Lee Zeldin

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute to Mrs. Rita Kay, who recently turned 100 years old on September 4, 2016. Rita was born in Manhattan on September 4, 1916 to her parents Anna Squazzo Mullen and John Mullen. At 18 years old, Rita and her soon-to- be husband, John James Kay, won the first Harvest Moon Ball dance contest for the Lindy Hop in Madison Square Garden. Four years later, in 1939, they would go on to become husband and wife. Shortly after getting married, they moved to Queens, NY and became the parents of two children: Patricia Ann Kay and John Andrew Kay. In 1982, Rita moved to Huntington, NY after living in Paumanack Village in Greenlawn, NY for 30 years. While at Paumanack Village, Rita taught line dancing from 1986, at the age of 70, until 2010, at the age of 94. Rita's classes drew many village and non-village residents alike who faithfully attended her Tuesday afternoon line dancing classes for over 20 years. Only a person with Rita's charisma and passion for life could manage to keep up this type of schedule and activity at such an advanced age. Rita, along with her family, which includes her five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. I would like to thank Rita for her years of dedication and service to her family and community. What she has managed to accomplish during her lifetime cannot be summarized in a few words; however it is important we honor these types of individuals as best we can. People like Rita are a rare breed and they help make not only our country, but our world a better place.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute to Mr. George Piro, who passed away on July 23, 2016, at the age of 95. George's story is unlike any other. When he answered his country's call to duty and enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1942 during World War II, he could have never envisioned the trials and tribulations that would await him just a year later. In September 1943, on his ninth combat mission, George was forced to parachute from a B-24 Liberator after it was shot down in the mountains about 80 miles east of Rome. When they made landfall, they were unfortunately taken by the local police and found themselves continually on the move from one POW camp to the next until they arrived at Stalag Luft 1, where they would spend the remainder of the war as prisoners. George and his fellow service members were finally liberated on April 30, 1945, the same year he returned to Bellport, NY. In 1946, he married Madeleine Myers, whom he had met prior to enlisting, and started working at the local post office. In addition to all he managed to accomplish as a service member and in his personal life; he was also a charter member of the VFW in East Patchogue, NY. George is survived by his brother, daughter, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. I would like to take this opportunity to thank George for his years of dedication and service to our country and community. What he had to endure as a POW cannot be summarized in a few words; however it is important we honor these types of individuals as best we can. It is my hope that many will follow in his footsteps and give back to our country as graciously as he did. People like him are a rare breed and they help make not only our country, but our world a much safer and better place.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, it is a little insulting to hear the remarks that were just made, as if any objection not toeing the line of this President, having objections to this arrangement, is partisan politics. The gentleman may have misspoken when he suggested that the Iran nuclear deal was signed. I would offer that the Iran nuclear deal actually hasn't been signed. The President has acknowledged not only is this not a treaty, but Secretary Kerry, when he was before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it is not even an executive agreement. It is a political commitment, a signed letter from the State Department saying that this is an unsigned political commitment. Now, we are allowed to have objections to that. I would suggest that the best interest of national security is to join in support of this bill and putting that over party politics. I rise today in support of the Iran Accountability Act introduced by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. I also commend Chairman Ed Royce for all of his incredibly valuable leadership, chairing the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and I also commend Ranking Member Eliot Engel, who I know is deeply passionate about U.S. security and the relationship with and accountability with Iran and strengthening our relationship with Israel. I know his heart is absolutely in the right place. So it is not a difficult position for all the Democratic colleagues who voted against the Iran nuclear agreement. I know that that takes an incredible amount of courage to stand up to a President of your own party. You did it for all the right reasons, putting national security over party politics. That wasn't partisanship. It was actually a bipartisan vote in this House to disapprove of that Iran nuclear deal. Democrats who decided to put American security first voted against the Iran nuclear deal, an unsigned political commitment. Why were the Iranians at the table? Sanctions relief. It is not because we asked nicely, not because they want to be good world citizens. It is because they wanted the money. Then we gave them the money. They got through their election. By the way, those who say that the most moderate members were elected, that is discounting the fact that the 12,000 most moderate members weren't even allowed access to the ballot. There were only the hardliners left on the ballot. So the Iranians get the money; they get past their elections; and here we are today. And you are insulting us in this Chamber by saying that any concern that we have, if it doesn't toe the President's party line, is partisan politics. I don't care who the President is, whether it is Republican or Democrat, this one or the next one, the fact is what brought the Iranians to the table, the leverage, was the sanctions relief. And the sanctions relief that they received is now gone. So as they test-fire intercontinental ballistic missiles in violation of international law, they unjustly imprison Americans as they commit their human rights abuses. Everything that they are doing today, we take exception with and we are acting on, and that's why I rise.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, everything that we come to this well on this day to vote in favor of this legislation and Chairman Royce's legislation, three pieces of legislation to hold the Iranians accountable, it is the fact that, if we want the Iranians to come back to the table, we need to put the leverage back on the table. They are not coming back if we ask nicely. They haven't changed who they are. They are not good world citizens. I am not going to sit here and allow this script of a White House taxpayer-funded fiction writer, Ben Rhodes, going to the media to spread whatever false lies and narratives to help sell the Iran nuclear deal. We are here to represent our constituents and the American public. This is not about a narrative of a President and his legacy. This is about American security and doing what is best and doing what is right for our constituents and the American public.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for bringing this important legislation. The American public stands with you, Chairman, and there are multiple reasons why the American public will stand with all of this Congress that will vote for this bill. For one, the American public has an issue with financing Iranian terror through U.S. financial infrastructure. The American public has had an enormous issue with a lot of specifics related to the Iran nuclear agreement. It is not really much of an agreement. It is an unsigned political commitment. There are material differences with regard to the agreement. The U.S. said, We are going to be able to access military sites. The Iranians said, Before, during, and after the negotiation, you will never be able to access our military sites. We said, Sanctions relief will be phased in over the course of time based on compliance. The Iranians say, No, sanctions relief will be immediate, no suspension. These are pretty important parts of the agreement. Well, let's talk about some other parts that weren't part of the agreement, they weren't able to agree to. So they put into a secretive deal between the Iranians and an entity that we have no ability to actually be on an inspections team because, as the AP reports, the IAEA's agreement with the U.S.--these so-called deals where the verification is outlined. The Iranians, in some cases, are inspecting their own nuclear sites. In other cases, they are responsible for collecting some of their own soil samples. That is why the American public stands with everyone who votes for this legislation, because of all the unilateral concessions that have been made since this agreement has been made. This isn't the only one. Buying heavy water for no reason. While this President is holding the heavy water of the Iranians, those who vote for this bill, who have opposed the Iran nuclear agreement, they are holding the heavy water of American security for their $1.7 billion payment that was made after this deal was reached: a $400 million debt, plus $1.3 billion of interest. Or our detained soldiers, who were embarrassed through photography and videography. And we are saying thank you for releasing our sailors? The American public was outraged. Using our sailors as propaganda to make yourself look strong and the rest of us look weak. Or maybe it is giving the Iranians access to U.S. financial institutions. We are being laughed at. The Iranians will take to the street and they will chant ``Death to America,'' they will continue their illegal test firing of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and they will detain Americans unjustly. They know that we didn't even ask for a signature. Think about it. Of all the agreements we enter into in life--buying a car or buying a home--we couldn't even ask for a signature. The American public is upset.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to bar funding for the creation of any national marine monuments in the EEZ through Presidential proclamation. I do this on behalf of commercial fishermen on Long Island and throughout the Nation who, like so many other hardworking Americans, are increasingly under assault from the executive overreach of this administration. This amendment uses the power of the purse to ensure the President does not abuse the Antiquities Act to lock out commercial fishermen from portions of the EEZ that contain essential fisheries. Any efforts to create a marine-protected area must be done through the transparent process laid out by Magnuson-Stevens, not through executive fiat that threatens to put thousands of hardworking men and women out of business. The Antiquities Act has been an effective tool in the past to preserve historic sites like the Statue of Liberty, but the overly broad interpretation of this law held by the current administration is threatening to shut down thousands of square miles of ocean from fishing through a Presidential proclamation. In the northwest Atlantic, ocean fishermen from my district and throughout this region work in some of the most productive fishing areas in the world. This area is currently under consideration for a marine monument designation with little public input and zero transparency. The concerns regarding the marine monument designations reach nationwide, where the administration's closed and secretive process have left fishermen and regional fishery managers extremely concerned. Recent marine monument designations proclaimed by the Obama administration have been the largest in U.S. history, locking out all fishing in perpetuity, a severe departure from the original intent of the Antiquities Act to preserve historical sites and archaeological treasures. Mr. Chairman, protecting the seafood economy, coastal communities, and the hardworking men and women who provide for their families through commercial fishing is a top priority for my constituents on the east end of Long Island. I would like to thank Chairman Calvert and Chairman Bishop for their support of this amendment to rein in executive overreach on behalf of America's fishermen. I urge all my colleagues to support this critical amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, if the President was to designate the Plum Island Lighthouse tonight under the Antiquities Act, I would certainly welcome that, as in all the past precedent of important use and historical use of the Antiquities Act for good reason. I introduced this amendment on behalf of all those commercial fishermen, those hardworking commercial fishermen all along the northwest Atlantic concerned that, if this marine monument is enacted by this President, they will be put out of business. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, especially from this region, who are concerned both with the important desire for conservation, the important work of protecting and utilizing the Antiquities Act productively, but also ensuring that we are not putting our commercial fishermen out of business. Mr. Chairman, again, I thank Chairman Calvert and Chairman Bishop. I would ask all of my colleagues to please support this important amendment, which is very important for my region, not just Long Island, but the entire northwest Atlantic. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis), I offer amendment No. 51.

Mr. ZELDIN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, earlier this year, the Treasury Department transferred $1.7 billion to Iran's Central Bank to resolve a long-running financial dispute regarding Iran's arms purchases before the revolution of 1979. The agreement involved the return of $400 million in Iranian funds that the United States seized after the revolution plus an additional $1.3 billion in interest. This financial transaction was carried out through the Department of the Treasury Judgment Fund, a permanent, indefinite appropriation that was created by Congress in 1956 to pay judgments entered against the United States. While the U.S. Department of the Treasury claims that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, remains sanctioned under our current sanctions regime, an associate fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Saeed Ghasseminejad, recently noted that Iran's Guardian Council approved the government's 2017 budget that instructed Iran's Central Bank to transfer that $1.7 billion to Iran's military establishment, which includes the IRGC. According to administration officials, outstanding legal claims against the United States by Iran remain, meaning that future payments could be made as a result of any resulting settlement. It is unacceptable for additional U.S. taxpayer dollars to flow into the hands of the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and that is why this amendment is needed. It prohibits funds from being used to pay final judgments, awards, compromise settlements, or interests and costs specified in the judgments to Iran using amounts appropriated under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, or interest from amounts appropriated under such section. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment offered by Mr. DeSantis of Florida, which has been part of a very effective effort on behalf of Mr. DeSantis advocating for a more effective foreign policy, especially in light of a deal entered into approximately 1 year ago with Iran that is not in our best interests. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis), I offer amendment No. 52.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chairman, I present this amendment on behalf of Mr. DeSantis of Florida. Section 401 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to prohibit, or impose strict conditions on, the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that the Secretary finds knowingly engages in Iran's illicit activities. Under section 401(f), the Secretary of the Treasury may waive these prohibitions or conditions if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is necessary to the national interest of the United States, and submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the reasons for the determination. However, as noted in a recent Congressional Research Service report, section 401 was not waived to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, while many entities with which transactions would have triggered sanctions under section 401 were delisted in accordance with the deal. This delisting is unacceptable, given that the U.S. Department of the Treasury claims to be more than aware of the ``concerns that remain'' regarding Iran, ``such as transparency issues, corruption, and regulatory obstacles,'' as reported in a recent Free Beacon article. Given that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is circumventing the law, this amendment was introduced to prohibit funds from being used by the Secretary of the Treasury to modify regulations that prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that the Secretary finds knowingly engages in any activity described in section 401(c)(2) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. I would encourage my colleagues in this Chamber to support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. DeSantis for bringing this important amendment as we strive to hold Iran accountable. There are many other bad activities Iran has been involved in directly impacting the United States, our allies in the Middle East, and around the rest of the world. So I do commend the gentleman from Florida for bringing this amendment. I would ask all of my colleagues to vote for it this evening. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Theo Marinescu, who tragically lost his life after a long struggle with drug addiction. Theo Marinescu, who grew up in East Hampton, Long Island, had a bright future ahead of him and was taken too soon from his family and community. According to his mother, Violeta, ``Theo was a warm, loving, and handsome young man who was known for his wonderful personality and huge laugh. He was gifted both academically and athletically--he played linebacker on the football team and was an honor roll student. He always found a way to make people laugh and loved his little brothers with all his heart. Even during his years of drug use, we never became distant from one another. Although it was tumultuous and very difficult at times, Theo loved his family and we loved him right back.'' Violeta explained that Theo's addiction began when he started experimenting with marijuana during his last years of high school and then progressed to harder drugs, including opioids, which ultimately took his life. According to Violeta, in the midst of his addiction, ``Theo desperately tried to get clean as he felt so deeply the pain and anguish he was inflicting upon his younger brothers and mother.'' She said he was in and out of rehabs and sober living homes, but that, ``he never received the proper treatment or care that was needed to address his mental health issues.'' Ultimately, after struggling with his disease, Theo lost his life on May 17, 2015 at just 25 years of age. Unfortunately, Theo's story is one that is becoming all too familiar to families around the country and in my home district on Long Island. Tragically, 78 people each day will lose their battle with addiction, and their life, as a result of an opioid or heroin overdose. It is our duty to find solutions and figure out ways to prevent the devastating effects drug abuse and addiction have on our children. We, as members of Congress, must all continue to support legislation that addresses the rise in heroin and opioid abuse to stop the tragic loss of life that has been devastating families and communities across America.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. Christianity and Orthodox Christianity, in particular, have suffered greatly in recent years. This negative development is the result of the Islamic fanaticism perpetuated by the Islamic State and other terror groups using the war in Syria as an excuse to ``ethnically cleanse'' Orthodox Christians from their villages. One such horror was the international broadcast of Islamic State members simultaneously beheading twenty-one Egyptians because they would not convert to Islam when ordered to denounce their Coptic Orthodox Christian faith. Several Orthodox Christian Churches from around the world will gather in what is called a Great and Holy Council for the first time in over 1,000 years. The focus of the Council will be internal activities of the various Orthodox Churches; the current crisis for Christians in the Middle East is also a danger for so many Orthodox Christians and should not go unobserved at this history meeting. All Christians and all men and women of faith and peace should focus on this Great and Holy Council and the individual who convened the various hierarchs, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He possibly more than any other Christian leader understands the Muslim world; during his life he has seen Muslim cruelty toward Christians, which has greatly diminished the number of Christians in the Republic of Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarch experienced the 1955 pogrom carried out against the large Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. The pogrom resulted in many unnecessary Greek deaths and the destruction of thousands of Greek Orthodox businesses, homes, and cemeteries. Thousands upon thousands of Greeks fled the country in the aftermath. The Greek Orthodox community in Turkey has been reduced to a fraction of what it once was, yet in light of such violence, the confiscation of thousands of Ecumenical Patriarchal properties, and restrictions of religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness has found ways to cooperate and work constructively with the Muslim majority in his homeland of Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarch has much to bring to the table regarding today's crisis for Christians in Muslim majority countries.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the Senate to act now to send to the President's desk several important bills that I have introduced in this Chamber, which have all now passed this House. In Congress, I have been working hard to pursue my New Era of American Strength agenda to protect America's security at home and abroad, help grow our economy, support our veterans and first responders, improve the quality of education, repair our Nation's infrastructure, improve health care in America, and safeguard our environment. Working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate, I have been able to secure a number of important victories for my district. These include a 5-year fully funded transportation bill, including my Safe Bridges Act, which was passed and signed into law. My proposal to allow States to opt out of Common Core without penalty from the Federal Government was also passed and signed into law. Working with Peconic Bay Medical Center, I was able to open a new veterans healthcare clinic in Manorville. I also helped lead the effort to permanently reauthorize the Zadroga Act for our 9/11 first responders and stop the Medical Device Excise Tax for 2 years. Additionally, my office has successfully resolved over 3,000 cases in favor of New York's First Congressional District constituents. While I am very proud of the victories I have been able to secure thus far for New York's First Congressional District, I have introduced a number of other bills that have now passed this House. The Senate should act to pass all of the following bills: My Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act, which is H.R. 4314. With the rise of terrorism across the world, the need for an improved security clearance process and increased border security has become even more apparent. The free movement of those who would commit horrific acts of terror is one of the greatest threats to America's safety, both at home and abroad. My bipartisan bill, H.R. 4314, would help close gaps in foreign borders by establishing international security standards while also guaranteeing that U.S. resources are utilized in the most efficient way possible wherever they are needed the most. H.R. 4314 would also put in place a monitoring system to screen for infectious diseases abroad, like Zika, in order to contain and prevent any potential outbreaks. The Senate should also pass my three bills for our Nation's veterans: H.R. 2460, H.R. 1569, and H.R. 1187. One of my greatest priorities is ensuring that the veterans of our Armed Forces receive the treatment and benefits that they have earned and deserve. In Congress, I have introduced several pieces of legislation to provide for our heroes, including H.R. 2460, which would provide adult day health care for disabled veterans at no cost; H.R. 1569, to require the VA to pay accrued benefits to the estate of deceased veterans; and H.R. 1187, to eliminate the loan limit that the VA can guarantee for a veteran. Passing all these bills, all of which have received enormous support from Democrats and Republicans alike, are essential to increase our veterans care and assistance. I also introduced a bill to save Plum Island: H.R. 1887. This island is a critical natural, cultural, and historical treasure that has been cherished by our local community since before the 1700s. Rather than allow the Federal Government to sell the island to the highest bidder, H.R. 1887 would safeguard the island from development to preserve this beautiful land, almost all of which is completely undeveloped. Additionally, we can ensure good-paying research jobs are on the island while allowing public access for more Long Islanders and others to experience this great land that is right in our own backyard. Another one of my bills, H.R. 3070, would allow striped bass fishing off the coast of Montauk. Just this month, H.R. 3070 passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support. My bill would clarify Federal laws governing the management of the striped bass fishery in the exclusive economic zone between Montauk, New York, and Block Island, Rhode Island. Fishermen are desperately pleading for commonsense relief, and the EEZ Transit Zone Clarification and Access Act is one way that Congress can help. The Senate should act quickly on all of these essential pieces of legislation. I will continue doing everything in my power to bring home more victories for Long Island through my New Era of American Strength agenda.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute Mr. Richard John Tuscani. Richard was born on June 13, 1916 and is known to be the oldest living WWII veteran in Suffolk County, NY. Originally from Corona, Queens, Mr. Tuscani has managed to see and do more than most people could hope to accomplish in two lifetimes. Richard is a highly decorated WWII veteran, having served in New Guinea and the Philippines. During his time in the service, Mr. Tuscani received three Bronze Stars in addition to other awards such as the Victory Medal, the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Badge and the Meritorious Service Award. The three Bronze Stars he received are for surviving a battle in Leyte, Philippines, another for surviving a kamikaze attack in New Guinea, and the last for the Philippines Liberation. Richard has also been extremely active in the community as well. During his historic lifetime, Richard was a fireman in New York City, oil truck driver, New York City building inspector, bus driver, local dock master, and school bus matron. His strong sense of civic duty and dedication to the community in the many professions he's undertaken exemplify just how incredible of a person he is. Richard, an avid history and geography buff, likes to spend most of his time reading, studying history, and watching his New York Yankees. His late wife, Helen, was crowned ``Miss Swift'' at the New York World's Fair in 1939. He has a son, Richard G, and a daughter, June, who was born while Mr. Tuscani was overseas. I would like to thank Richard, who will be turning 100 years old on June 13, 2016, for his years of dedication and service to our country and community. What he has managed to accomplish during his lifetime and give back to the country cannot be summarized in a few words; however it is important we honor these types of individuals as best we can. It is my hope that many will follow in his footsteps and give back to our country as graciously as he did. People like him are a rare breed and they help make not only our country, but our world a much safer and better place

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the importance of improving health care for America's seniors. Living out one's golden years to the max can come with its share of challenges, especially as it relates to health care, which is why fighting for our seniors and improving their quality of care must always be a top priority. Whether at meetings in my Long Island office, my mobile office hours, or at various other events in my district in Suffolk County, New York, I have met with seniors who are struggling with balancing health challenges while being on fixed incomes. Many cite a lack of healthcare options and a difficulty in gaining access to quality and affordable health care as a result of ObamaCare. There are also serious concerns over the solvency of Social Security and Medicare, which many seniors rely on for both financial and healthcare security. As health challenges arise and seniors budgeting based on a fixed income, we should do everything we can to ensure that those who need medical care and attention are able to access quality care at an affordable price without having to jump through hoops. They also should be assured that the programs and benefits they rely on will always be there for them. ObamaCare has significantly impacted our seniors and their access to quality and affordable health care. I frequently hear concerns about lost doctors, canceled policies, and higher premiums and deductibles. Earlier this year, Congress passed the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would repeal many of the flawed major provisions under ObamaCare over a period of 2 years-- specifically, many of the harmful mandates and taxes--so that we can increase seniors' access without compromising quality of care or efficiency. It is important to improve the quality of health care in our country for our Nation's seniors. Congress has also taken action to improve Medicare. Over the past year, the House has passed a number of bills, including the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act, the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act, and the Medicare Advantage enrollment bill--all proposals that would protect and preserve Medicare for our seniors who rely on it as well as to restore and expand the Medicare open enrollment period. The House also took action and made significant reforms to Social Security and Medicare, saving millions of seniors from significantly increased healthcare costs. By working in a bipartisan fashion, Congress was able to stave off a massive premium hike for seniors who utilize Medicare part B. Without this action, approximately 8 million seniors across our country would have been subjected to a 52 percent premium hike for Medicare part B. In this bipartisan effort, action was taken to prevent a 20 percent across-the-board cut to Social Security disability benefits. Moreover, in working across the aisle with my colleagues in the House, we were able to repeal the sustainable growth rate formula, also known as the doc fix, to prevent there being a 20 percent cut to Medicare. This action alone has been seen as the most significant Medicare reform that has taken place in years. Without this legislation, which is now law, many doctors would have simply stopped accepting new Medicare patients or would have even ceased in accepting Medicare altogether. Congress has also been committed to passing legislation and securing funding to expand seniors' access to the most innovative technologies and treatments so that we can diagnose and treat diseases as early as possible. Last year, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation I cosponsored in Congress to improve and modernize our Nation's health care. This legislation would accelerate the process for scientific advancement while providing desperately needed research funding so that we can provide the next generation of cures. It is our duty as Americans to always protect and improve the quality of life and care for our Nation's seniors. If anyone in the First Congressional District of New York ever needs assistance or has questions about Social Security and Medicare or a Federal issue in general, I encourage you to contact my Long Island office at area code (631) 289-1097.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. I thank Mr. Hardy and Mr. Clay for their comments and for their support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3070, the EEZ Transit Zone Clarification and Access Act, which would clarify the Federal laws that govern the management of the striped bass fishery in the exclusive economic zone, or the EEZ, between Montauk, New York, and Block Island, Rhode Island. One of the most pressing issues that is faced by Long Island fishermen is the urgent need to clarify the Federal regulations regarding striped bass fishing in the small area of federally controlled waters between Montauk Point and Block Island. Between New York State waters, which end 3 miles off of Montauk Point, and the Rhode Island boundary, which begins 3 miles off of Block Island, there is a small area of federally controlled water that is considered part of the EEZ. The EEZ, which extends up to 200 miles from the coast, are waters that are patrolled by the Coast Guard, where the United States has exclusive jurisdiction over fisheries and other natural resources. Since 1990, striped bass fishing has been banned in the EEZ even though fishermen can currently fish for striped bass in adjacent State waters. Fishing is an industry in and around my district. It is getting more and more difficult to survive in this industry if you are a businessowner. Fishermen are desperately pleading for commonsense relief, and this is one way Congress can help. To my colleagues in this Chamber, I ask you to vote in favor of this bill, passing this legislation on behalf of the amazing fishermen on the east end of Long Island. Long Island striped bass fisherman have lost 60 percent of their traditional fishing grounds due to Federal restrictions that my bill intends to reform. Additionally, the geography of our region means that making the 15-mile journey by boat from Montauk Point to Block Island requires passing through a small strip of waters considered to be part of the EEZ. The shift in jurisdiction can mean the difference between a nice day on the water and committing a Federal offense. My bill, H.R. 3070, clarifies the Federal laws currently governing the management of the striped bass fishery between Montauk and Block Island, permitting striped bass fishing in these waters and allowing for local regulations to manage this important fishery. This legislation is a commonsense reform that offers a simple solution to a unique local issue, providing regulatory relief and more certainty to our region's fishermen, while restoring local control to a critical fishery that must be properly managed and preserved for future generations. Late last year, on December 7, 2015, I cohosted a House Natural Resources Committee field hearing within my district in Riverhead, New York, with Chairman Rob Bishop of Utah. The hearing was held to discuss important local fishing issues, including this legislation. Chairman Bishop and members of the committee were able to hear firsthand the concerns of those on Long Island who rely upon fishing as an occupation and way of life. A few months later, on March 17, 2016, working closely with the committee, my bill passed this committee with unanimous bipartisan support. I thank House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for having the bill placed on today's agenda on the House floor. A big thank you to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop; Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Chairman John Fleming; and Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Vice Chairman Paul Gosar for recognizing the urgency in passing this bill. I also thank Congressman Joe Courtney, my colleague across Long Island Sound, who worked with us to make this a bipartisan bill. I also commend the steadfast commitment and activism of Long Island's fishing community, which championed this issue for nearly two decades and is standing up for Long Island's coastal way of life. The dedicated men and women who fish in these local waters and the tens of thousands of Long Islanders who depend upon the coastal economy of the east end deserve no less than this commonsense reform promoted by this proposal. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this critical bill.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, why does it seem like no one at an airport security checkpoint has been delegated with that awesome, yet shockingly absent, power of common sense? Why is the 80-year-old granny in a wheelchair being harassed? Why is the U.S. military servicemember in uniform with a military ID on military orders having his or her toothpaste confiscated? As the management and resource allocation issues rise that are plaguing the bureaucracy at the TSA, red flags are going up with the peak travel season nearly upon us. Some airline passengers report wait times of as long as 2 or 3 hours to get through security. Long lines will only get longer if the TSA doesn't pursue a course correction, that of coordinating with airport authorities and airlines to ensure that staffing levels match peak travel times. If you have four lanes being occupied and if you have a long wait, maybe you should occupy some more of the available security lanes. Allow law enforcement to do its law enforcement duties to free up more screeners to screen. Airlines can do their part by knocking off the madness with the hidden baggage fees. The trick might help fill seats on planes, but it is resulting in more people taking their baggage through security. By the way, the TSA doesn't have a funding issue. Last year this Congress gave it more than it asked for. No one wants to hear the TSA's excuses.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2460, which would expand disabled veterans' access to adult day health care, a daily program for disabled veterans who need extra assistance and special attention in their day-to-day lives. Those veterans who are 70 percent or more disabled from a service-connected injury often require significant assistance from others in order to carry out basic everyday tasks. Despite various care options for veterans, their choices are often limited and can come at a great expense. One such program that is currently available is adult day health care. This program provides disabled veterans and their families with a high-quality alternative to nursing home care, providing quality outpatient services for those suffering from debilitating illnesses or disabilities. These programs provide a range of services from daily activities such as bathing to full medical services like physical therapy. The focus of the program is on improving disabled veterans' quality of life through an individualized plan specific to their needs while still allowing them to maintain their independence. Adult day health care programs don't only benefit the veteran, they also benefit the family members and caregivers as well. This model allows caregivers to tend to their day-to-day activities without worrying about the well-being of their spouse, child, or friend, allowing the veteran to lead a much more fulfilling life, while keeping families together and strong. Adult day health care, however, is only currently offered at three facilities in the entire country. My district is fortunate to have one of these facilities, the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, New York, but this program could easily be offered at any of the 153 State veterans homes across the country. Since the Department of Veterans Affairs does not currently cover the cost of participation in this program, the expense must be paid out of pocket by the veteran and their family, which significantly limits the number of veterans who can enroll. My bill, H.R. 2460, would ensure that 70 percent or more service- connected disabled veterans are able to receive adult day health care at no cost to the veteran and their family by defining the program as a reimbursable treatment option through the VA. This would expand this great option of care for our veterans. Currently, 52 Republicans and Democrats in this Chamber have signed on as cosponsors of this bill. I would like to thank the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Jeff Miller, for his leadership as chairman of the committee and for recognizing the urgency in passing this bill. Myself, the committee, many Members of this Congress, his constituents, and this country will miss him following his service this year. I would also like to thank House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for having this bill placed on the calendar for today.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible fifty years of marriage between Barbara and Bill Carney. On May 14, 2016, Barbara and Bill Carney celebrated fifty years of marriage, friendship, fun and family. Those 50 years have taken them on a winding and unpredicted journey--from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, to the suburbs of Long Island, to the halls of the United States Congress--with unforeseen stops and innumerable joys along the way. With love, respect and patience, they made it look easy. Their lives together, love for each other, generosity of spirit, faith and humor have impacted so many people through the years. Barbara Haverlin and Bill Carney grew up blocks from one another in Brooklyn. They attended the same parish, St. Catherine of Genoa, frequented the same places, and enjoyed overlapping groups of friends. They did not meet, however, until their early twenties at O'Reilly's Pub, where Bill was tending bar and Barbara was dating one of the O'Reilly brothers. On a dare from co-workers, Bill asked out the boss' girlfriend. Within two weeks of the first date, they decided to marry and were wed twelve months later. Both having lost their parents in their teens; Barbara and Bill deeply appreciated the importance and value of family. They have been blessed with extraordinary closeness with community and family, which is the same value and spirit that Barbara and Bill maintained in raising their two daughters, Julie Baker and Jackie Carney D'Aquila. After marriage, Bill held multiple jobs to support his family--always willing to try or learn a new skill. Never one to shy away from challenges or to view something as impossible, Bill, as a member of the Smithtown Conservative Party, decided to run for U.S. Congress at 32 years old. In 1977, with Barbara's backing and the support of a handful of what would prove to be life-long friends, Bill beat the odds and was elected to represent the First Congressional District of New York. Bill Carney is the only person ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a member of the New York State Conservative Party, having run on both the Conservative and Republican lines. During his political career, Bill enjoyed phenomenal staff, advisors and friends. He served four terms in the House before deciding to retire and open his own boutique consulting firm in 1986. Bill and Barbara are joined in celebrating their 50th Anniversary this month by their daughters, sons-in-law, four grandchildren and scores of friends and family. I would like to congratulate Bill on fifty years of marriage and thank him for his remarkable service to his country and especially to the First Congressional District of New York. It is my hope that many will follow in his footsteps and give back to their country as graciously as he did.

Mr. ZELDIN

Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, as a nation, supporting our veterans must always be one of our highest priorities. These brave men and women who willingly and selflessly put their lives on the line while defending our country deserve the highest quality of life and care once they return home. According to the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, there are 83,254 veterans who live in my home county of Suffolk. With the highest population of veterans by county in New York State and one of the highest populations in the country, there is a significant need for increased care options for our veterans in Suffolk. There are so many options of quality care for veterans, but too often their choices are limited. Quality care can also come at great expense. In an effort to expand access to care for our veterans, I recently introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress, H.R. 2460, which would ensure that 70 percent or more service-connected disabled veterans are able to receive adult day health care, a daily program for disabled veterans who need extra assistance and special attention in their day- to-day lives. It comes at no cost to the veterans and their families because the program is defined as a reimbursable treatment option through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation has strong bipartisan support in Congress, with over 45 cosponsors, including the entire Long Island congressional delegation. My bill would greatly expand this great option of care for veterans on Long Island and across the country. Just last month, on April 20, 2016, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee hosted a hearing of the Subcommittee on Health regarding my bill, and on April 29, 2016, the Health Subcommittee held a markup and favorably forwarded my bill to the full committee for final consideration before being sent to the House floor for a vote. Working with my colleagues in the House and various veterans service organizations, I will continue pushing to get this bill passed out of committee in earnest to allow this bill to come to the House floor this year. While serving in the New York State Senate, I secured the funding necessary to create the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Program, a peer-to-peer support program for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. PFC Dwyer, from Mount Sinai, New York, received nationwide recognition for a photograph that went viral showing him cradling a wounded Iraqi boy while his unit was fighting its way up to the capital city of Baghdad. Sadly, after returning home and struggling with PTSD, PFC Dwyer died in 2008. Created in his honor, the Dwyer Program was initially launched in the counties of Suffolk, Jefferson, Saratoga, and Rensselaer. Since 2013, the program has expanded to over a dozen counties across New York. Earlier this year, I introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress, H.R. 4513, that will expand the Dwyer Program on a national level so that every veteran in the U.S. eventually has access to a peer-to-peer support group. This bill has strong bipartisan support, including the entire Long Island congressional delegation. I will continue working together with them and others in the fight to expand the Dwyer Program. Additionally, on the east end of Long Island, working closely with the Peconic Bay Medical Center and VA, I secured an east end healthcare facility for veterans and their families at Peconic Bay's Manorville campus. After so bravely serving our country, this facility provides an important new option for veterans, increasing access to care for those who live on Long Island's east end, while still allowing them to continue receiving other services and ongoing treatment at the VA hospital in Northport. There is so much more that Congress can do to improve the quality of life for our veterans. I will continue working to ensure that my bills that previously passed the House are signed into law, including H.R. 1569, to protect the benefits of deceased veterans, and H.R. 1187, which would eliminate the loan limit that the VA can guarantee for a veteran. Congress also must continue to reform the VA wherever it underserves a veteran. A recent series of USA Today articles reported that VA supervisors in multiple States instructed employees to falsify wait times. They must be held accountable. This is a slap in the face to our vets. Just last year the House took a step forward by passing the VA Accountability Act of 2015, H.R. 1994, legislation that I cosponsored that would make important reforms to the VA system, which will provide the necessary resources and the flexibility the VA needs to hold poor- performing employees accountable. While I believe that the VA has 99 percent of employees generally caring about the work they do and want to help veterans, we must always ensure that the other 1 percent of those who are not acting in the best interest of veterans are held accountable. Our veterans deserve only the highest quality of care at our VA facilities. Fighting for our veterans who fought for us always has been and will always be one of my top priorities. I will continue my work in Congress to improve our veterans' quality of care in any way that I can.