Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mrs. Lowey, just before you leave, you have just an additional few seconds. Will the gentlelady yield to me?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I just want to say, in addition to the fact that Chris Van Hollen came to the Rules Committee five times, Harry Reid has offered eight times to go to conference and Republicans have blocked it. And I just want that to be understood, because later on we're going to hear somebody stand up here and say it's Democrats that are holding it up, and it's not.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my very good friend, the minority whip of the House of Representatives.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. May I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased and privileged at this time to yield 3 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. If we defeat the previous question, we'll offer an amendment to the rule that strikes the provision of the rule that deems the passage of the Ryan budget and will allow the House to consider the resolution calling on Speaker Boehner to proceed to conference on the budget. It is time for the majority to follow regular House procedure by immediately requesting a conference and appointing conferees to negotiate a fiscal 2014 budget resolution conference agreement with the Senate. To discuss our proposal, I'm very pleased to yield 5 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my very good friend from California, Ms. Barbara Lee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would advise my colleague that I have no further speakers, and I'm prepared to close. So I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I guess I have to ask the question at the beginning that Mr. Van Hollen has persisted in asking, and I as well and others: Why are you afraid to go to conference? I have no idea why you can't do that and follow the regular order. I agree with my colleague that this bipartisan measure is a very good thing that we are bringing here, but I also agree with other speakers that when we finish doing these two bills--and I predict for my friend that we will not reach a single other measure of appropriations for the reason that if you're going to cut 22 percent from everything else and you're going to hold harmless the things that you and I like, then be assured we are in serious trouble as the appropriations process moves forward. We have a responsibility to implement a budget framework that supports programs which help Americans provide for their families, to stay in their homes, and remain competitive in the global economy. The Ryan budget picks winners and losers, and we are picking two winners today, and we are going to have 11 losers on down the road. ``Deem and pass'' did not work the last Congress, it didn't work when Democrats thought that they could try it, and it ain't gonna work now. It is long past time that House Republicans work together with Democrats in conference, just as these two committees did, to negotiate a budget and put an end to the devastating sequester. Mr. 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 of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and defeat the previous question. I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I'm prepared to yield back the balance of my time after I ask the question one more time: Why are you afraid to go to conference? I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two American heroes, Marine PFC Oscar A. Martinez and Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (MA2) Michael J. Brodsky, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. They are the first residents of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida to be killed while serving in the Armed Forces since it was founded 50 years ago, and I am truly honored to have had the privilege to represent them in Congress. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of these two young men for their loss. PFC Oscar Martinez was born in Dallas in 1984. Originally from El Salvador, his family settled in South Florida in 1987. Oscar's mother died when he was a child, leaving him and his three younger siblings to be raised by his uncle, Rene Martinez, and the children's grandmother, Maria Marta Mendez. According to his sister, Morena Martinez, Oscar dreamt of being a Marine ever since he was little, and was determined to be the best at what he did. Oscar joined the Marine Corps in 2003, shortly before graduating from North Lauderdale High School, and was assigned to the I Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Pendleton, California. Sadly, he was killed on October 12, 2004 when a mortar fired by insurgents exploded at a U.S. base where he was eating with his unit in the Iraqi province of Anbar. He was just 19 years old. MA2 Michael Brodsky, of Tamarac, Florida, enlisted in the Navy in 2001, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was stationed in the security department at Sasebo Naval Base in Japan from 2002 to 2005 before earning the award of Distinguished Graduate from the Military Working Dog Course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Mike also served at Naval Support Activity (NAS) Bahrain. In December 2010, he was assigned to Navy Region Southwest Security Detachment in San Diego, California. On July 7, 2012, Mike was on patrol in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom when his unit started taking fire. He rushed to protect his dog Jackson by putting him back in the truck as he was trained to do, and then returned to the fight. It was then that Mike stepped on the pressure plate of an improvised explosive device (IED), and the blast took both his legs. In critical condition and unresponsive, he was flown to Germany where doctors tried to save him. On the morning of July 17, 2012, Mike was awarded the Purple Heart. Tragically, the 33-year-old died from his injuries on July 21, 2012 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He is survived by his daughter Natalia, parents Debra and Steven Brodsky, younger brother Corey Brodsky, and grandfather Stanley Brodsky. Mr. Speaker, on May 31, 2013, the City of North Lauderdale will be dedicating a fallen soldier statue in memory of PFC Oscar Martinez and MA2 Michael Brodsky, who gave their lives in order to protect freedom and democracy around the world. As we recently observed the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War and over 11 years of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, we must remember all those who have fallen in service to our great country. Our nation owes them, as well as the millions of brave servicemen and women who have served and continue to serve, an eternal debt of gratitude. Their service will not be forgotten.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Muslim Alliance of Florida. This organization does excellent work for so many people around the State. Foremost among those is its annual scholarship dinner for graduating high school seniors. Now in its sixth year, the scholarship program received applications from 138 students at 56 high schools across Florida, and will present ten winners with an award on June 1, 2013. Past awardees have enrolled in some of America's most prestigious colleges and universities, as well as continued to excel in their chosen fields of study. I am very proud of the Alliance, and am privileged to have so many of its members live in my Congressional district. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize the American Muslim Alliance, and express my most sincere gratitude for all that they do in our community. I also want to congratulate this year's winners, and wish them much success in their future endeavors.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in recognition of May as National Foster Care Month. National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness for the hundreds of thousands of children and youth who are in our nation's foster care system. Each one of these individuals is part of a network of dedicated professionals, foster parents, and advocates who work 365 days a year, and for that they must be commended. Furthermore, I believe that it is imperative we focus on the day-to- day successes of these children and their allies. In March 2012, I was proud to host a listening tour through Broward and Miami-Dade counties to bring greater attention to the efforts of local communities striving to improve our foster care system. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am distinctly aware of the issues facing our child welfare system. Currently, there are over 400,000 children in our nation's foster care system, many of whom have serious emotional or medical problems. On average, these children wait three years for permanent families, with many aging out of foster care without the love and support from family. These children deserve permanent loving families, and it is our responsibility as legislators to create policy that will help to that improve their outcomes. At times, the frailties and stark statistics of the foster care system can seem overwhelming. However, as I have seen from my own experience, when given a voice and a chance, foster youth are resilient, capable, and yearning for success. It is up to all of us to nurture the greatness in these youth. Investing in our children's future is an investment in the future of our nation, and that is why I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to move this country forward on issues critical to their success.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the contributions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES was created in 1973 to ensure that international trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. Launched with a few signatory nations, CITES has now 178 parties that have an international obligation and responsibility to protect our planets' endangered animals and plants. Nearly 5,000 species of animals and 29,000 species of plants are protected by the Convention against over- exploitation through international trade. Adherence to these protective measures has benefited the conservation of animals and plants worldwide. Unfortunately, more and more species are at risk of extinction and international trade, both legal and illegal, has exacerbated the dangers. International wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars per year and to include hundreds of millions of live plants and animals and derived products such as food products, leather and fur, ornamentals, medicinal, and timber. Such high levels of exploitation of and trade in wild animals and plants, together with other factors such as habitat loss, are capable of bringing some species close to extinction. Every two to three years, the parties of CITES meet at the Conference of the Parties to review the status of species in danger of extinction and establish trade restrictions. The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties was held in March 2013. Several proposals were submitted during the summit, some of them ensuring better protections for endangered species, others trying to downlist species and re-open trade. While proposals to up listing five valuable kinds of shark species were successfully adopted, proposals to establish stronger protections for the polar bear and other species were unfortunately rejected. I am saddened to see that economic interests have prevailed over species conservation, risking to bring species close to extinction. This is unacceptable. My resolution will recognize the important contributions the Convention has made in regulating international trade in endangered species and protecting endangered species worldwide. It will also applaud the Convention's leadership in protecting the African elephants, five sharks and other endangered species. Lastly, the resolution will urge all parties to the Convention to collaborate effectively to curb excessive exploitation of species for international trade and to adopt stronger protections for several endangered species at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in South Africa in 2016. Mr. Speaker, the United States has a moral obligation to protect endangered species and their natural habitat. Wild animals are a very important part of our commonly held natural resources and contribute to the diversity and stability of our environment. We must continue to maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem that allows for the coexistence of both human beings and the world's most incredible species. It is essential to work with the international community to ensure the survival of these species. I believe that the stakes are too high to let national interests and differences hinder the future of our planet. I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting wildlife and promoting environmental conservation across the globe by supporting this important resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ismael Guzman, a senior at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. Ismael is fine young man who has received good grades, and will graduate later this month. He has courageously chosen to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. Ismael should be extremely proud of his decision to serve this nation. It is thanks to the commitment and dedication of individuals such as him, that we are able to meet here in the House of Representatives, and openly debate and legislate on the many issues facing our nation. Mr. Speaker, I commend Ismael Guzman for his selflessness to enlist in the Marine Corps. I am certain that he will serve with honor and distinction. We owe him, as well as all the men and women serving in uniform a debt of gratitude.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bernard Gray, a senior at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. Bernard is a fine young man, who has compiled a very good academic record at Glades Central, and will be graduating later this month. He has proudly chosen to enlist in the United States Army. I want to congratulate Bernard on his decision to serve his country. It is thanks to the dedication of fine individuals such as him, that we are able to meet here in the House of Representatives, and openly debate and legislate on the many issues facing our nation. Mr. Speaker, Bernard Gray is a selfless and courageous individual. I am certain that he will make us proud with his service. We owe him, as well as all the men and women in uniform an enormous debt of gratitude.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Jacoby Dickens, who passed away this month at the age of 82. Jacoby was a prominent business leader, and served as Chairman of Seaway Bank & Trust Co., which is the largest black-owned bank in Chicago. He also served on the boards of Chicago State University, the School of Business at Florida A&M University, and the Chicago Urban League. He was a well-known philanthropist, and donated more than $1 million to Chicago State University, where his name adorns the main athletic center. Jacoby truly embodies the American dream, as his inspiring success story is rooted in the humblest of beginnings. He was one of six children, growing up in Panama City, Florida. His family moved to the South Side of Chicago in 1946. A teenager at the time, he attended Wendell Phillips High School. Always possessing a knack for business, Jacoby began saving money while working as a building engineer. With these savings, he invested in real estate, and eventually purchased and managed a large number of apartment buildings in the South Side before selling his holdings in 1971. In time, he expanded his investments into other parts of Chicago, primarily investing in several bowling alleys. Seen as a financial up- and-comer, Seaway Bank & Trust Co. asked him to join their board in 1979. He became Chairman of the bank in 1983. Seaway was one of very few banks willing to provide loans in tough neighborhoods on the South Side, and saw Jacoby as a model of success for potential investments. Building a half-billion-dollar organization, perhaps the most profound aspect of his legacy is his dedication to serving African- Americans in their community at a time when many were unwilling to take such risks. Countless businesses, families, and communities at large were positively impacted by his trust in people. Jacoby believed that people are equal and deserve the opportunity to better themselves. Originally only one of few black-owned banks in the city of Chicago, Seaway is now by far the largest and most successful. Mr. Speaker, Jacoby Dickens was a dear friend of mine. He was a great American who gave back to his community and this nation. I am truly saddened by his passing. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay to tribute the life of the Rev. Herman C. McCray, who died on April 16, 2013, at the age of 72. Rev. McCray was a resident of Riviera Beach, Florida and a 1959 graduate of Roosevelt High School. He was a civil rights leader and founder of McCray's Backyard BBQ. Additionally, he was a veteran of the United States Air Force, and an assistant pastor at Greater Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Riviera Beach. Education was very important to Rev. McCray. He worked very hard to try to prevent the closing of Roosevelt High School in 1970, when it became a Middle School. Rev. McCray will be remembered by his friends and family as ``a good talker and a good listener,'' and someone who ``wanted everyone treated equally.'' Furthermore, in 2010, the bridge on Congress Avenue that connects Riviera Beach to West Palm Beach was dedicated in his honor. Mr. Speaker, Rev. McCray was truly loved by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, a retired schoolteacher, his sons, Derrick McCray, Sr., Demetrius McCray and Herman McCray III and a sister, Cynthia Morrow. He is somebody who loved his community, and fought all of his life for the betterment of humanity. Rev. McCray was a great friend to me, and will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment, as have almost all of our colleagues that have spoken here today, to offer my sincerest condolences to the people of Boston, Massachusetts, following the deadly explosions at Monday's marathon. I can't speak for everyone here, but I believe that most of us would say that the thoughts and prayers of the United States Congress are with the victims, their families and friends at this most difficult time. Those responsible for this act of terror will be brought to justice. Mr. Speaker, while I rise today in support of H.R. 624, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, better known as CISPA, I do not support the rule. My friend from Georgia spoke about how important it is that we have the reading of the rule, and one of the particular efforts of Congress that allows for there not to be any abridgement of that, but I do believe that we would be better served if this were an open rule. Last night, during our Rules Committee hearing, the majority blocked several germane Democratic amendments which would have further helped to balance cybersecurity concerns with smart policies that protect our citizens. I spoke to those issues last night, and I raise them again, particularly the two amendments offered by our colleagues, Ms. Schakowsky and Mr. Schiff, and others. However, the underlying CISPA legislation is, as my friend from Georgia said, a bipartisan bill that aims to safeguard our Nation's computer networks and critical infrastructure by allowing for two-way cyber threat information sharing on an entirely voluntary basis, both between the private sector and the Federal Government, and within the private sector itself. In his March 12, 2013, testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, stated for the first time that cyber attacks and cyber espionage have supplanted terrorism as the top security threat facing the United States. In recent months, media reports have highlighted cyber attacks on several major U.S. companies, including Facebook, Google, and the network security firm RSA, as well as The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Washington Post newspapers. Furthermore, government networks such as those of the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States Senate have also been targeted by hackers. Waves of cyber attacks have sought to disrupt operations at financial institutions and service providers, including American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, MasterCard, PayPal, and Visa. The fact of the matter is that state actors, terrorist organizations, criminal groups, individuals, and countless persons that describe themselves as hackers attack our public and private computer networks thousands of times every day. Many foreign hackers seek to steal valuable trade secrets, which results in the loss of countless American jobs. There are estimates that have been quoted of loss from economic espionage that range as high as $400 billion a year. Unfortunately, the same vulnerabilities used to steal trade secrets can be used to attack the critical infrastructure we depend on every day. Our economy, our power grids, and our defenses are increasingly reliant on computers and network integration. These networks power our homes, provide our clean water, protect our bank accounts, defend our intellectual property, guard our national security information, and manage other critical services. In addition to intellectual property and national security intelligence, personal finance, health care, and other private records are prime targets for hackers to steal. According to the Information Technology Industry Council, 18 adults become victims to cyber crime--including identity theft and phishing campaigns--every second. This adds up to 1.5 million cyber crime victims each day. Cyber attacks present a very real and dangerous threat to the United States. However, the government currently does not have the authority to share classified cyber intelligence information with the private sector. While private companies have taken considerable measures to protect their networks, they often have limited information and can only respond to known threats. Cyber threats evolve at the speed of technology, and CISPA, this measure, helps the private sector protect against cyber attacks by providing companies with the latest cyber threat information from the intelligence community, which has timely, classified information about destructive malware. This cyber threat intelligence is the information that companies and the government need to protect and defend their networks. The so-called ``signatures'' are primarily made up of numerical codes consisting of zeros and ones, without any personal information attached. CISPA is the product of close cooperation between the intelligence community, the private sector companies, and trade groups and, to a certain degree, the White House, as it pertains to many of the measures that are included in this legislation. During their efforts to improve the bill, they also maintained a dialogue with privacy advocates in an effort to strengthen civil liberties protections and oversight. I add a personal note here for the reason that, over a period of 10 years, I served 8 of those years on the Intelligence Committee, and the now-chairman of the Intelligence Committee and ranking member were both junior members of the committee that I served on. They have risen to the position that they are in and have acted in an extremely responsible way, over a 2-year period of time, trying to bring a measure as complicated as this one, contemplating all of the factors that I've identified and more, including the members of the committee. I would urge Members of the House of Representatives--many of them continue to have concerns, not only about this particular legislation, but about other intelligence matters, and rightly so are they concerned. But let me remind them that they are Members of a body that allows, if they wish to go into the spaces of the Intelligence Committee and to be briefed by staff and Members there on classified information, upon appropriate undertakings, they too can gain the information and insight that's needed in order to make an intelligent determination when they are voting, rather than come out here and criticize the people that do that hard work. They get no benefits, no concerns from the Members, and yet, cannot say all of the things that are needed to say or be said to the American public. The same holds for Adam Schiff and Jan Schakowsky and others that I won't mention that I served on that committee with. These are conscientious people who spend more time than almost any Member of Congress on any matter that he or she is attending to, and I have great respect for them. I don't agree with everything that either or all of them say, but I know they put their heart and time, both in the amendments that are offered, as well as in this bill and the particulars that are being put forward to this body. As a result of their work, 19 improvements to enhance privacy and protect Americans have been adopted. Chief among them, this CISPA measure that requires the government to eliminate any personal information it receives that is not necessary to understand the cyber threat. It creates no new authorities for any agency, and I can't say that enough. It creates no new authorities for any agency. It gives companies the flexibility to choose which agency within the intelligence community they would like to work with to protect the cyber networks. It requires an annual review and report by the intelligence community's inspector general of the government's use of any information shared by the private sector. And I would urge Members, when we increase the responsibilities of the inspector general that we also give the inspector general the resources in order to be able to do the necessary oversight that is required in this legislation. It includes something that I very much support, and that is a 5-year sunset provision. I've supported other 5-year sunset provisions in the intelligence community and would have preferred, in this instance, that it be a 3-year provision. But the fact of the matter is, it's 5, and we will learn an awful lot during that period of time, and we will be back here dealing with this same subject at some point in the future. Allowing for the appropriate sharing of cyber threat information between the government and private sector is key to protecting our Nation from those who would do us harm. CISPA balances the critical need to strengthen our cyber defenses while protecting Americans' individual privacy. I reserve the balance of my time.