Gwen Graham

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am so very fortunate to have grown up in a family dedicated to public service. I watched and learned from my father as he served as a State legislator, Florida's Governor, and as a United States Senator, and from my mother who worked tirelessly as an advocate for students and seniors. Together, they were a team that always put Florida first. Following in their footsteps, I served my community as a PTA volunteer, and I worked for my local school district. While I was happy to serve, I never planned to follow in my father's footsteps into politics. But as our country became more divided, my thoughts began to change. Like so many Americans, I was disappointed to see our Nation's civil discourse deteriorate to shouting matches on cable news and gridlock in government. In 2013, I decided to run for office with my own message and my own mission: to bring back civility, to work with both parties to actually get things done, and to always put the people of Florida first. I ran for office to bring the north Florida way to Washington. Almost 4 years after making that decision, I am proud to say we have had many successes in our own mission. After winning my election, I immediately began reaching out to my Florida colleagues, Republicans and Democrats. I am proud to say that those friendships have paid off to the benefit of Florida. We were able to recruit almost the entire State delegation to support our Apalachicola Bay Restoration Act. I cosponsored legislation with Congressman Patrick Murphy to protect the Everglades and with Congressman David Jolly to ban oil drilling off the coast of Florida. I asked to serve on the committees that were most important to my district--the Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee. On the Armed Services Committee we were able to make substantial legislative gains. We were able to amend the National Defense Authorization Act with initiatives to protect programs that helped Florida's economy, create jobs, and strengthen our national security, as well as the work we have done to improve our relationship with Israel, including authorizing a joint anti-tunneling program to fight terrorism and to protect both of our countries' borders. On the House Agriculture Committee, I work closely with farmers across the State. I will never forget our 14-county north Florida farm tour, where I tried my own hand at planting peanuts and even pregnancy checked a cow. I am so proud of the work we did to bring the U.S. Department of Agriculture Strike Force program to Florida, which will help rural counties to protect their communities, to grow their economies, and to create jobs. While we have had many successes in Washington, I am even more proud of the work we have accomplished in Florida. Our focus on constituent services and cutting through bureaucratic redtape has paid off. We have helped return almost $2 million in benefits owed to Florida seniors and families, including more than half-a-million dollars to veterans. While the numbers are impressive, the stories behind them are what really count. Stories like Kenneth McCray, a Vietnam veteran who was denied benefits by the VA until our office stepped in to help. In every vote and in every way, we always put the people of Florida first. While working in Congress, the people of north Florida have never let me down. I have felt their love and support in each hug, whether at a press conference or along a parade route. I have witnessed their compassion after Hurricane Hermine, when neighbors helped neighbors clear debris and sheltered those in need. I have seen local leaders put partisanship aside to fight for our communities. We call this the north Florida way, but we don't have a monopoly on that spirit. It is the essence of the American spirit. I have witnessed a bit of it here in Washington. Between campaigns and commercial breaks, I have seen that Republicans and Democrats can actually like one another. If we can begin talking to each other again instead of shouting at each other, we can move our country forward in a way that helps every American. So, as I prepare to leave Congress, I offer up this parting advice to new and veteran Members. Take the time to form friendships, put partisanship aside, and always put the people you represent first. Now that I have shared this advice, I would like to end my speech by saying thank you. Thank you to my committed staff, my family, and, most importantly, I want to thank the people of north Florida's Second Congressional District. I am so thankful to them for giving me the opportunity to serve. Running for Congress and serving in the House has been an enriching experience with many workdays, possum festivals, and parades along the way. I am sad it is coming to an end, but this moment is bittersweet. I will always treasure the friendships and experience I have gained in Congress. I know that as this chapter closes, another opens, and I will continue to serve my community and the people of Florida for as long as I am able.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak out against hate. Across our country, incidents of hate crimes and harassment are on the rise. Just this last week, the trend reared its ugly head in my hometown of Tallahassee. A community office was vandalized with the letters KKK painted across the door. With the rise in hate, we have also seen an increase in indifference. Too many are turning a blind eye. But there can be no tolerance for racism, bigotry or anti-Semitism in the United States of America. The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference. I won't be indifferent. I won't be silent. I am asking each of you to speak out against acts of hate wherever you see them. We cannot be bullied or intimidated. We must fight back. Together, we are stronger than any hatred.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with deep disappointment that the Rules Committee didn't make in order any of my amendments to improve the management and health of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers. Floridians are incredibly frustrated that the Apalachicola River is dying because of mismanagement and overuse upstream. Just this year, it was named one of the country's most endangered rivers. Two years ago, in a rare show of collaboration and bipartisanship on this very issue, Members from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, agreed to language that actually acknowledged the mismanagement and encouraged the States to stop the arguing and work together to find a solution. What a novel concept, but even that tiny compromise is being stricken in this bill. We have an egregious problem that my amendment would have fixed, and this Congress won't even allow it to be discussed. I am well aware that other States involved in this issue have a lot at stake. It is infuriating that other States won't recognize what is at risk in Florida. There are people all over the country, even some of you in this Congress, who spend time in the region and enjoy the Apalachicola's beauty and resources. It is shameful and shortsighted that we are letting it die because of politics and dysfunction in this House.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Florida is well known for the best tasting orange juice that I am fortunate to have grown up drinking, and we sell that orange juice across our great country. But today, our citrus farmers and orange industry are experiencing a crisis unparalleled to anything we have seen in the last century. Citrus greening--an invasive disease that ravages citrus plants--has steadily taken its toll on Florida citrus, and it is spreading to other States, too. That is why I am proud to support the Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act, which would allow citrus growers to deduct the cost of replacing lost or damaged citrus plants from their taxes. This Congress must work together across party lines to do all we can to help Florida's orange and citrus farmers. This legislation will help them afford the new trees they need to restore our citrus crop so we can all keep drinking the best orange juice ever.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for loaning me her lei and hosting this Special Order in honor of our colleague and friend, the late Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii. I was fortunate to develop a very close friendship with Mark, as we were part of the same freshman class elected in 2014, and sat next to each other on the House Armed Services Committee. In the panhandle of Florida, the area I represent, we have an attitude toward life we call ``The North Florida Way.'' It means we care about public service, we take care of our neighbors, and we do what is right. And even though the panhandle is about 5,000 miles from Hawaii, The North Florida Way is a lot like the aloha spirit. As we have learned here today, Congressman Takai embodies the aloha spirit. As a public servant, he stands as a role model for all of us. He first ran for public office at 27 years old, and served 10 years in the Hawaii House of Representatives before coming to Congress. At the same time, he was also serving in the Hawaii National Guard, where, over 17 years, he earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mark cared about his neighbors, representing the people of his State with distinction, and always cared about those around him, as a father, a husband, a friend, and a colleague. Sitting next to him in committee, he would always greet me with a smile and a warm aloha. He cared about doing what was right, especially for his fellow servicemembers in the military. As we remember Congressman Takai today, I hope we all continue to honor his memory and aloha spirit throughout the end of our own service. Let's all honor him by practicing a little more of the aloha spirit every day. Let's remember to represent our constituents, to care about each other, and to do what is right. That is what Mark always did, and that is what he would want us to do. Mark was a role model for us all, in and out of Congress. Our thoughts, prayers, and love are with his family.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in support of the bilateral military aid package agreed upon by our Nation and the State of Israel this week. Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, faces threats from all sides: shells from Syria are landing in the Golan Heights; Hamas terrorists are stockpiling weapons in Gaza; Hezbollah fighters are gathering in Lebanon; and ISIL is fighting for control of the Sinai. Yet, surrounded by this chaos and terror, Israel is still dedicated to democracy, liberty, and justice--the same ideals we live by as Americans. This is why our relationship is so strong and why we must continue to support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. This aid agreement makes it crystal clear to our enemies and allies that we are unwavering in our support for Israel and will help defend them against all who threaten their sovereignty.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Whereas, city government is the government closest to most citizens, and the one with the most direct daily impact upon its residents; and Whereas, city government is administered for and by its citizens, and is dependent upon public commitment to and understanding of its many responsibilities; and Whereas, city government officials and employees share the responsibility to pass along their understanding of this level of government and the importance of volunteerism; and Whereas, Florida City Government Week is a very important time to recognize the important role played by city government in our lives; and Whereas, this week offers an important opportunity to spread the word to all the citizens of Florida that they can shape and influence this branch of government and also shape their communities through volunteer efforts; and Whereas, the Florida League of Cities and its member cities have joined together to teach students and other citizens about municipal government through a variety of different projects, volunteer opportunities and information; and Whereas, Florida City Government Week offers an important opportunity to convey to all the citizens of Florida that they can shape and influence government through their civic involvement and positively impact lives by volunteering. Now, therefore, I, Congresswoman Gwen Graham, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing October 16-22, 2016 as City Government Week in Florida and I encourage our citizens to help celebrate this week by learning more about city government, and all levels of government, and by volunteering in their respective communities.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. I thank Congressman Jolly, and I thank Congressman Deutch very much for arranging this tonight. It means a lot. I feel the same anxiety just being as close to the larvae as others feel, and I might just ask that the gentleman keeps them in the jar. Madam Speaker, let me talk about my home State of Florida. I was born and raised in south Florida. I think, right around now, the Sun is probably setting in south Florida. The weather is nice. It is 80 degrees. The sky is that beautiful pink that we get. Vacationing tourists are strolling along the beach or are enjoying dinner on a patio. Somewhere--I know this--there is a dad outside who is grilling steaks, and moms are watching soccer practice. That is our life. That is our life in the beautiful State of Florida. It is like a lot of other places around this country except, right now in Florida, families are scared. I have thought about the gentleman and Laura, and I understand that fear. Families are scared because, as the Sun sets, the mosquitoes are coming out. For all of our lives we have lived with mosquitoes. It is part of our life in Florida, but now they are more than a nuisance. Now they are a deadly threat. We are scared because there is a deadly virus spreading. Parents are scared that, if their children are bitten, they could get terribly sick. Seniors are scared that, if they catch the disease, they may not survive. Pregnant women are scared that they will wake up one morning with a mosquito bite and that it may cause the children inside them to be born with terrible birth defects. My daughter would be appalled for me to say this, but she is 25. She doesn't live in Florida right now. I hope she will move back, but the risk of pregnancy right now would not be one that I would want her to take. So this is the new normal in Florida. More than 600 people in Florida have been infected with the Zika virus. Almost 100 pregnant women in Florida have been infected. We have been sounding the alarm for months, haven't we, Congressman Jolly? I have come on this floor to ask for funding to fight the disease. I led a letter with more than 120 Democrats that asked Speaker Ryan to have a vote on full funding to fight the disease. I did a workday with the local mosquito control team in Bay County, and I have asked my constituents in north Florida to do their part to fight off the spreading disease. I ask again--particularly now, following Hermine, as we have had a lot of water in our area--to please go out and make sure that you dump any standing water. I am really proud of all that we are doing as Floridians to try and stop the spread of Zika in Florida. Florida State University is researching the virus and making important breakthroughs. Local municipalities are spraying. Ordinary people, as I said, are dumping standing water out of their yard. We are doing our part in Florida. Now, it is time for Congress to act and do their part as well. Madam Speaker, yesterday I joined a bipartisan letter with Florida Republicans and Democrats who are asking for one simple thing: Give us a vote on a clean bill that would fully fund the fight against Zika. Give us a vote on a clean bill that would fully fund the fight against Zika. This is a public health emergency. Just as important, let's give scientists the certainty they need to research and develop a vaccine for Zika, and this could take several years. Prematurely cutting off resources before the vaccine is ready could be just as dangerous as not providing enough money today. I spoke with the scientists. As they develop vaccines, they go through different trial stages. Ethically, you can't start a vaccine study, ask people to participate, and then say: ``Never mind. Our funding has dried up. You are not going to be able to continue.'' That is not something that we could do. Our delegation has shown that Republicans and Democrats have come together on this issue, and I believe that the entire Congress can as well. There are Republicans and Democrats in States along the Gulf Coast-- Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana--who will come together and support full funding because their constituents are at risk, too. I am still holding out hope that Speaker Ryan will be able to support full funding to fight this deadly virus. Time is running out. It is time to put partisanship aside and vote on full funding to fight this horrific disease, Zika. We must all come together to make sure that the resources are there for mosquito control and for vaccine production.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, more than 250,000 people were without power. Ten-foot storm surges destroyed homes. Lives were lost. This is what my hometown and north Florida has experienced in the past week as a result of Hermine, the first hurricane to strike Florida in 11 years. It was one of the worst storms ever to hit north Florida, but throughout all the devastation and destruction, we also witnessed community, kindness, and love, or what I like to call the north Florida way. Organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army sheltered and fed those in need. Churches opened their doors to those suffering, and neighbors took in neighbors to help give them respite and relief from the heat. Mr. Speaker, it will take weeks and months for us to recover from this storm, but today I want to recognize and thank all organizations, volunteers, workers, and people who have helped us all in our time of need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are truly grateful.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Murphy for yielding. I appreciate this opportunity of speaking for the same purpose I spoke to about an hour ago, but a different amendment. I would just like to say, living in north Florida, I have seen firsthand the devastation that the BP oil spill created for our coastal communities. There are communities in my district that have still not recovered. I support energy independence, but Florida's beaches add billions of dollars to our economy. Drilling off our coast is not worth the risk to our environment or our economy. This amendment reaffirms the current drilling ban by preventing seismic testing off Florida's beaches. I am proud to support it with my fellow Floridians in a bipartisan nature, and I hope my colleagues will join us in protecting Florida's beaches.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chair, as I previously said, the purpose of this is to strengthen the ban. And, again, I was on the beaches following the BP oil spill and saw the tar washing up on the shores. I am proud to represent many military installations in the State of Florida and in north Florida, and they don't wish to have this either for training purposes for our military. I would like to just reiterate this is something that, in a bipartisan nature, has been approved of. It was just approved last year, and I would just like to respectfully request that it be approved again this year by voice vote. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chair, I would like to recognize my colleagues, Mr. Jolly and Mr. Clawson, who are my good friends and cosponsors of this amendment. Second, I would also like to remind my colleagues that this amendment passed by voice during last year's debate, and I am hopeful we can do the same again this year. As many of my colleagues know from across the country, who have visited Florida at some point and have enjoyed our beautiful beaches, sunshine, water, white sand--and I don't mean to brag, but we really do live in a paradise. That is why for years we have fought oil drilling off of our beaches, and, thankfully, the Federal Government has listened to the people of Florida and banned drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This amendment would strengthen that ban and our commitment to protect Florida's beaches by prohibiting exploration and testing for oil in the eastern Gulf. Our military opposes it, conservationists oppose it, and Florida's tourism industry opposes it. I am proud to work with Mr. Jolly and Mr. Clawson on this important amendment for Florida, and I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this amendment to protect Florida's Gulf beaches. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I will just close by reminding my colleagues that this has been a longstanding, bipartisan consensus that, for military as well as economic reasons, should be strengthened, and we should not be drilling in the eastern Gulf. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jolly), I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Noel ``Christy'' Nolta on the occasion of her recent selection as Deputy Director of Staff for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Ms. Nolta has excelled in both civilian service and as a colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Most recently, Ms. Nolta served as Deputy Director of Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. She also excelled in her reserve duty as Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Public Affairs for the Secretary of the Air Force. Ms. Nolta has given much to this Nation through her dedicated and selfless service. After graduation from her dream school--Virginia Tech--she answered the calling to join the Air Force and departed for Hahn Air Base in Germany. She started her career as an adjutant in a fighter squadron, was quickly recognized for her talent, and selected to serve as the 50th Tactical Wing Executive Officer. Her dedication and skills landed her in the 513th Airborne Command and Control Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England as a Command Post Controller and then Tactical Deception Plans Officer. Identified as an excellent officer, Christy was handpicked to train new accessions as an instructor at the Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. It was during this assignment that Christy decided to continue to serve her country by transitioning into the Air Force Reserve. Her husband, Mike, was serving on active duty and Christy accompanied him on his assignments, continuing to balance motherhood, home, civilian, and reserve careers. After completing a five year extended active duty tour working for the Secretary of the Air Force, she decided to serve as an Air Force civilian as well as in the Air Force Reserve. She moved up the ranks within the Air Force Office of Communication, then later in Public Affairs. In 2014, her incredible communications skills were put to good use when Christy became the Deputy Director in the Legislative Liaison Office and we all got to benefit from her hard work. Happily, on the military side, she kept one foot in the Public Affairs Office as a colonel serving as the mobilization assistant to the director. That combination served her brilliantly. As Deputy Director of Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Christy supported Air Force leadership by engaging Congress on programs and weapon systems authorizations, constituent inquiries, and other congressional interests. Among some of her more notable accomplishments during her tenure as Deputy Director, Christy prepared the Air Force team for confirmation hearing for the Air Force Under Secretary and currently is working the confirmation hearing for the proposed next Chief of Staff of the Air Force. She also supported more than 1,000 Air Force senior leader visits to the Hill as well as over 400 wing commander Hill visits, more than 253 congressional delegation and congressional staff trips, over 200 congressional hearings, answering 7,474 constituent inquiries, and countless other Air Force Hill engagements. Not only is Christy admired and respected within the Air Force, she is a role model to young women of all ages. Recently the Girl Scouts honored her with these sentiments, ``For caring, guiding, and helping Girls Scouts through the years and for being a good role model for girls around the world--May 2015.'' Christy's family service runs deep. Her father was career Army, her husband is retired Air Force, and two of their three children have graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. Their third child became a Hokie like her mother and father, graduating from Virginia Tech. In July, Colonel Nolta will retire from the Air Force Reserve with 30 years of faithful service in uniform. She will continue serving the Air Force in her civilian capacity. Today, I would like to wish Ms. Noel ``Christy'' Nolta good luck and Godspeed in her next assignment as the Deputy Director of Staff for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Congress and the United States of America, I thank Christy and her family for their unwavering service to the nation, and look forward to their continued success.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Scott for arranging this Special Order tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Farm Credit on their 100th anniversary. That is a significant anniversary. Earlier this year, when I visited all 14 counties in Florida's Second Congressional District on the first-ever North Florida Farm Tour, I saw just how important Farm Credit System is to each and every one of our rural communities. In the Second Congressional District alone, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida serves 439 borrower-customers, providing more than $120 million in loans. That has helped small businesses like Southern Craft Creamery, where I performed a workday in a hair net making north Florida ice cream. It was very good. I recommend it to everyone. Remember Southern Craft Creamery. These small businesses and small farms aren't just growing food; they are growing our economy and creating jobs. Mr. Speaker, Farm Credit is working to make sure the next generation of Americans are interested in farming and growing food for our growing country. I am proud to have worked with them on workshops for new and veteran farmers like Bob Jackson, who Farm Credit has helped start a honey and bee business. Mr. Speaker, again, I congratulate Farm Credit on their 100th anniversary, and I look forward to continue working with them to support Florida farmers.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, somewhere in America today there is a young person who, all of a sudden, realizes that he or she is gay. They are afraid that, if their parents find out, they may be tossed out of the house, that their classmates will taunt them, and there are still politicians who say that they are not equal. For years, these young people didn't believe they had any options, but, today, because of the work of the LGBT community and because of leaders like Harvey Milk, they have hope. They can run for public office; they can serve in our military; they can marry whom they love. They have hope for a better future, but there is still work to be done. Across the country, including in Florida, LGBT Americans can still be discriminated against. That is why Congress must pass the Equality Act. We must pass it because it is the right thing to do. We must pass it for the young person who is still scared and struggling. We must pass it to give them hope.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River system is a critically important asset to the Southeastern United States' ecology, economy, and heritage. Unfortunately, it has also become a point of intense political friction and lengthy, ongoing, and extremely costly litigation. I strongly believe that, if we could get away from the politics and the lawsuits, we would have a much better chance of resolving this issue in a way that brings us together rather than divides us. That is why I am optimistic about the recent work of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Stakeholders, a diverse group of private citizens who live and work in the ACF Basin. They represent the whole spectrum of stakeholders, public and private, from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. They have been able to unite around the common mission of changing the management of the ACF Basin to create a healthier economy and environment, which will benefit everyone, and they have made a number of recommendations to the Corps of Engineers to meet their goal of a sustainable ACF Basin. The ACF Stakeholder group has identified significant gaps in fundamental, scientific, and technical knowledge needed to best manage this natural resource. One of those recommendations is that the Corps conduct more basic scientific research on the entire river basin and bay. My amendment is intended to provide a small amount of money to the Corps so that they can simply do more of that kind of research in the ACF. In short, there is a whole lot that we still don't know about how water moves throughout the ACF Basin, and I believe it is simply common sense that, if we have better information about this unique natural resource, we, in turn, can manage it better for today and generations to come. Let's follow the good example of the ACF Stakeholders and work together to get this done. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank the chair and the ranking member for working with me on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, more than 120 Members and every Democrat of the Florida delegation have asked for a vote on fully funding the fight against Zika. In Florida, we have had more than 100 recorded cases of Zika. There is no doubt we are in the midst of a public health emergency. There are pregnant women who are afraid to go out at night. As a mom myself, I am worried about my own daughter and her future. Our State's tourism industry counts on thousands and thousands of people traveling to Florida. Those provide thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars flow into our economy. All of that is at risk. We can't wait, and we shouldn't be forced to fight this virus with one hand tied behind our back. Scientists and our public health officials have asked for $1.9 billion. We should stop playing games, Mr. Speaker, and fulfill the request.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to thank Rabbi Jay Weinstein for delivering this morning's invocation. Rabbi Weinstein is a native of Miami Beach, Florida. He received his ordination from Yeshiva University. He is now rabbi at Young Israel of East Brunswick, New Jersey, which serves more than 220 families. I also want to recognize Rabbi Weinstein's parents, Stanley and Lenore, his wife, Sharon, and his four wonderful children, one of whom, Ora, is here with me on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to live in a Nation where we open our doors and our hearts to invite leaders of all different faiths to offer a blessing. I am very thankful to Rabbi Weinstein for offering such an incredibly meaningful prayer this morning.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise as a proud daughter to talk about a matter of government transparency. The families of those who lost their lives on September 11th and all Americans deserve to know who was behind these terrible, horrific terrorist attacks. I believe some of those answers can be found in the 28 classified pages from the joint inquiry into the attacks--28 pages my father, Senator Bob Graham, has been advocating for the release of for 12 years. I have read the 28 pages. My father has read the 28 pages. Some of my colleagues in the Congress have read the 28 pages; yet, still today, the American people aren't able to read them. As elected officials, we answer to the people. Adlai Stevenson said it best: ``As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the lawgivers and the law-abiders, the beginning and the end.'' Mr. Speaker, no one has been able to answer the question of why is it necessary to continue to hide the truth from the public, so it is time to allow all Americans to read the 28 pages and make up their own minds, as is their American right.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Byrne and Congresswoman Adams for hosting today's Special Order and for all you do to support our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It was such an honor for me to join this caucus as a founding member with you a year ago. It is hard to believe it has already been a year. I am proud of the bipartisan work we have done on behalf of our HBCUs. There are more than 100 HBCUs in the United States that enroll more than 300,000 students per year. HBCUs represent 3 percent of colleges and universities, yet graduate 20 percent of African Americans with undergraduate degrees and 25 percent of African American degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. In my district, I am so proud to represent Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, one of our State's most historic and important universities. Florida A&M--or FAMU, as it is more affectionately known in north Florida--was founded in 1887 with just 15 students and 2 instructors. Let me just say: Go Rattlers. Today the university has grown to enroll nearly 10,000 students, and it was named by the U.S. News & World Report as the top public Historically Black College and Universities in the entire Nation for 2015. It is also listed among The Princeton Review's Best in the Southeast Colleges and is one of the top picks for providing a high-quality education at an affordable price in Florida, according to The College Database. And FAMU is the Nation's top producer of African Americans at the bachelor degree level. It is such an honor for me to represent FAMU and to join the HBCU caucus in supporting all of our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the wonderful students who attend them. Again, I thank Congressman Byrne and Congresswoman Adams for hosting this Special Order.