David Jolly

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special group of people from Florida's 13th Congressional District. I rise to recognize the current and former staff members of our congressional office, both at home in Pinellas County and here in the halls of Congress. And importantly, I do so not just on my behalf, but truly on behalf of a most grateful community that for nearly three years has been blessed to have a team of dedicated and selfless individuals serving Pinellas County residents by giving voice to the interests and concerns of everyone, regardless of political party; fighting for those in need of assistance at their most challenging times; and working ceaselessly to improve the lives of every individual they encountered. Mr. Speaker, each one of us who have the privilege to serve in this body, the People's House, understand the honor that has been bestowed upon us by our community. But to fulfill our responsibilities, both constitutional and sacred, we are only as good as the team around us. Mr. Speaker, I have been blessed to work with a remarkable team of individuals, and I stand here today proud of each one of them and grateful for their willingness to serve our community and our country. It's a unique role to serve on a congressional staff. You have to bring a servant's heart, a commitment to your community, and a willingness to listen to the criticisms brought on not by your own actions, but by the actions of the institution for which you work--the actions that you and I as colleagues take in making decisions of policy and of politics. And in doing so, the staff members of this body serve their nation just as faithfully and honorably as you and I attempt to do so each day. It is their work, as much as ours, that leads our nation forward, and leads our communities and our neighbors through some of our most challenging times. It is for this reason that I recognize with a grateful heart, and on behalf of a grateful community, the work of the following individuals who have served Florida's 13th Congressional District during my time in office: Mr. John David White, Chief of Staff; Mr. Preston Rudie, Communications Director; Ms. Nicole Smith, Constituent Services; Ms. Stephani Lavely, Constituent Services; Ms. Brenda Frantz, Constituent Services; Ms. Sandy Hutton, Constituent Services; Mr. Nick Golden, Constituent Services; Mr. Paul Matthews, Constituent Services & Legislative Staff; Ms. Katie Heffernan, Constituent Services; Ms. Rochelle Colburn, Constituent Services; Ms. Sharon Ghezzi, Constituent Services; Ms. Natalee Campagnola, Constituent Services; Mr. Adam Boggs, Constituent Services; Ms. Jenifer Nawrocki, Legislative Director; Mr. Ian Manzano, Senior Policy Advisor; Mr. Tim Medeiros, Legislative Staff; Mr. Reggie Paros, Legislative Staff; Mr. Doug DeWysocki, Jr., Legislative Staff; Mr. Joshua Perez, Legislative Staff; Mr. Nicholas Catroppo, Deputy Chief of Staff; Ms. Alex Goodman, Legislative Staff; Mr. L.J. Govoni, Legislative Staff; Ms. Brittany Roberts, Legislative Staff; Mr. Joshua Nawrocki, Legislative Staff; and, Ms. Blake Churchman, Legislative Staff. Mr. Speaker, I'd ask that the House join me in recognizing the service of each of these individuals. This body has been well served, and indeed is better today, because of the service of these men and women; and the people of Pinellas County, Florida can be proud of their faithful work over these last three years. I consider each to be a friend, and I thank them today for joining me on this remarkable journey of representing Florida's 13th Congressional District.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my concerns with S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA. The President, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA Director, and the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee have all issued statements against this legislation, and after having spoken with local veterans in Pinellas County who have retired from the armed services, I have come to the decision to support the President's veto. `Terrorism' at the hands of a foreign government is simply another term for an act of war, and we should respond to these acts with every ounce of resolve our nation can muster. We have done so for generations, relying on military, diplomatic and political leadership to respond appropriately and deploy our men and women in uniform to defeat our enemies. Countless men and women have sacrificed their last full measure for the cause of our freedom and security. But we don't litigate acts of war in civil courtrooms. We litigate them on battlefields, with valor and with overwhelming force. By authorizing courtroom litigation of acts of war, we empower other nations to do the same. And we imperil the security of our military and diplomatic personnel, as well as our assets in regions around the globe. Consider the number of times our nation intervenes for the cause of freedom and security around the globe. Now consider if our personnel and assets on the ground were subject to civil liability in those nations. It compromises our mission, and it compromises the security of our men and women in uniform and those in our diplomatic corps. Mr. Speaker, when the President vetoed this legislation, he stated that the United States already has means to act against nations who would wish to commit acts of terrorism against the United States by designating them as State Sponsors of Terrorism. When this designation is made, all sovereign immunity protections for individuals are removed, subjecting the violating country to a multitude of sanctions. Likewise, on Monday Defense Secretary Ash Carter sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee stating that, while he ``agrees with the intent of the bill, which is to honor 9/11 victims,'' the potential second- and third-order consequences of the legislation ``could be devastating to the Department and its service members.'' Secretary Carter shared concerns that other nations might enact reciprocal policies, threatening the sovereign immunity of our service members based on justifications that are far less stringent. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also stated that ``any legislation that risks reciprocal treatment by foreign governments would increase the vulnerability of U.S. service members to foreign legal action while acting in an official capacity,'' and that any court proceedings could ``put the United States in the position of choosing between the disclosure of classified or sensitive information, and subjecting a U.S. service member to an adverse foreign court ruling.'' Today, CIA Director Brennan added his concerns, that he believes this action ``will have grave implications for the national security of the United States. The most damaging consequence would be for those U.S. Government officials who dutifully work overseas on behalf of our country.'' These concerns are affirmed by many national security experts who penned an open letter asking for the veto to be upheld. The letter was signed by many prominent former members of the executive branch, including Stephen Hadley, Richard Clarke, and Thomas Pickering. Nothing can heal the wounds of the surviving families of September 11, 2001. Nothing can heal the wounds of a nation whose heart breaks for those innocent lives lost at the hands of our enemies. We can honor their legacies by making the world more secure--by exerting our national security leadership, our military force, around the globe to contain the threat of terror. I believe JASTA would ultimately undermine our ability to secure freedom and to secure our homeland. We will never forget the tragedy and loss of that day. We will never forget the heartbreak. And let us never weaken our resolve to defeat the forces of terror, so that we may ensure that we as a nation, and our brothers and sisters who suffered such loss, never face such a tragedy again.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my long-time constituent, Mr. Lawrence Dickhaus of St. Petersburg, Florida, who sadly passed on September 24, 2016, surrounded by his loved ones. Having moved to St. Petersburg from the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, Lawrence embodied many of the sacrosanct values that embody the American spirit such as a love of God, strong work ethic, unbridled optimism, the belief in helping others, and a wonderful sense of humor that was enjoyed by everyone he met. A hard-working, blue-collar plumber by trade, Lawrence was also a professional musician as demonstrated by the thousands of lives he touched through his music by entertaining the residents of St. Petersburg with his band, The Downtowners, at the St. Petersburg Pier. His love of music was also demonstrated by the many hours he gave volunteering for the Northeast High School Viking Band. Lawrence was also a lover of recreational fishing, a love that his children and grandchildren have enjoyed, following his example; and a baseball fan who cheered tirelessly for the Tampa Bay Rays. These admirable qualities in Lawrence made him a loving husband to his wife of 65 years, Phyllis. They also made him an incredible father to his children Debbie, Phil, Marty, Brian, Rob, Patrick and Mary; as well as his nineteen grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren. As evidenced by such a large family, it is no wonder that so many residents of my district call the Dickhaus family their friends and neighbors. Mr. Speaker, I now ask my colleagues to join me and the Dickhaus family in celebrating and honoring the incredible life of Lawrence Dickhaus. His long life as a family man and musician demonstrated his commitment to improving the lives of everybody he touched and worked for. His good nature will be greatly missed by the residents of St. Petersburg.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who has served our country and his community as a U.S. Marine, a sheriff's deputy, and as a police detective. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my very dear friend and American patriot, a man of deep and abiding Christian faith, Mr. Jonathan Walser, on his retirement from the Clearwater Florida Police Department. After serving his country in the United States Marine Corps for 6 years, Officer Walser opted to continue serving his community by joining the Pasco County Sheriff's Department in 1994 as a detention deputy. Two years later, Walser joined the Clearwater Police Department and began a career that has made an incredible impact on our entire Clearwater community. Early on, Officer Walser demonstrated remarkable commitment and leadership, earning a highly successful rating at the conclusion of his new-hire probationary period. Officer Walser would serve in several specialty assignments during his career. He served as a field training officer and a member of the emergency response team. He also served for more than a decade on the Clearwater Police Department honor guard team. As an honor guard member, Officer Walser has represented the department at hundreds of funerals and memorial services and, in particular, has honored the families of fallen officers, a duty most personal to him. Officer Walser served as a community police officer on Clearwater's Wood Valley Community policing team in 2001 and 2002. In June 2002, Officer Walser was assigned to serve on the traffic enforcement team motorcycle unit, a role in which he focused on traffic safety, intoxicated driving, and crash investigations. Jonathan most compassionately used his department motorcycle as a tool to connect with the community, frequently posing for photos with kids sitting on the motorcycle. In August 2011, Officer Walser transferred to the criminal investigations division burglary unit to serve as a detective. During his time as a detective, he was continually lauded for his superior investigative abilities and report-writing skills, in addition to his passion for being actively engaged in the community and volunteering at local events. In 2015, Officer Walser returned to the traffic enforcement team motorcycle unit, where he served until his recent retirement. Officer Walser also serves as an active board member with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 10. He has served as the president of Lodge 10 for an incredible 12 years, and has been selected 11 times as the FOP Lodge 10 Member of the Year. Officer Walser is not only highly respected by FOP members, but also by his fellow Clearwater Police Department colleagues, City of Clearwater leadership, and a broad base of community leaders. Because of his exceptional service, Officer Walser has received the Chief's Unit Citation for his service with the honor guard team and the burglary unit. When asked about Officer Walser, Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter said: Officer Walser proves that you don't need to be a supervisor to be a remarkable leader. I have never met a person more dedicated to the officers, their families, and the entire community. I couldn't agree more with Chief Slaughter. Mr. Speaker, John Walser is a dear friend of mine. He is a dear friend of so many in the Clearwater community, a constant source of faith-based counsel, a compassionate leader, a man who deeply loves his family, deeply loves his community, and deeply loves the God in whom he daily puts his trust. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking a remarkable person, Officer Jonathan Walser, for his years of service to our country and to our community in Florida. We wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize FloridaCharacter.org for promoting morality in schools, families, communities and workplaces throughout our community. FloridaCharacter.org helps young people everywhere strive to be ethical and engaged citizens irrespective of their backgrounds. They are a nonprofit organization that works with districts, schools and other organizations to help foster a culture where young people thrive both academically and morally. They provide the necessary resources for educators, community activists, workplaces, and parents to create a productive environment. Due to the extraordinary success of their model, FloridaCharacter.org provides tutorials to organizations across the world who wish to institute similar values in their communities. This template is named ``The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education'' which appropriately sums up their philosophy on character education. FloridaCharacter.org also helps people exchange ideas and resources through a network of organizations, schools, and individuals while discussing potentially beneficial approaches to further their work. I would like to thank FloridaCharacter.org for being such an upstanding organization that works to encourage integral values such as honesty and respect, in parallel to an exemplary education. I thank FloridaCharacter.org for their passion and exceptional work, and ask that this body join me in recognizing them as well.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action, as well as their families, who continue to grieve their loss. Mr. Speaker, as you know, Friday, September 16, is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, at present there are more than 82,000 Americans missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts. In fact, from Pinellas County, Florida alone, there are five Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War: Christos Bogiages of Clearwater, Jack DeCaire of St. Petersburg, Carl Laker of Clearwater, Dennis Neal of Tarpon Springs, and Jan Nelson of Clearwater. As a nation, let us never forget those who were left behind, and let us continue to pursue every available effort to bring home all of our men and women who have served this great country. I urge my colleagues to join me in remembering those who have not yet returned from the battlefield, and let us, as a nation, always recognize their great sacrifice.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Bill Hogarth, a former director of our Nation's National Marine Fisheries Services. Dr. Hogarth recently retired as director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography based at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg. Not only do I recognize Dr. Hogarth on his retirement, but also on two honors that he recently received. First, the American Fisheries Society last month honored Dean Hogarth--as he is known to so many--with the Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award, one of our Nation's premier awards in fisheries sciences. The award recognizes Dean Hogarth's long career and leadership in preserving some of the world's most threatened marine species. It recognizes his passionate advocacy for environmental protections and his role in leading Florida's scientific response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. The second honor for Dean Hogarth in early September was bestowed upon him by the University of South Florida's Board of Trustees when it voted to name its newest research vessel in his namesake to recognize Dean Hogarth's passionate pursuit of funding for a new boat to replace the university system's more than 40-year-old research vessel. For those of my colleagues who have had the opportunity to work with and meet Dean Hogarth over his long career, you know of his humble nature, his laugh, and, most notably, his deep southern drawl. You also know of his spirited passion for all issues related to fisheries and the oceans. Dean Hogarth's first job was as a biologist and manager of ecological programs for Carolina Power & Light, and he later served as director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. His national and international stature grew in 1994, when he joined the National Marine Fisheries Service where he rose from a regional leader to be appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the agency's director from 2001 to 2007. Recognizing his leadership on national and international fisheries issues at a most critical juncture for the commercial and recreational fishing industries, President Bush appointed Dean Hogarth to represent our Nation as U.S. Commissioner and Chairman of both the International Whaling Commission and the International Commission for Conservation of the Atlantic. During his tenure as director of NMFS, Dr. Hogarth worked with this Congress to update Federal fisheries laws to rebuild U.S. fisheries and set the recreational and commercial fishing industries on a new and sustainable course. In 2007, Dr. Hogarth retired from Federal service and joined the University of South Florida as interim dean, and then dean of the College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg. Recognizing his leadership skills, Dr. Hogarth was then appointed in January 2011 as director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, a consortium of more than 30 scientific and educational institutions across Florida. The USF president then called upon Dean Hogarth's leadership skills once again and asked him to assume a dual role, adding to his responsibilities the job of regional chancellor of USF- St. Petersburg from August 2012 to June 2013. USF and the Florida Institute of Oceanography made national and international headlines following the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Dr. Hogarth led a scientific response that focused on the immediate aftermath of the spill, including the path of the oil plume both above the water and in the Gulf's deepest reaches and currents. It focused also on the impact of the spill on fisheries and other wildlife and the response of the research community in the five- State region to address short- and long-term environmental concerns. One of his final acts as director of the Institute of Oceanography before his official retirement on July 31 was to work with the Florida State legislature, our Governor, the university, and the city of St. Petersburg to secure funding to replace the 40-year-old Research Vessel Bellows. This ship, managed by the Institute of Oceanography, is a great resource to faculty and students alike, giving them invaluable assets to the Gulf of Mexico and other research waterways in pursuit of their studies. The new ship will now be named rightfully the RV William T. Hogarth and will continue to provide a path to sea for thousands of Florida students and educators. Dean Hogarth will always be known to me as an educator. It is personal to me because he serves as a key advisory on fisheries issues that are so critical to our State and to our community. I will always call him Dean, as will so many others, and we look forward to his continued counsel in retirement. Mr. Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join me in thanking a most special person who has dedicated much of his career to one of the great interests of our Nation: our fisheries, our marine sciences, and our oceans. Dr. Hogarth is a national champion of our Nation's critical assets, our oceans. It is an honor for me to recognize him today, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. We wish him very well in retirement and we thank him for his service.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who spent his entire adult life serving our country, a man who served with great distinction, and a man who truly was an American patriot. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Army Major Travis Brunelle of Tampa, Florida. Major Brunelle enlisted in the Army in 1991. In 2002, he graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in information studies and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the infantry, gaining his commission through ROTC at Florida State. He attended the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, where he served as a platoon leader and would go on to attend the Special Forces Officers Qualification Course. In October 2004, Brunelle earned the coveted Green Beret. Then-Captain Brunelle served as a detachment commander for Company C, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For his service to our Nation, Brunelle was decorated with two Bronze Star Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, and multiple OEF and OIF deployment ribbons. Additional recognitions included the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab. A Master Mason and president of the Tampa Bay Ranger Regiment motorcycle club, Major Brunelle was known by his community as selfless, compassionate, and full of life. Today, Major Brunelle is survived by his wife, Renee, and many countless, loving friends and family. May God bless Major Travis Brunelle for his service to our Nation. May God bless his family, his friends, and may God bless the country he so valiantly and proudly fought for, the United States of America.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Jupiter, Florida (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Graham. We are down to 4 or 5 minutes. We have two more speakers remaining. I yield to the gentleman from Pinellas County, Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, we are about out of time. We have one last speaker.

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity tonight to come to the floor of the House together with a bipartisan group of legislators from the State of Florida to talk about the importance of urgent action on the Zika virus. Perhaps no story has captivated the anxiety of the American people more than Zika has recently. Neither has a topic more angered the American people, angered people throughout Florida, because of the inability of a Congress and a President and a divided government to put policy ahead of politics and actually address what is a growing public health crisis. Many issues that we face today--and the Founders intended this--are regional issues, from flooding, to health scares, to infrastructure issues. We have regional representation here in the House. Florida, in the continental United States, is ground zero for the impact of the Zika virus. What has emerged within the Florida delegation, I am proud to say, is consensus that continues to grow among Republicans and Democrats around urgency. Now, we all have different opinions about the packages that have been proposed. Over the past 6 months, we have seen three primary options: The President proposed a plan of $1.9 billion over 2 years. That was his initial proposal. The House proposal had money flowing at about that same rate by reallocating $600 million from unspent Ebola money that was to be delivered over about 6 months, so $100 million a month, depending on how you calculate the color of money. The Senate reached a compromised plan at about $1.1 billion. Now, I am sure we all have differences of opinions about which plan is best. We have seen that. We have seen demands for votes on the President's plan. In fact, in the Appropriations Committee, we have had to take those votes many times. We have seen the Senate act on their plan. We have seen the House act on theirs. I had great reservations about some of the elements of the President's plan, and I was honest about this. The President's plan assumed a 2-year crisis instead of just 1. I had questions about that. The President's plan allowed for construction of capital properties on leased lands with no recapture provisions. I had concerns about that in terms of stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The President's plan also expands Medicaid services of taxpayer supported health care in Puerto Rico by an additional 10 percent for any healthcare needs, not just Zika, arguably diluting money going to Zika. Those were my concerns. The system is set up for us to have that debate. It is okay that we have that debate. Others have great concerns about the House bill and some of the provisions and riders in the House bill. They have objected to those. That is understandable as well. In the Senate, they reached a compromise around a $1.1 billion clean bill. We should have these debates early on. Nothing should be rubber- stamped. We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't actually read the legislation, see what is in it, and talk about a contest of ideas. But we can never let those differences lead us to inaction. That is what is at risk in the current Zika debate. We cannot let our differences lead us to doing nothing. I believe we have a pathway forward around a consensus, clean $1.1 billion package we have seen in the Senate today with my colleague, Curt Clawson, from the State of Florida and others. We have introduced the clean version with no riders of the Senate plan here in the House of Representatives to hopefully give us a platform where we can build consensus around it. I believe that is the way to do it. Drop the riders, fund Zika. Let's do it. Let's do it now. But at the end of the day, whatever package comes through here, we are called to support it. This is a public health crisis that we must address, which is why, despite my objections initially to the President's plan, I have begun to vote for the President's plan in the Appropriations Committee because the urgency is now, and it is time that we pass a Zika package. The American people are angry, but they are scared. It is not our job to take the nuances of legislation, the nuances of different colors of money in the Federal budget process, and try to preach at the American people why one side is right or the other. Our job is to listen to the anxiety of the American people and address a pending health concern in a divided government. The anger is that this issue perfectly reflects the dysfunction we often see in Congress, and it is doing so in the context of a public health crisis. We have to seize upon the better angels in this Chamber and in this town. You see, it doesn't help when either side plays politics with the Zika issue when the first thing that happens after a vote is the two campaign committees rush emails out the door in Members' home districts trying to raise money or blame politics, blame each other. As a Florida delegation, let us lead tonight in trying to form consensus around a solution on Zika. In that light, I am happy to be joined this evening, first, by a colleague of mine from south Florida and the Keys, one of the most beautiful districts next to Pinellas County, I would say. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Curbelo), a champion and early endorser of Zika funding.

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Speaker, my appreciation to Congressman Curbelo. Carlos raises an interesting insight, which is part of getting to the bottom of this early on, that, as stewards of taxpayer dollars, what is the money to be used for? Those questions initially are very important. As I mentioned, I had some early objections with the President's plan that I have resigned over that I will support if it is what it takes to get a package done. But what is the money used for? That is an important question for the American people. One of the questions was: Is mosquito control really a Federal activity? That is a legitimate question. Should we rely on States and localities for mosquito control? Here is the important thing you will learn when you get into why we need a Federal bill to support Zika. It is about the vaccine development. It is about the research into how do we have a cure and eradicate the Zika virus, how do we partner with States and localities who are deploying resources right now for mosquito control, mosquito abatement and education; but how does the Federal Government also step in in the midst of what is a public health crisis with national implications both to people's health, to their lives, and also to our Nation's economy and Florida's economy? What is the proper role of the Federal Government? In this case, I believe it is to provide the funding, hopefully at the $1.1 billion level, but I would be happy to support the $1.9 billion as well, whatever it takes to get it done. Representing the urgency and consensus to get this done, we are joined by a Democratic colleague of ours from Palm Beach and the Broward County area, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. JOLLY. I thank my colleague, Mr. Deutch. That is the urgency. My colleague, Mr. Deutch, mentioned his family, and birthday wishes are in order. Congratulations. My wife and I just got married last year, and we are hoping to have a family ourselves. We live within 5 or 10 miles of one of the non-travel-related cases. Folks do understand the anxiety that creates for people in Florida who are hoping to have a family. Yesterday and the day before--and it created a bit of a buzz--I brought about 100 mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti variety, which are capable of carrying Zika. Through working with the University of South Florida, we were able to get these mosquitoes here to Washington, D.C., because I wanted colleagues to understand the urgency of what happens to families in Florida when they are in the proximity of these mosquitoes. When I gave a speech with these mosquitoes, do you know what the American people said--hundreds and thousands of people? ``Release them.'' ``Smash the jar.'' Do you want to see Congress work fast? Expose Zika mosquitoes in this Chamber. We would shut it down. We would scrub the Chamber. People would get tested. That is the anxiety. That is the urgency. It doesn't know partisanship. It is okay that we have had this debate initially over what the right response is--the President's proposal, the House's, or the Senate's. That is okay. That is doing our job, but it is not doing our job when we let the fighting and debating lead us to do nothing. We are joined tonight by another leader in our delegation from the panhandle--the Tallahassee area of Florida--a good friend, a Democratic friend, Ms. Gwen Graham.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of an American patriot, a patriot who served his country with honor and distinction before passing away last month in a boating accident at only 35 years old. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Warrant Officer Dallas Knox of Treasure Island, Florida. Chief Knox faithfully served his country as a Black Hawk Medevac helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve. Chief Knox had multiple deployments, including tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. Chief Knox also served as a Black Hawk instructor pilot. Having attended his memorial service, his colleagues each spoke that Dallas was one of the most gifted pilots they ever served with, a man of bravery, valor, always thoughtful, and always giving to others. The medals Knox earned for his service speak volumes about his dedication and his commitment to the country he so loved. Knox was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among so many other awards. Described by his family as selfless, compassionate, loving, and full of life, Chief Knox is survived by his mother, Carol, his father, Richard, sister, Kirsten, as well as loving nieces and nephews. May God bless Chief Warrant Officer Dallas Knox, his family, and his friends; and may God bless the country Chief Knox so proudly fought for, the United States of America.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Zika. I rise with about 100 mosquitoes straight from Florida--Aedes aegypti mosquitoes capable of carrying the Zika virus. This is the reason for the urgency. This is the reason for the fear. These mosquitoes can travel only 150 feet, but through the assistance of a plane ticket and researchers at University of South Florida, they have made their way from Florida to the well of this House. Now, they are not active carriers, but they could be. The University of South Florida is one of very few research facilities capable of responding. Through the efforts and leadership of Dr. Robert Novak at the College of Global Health, his team of medical public health and research professionals led an insectary to study control and containment and medical and public health solutions to combat, eradicate, and ultimately find a vaccine for Zika. But they can only do so with money. Mr. Speaker, it is time to act. The politics of Zika have gone on far too long. The politics of Zika are wrong. The President proposed a plan that was imperfect. It assumes a 2-year crisis, when, in fact, there might only be a 1-year crisis. It expanded Medicaid for non-Zika-related health care. Why would we dilute Zika-related emergency funding with non-Zika- related health care? It proposed construction of capital properties on leased lands with no recapture provision. That was the President's plan. The Senate reached a bipartisan compromise of $1.1 billion. The House had its own plan. And through the leadership of the Appropriations Committee chairman, who traveled to study this issue, money has continued to flow, but we know that money will end. Mr. Speaker, people are scared. During the 7 weeks of August recess that we were gone, cases of Zika rose from 4,000 to, by some estimates, over 16,000 in the country, including a new non-travel-related case in Pinellas County, Florida, my home, my community. There are roughly a million people in that county who are scared, who have fear. In that fear, they are demanding action. And they are seeing inaction. And in that inaction, they are angry. Angry. And they should be. It is now our job to try to explain to the American people why we know better. It is our job to respond to the fear and the anxiety and the anger of a population concerned about a pending public health crisis concerned about mosquitoes. You see, I brought these mosquitoes here today to convey that fear and anxiety of millions of Americans and Floridians. Can you imagine, Mr. Speaker, the fear and anxiety in this Chamber if these 100 mosquitoes were outside this jar, not inside this jar? Members of Congress would run down the halls to the physician's office to be tested. They would spray themselves before coming down here. This is the fear of Floridians right here. It is not good enough to work on a compromise for months and months and months with no solution. The time for the politics of Zika is over. The politics of Zika are garbage right now. The fact that candidates are going to spend money on commercials about Zika instead of responding together in a bipartisan, bicameral way in a divided government to a public health crisis that Americans understand, we are wasting time. That is why I am joined by these mosquitoes today.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Tampa Police Master Patrol Officer Fred Arnold III. Fred passed away last month while scuba diving in Nevada. He was 48 years old. For nearly three decades, Officer Arnold served and protected the residents of Tampa, Florida. When he was just 23 years old, while off- duty, he jumped through a window into a burning house to save a mother and her two young children, ages 4 months and 4 years old. All three were unconscious when Arnold pulled them out. For his heroism, he was given an award for valor. Over the years, Officer Arnold also helped mentor hundreds of teens through the community's Police Explorers program. Those he helped described Arnold as a father figure, someone who was easygoing, always approachable, and had a laugh that was so infectious, it would brighten your day. As Tampa's mayor said: ``Arnold's service to the city was unparalleled, and he leaves behind a lasting legacy.'' Mr. Speaker, Fred Arnold III was a well-known and well-respected man who served his community with distinction, made a lasting impact, and will be sorely missed by the lives he touched. May God bless Officer Fred Arnold III, his family, his friends, and his Tampa Police Department colleagues.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Florida Character.org for promoting morality in schools, families, communities and workplaces throughout our community. Florida Character.org helps young people everywhere strive to be ethical and engaged citizens irrespective of their backgrounds. They are a nonprofit organization that works with districts, schools and other organizations to help foster a culture where young people thrive both academically and morally. They provide the necessary resources for educators, community activists, workplaces, and parents to create a productive environment. Due to the extraordinary success of their model, Florida Character.org provides a tutorials to organizations across the world who wish to institute similar values in their communities. This template is named ``The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education'' which appropriately sums up their philosophy on character education. Character.org also helps people exchange ideas and resources through a network of organizations, schools, and individuals while discussing potentially beneficial approaches to further their work. I would like to thank Character.org for being such an upstanding organization that works to encourage integral values such as honesty and respect, in parallel to an exemplary education. I thank Character.org for their passion and exceptional work, and ask that this body join me in recognizing them as well.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Antonietta Montin, a Largo resident celebrating her 105th birthday. Ms. Montin was born in 1911 in New York City. She grew up with ten siblings, and she became known for her amazing story telling and her kind heart. She cherished her upbringing in a large family and decided to have one of her own. Today, Ms. Montin has three sons, six grandsons, and twelve great-grandchildren. She has had the opportunity to travel the world, and frequently can be found sharing stories of these experiences with her friends and family. Ms. Montin is also known for her love of dancing, which she showed her guests at her 105th birthday this past May. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Antonietta Montin for her vivacity and kind heart. I wish her the best in her birthday celebrations and I ask that this body join me in recognizing Ms. Montin for her incredible life.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Leigh Anne Mohler's achievements in winning the award of General Manager of the Year for Fairfield Inn and Suites. Ms. Mohler has over 12 years of experience in sales and management. In September 2013, she joined the Fairfield Inn & Suites Clearwater team and has sought to take every business opportunity possible since. She has been able to successfully close 24 new accounts and increase their corporate occupancy through her exemplary work ethic and consummate drive. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Ms. Mohler for her tenacious business ethic in Pinellas County. Her hard work only serves to increase the amount of opportunities for our county and I ask that this body join me in recognizing Ms. Mohler for her incredible efforts.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Lacey Ekberg for being named the new president of Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Ekberg has been named the new chamber president, but such a role is not alien to her. She previously served as the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce President with a self-proclaimed ``call-it-as-I-see-it'' attitude. She is determined to put the town on the map and I know she will work hard with business owners and the government to do just that. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Ms. Ekberg for her tenacity in her work for Tarpon Springs and Pinellas County. She has an admirable and diligent work ethic and I ask that this body join me in congratulating Ms. Ekberg on her new position.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority for the solidarity they expressed in their efforts to help Orlando. The PSTA is giving free bus passes to individuals who wish to donate blood across Pinellas County in aid of the victims of the Orlando shooting. This is just one of the many ways in which Pinellas County has stood with Orlando in the wake of the attack to express our support and sympathies. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the PSTA for helping the Orlando victims and coordinating a county-wide effort for residents to donate blood. I ask that this body join me in recognizing the efforts of PSTA and in praying for all the families of those affected in Orlando. God Bless.

Mr. JOLLY

Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Tampa's Stay and Play initiative for helping reduce crime among teenagers in our cities. Last year, the city of Tampa launched the initiative to help provide a safe space for kids after there was an increase in gun-related crime in the local area. The more than 16,000 teens that participated, all aged between 13 and 19 years old, were granted free passes to recreation centers which stayed open later than usual. As a consequence of the initiative, the homicide rate fell significantly in the following weeks. The initiative is returning this summer, and food will be served at a few of the locations. In addition, this year's program will include computing, cooking, music and art classes. The initiative provides the students with an invaluable opportunity to pursue alternative life choices away from crime. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Stay and Play initiative for giving our children a better chance to succeed in life. The program has helped build stronger communities and save lives, and I ask that this body join me in recognizing their efforts.