Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you with your congressional women's softball team, who are tanned, rested, and ready to beat the press tonight. Our bipartisan team has been practicing for the last 3 months at 7 in the morning, two to three mornings a week, with batting practice at night at the cages at the Nationals training academy. We have been singularly focused on two things--I know it doesn't make sense, because that would mean it wasn't singularly--making sure that we can continue to raise awareness about the risk that young women face of breast cancer and to make sure that we can shine a spotlight on the fact that young women can and do get breast cancer. This is our ninth annual game. It is the eighth time that we are playing the common ``enemy''--we say that affectionately--the female Capitol press corps. They have been incredible partners in helping this year cross the incredible milestone of raising more than $1 million for the Young Survival Coalition. We are so proud of that. We want to thank our coaches who have been remarkable through all these years. Of course, we have our head coach, Torie Barnes, Jo Ann Emerson's daughter, who was the cofounder of this game 9 years ago; our own House favorite, Natalie Buchanan, who is an amazing new mom who has been out there with us, in spite of just having a baby a few short months ago; Coach Jim, who has been amazing as well; and, of course, our very own colleague, Coach Ed Perlmutter from the great State of Colorado. Come on out tonight at 7 p.m. at Watkins Recreation Center, 420 12th Street, SE. Turn right at the CVS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), my cocaptain, friend, and fellow appropriator.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Dr. Abraham Fischler, president emeritus of Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Fischler was one of south Florida's education pioneers and served as NSU's second president for 22 years, as well as a member of the Broward County School Board. Dr. Fischler was an inspiration to all those who knew him, myself included. He served as NSU president when I was a member of the staff, often providing wise counsel and guidance. He understood that in order to invest in our students, we need to invest in our teachers. He was truly an educator's educator. There are more than 10,000 students currently enrolled in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. He has shaped countless lives and will always be remembered for his determination to ensure our students succeed. Thanks to Dr. Fischler, our young adults face their future prepared and ready to take on all that life has to offer. My thoughts are not only with his wife, Shirley, and the entire Fischler family, but with the students, faculty, and staff.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017. Since 2011, the Assad regime's forces have killed an estimated 500,000 people, mostly civilians, by unconscionably targeting and attacking major population centers. According to Human Rights Watch, last month, the Syrian regime used a nerve agent in northwest Syria that killed at least 92 people, including 30 children. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that this was not the first chemical weapons attack by the Syrian Government against its own people. To the contrary, reports suggest that the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons has become ``widespread and systematic,'' and it has dropped bombs with nerve agents on at least four other occasions since December 12. Just yesterday, our own State Department revealed that the Syrian regime is actively using a large crematorium to dispose of the remains of thousands of Syrian men, women, and children, whom they continue to slaughter. Not only has the Syrian Government become a source of such crimes against humanity, but Syria has also indisputably become a hotbed for terrorist activity, propped up by Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. Both ISIS and al-Qaida are operating near the Syria-Israel border, putting the Jewish State of Israel and our regional security in grave danger. As a mother and a Jew, I cannot turn my cheek to this unadulterated evil. As a Member of the United States Congress, I have a duty to keep the American people safe and hold the Assad regime accountable for its war crimes and brutality. That is why I strongly support this critical legislation, and I thank Ranking Member Engel for all of his hard work in sponsoring it. This bipartisan legislation would expand sanctions on those individuals who commit such monstrous acts of violence and inflict such extreme suffering upon innocent Syrians. It would ensure that the United States has the tools it needs to reach its ultimate goal of ending the Assad regime's campaign of carnage once and for all. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn this abhorrent legislation that will rip away protections from millions of Americans. I am a breast cancer survivor. President Trump and our Republican colleagues promised Americans like me that we would not be discriminated against based on our preexisting conditions. I am not sure if any Republicans actually know what it is like to live every single day of your life waiting for the other shoe to drop, but with this bill, you yank that peace of mind that we have with the Affordable Care Act out from under us. This bill would allow States to segregate sick people into separate, inferior coverage and leave individuals exposed to catastrophic health costs, benefit exclusions, and waiting lists. High-risk pools spin sick people into a death spiral. Premiums go ever higher and coverage is spotty. I can only hope that my colleagues come to their senses before inevitably handing so many Americans a death sentence. Make no mistake, people will die as a result of this bill.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand in opposition to the Republican pay more for less care act, under which Americans will suffer from higher healthcare costs, less coverage, a crushing age tax, and a ransacking of the Medicare trust fund, which our seniors depend on for long-term care. Under the age tax, Americans aged 50 to 64 will be forced to pay five times higher premiums than others, no matter how healthy they are. Under TrumpCare, a 64-year-old with an income of $26,500 in the individual market will pay $12,900 more in their premiums every year under this bill. In addition, TrumpCare will take away health care from 24 million hardworking Americans and will force families to pay higher premiums and deductibles. In fact, for families enrolled in the ACA marketplace, premiums are expected to increase by 15 to 20 percent. It will also punish millions of people who experience a lapse in coverage by forcing them to pay a 30 percent higher premium each month in order to receive care. Tell that to Suzanne Boyd from Sunrise, Florida, who, with two daughters heading to college, lost her husband to lung cancer and then lost the insurance coverage she had through her employer. Thankfully, she was able to obtain coverage under the ACA for $192 a month with subsidies rather than a 30 percent Republican sick tax for getting a life-threatening illness. Yet this bill apparently isn't harmful enough for the far-right extremists in the Republican Party, whom Republican leadership has tried to appease by cutting the ACA essential health benefits like mental health, maternity, and emergency services. Mr. Speaker, this bill is like taking a sledgehammer to a clock that is moving a little slow rather than working on precision fine tuning instead. It is an immoral piece of legislation. As a breast cancer survivor, I urge every Member to stand with my sister survivors all across the country, who number in the millions, to make sure that you don't devastate our health and make sure that we don't have our lives threatened.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong opposition to H.R. 1181, the ``so-called'' Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. Mr. Speaker, twenty veterans a day tragically take their own lives. Just ONE veteran taking his or her own life is one too many. But twenty every day is an epidemic. It is unconscionable, and unacceptable. With two-thirds of veteran suicides being carried out with firearms, this bill practically pulls the trigger for veterans at risk. H.R. 1181 threatens the safety of our nation's veterans and potentially others; by providing those veterans suffering from mental illness with greater ease in obtaining a firearm. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is a critical tool in stopping those who want to do harm to themselves or others. If passed, this bill would dangerously alter the protocols for including a veteran in the database when he or she has been assigned a fiduciary. In addition, over one hundred-seventy thousand mentally ill veterans would be removed from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Instead of wasting time and energy on senseless budget cuts and harmful bills like H.R. 1181, this Congress should be focused on strengthening protocols so that no veteran struggling with mental illness ever falls through the cracks. Just two months ago, a veteran, Esteban Santiago, suffering from mental illness fell through the cracks and killed five people at my home airport in Fort Lauderdale. The current protocols failed him. We failed him and we should be doing all that we can to make the system strong for those suffering-- not making the situation worse, as this bill does. This bill does a grave disservice to those men and women who have served us valiantly. Moreover, it is opposed by military leaders including General Stanley McChrystal and General David Petraeus, who led our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is our obligation to ensure every veteran has the physical and mental health care they both deserve and need, We owe them better than this. Instead, this bill prioritizes putting firearms in the hands of mentally ill veterans who are already at serious risk.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, in listening to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle this morning, I am struck by the adage, ``You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.'' I think it is important to note that the reality of the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 was that there were hundreds of hours of hearings, many opportunities for all Members to provide input, mandatory processes that allowed for changes to that legislation that eventually became law, discussion, and a CBO analysis that shed light on the true cost--nothing like what has been described during the 24- hour whirlwind in the middle of the night that has resulted in the ramming through of legislation that will clearly increase costs and cover fewer individuals. Mr. Speaker, as a mother, a breast cancer survivor, and a proud Floridian, I rise today in opposition to the majority's irresponsible proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. After preaching for 7 years about a superior alternative to ObamaCare, my colleagues across the aisle have finally revealed their TrumpCare plan to the American people. As you might expect from TrumpCare, it promises more, delivers less, has fewer protections, and costs more. In other words, it will make America sick again. To add insult to injury, my Republican colleagues have moved this bill under the cover of darkness, without any hearings or even an analysis of its cost from the Congressional Budget Office. However, we do have an earlier CBO report that estimates that 15 million people would lose health insurance just as a result of repealing the individual mandate, which this bill, of course, does. Perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that President Trump told 129 million Americans like me, as a breast cancer survivor with preexisting conditions, that he would preserve the ACA provision prohibiting insurance companies from dropping us or denying us coverage, but he and his Republican colleagues in the House broke their promise and did not keep their word. The bill would once again allow insurance companies to charge people higher premiums when they have a preexisting condition, which will make coverage unaffordable. That is unconscionable. This bill will also punish millions of people who experience a lapse in coverage. Before we had the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 59.1 million people lacked continuous coverage for at least part of the previous year. One of those 59.1 million people was Suzanne Boyd from my district in Sunrise, Florida, who, with two daughters heading to college, was just starting to realize her dream of owing her own special events small business as her full-time job. Suzanne had insurance coverage for years through her husband's employer-sponsored health plan, until 2012, when her husband, Mark, died of lung cancer. Two weeks later, the family lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. Only 5 months after that, Suzanne, now widowed and uninsured, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. As Suzanne has said, before the Affordable Care Act, she wouldn't even have been able to think about starting her own business. She probably would have looked for another corporate job with health benefits. But knowing she would soon be able to obtain insurance under the ACA and that her preexisting condition couldn't be held against her when she applied, she started her company in 2013. She eventually qualified for a plan that cost her $192 a month with substantial government subsidies. Under the Republican plan, people like Suzanne may be forced to pay a 30 percent higher premium each month in order to receive care. Make no mistake: these massive increases in healthcare costs dumped on the backs of American working families will only benefit the wealthiest few. The 400 richest families in America will see a tax break worth $7 million a year. That would make the GOP bill one of the largest transfers in wealth from low- and middle-income families to the wealthiest in recent memory. This tax cut for the wealthy will also fall on the shoulders of seniors across America who will be forced to pay premiums five times higher than what younger individuals pay for health coverage. Not only is that cruel, but it is also unsustainable. According to the 2016 Medicare Trustees Report, the Medicare trust fund is solvent until 2028, 11 years longer than what was expected before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act reforms. In contrast, as the AARP noted, certain repeal provisions in the GOP bill could hasten the insolvency of Medicare by up to 4 years and diminish Medicare's ability to pay for services in the future. Millions of seniors depend on Medicare in conjunction with Medicaid to cover their long-term care needs, but Republicans' plans to make America sick again would destroy Medicaid as we know it. At least 11 million Americans stand to lose their healthcare coverage with the passage of this bill. And if you are fortunate enough not to be one of those 11 million, well, then I hope you are not, either, one of the tens of millions of seniors with long-term care needs, Americans with disabilities, pregnant women, children, or others who rely on Medicaid, because these drastic cuts and per capita caps are going to hurt them, too. TrumpCare's assault on Medicaid will also disproportionately affect women. This is an unconscionable piece of legislation that must have the light of day shining on it and that must not be allowed to become law. Democrats will stand in the breach to make sure that Americans don't get sick like they used to.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize the 108th Anniversary of Greater Mount Zion AME Church in Dania Beach, Florida. First organized in 1909, Greater Mount Zion has a rich and inspirational history. Not long after establishing its home in 1923, the church was demolished by a hurricane three short years later, leaving only a bible and the pulpit standing. Church members worked faithfully and were determined to rebuild, even if only in spirit and worship, and under the stewardship of several pastoral leaders, the Greater Mount Zion family always pressed forward together. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Greater Mount Zion flourished as a spiritual beacon for Dania Beach residents and in the 1960s, a building fund was started with just five hundred dollars. This fund would increase over time and help the church continue to expand and grow until a permanent church home was built. The resilience and determination of Greater Mount Zion is testament to the character and steadfast faith of leadership and parishioners alike. They never allowed temporary setbacks to hold them down. With their unshakeable faith and hard work, members gained new strength with each year and in 1986, with the groundbreaking of a beautiful new church, they witnessed a dream become a reality. Today, under the leadership of Reverend Paul R. Wiggins, Greater Mount Zion has elevated its congregation with an enthusiastic spirit to meet the needs of all its members, from the elders who persevered to keep the congregation alive, to the new generation who follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. It is with great admiration that I commend the visionary leadership of Greater Mount Zion AME Church and offer my heartfelt appreciation to the members for keeping the hopes and dreams of its founders alive for a century. Thank you for being a blessing and bright light for so many in Broward County and congratulations on one hundred and luminous years. May you celebrate and serve the needs and spirits of many for years to come.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor South Florida spiritual leader Reverend Jennie Lou Divine Reid. Reverend Reid serves as spiritual leader of St. Faith's Episcopal Church in Cutler Bay, Florida and is retiring after seventeen years of service as an ordained minister. Reverend Reid has provided religious guidance to church members and their families, enhancing their spiritual lives through music, art and liturgy. She has continuously uplifted vulnerable populations through her selfless work with the parish food pantry, her dedication to seniors in a nearby retirement community, and her work with Episcopal Charities. Further demonstrating her commitment to social justice, Reverend Reid has ensured everyone may worship comfortably and created a Spanish congregation and a regular service for those affected by AIDS. Reverend Reid's heart is larger than life. Her compassionate nature serves as an example for not only church members, but for all who are fortunate enough to be touched by her generous spirit. Her wisdom and guidance will certainly be missed by parishioners whom she has counseled and cared for throughout the years. Under her leadership, St. Faiths has grown and thrived as a beacon of hope in the South Miami-Dade community. I am proud to call Reverend Jennie Lou Reid my good friend and congratulate her on a well-earned retirement.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce this sad reality: the depraved beliefs of Holocaust deniers have somehow crawled into our national conversation. What is worse is that it is occurring at a time when our government has decided to turn its back on refugees fleeing violence and oppression. What is deeply concerning is that all of this is emanating from the White House, clearly directed by President Trump's top political strategist, Stephen Bannon. Mr. Bannon was the force behind Breitbart News, an alt-right outlet that traffics anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and White nationalism. When President Trump picked Mr. Bannon as a chief strategist, countless groups condemned it. The Anti-Defamation League's Jonathan Greenblatt warned us that Bannon's views were ``hostile to core American values.'' That concern was made crystal clear by the statement President Trump issued on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, about 10 days ago. The statement inexplicably left out the defining aspect of the Holocaust--the systemic murder of 6 million Jewish people. It is crucial to understand why this global day of remembrance even takes place. The United Nations created this calendar event in 2005, partly because fewer Holocaust survivors with personal accounts of the horror they experienced were still alive. Another reason was to combat the smoldering bigotry that still attempts to minimize the death of millions of murdered European Jews. The failure to mention this basic fact on such a day--as all past administrations have--is unbelievable and unacceptable. What is bone-chilling in its insensitivity and callous indifference is that, when questioned about the omission, President Trump's White House spokeswoman acknowledged it was intentional. His spokeswoman said in defense of leaving out any reference to Jews or anti-Semitism in the statement: ``Despite what the media reports, we are an incredibly inclusive group and we took into account all of those who suffered.'' Compounding this refusal to acknowledge that Jews were the main target of the Holocaust, the White House spokesman called critics of the statement ``pathetic'' and ``nit-picking.'' He tried to gloss over it by suggesting a Jew helped prepare the statement. The fact is, undeniably, that the Holocaust was about the Jews. Hitler established what he called the final solution, a state-sponsored policy to exterminate the Jews and rid them from the planet. Omitting any reference to Jews as the primary driver of Hitler's and the Nazi's intentions, is nothing short of sanctioning Holocaust denial by blurring the hatred that was its driving force. Yes, it is vital to recognize that others were systematically targeted for extermination, but the number of Jews murdered and the great lengths taken to identify, capture, and annihilate them are unprecedented in human history. This is why we mourn those who lost their lives in one of history's darkest moments. This is why we recommit ourselves to upholding the principle of ``never again.'' This is why we have an International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A cruel irony is that on this very same day, Trump released his punishing Muslim ban that Bannon reportedly crafted to stop refugees from coming into our country. The executive order bans travel to the United States from seven predominantly Islam countries, though we are told that this is not a Muslim ban. The bumbling rollout of the order and unmitigated chaos it caused, has drawn scorn from across the political spectrum, and from allies across the world. Fortunately, our legal system has acted as a check on this ban so far. But it is the Islamophobia at the root of it, which is what Mr. Bannon and the alt-right crowd have long promoted. The Jewish community was quick to see the disturbing historic similarities. In May of 1939, the German liner St. Louis sailed to Cuba with 937 passengers, most of them Jews fleeing the Third Reich. The bulk of the Jewish passengers had applied for U.S. visas and planned to stay in Cuba, but anti-Semitic protests prevented them from even disembarking there. After intense negotiations to try to have Cuba accept the refugees failed, the United States turned the ship away, and the passengers were forced to return to Europe. One-third of them were ultimately exterminated by the Nazis. It was a shameful chapter in our history. Those harsh forces are still at work around the globe, and it is those very same aspirational principles that drive so many immigrants to come to this great Nation. The idea that someone such as Mr. Bannon has actively worked to oppose these values in the past sickens me. The idea that Mr. Bannon now sits on the principals committee on the National Security Council is also deeply troubling. The prospect that his alt-right views could politicize the decisions that put American troops and lives at risk is inexplicable and inexcusable. But make no mistake, this outrage lies at the feet of Donald Trump, who allowed this oblique denial to go out in his name. So, Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to say that I will not be silent. In the face of cruelty and suffering, I will stand with those who refuse to be bystanders. I will join my voice with those who courageously ask questions instead of thoughtlessly taking orders. Mr. Speaker, the controversy over the Holocaust statement was never just a quibble about words. It is about the memory of 6 million murdered Jews. It is about making sure that no one, especially in the United States of America, denies that its primary purpose was, at its core, about Jews. And if we are to make certain that this never happens again, we cannot erase them from history or allow history to repeat itself. Never again.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it's my privilege to recognize the tremendous and meaningful work of the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation. The I Care I Cure Foundation was founded by my constituents and friends Beth and Brad Besner in honor of their son, Ian, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2006, one week before his eleventh birthday. Just four months after his diagnosis, Ian tragically passed away. It is so sad to see someone suffer from cancer but it hurts the most when it is a child. The harsh reality of children's cancer treatment is that it lasts longer than treatment for adults. Fighting cancer is devastating for children due to painful treatment, absence from school, and isolation from friends and family. Childhood cancer research is significantly underfunded and we must rely on organizations such as this one to help put research dollars to work. Over the past 10 years, the I Care I Cure Foundation has helped fund research and projects at the Miami Children's Hospital, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and the National Cancer Institute just to name a few. The good news is that researchers are making advances daily in the field of cancer treatment. And the better news is that there are organizations such as the I Care I Cure Foundation to help lead the way to gentler yet more cutting edge therapies. The Besners' work has helped ease the suffering that far too many children and families must endure. I thank Beth, Brad and their I Care I Cure family for the support they give to so many so that more children may celebrate their twelfth birthday, their twentieth birthday, and each and every day healthy and cancer free.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, as a mother, a breast cancer survivor, and a proud Floridian, I rise today in strong opposition to the majority's irresponsible efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The facts speak for themselves: 20 million Americans, including more than a million and a half Floridians, have obtained quality, affordable health care since the ACA became law. 129 million Americans, who, like me, have preexisting conditions, can no longer be discriminated against by their health insurance company. Our Nation's young adults now rest easy that they can stay on their parents' insurance until they are 26. Allow me to remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that we are elected to help Americans, not hurt Americans. Make no mistake, repealing the ACA will not only rip health care away from millions of Americans who have ObamaCare, but we owe it to the 155 million Americans with employer-based coverage to maintain the prohibition against annual and lifetime limits. Before the ACA, 105 million Americans, most of them with employer coverage, had a lifetime limit on their insurance policy. The ACA prohibits annual and lifetime limits on policies. We owe it to our seniors to stop the repeal of key new Medicare benefits. Repeal of these lifesaving provisions would actually increase prescription drug costs for millions of seniors in the doughnut hole who are currently saving more than $2,000 on their drugs due to the ACA by reopening the gap in Medicare part D coverage. In addition, since enactment of the ACA, the solvency of the Medicare trust fund has been extended by 11 years. And we owe it to the 129 million Americans like me with preexisting conditions, such as breast cancer survivors, to stop repeal so they cannot be dropped or denied coverage or charged an exorbitant premium by their insurance company. As a cancer survivor, I am also appalled that the Republican plan--or lack of a plan--would increase out-of-pocket costs for every patient by requiring them once again to pay for preventative services like cancer screenings. Mr. Chairman, the assault on the well-being of our constituents is an outrage, and we will not take it lying down. We will fight tooth and nail for the established right of all Americans to have quality, affordable healthcare coverage and not return to the days when it was available only as a privilege to those who could afford it or who were fortunate enough not to have a preexisting condition.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the Florida delegation and other colleagues with the heaviest of hearts. In the last few days, our State has witnessed two horrific tragedies. The first occurred Friday, in my congressional district, when a gunman mercilessly unleashed a hail of gunfire on passengers in the baggage claim area at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, murdering five and injuring six other innocent victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the wounded, their families, and the countless others traumatized by this tragedy. I commend both the Broward County Sheriff's officers who swiftly took down the perpetrator and minimized the loss of life and the airport personnel who are tirelessly reuniting passengers with 23,000 personal items left behind in the chaos that ensued, stranding many of them without identification or an ability to travel. The second tragedy occurred today when Orlando Police Officer Debra Clayton was slain by a murder suspect. Later, Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis went looking for her killer and died in a traffic accident. On behalf of the Members from Orlando, I want to say, to lose two officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is an unspeakable tragedy. Mr. Speaker, I ask, on behalf of my colleagues, for this moment of silence to remember these victims.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor South Florida philanthropist, business leader and prominent attorney, Cliff Schulman. Mr. Schulman has 45 years of wide-ranging legal experience in the environmental and land use field from both the government and private sectors and is well known for his involvement in the community and commitment to charitable causes. For 13 years, he has served as Chair of the Board of the Aventura Marketing Council and it is on this occasion that we celebrate his retirement from this position. Under Mr. Schulman's leadership, the Aventura Marketing Council has thrived and grown to be recognized as one of the most respected organizations in Chambers of Commerce representing more than 400 businesses and non-profit organizations, supporting countless educational and regional events in South Florida. Cliff had the unique ability to blend his sense of humor with his keen business acumen and Marketing Council members will certainly miss his ``Cliff's Notes'' at the opening of each meeting. Cliff has also served as Vice Chairman of the Anchors Away Foundation, an Aventura Marketing Council program in cooperation with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, that provides sailing programs for physically and mentally challenged children from schools throughout the County. This program has literally changed the lives of so many kids who gain a sense of pride, independence and accomplishment. Throughout his career, Mr. Schulman has been honored by the Anti- Defamation League, South Florida Business Leader Magazine, the South Florida Shomrim Society and countless organizations that have recognized his contributions to bettering our community for all those who call South Florida home. I am proud to have Mr. Schulman and his wife Lauren as my constituents and am grateful for his years of dedication to Aventura and to South Florida. It is my honor to pay tribute to his distinguished career and extend my heartfelt congratulations to him on this occasion.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the majority's efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make America sick again. It is atrocious that Republicans intend to repeal ObamaCare without any plan for replacement. It is barbaric to take health care away from 30 million Americans. It is cruel and disgraceful to go back to the dark times when there were annual and lifetime limits on care for all Americans. It is gutless to repeal the law that protected breast cancer survivors like me and up to 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions. It is fraudulent to tell the American people that we can keep popular provisions like that one without any mechanism to share risk to keep health care affordable. It is greedy to give insurance and drug companies billions of dollars in tax breaks but cut funding for Medicaid expansion. It is heartless to take away free preventive services like cancer screenings from 55 million Americans, particularly seniors and people with disabilities in Medicare. It is indefensible to roll back the $23.5 billion in prescription drug savings realized by seniors on Medicare in the donut hole. It is past time--long past time--that my Republican colleagues understand from A to Z that repeal is unacceptable and a disaster waiting to happen.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Foundation for Sickle Cell Research, a comprehensive non-profit organization in my district that provides a platform for researchers, healthcare providers, and those living with sickle cell disease. The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research was founded by Dr. Lanetta Bronte in 2012, and on October 20, 2016, the Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of its facility in the city of Hollywood, Florida. Currently, Florida has the highest number of individuals with Sickle Cell Disease. This disease is unique in that acute treatment options rarely suffice. Instead, Sickle Cell requires a lifetime of care management. I could not be prouder of Dr. Bronte and the rest of the team at the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research for taking up this important work. I am proud to be an advocate for those affected by Sickle Cell Disease and I stand in solidarity with this community to educate, advocate, and ultimately eliminate Sickle Cell.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of ``Young'' Ron Brewer and congratulate him on his well deserved retirement. A veteran of the airwaves for more than 40 years, Brewer's 26-year partnership with Paul Castronovo made him one of South Florida's most popular radio personalities. Their partnership is ending next week after Ron starts what he is calling an ``extended vacation.'' Ron Brewer started in radio as a teenager in his hometown of Annapolis, Maryland. After a stop in Virginia, he came to South Florida and made this area his home. Paul and Young Ron's first meeting was over dinner. Ron's program director asked him to have dinner with Castronovo who was looking for a job. Pretty soon into their meal they had the entire room laughing. A partnership was born. I was fortunate enough to join them live in studio many times to discuss the news of the day or an event in my Congressional district. One of my happiest birthday memories is when the guys had Steven Van Zandt from the E-Street band call into the show to sing me Happy Birthday. While listeners got to hear Ron Brewer on the air every morning many don't know the ultimate family man he is off the air. Ron and his wife raised their two sons in South Florida and he spends all his free time with his family. Ron's also been involved with many charities. For years he and Castronovo held a holiday food driye that's delivered more than 15 million pounds of food to those who needed it most. Other charities that Ron donates his time to are kids in Distress, Women in Distress, Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital, St. Jude's Hospital and the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami. Ron Brewer will be missed by the millions who listened to him on the radio and morning radio in South Florida won't be quite the same. Congratulations to Ron on his successful career and I wish him the best extended vacation ever.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional work of National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment (NVEEE) in combatting bullying and instilling the values of acceptance and love in the students of our South Florida community. Since 2009, NVEEE has worked tirelessly to prevent bullying, violence and suicide as well as create a safe space for students and adults to seek counseling and support. Led by Jowharah Sanders, a fierce advocate for today's youth, NVEEE has educated thousands of children through engaging workshops, mentorships and direct service. I applaud their efforts in addressing the root causes of bullying and the challenges children face as they mature. As a mother and a Member of the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus, it is with great honor that I recognize National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Retired Lieutenant Colonel Leo Gray. As one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Leo Gray enlisted in the military after high school and became a valued member of the air force, logging 750 hours as a pilot in World War II. His service and sacrifice helped to secure Allied victory in World War II. Moreover, along with other members of the Tuskegee Airmen, he was a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement; combatting discrimination in our armed forces and serving as role models as our nation's first African- American military aviators. After his service in the air force, he continued to play a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement through the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., which provides scholarships for underrepresented minorities studying aviation and aerospace. It is with great honor that I recognize Retired-Lieutenant Colonel Leo Gray, an American hero.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we approach October to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The statistics are sobering: one in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41, I quickly understood the importance of knowing your risk for breast cancer. I learned that, as an Ashkenazi Jewish woman, my chances of having the BRCA mutation linked to breast cancer were significantly higher. That is why in 2009 I introduced the EARLY Act, which equips young women with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their breast health. Though we have made significant advances on some fronts, there is still work to be done. For example, there has been no statistically significant improvement in survival rates for the metastatic cancer community in the past 20 years. We must do more to support those who are affected by this deadly disease and do everything we can to eradicate breast cancer once and for all.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for joining me in pushing for us to reach the point that we have, where we now have not all the funding we need, but $1.1 billion to finally fight the Zika virus without also fighting the political weight that had weighed it down for many, many months. While I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2017 continuing resolution, I also rise to express my significant objections to the delay in bringing this bill to the floor with funds to attack the Zika virus. In south Florida, we have waited more than 7 months for congressional Republicans to drop their political games and approve funding to stop the spread of the Zika virus. South Florida, as many probably know by now, is the epicenter for this virus. And yesterday, the Florida Department of Health confirmed its 900th case of the Zika virus. Despite this hefty toll, Congressional Republicans repeatedly put partisan politics before women's health care and inserted a provision in the Zika bills that would have cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. My Republican colleagues spent much of the past 9 months firm in their belief that the most appropriate response to a virus that overwhelmingly affects pregnant women was to place a politically motivated ban on funding for reproductive health care, and that was unacceptable. This is shameful conduct that hurt women all across Florida and Puerto Rico. And while some may praise today's agreement as a breakthrough and the end of our action on Zika, I must warn my colleagues that the mosquitos that carry the Zika virus do not know if they are biting a Republican or a Democrat, they don't know whether they are in Florida or Georgia or Michigan or Louisiana or any other State, or whether Congress has passed an eleventh-hour stopgap funding bill. They simply bite you and infect you with Zika. And because of that risk, our work in defeating this virus is far from over. We must drop the politics and stop playing politics with women's health.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of every woman in our country and her right to make her own healthcare decisions in consultation with her doctors. Women should be free to make those most personal of decisions without the interference of politicians and, specifically, without the interference of the Hyde amendment. The Hyde amendment is an insidious and antiwomen's healthcare provision that, in its 40 years of existence, has pushed safe and legal abortions out of the reach of women at the lowest ends of our socioeconomic ladder. It overwhelmingly affects women of color, immigrants, and young women. Instead of lifting up our middle class and working families, Republican politicians have built roadblocks at every corner through the Hyde amendment and countless other restrictions on women's health care. It is long past time for us to remove it from Federal law, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of the EACH Woman Act, which would do just that.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, the majority has even withheld a vote on the matter, refusing to rule in order Mr. Kildee's amendment, the Families of Flint Act. They have no conscience. If they did, they would allow a vote. Vote ``no,'' as I have said many times on this floor. Vote ``no.'' Have the courage of your convictions, but let the democratic process work. Trust this body. As the gentleman has just said on the harbor maintenance trust fund, trust this body to make the decision together. You can't have it both ways. You either trust this body to cast their votes accordingly or you don't. You can't pick and choose because you are playing politics with the lives of children if you do. For this reason, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings)--who I concur is my very good friend--for his leadership on behalf of Florida and particularly in protecting our beloved Everglades. While I support the underlying bill because of the critical investments the Army Corps of Engineers will make at Port Everglades and in restoring the Everglades, I, unfortunately, rise today in opposition to the partisan fashion in which the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, has been brought to this floor. I am proud the Central Everglades project, which is authorized by this bill, will provide over a billion dollars in Federal and non- Federal funds to continue the essential work of restoring the Florida Everglades. The Everglades, which we call affectionately the River of Grass, is home to thousands of rare species and its survival relies on the flow of water and a high standard of water quality throughout our State of Florida. Restoring historic water flow is not only critical for the Everglades and for its ecosystem, but it also boosts critical freshwater supplies that are essential to the daily lives of millions of Floridians and the very future of a Florida we call home. Additionally, I am proud that WRDA includes authorization for the Port Everglades--not the same--the Port Everglades harbor dredging project. This has been an almost astounding 20-year planning process. It shouldn't have taken that long, and we are thrilled that we are finally here. The deepening and widening of the channels at Port Everglades will allow south Florida to receive cargo from larger ships, the post- Panamax cargo ships coming from the widened Panama Canal. That will create nearly 1,500 new jobs in south Florida and over 29,000 related jobs statewide through new commerce coming through the port. However, I also want to reflect on the majority's obstructionism. For months, Democrats, led by Representative Kildee, have urged the majority to help Flint and other communities that have been exposed to lead to fund the necessary repairs to water infrastructure, as well as replace that which has been corroded and allowed lead to leach into the water system. I visited Flint in March and spoke to families exposed to lead in their water and whose children may have been exposed. As a mother of three children myself, I am outraged for those mothers in Flint who learned that the water their children have been drinking for months is dangerous and could have long-term effects on their children's development. As Americans suffer, Republican leadership's continued recklessness-- and specifically their refusal to include funding for Flint in WRDA--is unconscionable. Have you no heart or soul? Do you not feel for someone else's children besides your own? The tone deafness is astounding. The majority has even withheld a vote on the matter. They won't even let us vote, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, although I do not intend to object, I am proud to be the sponsor of H. Res. 851, which expresses profound concern about the shameful and rampant corruption of President Maduro's government and the plight of the Venezuelan people. The Maduro regime's efforts to silence political opposition leaders, including by jailing Leopoldo Lopez and Daniel de Ceballos, are unconscionable. And just last week, the National Electoral Council announced an outrageously high barrier to the referendum on his government that millions of Venezuelans are demanding. His flagrant misconduct has brought a series of devastating crises to Venezuela. Families all across the country are starving. Their local store shelves are barren, many of them empty of both food and lifesaving medicine. And Maduro still refuses to listen to the will of his people. They are crying out for their voices to be heard and their rights respected, and we must ensure they are not crying out in vain. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation with my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). I withdraw my reservation of objection.