Next I would like to highlight Esteban Garces, Florida State director of Mi Familia Vota. Esteban directs the Florida operation of Mi Familia Vota, managing strategy, operations, local policy development, campaigns, civic engagement…

Next I would like to honor Frank Lopez of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. Frank Lopez is the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. Lopez is passionate about what he does, and nothing is more…

Next I would like to honor Ingrid Morfa, immigrant, attorney, and activist, a leader in immigration law in central Florida. Ingrid Morfa is an attorney and first-generation American. Her parents migrated from the Dominican Republic in the…

Next I would like to honor Jimmy Torres, community organizer and activist, and also a major member of the SEIU union. Jimmy Torres Velez grew up in Puerto Rico, where he went to public school. After he finished his bachelor's degree in…

Next I would like to honor Jorge Estevez, WFTV news anchor and journalist in Orlando. Jorge Estevez is an anchor for the evening newscast of Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. on WRDQ TV 27. He also anchors and reports newscasts on WFTV Channel 9…

Next I would like to honor Josephine Balzac, Esquire, attorney, writer, and professor at Rollins College, specializing in environmental law. Josephine M. Balzac is currently a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Business…

Next I would like to honor Luis Pastrana, attorney, activist, and professional at Ana G. Mendez University. Luis Pastrana was born in Puerto Rico. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Puerto…

Next I would like to honor Nancy Alvarez. Nancy was part of the first Hispanic anchor team on an English language TV station in central Florida. Along with Jorge Estevez, her coanchor, she brought the 10 o'clock news on Channel 27 TV to…

I would like to honor William Diaz, Spanish radio host. Identified as a consistent community leader and insightful journalist, William Diaz's passion to help fellow citizens in life's struggles has been evidenced in the last 28 years of…

Next I would like to honor Zoraida Rios- Andino, president of Mission Boricua. Zoraida Rios-Andino has been a resident of Orlando, Florida, for 17 years. She has been very active in promoting cultural, social, and historic events in the…

I thank the gentlewoman from New York. However, on September 5, President Trump announced he would end DACA and look to Congress to develop a legislative solution for DACA recipients. Well, Congress has a solution. It is H.R. 3440, the…

President Barack Obama, under his executive powers, established the DACA program which temporarily protected immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from potential deportation. Our Nation made a promise to DREAMers that by…

First, to the President: Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are in crisis. People are dying, and the time for action is now. Send our ships. Send our planes. Send our soldiers and our personnel over. We need water and food and medicine…

I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his inspiring words. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to update the House on what has occurred in Florida after the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. First, I want to start by thanking so many…

It happened on a Friday night, August 18, that Sergeant Sam Howard and Police Officer Matthew Baxter responded to a report of three suspicious persons around Palmway Street and Cypress Street in Kissimmee. I remember hearing about it. It…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 1190, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $48,000,000)''. Page 1190, line 25…

My amendment would increase funding for the Small Starts program by $48 million. This is the amount that SunRail, a constituent passenger train system in my district, would need to begin phase 3 of construction. Phase 3 would connect the…

I ask for unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3440, the DREAM Act, to protect DREAMers like Juan, who obtained a master's degree from our Florida State University and works in digital advocacy. The SPEAKER pro tempore. As previously…

I am pleased to introduce a resolution for Tom Flores urging he be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tom Flores had an outstanding and successful career, both as a quarterback and as a head coach. This resolution pays tribute to…

I want to make a statement regarding the passage of H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018. Specifically, I would like to make a statement about my amendment, Soto Number 20, to Division A, the Department of Defense…

Recall President Trump's promise on the campaign trail: we will build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. Not only is it costly and unnecessary, but it will do more to divide America than it will to keep us safe. First, taking the fact that…

Next week we will see consideration of the repeal of ObamaCare without a replacement. This would be a life-and- death issue for most Americans. First, we would see skyrocketing uninsured rates: 18 million people would lose insurance next…

When I looked through the royalty rates for other resources, we have 12.5 percent for onshore oil and gas royalties, 18.75 percent for offshore oil...

Turning next, this Committee is about new infrastructure, which is really an opportunity in rural America.

I would strongly encourage you all to consider pilot programs on the subject, being that the profit margins are pretty good, and they really bode well for the future of our American farmers.