Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. Mr. Speaker, you are not permitted to sing in the House of Representatives, and I shall not do that; but I will take this opportunity to do as my colleagues in the Rules Committee did yesterday, a little bit in advance of my friend's birthday. Today is the birthday of my friend, Mr. Woodall. And as one who has had many more birthdays than he, I hope he has as many birthdays as me and many, many more. Happy birthday to you, Rob. As my friends are already aware, the President has already said that he is going to veto this measure. We introduced last night the statement of the administration with reference thereto. That means that the likelihood that this bill will become law is highly improbable at best. I wish I was standing here under different circumstances. I wish that the House were about to vote on something it knows that the President will sign into law. I wish we were working on something that would actually help our economic recovery instead of hamstringing it. I listened to my friend very attentively when he pointed out that the marketplace will dictate three different circumstances. One that he did not allude to that I will is that the marketplace will dictate where the oil, once refined if the Keystone pipeline is approved, the marketplace will dictate out there in that neverland where we don't participate, where the oil will go. Therefore, I want to make it very clear that I do not believe that it means that there will be cheaper prices in the United States of America. I am standing here because House leadership would rather pass purely symbolic measures than work with the President. And I recognize that, as my friend has pointed out, that a long time has passed with reference to this measure. I did a little added research to determine what would Enbridge and the other companies up in Canada do in case there was no Keystone pipeline. In addition to rail, they also have plans to send oil east and west and plans to send it north. And, I might add, for all that same period of time, the resistance inside Canada, based on a number of circumstances having to do with the Beluga whale, all of the way back to farmers, having to do with environmentalists, the same as in our country, the same arguments, whether East, West, or North in Canada, have been going on while our debate has been going on here with reference to the Keystone pipeline. The 113th Congress is going to be remembered, and I believe everyone now understands, as the least productive Congress ever. That is the one that we just came out of. However, it seems that the current Congress is going to take its best shot at accomplishing even less if we stay on the course that we are on. Virtually every bill that has come before the Rules Committee the House already passed in the 113th Congress. Most have no more hope of becoming law now than the last time around. We have yet to see one really new idea from the Republican leadership of this body, which has shown zero interest in actually doing its job, in my opinion. How many more times are we going to have to vote to repeal so-called ObamaCare, a program that now unquestionably is improving the lives of some hardworking Americans. Instead, we are voting on bills handpicked for their ability to demonstrate the Republicans' message of the week, regardless of chance of enactment, regardless of whether it is a good idea, regardless of whether it is something that will help everyday Americans. And because these bills are handpicked for specific purposes, most have come to the floor under a closed rule, which means that Members cannot change the measure in any way, not even to make it better and not even with bipartisan solutions. A good example is so far this body has voted on 15 rules during this 114th Congress, of which 8 of those 15 have been closed. The closed rules we will pass this week will be numbers 9, 10, and 11. Listen, my friends, on this same measure last week and before, the United States Senate, operating under regular order that is now majority-led by Republicans, considered on this very same measure 18 amendments, six that were approved, and some of them that were offered were bipartisan. Among the reasons I believe that the Senate majority leader determined that he would operate differently than the previous majority leader is so as to give his membership, smaller than ours, of course, an opportunity to participate in the process. All the more reason, I believe, that we should have open rules. We have new Members, too, as do they. We have Members that have ideas that may be bipartisan with reference to support and opposition to the Keystone pipeline. But no, we continue to operate under closed rules. Do you know how many rules were closed at this same point in the last Congress? The most closed rules ever, six. The gavel might as well be a brick wall. Furthermore, much of the legislation this Congress has voted on has evaded regular order, escaping the review, hearings, and markups that ensure appropriate deliberation and consideration. Those of us on the Rules Committee have a wonderful opportunity. We are becoming sort of like the place of first resort for legislation. It isn't coming from hearings. The American public doesn't get an opportunity to see the various committees. It just comes up to the Rules Committee and we massage it back and forth about what our views are, but it does not come under regular order. Just like the original version of this bill, the House is considering the Senate version of this bill without a hearing or a markup. These are not just academic procedural disagreements. It matters because Members are not able to represent their constituents. It matters because good ideas are being deliberately kept hidden. I have been here a long time. I have seen some pretty great Congresses under Republican and Democratic control, and I have seen some pretty lousy ones. But the last few years, this body has been like a hamster on a wheel, spinning and spinning, but never getting anywhere. You don't have to look farther than a couple of amendments the Senate made to this bill to see my friends spinning their wheels. Climate change is real. Because a few Senators decided to get cute in parsing a few words, it is in the bill. We are going to vote on it. And then what? Just yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is making more than $280 million available for rural agricultural producers and small business owners to apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. Once more, those funds were made available in the 2014 farm bill, which shows what Congress can accomplish when we work together. I might add, because farmers in this country have experienced a 37 percent reduction--and I, along with others, represent many of those rural areas--I am delighted that we were able to do that in the farm bill, and I am pleased that Secretary Vilsack made his announcement. The Senate also included an amendment that finds that Congress should--as opposed to shall--require oil companies to pay an excise tax to fund oil spill cleanups. While I appreciate this expression, the amendment effectively does nothing to mandate contributions to the oil liability trust fund. I would invite my colleagues on the other side to explain that. Tell us why it is that these oil companies should not be required to contribute in a mandatory manner to the oil liability trust fund. Instead, what is happening is we create the illusion that oil companies will actually be accountable in the event of a spill. Alternatively, simply closing the tax loophole that allows oil and gas companies to deduct the cost of cleaning up oil spills would discourage oil spills and save hardworking American taxpayers an average of $1.3 billion per year. The American people were led to believe that changing control of the Senate would lead to an end of this gridlock. But sadly, this has not been the case. My friends are not going to be able to, like the hamster, spin their wheels continuously. Even the hamster gets tired. And sooner or later, when that hamster gets tired of the nonsense of spinning going nowhere, he either gets off or he falls off. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. I yield the gentlewoman another 30 seconds.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and defeat the previous question. I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, my colleague just said to me, as my friend was looking at the Associated Press' fact check, that it would seem that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security would know a little bit more about what he is doing than would a reporter. I would hope that that is the case. I am very pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), my classmate and good friend.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I would also take the opportunity to encourage the previous speaker to read Jefferson's Manual because some of the things he talked about on rules are not, at least, my understanding. So I accept his expertise on certain matters, but his ideas about what we can do in the minority strike me as strange. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey).

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining?

Mr. HASTINGS. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also advise my friend from Georgia that I have no further speakers. I don't know whether my friend from Georgia does or not.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I earlier asked several questions. I believe Mr. Cramer addressed one of them. I have yet another that I did not ask, and I am not asking him to respond. I might add, I think those of us here in the body--and I said this to him when he was in the Rules Committee--I do believe Mr. Cramer from North Dakota really does have a comprehensive understanding of this matter. While I disagreed with him about many matters, I do believe that he points out something that we need to pay attention to, in that there are already, without Keystone, a lot of pipelines in the United States of America, and in the period of time of this recent debate, there have been a lot of pipelines that have had spills and have caused major damage. Without getting into them, three of them have really been substantial. Shutoff valves become important. We haven't discussed many of the things regarding the technology that has improved over time, but I keep hearing my colleagues talk about this being a jobs measure. Indisputably, if there were to be a pipeline built, there would be jobs. I agree with my friends on the other side that most, if not all, construction jobs are temporary jobs, and there are those in labor unions who are very supportive of this matter for the reason that it would create jobs. But I have in mind something that many of us have advocated for years. The greatest reminder occurred the night before last right here close to us, in Maryland, when a piece of concrete from a big, old bridge fell off and, fortunately, when I saw the lady on television, her car was damaged and she was frightened out of her wits. But she is alive and was unharmed. That is concrete off of a bridge. There are thousands of bridges in this country, and all of us know that we could be about the business of dealing with our infrastructure, which would create a whole lot of jobs and not leave us to these ideological debates. I might add, if we approve this matter, in order for people to litigate, they have to come here to the Federal Circuit in the District of Columbia. That does not make sense to me, and it precludes those who would want to bring actions from being able to do so. This legislation allows that as the only vehicle. I might add, the litigation isn't concluded yet in many of the places where there may continue to be concerns--in South Dakota, where Mr. Cramer is close to--Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and certainly in Nebraska. In the midst of trying to combat all of the problems that we have here in this country, attaching conditions and ultimatums to fundamental legislation is not the way to go about addressing the policy that was earlier raised and that I will raise in the previous question with reference to immigration. If my friends really want to debate immigration issues, they should work with us and the President to reach a comprehensive and bipartisan consensus. Perpetuating the Department of Homeland Security stalemate is as dangerous to our country's security as it is corrosive to our democratic process. Please, let's stop the pointless politicking. Let's end these games of chicken with our national security. Pass a clean DHS funding bill, and let's get back to the business of the American people. I didn't know that this was in the drawer in front of me. It kind of looks like a hamster. The wheel just keeps on spinning. But my little friend here is still with us and has, in many respects, like my friends, stopped, by virtue of his being inanimate, his spinning. And that is what the Republicans need to do: stop spinning like the hamster on the wheel and get on with the business of the United States of America. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Lena Horne Recognition Act of 2015, which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the late, renowned singer, actress, and Civil Rights icon, Ms. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne. As an African American woman born in the 1917, Ms. Horne, who passed away in 2010, was truly a woman of firsts, having pioneered the way for many men and women of color through her work in Jazz, film, and the Civil Rights movement. She began her career in the chorus line at Harlem's famed Cotton Club before moving on to record dozens of musical tracks and playing roles in movies and musicals. As a young woman, Lena drew much fame from her beauty and talent, yet found many roadblocks in her personal success due to the hyper- racialized nature of show business at the time. However, this adversity would not limit her, and presented a platform for her increasing support of and action in the Civil Rights movement. The first to do so, Lena signed a long term contract with Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and embarked on a career in Hollywood, as her celebrity had been noticed by many, despite the color of her skin. She was also the first African American woman to be nominated for a Tony Award. However, again, she found road blocks in her professional life, due to state-law restrictions in on-screen interracial relationships as well as the need to have her roles edited out for Jim Crow abiding viewers. Blacklisted during the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, Ms. Horne still recorded what would become the best-selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor's history in 1957. From music and film, Lena had built a substantial fan base, and by the 1960s, at the peak of the Civil Rights movement, she became a staple on Television. She had become so renowned in popular culture despite her race that she appeared on shows such as the Dean Martin Show and Ed Sullivan Show. In 1970, Horne co-starred with well known actor, Harry Belafonte, on a show for ABC donning their names--``Harry and Lena.'' She would go on to play herself on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Sanford and Son. In 1981, Lena then received two Grammy awards and a special Tony award for her cast recording of her Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. In 1989, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Amongst her many awards, Ms. Horne was the recipient of the Kennedy Center honor for lifetime contribution to the arts in 1984. She received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for her work in both motion pictures and recording--in addition to a footprint on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Lena always fought back when opportunities presented themselves. For example, during World War II, Lena had been slated to perform for segregated troops of U.S. servicemen. She was appalled to find that African American servicemen had been seated behind German prisoners of war, and refused to partake unless she could sing before an integrated group. As a compromise, Lena left the stage and sang directly in front of her African American counterparts, with the German prisoners of war to her rear. Lena notably remained committed to bettering lives of the underserved and underrepresented for the entirety of her life. An active participant in the movement, Lena met President John F. Kennedy shortly before his assassination, marched in the March on Washington, and ultimately performed and spoke on behalf of the NAACP, SNCC, and National Council of Negro Women. Also notable is the work that she engaged in with Former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt to pass anti- lynching laws. Lena was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1983. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in support of honoring Lena Horne posthumously with a Congressional Gold Medal, for her outstanding contributions to American culture and the Civil Rights Movement. A beautiful person inside-out, Lena willed her talent, intelligence, and fame to fight against discrimination, traversing her career on a road filled with pot holes full of racial bias and degradation. Lena represents the very best of American ideals and signifies the true purpose of the American Dream.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Lena Horne Recognition Act of 2015, which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the late, renowned singer, actress, and Civil Rights icon, Ms. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne. As an African American woman born in 1917, Ms. Horne, who passed away in 2010, was truly a woman of firsts, having pioneered the way for many men and women of color through her work in Jazz, film, and the Civil Rights movement. She began her career in the chorus line at Harlem's famed Cotton Club before moving on to record dozens of musical tracks and playing roles in movies and musicals. As a young woman, Lena drew much fame from her beauty and talent, yet found many roadblocks in her personal success due to the hyper- racialized nature of show business at the time. However, this adversity would not limit her, and presented a platform for her increasing support of and action in the Civil Rights movement. The first to do so, Lena signed a long term contract with Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and embarked on a career in Hollywood, as her celebrity had been noticed by many, despite the color of her skin. She was also the first African American woman to be nominated for a Tony Award. However, again, she found road blocks in her professional life, due to state-law restrictions in on-screen interracial relationships as well as the need to have her roles edited out for Jim Crow abiding viewers. Blacklisted during the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, Ms. Horne still recorded what would become the best-selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor's history in 1957. From music and film, Lena had built a substantial fan base, and by the 1960s, at the peak of the Civil Rights movement, she became a staple on television. She had become so renowned in popular culture despite her race that she appeared on shows such as the Dean Martin Show and Ed Sullivan Show. In 1970, Horne co-starred with well known actor, Harry Belafonte, on a show for ABC donning their names--``Harry and Lena.'' She would go on to play herself on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Sanford and Son. In 1981, Lena then received two Grammy awards and a special Tony award for her cast recording of her Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. In 1989, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Amongst her many awards, Ms. Horne was the recipient of the Kennedy Center honor for lifetime contribution to the arts in 1984. She received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for her work in both motion pictures and recording--in addition to a footprint on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Lena always fought back when opportunities presented themselves. For example, during World War II, Lena had been slated to perform for segregated troops of U.S. servicemen. She was appalled to find that African American servicemen had been seated behind German prisoners of war, and refused to partake unless she could sing before an integrated group. As a compromise, Lena left the stage and sang directly in front of her African American counterparts, with the German prisoners of war to her rear. Lena notably remained committed to bettering lives of the underserved and underrepresented for the entirety of her life. An active participant in the movement, Lena met President John F. Kennedy shortly before his assassination, marched in the March on Washington, and ultimately performed and spoke on behalf of the NAACP, SNCC, and National Council of Negro Women. Also notable is the work that she engaged in with former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt to pass anti- lynching laws. Lena was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1983. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in support of honoring Lena Horne posthumously with a Congressional Gold Medal, for her outstanding contributions to American culture and the Civil Rights Movement. A beautiful person inside and out, Lena willed her talent, intelligence, and fame to fight against discrimination, traversing her career on a road filled with potholes full of racial bias and degradation. Lena represents the very best of American ideals and signifies the true purpose of the American Dream.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my good friend, for yielding to me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. The enduring reputation of the 113th Congress will be as the least productive ever. The previous House was also the most closed ever as it pertains to rules, passing more closed rules than any other Congress. Despite controlling both Chambers of the 114th Congress, my friends across the aisle have picked up the dysfunction right where they left off in trying to jam through another piece of legislation regardless of its merits and without giving the House a chance to review it through regular order. It must be understood that there are a significant number of new Members here who didn't have an opportunity, as I did and as the chairman did, to vote on this measure in the previous Congress. Dysfunction reigns supreme, but don't just take my word for it. Last week, my friend from Pennsylvania, Congressman Dent, offered a summary of the 114th Congress' accomplishments so far: Week one, we had a Speaker election that did not go as well as a lot of us would have liked. Week two, we got into a big fight over deporting children, something that a lot of us didn't want to have a discussion about. Week three, we are now talking about rape and incest and reportable rapes and incest for minors . . . I just can't wait for week four. That was from my colleague Mr. Dent. Here we are in week four, in my view, wasting time and taxpayer money in debating a solution for a problem that does not exist. Since the Department of Energy completed its economic impact study, export applications are receiving a decision within about 2 months. In fact, four LNG export projects have already won all of the necessary Federal permits from the Energy Department and from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with the first project scheduled to come online this year. Therefore, despite H.R. 351's clever name, the only uncertainty regarding the bill is why the House is considering it at all. This bill originated in the last Congress when we were told that it would help Ukraine shake its energy dependence from Russia. Let me repeat that. This bill originated in the last Congress when we were told that it would help Ukraine shake its energy dependence from Russia. I would like for some of my colleagues on the other side to tell me how Ukraine will be able to benefit from this legislation in light of what I believe the fact to be, and that is that they are not prepared to receive liquefied natural gas from us. In my view, since most of this takes place in the spot neverland of oil and gas sales, I don't believe, when completed, that this gas will reach Ukraine. Do you know where the highest prices for all liquefied natural gas are both now and, apparently, in the near future? Asia. This gas is going to Asia, not to Ukraine and not to Eastern Europe. I heard some discussion yesterday evening about Hungary, and I dispute whether or not any of it will go there as well. Furthermore, what was true then remains true now: even when the United States finally becomes capable of exporting liquefied natural gas, Ukraine does not have, as I have pointed out, the capability to receive it. I hope you will understand my uncertainty as to why this bill is on the floor. H.R. 351 will not make gas prices cheaper here either. LNG is already cheap. In fact, this bill is more likely to increase our natural gas prices, since we are going to be sending more gas overseas, and it will be hardworking Americans paying the cost. It is not like there are a whole lot of projects waiting to be approved either. With natural gas futures and crude oil prices well below the levels where natural gas is competitive, companies are putting LNG export and development projects on hold, leaving only more uncertainty as to why we are considering this bill today. This bill is also incredibly misguided. We cannot solve our energy problems with fossil fuels. It requires a certain kind of arrogance to deny an overwhelming scientific consensus regarding climate change. Importing or exporting more fossil fuels, more drilling, more fracking, more pipelines, it doesn't matter; fossil fuels are a dead end, full stop. A serious renewable energy plan is the only way to ensure energy independence. Clean energy is the only way we can be sure that we don't leave a devastated planet for our children. This Congress is starting just like the last one, Mr. Speaker. The American people deserve better. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I reiterate that I would hope that some of the speakers from the other side would answer the question as to whether or not this liquefied natural gas is going to reach Eastern Europe. I dispute that. Just sort of as an aside, I know no one will say anything regarding same, but the fact of the matter is that, for years, the discussion was the price of regular gasoline. Now that it is nearing $2 and we are the world's biggest producer of natural gas and moving pretty well, I might add--and I am glad to see--along the clean energy line, I just am curious whether President Obama gets any credit at all for any of these changes because those who argued that gasoline would be at $6 and $7--I even saw one at $8 a gallon--I am just curious, since that didn't occur, what the thought is. I recognize we are here on another subject, but I would hope that we would get an answer regarding the LNG and Ukraine especially. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. You know, I don't want to in any way disparage the lovefest of my friends from Texas. I recognize that everything is big in Texas. Also, as a child, I even learned the songs of Texas, ``The Yellow Rose of Texas,'' ``Deep in the Heart of Texas,'' a whole of bunch of them which I hold dear from my childhood. I would like to have the gentleman who was called upon as a foreign affairs expert--because he serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee--to know, then, that I guess I too am a foreign affairs expert since I served on that committee for 8 years, served on the Intelligence Committee for 8 years. All of the countries that the gentleman mentioned, I have been to. I assuredly never got an answer from the chairman or anyone else regarding whether or not Ukraine--and it is not ``the Ukraine''; it is ``Ukraine''--didn't get an answer as to whether they were prepared to receive liquefied natural gas. I also know that we are mindful of the sanctions on Russia and how it is impacting them. I didn't only just go to Ukraine. In their first election after the Orange Revolution, I was the lead election monitor for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. I don't come to this dance without having some understanding, and I would urge that I still didn't get--although my friend, the chairman, seemed to suggest that the President is deserving of something that he earns, my belief is that the President has allowed for more gas leases than I would have had him do. I would urge that just off the press, embargoed until noon today, is a press release from the United States Department of the Interior, which receives a lot of negative comment from my colleagues regarding regulations. ``Interior Department Announces Draft Strategy for Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing.'' The draft proposal program includes 14 potential lease sales in eight planning areas--10 sales in the Gulf of Mexico, three off the coast of Alaska, and one in a portion of the mid- and south Atlantic. Now, let me make it very clear. That might make a whole lot of people happy. It does not make me happy because they are discussing leases in the Gulf of Mexico where, I believe, there is substantial infrastructure from areas like Louisiana and Texas in the western portion of the gulf. I guess we just ignore things like the BP oil spill, and we ignore the potential for those kinds of disasters. So I can't disagree very much with the chairman regarding much of his statistics, but I want the administration and my friend from Texas, the chairman, to know that, as I have said repeatedly, I will be the last person standing in this House of Representatives opposed to offshore drilling in my State of Florida no matter the views that others have. I believe there is enough wind from our respective oceans to double the amount of energy that we have, and, yes, my friend, there are aircraft that are powered without fossil fuel. We were originally scheduled this week to also consider a border security bill, but that bill was scuttled yesterday amidst a number of things. My friends, the Republicans, are pretty lucky. As bad as the snowstorm is, particularly for the New England area of our country, many of our colleagues could not get back here yesterday and probably won't be able to get back here today as well. The reason I say they are lucky is they can hide--by pulling the border bill--under the fact that there was a snowstorm and people couldn't get in here, and that is legitimate, in my view. The other part of the concern--and we will see about it next week and the week after--is that many conservatives in the Republican Party are jumping ship on the border bill, and that was out there as well. Just like last week, just like last Congress, there is a rift in the majority, leaving it unable to even pass legislation that all of its Members can agree on. Unfortunately, we have real problems in this country that my friends are going to have to address. So I look forward to my friends' plan to repair our crumbling roads and bridges in this country, and I can't wait to see how this body will combat the national security threat of climate change, in spite of all of your denials. I hope that my friends intend to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that many of the reforms in our tax structure allow for those persons who are ultrawealthy to pay their fair proportion of what they earn and to reform our Tax Code so that middle-income Americans can benefit and poor Americans can rise to the middle class. With America's workers' wages stagnant for so long, including our own here in the House of Representatives, we are entering the seventh year without any increase in wages. And those of us who are poorer Members of Congress have experienced the kinds of difficulties of just being here in Washington and the cost for being here. I am seeking no sympathies. It is just a fact. So with those wages stagnant for so long, I look forward to hearing from my colleagues on how they plan to raise the minimum wage in this country. Because until my friends can address their dysfunction and inability to lead, I am afraid our country is in for 2 more years of uncertainty. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate that most Presidents get a lot of credit on their watch and a lot of negative when things go wrong. For once, our gas prices are down, and my friends can't even bring themselves to say that this President deserves some credit. I do. I see it. He deserves some credit. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' application to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an affront to all of those who have engaged for years in efforts to accomplish a peaceful resolution to the decades long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinian Authority's anticipated war crimes complaint against Israel will, in no uncertain terms, severely hinder future comprehensive peace talks in a time when the advancement of a two-state solution that ensures enduring peace has never been more important. For more than half a century, Israel has been America's most reliable strategic partner in the Middle East. It is essential that we remain supportive of Israel's absolute right to defend itself and protect its citizens. We cannot stand by while the Palestinian Authority, engaged in a unity government with Hamas, makes frivolous and damaging claims against Israel Defense Forces soldiers and Israeli citizens residing in settlements in the disputed West Bank. Congress must halt the $400 million American dollars sent annually to the Palestinian Authority until it withdraws its counterproductive request to join the International Criminal Court and returns to the negotiating table with Israel. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in calling for the defunding of Palestinian foreign aid by becoming a co-sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), who is the ranking member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman, my good friend from Texas (Mr. Sessions), the chairman of the Rules Committee for yielding me the customary 30 minutes. Mr. Speaker, S. 2244 reauthorizes, through December 31, 2020, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, also known as TRIA. This much-needed reauthorization ensures that the program will continue to protect our Nation's taxpayers in the event of severe loss from an act of terror, while providing the security and stability necessary for our Nation's businesses to grow and invest. TRIA was a direct response by the Federal Government to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the resulting disruptions from that act of terrorism to coverage under commercial policies in the marketplace. Since 2002, it has provided companies with affordable access to terrorism insurance coverage, while serving as a backstop for insurers against the most severe terrorism-related losses. Currently, in order to receive payment for claims, insurance companies must pay a deductible equivalent to 20 percent of the previous year's direct earned premium for covered commercial lines. Furthermore, the insured loss must be at least $100 million before the Federal Government will cover 85 percent of each company's losses up to $100 billion, with the other 15 percent of losses the obligation of insurers. In addition to extending TRIA by 6 years, S. 2244 also makes a number of important changes to the program. Gradually, as Mr. Sessions explained, it will increase the program's threshold from $100 million to $200 million as well as slightly increase the amount the government recoups from private insurers up to 140 percent. Moreover, this legislation decreases the government's share of losses from 85 to 80 percent. I am pleased to share that the final measure before us today does not include a contentious provision that would have bifurcated TRIA based on the type of terrorist attack, essentially treating nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological attacks differently than conventional attacks. The reauthorization of TRIA is broadly supported by members of the business community and by many of my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle. However, while we can agree that TRIA is both necessary and must be reauthorized, S. 2244 also includes an unrelated provision that changes the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In particular, it exempts manufacturers, energy companies, and agricultural firms, known as end users, from having to put up collateral when they are trading derivatives. With less than 2 legislative days left before funding for the Federal Government expires, I am troubled by the addition of this extraneous, nongermane derivative end user margin provision, which is a disappointing setback to the progress made during the last few weeks of bipartisan negotiations, and it risks the entire bill's defeat over in the other body. These last-minute changes to Dodd-Frank were not previously agreed to, as they were included without informing Democrats after an agreement was reached on Monday night. After months of negotiations, my friends, the House Republicans, then announced an emergency Rules Committee meeting with only 2\1/2\-hours' notice. Almost 3,000 lives were lost and an estimated $40 billion in insured losses sustained in the absolutely horrible attacks of 9/11. TRIA helped our Nation rebuild and recover, and it continues to protect the American people today. Such an important program deserves better than the partisan sleight of hand represented by the last-minute addition. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2 minutes.

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time, although I certainly don't intend to use that much time. But I do wish to point out, Mr. Speaker, since there has been discussion regarding the changes that are extraneous to the base bill-- more specifically, the changes with reference to Dodd-Frank--and other changes that the Senate included in the measure that has now come to the House: my understanding is, and I stand to be corrected, that the changes that were made in the Senate were not measures having to do with Dodd-Frank. It appears that that is where the provisions are likely to come into play in that my friends on the other side included the Dodd-Frank language after the negotiations had been put forward. The fact of the matter is, it does appear that several Members of the other body have indicated that they are opposed to it. I don't believe that means that they are opposed to TRIA, but I do believe it means that they are opposed to changes in Dodd-Frank. TRIA has been a widely successful program that has created jobs, fostered certainty in the marketplace, and protected U.S. economic security, all at no cost to the taxpayer. Reauthorization, in my judgment, is essential to current and future commercial development in communities all across this country and to our Nation's long-term economic prosperity. I don't believe my Republican colleagues really want to play chicken with this vital national and economic security program in order to strong-arm the process on an unrelated financial services provision. You know, Mr. Speaker and friends, when the 113th Congress began, it began with the distinguished Speaker of the House enunciating, among other things, that we would have an open and transparent process. This is the 83rd closed rule that my friends on the other side have brought to this body. It rivals any in the history of this country, and I have been in the majority and in the minority as a member of the Rules Committee and have seen Members of my party advocate and pass closed rules. When I came to the body in 1992, I had very little understanding about the process, and I recall very vividly when I went home for the first time--the Democrats were in the majority--and all of the talk on the radio shows that I would appear on was, Your party is passing closed rules. I am not so sure that generally the public is mindful of this inside process, but the essence of it allows that Members who are not on the relevant committees or Members who did not have their amendments made in order before the Rules Committee are precluded under closed rules from having an opportunity to put forward their ideas which might benefit the legislation or, if they feel like the legislation is deserving of burdening it, might very well do that as well. But I will close by saying that I never thought that we would have 83 closed rules. I am privileged to be able to serve in the 114th Congress, and my great hope is that we get past this particular method of cutting off other Members in this body from having full participation in the world's greatest deliberative body. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill recognizing persons of African descent on the occasion of the December 10, 2014 launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent. As our country fights to realize justice for Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Aiyana Jones, John Warner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and many others, we must not forget the names--Stephen Lawrence, Oury Jalloh, Mark Duggan, Zyed Benna, Bouna Traore, and many others--who are victims of similar injustices in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The International Decade provides an opportunity to join efforts with countries around the globe to, over the next 10 years, develop and implement national strategies honoring the vast contributions of people of African Descent and to combat continuing issues of prejudice and discrimination such as those currently gripping our nation. To aid these efforts, I have introduced the African Descent Affairs Act. The Act seeks to improve the situation of people of African descent around the world by establishing within our State Department a Global Office of African Descent Affairs to establish global foreign policy and assistance strategies for people of African descent. Furthermore, it creates a ``President Obama Fund'' to support anti- discrimination and empowerment efforts by African descent-led civil society organizations, and requires annual State Department human rights reports to include a section on discrimination faced by people of African descent. U.S. foreign policy strategies such as these have improved the situation of vulnerable groups internationally and would greatly assist in responding to increasing levels of prejudice and discrimination faced by people of African descent around the globe. The International Decade reaffirms the importance of inclusion and the full and equal participation of people of African descent around the world in all aspects of political, economic, social, and cultural life. I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating the collective history and achievements made by people of African descent on the occasion of the launch of the Decade by supporting the African Descent Affairs Act.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 26th Annual World AIDS Day, which also marks the beginning of AIDS Awareness Month. This year's theme is ``Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation,'' which embodies the core strategy for reversing the AIDS epidemic domestically and internationally. Since its establishment by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, World AIDS Day has served as a call to action and a living memorial to all those whose lives have been lost to the disease across the globe. According to WHO, an estimated 39 million people have died since the first cases were reported in 1981 and 1.5 million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2013. In the United States, more than 1.2 million people are currently living with HIV, with almost one in seven (14 percent) unaware of their infection. We also know that the burden of HIV infection continues to fall greatest on men who have sex with men (MSM), African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and young people, who account for the majority of the approximately 50,000 new HIV infections each year. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that only 25 percent of Americans living with HIV are virally suppressed and successfully making it through the HIV care continuum. This means that about 825,000 people living with HIV are not receiving the full benefits of treatment, and may be unknowingly passing the virus on to others. Treatment remains the most promising tool we have to creating an AIDS-free generation. Because of continued advancements in antiretroviral drugs and efforts to link individuals to care, more people living with HIV are able to manage the disease and lead active, productive lives. If we can increase the number of individuals living with HIV who are on treatment, then we can achieve global AIDS control. One year ago, S. 1545, the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013, was signed into law and stands as a symbol of our nation's enduring commitment to ending AIDS worldwide. At the 2014 International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne, Australia, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other civil society organizations introduced the ``20x20 Campaign,'' which aims to have 20 million people on antiretroviral therapy by 2020. In addition, UNAIDS proposed the ``90-90-90'' treatment goals, which are to have 90 percent of people infected with HIV know their status, 90 percent of people infected with HIV on treatment, and 90 percent of those on treatment with an undetectable viral load all by 2020. Ultimately, however, the future is in our hands. We know how to stop the transmission of HIV and help people living with AIDS stay as healthy as possible. It starts with raising public awareness, knowing your status, and challenging the stigma that prevents so many within our communities from accessing the care they need. Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to remember the dozens of scientists, researchers, and activists who perished when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. They were en route to AIDS 2014. Among them was world- renowned scientist Dr. Joep Lange, his partner Jacqueline van Tongeren, and WHO spokesman Glenn Thomas. Theirs was truly a tragic loss for the global AIDS response. Mr. Speaker, as we look to the start of the 114th Congress, it is imperative that we remain committed to continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS, and address the ongoing effects of sequestration on HIV care in the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing World AIDS Day and AIDS Awareness Month, as well as supporting vital HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs, including the Ryan White Program and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a Resolution Congratulating Congresswomen Frederica S. Wilson and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on their induction into the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Hall of Fame. I am also pleased to be joined by Representatives Frankel, Diaz- Balart, Clawson, Deutch, Garcia, Wasserman Schultz, Murphy and Rooney of the South Florida delegation in celebrating Congresswomen Frederica S. Wilson and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on receiving this honor. Both Representative Wilson and Ros-Lehtinen are products of the Miami-Dade County Public School System and are a testament to the quality of MDCPS. I invite you to join me in congratulating Congresswomen Frederica S. Wilson and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on their myriad accomplishments and their induction into the MDCPS Hall of Fame.