Gwen Graham

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Florida State University for the important research they are conducting into the deadly Zika virus. In coordination with Johns Hopkins and Emory Universities, Florida State researchers have made crucial breakthroughs that will be useful in slowing or preventing the virus from spreading. As you know, Zika has wreaked havoc across South America, and it poses a great threat to our country, especially to my home State of Florida. There have already been more than 80 Zika cases reported in Florida, and as summer approaches, the situation will likely worsen. We can't wait any longer. It is time to put politics aside and for Congress to do its job. We must fully fund research, prevention, and response efforts to fight this deadly virus before it spreads.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to mourn the loss of Roderick ``Rod'' Durham, a Tallahassee teacher, actor, community leader, role model, and dear friend. Rod was born in Maryland in 1964 and moved to Tallahassee in his teens. He graduated from Leon High School in 1982 with my sister, Cissy, and then returned to teach there in 1997. However, Rod was far, far more than a teacher. He was a role model. His students knew they could trust to confide in him or look to him for inspiration in difficult times. His personality was larger than life. He embodied joy and happiness. His positive energy would fill any room with smiles, love, and laughter. His loss is heartbreaking for so many in north Florida, but I am blessed to have called him my friend. Our community will be forever grateful for his service and spirit. Rest in peace, dear friend. Rest in peace.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank Congresswoman Watson Coleman for holding this special session and bringing attention to the Equal Rights Amendment. When I was born in 1963, we lived in a different world. It was legal to openly discriminate against hiring women; it was legal to discriminate against women in lending and credit; it was legal to pay women substantially less than men; and it was legal to fire a woman just for becoming pregnant. Fortunately, when I was born, things were beginning to change. Women were fighting for and gaining greater equality. Today, women are better protected from those forms of discrimination. We have made great strides, but we haven't yet been able to recognize our equality in the Constitution. There is nothing more sacred, nothing more important to America than our Constitution. I support the Equal Rights Amendment because I grew up in a changing world, but I want my daughter and the next generation to grow up in a changed world. I want my daughter to live in a country where her and every woman's equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. To illustrate why I believe we should and still can ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, I want to specifically speak about the history of the ERA in my home State of Florida. Our House of Representatives voted for ratification of the ERA three separate times--in 1972, 1975, and 1979--but our Senate remained more divided on the issue. Bill Cotterell, a columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat, recently opined: It was still a very different world, where a Member of the legislature walked around with a toy pig under his arm, proudly proclaiming himself a male chauvinist. It was a different world, one still changing, but I am proud to say there were men who stood up for the women of our State in the State senate. One of them was my father, Bob Graham, who bucked his own Democratic Party leadership to support the ERA, a move that helped earn him the title of a doghouse Democrat. After repeated failures in the Senate, some thought the ERA was dead, but it resurfaced in Florida in 1982. That summer, just a few weeks remaining before the ratification deadline, more than 10,000 men and women marched on our State capitol in support of the amendment. Hearing their call and supporting their cause, my father, who had moved out of the doghouse into the Governor's mansion, called our legislature into special session. For the fourth time, the House voted in favor of the amendment, but unfortunately the senate blocked ratification. That was 34 years ago. And today I believe our State is better than that. I believe, given another chance to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, Democrats and Republicans in Florida could be united to support equality for women. I am proud to have grown up in a changing world, but it is time for our daughters and the next generation of women to grow up in a changed world. It is time to recognize their equality in our Constitution. I thank the Congresswoman for bringing attention to this issue and for all that you do on behalf of women.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Millions of Americans across the country are suffering from eating disorders. It affects their health, their happiness, and can take their lives. I understand what they are going through because I personally struggled with an eating disorder as a teenager and a young woman. I am speaking up today in the hopes of raising awareness and providing hope. I want other young men and women who are struggling as I did to know that they, too, can overcome this. I want to tell them that I know it is difficult, but don't wait to seek out help. Mr. Speaker, by raising awareness, promoting treatment, and with early intervention, we can save lives.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I stand to bring attention to the Tallahassee Democrat's 25 Women You Need to Know. For 10 years, the Democrat has named 25 women who deserve recognition from our community. These women have not only excelled in their professional careers, but they also donate their time and talents toward volunteering and giving back to our community. For the second year in a row, the paper is also naming five young women to watch: Bliss Wilson, Cassidy Craig, Jordyn Berrian, Micah Joyner, and Zenani D. Johnson. These young women are only in high school but already have impressive resumes, and I know they are going to go on to do great things. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Democrat for their service to our community in recognizing these women, and I applaud this year's 25 women and 5 young women on all of their accomplishments.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. The troubling numbers are more than a statistic. They are a fact of life that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to families across our country. I say unnecessary pain and suffering because we have the power to change it. We can save lives. As much as 80 percent of heart disease and stroke-related deaths can be prevented with education and action. That is why I am standing to raise awareness and encourage my fellow members and constituents across north Florida to Go Red by participating in National Wear Red Day on Friday. Wear something red, like this jacket, to show your support for women fighting heart disease and strokes. Together, we can save lives.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in advance of Martin Luther King Day to recognize Dr. King and the advocates of peace, equality, and social justice who continue his work today. Dr. King spoke of a dream: that his children would grow up in a world where they would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Thanks to his work and sacrifice, I have had the benefit of growing up in a changing world where our content is more important than the color of our skin. We still have more work to do. I want my children to grow up in a changed world where, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, we can all be treated equally. I hope this Congress will remember Dr. King and will continue to work to ensure that all Americans have the right to vote, equality under the law, and the opportunity to succeed.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Second Congressional District's Farm Families of the Year. Each year, the Florida Farm Bureau recognizes families across north Florida for their commitment to farming and our community. These families work hard every day to provide food for our tables and, just as importantly, they know farming is more than a job. It is a way of life and a part of our heritage. Our farm families are the backbone of north Florida. Recognizing them with this award is just one thing we can do to show how much we appreciate their hard work and sacrifice. I look forward to further recognizing them and highlighting their work as I begin the first official north Florida farm tour. I will be visiting all 14 counties in my district. Again, congratulations to our Farm Families of the Year, and thank you to all of our State's farmers.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Tallahassee's Bethel AME Church on their 150th anniversary. Bethel was founded in 1865 when a group of courageous Christians walked out of their segregated church. They were led by the Reverend Robert Meacham, a former slave preacher. Since that day, church membership has grown from 116 people in 1865 to more than 1,700 worshippers today; and under the leadership of my friend and neighbor, Reverend Dr. Julius H. McAllister, Jr., the church continues to benefit our community and serve as an inspiration to everyone in north Florida. I congratulate Bethel AME on a blessed 150 years, and I look forward to personally attending many more services as they continue to grow and thrive.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Congresswoman Lee, I really appreciate you inviting me and allowing me the opportunity to speak tonight on this very important subject. I am incredibly grateful for the work you are doing to highlight this issue and end poverty in America. Thank you on behalf of my district and all the districts across the country. Twelve of the 14 counties I represent are rural counties that face many unique challenges, like access to social services, access to quality education, and access to health care. All of these issues are complicated by a cycle of poverty. This is especially prevalent in areas like Gadsden County, where more than 26 percent of the population live in poverty. It is unacceptable for one in every four Americans to live in poverty in any part of our country. We must do more to help rural families break the cycle of poverty and move into the middle class. One program that is successfully working to do this is the United States Department of Agriculture's StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity. Since its inception in 2010, StrikeForce teams have collaborated with more than 500 community partners and public entities across 20 States to bring targeted assistance to rural areas experiencing chronic poverty. StrikeForce efforts have helped direct over $16 billion in investments to create jobs, build homes, feed kids, assist farmers, and conserve natural resources in the country's most economically challenged areas. As the USDA considers expanding StrikeForce into more States, I urge them to bring this program to Florida, especially to north Florida and Gadsden County. Farmers in rural communities are the backbone of our State, and StrikeForce will help develop our economy, create jobs, and fight rural poverty. Again, thank you, Congresswoman Lee, for bringing attention to this important issue. I look forward to working with you to end poverty across our country.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Jerrod Rigdon, whose heroic actions saved the life of a Florida State University student in my district. When Deputy Rigdon arrived at the crash scene on the morning of October 31, the scene was horrific. The car was mangled, and the freshman student inside had life-threatening injuries. His neck was severed, and he was quickly losing blood. The deputy quickly assessed the scene, worked to stop the bleeding, and called for a helicopter to airlift the victim. Because of his fast response and heroic actions, Billy Fowler, the 18-year-old freshman in the car, is alive today. I want to thank Deputy Rigdon and all of the north Florida first responders. Thank you for risking your lives to save ours.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember Dr. Kevin Murphy, who passed away at his home in Port St. Joe, Florida, on Thursday, November 5, at the age of 71. Throughout his decades in medicine, Dr. Murphy built up an incredibly long list of accomplishments, from starting a heart surgery program in Indiana, to visiting impoverished and isolated villages across the world to provide care. In 2002, Dr. Murphy moved to north Florida, where he became medical director for the Gulf County Health Center. He worked there for more than a decade and became well known as a passionate health provider and advocate for equal access to quality care. As the proud great-granddaughter of one of north Florida's first country doctors, I have a special place in my heart for physicians like Dr. Murphy. The amazing care he provided for his community ensures he will always be loved and remembered in north Florida.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, did you know it is Manatee Awareness Month? Every November, we celebrate these beautiful, gentle creatures. How lucky we are that Florida is one of the few places in the world where you can see them. To raise awareness, I would like to recognize the Save the Manatee Club, an international nonprofit which has been working to save endangered manatees since 1981, when it was cosponsored by Jimmy Buffett and my father, Governor Bob Graham. Their commitment to these unique animals has made great strides in protecting them around the world. Human activity presents the greatest threat to manatees, but we are also their greatest hope. Only our compassion and action can protect them.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all the men and women working to raise awareness in north Florida. About one in eight U.S. women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Approximately 43,000 will be diagnosed in Florida in this year alone. But in north Florida, we are fighting back. Local charities, media outlets, survivors, and strong women currently fighting the disease are standing up to be heard and reminding everyone to ``Think Pink.'' Each year we make greater strides against breast cancer. Together we are going to beat it and save lives.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Forest Products Week and to acknowledge what an important role our forests play in all of our daily lives. The Second District of Florida is home to hundreds of thousands of acres of public and private forest lands. The Apalachicola National Forest alone is nearly 1,000 square miles. Just last week, I participated in a work day with the Nature Conservancy in the Apalachicola Forest to learn how responsible management can boost the economic and environmental value of forestland. I am proud that north Florida forests make such an important contribution to our country's economy and our environment. We depend on wood for the structure of our homes, the paper we write on, and a million different things in between, but most significantly for the oxygen we breathe.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Dr. Sybil Mobley, the founding dean of Florida A&M University's School of Business and Industry. Dr. Mobley first worked at Florida A&M as a secretary in 1945. She then went on to study at the Wharton School of Finance and earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois. After graduating, Dr. Mobley returned to Florida A&M, and in 1974, she became the founding dean of the university's School of Business and Industry. She held that position for 29 years, during which time she worked tirelessly to build the business school into a nationally recognized institution. Her rise from working as a secretary to sitting on the boards of Fortune 500 companies and leading a business school serves as an inspiration to all of us. Today, we mourn Dr. Mobley's passing and celebrate her life. She was a treasure to FAMU, Tallahassee, to the State of Florida, and our Nation.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, this week, we are celebrating a very special birthday; the United States Air Force is turning 68. The anniversary is especially important to me because of the men and women I represent at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City. Since my election to Congress, I have gotten to know a great many of them, from three star generals to newly enlisted airmen, and I could not be prouder of their service to our Nation. Today, the F-22 Raptor from Tyndall's 95th Fighter Squadron are deployed in Europe, supporting the NATO Baltic air patrol mission. On this momentous anniversary, our grateful Nation says thank you to the 95th Fighter Squadron and all the men and women serving in the United States Air Force around the world. Aim high. Fly, fight, win.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we mark the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. This day will forever remain as one of the most somber in American history; but out of all of the horrific and heartbreaking stories, there are also stories of heroism and honor. In the minutes, hours, and days after the attacks, thousands of firefighters, paramedics, police, and other first responders ran into the Twin Towers, toward the Pentagon, and to the Pennsylvania crash site. They risked their lives for all of us. Now we need to make sure we are still there to support them, which is why I am proud to cosponsor the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. This legislation provides medical treatment and financial compensation to the first responders who were harmed in the 9/11 attacks. We owe them this with their medical bills and so much more. Our Nation will forever be grateful for their sacrifice.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This historic piece of legislation prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities, giving them greater access and protections; but the ADA does more than just open doors--it recognizes every individual's ability to succeed. Yesterday, I met with Sarah Goldman, a young woman with cerebral palsy who is earning her master's degree at Florida State University. She visited my office to advocate on behalf of ADA protections. As Sarah said, we have made great progress in the last 25 years, but there is still so much more work to be done. I urge the House to listen to Sarah's words and continue the fight to make sure all Americans are empowered to achieve their own American dreams.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 426, had I been present, I would have voted ``no''. Personal Explanation

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the late Bernyce Clausel, who passed away at the age of 98 last week. She was a civil rights leader in Tallahassee who participated in the bus boycotts of 1956. She was a devout Christian who, with her husband, founded Calvary Baptist Church in 1958. And later she became the church's pastor, one of the first women to do so in Tallahassee. She was a fixture at town hall meetings and charity drives, and she was always there to help those in need. We lost a true north Florida hero, but I am so thankful that we had her for so long. May God bless Pastor Bernyce Clausel, and may He bless each of us with the strength and dedication to serve our communities as well as she did.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Steve Israel's amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act to provide oversight for the joint U.S.-Israel antitunneling defense project. The joint antitunneling project, which was added to the National Defense Authorization Act in an amendment sponsored by my good friend Representative Lamborn and myself, will help our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, protect its borders. The terrorist group Hamas has spent years developing a complex network of tunnels under the Gaza Strip and Israel to smuggle weapons, kidnap Israelis, and launch mass murder attacks. This project will develop new technology to detect and destroy these tunnels, and it will send a clear message to our allies and enemies alike. The United States is committed to protecting Israel and to rooting out and destroying the terrorists who wish to do her harm.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in support of new legislation I am cosponsoring with my friend Congressman David Jolly to extend Florida's Gulf Coast oil drilling ban to the year 2027. The drilling ban currently extends 125 miles off much of Florida's Gulf Coast and as far as 235 miles in some areas, but it is set to expire in 2022. There are some in the Senate trying to reduce the ban to just 50 miles as soon as next year. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to protecting Florida's precious Gulf Coast beaches and will protect the environment, our economy, and military operations in the Gulf. An oil spill like Deepwater Horizon just 50 miles off of northwest Florida's beaches would be devastating for our region. We can't allow that to happen and should pass this legislation to extend the drilling ban and protect Florida's Gulf Coast beaches.

Ms. GRAHAM

Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, in the panhandle of north Florida, red snapper is a way of life. Thousands of commercial fishermen and charter boat captains depend on a healthy catch to make a living. Tens of thousands of recreational fishermen spend their free time and are personally invested in fishing, and hundreds of restaurants serve red snapper to hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area every year. Seafood is a $7 billion industry the Gulf, and red snapper is a big part of it. Like any valuable asset, we need to preserve our fisheries for future generations. I applaud the chairman and the ranking member for opening this dialogue about how we can improve current law, protect our ocean resources, and best serve our constituents. Unfortunately, I think this bill falls short in its current form. My constituents tell me there are more red snapper in the Gulf than there have been in a long time. I think that shows, at least in part, that this law is working, but I also hear of widespread distrust of the system and of the data that the system produces. In that regard, Magnuson isn't working nearly as well as it could, and I want to recognize some of the healthy reforms in this bill that could improve the situation. It is an extraordinary challenge to count all of the fish in the sea--it is nearly as hard to count how many fish are being caught--but I think we could do both better by getting the States and stakeholders more involved and by promoting modern electronic monitoring technologies as this bill does. Despite those good provisions, Florida would not be Florida without ample opportunities for recreational fishing and a robust commercial fishing sector. While current law isn't perfect, I think the contentious nature of this floor debate is a good indication that this bill isn't going to do anything to narrow the divisions between sectors.

Ms. GRAHAM. The better alternative is to keep doing what is working and to improve data collection techniques where they are lacking. To that end, I am proud to support an increase of $10 million, included in the CJS appropriations bill, aimed at improving the stock assessments and research needs for Gulf of Mexico fish stocks. These are the kinds of efforts that build real confidence in the fishery. I look forward to a meaningful conversation about how we can work together going forward.