John Mica

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it's Saturday morning and we're here in the House of Representatives in an unusual session. I'm glad some people had the opportunity to go home last night and come back this morning. Some people say, Oh, this is unusual duty, you're working hard, and all of that. And I say to them that I represent the millions of people across the United States who are going to work, sometimes at midnight, work all night, and get up in the morning and go to work at 6 o'clock. They're struggling to put food on the table. They're struggling to educate their children. They're struggling to pay their mortgage and keep their home and their family together. So I believe that it's Congress' responsibility, and there's no question about it that we work--we work on Saturday, we work on Sunday, we work on Monday, and we'll work until we get this situation resolved. Now where are we? We're at a crossroads. Rarely, in the history of our Nation, have we come to a crossroads like this. We have the biggest government program probably since World War II in ObamaCare and the President's health care plan going into effect in a few days. We have the government running out of money in a few days, on October 1. And then we have the country facing a financial deficit in less than 2 weeks. So this is an important crossroads. We need to get it right because there are a lot of hardworking Americans counting on us. We must avoid the biggest government takeover of health care or any segment of our economy in history. We must avoid forcing people into part-time employment and the government making decisions about our health care. Even the unions are walking away from this plan now. We have a short time to accomplish that. The deficit is $17 trillion, and they want to extend it almost another trillion--$900 billion--for 1 year. Since the beginning of the Obama administration, in 5 years, we've gone from $9 trillion to $17 trillion in debt--almost doubling it. Finally, funding the government. We must keep the government open. We must be responsible stewards for the public. But the spending spree in Washington has to stop. Republicans have held the line. We need to hold the line responsibly. We can cut waste, we can cut inefficiencies, and we can make government accountable to the people.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share in the great sadness of my colleagues as we mourn the passing of former Florida Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr., who passed away on September 10, 2013. I would like to first express my condolences to Clay's beloved wife of 53 years, Emilie; his children Emilie ``Mimi'' Shaw Carter (Jim), Jennifer Shaw Wilder (Greg), E. Clay Shaw III (Heather) and John Charles ``J.C.'' Shaw (Angela) and his 15 grandchildren. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time and hope that some solace may be found in the appreciation of a grateful nation for their husband, father and grandfather's service and sacrifice. I have had the privilege and honor of knowing Clay for over four decades. Devout in his commitment to public service and with faith in God and country, Clay heeded the call to public office in the 1960s when he first served as the assistant city attorney for Fort Lauderdale. He would later serve as chief city prosecutor, associate municipal judge, city commissioner, vice mayor and mayor for his city which he held so dear. In 1980, Clay was elected to the U.S. Congress to represent the 15th District of Florida. His service spanned more than a quarter of a century, and I firmly believe that future generations and history will remember our colleague as a dedicated public servant who conducted himself with a tremendous sense of higher purpose and compassion for those he represented. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Clay championed vital reforms to welfare, Social Security and other government programs to ensure every American had the opportunity to succeed. He worked tirelessly to preserve the Florida Everglades, a great national treasure, for future generations. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he truly made an indelible mark on his family, community and our country. E. Clay Shaw, Jr., stood for integrity, compassion and public service and through that principled dedication, he leaves a proud and distinguished legacy. I join my Florida colleagues and all Members of Congress in expressing our sympathy to the Shaw Family and our appreciation for sharing their loved one with us over these past years in Congress.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it's a great honor today to introduce to the House our Guest Chaplain, Dr. John Reynolds of Orange City, Florida. To our good fortune in Florida, he was invited by four families to found a church in Orange City, Florida, in 1996. It now has 1,500 members--one of the largest congregations in Volusia County in central Florida--and supports hundreds of missionaries worldwide. In addition to his pastoral work, Dr. Reynolds has preached at conferences across the Nation and foreign countries. His leadership and willingness to help others is an inspiration to us all. Dr. Reynolds graduated in 1964 from Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga and started his church ministry. He returned to Temple Baptist Seminary and graduated in 1968. His life experiences include many positions, which include president of a Christian recording company, vice-president of development at his alma mater, and minister of music. Dr. Reynolds married his lovely wife, Becky, in 1964. They have four children, two of whom are preachers. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Dr. Reynolds and his wife, Becky. We thank him for offering this morning's opening prayer in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Father's Day 2013, probably never before has fatherhood been so challenged. Some sobering facts reveal a crisis that cannot and should not be ignored. Today, 29% of Caucasian, 53% Hispanic and 73% African-American children are born out of wedlock. The traditional position of fathers in American society and in the family as an institution is in serious trouble. The U.S. Census Bureau reported there are an estimated 70.1 million fathers across the nation; 24.7 million of those fathers have children under the age of 18 whom are living in single parent homes. Not having a father has serious economic consequences. Fatherless households account for 47% of our poverty rate and 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes according to the U.S. Census Bureau Reports. With no father present, 85% of children possess behavioral problems, which is twenty times the national average, Center for Disease Control reported. Additionally, 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes, a National Principals Association Report found. Today, 63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes, the U.S. Department of Health observed. As we reflect on the state of fatherhood in America, these troubling figures indicate the importance of fathers for children's development, well-being and stability in society. While white males face a challenging role, the fatherhood role of their African-American counterparts has been dramatically eroded. A recent examination by the National Fatherhood Initiative revealed that African-American newborns today are seriously disadvantaged. White men have a less than 6% lifetime chance of going to prison; African- American men have a 32% chance, according to 2001 figures from the U.S. Department of Justice. Today, half of all children and 80% of African- American children can expect to spend at least part of their childhood living apart from their fathers. These staggering figures portray a role model absence in our society that is detrimental to our nation's youth. We must understand the consequences that result from denying our children a proper upbringing. Although Father's Day is a time to celebrate and rejoice with our loved ones, we cannot forget about the increasing number of our children that are being raised without a father. Children growing up without a father are more likely to have behavioral problems and be incarcerated. Those children are less likely to attend college, become married and form healthy relationships. Unfortunately this trend has become prevalent in our communities. As a result, this problem has become repetitive through generations at an alarming rate. We must work to raise awareness of the effects fatherhood has on a child's life. We must also find ways to stem the decline of meaningful relationships between a father and his child in our society. In a commentary on The Importance of a Loving Father by Dr. Walter E. Barker, a Florida licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Barker stated, ``Fathers are very important to their sons'' and daughters' development. A mother gives the child unconditional love and acceptance and the father's love is more conditional on the child's finding success and accomplishment out in the larger world. He wants his children to find what makes them happy and then take that gift and talent to make a contribution to the larger society. Fathers want their children to have a strong work ethic and to be willing to assert themselves in the world. By supporting the family structure, better education and job training, we can begin to reverse the diminished role of fathers in our country. We must all work to help raise awareness on the pressing issue. The importance of fatherhood should not be overlooked by our society if we are to insure a promising future for the children in America.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Apopka Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary of service to our community. Through its consistent efforts over the past century, the Apopka Chamber of Commerce has helped advance opportunities both in the city of Apopka as well as throughout the greater Central Florida region. First founded as the Apopka Board of Trade in 1913, the organization was established to stimulate local economic growth. Under the direction of founding members Henry Witherington; A.C. and A.M. Starbird; Frank H. Davis; W.G. Talton; Dr. C.H. Morrison; Francis E. Zepp; John J. Anderson; J.R. Womble; Gust Jackson; William Edwards; and Nathaniel Cogswell, the organization worked to improve the community wherever possible. The Apopka board was also instrumental in the organization of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. In 1926, the board was reorganized as the Apopka Chamber of Commerce and since then has maintained the goal of aiding the development of entrepreneurs and businesses in the Apopka community. Their mission continues to this day. As the second largest city in Orange County, Apopka remains a vital hub of Florida commerce. It is important now, more than ever, that the Chamber continues in its efforts to promote economic growth and sustainability in the community and county. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere pleasure to congratulate Apopka Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Wendy Kurtz, the Board of Directors and all members of this great organization on a century of service to the citizens of Apopka and Orange County. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing them every success for their future.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. MICA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to thank particularly the committee leadership, Mr. Carter, Mr. Price, and the staff. They've done an excellent job in trying to put into appropriations language, and amount of money expended, reforms that are long overdue in TSA. I'm pleased to join the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson) and my colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), in this bipartisan amendment to restore the $25 million for the Flight Deck Officer program. I can't, for the life of me, understand why the Obama administration would propose to Congress that we zero out one of the most cost- effective mechanisms we have to ensure the safety and security of the flying public. Now, this program costs $25 million, and that's out of a $5 billion expenditure for TSA--$25 million. It is probably the most cost- effective layer of security that we have. Just a few dollars underwriting, again, the expense of training these pilots who have asked for the ability to protect their aircraft themselves and their passengers. We put this in place--everyone was against it. You heard Mr. DeFazio tell the story of this. The Senate was against it. The administration was against it. The airlines were against it. We brought it out here in a demo project, and the House overwhelmingly voted to support this program; and it's done it time and time again because it is cost effective and it's a good layer of security. Now, let me tell you what these pilots do. These pilots go at their own expense. They're not paid per diem. They're not paid for the flight. I went out to visit the program, and I have to admit, whether it was a Republican administration or a Democratic administration, everybody tried to do the program. And so they put the training facility almost on the border of Mexico. I had to take three flights-- one to Denver, one to Albuquerque, and another jumper flight--and then drive almost 2 hours to the border to get to this flight facility. That's what these pilots are doing on their own dollar for a weeklong training program that, again, this is the cost of that training program but the expense is borne by the pilot. I saw men, I saw women, I saw pilots for cargo, passenger all going to get this training. Why would you want to end a program that is so cost effective and gives us this protection? So, I don't want to belabor this. Mr. Hudson and Mr. DeFazio have stated the case well. Thousands and thousands of flights are protected, and thousands of pilots participate on their own dime. I urge the passage of this amendment and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. It's Mica amendment 8, designated and preprinted.

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman and my colleagues, first I want to again thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Price for their excellent work, and again his staff. They have gone through some of the expenditures for TSA not only in the dollar amounts, but also in the language that's contained supporting their appropriations measures, some excellent provisions. Now, I do offer this amendment, which is no greater increase in spending, but does move some money around from TSA administration to support our private screening partnership program. As you heard earlier from one of the speakers, this program is very successful, it's cost effective, and many airports want to avail themselves of it. TSA has thwarted all the efforts to increase the private screening under Federal supervision, and they came up with a whole host of excuses. Also, they have cooked the books as far as the cost of operating these private screening operations. Now, you've got to remember that if you look at this bill, it puts a limit of 46,000 screeners, I believe, in the past. We've increased that from 40,000. Mr. Rogers and I did that some time ago. Actually, if you go online, you'll find 51,000 screeners. We're not sure exactly what the figure is right now. It may be less than that. There are a total of 66,000 TSA employees. So that leaves approximately 15,000--even at our most conservative estimate--of the number of people in administration. Right now, there is close to $1.2 billion spent on nonscreener salaries. That's $1.19 billion, to be exact, in this bill. So this moves a small amount of money--$20-some million--over to, again, the private screening account. I think it's justified. I think we're going to need it. I have several amendments that I'm going to offer in a minute that I would like to expand, again, on the size of the bureaucracy and what TSA is doing to thwart the privatization effort that could bring cost- effective screening to play and do a better job and save taxpayers money. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman and Members of the House, I have this amendment and I have several others. I'm going to combine my remarks on this amendment and one of the other amendments to expedite this process. I am very pleased that the previous amendment to take money out of administration--TSA administration--which I believe is extremely bloated, and putting it into, again, the private Screening Partnership Program, that successfully passed. With that passing, I had a second amendment to take a similar amount to put those funds into the transportation security support and intelligence account. Ladies and gentlemen, we have created this multi-billion dollar bureaucracy that has been unable to connect the dots. Here is almost every terrorist incident. We'll put this in the Record. TSA failed every single time. They have never connected the dots. We need to be putting the money not into this huge screening bureaucracy that hassles veterans and little old ladies and children--and you've seen it all. We have created this unbelievable detriment to the American right to fly and to be a free citizen, and it's so difficult to get this darned thing under control, but I'm telling you that the money needs to be going into security. When Mr. DeFazio and I helped create TSA, the purpose was to connect the dots, so I would move money out of administration. They have 4,000 to 5,000 people just within a mile or two of here who are doing nothing, with most of them making, on average, $104,000. Someone told me who just left there that there were four secretaries in his office making over $100,000 apiece. Do the math. We only have 457 airports in the country. That means you've got about 17 people in administration out there and about nine in Washington in administration overseeing this program. It's totally out of control. So the Mica amendment that I'm going to ask to withdraw in just a second would take money out of administration and put it into connecting the dots in security. I know that's a dumb idea. Then the other thing is that the staff has done a great job here. There is some good report language, but TSA is thwarting the intent of Congress to allow the honest competition of the private Screening Partnership Program. We never intended to keep this all bureaucratic. Only Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland have a similar screening model as the United States today. What they've done is they've packed each of the private screening operations with huge bureaucracies left in place. In San Francisco, there are somewhere between 60 and 85 TSA administrators who, most of them, are making in the $100,000 range and don't have a job. How would you like that position? In Kansas City, there are 51 that they left there of private screening. They don't need these positions. They leave them there to jack up the cost to try to make private screening look more costly. So, while you have language again in this bill--and it's good language--we need to hold TSA accountable to stop cooking the books and to give us honest accounting, and then allow for the natural process of evolution to private screening under Federal supervision--you don't do away with TSA--then finally getting TSA and Homeland Security to concentrate on security and intelligence and on connecting the dots to stop the terrorists before they ever get to the airport or get to screening. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Target Description Arrest location Suspect(s) Nationality Status -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22-Dec-01.................... American A man was put into custody Paris to Miami.. Richard Colvin British Citizen. Serving a life Airlines 63. after attempting to detonate a Reid. sentence shoe bomb. Conspirators without parole include a British man, Saajid Badat from Gloucester, England and a Tunisian man Nizar Trabelsi, who is in jail in Belgium in a plot to blow up two airliners bound for the United States, using their shoe bombs. 8-May-02..................... ?............... A man was arrested after Chicago, Jose Padilla.... U.S. National... Sentenced to 17 returning from Pakistan for Illinois. years in prison allegedly attempting to build [4] a dirty bomb. Arrested by U.S. Customs agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on May 8, 2002, and held as a material witness on a warrant issued in the state of New York stemming from the September 11, 2001 attacks. Sep-02....................... ?............... Reportedly are six naturalized Buffalo, New Lackawanna Six: Yemen........... Each sentenced American citizens who were York. Mukhtar Al- to 10 years of friends from childhood in Bakri, Sahim prison or Yemen; were arrested for Alwan, Faysal less[6] allegedly providing material Galab, Shafal support for al-Qaeda and Mosed, Yaseinn running a terrorist cell in Taher, and Buffalo, NY. Yahya Goba. 13-Mar-03.................... Brooklyn Bridge. A man was arrested and accused Columbus, Ohio.. Iyman Faris..... Kashmir, entered Sentenced to 20 of giving aid to al-Qaeda and US in 1994, years in Prison attempting to destroy the became US [8] Brooklyn Bridge. citizen in 1999. Jun-03....................... ?............... Eleven members of the Virginia Northern Ali al-Timimi, US Nationals.... -- Jihad Network were arrested Virginia. Ali Asad and accused of training for Chandia, holy war around the globe. A Muhammed federal grand jury indicted 11 Aatique, Hammad people on conspiracy, firearms Abdur-Raheem, and other charges, six members Ibrahim Ahmed have pleaded guilty and Al-Hamdi, received prison sentences. Two Seifullah others were acquitted of all Chapman, Khwaja charges. Ali Al-Tamimi Hasan, Masoud sentenced to life Khan, Yong imprisonment, others less than Kwon, Randall 20 years or less. Todd Royer and Donald Surratt. Aug-04....................... New York Stock Security in the United States United Kingdom.. Dhiren Barot.... Indian.......... Sentenced to Exchange, World was put on high alert after a life in prison, Bank,Internatio plot surfaces to destroy the reduced to 30 nal Monetary New York Stock Exchange and years in 2007. Fund. other financial institutions in New Jersey and Washington. Dhiren Barot converted to Islam at age 20. Came to the U.S. on a student visa in August 2000. Returned to UK in 2001, arrested by UK authorities in 2004. 28-Aug-04.................... Herald Square Two men were arrested after New York, New Shahawar Matin Pakistani and US Sentenced to 30 subway system. attempting to bomb the New York. Siraj and James National. years in prison York subway system on the day Elshafay. [14] before the 2004 Republican National Convention. Over a period of several months in 2004 he was recorded by an FBI informer Osama Eldawoody plotting to plant a bomb in the 34th Street Herald Square station of the New York City Subway. Aug-04....................... Pakistani Two leaders of an Albany Albany, New York Yassin Aref and Banglideshi and Both sentenced diplomat. Mosque, Mohammed M. Hossain Mohammed Kurdish. to 15 years in and Yassin M. Aref, conspired Hossain. prison with a man who claimed to have ties to Islamic terrorists in laundering $50,000 in payments for a Chinese missile that he showed them. In fact, the contact turned out to be an undercover informer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the RPG-7 missile was a disabled weapon owned by the federal government. Jun-05....................... ?............... In June 2005 Hamid Hayat was Lodi, California Hamid and Umer Pakistani....... Hamid was arrested and charged with Hayat. sentenced to 24 providing material support to years in prison terrorists, and of lying about it to FBI agents. The prosecution alleged that Hamid Hayat had spent the better part of two years at an al- Qaeda training camp in Pakistan, returning in 2005 with an intent to attack civilian targets in the United States. Umer Hayat was also arrested and charged with two counts of making false statements to the FBI regarding the investigation of his son and of certain members of the Muslim community of Lodi. Aug-05....................... Los Angeles-area Indicted on terrorism charges Los Angeles, Kevin James, US Nationals and James sentenced military bases, related to conspiracy to California. Levar Pakistani. to 16 years in synagogues and attack military facilities in Washington, prison other places. the Los Angeles area and of Gregory attempting to fund their Patterson, campaign by robbing gas Hammad Samana. stations in Southern California. Dec-05....................... Williams Natural A man was arrested on suspicion Pennsylvania.... Michael Curtis US National..... Sentenced to 30 Gas (Wyoming), that he had plans to destroy Reynolds. years in prison Transcontinenta several sites. Reynolds was l Pipeline, formally charged with a Standard Oil firearms offence for refinery. possessing a hand grenade, though a sealed statement from the FBI also stated that he intended to blow up multiple pipelines in the United States in a bid to help further terrorist causes. Feb-06....................... Troops in Iraq, Three men were arrested for Toledo, Ohio.... Mohammad Zaki U.S. National, Amawi was Toledo, Ohio allegedly planning to build Amawi, Marwan Jordanian. sentenced to 20 citizens. bombs for use by terrorists in Othman El- years in Iraq and were arrested and Hindi, and prison, the charged with conspiracy to Wassim Mazloum. others 13 and 8 provide material support to years, terrorists in Iraq and engage respectively. in violent jihad in their home town, as well as making verbal threats against the President of the United States. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Toledo Joint Terrorism Task Force, with the cooperation of an informant called 'The Trainer' who has a U.S. military background in security. Apr-06....................... Washington D.C.- Two men from the U.S. state of Toronto, Ontario Syed Haris Ahmed Pakistani....... Ahmed sentenced area buildings. Georgia, were arrested after and Ehsanul to 13 years in videotaping Washington-area Islam Sadequee. prison, buildings and sending the Sadequee tapes to a London based sentenced to jihadist website. Ahmed and 17.[26] Sadequee were reindicted by a federal grand jury in December, 2008. Both men were again charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, including trying to join Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2005. According to the new indictment, the videos were passed to another convicted British terrorist, Aabid Hussain Khan, on whose computer they were found subsequent to his own arrest. Jun-06....................... Sears Tower and The charges centered around the Miami, Florida, Narseal Batiste, US National..... Five of the men FBI offices. group's belief that they were Atlanta, Patrick were convicted. being offered money by someone Georgia. Abraham, Batiste was in Yemen to help their mission Stanley Grant sentenced to 13 in Liberty City, provided they Phanor, years in supported the al-Qaeda jihad. Rotschild prison. The FBI agents represented Augustine, themselves as representatives Burson of al-Qaeda (but who were Augustin, actually undercover FBI Naudimar agents), and persuaded Batiste Herrera, to provide plans for a stated Lyglenson intention to destroy the Sears Lemorin. Tower in Chicago, the FBI field office in Miami, and other targets. Jul-06....................... Port Authority Living in Lebanon who was New York, New Assem Hammoud... Lebanon......... Trans-Hudson charged with plotting a York. train tunnels. mission to blow up the PATH train tunnels beneath the Hudson River between New Jersey and lower Manhattan, New York City, United States with a team of suicide bombers with backpack explosives. He was arrested by the Lebanese Armed Forces, a division of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), in the Mouseitbeh area of west Beirut on April 27, 2006. 7-May-07..................... Fort Dix........ Six men were arrested after Fort Dix, New Dritan Duka, Duka family Four of the men attempting an attack on the Jersey. Shain Duka, ethnic received life Fort Dix military base. The Eljvir Duka, Albanians from sentences, one men were arrested by the Mohamad Ibrahim Debar, then in man received Federal Bureau of Shnewer, Serdar Yugoslavia, five years in Investigation (FBI) on May 8, Tatar and Agron currently the prison and the 2007, and were prosecuted in Abdullahu. Republic of other received federal court in October 2008. Macedonia. The 33 On December 22, 2008, five Duka family were found guilty of entered the conspiracy to commit murder in United States their intentions to kill U.S. illegally military personnel; four through Mexico received life sentences, while in October one received 33 years in 1984. prison. The remaining member Palestinian, was thought to have had a Turkish, and minor role in the plot and was Albanian. sentenced to five years in prison for weapons offenses. 3-Jun-07..................... John F. Kennedy Four men were arrested in New New York, New Abdul Kadir, Guyana, Trinidad International York after a plot is revealed York. Russell Airport. to bomb the fuel line of JFK Defreitas, airport. Defreitas was Kareem Ibrahim, arrested in Brooklyn, New Abdel Nur. York. Kadir and Ibrahim were arrested in Trinidad on June 3, 2007. Nur surrendered to police two days later in Trinidad. 20-May-09.................... New York City Four men were arrested In April New York, New James Cromitie, US Nationals.... All serving 25 Synagogues/U.S. 2009, Cromitie and his three York. Onta Williams, year sentences Military alleged accomplices chose David Williams, Aircraft. their targets. They allegedly Laguerre Payen. attempted to both bomb the Riverdale Temple and nearby Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx, and, using Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles, shoot down military planes flying out of a nearby air base. The men placed fake bombs wired to cell phones in three separate cars outside the Riverdale Temple and nearby Riverdale Jewish Center, both in the Riverdale community of Bronx. New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said one of the suspects placed explosives, while the other three suspects served as lookouts As the men were returning to the vehicle, the signal was given for the arrest. An 18-wheel New York City Police Department vehicle blocked the end of the street. The FBI informer also served as the driver of the suspects' vehicle. Another armored vehicle arrived, and officers from the department's Emergency Service Unit smashed the blackened windows of the S.U.V., removed the men from the vehicle, and handcuffed them on the ground. None offered resistance. 19-Sep-09.................... New York Subway Zazi, a native of Afghanistan New York City, Najibullah Zazi, Afghanistan..... System. who lived in Colorado, was NY. Adis arrested and convicted of Medunjanin, plotting to bomb the NYC Zarein Subway system. He was trained Ahmedzay, by al-Qaeda in Pakistan. 5 Mohammed Wali others were also indicted on Zazi, Imam related charges. On September Ahmad Wais 19, 2009, authorities arrested Afzali and Zazi, and on September 21 they Naqib Jaji. charged him in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado with making false statements in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism. 24-Sep-09.................... Dallas A 19 year old was arrested on Dallas, Texas... Hosam Maher Jordanian....... On October 20, skyscraper. charges that he intended to Husein Smadi. 2010, sentenced bomb a downtown Dallas to 24 years skyscraper. The device was a imprisonment dud provided by FBI agents and will be posing as al-Qaeda members. deported after Smadi activated a timer serving his connected to the decoy with a sentence. cell phone, then rode with an undercover agent and waited to watch the explosion. Instead, the phone rang an FBI number, and Smadi was arrested. 16-Oct-09.................... Various overseas Colleen LaRose, also known as Philadelphia, PA Colleen LaRose, Americans, targets. JihadJane and Fatima LaRose, Jamie Paulin- Algerian and is an American citizen charged Ramirez, Ali Libyan. with terrorism-related crimes, Charaf Damache, including conspiracy to commit Abdul Salam al- murder and providing material Jahani. support to terrorists. Lars Vilks was a named target in response to drawings of the Prophet Muhammad. LaRose was arrested on Oct. 16, 2009, at Philadelphia International Airport as she returned from London. She allegedly confessed her role in the plot to kill Vilks to FBI agents shortly after her arrest, according to two people close to the investigation. 25-Dec-09.................... Northwest `Underwear Bomber': On Detroit, Abdul Farouk Nigerian........ Airlines Flight Christmas Day 2009, Michigan. Abdulmutallab. 253. Abdulmutallab traveled from Ghana to Amsterdam, where he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 en route to Detroit. He had a Nigerian passport and valid U.S. tourist visa, and purchased his ticket with cash in Ghana on December 16. 1-May-10..................... Times Square.... A Pakistani American who New York City, Faisal Shahzad.. Pakistani....... Convicted and attempted the May 1, 2010, NY. sentenced by a Times Square car bombing. He federal judge was arrested approximately 53 in New York hours after the attempt,[9] at City to life 11:45 p.m. EDT on May 3, 2010, imprisonment by U.S. Customs and Border without parole Protection officers after he had boarded Emirates Flight 202 to Dubai. On June 21, 2010, in Federal District Court in Manhattan he confessed to 10 counts arising from the bombing attempt. 27-Oct-10.................... Arlington A Pakistani-born Virginia man Arlington, VA... Farooque Ahmed.. Pakistani....... Sentenced to 23 Cemetery (WMATA was arrested and accused of years in prison station). casing Washington-area subway after pleading stations in what he thought guilty was an al-Qaeda plot to bomb and kill commuters. 28-Sep-11.................... The Pentagon, Rezwan Ferdaus is a U.S. Washington, D.C. Rezwan Ferdaus.. Banglideshi..... United States citizen, born and raised in Capitol Massachusetts, of Bangladeshi Building. descent, who was arrested by the FBI on September 28, 2011, for allegedly plotting to attack The Pentagon and United States Capitol with remote- controlled model aircraft packed with explosives. He was also charged with supporting al-Qaeda and plotting attacks on U.S. soldiers abroad, by making IED detonators. 7-Jan-12..................... Tampa, FL, Sami Osmakac is a man who Tampa, FL....... Sami Osmakac.... Albania......... various targets. allegedly plotted an attack, to avenge what he felt were wrongs done to Muslims, in the area around Tampa, Florida. Osmakac, an Albanian from Kosovo and a naturalized US citizen, was arrested January 7, 2012, for the alleged attack plan, which involved bombing nightclubs, detonating a car bomb, using an assault rifle, wearing an explosive belt in a crowded area, and taking hostages. 17-Feb-12.................... United States A Moroccan man who was arrested Washington, D.C. Amine El Khalifi Morrocan........ Capitol. by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly plotting to carry out a suicide bombing on the United States Capitol. El Khalifi thought he was working with al-Qaeda operatives, but was actually in contact with undercover FBI agents. He was sentenced to prison for 30 years in September 2012. 10-Aug-12.................... Wainwright On the morning of August 10, St. Louis, Mark Anthony .............. Building. 2012, several St. Louis Missouri. Grady. television and radio outlets received an e-mail from a person who said they were going to bomb the Wainwright State Office Building in downtown St. Louis. The e- mailer was taken into custody by ATF and FBI and is currently charged with attempt to commit mass-murder and attempt to commit a terrorist act. 17-Oct-12.................... New York Federal A Bangladeshi man was charged New York City, Quazi Mohammad Bangladeshi..... Reserve. with trying to blow up the NY. Rezwanul Ahsan Federal Reserve building in Nafis. New York. While Nafis believed he had the blessing of al- Qaeda and was acting on behalf of the terrorist group, he has no known ties, according to federal officials. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With that, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. I will work with the committee, and we will finalize better language to get this done.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. MICA. I rise briefly to engage the gentleman from Texas in a colloquy. First of all, I would like to compliment Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Price. Thank you for your work on this bill under some very difficult fiscal constraints. I believe the committee, under your leadership, has successfully found areas where taxpayers can really realize savings and implement reforms to strengthen our national security. As I have discussed with the chairman before and other colleagues in the past, I am a strong believer in the effectiveness of modeling and simulation for training. In the past, the Department of Homeland Security has purchased large and costly quantities of live ammunition. Live fire testing and training is expensive, detrimental to the environment, and is really unnecessary for most training of almost all DHS personnel. I believe that the Department of Homeland Security would be well served by increasing its efforts to better integrate and utilize modeling and simulation in the training of law enforcement and security personnel under their jurisdiction. For years now, our military and our Armed Forces, who daily face intense combat, utilize effective and modern simulation technology in training and preparing our soldiers. These simulation technologies provide powerful planning and training tools capable of exposing all of our personnel to the complexities and uncertainties before ever stepping into harm's way. There's no reason DHS can't do the same thing. The use of simulation training has yielded better trained, more capable and more confident personnel, again, without live ammunition. Unfortunately, DHS just doesn't get it. Simulation training is a cost-effective means by which law enforcement and security personnel can improve readiness, tactical decision-making skills, and ultimately save lives and save millions of dollars in taxpayer money.

Mr. MICA. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. MICA. And I look forward to working with the chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Murphy of Florida

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of Central Florida on the occasion of its golden anniversary. Located in Florida's 7th Congressional District, UCF is one of America's great education institutions. Over the past 50 years, UCF's campus has grown from what was once a commuter school with limited academic programs to today having nearly 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 10,000 faculty and staff on 12 campuses spread across the vast footprint of central Florida. Through the tireless efforts of its first University President, Dr. Charles M. Millican to its current President Dr. John C. Hitt, UCF has become the second largest university in the United States. Today's student body is composed of some of brightest minds from Florida, the Nation, and around the world while assembling some of the finest faculty and senior staff professionals in the country. Under the direction of Dr. Hitt, UCF has achieved high admission standards, dramatically increased research funding, built new state of the art facilities and established significant partnerships with major research institutions. The campus now features an on-campus stadium, indoor sports arena, increased and modern campus housing and the impressive development of the UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona. UCF has been named one of the Nation's top 5 ``up-and-coming'' schools according to U.S. News and World Report while advancing in the annual overall best colleges rankings released each year. UCF has become a national leader in research with an outstanding academic reputation. Its regional assets include a collaboration of military commands, advanced simulation research coupled with the strength of UCF's renowned Institute for Simulation and Training. Further boasting its commitment to high-tech research, UCF is home to CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics, a world-renowned graduate college for optical science and engineering education. UCF is also nationally recognized as having the top hospitality management program in the country, residing on the Rosen College campus in the heart of Orlando's entertainment and tourist district. I join my Florida colleagues and Members of Congress in extending congratulations to the University of Central Florida on reaching this important milestone. I have watched with pride the positive growth and impact of this great institution of higher learning. Central Florida, the State and Nation are richer for the investable contributions of its students, faculty and staff, and outstanding graduates. Looking back over these past 50 years with excitement for the next 50, Mr. Speaker, I would again like to extend my congratulations to UCF and join others in saying: Go Knights!

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, 2013 I joined as a cosponsor of H. Res. 36 to establish a select committee to investigate and report on the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. That action was taken to insure a thorough review of the loss of four Americans. Officials including our U.S. Ambassador and the Obama Administration's attempt to keep witnesses and information from Congress. Fortunately, five committees in the U.S. House acted and produced a joint report on April 23, 2013. The House Government Oversight and Reform Committee, which has government-wide investigative powers and authority, has since begun a series of hearings to examine the Benghazi matter. It is my belief with this thorough review underway, it is no longer necessary to pursue a select committee on this matter. Therefore, I am withdrawing my cosponsorship of H. Res. 36. With the extensive work now underway in the House Government Oversight Reform Committee, a select committee would delay, add cost and not benefit the urgent need to properly review the Benghazi matter.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of a devoted public servant, a community leader and a special friend, Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner. With her passing on May 8, 2013, her family has lost a loved one and our community and the State of Florida have lost a respected and accomplished leader. Lydia was born in Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan. She also attended Rollins College and the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. However, it was with an early passion for politics that she won the position of Student Council President at Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Prior to serving as Clerk of Courts, Mrs. Gardner distinguished herself as an educator, achieved success in real estate and as an executive with a Fortune 100 telecommunications company and was later elected as member and chairman of the Orange County School Board. Lydia was first elected in 2000 and then a subsequent four terms as Orange County, Florida's Clerk of Courts. In 2008 her office received the Sterling Award for operational excellence awarded by the Governor. She has been appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to a number of special committees, most recently one to study privacy and court records. Lydia lent her support to causes important to her and the Central Florida community. She was a strong advocate for the mentally ill and was the recipient of the Central Florida Mental Health Association's Golden Bell Award. She played a key role in establishing the Domestic Violence Commission in Orange County, served on the Jail Oversight Committee, Juvenile Justice Commission as well as the Board of Directors for the Central Receiving Center. In addition, she has served on the Board of the Orlando Science Center and Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, which elected her chairman in 2003. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she truly made an indelible mark on her family, community and our judicial system. My deepest condolences are extended to her husband John, her son Chris and daughter Betsy. In addition, Lydia is remembered by her four grandchildren and three siblings. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives join me in recognizing the distinguished life and service of Lydia Gardner.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor to House Resolution 36.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman. Why are we here? We're here because of a colossal failure of leadership in the ability to manage resources. First of all, I can tell you that there are plenty of air traffic controllers. Just go online and get this report, ``Plan for the Future.'' Some of our airports have far more air traffic controllers than we need. In fact, air traffic control for the last 10 years is down 27 percent, and we still have close to 15,000 air traffic controllers. This legislation does provide a fig leaf for the administration who said they don't have the authority. I can tell you, they had the authority and the ability to move people and resources around, so that gives us the opportunity to get the flying public flying again. Again, we have the resources, they had the money, and here we're giving them the final fig leaf that they have asked for and they say they need to get this done. I can tell you that if Ronald Reagan were President, we would not be in this mess.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, FAA furloughs of air traffic controllers and threats to delay flights represent an absolutely colossal failure of this administration. The FAA and the Obama administration knew about sequestration. In fact, the FAA knows, and this chart shows that, in fact, air traffic is down some 27 percent in the last decade. FAA failed to make reductions where air traffic has actually been reduced. The FAA knows which airports they can reduce their workforce. We've got a report here that outlines in detail where we have more air traffic controllers than we need. The Obama administration is poking Congress and the American people, the flying public, in the eye. There's no reason for this mess. I will tell you this: if Ronald Reagan were President, this whole fiasco would have been over Monday morning.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, the indebtedness of the United States is reaching $17 trillion. Just a few weeks ago, Europe, the entire world, and Americans shuddered when they saw, in Cyprus, what took place. Imagine going to the bank and having the door closed. Imagine putting your ATM card in and not being able to get funds. Imagine being restricted to taking $300 a day. What happened in Cyprus can happen in the United States. Remember, also, accounts for people who worked hard, had invested and put their accounts and money away. They came in; and if you had $100,000, the government skimmed off the top. Look at President Obama's proposal in his budget. Look at his restrictions, and also taxing and taking from those who have retired. The same thing can happen in America that's happened in other countries.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of an outstanding businessman, a community leader and a friend, Tom Staed. With his passing on February 26, 2013, both his family and our state have lost a loved one and strong voice for the benefit of our region. Tom was born on April 27, 1931, in Memphis, Tennessee and attended Sacred Heart Grammar School and Christian Brothers High School in Memphis before attending Memphis State. His college career was interrupted by the Korean War as he was called to serve in the United Sates Marine Corps and distinguished himself as an artillery coordinator. After being honorably discharged as a Corporal, he returned to Memphis State where he became Editor of the School Newspaper, President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, graduated with a B.A. in Journalism, and then went on to Tulane University School of Law. While at Tulane, Tom met Barbara Dodd, and the couple soon married and moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. It was in Daytona Beach where Tom began his long, successful, and distinguished career in the hospitality industry; almost singlehandedly transforming the landscape of hotels on the coast of Volusia County through his 11 hotels and interests in the Ocean Eleven Resorts. He financed and purchased several old hotels in the Daytona area and was able to make them successful in a short time through hard work, determination, and a can-do style. Tom was a recognized leader and committed member of both the Florida and national lodging and tourism industries, and firmly believed in civic involvement. Some of the notable local, state, and national boards he was appointed to include President of Best Western International Inc., President the Florida Hotel and Motel Association, Chairman of Florida's Governor's Tourism Advisory Council, Visit Florida, Inc., Chairman of the American Hotel and Motel Association. He was the Florida Hotelier of the Year in 1982. He was also a past Chairman and Founding member of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority. Tom had a life long interest in politics and I recall the last time I saw Tom at one of his hotels, he spoke of past campaigns and issues he worked on over 30 years in Florida and specifically his times as a trusted friend and ally of leaders in both the Democrat and Republican Parties. He was truly a gift to all Floridians. As someone who served on numerous local associations, commissions and boards for civic and charitable organizations, Tom was a committed philanthropist that always focused on giving back to those less fortunate than himself. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he truly made an indelible mark on his family, community and industry. In our community, the name Tom Staed stood for integrity, compassion and public service, and through that principled dedication he leaves a proud and distinguished legacy. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives join me in recognizing Tom Staed's years of service and dedication to our community, our state and our Nation.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and hopefully I can shed a little light on some of the commentary in this debate. First of all, the Congress always has and always will respond to disasters, and it is important in the Northeast superstorm that we do so, and we do so responsibly. Anyone who says that we did not act responsibly, the Republicans didn't act or our leadership, is wrong. First of all, let me recount. After the disaster, our committee, Transportation and Infrastructure, which oversees FEMA, we went to New York. We met with officials. We assessed the damage. We came back and we did a hearing and hauled in FEMA personnel. We asked specifically, Is there enough funding available to provide disaster relief? The answer was yes. There was $6 billion in the continuing resolution that Congress had passed and another $1 billion left from the previous year, a total of $7 billion. The question at that time is how much would be spent. They said approximately $3 billion, leaving $4 billion, that would take us--in the disaster relief fund account--till February. We worked with the Senate and others in trying to look at reforms, because the last word from Mayor Bloomberg and the President of the Staten Island borough when I left them was, Can you help me get money from Hurricane Irene, which they still couldn't get reimbursed because of the bureaucracy and red tape from current FEMA policy. Yesterday the Congress--and we passed it twice before--passed those reforms that are so necessary so that New York and New Jersey and the others affected won't have the same problems in securing that money. So, first, there was enough money and is enough money available in the disaster relief fund. There wasn't enough money in the flood insurance account, and that is a reimbursable. It will come back. Before we left, we put $7 billion to ensure that they would be taken care of, and they are taken care of. There was enough money, there is enough money, and there will be enough money. This rule is constructed because, when the Senate passed their bill over to us at the last minute and the last hour, they porked it down. They put things in there that didn't need to be in there, thinking that they could pull one over on the House of Representatives and slide in with disaster relief a whole host of earmarks, and I won't go into the details to embarrass anyone. The record will reflect that. So we acted responsibly, our leadership acted in a responsible fashion, and today this committee, the Rules Committee, is bringing this out in, also, a responsible fashion to deal with the disaster. We'll do it right, and we'll protect the American people in the process and their hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

Mr. MICA

Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to two of my Republican colleagues who were elected in 1992. It has been my honor to serve with both Roscoe Bartlett and Don Manzullo for the past two decades. I am pleased today, to recognize their outstanding service to our nation. Roscoe Bartlett has represented Maryland's 6th District and Don Manzullo Illinois's 16th District. These two classmates have distinguished records of service. Rosco earned his PHD in physiology from The University of Maryland and spent 20 years as a scientist and engineer for the military and NASA. He has 20 patents, 19 of which are held by the U.S. Government for his inventions of life support equipment used by military pilots, astronauts, search and rescue personnel, and firefighters. He has served on the Armed Services Committee since his first year in Congress and he became chairman of the panel's Air and Land Forces Subcommittee for this 112th Congress. Don has served as Chairman of the Small Business Committee and long championed the cause of America's chief economic generator, our nation's small businesses. He also chaired the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for this 112th Congress. Before being elected, Don was an attorney and the owner of his own small law firm. During our service together history should record that upon assuming the majority in Congress in 1995, these two individuals helped bring about remarkable achievements for our country. They helped craft plans that balanced our federal budget from 1997 to 2002 and reformed welfare. They aided our nation in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Not only have we been fortunate to have their leadership in Congress they have both, in their family life, set examples for the American People. By their side Roscoe's wife Ellen and Don's wife Freda have always aided their husband's efforts and supported their Congressional Districts. Rosco has ten children, 18 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Don's children are Neil, Noel, and Katie. As these two friends and most accomplished members of Congress depart, I know that my colleagues wish them well and God Speed.