Lois Frankel

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this morning, Israelis--whether sitting at their desks, playing on the beach, or driving on a busy highway--came to a complete standstill as sirens rang out across the small country to commemorate the horrors of the Holocaust and the six million Jews systematically murdered by the Nazi regime. I join the global Jewish community in remembering those we lost and honoring those who survived to carry on the proud traditions of the Jewish people. On this Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us all recommit ourselves to preserving the memory of the past while working to build a better future. As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to diminish it becomes increasingly incumbent upon future generations to never forget.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote 161, I was not present because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 159 on H.R. 622, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``yes.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I stand here today 1 year since Boko Haram kidnapped 270 young girls attending school in Chibok, Nigeria. This kidnapping received international attention for a short time; then, like the girls, the spotlight disappeared, and yet our children remain hidden and subjected to unimaginable crimes. Innocent girls who cry out to be liberated cannot be forgotten. They are as Maya Angelou's caged birds who sing with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still, and their tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged birds sing of freedom. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues today in saying, ``Bring Back Our Girls.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today is Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the following year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year. Mr. Speaker, in our great Nation of opportunity, no woman should be making less than her male colleagues for doing similar work, yet in our country women still earn, on average, 78 cents for each dollar earned by a man doing a comparable job. Discrimination hurts the pocketbook as well as the heart. Equal pay isn't just about fairness. It is about mothers putting food on the table for their children and saving for their own retirement security. That is why Congress must act now, to bring the Paycheck Fairness Act to the floor for a vote and give the victims of gender bias in the workplace the tools they need to seek justice.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Evelyn Keiser, co-founder of Keiser University, who will be inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame, for her dedication to improving the lives of women and all citizens of Florida. Evelyn was born Evelyn Cahn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924. She graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology, one of only a few women in what was then a predominately male field of study. She traveled throughout the United States where her education and ambition for the medical field led to her employment in several hospitals and medical labs. In 1977, alongside her son Dr. Arthur Keiser, she opened the Keiser School on Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale with one student and 2,400 square feet of classrooms. She took a chance and paved a path for educators to better serve career-motivated students, the state, and specifically the Florida communities in which her students learn, work and raise their families. Now, 38 years later, her dream has transformed into Florida's second largest independent university. With 15 locations statewide, Keiser serves nearly 20,000 students pursuing doctoral through associate degrees and employing 3,500 staff and faculty. Sixty-two percent of Keiser University students graduate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and healthcare fields, providing the talented workforce needed for Florida to compete globally. Over 20 percent of students are members of the armed services, veterans, or military family members. Ms. Keiser has held positions of co-founder, instructor, program director, chairwoman of the board of advisors, and more. Throughout her career, she has received multiple accolades including ``Teacher of the Year'' and ``Educator of the Year.'' In February 2004, Ms. Keiser was awarded an honorary doctorate from Beijing University citing her commitment to educational articulation agreements between China and the United States. At 91 years young, Evelyn remains active in the university, serving as Chairwoman of the Board of Advisors. Ms. Keiser is still the first to arrive at the main campus in Fort Lauderdale each morning. In honor of her dedication and service to South Florida, I am pleased to recognize Evelyn Keiser's legacy of achievement and I wish her continued success.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on April 11, we marked the 36 year anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which serves as the legal foundation of our nation's important and enduring relationship with Taiwan. The United States and Taiwan are united in common interests and a shared commitment to freedom and democracy. The Taiwanese people share our same cultural values of respect for individual liberties, freedom of speech, adherence to the rule of law, and support for human rights. Taiwan also shares a similar political system and works with our nation on issues of global security and counter-terrorism. In addition to this close cultural, political, and security relationship, the United States and Taiwan also share a thriving economic partnership. Bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan surpassed $67 billion last year, making Taiwan now our 10th largest trading partner--an impressive feat considering Taiwan's relatively small size of only 23 million people. In fact, my home state of Florida exported nearly $300 million worth of goods to Taiwan in 2013 alone, supporting jobs and livelihood for American workers. Over the last few decades, Taiwan's economic and political ascension, with close American cooperation, has proven to be one of the great success stories in Asia, and we look forward to many more decades of friendship and mutual support.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Congressman Ted Deutch to congratulate Head Coach Matt Colin, a dear family friend, for his outstanding leadership with the Wellington High School Boys' Basketball team. On February 29, he--alongside his brother Mike Colin, varsity Assistant Coach--led the Wolverines to their first state championship. Coach Colin's leadership has been widely recognized. He received the ``Coach of the Year'' from the Florida High School Athletic League for 8A Basketball. In addition to the state championship, Coach Colin guided the Wolverines through a historic season record of 29-3 and the program's longest winning streak of 16 consecutive wins. In pursuit of their first state championship, the Wolverines adopted the San Antonio Spurs' ``Pound the Rock'' mantra. Coach Colin used this phrase to motivate his students to persevere throughout the season, despite all odds. This is a principle that rings true in all aspects of life and has helped his students grow into leaders among their peers. It brings me great joy to honor his leadership and mentorship in our community. I wish Coach Colin and the Wolverines continued success.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment that Hyde Amendment language was included in H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion, has prevented women from accessing needed reproductive health care for decades. While the Hyde Amendment remains in law through the yearly appropriations process, every attempt to insert Hyde Amendment language into other legislation damages efforts to protect women's health. It is unfortunate that today's historic bipartisan deal--which will strengthen Medicare for millions of Floridians--was used as a vehicle to chip away at women's access to reproductive health care. Every woman deserves the right to make her own personal health decisions.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, and I appreciate the bipartisan work of our committee leaders. Florida is the third largest State in the Nation with a growing population, booming tourism, and expanding trade opportunities. That means more trains and more cars transporting more people and cargo over our 458 rail crossings in south Florida. That is why stakeholders in south Florida are pleased that this rail bill authorizes $150 million per year for 4 years for State and local governments in our region to upgrade the safety features at grade crossings and improve traffic coordination to prevent accidents and ease congestion. Transportation moves our economy. The rail bill facilitates it to be done safely and efficiently. I urge its approval.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 102, the motion to go to conference on H.R. 240, I was not present becrause I was unavoidably detained at the Army Corps Civil Works Review Board for the Port Everglades expansion project, which is important to the South Florida economy. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 59 had I been present, I would have voted No.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 469, Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This bill would make it possible to accurately identify and help children from the child welfare system who are trafficked into the sex trade. The sickening fact is that human trafficking is a big, booming business--trafficking a child for sex can be more lucrative than drug trafficking. This is why I am glad to join my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, in taking additional steps to protect our sons and daughters from this horrible crime. As we recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness month, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan legislation so that we may protect our most vulnerable children, including those in the foster care system, who have been victimized through no fault of their own.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding. I, too, rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. Today, on the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we should be celebrating it, not dismantling it. I heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about pain. Well, do you want to know about pain? Think back in horror to the perils for our mothers, our daughters, and our sisters in the days before the Supreme Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to make our own personal health care decisions. Back then, our country faced a public health crisis as women were maimed, made sterile, and lost their lives as a result of self- inflicted or illegal abortions. I remember finding a friend who was near death as a result of a back alley procedure. Since Roe v. Wade, State after State, including Florida, my home State, has passed onerous laws criminalizing doctors, requiring unnecessary tests, and other insidious obstructions to prevent access to abortion. Today, Congress again piles on to the damage hurting the poorest of our citizens.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Here is a much better way to make lives better for our children, and that is to allow their mothers to live full, productive lives; and instead of this bill, pass the Women's Health Protection Act to ensure that no matter where a woman lives, she has access to the resources needed to make her own health care decisions. We cannot and will not go back.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House should vote for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure instead of attacking women's access to health care.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Amendment XI: ``The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on August 8 of this year, we went to war with ISIL. Since that day, we have launched over 1,700 airstrikes, we have put thousands of men and women in harm's way, we have committed billions of dollars, and the President has said this effort will take years. Many of my colleagues and I have waited patiently for Congress to deliberate on the Authorization for Use of Military Force; yet all of these months later, we have not had a single debate. We recessed this summer without debate. We passed a defense bill last week without debate. And now, once again, we are leaving town without debate. Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of this Congress to make determinations of war and peace, and we are shamefully ducking this responsibility. America deserves better.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Daniel Kraft of Boynton Beach and congratulate him on his retirement after 34 years of dedicated service to the children of South Florida. From his days as a volunteer physician with the National Service Corps to his long tenure as a private practitioner in West Palm Beach, Daniel has dedicated his career to improving the lives of children in our community. His passion for service goes well beyond his practice as a doctor. In his limited free time, Daniel developed the Support Group Network, a computerized database of medical support organizations. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Drowning Prevention Coalition and both a founding member and former President of the Palm Beach County Pediatric Society. A classical music and piano enthusiast, Daniel enjoys traveling around the world and is fluent in Spanish and French. Daniel has obtained multiple degrees, including a medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins. In honor of his invaluable contributions to the children and families of South Florida and on behalf of my district, I am pleased to recognize Dr. Kraft for his amazing achievements and I wish him a long and fulfilling retirement in the company of his wife and three daughters.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2866, The Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation will create a coin to honor Boys Town's longstanding commitment to the needs of at-risk children and struggling families in communities across America. Driven by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, Boys Town serves children of every race, color, and religion. In my district, South Florida Boys Town provides incredible opportunities to help children achieve success and pursue their dreams. I am pleased to honor Boys Town and I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation and I yield back my time.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in June, I joined colleagues on a trip to Nigeria. The focus of the journey was the kidnapping of 270 innocent young girls at the hands of Boko Haram terrorists. It has now been 5 months since they were taken from school and from their families off to unimaginable circumstances. Since then, Boko Haram has only become more brutal and more vicious, continuing its rampage in Nigerian villages killing, torturing, kidnapping, raping, burning, and announcing the creation of an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. Their reign of terror has been overshadowed on the world stage by events elsewhere. Overshadowed but not forgotten, Boko Haram must be stopped, and the girls must be brought home.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4250, the Sunscreen Innovation Act. This legislation will support the important work of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation of Palm Beach County, Florida. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing one American every fifty minutes. Residents of Florida are especially vulnerable to the cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The Sunscreen Innovation Act will help Floridians protect themselves with the latest radiation-blocking sunscreen ingredients. I would like to thank the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation for their tireless work in preventing and detecting skin cancer, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back my time.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 476, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Edith Lederberg, who turns 85 years old in August. Edith is a vibrant member of our community, and a true friend and advocate to senior citizens locally, state-wide, and across the country. Edith has worked for the Aging and Disability Resource Center for 37 years. She currently serves as Executive Director, a position she has held since 1986. As Executive Director, she plans, coordinates, and directs senior programming and advocates on behalf of seniors at the local, state, and national level. She also raises financial resources to support programs for Older Americans residing in Broward County. Ms. Lederberg has been recognized for her dedication several times over the course of her successful career, including her selection as a Media Representative and then as a Regular Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. She served as President of the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and as Vice Chair of Broward's Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board for almost 18 years. She has been elected to the Broward Women's Hall of Fame and the Broward Senior Hall of Fame. These are just a few from her long list of accomplishments. Ms. Lederberg was born in Freeport, New York and she has three children and four grandchildren. She is a truly exceptional woman and I know I join with her friends and family in celebrating her birthday. I wish her good health and continued success in the coming year.