Bill Posey

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. In our campaigns, we may be adversaries, but usually, after campaign season is over, we have traditionally come together for the good of our Nation. Now more than ever in our lifetimes, we are a divided Nation. One of the reasons? The resist movement, which has harassed, harangued, and otherwise denigrated the President since the second he became the nominee. While his sins may be different than yours or mine, they are clearly not treasonous. Let our men and women in blue, who suffered a lot more stress than the Members of Congress they protected, have the time they deserve to recuperate, and do the same for millions of Americans who feel they have been disenfranchised. I beseech my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: If you truly want our Nation to heal, vote ``no'' on this resolution. It reeks of nothing more than revenge and sets a dangerous precedent. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the objection.

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, as you have heard from both sides of the aisle over and over and over today and tonight, Members of Congress take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Clearly, the Constitution says State legislatures make voting laws, period, end of subject. And, clearly, in Pennsylvania and some other States, nonlegislators changed those voting laws. No matter who wins or who loses, those are violations of the Constitution whether you, me, or anyone else likes it or not. As Congressman Davidson pointed out, over a dozen FBI agents were immediately dispatched to fully investigate Bubba Wallace's garage door. But, sadly, the FBI never responded to my request to investigate massive voting irregularity accusations, like the video footage from Georgia that we all wished we didn't see. Neither has the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Postal Inspector General, the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and, saddest of all, the U.S. Department of Justice. The right to vote is not only a constitutional right, it is also a civil right, and we must protect it. Running a fair and transparent election is not something America should run away from. It is something we must live up to. Every eligible American has a right to have their vote counted and the right to feel confident that his or her vote was counted, not neutralized by an illegal vote. Otherwise, I fear our Republic is doomed. That is why I implore you to support a full investigation. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the fine gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, in addition to all of the evils of the new rules package, as you have already heard, eliminating the comparative print requirement is the single biggest damage you can do to transparency and accountability in this House. The comparative print requirement was a top priority of the bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, a number one, top priority of the bipartisan committee. Every State in the country that I know of uses comparative print. It shows you clearly what language in the bill actually changes the law. States can do it, but this great U.S. House of Representatives just can't seem to do it. It is an absolutely shameful thing, and I urge Members of the House to oppose this horrible rules package that destroys transparency and accountability.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, creativity often spearheads innovation, paving the way for our Nation's future. As such, I want to take a moment to recognize the talented young artists of Florida's Eighth Congressional District who competed in the 2020 Congressional Art Competition. Due to the coronavirus, this year's competition was held remotely. The theme of this year's artwork focused on the Indian River Lagoon. This year a total of thirty-one students from high schools across the Space and Treasure Coasts submitted artwork--all very talented students with creative and imaginative pieces. Three finalists were chosen, and two entries were also selected for special recognition. This year's winning piece, titled ``The Promise'' by Michael Spears of Master's Academy will be displayed in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. His teacher is Gerry Geary. The runners up included: Adam Hicks of West Shore Jr./Sr. High for ``Mosquito'' earned the Third Place Award. His teacher is James Finch. Rain Perlman of Merritt Island High for ``At the Beach'' earned the Second Place Award. Her teacher is Lara Klopp. This year the judges also selected two pieces of art for Special Recognition. Krystal Reither of Merritt Island High earned a Special Recognition for her piece ``Lagoon Panoply''. Her teacher is Lara Klopp. Kevin Olson of Indian River Charter High School also earned a Special Recognition for his piece ``Goo Lagoon''. His teacher is Amelia Strazzulla. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating these fine students for their creative efforts and saluting all students across the United States who accepted the challenge to participate in this year's Congressional Art Competition.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I was hopeful that this resolution would lead us to common ground. None of us here believes in discriminating against our fellow Asian-American neighbors. On March 23, President Trump said the Asian-American community ought to be ``totally protected'' in light of the xenophobic attacks during the coronavirus pandemic. ``It is very important that we totally protect our Asian-American community in the United States and all around the world,'' President Trump tweeted. ``They're amazing people, and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape, or form,'' he said. ``They're working closely with us to get rid of it,'' the President added. ``We will prevail together.'' I have restauranteurs in my district who suffered from bullies because of their heritage, so I asked my staff to prepare a resolution to echo the President's sentiments. My staff reported to me that such a resolution already existed, H. Res. 908, ostensibly to protect Asian Americans. On April 7, I signed onto what I considered to be a good faith effort to protect Asian Americans. I am more than saddened to see that this resolution and today's debate is being used for nothing more than to malign and vilify the President of the United States, just as the President and congressional Republicans have been called domestic enemies in the last couple of days. I would hope for more, but, sadly, this body has chosen to take the low road. This debate has devolved into finger-pointing, name-calling, and scoring political points. Rather than reaching a high watermark for bringing us all together, it has further ripped apart the fabric of America. I am deeply disappointed and will not be a party to today's partisan exercise that is more about scoring political points than rebuilding America. We should be working together to help all Americans recover, to investigate COVID-19, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world, trillions lost and trillions more spent responding to COVID. Lives and dreams have been shattered. We have a duty to all Americans to find a cure, to get to the bottom of just how this pandemic started, and to do what we can to prevent it from happening ever again in the future.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, residents and local businesses along the way have expressed concerns about the upcoming high-speed rail project being built along Florida's east coast and through my district. A high number of fatalities have already been associated with the train since the South Florida operations began in 2018. In fact, over the past 3 years, 75 deaths have been reported along the rail corridor, with more than 40 deaths involving the new high-speed train. Last year, the Associated Press analyzed data from the Federal Railroad Administration and concluded that the project had ``the worst per-mile death rate of the Nation's 821 railroads.'' These trains will travel at fast speeds through existing town centers and residential areas in my district, with little separating the tracks from the surrounding communities. I have had concern for local schools in my district. There are several that are positioned very close or adjacent to the tracks; Gifford Middle School and North County Elementary School in Vero Beach, and Ascension Catholic School in Melbourne, just to name a couple of them. Many students walking to and from school must cross these tracks, and we all have an interest in their safety. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Brian Mast, for working together with me on this amendment, and for standing up for the safety of our constituents. Our amendment simply asks the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a pedestrian, motorist, and student safety study along the corridor and report back their recommendations to increase safety. The amendment simply increases the FRA's rail safety operations budget by $2 million from the program's reserve funds. My office reached out to both the FRA and the FHWA for technical assistance on doing such a study, and neither agency expressed any objection whatsoever. In fact, FRA expressed support for it. Staff from both the minority and the majority offices assisted in drafting this amendment, and I sincerely want to thank them for working together and stepping up to help on this. The rail corridor is the recipient of Federal money and has been authorized for private activity bonds, so the Federal Government has been involved in the funding and financing of this project. Since Federal resources are being expended, it only makes sense that we should make sure it is safe for the surrounding communities. The introduction of high-speed rail for our Florida communities will undoubtedly present safety challenges that need to be properly addressed, and that is the purpose of this amendment. I ask my colleagues to join us in looking out for the safety of our residents, motorists, and school children, and support our amendment. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time to congratulate this year's recipients of the Congressional Medal of Merit, which I am proud to present to 23 outstanding high school seniors of Florida's 8th District for their leadership and dedication, inside and outside of the classroom. Each year, the most distinguished high school seniors are nominated by their schools to receive this honor in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement, commitment to the betterment of their communities, civic works, and leadership in the classroom. This year's recipients are no exception and I am glad that their hard work and dedication can be celebrated and recognized in this way. This year's recipients for Brevard County are Jenna Reed, Astronaut High School, Donald Burkhardt, Bayside High School, Amber Moore, Cocoa High School, Trevor Evetts, Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, Thomas Foland, Eau Gallie High School, Haleigh Woloszak, Edgewood Jr/Sr High School, Michaela Chua, Heritage High School, Heather Motro, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Edward Brunger, Melbourne Central Catholic School, Carmel Alshaibi, Melbourne High School, Olivia Mehalic, Merritt Island High School, Kristi Howell, Odysey Charter Jr/Sr High School, Anthony Cardoza, Palm Bay Magnet High School, Corey Pecot, Rockledge High School, Nathaniel Basford, Satellite High School, Danielle Marie, Space Coast Jr/Sr High School, Elijah Viera, Titusville High School, Gavin Keith, Viera High School, and Alyssa Holmquist, West Shore Jr/Sr High School. From Indian River County, I am proud to honor Hailey Pedreira, Indian River Charter High School, Kylei Oakes, Saint Edward's School, Christopher Cordner, Sebastian River High School, and Benny Rackard from Vero Beach High School. This year has presented many challenges for students, most of who were unexpectantly forced to transition to online learning and unfortunately didn't get to experience in person graduation ceremonies. I am proud that these distinguished individuals braved through and continued to promote and practice excellence during this trying time. Let me say to these fine students that while we are unable to congratulate you this year with an in-person ceremony, please know how proud I am of each of your accomplishments and it is an honor to bestow the Congressional Medal of Merit to you this year. I know that you will take what you have learned and go on to serve our community in myriad ways. I look forward to seeing what you will achieve in the future. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding these outstanding students for their dedication to excellence.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. ``We want America back.'' Those were just a few of the lyrics of a song written by a group named The Steeles in 1996. Some of the lyrics said: Something is wrong with America. This Nation is like a runaway train, Headed down the wrong track. And it concludes, in part, with: I love America. But I do not love what she has become. Circumstances seemed pretty despairing back then, but they pale in comparison to what we are seeing going on across our country today, perpetrated by Marxists, anarchists, and those malcontents who are funding them. Today, the miscreants are using George Floyd's death to neuter the ability of the police to enforce the law. So far, they have been successful in getting the police out of the way. Without law enforcement, their mobs are free to move in, smash businesses, injure people, and cause chaos. Those aren't peaceful protesters, and they are not peaceful protests. Their outcry for justice makes sympathetic, or perhaps even cowardly, corporations and stupid movie stars send money to them. Now they are tearing down the statues, intimidating the public and politicians into accepting their farfetched demands, and giving them even more power. Circumstances are advantageous for them right now because we are in the midst of a pandemic so they have a freer rein of the streets. Who could have ever imagined sanctuary cities where America's rule of law is ruefully ignored by government officials? Who would have ever imagined some elected officials would allow domestic terrorists or wannabe revolutionaries to commandeer a complete takeover and rule of both public and private property and have dominion over other unwilling citizens of the United States in so-called autonomous zones. Give me a break. Then, the lawbreakers have the audacity to demand our police be defunded or reimagined, whatever the heck that means. It sounds insane. It is really a campaign to drive our duly-elected President Donald Trump from office. Anyone who stands in their way they think should be destroyed. We can expect it to get worse and worse until November 3, when they hope to put an end to the prosperity created by the President. You have to suffer from the world's worst case of Potomac fever, or beltway brain drain, to think they are fooling anybody. Meanwhile, the leadership and majority in this Chamber have been silent. I have not heard a single word, syllable, or letter uttered by them in opposition to the miscreants. It is past time for them to condemn their activities, and it is time for law enforcement across this Nation in every State, in every county, in every city, in every little burgh, community, and the rural areas in-between to put an end to this lawlessness. If you don't start acting soon, there wouldn't be anything left to tear down. I would like to take a bunch of these wannabe revolutionaries to South or Central America for a few days to see how their game would end if they were successful in having it their way. If you have ever traveled throughout those socialist countries there, it is a very eye-opening experience. The State Department, and even their own officials, warn you, don't wear any jewelry; don't carry much cash, because there is a good chance you are going to get robbed. And if you are approached by a robber, hand over everything, hold back nothing, because they would just as soon shoot you and kill you as not shoot you and kill you. There is a lot of lawlessness, and they don't fear justice. They don't fear the police. They are going to take, and you are going to give, or you are going to die. And you know what the State Department and the local officials tell you next? If you get robbed, don't call the police. It is not like in our country where, if there is a problem, you call the police. There, they tell you not to call the police because they are all corrupt and they will shake you down for anything the robbers missed. One common denominator of the countries that I visited, which was Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Trinidad, was a common denominator that every single house that I saw, large or small, urban or suburban, no matter how far out you went into the country, every single house that was more than a cardboard box had bars on every window and most of the doors. Why? Because that is what lawlessness brings. They truly go to bed every night in those socialist countries with the expectation that if they did not have bars, they wouldn't wake up in the morning; or if they did, every possession that they had that was worth anything would be gone. Very little police, high crime, high unemployment, bars on all the windows. Is that what we really want for our future? We have been blessed to live in the land of opportunity, the most free and prosperous nation in the history of the world. Many, many, many people have risked their lives and the lives of their wives, their grandparents, their parents, their children, family members to come here. This place is really that good that people would risk their life just to come here, a chance at coming here. We cannot stand back and let it be destroyed. We want America back.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, on April 10, 2020, Vero Beach said good-bye to its First Lady and prolific community leader, Alma Lee Loy, who passed away at 90 years old of pneumonia-related complications. As a personal friend and beloved member of our community, I would like to take this time to recognize the countless contributions Alma has made to Indian River County and celebrate a lifetime of extraordinary personal achievements. Alma Lee Loy was born in Vero Beach on June 10, 1929 and from a very young age dedicated her life to the betterment of Indian River County, the community she so loved and was revered by. Ask any Vero Beach Resident if they knew of her, and they would surely say yes, with mentions of fond memories and stories. Throughout her life she wore many important hats that made her into the iconic woman that our community grew to respect and love. Alma was a compassionate neighbor, a philanthropist, accomplished athlete, successful businesswoman, historian, and a mentor to our community's youth, just to name a few. For the first 42 years of her career, she operated and ran a children's clothing store in downtown Vero Beach, Alma Lee's Clothing Center, alongside her close friend Lucy Auxier. It was here that the community first befriended her, as they shopped for years for back-to- school clothes and dresses and came to know her giving heart. But in more than one way, Alma was compelled to further serve her community. Her civic engagement spans many sectors. She became a founding member of the Vero Beach City Recreation Board, the Vero Beach Downtown Merchants Association, Education Foundation of Indian River County and the Indian River Community Foundation. Her altruistic spirit drove her to volunteer and lead several philanthropic organizations including what is now the Vero Beach Museum of Art and the Gifford Youth Orchestra. From 1968 to 1980, Alma served on the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman. Alma's unwavering commitment to preserving her community's natural beauty and treasures, in addition to educating the public about its' historical significance, has long helped spread awareness of important issues in Indian River County. She played an important role in raising the awareness that saved the 18-acre McKee Botanical Garden from housing development, serving twice as President of the garden. She served on the board of the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Committee, served two terms as President of the Indian River Land Trust, and received the ``Love Your Lagoon'' award for her dedication to cleaning up our waterways. Many of Alma's achievements succeed her in the form of local buildings and awards, including the Alma Lee Loy Bridge on 17th Street and the Alma Lee Loy Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, where she served as the first female board member. There have been many contributions and awards made in her honor and through them, she will be revered and dearly missed as a leader in our community. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Alma Lee Loy. May her dedication to our community serve as a reminder of what it means to be a public servant, a good neighbor, a mentor, and leader. Her impact and legacy will be felt in Indian River County for generations to come.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, on May 27, 2020, two American Astronauts were scheduled to make history as our nation returns to human space flight. Due to the historic nature of this event in my District at Kennedy Space Center, I missed two votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 110 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 111.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges in each of our communities, but it has shown us what we have to be grateful for and who we should be grateful to. Today I would like to recognize a local homeless outreach ministry, The Source Vero Beach, whose volunteers have been working tirelessly to provide essential services to the needy in Indian River County, during this pandemic. The Source has been a community leader since its establishment in 1995 as a homeless ministry that provided free meals and Bible Study sessions in Indian River County. They have since grown into a comprehensive assistance center that prides itself on providing essential services to people from all walks of life, no matter background or struggle. Whether it be a free dinner, clothing, counseling, showers, access to a telephone, or just a listening hear, they have welcomed anyone and everyone into their care. Now more than ever, the community relies on their assistance. While The Source faced its fair share of hardship during the pandemic in continuing many of these essential services, they saw an opportunity to invest in and give hope to those who have been recently displaced from work, developing a new culinary training program that feeds the community. This program called ``Dining with Dignity'' provides these individuals with 18 weeks of hands-on kitchen training, knife skills, financial literacy, interpersonal skills, and a weekly stipend. Upon completion of the program, participants receive a State of Florida ServSafe/SafeStaff certification, a graduation bonus, and job placement within the restaurant industry. This back-to-work program has seen major success so far, providing life-changing training to fight chronic unemployment caused by COVID- 19, while delivering over 550 meals a day, 7 days a week to the needy. To thank for the development and implementation of the program, is Executive Director of The Source, Mr. Anthony Zorbaugh, along with the rest of the outreach staff who are dedicated to serving our community, no matter the challenges they face. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to please join me in recognizing the staff of The Source Vero Beach for their altruism and public servant hearts. Our community will be forever grateful for their investment and service to those who need it most.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6800. A short time ago we were experiencing the greatest economic growth our nation has ever seen, businesses expanding, record low unemployment, more prosperity for Americans across the board. Suddenly we find our nation thrust into a major health crisis, a pandemic caused by a coronavirus outbreak which began in Wuhan, China. Today, we have lost more than eighty thousand Americans from the virus and our economy is struggling as nearly thirty million Americans have lost their jobs. Early on we took steps as a nation, and in each state, to suspend economic activity in order to slow the spread of the pandemic to keep our health care system from being overwhelmed and that worked. Hopefully many of the millions of job losses are only temporary, but some will be permanent losses. The longer the economy stays locked up, the more likely we are to lose these jobs permanently. Most of the states are focusing on safely reopening in a manner that prevents outbreaks that would overwhelm the health care systems. Washington's focus should be on finding ways to support those efforts so that Americans can safely return to work and get our economy working again. Unfortunately, the $3 trillion, 1,800-page bill before us today fails to focus on a path for a working economy. Instead, Speaker Pelosi's bill, written behind closed doors and with little input from the other 434 Members of Congress, perpetuates ``stay at home'' as far as the eye can see. That is an unsustainable path. No nation ever has, or ever will, survive unless we work toward getting Americans back to work. Pelosi's bill provides $1 trillion dollars to bail out poorly run, indebted states and local governments. It is fundamentally wrong to use this pandemic as an opportunity to exploit Florida taxpayers, forcing them to bail out New York, Detroit, Chicago, California and other states and localities that are in debt because the politicians they elected over decades made bad budget decisions. At a time when millions of American workers have lost jobs this bill provides billions of dollars in stimulus checks to illegal immigrants, grants amnesty and lifts immigration caps. That is counterproductive and will delay economic recovery and wage growth. This bill also asserts federal control over states elections and overturns long- standing law preventing taxpayer funding of elective abortions. Across its 1,800 pages are 65 references to `cannabis.' This $3 trillion deficit spending bill does little to get Americans back to work, assist first responders, or defeat the pandemic. Americans want to get back to work. They want to safely open their businesses, return to their jobs and power-up this economy. They want their freedom. They want their lives back. And they want America to be strong and prosperous. Washington must listen to what Americans are saying rather than dictating from thousands of miles away. We must lead America out of this self-induced coma and back to prosperity.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I, along with my colleague, Representative Charlie Crist, feel our nation's robust commercial space launch industry is threatened by increased subsidies from foreign government entities. This threat does not only adversely impact U.S. space launch providers, but it will adversely impact our ability to have affordable and assured ability to launch critical U.S. national security payloads. There are unfair practices coming from China, India, Russia and Europe. These countries have taken notice of U.S. market growth and are funding their own launch vehicle development and providing direct subsidies to compete with and take market share from the U.S. commercial launch companies. To level the playing field, the American Space Commerce Act extends existing space launch tax incentives for an additional ten years for companies that launch their payloads from the United States. The 2019 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission states that ``China is taking steps to establish a commanding position in the commercial launch and satellite sectors relying in part on aggressive state-backed financing that foreign market-driven companies cannot match.'' The report further adds, ``China has already succeeded in undercutting some U.S. and other foreign launch and satellite providers in the international market, threatening to hollow out these countries' space industrial bases.'' A strong domestic space launch industry is in the national security interest of the United States. Foreign launch providers are heavily subsidized by their governments and use these subsidies to intentionally price below the cost to undercut American competition, materially harming the American industrial base. The American Space Commerce Act will help our domestic space launch industry and keep the United States a leader in space.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to all the brave men and women of this country who are risking their own lives every day to help our nation get through this terrible coronavirus pandemic. They are our emergency first responders, doctors, nurses, grocery store employees, members of the postal service and those who work in the shipping and delivery industries. Their continued service throughout this crisis means life or death for some patients fighting off this disease, and it also means that our families can continue to have the food and products we all need to survive. Our local newspaper, Florida Today, recently highlighted the efforts of fifteen Brevard County nurses as they rushed to aid Americans suffering from COVID-19 in the town of Taunton, Massachusetts, a hard- hit community just south of Boston. These brave nurses, currently on staff with Rockledge Regional Medical Center, answered the call for help and volunteered to go for two weeks to treat seriously ill COVID- 19 patients. Since being there, they have vowed to stay as long as they are needed. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the selfless acts of nurses Jennifer Nelson, Lorraine Blake, Tandy Beck, Allison Salidino, Betty ``Joanne'' Crespo, Deidra Gansel, Jill Barrett, Amanda Tebault, Lisa Colon, Arlene ``Solly'' Salzwedel, Kris Smith, Nora George, Linda Fleming Dutton, Kara Ehrhardt and Gena Gillespie. These are real life heroes. ``When I first walked into ICU, I thought, `Oh, my goodness. What is this?' It looked like, to coin a phrase, a war zone,'' Nurse Arlene ``Solly'' Salzwedel was quoted describing the situation saying in Taunton. ``The housekeepers do not come in to clean the rooms at all. That's the job of the nursing staff. So not only are you the patients' nurse, you're their cleaner. You're their spiritual support system, even though they're intubated and heavily sedated.'' Andy Romine, President of Rockledge Regional Medical Center, said originally thirty nurses had volunteered to go to Massachusetts, but our own needs in Brevard County required some to stay and care for patients in our own community. ``Our organization is very proud of them for their willingness to put their safety at risk to care for others-- their courage and selflessness is a source of pride for us,'' said Romine. Since then, forty-five other nurses have traveled to Boston to treat the surging cases of COVID-19 putting their lives at risk. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in saluting these brave nurses, and all of the selfless Americans who are risking their lives every day to help the American people overcome this serious coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 28th and 29th, 2020, Brevard County families along with 100 business owners and 190 local church organizations will gather together to celebrate Space Coast City Fest. This uplifting event will take place at Space Coast Daily Park in Melbourne, FL, concluding a year and a half long outreach effort to unite the Christian Community. Space Coast City Fest was created as a region-wide campaign to serve churches in the community and promote faith-based works. Over a period of 18 months, CityFest and CityServe have worked to raise the level of involvement of Brevard County churches in serving community needs. The focus of their initiatives include building long term partnerships with public and non-profit groups to help serve our schools, meet the needs of children within the foster care system, raise awareness & seek solutions for the Opioid crisis, tackle homelessness, feed the hungry, and revitalize troubled and sometimes forgotten neighborhoods. In addition, special events were held to promote unity among church leaders and spread a message of Christian hope. The ReNew gathering drew more than 2,000 people for a night of worship & teaching, a conference for pastors and ministry leaders was attended by several hundred church leaders, an educational forum on community issues, and various training sessions were offered to church members. In the ten days leading up to the final festival event, a Christian message was shared in several smaller settings including a surf camp with Cliff and Damian Hobgood, two presentations in area prisons, a luncheon and a dinner for women, and a business and civic leaders' luncheon. The final event is a family-oriented festival at the Space Coast Daily Park next to Viera High School on March 28th and 29th. The festival will host a children's area and an action sports program that includes professional BMX, Free-Style Motocross, and skateboard demonstrations. The event will wrap up with a mainstage program of contemporary Christian music bands from around the county, and will also include a message of hope from international evangelist Andrew Palau. Other featured performers include Adam Agee, Mandisa, Newsboys United, Blanca, Illusionist Jon Michael Hinton, Danny Gokey, and Lecrae. Thousands are expected to attend. I would like to recognize the hard work of the local organizing committee chaired by Christopher Burton and Dr. Mike Ronsisvalle in partnership with the Luis Palau Association. Their efforts over the last 18 months of mobilizing events have greatly impacted our community and have brought us all together in a very special way. It's notable that the $800,000 cost of the Space Coast City Fest Celebration was contributed by local churches, individuals, and businesses so that it could be free to the public. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to please join me in recognizing Space Coast City Fest.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend kindergarten students in my Congressional district who have made it a priority and to remind us that kindness ``is always possible.'' Nearly a year ago, transition kindergarten teacher Ms. Barbara Wilcox inspired her class at Tropical Elementary on Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida, to join an initiative they called ``Together Kind.'' She shared, ``I do a lot of service learning with them, talking about how to be kind to people.'' Children often ``get it'' when adults are slow to respond. That certainly played out strongly in Ms. Wilcox's class. The children wanted to make a difference. They recognized the meaning behind common symbols like the peace sign, the happy face and the heart, for love. And, in their wisdom, they perceived the value of having a symbol to remind the world of the importance of just being kind to one another. The class designed four candidates for a Symbol of Kindness and took their vision to the world. They shared their symbols on Facebook, through email, and a website they created called togetherkind.com. About 1,000 people from 25 states (and England and Ireland) voted and decided the winner. The children use social media only through parents and their teacher. But, they learned the power of communication and how to engage people in a meaningful and valuable way. They sold $1 magnets with the winning Symbol. ``Every day we looked to see how many people had signed the petition, and we highlighted, on a map, all the states people are from,'' said Ms. Wilcox, who's been teaching for 22 years. So, showing a little kindness can teach geography and bringing people together. Those are some of the things that kindness is about: Reaching out beyond ourselves and showing respect and care for others. Their symbol builds on the heart as the symbol of love. The heart is enclosed in a circle of arrows and that reminds me that kindness is more than just a noun. Kindness is an ``action'' word. Kindness happens by doing. I'm so proud that a class of young people in my district could remind us, ``Kindness is always possible'' in what they did and in the Symbol of Kindness they have given to the rest of us as a reminder. I have introduced a resolution to recognize their work as the Spacecoast Symbol of Kindness. Hopefully, their symbol can be carried by our astronauts on some future mission into space to spread their message beyond even our planet. If the nation needs kindness today, we can surely look forward to taking kindness with us to the moon, Mars, and beyond. Once again, I commend Ms. Wilcox and her class. They remind us that kindness is doing something for another person without expecting anything in return other than the possibility that others will pass on kindness to others. I thank the kindergarteners at Tropical Elementary, for this reminder.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Theresa Floyd, an African American Pioneer and outstanding constituent, who has devoted her life to promoting the importance of faith, family and community in our district. As an educator, mentor, dedicated volunteer, wife of 54 years, and a mom to seven kids, Dr. Floyd has worn many important hats in our community. Her strong faith-based foundation can be attributed to her time at Jacksonville Theological Seminary, where she earned her Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. During her education, she served as a role model and counselor for many students who went on to graduate and give back to our community. Dr. Floyd founded the New Hope Pentecostal Church in Orange Park Florida, where she served the church in many capacities such as Executive Administrator, Board Member, Evangelist, Deaconess and even Choir Director. Her leadership in Orange Park was well regarded by her peers, eventually serving as a town councilmember, school counselor, teacher, and canvassing board member. Ultimately, she and her family were recognized as the Most Outstanding Black Family in the Town of Orange Park. Currently Dr. Floyd acts as Pastor and Chief Executive of Faith and Deliverance Ministry in Vero Beach. In her role, she provides mentorship and guidance to those suffering from addiction, and helps those who need food and shelter. A true humanitarian, she is always putting others before herself. The contributions that Dr. Floyd has made to Indian River County are immeasurable and will be felt for generations to come. We are grateful to her for her spiritual works and unwavering altruism, that have made the Treasure Coast a better place for all families to enjoy. On Tuesday, February 18th, 2020, the Indian River County Board of Commissioners will honor Dr. Floyd's service to our community in celebration of Black History Month. The Board is dedicated to celebrating African American pioneers in the community such as Dr. Floyd, who have paved the way for future generations. I ask my colleagues of the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Floyd's service to residents and families across our district, and her continued devotion to making our community a better place.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the Cole-McCarthy amendment that would ensure the President can protect the United States and our ally, Israel.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I rise today in recognition of Major Milo Thornton, an exemplary constituent of mine and African American Pioneer who bas served our community for 23 years in law enforcement. Major Thornton began his career in 1997, as a correctional deputy with Saint Lucie County's Sheriff Office, under the leadership of the now retired Sheriff Robert ``Bobby'' Knowles. After a year and a half tenure, he became a patrolman with the Vero Beach Police Department. Major Thornton quickly rose through the ranks, being hired by Sheriff Roy Raymond at Indian River County Sheriff's Office four years later, becoming sergeant in 2012, receiving assignment to uniform patrol, and in 2016 being promoted to lieutenant, where he was reassigned to criminal investigations. In this role, he was afforded the opportunity to attend advanced training courses that would prepare him for the rest of his career. He worked closely with general assignment detectives, the narcotics division and criminal analysts to get to the bottom of various criminal investigations. In 2017, Sheriff Deryl Loar promoted Major Thornton to the rank of captain, reassigning him to the Uniforms Operations Division in which he oversaw the operations of all men and women who patrol the county, special operations, including the K9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Agriculture and Marine Unit, among many others. Additionally, he worked with dispatchers in the Communications Unit and the Victims Assistance Unit. In 2019 he was again promoted, this time to rank of major, where he was to serve in the Bureau of Administration. In this position, he managed aspects of human resources, information technology, homeland security, Judicial Services, and the School Resource Unit, just to name a few. Major Thornton also serves our community in many capacities outside of his day job, one of which, as an adjunct instructor at Indian River State College, his alma mater where he earned his Associates and Bachelor's degrees. He has worked within their College of Public Safety Training for 14 years now, teaching subjects such as Introduction to Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, and Interviewing and Report Writing. Major Thornton is a member of the International Associations of Chiefs of Police, a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's Command Officers Development Course (class No. 80) at the University of Louisville, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (class No. 28). In his free time, Major Thornton serves as volunteer board member of several charities and non-profit organizations. On Tuesday, February 18, 2020 in celebration of Black History Month, the Indian River County Board of Commissioners will honor Major Thornton's longstanding service to the community. The Board is dedicated to celebrating African American Pioneers in the community such as Major Thornton, who have paved the way for future generations. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Major Thornton for his dedication to protecting residents and his service to our community.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, this is a sad day for America. We know this impeachment is a sham. They know this impeachment is a sham. They know we know this impeachment is a sham, and they know that most of the American people know that this impeachment is a shameful sham. We know that it began the moment the President was elected, long before he ever had a telephone call with any foreign leaders. We have heard the numerous quotations from them that validate those very points, yet they persist in trying to overturn the duly elected President of the United States of America's election.

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the articles of impeachment which have been produced by this flawed process, which was based on hearsay and testimony largely collected from a closed-door, one-sided investigation. In fact, the only witness we heard from who had direct knowledge of the conversation in question, testified that President Trump did not want a quid pro quo and confirmed that the aid to Ukraine was released without the launching of any investigation that the President's detractors say he was seeking. The two articles of impeachment in the resolution--abuse of power and obstruction of Congress--are broad and cite no specific crimes that the President committed. The House Democrats are basing the entire impeachment on hearsay testimonies grounded on absolutely no evidence of a crime. However, last week we had a look at some real wrongdoing. We found out from the Justice Department's Inspector General that the investigation into whether President Trump colluded with the Russians was based on fraudulent information filed with the secret court. The FBI was found to have withheld exculpatory evidence and senior FBI leaders were found to have manipulated facts in order to support this false collusion narrative, justify their investigation and expand it. This happened on multiple occasions. While the Mueller investigation found no collusion, some Members of Congress, like House Impeachment Leader Adam Schiff, knowingly promoted this falsehood and used similar tactics to engineer this impeachment inquiry. This is unacceptable. For the above reason, I voted to censor Chairman Adam Schiff and will vote against these articles of impeachment. We know this impeachment is a sham. They know this impeachment is a sham. They know that we know it is a sham. We all know this shameful impeachment began the moment the President was elected, long before he ever had a single telephone call with any foreign government. We've heard the numerous quotations by those on the other side that validate that fact. And, yet the other side persists in attempting to over-turn the results of the legitimate election of President Donald J. Trump, because he dares to drain a swamp to which they are beholden. When the President calls for an investigation of corruption, the other side calls it ``digging for dirt.'' When they dig for dirt, they call it an ``investigation.'' This is a sad day for America. This impeachment is the worst case of partisan politics in the history of our Republic.

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the articles of impeachment that have been produced by this flawed process, which was based on hearsay and testimony largely collected from a closed-door, one-sided investigation. In fact, the only witness we heard from who had direct knowledge of the conversation in question, testified that President Trump did not want a quid pro quo and confirmed that the aid to Ukraine was released without the launching of any investigation that the President's detractors say he was seeking. The two articles of impeachment in the resolution--abuse of power and obstruction of Congress--are broad and cite no specific crimes that the President committed. The House Democrats are basing the entire impeachment on hearsay testimonies grounded on absolutely no evidence of a crime. However, last week we had a look at some real wrongdoing. We found out from the Justice Department's Inspector General that the investigation into whether President Trump colluded with the Russians was based on fraudulent information filed with the secret court. The FBI was found to have withheld exculpatory evidence and senior FBI leaders were found to have manipulated facts in order to support this false collusion narrative, justify their investigation, and expand it. This happened on multiple occasions. While the Mueller investigation found no collusion, some Members of Congress, like House Impeachment Leader Adam Schiff, knowingly promoted this falsehood and used similar tactics to engineer this impeachment inquiry. This is unacceptable. For the above reason, I voted to censure Chairman Adam Schiff and will vote against these articles of impeachment. We know this impeachment is a sham. They know this impeachment is a sham. They know that we know it is a sham. We all know this shameful impeachment began the moment the President was elected, long before he ever had a single telephone call with any foreign government. We've heard the numerous quotations by those on the other side that validate that fact. And, yet the other side persists in attempting to over-turn the results of the legitimate election of President Donald J. Trump, because he dares to drain a swamp to which they are beholden. When the President calls for an investigation of corruption, the other side calls it `digging for dirt.' When they dig for dirt, they call it an 'investigation'. This is a sad day for America. This impeachment is the worst case of partisan politics in the history of our Republic.

Mr. POSEY

Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, this year marks the centennial anniversary of the Sebastian Inlet District, which not only serves as a premier recreational destination for families to enjoy but plays an important role in our local economy. Created in May of 1919 by a special act of the Florida State Legislature, the Sebastian Inlet District was originally chartered to maintain the navigational channel between the Atlantic Ocean and our Indian River Lagoon. In the mid 1800's, the first settlers in the town which would become Sebastian, saw the opportunity to create an opening on the barrier island. By 1905 there had been six attempts to make the official ``cut'' but it wasn't until Roy O. Couch, now a very prominent name in the district, formed the Sebastian Inlet Association and persevered to get the necessary permits. His efforts came to fruition in 1919 when the official charter was granted and in 1924, when the Sebastian Inlet was officially opened for business. Today, the Sebastian Inlet continues to attract visitors and locals alike, having become a popular spot for fishing, boating and surfing, all within the scenic backdrop of Florida's scenic East Coast. Water sports enthusiasts and naturalists have enjoyed Sebastian State Inlet Park, now one of the most visited parks in Florida, for its wildlife and natural beauty. Since its establishment, the Sebastian Inlet has played an important role in promoting economic prosperity for the area, having an annual economic impact of 200 million dollars for the region. The inlet is also responsible for protecting our natural treasures such as our Indian River Lagoon, home to some of the most biodiverse marine life in the country. Some of the vital work the inlet does in partnership with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection includes bypassing sand to downdrift beaches, erosion control and ensuring public safety. In celebration of the inlet's centennial, the Sebastian Inlet District has begun to hold a series of educational lectures by marine biologists and environmental scientists. This will give local residents the chance to learn about what their community is doing to preserve our waterways, particularly the inlet and the Indian River Lagoon. The role that the Sebastian Inlet District employees and volunteers play in preserving this park is vital to our community, and I salute them for their hard work and contributions. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the centennial of the Sebastian Inlet District.