Thomas Rooney

Mr. THOMAS J. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. THOMAS J. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of A. Warren Kulp, Jr., better known as Sonny, who passed away on New Year's Eve in West Palm Beach at the age of 81. Sonny's life was the American Dream personified. After graduating from Hilltown High School in Pennsylvania in 1953, he worked as a self- employed dairy farmer for most of his life. He also earned his real estate license and worked as the head of the real estate department for 8 years in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After moving to Florida with his wife, Judy, he worked at the Palm Beach Kennel Club until his retirement in 2007. Outside of work, Sonny pursued many different interests. He was a loyal, lifelong Republican and served as an officer and committee chairman for the Pennridge Republican Club in Pennsylvania. He was a consummate grassroots advocate and always could be relied upon for sound advice on both politics and sports. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with Judy and the Kulp family and the entire community as they mourn his passing today. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. THOMAS J. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. THOMAS J. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of A. Warren Kulp, Jr., better known as Sonny, of Riviera Beach, Florida, who passed away on December 31st in West Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 81. Sonny's life was the American Dream personified; after graduating from Hilltown High School in Pennsylvania in 1953, he worked as a self- employed dairy farmer for his entire life. He also earned his real estate license and worked as the head of the real estate department for eight years in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After moving to Florida with his wife Judith, he worked at the Palm Beach Kennel Club until his retirement in 2007. Outside of work, Sonny pursued many different interests. He was a loyal, lifelong Republican and served as an officer and committee chairman for the Pennridge Republican Club. Sonny was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in West Palm Beach and he was also an avid Steelers fan. We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a prominent and active member of our community. Sonny is survived by his loving wife Judith, his two sons Steven and Richard, his daughter, Patricia, and six grandchildren: Kiamesha, Brianna, Mary, Frances, Patrick III and Anthony. Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Kulp's family and loved ones as they mourn his passing. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 482, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Jim Morris, a beloved musician from Punta Gorda, who passed away on July 13, 2016. Jim was a passionate singer and songwriter with a devotion to telling stories with his music. Born and raised in Georgia, he was a gifted athlete. Jim attended Augusta College, where he majored in English Literature, on a full baseball scholarship. After an injury forced Jim to give up his pursuit of a baseball career, he began what would be a fifteen year career with Hercules Chemical Company in Delaware. Following a trip to Florida, Jim decided to leave his job as a corporate executive with Hercules Chemical and attempt to begin a career as a singer and songwriter in Punta Gorda, Florida. Jim quickly found success writing songs about his own life, including one about his outlook on life ``Livin' Till the Day I Die.'' Friends have said that there is not a better phrase to describe the way in which Jim approached life. Jim cared deeply about Punta Gorda and continuously worked to improve the small community. He served as an ambassador for the Charlotte County Bureau of Tourism, traveling all over the country to tell others of the wonders of the community he fell in love with. Jim was also a dedicated philanthropist, using his music to benefit those in need. He donated thousands of dollars to his favorite charity, Shoes for Kids, and performed dozens of benefit concerts all over the country throughout his career. Following the destruction of Hurricane Charlie in 2004, Jim assisted in organizing a benefit concert, to help his friends and neighbors get back on their feet, that raised over $30,000. According to those who knew him best, Jim was the type of man that never met a stranger. When not writing music, he loved to fish in Charlotte Harbor and travel around the world with his wife, Sharon. Mr. Speaker, I speak for the entire Punta Gorda community in saying that our thoughts and prayers are with Jim's family as they mourn his passing. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Alice Mary Moore, who will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 17, 2016. Alice's parents immigrated from County Antrim and County Longford, Ireland to Queens, New York where they raised a strong-willed Irishwoman with a sharp sense of humor. At age 20, she met Charles Moore and they married a few weeks later in the Upper West side of Manhattan at the Roman Catholic Church of the Ascension. Charles later joined the United States Army and his proud service as a cook brought him and Alice to overseas posts in Germany and Kenya and to domestic posts across the United States. Throughout these adventures, she gave birth to five amazing children before she and Charles eventually settled in Virginia. Undoubtedly, these experiences instilled in Alice her intense and unyielding zest for life that is as vibrant today as ever. This year, Alice will have celebrated both her 80th birthday and her 60th year of marriage surrounded by her loving friends and family dancing at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1503 and enjoying life in a fancy hat at a beautiful vineyard in Virginia. On behalf of her grandchildren, I am honored to recognize the incredible life of Alice Mary Moore on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Captain William C. Ostendorff, who recently completed his second term as a Commissioner at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). After a varied and distinguished career as an engineer, legal counsel, policy advisor, and naval officer, Captain Ostendorff now departs the NRC to return to teaching at the United States Naval Academy. Prior to his appointment to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Captain Ostendorff served at the National Academies where he was the Director of the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. He was also the Director of the Board on Global Science and Technology. He came to the National Academies after serving as Principal Deputy Administrator at the National Nuclear Security Administration from April 2007 until April 2009. From 2003-2007, Captain Ostendorff was a member of the staff of the House Armed Services Committee. There, he served as counsel and staff director for the Strategic Forces Subcommittee with oversight responsibilities for the U.S. Department of Energy's atomic energy defense activities as well as the U.S. Department of Defense's space, missile defense, and intelligence programs. Captain Ostendorff was an officer in the United States Navy from 1976 until he retired in 2002 with the rank of Captain. During his naval career, he served on six submarines, including command of the USS Norfolk from 1992-1995. While in the Navy, he also served as Director of the Division of Mathematics and Science at the United States Naval Academy. He holds a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy, law degrees from the University of Texas and Georgetown University, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Captain Ostendorff for the duty and honor he has consistently displayed throughout his years of outstanding service to our nation. His unparalleled experience and knowledge of nuclear security and defense issues have made him an invaluable resource for our nation, and we are truly better off because of his service. I wish him all the best as he returns to the United States Naval Academy.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this 2017 Defense Appropriations bill, which is another example of the Appropriations Committee's hard work to provide the funding needed to keep our country safe and to take care of our soldiers and their families. As a veteran, as my wife is a veteran, and as somebody who has a lot of friends who are still wearing the uniform and serving, we need to take care of our soldiers, our troops, our sailors, our airmen, and marines. And this bill makes sure that we do just that. It gives them the equipment that they need to complete their mission while also providing them the peace of mind that their families will have the support that they need; that when they are also veterans, they will be taken care of. As the Islamic State continues to grow, the constant threat of global terrorism, the nuclear-ambitious Iran, the dangers our Nation faces continues to grow, and we must stand ready to defeat them. This bill meets our defense needs for the next year. We do need a long-term plan to ensure that the men and women in our Armed Forces have the capability to protect our Nation in this increasingly dangerous world, and this bill goes very far and is the first step in doing that. I thank the committee and I especially thank the chairman for allowing me to speak in its favor.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of retired Marine Colonel Rocky McPherson, who is retiring after 50 years of service to our nation and the state of Florida. Upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1966, Rocky was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and began his military career with a ground combat tour in Vietnam. After one year as an infantry officer he transitioned into the aviation community and is the only Marine officer with both ground and aviation combat tours during the Vietnam War. During Rocky's continued military service, he commanded the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 121 aboard the USS Ranger, the Marine Air Training Support Group at Whidbey Island, Washington, and served as the Chief of Staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. His final assignment before retiring from the Marine Corps was at Marine Corps Headquarters as the Deputy Director, Manpower Division. Rocky then served as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, where he oversaw the most significant expansion of state veterans' nursing homes in decades, led department efforts to support Florida's returning severely wounded service members, and spearheaded plans to design and build the Florida World War II Memorial and monument--a replica of the larger monument located here in Washington, D.C. His personal and professional dedication to improving services for Florida's veterans has made a tremendous and lasting impact on the lives of over 1.5 million veterans and their family members in Florida. Most recently, Rocky has used his talents to advance the mission of Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership between Florida's business and government leaders that aims to encourage economic development in the state of Florida. As the organization's Vice President for Military and Defense Programs, Rocky has worked to protect, preserve, and improve Florida's military installations, as well as the communities surrounding those bases. Rocky's unparalleled experience and knowledge of military and defense issues have made him both a leader at the national level and an invaluable resource for Governors, State Legislators, and local defense community leaders across the state. Mr. Speaker, I thank Colonel Rocky McPherson for the duty and honor he has consistently displayed throughout his 17 years of outstanding service to the state of Florida. We are truly better off because of his hard work, and I wish Rocky, his wife of 34 years Connie, their children Ashley, Nathan and Courtney, and their grandson, Jack all the best in the years to come.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles Ragland of Palm Beach County who passed away in August after a courageous fight with brain cancer. Charles Ragland was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He was a decorated Vietnam Veteran, a dedicated public servant and inspiration to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Following his graduation from the University of Miami in 1965, Charles joined the United States Army and attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. After receiving a commission as a Lieutenant, Mr. Ragland completed Jungle Warfare School in Panama before serving two years in Vietnam as a member of the First Cavalry Division. Mr. Ragland served honorably and courageously while in Vietnam, receiving a number of commendations for his service. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, the Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star with Valor and an additional Bronze Star. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army in 1969, Charles began what would be a long and successful career in finance. He began working as the National Coordinator of State Finance Chairman for President Gerald Ford's 1976 Election Campaign. After leaving the campaign, Charles worked with Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Cancer Foundation in Miami and the American Red Cross--Palm Beach County Chapter before finding his true calling as an Investment Director with Wells Fargo Advisors. Alongside his prominent financial career, Mr. Ragland continued to selflessly serve his community. He served as the President of Kiwanis of Palm Beach as well as chairing the board of Pine Crest School at Boca Raton. Most notably, Charles was the Founding Board Chairman of Operation Homefront--Florida. His exemplary dedication to his community and to helping veterans in need through this organization earned him the prestigious Wachovia Way award in 2008 and the 2010 Wells Fargo Volunteer of the Year award. On October 29, 2010, Mr. Ragland was diagnosed with a stage four Glioblastoma. This highly malignant form of brain tumor is unfortunately difficult to treat as it reproduces quickly and is made up of a multitude of different cell types which do not all respond to treatment in the same way. Charles outlasted Glioblastoma's median survival rate of 14 months, fighting off the disease for nearly five years until his passing on August 2, 2015. Mr. Ragland will be sorely missed but his memory will live on through all of the lives he impacted. While we all are deeply saddened by his passing, I hope that Mr. Ragland's fight may raise awareness for this deadly disease so that others might beat this cancer in the future. Mr. Speaker, I speak for all of Palm Beach County in saying that we are grateful for Mr. Ragland's service and I know that he will live on in the memory of his family and friends. Charles Ragland was a soldier, a skilled businessman and dedicated pillar in his community, who lived his life in a way that we should all strive to live our own. Charles will be truly missed.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The Base was officially activated on April 16, 1941 and named in honor of Col. Leslie MacDill, a World War I veteran and aviation pioneer who died in a plane crash. MacDill AFB has a long and established legacy of protecting our national security. MacDill has continued to evolve and thrive over its 75 year lifespan. MacDill went from training crews to fly B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-26 Marauder bombers in World War II to B-29 Superfortresses, B-47 Stratojets and F-84, F-4 and F-16 fighters. It now is home to two wings that fly KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jets. The base has played a key role in U.S. military actions from World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the ongoing fight against terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere. From its first day in service to our nation to now, MacDill has consistently played a vital role in U.S. military achievement. Currently, MacDill houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 39 Mission Teammates, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, Marine Corps Forces Central Command, the Joint Communications Support Element and dozens of other mission partners, including, until July, the aircraft operations center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As integral as it is to our national security operations, MacDill is also a critical partner in our nation's humanitarian response efforts. Its strategic location was used to respond and aid the millions devastated by the 2010 earthquake that ravaged the capital city of Haiti, Port-a-Prince. MacDill is home to more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel. Nearly 170,000 retirees live in the Tampa area and depend on the base for many necessary services. MacDill remains a vital economic driver and a source of good paying jobs for Southwest Florida residents. The base pumps about $5 billion a year into the regional economy. MacDill is part of fabric of Southwest Florida; the relationship between the base and community is among the strongest in the military. Many of my constituents work and serve at MacDill and I am proud to represent these brave Floridians in an area that is so integral to our national defense. I know that MacDill will continue to play a crucial role in protecting Florida's families as our nation faces ongoing and future security challenges. I am proud to support MacDill Air Force Base every day and especially today on its 75-year anniversary.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Derek Dunn-Rankin, founder and chairman of the Sun Media Group, who passed away at his home in Venice, Florida this weekend at the age of 88. Mr. Dunn-Rankin began his newspaper career at age eleven as a delivery boy for the Miami News. While attending Rollins College, he worked as the editor for the student paper and as the sports editor for the Sanford Daily Herald. Following graduation, he returned home and took the position of circulation manager at the Miami News before becoming a Vice President with Landmark Communications in Norfolk, VA. In 1977, Mr. Dunn-Rankin left Landmark Communications to start his own company in Venice, Florida. Derek began by purchasing the Venice Gondolier and within three years, the small newspaper was winning awards at the state level. His next endeavor was purchasing the Charlotte Sun in 1979, a small tabloid with four employees. By 1987, thanks to Mr. Dunn-Rankin's business savvy, the Sun had become a daily publication and was one of the fastest growing daily papers in the country. Today, Sun Media Group employs over 350 people, produces printed publications in seven areas and has twice received national recognition for its online publication. In addition to his pioneering work in news media, Mr. Dunn-Rankin was a cornerstone of the Charlotte County community. Following the devastation of Hurricanes Charley and Ivan in 2004, many residents were forced to leave their homes and most were left without power, phones or any viable means of communication. Derek took it upon himself to help his community through this extremely challenging time. The Charlotte Sun distributed free newspapers in order to keep people in the community informed amidst the chaos. His telephone company also set up emergency call centers for residents to call loved ones and reach out to FEMA for assistance. Mr. Dunn-Rankin's tireless devotion to the people of Charlotte County during this disaster speaks volumes to his benevolent nature. Mr. Dunn-Rankin's continuous dedication to growing the community did not go unnoticed. The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce named him the ``Pacesetter of the Year'' in 1995 and the Cultural Center awarded him their ``Citizen of the Year'' in 2003 for his decades of service to the community. He will be sorely missed but his efforts will continue to have a positive impact on the community for years to come. Derek is survived by his loving wife Betty, his daughter Debbie and his four sons, Peter, David, Jeff and Mike. Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Dunn-Rankin's family and the entire community as they mourn his passing. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Art Nicholas of Englewood, Florida, who was recently awarded France's highest military decoration, the ``Knight of the Legion of Honor.'' Mr. Nicholas was honored, at a ceremony in Englewood, for his service to France and its people during World War II. The Knight's Cross award was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Since World War II approximately 93,000 of these medals have been presented to American servicemen who risked their lives fighting on French soil during the war. Mr. Nicholas served aboard a landing ship (LCT52) during D-Day, the Allied assault to free occupied Europe in June of 1944. The invasion along France's northern coast was the largest amphibious invasion in history and led to the liberation of France from Nazi forces. Mr. Nicholas held the rank of boatswain's mate first class and worked as an underwater demolition man at the Gold Beach landing area. Nicholas was also at both Juno Beach and Omaha Beach. Earlier in the war, he participated in the invasion of North Africa in November in 1942 and was also awarded a Purple Heart. In addition to his combat service, Mr. Nicholas helped build the Amphibious Warfare School in Fort Pierce, Florida as a member of the ``Scouts and Raiders.'' He trained members of the Underwater Demolition Team in Fort Pierce, Florida who were the forerunners of today's Navy SEALs, who conduct quiet forays into enemy territory during conflicts in which the U.S. is involved. Mr. Nicholas left the military in 1946. He returned to Michigan and married his wife, Hazel, whom he met in England and has been married to for 69 years. He opened a business named Corrugated Paper Products, which created shipping containers in Indiana before moving to Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Art Nicholas for his service and commend him on receiving the highest military commendation the French government awards an individual.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I serve nearly 75,000 veterans in Congress, making Florida's 17th District one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the whole Nation. From helping veterans solve problems and process claims with the VA to working to fund veterans' benefits programs at levels deserving of their sacrifice, my duties to these 75,000 veterans is something that I take very seriously. But my constituents are quick to let me know that I still have a lot more work to do to fix the system. One particularly disturbing problem was brought to my attention by a number of veterans service organizations in my district. Last year I started to hear stories about individuals advertising themselves to veterans in my district, claiming that, for a hefty fee, which is illegal, they could expedite veterans' claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The problem with that is they can't expedite these claims. One local Veteran Services Division explained to me at length how these criminals are systematically targeting senior veterans in low- income housing communities almost as a rule because those vets are most likely to fall victim to their schemes. Disturbingly, these guys will go into assisted living facilities and ``round up all the veterans'' and coerce veterans to apply for veterans' benefits they don't qualify for and to sign contracts agreeing to pay them for services that they can never provide. We all know that the claims process at the VA is far too slow and takes far too long. My office works with veterans on a daily basis, as do the other Members here, to try to assist them with their claims and expedite the process when possible. But when I hear that people are singling out veterans, targeting some of them based on their low income, and then earning a significant profit off them, that just makes me sick. As the law stands now, even though it is illegal for anyone who is not an approved agent with the VA to charge a fee for helping a veteran with a claim or an appeal, there is no criminal or financial penalty associated with breaking this law. Without a Federal criminal penalty, there is little deterring these despicable people from defrauding a veteran for financial gain. The reality is this: It is happening in all of our districts and people are getting away with it every day. I refuse to let this continue unabated in my own backyard in this country, especially not to our veterans for whom I have so much respect, as do we all. So along with my neighbor and friend, Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch of south Florida, we introduced a bill to penalize people and companies making a living off of stealing from our veterans. Our bill would give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools to penalize predators that are blatantly engaging in a scheme to defraud veterans, or their families, of his or her benefits by imposing a fine, imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both. These criminals have to pay the price for their appalling actions. It is our duty in Congress to ensure that our Nation's heroes are protected under every circumstance and aspect of the law. I am proud that this bipartisan bill is on the floor today. I urge my colleagues to join me, Congressman Deutch, and the chairman and the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee in support of this bill. Each and every one of us owes our Nation's veterans the utmost respect. Today we have the chance to bring justice to those veterans who have fallen victim to the immoral schemes committed by some of the lowest forms of criminals in our country.

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

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last fall, it was reported that sexual abuse of children by members of the Afghan military has been rampant for years, and that, in some instances, U.S. servicemembers have been punished for attempting to stop such abuse. As our mission in Afghanistan reaches 15 years, our troops should not feel that our strategy is undermined by Afghan forces committing human rights violations against innocent children. Along with 94 of my colleagues in both the House and the Senate, I requested a full inquiry into the U.S. Government's experience with allegations of sexual abuse of children by members of the Afghan security and police forces. This investigation has been launched by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, who will evaluate the Department of Defense's and State Department's policies and procedures for ensuring U.S. funds do not support human rights violators. Sexually harming innocent children should not be condoned in any part of the world, and the children of Afghanistan deserve the same protection as any of God's children.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rufus C. Lazzell, retired Brigadier General and former mayor of Punta Gorda, Florida, who sadly passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the age of 86. Rufus Lazzell served as an officer in the United States Army for thirty years during which time he fought and commanded valiantly in two of our nation's wars, Korea and Vietnam. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) during the first battle of Prek Klok in 1967 and then went on to hold multiple staff positions throughout the Army, including working for the Army Chief of Staff. He retired from military service in 1981, earning the rank of Brigadier General. His service awards include: the Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Silver Star for gallantry in combat, three awards of the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Bronze Star Medal (including one for valor), Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Air Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart. Although retired from military service, Rufus continued to serve the people of the United States. He served on the Punta Gorda City Council for eight years including four years as mayor. He was a strong supporter of preserving the Charlotte County Court House, a founding member of the Military Heritage Museum, was the museum's first inductee on their ``Wall of Warrior'', and was the president of the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. Although he held high positions of power, Rufus' magnanimous character is to be admired and was highlighted when he worked as a sales clerk in a local hardware store because he ``wanted to learn the hardware business and find out how to fix things.'' Rufus was more than a pillar in the community, he was an intricate member of the community's foundation. Rufus is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Jo Jac, daughters Victoria and Linda, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I speak for all of Charlotte County in saying that our thoughts and prayers are with Brigadier General Lazzell's family, as well as his friends, co-workers and the entire community as they mourn his passing. He will be missed.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of our Nation's veterans, who have been targeted by criminals seeking to defraud them. Last year, veterans in my district brought to my attention that these individuals are advertising themselves to the veterans community, claiming that, for a fee, they can speed up their claims with the VA. Now, everybody knows that the claims process at the VA is far too slow, but these people are deliberately seeking out veterans, purporting to speed up this process with their VA claims, which they cannot do, then illegally charging them exorbitant fees and then disappearing. I introduced a bill with my fellow Floridian and neighbor, Democrat Ted Deutch, titled the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act, to penalize these fraudsters who are blatantly engaging in a scheme to defraud our veterans. Yes, that is true, these people prey on American veterans. So it is our duty to ensure that our heroes are protected under every aspect of the law. I am confident that this bill can pass the House with bipartisan support.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to President Obama's announcement of his plans to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and transfer the detainees to the United States. We, as a Congress, made our position on the closing of Guantanamo Bay clear when we passed--and the President signed--the defense authorization and appropriations bills for 2016, which explicitly prohibit the President from closing the facility or transferring any of the detainees to the United States. Additionally, on October 1, I joined 15 of my House colleagues who have served or continue to serve in the military in sending a letter to the Joint Chiefs of Staff requesting that they acknowledge that the execution of any proposal put forth by the President to close GTMO would be in violation of Federal law. In response to the letter, the Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the ``current law prohibits the use of funds to `transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release' of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to or within the United States'' and that they ``will not take any action contrary to those restrictions.'' Mr. Speaker, the President's primary function is to enforce the law, not break it. Moving KSM to the United States and availing him to our courts to fulfill personal, political goals is not only irresponsible, but potentially extremely reckless.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Okeechobee High School, home of the Fighting Brahmans of Okeechobee, Florida, for receiving a Wilson Golden Football from the National Football League to commemorate the 50th year of the Super Bowl. As part of the nationwide Super Bowl 50 celebration, the NFL started the Super Bowl High School honor roll program to acknowledge high schools and communities that have directly influenced Super Bowl history and impacted the game of football for the better. High schools across the country were chosen to honor each player or head coach who graduated from the school and was on an active Super Bowl roster. Okeechobee High School was chosen because of its esteemed alumni, Jimmie Jones, who played in both Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII with the Dallas Cowboys. Interestingly, after the victory of Super Bowl XXVII, Jimmie chose to be in Okeechobee for a parade rather than a parade through Dallas with his team. We are all proud to call him one of our own. It is my honor to represent Okeechobee in the House of Representatives.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish John and Patricia Manson of Sun City Center, in the 17th District of Florida, a happy 50th wedding anniversary. On January 29, 2016, John and Patricia celebrated their golden anniversary. Fifty years together is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the love and devotion John and Patricia share. Nothing attests to their love better than the lives of their six children and eleven grandchildren. John and Patricia also share a long history of service. John spent his career as an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and came out of retirement to return to federal service under the Department of Homeland Security after the attacks on September 11, 2001. After raising five boys and one girl, Patricia worked as a substitute teacher and also worked with children with emotional and mental disabilities. Patricia and John Manson have also been dedicated volunteers. Both have spent thousands of hours as Boy Scout and Cub Scout leaders during their children's scouting years, serving in every role possible from Den Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster to Boy Scout Troop Committee Chairman. In retirement they have continued their volunteer work in the Sun City Center area with their local Catholic church as leaders in St. Vincent de Paul, serving the poor and vulnerable in the surrounding areas. In addition to their work with the Catholic Church, they also volunteer with the Florida Guardian Ad Litem program serving as court- appointed advocates for vulnerable children appearing in Florida's dependency courts. Patricia and John instilled their commitment to service in their children, four of which served in the United States Marine Corps--where all but one Manson Marine saw combat in either Afghanistan or Iraq. It is with deep respect that I commend John and Patricia for their dedication to one another as well as their nation and community. It is an honor to represent them in Congress, and to be a part of this celebration. I join their children John, Christopher, Patrick, Andrew, Peter and Sarah in wishing them a very happy 50th wedding anniversary and many blessings in the years ahead.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a member of my staff, Major Krystyl R. Watson, for her outstanding year as an Army Fellow in my Washington, DC office. Krystyl, a Florida native, joined my staff last January as part of the Army Congressional Fellowship Program. Her extremely hard work and dedication has made her a vital part of my team that ensured that not a single day of her year in my office was wasted. Before coming to Washington as a Fellow, Krystyl built quite the resume as a law enforcement officer in Florida. From her time as a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Tampa to her year spent deployed as a company commander with the 912th Human Resources Company in Afghanistan, Krystyl brought a wide range of valuable experiences to Capitol Hill. From day one, Krystyl dove right into the role of a legislative aide and was as meticulous as a seasoned staffer. There was never an issue she didn't care to learn, and her fresh perspective was invaluable. Her experiences in the U.S. Army Reserve and Florida Department of Law Enforcement were instrumental in helping me introduce important legislation to stop fraud against veterans and in securing critical funding for service members and veterans through the appropriations process. With energy, optimism, and the unmatched work ethic of a soldier, Krystyl has helped make her year with my office one of my most productive yet. More than just helping with legislation, Krystyl has been an invaluable resource for the veterans in Florida's 17th Congressional District. Whether assisting with congressional inquiries or helping a veteran with a VA issue, Krystyl was always happy to take a veteran's phone call and find a way to help. Over the last year, Krystyl was an outstanding legislative aide, earned her master's degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University, ran the Marine Corps marathon, and became an irreplaceable member of my team. Krystyl will be greatly missed, but I have no doubt that she will continue to set a standard of excellence in everything that she does.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to bring the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act to a vote before the end of the year. On September 11, 2001, my wife and I were stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, celebrating the birth of our first son, Tommy. We watched in horror the attacks on the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon. Like many of you, we will never forget the brave efforts of the men and women who served as first responders on that tragic morning. Today, Tommy is 14 years old, and my children have grown up in a post-9/11 America. They will never know what America was like before those attacks, but they have been taught to look with pride at the heroes who risked their lives to help others. With that same pride, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support a bill that protects the benefits of those first responders. How often do we as politicians show up at 9/11 memorials to honor the first responders? How often do we talk about the heroes who rushed into those falling buildings when everybody else was running out? Now is our chance to do our part and give the men and women we call heroes the benefits they deserve. I encourage all of you to support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act and bring it to a vote before the end of the year.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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