Lois Frankel

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in strong opposition to this farm bill rule and underlying bill because it cruelly takes food away from poor children, the elderly, and the disabled.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. My, my, my, Mr. Speaker. Jade Andrushka is a Palm Beach State College student with big dreams and a small bank account. Her mother is a hospice social worker, has solely supported Jade while paying back her own student loans for over 20 years so that she and her daughter could have a better life. Well, Mr. Speaker, July 1 has come and gone, and the Federal student loan rates have doubled, making college more expensive for millions of American families, including Jade and her mom, who now face two generations of loans. Mr. Speaker, it takes a simple fix by Congress to do the right thing, reverse this excessive rate hike, and clear the path to one of the most important pathways to American prosperity--a college education. My, my, my, Mr. Speaker. Can't we all work together to get this done?

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Compass, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) of Palm Beach County for their 25th anniversary and for their continued advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community. On Saturday, June 29, Compass will hold its annual Stonewall Ball, a party that attracts over 1,000 attendees each year. This ball connects public leaders and elected officials with members of the LGBT community, an essential step in creating opportunities for LGBT citizens of South Florida to participate in public life. Since its inception, Compass has acted as a true champion of the LGBT community. As the largest gay and lesbian community center in Florida, Compass is visited by more than 25,000 individuals each year. It provides social and health-related support groups for LGBT people and case workers who help obtain treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS. Compass also organizes the Pride Business Alliance, a group that promotes gay-owned and gay-friendly local businesses. In honor of Compass GLCC's 25th anniversary, I am proud to recognize the entire Compass community for their achievements in promoting awareness and sensitivity to LGBT issues in South Florida.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Boca Raton Community High School Science Olympiad team and their incredible achievements in the 2013 National Science Olympiad Tournament. The team has won the Southeast Regional Championship in each of its five years in existence, as well as three consecutive Florida State Championships. This year, the National Tournament happened to occur on the same day as graduation. Six graduating seniors chose to miss the ceremony in order to represent their school, demonstrating their extraordinary commitment and leading the team to a top 25 national ranking. Two team members, Montita Sowapark and Brian Lopez, followed their 2012 national first place ranking in the ``Water Quality'' event with an outstanding second place finish, emphasizing the amazing scientific talent at the high school. Once again, I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the remarkable Boca Raton Community High School Science Olympiad team, and I look forward to their continued success. To the seniors, I wish the best of luck in college and all their future endeavors.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased today to recognize a remarkable high school student who was recently named the ``Young Entrepreneur of the Year'' by the National Federation of Independent Business. At age 14, Shea Gouldd made a cheesecake that caused a sensation in her neighborhood. One cheesecake led to another, and Shea's bakery was born in Delray Beach, Florida. Today, Shea is a successful small business owner and a standout student, balancing calculus and chemistry at Spanish River High School with measuring cups and mixing bowls at her bakery. Headed to college at Washington University this fall, we cannot wait to see the next great step for this young entrepreneur's career. Congratulations, Shea, on your well-deserved recognition. You have made your family and community proud and we wish you the very best.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Viola Condo of West Palm Beach, Florida, who turns 100 years old on July 7, 2013. Viola immigrated to this country from Italy in 1920, when she was 7 years old, and she has lived in the Sunshine Park Community of West Palm Beach since 1976. A member of Saint Juliana's Parish Church, Viola is active in the community. She still sings with the Church Choir. She has also knitted 526 children's sweaters for World Vision, an organization dedicated to reducing world poverty and hunger. Viola is truly an exceptional woman whom I am proud to represent in Florida's 22nd District. I know I join with her friends and family in celebrating this wonderful milestone. I wish her good health and continued success in the coming year.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Lake Worth, Florida, a diverse and vibrant city in my district. Since its incorporation on June 4th, 1913, Lake Worth has grown into a lively community of 36,000 people. Currently under the leadership of Mayor Pam Triolo, Lake Worth is a world-class tourist destination. It boasts one of the longest municipal piers on Florida's Atlantic Coast, a unique downtown, and over 1,000 historical buildings. Lake Worth is also home to the Palm Beach County Cultural Center, which has delighted art-lovers and patrons of all ages since its founding in 1978. Founded by former slaves, Lake Worth is one of the most diverse cities in Florida. Today, it boasts over 50 different nationalities. Its rich cultural history continues to promote a sense of hard work, diversity, and inclusiveness. In honor of Lake Worth's centennial anniversary, I am proud to recognize this dynamic community for their past successes and wish them a bright and prosperous future.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my, my, my; talk about pain. There's lots of pain in our country--mothers and fathers are out of work, losing homes, bills piling up--but here we go again: another day in Congress being squandered as we fight once more about women having access to the medical care we need, free from the long, invasive arm of government. And again, there's a cruel unconstitutional twist. Under the newly minted H.R. 1797, a woman in desperate need of a physician must instead call the police. Mr. Speaker, the American people know that there's a better way to protect life. Allow women to have access to the health care that we require to live full lives, and let's work together in a bipartisan manner to get people back to work in this country.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I am the mother of a United States marine war veteran, and I remember well the pride my son felt when he put on his uniform. My constituent, Elisha Morrow, felt the same pride when at age 22 she joined the United States Coast Guard. She started boot camp full of hope for her future. That hope quickly turned into humiliation and sorrow as her company commander became her enemy. First, he ordered her to clean his office, and he later harassed her with sexual innuendoes and advances night after night. Feeling hopeless and fearing retribution, Elisha stayed silent until the commander became more emboldened. He again ordered another female recruit to his office at night. This time, he ordered her to remove her clothes and engage in unwanted sex. Thankfully, the victimized servicewoman was brave enough to pursue charges, but because it was determined that she was not under physical threat and that she did not fear for her life, her assailant got away with the lesser offenses of cruelty and maltreatment and adultery, instead of being charged with rape. This is not full justice. When our daughters and our sons put on the uniform to protect us, the United States, they must be protected to the utmost extent from such an abuse of power. Mr. Chair, the intention of this amendment is to do just that.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to join many of my colleagues who came to the floor yesterday to recognize that this coming Monday, June 10, is the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act being signed into law. With that said, even after 50 years, we're still waging the same battle for women. The historic anniversary is a reminder that there's much work to be done to close the wage gap. Equal pay for equal work is about fairness for women and families and dollars and common sense. For working mothers who have to put food on the table, and the retired women whose income is tied to their former salary, the wage gap means real dollars. In south Florida, if the wage gap were eliminated, a working woman would have enough money for 51 more weeks of food, 3 months of mortgage and utility payments, or 5 months of rent, or more than 1,600 additional gallons of gas. Mr. Speaker, whether you serve customers in a local retail store, or argue cases before the highest court, you have a right to be treated with fairness and dignity.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Madam Chair, Jeff Calaicovo is a military veteran living with his loving wife in Ft. Lauderdale. He is an American hero who received two Purple Hearts for his courage and service during the Vietnam War. Jeff fought for, and suffered for this country, spending five months in a burn ward as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange. Today, Jeff suffers from PTSD, loss of hearing and other medical complications that should be covered by his veterans' benefits. But our claims system failed him. Jeff first initiated his claim in May 2011. Until his case was brought to my office's attention, he had made little progress towards receiving the benefits he deserves. My staff worked with Jeff over many months so that he finally will begin receiving his benefits after waiting nearly two years. Sadly, Jeff's story is not unique. The average wait time for claims processing is 292 days with some regional offices averaging 450 days. Having just returned from visiting our service men and women in Afghanistan, and as the mother of a Marine veteran, I know first-hand the sacrifices our troops make for our freedoms. Our veterans have fought for this country and it is time we fight for them. That is why I have joined my colleagues in enacting a number of measures that will help eliminate the veterans' claims backlog once and for all, in H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014. These measures include finally requiring the DOD and the VA to move towards one integrated electronic system, requiring more frequent reporting to Congress on the status of claims processing, and boosting VA funding to allow for 94 new claims processors to tackle head on the disability claims backlog. I am confident these new measure will put us on the road towards eliminating an unacceptable problem that has neglected our America heroes.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, higher education has always been the pathway to economic prosperity in this country. In fact, a Georgetown University study--my alma mater--shows that a college graduate earns over $1 million more over a lifetime than a non-graduate. Yet, today our college students are graduating with debt despair instead of job security. That's why Barbara Malloy called my office. She's a single mom, an elementary school teacher. She's got a son, James, in his freshman year of college. She is very, very worried that she's not going to be able to afford to keep her son in college because they're racking up tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Mr. Speaker, that's why I oppose today's plan. I think we have to do better. We need to find a way to reduce the cost of college, not raise the cost of college, and I hope that we can in a bipartisan way do a better job.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Noreen Salah Burpee on winning the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Ms. Burpee is an outstanding member of our community, and I am proud to represent her in Florida's 22nd District. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor recognizes American immigrants who make extraordinary contributions to the community, and Ms. Burpee has certainly earned this distinction. As the executive director of The Salah Foundation, she helps distribute millions of dollars to small nonprofits nationwide, while helping those nonprofits maximize their funds and fulfill their missions. Many of the Salah Foundation's beneficiaries are right here in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. For example, she worked with nonprofit Broward Health Systems, helping them mobilize more than $1 million to improve cancer-treatment facilities and marketing efforts. In honor of her Ellis Island Medal of Honor, I am proud to recognize Noreen Salah Burpee for her amazing achievements and wish her continued success in her endeavors.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Debbie Zelman, a truly inspiring woman from South Florida. Five years ago, Ms. Zelman was a successful attorney, wife, and mother, when she heard those life shattering words that she was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer. The doctor gave her only a 50/50 chance to live after one year and only a four percent chance to live after five years. It's been four years now, and I am proud to say Debbie is with us today, beating the odds every day. Debbie is not alone in her struggle against stomach cancer. This terrible disease is the most common form of cancer in the world. Every year in America, 21,000 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in this country. After receiving her diagnosis, Debbie was frustrated to find little information on her disease and fewer options for treatment and support. Fortunately, she persevered and got treatment. Today, she is not only a cancer survivor, she is an advocate. In 2009, she founded Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer, which provides a voice for the victims of this under-recognized and under-funded disease. Initially working in South Florida, Debbie's Dream has grown into a national organization that provides support and awareness for patients and their families. During their 4th Annual Night of Laugher, Debbie's Dream raised $21,000 for stomach cancer research. In honor of her inspiring fight against cancer and her tireless advocacy, I am pleased to recognize Debbie Zelman and wish her continued success in this important endeavor.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to place in the Congressional Record the names of six phenomenal women who have positively influenced the lives of the people of my hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida: Sheri Brooks, Renee Kessler and Ilene Silber, dynamic educators who have devoted their lives to the future of the youth of our community; Sherry Hyman, an exceptional lawyer who has helped shape our county's physical environment; Mona Reis, a courageous crusader for women's health and reproductive rights; and Young Song, a brilliant architect whose projects bring joy to thousands of visitors each year. Best yet, these phenomenal women have beautiful hearts and remarkable children.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record opposing the GOP's uncaring Mother's Day gift-- more work and less pay for working moms. Happy Mother's Day.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that on Sunday, Vietnam war veteran Raymond Clark Thompson's name is being added to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall where he will be remembered for his valiant service in the Army and extraordinary sacrifice for our country. A native of Indiana and the oldest of six children, Ray served in the Vietnam War as a radio specialist. Mr. Speaker, I would like to waive my time, and I will try again in a few minutes.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, 46 years ago today 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. That is why Jews across my home District in South Florida today are celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day. In synagogues and community centers from Palm Beach, to Boca Raton, to Ft. Lauderdale, and indeed around the world, Jews are rejoicing with song, dance, and prayer, while also commemorating the solemn sacrifice of hundreds of Israeli soldiers whose lives were cut short in the Battle for Jerusalem. Jerusalem has been the heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years. Through centuries of exile, Jerusalem remained the focal point of Jewish aspiration. In fact, Jews have always prayed toward the Western Wall regardless of where they stood 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. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend my remarks.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that on Sunday, the Vietnam War veteran, Raymond Clark Thompson's name is being added to the Vietnam War Memorial wall, where he will be remembered for his valiant service in the Army and the extraordinary sacrifice for our country. A native of Indiana and the oldest of six children, Ray served in the Vietnam War as a radio specialist. On June 6, 1969, rockets were fired into Raymond's base camp, causing shrapnel to explode into his body from head to toe as he showered. Despite suffering severe wounds, Raymond, at age 21, persevered and went on to have a full life, later marrying his wife, Patricia, and fathering three children. And he later worked as a health technician in the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, my hometown, where he gave back to veterans like himself. Sadly, he fell ill in recent years to old war injuries and passed in October of 2010. With Raymond's name joining all the other valiant men and women at the Vietnam War Memorial, we're reminded every day of the bravery of the men and women who serve in our military and who are willing to sacrifice their lives for our own freedoms.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Today, I rise to say congratulations to the student inventors at Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Florida. They were recently recognized for designing and creating a bicycle that serves as an emergency water sanitation system. After a natural disaster, the bicycle can be transported to the scene to filter contaminated water for E. coli and other pathogens. It can be assembled and taken apart in less than 1 hour, and it can produce enough water to hydrate 20 to 30 people for a 15-hour period. These students first got the idea from unsanitary conditions in Haiti, and they have devoted countless hours to bringing this to life, and they even received a $10,000 grant from MIT. Their work ethic, creativity, and dedication to making this world a better place is an inspiration to all of us. So, again, congratulations to the student inventors of Northeast High School in Broward County, Florida; and my best wishes to all of them in the future.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor seventy- one high school seniors in Florida's 22' District who have decided to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. Of these seventy-one, nine have joined the Army; their names are the following: Alexander Meyer, Cory Warr, Steven Britt, Victoria Danielson, Evan Giarritta, Brenela Good, Richard Ramos, David Vogelsong, Diego Gonzalez. Nineteen have joined the Navy; their names are the following: Tatiana Parra, Kethleen Souza, Kassondra Uhl, Michael Hamlin II, Alex Riebman, Kevin Sanchez Villalba, Angevens Eugene, Falon Murray, Nathaniel Hopkins, Jose Colon, Camille Grant, Tylar McCranie, Bryant Ruano, Michael Tesch, Taylor Wachtel, Dandy Barrios, Celines Ocasio, Andrea Castillo, Anthony Celenie. Thirty-eight have joined the Marines; their names are the following: Alexander Field, Christian Garcia, Cody Kruse, David Munoz, Devon Genova, Diana Bustamante, Felipe Moresco, Guilson Godinez, Henry Villatoro, Joshua Carter, Kevin Nguyen, Lucas Ferreira, Austin Pastor, Cameron Kelley, Craig Baumann, Erik Littlefield, John Angeles, Kyle Stewart, Lucas Tavares, Paul Louis Curd, Yira Medina, Anna Dolmany, Lorena Guimaraes, Alma Castillo, Brian Abreu, Edwin Garcia-Gonzalez, Erik Mendez Aguilar, Evan Stimely, Garrett Marshall, Israel Manuel-Pedro, Jonathan Villalba, Junior Jayseus, Kevin Bradlow, Kyle Marciulonis, Manuel Gonzales, Melissa Gunther, Christian Matute, Iridian Maldonado. Four have joined the Air Force; their names are the following: Paul Girao, Brianna Dipasquale, Stephen Favreau, and Lee Golladay. 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 Twenty-Second 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, I rise today to celebrate Florence ``Flossy'' Keesely of Boca Raton, Florida, who turns 99 years old today. Flossy is a vibrant and active member of our community. In addition to her work championing the arts in Boca Raton, she is active in many local charities. She is truly an exceptional woman who I am proud to represent in Florida's 22nd District. I know I join with her friends and family in celebrating this wonderful milestone. I wish her good health and continued success in the coming year.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Thank you very much, Mr. Schneider. Tonight, we have had a very good, I think, discussion here because in Israel, as we speak, Israelis dressed in blue and white flood the streets for ceremonies and parties to celebrate all that Israel has accomplished. And what a lesson we have learned because even in our sadness in our hearts tonight for the people in Boston, we can learn from Israel the resilience of how to come back from tragedy. I thank both of you, Mr. Schneider and Mr. Murphy, for reminding us that Israel is not just to be known for a place of trouble and conflict. They have developed some of the leading universities in the world, boast the highest ratio of university degrees to population. And as Mr. Murphy mentioned, it is oft been labeled ``the start-up nation'' for its remarkably advanced entrepreneurial economy and is among the world's leaders in high-tech industry and is at the forefront of research and development in the field of renewable energy sources. And most incredibly, even as Israel struggles to protect and care for its own population, Israel regularly sends humanitarian aid, search and rescue teams, mobile hospitals, and other emergency supplies to help victims of disasters around the world. We know that Israel has its share of difficulties, as every country does; but despite the current impasse for the peace process, the majority of Israelis continue to show support for a two-state solution. So as we conclude tonight, I want to say that I know on a personal note, as a mother of a combat veteran, I know too well the pain and fear and lying awake at night wondering if your child will come home safe. That's the feeling that parents in Israel often have. That is the reason I know that I will work with Mr. Schneider, Mr. Engel, Ms. Schakowsky, and the rest of my colleagues here in what I am so happy to say is a bipartisan way to strengthen the United States-Israel relationship. With that, Mr. Speaker, I just want to say happy birthday to the State of Israel. I yield back the balance of my time.