Ted Deutch

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great Floridian, Irwin Stovroff, who passed away peacefully this week at the age of 95. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Irwin served in World War II as the 2nd Lieutenant in the 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group. He was captured by the Germans as a Jewish prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1 and later received the Purple Heart for his courageous service. Mr. Stovroff's dedication to veterans was the focus of his life. He founded Vets Helping Heroes, a nonprofit group to help veterans in need of service dogs, and it is through his efforts that the NDAA of 2010 included language from the Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act. Mr. Stovroff also volunteered as a National Service Officer for ex-POWs at the Palm Beach VA hospital. His selfless service to others embodied the commitment to national service that distinguishes the Greatest Generation. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to have known Irwin. He and his dog Cash were frequent and welcome visitors to my office, when Irwin and I would discuss ways our community could better serve our veterans. Mr. Stovroff was an American hero. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Doris, the rest of Irwin's family, his many dear friends, and all those who were touched by his kindness, compassion and dedication to our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Stovroff's life and the lives of all veterans. Our nation is better because of Mr. Stovroff's service.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the important work done by the Rotary Club of Boca Raton and to congratulate the recipients of their Outstanding People and Leaders (OPAL) awards. This year's honorees are Billi and Bernie Marcus, Jerry and Joan Glassman, Frank and Laura Frione, Summer Faerman, and Reverend Bill Mitchell. Each of these honorees have made a lasting impact on our South Florida community. Their philanthropy, service, and selfless sacrifices have touched countless lives. I extend my most sincere congratulations to all of tonight's honorees. Looking ahead in this new year, I am confident that the Rotary Club of Boca Raton will continue to be a cherished institution in South Florida that betters our community. I greatly appreciate the Club's work and am pleased to honor their OPAL award honorees.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Patrick McMullen for his service to the Committee on Ethics. Patrick has been a dedicated public servant, and has worked hard to ensure that all House Members, officers, and staff meet the highest ethical standards. During his tenure with the Committee's investigations team, the Committee has conducted more than 225 investigations. As Director of Investigations, he has helped the Committee assemble and has overseen a terrific team of nonpartisan attorneys and professional staff who make this possible. Patrick's commitment to conducting fair, thorough, and nonpartisan investigations and leading the investigations team with these principles has been an asset to the Committee and its Members as they carry out the Committee's important service to the House and the public. On behalf of a grateful Committee, we thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his transition to the next phase of his career.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, in the past couple of weeks, tens of thousands of Iranian citizens from a broad cross-section of society took to the streets to demand accountability and change in their country. This was the largest mass protest since the Green Revolution in 2009. Tragically, both ended in the same predictable darkness: harsh government crackdowns in which innocent peaceful protesters were arrested, were jailed, and were killed. In the latest episode, more than 3,700 Iranian protesters were arrested and nearly two dozen were killed. The Iranian people deserve better and they deserve the support of all peoples who value and yearn for freedom. Today's resolution sends an important message to the Iranian people, that we stand with them in their legitimate pursuit of reforms from a regime that would silence their voices and steal their fundamental liberties. I also believe we should do more. I am proud to have introduced with Chairman McCaul, along with support of Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act that goes one step further than condemnation to actually impose sanctions against those Iranian officials perpetrating these egregious human rights violations, as well as those responsible for kidnapping Americans, Americans like my own constituent, Bob Levinson, who has now spent more than 10 years in captivity. Last week, we welcomed in a new year, and Bob's family again ushered in that new year without Bob by their side. For his sake and for the sake of the Iranian people trying to hold their own regime accountable for caring more about Assad and Hamas than they do about helping their own citizens, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 676 to help bring the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to the floor, and let's make sure that human rights remain exactly where they should in American foreign policy, right at the center of our agenda.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it has been almost 5 years to the day that 20 6- and 7- year-old babies were slaughtered in Newtown. It has been about a year- and-a-half since 49 people were killed in my home State of Florida, 58 more being injured. In October, 59 people were killed and 500 injured at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. And in November, 26 people were killed and injured as they worshiped in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The response to all of this tragedy is a bill to make it easier for people to carry concealed weapons in every corner of this country. I don't know whose idea--other than the gun corporations, I don't know whose idea it was that this would be the way that we honor the memories of those who have been killed, that instead of commonsense gun safety legislation that the overwhelming majority of people in this country support, we get a bill to make it possible to carry concealed weapons in every State, in every corner of this country. When my friends on the other side say this doesn't override any laws, that is absolutely untrue. In States that have State laws that govern where you can and can't carry a gun, this bill overrides that and says you can bring any gun into the State, whatever your regulations are about what you can carry. This is a bill that doesn't make us safer. It doesn't make us stronger. But make no mistake, it makes the bottom line, the profits of the gun makers in this country, a little bit healthier. As we enter the Christmas season and we think about the 20 6- and 7- year-old kids whose lives were taken 5 years ago today, whose parents, whose families suffer every day with that loss, whose kids aren't there to receive Christmas presents, I ask my friends on the other side: Why is it that we respond to that by giving this enormous Christmas gift to the NRA?

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, my friend, the ranking member, for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act. Mr. Speaker, the pursuit of a negotiated two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a commitment to peace, but it is impossible for the Palestinian Authority to demonstrate that commitment to peace while paying terrorists for attacks on innocent civilians. But that is the reality today, and that is what this bill seeks to end. Under current Palestinian law, the PA pays salaries to terrorists and their families more money for worse crimes, typically well exceeding the mean salary for Palestinian workers. If a terrorist is sentenced to life in prison for a horrific attack that kills Israeli citizens, he will get a four-times higher monthly salary than if he had been sentenced to only a couple of years in prison for a lesser attack. This is blatant incentive to terrorism; the same type of terrorism that we have seen tear through buses, shopping malls, nightclubs, and places of worship around the world. In March of last year, during a surge of deadly stabbings, shootings, and car rammings in Israel, we saw the consequences of this incitement and incentive to terror. Taylor Force, a 28-year-old American tourist, a West Point graduate and then-Vanderbilt graduate student, who had fought in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was stabbed to death on a promenade in Jaffa by a young Palestinian terrorist. Taylor, by all accounts, was loved and humble. He enjoyed playing the guitar. He was an Eagle Scout and an Army veteran. His father described him as an all-American kid who made sure that everyone around him felt good. A friend of his in Nashville said simply: He made people better. But rather than unambiguously condemn this attack against innocent civilians, as any responsible government would do, the PA instead has rewarded these types of attacks by paying more than $1 billion to convicted terrorists over the past decade. It is the job of the Palestinian Authority, like any responsible government, to deliver services to its people, including welfare to those who need it most, like a grieving widow who suddenly has to take care of her family without the breadwinner. But this is not welfare. The current law essentially tells Palestinians: If you tragically die in a car accident, your family gets nothing; but if you die driving your car into a group of Israeli civilians, your family will be taken care of for life. That is not welfare. That is incentive to terror. It is pay for slay, and it must end. I am proud of the bipartisan manner in which today's bill was crafted, and it is carefully written in a way that targets only those funds that directly benefit the Palestinian Authority, thereby creating real incentives for the PA to end this practice without damaging the vital U.S. investments in humanitarian assistance and grassroots people-to-people programs that are essential to achieving our overall objective of peace. Taylor Force served our country to advance and protect peace. His life was taken by terrorists seeking to undermine peace.

Mr. DEUTCH. It is our duty to call on the PA to end this indefensible practice of rewarding terror and to demonstrate a real commitment to peace, a peace where Israel can live safely and securely as a Jewish and democratic state next to a Palestinian state that does not seek its destruction. Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors Taylor Force's name and memory by stopping an abhorrent practice. In his name, and in the name of peace, the PA must end these payments to terrorists, and I urge my colleagues to support this effort to make them stop.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, the Republican tax plan that provides massive, permanent tax cuts to the largest corporations and tax increases for millions of middle class Americans is bad tax policy. Let's be honest about what it does. This $1.5 trillion tax cut will trigger cuts to domestic programs in the amount of $150 billion every year, including $25 billion in cuts to Medicare, with 55 million Americans who rely on it being put at risk if this bill becomes law. Mr. Speaker, it is bad enough that this tax policy favors the largest corporations over middle class Americans, but to effect these kinds of massive cuts by tricking the American people in order to try to do it is shameful. We have to defeat this bill, prevent these massive cuts, and protect the 55 million Americans on Medicare from a $25 billion cut.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lipinski, for yielding and for his thoughtful and passionate leadership in combating climate change, and thanks to the strong bipartisan cross section of Members who have come to the floor tonight to talk about the importance of tackling climate change. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues, all of them, to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. I started this caucus with my fellow Floridian, Congressman Carlos Curbelo, to start a new dialogue around climate and Congress because we are already facing difficult challenges. We can't ignore it. We can't bury it in political fights. We need to have an open discussion not only for our future, but for the impact of climate change that we are facing today. It is no coincidence that this project started with two Members from south Florida. A 2015 study projected that some south Florida cities could be underwater within this century. The study's author said some cities appear already to be lost. Climate change is already here for Floridians. The effects have hit Florida first. Scientists have warned of warming average global temperatures and the changing climate for decades. Dr. Andrew Clarke of the British Antarctic Survey has spent 40 years at the bottom of the planet watching it disappear. Dr. Clarke said: ``You can see the entire environment changing in front of your eyes.'' We now have climate change right before our eyes in south Florida. We see the rate of sea level rise outpace the global rate tenfold. We see the high-water mark jump 1 inch every year. Just this week, we see the tides flooding our neighborhoods. The limestone that serves as the foundation of our State is porous. Saltwater pushes up through the limestone from below the surface. Lower bridge heights will block boats from reaching open waters. With 165 miles of canals, Fort Lauderdale faces significant threats of rising seas. Who in south Florida hasn't driven around their neighborhood and noticed more puddles, more water accumulating on the sidewalks and streets? While many Americans might be able to ignore climate change, ignore the science, based on their own personal experience and your own personal experience at home, we can't. Looking out our windows, we see what is already there. By the year 2100, almost 300 U.S. cities would lose at least half of their homes, and 36 American cities could be completely destroyed. One in eight Florida homes could be underwater. Those Florida homes represent half of the total expected loss in housing value caused by climate change over the next 84 years. These aren't risks of a distant future. These are the burdens we are placing on our children and on our grandchildren. In response, and through the work of the South Florida Climate Compact, Miami Beach has initiated a sea level rise plan to lift roads, build up seawalls, and install pumps to clear water in the streets. Fort Lauderdale is fixing roads and drains and sending vacuum trucks into the streets to prevent saltwater damage, upgrading building codes and flood elevation requirements, and requiring higher seawalls. In Florida, you can't put climate change out of sight or out of mind, but it is not just hitting Florida and it is not just the sea level rise or increasing temperatures. The National Climate Assessment has documented regional climate impacts hitting every area of the United States: In the Northeast and Midwest, dramatic increases in heavy precipitation events overwhelm drains and levies, causing flooding and accelerating erosion; In the Great Plains and Southwest, drought and wildfires strain demands for scarce water resources; In Alaska, receding sea ice and melting glaciers are damaging infrastructure; On the coasts, increases in carbon dioxide and warming seas lead to coral bleaching and ocean acidification that is taking its toll on fisheries and the ecosystems. The diverse and interconnected impacts that we already see throughout our country explain why we already have 60 Members who belong to this new dialogue, the Climate Solutions Caucus, 30 Democrats and 30 Republicans committed to changing the conversation and pushing solutions that will create more resilient communities. We are committed to understanding the impacts of climate change, the impact on our national security; to investing in clean, innovative energy protection; to protecting our public health; and to overcoming the political obstacles that hold up public policy solutions. It is time for Congress to come together and admit the challenges that our constituents are already facing at home. It is time to build consensus. Through the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, we have brought together Members from regions in every part of the country who are experiencing their own climate change challenges. I invite every Member of the House of Representatives to join us. Lift up the voices of your constituents, your farmers, your city officials, your developers, doctors, scientists, and, most importantly, the families whom you represent. If you are watching at home, call your Member of Congress and urge them to join the Climate Solutions Caucus and help us start the difficult work of building truly bipartisan consensus that will help us tackle climate change together and help us create resilient American communities of the future. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, Mr. Lipinski, again for organizing tonight's discussion.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David Donzella on the occasion of his retirement as Fire Chief for the city of Lighthouse Point, Florida. Chief Donzella was born in Tarrytown, NY as the grandson of Italian immigrants. He began his fire service career after graduating in 1976 from McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida David was hired as a Firefighter Paramedic with the City of Pembroke Pines Fire Department and ascended through the Department to achieve the rank of Battalion Chief, later being promoted to Division Chief of Rescue Operations. After Hurricane Andrew, David was instrumental in promoting changes to the fire service in the City of Pembroke Pines. One highlight of his career was securing the coveted ISO Class 1 rating for the Department, making it the first Department in Broward County and the 44th in the nation at the time to obtain that rating. David retired from the Pembroke Pines Fire Department in 2004, but chose to join the Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue Department in 2006, where he has served as Chief since 2007. Chief Donzella has also served as President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County and Chair of the ``First There, First Care EMS Conference'' which over the years has grown to be the largest EMS conference in the State of Florida. He has secured numerous grants for both fire and EMS personnel to better serve their communities. His community service also includes involvement with the Davie Kiwanis Club, Leadership Broward, and the Pompano Beach Exchange Club Most recently, David received the Shining Star Award from the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce in honor of his community involvement throughout the years. I join Broward County in offering my sincere thanks and appreciation to Chief Donzella for his years of service and contributions to the South Florida community.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors, Florida for being named by the Human Rights Campaign as top cities fostering LGBTQ equality and inclusivity. Each of these cities received an exceptional score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's sixth annual Municipal Equality Index. Fort Lauderdale received 87 out of 100 points, Oakland Park received 99, and Wilton Manors received a perfect 100. These three cities are among just 86 nationwide with top scores from states without comprehensive nondiscrimination laws. These cities showcase South Florida's long and meaningful history of LGBTQ civic engagement and support for equality. Each year, more and more municipalities are recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for their growing efforts to ensure LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law, policy, and services. I encourage all cities in South Florida to follow the examples set by Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors in making theirs a city where LGBTQ individuals thrive. As a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and as an original sponsor of the Equality Act, I am especially honored to represent these cities in the U.S. House of Representatives. Again, congratulations to Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard work and esteemed career of Broward County Administrator Bertha Watson Henry. This week, Bertha is being honored at the International City and County Management Association's annual conference in San Antonio as the recipient of the Mark E. Keane Memorial Award for Excellence. I could not think of a more deserving recipient for this prestigious award. Under Henry's leadership, Broward County successfully navigated the 2008 recession with stable finances and a strong recovery. She has helped Broward maintain a triple A bond rating since 2014, something only three other Florida counties have accomplished. She has led construction of a new 714,000-square-foot county courthouse, a 40,000-square-foot animal adoption center, and she renegotiated financial agreements to protect Broward's interest in the fourth largest National Hockey League venue in the U.S. Administrator Henry's recognition at ICMA is also historic, as Bertha is the first-ever African-American woman to receive the Keane Award for Excellence. Most importantly, this achievement is a reflection of Bertha's commitment to her neighbors, the 1.9 million Floridians who called Broward County home. As she continues to steer Broward County's 60 agencies and a budget of nearly $5 billion, Bertha Henry deserves this award because of the way she has made Broward County a better place to live, to work, to play, and to visit. Bertha, thank you for your outstanding service, and congratulations on the well-deserved honor.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, that is very kind, but I am happy to yield to my friend from Florida, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 359. I would first like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their leadership on the committee in bringing this resolution forward. I would like to thank my friend from Florida, Congressman Bilirakis, for working with me on this resolution. I thank as well Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for her leadership on the subcommittee and ensuring that we have the opportunity to move forward together. Mr. Speaker, in 2013, almost exactly 1 year after a Hezbollah suicide bomber blew up a bus in Bulgaria, killing mostly Israeli tourists, the European Union took action to finally designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization. However, they only designated what they called Hezbollah's military wing as a terror group and not its political wing. The United States has been clear that this was a false distinction then and it remains a false distinction today. Hezbollah is one unified terrorist organization, and it is led by the terrorist, Hassan Nasrallah. It is one unified Hezbollah that is responsible for the horrific acts of terror against Europeans, Americans, Israelis, and others across the Middle East and around the globe. It is one unified Hezbollah that has helped prop up the Assad regime, and it is complicit in the death of half a million Syrians and the dissolving of a once thriving nation. So this one unified Hezbollah should be designated as a terrorist organization so we can increase international cooperation to isolate and dismantle this group. This morning, Mr. Speaker, the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee held a hearing on next steps for our Iran policy. There, I noted that 2 days ago we marked a solemn anniversary, because 34 years ago, on October 23, two Hezbollah suicide bombers blew themselves up at the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, killing over 300 U.S. and French servicemembers, peacekeepers, and civilians. That attack, like so many of Hezbollah's deadly terrorist activities over the past several decades, was sponsored and directed by Iran. While our Nation built a memorial honoring the victims of that attack, Tehran built a monument honoring the perpetrators of that attack. A full EU designation of Hezbollah now would help demonstrate Europe's commitment to cracking down on Iran's use of proxy terror groups, destabilizing the region, and attacking Western interests. Now, I understand that the EU has legal concerns about this designation since Hezbollah has infiltrated Lebanon's political system. However, I would just offer this observation. The terrorist organization Hamas operates as a political party in Gaza, yet the EU still rightly lists the entirety of Hamas as a terror organization. That has not impacted their ability to support Gaza reconstruction, just as designating Hezbollah would not prevent them from supporting Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Last year, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League both designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. They made no distinction between the military and political wing, despite Lebanon being a member of the Arab League. I hope the EU took note of that. I thank the Speaker for bringing this resolution to the floor so that my colleagues can join me in sending an important message to our European friends and allies. More can be done to counter the Iranian proxy Hezbollah, and that begins with calling them what they are, a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and undermining the values and interests of the United States. Our EU friends must acknowledge as well the values and interests of Europe. The world knows that Hezbollah is a terrorist group. It is time for the European Union to end its false distinction and join us in designating all of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to send them that message. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Bilirakis, and to my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee and other Members for their work on the three measures today aimed at curbing the terrorist group Hezbollah. The measures that we are advancing today represent smart and tough approaches that will respond to Hezbollah and its enablers, and will build stronger international support for this important effort. This measure and the others that we have considered today are a great example of the way that we can work across the aisle to help keep our country safe. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, October 22nd marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. There are more than five million Baha'is around the world, including in my district in South Florida. Over the weekend, they came together to celebrate the bicentenary of Baha'u'llah's birth by honoring his life and his teachings. Like many religious leaders, Baha'u'llah taught of the unity of mankind and the need for us to work to build better communities and a better world. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah was God's most recent messenger and that all religions should live in harmony. This religious tolerance is an important message in a world where we too often see religious oppression. In fact, Baha'u'llah was born in Tehran but was imprisoned and exiled for his teachings. Today, Baha'is in Iran are still openly persecuted for their faith. Baha'i youth are often deprived of access to higher education and public jobs, Baha'i-owned business are frequently attacked, and Baha'i cemeteries are desecrated and disrespected. Baha'is are vilified in state sponsored media and their leaders are arbitrarily arrested and cruelly held in Iran's notorious prisons. That is why I was proud to introduce H. Res. 274 with a bipartisan group of colleagues to condemn Iran's human rights violations, particularly its persecution of its Baha'i minority, and urge sanctions against officials who have carried out these abuses. This resolution passed unanimously through the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, of which I am Ranking Member, and I look forward to moving it through the full Committee and to the House Floor. The bicentenary, though, is about celebration and shared optimism for the future. I'm pleased to join with my colleagues in congratulating Baha'is around the world, and in Florida in particular, as they celebrate this festive and momentous occasion.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is good to be on the floor with my friend and colleague from Florida to speak in support of H.R. 3329, an important bipartisan effort brought forward by Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, an important measure to further combat Hezbollah's terrorist activity. We made great strides 2 years ago when we passed the Hezbollah International Financing Act, which has already begun to sever the terror group from its funding sources. However, it is clear that more needs to be done. The new bill will further restrict Hezbollah's ability to recruit and fundraise by targeting foreign state sponsors, including Iran, while also increasing pressure on banks and other international financial institutions that serve Hezbollah. It is important to remember why it is in America's interest to combat Hezbollah terrorism. Not that anyone here or at home needs a reminder, we all remember, or we have all learned about, the 1983 attacks in Beirut on our Embassy and the Marine Corps barracks that killed hundreds of Americans; the attacks in Argentina on the Israeli Embassy in 1992, and the AMIA Jewish center in 1994 that, in total, killed over 100 more; the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia; and more recent attacks in Europe, including the 2012 bus bombing of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. But it has been Hezbollah's support for the horrific Assad regime in Syria that has led even Arab governments in the region to acknowledge Hezbollah's dangerous role as an Iranian terror proxy. Last year, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League took the dynamic step of designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Yet, even while Hezbollah is focused on the war in Syria, its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, continues to vow Israel's destruction, a threat Israel's leaders don't take lightly, given two previous wars and intelligence suggesting Hezbollah now has over 150,000 missiles and rockets in Lebanon aimed at every corner of Israel's map. In a future war, Israeli defense officials fear that Hezbollah will launch over a thousand rockets a day with the capacity to hit civilians in Israel's north, across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and even in the southernmost city, Eilat. This is made all the more troubling by reports that Iran, in addition to transferring advanced precision-guided missiles to Hezbollah, is now helping the terror group set up indigenous missile development facilities in both Syria and Lebanon. These are unacceptable developments. They underscore the importance of today's legislation: cut off Hezbollah's most critical sources of funding and support, including from its primary sponsor, Iran. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for her tireless leadership in standing up for all those pushing back against Iran's influence in the region, Iran's support for Hezbollah, and specifically here, cutting off sources of funding for Hezbollah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Diane Glasser, a committed public servant in South Florida who passed away on October 10th at 89 years of age. Diane served for over 40 years as an activist, Broward School Board member, City Commissioner, and Vice Mayor of the City of Tamarac. From her childhood and career in Brooklyn to her many years in South Florida, her passion for activism made an impact on everyone she met. She was never shy about urging others to fulfill their civic duty by voting, even when she wasn't on the ballot. And she was always encouraging of my efforts, working with me on many initiatives to strengthen the community. In addition to holding elected office, Diane served on several boards, including the Senior Advisory Task Force and the Broward Human Rights Board. She selflessly used her voice to advocate for those whose voices she felt weren't adequately heard. Diane also had unique experiences representing the State of Florida as a delegate to the past six Democratic National Conventions and as an elector in the 1996 and 2000 Electoral Colleges. Our community has lost a leader whose service will always be appreciated and remembered. I am honored to have called Diane Glasser my friend.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, today I rise for Phil and his wife, to tell their story. Phil and his wife tried to get pregnant for several years. After fertility treatment, they were thrilled when his wife finally became pregnant with identical twins. Sadly, their twins were diagnosed with twin-twin transfusion syndrome, a deadly complication. At week 21, Phil and his wife learned the devastating and frightening news that not only would both twins die, but that without an abortion, his wife was at serious risk of suffering a ruptured uterus. Their options were limited. Their doctor could not perform an abortion because he was affiliated with a Catholic hospital, and Phil's wife was unable to fly due to her high-risk pregnancy. Instead, they drove from their home in Missouri to Kansas to terminate the pregnancy by induced labor and delivery. Phil and his wife were devastated. After the twins' deaths, Phil participated in a baptism and grieved their loss. Phil wants lawmakers to know: ``Decisions about abortion need to be made with the families and with the best medical information available.'' As he rightly puts it: ``There is no one-size-fits-all situation for all pregnancies.'' Placing government limitations on the constitutionally protected healthcare options of American women and their families will only add heartache and tragedy to these most difficult and painful decisions. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Phil and his family, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 36.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, across the Capitol, Republican Senators finally decided to cancel the vote on a disastrous health bill that could have upended insurance markets and caused 3.2 million Floridians to lose coverage, increased premiums in my State by an average of $4,000, and destroyed over 180,000 Florida jobs. Now, not only did this process threaten the health and financial security of tens of millions of Americans, it also delayed reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program. CHIP expires at the end of this week, but renewing it has taken a backseat to a cruel health bill motivated by a political vendetta and the hope of unlocking billions from campaign megadonors. It is time for Congress to get back to work on CHIP, a program that ensures nearly 9 million kids get access to care--375,000 of them in Florida. It has only become stronger since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. I hope my colleagues in the majority will waste no time in joining me in supporting this vital program. Let's help our children, let's reauthorize CHIP, and let's do it this week.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the important work of the Paralysis Resource Center at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Christopher Reeve put a face on spinal cord injury and had an unrelenting drive to pursue the best research in the world. It was his vision, it was his passion, and it was his brilliance that attracted young scientists to take on the cause and advance the field of spinal cord research. And while his wife, Dana, was universally known as the model for caregiving, her real legacy is the creation of the foundation's Paralysis Resource Center that has reached so many of those living with paralysis and their families with life-changing resources. The President's budget eliminates all funding for the Paralysis Resource Center and suggests that the program is duplicative. Fortunately, my colleagues in the House appreciate the unique nature of the work that the PRC does. The PRC consists of a variety of services, communities, and programs, including: Information specialists trained to help anyone, from newly paralyzed individuals and their family members to persons who have lived with disabilities for quite some time, by providing individualized support and information; The Peer and Family Support Program, which builds peer-to-peer connections to help individuals find support and resources among the communities that best understand the day-to-day realities and long-term challenges of individuals living with paralysis; The Quality of Life Grants Program, which has awarded over 2,900 grants, totaling more than $22 million, to broaden the impact of nonprofits across the country that foster community engagement and involvement while promoting health and wellness for individuals living with paralysis; and The Military and Veterans Program, the MVP, which supports the unique needs of current servicemembers and veterans regardless of when they served or how their injury was obtained. I urge my colleagues to reach out to the Paralysis Resource Center to learn of the important work that they are doing for vulnerable constituents in their districts. If you do, you can see that the PRC is so much more than a line item in a budget. It is more than dollars and cents. It is more than just another program. The value of these programs can only be appreciated when you learn the stories of the thousands of Americans that the PRC has helped with their services. Tonight, I would like to tell some of those stories. It is through these stories that we can see the amazing work of the Paralysis Resource Center, the lasting legacy of Christopher and Dana Reeve, and the bright future of so many who have been served through the PRC's programs. You will notice that, throughout these stories, you hear the same names pop up again and again. That is because the PRC builds community and it builds connections. When a spinal cord injury leaves Americans with no place else to turn, the PRC steps in to help guide the way; and, in return, many of those who have benefited from PRC turn back and look to help others with spinal cord injuries, to support their journey of recovery and rehabilitation. Mr. Speaker, in order to move forward and to tell these stories, I would like to start by yielding to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my friend, who will share some thoughts with us now.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Rhode Island, Representative Langevin. I thank him for his leadership here in the House on these important issues. But just as you spoke about your friends Christopher and Dana Reeve and talked specifically about how Christopher Reeve was not quiet and introverted, that he was an inspiration to you, I think it is fair to say, and I am comfortable actually speaking in this one instance on behalf of my colleagues here in the House in saying that just as Christopher Reeve was an incredible leader and an inspiration to you, so, too, Representative Langevin, are you an inspiration to all of us in the House. I thank you for participating tonight. There are so many other stories to tell. Representative Langevin shared some. I would like to share just a few others. One is the story of Eric LeGrand. On October 16, 2010, Rutgers University football star Eric LeGrand sustained a spinal cord injury at his C3 and C4 vertebrae. After a kickoff in the fourth quarter against Army, Eric sprinted down the field and he made the tackle, but after the collision, he stayed down on the field at MetLife Stadium. Eric was paralyzed from the neck down, and doctors gave him a zero to 5 percent chance of regaining neurologic function. From the moment he was injured, the Paralysis Resource Center was by Eric's side with a wealth of services and support. To conquer the immediate challenges of paralysis, his mother, Karen LeGrand, spoke regularly with the PRC's information specialists, who provided a roadmap of the resources that helped Eric transition to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey. At that point, Eric was already exceeding expectations for his recovery and was weaned off of his ventilator and his feeding tube. To help his family understand the long-term realities of a spinal cord injury, Eric and Karen were put in touch with Alan Brown, a dear friend of mine I will speak more about in a bit. Alan is a certified peer mentor and staff member of the Reeve Foundation, and he offered advice from his own personal experience living with quadriplegia for over 25 years. Eric was also enrolled in the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network, the NRN. The NRN is a growing network of rehabilitation centers that develop and provide cutting-edge therapies, like Locomotor Training. Thanks to the NRN therapies and Eric's determination, he recovered the ability to move his neck and his shoulders. He has also improved trunk, cardiovascular, and pulmonary control. His quality of life, well-being, and health have dramatically improved through the efforts of the PRC. To pay forward his gratitude and help others, Eric founded Team LeGrand of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to speed the development of treatments for spinal cord injury. Since its inception in September 2013, Team LeGrand has raised close to $1 million. Karen LeGrand was also inspired by her experience with the PRC, and became a certified peer mentor to offer guidance and support to parents who have children living with paralysis. Elizabeth Forst is someone else whose story we should focus on. An avid traveler and diver, Elizabeth ``E.B.'' Forst's life changed in 2014 when a dive into a swimming pool resulted in a C4-C5 spinal cord injury. In the aftermath of her injury, Elizabeth's family struggled with how to move forward and to ensure that Elizabeth could still live life to the fullest. Her older brother, Tracy, reached out to the Reeve Foundation to tap into the constellation of programs and resources offered by the Paralysis Resource Center. He spoke with information specialists to get a better understanding of his sister's condition and how his family could help her adapt physically, emotionally, and socially to living with a spinal cord injury. Tracy also regularly referred to the Reeve Foundation's website to educate himself on life after paralysis from both Elizabeth's perspective and his role as her family member and caregiver. Thankful for the support she received from the Paralysis Resource Center, Elizabeth became a trained and certified peer mentor to help fellow paralysis community members find beauty and joy after a life- changing injury. She has also resumed her passion for diving and traveling, as well as blogging for the Reeve Foundation to share her tips for traveling with a disability. E.B. has said she still has a lot of travel destinations on her list, and the PRC is surrounding her with support to make sure she can continue to travel the world. Denna Laing is someone else we should think about tonight. On December 31, 2015, Denna Laing, a standout hockey player for the NWHL Boston Pride, was playing in the Women's Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium when she crashed headfirst into the boards and sustained a spinal cord injury at her C5 vertebra. While she was in the hospital, the Reeve Foundation mobilized a network of support through the Paralysis Resource Center to help her family understand the short-term and the long-term challenges of living with paralysis. They spoke with information specialists who provided tailored assistance on transitioning Denna from the hospital to acute care, and then adjusting to life back in her community. Denna and her family connected with certified peer mentors like Alan Brown, who offered support and guidance based on their own personal experiences. She is currently building up her strength and working to improve her health by participating in a comprehensive therapy regime at Journey Forward in Canton, Massachusetts, which is part of the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network. Denna recently tackled the Boston Marathon with help from former NHL player Bobby Carpenter, who pushed her racing wheelchair to the finish line. Known for her vibrant personality, she credits the support she received from the Reeve Foundation and paralysis community as the reason that she keeps smiling. In her words: ``I know the best of my life has yet to come.'' J.D. Bruning and Kelly Lamb are from Arkansas. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, J.D. was enjoying the warm weather with his friends when they decided to take a float trip on a local river. Near the end of the float trip, J.D. dove into what he thought was deep water, but it was too shallow, and he sustained a high-level spinal cord injury. Since that life-changing moment over 4 years ago, J.D. and his family have tapped into the wealth of resources provided by the Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center to help J.D. live a full and active life in his community. Given the scarcity of resources for the paralysis community in Arkansas, the PRC was critical in establishing the best possible care for J.D. and helping to navigate the path forward for his family. His girlfriend, Kelly Lamb, was so inspired by the Reeve Foundation's programs and mission that she ran both the Chicago and New York City Marathons in 2016, under the Team Reeve banner, and raised over $20,000 to accelerate innovative research. Kelly has cited the Paralysis Resource Center as a lifeline for thousands of families impacted by paralysis in the State of Arkansas and across the Nation. Sabrina Cohen is from Florida. Born and raised in Miami Beach, Sabrina sustained a C3-5 spinal cord injury in 1992, when a teenager driver, who promised to give Sabrina a ride to a party, started drag racing and, unfortunately, slammed into a tree. She was 14 years old, and her life was changed forever. When Sabrina was first injured, there was no centralized resource to learn how to live with paralysis or connect with fellow community members. When the Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center was founded in 2002, it became and since remains a lifesaving resource for 5.4 million Americans living with paralysis from spinal cord injury, ALS, MS, spina bifida, stroke, and cerebral palsy. However, physical barriers still existed in Sabrina's community as there was no beach in the Miami Beach area that was accessible to wheelchair users. Through the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, she applied for a Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant to fund her dream of a fully accessible beach and playground for the disabled, including seniors, veterans, and children with special needs. The Quality of Life Grants Program is funded through the Paralysis Resource Center and awards financial support to nonprofits that foster greater health, quality of life, community involvement, and independence for individuals living with paralysis and their caregivers. She made the most of a Quality of Life Grant to establish Miami Beach's first-ever dedicated public beach with improved wheelchair access and outdoor adaptive fitness and watersport activities. Finally, I would like to talk about two other people, both also from Florida, and both good friends of mine. Alan Brown, I mentioned earlier. He is a resident of Aventura, Florida, who was injured in 1988, at the age of 20, when his neck was crushed by an ocean wave while on vacation in the Caribbean. The accident caused a C5-6 spinal cord injury and left Alan a quadriplegic with no movement below his chest. For nearly 30 years since the accident, Alan and his family have, through the Alan T. Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis, provided support, education, and advocacy for the paralysis community. Initially, the focus for the foundation was on finding a cure for paralysis, a magic bullet that would help everyone living with paralysis to walk again. But after years in a wheelchair, and the difficult challenges to overall health and emotional well-being that paralysis presents, he and his family decided to overhaul the mission of the foundation. Today, they focus on improving the lives of people living with paralysis through peer mentoring, outreach, and fundraising to help others with basic needs like wheelchairs and ongoing medical care. And now, Alan and his foundation have partnered with the Reeve Foundation to extend the reach and impact of his message to the paralysis community. Alan travels the country on behalf of the Reeve Foundation to advocate, to increase awareness, and to make an impact on the quality of life of other people living with paralysis and their families. He currently serves as manager of public impact at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and in this role, he focuses on extending the reach of the foundation's impact on the greater public, creating new opportunities for partnership with peer organizations, increasing the visibility of PRC and other Reeve Foundation programs, bolstering fundraising efforts, and developing the national Peer & Family Support Program. I have been with Alan and been inspired by him on a regular basis, close up, and the work that he does in the paralysis community and for those who are experiencing paralysis firsthand. The work that he does at those early moments is extraordinary. Finally, Shawn Friedkin, who is from my community in south Florida. In March of 1992, Shawn was injured in a motor vehicle accident 2 weeks before his 27th birthday. He was married with one child, and he spent much of the early years following his injury working to increase medical research funding for spinal cord injuries. For his efforts, he was invited to the White House to meet with Hillary Clinton, then-First Lady, as part of her healthcare initiative. Shawn testified before Congress on the need for an increase in research funding. And based on his desire to help others in the community, Shawn left his career in finance, where he worked as a hedge fund manager, to create Stand Among Friends in 1997. Stand Among Friends, based in Boca Raton, Florida, is a cross- disability advocacy organization. It is focused on helping people with disabilities find employment through vocational training and adaptive technology. It has provided services to more than 4,000 people and helped over 1,000 people find employment. Shawn has grown the services and mission to become one of the top disability service providers in the State of Florida. And each year, Shawn and the Stand Among Friends organization hosts the ``emb(race).'' The emb(race) is a day of diversity awareness that includes a half marathon, a 5K, and a family fun walk; and it is, indeed, a way for all of us to embrace one another. Shawn, as I said, is a dear friend and an inspiration in his community and to all who know him. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank all of those who make the Paralysis Resource Center at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation what it is today. As you can see from these stories, the PRC comes in at a family's most vulnerable moment. These are the most serious injuries and illnesses one can imagine. They are life-changing, and they come in with an immediate response to help guide families who are hurting to help them create a positive vision of a new life and build a community of support for Americans living with paralysis. I would like to leave with the words of Christopher Reeve. He said: ``I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.'' Tonight, Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Paralysis Resource Center in their work to help empower more American heroes in the fight against spinal cord injuries. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Arizona for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose this bill today for a number of reasons, but building a road through a congressionally designated wilderness area is without precedent. There are lots of other reasons. I would note that at least today's debate shifts the focus of this Congress in the right direction because, when we look to Alaska, it requires a gaze just a little bit further into Russia, and I only wish that what we were debating today was the sanctions bill that passed the Senate by a vote of 98-2. The reason that we should be debating that bill today is readily apparent to anyone who has been paying attention to recent events. Just this morning, we read of the President's interview with The New York Times, and we think about a President who took action to fire the acting Attorney General, to urge the FBI Director to go easy on Flynn in the Flynn investigation, who fired the FBI Director because of the Russia investigation, and who just now, in this interview yesterday, threatened the acting FBI Director, the Attorney General of the United States, and the person carrying out the investigation of Russia and the potential ties between his administration and Russia. All of this gets to the larger point, which is we are getting ready to go home at the end of next week for August, and if we go home without passing the sanctions bill and getting tough on Russia, we will have failed the American people on a vital national security issue. We will be showing weakness at a time when the American people expect to see strength, expect us to stand up to Russian attempts to interfere with our election, to stand up when we learn about an eight-person--for now, eight-person--meeting that was put together with the sole purpose, according to the emails, of providing information to help President Trump, then candidate Trump, get elected with the assistance of the Russian Government. We don't know where this will all lead. I acknowledge that. But it is because what we do know about Russia that we have to act not against the administration--it is a mischaracterization to suggest that. The bill passed 98-2 in the Senate. This is a bill that will enable us to move forward in a bipartisan way, which the American people desperately want, to stand up to Russia. It is for that reason that is I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 3203, which is the Russia sanctions bill that passed the Senate 98-2--98-2. When has this body seen that kind of bipartisanship? I ask that that bill be brought up so that we can vote on it and not disappoint the American people before we leave here in August. That is what we ought to be doing. I hope we will have the chance to do it now. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that we bring up the Russia sanctions bill to debate and to pass that bill today.