Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 2189.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today is bittersweet as we mark both the passing of a congressional stalwart, Chairman C.W. Bill Young, and pay a fitting tribute by naming the Bay Pines Veterans Medical Center in his honor. Mr. Speaker, while the raw numbers themselves may speak volumes for his dedication to America, it is his personal qualities that I admire the most. When I came to Congress in 2001, Bill Young was one of the first Members that welcomed me here. It was on this floor, in this Chamber, that Bill Young introduced me to the Members of this House the night I was sworn in. Since then, I came to regard him not only as a mentor or a colleague but, more importantly, a personal friend. Chairman Young served the 13th District of Florida and the people of the United States for over 42 years. He was the senior member of the Florida congressional delegation and was the senior Republican in both the House and in the Senate. Counting his years in the Florida Legislature, Bill Young served over 50 years in public service and worked with eight Presidents. Bill will be most remembered for his devotion to America's defense and especially to the men and the women in the Armed Forces. Having served in uniform for 15 years as a member of the National Guard and Reserves, Bill was the go-to guy on defense issues here in the House. He dedicated his legislative and personal energies to improve the quality of life for the men and the women who serve; and, as a result, those who wear the uniform and face our foes have improved base housing, better medical care, increased pay, and the best equipment. Members know Bill best for his work as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 1999 to 2005, and he continued to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense until the time of his passing. But Bill Young was much more than a defense expert. He had also been a leading advocate for increased medical research. Bill worked to double Federal medical research funding and funding to increase immunization rates for preschoolers, to improve public health programs, and to find cures for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Just one example, the C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research program registry lists more than 9 million volunteer donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases. That simple list has provided the gift of life to more than 50,000 individuals. To completely describe the contributions of a man who served in this body for over 42 years would take hours. So with that, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire Florida delegation and all those who knew and served with him in this House and in the other body, I offer our most sincere condolences to his wife, Beverly, and his sons Rob, Billy, and Patrick. He was your husband and father. To us, Bill was a friend we will miss dearly. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to thank all the Members on both sides of the aisle for their kind words they have said of our friend from Florida, Bill Young. I sincerely hope that the words give Beverly, Rob, Billy, and Patrick some measure of consolation. While we will no longer have Bill's personal and wise counsel to go to, that beautiful veterans medical center will bear his name. It will give witness--witness to his many years of service to America and her defenders. I want to thank my good friend from Florida (Ms. Brown) for her help in bringing this bill to the floor and the over 375 cosponsors that we have brought on this piece of legislation. I respectfully ask all Members to join us in supporting this piece of legislation, H.R. 3302, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and am prepared to close.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia alluded to over 200 cosponsors. I would announce to the House tonight that we had 379 original cosponsors of this piece of legislation. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the vice chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, whose district abutted Mr. Young.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

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

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3302) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the ``C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material they may have on H.R. 3302.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the dean of our delegation.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 75th anniversary of Beulah First Baptist Church and its service to the Northwest Florida community. Beulah First Baptist Church is the second oldest church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Originally known as the First Community Church and then later as the Colored Community Baptist Church, Beulah First Baptist's founding began when its first members were inspired by the desire to learn and heed the Lord's Word. Beginning in 1938, its service to its congregation grew from Bible Study and adult veterans classes held in member homes to an expanded Bible Study and Sunday Church School under the leadership of Reverend O.R. Robinson in 1943. Both the Bible Study and the Sunday Church School are still active today. Throughout its 75 years, Beulah First Baptist Church has been blessed with the leadership of nine pastors, including: Reverends W. Garrett (1938); H. McNeil (1938); O.R. Robinson (1943); E.W. Thomson (1945); Fitzchew (1952); A.D. Bell, Sr. (1953); David Savage (1969); Matthew Payne, Jr. (1970); and Scottie L. Thigpen (1981 to present). A true testament to God's work through His people, the Church has experienced much growth over the years, particularly in 1988. This year not only marked the Church's Golden Anniversary, but also a year of many firsts: the Church formed the Women's Fellowship Luncheon, the Church Banquet, and the Intermediate Women's Prayer Breakfast. Additionally, the Church began contributing ten percent of its tithes and offering to local and foreign missions. In recent years, the Church established a singles ministry in 1993 and a Children's Church in 1994. In 1998, Beulah Christian Academy opened its doors as did the Mission Outreach Ministry and the McGriff Office Facility in 2005. Since its founding, members of Beulah First Baptist Church have helped build God's Kingdom here on earth through their outreach to the citizens of Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding area, and I would like to thank them for their service to Northwest Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Beulah First Baptist Church. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing the Church all the best for continued success. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless this Church and its congregation.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 80th anniversary of the First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola and its service to Florida's Gulf Coast. The First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola traces its roots back to the Great Depression and its founder, Pastor David Lamar ``D.L.'' Welch, who preached and established churches across the Nation from California to Florida. His travels eventually brought him to Pensacola in 1933, where he erected a tent revival on ``O'' Street between Strong and DeSoto Streets and baptized 75 members of the Northwest Florida community. Pastor Welch served the church for two years before embarking again on the evangelistic trail. Reverend Oliver Fauss took over as Pastor until Pastor Welch's return in 1939. In addition to serving the church, Brother Welch played an active role in the community as a District Superintendent and a member of the Florida District Board, as well as, the Chaplain of the Florida Senate under Florida Governor Fuller Warren. Brother Welch and his wife of seventy years, the former Lottie Mae Holloway, brought up their children in the Pentecostal faith. Their son Paul eventually became Pastor in 1975. Brother Paul, with the help of his wife, Sister Shirley, oversaw the construction of the church and helped expand it into what it has become today. In 1999, Brian Kinsey was elected Pastor of the First Pentecostal Church and in 2007, Senior Pastor of the church. Today, he and his wife, Lanette, continue to inspire those around them and are committed to bettering the local community. Throughout its eighty year history, the First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola has held on to the strong, moral framework and religious convictions of its original founders. The church continues to share the word of God with His people. I would like to thank its members and pastoral leadership for their service to Northwest Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it gives me great pleasure to commemorate the 80th anniversary of First Pentecostal Church of Pensacola. My wife Vicki joins me in wishing the members of the church all the best for continued success. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to bless them.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Northwest Florida State College located in Niceville, Florida. Throughout the past 50 years, its faculty and students have exhibited an assiduous dedication to excellence that has led to the college's growth from its beginnings as a junior college with a makeshift campus to now a state college with seven campuses and centers and six bachelor's degree programs. I am proud to congratulate them on this great achievement. Access to education is one of the most vital components for a successful society, and in the spring of 1963, the Florida Legislature, recognizing the opportunity to better serve the educational needs of the citizens in Northwest Florida, authorized the establishment of a junior college to be located in Okaloosa County. Originally named the Okaloosa-Walton Junior College, its doors opened for the first time to 767 students in a temporary location in the City of Valparaiso, Florida on August 24, 1964. In honor of the heroism of the Doolittle Raiders, the students chose ``Raiders'' as their college's official mascot. Just a few years and an Act of Congress later, the permanent home for the college in Niceville was established. In 2004, the college name was officially changed to Okaloosa-Walton College in reflection of the new accreditation to award bachelor's degrees, and in 2008, it was changed to Northwest Florida State College, upon the creation of the Florida College System. While its name and structure has evolved throughout its 50-year history, students have never stopped pouring through its doors. Students of all ages made the college their alma-mater, whether high school students taking dual enrollment courses or adults simply interested in expanding their knowledge in a variety of areas. Fifty years; seven locations; numerous state, regional, and national athletic titles; and more than 350,000 students later, Northwest Florida State College is recognized for its cultural enrichment and stellar educational opportunities provided to the Northwest Florida community. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Northwest Florida State College. My wife Vicki and I join the citizens of Northwest Florida in congratulating the faculty, students, and alumni of the college on its golden anniversary. We wish them many more years of continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Northwest Florida's Marty White for having spent forty years on the radio, over thirty of which have been spent waking up the people of the greater Pensacola area. I am pleased to acknowledge his success and great achievement. Mr. White grew up in Northwest Florida and attended J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force where he served our Nation before he ever thought about a career on morning radio. Following his military service, Mr. White used his connections to secure an interview at a local radio station in 1973. He landed the job and has been on the radio ever since, entertaining the people of the Gulf Coast. The radio industry has changed drastically over the years that Mr. White has been on the air. Many radio personalities have come and gone in the wake of advancing technology and station buyouts. Mr. White, however, has adapted to these changes and remained a local radio mainstay due to his massive popularity. Over twenty of his years on the radio have been spent on 102.7 WXBM. What once started as a small station in Chumuckla has moved to Pensacola under the umbrella of the second largest radio station operator in the country, Cumulus Media. Whereas this change could have resulted in the hiring of a new staff altogether, Mr. White has remained as the voice that the people of Northwest Florida enjoy waking up to in the morning or listening to during their drive to work. On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate Marty White for reaching forty years on the radio. My wife Vicki joins me in offering our best wishes to Mr. White, his wife Donna, and their son Cody. We look forward to many more mornings listening to Marty on ``Your Hometown Morning Show'' in the years to come.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Pridgen family for being selected as the 2013 Walton County, Florida, Farm Family of the Year. Steve Pridgen, a born-and-bred third generation farmer, takes to heart the value of hard work, stewardship of land, and the love and support of his family. If you ask Steve how he feels about farming, he will tell you it has been a dream come true, and it has grown to become his life's passion. Ever since he was a young boy, Steve dreamed of farming just like his father and grandfather. In 1983, while only a high school junior, he took over operations for his father's 430-plus acre farm, which is located in the Liberty Community. The Pridgen family farm boasts 65 head of beef cattle, 120 acres of pasture land, as well as 300-plus acres of pine trees. In addition to Steve, his wife, Ronda, and their children, Stephanie, Chase, and Madison, along with Steve's mother, Martha, all contribute to the overall success of the farm. The Pridgen children are especially willing to help out on the family farm; Chase can often be found driving around a tractor, while Stephanie gladly gives up her free time when home from school to assist her father and brother. The recognition bestowed upon the Pridgen family is not the only accolade they have been given with regards to their efforts in agriculture. In 2007, the Pridgen family was named Florida's Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the Florida Forestry Association. Steve Pridgen is extremely grateful for the opportunity he and his family have been given to devote their lives to cultivating God's earth. His gratitude goes out to the Walton County farming community, of which he is thankful to be a part, as well as, the Walton County Extension Service. Mr. Speaker, our great Nation was built by farmers and their families. The Walton County Farm Family of the Year Award is a reflection of the Pridgen's tireless work and their dedication to family, faith, and farming. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to offer my congratulations to the Pridgen family for being outstanding in their field. My wife Vicki and I extend our best wishes for their continued success.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Imogene Theater in Milton, Florida. Built by banker Stephen Harvey for $25,000, the Imogene is a Renaissance Revival style hall that was slated primarily to serve as a community center for the performing arts. Originally called the Milton Auditorium, the facility also hosted movies beginning with the silent film, ``The Passion Play.'' During this time, the Imogene remained a central part of the Milton community and served as a meeting place for Milton residents, even hosting speeches by presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1916 and again in 1924 when he made campaign stops in Santa Rosa County. In 1921 the Milton Auditorium was sold to Clyde Gooch. To honor his daughter, he renamed the facility the Imogene Theater after her. In the 1930's and 40's, the theater was a first-rate movie house, running the era's most popular films. In 1946, however, a new theater opened in town, and Imogene's prominent presence in the community began to fade. Other businesses occupied the theater until 1980, but in 1985, the Imogene was purchased for $30,000 by the Santa Rosa Historical Society, which dedicated great effort and time restoring the theater to her old glory. The facility reopened and began a new tenure as a hub for local arts and community events. Tragedy struck the historic landmark the evening of January 6, 2009 when a fire broke out on the same block as the theater. The beloved facility was severely damaged by fires, smoke, and water. With the aid of determined community support, the Imogene was once again restored and continues to be an integral part of the Milton community today. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Imogene Theater. May she have many more years serving Northwest Florida.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 1804.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise for the second time this week to talk about this particular piece of legislation. Why the second time? Well, because the Democrats banded together to kill this veterans funding bill once before. And as I mentioned before the Democrats moved to kill this veterans funding bill, we worked to ensure that disabled veterans, low-income veterans going to school on the GI Bill, and survivors of those killed in the line of duty continue to receive their benefits that they are due, the benefits that they in fact have earned. Madam Speaker, the House Democrats must not know that Bernie Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced a bill on Monday night that related to veterans funding, and I'd like to share with everyone a bit about that effort. And I quote from press reports: Veterans Affairs' Chairman Bernard Sanders introduced the legislation (S. 1564) Monday night and quickly got the backing from four other Democrats on the panel, as well as Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, the top Republican on the committee . . . Specifically, the bill would protect mandatory compensation and pension benefits for veterans and families, including survivor benefits. It would also, among other things, continue money flowing to educational programs for veterans . . . The bill, he predicted, would be passed in enough time to ensure veterans benefits are not disrupted. Burr said he expects the Senate to adopt the legislation by unanimous consent.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Does this sound familiar? It should. Because this is the very piece of legislation that we're talking about on the floor today. And I have a suspicion why the Democrats keep stalling this veteran funding bill--they are playing politics. I ask the Senate majority leader and my friends in the Democratic leadership to unite. Take up the bill that the ranking member has already said that fully funds veterans on June 4.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise in support of the Honoring Our Promise to America's Veterans Act. Let me explain why this bill is necessary. Last weekend, the administration revised an initial shutdown contingency plan with the following statement relating specifically to the effect that a prolonged shutdown would have on the VA: VA has accepted VBA claims processors so that it can continue to process claims. Beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments. However, those benefits are provided through appropriated mandatory funding, and that funding will run out by the end of October. At that point, VA will be unable to make any payments. What this means is that absent a deal on a CR--and we have anxiously awaited the Senate to do something over there, negotiate with the House--payments to veterans and their survivors that are due in November for a variety of benefits that have been earned by that veteran through honorable service may, in fact, be in jeopardy. That would mean a suspension of over a billion dollars per month in GI Bill tuition payments to nearly 1 million veterans or their dependents. It would end the subsistence allowance to over 66,000 disabled veterans in vocational rehabilitation programs. It would cease payments to low- income wartime veterans with incomes that are just above the poverty level. It would end dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving loved ones of servicemembers and veterans who died as a result of their service. Mr. Speaker, this must never, ever be allowed to happen. Even more veterans and their loved ones should not even have to worry about something like this occurring. This bill would immediately remove any doubt from their minds that the dysfunction that's here in Washington would, in fact, jeopardize their earned benefits. These are America's heroes who have already gone above and beyond the call of duty. The last thing they deserve is for the country they courageously defended to abandon them in their time of need. This bill will avoid all the calamitous events that I've mentioned, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

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

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I, too, thank my colleague Ms. Brown from Jacksonville for her hard work on behalf of veterans and her ability to work with us in the committee in a bipartisan fashion. I once again encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), a gentleman who has worn the uniform of this country and served this country well.