Matt Gaetz

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. I appreciate the gentleman mentioning our oceans. As someone from a coastal State that means a great deal to me.

Mr. GAETZ. Based on the current rate of climate change you may get your wish.

Mr. GAETZ. It doesn't strike me as an enviable outcome. I do thank the gentleman again for yielding for this discussion. It is my sincere hope that this is a discussion that we can have with Members of Congress from urban districts, rural districts, liberal Members, and conservative Members, because as the gentleman correctly points out, these are actually solutions that do not lend themselves to a partisan tilt. I am sincerely hopeful that the gentleman will continue to lead on this subject, and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, as I deliver these remarks, the people of Venezuela are without food, water, medicine, and now even electricity. The organizing principle of American policy seems to be the need to drive Maduro from power. What if Maduro is not really in power right now? What if the people who are really calling the shots in Venezuela are a group of transnational criminal organizations that merely maintain Maduro as a figurehead? And what if their entire purpose is to draw the United States into an ill-advised war to create a massive migration of people throughout Latin America, eroding borders, jeopardizing nation-states, and ultimately leading to a permissive environment for more illicit activity to occur? These are important questions we have to ask. My constituents have to go to Central and South America and fight these wars. And certainly, as a Congress, we need to be very critical in our thinking to not get our Nation in another ill-advised war.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I fully associate myself with the comments of the gentleman from New York condemning anti-Semitism, full stop, an entirely appropriate thing to do. I just think it is curious how we ended up here. We are having this debate right now because Democrats had an objection to something said by a Democrat. So they launch off on this drafting project, and then lo and behold, I hear all of the remarks on the floor, and a lot of the substance in the resolution is about President Trump, and criticizing him and trying to open wounds. This is, unfortunately, becoming the new mantra of the left in the Congress. When they have got a problem that they can't solve, it must be President Trump's fault. It is a lot of the sentiment that we see echoed out of the Judiciary Committee where there is no Russian collusion. The Mueller report is about to drop and Democrats know it is not going to allege Russian collusion, so they have to launch an 81-pronged investigation to harass our President. They can't get their own House in order, so everything has to be the fault of a President who is creating more economic opportunity, reducing unemployment, ending wars, and doing a heck of a job for the country.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Caroline Buechner as the Teacher of the Year for Santa Rosa County, Florida. Ms. Buechner is the Choral Music Educator at Navarre High School. She has served the Santa Rosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It is recognized that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult yet rewarding professions in existence. Ms. Buechner has continued to exceed all expectations and proves her devotion to her profession in a multitude of ways. During Ms. Buechner's 9 years at Navarre High School, she has impressively grown the choral program from 80 members, to over 200 members. Ms. Buechner exhibits her passion every day in her actions. Her unmistakable love for her job provides a strong foundation for her ability to successfully engage and encourage her students. Ms. Buechner instills a love of music in each and every one of her students. She sets high expectations yet provides the necessary tools and support for her students to successfully meet those expectations. She encourages students to challenge themselves and enables them to attain their fullest potential. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Caroline Buechner for her accomplishments and her profound commitment to the Santa Rosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for her service and wish her all the best for continued success.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to remember my good friend and our late colleague Representative Walter Jones. Walter Jones was someone who deeply cared about this institution and the constitutional principles that undergird our service. He was a respected member of the Armed Services Committee, where he was a passionate advocate for military families and against endless, senseless wars that seem, too often, to have a small percentage of Americans bear a disproportionate burden for the decisions that are made by this body and others. Walter was a deeply caring individual. He was an encourager. When he saw Members on the floor, regardless of your seniority or your status within the institution, he referred to everyone as ``chairman.'' He thought that was a distinction that should be shared and one he used to revere those with whom he served in this body. He had friends on the right, on the left, and in the middle, because Walter treated everyone with respect and was the ultimate southern gentleman. I will miss his friendship, his guidance, his mentorship, and this institution and this country will miss the principle with which Walter Jones served our great Nation.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I guess tomorrow we will find out if there is anyone that Michael Cohen hasn't lied to. We already know he lied to Congress. We already know he lied to law enforcement, lied to the IRS, lied to three banks, and he is going to prison for his lies. So I guess it will be relevant for us to determine: Does he lie to his own family? Does he lie to his financiers? Does he lie to his financiers who are members of his family? It will be one heck of an inquiry for us because this is someone who has tangled such a web of lies that he is not to be believed. I think it is entirely appropriate for any Member of this body to challenge the truthfulness, veracity, and character of people who have a history of lying and have a future that undoubtedly contains nothing but lies. That is the story of Michael Cohen. We will see it play out tomorrow, and I for one can't wait to get to the bottom of things and can't wait to get to the truth.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Thomas Ballard as the Educational Support Professional of the Year for Okaloosa County, Florida. Mr. Ballard is a P.E. Classroom Assistant at Mary Esther Elementary School. For many years, Mr. Ballard has served the Okaloosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Prior to his service with the school district, he served as a full- time firefighter with the City of Mary Esther from 1981 to 2009. Mr. Ballard's exemplary contributions earned him numerous awards; such as the ``City of Mary Esther Life Saving Medal'' and the ``Military Order of World Wars Award of Appreciation''. Sharing his invaluable experience gained as a firefighter, Mr. Ballard graciously assisted in the creation of his school's Crisis Plan. He continually demonstrates his dedication to his school and community by participating in additional duties such as acting as a member of the school safety committee and serving as a volunteer firefighter at Florosa Fire Department. Mr. Ballard displays incredible devotion to helping students and children in his community feel safe and happy. He generously donates his time to proactively address needs identified in the community as evidenced by his organization of the first official Volunteer Umpires for the Mary Esther Little League. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Thomas C. Ballard for his many contributions and for his profound impact in the Okaloosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for his service and wish him all the best for continued success.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, what do we think would happen in this country if we said we were only going to lock up 1,000 people, total, for murder? Well, probably, after the thousandth person was arrested and locked up, you would have a lot more murders, not less, because people would think they could get away with it. The caravans that are forming in Central and South America and coming toward our southern border aren't shrinking; they are growing. That is why Democrats don't want us to be able to lock up all the people who commit the crime of unlawful entry into the country, because they want to induce that illegal immigration. Well, Mr. Speaker, we want to stop it, and our negotiators are operating in good faith, but now Democrats are adding new issues. Here is my challenge to Speaker Pelosi: If she has got a bill that can pass with Democratic votes to secure the border, put it on the floor, because we are tired of negotiating when the goalposts keep moving, when the terms keep changing, and when Democrats do not appear sincere about securing our border. It is like we are negotiating against a ghost. We are tired of it, and the American people are tired of it.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Angela Hritz as the Teacher of the Year for Okaloosa County, Florida. Ms. Hritz teaches World History at Davidson Middle School, where she has spent her twenty-year teaching career. Ms. Hritz has served the Okaloosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It is recognized that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult yet rewarding professions in existence. Ms. Hritz has continued to exceed all expectations and proves her devotion to her profession in a multitude of ways. Ms. Hritz possesses the dynamic capability to encompass many different facets in her lessons. She is specifically known for incorporating ELA standards within her social studies activities. She immerses her students in the content by using Socratic Seminars to deepen their understanding and develop communication skills in a respectful environment. Ms. Hritz exhibits her passion for education every day in her actions. Her unmistakable love for her job provides a strong foundation for her ability to successfully engage and encourage her students. Ms. Hritz also effectively draws from her own experiences to compliment her instruction. Having traveled to some of the very places of which she teaches, enables her to better instill a sense of wonder about the world in her students and to encourage them to embrace other cultures. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Angela Hritz for her accomplishments and her profound commitment to the Okaloosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for her service and wish her all the best for continued success.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise recognize Alanna Rohling 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year for Escambia County, Florida. Ms. Rohling is a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Park Elementary School in Pensacola, FL. Throughout her tenure as an educator, Ms. Rohling has served the Escambia County School District with a deep and unwavering commitment to educational excellence. It is recognized that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult professions--yet also one of the most rewarding. Ms. Rohling continues to prove her devotion to her profession in a multitude of ways. Her support and outreach extend far beyond the walls of her kindergarten class. Even with the demanding responsibilities of maintaining a classroom, she also contributes to her school and community. She is the Grade Level Co-Chair, a member of school's Leadership Team, the STEM Committee Co-Chair, and still makes time to be a Mentor Teacher and a Student Mentor. She shares her time and talents generously with all her students. Generations of Ms. Rohling's family have also served as educators. A quote that holds special meaning for her is: ``A good education is your child's strongest tool for success''--and in her actions, Ms. Rohlings has certainly helped equip all children with the educational tools they need to succeed. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Alanna Rohling for her tremendous accomplishments, and her many contributions to education in the Escambia County School District. I offer my heartfelt gratitude for her service. I wish her all the best for her continued success.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. As we gather here on the floor, the gentleman from Texas and I would note that most Americans are working on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:20 eastern time. Most Americans are trying to advance their careers, their lives, their families. I am just tragically disappointed at the lack of work going on in this Congress. I think one of the reasons that we haven't been so productive is that we have not seen the Democratic majority put on this floor what their border security legislation even is. I know what the Republican view is as we head into conference. I know that because Speaker Pelosi, in the White House, told the President we could not pass a border security bill here. Directly following that challenge, we came to the floor. We prioritized our borders, our laws, the rule of law. We prioritized the wages of American families, the safety of communities throughout our country. And we passed $5.7 billion for border funding for a barrier and sent that over to the Senate. I just don't understand, Madam Speaker, why the challenge that the Democrats gave Republicans is one the majority is unwilling to meet. If Democrats have a bill, put it on the floor. Show us what the majority's ideas are. Madam Speaker, there has been a conference committee that has been appointed. It will get together, and I sure hope that conference report produces something that looks like a whole lot of border security, a whole lot of barrier and wall and fencing. I only can imagine the challenge my Republican colleagues must have, because Democrats know what Republicans want, but we don't know what Democrats want, so it is kind of hard to negotiate. We have to have a win-win to get out of this system where we seem to careen from shutdown to shutdown and crisis to crisis as a mechanism to gain leverage against one another for our respective priorities. But the right thing to do is to just put on the floor what you believe in. I know what Republicans believe in because we voted for it. That seems to be a fair challenge back to those who are currently in the majority. I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, here we are, 2\1/2\ weeks away from a potential government shutdown. It is not 5 yet, and I am on the floor of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and there is functionally nobody here. I choose to address the body from the podium, rather than the well, to illustrate this point. Now, anywhere else in America, if you were facing some cataclysmic event like a shutdown or a shutoff or a business losing a major client, you would have the whole team here working, getting together, workshopping solutions, offering amendments, ripening proposals and actually doing the work that we are supposed to be doing for the country. With this 2\1/2\ weeks to the shutdown, it is notable to me that Congress got into town last night and we are leaving tomorrow. It is like we have got the French workweek around here. And the Democrats are in control. They are driving, Madam Speaker. So my call is to Speaker Pelosi: If you have got a border security package, put it on the floor. If you have got an idea on how to make sure that our country is safer, respecting the rule of law, creating a climate of rising wages for our workers, making sure that people in their neighborhoods are safe and not having to face the gangs and the cartels and the criminals and MS-13, let's see it. Democrats often were right to criticize Republicans during the 115th Congress that we had constrained rules, limited debates. We had diminished opportunity for Members to offer amendments. But we don't even have a bill. It kind of makes me wonder why. It may be the Democrats can come to no consensus on border security. I mean, heck, we have got a group of them who probably are from Rust Belt States, from the Midwest, where a lot of their constituents voted for President Trump and believe that we ought to have physical barriers, believe that we ought to be a nation of laws and borders-- pretty rational stuff. And then you have got this other wing of the Democratic Party, Madam Speaker, that thinks that walls and borders are racist and immoral. How is it that the country is expecting us to lead--you to lead, in the majority--if we aren't able to at least come to this floor and offer concrete solutions? You know what we voted on these last couple of days? We have been voting on whether or not we are going to establish studies on the potential harms of cryptocurrency. Now, that may be a virtuous objective, but it seems less poignant and less timely than the impending shutdown we potentially have in 2\1/2\ weeks. We took votes on whether or not the Department of Homeland Security should offer more mentorship and training to law enforcement on Tribal lands--also virtuous, but certainly not what we ought to be doing here. Madam Speaker, each and every day, when we walk these Halls, we stand under the busts and statues and murals of some of the greatest Americans to have ever lived. There are times when I feel we are unworthy to cast our gaze upon them and upon their likeness because here we are, trusted to fulfill the promise of the country, and it is not even 5 yet on a workday, and I am the only one here and everybody is packing their bags getting ready to go home. It is a travesty and it is a shame brought upon this House. I certainly hope in the coming weeks we can do better. Madam Speaker, I thank your indulgence, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Meredith Ness as the 2018-2019 Walton County Teacher of the Year. For seven years, Ms. Ness has served the Walton County School District with dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. In Northwest Florida, we are fortunate to have some of the best teachers in the Nation. It is recognized that teaching is an extremely difficult, yet extremely rewarding, profession. Ms. Ness has performed her teaching duties exceptionally, while also being a pillar of her community. Ms. Ness is revered by her Principal and colleagues for her incredible willingness to always lend a helping hand to those in need. She engages her students thoughtfully, and gives them a chance to take their thinking and knowledge to a deeper level. Her sponsorship and involvement with the First Lego League, an after- school STEM robotics program for students, shows that her support and outreach for her students extends far beyond the walls of her fourth- grade class. Ms. Ness has displayed dedicated teamwork in her implementation of this extracurricular opportunity. I commend her for her steadfast willingness to serve those that matter most--her students. For all her contributions to the community, I am proud that Ms. Ness is a constituent of Florida's First Congressional District. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Ms. Ness for her accomplishments. Her longstanding commitment to excellence, continued achievement, professionalism, and innovation all reflect well on her. She is an exceptional educator, and her students are lucky to have her in the classroom. Meredith Ness has truly made her community a better place. I thank her for her service, and wish her all the best.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Eddie Farris as the 2018-2019 Walton County Educational Support Professional of the Year. For seven years, Mr. Farris has served the Walton County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to service. It is recognized that the position of Plant Manager comes with numerous responsibilities, but Mr. Farris continues to dependably perform his many duties while exceeding at his profession. Remarkably, Mr. Farris does all this while consistently offering a warm smile to everyone who enjoys the pleasure of working with him. Mr. Farris is cherished by his supervisors and colleagues for his incredible kindness and positive attitude. He generously considers the needs of both students and staff because of the immense pride he possesses for his school. His support knows no bounds, as evidenced by his willingness to provide assistance wherever and whenever it is needed. Mr. Farris has displayed dedicated teamwork by working with the PTO in coordinating events, such as Fall Festivals and movie nights. He is to be commended for his steadfast desire to serve as a positive example for those who matter most--the students. I am truly proud to have Mr. Farris as a constituent in Florida's First Congressional District and offer my gratitude for his admirable contributions to his community. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Mr. Eddie Farris for his accomplishments, as well as his commitment to excellence, professionalism, innovation, service, and collaboration in the Walton County School District. I thank him for his good work, and wish him continued success in the future.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express our support for our great ally, Israel, and also to share my concern about a recent decision from the company Airbnb. On November 20, Airbnb made the decision to delist about 200 Jewish homes in the West Bank. This decision is a win for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, the BDS movement, which is blatantly anti-Semitic and consistently targets businesses that are operating in Israel. As a Representative from northwest Florida, I am proud to serve a State that has stringent BDS laws. I am incredibly proud of Governor- elect Ron DeSantis for sharing his concern and for stating unequivocally that if Airbnb continues to engage in BDS activities, they have a right to speak, but they will hear from all of us very soon.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Kadance Fredericksen, recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, for her outstanding community service contribution of over 122 hours this year. Driven by her desire to help others, Kadance has organized events at her school including a canned food drive for the Crestview Homeless Shelter during which she was able to obtain 18.5 pounds of canned goods for donation. Additionally, she organized a ``GO GOLD'' day in her school to raise awareness for childhood cancer. This ``GO GOLD'' day is now a yearly event at her school. Outside of school, Kadance has collected and delivered over 200 teddy bears for the Children's Coalition of Florida, delivered sandwiches, chips, and cookies to local police departments, and assisted with the Princess of Paradise special-needs pageant. An organization that has a particular place in Kadance's heart is the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida. Kadance spends much of her time here getting to know staff and families along with cleaning the facility, donating to the wish list, and hosting pizza parties for the families. In 2016 Kadance opened a lemonade stand to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. Through this, she has since raised $13,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. In 2017, Kadance won the title of Little Miss Northwest Florida where she raised awareness for the Ronald McDonald House. She has also used her pageant career as a platform to launch a campaign against bullying. She is currently Jr. Miss Sugar Sands and will compete for the title of Jr. Miss Northwest Florida in January 2019. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to congratulate Kadance Fredericksen for her outstanding contributions to the community and for earning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the modified version of my amendment at the desk be considered.

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, this amendment contains the relevant provisions of the Reef Assassin Act, which would attack the lionfish problem that is very pervasive in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Lionfish are an invasive species that are decimating our reef fish. One lionfish can consume up to 65 juvenile reef fish in one sitting. A female lionfish can release up to as many as 10 million eggs over the course of one lifetime. This legislation would allow our resources to be used to protect our resource by creating an incentive for fishers who harvest the lionfish and then turn them in to participating States that would choose, on a volunteer program, to be able to issue tags for one prized, coveted reef fish--a triggerfish, a gag grouper, or a red snapper--in the event that 100 lionfish tails were produced. Anyone who goes and slays 100 lionfish certainly has saved far more than one of our prized reef fish. That is why it is my belief that this amendment makes a great deal of sense for our environment and also for the overall health of our fisheries. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), the Democrat lead on the Reef Assassin Act.

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for offering his insight and his views. It is certainly my hope that any animal that is delicious, like the lionfish, but that is also invasive and destructive to our environment, would be one that we would be able to work together across the aisle to harvest out of existence, so that we protect our environment and protect our coveted reef fish. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding, and I also thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for her lifetime of service. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was my State Representative the day I was born. This is a fact she does not frequently like being reminded of, but it shows the duration and the level of her commitment to the community in south Florida, to the country, and to the world. What I always remember Ileana's service for is the commitment that she had to vulnerable people. Whether it was children who were in need of good schools or seniors in need of hospice care, Ileana could always be counted on to fight for the vulnerable, for those who might not have the fancy lobbyists or the powerful special interests in their corner. But when Ileana was in someone's corner, they had a pretty good chance to be successful, whether it has been in the Halls of Congress or in our State capital in Tallahassee. I am perhaps most moved by the role model that Ileana has set for women all over the world. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with Ileana to Jordan, where there are the initial sprout-ups of democracy. Ileana met with young women who had an interest in the political process, running for office, campaigning, organizing in their neighborhoods and in their communities for a better life. They were able to bear witness to this amazing American lady who had done so much, who had broken through so many barriers. It showed, through her life, the great potential that women have all over this world to be able to make such a meaningful contribution to their governments and to their communities. For all Floridians, and particularly those in south Florida who have benefited from Ily's great service, I just want to thank her, thank her family. I want to wish my friend, Dexter Douglas, Ileana's spouse, the best of luck in all the extra time he will have with Ily. I know they are looking forward to spending time with their children and grandchildren, and I look forward to Ileana's next chapter because I know that, even in her retirement from the Congress, she will never stop fighting for vulnerable people in my State, in our country, and all around the world.

Mr. GAETZ

Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the outstanding work of the leadership and volunteers at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in my district. The wildlife refuge services thousands of animals each year from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Bay Counties. They provide services through rescue, rehab, and environmental outreach. Our community leaders and volunteers have shown overwhelming support for this incredible mission that includes educational outreach so that young people can learn more about our environment and the fantastic critters that we share the planet with. I am so proud of the wildlife refuge's accomplishments over the past decade, and I look forward to the future impact that they will have on their new home in the Navarre community and throughout the great northwest Florida.