Dennis Ross

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. I thank my colleague from Alabama for this legislation and for this opportunity. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4361, the Government Reform and Improvement Act of 2016, and in support of my legislation that is included in this package, which requires the Office of Personnel Management to submit an annual report to Congress that details the use of official time by Federal employees. ``Official time'' is defined as any period of time that is used by a Federal employee to perform representational or consultative functions and during which the employee would otherwise be in a duty status. Essentially, this allows Federal employees to perform union activities during their official workdays. As the former chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy, I learned firsthand that OPM has very little accountability for the use of official time. In fact, the OPM last reported about the use of official time in the year 2012, which was 4 years ago. My bill would require the OPM to submit a detailed report annually to Congress on the use of official time by Federal employees, outlining specific types of activities or purposes for which this time was granted. For example, in 2012, Federal employees spent, roughly, 3.4 million hours conducting union business while on duty. This came at a cost of $157 million to the taxpayer. The taxpayers have a vested right to know. At a time when our country is more than $19 trillion in debt, we need to ensure that we are better accounting for the use of taxpayer dollars. This legislation will bring greater transparency to the activities union officials are conducting while being paid by the American taxpayer. I thank Chairman Chaffetz and my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice) for their support on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Polk Museum of Art. Located in Lakeland, Florida, the Polk Museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and, for fifty years, has brought works of art to Central Florida by artists most would see only if they could afford to travel to Paris, New York, or Washington, D.C. The artwork exhibited throughout the Polk Museum of Art includes masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, his lesser-known contemporary and friend, Georges Braque, the renowned nature photographer Ansel Adams, the painter Henri Matisse, and many others. Additionally, the Polk Museum is free, providing a way for everyone in the community to experience these great works of art. It offers summer camps to encourage the development of artistic skill in our community's youth, as well as classes throughout the year for children and adults alike. I am proud to recognize the Polk Museum of Art's efforts of 50 years to make our community a place of art and culture. I look forward to supporting this institution in the years to come.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Farm Credit System. Established by Congress in 1916, Farm Credit's mission is to provide a reliable source of credit for United States farmers. At the time of Farm Credit's creation, credit was virtually unaffordable or inaccessible in rural areas. Over the next 100 years, Farm Credit helped our Nation's farmers survive the Great Depression, feed a country during World War II, and survive nearly two decades of a farm crisis. Today Farm Credit provides more than one-third of the credit needed by those living and working in rural America. In my home State of Florida, Farm Credit is the largest single lender to agriculture. It is made up of people like a good friend of mine, Al Bellotto, a World War II hero who survived Iwo Jima and Okinawa, came back home and served for 35 years as the chairman of the Farm Credit of Central Florida and is now a chairman emeritus and member of Florida's Agricultural Hall of Fame. It is people like him who make sure that Farm Credit is dedicated to the people and to the business of agriculture, the heart and lifeblood of the United States. It is my hope that the Farm Credit System will continue to support our Nation's great farmers, that our agricultural industry will thrive, and in 100 years a future Representative of central Florida will be on this floor celebrating Farm Credit's 200th anniversary. Happy anniversary, Farm Credit.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2901) to amend the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 to require that certain buildings and personal property be covered by flood insurance, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Providing American homeowners and businessowners more affordable consumer options in the flood insurance marketplace has been one of my top priorities since I was elected to Congress to represent central Florida and the Tampa Bay region in our Nation's Capital. Private competition in this market will lead to greater innovation and more affordable and comprehensive policies for consumers. We have seen numerous floods devastating communities across the country in recent years, most recently in Houston, and last August in my very own congressional district. Every State and every congressional district is at risk for flooding. With hurricane season just a few weeks away from beginning, it is time for Congress to take action to benefit and better protect consumers. Unfortunately, regulatory barriers and the bias of regulators favoring National Flood Insurance Program policies have prevented the development of a private flood insurance marketplace. This was not the intention of the Biggert-Waters Act. Rather, it was an unintended consequence. With that in mind, I worked with my colleague from across the aisle, Representative Patrick Murphy, to introduce H.R. 2901, the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act. This bipartisan legislation will remove the unnecessary regulatory barriers and require Federal agencies to accept private flood insurance that complies with the laws and regulations of the State of an insured property. Under current law, consumers are limited to the coverage options provided by the NFIP. For example, an NFIP policy only covers up to $250,000 of damages related to a residential home. In addition, an NFIP policy does not cover a homeowner's living expenses, such as temporary housing, if they are displaced as a result of a flood. In the case of a business, an NFIP policy does not provide coverage for the financial losses suffered by businesses as a result of a flood. While the NFIP is limited in what their policies can cover, the private sector is not. The private sector will provide more incentives for property owners to invest in mitigation and resiliency. Ultimately, this increased emphasis on mitigation will benefit homeowners and taxpayers alike. Studies have shown that, for every $1 of investment in mitigation, communities see a savings of up to $4 in government-funded disaster relief. I want to take a moment and thank Chairman Hensarling and my subcommittee chair, Blaine Luetkemeyer, for their support of this legislation and their leadership on this important issue. I also want to thank the ranking member, Maxine Waters, for working with my staff and me through this entire process. This legislation is supported by a number of stakeholders, from the Realtors, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to a broad coalition of taxpayer advocates, environmental groups, housing organizations, and mitigation advocates. On March 2, 2016, the legislation passed out of the House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 53-0. With such strong bipartisan support, I am encouraged Congress is taking such an important step on behalf of consumers not only in Florida, but across the country. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in passing this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will encourage the expansion of a well-regulated, more affordable private flood insurance option for homeowners. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), my good friend.

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) for his efforts and leadership in this regard. Look, this isn't the be-all-to-end-all, but it is the best first step that we can have as a Congress to make sure that we give our consumers affordable options in flood insurance. As we address the reauthorization of the Biggert-Waters Act next year, this will provide a bridge for bringing the private sector back into the market to show that they are willing to assume some of this risk to the benefit of the consumers. There are quite a few groups out there that support this particular legislation. To name a few, that includes the Reinsurance Association of America, National Multifamily Housing Council, National Apartment Association, National Taxpayers Union, American Insurance Association, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association, and R Street. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us and overwhelmingly pass this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 75th anniversary of MacDill Air Force Base. MacDill has had a long and storied history during the last 75 years. With much of the world engulfed in conflict in 1939, the War Department selected Tampa, Florida to house a new military air field which would go on to become MacDill Air Force Base. With Tampa's natural and strategic location, MacDill has grown and expanded over its 75 years serving as a testament to our nation's military might and the Tampa Bay area's dedication to supporting the brave men and women of the Armed Services. Officially activated on April 16, 1941, MacDill trained World War II airmen to fly and operate bombers including the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-26 Marauder. Throughout the Second World War, MacDill saw thousands of servicemen train to lead the force in the dangerous skies over Europe. From start to finish, MacDill played a critical role in our country's great military achievement. After World War II, the bombers gave way to fighters when MacDill became a Tactical Air Command. The turmoil of the 1960's again highlighted the strategic importance of MacDill's location. Throughout the Vietnam War and up until the first Gulf War in 1991, the Tampa Bay region became a home for the F-4 Phantoms and later F-16 Fighting Falcons. Between 1979 and 1993, about half of all F-16 fighter pilots trained at MacDill Air Force Base. Currently, MacDill houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 39 Mission Teammates, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. MacDill is home to more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel and about 170,000 retirees live in the Tampa Bay area and depend on the base for many necessary services. MacDill remains a vital economic driver and a source of good paying jobs in the counties of Hillsborough and Polk in my district. MacDill extends the global reach of U.S. air power through global air refueling and airlift operations and is a mission our community embraces. In facing our nation's ongoing and future national security challenges, I am confident that MacDill will continue to play a vital role in protecting the safety of our families and all Americans. The Tampa Bay region is proud to host and I am honored to represent thousands of servicemen and women, veterans, and civilians who work at and rely on MacDill Air Force Base every day, and especially on its 75 year anniversary.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, want to thank Chairman Luetkemeyer for introducing this legislation which prohibits the Department of Justice from cutting off financial support to law-abiding businesses through its Operation Choke Point. Created under the guise of a program to root out banking fraud and money laundering, Operation Choke Point has morphed into an instrument used by administration bureaucrats to pressure and force banks to end relationships with the legitimate businesses the administration considers to be a ``reputational risk.'' This country is made up of all walks of lives and all walks of entrepreneurs and small businesses, yet this administration has targeted these small and legitimate businesses. I have a cigar retailer back home who was told by his bank that he could no longer do business there. I have a gun store owner who was told the same thing. I have a pawnshop that was told the same thing. These targeted business owners do not receive a note from the bank stating: ``Due to Operation Choke Point, we regretfully must end our financial relationship with your business.'' No. They are just discontinued from doing any banking relationship, without any notice whatsoever. If what we have done with the Department of Justice and the FDIC is empower them with the ability to deny a fundamental right of constitutional due process, then yes, we need to correct it. We have that obligation. As the chairman points out, we ought to be outraged over these administrators doing this to our legitimate businesses. This legislation, introduced by my colleague, will prohibit any Federal banking agency from suggesting, requesting, or ordering a depository institution to terminate a customer account or prohibiting an institution from maintaining a banking relationship with specific customers unless the agency has a material reason to do so, and that reason is not solely based on reputational risk. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation passed the Financial Services Committee by a vote of 35-19. In voting to pass H.R. 766 today, I will be voting to rein in this out-of-control administration and its assault on small, legal businesses not only in Florida, but across the country.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note the upcoming Double Ten Day, the Republic of China's (Taiwan's) national day, and to extend my very best wishes to the people of Taiwan. With population of over 23 million, Taiwan has demonstrated its commitment to democracy and is one of Asia's economic engines. Last year, Taiwan went from being our 12th-largest trading partner to our 10th, a position it continues to hold in 2015. Taiwan transformed itself into a vibrant and lively democracy, contributing not only to the global economy, but also to global culture, the exchange of ideas, and the meeting of global challenges, from fighting Ebola to helping to combat ISIS. I believe a strong Taiwan is an important factor in the peace and security of the region, and I am proud of the role our country has played, through the Taiwan Relations Act, in making it possible for the people of Taiwan to build their strong, prosperous, and democratic society. Our relationship is as strong as ever, as I believe it will continue to be in the years and decades ahead. Taiwan will remain one of our most important partners in the Asia- Pacific. As a friend of Taiwan, I wish its people a Happy Double Ten Day.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and Ranking Member Waters for their support. As the chairman pointed out, currently, HUD spends more than $7 billion annually in energy and water costs. In our current fiscal environment, we must look to new technology and for innovative solutions to generate savings for both taxpayers and the Federal Government. Today, I am proud to ask my colleagues to join me in supporting bipartisan H.R. 2997, the Private Investment and Housing Act. This legislation will establish a demonstration project that will encourage private sector entities to retrofit and modernize a limited number of HUD multifamily housing units at absolutely no cost to taxpayers. This legislation is necessary because nonprofits and other entities that focus on financing for affordable housing are unable to enter into contractual agreements to retrofit HUD multifamily housing units. Imagine leveraging private capital to enhance the livability and inhabitability of affordable housing at no cost to the taxpayers or the Federal Government. It doesn't involve any risk to the Federal Government or the taxpayer. In fact, investors take the first loss position on energy upgrades. If energy savings from these projects are not realized after private entities enter these contracts, the Federal Government does not pay anything, period. If savings through these projects are achieved, they would lower HUD's energy expenditures by as much as 20 percent, creating tremendous savings for the taxpayer. Private entities who take on the risk to retrofit these units will receive a $1 return for every $1 in cost savings that are verified by a third party. The demonstration program created by this legislation would help improve up to 20,000 HUD-assisted apartments receiving project-based rental assistance, supportive housing for the elderly, or supportive housing for persons with disabilities. The demonstration projects will help a limited number of people at first in Florida and across the country. However, over time, once it is a proven success, more than 48,000 eligible properties in the State of Florida and the 900 units in my district alone may be able to benefit, again, at no expense to the taxpayer. In addition to the direct economic benefits to taxpayers, these upgrades will bring meaningful health and other benefits to the families living in the buildings, creating a healthier and safer environment for residents. I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Jim Himes; Representative Emanuel Cleaver, ranking member of the subcommittee; and Representative John Delaney, for their support on this legislation. I also want to thank Enterprise Community Partners for their support of this legislation and for the support of projects that encourage a public-private partnership in affordable housing. I ask you join me in supporting this legislation to engage the private sector to help HUD reduce their annual $7 billion in energy and water spending.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from North Carolina and my colleague from the Virgin Islands. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 1326, to dedicate the post office located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, Florida, after Sergeant First Class Daniel M. Ferguson. The tragic events of April 2, 2014, when a shooter killed three of his fellow servicemembers at Fort Hood, Texas, shook our military community and our Nation. However, some may not remember a story of heroism that came out of that horrific event. Sergeant First Class Daniel M. Ferguson, who was stationed at Fort Hood along with his fiance, sacrificed his life to save his fellow soldiers. A veteran of Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Sergeant First Class Ferguson bravely wedged himself against a set of unlocked doors to block the attacker's advance. Without his heroic actions, those present that day have said there would have been many more casualties and fatalities. Sergeant First Class Ferguson succumbed to the wounds he sustained during this act of violence, leaving behind many heartbroken loved ones but also very many grateful soldiers. Without hesitation, Sergeant First Class Ferguson gave his own life to protect the lives of his fellow men and women in uniform. Sergeant First Class Ferguson was a tremendous soldier and a graduate of Mulberry High School who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the love of his country. That is why, in honor of his courageous sacrifice, I am proud to introduce this bill and proud to ask my colleagues to recognize such an honorable American. For Sergeant First Class Ferguson, his family, and the residents of Mulberry, Florida, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting such a worthy cause.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Thank you, Chairman Culberson, and thank you for presenting this bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of an important amendment that will be offered by my colleague, Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, to defund the Department of Justice program known as Operation Choke Point. Created under the guise of a program to root out banking fraud and money laundering, Operation Choke Point has been used by administration bureaucrats to pressure and force banks to end relationships with legitimate businesses it considers objectionable or a ``reputational risk.'' This administration has targeted legitimate small businesses such as firearm and ammunition dealers, cigar shops, pawn stores, payday lenders, and others. The backdoor effort to target legitimate law- abiding businesses it does not like and to coerce banks to choke off relationships with these legitimate businesses is contrary to our Nation's fundamental principles of freedom. In voting to defund Operation Choke Point, I will be voting to rein in this out-of-control administration and its assault on small, legal, legitimate businesses.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, Florida Southern College is a liberal arts college nestled in my hometown of Lakeland, Florida. It is known not only as a great academic institution, but also contains the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world and was recently selected by the Princeton Review as the most beautiful campus in the country. However, today, I rise to recognize another important distinction for Florida Southern College. The Moccasins Men's Basketball Team recently captured the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship. On Saturday, March 28, 2015, the Mocs defeated Indiana University of Pennsylvania, capping off a remarkable season with a 36-1 record. Led by senior guard and two-time Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year Kevin Capers of Winter Haven, Florida, the Mocs closed out the year by winning a school record 25 consecutive games. Growing up in Lakeland, I have watched Florida Southern College flourish before my eyes. President Anne Kerr has done a wonderful job with this college. It is a tremendous educational institution, and this win is a terrific achievement not only for the school, but also the community. Go Mocs.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Ms. Kimberly Keenan. Ms. Keenan has been both the principal and the assistant principal of Tampa Palms Elementary School in the school district of Hillsborough County, Florida, for 18 years. She has recently been appointed to serve as the supervisor of Language Arts and Writing for Hillsborough County. The school district is the eighth largest in the United States, and it is located in Florida's 15th Congressional District. Under her leadership, Tampa Palms Elementary has been rated as an A- rated school for 16 years in a row and is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. During her time at this school, Ms. Keenan has created a culture that embodies her motto: ``Hard work pays off all the time.'' Her efforts to help every child to be treated with love and respect has enabled countless students from diverse backgrounds to learn, gain confidence, and take with them the knowledge and the skills needed to help them make their way in this world. Our Nation's teachers are the open door to education and opportunity by their working long hours and with, sadly, less recognition than they deserve. Ms. Keenan has spent years shaping young minds. She has touched many lives of those at Tampa Palms Elementary, including those of the students and parents, and they are indebted to her for her life's work. I am proud to recognize her achievements.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my warm, personal greetings to the people of Taiwan, to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act--which provides the institutional framework and legal basis for our unofficial relations with Taiwan, and to call for greater support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations where it cannot be a member, due to its unique political status. As you know, Taiwan is an important economic and security partner, and as an advanced industrial economy, has much to contribute to the world, from global efforts to fight disease to securing our skies from dangers and threats to safety. As a result of its own efforts, the actions of the Congress and successive administrations, and other World Health Assembly member states, Taiwan has enjoyed observer status at the WHA since 2009. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This House is on record in support of Taiwan's observer status at the ICAO. While Taiwan was invited to attend the 38th Session of the ICAO Assembly in Montreal by the then-ICAO president in 2013 as his guest, this is not a permanent solution for what is an integral part of the global aviation network. Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, is located in the busiest section of airspace in East Asia. Tens of millions of passengers and over a million-and-a-half tons of cargo pass through the Taipei Flight Information Region each year. And yet, Taiwan is excluded from ICAO meetings and activities, and is forced to make extra efforts to adhere to the frequent updates of ICAO's flight safety and security standards to which Taipei is committed. As we celebrate this 36th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, let us recommit ourselves to supporting this important friend in the Asia-Pacific, strengthening our unofficial relations, and progressing Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, which is to the benefit of the safety and security of people everywhere.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. I thank my good friend from Utah (Mr. Stewart). Madam Speaker, on November 4, 1979, the American Embassy in Tehran was seized and Iranians held 50 American hostages for more than 444 days. Each year, on November 4, Iranians celebrate death to America day to commemorate the 1979 seizure of our Embassy. So while we are celebrating Thanksgiving, President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, for the last 35 years, Iran has been celebrating, once a year, death to America day. The party with whom we are negotiating nuclear capabilities celebrates death to America day. In 1983, two car bombs exploded in Beirut, killing 300 United States marines. Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants claimed responsibility for this mass murder. Make no mistake, Iran is the lead sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the world today, including sleeper cells in the United States. As Mr. Stewart just pointed out, last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard staged war games in the Strait of Hormuz. When they blew up that mock U.S. aircraft carrier, Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, proclaimed that ``Americans are ready to be buried at the bottom of the water''--the supreme commander, leader of the party with whom we are negotiating a nuclear capabilities deal. Madam Speaker, my point is that Iran has a ruthless track record of terrorizing the West, including the United States. Let's be perfectly clear: Iran wants to destroy America, as they claim every November 4, and as they demonstrated last week in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is a nuclear threshold state. Recently, just 2 weeks ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel and meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. During my visit, the Prime Minister and I discussed in great detail the threat posed by Iran to Israel and the region. Iran openly declares its intention to destroy the State of Israel. Today, Iran has the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East. The missiles are capable of carrying nuclear and chemical weaponry within a rage of 1,500 miles. With bared teeth, Iran, in conjunction with North Korea, is developing a longer range missile capable of reaching the United States. In just a few years, they will have that technology. I am deeply concerned about the current round of negotiations between President Obama and Iran. The current deal coming out of the White House would allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons after 10 years. A long-term deal that allows Iran to develop nuclear capabilities only strengthens the hand of Iran and fortifies their determination to destroy Israel, dominate the Middle East, the Muslim world, and the entire globe, including the United States. Iran says its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes and not aimed at developing nuclear weapons. However, Madam Speaker, history is replete with examples that argue quite the opposite. Iran is not our friend. Iran should never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Madam Speaker, I look forward to hearing Prime Minister Netanyahu detail his opposition to this agreement that would grant Iran a license to develop nuclear weapons. President Obama cannot unilaterally implement this dangerous plan. Congress has the responsibility to prevent this foreign policy disaster from ever occurring. We must stand firmly with Israel. Unless Iran is willing to forgo its entire nuclear program, the United States should not ease sanctions and should allow Iran to become a nuclear state.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 170 inventors who will soon be recognized at the California Institute of Technology and inducted as the 2014 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). In order to be named as a Fellow, these men and women were nominated by their peers and have undergone the scrutiny of the NAI Selection Committee, having had their innovations deemed as making significant impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society. Collectively, among this elite group holds nearly 5,000 patents. The individuals making up this year's class of Fellows include individuals from 114 research universities and non-profit research institutes spanning not just the United States but also the world. The now 414 member group of Fellows is comprised of 61 presidents and senior leadership of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 208 members of the other National Academies, 21 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 16 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, 10 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science, 21 Nobel Laureates, 11 Lemelson-MIT prize recipients, 112 AAAS Fellows, among other awards and distinctions. The National Academy of Inventors was founded in 2010 by Paul R. Sanberg at the University of South Florida. Its mission is to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The contributions made to society through innovation are immeasurable. I commend these individuals, and the organizations that support them, for the work that they do to revolutionize the world we live in. As the following inventors are inducted, may it encourage future innovators to strive to meet this high honor and continue the spirit of innovation. The 2014 NAI Fellows include: Ilhan A. Aksay, Princeton University; Nancy L. Allbritton, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jan P. Allebach, Purdue University; Daniel W. Armstrong, The University of Texas at Arlington; Frances H. Arnold, California Institute of Technology; Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, University of California, Davis; Nadine N. Aubry, Northeastern University; David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology; Amit Bandyopadhyay, Washington State University; Joseph J. Beaman, Jr., The University of Texas at Austin; James A. Birchler, University of Missouri-Columbia; Donald R. Bobbitt, University of Arkansas; Jeffrey T. Borenstein, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory; H. Kim Bottomly, Wellesley College; Scott A. Brandt, University of California, Santa Cruz; Steven P. Briggs, University of California, San Diego; Robert A. Brown, Boston University; Karen J.L. Burg, Kansas State University; Robert H. Byrne, University of South Florida; A. Robert Calderbank, Duke University; Emily A. Carter, Princeton University; Alexander N. Cartwright, The State University of New York; H. Jonathan Chao, New York University; Ching-Shih Chen, The Ohio State University; Ashutosh Chilkoti, Duke University; Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan; Steven Chu, Stanford University; James J. Coleman, The University of Texas at Dallas; J Edward Colgate, Northwestern University; Barry S. Coller, The Rockefeller University; R. Graham Cooks, Purdue University; Rory A. Cooper, University of Pittsburgh; Harold G. Craighead, Cornell University; Charles S. Craik, University of California, San Francisco; Alfred J. Crosby, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Marcos Dantus, Michigan State University; Huw M.L. Davies, Emory University; Mark R.D. Davies, University of Limerick; Mark E. Dean, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Richard D. DiMarchi, Indiana University; Michael A. Dirr, The University of Georgia; Richard A. Dixon, University of North Texas; John P. Donoghue, Brown University; Jonathan S. Dordick, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Jennifer A. Doudna, University of California, Berkeley; Anatoly Dritschilo, Georgetown University; Robert V. Duncan, Texas Tech University; Russell D. Dupuis, Georgia Institute of Technology; Victor J. Dzau, Duke University; James H. Eberwine, University of Pennsylvania; Elazer R. Edelman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; J. Gary Eden, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Jennifer H. Elisseeff, Johns Hopkins University; Sir Martin J. Evans, Cardiff University; David A. Evans, Harvard University; Gregg B. Fields, Toney Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Stephen R. Forrest, University of Michigan; Michael W. Fountain, University of South Florida; Ingrid Fritsch, University of Arkansas; Cynthia M. Fuse, The University of Utah; Elsa M. Garmire, Dartmouth College; Samuel H. Gellman, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Amit Goyal, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Bruce D. Hammock, University of California, Davis; Justin Hanes, Johns Hopkins University; Frank W. Harris, The University of Akron; Vikki Hazelwood, Stevens Institute of Technology; Maurice P. Herlihy, Brown University; John C. Herr, University of Virginia; David R. Hillyard, The University of Utah; Jeffrey A. Hubbell, The University of Chicago; Suzanne T. Ildstad, University of Louisville; M. Saif Islam, University of California, Davis; Robert D. Ivarie, The University of Georgia; Allan J. Jacobson, University of Houston; Trevor O. Jones, Case Western Reserve University; Michael E. Jung, University of California, Los Angeles; Kattesh V. Katti, University of Missouri-Columbia; Jay D. Keasling, University of California, Berkeley; Behrokh Khoshnevis, University of Southern California; Marcia J. Kieliszewski, Ohio University; Michael N. Kozicki, Arizona State University; Juan C. Lasheras, University of California, San Diego; Wen- Hwa Lee, China Medical University; Chiang J. Li, Harvard University; James Linder, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Stuart M. Lindsay, Arizona State University; Robert J. Linhardt, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Philip S. Low, Purdue University; Yuri M. Lvov, Louisiana Tech University; Asad M. Madni, University of California, Los Angeles; Marc J. Madou, University of California, Irvine; Richard A. Mathies, University of California, Berkeley; Richard D. McCullough, Harvard University; Carver A. Mead, California Institute of Technology; Wen Jin Meng, Louisiana State University; Xiang-Jin Meng, Virginia Tech; Thomas O. Mensah, Florida State University; Antonios G. Mikos, Rice University; Richard K. Miller, Olin College of Engineering; Duane D. Miller, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Jan D. Miller, The University of Utah; Sergey B. Mirov, The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Jeffrey R. Morgan, Brown University; Brij M. Moudgil, University of Florida; Josee M.F. Moura, Carnegie Mellon University; Shuji Nakamura, University of California, Santa Barbara; Jagdish Narayan, North Carolina State University; Shree K. Nayar, Columbia University; Douglas F. Nixon, The George Washington University; Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, University of Delaware; Iwao Ojima, Stony Brook University; Nicholas A. Peppas, The University of Texas at Austin; Michael A. Peshkin, Northwestern University; Victor L. Poirier, University of South Florida; Mark R. Prausnitz, Georgia Institute of Technology; Darwin J. Prockop, Texas A&M University; Alain T. Rappaport, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition; Renee A. Reijo Pera, Montana State University; Daniel E. Resasco, The University of Oklahoma; Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum, Rice University; Yasuko Rikihisa, The Ohio State University; Pradeep K. Rohatgi, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee; Baarbel M. Rohrer, Medical University of South Carolina; Erkki Ruoslahti, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; B. Don Russell, Jr., Texas A&M University; Ram Sasisekharan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; W. Gregory Sawyer, University of Florida; Axel Scherer, California Institute of Technology; Joseph M. Schimmels, Marquette University; C. Richard Schlegel, Georgetown University; Saiid M. Sebti, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute; George E. Seidel, Jr., Colorado State University; Arup K. SenGupta, Lehigh University; Wan Y. Shih, Drexel University; Kevin M. Short, University of New Hampshire; Richard B. Silverman, Northwestern University; Marwan A. Simaan, University of Central Florida; Raj N. Singh, Oklahoma State University; Thomas C. Skalak, University of Virginia; Mohamed Y. Soliman, Texas Tech University; Bruce J. Tatarchuk, Auburn University; Gordon A. Thomas, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Mark E. Thompson, University of Southern California; Thomas G. Thundat, University of Alberta; Richard B. Timmons, The University of Texas at Arlington; Mark L. Tykocinski, Thomas Jefferson University; Kamil Ugurbil, University of Minnesota; Anthony J. Vizzini, Wichita State University; Horst Vogel, EEcole Polytechnique Feedeerale de Lausanne; Nicholi Vorsa, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Columbia University; Kristiina Vuori, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; Kevin M. Walsh, University of Louisville; Christine A. Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Shaomeng Wang, University of Michigan; Paul H. Weigel, The University of Oklahoma; Jonathan A. Wickert, Iowa State University; Alan E. Willner, University of Southern California; Richard C. Willson III, University of Houston; Chi-Huey Wong, Academia Sinica; John A. WooIlam, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Shelby D. Worley, Auburn University; Chris Xu, Cornell University; Ping Xu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Zhi Xu, University of Missouri-St. Louis; Janet K. Yamamoto, University of Florida; Shu Yang, University of Pennsylvania; Michael J. Yaszemski, Mayo Clinic; Phillip D Zamore, University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 170 inventors who will soon be recognized at the California Institute of Technology and inducted as the 2014 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). In order to be named as a Fellow, these men and women were nominated by their peers and have undergone the scrutiny of the NAI Selection Committee, having had their innovations deemed as making significant impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society. Collectively, among this elite group holds nearly 5,000 patents. The individuals making up this year's class of Fellows include individuals from 114 research universities and non-profit research institutes spanning not just the United States but also the world. The now 414 member group of Fellows is comprised of 61 presidents and senior leadership of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 208 members of the other National Academies, 21 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 16 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, 10 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science, 21 Nobel Laureates, 11 Lemelson-MIT prize recipients, 112 AAAS Fellows, among other awards and distinctions. The National Academy of Inventors was founded in 2010 by Paul R. Sanberg at the University of South Florida. Its mission is to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The contributions made to society through innovation are immeasurable. I commend these individuals, and the organizations that support them, for the work that they do to revolutionize the world we live in. As the following inventors are inducted, may it encourage future innovators to strive to meet this high honor and continue the spirit of innovation. The 2014 NAI Fellows include: Ilhan A. Aksay, Princeton University; Nancy L. Allbritton, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jan P. Allebach, Purdue University; Daniel W. Armstrong, The University of Texas at Arlington; Frances H. Arnold, California Institute of Technology; Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, University of California, Davis; Nadine N. Aubry, Northeastern University; David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology; Amit Bandyopadhyay, Washington State University; Joseph J. Beaman, Jr., The University of Texas at Austin; James A. Birchler, University of Missouri-Columbia; Donald R. Bobbitt, University of Arkansas; Jeffrey T. Borenstein, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory; H. Kim Bottomly, Wellesley College; Scott A. Brandt, University of California, Santa Cruz; Steven P. Briggs, University of California, San Diego; Robert A. Brown, Boston University; Karen J.L. Burg, Kansas State University; Robert H. Byrne, University of South Florida; A. Robert Calderbank, Duke University; Emily A. Carter, Princeton University; Alexander N. Cartwright, The State University of New York; H. Jonathan Chao, New York University; Ching-Shih Chen, The Ohio State University; Ashutosh Chilkoti, Duke University; Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan; Steven Chu, Stanford University; James J. Coleman, The University of Texas at Dallas; J. Edward Colgate, Northwestern University; Barry S. Coller, The Rockefeller University; R. Graham Cooks, Purdue University; Rory A. Cooper, University of Pittsburgh; Harold G. Craighead, Cornell University; Charles S. Craik, University of California, San Francisco; Alfred J. Crosby, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Marcos Dantus, Michigan State University; Huw M.L. Davies, Emory University; Mark R.D. Davies, University of Limerick; Mark E. Dean, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Richard D. DiMarchi, Indiana University; Michael A. Dirr, The University of Georgia; Richard A. Dixon, University of North Texas; John P. Donoghue, Brown University; Jonathan S. Dordich, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Jennifer A. Doudna, University of California, Berkeley; Anatoly Dritschilo, Georgetown University; Robert V. Duncan, Texas Tech University; Russell D. Dupuis, Georgia Institute of Technology; Victor J. Dzau, Duke University; James H. Eberwine, University of Pennsylvania; Elazer R. Edelman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; J. Gary Eden, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Jennifer H. Elisseeff, Johns Hopkins University; Sir Martin J. Evans, Cardiff University; David A. Evans, Harvard University; Gregg B. Fields, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Stephen R. Forrest, University of Michigan; Michael W. Fountain, University of South Florida; Ingrid Fritsch, University of Arkansas; Cynthia M. Furse, The University of Utah; Elsa M. Garmire, Dartmouth College; Samuel H. Gellman, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Amit Goyal, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Bruce D. Hammock, University of California, Davis; Justin Hanes, Johns Hopkins University; Frank W. Harris, The University of Akron; Vikki Hazelwood, Stevens Institute of Technology; Maurice P. Herlihy, Brown University; John C. Herr, University of Virginia; David R. Hillyard, The University of Utah; Jeffrey A. Hubbell, The University of Chicago; Suzanne T. Ildstad, University of Louisville; M. Saif Islam, University of California, Davis; Robert D. Ivarie, The University of Georgia; Allan J. Jacobson, University of Houston; Trevor O. Jones, Case Western Reserve University; Michael E. Jung, University of California, Los Angeles; Kattesh V. Katti, University of Missouri-Columbia; Jay D. Keasling, University of California, Berkeley; Behrokh Khoshnevis, University of Southern California; Marcia J. Kieliszewski, Ohio University; Michael N. Kozicki, Arizona State University; Juan C. Lasheras, University of California, San Diego; Wen-Hwa Lee, China Medical University; Chiang J. Li, Harvard University; James Linder, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Stuart M. Lindsay, Arizona State University; Robert J. Linhardt, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Philip S. Low, Purdue University; Yuri M. Lvov, Louisiana Tech University; Asad M. Madni, University of California, Los Angeles; Marc J. Madou, University of California, Irvine; Richard A. Mathies, University of California, Berkeley; Richard D. McCullough, Harvard University; Carver A. Mead, California Institute of Technology; Wen Jin Meng, Louisiana State University; Xiang-Jin Meng, Virginia Tech; Thomas O. Mensah, Florida State University; Antonios G. Mikos, Rice University; Richard K. Miller, Olin College of Engineering; Duane D. Miller, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Jan D. Miller, The University of Utah; Sergey B. Mirov, The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Jeffrey R. Morgan, Brown University; Brij M. Moudgil, University of Florida; Jose M.F. Moura, Carnegie Mellon University; Shuji Nakamura, University of California, Santa Barbara; Jagdish Narayan, North Carolina State University; Shree K. Nayar, Columbia University; Douglas F. Nixon, The George Washington University; Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, University of Delaware; Iwao Ojima, Stony Brook University; Nicholas A. Peppas, The University of Texas at Austin; Michael A. Peshkin, Northwestern University; Victor L. Poirier, University of South Florida; Mark R. Prausnitz, Georgia Institute of Technology; Darwin J. Prockop, Texas A&M University; Alain T. Rappaport, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition; Renee A. Reijo Pera, Montana State University; Daniel E. Resasco, The University of Oklahoma; Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum, Rice University; Yasuko Rikihisa, The Ohio State University; Pradeep K. Rohatgi, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee; Barbel M. Rohrer, Medical University of South Carolina; Erkki Ruoslahti, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; B. Don Russell, Jr., Texas A&M University; Ram Sasisekharan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; W. Gregory Sawyer, University of Florida; Axel Scherer, California Institute of Technology; Joseph M. Schimmels, Marquette University; C. Richard Schlegel, Georgetown University; Said M. Sebti, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute; George E. Seidel, Jr., Colorado State University; Arup K. SenGupta, Lehigh University; Wan Y. Shih, Drexel University; Kevin M. Short, University of New Hampshire; Richard B. Silverman, Northwestern University; Marwan A. Simaan, University of Central Florida; Raj N. Singh, Oklahoma State University; Thomas C. Skalak, University of Virginia; Mohamed Y. Soliman, Texas Tech University; Bruce J. Tatarchuk, Auburn University; Gordon A. Thomas, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Mark E. Thompson, University of Southern California; Thomas G. Thundat, University of Alberta; Richard B. Timmons, The University of Texas at Arlington; Mark L. Tykocinski, Thomas Jefferson University; Kamil Ugurbil, University of Minnesota; Anthony J. Vizzini, Wichita State University; Horst Vogel, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne; Nicholi Vorsa, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Columbia University; Kristiina Vuori, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; Kevin M. Walsh, University of Louisville; Christine A. Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Shaomeng Wang, University of Michigan; Paul H. Weigel, The University of Oklahoma; Jonathan A. Wickert, Iowa State University; Alan E. Willner, University of Southern California; Richard C. Willson, III, University of Houston; Chi-Huey Wong, Academia Sinica; John A. Woollam, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Shelby D. Worley, Auburn University; Chris Xu, Cornell University; Ping Xu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Zhi Xu, University of Missouri-St. Louis; Janet K. Yamamoto, University of Florida; Shu Yang, University of Pennsylvania; Michael J. Yaszemski, Mayo Clinic; Phillip D. Zamore, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of this bipartisan legislation that will award a Congressional Gold Medal to the civil rights leaders who so bravely marched for voting rights and equality from Selma, Alabama, to the State capital of Montgomery in March of 1965. As an adopted son of the great State of Alabama, having been educated at both Auburn University and Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, it is an absolute honor to recognize these peace-loving, God- fearing patriots. These marchers, led by civil rights leaders such as Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and my colleague from Georgia, Representative John Lewis, changed the course of our Nation's history. Ultimately, their fearless efforts led to the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award presented by Congress, and I can think of no better time than the 50th anniversary of this moment in our Nation's history to honor and recognize the civil rights leaders who sacrificed so greatly to bring equality to the voiceless across the United States. May their sacrifice, diligence, and dedication to this cause stand as an example to all of us as we continue to serve in this Chamber and in every aspect of our lives.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to bring to the attention of my colleagues an important event taking place this Friday in the 15th Congressional District of Florida which I have the privilege to represent. With the opening of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity on the campus of the University of South Florida, also known as USF, in Tampa this Friday, our State marshals the strength of all of Florida's public universities to respond to our Nation's cybersecurity workforce needs. The center will help develop the next generation of technology to prevent cyber attacks and provide a resource for Florida businesses to help them prevent and, if necessary, respond to cyber threats. I want to congratulate the board of governors for our State university system, our Florida State Legislature, and our Florida Governor for recognizing the critical importance of the growing cyber threat to Florida residents and businessowners throughout the world. These leaders are doing something about that threat by establishing the Florida Center for Cybersecurity. They recognized that with our growing reliance on Internet connectivity each and every day, cybersecurity becomes increasingly more vital. Cybersecurity reaches every facet of modern life, from national security to personal communication, from data storage to banking security, from health care privacy to transportation safety. In just 7 short months, the center has enrolled its first 100 students in a special cybersecurity master's degree program. Just last October, the program at USF became only the second in the Nation to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. The center continues to address the serious shortfall in our Nation's cybersecurity workforce by bringing online degree, certificate, and training programs to facilitate industry-recognized specializations to enhance the cybersecurity workforce, mitigate cybersecurity threats, and attract new businesses to Florida and across our great Nation. Most importantly, the university will reach out to our Nation's heroes who have proudly served in uniform and return to civilian life to allow them to continue to protect our homeland. Tampa is the perfect home for this new cyber mission with its close proximity to the headquarters of the U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and the Joint Cyber Command at MacDill Air Force Base. The Tampa Bay region is also a center for our State's financial and health care industries. National, State, and local businesses--large and small--will benefit from the continuing outreach and educational programs offered by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at USF. Mr. Speaker, I applaud USF's energy and innovation in responding to the national and international cyber threat. This is the type of quick and thorough response our Nation needs as we bring together the best our public and private sectors have to offer in protecting our citizens and our businesses from this ongoing threat to our national security, our personal security, and economic security. Congratulations to USF, and go, Bulls.

Mr. ROSS

Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the service of Kuo-yu Hans Chiao. Mr. Chiao is the outgoing Senior Officer in the Congressional Liaison Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative office, TECRO. Mr. Chiao is returning to Taiwan for his next assignment in the Department of North American Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan). During his service as the TECRO contact for my office, as well as the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee on Finance, and House Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Chiao has served as an invaluable resource for my staff and me. In 2009, Mr. Chiao was hand-picked to serve as a congressional liaison for TECRO. During his 6 year tenure in this position, Mr. Chiao developed a strategy that pro-actively expanded partnerships with key U.S. congressional offices to enhance Taiwan's impact and credibility in Washington. Mr. Chiao worked tirelessly to garner support for S. 1683 that would allow the transfer of naval vessels to Taiwan. This legislation passed the Senate and the House, and was signed into law in December 2014. Mr. Chiao was also part of the TECRO team that worked toward the passage of H.R. 1151, which directs the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly (ICAO). This became public law in July 2013. Additionally, Mr. Chiao organized and oversaw many Congressional Member and Staff Delegation visits to Taiwan, forging solid ties between our two countries. Mr. Chiao has served in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2005. Early in his diplomatic career, he served in Department of North American Affairs. Mr. Chiao received a Bachelor of Arts degree from National Taiwan University, majored in Foreign Languages and Literatures and minored in Political Science. Though Mr. Chiao secured many legislative victories for Taiwan while he served in Washington, D.C., he made even more long-lasting relationships. My colleagues and our staff are proud to call him a friend, and we hope to see him back in Washington, D.C. one day.