Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the absurdly titled Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill is yet another attempt by the majority to intimidate women and providers of abortion care by imposing restrictions that are redundant, at best, and life-threatening, at worse. Time and again, Republicans have charged that politicians, not women and their doctors, know what is best for women's bodies. Enough is enough. Today is a reminder that women's reproductive rights are constantly under attack, and I will never waver in fighting back. This bill is completely unnecessary. It has always been illegal to kill newborn infants, and to suggest this legislation is anything more than redundant obstruction for women accessing healthcare is outrageous. Instead of spending time on unnecessary legislation, my Republican colleagues should work with Democrats to fund the government and protect 800,000 young people, our DREAMers, from deportation to countries they have never known. Mr. Speaker, Americans face actual real problems every single day. So let's get back to work.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution, which is, yet again, a complete abdication of our responsibilities. Instead of adopting fully funded appropriations bills or an omnibus with an actual chance of passing this Congress, we are mired in this unbreakable habit of passing continuing resolutions. The Republicans' most recent proposal does nothing to renew funding for the more than 1,400 community health centers across the country or the 25 million Americans they serve after they let funding run out in September. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, if Congress does not act soon, 28,000 sites could close, 50,000 staff could be laid off, and 9 million Americans could lose access to care. When did this program, which has always had bipartisan support in this body, become a partisan issue? These abdications are simply immoral. Our Republican colleagues say: We don't have the money to fund these programs, but somehow they were silent on that issue when they gave a handout to giant corporations that add more than $1.5 trillion to the deficit. While their donors rested peacefully over the holidays knowing that their tax cuts were safe, Republicans continued to torment 800,000 hardworking young people by refusing to pass the Dream Act. 122 DREAMers lose their protected status every day, and Republicans have not been brave enough to do what is right. These courageous individuals are teaching in our schools, working in our communities, and serving in our military. I have had the privilege of meeting DREAMers in south Florida and in the Halls of this Capitol. Their hopes and hard work signify what is best about America, and by any reasonable definition, they are Americans. This is their home. It is past time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work on a bipartisan spending package that promotes the middle class, protects DREAMers, and finally assures the American people that their government is working. I simply will not support any spending bill that fails to do so. Make no mistake, Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. A government shutdown will land squarely in their lap.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Special Agent Victor B. Williams, who after 34 years of service with the federal government, is retiring to independently pursue his efforts to end human trafficking. Victor began his career as a Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he conducted search and rescue/law enforcement missions from 1982 until 1991. He then joined the U.S. Customs Service, which later became the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a special agent in ICE's Homeland Security Investigations Unit, Victor participated in both domestic and international law enforcement investigations dealing with a wide range of activities, including terrorism, narcotics, money laundering, identity and benefit fraud, maritime smuggling operations, container security, and human trafficking. Victor's experiences during these investigations triggered a lifelong determination to not only combat human trafficking, but also to educate law enforcement personnel and the public about the importance of victim-centered approach. He has served and represented over 250 entities, including non-governmental organizations, churches, private organizations, and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels in his fight against the exploitation of people. Victor B. Williams is an extraordinary man who has dedicated his life to serving others. I could not be prouder of the time and devotion he has given to his community and his country. I am honored to recognize Victor today for his invaluable contributions to combat modern-day slavery.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution, which is, yet again, a complete abdication of our responsibilities as Members of Congress. What we have before us today is evidence that the so-called Republican leadership simply cannot deliver on the promises they have made to the American people. Instead, this Congress has decided to continue taking the ludicrous approach of funding the government for just a few weeks at a time, while ignoring the pressing issues that demand our attention. Over the last few weeks, Republicans in this Congress have decided to focus only on pushing through legislation designed to further enrich giant corporations, while adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit. Yet, to the DREAMers who teach our children, care for our sick, and serve our Nation, Republicans continue to say: You just have to wait. For millions of our most vulnerable--young kids suffering from illness and debilitating disease, who are reliant on the Children's Health Insurance Program--Republicans have made it clear their priorities lie elsewhere. And to those who have served our country with dignity and pride, the Republican majority has failed to provide urgently needed resources to address the dire shortfalls at the VA. Well, Mr. Speaker, the DREAMers cannot wait. The threat of deportation looms over these courageous individuals every single day. Sick children deserve our attention now. They should not be used as bargaining chips in this reckless debate. And our Nation's veterans need to know we have got their backs without delay. We cannot deny them the healthcare that they have earned. Don't tell me that we don't have the funds to support those who need us the most, when this Congress just gave a handout to those who need it the least. This pathetic continuing resolution fails to address the needs of the people who sent us here. It doesn't even come close. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. We must pass this legislation to make anti- Semitic and Islamophobic cowards think twice before they spread fear, while hiding behind a computer or a phone. We must pass this legislation to ensure that America is always a refuge from religious persecution. I deeply wish this legislation were not needed, Mr. Speaker, but, sadly, it is. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1730, the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017. I thank Congressman Kilmer for his vision and leadership on this critical issue. This legislation would strengthen current Federal law to prohibit threats against religious property, increase the penalty for damaging religious property, and expand protected religious property to include not just houses of worship, but also religiously affiliated nonprofits, like Jewish community centers. Over the past few years, there has been a frightening rise in incidents of racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia in the U.S. and around the world. All too often, the perpetrators of hate target houses of worship and other religious centers. From the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin in 2012, to Charleston's Emanuel AME Church shooting in 2015, to the mosque attack in London this summer, and the firebombing of a synagogue in Sweden just this past weekend, these violent, cowardly bigots go after what is most sacred to the communities they so odiously abhor. While the hateful incidents that result in loss of life are undoubtedly the most tragic, any threat or attack against religious property can shake communities to their core. The Jewish community of south Florida, sadly, knows this firsthand. Last year, a man planned to bomb a synagogue in Aventura in my congressional district during Passover. He was caught, thankfully, but incidents like this proliferating around the country are instilling fear, causing unease, and requiring additional security measures to be deployed. Sadly, in south Florida, this was not an isolated incident. Mr. Speaker, I will say that, although not specifically an attack against a Jewish institution, I remember my children, then in preschool, attended preschool at our local JCC and, after the 9/11 attack, my husband racing to their school to take them out of school that day because of the panic that was instilled that automatically occurs in every Jewish family's life with children in a Jewish institution when there is a terrorist attack. We are constantly on edge as to whether or not our community is next. It is deeply disturbing that the people in my community who attend synagogues and visit our Jewish community centers do so knowing these domestic terrorists intentionally want us to feel uneasy about it. Their mission is to instill fear in the hearts of Jews, Muslims, and other religious minorities so that we will not feel at home in America. And they are not relenting. The most recent annual report on hate crimes by the FBI showed that there was nearly a 5 percent increase in incidents last year. It is the first time in 10 years that America has experienced consecutive annual increases in reported hate crimes. More than half of the religiously based hate crimes were anti-Jewish, and a quarter of them were anti-Muslim. We cannot let bigoted threats and vandalism become the new normal. We must pass this legislation to make it 100 percent clear that, in the view of Congress, when it comes to religious bigotry, there are not good people on both sides.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution, which is yet again a complete abdication of our responsibilities. Instead of adopting fully funded appropriations bills or an omnibus with an actual chance of passing this Congress, we remain mired in this unbreakable habit of passing continuing resolutions. This not only creates needless legislative and economic uncertainty, it costs the government, especially our military, billions in wasted taxpayer dollars. Moreover, this abdication reflects the Republican leadership's complete abandonment of our values and the needs of our constituents. For one, we have yet to pass the Dream Act. Despite widespread support nationally and with growing fear of deportations, this Congress has ignored the 122 DREAMers who lose their protected status every day. These are Americans by any definition, and this is their home. I will not stand by as this President cruelly threatens to send these brave young people back to countries about which they have no memory. When will this body fully address the horrific disasters that have ravaged Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and California? Countless communities, including my own, are anxiously awaiting vital recovery assistance that only the Federal Government can provide. These abdications are simply immoral. It doesn't end there. Congress has failed to renew the Children's Health Insurance Program. States and families across America are scrambling to find replacement funds and healthcare alternatives for their children. When did CHIP and protecting the health of our children become a partisan issue? My Republican colleagues want to add more than $1 trillion to the deficit for tax cuts for big corporations and the top 1 percent, while they are at it; but then they say we can't afford to spend a fraction of that on healthcare for children? These priorities are backward and morally indefensible. Instead of protecting Americans from the scourge of gun violence, Republicans are weakening our already feeble gun laws by passing more legislation that ensures more deadly gun violence in our towns and cities. We need to pass an omnibus budget that doesn't threaten programs for our veterans and children or make drastic cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that our seniors rely upon. Instead of handing massive tax cuts to millionaires and powerful corporations, we should pass a budget that supports education, expands women's health, and provides real economic relief to the middle class. In short, we have to break this body's obsession with promoting the interests of the well-off and special interests, and ignoring the needs of children, DREAMers, seniors, and the middle class. This continuing resolution does nothing more than provide another short-term fix for the Republican leadership's unhealthy addiction. It is abominable, it is irresponsible, and we should set it aside and focus on making long-term decisions for the American people.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Many Venezuelans have fled the chaos in their country to freedom and safety in my congressional district. The significant infusion of our Venezuelan friends and neighbors has affectionately dubbed my hometown of Weston, Florida, as Westonzuela. We have welcomed them to our community, but we are committed to joining them in the fight for their country and for their friends and family members who remain there in the fight. This legislation is an important step in that battle, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise to commend my sister in so many fights, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, whom we will miss. But we are not letting her get away that quickly, because we have about a year together with many fights and fun to engage in. I am here this afternoon to talk about something not very pleasant, and that is the absolute necessity to adopt H.R. 2658, the Venezuela Humanitarian Assistance and Defense of Democratic Governance Act of 2017. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Engel, and Mr. Sires have introduced this legislation, rightfully, because the Maduro regime has repeatedly demonstrated that they have no respect for political freedom, human rights, or even the basic needs of their own citizens. The consequences for the Venezuelan people are becoming more and more devastating every day. It is absolutely unconscionable that the Maduro regime is refusing to allow food, medicine, and other essential supplies to reach Venezuelans in need. This bill would be a valuable step to ensure that the Venezuelan people are helped, even if their government would prefer that people die rather than receive aid from the international community. The sanctions that have been imposed thus far against the perpetrators in the Maduro regime have been steps in the right direction, but we must do more. The Venezuelan Government has demonstrated time and time again that they won't do the right thing on their own, so we must continue to apply stronger and stronger pressure. This legislation would strengthen the President's ability to tighten the screws on Maduro and his cronies. In order for Venezuela to return to peace and prosperity, its democracy must be restored and strengthened. Elections under the Maduro regime have been manipulated and undermined, and it is absolutely essential that next year's Presidential election proceeds freely and fairly. That is why it is so urgent that we pass this bill into law to empower the State Department to work with our allies and partners and the Venezuelan people to help them take their country back.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to honor the life of Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee, a minister and transgender activist from Oakland Park, Florida, who was the youngest pastor ever commissioned by the Unity Fellowship Church. S.F. was born on July 5, 1972 to Barbara MaHee and the late Adisa Makalani. The family's Sundays were spent in church, where S.F. enjoyed serenading the congregation with gospel renditions of ``Jesus Can Work It Out.'' S.F. found his love of Broadway at the Julia Richman High School in New York, where producer Cheryl Weisenfeld cast him in a production of Grease. After moving to Atlanta with family, S.F. began teaching theater courses, as well as lecturing for Georgia State University, Soapstone Center for the Performing Arts, and Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. He also founded the Heart Theater, a youth theater troupe, where he wrote and directed Journeys, an educational play focused on HIV/AIDS. Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee came to South Florida in 1997 where he found his community, his congregation and his purpose. S.F. began working at the PRIDE Center in Wilton Manors, as well as many other non-profits. He founded Black Gay Pride South Florida and co-founded BLACKOUT, South Florida's first African-American LGBTQ Film Festival. S.F. was the first transgender person to be appointed to the Broward County Human Rights Board. He was also an active member of the Dolphin Democrats, the longest continually-operating LGBTQ advocacy group in the South. Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee spent his life loving others unconditionally. Before his untimely passing, S.F. served as the Coordinator of the Transgender Program at the Broward County Department of Health, where he advocated for fellow members of South Florida's transgender community. S.F. passed away on November 20, 2017, this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance. He is survived by his mother Barbara; his siblings Darcy, Jeffrey, Justin, and Marsha; and several nephews. He is also survived by a community of friends across South Florida, Atlanta, and New York who he considered his family.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the life of Larry Joe Miller, artist-in-residence for the City of Hollywood, Florida. Larry served our nation in the United States Air Force where he earned a distinguished record of overseas service. A true renaissance man, Larry was renowned for his music and art. He was known in South Florida as ``Mr. Rockabilly'' from his 50 years as a touring musician. During his touring days, he played with several popular bands, including the Thingies, Larry Joe Miller and the Rockabilly Rockets, and the Delusions. He was a lifelong artist who delighted Hollywood residents and all who visited. As artist-in-residence, he hosted weekly community art events, including classes for students in need and his famous ``Paint for Fun'' nights, which allowed hundreds of South Florida residents to paint for free in Hollywood ArtsPark. Above all, Larry was a beloved husband and father who impacted the lives of all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Amy; his sons Clay, Tyler, John Paul (Shelli), and Dennis (Stacy); and his grandchildren Aradia, Olivia, Phoenix, Owen, Quinn, Jessica, and Jason. The City of Hollywood and the entire South Florida family lost an icon who will be sorely missed; however, I am confident Larry Joe Miller's legacy will live on through his work and the lessons he taught so many in our community.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, to my friend on the other side of the aisle, the gentlewoman from Tennessee, the reality is that the truth hurts. This budget resolution totally abandons America's most cherished values and betrays its highest ideals. This extreme budget not only threatens programs for our veterans and hungry children, it makes drastic cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that our seniors count on for survival. As it doles out that budgetary cruelty, this resolution hands massive tax cuts to millionaires and powerful corporations all while adding $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. It also fails to protect our environment, neglects our children's education, and once more targets women's healthcare for severe cuts. In short, the wealthy win, the middle class is ignored, and we all get saddled with more debt. Those are not values that this House should stand for. It is certainly not what veterans, children, seniors, or hardworking Americans deserve. This irresponsible budget rewards the rich and powerful and punishes everyone else, and that is the best thing that I can say about it. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to recognize my good friend, The Honorable Barbara Sharief of Miramar, Florida, on her successful tenure as mayor of Broward County. Mayor Sharief is the first African American woman, as well as the first Muslim, to serve as Broward County mayor. She was first elected to the nine-member County Commission in 2010, was elected mayor by her fellow commissioners in November 2013, and was re-elected in 2015. As mayor, she oversees Broward County's $4.3 billion operating budget, which operates the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, and a variety of regional services, such as parks, libraries, public works, and transit. Mayor Sharief has focused her mayoralty on the theme of ``Broward Means Business.'' Mayor Sharief understands that small business is the backbone of our economy and has steadfastly highlighted and promoted county programs to ensure they succeed and thrive. To that end, she has begun every commission meeting by recognizing the civic leadership of one business in Broward County. As she concludes her second term, Mayor Sharief continues the county's tradition of hosting the Mayor's Gala to raise funds for the United Way's Mission United program, helping veterans transition from active duty to civilian life. In addition to making Broward County a better place for all business, Mayor Sharief manages her own business, South Florida Pediatric Home Care Inc., which she built from the ground up. She holds both a Master of Science in Nursing and an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner degree from Florida International University, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. In addition to her role as mayor, businessowner, and student, she is also the mother of five children- Amanda, Zach, Alyssa, Meia, and Hailey. Mayor Sharief is an extraordinary public servant whom I am proud to have worked alongside for the betterment of the residents of Broward County. I thank her for her dedicated service, and I wish her much success in all her future endeavors.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month for millions of us in the breast cancer community. The statistics are sobering: one in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. Earlier this year, I received a note from a former staffer. I had watched this young woman blossom from a young and eager intern to ultimately serving as my executive assistant and scheduler before she departed the Hill for graduate school, marriage, and a future full of promise. In the note, she wrote: ``My wedding was about 2 months ago. It was the most magical night of my life. It was so incredible to be surrounded by so many friends and loved ones and good will. I can't imagine ever being happier than I was that night.'' She went on to say: ``Unfortunately, things have gotten a little more complicated since then. While I was on my honeymoon, I noticed a small lump in my right breast. Since I had the benefit of working for you, I know that, while rare, it is possible that young women can get breast cancer, and I should take it seriously. I think you can probably guess where this is going . . . '' She continued: ``We have no idea how this happened to me. I guess some people get struck by lightning, some people are deathly allergic to peanuts, and some people get breast cancer at 29 with no family history. ``Luckily, it was caught early and the doctors have every confidence that it is fully curable and I will live a long and happy life.'' She ended the note by thanking me for advocating for breast cancer awareness, specifically for younger women. She said: ``DWS,'' as I am often referred to by staff, ``keep fighting the good fight. It is saving the lives of people like me.'' Today, she is fighting the good fight, and I know she will win. Unfortunately, just like my former staffer, I know all too well that it can strike even when you are young. In 2007, when I was only 41 years old, I learned I had breast cancer. Like many others before me, when I was diagnosed, and later identified as a BRCA2 gene mutation carrier, I worried about many things: Would I be there to see my children grow up? Would I be able to beat this disease? Wasn't I too young to have breast cancer? Fortunately, with the passage of the ACA--the Affordable Care Act-- insurance coverage cannot be taken away from people like me and like my former staffer. Access to affordable, quality healthcare is now a right, not a privilege. As Members of Congress, we have a duty to protect this right. Instead of calling for senseless votes to repeal this legislation, I call on my Republican colleagues to join me in recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month by supporting those of us who are living healthier, stronger lives every day because of the Affordable Care Act. The statistics for breast cancer remain alarming. The American Cancer Society estimates that 40,610 women will die from breast cancer in 2017 alone, making it the second most common type of cancer death in women. Between the ages of 60 and 84, breast cancer incidence rates are markedly higher in White women than Black women. However, Black women have a higher incidence rate before age 45, and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. This is wholly unacceptable. We must take action to provide women with the preventative services and screenings available while educating them on their risks and treatment options. That is why, in 2009, I introduced the EARLY Act, a bipartisan bill that became law as part of the Affordable Care Act, to focus on equipping young women with the tools they need to make informed decisions regarding their breast health. I am proud that the EARLY Act was reauthorized in 2014, and even more proud that it has, and is, helping young women like my former staffer. This Congress, I also introduced the PALS Act with my good friend from Indiana, Congresswoman Susan Brooks. This bill would extend the moratorium on the United States Preventive Services Task Force mammography screening guidelines to ensure women have access to lifesaving mammograms beginning at age 40. It would also ensure women who have served our country--our women veterans--don't have to face these same obstacles in getting the care they and their healthcare providers deem necessary. Because many insurance companies use the USPSTF guidelines as the basis for coverage, 22 million women between ages 40 and 49 could be at risk of losing coverage for this lifesaving screening. The bottom line is the vast majority of experts recommend beginning screening mammograms at age 40. Women need to be able to follow this guidance until scientific consensus can be reached. As someone who was diagnosed at just age 41, I can tell you that women need guaranteed access to these tests beginning at age 40. We must also ensure the National Institutes of Health has the funding it needs to continue their progress. I will continue to use my voice and my vote as an appropriator to ensure that critical funding is provided through the annual appropriations bill for breast cancer research, services, and support. My story and my former staffer's story isn't unique. That is why we must do more to support our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who are battling or who have survived this deadly disease. And we must do everything we can to eradicate breast cancer once and for all. I look forward to continuing to work together with all of you--my colleagues on both sides of the aisle--and with the advocacy community to help women know their risk, discover cancer early, and access the best treatment possible.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Vice Mayor Diane Glasser of Tamarac, Florida, who passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at the age of 89. Diane was a woman who wore many hats in her time. She served as a Commissioner and Vice Mayor on the Tamarac City Commission, as Broward County's State Committeewoman to the Florida Democratic Party, and as a delegate to six consecutive Democratic National Conventions. In an era when western Broward County was synonymous with massive developments of senior condos, Diane became a nationally-known political powerhouse through her ability to bring the ward-style organization from her native Brooklyn to the 5,000-unit 55-plus community known as Kings Point in Tamarac. If you were a candidate or elected representative planning to set foot in Kings Point, you did so only with Diane's blessing. She was an indomitable civic force in our community and built a get-out-the-vote operation in the condos that brought thousands of seniors to the polls for each and every election. If Diane stumbled on a wrong, she was determined to make it right. She was a passionate advocate for the underserved, a defender of civil rights and someone who helped make Broward County a kinder, more compassionate community. She was a problem-solver and a leader, and brought people along where she saw a chance to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Her passing brings with it the end of an era in South Florida politics. Diane is survived by her two sons, Craig and Lloyd Glasser, and one granddaughter, Dara.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, let me just start by saying to the people of Puerto Rico: Despite President Trump's indifference and soft bigotry, we will be there for the people of Puerto Rico until the last American's life returns to normal. While I rise to support this critical emergency appropriations bill, this supplemental leaves much to be desired. This legislation provides vital recovery funds to my home State of Florida, as well as Texas; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico; and California, where wildfires remain ablaze. However, it neglects to include SBA loans for small businesses and homeowners, as well as making smart investments in our ports, coastlines, water systems, and electrical grids. This bill also neglects to address the devastating agricultural losses, especially to Florida's $10 billion citrus industry. It is also important to note that, in Florida, this vital funding will not be able to address the public health hazard of debris strewn across our lawns and streets as Governor Scott shamefully refuses to allow our cities to fully access FEMA funds. While the majority has said these and other issues can be part of future omnibus negotiations, this delay will leave constituents waiting months longer to receive the services they so desperately need. They should not have to wait.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Sadly, this budget does not reflect our responsibility to care for and invest in the American people. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, debating this budget resolution is a partisan and pointless exercise, and I will point out to the chairman that it is October, after the fiscal year has expired and after we have already passed every single appropriations bill out of the House of Representatives, and, I might add, a continuing budget resolution. Just as when we considered it in committee this summer, this resolution stands as a demonstration of the majority's willful and disgraceful neglect of the needs of the American people. With so many critical legislative issues for us to discuss, the majority has decided it is a better use of our time to discuss tax breaks for millionaires and wealthy corporations; taking healthcare away from 20 million Americans; blowing up our deficit with an ineffective, immoral border wall; and gutting crucial investments in jobs, education, and medical research. Instead, this House should be enacting legislation to expand background checks and ban assault weapons to combat senseless firearm violence after this Nation witnessed, once again, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. This House should be passing the Dream Act to protect DREAMers who call this Nation home and protect them from this administration's heartless deportations. Finally, instead of wasting taxpayer dollars and our constituents' time with this harmful budget resolution, this House should be reauthorizing CHIP, the bipartisan-backed Children's Health Insurance Program, which expired over the weekend and which potentially is going to leave children who badly need healthcare insurance twisting in the wind without it. Congressional Republicans have chosen instead to bring this incredibly irresponsible and extreme bill to the floor. In stunning ignorance of reality, it assumes TrumpCare will still pass. Just how many times must the majority be reminded that TrumpCare is not going to become law and the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land that Americans support? How many times will the majority try to cut Medicaid by $1 trillion, cut Medicare benefits, and raise insurance costs on elderly and low- income Americans? Enough is enough. Instead of pandering to the well connected and our worst impulses, this budget should embody America's best values, and it is far from it.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program as they celebrate 25 years of service to our veterans community. Since 1992, the Veterans Consortium has provided over $100 million in pro bono services working on five thousand individual cases. As our veterans return home from military service, it is critical they receive the benefits and care they deserve and need. The tireless efforts of the Veterans Consortium representing veterans at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is an essential aspect of our promise to support service members as they transition to civilian life. As the Ranking Member of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, I commend the member attorneys of the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program for their generosity and unwavering commitment.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, we must give the protection of these children our full focus and efforts. Please think about these precious babies being victimized. If you are a parent--and many of us are--God forbid if it was your own child. It could be any of our children, because of the prevalence of our children being online. Let's give these ICAC teams the resources they need to rescue as many children as possible. If we do that, thousands more innocent children will be protected from these unspeakable crimes. There, but for the grace of God, go our families and children. I thank my Republican lead cosponsor, Congressman Lamar Smith, for teaming up with me again to reauthorize this for yet another 5 years for this critical issue. I urge my colleagues to support the PROTECT Our Children Act reauthorization.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her commitment, for her work, and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I spent 5 years as a proud member of the Judiciary Committee. I miss it and I hope to return one day to add on to my responsibilities as a member of the Appropriations Committee. I also thank Mr. Goodlatte for his leadership and solid, consistent support for this program over the last decade. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 782, Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act--or the PROTECT Our Children Act--because at this very moment there are thousands of children out there waiting to be saved. Our children deserve, as we all agree, a future that is healthy, prosperous, bright, secure, and, most of all, safe. That is, of course, what every parent cares about the most: the safety of their children. But, sadly, our children are vulnerable when they are online. With the proliferation of the internet and wireless technology, online child pornography has become an epidemic, and I don't use that term lightly. The ever-increasing reach of the modern internet has facilitated an exploding, multibillion-dollar market for child pornography. Tragically, the demand for this criminal market can only be supplied by graphic new images, and these images can only be supplied through the sexual assault of more children. Let's not forget that these are not just heinous photos or images. They are, simply put, crime scene photos created by a thriving industry that uses children as sexual commodities. Ten years ago, I introduced H.R. 3845, the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2007--or PROTECT Our Children Act of 2007. At a House Judiciary hearing on that bill, my colleagues will remember we heard from a very brave young woman, Alicia Kozakiewicz. She had been abducted by an internet predator when she was just 13 years old. She was held captive in his dungeon basement and sexually tortured for 4 days. The FBI found Alicia because the Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force--or ICAC--had the technology to lift the digital fingerprints of this perpetrator's crimes. They were able to discover the location where he held her captive, chained to the floor, connected to a collar around her neck. Internet crimes officers tracked the IP address back to his door and literally rescued Alicia from death. I remember Alicia's testimony like it was yesterday because it moved many of the members of that committee, including myself, to tears. Over the course of that next year, we learned a lot about these types of offenders: who they are, how they operate, and, most importantly, where they are. We saw detailed law enforcement maps that showed the locations of hundreds of thousands of sexual predators, over half of whom had actual child victims waiting to be rescued. That number might lend people to think: Come on, that has to be an exaggeration. It is not. I have seen the evidence before my eyes: hundreds of thousands of sexual predators, each on a computer uploading pictures of child victims that they are sexually assaulting. Those maps described the truly harrowing environment. Congress did what it was supposed to do. We acted. We passed H.R. 3845 and, the following year, passed its companion, S. 1738. This legislation established the National Internet Crimes Against Children-- or ICAC--Task Force Program, a specialized group of law enforcement officials dedicated to the protection of our children. In 2009 and 2010, Congress funded the ICAC Task Force at close to their full authorization levels of $50 million per year. The task forces grew from 42 to 61, and arrests and child rescues doubled. Literally thousands more predators were apprehended and children rescued. An untold number of sexual assaults were prevented by virtue of the fact that the most dangerous offenders were sitting behind bars, where they could no longer harm our children. In 2011, however, the ICAC Task Force budget was slashed, cut from $50 million to where it is today at $27 million. So, with all due respect, I have to correct my colleagues. We are not funding the ICAC Task Force at authorized levels. This cut remains intact, despite the fact that, as of August 2017, law enforcement has seen nearly a half million unique IP addresses trafficking in sexual abuse images in the U.S. That is hundreds of thousands of separate online sexual predators, and that number is only from January 2017 to August 31, 2017. Even more heartbreaking, law enforcement officials tell us that the victims are getting younger, most under the age of 10, and the abuse is getting more sadistic. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 44 percent of the images, Mr. Speaker, they viewed in 2016 depicted sexual torture. Law enforcement also tells us that only 7 percent of the top 100 traders on peer-to-peer networks trading these types of images are even under investigation. Mr. Speaker, this is not just unacceptable; it is tragic. We owe our children much better than that. They deserve our help and a Congress that will do whatever it can to ensure their health and safety. S. 782, the Senate version of a bill that I introduced in March of this year with my colleague and friend, Lamar Smith, as the chairman kindly thanked us, reauthorizes the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to estimates, half of the arrests made by ICAC teams lead us to the door of a hands-on offender and, thus, a child waiting to be rescued. The PROTECT Our Children reauthorization before us today will help us continue to provide the safety net we so desperately need by allowing these highly successful ICAC Task Forces to continue to support State and local law enforcement agencies. While I applaud House leadership for making sure this crucial child rescue program and funding is not allowed to expire, I beseech my colleagues to also make sure that the ICAC Task Forces are fully funded. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I press for that every year. We have to do better. We have to get as close to the authorization level as we can, because we actually rescue children with the more resources we put into this.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I, like many Members, have concerns regarding another round of BRAC. I realize that this is a complicated issue for all Members of Congress, especially those with military facilities in their congressional districts. I have had this conversation with my chairman, Mr. Dent, several times. And while we both share the concerns of those Members with military bases in their district and other military facilities, the gentleman is right. We are going to need to address that we have facilities all across the country that really need to be evaluated because they are, essentially, maintaining infrastructure that is no longer needed. For example, the estimate of excess capacity for the Army is 22 percent. The Air Force's estimate of excess capacity is roughly 30 percent. Both the Army and the Air Force are strong supporters of another BRAC round. While this amendment really has no effect because we don't actually have any funding in this bill for another BRAC round, it does send the message that Congress is unwilling to tackle what is arguably a tough issue. This amendment would be, essentially, an abdication of our duties as Members of this House to ensure that taxpayer resources are being used in a wise and fiscally responsible way, and that is something that we hear from our friends on the other side of the aisle regularly. And given that we have a very significant increase in the defense appropriations bill, when we have resources that we are expending or, essentially, wasting by not having a BRAC round, then we are, essentially, leaving that money on the table when we could provide it for our national defense. So I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. And I recognize that the chairman is willing to accept it, but we should underscore that there are no funds in this bill for a round of BRAC, so, essentially, the acceptance of this amendment adopts the same posture that this bill already holds. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, the VA conducts animal research at 74 of its facilities, and only 3 of these--Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Richmond-- are still conducting experiments on dogs that involve inflicting significant pain and distress. Just yesterday, another whistleblower went public with graphic photos of mutilated dogs and other troubling information about dog testing at that facility. In addition, a recent VA Office of Research Oversight investigation found that the VA failed to keep adequate records about sick and suffering dogs and has consistently underreported the number of dogs used in experiments to Federal authorities. I want to be clear that this amendment, unfortunately, does not stop all animal research at the VA, and it doesn't even stop all dog research at the VA--again, unfortunately. Far from it, in fact. This amendment rightly and simply prohibits taxpayers' dollars from being spent on research that causes dogs significant pain and distress. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment on behalf of Bailey, Demmy, Coqui, Minnie, and Maddie Schultz.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.