Francis Rooney

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Venezuela Arms Restriction Act introduced by my colleagues from Florida, Congresswoman Shalala and Congressman Diaz-Balart, to whom we are deeply grateful. I would also like to thank Chairman Sires for his support and leadership both of our committee and of this bill. The criminal socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro is systematically violating the human rights of the Venezuelan people through violence, intimidation, torture, and murder. According to local NGO Foro Penal, there are more than 850 political prisoners in Venezuela today. Just last week, Maduro's intelligence services arrested Roberto Marrero, the chief of staff for the interim President and constitutional leader of Venezuela, Juan Guaido. The regime has made ludicrous claims that Marrero was leading a terrorist cell and it reportedly planted weapons and cash to try to frame him. The Congress and the people of the United States must stand united with the people of Venezuela to help ensure that all individuals who violate their human rights are held accountable. This bill supports these efforts by identifying and holding accountable any U.S. entities providing defense articles to Maduro's security forces, and it restricts all U.S. sales of defense articles to his socialist criminal dictatorship. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in demonstrating our commitment to defending the security and human rights of the Venezuelan people by supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. In closing, I thank the authors of the bill. Congresswoman Shalala just spoke about the depth and breadth of the horrible humanitarian crisis that we see on our doorstep in Venezuela. I would like to comment that the average Venezuelan has lost over 20 kilos of weight in the last 2 years and they haven't had protein, so the whole country is starving to death, worse than any Warsaw Pact dictatorship has ever done. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Congressman Diaz-Balart and certainly Chairman Sires for their leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I call on all of my colleagues to enthusiastically support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act introduced by my colleague from Florida (Ms. Mucarsel-Powell) and supported enthusiastically by our chairman, Albio Sires. The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela is unprecedented in our hemisphere and is affecting the entire region. So far, more than 3 million Venezuelans have fled the criminal socialistic dictatorship of Maduro, whose mismanagement and repression are creating immense challenges for neighboring communities. As Chairman Sires said, there are millions of refugees in Colombia, the United States, and around the world who fled from Venezuelan oppression. This bill will ensure that we have a long-term strategy for U.S.-led humanitarian assistance to address the crisis so that it is coordinated effectively with local partners to meet the needs of its beneficiaries. It condemns violent actions by the Maduro regime to block humanitarian aid from entering the country, and it authorizes funding necessary for future humanitarian assistance. The administration has courageously led the humanitarian effort for the people of Venezuela and has received invaluable support from the Governments of Colombia and Brazil; and, more recently, the Government of the Netherlands has agreed to allow the nearby island of Curacao to be used as a hub to support future humanitarian aid. The United States and this Congress must remain united in our support for the people of Venezuela in their struggle for freedom and democracy, especially as they struggle to survive without adequate food and basic medicines. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers. I would like to thank the author once again, my colleague, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, and my neighbor in the Cannon Building. I would like to also thank, once again, Chairman Sires for his leadership in this area, and I enthusiastically encourage everyone in this Congress to support this bill and prepare for the day when we can get aid to the people of Venezuela. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the European Energy Security and Diversification Act, which the Foreign Affairs Committee adopted unanimously earlier this month. This bill, sponsored by Mr. Keating and Mr. Kinzinger, for whom we are deeply thankful, will help European and Eurasian countries reduce their reliance on Russian energy by providing diplomatic, political, technical, and financial support to projects that diversify energy sources and supply routes, enhance energy market integration across the region, and increase competition within the energy markets. Europe imports nearly 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia. Some EU countries source as much as 100 percent of their gas from Moscow, which has weaponized its energy dominance in the region to coerce, intimidate, and influence the political decisions of countries that depend on it for their energy. In 2006, 2009, and 2014, Vladimir Putin cut off gas to Ukraine, a country he has tried to dismember through his illegal annexation of Crimea and his continued aggression in the East. Putin is now trying to build a massive new pipeline to Germany, the Nord Stream 2. This pipeline will increase Russian influence over Berlin, a key NATO ally and the largest economy in the EU, and also reduce Russia's reliance on Ukraine as a vital pipeline transit route to other European markets. This will deprive Ukraine of its critical transit fees, the proceeds of which are roughly equal to what it spends on its military. It is not hard to see that this is a strategic play by Putin to increase pressure on Ukraine, where he continues to wage a war, and also get closer to Germany and dominate their energy. This bill isn't just about helping Europe. This bill advances U.S. foreign policy and economic interests by strengthening our alliances with countries in the region and promoting U.S. energy as an appropriate alternative to the bondage of Russia. The shale revolution and the repeal of the 1970s-era ban on crude oil sales in 2015 have unlocked America's abundant oil and natural gas reserves. These have enabled us to become the world's largest producer of oil and gas--some 13 million barrels a day now--giving our partners and allies a reliable alternative to unstable sources of energy. We also lead the world in cutting-edge clean energy technologies, one of which, carbon sequester, is very important for the environment as well. Others are like nuclear and renewables, which this bill promotes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to thank the authors of this important bill, Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Keating, as well as Chairman Sires for his support, and I am glad to know that Senator Murphy is on the case as well. One more time, I would just like to say, if I might, what a terrible idea the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is, and I appreciate the strong comments that Congressman Keating just made. We should be opposing that, and we should be supporting the Trans-Caucasus pipeline to get more oil into Eastern Europe, away from Russia, and out of the bondage of their control of the pipelines. So, I would like to thank the authors one more time and encourage all our colleagues to support this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act introduced by our colleagues from Florida, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Diaz-Balart. I also want to thank Congressman Malinowski for his leadership in bringing this to the floor right now. I am also deeply concerned about Russia's continued support for the Socialist and criminal dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro and the threat that this relationship poses to the national security of the United States and the rest of the countries in the Western Hemisphere. Russia has invested over $16 billion in Venezuela and has provided billions in military equipment to that murderous regime. In December of last year Russia sent two nuclear-capable bombers to conduct joint exercises with the Venezuelan military. In January of this year, he sent mercenaries to help protect Maduro--this is Mr. Putin doing that. Just this last weekend, as Congressman Malinowski referred to, we saw a report of about 100 additional Russian troops landing in Venezuela. Russia continues to finance the regime through billions of dollars in investments and is directly aiding the Maduro regime's efforts to bypass U.S. sanctions. There is also a great concern over the potential acquisition of a U.S.-based oil company, CITGO, which has refineries in Corpus Christi and Lake Charles by the Russian oil company, Rosneft, which has a collateral position of about half of its equity. The bill requires that the State Department provide Congress with an assessment of the threat that the Russia-Venezuela relationship poses to U.S. national security and a strategy to combat that threat. The bill also requires the specific assessment of the threat posed by a potential acquisition of the oil infrastructure I referred to, CITGO, by their debtor, Russian state oil company Rosneft. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge all of our colleagues to join us in standing against Russia's continued support for the Maduro regime and the threat it poses to U.S. national security. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again like to thank my colleagues for the three bipartisan bills on Venezuela that have been considered by this House today. This is one issue where all Members of Congress, regardless of party or background, should stand together with the people of Venezuela and support interim President Guaido's efforts to bring free and fair elections to the country. The criminal socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro has driven Venezuela to ruin. He is clinging to power by repressing the people of Venezuela while surrounding himself with foreign forces from Cuba and Russia. Millions of Venezuelans have fled the dangerous and deteriorating circumstances at home, as Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz mentioned about Weston. We also know about other places in west Miami where the Venezuelans, fortunately, are adding value to our economy now. They have created burdens and instability far beyond Venezuela's border. The average Venezuelan has lost 20 kilos in the last 2 years. These people are starving to death under a repression that hasn't been seen since Ceausescu's Romania or Stalin's Russia. Congress should support the administration's efforts to bring democracy and prosperity back to Venezuela, and these bills demonstrate our support for the values of freedom and liberty that the Venezuelan people desire and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 1477, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROONEY of Florida

Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Megan O'Grady, a high school student from Cape Coral and founder of Blue Line Bears, for the work she has done to honor fallen police officers. Through her non-profit organization, Blue Line Bears, Megan makes teddy bears using the uniforms of fallen police officers and delivers them to the officers' families. The daughter of a police officer, Megan was inspired to do something for the families of law enforcement in the wake of the murder of 5 police officers in Dallas. Megan is especially grateful for the opportunity to make the bears for children and to provide them with tangible mementos of their loved ones. Since she started two years ago, Megan has made 454 bears for families in 36 states. I am grateful for Megan and her commitment to honor police officers and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Blue Line Bears.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish Michel Doherty a Happy 94th Birthday and to honor her for a lifetime of community service. Mrs. Doherty is well-known in our community for her extensive service through the countless organizations she participates in. The two projects that bring her the most pride have been the development of Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve and the opening of the Veterans Administration Clinic in Cape Coral, but these are only a few examples of all the contributions she has made to the Cape Coral community. Mrs. Doherty also participates as a member of the Cape Coral Civic Association, Fort Myers Women's Community Club, Tiger Bay Club of SWFL, chair of the American Red Cross ``Simply Red Gala,'' Voices for Kids, Lee County Homeless Coalition, Giving Heart for Cancer, Abuse Center for Women, Downtown River District Art Walks, Boys and Girls Club of SWFL, Hope Hospice Planning Committee and Pace Center for Girls. There is no doubt that her work will positively impact our community for generations to come. I thank Michel for her service to the Cape Coral community and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish Lavern Norris Gaynor a Happy 95th Birthday and to honor her for a lifetime of community service. Mrs. Gaynor has dedicated her life to improving the well-being of her fellow citizens. The daughter of prominent Naples philanthropist Lester Norris, she learned the value of giving back in her youth and has carried on her family legacy. Mrs. Gaynor has impacted the entire Naples community with her work, but she most cherishes the work she does for children in promoting early learning. She has been recognized as the Naples Daily News Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Philanthropist in 2015, and has twice been named the YMCA's Preeminent Pioneer, yet those closest to her say Mrs. Gaynor is humble and unassuming. Her work will impact our community for generations to come. I thank Lavern for her service to the Naples community and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Claire Sattler on her impressive victory at the 2018 Teen Jeopardy Tournament. Claire worked very studiously leading up to and throughout the tournament. I am honored that she admirably represented our Bonita Springs community in front of a national audience. Claire was rewarded with $100,000 which she will use to pay for her college tuition. She has applied to 14 colleges and with her work ethic and determination, I know she will succeed as she pursues higher education. Further, she plans on donating a portion of her earnings to charities, such as Stem4Students and Immokalee's Guadalupe Center. It is fitting that she chose to give back to further education for others. Our Southwest Florida community is grateful for her contributions.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my missed vote was due to a family event. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 419.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ding Schoonmaker who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Mr. Schoonmaker has made important contributions to the spport of sailing, both on the water as an athlete and in service to fellow sailors. As a sailor, Mr. Schoonmaker served as the alternate for the U.S. Olympic team in the Helsinki Games in 1952 and the Tokyo Games in 1964. Throughout his sailing career he won many regional championships, and was named the Star World Champion in 1975. Mr. Schoonmaker has also served the sailing community as an advocate. He played a key role in founding the U.S. Sailing Center and served two terms as Vice President of World Sailing. He and his fellow 2018 inductees to the National Sailing Hall of Fame were formally celebrated on Sunday, November 11, 2018, with an Induction Ceremony hosted at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. I congratulate Mr. Schoonmaker on his selection for this honor and thank him for his contributions to the sport of sailing.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, Sheriff Scott announced his retirement later this month. I want to thank him for his 30 years of service to our district. He has served as the 12th Sheriff in the 131-year history of Lee County. We are thankful for his leadership, service, and commitment to the safety of our district and citizens. I wish him and his family the best in his retirement. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is a dedicated team of law enforcement officers who have been successful in decreasing the crime rate, promoting positive community development, and keeping us safe. I have confidence their next leader will continue the success that Sheriff Scott has presided over.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team and their third Florida State League Championship. The Miracle recovered from an early setback to defeat the Daytona Tortugas by a margin of 8-5, securing their 3-1 win in a best-of-5 game series. This win serves to confirm the excellence of the Fort Myers Miracle program compared to its Florida peers. This 2018 victory marks the team's 2rd championship win in the last 5 years. I congratulate the Fort Myers Miracle and Manager Ramon Borrego for this thrilling victory. We look forward to the continued growth and success of this great baseball program.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, who recently passed away at the age of 29. Officer Jobbers-Miller spent his life placing service above self. From 2009 to 2015, Jobbers-Miller was a respected member of the Wayne Fire Department in Wayne, New Jersey. Then Fort Myers was fortunate enough to have Adam Jobbers-Miller join their team as a devoted officer of the law. As soon as he began his career with the Fort Myers Police Department, it was apparent to all those around him that Officer Jobbers-Miller would stop at nothing to protect and serve the people of Southwest Florida. On Saturday, July 21st, Officer Jobbers-Miller responded to a call at a gas station in Fort Myers. An armed assailant at the gas station fired several shots at the FMPD officers, one of which struck Jobbers- Miller. He was immediately rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he passed away on July 30th. His passing brings great sorrow not only to the Fort Myers law enforcement community, but to our entire Southwest Florida community. Every day, our officers and first responders put themselves in harm's way to ensure that the safety of all its citizens are protected. Officer Jobbers-Miller made the ultimate sacrifice to maintain this safety, and for that we are all immensely thankful. In the face of certain danger, Adam Jobbers-Miller never hesitated to act in a truly heroic manner. His life of selfless service was tragically cut short, but his tireless dedication to the welfare of others will forever be remembered by all who were fortunate to know him. Kathleen and I extend our deepest condolences to Officer Jobbers- Miller's family, friends, and fellow officers.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues, and include in the Record, testimony from Principal Carl Burnside of Dunbar High School, who testified at the Education and Workforce Committee and thank him for his service to our community and to education. I want to thank you Congressman Francis Rooney for bestowing upon me the honor to speak to the House Committee on Education. My name is Carl Burnside and I am the very proud principal of Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Florida, where ``Achievement is the Expectation.'' I truly believe that what we have accomplished at Dunbar High School has enabled our students to rise up from incredibly humble circumstances into amazing career and college successes. After being closed in 1969, in 2000, the school was reopened and I was appointed principal. Ironically my appointment was in great part due to my background in STEM as being a 1993 recipient of the Presidential Award for Mathematics in Teaching which I received here in Washington DC. By 2005, Dunbar High School's minority to majority ratio was incongruent to the demographics of the Lee County School district. Therefore, something had to be done to help reduce minority isolation in the district. After going through growth pains, a young lady by the name of Jana Hambruch shared with me the concept of not just having a STEM academy but having one that would allow students to obtain industry certifications. As technology is an inherent societal need for all, we recognized a need to provide students with high-end technology training. In 2003- 2004, a $3.3 million federally funded Magnet Grant provided DHS with the chance to start the Academy for Technology Excellence (ATE) program. Dunbar quickly went to the forefront of College and Career Readiness as it became a model for other high schools across the country. Subsequently, Dunbar has been featured in a variety of educational magazines, webinars, and conferences and has received several distinguished awards both locally and nationally. Originally, the Academy for Technology Excellence (ATE) program was uniquely designed to provide 9th-12th grade students with the training needed to get the most in-demand industry standard IT certifications. The ATE program has truly enabled students to cross the digital divide and focus on essential skills to make them more marketable for their future. ATE graduates have a competitive edge over other college-bound students and several of our ATE students have received employment right out of high school in the $35,000- $50,000 range. As we moved into our 3rd year of the program Microsoft took notice of all the certifications our students were achieving and was amazed. They decided to partner with us and named our school the 1st Microsoft Certified High School in the Nation. They declared our students as their ``Certifying Heroes". They utilized our program as a pilot program to be mirrored at other high schools throughout the United States and beyond. Dunbar has partnered with technology giants like Microsoft, Adobe, Hewlett Packard and Pearson VUE, plus many other local business partners. Dunbar has even connected with the local colleges and universities establishing bridging opportunities from high school to postsecondary education. Dunbar accomplished all of this despite student demographics that many would see as challenging. Since its opening, the school's student population had a high percentage of low socio-economic students approaching 90% on free or reduced lunch. Lead by our IT Program Manager and Lead Technology Teacher, Denise Spence, the accolades that Dunbar achieved have been significant. A few highlights: Besides Microsoft declaring Dunbar High School as the first Microsoft Certified School in the Nation, it was selected as a Microsoft Showcase School. Dunbar was selected as an Adobe Model School. Both of these entities reached out to Dunbar due to the success that such a humble school was having in high powered certifications. Our students receive paid internships highlighted by the annual internships of students at Chicos FAS headquarters which led to some of the students working there fulltime immediately after high school. Later with Race to the Top funds, Dunbar added strong programs in Engineering and Biomedical Science from Project Lead The Way (PLTW) further enhancing the school's opportunities for its students in the College and Career pathways. When we applied to be an IB Diploma School, the reviewers enthusiastically recommended that due to our outstanding Career STEM pathways, we would be an ideal school to also have the IB Career Related program which we have also become, one of only a handful of IB STEM schools in the country. We offer the career academies that make parents who want their kids to go to college to be less hesitant and more proactive in enrolling their child in these kinds of programs. We offer the programs that are at a rigorous post- secondary level in fields that are lucrative for their children not just for today but for the jobs of the future. Honestly, I had no idea how much of an impact the academies were having until we started to receive various visits from schools, across the United States and really the world and were hearing back from our graduates about the employment they were getting because of the technical coursework they received in high school. Dunbar's acclaim is worldwide. In 2014, I was invited to Barcelona Spain to the Microsoft Global Forum where I had the opportunity to share about the technology programs at Dunbar. We receive visits from schools not just from our state but also from across the country and even outside the United States. Recently, we were approached by a student exchange program from Hungary exploring the possibility of sending some of their students to the United States to enroll in our technology program. As a cute anecdote, much to the chagrin of my football coaches, they have loss a couple of starter players due to the fact that the students received fantastic paid internship opportunities while in high school and are now making more money than my coaches in the IT field without a college degree. Here are a few of the success stories and you will notice they come from different backgrounds, all low income but their pathways to success were all different. Juan arrived at Dunbar High School unable to speak English. He went on to obtain a plethora of certifications. He was selected to be an intern for Chico's FAS whose national headquarters is located in Fort Myers. After graduating from high school, Juan went to work for Chico's full-time in their IT department and attended Florida Gulf Coast University part-time and worked to obtain his degree. His salary was in the $40,000 range. He was recruited from there by Call Miner, a technical data company, and now admittedly makes almost twice as much. Juliana was another student who qualified for the free and reduced lunch program but thrived in the technology program. She went on to qualify for the World Microsoft competition. She became the first person in the United States to make the podium spot, as she captured 3rd place in the world in the Microsoft Office World competition. Upon graduation, she went on to attend and graduate from the University of Florida with a full scholarship. Christian was another student who was raised by a single father. Christian, who as an African American student came to Dunbar his 10th grade year and was looking to find himself and at the time his focus was athletics. However, due to his vast IT performance from our technology program, he secured a financially lucrative work situation as a Service Desk Specialist and reportedly has a salary in the excess of $100,000 prior to his graduating from any college. Last but certainly not least, Tyler also came from a single family home with financial struggles. Tyler excelled in all facets of school but his true passion was in the technology field and his focus was always on going to college. Although he knew he would need scholarships. In 2013, Tyler qualified for the Microsoft World competition and became the first United States World Champion that year. Before he graduated, he obtained over 48 industry standard certifications in network administration and game design and programming. He is now a student at M.I.T. The success of Dunbar High School has required hard work and extensive planning. Decisions made could not be only about the present but also the future. Our goal is to prepare our students for the jobs of the future because they will face a global competition in the workforce. Another key component has entailed ongoing professional development for our teachers. Microsoft along with other corporations such as Aruba networks has assisted in that area. We will continue to work diligently to provide tremendous opportunities for our students. We also want to continue to be a leader in educating students in the K-12 arena as it pertains not just to technology but to other STEM careers. While we are very proud of the work that we have done, we are not satisfied with resting on our accolades. We remain in a mode of continuous improvement as we go provide our students with incredible educational opportunities that engage them in pursuing a prominent future in whatever they aspire to dream about. Max Anderson who was a 2013 graduate of Dunbar recently wrote to my IT staff: ``I will forever be grateful for the knowledge, experience, and opportunity I was afforded by Dunbar High School. I am extremely fortunate to have had such great educators that pushed me to do such immense things, all by the age of 23. I'll be starting a new position as a systems engineer for Georgia United Credit Union in Duluth, GA outside of Atlanta. This is a huge step for my career, and I can't help but reflect on the teachers and mentors that helped me to get to where I am today.'' We will continue to impact the lives of our students at Dunbar High School and what we offer at Dunbar High School is what needs to be available to students throughout our nation.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, our inability to pass either of the immigration bills yesterday was a disappointing failure to solve two of the largest problems we face: routine illegal border crossing and abuse of the asylum system. In addition to wall-building and border security bills, I have sponsored legislation to get the workers we need to drive a growing economy: Change our system of immigration from family-based to skill-based, like Australia and Canada. We need legal, verifiable, and skilled or the educatable to be workers coming in all ranges of skills. This is the RAISE Act. I have also introduced a bill to prevent claiming amnesty from anyone who is already inside our borders. Amnesty is supposed to derive from ``credible fear'' of persecution, not flight because the country of origin is dangerous, lawless, or offers little economic opportunity to its citizens--not our problem. These proposals would go a long way to solving the immigration crisis and creating a workforce to drive a growing U.S. economy in the 21st century.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Naples Zoo on its recent induction into the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame. The Naples Zoo earned this designation after receiving five consecutive annual `Certificates of Excellence' from Trip Advisor. Maintaining such an impressive record is no small feat, and requires a relentless commitment to quality customer service. An excellent visitor experience is a top priority of the staff at the Zoo, and their devotion to providing the best possible visit to the guest is indicative of the welcoming spirit present throughout Naples. I am proud to recognize the Naples Zoo for its achievement, and gladly point to it as another shining example of the strong tourist appeal of Southwest Florida.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of expediting repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike on Lake Okeechobee. Subtropical Storm Alberto highlighted the need for repairs, as water levels in Lake Okeechobee are rapidly rising toward the safe limit, leading to earlier than usual discharges ravaging our Southwest Florida coastline. Expedited dike repairs would reduce the number and volume of these harmful discharges and better protect the livelihood of our community and our environment. This is why I am working with my colleagues in the House, and with the White House, to secure additional funds to accelerate repairs. It's simply insurance: sooner or later a big storm will hit so it is best to reduce the time during which we are at risk. We need to pay less now, like an insurance premium, to hedge a future catastrophic risk.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bill Mitsch for having received the first Odum Award for Ecological Engineering Excellence from the American Ecological Engineering Society in Houston, Texas. As Director of the Everglades Wetland Research Park at Florida Gulf Coast University, he has become a highly respected scientist in the fields of wetland ecology, biogeochemistry, ecological engineering, and ecosystem restoration and modelling. He has taught and inspired generations of scientists to pursue wetlands research through his extensive research on the subject, including writing five editions of a preeminent standard textbook about wetland ecology. Further, he founded the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, a major research wetlands laboratory at Ohio State University, and has served on the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide his valuable input on wetland restoration. I personally would like to thank Bill for his dedicated efforts and research on the Everglades.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dwight Brock, a devoted servant of Collier County who passed away on June 12, 2018. After attending Florida State University and Stetson University, Mr. Brock received a law degree from Nova Law Center. Shortly after obtaining his J.D., he worked in the State Attorney's Office before he was elected Clerk of Courts for Collier County in 1993. Mr. Brock demonstrated an unmatched dedication to public service, tirelessly fighting for the people he worked to protect. Early in his first term, Brock identified major faults in the business practices of Collier County investment managers. He successfully prosecuted the individuals jeopardizing the financial well-being of the county, ensuring the taxpayers' dollars were well safeguarded. This example of Mr. Brock's dutiful service to the people of Collier County was an early indicator of the courage and devotion with which he would serve for the rest of his career. Our community mourns the loss of such an honest and faithful public servant. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Cheryl, his son, Bradley, and the rest of his loving family and friends.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Thad Ward on his recent selection by the Boston Red Sox organization in the 2018 MLB draft. Ward, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in the fifth round with the 160th pick. Ward's high school career was one to be remembered. He was honored as the 2015 News-Press Player of the Year as a pitcher at Bishop Verot High School. During his college career at the University of Central Florida, Ward pitched in 22 games this past season and compiled a 5-4 record with a 3.27 ERA over 63.5 innings. I would like to congratulate Ward for taking the first step into realm of professional baseball. His hard work and dedication are paying off, and I look forward to hearing about his successes in the future.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Camelo, Jr. Camelo, a second-generation Cape Coral firefighter, who passed away on May 29th at the age of 37. Engineer Camelo joined the department in 2006 and served honorably in several critically important positions including paramedic, hazardous materials technician, public safety boat operator, and as member of the Firefighter Survival and Rapid Intervention team. Mr. Camelo is survived by his two children, Anna, 5, and Michael Camelo III, 3. Both of these young children will forever be a part of the Cape Coral firefighter family that Michael cared about so deeply throughout his entire life. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Michael Camelo, Jr. This is an immense loss to the Cape Coral Fire Department and to the city. Although short in years, Michael's life was filled with great accomplishment and a spirit of service to others--he and his family will be in my prayers, and the prayers of our community.