Patrick Murphy

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Joe Crankshaw for his 56 years in the newspaper business. Mr. Crankshaw was born during the Great Depression, an era in journalism known as the ``Age of the Columnists'' which saw a rise in photojournalism and 35mm photography. It was the heyday of newsreels and copy was still done by typewriters and edited with scissors and glue. Mr. Crankshaw began his career in 1958 when he was hired by Ernie Lyons, editor of the then-weekly Stuart News. After five years, Mr. Crankshaw moved on to The Florida Times Union and The Miami Herald where his stories consistently made the front page. In 1991 Mr. Crankshaw rejoined the Scripps Treasure Coast team where he was recognized as one of the best by his publisher and colleagues. In the years since, Mr. Crankshaw has been quick to take advantage of modern technology and the many more recent innovations in media. According to a Scripps Treasure Coast reporter, Mr. Crankshaw received an iPhone for his 80th birthday and within a few days was sharing apps with co-workers half his age. It is humbling to recognize Mr. Crankshaw's engagement and activism outside of the newsroom. In addition to being a family man with two daughters and two stepchildren, Mr. Crankshaw loves sharing his knowledge and experiences to those with journalistic ambitions. Last year, he presented a guest lecture to journalism students in Utah where he was warmly welcomed via video conferencing. A Korean War veteran, he has always made it a mission to keep the best interests of our military and veterans and their families a priority; and ultimately, Mr. Crankshaw has served as a role model and inspiring figure in northern Palm Beach and Treasure Coast communities. Though he will be sincerely missed in the newsroom, I wish him the best in retirement.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for their victory in the 7A State title game. In a well contested battle at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, the Dwyer Panthers defeated Niceville High School 55- 39 to win their second State football championship. Panther's coach Jack Daniels took his team to the title game with a perfect 15-0 record, the school's first undefeated season. After 15 consecutive playoff appearances, Dwyer High School can now call themselves repeat State champions in football, and I am honored to recognize them today. Throughout the football season, these student-athletes balanced the pressures of both academics and football. As student-athletes across the country, myself included, can tell you, this is a challenge that tests one's patience and perseverance, and I commend the team for their successes in the classroom as well as on the field. The Dwyer Panthers handled themselves with class in front of thousands of fans on a big stage. I hope all of the players, faculty, and parents who showed their support continue to enjoy the school's rank of 2013-2014 7A football champions for the State of Florida. I wish all of the graduating seniors the best in their future academic and athletic endeavors. To those returning next season, continue to work hard and take pride in everything you do. Congratulations again to the 2013-2014 Dwyer Panthers.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 15 World War II veterans currently residing in Mariner Sands, a community in the city of Stuart, FL. These men, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, are a part of the Greatest Generation, and I am grateful to have the privilege of recognizing their service as our nation approaches Veterans Day. These 15 veterans, honored for their service including one awarded with the Silver Star, were engaged in active duty missions in Africa and the European and Pacific theaters where they were present for some of history's most poignant and influential battles. One Marine recounts a vivid tale set in a foxhole at the battle of Iwo Jima. He notices his fellow Marines on higher ground unpredictably congregating in the distance. He directs the attention of Marines nearby to the mountaintop scene, and as he watches Marines raise an American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, he does not yet realize that he is witnessing first-hand one of the most quintessential images of the Second World War. I am privileged to recognize these 15 World War II veterans and give special recognition to Brigadier General Joe McCormick who turned 100 years-old this year. To all who have donned the uniform of a member of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for your service.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Green, for organizing this special hour. I also want to thank Mr. Poe, Ms. Edwards and Mrs. Ellmers for their leadership on this important issue. I rise today to speak out against domestic violence and to demand that Congress act in a bipartisan manner to fight back against this plague on our country. The domestic violence statistic rates in our country are staggering. One out of every three women will be the victim of domestic violence in their lifetime. Four are murdered by their intimate partner every day in the United States. Further, a woman is battered in the United States every 15 seconds. You do the math; that is 240 incidents every hour. We, as a society, have a responsibility to work to protect the most vulnerable among us, and must do everything we can to address these unacceptable rates of domestic violence. That is why one of the first pieces of legislation I cosponsored as a Member of Congress was the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Protecting people from violence by their partners should not be a partisan issue, and it was appalling in the last Congress that such vital legislation got caught up in this partisan gridlock. With that in mind, I am thrilled to see Members from both sides of the aisle speaking today on this important issue. You will notice both Democrats and Republicans wearing purple pins or purple ties to highlight October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is not a partisan issue, and not just a woman's issue. It is a family issue, it is a community issue, it is an economic issue and a moral issue. That is why I specifically recruited male colleagues to participate in this Special Order hour, and you will see many of them here today wearing purple ties. We, as men, can help draw awareness not only to how important it is to work toward ending domestic violence, but also to the fact that domestic violence is an issue that we have a responsibility to engage and not to dismiss as only a women's issue. As role models and other males, we have a crucial part in this fight, and stopping domestic violence will only occur when the main perpetrators of these crimes, which are men, learn to stop hurting their partners. We, as men, not only can, but we must make addressing this issue a priority. On International Women's Day, I hosted a roundtable discussion at a shelter in my district called SafeSpace, where I heard from both survivors and advocates about the challenges they face to keep women and children safe, and the importance of Federal funding to keep these programs operating. This roundtable highlighted the urgency of working together to address this pressing issue. I am honored to have Jill Borowicz, the CEO of the shelter that hosted this important roundtable, here in attendance with us today and want to take this opportunity to thank her for her work on behalf of all the survivors of domestic abuse. Unfortunately, what we are doing here today almost was not able to take place, due to the government shutdown. Jill knows all too well what the shutdown did back home and what the effects of it were on our district and across the country. One of the less-talked about effects of the shutdown was its impact on shelters and services like SafeSpace that were forced to close their doors and suspend services for more than a week because VAWA funds were unaccessible. Let me repeat: the government shutdown directly prevented women and children who were facing the threat of domestic violence from receiving services and shelter. This is unconscionable. While the crisis may have been manufactured, the shutdown was very real, and the consequences were also real. It has shown that partisanship and dysfunction in Congress are a serious threat to the prevention of domestic violence. I hope we can all agree that this should no longer be tolerated. I look forward to working together with my colleagues, both male and female, and Members from both parties to continue to fund important programs that help provide assistance and shelter to the victims of domestic violence, resources to law enforcement to help them adequately address these issues on the ground, and investments in programs that can help stop and break the vicious cycle of domestic violence in our communities. Again, I want to thank Mr. Green for his leadership on this issue. It is important we bring this to the forefront. No matter where you are from or what party you are from, this is something that needs to be discussed.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of the first African-American paratrooper to be enlisted in the U.S. Army. Walter Morris, a retired Second Lieutenant who passed away at the age of 92, was the first African-American man accepted for airborne duty in the Army. At a time where segregation existed prevalently in our country, Mr. Morris broke a barrier, setting the precedent for an additional 400 Black paratroopers to serve before the end of World War II. At the time, then Sergeant Morris led training sessions to mimic parachute practice after duty hours to raise the morale of African- American soldiers. It is the strength, courage, dedication, and camaraderie of Mr. Morris for which I am humbled to honor his life here today. Mr. Morris was an original member of the Triple Nickels, a battalion later assigned to a secret mission titled Operation Firefly, a maneuver for the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. The Triple Nickels had to minimize the damage from aerial attacks by Japanese balloon bombs over the Pacific Northwest coast. The Army kept this operation secret because they wanted to disguise the fact that the Japanese balloon bombs had actually reached the U.S. coastline. Mr. Morris's actions paved the way for African-American soldiers to become part of one of the most prestigious departments of the U.S. Army, the 82nd Airborne Division. He cofounded the African-American Cultural Association, an education facility for adults and children. Now in its 34th year, the association is a way to ensure the legacy of the Triple Nickels. Together with Lt. Morris's two daughters, grandson, and two great- grandsons, we remember the life of an American Hero--someone who stood tall in the face of adversity and in unison with his fellow soldiers and his country.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on October 3rd, we held an historic bipartisan Congressional briefing on issues affecting the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee waterways, bringing national attention to the issue of toxic waters that have been plaguing the Treasure Coast. For both those who were unable to attend and for those that were there, I hope the following summary of the briefing will be helpful. For more information on the briefing, including a full transcript and video and presentations from panelists, please visit: www.PatrickMurphy.house.gov/IndianRiverLagoon. Community Voices It was great to see so many familiar faces from the district who were able to attend our briefing. There was an overwhelming showing of support, with over a hundred community members who came to bring national attention to this pressing issue, leaving us with standing room only. The bus full of dozens of residents that held fundraisers to make the long journey up to Washington, D.C. was unprecedented, and their presence helped demonstrate the gravity of this issue and its impact on the lives of those in the affected communities. We heard from a variety of community members throughout the briefing including children who told of how their summer was dramatically affected by the pollution in the river, and long-time residents who have seen the problem year after year. We all came together to send many decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels a clear message: This is a serious problem that demands solutions. Panelist Input Though because of the government shutdown our federal agency panelists could not attend the briefing, our state and local panelists gave many perspectives and insights into federal, local and state work underway and also discussed what else needs to be done in order to fully address the issue. They included: Secretary Herschel Vinyard, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Ernie Barnett, Assistant Executive Director, Everglades Ecosystem Restoration, South Florida Water Management District Dr. Tom Van Lent, Senior Scientist, Everglades Foundation Senator Joe Negron, Chair of State Select Committee on the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin Representative Matt Caldwell, Florida House of Representatives-- District 79 Representative Heather Fitzenhagen, Florida House of Representatives--District 78 Thomas MacVicar, MacVicar Consulting, Inc. Mark Perry, Executive Director, Florida Oceanographic Society Martin County Commissioner Chair Sarah Heard St. Lucie County Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker Mayor Kevin Ruane, Sanibel, Florida Todd Bonlarron, Legislative Director, Palm Beach County Mr. Roland Ottolini, Director, Lee County Division of Natural Resources Dr. Brian LaPointe, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University The panelists highlighted many important points and everyone agreed that continuing to fight and urge for funding for existing Army Corps projects is crucial, such as the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project, Herbert Hoover Dike repairs, and other Everglades restoration projects to provide relief to our imperiled waterways. There was also consensus that provisions in the House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) will help to move forward on Everglades ecosystem restoration, which has a huge impact on our area. After passing WRRDA, we will continue to pressure the Army Corps to complete the Chief's Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project so that these important projects can move forward as well. Member Advocacy I also was thankful that over 20 Members of Congress came to learn more about this issue and to hear directly from community members on how these toxic waters have affected them. Below is a list of which Members of Congress attended and some of the comments they made: Senator Bill Nelson-- ``There are way too many nutrients in [the water], and I am sure you have already had the testimony of what happens when there is too many nutrients. It is not only that bottle, but that has been going on for years.'' ``We have got to continue the appropriations for the Everglades restoration. We have to keep the fire under the Army Corps of Engineers.'' ``My ask of you all would be to keep up the pressure.'' House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi-- ``When Patrick Murphy came in with that bottle I was not sure what was going on. When he told me what that water was, it was really shocking.'' ``The fact that all of you are here is a tribute to how important the issue is . . . I think your being here and their support for this elevates this to an issue of national significance.'' House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (who was so moved by the briefing that he visited the district on October 14th to see the problem firsthand)-- ``This is a crucially important issue, not just for Florida, but also for our nation. This is an extraordinary resource, and Florida is a resource. I want to thank you for doing those carwashes to come up here. Saying democracy works is a little tough today, but I have been in office for 45 years. Democracy works. Democracy works because conscientious people take their time and effort to communicate their concerns.'' House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster-- On WRRDA legislation: ``We worked very hard in the committee to produce a bipartisan product and went through a number of listening sessions from local stakeholders to industries and companies that have interests in the ports, harbors, waterways, and environmental restoration projects.'' ``Both Republicans and Democrats both saw the need to make sure we move these projects forward faster and I think anybody that runs any type of organization knows that time is money. So, we get this done faster and we can save money and get these projects closer to completion.'' House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment Ranking Member Tim Bishop Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus and the Florida Delegation Rep. Alcee L. Hastings Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Rep. Cheri Bustos Florida Congressional Delegation Members: Rep. Corrine Brown; Rep. Ted Deutch; Rep. Lois Frankel; Rep. Joe Garcia; Rep. John Mica; Rep. Bill Posey; Rep. Tom Rooney; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Rep. Daniel Webster; Rep. Ted Yoho. Every Member who attended was provided a comprehensive information on this issue, as well as actions Congress can take to help address this problem. While I was extremely pleased to have a number of my colleagues attend this briefing to hear directly from our community, we have a long and challenging fight ahead of us to get the message to 200 other Members of the House to ensure that Congress continues to fund and authorize projects and initiatives that will help clean the waters of our local rivers and estuaries. Common Goals One of the goals of this briefing was to isolate common goals among the many parties and stakeholders in the room. Some of the reoccurring points many stakeholders agree on that need work on the federal level are: Continue to advocate to Members of Congress the importance of Everglades restoration funding The shocking photos provided by local residents depicting this devastation to the ecosystem were on full display to all Members, as well as the presence of so many concerned citizens speaking personally about how these discharges have impacted them and the community. This education aspect of the briefing was crucial. With the 22 Members who attended, they now can help garner support for important measures related to local environmental projects when they come up for a vote, helping us advocate for the passage of the House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and including needed funding in the Administration's budget. But our advocacy work isn't done. We still must make the case that Everglades restoration funding is an important goal that ALL Members of Congress should support. Funding to complete Everglades restoration projects Everyone agreed that continuing to fight and urge for funding for existing Army Corps projects is crucial. With the involvement of Congress and federal agency officials, we can work together to prioritize funding for ongoing projects such as the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project, the Kissimmee River restoration project, and other Everglades restoration projects that once completed will provide relief to our imperiled waterways. In order for the entire system to function better, many key components must be able to function. Completing projects that are already under construction will help us most effectively clean the waterways of southern Florida. Continued funding to rehabilitate the Herbert Hoover Dike One of the biggest problems affecting our waterways is that Lake Okeechobee can only retain a specific amount of water safely. That is why the community agrees that the Army Corps must continue its work of rehabilitating the Herbert Hoover Dike to get it to a state where it can contain more water safely. Holding more water in the lake is the most effective method of water retention in the area, and while this will be a long term project, Congress must act to continue to fund the critical work of rehabilitating this vulnerable structure. Passing the House WRRDA bill There was also consensus that provisions in the House WRRDA bill will allow state and federal actors to move forward on Everglades ecosystem restoration, which in turn benefits our district. In addition to passing WRRDA, we also need to continue to pressure for the Chief's Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) so that these important projects can move forward as well. While the CEPP Chief's Report isn't scheduled to be complete until 2014, the timing of passing a final WRRDA bill will be crucial. Urging the Corps to safely reexamine the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule Another issue that was discussed is the need for the Army Corps to reevaluate at what level the lake can safely retain water by reassessing the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS). I sent a letter to Army Corps officials just prior to the briefing but we must continue to urge them to take this action to reduce these harmful discharges from the lake into the St. Lucie. Getting federal agencies more involved on the ground Unfortunately, due to a government shutdown, our federal agency panelists were unable to attend. Although we were still able to have a robust and important conversation, it is vital that these federal agencies become more involved. They each have a role to play, and their engagement can be helpful to addressing the river issue. I will be working with my colleagues who attended the briefing to push for this involvement from agencies such as the Army Corps, NOAA, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as invite these officials to see the damage firsthand so they see the urgent need to move forward with these ongoing projects. There was also unity on the state moving forward quickly and aggressively with their water quality implementation plans. Moving Forward The briefing successfully brought this important issue into the national spotlight. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a Congress that could not even come together to keep the government open, so a fight for funding to address the pollution impacting our local waterways in the current ``no spending'' climate will be a challenge, but is a challenge we must take on. There is a difference between wasteful spending, something I've been tackling in the past 10 months, and smart investments such as these projects needed to help our local environment, that provide a three-to-one return on investments. While I can't promise that this issue will be solved in the next year or even the next several years, I do promise to do everything I can to move us towards this end. I remain focused on this issue of great concern to our community, our environment, our economy, and our entire way of life.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to submit for the Record a summary of the transcript of the bipartisan briefing I recently hosted along with my good friend from the great State of Florida, Trey Radel, on the crucial environmental issues facing our waterways in Florida. During a time of the most discouraging examples of partisan gridlock, we were able to come together with many people on both sides of the aisle to work toward solutions to the ongoing crisis in our waterways. There is no denying that an environmental crisis is taking place up and down the Indian River Lagoon. Record-breaking rainfall, out-of-date engineering, and urban and agricultural runoff are all damaging our waterways. To bring attention to this important matter, we invited community members who have been directly impacted by the water so polluted with bacteria and toxic algae that health officials told people to avoid contact with the water. In an area where the economy depends on water for our local livelihood, this pollution is having devastating effects. Members of our community took great lengths to make their voices heard in Congress. Many flew up here, others fundraised to take a bus, using money out of their own pocket to make sure that Washington heard how they have been directly impacted by polluted and toxic waterways. Despite the government shutdown and the inability of any Federal agency officials to attend, we were pleased to see so many engaged constituents in the room with us as we spoke to many Members who have important leadership roles in the House itself--the Appropriations Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and many among the Florida delegation. At the briefing, we not only discussed the problems but the solutions, both short-term and long-term, that can only come from a mutual understanding of the problem and cooperation of local, State, and Federal entities. Solutions such as completing Everglades restoration projects like the Indian River Lagoon-South project and funding the completion of C-44 components of this project as soon as possible to grant relief to the already battered St. Lucie Estuary are critical. We must also fight for quick and effective repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike that will allow for the safe retention of more water in Lake Okeechobee. There was also broad agreement on the importance of passing WRRDA so we can move forward with Everglades restoration efforts that will benefit all of our communities. Additionally, WRRDA will streamline processes so ongoing and future projects can advance more efficiently and expeditiously. It has been almost 7 years since the last water resource bill was authorized, stalling progress on local environmental projects, so I am beyond pleased to see the House take up this important bill today. After passing WRRDA, we need to continue to pressure for the chief support for the Central Everglades Planning Project so that these important projects can move forward as well. In the current no-spending climate in Congress, it is difficult to fight for funding for these critical projects to address the pollution impacting our local waterways, but there is a difference between smart investments and wasteful spending, which is something I have been working hard to tackle these past 10 months. Infrastructure and environmental projects are not only crucial to improve the health of our waterways but to provide a 3 to 1 return on investment. Furthermore, funding for Everglades projects is equally matched by the State so they, too, have skin in the game, highlighting the importance of cooperation across all levels of government to work towards real solutions to address the challenges facing our waterways. Mr. Speaker, these issues are simply too important to ignore. That is why I am here today with this bottle of polluted water behind me to show the severity of this ongoing crisis. I remain focused on this issue of great concern to our community, our environment, our economy, and our entire way of life. No one person can make all these things happen. It takes advocacy and action at all levels of government. To that end, I will include a summary of this briefing to be entered into the Congressional Record to educate all Members of Congress on this important issue and the role we all play in addressing it.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman for the yielding. I rise once again, Mr. Speaker, to discuss an environmental catastrophe taking place in my district. While I strongly support the underlying bill, without the amendment, it would force my constituents and residents from Florida to wait at least another 2 years for projects critical for our environment and our economy. The Central Everglades Planning Project, critical to the deteriorating health of the waterways in my district, is nearly ready to go.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. The project will safely move more water south of Lake Okeechobee, instead of forcing polluted fresh water into brackish rivers to the east and west, causing immeasurable damage to our environment and our local economy. I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and support the commonsense, bipartisan Brown-Frankel- Crenshaw-Posey amendment that would allow the Army Corps to complete its work on authorizing several important projects that are in the final stages of approval. I spoke on the floor earlier today about the importance of acting now on initiatives that will help address the environmental crisis occurring in our area. Today we have that chance. My constituents and our waterways cannot wait. Defeat the previous question and support the Brown amendment.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. First, I want to thank my good friend from California (Mr. Peters) for organizing this important discussion this evening and reminding all Americans how important it is to end this ridiculous and disgraceful shutdown we're in right now. The damage this manufactured crisis is causing is unacceptable. I've heard daily from hundreds of my constituents who have already felt the pain from the shutdown over the past 4 days. They all express the same sentiment: Enough already. I share this frustration. I received a letter today from a local Navy veteran, and it particularly stood out to me. I just want to share a brief part of this story that I read. I'm a recently discharged veteran of the U.S. Navy. During the 5 years I served, I was told continually that when I left the service behind, I would be taken care of, and I believed that implicitly. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Since I was discharged over 2 months ago, I've struggled to get unemployment and find work. I am currently receiving VA disability for service-connected injuries, or at least I was before the government shut down yesterday. I rely on my disability to survive, and now I don't even know when the next payment will arrive. To complicate matters further, I've attempted to start up school and use my GI benefits only to find out that the VA will run out of money by the end of this month if the shutdown continues. So no more disability or education benefits, benefits I've earned, benefits I got for sacrificing 5 of the best years of my life for. So, essentially, I paid into this program, made sacrifices too numerous to count, was deployed around the world twice in support of the global war on terrorism, and now I come to find out all of that amounts to nothing. This shutdown has negatively impacted my life more than I ever thought possible. The mere fact that veterans benefits were even on the table as part of the shutdown is an outrage in itself. Have we not done enough? What more do I need to sacrifice? We have a hard enough time surviving overseas, and this is the treatment we come home to, our own government shutting down and unable to take care of us. I plan on applying for food stamps soon. I never dreamed my life would come to this, especially after serving my country. But, hey, I guess that's what our government has come to. Please do whatever it takes to end this shutdown. Well, Joshua, I never dreamed it would come to this either, that our Nation would be willing to break its promise to the brave men and women like you over partisan games. I called Joshua today to let him know that I, too, am appalled and that I am here fighting for him, alongside my colleagues, alongside our Nation's veterans, seniors, and all Americans who have had enough, enough of the shutdown, enough of the games, enough of these manufactured crises. That is why I'm leading efforts urging leadership to immediately vote on reopening the government. Our fragile economy cannot afford one more day of this disgraceful shutdown, and neither can veterans such as Joshua. I urge the House to pass a clean spending bill immediately and put an end to this nonsensical shutdown.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. First of all, I would like to thank the gentlelady from Arizona for bringing us all together for this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of my colleagues who are here today who support our brave men and women of the United States military-- those who were willing to give life and limb in service of our great Nation. Those who fought for our freedom have earned America's gratitude and support as they reenter society after the trauma of serving in prolonged war zones. Our Nation must remain focused on the health and well-being of the brave men and women who have served. This means treating even the wounds that are not visible. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and it is incumbent that every one of us take the time to reach out to servicemembers and veterans who may be struggling. It should shake every Member of this body to know that we lose 22 heroes every day to suicide. Yesterday, I was honored to join with local veterans groups to bring attention to this troubling issue. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mary Hinton with the Renewal Coalition, Dr. Deepak Mandi with the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, and Dr. Raul Diaz with the Jupiter Veterans Center for not only joining me at this important event yesterday but for the important work they are doing to assist the veterans and their families in our community every day. I want to recognize the great work of the Veterans Crisis Line, which has fielded over 890,000 calls since 2007 and provides important, comprehensive mental health care at VA medical centers across the Nation. I also want to thank Lynn Szymoniak for her hard work and dedication with Angel Fire, another organization in my district which helps our wounded veterans transition back to civilian life. For Suicide Prevention Month, let's recommit ourselves to providing our heroes, who have sacrificed so much for our Nation, with the respect, the benefits and the care that they have earned through their service by raising awareness, ending the stigma, and treating their invisible wounds.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of the Van Duzer Foundation and its founder, Mr. Scott Van Duzer of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, in honor of his philanthropic efforts, which have touched many lives across the Treasure Coast. Scott started the Van Duzer Foundation in 2008 to help families and individuals impacted by tragic and often unforeseen circumstances. Since its inception, the foundation has organized blood drives garnering more than 7,000 pints of blood and raising over $800,000 for families and individuals in need. The Foundation's family-friendly fundraising events are well attended by many in the community and positively serve as a model of civic engagement. A few years ago, Scott learned about two boys who were in desperate need of a blood transfusion. Because of a shortage, one of the boys waited nine hours for life-saving blood to arrive. Rising to the call of activism, Scott collaborated with his board of directors to partner with Florida's Blood Centers to host a blood drive where initially over 300 pints of blood were collected. The Foundation later hosted their inaugural Be a Hero Day where 1,000 pints of blood were donated. Having hosted several blood drives since, the 7,000 pints of blood collected by the Van Duzer Foundation have impacted over 21,000 lives, a figure of three lives per donation of blood. In recognition of the work of the Van Duzer Foundation, last year Scott was honored by a visit from President Obama at his local pizza shop where he gave the President a much-publicized bear hug. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the great work of the Van Duzer Foundation and to call Scott not only a constituent, but a friend. In today's busy, complex world we must recognize the depth of philanthropy and its impact. We better ourselves by improving our communities and being our neighbor's keeper. As evidenced through Scott Van Duzer and the Van Duzer Foundation, it is through these means in which all Americans can participate in perpetuating a prosperous pathway for our Nation.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Martin County North Little League All-Stars and their accomplishment in winning the 2013 Florida State Little League Championship. As a baseball player and former Little Leaguer myself, I am very proud to that my district is home to this year's state champions. Not only did these athletes compete to make it to the Florida State Tournament; but once there, they bested seven other teams, which is no easy feat. After four rounds of competition, Martin County North made it to the title game on July 29th where they defeated Sarasota American, in a 7-1 victory. I would like to take this moment to also reflect on the inspiring nature of the team's manager, Mark Rodgers. Coach Rodgers successfully led his team to victory through hard work and dedication as well as a love of the game. He was able to instill in these twelve year-olds that with a supportive community, the goal of winning the Florida State Little League Championship was more than possible. He taught them ``pride, passion, and purpose.'' As the mentors of my youth also did, Coach Rodgers laid the foundation in understanding how these are essential elements of success and how to always go after your dreams. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged today to have this opportunity to recognize Coach Tom Galinis, Blaine Kilbreth, Zach Galinis, Cam Provines, Payton McIntosh, Hunter Wentworth, Tibur Rivero, Richie Pfluger, Wyatt Menendez, Jacob Rader, Dominick Thompson, Justin Altieri, Taylor Higgins, Marcus Mastellone, Coach Andrew Rodgers, and Manager Mark Rodgers on being the Sunshine State's 2013 Little League champions. I am proud that they represent my district and wish them continued success both on and off the field.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I want to thank the chair from the great State of Florida and the ranking member for their work putting together this bipartisan legislation. I rise today in support of the en bloc amendments that include my bipartisan amendment to the Defense appropriations bill with the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman). Our amendment would eliminate wasteful spending on unused facilities, which can save tens of millions of dollars in fiscal year 2014 alone. The Department of Defense 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 Department of Defense 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 levels of debt. That is not good government and not smart spending. That is why earlier this year I introduced the SAVE Act to root out up to $200 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the next 10 years. This amendment is an extension of one of the 11 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. Mr. Chairman, we all agree that we must rein in government spending, and the best place to start is by rooting out waste. My amendment is a commonsense solution to do just that, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. First, I want to thank Mr. Cardenas for putting this Special Order together. I'm here tonight to call on the House of Representatives to pass bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform that would reduce our deficit and grow our economy. Madam Speaker, now that the Senate has passed comprehensive immigration reform with broad bipartisan support, it is time for the House to step up and do the same. Passing immigration reform will cut our Federal deficit and grow the economy. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the Senate immigration bill would reduce the Federal budget deficit by $850 billion over the next 20 years. Comprehensive immigration reform will also grow our economy. By expanding the U.S. labor force and America's productivity, increasing the number of available high-tech visas and increasing foreign investment, comprehensive immigration reform will increase our gross domestic product. It is projected that this will increase GDP by $1.4 trillion by 2033. While not perfect, the Senate immigration bill is an important bipartisan compromise to address what is currently a broken system. I came to Washington to work across the aisle and find commonsense solutions just like this. Furthermore, the fact that this bill would reduce the Federal deficit and grow the economy should be something we can all agree on. I urge my colleagues to support passing the Senate's bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an outstanding young man. Aaron Jason, a rising junior at South Fork High School, passed away on June 26, 2013 at the age of 16. Aaron is survived by his mother Roylyn, his father Nigel and his two sisters, Ayanna and Amina. Aaron was born on May 5, 1997 and attended South Fork High School in Martin County, Florida and was scheduled to graduate in 2015. Aaron was a member of the Youth in Government program at the YMCA for 3 years, and cared deeply about his country and community. His interest in government and politics lead him to become involved in my race for Congress, in which he was active as an intern and volunteer. It was through this volunteer work that I had the fortune of meeting Aaron and the privilege of getting to know him. In addition to his community involvement outside of school, Aaron was an active member of South Fork's Key Club and was a member of the track team. Always pushing himself to excel, he was enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, as well as in Advanced Placement courses. He was a smart young man with an incredibly bright future ahead of him. He always had a smile on his face and was articulate, easy to get along with, and very quick with a joke or kind word. He had an incredible work ethic and was a true pleasure to be around. Aaron was planning to go to law school and become an attorney or enter public service as an elected official. Having known him personally, I know he would have been successful at anything he put his mind too, and we are all saddened that he was taken from us well before his time. Given Aaron's love for American government and politics, I hope he would have appreciated having his life memorialized in the Congressional Record here today. Mr. Speaker, Aaron Jason was a truly special young man with a good heart, a strong will, and a deep commitment to his community. He will be missed by his family and friends, by me, and by everyone whose lives he touched in the Treasure Coast community.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to echo the sentiments of many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle regarding the urgency to fix the student loan interest rate hike that took place last Monday. The inability of Congress to come together and compromise on behalf of America's students is embarrassing. Doubling interest rates makes college less affordable, and the increased debt burden threatens the middle class and harms our economy. Recent graduates who should be putting away money for their first home or saving up to start their own business are instead spending upwards of $500 per month paying back loans for their college education. Recent Florida graduates left college with student loan debt equal to 54 percent of their annual income. Just this Monday, I heard the concerns of students in my district on how this debt will impact their future. Some students are even considering dropping out of college. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better. I once again urge the House of Representatives to set politics aside and immediately take up legislation to right this wrong.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

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

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Chair, I rise today to voice my support for vital funding for important Army Corps of Engineers' projects across the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast district that I proudly represent. This bill includes funding for the critically important Indian River Lagoon C-44 project, which will greatly improve the water quality in my district. For those of you unfamiliar with this local treasure, it is the most diverse estuary in North America, many of its species already threatened or endangered. But due to extreme pollution, local officials have issued health warnings advising residents to not contact this waterway. Tragically, it has also witnessed a major die-off of its population of manatees, dolphins, pelicans, and other crucial species. Completion of this project is essential to protecting this vital ecosystem as well as improving the water quality throughout the region. The C-44 project is part of broader Everglades restoration efforts that the Army Corps is tasked with, which will protect this unique and important habitat. Furthermore, the Everglades provide drinking water for one in three Floridians, and restoration efforts also have a 3-to-1 return on investment in the local economy. Completion of the overall Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project will shore up Florida's access to clean drinking water and improve the local environment and economy. Locally, Everglades restoration is part of the solution to the harmful discharges that are currently being released from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River on the Treasure Coast. By returning water flows south of the lake and improving water quality in the area through projects such as C-44, we can mitigate the effects these harmful discharges from the lake continue to have on our local waterways year after year, devastating the environment and the economy. Furthermore, the Army Corps is responsible for repairing the Herbert Hoover Dike, which surrounds Lake Okeechobee and is listed as one of the most at-risk of failure in the Nation. This project keeps local residents safe from devastating flooding that could occur if the dike were to fail. The Army Corps has already been struggling to meet its obligations on this and other projects, which is why we must continue to provide funding or risk further delaying these important ongoing jobs. In addition to the important Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and Herbert Hoover Dike projects this bill supports, it also provides important funding for inlet dredging projects. Being able to access and safely navigate our local waterways and ports is essential for public safety and our economy. The same can be said for those shore restoration programs that this bill also funds, returning our local beaches to their pre-storm conditions after extreme weather events such as Hurricane Sandy. If you speak with any of my constituents, they'll tell you that all of these projects are vital to their daily way of life and to the health of the local population as well as the economy. We must provide certainty and continue the Corps' funding or risk devastating their progress on these important projects. Jeopardizing funding for these ongoing projects would only further aggravate the serious problem of toxic discharges in my district, prevent progress on essential water quality restoration projects, and have an overall negative impact on our local environment and, in turn, our local economy. To me, that's simply not an option. Madam Chair, we have the obligation to provide adequate resources for programs that protect public safety, water quality, and our environment, such as these. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the underlying legislation to continue to fund these projects that are critical to the well-being of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of U.S. Army Sergeant Justin Johnson, who was killed during an attack at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on Tuesday, June 18th Sgt. Johnson was on his third tour of duty at the age of 25. He enlisted in the Army immediately following his graduation from South Fork High School in Stuart, Florida, speaking to his commitment to serving our nation. As we remember Sgt. Johnson here today, let us also pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the military families who support our brave men and women in uniform, all the while knowing that their loved ones may not return home. Sgt. Johnson leaves behind his mother, Sonia Randolph, and a four-year-old son, Justin Johnson, Jr. Even faced with the loss of her son, Ms. Randolph remarked that she is ``blessed that he was happy and willing to do what he needed to do for his country.'' This strength and dedication speaks volumes to the man that Sgt. Johnson was--a true American hero. Mr. Speaker, Sgt. Justin Johnson bravely served our nation and ultimately gave his life to defend this country. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to his friends and family during this most difficult time. It is an honor and privilege to recognize his life of service here today.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the small businesses across our nation on the 50th anniversary of National Small Business Week. Small businesses are the backbone of our country-- making up 50 percent of American jobs--and are essential to our economic recovery. It is our job as Members of Congress to provide support from Washington to small businesses by reducing unnecessary regulations and improving access to credit and small business assistance programs. As a former small businessman, I am proud to serve on the House Small Business Committee and to use my prior experience to promote the interests of this vital sector of our economy. There is so much work to be done to help small businesses prosper. That is why I support legislation to create a stable business environment by passing a budget that reduces the deficit, simplifying the tax code for all Americans, and continuing to support essential small business assistance programs. To that end, the first bill I introduced was the Partnering with American Manufacturers for Efficiency and Competitiveness Act to foster more efficient manufacturing capabilities in small businesses, to promote competitiveness, and to create jobs. Having seen firsthand the havoc hurricanes can cause for small businesses, I also recently introduced the Small Business Disaster Reform Act to help small business owners recover more quickly in the wake of natural disasters. Since coming to Congress, I have met with several small business groups, and recently hosted a small business roundtable in my district. I also have met staff from Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and SCORE, and I will continue to push for full funding for both of these organizations that play a crucial role in supporting small business growth. I ask my colleagues to recognize the significance of these organizations and the importance of preventing proposed cuts to SBDCs in the budget. We must also immediately consider legislation that creates jobs and those that help provide America's small businesses with new incentives to grow and hire. This week represents half a century of recognition of the importance of small businesses and I am proud to join in commemorating National Small Business Week and thanking small businesses across the nation for the important work they do. They create jobs and stimulate the economy, all in the face of tremendous personal risk. I urge my colleagues to stand with me in support of small businesses and in creating an economic climate where they can thrive. Mr. Speaker, on the 50th Anniversary of Small Business Week, it is clear that Congress still has much more work to do to help small businesses, but by working together we can better support the backbone of our economy to create jobs and continue on the path to economic recovery.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would address wasteful government spending on unused and underutilized facilities. The Department of Defense has hundreds, possibly thousands, of buildings and structures that it has rated at zero percent utilization. This is an incredible number of useless facilities that taxpayers are paying to maintain. The extent of this wasteful spending, however, is not currently known, even by the Department itself. My amendment would fix that, requiring the Department of Defense to disclose just how many of its facilities are unused or underutilized and how much it is costing American taxpayers to maintain these facilities. The Department of Defense would be required to report back to Congress in six months, explaining what they are doing either to dispose of these wasteful facilities or increase their utilization. By forcing the Department of Defense to take a serious look at its facilities, gather data on how these facilities are managed, and develop a coherent plan for reducing costs and improving efficiency, my amendment seeks to eliminate this wasteful government spending. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense is not the only federal agency that is currently wasting taxpayer money on maintaining unused or underutilized facilities. As a whole, the federal government must do a better job at managing its facilities. At times of record debt, taxpayers should not continue paying for unused and underused buildings. That is not good government, and that is not smart spending. That is why I recently introduced the SAVE Act to root out up to $200 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the next 10 years. This amendment is an extension of one of the 11 common-sense solutions included in the bipartisan SAVE Act, holding the Department of Defense accountable for spending taxpayer money on facilities the Department itself has found to be unused or underutilized. We all agree that we need to reduce government spending. We should also all agree that the best place to start is by rooting out waste. This is a common-sense solution to do just that and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 1256. Title VII of Dodd-Frank contains important structural reforms to the derivatives market so that complicated, unregulated financial instruments can never bring our economy to its knees again. However, no law is perfect, and we should look for ways to improve Wall Street Reform to keep unintended consequences from trickling down to Main Street. The bill before us would put SEC and CFTC on the same page, giving American businesses the ability to compete with foreign companies on a level playing field. This will not destabilize the global financial system because the bill demands a broadly equivalent swaps regime as Title VII. The global derivatives market deserves smart regulations, not duplicative or conflicting requirements. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, technical adjustment.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy signing the Equal Pay Act into law on June 10. When he signed it, President Kennedy stated that ``when women enter the labor force they will find equality in their pay envelopes.'' Unfortunately, fifty years later, women are still looking for that equality. The recognition of this anniversary serves also as a proclamation for Congress to close the wage gap and continue to strengthen the economy. Women make up almost half of the American workforce and the disparity between men and women's wages needs to be recognized and corrected. This isn't just a women's issue--it's a family issue, an equality issue, and an economic issue. According to the United States Census Bureau's 2011 American Community Survey Data, a woman in Florida makes 82.6 cents for every dollar a man makes, an African American woman makes 62.4 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes and a Hispanic woman makes 58 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes. My commitment to working towards fairness and equality led me to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act, which reinforces the Equal Pay Act by providing solutions to women who are not being paid equally for identical work and protecting employees from retaliation for sharing salary information with their co-workers. The time is now to strive for wage equality. Recent efforts such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act have helped propel us forward on a path to equality but have not been enough to balance the discrepancy at this time. As we look back in time when the Equal Pay Act became law we see that fifty years later, women are still not receiving the same wages as men for the same work. This is beyond disappointing and should no longer be tolerated. As our great nation continues to progress, there is no reason why women should not receive equal wages when held to the same standard as men. Mr. Speaker, on the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act it is clear that we still have work to do to end the wage gap and I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in the fight for the enactment of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.