Daniel Webster

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize a close friend, former classmate and fraternity brother of mine, Mr. John B. Carter Jr., on his recent retirement. On June 30, 2013, John retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Tech Foundation (GTF). The Georgia Tech Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation which manages the philanthropic gifts given to the Georgia Institute of Technology by alumni, corporations, foundations, staff, faculty, students, family, and friends in support of academic excellence and tradition. John graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1970. For the past 14 years, he has led the Foundation's day-to-day operations and has been responsible for 175,000 alumni data records, accounting and financial reporting, legal issues and negotiations, administration, and Executive, Committee, Board, and Trustee relations. Prior to leading the Foundation, John served 16 years as Vice President and Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association and served our nation for six years in the U.S. Navy. His 30 years of dedicated service to our alma mater is rare and to be commended. John's leadership has influenced many through his devotion, fortitude, and kindness, and will be set apart in the years to come. I am grateful for his example of service and for his friendship. The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Tech Foundation are fortunate to have such dedicated and innovative alumnus professionals as John B. Carter Jr. His commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired, and may it inspire others to follow in his footsteps. My sincerest wishes and congratulations to him on his retirement.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take this opportunity to recognize a close friend of mine and a highly regarded public servant of the Florida House of Representatives, Sergeant at Arms Earnest ``Ernie'' W. Sumner. Mr. Sumner will retire from his post this summer after a long and accomplished career in the Florida Legislature. The past and present Florida House of Representatives and entire Florida Legislature has been fortunate to have such a dedicated and compassionate colleague and friend. In 1971, Ernie began his career with the Florida House of Representatives. As Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, I was pleased to have had the privilege to appoint Mr. Sumner as Sergeant at Arms of the Florida House of Representatives on July 1, 1998. A committee meeting room, 404 House Office Building, has been named ``Sumner Hall'' in honor of Mr. Sumner. The intangible guidance and skillfulness that Mr. Sumner has displayed to the Florida House of Representatives, its Members, its staff, and the public is to be commended. His leadership has influenced many through his devotion, fortitude, and kindness, and will be set apart in the years to come. Mr. Sumner has had an outstanding career, and he deserves special recognition for this achievement. I am honored to recognize him for the distinguished service and counsel he has provided the State of Florida, and thank him for his hard work and many contributions. After more than four decades and 138 legislative sessions, his commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired. My sincerest wishes and congratulations to Ernie and his family on his retirement.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate Berkley Charter School of Polk, Florida on earning the SupportMusic Merit Award for academic excellence. The SupportMusic Merit Award is a national designation sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM Foundation), which acknowledges communities throughout America that support and advance musical education curriculum. In order for communities and schools to be awarded this designation, they must first complete a rigorous application process. Berkley Charter School was selected by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation due to their high quality music education program. The Central Florida community is blessed to have an educational institution such as Berkley Charter School that is committed the educational development and successes of its students. On behalf of the Central Florida community, I am pleased to recognize Berkley Charter School, and I congratulate the students and faculty on their accomplishment of achieving excellence in musical education. May their hard work and dedication inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize two students, Alexander Miranda of Davenport, Florida, and Angel Valverde of Orlando, Florida, on their acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum next week in Washington, D.C. The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, D.C., students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development-focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style. To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, these students have demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. Their commitment of time and dedication to their education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Alexander and Angel as they continue to advance toward even higher pursuits. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Alexander Miranda and Angel Valverde on their acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May their hard work and steadfastness inspire many to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate clarinetist Arianna Beyer on competing in and winning the 2013 United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. This annual competition identifies the best high school musical talent in the nation and allows the finalists to travel to Washington, D.C. to compete for a chance to perform a prepared solo piece with the world- renowned United States Navy Band. For 12 years now, the United States Navy Band has hosted this national competition. After each student submits an audio recording, the United States Navy Band evaluates each submission and selects the finalists to come to Washington, D.C. to perform at the competition. This competition is not only used as a method of motivating and rewarding inspiring musicians, but also to stimulate America's future leaders. In order to win this competition, Ms. Beyer sacrificed a vast amount of her time and dedicated herself to this goal. Her relentless pursuit of maximizing her potential has allowed her to gain tremendous recognition as a clarinetist at a young age. Ms. Beyer continues to go above and beyond all expectations in her musical endeavors. Her accomplishments do not end with winning the United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. She has excelled in the classroom and as a leader in her community. Arianna continues to give back by mentoring peers in both music and academic curriculums. In addition, Arianna is a 2013 Emerson Scholar and has received a full merit scholarship to attend Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan this upcoming summer. In the fall of 2013, she will begin her dual degree studies at the Eastman School of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rochester. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to recognize and applaud Arianna for her hard work, dedication and achievement. She is most deserving of this prestigious honor as the winner of the 2013 United States Navy Band High School Concerto Competition. May her character and passion inspire others to follow in her footsteps. I wish her great success as she applies her dedication toward even higher pursuits.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the tireless service and earnest dedication of the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc., on their awarding of over $200,000 during the month of April 2013 to Florida non-profit organizations through their Restaurant Community Grants program. The altruistic aspiration to improve Florida through their philanthropic support of charitable organizations is to be admired. The value of service for Darden Restaurants was defined over 40 years ago by Darden's founder, Bill Darden, who established a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Darden's Restaurant Community Grants program is a local initiative which strives to make an impact in the communities Darden and its restaurant brands serve by engaging and supporting nonprofit community organizations. The Darden Foundation focuses its efforts on three key program areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources and elimination of hunger. Every restaurant in the Darden family of brands is empowered with the opportunity to help award a $1,000 grant to exceptional nonprofit organizations that align with Darden's three areas of focus. In addition, it is my pleasure to recognize Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which has partnered with Darden in a joint effort to combat hunger. For nearly three decades, Second Harvest has fought hunger by collecting, storing and distributing donated food items to over 500 partnering agencies throughout six Central Florida counties. In partnership with Darden, Second Harvest's Food Rescue Program picks up prepared food items from various Central Florida Darden restaurants and delivers the food items to surrounding nonprofit agencies who serve meals to people in need. Darden has also united with Second Harvest's ``Building Solutions to Hunger'' campaign with a leadership gift of $750,000 to assist Second Harvest's construction of a new facility that will be better equipped to meet the needs of the Central Florida community. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, it is my pleasure to recognize the selfless work of the Darden Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. May their example of continuous service and generosity inspire many to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Jalen Johnson of Clermont, Florida, on his acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, DC, this week. The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands-on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, DC, students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style. To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, Jalen has demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. His commitment of his time and dedication to his education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Jalen as he continues to apply his dedication toward even higher pursuits. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Jalen on his acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May his hard work and steadfastness inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take this opportunity to recognize one of our Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. On May 20th, 2013, Patrick Lien was the first of his class to reach the top of the Herndon Monument during the legendary ``Plebes No More'' Ceremony. Each year the freshman class, known as ``plebes'' at the Naval Academy, will work together to climb the Herndon Monument, which is a 21-foot tall granite pillar on the service academy's campus, and replace a plebe's ``Dixie-Cup'' hat with an upperclassman's combination cover at the top. This ceremony is conducted at the end of every academic year to represent the end of a plebe's year as the lowest rank at the Naval Academy. According to the Naval Academy legend, the first plebe to reach the top of the Herndon Monument will be the first in the class to rise to the rank of Admiral. The monument is usually greased with Crisco, which makes it decidedly more difficult for the plebes to accomplish the task. The Class of 2016 was able to accomplish the task in one hour, thirty-two minutes, and forty-three seconds. Patrick's accomplishment is a testament to his perseverance, and commitment to his fellow Midshipmen. Both of these qualities are crucial components of an effective officer in our armed forces. As Patrick continues to develop into a future military officer, I would like to thank him for his service to our country and for representing the great people of Central Florida at the prestigious United States Naval Academy. I also wish him well in his future academic, athletic and military pursuits. The United States Naval Academy is fortunate to have such an outstanding midshipman at their institution. I applaud Patrick Lien on his continued service at the United States Naval Academy and to the citizens of the United States of America. His commitment to excellence, leadership and service is to be admired, and may it inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Central Floridians Amy Di Bella, Taylor Kennedy, Thuy Phan, and Rose Quinlan from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for taking the time to meet with me this week to share their families' struggles with pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a nationwide network of people dedicated to working together to advance research, advocate for a cure, support patients, and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, with only a six percent five-year survival rate. As the fourth leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in the United States, pancreatic cancer is also the tenth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. While the overall cancer incidence and death rates are declining, the number of Americans who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is increasing. Sadly, there are currently no curative treatments for pancreatic cancer. Investing in groundbreaking cancer research is about improving the lives of loved ones afflicted with the disease, and about fostering a healthier future for our sons and daughters. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, it is an honor to stand alongside the medical community in the fight against cancer. The continuous support of medical research initiatives are imperative to both advancing new treatments that improve the lives of patients afflicted with cancer and bringing our nation closer to finding a cure. I thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for their tireless advocacy to end pancreatic cancer.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Ronald Starke III of Davenport, Florida, on his acceptance to attend a People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. this week. The People to People Leadership Ambassadors program brings together middle and high school students from over 140 countries and offers unique, hands-on educational experiences that prepare students to assume the mantle of leadership in the future. While in Washington, D.C., students will participate in daily educational activities constructed around a leadership development focused curriculum to assist students in identifying and applying their personal leadership style. To be selected for a People to People World Leadership Forum, Ronald has demonstrated the requirements of academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship. His commitment of his time and dedication to his education and future is outstanding. I wish the best for Ronald as he continues to advance toward even higher pursuits. On behalf of the citizens of Central Florida, I am pleased to congratulate Ronald on his acceptance to a People to People World Leadership Forum this summer. May his hard work and steadfastness inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit two letters into the Record. The first letter is from the Budget Committee chairman, Paul Ryan. In his letter, Chairman Ryan asks the Rules Committee to follow standard practice by addressing budget enforcement pending a conference report on the budget resolution. To prevent greater uncertainty and further delays in the appropriations process, House Resolution 243 will include a provision and does include a provision that adopts the House-passed budget resolution, H. Con. Res. 25, as an interim budget enforcement measure until an agreement may be reached with the Senate on the budget resolution for the coming fiscal year. I would like to read an excerpt from that letter. This is from Chairman Ryan to Chairman Sessions, who is the Rules Committee chairman: As you know, the budget passed by the House reduces spending by $4.6 trillion and achieves balance in 2023--all without raising taxes on the American people. In contrast, the budget resolution adopted by the Senate raises taxes by over $900 billion, increases spending by $265 billion and never balances. While I continue to work with my Senate counterpart to find common ground, we have not yet been able to reach agreement.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. I reclaim my time and will not yield any more time after this. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am not involved in that process. However, I can tell you this: I was a speaker at one point in time in a different body and at a different time in my career. Even if a conference committee has not been formed, there are discussions that go on. Then, eventually, there will be a conference committee, and things work out, but it doesn't necessarily mean that nothing is happening. I think things are happening. I think they are working on solutions. We have to have a solution at some point in time, and that's happening. This resolution provides for an open rule to allow all Members to offer their ideas and to debate them through regular order. Two underlying bills fund necessary programs that train, equip, house, and support the brave men and women who sacrificially defend our freedoms, and the bills also support their families. Our debt of gratitude to these individuals does not expire when they retire, as the legislation also funds important programs to provide benefits and medical care for our veterans. Additionally, the legislation equips our Coast Guard and supports the individuals who guard our borders, secure our airports and seaports, and who respond to natural disasters. However, we would be doing a great disservice, Mr. Speaker, to future generations if we were to fail to consider the effect our current spending will have on the future fiscal health and safety our Nation. For that reason, these bills reduce costs, require the coordination of medical care and ensure the efficient operation of those critical programs so that we may continue to support those who protect us. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this rule and in the passage of the underlying bills. House of Representatives, Committee on the Budget, Washington, DC, May 31, 2013. Hon. Pete Sessions, Chairman, Committee on Rules, The Capitol, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Yesterday you announced that the Committee on Rules will meet on June 3 to report a rule to govern the floor consideration of the first appropriations bills for fiscal year 2014. I am writing to ask that you include in that rule a provision providing for the enforcement of the concurrent resolution on the budget as passed by the House (H. Con. Res. 25) until such time as the House adopts a conference report on the budget for fiscal year 2014. As you know, the budget passed by the House reduces spending by $4.6 trillion and achieves balance in 2023--all without raising taxes on the American people. In contrast, the budget resolution adopted by the Senate raises taxes by over $900 billion, increases spending by $265 billion, and never balances. While I continue to work with my Senate counterpart to find common ground, we have not yet been able to reach agreement. Until such time as we are able to reach agreement and consistent with the practice in previous years when the House and Senate have been delayed in completing action on a budget resolution, I am asking that the rule include a provision that adopts the House-passed budget resolution as an interim budget enforcement measure that will allow the appropriations process to proceed without further delay. Pursuant to the authority provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and in title VI of the House-passed concurrent resolution on the budget and consistent with longstanding practice, once the House passes the rule adopting the House-passed budget resolution, as the Budget Committee Chairman I intend to file the allocations and adjustments in the Congressional Record to put in force such concurrent resolution. To ensure the Rules Committee and House members have full transparency on the budget levels that would be enforced, enclosed are the relevant budget aggregates and committee allocations that I will file if the House adopts the rule. The House-passed budget resolution was based on CBO February budget projections and estimates. The funding levels for global war on terror (GWOT)/overseas contingency operations (OCO) and for veterans programs were based on an extrapolation of the President's budget request from last year. Because the House acted on the budget resolution before CBO had completed its updated budget projections and before the President had submitted his fiscal year 2014 budget request, the resolution provided authority for the Chairman to adjust the relevant levels in the resolution to reflect CBO's updated budget projections and the President's request for GWOT/OCO and veterans advance appropriations. The adjustments for CBO's updated baseline will be limited to changes due to updated technical estimates. Now that we have CBO's revised baseline projections and the President's budget request, it is possible to update the levels in the House- passed budget resolution to reflect this updated information. Enclosed are tables showing aggregate budget and committee allocations that will be used for budget enforcement purposes. I want to emphasize that this is a request for an interim measure while the Committee on the Budget continues to work toward an agreement with the Senate on a budget resolution for the coming fiscal year. The nation's fiscal problems cannot be addressed solely through the appropriations process and the budget remains the critical vehicle for identifying a solution. To ensure full transparency as to my intent should this request be granted, I ask that you include this letter and the enclosures in the Rules Committee's record of consideration of the rule. I appreciate your consideration. If there are any questions, please contact Paul Restuccia, Chief Counsel of the Committee on the Budget. Sincerely, Paul D. Ryan, Chairman. Enclosures.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Let me finish this first. Another part of that reads: Until such time as we are able to reach agreement and consistent with the practice in previous years when the House and Senate have been delayed in completing action on a budget resolution, I am asking that the rule include a provision that adopts the House-passed budget resolution as an interim budget enforcement measure that will allow the appropriations process to proceed without further delay. The second letter is just a response from Representative Sessions, who is the chair of the Rules Committee, acknowledging that the rule would include the requested interim budget enforcement measure. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, I will reiterate the fact that it is what is before us. We cannot get to these two bipartisan, well-thought-out, well-debated, well-collaborated pieces of legislation which deal with some issues that are very, very important without passing a rule to allow us to do that. That's what this rule does. It deals with those two bills. No, those two bills aren't before us, but this rule is the gateway to get to those bills. How are we going to get there? We're going to pass this rule. Once we get there, what are we going to do? We're going to have an open process--one that has been foreign until the Republicans took control of this legislature--foreign, no matter what your standing in this body was. There were closed bills after closed bills after closed bills after closed bills that came up. Was there an opportunity to amend it, to perfect it, to do anything with it? Absolutely not. But that's not the way it is now. If we pass this rule, we're going to get to a process that allows every Member to come down to this floor and offer an amendment, debate that amendment, and have the possibility of passing that amendment. So, yes, there are other issues, there are other appropriations, there are other bills that will be coming to this floor at some point in time. And at that time we can debate them. But right now, this is the issue before us. These two very important bills--and very much agreed-on bills--are only going to be taken up on this floor if this rule passes. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I've been in this process a long time, not necessarily here, but in other venues, and what I have found is what's before you is before you, and what comes later may or may not come later. But I would say this to the gentlelady, that what we have here are two bills that are bipartisan bills, and they have a great deal of input from both sides. They came out of committee with a strong vote, with both Republicans and Democrats. And so my thought is: here we are. We're here. We're addressing this particular issue. Now, when these other bills come to the floor of the House, before they get here they're going to pass through the Rules Committee, too, these appropriation bills. I will do everything I can to make them open, also, so that anybody that wants to amend them or perfect them has the opportunity. I believe in an open process. I believe that Members, no matter how long it takes, should have the opportunity to say their piece. And no matter what your philosophy is, no matter what your party is, no matter what your position is, no matter what your rank is, if you're 435th it doesn't really matter, you should have an opportunity to present your case. And so, these are these two bills. We have talked about the fact that we're going to have an open process here, and people want to perfect these bills; then great, offer an amendment. When the other appropriation bills come, that'll be the time to talk about them. But when they do, just know this: I'm going to be one that is going to be pressing hard to have open rules for them, also. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to reiterate again the benefits of these two bills that we're going to be debating if we pass this rule. They provide critical funding for military construction, housing, schools, and medical facilities for our servicemembers and their families, as well as important veterans programs. They protect security for our airports, seaports, and national border, as well as disaster relief efforts. They also reduce duplication, improve oversight, encourage efficiency, and increase coordination of services. If there were one provision in a bill that would push you over the edge of voting for or against something, it would be the idea of getting rid of this old paperwork. I've had someone come and tell me that they had gotten a tetanus shot, I think, about 3 weeks before they got out of the service. Once they got out, they went to the VA and they forgot to take the record with them. So they had no proof. They went to the VA and they said, You're going to have to get a tetanus shot. He says, Wait a minute, I've already gotten one. You don't have that record? No. And if you don't have it with you, we don't know. Because you can tell us you had one 3 months ago, but that doesn't matter. We need to do it. This one bill gets rid of that process and says we're going to move towards a modern system of electronically transferring these records. There's so many good things in these two bills; it's just pretext for the fact that this rule needs to be approved. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind everyone that we're talking about a rule here. And this rule, different from those that were proposed in the Congresses before I got here, in the 111th Congress, is an open rule. It allows for amendments. If there are those who do not like what's in these bills, they can do everything that they need to do in an amendment and get 218 votes and pass it, and it'll change. If this bill needs perfecting, either one of these bills need perfecting, they can be perfected. I believe that is as close to regular order as we can get. If we can come down to this floor, offer an amendment, get an opportunity to debate that amendment, have our say, hopefully get the votes to pass it, change the bill, that's the way this process should work. This rule provides for that. It provides for two very well-thought- out appropriation bills, which may have flaws. But if there are flaws, whether you're a Republican or Democrat, come on down. Once we pass this rule, we'll be taking those bills up one at a time. And any amendment, as long as it's within the germaneness rules of this House, can be offered. We would welcome that. I think both sides would welcome that. That's why when both of these bills came out of committee, there were glowing reports, both from the minority report and from the majority report. They are well-thought-out bills. They are well-done bills. They are bipartisan. They're done in an open and collaborative way, in an open, real, and regular order process. So for those reasons, I think this is a great rule because it sets forward the opportunity of people on this floor, no matter who they are, from a freshman to a senior Member, from Republican to Democrat, from moderate, liberal, and conservative, no matter who they are, to offer amendments to these bills, both of them. And if they get a majority vote, they can pass them. So I think that to me is an open process. That's also regular order. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the two underlying bills. House Resolution 243 provides for an open rule for consideration of H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014, and H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. This rule provides ample opportunities for Members from both the minority and majority to participate in the debate, and it does not limit the number of amendments that may be considered, so long as the amendments comply with the rules of the House. My colleagues from both sides of the aisle agree that these appropriation acts for fiscal year 2014 are the products of an open, collaborative, and bipartisan process. They provide critical funding for military construction, housing, schools, and medical facilities for our servicemembers and their families, important veteran programs, the protection and security of our airports, seaports and national border, and disaster relief efforts. They also reduce duplication, improve oversight, encourage efficiency, and increase coordination of services. Mr. Speaker, these bills address nonpartisan issues that affect every one of us. The seamless operation of these agencies and programs and projects will benefit all Americans. Let me first address H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2014. This fiscally sound bill funds programs that are necessary to keep our promises to our veterans and to train, equip, house, and support the brave men and women in uniform, as well as their families. This bill provides over $73 billion in discretionary funding, which is $1.4 billion above the enacted fiscal year 2013 level. It continues to provide advanced funding that was approved in fiscal year 2013 for veteran medical care and funds programs to reduce the staggering backlog which severely delayed the process of veteran benefits claims. This advance funding will ensure that our veterans have full access to medical care regardless of where we stand in the annual appropriation process. H.R. 2216 funds military construction projects, including family housing, military medical facilities, and Department of Defense education facilities. It also funds critical VA medical services and provides for a unified electronic health record system to integrate Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs health records. Currently, our veterans must physically present a hard copy of their DOD health records at their VA appointments, and physicians are unable to look up the patient's medical history if a patient does not have their records with them. This bill addresses this frustrating and inefficient process and will begin to replace an archaic paper record system with an electronic system that will ensure our veterans will be efficiently served and receive the care they need and deserve. Next, I'd like to talk about and highlight a few of the important provisions in H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. This bill is essential to protect the security of our national borders and the safety and well-being of all Americans. This bill provides $38 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes funding for 21,370 Border Patrol agents and nearly 22,800 Customs and Border Protection officers--the largest totals in history. It also directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train agents to identify and assist victims of human trafficking and directs ICE to increase spending on human trafficking and smuggling investigations. H.R. 2217 also provides funding for FEMA to ensure our Nation is prepared to provide disaster relief and funds the Coast Guard. Finally, I'd like to reiterate that these bills strengthen our national security and continue the well-being of our brave servicemembers, their families, and other veterans. They also recognize that our growing debt threatens the stability and safety of our Nation, and for this reason these bills make recommendations to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, duplication, and overhead. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The Appropriations Committee has worked hard to provide us with two fiscally responsible appropriation bills that will meet the housing construction and medical needs of our military and provide support to their families. They will keep our promises to America's veterans, and they will enhance our national security. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying bills, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 243 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes of my time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, that last discussion was worth paying the price to come here. But I would like to say this, to bring it back to where we are, and that is: We have before us a rule. This rule is going to be the gateway--the gateway--to an open process. That open process, when it opens up, is beautiful to behold. We have two bills that will be heard. Both of those bills are going to be able to be amended by any Member that would like to do it. And to me, that is what I have searched for, and I think it's a great thing. We have the opportunity to come to this floor, agree or disagree, but in the end we will produce a product that was put together by a bipartisan group of members of two different committees of the Appropriations Committee. And it went through the regular process. Bringing it to the floor with an open rule is the regular process. That is why I'm supporting this rule, because the rule gives the gateway to us doing those bills. I reserve the balance of my time.