Patrick Murphy

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will be amended and immediately proceed to final passage. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Price for working together in a truly bipartisan manner on the underlying legislation. With this bill, we have shown that we can put partisanship aside and do what's right for the American people--providing the necessary funding to the Department of Homeland Security to keep our Nation safe from attacks as well as responding to national disasters. But just as we have the responsibility to support the important work that Homeland Security does, we also have the responsibility to make sure we are spending smartly by allocating funds where they are most needed. After witnessing the tragedies caused by the recent tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, wildfires in California and New Mexico, and the Northeast still recovering from Superstorm Sandy, we are reminded that disasters can strike in any community. Having lived in Florida my entire life, I have experienced firsthand the impact these disasters can have, especially when local and State governments are not on the same page as the Federal Government in adequately preparing for and responding to extreme weather. As we debate today, Florida and the eastern coast is preparing to deal with the potentially devastating effects of Tropical Storm Andrea. With the start of what is predicted to be an active tornado and hurricane season, it is especially important for Congress to act. That is why this week I announced the formation of a bipartisan Disaster Relief Caucus to work toward improving the effectiveness of disaster preparedness and response efforts. It is vital that we work to make disaster preparedness efforts more efficient across all levels of government. My amendment would take $2.5 million from the Department's administrative operating expenses to put towards the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. This important program will assist State and local governments in better preparing for natural disasters, saving American lives and communities. Furthermore, better preparedness efforts reduce the costs of disaster response and cleanup efforts, ultimately saving American taxpayer dollars. Additionally, with less than 2 months having passed since the tragedy of the bombings at the Boston Marathon, we must also recommit ourselves to funding antiterrorism efforts. My amendment would provide a 5 percent increase in funding to train emergency responders on the Federal, State, and local level so they can be better prepared to prevent and respond to domestic attacks. Again, this funding is actually fully offset from the Department's administrative operating expenses. My amendment should have the full support of the House, and I once again want to point out that it will not kill the underlying legislation. It would simply shift spending from administrative operations to invest in natural disaster preparedness and antiterrorism efforts. As we continue to tighten our belts in Washington, I think we can all agree that these programs are a more vital use of resources than administrative expenses. Natural disasters impact all Americans, as do acts of terrorism. These are two areas that should never get caught up in partisan bickering. We must stand united to prevent future tragedies caused by both natural disasters and acts of terrorism, which know no party affiliation. Anyone who supports the underlying legislation has no reason not to also support this amendment to spend smarter to better protect our Nation. Mr. Speaker, my amendment is an opportunity to show the American people that Congress is willing to work together to put the safety and well-being of the American people first. I hope to see the same bipartisan support for my amendment as we have seen for the underlying legislation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in support of this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

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

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I yield my time to Ranking Member Maxine Waters.

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

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would cut over $300 million from a program that is supposed to cost taxpayers nothing. If you, like me, are wondering how we got to this point of paying for a cost-free program, keep listening. Customs and Border Patrol, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducts agricultural quarantine inspections on incoming vessels and passengers. This is an essential service that protects our Nation's agriculture and wildlife. CBP and USDA have claimed that the cost of this program is covered by imposing fees on incoming vessels and travelers--a sensible approach. However, when the Government Accountability Office last examined the program in 2011, the fees covered only 60 percent of the program's cost. As a result, the taxpayers had to cover a $325 million shortfall. I recently introduced the bipartisan SAVE Act with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce), which would implement recommendations by the GAO to push Customs and Border Patrol, along with the USDA, to adjust its fee structure and administration to fully cover the cost of this program. My amendment would prevent Customs and Border Patrol from continuing to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize incoming vessels and travelers and make the program truly fee-supported. My amendment would free up remaining CBP funds to do what they should be doing: securing the homeland and facilitating travel, tourism, and trade. More tourism and more trade mean more American jobs. Mr. Chair, I think we can all agree that this is a commonsense amendment that saves taxpayers dollars and improves the environment for greater job growth. I urge my colleagues on both sides to support this cost-saving amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

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 an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill that would boost competitive bidding across defense construction projects. The Department of Defense manages hundreds of billions of dollars in contracts each year, 43 percent of which are noncompetitively awarded. The Government Accountability Office has reported that the Department of Defense does not keep accurate records of which contracts received multiple bids or why sole-sourced contracts are awarded. This is not good government. Competition works because it drives down cost while giving consumers greater choice. It is the cornerstone of our free-market economy and needs to be integrated throughout the government. I recently introduced the SAVE Act with my colleague, Representative David Joyce from Ohio, to root out wasteful and duplicative government spending. The bipartisan legislation would implement several commonsense solutions outlined by the GAO to reduce up to $200 billion in spending over the next 10 years. One of the 11 measures in my bill encourages the robust use of competitive bidding to reduce contract costs across all agencies. Today's amendment is an extension of the SAVE Act. It would prevent the Department of Defense from spending the taxpayers' money on contracts over $1 million that have not received at least two competitive bids. With the national deficit currently at almost $17 trillion, and the current deficit over $600 billion annually, it is clear that we must rein in government spending, but we must do it in a strategic way, cutting programs that are wasteful, duplicative, or ineffective; and this amendment would do just that. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense and cost-saving amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. 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 could 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 debt levels. That is not good government and that is not smart spending. That is why I joined with Representative David Joyce of Ohio to introduce the SAVE Act to root out the up to $200 billion in wasteful and duplicative government spending over the next 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. 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 on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress on a pledge of bipartisanship. I ran on behalf of citizens who were disappointed in their leaders in Washington who focus on partisan bickering rather than problem solving. In my first days in Congress, I was also disappointed in Washington. I was disappointed that everything in D.C. was separated by party affiliation. This is why one of my first actions as a freshman was to join the No Labels Problem Solvers group, of which I am now proudly a cochair. Mr. Speaker, No Labels has offered a way for Members of both parties to get to know each other. Simply put, it's easier to solve problems when you know the person you're working with. However, No Labels does more than break down barriers. It helps build trust between Members that is necessary to solve problems. Many of the fiscal problems we face today developed over many decades. Fixing these problems will take steady, committed work. No, we won't agree on everything, but I am optimistic. I'm optimistic because more and more leaders are focusing on problem solving rather than partisanship. I've already seen more bipartisanship and substantive action in this Congress than many in recent memory. In fact, I've seen an overwhelming amount of bills introduced by No Labels members, with both Republicans and Democrats as lead sponsors. We must urge and support our leaders to go big to solve the fiscal issues we face. We must push for a grand bargain. We need long-term solutions, not short-term political gimmicks. Unfortunately, a number of scandals have contributed to one of the biggest problems our country faces: a lack of trust in government. The public sees their leaders focusing on beltway intrigue rather than pragmatic solutions. Mr. Speaker, that is why I invite more of my colleagues to join me in this group to work together to solve problems and to restore the trust of the American people. There is no ideological litmus test to join this group. What is required is a willingness to respect one another and resolve to work together to solve problems. No Labels is doing just that--fix, not fight.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to all those who serve and who have served as peace officers to protect and serve our great nation. Today is the day we demonstrate our respect for the men and women and all that they do for us and our country. We especially honor those who sacrificed everything and lost their lives in the line of duty. On this day we remember all those who don a uniform signifying the protection of our country's citizens by means of defending the laws of our nation. Since October 1, 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a special law, May 15 has been National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week containing May 15 has been recognized as National Police Week. This is a time when Americans are given a chance to honor the extraordinary service given year after year by our police forces. Although people sometimes forget those in uniform, we must recognize this day to understand the length these officers go to in order to do their job and serve our communities. These officers are special because they have taken the initiative to sacrifice their own safety for the safety of others. They exhibit bravery and courage every day to keep our communities safe, to preserve and protect our laws and our constitution in their line of duty. It is important they know that they have the full support of the United States Congress and the American people. We must commemorate the dedicated law enforcement officers who serve our communities, states and country. This being said, I would like to take this opportunity to remember our own Sergeant Gary Morales, who was shot and killed in the line of duty at the age of 35 on Thursday February 28, 2013 in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was a selfless hero, like all those who have lost their lives during service. The motto of police week, ``Never Alone, Never Forgotten,'' must be observed and remembered not only today, but every day. Sergeant Morales--you will never be forgotten. Peace Officers Memorial Day gives us all the opportunity to thank those in our community who do so much for us. This day, as well as National Police Week, pays tribute to the local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers who serve and protect us with courage and dedication. This opportunity to thank those around us also allows for the coming together of communities. These observances remind us all of the ongoing need to be vigilant against all forms of crime and violence. The service of these brave men and women must not go unrecognized and I would like to extend my personal thanks to all those who serve.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor 117 high school seniors and members of the JROTC from the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches for their commendable decision to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. Of these 117 enlistees, 71 are Army enlistees, 12 are Navy enlistees, 21 are Marine Corps enlistees, and 13 are Air Force enlistees. These young men and women have shown bravery and courage in their dedication to defend our country. It is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of strength and freedom in an often divided world. The service of these young men and women must not go unrecognized. I want to personally thank these 117 local graduating seniors for their selflessness and commitment to our Nation by naming them here today: Charles Ballard, Joshua Blair, Colin Cervinsky, Kyle Crouch, Tyler Stone, Christopher Wentz, Johan Yardan, Frank Fuggetta, Mikayla Sulzer, Rodrigo Chong, Ricardo Ortega, Cory Dougherty, Joseph Evens, Robert Oliver, Kalib Perkins, Nathan White, Romahd Holman, Oscar Caceres, Cody Clendenin, Vanessa Dorrington, Miranda Egan, Samuel Hsu, Troy Macmillan, Kyleb Schenck, Anthony Tate, Michael Vanderburg, Tyler Wahl, Holsinger Kauffman, Alexander Lugo, Kyle Noel, Colton Picazio, Thomas Burns, Kyle Hale, Christien Lashinsky, John Sawtell, Andrew Schwier, Brittany Block, Irving Cintron, Randy Fernandez, Kevin Gama, Michell Holsinger, Michael Masters, Nicholas Morris, Delgado Ojeda, Anthony Rodriguez, Venezya Synakorn, Ronald Ferriera, Antoinette Johnson, Dyonn Lawrence, Delvaughn Marshall, Christian Prados, Traveon Stewart, Victoria Faulkner, Amanda Parsons, Scarlet Maldonado, Hayde Mickley, Cody Ehrland, Justin Thomas, Sergio Duque, Dominic Gardner, Yesenia Munoz, Audrey Wila, Lion Rojo, Meaghan Parish, Aaron Humyn, Brian Borgman, Joseph Riggio, Helena Thompson, Jairo Herrera, Nathan Smith, Shawn Gaines, Taphawah Thompson, Carlos Cabrera, Andres Chajud, Bradley Harpster, Matthew Cancino, Richard Jean Baptiste, Austin Mena, Matthew Cancino, Dany Salazar, Austin Sullivan, Juan Pepper, Julian Vazquez, Issac Velasquez, Matthew Colson, Kelsey Canapary, Connor John O'Donnell, Bryan Keoskie, Joseph Mazza, Anthony Armeli, Jamie Miller, Elena Jovanov, Shamsiddine El-Nil, Daniel Rubino, Deanne Collins, Yoshpal Harrow, Andrew Mills, Justin Kaufman, James Dixon, Cadlynne Dunhill, David Quintero, Dontrail Durden, Zachary Mccourt, Francisco Bacilio, Shivon Brijnath, Christopher Lopresti, Marcos Pinon, Zachary Porter, Breyer Bullock, Luis Damian, Katrina Williams, Shaklia Housen, Alex Slusher, Aaliyah Jackson, Ameen Sardar, Jason Audette, and Henry Paulk III. All will be recognized on May 9th at the Our Community Salutes event in Palm Beach Gardens. These young men and women have shown bravery and courage in their dedication to defend our country. It is important they know that they have the full support of the United States House of Representatives and the American people. It is the dedication of these individuals which reminds us that though diverse problems may lie ahead, the United States remains a shining example of strength and freedom in an often divided world. 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. It is my honor to recognize these young leaders here today.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Thank you, Congresswoman Frankel. First, I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences to all of those affected by the tragedy that occurred earlier today in Boston. My heart goes out to all the friends and families of those involved during this most difficult time. I also want to take this opportunity to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the declaration of the State of Israel. Since David Ben- Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel on April 26, 1948, the United States and Israel have maintained an unbreakable bond. This bond is rooted in our shared values and common goals of democracy, freedom and a desire for peace. In this time of difficult security challenges and economic concerns, this partnership is more important than ever to the prosperity of both nations. Bilateral trade between the United States and our ally Israel creates jobs here at home and contributes to the American economy. The United States' trade with Israel has reached over $40 billion, and Israel accounts for 25 percent of U.S. exports to the Middle East. The United States and Israel share a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that has attracted leading technology companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Google to Israel. At the same time, tens of thousands of jobs in the United States are created by Israeli companies, and Israel has the third most companies on the NASDAQ stock exchange. In just 65 years, Israel has accomplished extraordinary achievements. Whether in technology, business, agriculture, or defense, Israel's innovations and advancements contribute to the daily lives of all Americans. For example, some of the most important technology we use every day, including instant messenger, voice mail, and computer processor, were developed in Israel. Additionally, Israeli medical advances are saving lives here in the U.S. and around the world, and Israeli-developed military technologies are protecting American troops stationed in the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, our partnership with Israel is not just an investment in American jobs and American prosperity; it is an investment in freedom and democracy. Simply put, investing in Israel is investing in America, and we must continue to maintain our strong relationship with the State of Israel. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Israel on her 65th Independence Day and in reaffirming the lasting partnership between our two countries.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Cadet Staff Sergeant Hunter Henry, a young man who passed away after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle to school on April 2, 2013 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He is survived by his three sisters and his parents Dan and Wendy Henry. Cadet Staff Sgt. Hunter Henry was a 16 year old student at Port St. Lucie High School. Henry was known as a reserved and polite young man who enjoyed fixing things, especially bicycles, which he learned at a local store. Henry also had a passion for service and helping others. He participated in the Jaguar Battalion--Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps in school and planned to enter military service. Additionally, following his mother's diagnosis with an autoimmune disorder that left her paralyzed, Hunter frequently donated blood and registered to be an organ donor. His selflessness has given many individuals across the country another chance at life. Mr. Speaker, Staff Sgt. Hunter Henry was an outstanding young man who was taken far too soon. It is an honor to recognize his life here today and extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this most difficult time.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant Gary Morales, who was laid to rest today after being killed in the line of duty at the age of 35 last Thursday in Fort Pierce, Florida. Sergeant Morales was a 12-year veteran with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and also proudly served our country as a member of the United States Air Force. There has been an outpouring of support in the wake of the shooting, with the community coming together to support his wife, Holly, and their two young daughters, Brooklyn and Jordan. The community has also come together to share fond memories of a man that everyone remembers as being an outstanding officer with a bright future and someone who always went above and beyond to help others. It is clear that Sergeant Morales not only dedicated his life to service, but was a true leader and a selfless hero. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Gary Morales dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the Morales family and his extended family at the sheriff's office during these most difficult times. I am humbled to recognize him here today.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Ron Davis, who as chair of the Neuroscience Department of the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has made exceptional contributions to the field of neuroscience and the treatment of neurological diseases. For his work on the complex biology of memory formation and the disorders that disrupt it, Dr. Davis has recently been awarded the prestigious $3.5 million Jacob K. Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award. This award was first mandated by an act of Congress in 1983. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an agency within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awards this special merit grant to persons with a history of outstanding talent, imagination and distinguished scientific achievement within the field of neurological science. This is the second grant Dr. Davis has received from NINDS, showing his dedication to neuroscience research for over 30 years. Currently, Dr. Davis is an affiliate professor at the Department of Biological Sciences of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1979. I am extremely proud of the research conducted by Dr. Davis and Scripps Florida, which Florida's 18th district is proud to be home to. TSRI is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Over the past decades, TSRI has developed a lengthy track record of major contributions to science and health, including laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. This new study by Dr. Davis will focus on an area of memory formation that has remained relatively enigmatic--the role that active forgetting plays in learning and memory. I look forward to the advancements gained through this new research in the next four years and beyond. Mr. Speaker, the work of Dr. Davis is truly admirable and I am honored to recognize his accomplishments here today. I thank him for his lifetime of contributions to the field of neuroscience and offer my support of his continued research in the field.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will be amended and immediately proceed to final passage. I appreciate that the Republican leadership has put forward legislation that would raise the Nation's debt ceiling, agreeing that it is not an option for the United States to default on its obligations. I also support that Members of Congress should not be paid if they do not do their jobs, part of which is to pass a responsible budget, but I do not agree with the political gamesmanship of, once again, playing politics with our serious fiscal issues and using short- term gimmicks rather than working to find long-term solutions. We need to stop playing games with the debt ceiling and spend our time and energy on job creation. I supported a clean debt limit bill. However, because in this version congressional pay has been tied directly to passing a budget, it is important to ensure that the budget that is passed is responsible and protects our most vulnerable citizens. My amendment would not kill the underlying legislation. It would merely add commonsense protections to the bill for members of our Armed Forces, our veterans, and our seniors from the budget-cutting process. Anyone who supports the underlying legislation has no reason to not also support this amendment. If adopted, the debt limit would still be raised to allow the government to pay its obligations through May 19, and Members of Congress would still have their pay withheld if they fail to agree to a budget resolution by April 15. The amendment simply clarifies that the budget resolution protects our troops, veterans, and seniors. I recently visited the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and spoke with both veterans and staff. I heard their very real fears that their benefits, which they fought for, would be threatened by the political gamesmanship in Washington. I saw that same anxiety in the eyes of seniors I recently spoke to from Nettles Island on the Treasure Coast, who worry that cuts to Medicare and the privatization of Social Security could lead to a choice between a meal or medicine. After hearing these concerns, I expressed time and time again throughout my district that I could not understand why anyone would oppose amending the underlying legislation to ensure veterans, troops, and seniors are protected from devastating cuts. Madam Speaker, this amendment language should have the full support of the House. It simply states that we cannot cut benefits for veterans or members of the Armed Forces or cut benefits for seniors and that we will not gamble our grandparents' futures on Wall Street or turn Medicaid into a for-profit voucher system designed more to help out the big corporations than those who are struggling or disabled. I also want to express my disappointment that the underlying legislation is another short-term fix when our country needs long-term solutions. I spoke to several business groups last week, and they want stability from our government. If they had certainty, they would begin investing capital back into our economy rather than sitting on it. Our dysfunctional Congress is to blame for slowing our recovery. Now is the time to work together with courage and purpose and come to a grand bargain that will protect America's greatness for generations to come. Our Nation cannot afford to continue down the path of such fiscal irresponsibility. Such piecemeal approaches will not address our country's long-term fiscal health. Rather, we must look at reducing spending, generating revenue, lowering unemployment, addressing the long-term sustainability of Social Security and Medicare, and creating additional economic growth through job creation. A real fix to America's long-term fiscal issues and deficit reduction can only come by truly coming to the table without personal agendas and with the recognition that America needs less political gamesmanship and more leadership. Unfortunately, the underlying legislation in its current form falls short of what our country desperately needs. That is why I hope my amendment will be adopted here today as a first step towards putting aside partisanship and, instead, protecting our veterans, troops, and seniors. While the underlying legislation is not perfect and while it is not the grand bargain we were hoping for, it would show that there is willingness in the 113th Congress for compromise. As we move forward from the debate over the debt limit and on to other pressing fiscal issues, we can no longer settle for short- term approaches to our public policy but, instead, work together to come to the grand bargains that will ensure America continues to be the greatest country for generations to come. Madam Speaker, my amendment is an opportunity to show the American people that this Congress is willing to work together and compromise to address our fiscal issues and to protect our troops, veterans, and seniors. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of my commonsense amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. MURPHY of Florida

Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn, whose memory was recently honored by a monument being dedicated in tribute to his service and sacrifice at the Sailfish Splash Water Park in Stuart, Florida. It is most appropriate that the memorial is located at the Sailfish Splash Water Park. As Aaron's mother, Karen Vaughn, described at the memorial service, it is ``most fitting since inside those gates there will always be living, breathing representations of the things Aaron held most dear--love, laughter, family, friends and fun.'' Aaron Vaughn grew up in Florida's 18th Congressional district, where he attended Martin County High School and was a member of the football team. Aaron then received his Associate's Degree from Indian River State College, studying turf grass science. Aaron later enlisted in the Navy and became a member of the elite Navy SEALs. Aaron bravely served as a Navy SEAL, a lifelong dream of his. Aaron's father, Billy Vaughn, said that ``the commander of SEAL Team Six said he was a fearless leader who was headed to the top.'' In August 2011, Aaron lost his life when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, Aaron Vaughn dedicated his life to this country and I am proud that the city of Stuart has recognized his service by dedicating this memorial in his honor. It is truly humbling to recognize his life and his great service to our country here today.