Lois Frankel

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it was just another Sunday in December 2006 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Greg Key was in church, with the pastor delivering a sermon--a little sweat on his brow. It was just another Sunday when Greg's cell phone buzzed. He stepped out for a call that changed his life. The voice on the other end told him that his 19-year-old daughter-- the shining light of his life--had been gunned down as the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting. On this ordinary Sunday, like on every other day of the year, 91 families got devastating news that a loved one had been killed by a firearm. Like I said, Mr. Speaker, it was just an ordinary Sunday.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called Conscience Protection Act, which allows employers and others to block women's access to full health care. Under the guise of conscience protection, this is a hypocritical bill that would make it even harder for women to obtain the reproductive health care they need. It is hypocritical because it does nothing to protect the doctors whose conscience guides them to provide women with safe, legal abortions. Because of hundreds of punitive bills filled in State legislatures and in this Congress, these providers face the threat of harsh penalties for following their conscience: onerous fines, years in prison, and loss of their medical license. With that said, Mr. Speaker, let me respectfully suggest that the consciences we should be protecting today belong to the women of this Nation, who should be allowed to choose their own reproductive destiny.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, 90 people a day are killed by a firearm in the United States of America. That is more than 33,000 families devastated by gun violence last year. Those are statistics. I want to tell you and read the names of real people in my hometown whose families got that dreaded, unimaginable knock on the door: Jacob Walsh, age 25; Greg Bryant, Jr., age 21; Zedward Jackson, age 52; Gary Martin, age 52; Ledarius Fitzgerald, age 18; Herman Denis, age 18; Jack Bellino, age 28; Courtney McGriff, age 29; James Cartigiano, age 16; Anne Nau, age 21. And the list goes on. Who will get the next knock on the door?

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a mother, the second best day of my life was when my son was born. The first best day was when he returned safely from war. That is because every night was almost unbearable. I prayed that I would not get that fateful knock at the door. My son went to war, and that knock on the door--while you don't want it, it is unimaginable--but you expect it. But no parent--no parent-- should worry that they are going to get that knock on the door when they put their child on a schoolbus or when their child goes to the movies or out for a celebration. My constituent, Greg Key, got that knock. His daughter, Lindsay, age 19, went to a party and became the victim of a stray bullet. Mr. Speaker, how many more devastated parents like Greg and the moms and dads we have heard about have to get devastating news and feel devastating pain? It is time for this Congress to do its job. No more guns for criminals or terrorists.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, the United States Congress observed a moment of silence for the victims of a mass shooting, this time in Orlando, Florida. Once again, many in this Chamber remain silent on stopping more of the same. Nearly a third of the world's mass shootings occur right here in our country; and yet, this Congress, defying the wishes of our constituents, refused to take any reasonable steps to keep dangerous guns out of the wrong hands. This Congress has refused to ban military grade assault rifles whose primary purpose is to kill as many people as possible at one time. This Congress refuses to close the loophole that lets criminals buy firearms online or at gun shows without a background check. And, most shockingly, this Congress is refusing to prevent those suspected of terrorism from buying weapons that could be used in the next attack. This Congress offers lots of thoughts and sympathies when people are massacred by firearms, but no action to stop the carnage. It is time for this Congress to do its job before we have to say more prayers for innocent victims.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution, which urges the German government to ensure that Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years. Today there are approximately 500,000 Holocaust survivors living around the world. Within the next decade, it is estimated at least 50 percent of them will pass away. The 300 welfare agencies serving Holocaust victims worldwide desperately need support to help the most isolated, disabled, and vulnerable survivors receive critical services. A Holocaust survivor in South Florida, who is 95 and a widower, sadly illustrates this need. He survived a Hungarian forced labor battalion and two concentration camps, Mauthausen and Gunskirchen. He now requires assistance with everyday activities including bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. He receives a total of 32 hours a week of home care funded by the Claims Conference and the U.S. government. He has unmet needs of 50 hours per week and would greatly benefit from increased funding from the German Government. I urge support for this critical resolution to allow Holocaust survivors to live their remaining years with dignity.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eve Garcia, a woman from my district who saved the life of a six-year-old boy on April 29, 2016. Ms. Garcia stepped out of her home in West Palm Beach, Florida to find the young boy drowning in a neighborhood pond. Without hesitation, she rushed into the water and pulled the struggling boy to safety. A bystander called 911, while Ms. Garcia continued to hold and comfort the young child. He was rushed to the hospital where he was treated then later released with no residual side effects from the horrific incident. I would like to acknowledge and thank Ms. Garcia for her quick response and heroic actions. Her selflessness in that moment helped to save a young boy's life and, as his family is ever thankful for her actions, I am also thankful to have such a caring woman in my community. In honor of Ms. Eve Garcia and her actions, I am pleased to recognize her before the United States House of Representatives.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, this amendment includes my provision expressing Congress's strong support of the United States' continued leadership in one of the world's most important partnerships--The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). President Obama has called NATO ``the most successful alliance in human history.'' That's because NATO is rooted in the bedrock principle of collective defense--that we are stronger together than we are apart. This principle is built on the common values of the 28 members-- democracy, freedom, and self-government. Today, more than 18,000 troops are promoting these values in six NATO operations. From assisting Afghan security forces to defending against Russian expansionism, NATO is instrumental in advancing global security and democracy. I've been privileged to help represent the United States at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for the past three years, where I engage with lawmakers from our NATO partners on today's pressing security challenges. Some have called NATO obsolete. They are wrong. NATO could not be more relevant today given the dynamic threats we and our allies face. The United States' continued leadership is key to NATO's ability to address the evolving threats of the 21st century. I urge adoption of the amendment.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, this amendment includes my resolution to express appreciation of our disabled veterans and recognize October 5th as an appropriate date to honor them each year. This coincides with the anniversary of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. I thank Chairman Jeff Miller for his support. Thankfully, my son, a U.S. Marine, returned safely from two wars. Regrettably, there are many veterans for whom the fight doesn't end when they come home. My constituent Jeff Colaiacovo is one of those people. A few months into his first tour in Vietnam, Jeff's tank hit a mine, exploding shards of metal into his eyes, blinding him. Miraculously, the doctors recovered his vision. Months later, a grenade hit Jeff's tank and flames engulfed his body. After spending months in burn units, he was honorably discharged. He raised a family and started a small business. Jeff is disabled for life. He bears the scars of duty that remind us of what he and many others gave to serve us. In honor of Jeff and our four million disabled veterans, I urge adoption of this package.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this critical legislation to address the nationwide opioid epidemic which has affected south Florida, where I am from, as it has communities from California to New Hampshire. Today I want to tell you about a related crisis that is obstructing the recovery of addicts and damaging the character of south Florida neighborhoods, and neighborhoods across the Nation. I am talking about the overproliferation in residential areas of group homes for recovering addicts called sober homes. In theory, it is a very good thing, a way to reintegrate addicts back into the community. It is activity protected by two historic laws that prohibit discrimination in housing against persons with disabilities. But this civil rights protection is being abused by two many unscrupulous actors who are luring young adults away from their families and placing them in group homes that have no standards and then leaving them to their own devices until their insurance runs out. The result is an overdosing nightmare as well as an increase in homelessness, code enforcement violations, and crime. Making matters worse, cities and towns feel regulation and consumer protection would be in violation of Federal law. As a consequence, we are seeing thousands of sober homes in south Florida disrupting services and the health and safety of neighborhoods and leaving young people who are trying to repair their lives spiraling back into hopelessness. Mr. Chair, I urge this Congress and the President to work with folks in my area and around the country to find the proper balance between protecting the rights of addicts and getting them recovered and keeping the integrity and character of our neighborhoods.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2016 inductees to the Dr. Nan S. Hutchinson Broward Senior Hall of Fame, which recognizes Broward County residents over 60 for their volunteer work. This is the 33rd year that the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Broward County has inducted residents into the Hall of Fame. The names of this year's 10 honorees are the following: Sandra K. Both, Mitchell ``Mitch'' Ceasar, Commissioner Sue Gunzburger, Moshin Jaffer, Marie Goodrum Johnson, George A. Kling, Arlene Lakin, Patti Lynn, Judge Ronald J. Rothschild, and Jack Shifrel. I am pleased to honor this year's inductees and thank them for their contribution to our community.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War. As we commemorate its 50th anniversary, we must never forget the brave men and women who served our country from 1962 to 1975. I am proud to represent a large veteran community. Almost a third of the 1.58 million veterans who live in my home state of Florida served in the Vietnam War. Palm Beach and Broward Counties are home to 157,000 veterans, more than 50,000 of whom served in Vietnam. As a mother of a veteran who served during wartime, I understand the sacrifices made by these service men and women and their families. These veterans deserve our respect and gratitude. I am proud to be here today to thank these Vietnam War Veterans for their service. We will never forget your courage.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a team of exemplary students I represent who are paving the way for the future of math and science achievement in this country. Students from the American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida have the honor of representing their region in the Department of Energy's National Science Bowl taking place in our nation's capital this week. These South Florida scholars are among 550 students from around the country competing for prizes and awards in this year's competition. The National Science Bowl offers middle and high school students the chance to test their math and science skills, and enhance their knowledge through seminars and workshops. I congratulate these incredible students--Jared Shulkin, Christopher Hermens, Jacob Carbone, Saaketh Vedantam, and Jared Lassner--on their success, and I thank their coaches and teachers for their dedication to molding young minds and shaping America's future thinkers and creators.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 37 high school seniors in Florida's 22nd District who have decided to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. Of the 37 from my district, seven have joined the Army; their names are the following: Gabriel Reis, Tyler Risko, Dave Marshall, Joan- Manuel Diaz Frias, Austin Budney, Matthew Disarle, and Jeremy Gonzalez. Thirteen have joined the Marines; their names are the following: William Harding, Jordy Dejesus Garcia, Gina Cornejo, Matthieu Martelly, Moises Gonzalez Visoso, Antonio Smith, Kesley Juste, Adrian Rendon, James Ricer, Alexander Alvarez, Rolph Duplan, Kenneth Deangeles and Kaneisha Pinkney. Two have joined the National Guard; their names are the following: Connor Mcclure and Merisanda Carstea. Nine have joined the Navy; their names are the following: Hannah Piecewicz, Robert Maldonado, Connor Schmitt, Rosalyn Ovalle, Jack Schwencke, Michael Jones, Jennifer Janvier, Nicolas Cruz Velez, and Elsa Bello. Five have joined the Air Force; their names are the following: Nicholas Antonucci, Matthew Core, Pedro Franco, Kacper Palej, and Joshua Marquez. One has joined the Coast Guard; his name is Marcus Tauber. It is in thanks to the dedication of patriots like these that we are able to meet here today, in the United States House of Representatives, and openly debate the best solutions to the diverse issues that confront our country. On behalf of myself and all of my constituents in Florida's 22nd District, thank you for your service and best of luck as you pursue this challenging endeavor.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this week, we marked Equal Pay Day, which is the day more than 3 months into the year when women's earnings finally catch up to men's from the previous year. Mr. Speaker, it all adds up--$430,000. That is how much the average income loss is for a woman throughout her career as a result of this unfair wage gap. This means our mothers and our grandmothers get less for their retirement security, and there are more of them in poverty. Inequality hurts the heart and it hurts the pocketbook. It hurts women and their families. That is why we need paycheck fairness, affordable child care, paid family leave, and retirement security. When women succeed, America succeeds.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for their leadership on continuing to ensure that we don't forget about the 276 young women who were stolen from their families 2 years ago. I traveled to Nigeria with Congresswoman Wilson and Congresswoman Jackson Lee right after the kidnapping in order to see what kind of efforts were being made to get them back. This kidnapping received international attention for a short time and then, like the girls, it disappeared. We are standing here exactly 2 years later while the Chibok girls, who we call ``our girls,'' remain hidden and subject to unimaginable crimes. Boko Haram, the deadliest terrorist organization in the world, wants to silence these girls. I stand here with my colleagues to give ``our girls'' a stronger voice than the terrorists and more power than fear. I want the Chibok girls to know that they are our daughters and we will not give up until they are returned.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a woman whose work has greatly benefited the South Florida community. Nicki E. Grossman served for 21 years as the head of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau and, before that, served as a commissioner to both the Broward County and Hollywood Commissions. During her tenure at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Broward County hospitality industry grew to employ more than 168,000 people and in 2015 generated $14.1 billion in revenue with over 15 million visitors. Under her leadership, the tourism bureau won accolades for its innovative marketing campaigns and efforts to attract LGBTQ visitors. Nicki personally received awards recognizing her outstanding work in the tourism industry and her commitment to diversity. In honor of her retirement and years of service to her community, I am pleased to recognize Nicki Grossman and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Muslim Alliance of Florida. Through its scholarship program, this organization has served the state of Florida by improving graduating high school seniors' access to higher education. This year, the American Muslim Alliance of Florida is providing 15 students with scholarships totaling $10,000 to help them further their education. Past recipients have attended some of America's most prestigious universities thanks to these scholarships. I would like to extend my congratulations to this year's scholarship winners, and wish them the best in their future endeavors. It is my great privilege to recognize the American Muslim Alliance of Florida for the work they have done for these students and South Florida community.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the National Collegiate Honors Council on their 50th anniversary. The National Collegiate Honors Council serves over 325,000 honors scholars at over 800 colleges and universities, including Broward College in my district. Created in 1982, Broward College's Robert Elmore Honors Institute supports over 1,200 honor students annually. Sixteen students from the college have been awarded the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the second highest total in the Nation. Many of these scholarship recipients have gone on to be successful thinkers, working for companies such as Facebook. In the words of founding director Dr. Mary Jo Henderson, ``The essential worth of our honors programs is not resulting scholarship or award but the experience itself''. I commend Broward College and the National Collegiate Honors Council for creating an experience that cultivates the leaders of tomorrow.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to recognize a remarkable woman from south Florida, my friend, Rosemary Barkett. Rosemary is an inspiring, humble woman with a joyous spirit and passion for justice who has devoted her life to service. Her story reflects the greatness of diversity in our country. She was born in Mexico to Syrian immigrants. At age 6, her family moved to Miami, where she started school knowing no English. As a teen, Rosemary joined the Sisters of St. Joseph, becoming a nun and teacher. Eight years later she left the convent to pursue her own education and eventually went on to law school, private practice, and a brilliant judicial career as a trial court judge, appellate judge, first woman on the Florida Supreme Court, and first woman to be Chief Justice of that court. Today Justice Barkett sits on the prestigious Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague. My friend has broken down many barriers to achieve big dreams. This March we honor women like Rosemary Barkett, women of our past, present, and future who are making history.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act, and I thank the chairman and ranking member for their fine work. The bill contains a bipartisan provision which I had the honor of working on with my friend and colleague from Florida, Congressman Dan Webster. As Floridians, we know hurricanes. In 2004 and 2005, Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, and Katrina tore through our State, leaving families stranded and property damaged. Trees crashed to the ground, ripping power lines and blocking flooded streets. Water systems were compromised. Our local governments did a miraculous job cleaning debris from public ways, fixing broken infrastructure, and getting life back to normal. It takes a lot to get this done. When hurricanes strike, communities are ravaged and so are their budgets. So I want to thank FEMA for the funding assistance it provided Florida at a time of great stress and need. Now FEMA is asking some of our cities and counties to pay back money that they were given for disaster relief projects that were approved more than 10 years ago. But here is the thing. There is no question that FEMA should do responsible audits of its relief payments to make sure that money was used properly. But unless there is fraud, the process should not be an endless journey into the Federal bureaucracy. Our local governments, unlike the Federal Government, have to balance their budgets. They can't afford to wait 5, 10, or an infinite number of years for FEMA to do its assessment, especially when millions of dollars are at stake. Simply said, the current practice unfairly stymies our local governments' ability to plan their future budgets. This legislation will make sure that the process is more balanced, giving FEMA adequate time to review its grant payments while allowing for financial security to local governments. I urge my colleagues to support this very good legislation.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I thank Mr. Takano for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 677, a bill that honors American veterans disabled for life. I thank my friend from Florida, Chairman Jeff Miller, for cosponsoring this bill with me and shepherding its passage. As the mother of a United States Marine veteran, I want to first start by thanking all our veterans who have served us. Thankfully for my family, my son returned safely from two wars. But, sadly, there are many for whom leaving the battlefield does not mark the end of a conflict, for them or their family. Jeff Colaiacovo is one of those people. I am proud to say he is a constituent and one of my heroes. On his 18th birthday, unlike many young men of his generation, he volunteered for the Army to go to the Vietnam War, and it would be brutal. A few months into his tour, in 1967, Jeff's tank hit a mine, and shrapnel exploded into his eyes, blinding him. Miraculously, the doctors were able to recover his vision, and soon after, he was back on the battlefield. Then, on August 30, 1967, Jeff's tank was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, trapping him inside, his body engulfed in flames. He spent 5 months in burn units around the world. He left the Army with an honorable discharge. And, again, he was not to be deterred. He got married. He raised children. He started a small business. The thing is, Mr. Speaker, the injuries he sustained during his service left him disabled for life. And to this day, Jeff is under heavy medication for PTSD. He bears the scars of duty that remind us all of what he and many others gave in serving us. Now, this bill recognizes that October 5 is the anniversary of the dedication of the Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, a magnificent memorial that sits just steps away from the Capitol. On one of its walls reads a quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower: ``Each of you bears upon his body the permanent, honorable scars of dangerous service: service rendered in order that our great nation might continue to live according to the expressed will of its own citizens.'' In honor of Jeff, and so many others, let's pass this bill.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I am opposed in its current form.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.