them back if they don't pass, I'm going to vote against the bill, well, bring them up. If they don't pass, vote against the bill. But we won't know in the democratic process if an amendment is going to pass even if the chairman and the ranking member agree with it until you bring it up. So I would respectfully suggest that the ranking member, whom I admire, just bring up the amendments. The chairman has supported them in the Rules Committee, and he's supporting them now. Bring them up. Let's hopefully work on getting the votes because he is working with you to try to get the votes. If they don't pass, vote against it. But the chances are they're going to pass. Let's let the democratic process go forward. And, again, I commend the chairman for keeping up the tradition of not bogging down in partisan politics. Mr. Chairman, you are to be commended for that. Thank you, sir.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Parliamentary inquiry of the Chair, if I may.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, due to a family medical issue, I was unable to cast the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 913--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 914--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 915--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 916--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 925--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 926--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 927--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 928--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 929--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 930--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 931--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 932--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 933--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 934--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 935--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 937--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 938--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 939--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 940--I would have voted ``yes''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, due to a family medical issue, I was unable to cast the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: December 7, 2011-- Rollcall vote 892--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 893--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 894--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 895--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 896--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 897--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 898--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 899--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 900--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 901--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 902--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 903--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 904--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 905--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 906--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 907--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 908--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 909--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 910--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 911--I would have voted ``no'' Rollcall vote 912--I would have voted ``yes'' December 12, 2011-- Rollcall vote 913--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 914--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 915--I would have voted ``yes'' Rollcall vote 916--I would have voted ``no''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 860, due to family health issues, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 861, due to family health issues, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 862, due to family health issues, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I thank the chairman for this opportunity, and I really congratulate him. This is the first time in many years, since 2009, that we've actually come to the floor with a conference report. Think about that. Before, things just kind of came out of the blue, and we were forced to deal with them without having an opportunity to see them and without going through regular order. But this would have not happened without the leadership of our chairman, Chairman Rogers. I cannot thank you enough, sir, for, once again, making the people's House do its work and do it in a responsible way. I also want to commend the ranking member for working hand-in-hand with the chairman. Look, there is no denying that we are on an unsustainable path of borrowing too much and spending too much. In past appropriations bills, they were judged to be successful by how much more taxpayer money we were spending. I guess Congress felt good because we were spending more money. Well, that has changed dramatically. This bill actually cuts funding. It actually spends less than the previous year's level. So, again, it is a huge step in the right direction, but it also funds the essential services that the American people depend on. I want to recognize the work of Chairmen Kingston and Wolf, who have balanced the funding for necessary food safety and for, as an example, law enforcement. They also made some very difficult choices-- but necessary choices--to reduce spending. I had the privilege of serving on the Transportation and Housing Subcommittee, and I want to commend Chairman Latham for the work that he has devoted to this bill. On the transportation side, this bill prioritizes rail and transit projects that improve and expand existing systems. It funds NextGen to help reduce traffic delays, and it funds the Federal highway program. It provides sufficient funding to renew every individual and family voucher, for example, and it includes new oversight reforms at HUD to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, which is such a huge issue. This conference report prioritizes government spending for vital programs, but it also reduces waste and, again, puts us on a path where we will not bankrupt the United States of America. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this fine piece of legislation. Is it perfect? No. But it's the best piece of legislation and the only one in many, many years that has actually come to the floor through regular process after an amendatory process. I commend the chairman, and I support the legislation wholeheartedly.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 841 I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 839, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 837 I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 838, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 842, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 840, I was unable to make the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 817, I was attending the funeral mass of a family member and was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 816, I was attending the funeral mass of a family member and was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''