Lois Frankel

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, south Florida has a booming marine industry, from our huge freighters to our Sunday boaters, generating over $8.9 billion a year to our local economy. So I am very proud to join with Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kristy Hebert, owner of Ward's Marine Electric, in trying to fix a problem. Businesses like Kristy's have to pay upward of $200,000 a year for providing recreational boat services, the same as companies that are providing services to 100,000-ton petroleum vessels. Obviously, the risks are different, and so H.R. 3896 is going to fix this problem. Workers are still going to be protected, and at an affordable cost for the employers.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Florida State Chapter of the U.S. Air Force Association (AFA) in celebration of its 50th anniversary. On Saturday, July 26, the AFA will hold its annual state conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. It is a privilege to represent constituents who are so deeply committed to the education, advocacy, and support necessary to maintain America's dominance in aerospace that helps keep our Nation secure. From issuing scholarships and supporting STEM programs in elementary schools, to restoring and preserving Air Force fighter aircrafts, Florida's AFA chapter has been a tremendous advocate in the South Florida community. I am proud to recognize the Florida Chapter and the entire AFA community for their achievements in promoting aerospace power and enhancing aerospace and science education for South Florida's next generation of leaders.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Steven Curran for his 23 years of service with the United States Navy and congratulate him on his retirement. Chief Curran currently serves with the Navy Medicine National Capital Area as the Senior Enlisted Leader for both the Navy Medical Support Detachment and the Human Resources Department of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During his time with the Navy, he received three Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, Surface Warfare designation, the Command Career Counselor badge, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various other unit and campaign medals. His legacy of service also extends to the community, where, for decades, he has been involved in everything from acting as the President of the NHCQ Chief Petty Officer Association, to being a volunteer mentor in a high school student ministry. After 20 years, Chief Curran is still happily married to the former Dawn LaPere, and they have two children. Emma, their first child, is eight years old and their son Sam will be two in September. After Chief Curran retires, the family will move to Savannah, GA where Chief Curran will be the Small Groups Pastor at Savannah Christian Church. In honor of his years of commitment and sacrifice for his country, I am pleased to recognize Chief Steven Curran and offer my best wishes in his retirement from the U.S. Navy.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last month, I joined colleagues on a trip to Nigeria. The focus of our journey was the kidnapping of 270 innocent young girls at the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists. It has been 90 days since their taking from their school, their families, off to conditions unimaginable. So I once again rise and urge the Nigerian Government to do everything possible to negotiate the return of these beautiful children of humanity. We have not forgotten. We will not forget. Bring the girls home.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Polis. Madam Speaker, I rise, like my colleague Mr. Kennedy, to urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question so that we can discuss a matter that is very urgent to the women of this country. The most blessed moment of my life was the birth of my son, Ben. His life has brought me great joy as well as great responsibilities. The decision to bring Ben into the world was a private decision, made by his father and me. We didn't call our Congressman, and we didn't call my employer. Now it appears, with the Hobby Lobby case, that the Supreme Court of the United States seems to think that life begins at incorporation. I vehemently disagree. Employers belong in the workplace and not in the doctor's office or in our bedrooms. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the not my boss' business act, which will ban a corporation from using its owner's religious belief to deny health care coverage for contraception. No one should lose access to birth control because her company doesn't approve of it. A woman's family planning decision is not her boss' decision, and it is none of her boss' business.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Rahall. Mr. Speaker, transportation moves our economy, and modern infrastructure is a path to jobs and prosperity. I will vote for this stopgap measure, but I want to echo the words of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have called for a long-term, sustainable fix of our highway trust fund so that the United States of America can compete in the world's market.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to National HIV Testing Day, which takes place on June 27. This day serves as an important opportunity to urge everyone to get tested. I would like to thank all of the advocates, care coordinators, and healthcare providers, both in my community and around the country, for their tireless work in serving the HIV-positive community and raising awareness of HIV issues more generally. There are over one million people of all ages, ethnicities, and sexual orientations in the United States living with the HIV virus, and South Florida has one of the highest HIV infection rates in the country. Sadly, nearly one in six HIV-positive individuals do not know that they are infected, which means that they could be unknowingly spreading the virus. We simply must close this gap so that we may improve health outcomes for those living with HIV and protect against future infections. HIV does not discriminate--it impacts people old and young, gay and straight, and of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. To highlight this critical issue, I will be hosting a call to action in my district. I hope that everyone will take this opportunity to get tested for HIV and to ask their friends and family to do the same. Again I would like to thank the advocates, care coordinators and healthcare providers in South Florida and around the country for their tireless work in preventing, detecting, and treating HIV. I wish them the best as they pursue this daunting but important endeavor.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4631, The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2014. This legislation will reauthorize research and education activities related to autism spectrum disorders, allowing us to continue making progress toward understanding how autism works and assisting those who are impacted by it. Autism affects 70 million families worldwide, and one in 68 children born in the United States. The bill we are considering today will help to give hope to every mother and father whose sweet baby doesn't smile or babble, to the child who rocks obsessively, to the teen locked in his own mind who is shunned by classmates, and to the aging parents who fear for their adult child's care when they are gone. All of these families need our continued support to thrive. I would like to thank Autism Speaks South Florida and all of the advocates who work tirelessly to support autism families and research, and I am glad that this legislation will help them continue their fantastic work. This is a bipartisan effort to fund autism research and help reduce the strains on families dealing with autism. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from a congressional delegation trip to Nigeria, which was both eye-opening and moving. Nigeria is a country of huge possibilities. It is an oil rich nation, the largest in Africa, with a population that will surpass the United States by 2050. It is mired with corrupt political leaders and a weakened police and military, leading to a dire political climate of joblessness in the northeast and giving rise to a terrorist organization of mostly young men called Boko Haram. They burn schools, churches, mosques, and police stations. They rob, steal, kidnap, and murder innocent victims in their path. Their violence has resulted in the deaths of thousands in the last decade. Boko Haram's most notorious activity, which was the focus of our trip, was the recent kidnapping of 270 innocent girls attending school. These girls remain hidden--most likely scattered--and subjected to unimaginable crimes. This kidnapping received international attention for a short time, and then, like the girls, disappeared. While in Nigeria, we met with victims of Boko Haram, as well as political, military, and civic leaders. We learned of the horrific suffering at the hands of Boko Haram and the inability of the corrupt Nigerian government, which is involved in a competitive upcoming election, to stop this violence. Embedded in my mind are the young teen girls who told us harrowing stories of how they escaped Boko Haram terrorists while their friends, tragically, remained behind. We met with a weeping father of one such girl. I will never forget the story of a young mother who witnessed Boko Haram decapitate her husband's head and left her dying in the street with her throat slit. She survived physically, but has been left broken financially and, of course, psychologically. We spent time with a fusion team of Nigerian, U.S., British, and French military law enforcement put together to strategize the return of these girls. Now, Mr. Speaker, some quick observations of mine to a very complicated situation. As I have said before, some crimes against humanity are of the nature that knows no borders and require a response no matter where you live in the world. The kidnapping of 270 girls is such a crime. It cannot be treated just as a flavor of the week that is soon forgotten. That is why the United States and the international community must continue to apply pressure to the Nigerian government to do all it can to negotiate the safe return of these young girls to their families. For those citizens who want to join this fight, I join my colleague Frederica Wilson in asking people in this country and all over the world to tweet using #bringbackourgirls every day at 9 a.m. During our trip, Mr. Speaker, we called upon--and we should continue to call upon--the Nigerian government to set up a relief fund for the victims and the families of Boko Haram for the financial and medical care that they so need. The United States should continue our efforts with the fusion team and quickly respond to the team's request for approval of a strategic plan. Of course, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to advise Nigerian authorities on the need for transparency and honesty and the need to deal with the economic plight of their people and urge a free and fair upcoming election. As I said from the start, Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is a nation of great possibilities. It can one day be a giant economic partner for the United States and her allies, or it can become a safe haven for terrorists. We can keep it on the right path by bringing those girls home.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to highlight an important provision that was included in H.R. 4870, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2015, which could help my constituent, Debbie Zelman, along with thousands of others like her with stomach cancer. Five years ago, Debbie was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer. While the doctor gave her only a 50/50 chance to live after one year, Debbie is still with us, fighting one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Debbie is not alone in her battle. Every year, 21,000 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in this country. To help Debbie and others affected by this horrible cancer, I, along with 57 of my colleagues, requested from the Appropriations Committee that stomach cancer research become eligible for funding through the Defense Department's Peer Reviewed Research Program (PRCRP) for 2015. The PRCRP funds research into eleven cancer types, including blood cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Adding stomach cancer to the list of eligible diseases could make an enormous difference in understanding this under-researched cancer, including its array of risk factors and causes. I'm proud that the House Defense Appropriations bill includes report language to allow stomach cancer research to be funded through this Research Program. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that the Senate passes this important language as well. By taking this step, we will be able to better understand this deadly disease, and, hopefully, get closer to finding a much-needed cure.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Fort Lauderdale for being one of only 10 communities nationwide selected as an All-America City. Established in 1949 by the National Civic League, the All-America City Award recognizes cities and towns across the country for exemplary community-based problem solving and civic engagement efforts that involve public, private, and non-profit entities. I would like to congratulate Mayor Seiler and his staff, Fort Lauderdale's residents, and all its community and business leaders on this accomplishment. Together, you're helping make Fort Lauderdale an outstanding place to live, work, visit, and raise a family.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, Americans are heartbroken by a gun violence tragedy. Since the mass shooting last Friday in Santa Barbara, more than 160 others have lost their lives at the hands of a gun, including an 18- month-old baby who was shot in front of his mother in my hometown of West Palm Beach. This mother will never see her child go to school, graduate from college, walk down the aisle, or hear him say ``I love you, Mom.'' Too many lives have been taken and too many communities have been torn apart. I applaud the House vote yesterday to invest funds to help the States improve submissions to the national background electric system. With that said, we must do much more to expand background checks and strengthen mental health intervention and research. From California to Florida, American families are counting on us--the Congress--to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and keep our children safe.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, once again, Americans are heartbroken by a gun violence tragedy, mourning the students killed in Santa Barbara. Since that mass shooting on Friday, more than 120 others have lost their lives at the hands of a gun, including an 18-month-old who was shot in front of his mother this morning in West Palm Beach. This mother will never see her child go to school, graduate from college, or walk down the aisle--she will never hear him say, ``I love you Mom.'' As a former Mayor of an urban city, I've seen firsthand how gun violence disrupts entire communities and devastates families. Too many lives have been taken. Too many families have lost their daughters and sons, their sisters and brothers. And too many people have endured unimaginable pain and grief caused by senseless acts of gun violence. And, it is unbelievable to me about in the wake of more heartbreaking killings with firearms that the reaction of some in this Congress is to weaken gun laws. That's why I support the Esty amendment to keep strong laws against gun trafficking on the books. Not only should we pass this amendment, we must do much more to improve our national background check system and strengthen mental health intervention and research. From California to Florida, American families are counting on us to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and keep our children safe. With that, Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, across South Florida, and indeed around the world, Jews are celebrating Yom Yerushalayim--Jerusalem Day. It was 47 years ago today that Israel liberated its capital city of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, allowing Jews for the first time in decades to visit Judaism's holiest site, the Western Wall. Israel immediately abolished the discriminatory laws that had previously prevented Jews from entering the Old City and implemented safeguards to ensure Jerusalem serve as a protected place for reflection and prayer for members of all religions. According to the State Department's annual report on International Religious Freedoms, ``[Israel's] 1967 Protection of Holy Sites Law safeguards the holy sites of all religious groups within the country and in Jerusalem.'' Today, Jerusalem has become more than a religious haven. It is a large and expansive city where ancient holy sites are accented by modern innovations. Over four million tourists came to Jerusalem last year alone to witness the city's beauty, enjoy the cuisine, and connect to the land. Jerusalem has been the heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years. Even through centuries of exile, Jerusalem remained the focal point of Jewish aspiration, with Jews praying towards the direction of the Western Wall regardless of where they stand geographically in the world. That is why Israel's founding Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion said in 1947, ``No city in the world, not even Athens or Rome, ever played as great a role in the life of a nation for so long a time, as Jerusalem has done in the life of the Jewish people.''

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House's legislative efforts to combat human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery. The sickening fact is that human trafficking is a big, booming business--trafficking a child for sex is more lucrative than drug trafficking. That 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. This legislation makes many important changes to current law, and would help us provide additional resources to victims, strengthen law enforcement's ability to punish those who purchase sex from minors, and protect girls who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation from being treated as criminals. This bipartisan legislation will help to protect our most vulnerable children, including those in the foster care system, who are victimized through no fault of their own. These children need our help which is why I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this legislation.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, an expansion of the Port of Palm Beach was included in the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act, due to it receiving a timely chief's report. This port shares the Lake Worth Inlet with a popular recreational area known as Peanut Island as well as the internationally renowned town of Palm Beach. Due to this proximity and feared damage to the environment, marine life, and dramatic change in the character of the waterway, the expansion is mired in controversy and a threatened lawsuit. So I want to make it unequivocal that my positive vote for WRRDA is because it moved many, many important infrastructure projects forward for Florida and should not be construed as advocating for the Port of Palm Beach expansion. And I will not support Federal funding unless and until there is a clear community consensus of approval.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, like many Americans, I have been often disappointed with the lack of cooperation in Washington, D.C. So today, I am happy to offer congratulations to the United States House and Senate for this very important bipartisan conference report that when passed and implemented will promote millions of jobs and mean billions of dollars of economic impact for our Nation. As a proud Member of Congress from south Florida, I am especially excited to see the advancement of the widely supported expansion of Port Everglades and the restoration of our most precious wetland known as the Everglades--the source of drinking water for 7 million people. Although the bill is not perfect, we are today living up to the desire of the American people that we work together for the good of our country. With that said, because of the apparent lack of community support for the expansion of the Port of Palm Beach, my vote should not be construed as support for that project. Moving forward, our first priority should be to first do no harm, without degradation of our environment or quality of life. It should be a local community decision as to what uses should dominate the intracoastal waterway in that area and I urge the Port of Palm Beach, Town of Palm Beach, County Commission and other interested stakeholders to come to a joint resolution.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Engel, thank you and Congresswoman Wilson for bringing this resolution. Mr. Speaker, what we have seen take place in Nigeria, the crimes perpetrated by Boko Haram, is simply unthinkable and appalling. There are some crimes against humanity that should not be tolerated regardless of where they occur in the world. The violent kidnapping of over 250 girls for the sole reason that they were seeking an education is one such crime, innocent girls who should be carefree but instead are prisoners enduring the unimaginable. In the 21st century, we cannot let this kind of horror against children go unanswered. First, I want to thank President Obama for sending a multidisciplinary team to Nigeria where they are working with the United Kingdom, France, and Israel to help resolve this crisis. I am proud to support this resolution condemning Boko Haram and calling for continued United States support to return these girls safely to their families and bring these terrorists to justice.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, on Mother's Day, we celebrate the blessings of our moms. In deep appreciation, we give them candy, cards, and beautiful flowers. With that said, what our moms really deserve is an economy where women are given equal pay for equal work. Sadly, today, in the United States of America, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by their male colleagues. So I respectfully suggest that on this Mother's Day we as a Nation commit to pay equity for all, regardless of gender. And to my own mother, I thank you for your zest of life, unwavering encouragement, unconditional love, and your matzo ball soup. Thank you, Mother. Happy Mother's Day.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sally D. Chester, a truly inspiring nurse from my district and recipient of the Palm Beach County Medical Society's 2014 Heroes in Medicine Humanitarian Award. Throughout her career Sally has provided outstanding service to those in her local community. As chair of the Palm Beach County Medical Society, she united physicians in improving the community's health and as president of Leadership Palm Beach County, she educated and united leaders in building a better community. In 2004, when her husband, Don, became a quadriplegic following a devastating accident, she stood by him as his primary caregiver and became involved with service dog training. As a cofounder of Genesis Assistance Dogs and board member of New Horizons Service Dogs, she works to transform the lives of people with disabilities, including our veterans, through the training and placement of assistance dogs. In honor of her inspiring service for our community, I am pleased to recognize Sally D. Chester, R.N., and wish her continued success in all of her endeavors.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tonight's Special Order is meant to honor Israel's 66th Independence Day. Last year, I also had the honor of leading a similar Special Order. Much is made about the contention in the United States Congress. Therefore, it pleases me to say that the security of Israel remains bipartisan in every aspect. I have a number of Members with us tonight who I will yield my time to to celebrate this wonderful occasion. First, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), my colleague, a distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for your articulate and passionate remarks. Now it gives me great pleasure to yield to the very distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), another colleague of mine on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Meadows, for your very moving comments. I appreciate you being here with us tonight. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield to the gentleman from California, Mr. Alan Lowenthal, another one of my distinguished colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee and a fellow first-term Member whom I had the honor of traveling to Israel with our freshman class.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Lowenthal, for your very heartfelt comments. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Israel commemorated Memorial Day to honor the memory of more than 24,000 Israeli men, women, and children who have been killed in terror attacks and wars over the past 66 years. Immediately following Memorial Day Israel transitioned to Independence Day, when Israelis and Jews across the globe celebrate the modern-day revival of the State of Israel. This abrupt transition from the solemn Memorial Day to the celebration of Independence Day embodies the Israel and Jewish narrative of resilience in the face of adversity. We recognize our suffering while we appreciate our survival. Mr. Speaker, as commented by my colleagues who preceded me, the importance of Israel as our best ally in a very unstable region is so significant in this United States Congress that each year the first- term Members take a tour of Israel. We visit leaders and members of civil society. I was honored to be on that trip this summer. When we visited Israel, we saw a nation at the forefront of innovation, science, and technology, a country where booming modernity sits side by side in stark contrast with ancient history. Sixty-six years ago, Israel began as a modest nation of 800,000 people, fighting for its very survival. Today, Israel's population stands at well over 8 million. It is a thriving, liberal democracy, the homeland for the Jewish people, a global economic and high-tech powerhouse, and it maintains the region's most powerful military force; yet, as my colleagues mentioned, Israel still faces threats. For anyone who has ever been to the small Middle Eastern country, you are immediately struck by the proximity of unfriendly or unstable neighbors; the border with Syria, where war has ravaged the country for years, threatening to destabilize the surrounding region; the border with Egypt, where the largest Arab nation faces great uncertainty; then the border with Gaza from an Israeli kibbutz that suffered thousands of rocket attacks. We witnessed, ourselves, how the good people live in fear each day. Of course, there is the perpetual threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. For Israel, an Iran armed with nuclear weapons represents an unimaginable threat. Without even firing a single weapon, Iran would be able to extend its nuclear umbrella to its terrorist proxies across the globe, including to Hamas and Hezbollah, sitting on Israel's doorstep. Even more terrifying, we would see a proliferation of nuclear arsenals throughout the region; yet, even in the face of these threats, Israelis remain optimistic for their future and proud of their national identity. So, tonight, I want to say that we are proud as Israeli allies, and we join them in celebrating their 66th year of independence. Mr. Speaker, I do want to share the story of one of my constituents. His name is Aron Bell. He is 85 years old, and he is a proud Jewish American resident of Palm Beach County. Today, he is celebrating Israeli Independence Day, but this is more than just a celebration for him; it is a memory. Aron Bell was born Aron Bielski. For those of you who may have seen Daniel Craig's blockbuster movie ``Defiance,'' you are familiar with the Bielski brothers--the Jewish partisans who saved over 1,000 Jews from death camps by building a village of defiance in the forest of Nazi-occupied Poland. Aron was the youngest of these brothers depicted in the film. After his traumatic survival during World War II, Aron emigrated to the British Mandate for Palestine, having witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust and having understood the increased urgency for Jewish self- determination. In 1948, when Israel declared its independence and was immediately attacked by five surrounding Arab nations, Aron fought in order to protect the Israelis' dream of independence. Aron's journey, though remarkable, is not unique. The story of the Jewish people is riddled with triumph and tragedy. Israel's national anthem, called Hatikvah--meaning ``the hope''--sings of the 2,000-year- old dream to be free in a land of our own. After centuries of pogroms, inquisitions, and genocide, the dream has been realized in the establishment of the State of Israel. I know I speak for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle tonight when I say we celebrate the independence--the birth--of the great State of Israel; and we are here to protect and secure Israel for eternity. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.