Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), the bill's sponsor and my good friend, to discuss our proposal.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the gentleman from Alabama for yielding to me the customary 30 minutes for debate. I rise to debate the rule for consideration of H.R. 5143, the Transparent Insurance Standards Act of 2016. At best, this bill is unnecessary. At worst, it will harm our ability to reach vital international agreements to protect our financial system. Mr. Speaker, the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent Great Recession was the worst financial disaster in our Nation's history since the Great Depression. Nearly 9 million Americans lost their jobs, doubling the unemployment rate. More than 11 million Americans lost their homes to foreclosures. Home values dropped more than 30 percent. Our Nation lost more than $13 trillion in economic output. To put that in perspective, that is the equivalent of losing a year's gross domestic product. From this disaster, we learned many lessons and passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to ensure that we are better able to prevent such a financial calamity from occurring again. One lesson we learned was the significant risk posed to our financial system by potentially unstable, large, globally active insurance companies, as demonstrated by the near collapse of AIG. As a result, commonsense reforms to the insurance industry were put in place, including the creation of the Federal Insurance Office to coordinate Federal efforts, develop policy, and represent the United States in the International Association of Insurance Supervisors. This office, along with new authorities for the Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury, allow our regulators to work to ensure that our unique insurance regulatory regime provides stability in our financial system, both nationally and globally. Now, however, the majority seems to have forgotten the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis. Mr. Speaker, at best, this legislation is unnecessary. Under the guise of transparency, H.R. 5143 would require additional public notice and comment regarding potential agreements on international insurance standards. But such international agreements would only take effect domestically after regulations were promulgated in accordance with U.S. law, which already includes a notice and comment period. The transparency this bill is seeking is already enshrined in our rulemaking process. Then, at worst, this bill will harm U.S. negotiators by tying their hands and making setting workable insurance standards nearly impossible to achieve. Mr. Speaker, by requiring our negotiators to seek consensus positions with all 50 State insurance commissioners, this bill weakens the United States' ability to work with other countries to improve the regulation of large global insurance companies. By placing unnecessary, counterproductive, and overly cumbersome reporting and negotiating requirements on the Federal Reserve and Treasury, we will not be able to achieve the global insurance stability we need to prevent future financial disasters. As we approach the end of the 114th Congress, I am dismayed to see that consideration of this bill is how the majority has decided we should spend what few precious legislative days remain. I guess my dismay carries over from last night's so-called impeachment consideration of the IRS Commissioner, who will be gone from office by the time they could get through this process. I was pleased to see the chairman of the Judiciary Committee refer it to his committee, where I am sure it will die. It just seems that we get to this important juncture and we find ourselves caught up in bumper sticker politics, as we have for most of the session of the 114th Congress. It appears that, in the final hours of this Congress, the majority is attempting to throw up roadblocks to prevent commonsense financial regulations aimed at preventing large insurance companies from once again threatening the stability of our economy. The American people--all of them, Republican and Democrat--deserve better. Assuredly, we can anticipate that if this measure were to become law--and I predict it won't--but if it were to become law, then I can see us, at some point, faced with another serious financial crisis. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My colleague from Alabama and I do have mutual respect for each other, and I agree with him the three measures that he cited, and I can cite others during the course of the 114th that were substantive legislation that rightly we should have bipartisan support for and did, and I agree with him that the WRDA bill will be one that we could equally wear proudly on our bumper stickers. The point that I was making was that we spent a good portion of the 114th Congress, number one, doing nothing. We didn't even make any bumper stickers because we weren't here that often to undertake to do anything. At the very same time, many of the things that we did fell in the category, at least as I perceive it, of being bumper sticker measures: 60-plus times repealing the Affordable Care Act, knowing full well that the sitting President was not going to sign anything, so all we did it for was for certain people to have talking points. Now, we are entitled; that is a part of what politics is. But make no mistake about it: we did a lot of bumper sticker legislation in the last session because a lot of it went nowhere, and a lot of it was done during a period that we should have been about the business of substantive legislation. Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up a bill that would close a tax loophole that rewards companies for moving jobs overseas and would, instead, provide a tax credit for companies that move jobs back to the United States. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. As my friend from Alabama knows, we are currently debating the rule. This is a tool used to set the House's agenda and to prioritize consideration of legislation. For that very reason, this is, in fact, the appropriate time for us to explain to the American people what legislation we would like to prioritize and what agenda we would like to pursue in this House. That is why we have a previous question. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman will also be pleased to learn that our amendment does not prevent the House from considering the majority's bill. Our amendment simply allows the House to consider our bill as well. As Mr. Pascrell pointed out, it is not as if this isn't something that hasn't been brought up for the last 2 years; and therefore, I join the gentleman in his excitement about the possibilities going forward of us being able to address this legislation, but now is the time that we can do it if we were to vote the previous question as requested. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me reiterate that the bill before us is unnecessary; it is a waste of valuable time; and if it were ever to be enacted into law, which I predict it won't, it would be harmful to our country's fiscal well-being. Let me go back and put a caveat there. It won't become the law in the 114th session. It may very well pass the 115th session. We need to protect and wisely continue to implement commonsense regulations and oversight passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to ensure it doesn't happen again. I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and the underlying measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Kathleen Harrell, on the occasion of her retirement from the Florida Department of Corrections. Chief Harrell has given 30 years of distinguished public service to the State of Florida through her knowledge, integrity and leadership. Her tenure at the Florida Department of Corrections began on August of 1986, where she worked as a Field Agent within the Correctional Probation sector. She then spent several years performing professional work investigating, assessing, supervising, counseling, administrating, and/or classifying offenders as a Correctional Probation Officer. It was in 1993 when she joined the Office of Inspector General and strived passionately to become the Assistant Chief of Investigations for the Florida Department in January of 2013. Chief Harrell deserves our admiration and respect for her dedication to public service. Besides working tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of Florida's citizens, Chief Harrell dedicates time to worship as a member of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL since 2011. She has also been an avid cyclist for ten years and frequently participates in fundraising rides for multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS charities. If there's something Chief Harrell loves as much as cycling, it is the Miami Dolphins, being a seasonal ticket holder for around fourteen years now. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to congratulate Chief Kathleen Harrell on her retirement. I wish her the very best of luck in all her future endeavors.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Luna Isaac Mishoe, former President of Delaware State College and a veteran of World War II. Revered as a mentor, guide, and instructor, Dr. Mishoe was a symbol of hope for many young African American individuals. One of America's most distinguished mathematicians and physicists, Dr. Mishoe was only the 17th African American in this country to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics. Indeed, Dr. Mishoe was a very well educated man: he held a Bachelor of Science Degree in mathematics and chemistry from Allen University, a Master of Science Degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics from New York University, as well as a year of post- doctoral research in mathematics at Oxford University. And, at the age of 63, while serving as President of Delaware State, Dr. Mishoe graduated once again, this time with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His tenacious desire to pursue his education is truly inspiring. At the age of 53, Dr. Mishoe accepted the role as president of Delaware State College, where he oversaw the overall growth and development of the University. The school continued to expand under Dr. Mishoe's 27-year tenure, and he saw to it that greater emphasis be placed on the development and improvement of academic programs dedicated to the education of all people. Enrollment progressively increased from 386 students in 1960 to 2,327 in 1987. Dr. Mishoe's phenomenal leadership generated an exemplary environment at DSU. Serving the second longest tenure, Dr. Mishoe was able to improve the physical infrastructure by completing the construction of Conwell Hall for men, Laws Hall for women, building of Business and Economics, and Evers Hall. Through his ability to create the first master's degree program in Education Curriculum and Instruction in 1981, and later, establishing six other graduate degree programs, Dr. Mishoe upheld the University's mission of integrating the highest standard of excellence. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Mishoe served in the Air Force during World War II. During this time of racial conflict, Dr. Mishoe fought battles abroad and for civil rights at home. It was recently determined by the National Office of the Tuskegee Airmen that Dr. Mishoe is a documented Original Tuskegee Airman. He also served as a Special Consultant for the Ballistics Research Laboratory at the U.S. Army Ordnance Proving Ground in Maryland, prior to taking the helm at DSC. Dr. Mishoe sadly passed away at the age of 72 on January 18, 1989, and is remembered as a dynamic community leader by his family, friends, students, and the many people whose lives he touched. I am very pleased to honor his life and legacy.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Republic of Kazakhstan, which on December 16, 2016 will celebrate its independence day. For twenty five years, Kazakhstan and its people have stood out as a steadfast and true friend to the United States on an array of security and economic issues and have made tremendous strides in democratization and economic development. Since its independence, Kazakhstan has stood out as a reliable strategic partner in Central Asia to the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kazakhstan contributes to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, finances the education of thousands of Afghan immigrants and refugees, and has provided supply line access and support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Coalition. For the past thirteen years, Kazakh, American, and NATO security forces have conducted joint military training programs in the Central Asian steppes. According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, American companies invested $24 billion in the Kazakh economy from 2005 to 2016. However, the cornerstone of strong U.S.-Kazakhstan relations is nuclear nonproliferation. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan inherited a nuclear weapons stockpile of 1,400 nuclear warheads, the fourth largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. President Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed his early commitment to nuclear disarmament by decommissioning all 1,400 nuclear weapons. The government in Astana has remained committed to the global cause of nonproliferation ever since. Recently the country established the first-ever Low Enriched Uranium Fuel Bank backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to ensure the stability of civil nuclear energy use worldwide. As a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, President Nazarbayev has relentlessly pursued the cause of nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan is also on the road to becoming a regional hub for sustainable economic activity in Central Asia. Its New Silk Road Initiative, the ``Bright Path'' stimulus plan, and the 2050 Strategy each mark President Nazarbayev's commitment to developing transportation and telecommunications infrastructure and his commitment to diversifying Kazakhstan's overall economy. Relatedly, Kazakhstan will host an International Exposition in 2017 that aims to create a global discourse among states, NGOs, and corporations about ensuring sustainable access to energy while reducing carbon emissions. These promising strides in economic development will not only help the Kazakh people, but will benefit American companies doing business in Kazakhstan. Mr. Speaker, I once again want to congratulate President Nazarbayev and the Kazakh people on the joyous occasion of their twenty fifth anniversary of independence, and I look forward to a continued, strong and resilient friendship between our two countries.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of my good friend, George H. Wedgworth. A leader and icon of the Florida agricultural industry, George's contribution to the Glades community cannot be overstated and will be felt for generations to come. In 1960, George founded the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. During his more than 50 years as the organization's leader, George grew the Cooperative into the single largest employer in Belle Glade, Florida. Today, as a result of George's leadership and vision, the Cooperative, along with its partner, Florida Crystals Corporation, own the largest sugar refining company in the world, accounting for 6 million tons of refined sugar capacity and net sales of $4 billion annually. George's professional success led him to be named Sugar Man of the Year in 2005. But his success and impact in our community was not limited to the sugar industry. Throughout his long career, George was president and director of numerous organizations, including the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, and the Florida and Belle Glade Chambers of Commerce. In the 1950s he also founded the Florida Celery Exchange. His contributions to the agricultural industry led to his introduction into The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1994 and to being named one of Florida's ``Most Influential Men'' by Florida Trend magazine. For those that had the pleasure of knowing George, they know all about the impact he had in his community. George grew up in the Glades and is as much a part of its history as the sugar cane that is grown there. Moving from Mississippi to Belle Glade, Florida with his family when he was 2, George went on to graduate from Belle Glade High School. Leaving the area for only a short time to attend Michigan State College, now Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in agricultural engineering, he returned to the Glades and lived much of his life in the same one-story concrete block house his mother, Ruth, built in 1941. Mr. Speaker, in an interview speaking about the Glades, George once remarked, ``I've never had the desire to go anywhere else.'' That was the kind of man George was; a man who grew up in the Glades and through hard work and dedication went on to positively transform the fabric of our community. George H. Wedgworth will be remembered as a titan of Florida agriculture, but more importantly he will be remembered as a pillar of the community that he loved. His legacy will live on for generations to come, and he will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Dr. Lois J. Delevoe on her 80th birthday. Dr. Delevoe has been a pillar in the South Florida community. She has dedicated her life to supporting underprivileged and homeless youth in South Florida. For nearly a decade, she ran a homeless shelter in Broward County, where she counseled, fed, clothed, tutored and ministered to the needs of homeless men, women, and children. She wrote what is thought to be the first comprehensive book on the homeless in the nation, and it has been used by administrators in metropolitan areas in Broward County and throughout the country Dr. Delevoe has also worked to empower youth through a GED program, and by facilitating Christian and political youth seminars, conferences, and clubs. She has taught in the Broward and Dade County School systems, and as a college professor. Furthermore, Dr. Delevoe has founded or co-founded many women action and political groups throughout the state. She has served on multiple state, county, and city boards as the appointee of the Governor and many county and city officials. She also served as President of the Reverend Samuel J. Delevoe Memorial Park Civic Association, where she was able to work in conjunction with Broward County Parks and Recreation, Broward County, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and multiple homeowners' associations to positively impact the community. Above all, Dr. Delevoe loves God and has been a ministerial light in South Florida for many years. Large numbers of pastors and other ministers began their ministry under Dr. Delevoe, and now are working dynamically in God's kingdom across the world. She continues to make a dedicated effort to support underprivileged children worldwide through the support of our foreign missions, missionaries, schools, colleges and orphanages. Her accomplishments and her influence on our community are unmatched. I cannot thank Dr. Delevoe enough for her dedication to the state of Florida, and for all of the sacrifices she has made. Mr. Speaker, I am so truly honored to recognize Bishop Dr. Lois J. Delevoe on her 80th birthday. She is such a remarkable human being and dear friend. I wish her many more years of success and happiness.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maude Ford Lee on her 80th birthday. After a grassroots groundswell of support for her fearless leadership at the helm of Palm Beach County's Community Action Agency, Maude Ford Lee answered the call and made history in 1990 as the first African American elected to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners. However, that is not the only reason why she is a trailblazer. During her time on the Commission, from 1990 to 2000, she demanded to review everything within the County's jurisdiction, its programs and services, hiring and contracting, and all matters pertaining to the health, safety, and welfare of the people. Commissioner Lee's undaunted advocacy for inclusionary policies and programs often drew criticism, as it was disruptive to the systems put in place over the previous 80 years. However, her persistence yielded tremendous results and achievement against the odds. As Commissioner, she organized a coalition of local and national black business advocacy organizations, even walking out of a log jammed Commission meeting until securing the adoption of the Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Ordinance, which established policy and best practices of goals and timetables to ensure racial equity and diversity in procurement. She also created the County's Economic Development Office, providing programs and funding to create jobs for people who live in lagging regions. Her work provided access to capital and disbursement of millions in funding for loans and grants for small business and community development projects, particularly African American, Latino, and women-owned enterprises not served by traditional banks. She successfully implemented the equitable allocation of funding to build recreational and park facilities such as pools and community centers in overlooked urban areas, including West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Lake Worth. Through her housing initiatives, hundreds of families, most notably working poor families, became homeowners and thousands of children and families in need were connected with community-based organizations providing valuable services through her fiscal sponsorship. After retiring, Commissioner Lee continued serving the community as President of the West Palm Beach Branch of the NAACP from 2002-2008. She is an active and devoted member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Florida A&M Alumni Association, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and a Life Member of NAACP. Maude Ford Lee is a trailblazer and living legend for her daughters Debra and Vanessa, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all of Palm Beach County because she stepped up to history and honored it with an unyielding commitment to service with strong and positive results. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pride to honor Maude Ford Lee on her 80th birthday. She is not only an outstanding role model for our community and this nation, but somebody that I am extremely proud to call a good friend. I wish her many more years of success and happiness.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my very dear friend, Mrs. Diane Glasser, Vice Mayor of the City of Tamarac, Florida, and an active member of the King's Point Community. Diane recently announced her retirement from the Tamarac City Commission, the end of a more than 40-year career serving her community. Originally from Mill Basin in Brooklyn, Diane went to college and high school in New York. In 1973, Diane and her husband moved to the City of Tamarac. There, she worked for twelve years in the construction industry. Throughout her long career, Diane became a powerhouse in Broward County politics. She began as a volunteer, tirelessly dedicating her time and effort to the Broward County Democratic Party. She was also elected to the Democratic National Convention as a Delegate to the last six Democratic National Conventions. Diane is a ``graduate'' of the Electoral College; she cast a vote on Florida's behalf for Former President Bill Clinton in the Electoral College in 1996; and then for Former Vice President Al Gore in the highly-contested 2000 election. In 2004, the Florida Democratic Party appointed Diane as their First Vice Chair. She has served on a number of advisory boards, including the Broward County Human Rights Board and the Broward County School Board's Senior Citizens Involvements Task Force, and since 2008, brought her tremendous energy to local politics as a member of the Tamarac City Commission. Mr. Speaker, I cannot thank Diane enough for everything that she has done for not only Florida, but for the Democratic Party. She is truly a remarkable individual, who I have had the privilege to call my dear friend for so many years, and for that I am so grateful. I am so pleased to honor Diane, and wish her a wonderful and restful retirement.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate The Faith Center Ministries as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. In 1985, the Fernandez family began a journey of faith that directed them to South Florida. Six years later in 1991, Pastors Henry and Carol Fernandez founded the Plantation Worship Center, later to be named The Faith Center Ministries. They began with 11 members in a school cafeteria, now they host over 10,000 members in the former Sunrise Musical Theater. For 25 years, The Faith Center Ministries have empowered people to live a lifestyle of faith everyday. The church is dedicated to reaching the world of Jesus Christ by empowering the teachings of faith, hope, salvation and the proclamation that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God the Father, and the Head of the church. The Faith Center Ministries operates numerous social enterprises in order to train leaders, help believers discover their true purpose, and develop individual potential through spiritual maturity. To accomplish this, The Faith Center Ministries, under the leadership of Henry and Carol Fernandez, hosts bible studies, conferences, seminars, trainings, and educational development at the University of Fort Lauderdale and the Henry B. Fernandez Institute for Biblical Studies. The Faith Center Ministries provides a place where the hurting, depressed, frustrated, and confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement. Mr. Speaker, I want offer my most sincere congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to The Faith Center Ministries Pastors Henry and Carol Fernandez, their staff, and volunteers for all that they do each and every single day for our community. I am truly honored to call them my friends, and be their representative in Congress.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Hilda Girtman Pitts, a lifelong resident of Boynton Beach, Florida, who passed at the age of 102 on August 20, 2016. Born in 1913, Mrs. Pitts spent her childhood on 2.5 acres of farmland off the Federal Highway near Boynton Beach. At the age of 21, she married Soloman Pitts at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church in the city of Boynton Beach, and built their first home on 12th Avenue in-town. After many years of marriage, Mrs. Pitts had eight children, nine grandchildren, as well as many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Mrs. Pitts became a ``Gold Star Mother'' when her son, Cleveland Pitts, made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. Mrs. Pitts was also an entrepreneur. She opened an antique store, known as ``Mrs. Hilda's,'' which sold American-made, handcrafted furniture and home goods. The antique store stands to this day on East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach as a memorial to Mrs. Pitts' legacy. Throughout her life, Mrs. Pitts has been a very religious woman and was heavily involved in the church community in Boynton Beach. She attended the African Methodist Episcopal Church from an early age. She followed her children to the New Christian Life Church in 1984, where she became a dynamic and regular churchgoer. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Hilda Girtman Pitts will be remembered through her family, her friends, and all the many people she touched in her 102 years of life. She was truly a shining star of the Boynton Beach community. I am so pleased to honor her life and legacy. She will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, would you advise both of us how much time remains.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), my friend, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to debate the rule. This legislation historically focuses on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and water resources infrastructure, such as dams and levees, serving as a vehicle to update Corps policies and authorize new individual Corps studies, projects, and modifications to ongoing projects. This legislation could not be more important for our country, specifically my State, with its numerous Army Corps projects and water resources that Florida's diverse environment, ecosystem, and economy relies on. I was pleased to see that this legislation includes authorization for the dredging of Port Everglades. I have lived with that request for 18 years of my career here in Congress. This is a project that has seen a long road to fruition, and that will be an immense boost to south Florida's economy. Furthermore, as co-chair of the House Everglades Caucus, my fellow caucus members, relevant stakeholders, and I have for years worked tirelessly to make the goal of Everglades restoration a reality. It is with this goal in mind that I support and applaud the inclusion of the Central Everglades Planning Project authorization in this bill. This authorization will mean almost $2 billion of Federal and non- Federal money will be put towards vital restoration projects that will help one of the world's most diverse and unique ecosystems thrive once again. We still have a long way to go to bring the Everglades back to full ecological prosperity, and many challenges remain ahead; but by authorizing this project, we will be able to take a determined step in the right direction, helping Florida's environment and economy. Mr. Speaker, while I am pleased that this bill includes authorizations for critical water projects important to the State of Florida and for many other States around the country, I am disheartened to see a measure that was reported favorably out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with bipartisan support become shamefully transformed by Republican leadership. Under the guise of a budgetary point of order, the Republican leadership stripped a provision that would have unlocked the harbor maintenance trust fund to ensure that revenues collected from shippers are used to actually maintain U.S. coastal and Great Lakes harbors. So after working in a strong bipartisan fashion to craft a bill that all Members could support and after reporting the bill by voice vote, the majority saw fit to sabotage the good faith negotiating and hard work by--and I underscore one Member, a friend of mine--the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hahn), who has worked on this the entirety of the time that she has been here in Congress, and I am sure serves as a disappointment for her. She will speak to that later. Mr. Speaker, later today we will be debating a rule for a bill that, once again, attacks the Affordable Care Act. That bill also had two points of order made against it. Yet, the majority provided that legislation with a waiver against those points of order. With these contrasting decisions, the majority has revealed its hypocrisy. Work in a bipartisan fashion on a major infrastructure bill that gets favorably voice voted out of committee and leadership changes the bill and provides no waiver. Attack the Affordable Care Act in a red meat political messaging bill for the extreme right and leadership allows a waiver of the point of order so the bill may move forward. Mr. Speaker, I am also disheartened to see that this legislation does not have any funding to help the people of Flint and that my good friend, the Member who represents the city of Flint in this House, Congressman Kildee, did not have his amendment, which would have provided much-needed relief to the citizens of Flint, made in order. I am sure, if time permits, he will speak to the issue as well. Congressman Kildee sought this waiver of the rules so that his amendment could be made in order. This request was denied. Mr. Speaker, the majority grants waivers of points of order all the time. I have had the good fortune of being on the Rules Committee, both in the majority--perhaps, not often enough, in my mind--and in the minority. This Congress alone, as when Democrats were in charge, made waivers when they felt like doing so. My Republican friends have granted 249 waivers; yet they denied a waiver to address a critical public health crisis. There is plenty of blame to go around as to the cause of this crisis. I said last night that I understand the implications of the State and the local governments' responsibilities, but I also feel, when children are poisoned, that the Federal Government has an immense responsibility. To me, women, children, and the elderly becoming ill because of lead-tainted water is an ``everybody'' problem, and this body has a political and a moral responsibility to help the people of Flint right this wrong. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, if we can't get a waiver of the rules after this House works in a truly bipartisan way to address the issues of our country or to help children who have been drinking poisoned water in their hometowns, then when can we get a waiver? I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. HASTINGS. I yield the gentleman from Oregon an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hahn).

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my very good friend who also is an appropriator.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up a desperately needed $220 million aid package for the people of Flint, Michigan, who have been without clean drinking water for the last 2 years. Mr. Speaker, we have known about this manmade catastrophe for more than a year, and we didn't give the waiver last night to Mr. Kildee's amendment. We have provisions to deal with manmade catastrophes dealing with a variety of issues, prominent among them when a freight rail goes off the tracks and causes their freight, that may very well be harmful to a community, to pollute that community. We act, as we should have here. The Republican majority continues to do nothing about this, hiding behind House rules to block funding and justify its inaction. I really don't understand it. I said last night to all of our colleagues, if it was any one of our communities--and I might add a footnote right there, there are other communities in the United States of America that do have problems with lead poisoning, and it augurs well that we should consider them as well. However, we all know the circumstances of Flint, Michigan. Mr. Speaker, American families are being poisoned by lead- contaminated water. When that happens, we have a moral responsibility to act now. We can't wait any longer. I have heard around here that it is a local and a State responsibility. Well, if that is the case, we need to shut this institution down because everything, then, would be a local and a State responsibility, and all of our infrastructure issues of consequence would be a State and a local issue, as they are, but the Federal Government has responsibilities as well. While there is enough blame to go around about Flint, the simple fact of the matter is--and I am sure the next speaker will point it out--the United States Senate has seen, in its wisdom, 95-3 they have voted--95- 3--to provide the $220 million, which is nothing more than a start to try and do what is necessary in order for people to be uplifted. This is an area of our country, if we were talking 40 years ago, that was a driving engine of this country, that portion of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record along with extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.