Thomas Rooney

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. I thank the gentleman from California. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for the residents of Fort Pierce, Florida, and the Treasure Coast. Over two decades ago, the late Congressman Tom Lewis and his district director, Ann Decker, started the long process of making the courthouse a reality. The countless hours of dedication and work by those who followed him are now being rewarded with the construction of a new courthouse. I was greatly honored that one of my first official events as Congressman was to participate in the historic groundbreaking for this building. I introduced this legislation to honor the distinguished life and career of the late Florida Supreme Court chief justice, Alto Lee Adams, by naming the new courthouse in his memory. This courthouse will fill a vital role for the city of Fort Pierce, bringing much-needed jobs and investment to the community with this greatly needed new Federal courthouse. It is only fitting that the courthouse be named in honor of a man who himself gave so much to his community and the legal community of the State of Florida. Chief Justice Alto Lee Adams attended the University of Florida College of Law in 1921. As was mentioned, he practiced law in Fort Pierce. He was appointed circuit court judge for St. Lucie County and was appointed to the State supreme court in 1940 by then-Governor Fred P. Cone. He served as a justice on the Florida supreme court from 1940 to 1951 and chief justice from 1949 to 1951. Chief Justice Adams believed it was important to give back to his community. His service to St. Lucie County served as an example to his children and to those who knew him. Mr. Speaker, I can say, having spoken to some of the Adams family before I took the floor today, they are thrilled that this bill is being brought up as we speak. In addition to his distinguished legal career, Justice Adams started a successful cattle ranch named the Adams Ranch in St. Lucie County-- they just had their bull auction last week--and it is still run by the Adams family. Judge Adams set a standard for integrity and community service that lives on today, and I believe it's only fitting that this new courthouse is named in his honor. I am proud to sponsor this bill, and I ask my colleagues for their support in naming this courthouse.

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 817 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Roy Rood, who passed away on October 8. Roy was a longtime resident and the founding father of my hometown of Tequesta, Florida. Mr. Rood was born in 1918 on a farm in Jupiter, Florida, one of 11 children. He spent his early years on the family dairy farm, where he learned the value of a hard day's work and love for working outside. The first Tequesta post office was located on his family's property and was placed on maps of that era as a settlement called ``Rood.'' Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Roy joined the Navy, where he served with honor in World War II as an aviation mechanic on an aircraft carrier that was part of the fleet that participated in the Battle of Guam. Following the war, Roy returned home to Florida, where he started a landscaping business that continues today. Over the past 60 years, Roy Rood helped found American Legion Post 271, the local Kiwanis Club, the First Bank of Jupiter, and the Jupiter Christian School. The residents of Tequesta are lucky to call Roy Rood our founding father. He will be missed.

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 792, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan as they celebrate their Centennial National Day. The day is also to commemorate the 1911 Wuchang Uprising, a milestone of China's development and a new chapter which led to the end of the Qing Dynasty. This National Day allows the people of Taiwan to gather together and celebrate their shared heritage, and provide them the unique opportunity to honor their past and present culture and achievements. Following President Ma Ying-jeou's annual address, there will be a parade of floats from 10 counties and various government agencies. A series of cultural activities and exhibitions, including a nationwide design competition and movie festival will be featured along with a traditional puppet display. The historic ties between the United States and Taiwan run deep, and they continue to unite us. I hope our nation will continue its efforts to promote educational and cultural exchanges so that younger generations may enjoy and continue the legacy of our important relationship. I look forward working together to deepen our relationship, and I wish the families celebrating this occasion a safe and happy holiday.

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, Palestinian Authority President Abbas plans to seek recognition of a Palestinian state before the United Nations. A vote in the U.N. will bypass bilateral peace negotiations between Israel and the P.A. and will threaten the success of a mutual solution. Leaders in the United States, Israel, and the P.A. have long worked toward a mutual solution, and the P.A., seeking unilateral recognition from the U.N. is not only harmful to these efforts, but also to the security of the State of Israel. It's also important to note that the action coincides with a period of extreme volatility between Israel and their Middle Eastern neighbors. Israel's alliance with Turkey has continued to unravel over the past year, and its peace agreement with Egypt is in jeopardy. The Palestinian Authority's move to circumvent direct talks with Israel will undermine Israel's right to exist. I call for President Abbas to withdraw his request for a U.N. vote and instead finally agree to sit down at the negotiating table with the U.S. and Israel to develop a mutual, legitimate solution.

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise to pay tribute to a true American hero, Dan Aguilar of Palm City, Florida. Dan has been awarded the Silver Plaque International Alpine Solidarity Award, given to individuals who have risked their lives to save others in dangerous mountain accidents. Dan is a well-known mountain rescuer who deserves both the admiration and praise of this body. Dan grew up in Dallas, Texas, where he resided for 18 years. After graduating from Crozier Tech High School, he served in the U.S. Army for four years. Upon returning to the United States, he moved to Vail where he began his renowned career in mountain rescue. Dan's love for the mountains has seen him travel the globe and conquer the most dangerous alpine trails in the world. What's more, his mountain climbing adventures have taken him to Mexico, Ecuador, Alaska and Argentina. But it is not his accomplishments as a climber or mountain hiker that have earned him this prestigious award, but rather it is his courage as a mountain rescuer. In the early 1980s Dan suffered the crushing loss of a dear friend that completely changed his view of climbing. For some time he was unable to even fathom climbing again, but this experience eventually drove him to the line of work that has made him a living legend. Through his dedication and perseverance he became a valuable member of the Vail Mountain Rescue Group for nearly 2 decades. For Dan, saving the life of another seemed to come naturally. In fact, the Silver Plaque International Alpine Solidarity Award is not the first time he has received recognition for his devotion to helping others. He has also been awarded the Mountain Rescue Association's Outstanding Individual Service Award. In all, it is estimated that Dan has been involved in around 500 different rescue missions, since his involvement with Mountain Rescue. His advanced rescue skills have also been utilized in rescues on Mt. Rainier in Washington, the Pamirs in Russia, and the Aconcogua in South America. Dan's commitment and incredible compassion to help others have earned him a legendary reputation and the admiration of people around the world. According to Tim Cochrane, a fellow member of Mountain Rescue, ``Aguilar is the first volunteer rescuer in North America to win the award.'' Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the State of Florida and U.S. Congress, I congratulate Dan on this distinguished and well-deserved award. He is an American who deserves our gratitude and praise. Dan, your community, State, and Nation are proud of you!

Mr. ROONEY

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on March 19 of this year, the President sent us into military activity, or war, in Libya. Within 48 hours, the President notified the Congress in accordance with the War Powers Act of his decision to do so. For 60 days, the President under the War Powers Act had the opportunity, and chose not to, to come to this body and make the case as to why being in Libya was important. On the 60th day, he wrote a letter to this body saying that he would welcome authorization but he's not asking for it. Time and time again on the Armed Services Committee, we were presented with speakers from the administration who would give certain updates on various matters to which I would ask: Are you here to ask authorization for ongoing activity in Libya? And the speakers, the witnesses, would say, ``No.'' After 90 days and the President has not ceased activity or hostilities in Libya, the time has come and gone and we've sent our indication over to the administration time and time again that we disapprove. But because the War Powers resolution, by some either Republican or Democrat or in the House or the Senate, is questionable whether or not they consider it constitutional or not, the President has operated in what we now know is called the zone of twilight as to whether or not he even needs our approval. So what are we left with? Mr. Speaker, we're left with, today, our ability under the power of the purse to restrict funds from ongoing operations in Libya. Without it and without the Supreme Court weighing in on whether or not the War Powers is unconstitutional, in my opinion, the President is breaking the law, but he is being restricted by nobody and being able to continue unfettered. Some have said that the War Powers resolution isn't worth the paper that it is written on. To that I say: Based on what Supreme Court decision? Based on what precedent? There is none, because the courts haven't weighed in on it. I know some of our colleagues here have a pending case before the Court, and I wish them well, but what if they don't accept the case? What if they say these Members, as they have said before, don't have standing? Then we're right back to square one. Mr. Speaker, today we have the opportunity to send a message to the executive branch, and this transcends party but it exerts our power under the separation of powers, to say we, the House of Representatives, are relevant; we, the House of Representatives, are exercising our ability that the Founding Fathers gave us in the ability to declare war because they wanted us to have this deliberation, this debate that we're having here today, arguments that have been made on both sides that have been very good, because the last thing that we want as Americans is for some President, whether it's this President or some future President, to be able to pick fights around the world without any debate from another branch of government. It's the most difficult thing we have to do as government officials, and that's send our kids into harm's way. So it has to be a sober, deliberative, long debate, and the President has 60 days and chose not to engage in that debate. So here we are today saying, if you choose not to come here and get authorization, we are going to stop it until you do. The President always has the ability in the future to come and try to get authorization for what he's doing in Libya or anywhere else. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill to withdraw funding from future engagement in Libya. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I inquire as to the time remaining on our side.

Mr. ROONEY. I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 328, I call up the bill (H.R. 2278) to limit the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for United States Armed Forces in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the Speaker of the House.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York, Colonel Gibson.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire as to the time remaining?

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Texas, Judge Gohmert.

Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).