Francis Rooney

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Sam Keating and his recent selection to the San Diego Padres in the 2017 MLB draft. Keating, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in the fourth round and has already signed with the organization. Keating's high school career was one to be remembered as he led the Canterbury Cougars to back-to-back Class 3A championships. In his senior year, he went 11-1 on the mound with a 1.06 Earned Run Average and 93 strikeouts. I would like to congratulate Keating for taking the first step into the professional realm. His hard-work and dedication are paying off, and I look forward to hearing about his successes in the years to come.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Bill Kramer and the news of his induction into the Florida High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame for the Class of 2017. Coach Kramer has led the Naples High School football team since 1998. Under his leadership, the Golden Eagles won two state championships, six regional titles, and fourteen district titles. Additionally, Coach Kramer is dedicated to teaching young men how to cope with many of life's difficulties. He works to instill the values of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline in his players. I thank Coach Kramer for the positive impact he has made, and will continue to make, on the Naples community.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Emily Browne on winning the Winged Foot Scholar-Athlete Award. Due to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Browne managed to be the star athlete of both her basketball and lacrosse teams at Barron Collier High School, all while maintaining a stellar grade point average. Her successful balancing of athletic and academic activities shows maturity and discipline beyond her years. I am proud of Emily's achievements on and off the field. The award is well deserved.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Canterbury School's men's baseball team for their second consecutive Class 3A State Championship. The Cougars clinched the Title following their tremendous 4-1 victory over Jacksonville University Christian at Hammond Stadium in their hometown of Fort Myers. This triumph came through their outstanding teamwork and ability to adapt during games. The Title caps off an excellent season where the team achieved an astounding record of 27 wins to just 5 losses. I congratulate the Canterbury Cougars and Head Coach Frank Turco for an excellent season and this unforgettable win. I look forward to seeing the accomplishments of these young men in the years to come.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 14-year-old Taylor Sanders on her tremendous achievement in winning the ``Kids BBQ Championship'' on the Food Network. I am delighted that she represented our Naples, Florida, community in front of a national audience with excellent cooking skills and selfless character. The $10,000 reward for her victory is well deserved for all of her hard work. She is a very considerate and mature young person, as illustrated by her donating a portion of her reward to a charity, Take a Soldier Fishing. This is a wonderful organization and I am proud that she chose to honor our soldiers. Taylor's barbeque skills and generosity show sophistication beyond her years. I know that our Southwest Florida community is extremely grateful for her contributions.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Kent Durante, who received his Eagle Scout pin posthumously this past Saturday. Kent lost his brave battle with cancer last November before he could fulfill his dream of becoming an Eagle Scout. Last weekend, he was honored at a ceremony along with two of his fellow scouts, where they achieved the highest rank Boy Scouts can achieve. For over a century, the Boy Scouts of America have had an honored tradition of teaching young men essential life skills including outdoor survival and leadership skills. As told to me, these times were cherished by Kent as, even after his diagnosis, he continued to remain active in his troop and even graduated cum laude from Estero High School. It is understood in the scouting community that only about 4 percent of scouts attain the rank of Eagle. It is humbling to know that Kent is among this distinguished group. I would like to honor Kent for this well-deserved award.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Fort Myers High School's softball team and their first state championship in program history. The Green Wave struck a decisive victory over the Niceville Eagles by a margin of 7-1. This triumph merely closes an already excellent year for the high school's athletic program where they collectively won two team state titles and six individual championships. All this was done while maintaining excellent academic standards. I congratulate the Fort Myers Green Wave and Head Coach Johnny Manetta for this most cherished win. We look forward to seeing what this young team will accomplish in the years to come.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the special diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Holy See. As a non-hegemonic sovereign, the Holy See plays a unique role in world affairs through its use of the soft power diplomacy through moral persuasion that only it can exert. This gives the Holy See unparalleled influence in diplomacy and as a mediator in international disputes. The United States and the Holy See have complemented each other in the past in combatting extremist ideologies, such as Nazism and communism, and on promoting human rights. From 2005-2008, I witnessed this first-hand as United States Ambassador to the Holy See. President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI worked together on combatting human trafficking, AIDS in Africa, promoting religious freedom and in denouncing radical Islamic extremism. The strength of this relationship depends on how highly each president views the Holy See's soft power in world affairs. President Trump's choice to visit the Vatican on his first overseas trip is a good step toward a close relationship between the United States and the Holy See going forward.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out the hypocrisy of the United Nations. The behavior of the United Nations contradicts its charter, which states the organization should promote ``better standards of life'' and ``international peace and security.'' If these are truly the goals of the United Nations, then why is the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations agency, preparing an international patent application for North Korean production of sodium cyanide, a substance used to make nerve gas that is banned from North Korea by the UN Security Council? It is disturbing that the United Nations would grant legitimacy to North Korean production of a dangerous gas that can be used as a chemical weapon. Even more concerning is that the UN would do this during a time of escalating North Korean aggression, with its increasing illegal missile tests and threats of mass destruction. This action undermines sanctions against the unstable regime which threatens the very ``international security'' the UN claims to promote. The United Nations must stop rewarding rogue regimes that undermine global security, or the United States must reconsider participation in this illegitimate body.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important leader in our southwest Florida community. T. Wayne Gale serves our community as Executive Director of the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD), one of the largest mosquito control districts in the United States, with a budget of $23 million. LCMCD monitors threats posed by these insects and controls populations to reduce mosquito-borne diseases. Additionally, Mr. Gale serves as President of the American Mosquito Control Association. This is a very important role as mosquito season approaches, given the threat of Zika in Florida. This dangerous mosquito-borne virus can have devastating effects on infected individuals and presents a severe risk for expectant mothers. The LCMCD is proactive in spreading awareness to our community to make sure citizens are informed about how best to prevent infections, and is one of the most advanced mosquito control districts in the country. We are thankful for dedicated leaders such as Mr. Gale in our community, and appreciate his leadership in the mosquito control industry.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jim Nathan, a leader in Southwest Florida who has helped define our community-centered health system. Forty-two years ago Jim Nathan interviewed at Lee Memorial Hospital. He expected to complete a one-year administrative residency and then return back to Cincinnati. However, after more than four decades later, he is still in Fort Myers serving the healthcare needs of our community. I thank Jim Nathan for his decades of service and success to Southwest Florida, and I wish him well in his endeavors. I know Lee Health will continue to be caring people, inspiring health.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our outstanding teachers of Collier County, Florida, and to recognize their hard work and dedication to our community. Teaching may be the most challenging, yet most important, profession in our country. Teachers inspire, mentor, and motivate our children to succeed. Every one of us undoubtedly has had a teacher in our life that shaped us into who we are today. We are deeply thankful for our dedicated teachers who so greatly impact our young people and the future of our communities. I want to congratulate the following teachers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and who will be recognized at the annual Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers Dinner tomorrow night. Myra Janco Daniels will be awarded the Heart of the Apple for her devotion to education. Joanna Campanile, Anne Fredette, Ashley Lynn Heirls, Maria LaRocco, Janell Matos, Amanda McCoy and Stacy Smith are recipients of the Golden Apple. Tara Barr, Staci Haralson Barretta, Steven Becker, Brandon Carter, Kristin Downs, Susan Ellard, Staci Fisher, Sabrina Kovacs, John Krupp, Veronica Mamone, Kyle Manders, Kristin Merrill, Joseph Merrill, Dawn Peck, Lindsey Sebela, Christina Svec, Aaron Thayer, Marisa Vessella and Amity Wyss were named Teachers of Distinction. These teachers truly make a difference in their students' lives and I am thankful for the positive impact they have on our community

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues several more articles that I have written over the years regarding the Holy See. As a Member of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, these pieces serve to outline and inform discussions that our Committee will cover in the 115th Congress. religion and democracy: the emerging diplomacy of pope benedict xvi While many Americans only see him as a spiritual leader of Roman Catholics, the Pope exerts an often subtle but undeniable influence in international affairs. The Pope is the final authority of the Holy See, which derives its name from ``seat'' in Latin and signifies the repository of authority and direction over the organization and affairs of the Church. As an institution and sovereign, the Holy See is the ``oldest diplomatic entity in the world.'' During the two World Wars, Popes Benedict XV and Pius XII boldly promoted peace without preconditions. The jovial Pope John XXIII and more reserved Pope Paul VI implemented the Vatican II reforms. The unforgettable legacy of John Paul II, the Polish Pope, is his unswerving opposition to communism. The current Pope Benedict XVI, formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, continues the diplomatic tradition of the Holy See aimed at salvaging faith in some parts of the world and promoting reason in others. While Benedict XVI is often characterized as being less media-centric and charismatic than his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, he demonstrated remarkable strategic focus and clarity in his papal visit to the United Kingdom, September 16-20, 2010. His spirit of goodwill enabled him to overcome vocal and hostile opposition to the visit and, as a result, this visit will likely be remembered as a defining moment for the diplomacy of the Holy See. In his in-flight press conference, the Pope made it clear that he wasn't willing to compromise or soften his outreach, saying that ``a Church that seeks to be particularly attractive is already on the wrong path, because the Church does not work for her own ends, she does not work to increase numbers and thus power.'' Free of constraints of political correctness or hegemonic aspirations, the Holy See has often exhibited a unique clarity and honesty in its discourse. The visit to the United Kingdom was no exception. During the same press conference, the Pope expressed his gratitude towards Queen Elizabeth for elevating the trip to the level of a state visit. The Pope said that the visit reflected the ``common responsibility of politics and religion for the future of the continent and the future of humanity: the large, shared responsibility so that the values that create justice and politics and which come from religion, share the journey in our time.'' This is a universal message, not just intended for Britons but also for a global audience. There was a great deal of controversy surrounding the Pope's trip. Notable antireligious personalities, such as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, called for the British authorities to arrest the Pope immediately upon his arrival due to their opinion that the Church had criminally enabled child abuse. The Guardian opposed the visit and accused the Holy See of increasing the number of impoverished families and of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa by its position on the use of condoms. As George Weigel has pointed out in a December 2010 essay, ``Fail, Britannia,'' even the Catholic left was seduced to some degree by the intense criticisms. For example, Sir Stephen Wall, an advisor to the Diocese of Westminster and to Prime Minister Tony Blair, wrote that ``individuals have their own values . . . changing moral code is a normal part of social evolution.'' All of this controversy allowed the Pope to draw the clearest comparisons yet in his five year papacy between the state of affairs in the modern world today and aspirations for a more fully human order. During the UK trip, the Pope succeeded in articulating two critical challenges: (1) the risk of an increasing marginalization of religion-- encapsulated in the phrase, ``dictatorship of relativism,'' and (2) the need for combining and rationally accommodating both reason and religion in the modern world. The fact that two-thirds of all papal visits to date have been to Europe certainly reinforces the Pontiff's hopes for the re- evangelization of Europe. In his address to diplomatic, business and academic leaders at Westminster Hall, the Pope laid out the case for the coexistence of religion and politics. ``Britain has emerged as a pluralist democracy which places great value on freedom of speech . . . with a strong sense of the individual's rights and duties.'' He also said that such a stance squares with Catholic social teaching and ``its overriding concern to safeguard the unique dignity of every person . . . and in its emphasis on the duty of civil authority to foster the common good.'' Contrary to the critics of his visit, the Pope showed that a platform for good government and justice is created by mutually reinforced reason and faith. These concepts are linked to Vatican II (1962-1965), which was a turning point for the evolution of Church relations in the world, building upon past traditions and policies while finding new approaches with which to confront the global realities of the 1960s. This human dignity and the essential, inherent rights of man as demonstrated in its most significant pronouncements, specifically Pacem in Terris, Gaudium et Spes and Dignitatis Humanae. Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had witnessed a Holy See diplomacy reacting to a different set of world challenges. Shaped by a different personal background, he applied these same principles in his diplomacy. His entire lifetime of experiences drove him, along with President Ronald Reagan, to focus on the evils of communism. In his address to the United Nations on October 3, 1979, Pope John Paul II ``gave a speech in defense of basic human rights that left the delegates from communist countries worried'' wherein he said that politics must begin with ``a proper understanding of the dignity of the human person'' and that respect for human rights was ``the prerequisite to true peace.'' Elaborating his message further, John Paul II told an audience of scientists in 2000 that ``faith is not afraid of reason'' because they ``are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.'' These two examples illustrate the continuity of thought of Holy See diplomacy and the important symmetries between two ``modern'' popes, often less recognized than their differences. More open to inter-religious and pluralistic, democratic process, these two popes have done much to foster the dialogue about the place of religion in democracy. culture, and the political morality of society. religion and democracy President Richard Nixon, a staunch anti-communist, was capable of rapprochement with China at a time when opposition to such an outreach was strong. While not exactly analogous and on an entirely different plane, an unstintingly conservative Pope has been able to actively engage nonbelievers and the most secular of peoples in robust dialogue. Cardinal Ratzinger honed his intellectual arguments in several publications and has become a leader for theologians. Just over a year before he was elected pope, then Cardinal Ratzinger worked with the noted neo-socialist Jurgen Habermas to write a series of essays in the book, The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion. This is the same person who spoke out against the ``dictatorship of relativism'' in the 2005 conclave that elected him. This Pope is simultaneously capable of speaking forcefully about his positions while actively engaging the most ardent dissidents. Many link the Pope's focus on the need for religion as a building block of democracy with his boyhood experiences during the Third Reich. British Historian Michael Burleigh reveals Nazi leaders' determination to ``demolish the moral authority of the Catholic Church'' in order to later abrogate citizens' rights. The Pope believes that once religion becomes attenuated and removed from society, then the void is filled by an authoritarian dictatorship and there is no longer a check or balance to political power. This concept has also been expressed by President George W. Bush, as he has often said that free people foster peace because they can change out their leaders. There is a similar history with the evolution of dissent in communist Russia, from Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who gave life to the focus on human rights in Russia, to Pope John Paul II. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright writes that part of the failure of the opposition to communism in Vietnam was the fact that the Saigon government repressed Buddhism-- the ``largest noncommunist institution in the country''-- leaving an obvious void. She also criticized in her book those who sought to ignore or downplay the role of religion in many of the foreign policy conflicts she dealt with during her time in government, like Northern Ireland, Muslim India and pre-revolutionary Iran, saying, ``Religion is a large part of what motivates people and shapes their views of justice and right behavior.'' At least in the United States, statistical research backs up the Pope's philosophical and theological perspective. Robert Putnam and David Campbell, in their new work, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, put forward empirical social science research to argue for the value of religion in establishing good behavior and improved citizenship. Their data show when religion matters to people, they are more charitable with their time and their money, and they belong to more civic organizations. The research also correlates positively with political involvement of all ideologies and voting. Interestingly, the data show that the more religious one is, the more likely that person is to feel that tax evasion is ``always wrong.'' These are behaviors which are essential to a smoothly functioning democracy which is engaged in preserving its freedoms. Their research proves empirically what George Washington thought in 1796, that ``of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.'' religion and reason The Pope's concern for the perils of secularism has led to the second front of his personal diplomacy, the quest for a mutual relationship between reason and religion. His first opportunity to raise this issue came with the Islamic outrage over the publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed by the Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard in 2005. The Pope's comment that ``intolerance and violence can never be justified as response[s] to offenses'' parallels the U.S. State Department's official position, which defended freedom of speech even when it was unpopular to do so. Both the United States and Holy See offered courageous support for journalists the world over. This issue continued as recently as last Fall when a group of extremists attempted to bomb the Swedish newspaper Jyllands-Posten because it had reprinted the cartoon as a demonstration of free speech. Months later, Pope Benedict's first foray into the global spotlight after his election featured highly publicized remarks at his former teaching post, the University of Regensburg. The Pope referred to Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus saying Islam is Prophet Mohammed's ``command to spread by the sword the faith he preached'' in an effort to express his concem over the extremism, aggression and immutability reflected in certain Islamic doctrines and parts of the Koran. As the sound bite reverberated around the world, evoking a variety of reactions, the broader meaning and intent of his expressions that day have resonated more profoundly as a global discussion and analysis of the Koran, Islam and its relations to the modern world have ensued. The crucial point, reinforced constantly since Regensburg, is that reason and religion can--and indeed must--co-exist in the modern world. The only way forward is to continually foster this mutual relationship. What is a quest for rationality tempering fervor and fanaticism in some expressions of Islam and other religious traditions is coupled, at least by the Pope and the Holy See, with more fervor and excitement about religion in the modern, secular state. Since Regensburg there have been numerous debates and publications commenting on the issue of the immutability of the word of the Prophet Mohammed expressed in the Koran, on whether Shiite or Sunni Islam is more subject to interpretation and contextualization and about what the Enlightenment meant or should mean for Islam. These issues are important and relevant to the discussion of religion in modernity and underscore the urgency of the need for workable doctrines, policies and intellectual frameworks within which to create opportunities for reconciliation and conflict avoidance. Again in his address at Westminster Hall, the Pope postulated that advocates of both secular rationality and religious belief ``need one another and should not be afraid to enter into a profound and ongoing dialogue, for the good of our civilization.'' The harsh reality of the fault line between reason and religion has received greater international attention following the United Kingdom visit. Religious intolerance recently fueled two deadly church bombings in the Middle East. The October 31, 2010 massacre in Baghdad killed more than 50 Syriac Catholics and 23 Coptic Christians were murdered in Alexandria, Egypt on January 1, 2011, all while attending services. These events tragically reaffirm the Pope's UK call for religious freedom. conclusion In his five years as pope, Benedict has led a diplomatic mission embracing the positive role of religion in politics, global justice and the peaceful evolution of civilization. Occasionally blunt and sometimes misunderstood, he has not shrunk from the 21st century challenges of secularization and radicalism and has lent his lifetime of theological and philosophical study to help solve these seemingly intractable problems. In his address for the celebration of the World Day of Peace on January 1, 2011, delivered almost as the attack in Alexandria was taking place, the Pope highlighted the humanizing and civilizing role of religion in the development of civil society. Pope Benedict XVI said, ``Freedom and respect are inseparable;'' and, moreover, that ``religious freedom is the condition for the pursuit of truth.'' He went on to quote from the Vatican II Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae: ``in exercising their rights, individuals and social groups are bound by the moral law to have regard for the rights of others.'' Once again, in this message broadly addressed to all people, the Pope reaffirmed the critical linkages of religious freedom and human dignity to the pursuit of justice and peace, and to the truth and objective credibility which reason adduces to the profession of faith. Though a relatively older Pope when he was elected, Pope Benedict XVI has shown vigor and spirit in expressing the diplomacy of the Holy See. The September trip to the United Kingdom urged preservation and enhancement of the role of religion in modern society and government, and continues to call for dialogue and the coexistence of religion and reason in today's world.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues several more articles that I have written over the years regarding the Holy See. As a Member of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, these pieces serve to outline and inform discussions that our Committee will cover in the 115th Congress. U.S. must embrace Holy See The past few years have seen cordial but cooling relations between the United States and the Vatican. Since President Obama took office, he has visited the Vatican just once, and the administration has demonstrated little more than a perfunctory interest in the Holy See's diplomatic role in the world. This is a lost opportunity at a critical time for America. U.S. foreign policy has much to gain from its relationship with the Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church. No institution on earth has both the international stature and the global reach of the Holy See-- the ``soft power'' of moral influence and authority to promote religious freedom, human liberties, and related values that Americans and our allies uphold worldwide. President Reagan established full diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1984 because, among other reasons, he realized that he could have no better partner than Pope John Paul II in the fight against communism--and he was right. The administration of George W. Bush continued to expand these relations, even in difficult times while engaged in a conflict in Iraq of which the Holy See had strongly and vocally disapproved. Before President Obama's recent appointment of Ken Hackett as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, there was growing speculation that the administration was considering completely eliminating the diplomatic mission, or reducing it to an appendage of the Embassy in Rome. While the Obama administration has been in conflict with the Catholic Church on a range of issues from abortion to contraception, it is clearly in America's national interests to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Holy See to advance our interests around the world. The United States and the Holy See remain two of the most significant institutions in world history, one a beacon of democracy and progress, the other a sanctum of faith and allegiance to timeless principles. Despite these differences between the first modern democracy and the longest surviving Western monarchy, both were founded on the idea that ``human persons'' possess inalienable natural rights granted by God. This had been a revolutionary concept when the Catholic Church embraced it 2,000 years ago, and was equally revolutionary when the Declaration of Independence stated it 1,800 years later. The Church is one of the leading advocates and providers for the poor in the world, fights against the scourge of human trafficking, and advances the cause of human dignity and rights more than any other organization in the world. The Holy See also plays a significant role in pursuing diplomatic solutions to international predicaments. In 2007, for example, the Holy See helped secure the release of several British sailors who had been picked up by the Iranian navy. Its long-standing bilateral relations with Iran and the lack of such relations by the British and other western governments created an opportunity for successful intervention. And more recently, the Holy See issued its diplomatic note concerning the civil war in Syria, calling for a ``concept of citizenship'' in which everyone is a citizen with equal dignity. It is urging the commissions which are working on a possible future constitution and laws to ensure that Christians and representatives of all other minorities be involved. This immediately helped place a spotlight on the plight of Christians and the ongoing exodus of all non- Muslims from most Middle East countries for the last 30 years. The power and influence of the Holy See is often underestimated. A benevolent monarchy tucked into a corner of a modern democracy, the Holy See is at once a universally recognized sovereign representing more than a billion people (one-seventh of the world's population)--and the civil government of the smallest nation-state on earth. It has no military and only a negligible economy, but it has greater reach and influence than most nations. It's not simply the number or variety of people that the Holy See represents that gives it relevance; it's also the moral influence of the Church, which is still considerable despite secularization and scandals. The Holy See advocates powerfully for morality in the lives of both Catholics and non-Catholics, and in both individuals and nations. One may disagree with some of the Church's positions and yet still recognize the value--the real and practical value--of its insistence that ``right'' should precede ``might'' in world affairs. At its core, the Catholic Church is a powerful and unique source of non-coercive ``soft power'' on the world stage--it moves people to do the right thing by appealing to ideals and shared values, rather than to fear and brute force. America's foreign policy is much more likely to succeed with the support of the Holy See. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently gave a nod to this soft power in his Washington Post op-ed when he decried the ``framework that has emphasized hard power and the use of brute force.'' One can speculate on the motivations and intentions of such an unlikely source, but at least there is an admission of the importance of diplomatic alternatives which are based on persuasive fundamental principles. No two sovereigns are more naturally aligned than the United States and the Holy See in the pursuit of diplomacy founded on the core moral principles of the inalienable rights of man, his essential God-granted human dignity, and the right of all to religious freedom. This is rightly called the ``first freedom'' because our other freedoms seldom flourish in its absence. Reflecting on the Life of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Diplomat of the Holy See The death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Papal Nuncio to the United States for the last five years, is a great loss for the diplomatic community in Washington, D.C. and for the world. A veteran diplomat with many years experience in Israel and Palestine, Archbishop Sambi brought a depth of knowledge and personal credibility to the diplomacy of the Holy See which will be greatly missed. Prior to his posting in Washington, Archbishop Sambi was stationed in Cuba, Nicaragua, Belgium and India. As papal representative to Israel and Palestine from 1998 until 2005, he was instrumental in the planning and execution of the Holy Land visit of Pope John Paul II in 2000 and was deeply involved in the Holy See's diplomacy during the 2006 Lebanon war, where the traditional power sharing coalition was challenged by the presence of Hezbollah. His personal credibility was important during this war in mobilizing the Christian coalition there. His Cuba and Nicaragua experience was important in his understanding of the challenges the United States faces in these countries and in expressing the Holy See's goals for religious freedom and pursuance of the democratic process there. He was Nuncio in Nicaragua as the Sandinista revolution took control of the country and challenged church authority and democratic institutions there. He was involved in planning Pope John Paul II's 1983 visit wherein the Pope challenged Daniel Ortega and his government. While Archbishop Sambi was in Cuba in an earlier time, from 1974-1979, his efforts in working with the local church were valuable in keeping the goals of freedom and tolerance alive. The recent release of the last of the March 2003 political prisoners in Cuba by the Castro government exemplifies the valuable contributions of Holy See diplomacy, the result of many leaders like Archbishop Sambi. He was, in short, a most qualified diplomat and a man whose warmth reminded many officials of the first apostolic pro- nuncio to the United states, Cardinal Pio Laghi. In meetings with him I realized his keen understanding of the unique role of religion and faith in the United States as protected by the First Amendment. He realized, like his predecessor Archbishop Pio Laghi, that the American experiment of the First Amendment has much to offer the world. Though it is only natural for a prominent priest to proclaim the importance of religious freedom and its importance in sustaining civil society, Sambi was also an earnest proponent of the freedoms of speech and press. He warmly received journalists in an effort to connect with an American audience that went beyond the capital beltway region and daily withstood anti-Catholic protestors picketing just outside his office. In times of crisis within the Church and without, he resolutely defended the goodness that religion offers the world--peace, justice, love, and true individual freedom. Many times he made a point of explaining that the foundation of the diplomatic mission of the Holy See is rooted squarely in the pursuits of freedom, tolerance and the protection of human dignity. The ``soft power'' of moral rectitude and persuasion is what drove the Archbishop in his work. His death last Friday following a serious lung operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital is a time for reflection on the twenty-seven years of official recognition between the U.S. government and the Holy See in Vatican City. In that short period, the bilateral relationship has flourished into a deep commitment. Together, the world's most influential state and the world's smallest sovereign state combine to address serious problems like human trafficking, extremist violence and religious intolerance. As I mourn the loss of my friend, laid to rest in his hometown of Sogliano al Rubicone, Italy, I am thankful for his witness and example, and also have to pause and reflect on the moral leadership of the United States around the world, which Archbishop Sambi so deeply appreciated and valued. Pope Francis' First Visit to U.S. Provides Historic Opportunity Pope Francis' highly anticipated visit to the United States offers an opportunity to advance our understanding of the significant role that the pope and the Holy See play in world affairs. And just as important, the Papal Visit will afford Pope Francis a glimpse at the fundamental values at work in the United States--providing a unique occasion to inform his views on crucial economic, human rights, and environmental issues. Pope Francis has never visited the United States, so there is a historic opportunity to demonstrate how American values can help resolve many vexing global problems. The pope will break new ground in addressing the Joint Session of Congress. By responding to Speaker Boehner's historic invitation, Pope Francis will engage with the Congress as no pope has previously, reinforcing his role as a global leader and drawing unprecedented public attention to his major diplomatic themes and objectives. Thus far in his papacy Pope Francis has laid out several important priorities which might surface in his address and broader visit to the United States. From the beginning, the pope has made a priority to highlight the global challenge of migration and the ensuing deprivation of basic human needs of people displaced from their homes. The lesson of his first papal trip, to Lampedusa, resonates today with the increase in refugees from Syria and Africa. He urged the world to ``oppose the globalization of indifference'' to the plight of these people. Recently, in his encyclical Laudate Si, Pope Francis used forceful language to call attention to environmental degradation and, somewhat controversially, linked consumption and waste in industrialized countries with poverty and lack of opportunity in the emerging world. One success of this visit could be that the pope sees in the United States a people who also care for their environment yet offer practical solutions to reduce pollution like nurturing the use of cleaner fuels, deploying advanced technologies and supporting alternative energy sources throughout the world. Another aspect of Pope Francis' diplomatic outreach has been criticism of capitalism as abusive and insensitive to the poor and the disadvantaged. In many respects what the pope has expressed is consistent with historic Catholic social teaching, descending from Rerum Novarum and Pope Leo XIII, but he has brought a different tone and diction to the discussion of political economy. This may be the greatest result of the papal visit--if Pope Francis experiences something different in the United States, distinct from his experience in Latin America. In Argentina, broad-based corruption and crony capitalism dominate; oligarchic businesses feed off of the state and provide little to their workers. Many parts of Latin America, the pope's basis of perspective, have significant inequality of wealth, abusive governments and abridged freedoms. The opportunity to rise up and achieve one's God-given talents is circumscribed. Our challenge during his short time in the United States is to draw his attention to the fundamental American values of economic and personal liberty. This unique combination of religious and personal freedom, as Alexis de Tocqueville foresaw in the early 19th century, created an engine for prosperity of its citizens unlike any previous governmental experiment. The itinerary of Pope Francis' visit to the United States represents the quintessential new world experience; Washington DC, the epicenter of political power in the United States and derivatively in the world. Next he will travel to New York, the locus of financial power and influence in the world, and the home of the United Nations, the ultimate gathering place of all nations. Finally, Pope Francis will stop in Philadelphia, where American democracy began. Hopefully Pope Francis will depart the United States with a heartfelt understanding of the good that can result when political and economic institutions foster individual liberty and freedom. Likewise, if the attention the pope draws from the citizens of the United States serves to increase their understanding of where he comes from and what he seeks to accomplish, another important goal will have been achieved--enhanced appreciation for the important and constructive role the papacy and the Holy See play in the world today, in the diplomatic engagement among states as well as in Catholic theology.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues several articles that I have written over the years regarding the Middle East. As a Member of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, these pieces serve to outline and inform discussions that our Committee will cover in the 115th Congress. ISIS, Islamic Extremism, and the Long War Regardless of various opinions about the United States' military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, I would argue that President Bush's words to a joint session of Congress on 20 September of that year ring just as true and valuable now: ``We are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom'' against an onslaught by terrorists practicing ``a fringe form of Islamic extremism''. Recent unconscionable acts of violence by Islamic militants, including beheadings and burnings alive not heard of for hundreds of years, demand broad and possibly unique means of response and concerted action by the modem world. Certainly the ``overseas contingency operation'' with which the Obama Administration replaced the ``Global War on Terror'' in May 2009 has failed to accomplish the task. Now ISIS leaders openly threaten to ``conquer your Rome, break your crosses and enslave your women.'' Not since the Communist state of Stalin, or perhaps the Third Reich, have we faced such a potential, or at least self-proclaimed, existential threat to the modem world. It required a half century of containment to mutate the former and a brutal world war to eradicate the latter. The religious inspiration behind ISIS, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and affiliated groups add a different face to the movements which call for responses broader than purely military activity. Recalling President Truman's unsuccessful effort to draw the world's religions into the fight against communism, we need to draw religious leaders from all traditions-- especially the vast majority of Muslims who do not align themselves with the medieval barbarism of the terrorists-- into open and concerted action in opposition to the threat posed here. In the early 1950s, Truman found only one group, the Catholic Church, willing to broadly and openly attack communism. In 2006, it was Pope Benedict XVI who spoke out more clearly and aggressively against the evil of using religion to inspire hatred and violence--and of the fundamental incompatibility of the Prophet's command to ``spread the word by the sword'' with the way of life in the modem 21st century. He urged the Islamic world to reconcile the Koran with modernity, to bring reason to its interpretations just as the Enlightenment did for theocratic monarchies in the 18th century. He made it clear that moderate Muslims must take responsibility for their own religion. And while there have been some encouraging comments, inter- religious dialogues, and op-eds to this effect, we are still in the early stages of a protracted struggle for the minds of heretofore not radicalized muslims. The ``soft power'' of religious opinion makers is an important factor. In fact, some have argued as Ambassador Charles Freeman (USFS, Ret.) has that ``only a coalition with a strong Muslim identity can hope to contain'' the terrorists. He argues that the doctrines of ISIS cannot be successfully refuted by non- Muslims because the U.S. ``lacks the religious credentials to refute'' Islamic terrorist groups as ``a moral perversion of Islam.'' The lack of cultural integration in different nations' societies also presents a major challenge. Whether it is European ``multiculturalism,'' or an affirmative prejudice, the lack of alignment of many Muslim groups with the national identities and cultures of their countries has created a breeding ground for radicalization. Here is where our unique American ``exceptionalism'' can show the light. Our ``melting pot'' tradition of assimilation of diverse peoples has created--despite some bumps in the road--a uniquely broad and culturally tolerant society. And the related concept of citizenship based on residence and personal actions rather than blood and lineage can serve as a powerful model. As the world gropes for solutions, it has become clear that concerted action by the modem world, akin to the Allied Powers' collaborative actions to confront the Axis, is absolutely necessary. Spain and France recently passed bi- partisan laws granting expansive powers to the authorities to monitor and interdict internet connectivity with radical Islamic sites, to isolate and track down ``lone wolf'' terrorists, and to restrict and contain travel to and from places of known terrorist activities. Modifying the Schengen visa program and putting in place tightened border security are issues to consider as means of improving tracking of known terrorist suspects. Lastly, we should consider a ``containment'' and isolation program to ring fence the terrorist geographies, turn them onto themselves and limit their capacity to export murder beyond their borders. In so doing, perhaps we can help assure that their neighbors who are our allies in all this (especially Jordan) are reinforced and protected. Turkey has a powerful role to play both because of their long land border with Syria and Iraq, and due to the complexities presented by the PKK in Turkey and the evolution of Kurdistan and its Peshmerga, which are capable fighters and allies of the West. Only a comprehensive strategy can turn the tide and lead us to ultimate victory in the Long War.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Florida Gulf Coast University with their return into March Madness for a second year in a row. The Eagles scored a big win against the No. 3 seed North Florida on Sunday. This is the third NCAA Tournament appearance for the Eagles since 2013. I applaud the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and Head Coach Dooley for their victory. There is a reason why FGCU is known as Dunk City--now go shut down more shot clocks.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my wife Kathleen and I to wish Mrs. Rhodora J. Donahue a very happy 92nd birthday. We hope Rhodora is celebrating this very special day surrounded by her loved ones. I believe a loving family is the greatest treasure in life and with 13 married children, 82 grandchildren, and 108 great grandchildren, Rhodora has most certainly attained it. I hope you all can join me in wishing her continued health and happiness throughout the year.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Florida Gulf Coast University with their return into March Madness for a second year in a row. The Eagles scored a big win against the No. 3 seed North Florida on Sunday. This is the third NCAA Tournament appearance for the Eagles since 2013. I applaud the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and Head Coach Dooley for their victory. There is a reason why FCGU is known as Dunk City--now go shut down more shot clocks.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain John ``Giddy Up'' Bunch, a Southwest Floridian and a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. As the owner of GiddyUp Fishing Charters in St. James City, Florida, Captain Bunch combined his love for fishing with his love for our country when he invited a group of servicemen fishing out of gratitude for their service. This inspired him to dedicate his time to giving back to our veterans, which he did by founding Operation Open Arms. The organization's mission is to recruit people and businesses that are willing to donate their services and support to troops on leave, or those returning home, to give them a much-needed respite from their service. Since 2005, with over 300 volunteers supporting the program, Operation Open Arms has provided joy to over 3,000 servicemen and women and their families by providing services including vacations, weddings, fishing trips, counseling programs and funeral funds, totaling over $13 million in benefits. Captain Bunch was awarded the status of Honorary Life Member of American Legion Post 135 in Naples, Florida, and received the Outstanding Civilian Service Award at the Chief of Staff of the Army Salute last September, further exemplifying his dedication to making Operation Open Arms a success. His generosity and patriotism are an inspiration to us all.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues several articles that I have written over the years regarding the Holy See. As a Member of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, these pieces serve to outline and inform discussions that our Committee will cover in the 115th Congress. Reflecting on Pope Benedict's Papacy (By Francis Rooney) The decision by Pope Benedict XVI to retire February 28 is a remarkable act of humility and selflessness, and should be seen as a fitting closure on a papacy that was quietly significant. When Joseph Ratzinger was elected in the 2005 conclave, many pundits viewed him as a temporary officeholder. Yet, Benedict XVI fulfilled the legacy he set out for himself when choosing the name of the World War I Pope. For nearly eight years, Benedict was a firm advocate of dialog with friend and foe. He bravely offered to the world a gift cherished by the Catholic faith--the union of faith and reason. In this capacity, the Pope was a bridge builder, and lived up to his Latin title Pontifex Maximus. Much maligned, Benedict put the Church in the perilous but necessary position between extremist religious fundamentalism and extremist secular materialism. As United States Ambassador to the Holy See (2005-2008), I met the Pope on several occasions to discuss the symmetry of values between the Holy See (colloquially referred to as the Vatican) and the United States. In those private meetings and his annual addresses to the diplomatic corps, Pope Benedict XVI exuded a humility that reflected the solemnity of his office. Elected to succeed the charismatic Blessed John Paul II, he is to be commended for continuing the Holy See's active role in promoting human dignity for all individuals. A great scholar, Benedict reminds us that religious values have an important role to play in the public square. In the span of eight years, Benedict visited 24 nations and the Palestinian Territories. He is the oldest Pope to travel outside of Europe. In each pastoral visit, his diplomacy was understated and subtle, principally the act of Christian love. His influence on Catholics, and also ``people of good will'', is a testament to soft power. For example, the Pope's letter to Iranian president Ahmadinejad was decisive in resolving the disputed kidnapping of British sailors in 2007. In his trips to Cuba and Lebanon in 2012, Benedict asserted that politics is subordinate to moral considerations. Two trips epitomize the theme of Benedict's papacy-- Regensburg in 2006 and London in 2010. In the former, the erudite professor was quickly denounced by much of the international media for a criticism against a corruption of Islam that is intolerant and rejects human agency. The complex lecture inspired violent reprisals by some misinformed and radicalized Muslims around the world. Months later a Saudi prince visited the Holy See to foster and reciprocate the Pope's forthright dialog. Four years later, Pope Benedict traveled to London despite vocal opposition from a small group of anti-Catholic critics. Displaying tremendous poise, Benedict graciously spoke in Westminster Hall. Learning from Regensburg the need for clarity and concision more than academic merit, Benedict shared his view that ``the world of reason and the world of faith--the world of secular rationality and the world of religious belief--need one another and should not be afraid to enter into a profound and ongoing dialogue, for the good of our civilization.'' It was a high point for the Catholic Church, and a statement that religion and spirituality are not incompatible with modern life. The decision to retire is an act of humility. Benedict has left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church, preserved his theme of bonding faith and reason, and even maintained integrity amidst a much-touted scandal over his trusted butler. The Servant of the Servants of God, a phrase introduced by Pope Saint Gregory I near the end of the sixth century, leaves office in an act of selflessness. Soon after Benedict resigns, a papal conclave will be called in Rome. The College of Cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel and elect a new Pope. As decreed by Pope John Paul II, Cardinals more than 80 years old cannot vote. As of right now, 118 Cardinals are eligible to vote.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a creative visionary in Florida's 19th district--Leoma Lovegrove. As an excerpt from the Fort Myers News-Press says, ``Walking into Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens is like walking into a rainbow full of eye-popping neon pinks, oranges, purples, greens and blues . . . She applies her paintbrush to everything from cats to hearts to The Beatles.'' Leoma Lovegrove is an impressionist-expressionist painter known for her vivid paintings and colorful imagery. Leoma first started her art career making pottery, belt buckles and even decorated cow skulls. Then, a little over 20 years ago, she made her way to Matlacha--a small island community that became her home and her headquarters. Her artwork is represented in numerous galleries all over the world, including England and France. In fact, Leoma was the first American to paint on the replica of Claude Monet's floating studio in Giverny, France and the first American painter to have an exhibition in the famous Pierre Bonnard home in Vernon, France. I applaud Leoma and her art studio, Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens, which has brought thousands of visitors to Matlacha and all of Southwest Florida. Leoma is inspired to paint with endless imagination, and her contribution to the arts, culture and economy of Southwest Florida deserves our recognition. She has inspired artists in us all.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues several articles that I have written over the years regarding Latin America. As a Member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, these pieces serve to outline and inform discussions that our Committee will cover in the 115th Congress. I include in the Record the attached articles. What Real Progress on Cuba Should Look Like (By Mel Martinez & Francis Rooney) When President Obama stepped off Air Force One in Havana, many focused on the historic nature of his visit to Cuba--the first since President Calvin Coolidge. Coverage is focused on a thaw in Cold War animosity, and images of President Obama strolling the Malecon and meeting with Raul Castro are being broadcast around the world. However, behind those scenes, the Cuban people continue to suffer under a regime that denies them the rights, the freedom, the opportunity, and the dignity they deserve. Without addressing human rights, economic freedom, and freedom of expression, President Obama's trip is likely to be nothing more than speeches and photo ops. First, President Obama should make it clear that further opening of ties between the U.S. and Cuba is contingent upon further political, economic, and social reforms. These preconditions would make it clear to the Cuban regime that despite the restoration of diplomatic ties, the benefits they seek from trade, investment, and tourism from the United States are destined to benefit the Cuban people--not to buttress a repressive regime. In Havana, we hope that President Obama reminds the Cuban regime of how far it lags behind its neighbors in the region who have embraced democracy, economic freedom, and the rule of law. Compared to the region, Cuba has remained an economic and political backwater. It must be made clear to the Cuban regime that their restrictions on political freedom, civil rights, free expression, and the rule of law are on the wrong side of history. To this end, President Obama should push the Cuban regime to begin significant shifts to ensure the rule of law and initial steps towards the creation of an independent judiciary free of Communist Party influence. Protections of human rights, property, and dignity must come before the interests of the Cuban Communist Party. Furthermore, with party poised to hold its Seventh Congress next month, President Obama should suggest that further rapprochement requires that Congress to chart a path towards free and fair elections, and not to serve as a rubber stamp for the next generation of Communist apparatchiks. More importantly, it must be made clear to the Cuban regime that the United States will not tolerate the continuing brutal detention of human rights activists and regime opposition. In the lead up to President Obama's visit, 300 people have been arrested since March 8th. Dozens of the Damas de Blanco were arrested before Obama's arrival over the weekend. Their ``crime'' is to demand the freedoms and rights that are not just U.S. interests, but rather fundamental American values. If the harassment and persecution of these reformers continues, President Obama should let the Cuban regime know that this rapprochement will be at least frozen, if not significantly rolled back. On the economic front, the U.S. private sector cannot be the successor to the Soviet Union and Chavez's Venezuela in propping up the Cuban regime. The Helms-Burton Act will continue to remain the law of the land, and President Obama should remind the Cuban regime that Congress is unlikely to change that without a significant relaxation of the political and economic fetters the Cuban regime places on its people. Furthermore, President Obama should make it clear that it is not acceptable for the Cuban government to serve as a pass-through middleman who receives investments in dollars or euros, and pays workers in Cuban Pesos that represent a fraction of the value of worker labor. If U.S. firms do invest in Cuba, they must be allowed to pay their workers directly--in dollars. Additionally, if further investments are made in Cuban telecommunication systems, and if data connections between the U.S. mainland and Cuba are bolstered, the U.S. government should insist that the Cuban people have access to a free, uncensored version of the Internet. Improved telecommunications need to be contingent on ensuring that Cubans can join the global digital commons and communicate freely. Furthermore, with U.S.-Cuba increased data traffic on the horizon, the Obama Administration should make it absolutely clear that Cuba cannot continue to serve as a listening post for Russian and Chinese signals intelligence and cyber espionage aimed at the United States. While we still believe that the Cuban regime has demonstrated far too little in the way of reform or openness to warrant the steps the Obama Administration has taken in opening to Cuba, we feel that these actions would ensure that his trip to Havana can bring about real benefits for the Cuban people.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 67, a resolution which will protect individual savers for their retirement and small business retirement plans. I was proud to introduce this resolution to affirm the bipartisan protections the ERISA law has afforded workers and retirees for decades. ERISA offers important legal safeguards so workers and retirees will receive their hard-earned savings. We need Federal Government policies that will empower workers to save for their retirement and incentivize small businesses to offer 401(k) plans to their employees. H.J. Res. 67 preserves these policies and protections, and will terminate the defective efforts instituted in the last hours of the recent administration, in which they implemented regulatory loopholes to replace private savings for retirement with sweetheart deals for city- and State-run programs with fewer protections and lower standards. The California folks that are in charge of this stuff were quoted in an article in a national publication in the spring, gloating about their exciting win, and that it ``would have no liability or fiduciary duty for the plan. . . . We have been given the green light. . . . '' The regulation we are terminating here would restrict our hardworking savers from deciding what they can invest in. They will be required to blindly entrust their hard-earned money to State and local bureaucrats unless they affirmatively opt out. The government will decide what investment options will be available to them. There is a serious risk of political or social investing by these bureaucrats instead of individual investor-based decisions. Worst of all, the regulation which we are abolishing would undermine the very successful 401(k) retirement savings program. Due to 401(k)'s and related defined-contribution plans, savings have gone from $7.8 billion to over $25 billion in about 20 years. It has been a huge success. We should be encouraging Americans and private companies to privately invest in 401(k) plans, which offer three distinct advantages: The contribution amount to a 401(k) plan is three times what can be put in an IRA. Employers match contributions. Many companies match 1 for 1 up to 4 percent of what the employee puts in. That is a powerful incentive for the employee to save. The last thing is, 401(k) plans are protected by the ERISA law. They ensure that workers' savings are secure. Furthermore, some 57 million Americans currently participate in privately funded IRAs. In the end, the regulations which we are abolishing were just another Big Government mandate to crowd out the private sector. These resolutions will put an end to the Obama administration's sweetheart deal, and will ensure that private sector workers continue to receive strong protections as they save for their retirement. This resolution will block the chance for cities and States to get their hands on our friends' and our employees' retirement savings. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect retirement savers today by voting in favor of H.J. Res. 67.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. It will stimulate competition for insurance coverage across State lines for moving an archaic and artificial barrier, which shouldn't be there in the first place. Lastly, it will encourage innovation in the delivery of health care in advances in treatment.

Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak about and oppose the travesty known as ObamaCare. The need to replace this program was obvious on day one. It is a failed socioeconomic experiment perpetrated by people who don't believe in individual choice and don't understand free market competition. In fact, we can see less than half of the folks that were supposed to sign up have done it because it is a bad deal for them. Nothing promised under this medical health insurance program has proved true. Care costs have gone up, premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed. We have another chart here, if I might, that shows a projected 25- plus percent increase in premiums in 2017. My State of Florida is 19 percent. Coverage has been circumscribed and reduced. This business about keeping your doctor has proven to be another falsehood. You can't afford to keep your doctor. You can't afford to keep your insurance. The entire program was flawed from the beginning. It is a top-down, government-run boondoggle. All it has done is create monopolies for a bunch of insurance companies. I have heard heart-wrenching personal stories from so many families in southwest Florida who have suffered severe financial burdens and have had reduced and dropped coverage because of ObamaCare. Paying more for less is bad policy. It is bad economics. It is a raw deal for Americans. Now we have the opportunity to do three things to turn the page and put this disaster of ObamaCare behind us. We have the opportunity today to enact the resolution, which will lead to repealing ObamaCare. We have the opportunity to have Dr. Price take the helm of Health and Human Services and begin a substantial administrative overhaul. And we have the opportunity to put in the replacement plan that has been talked about, described in A Better Way for America, which provides a seamless transition into a new form of health care, leaves no one without coverage, and assures the continual coverage of preexisting conditions. But it will offer consumer choice the American way. It will make coverage affordable and competitive.