Patrick Murphy

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding group from my district, Boy Scout Troop 772 of Fort Pierce, Florida. Troop 772 was established last year at Dan McCarty Middle School as a community effort to keep young men in the area engaged in positive afterschool activities by providing support and guidance. Troop 772 is no ordinary Boy Scout troop. It is much more. For too long, Fort Pierce has been plagued by gangs, by rampant violent crime that has taken the lives of neighbors and colleagues, friends and loved ones. For the young men of Troop 772, this violence isn't just something they see on the television or hear about in the abstract. It is the terrifying reality they face every day of their lives. I want to share what these Scouts have said about what it is like in their community in their own words: ``I want you to get rid of gangs in my community. I want to be able to wear any colors I want without having to change. It would be good to go a week or so without hearing a gunshot. We will be better if people stop fighting.'' When I hear this, I am both saddened and outraged. No one--let alone our youth--should have to live in constant fear of violence, but at the same time, I am hopeful. What brings me hope for Fort Pierce is Troop 772. Troop 772 was born out of violence, but in them, I see a solution to that violence. When Troop 772 was just an idea, there was a lot of skepticism. There was skepticism about whether the troop could move these young men away from the violence and into their community, but the troop, the community, and, in particular, the adult leadership of the troop has given much-needed support to these young men. They have been a constant presence in the lives of these Scouts at a time when they need them the most, at a time when others in their community would only do them harm. It is clear that this troop will help make the community a safer and better place to live. These young men who had struggled or had bad behavior are starting to thrive as a result of Troop 772 and the positive environment it provides. Earlier this year, I was privileged to visit with the troop and see their hard work and dedication firsthand while they worked on a local environmental project. It is this kind of hard work and commitment that will help these young men succeed and become the leaders of tomorrow. It is this kind of hard work and commitment that has brought Troop 772 to Washington today to receive their Citizenship in the Nation merit badges. It is truly an honor to recognize them with this major accomplishment and the dedication that has brought them here. I also want to take a moment to recognize all of those individuals who helped them reach this monumental point today. I want to thank Scoutmaster Rusty Hines and Assistant Scoutmasters Dan Hafner and Bob Taylor for teaching Troop 772 leadership and Scouting skills, as well as for making the Scouting experience so enjoyable for these young men. Thanks to all of the members of the community who helped make this trip of a lifetime possible and State Representative Larry Lee, Jr., and St. Lucie County Commissioner Kim Johnson for showing their continued support of these young men by joining them here today. Of course, I also want to thank Scott Van Duzer, who made Troop 772 a reality. Through his Van Duzer Foundation, his dedication to helping these young men and bettering our community is unwavering. Our community will be forever grateful for all of their work, which has touched so many lives and inspired an entire community. Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank the Scouts of the troop. Our community is so proud of what they have achieved, individually and together. This troop is a testament to what can be accomplished when youth are given the chance to succeed.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of the nationally revered horseman and longtime supporter of equestrian rights, Bruce Duchossois, who passed away at the age of 64. The Chicago native's passion for horses and the sport of riding developed at a young age and was the impetus for much of his life's work. Mr. Duchossois began riding hunters in the 1960s, and in 1973 rode his hunter, Kim's Song, to an American Horse Show Association Horse of the Year title. Throughout his career, Mr. Duchossois earned many awards for his talents and contributions. Most recently in May, he was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and was honored with the Equestrian Aid Foundation Luminary Award. Mr. Duchossois worked for the betterment of the sport in the U.S. on and off the field. He served as a member of the executive committee, as the chairman of the Development Committee, and as a trustee of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation for 16 years before becoming Vice President of the organization, which helps fund riding competitions. Mr. Duchossois also supported many nonprofit organizations such as Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. He had donated a horse to the center every year since becoming involved, and even took care of their retired horses at his own barn. The generosity and compassion of Mr. Duchossois was deeply felt by all who engaged with him, and he has made an unforgettable impact on the equestrian community of the United States. Together with his family and friends, we remember the enthusiastic, animal-loving, and carpe diem spirit of the life of Bruce Duchossois.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer the Murphy-Cleaver amendment to the underlying Energy and Water Appropriations bill to support the Army Corps' construction account by an additional $1 million. Supporting the Corps' ongoing construction efforts is crucial to the well-being of regions like the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach communities in Florida that I am so proud to represent. The restoration projects in our area are vital to restoring the natural flow of water south of Lake Okeechobee, reducing the harm that is currently caused by discharges from the lake into our St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. All these projects work together to improve the water quality throughout the system, with our local waterways being no exception. The urgency to move these ongoing projects forward could not be more clear. The record rainfall in our area resulted in last year being dubbed the ``lost summer,'' with major die-offs of important species in this unique ecosystem as well as health warnings that kept the public out of the water and harmed our local economy that relies so heavily on our waterways. While $1 million might not seem like a lot, this money could be used to help projects that are near completion cross the finish line. For example, the Kissimmee River Project just north of my district is 86 percent near completion, and this funding could be used to fund one of the final steps needed to complete this project. Once completed, this project will restore up to 20,000 acres of wetland, storing more water north of the lake, lessening the amount of harmful discharges that must be released to the east and west into our local estuaries, and cleaning the water before it flows into the already inundated waterways. For Florida's 18th District, $1 million can make a real difference in the fight to protect our waterways. Mr. Chair, I now yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver), my good friend. Mr. Cleaver is a great champion of infrastructure projects such as these that invest in our future and come back to our economy in multiples.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver) for his support of this commonsense amendment and urge my colleagues to support this proposal that, as you have heard, has the potential to make a major difference in the well- being of communities from Florida to Missouri.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Idaho.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I want to thank the ranking member and the chairman for their support of this amendment and for all of their hard work.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Again, I thank the chair and ranking member for their hard work, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would eliminate wasteful spending on unused and underutilized facilities. With the Federal Government being the largest holder of land in the country, management of these properties must be economically responsible. Unfortunately, our government continues to misuse taxpayer dollars maintaining vacant and underutilized properties. This mismanagement must be addressed so that taxpayer money is no longer squandered on these unused facilities. That is why I am once again introducing this commonsense amendment, as I have with previous appropriations bills, and will continue to do so until wastefulness, both in terms of cost and efficiency, is rooted out of our government. This proposal is an extension of the bipartisan SAVE Act I had put forward that would cut $230 billion in government spending by rooting out waste and mismanagement such as this. I am proud that my amendment is endorsed by a broad coalition, including the Project on Government Oversight and the National Taxpayers Union. I thank them for their support of this commonsense measure to save taxpayers money by making our government more efficient. The Department of Defense, alone, has hundreds, possibly thousands, of buildings and structures that it has rated at zero percent utilization, yet the Federal Government continues to maintain these unused facilities at an incredible cost to taxpayers. As a CPA, this just doesn't add up. It is unacceptable that taxpayers are on the hook for maintaining these unused facilities. Putting an end to this misuse of resources could save tens of millions of dollars a year, smart savings we should all support, regardless of party affiliation. Mr. Chair, when I came to Congress, I promised my constituents that I would scrutinize the Federal budget so that their money was not wasted, promoting smarter governing. This is a simple solution to do just that. This amendment was passed by the House last year with bipartisan support, and I ask my colleagues to again support this measure that can save American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in this year alone. Let's come together and show the American people that we can work together to promote better government and smarter spending.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Military Appreciation Night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. This event serves to honor and recognize all those who serve and who have served in our military to protect our great nation. The event will be held the day before Independence Day when we celebrate our nation's freedom, which we owe to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. The Stadium will hold a ceremony recognizing veterans on the field and present a special color guard for the occasion. This event allows us to demonstrate our respect for the men and women who serve in our military and all that they do for us and our country, and to honor those who sacrificed everything and lost their lives in the line of duty. This event allows us not only to celebrate our nation's freedom and independence but also to remember all those who don a uniform signifying the protection of our country's citizens by means of protecting our freedoms. Over Memorial Day weekend, I was humbled to have had the opportunity to spend this most solemn holiday with our troops stationed in Afghanistan. A few weeks later, I was honored to greet local veterans at the World War II Memorial while they were on their Honor Flight to D.C. for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. From active duty to WWII veterans, our country is forever indebted to the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation. From an unacceptable benefits claim backlog, mistreatment at the VA, and the disgraceful high rates of unemployment, homelessness, and suicide among our nation's heroes, it is clear that our nation has been failing these heroes once they return home. We must--and will--do better. That is why I have been pleased to see bipartisan support for my efforts to help reduce the backlog and increase mental health and suicide prevention efforts for our veterans. I hope to see the same support for my recent proposals to reduce the appeals claims backlog and expand educational opportunities for veterans and military families. Our nation's heroes should not have to wait years to receive the benefits they have earned or have to fight for a job after fighting for our nation and these common sense proposals will help address these serious issues, reassuring our veterans, troops, and their families that we will be there for them as they have been there for our nation. While we rededicate ourselves to better serving our veterans, troops, and military families, we must do so always remembering the ultimate sacrifice that many of their comrades, friends, and families made for our nation. This is one of the best ways we can pay tribute to our fallen heroes, including the 18th District's own Marine Corps Corporal Ian T. Zook of Port St. Lucie, Army Captain Adam P. Snyder of Fort Pierce, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson of Palm City, Army Specialist Jordan C. Schumann of Port St. Lucie, Navy Chief Petty Officer Aaron C. Vaughn of Stuart, and Army Sergeant Justin R. Johnson of Hobe Sound. All of these men were selfless heroes whose sacrifices will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, as Military Appreciation Night is recognized at Roger Dean Stadium, I encourage my colleagues to join me and the residents of Jupiter, Florida in pausing to appreciate all that these brave men and women have done for our country by encouraging similar local events of recognition across the nation.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Victor Streit who passed away on April 22, 2014. He was a Blue Diamond Veteran who served 13 years in the United States Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Streit joined the Marine Corps in 1937 while still in college. In August of 1940 he was commissioned as an officer. He served with the First Marine Division throughout the Pacific during World War II. When he was stationed on Wallis Island he was the only soldier in his unit who could speak French, so he played a vital role in the transfer of power between Vichy and Free French authorities who held the Island. During his service Lt. Col. Streit was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Guantanamo Bay, Fort Benning, and Camp Lejeune and deployed to Wallis Island, Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu. He retired in 1949 receiving a citation from Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, a WWII Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Upon his retirement from the Corps, he worked as an administrator at Jonas Salk Junior High School in Levittown, New York. His devotion to education led him to help found Wesley College, a secondary school in St. George's Grenada, W.I. In addition to his work in Public Education, he was also extremely involved with the missionary work of his church. He moved to Tequesta, Florida in 1983 and then to Jupiter in 2012 where he had been an active member of the Treasure Coast community as well as the Military Officers Association of America Palm Beach/Martin County Chapter. He is survived by his wife, Mary, four sons, his daughter, and his ten grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Streit dedicated his life to this country. It is truly humbling to recognize his life and his great service to our country here today.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our Nation's veterans, the men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to our country. I was honored to have the opportunity to spend Memorial Day with our troops stationed in Afghanistan. Sharing this most solemn holiday with members of our armed services, who go above and beyond every day, was truly a humbling experience. It was an experience that reinforced my belief that one of the best ways Americans can pay tribute to the brave men and women who risk their lives fighting for us is to recommit ourselves to our duty to care for them when they return home. That is why I will be introducing three bills to help our troops and veterans. Too often, we hear that our Nation's heroes, after fighting for our country, come home only to have to fight to get the care, support, and respect they so deserve. We must make sure that the brave men and women who have risked everything for our country are never forgotten or ignored, that we fight for them as they have fought for us. For one thing, this means fully settling benefit claims in an efficient and timely manner and making sure that those veterans receive the proper care and compensation. Currently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, or CAVC, is the court that veterans must appeal to if they were unfairly denied benefits, but it does not allow veterans access to the same judicial tools available in other Federal courts. This court is terribly overburdened, with an appeal taking around a year on average, and that is on top of the nearly 4 years that a veteran has already waited by then. That is indefensible. On the heels of damning reports about the VA's failing our veterans with wait lists that have even led to deaths while veterans wait for service, we must find ways to reduce the backlog and speed up the process. That is why I have introduced a bill that would allow groups of veterans with similar claims to band together in their appeals. This would be highly efficient for both the VA and veterans by cutting costs, reducing decision times, and providing effective counsel, which many veterans lack under the current system. This act would allow veterans to have their appeals heard in a class action, as was successfully used by veterans impacted by Agent Orange prior to the creation of the CAVC. For veterans facing disability due to the exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan, this could be an invaluable tool. Another way to serve our Nation's heroes is by expanding educational opportunities. Veterans deserve the best training, so they don't have to fight for a job after fighting for our country. Today, I am proposing to improve the post-9/11 GI Bill by expanding eligible expenses to include applications to college, graduate school, and law school, as well as technical and vocational schools. Applications to schools can be as high as $300 to $500 in out-of-pocket expenses for veterans returning from overseas. Let's make it easier for our returning troops to pursue their educational and career goals by allowing our veterans to use the GI Bill to get reimbursed for expenses from applying to school. Our veterans have tremendous discipline, responsibility, and leadership ability to offer businesses. By having access to educational opportunities, veterans will have the means to keep their job skills up to date and to stay competitive in today's evolving job market. Finally, families are also impacted when their loved ones are deployed. Military spouses take on much of the burden and deserve great assistance. Currently, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program provides up to a $4,000 educational benefit while the spouse is overseas on active duty. While we agree that this is a worthwhile benefit, it doesn't even get the average person through a single semester. The average tour lasts about 10 months, long enough to complete a full year of school. An average year of tuition at a public university in the United States is almost $9,000. Let's bump up the benefit, so it actually covers the cost of tuition. The families of our servicemembers are the backbone of our military. The bills I have introduced are commonsense solutions to do just that. This is National Military Appreciation Month. Let's stand with our Nation's servicemembers and veterans. Let's express our gratitude for their service by recognizing the struggles they face and make sure we are there for them and recognize the sacrifices they have made. I urge my colleagues to support these bills, so that our veterans, troops, and military families get the care, benefits, and support they deserve.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Chair, I want to thank the gentleman from Washington for yielding. I want to thank the chairman for his efforts on this evening's work. I rise today in support of my amendment to improve mental health and suicide prevention for our Nation's veterans. Every day our country loses 22 of our Nation's heroes to suicide. This heartbreaking statistic remains a devastating reality that should shake every Member in this House. Truly providing our heroes with the respect and care they have earned means treating not only physical, but invisible wounds as well. With damning reports about the VA failing our veterans and our country, my amendment would insist on more accountability by requiring an independent third-party evaluation of existing suicide prevention efforts to improve coordination and integration between the DOD and the VA. Outcomes of servicemember and veteran suicide prevention programs are too important to be left to government agencies, particularly ones embroiled in scandal. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Our Nation must not continue to fail those who served us so bravely.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 23 high school seniors from the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches of Florida for their commendable decision to enlist in the United States Armed Forces following their graduation this year. Of these 23 enlistees, 11 are Army enlistees, 4 are Navy enlistees, 4 are National Guard enlistees, 2 are Air Force enlistees, one is a Coast Guard enlistee, and one is a Marine Corps enlistee. These young men and women have displayed an unmatched sense of bravery and courage in their commitment to defend and protect our nation. Thus, it is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives, their communities, and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us who we are as a people, and that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of freedom, strength, and perseverance on the world stage. The service of these young men and women must not go unrecognized, and so I want to personally thank these twenty-three local graduating seniors for their selflessness and commitment to our nation by naming them here today: Oneil Daley, Antonio Allen Jr., Juan Machuca, Mario Esquilin, Henry Thomas, Dion Yu, David Colton, Corbett Pervenecki, Matthew Connelly, Laquann Pitts, Corey Boyce, Jose Ruiz, Kristi McMillion, Selena Harrison, Ty Torres, David Tarrant-Schneiderman, Angela Fernandez, Tristan Sperling, Andrew Williams, Tyler Stewart, Brandon Hall, Dylan Reinhardt and Alicia Williams. All will be recognized on May 8th at the Our Community Salutes event in Boca Raton. Mr Speaker, we owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them and to all who defend our freedom by serving in the United States Armed Forces. That spirit of service and sacrifice is something we all can be proud of. For this very reason, it is my honor to recognize these young leaders here today.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership on this and countless issues that come before our committee. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from West Virginia, the chair of Financial Institutions, for her constant willingness to come to the center and work for the greater good of our country. I also want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for his outstanding leadership working for true regulatory relief to create jobs while protecting consumers. This is not the first bill that we have worked on together, and I hope it is not the last. Across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, the constituents that I am privileged to represent know that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They understand that capital is the lifeblood that enables those businesses to grow, spurring innovation and creating jobs. Community banks are on the front lines providing that capital, but they are being strangled by well-intentioned but excessive regulation. Let me be clear: I am not against reining in the excesses of Wall Street banks. After the financial crisis nearly took down the economy and cost Americans $17 trillion worth of wealth and equity, the country's biggest banks should be held to a higher standard. It doesn't take a CPA to see the difference between a $2 trillion interconnected, globalized Wall Street bank and the 550 community banks on the town square under $1 billion in assets that do not yet get the regulatory relief provided by the Fed policy statement. We are here today to change that. This bill would provide much-needed regulatory relief to community banks. Everyone says they are for community banks. Today is the day to prove it. Madam Speaker, I include a letter of support from the Independent Community Bankers of America into the Record. Independent Community Bankers of America, Washington, DC., May 5, 2014. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the more than 6,500 community banks represented by the Independent Community Bankers of America, I write to express our strong support for H.R. 3329, which is scheduled for floor consideration this week. Introduced by Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Ann Kuster (D-NH), H.R. 3329 is bipartisan legislation that would direct the Federal Reserve to increase the qualifying asset threshold of the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement from $500 million to $1 billion and allow small savings and loan holding companies to be covered by its provisions. This legislation is a key priority for ICBA and a provision of our Plan for Prosperity: A Regulatory Relief Agenda to Empower Local Communities. ICBA urges all members of the House to vote YES on H.R. 3329. Revising the Policy Statement will make it easier for small bank and savings and loan holding companies to raise both debt and equity and downstream the proceeds to their subsidiary banks. The Policy Statement contains a number of safeguards to ensure that the debt is managed responsibly and subsidiary banks remain well capitalized. Increasing the eligibility threshold to $1 billion to account for inflation, industry consolidation, and asset growth will help an additional 515 bank and savings and loan holding companies raise capital for additional consumer and small business lending, leading to job creation and community development. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Camden R. Fine, President & CEO.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, with that, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Luetkemeyer-Murphy bill, and with no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Salmon-Sinema amendment to increase funding for the VA Office of the Inspector General in order to provide accountability at the VA and increase quality of care. It has been recently reported that veterans are dying while waiting for treatment, including at the West Palm Beach VA facility that serves my district. Following this news, allegations have surfaced that 40 veterans in the Phoenix VA health care system died while being placed on a secret wait list. This is beyond unacceptable. Mr. Chairman, it is vital that the inspector general get to the bottom of these claims as soon as possible so that veterans of the Palm Beaches, Treasure Coast, and around the country who fought for our freedoms get the timely and high-quality care they deserve. I thank my colleagues from Arizona, Congresswoman Sinema and Congressman Salmon, for their leadership on this pressing issue. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that would eliminate wasteful spending on unused facilities, which would save tens of millions of dollars for fiscal year 2015 alone. The Defense Department has hundreds, possibly thousands, of buildings and structures that it has rated at zero percent utilization. This is an incredible number of useless facilities the DOD is paying to maintain. Federal agencies, as a whole, must do a better job at managing their facilities. Taxpayers cannot continue paying for unused and underused buildings while the Nation is at record debt levels. That is not good government, and that is not smart spending. That is why I joined with Representatives David Joyce of Ohio and Mike Coffman of Colorado to introduce the SAVE Act to root out about $230 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the next 10 years. This amendment is an extension of one of those commonsense solutions included in the bipartisan SAVE Act preventing the Department of Defense from spending money on facilities that the Department itself has rated at zero percent utilization. I offered the same amendment last year, which this Chamber accepted by voice vote, and I ask for your same support today. I understand the Department of Defense may be concerned that this amendment would prevent them from carrying out BRAC work. I believe BRAC is an essential process, and I have no intention of disrupting it. After investigating the Department's concerns, my understanding is that no additional BRAC work will happen before 2017 at the earliest, long after this appropriations bill has expired. Any ongoing environmental remediation from previous BRACs is exempted from my amendment, which gives the Department the flexibility to properly address any environmental threats at unused facilities, as well as maintain historic military sites. With that said, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the committee to address any BRAC-related issues in conference. Mr. Chairman, we all agree that we must rein in wasteful government spending. My amendment is a commonsense solution to do just that, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill would authorize the U.S. Mint to produce gold, silver, and clad coins for resale in 2016. Proceeds from the sale of these coins will be used to help protect our national parks, so that our country's great natural and cultural resources will endure for generations to come. This bill comes at no cost to taxpayers. National parks are not only crucial to preserve our natural, historic, and cultural treasures, but they are also economic engines to job creators. They generate tens of billions in revenue and support hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. This bill will help maintain and promote many beautiful and important parks in our country, such as Everglades National Park, which is located near the district I am proud to represent. The Everglades region is a large, interconnected ecosystem that is globally unique because of the hundreds of species and plants and animals that live there, such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. This rare ecosystem also faces exceptional problems due to rapid development and outdated infrastructure in the area. You may be wondering why someone from Florida's Treasure Coast is concerned with the Everglades. As my colleagues have surely heard me discuss, there are serious problems facing Florida's many waterways. When there is heavy rainfall--also known as summer in Florida--the Army Corps, following the Lake Okeechobee release schedule, releases water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River in the east and the Caloosahatchee River in the west. These freshwater releases are heavy in nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria that then plague our brackish waterways. Last summer, the St. Lucie River contained such high levels of bacteria that local officials posted public health warnings up and down the shore, and many residents reported infections resulting from their interaction with the water. Toxic algae blooms were also found throughout the waterways. This pollution not only forces people to avoid contact with the water, which is frequently the center of their livelihood, but also is an extreme threat to the most biodiverse estuary in the country. Just like the broader Everglades system, several species in the Indian River Lagoon are already being listed as threatened or endangered, and these releases jeopardize these species even further. My constituents stress to me that the health of our environment cannot be separated from the health of our economy. In Florida's 18th District, the health of the Everglades and our waterways is critical to economic strength. I will continue to advocate to even the most conservative of my colleagues that the economic impact of Everglades restoration projects provides a 4 to 1 return on investment in both short-term and long-term economic benefits. So important are these restoration efforts, the Florida delegation continues to come together in a bipartisan manner in support of protecting our environment and the economic role it plays in our great State of Florida. All members of our delegation understand that, for the entire system to benefit and for the Federal Government to work most efficiently, we must aggressively continue to push to complete Everglades restoration projects that we have already started. It is clear that water quality and management decisions that impact one area of the Everglades system have residual impacts throughout the entire water system of central and south Florida and the Treasure Coast. So while people who live along the Florida Bay may not immediately see the benefits of the C-44 Indian River Lagoon project in my district--and the same for residents of the Treasure Coast with the C- 111 spreader canal--you cannot look at one piece of the system in a vacuum. It is intensively interconnected. That is why I have been so passionate on Everglades restoration issues, not only in my district, but throughout the State and the watershed and why today I stand in support of this bill that will help the Park Service continue its important work of preserving this and other critical habitats. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.