C. Young

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. This amendment would add $25 million for the purpose of restoring these Formerly Used Defense Sites by cutting the same amount from the Army RDTE account for research and development. As important as this amendment might be, Army research and development is extremely important to the soldiers on the battlefield. In today's battlefield in Afghanistan, we're facing an enemy that is constantly moving. As we move one direction, they move another direction. As we present a new device, a new weapon, a new system, they develop a way to get around it. It's important that we continue to fund Army research and development. The President requested $237.4 million for this purpose. We added an additional $25 million for the cleanup of these sites over the President's budget request. The funding provided in the RDTE Army account supports critical research in Army laboratories and in colleges and universities across our country to ensure that our soldiers have the best that we can provide them as they face an enemy that is constantly moving on the battlefield. Unnecessary reductions to Army research and development is just not right, especially when we have already added the additional money over and above the President's budget request. We understand the importance of restoring these sites, but we also understand the importance of maintaining our research and development for the soldier on the battlefield to have the most advanced technology and the most advanced weapons that he or she can possibly have to carry out their mission and to protect themselves while they're doing it. So I must oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 312, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I would like to start by saying that Mr. Moran is a very important member of the Defense Subcommittee, and he and I have very few differences, except on this one issue where we have a strong disagreement. The language that is in the bill that he would strike is the same language that we've been carrying now since FY 2010, and it is the same language that was included in the National Defense Authorization Act that the House passed earlier this year. The provisions that we include ensure that the remaining Gitmo detainees who are judged as the most dangerous will never be released or otherwise brought into our homeland where U.S. citizens could be threatened. Second, they ensure that, prior to releasing a Guantanamo detainee to a foreign country, a careful and deliberate assessment must be made that the detainee is not likely to reengage in terrorist activities and the foreign government can maintain control over that individual. Unfortunately, we have already seen an alarmingly high rate for Gitmo detainees to return to the battlefield. These detainees have posed direct threats to U.S. personnel and U.S. interests, a threat that could only grow as we draw down from Afghanistan if they are able to establish safe havens to plot against the United States. The single greatest threat to the U.S. homeland and interests abroad currently is al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a group established and run by two foreign Gitmo detainees that were released under a previous administration. The current law provisions in the bill reflect the right balance on this important issue, and I think a ``no'' vote is appropriate. A ``no'' vote is keeping in context with the House position as has been stated many times over. And so rather than give these bad guys an opportunity to go back home, or to go back to some other country adjacent to their home, and allow them to get involved in recreating a danger, a threat to our troops and our interests, wherever they might be, I just think it's not smart to remove the language from the bill that we already have. So I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, these detainees are detained for a reason. The reason is they either hurt, killed, or threatened our American troops or our American interests. That's why they're at Guantanamo in the first place. It just doesn't seem right to me to send them back to the battlefield to threaten more troops, to threaten the lives of more soldiers. It's just not right, and it's not a good amendment. I suggest that we should defeat this amendment right where we stand, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Can I ask how much time the gentleman has remaining.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I don't have a lot of confidence that when the American troops are out of Afghanistan it's going to be any different than it was when the American troops went to Afghanistan. And we have paid a dear price for our involvement there, but I have the hope that maybe the Afghanistan Security Force will shape up and do what we think they should--and that is to keep al Qaeda and Hezbollah and all the other terrorist groups away from creating more trouble for the United States and becoming a breeding ground and training grounds. Therefore, I have to oppose the amendment. But I do not have a lot of confidence in that government and the Afghan Security Force.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I want to thank her for being willing to work with the subcommittee on this issue for quite some time. We understand her interest and we agree with that interest. And we look forward to continuing to work with her as we proceed with this bill through the conference and back to the House floor--hopefully one day. We just want to guarantee her that we will continue to work, and we thank her for her cooperation.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 312, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have no requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to introduce to the House our guest chaplain today, Father Bob Wagenseil, the pastor of Calvary Episcopal Church in the beautiful town of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Father Bob, as he is affectionately known, is a dear friend and a beloved member of our community. He was ordained in May of 1981 and spent most of his 14 years serving churches in Long Island and New York City. By 1993, he was appointed archdeacon of Queens. To our good fortune in Florida, he was asked to come to Calvary Episcopal in 1995, and it has been a true love affair ever since. In addition to serving the church, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, Father Bob and his wife, Patricia, or PT as she is known, have served our community in many special ways. He serves as chaplain of the Suncoast Fire and Rescue, where he is also a volunteer firefighter. He helped develop a computer learning center at the church, a critically important food pantry, and nearest and dearest to his heart, a community sailing program for the youth of the church and the local community. Father Bob will retire from Calvary on September 15 of this year after 18 years of service to the church and 34 years to the priesthood. He and PT, who have been married for 35 years, will remain active members of our community and dear friends to the thousands and thousands of people whose lives they have touched, including Congressman Bill Young and his wife, Beverly, and our two sons, Patrick and Billy. Please join me in welcoming Father Bob Wagenseil and PT to the House today.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend four students who are being honored today with the Congressional Award Gold Medal for individual achievement in volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration. For the benefit of my colleagues, I would like to outline some of their accomplishments. Hannah Foster, a resident of Seminole, Florida, volunteered with the Largo Library and the Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing & Interactive Museum in Florida's 13th congressional district where she arranged exhibits and hosted a summer camp for students. She tested her endurance through kayaking voyages and attended the Student Leadership University to enhance her ability to inspire others. She has studied history extensively in order to widen her international perspective. Hannah reconnected with her heritage through a seven-day Mandarin language immersion trip to Chinatown in San Francisco. Another one of my constituents, Milan Patel of Clearwater, Florida, volunteered more than 400 hours for Suncoast Hospice, a valued center in the community, for more than 35 years. She founded the Suncoast Hospice Teen Music Program and played the guitar daily at the bedside of terminally ill patients. In addition, Milan traveled to Boca Raton every weekend to hone her fencing skills. She also fenced in the Junior Olympics for the past two years and journeyed to Cambodia and Laos to learn the art of meditation while living with a group of monks. Alexander Smith of St. Petersburg volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. He worked both in a warehouse and on job sites to build houses in low-income communities. Alexander also hiked for seven days in the Blue Ridge Mountains to refine his survival and team-building skills and played the bagpipe competitively. A skilled athlete, he also participated in his high school's rowing team, won a United States Rowing Silver Medal, and is currently rowing for Cornell University. Ryan Sutherland volunteered at Bay Pines Veterans Administration hospital, and he also served as a sailing instructor for underprivileged youth. Because of his deep interest in healthcare and his experience as a boy scout, he completed both an advanced emergency medical technician and American Red Cross lifeguard course and dedicated 1,000 hours to focusing on expanding his healthcare, music, and leadership knowledge. Ryan aided in Pinellas County's humanitarian efforts through his own organization, Water for Africa. He served as the president of the Inklings Book Club, which sought to promote literacy in my district. Ryan reached the summit of Mount Washington and spent 300 hours hiking, cycling, and running. He also sailed a 34- foot sailboat to Key West and the Dry Tortugas. Mr. Speaker, these four young people serve as models of patriotism and principle for the rest of our nation's youth. Their goals of self- motivation will continue to guide them throughout their lives, and I have no doubt they will make great contributions to our country in the future. The Congressional Award program is essential to our nation, and I commend these students for attaining this high level of community service and personal responsibility for which it stands.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Steven Brem and all those who have come to America, worked hard and embraced this great country as their own. We are truly a nation of immigrants and many of us have a story to tell about how our families came here, some dating back to the discovery and settlement of the continent and others more recent, but all are proud of the day they or their ancestors were welcomed as citizens and finally called themselves Americans. The process can be hard, and the journey difficult, but the stories of immigrants like Steven and his family continue to enrich our country and exemplify what so many seek to achieve when they come here. Dr. Steven Brem was born Szmul Szaja Brem, in a displaced persons camp in Germany following World War II. His parents were survivors of the Holocaust and, in 1949, the family traveled to the United States on a troop support boat. The Brem family embraced this country as their own and they were grateful for the opportunities they were provided, especially the access to an education, which was denied in the concentration camps. His parents instilled the value of education in Steven and maintained that in America success would come to those willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Steven took his parents philosophy to heart and, upon deciding he wanted to pursue a degree in medicine, worked hard, and received his degree from Harvard Medical School in 1972. I first met Steven when he was helping one of my employees fight a brain tumor. He was serving as the Chair of Neuro-Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and proved an invaluable resource during that difficult time. Although she ultimately lost her battle, Steven was there for her during her struggle, exemplifying all the traits one could wish for in a doctor. His kindness and caring for his patients made a lasting impression, and our families have become good friends. Steven has since moved to Pennsylvania and is now serving in the Department of Neurosurgery at Penn Medicine as Professor of Neurosurgery, Chief of Surgical Neuro-oncology and Co-Director of the Penn Brain Tumor Center. He is recognized as one of the preeminent doctors for the treatment of brain tumors, recently receiving the Joel A. Gingras, Jr. award from the American Brain Tumor Association for his work to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the story of the Brem family is one of the most positive stories of the American experience I have ever heard. As Steven has said to me many times ``we want to make a stronger, more beautiful America by passing down from generation to generation the love of learning and service to our fellow man.'' I am proud to call Steven my friend and ask my colleagues to join with me today in recognizing the contribution he and his family have made to our great nation.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major General Karl R. Horst, United States Army for his extraordinary dedication to duty and selfless service to the United States of America. Major General Horst will be retiring from his present assignment as the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa Florida. Major General Karl R. Horst entered the United States Army in June 1973. He attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy in 1978 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer. After his first assignment as an Infantry Lieutenant in Germany, with the 3rd Infantry Division he commanded Infantry units at the Company, Battalion and Brigade levels with the 9th Infantry Division and the famed 82nd Airborne Division. He returned to the 3d Infantry Division in July 2004 as an Assistant Division Commander, serving at Fort Stewart, Georgia and in Baghdad, Iraq. Returning to Fort Bragg in September 2006, he assumed the duties as the Deputy Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. Major General Horst has served in a variety of Joint and Army Staff positions to include his most memorable assignments as an aide-de-camp to the Army Chief of Staff, and a Joint and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) assignment as the special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Major General Horst served as the Chief of Staff, 82d Airborne Division; then as the Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. Karl also commanded the United States Army Military District of Washington and Joint Force Headquarters National Capitol Region. At the Combatant Command level, he served as the Director for Operations, Plans, Logistics and Engineering (J3/J4), United States Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia and his final assignment was as the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa Florida. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to recognize Major General Horst's long and decorated career today and also the great benefit to the Nation he has provided as a General Officer for the United States Army. We have work closely with Major General Horst to accomplish the toughest tasks for our Service Men and Women and Karl has always achieved excellence daily during his tenure. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Major General Horst for a lifetime of service to his country. For all he and his family have given and continue to give to our country; we are in their debt. We wish him, his wife, Nancy and their three children: Kaitlin, 26, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, and also a Army wife and a graduate student at Gonzaga University; she lives in Vicenza Italy with her husband, Mason; son Paul, 23, graduated from North Carolina State University and is a graduate student at Embry- Riddle University; and daughter Megan, 21, is a senior at North Carolina State University, studying elementary education; she will spend this summer with the Teach for America program all the best wishes as he moves into retirement.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz, Sergeant Thomas Baitinger, Sergeant Karl Lounge, Officer Timothy McClintick, Officer Max McDonald, and Officer Douglas Weaver of the St. Petersburg Police Department and U.S. Deputy Marshal Scott Ley for being awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery. The Congressional Badge of Bravery was established to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. In award year 2012, only 16 Badges of Bravery were awarded. On January 24, 2011, Officer Yaslowitz, Officer McClintick, and Marshal Ley attempted to apprehend a violent fugitive in St. Petersburg, Florida. Officer Yaslowitz and Marshal Ley courageously engaged the suspect, who was hiding in an attic. While attempting to handcuff the suspect, Officer Yaslowitz was shot and killed. Marshal Ley was also shot and severely wounded. Officer McClintick was able to pull Marshal Ley from the kill zone while coming under fire himself. Immediately, a Rapid Response Team comprised of Sergeant Baitinger, Sergeant Lounge, Officer MacDonald, and Officer Weaver was formed. Sergeant Baitinger, a Rapid Response Instructor, volunteered to lead the team into the house to rescue of his fellow officers and was fatally wounded. Officer Weaver dropped his weapon and attempted to recover the body of Officer Yaslowitz, but was driven back by the gunfire and was wounded himself. He then helped Officer MacDonald move Officer McClintick and Marshal Ley to safety. Officer Weaver was then able to move Sergeant Baitinger's body out of the house along with Sergeant Lounge and Officer MacDonald. On that January evening, it pained me to take to the House floor to inform my colleagues of the tragedy that had occurred. As I stated that day, ``This is a sober reminder that the men and women who serve us as law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day. It is also a good time to say thank you for all those who serve us in uniform at home or abroad.'' Sergeant Baitinger and Officer Yaslowitz made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their community and now have their names inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Marshal Ley, Sergeant Lounge, Officer MacDonald, Officer Weaver, and Officer McClintick all showed tremendous bravery in the line of fire. Because of their selfless actions, these law enforcement officers earned the Congressional Badge of Bravery.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Matthew Ransdell for his commitment to serving our wounded veterans. Over the past two years he has committed countless hours serving our wounded Veterans at Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VAHCS). While volunteering, he brings joy and happiness to everyone that he meets and works with. Bay Pines VAHCS provides excellent health, psychiatric and extended care services for over 10,000 Veterans a year as they return home and integrate back into civilian life. Bay Pines is made up of nine facilities along Florida's west coast, and provides outstanding healthcare to Florida's Veterans. The 3,500 staff members and 1,500 volunteers have made it possible for the men and women that have served this nation in uniform to obtain the best possible care. Matthew is just one of those 1,500 volunteers, but he stands out for his exceptional service to the facility and its patients. He has dedicated over 1,000 hours of his time, in the past two years, to volunteering. During this time spent, he has created thousands of smiles for both patients and staff. He makes people smile with anything from a simple thumbs up to his signature ``happy dance'' that he has perfected in his time at Bay Pines VAHCS. Everyone, from patients to VA directors, dances with him. In addition to bringing vast amounts of happiness, he works in the Voluntary Service storage room by organizing and delivering robes, books, shirts, and toiletries to Veterans in the medical center. I would like to recognize Matthew as a patriotic and incredible man who continues his part to serve the country. He has found a way to share his gifts of love and cheerfulness with the men and women who have selflessly put their lives on the line for our freedom. For this, I would ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking and commending Matthew for his service and dedication to our Nation's heroes.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Sergeant Major Olivia S. Warner, United States Army. Sergeant Major Warner left behind her hometown of Chicago, Illinois as an energetic young patriot and entered the Armed Forces in October of 1984. Olivia has provided unsurpassed and remarkable professionalism and exponential value to her beloved Nation ever since; we are all humbled by her service and devotion. Sergeant Major Warner began her career in 1984 as a paralegal specialist stationed in Germany. Her relentless work ethic and commitment to excellence has driven and led her to a position as a Drill Sergeants Instructor where her exemplary conduct could be used to mentor and train the future warriors of the United States Army for generations to come. As Olivia progressed throughout her illustrious and decorated career, she has excelled in a plethora of positions requiring great depth and responsibility; this has included expertly advising and managing the careers of subordinate Soldiers as part of the Army Human Resource Command, as well as advising the Staff Judge Advocate for the United Nations; United States Forces Korea, and the historic 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Olivia has demonstrated a natural ability to work efficiently and effectively, all while articulately directing others through periods of substantial uncertainty and duress in the defense of our Nation; especially during the last 11 years of conflict--the hallmarks of a true leader. As a result of her exemplary efforts and personal attributes, Sergeant Major Olivia S. Warner was hand selected by the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army, Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, to serve as his Congressional Legislative Assistant to both the United States House of Representatives and Senate. Sergeant Major Warner is the first Sergeant Major in the history of the Army to serve in this role and capacity. Staying true to form, Sergeant Major Warner has done an incredible job representing the United States Army at the strategic level to Members of Congress, senior executives in business and government, and their professional staffs. As all good things surely come to an end, the time has come for Sergeant Major Warner to move on from Capitol Hill, as she has been selected to serve in the office of the Inspector General at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. As she departs Washington, DC she will be surrounded by her husband, Army Sergeant Major (Retired) Keithly Warner, and her two wonderful children Dominique and Keith. Olivia will bring to her new post an unparalleled talent and capability supported by a loving and balanced family--a shining example of how the true strength of our Nation is built upon by the core professionalism of our Soldiers and their families.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Thaila Schug for her dedication to proving and showing patriotism in her community. Thaila's essay was entered into competition by Unit 14, and she won the 2012 American Legion Auxiliary Department of Florida gold medal for Class III (7th and 8th grade). Thaila wrote the winning essay, on the topic of ``How Can I Show My Patriotism in My Community", while she was an eighth grader at St. Paul's Catholic School in St. Petersburg, Florida. I want to express to my colleagues how very excited I am for Thalia and her tremendous accomplishment. She is a superb example of the student leaders developing in the 13th District of Florida, which I have the privilege to represent. It is with great pride that I congratulate her on this great occasion. When you think of a patriotic deed, what do you think of? You may believe it's sacrificing your life in war or standing up for your belief and pride in our country, but our lives have been influenced by patriotism even in our own communities. American pride is American duty and only we can sustain that. Since our own people make it possible to celebrate America as it is today, we need to represent what we are in the action we undertake. In my community, the simple actions are the most memorable. Patriotism in my community is shown by saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day before school and stopping to acknowledge the National Anthem at sports events and saluting and thanking those in our country who have served in the Army. Not only can these be ways to show one's patriotism, but I can show the pride I have in my country by collecting food and donations for the Salvation Army or by even giving clothes or help to those families who are struggling. In addition, folding the American flag at the end of school and singing the National Anthem before participation in sports are also ways that we can show our patriotism in our community. Also, many people in my community get together once a year to see football games like Army versus Navy. Just by showing your support for our troops in this way shows your appreciation for our country in a way you enjoy. It doesn't have to be an action you don't want to do. If you enjoy baking, you can give your neighbor cupcakes with American flags on top for Fourth of July or if your passion is playing an instrument, play for those who want to listen. Not only can you show your patriotism in these ways, one way I showed my patriotism is when I went to my mother's work to see our returning troops come home from war. It was so touching to see what people did for freedom, but what I didn't realize is that other workers were looking toward me with disbelief that I was there showing my country that I respect and thank our troops for every day they had served. Just by showing up, I revealed my patriotism to those returning home and to me that was the best way I could have shown it.