Have a good day. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers room, washington, d. C. , july 31, 2013. I hereby appoint the honorable joseph heck to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, john a. Boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 3, 2013, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour ebate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip each, to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from florida, ms. Roslehtinen, for five minutes. Ms. Roslehtinen i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, mr. Speaker. Rise to support a cancer victims and also to recognize a valiant leader in our community who turns 86 on august 12, betsy kaplan. I start by asking all of us to support the patients, the families and victims of a special type of cancer, pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest of all forms of cancer with a fiveyear survival rate of just 6 . In 2013 alone, pancreatic cancer will affect 45,000 patients. 73 of whom will die within one year of diagnosis. In my home state of florida, it is estimated that out of the 3,380 new cases, 2,770 people will die from this terrible disease. Last year i was proud to pass the to help pass the Recalcitrant Cancer Research act, a bill to help turn around these horrible statistics. Mr. Speaker, we must continue to make survival from pancreatic cancer a priority, colleagues to stand with us in this fight. And a south floridian whos involved in whorte while causes, whether theyre related to improving lives of others, or fighting for better treatment of the disabled is betsy kaplan. Betsy is a retired School Board Member from Miamidade County public schools, has been recognized in our community for her notable achievements and contributions, fostering Arts Education and student guidance in our public schools. With an unprecedented 47 years of professional experience in the education field, betsy retired with many honors, from her teaching career to speer heading the adoption of the spear heading the adoption of the tobaccofree School Policy and advocating for Educational Programs that cater to special needs students. A decorated award winner, betsy has received numerous honors, ranging from the Florida School boards president s award to being recognized as a woman of impact from the coalition of womens history. She received the breaking the Glass Ceiling award from the Jewish Museum of florida at florida university. Thanks to betsy as Miamidade County is county schools is known for their arts. We need to ensure that our students get the quality education they deserve, and i thank betsy for her exceptional efforts in creating opportunities for students to learn, to grow and to succeed in their educational, social and professional lives. So congratulations to betsy kaplan, and let us all keep up the fight to beat all types of cancer, especially pancreatic cancer. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. In a few minutes well be meeting with president obama here in the capitol. While i appreciate the president s commitment to the economy, and i do believe hes passionate about review renewing and rebuilding america, theres a certain irony to having the conversation today. Because this is the very same day the house is competing its work on a woefully inadequate budget bill to fund transportation, housing and urban development. By insisting on an increase in and approving budget target that is unrealistically low and freezing in the sequestration, were seeing budgets that bear no relationship to reality. 44 billion in transportation discretionary appropriations, wn 15 from the authorized level. It makes no attempt to deal with the looming collapse of the highway trust fund. It slashes amtrak a third below the current level. Hardly responsible. Many of the budget reductions in the housing programs and the Community Development block grant are even worse. And we began those deliberations on the same day the American Society for Civil Engineers released their report card on the state of american infrastructure. Dplus, and it was only that high because we have increased some private investment, some local government funding and, of course, the stimulus funding that helped reduce some of the most egregious shortfalls while putting people to work. Its ironic that some of the rationale for this bizarre budget behavior, which thankfully will never be enacted into law, is the need to save taxpayer money an reduce deficits. In reality if this budget were approved, it would actually end up costing american taxpayers more. Families will learn earn even less if we continue this funding level for infrastructure that is inadequate. There will be hundreds of millions of hours of time lost as people are stuck in traffic, and the number of miles of congestion increased over 30 . And of course our businesses will pay almost a half trillion dollars more in transportation costs and repair while business will be underperforming, and that will cost money too. The path forward is clear. We should provide increased funding for transportation and infrastructure. The gas tax has not been increased in 20 years, which incidentally was the last time we had balanced budgets. This is the quickest way to get the new revenues that many feel are necessary to be part of any rational, longterm, grand budget agreement and tax reform. It would be supported by a wide array of business, labor, environmental groups, local government. Indeed, there is a vast coalition that is saying, tax me so i can do my job better, and we can revitalize americas communities and our sagging economy. Its no longer acceptable for us to talk past one another, by dealing boldly with the infrastructure crisis in the context of realistic budgets and meaningful tax reform, we can put americans back to work. We can break the logjam here on capitol hill. We can strengthen the economy while we make our communities more livable and our families safer, healthier and more economically secure. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Wolf, for five minutes. Mr. Wolf thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last two weeks i raised a series of questions focusing on the attack of the u. S. Consulate in benghazi as well as washingtons response or lack thereof. Today, little is known why ambassador stevens was at the u. S. Consulate in the days leading up to the anniversary of 9 11. Even less known is about where the other american facility in annex. I was the c. I. A. How many people worked at the annex . Of these how many were direct Agency Employees and how many were contractors . What was the ratio of c. I. A. Staff to security contractors . Why was their facility operated by the c. I. A. In benghazi . Perhaps it was to secure weapons in the wake of the libyan revolution. As early as 2011, National Journal reported that, quote, the u. S. Is also planning to ramp up money to secure the surface to air missiles and gaddafis ted from stockpiles. A Senior State Department official said clinton will tell libyan officials that the u. S. Contribution to these would go up to 40 million, end of quote. They said the u. S. Has already spent nearly 6 million on the weapons disposal efforts, sending experts to libya by october of 2011, end of quote. F indeed the facility in benghazi was involved in the collection of these weapons, where are they . The 40 million promised by secretary clinton would buy a very large quantity of weapons. Were they shipped out of benghazi . Are they in warehouses on u. S. Soil . Did they end up elsewhere . There has been speculation that some of these weapons may have ended up in syria. Its particularly noteworthy that during the same time period that the u. S. Engaged in collecting weapons in libya, respected National Security reporter, mark, wrote on august 1, 2012, quote, that president barack obama assigned a secret order signed a secret order for rebels seeking president assad and government. U. S. Sources said obamas order approved earlier this year is known as intelligence finding broadly permits the c. I. A. And other u. S. Agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust assad, end of quote. The article continues, the white house is now apparently stopping short of giving the rebels lethal weapons, even as some u. S. Allies do just that and precisely when obama signed the secret intelligence authorization, an action not previously reported cannot be determined, end of quote. However, he also reported this important information. He said a u. S. Government source acknowledged thaund the provision of the president ial acknowledged under the provision of the president ial finding, the command center operated by turkey and its allies and nbc said the shoulder fire missiles, also known as man pads, had been delivered to the rebels via turkey. Is it possible that the president s intelligence finding included an authorization for the weapons collected in libya to be transferred to Syrian Rebels . Was the c. I. A. Annex being used to facilitate these transfers . If so, how did the weapons physically move from libya to syria . By plane, by ship . Again, i ask these weapons were not being transferred to other countries like syria, where exactly did they end up . Was the c. I. A. Annex being used as the Logistic Center to track and transfer these weapons . Was ambassador stevens visit to the c. I. A. Annex on september 10 associated with these operations . Activities were taking place, was this consistent with the president s intelligence finding . Was the congress notified . Mr. Speaker, i raise these questions knowing that c. I. A. Operations anywhere is sensitive and there is an appropriate time and place for the discussions. However, i dont think the American People will ever learn the truth about what happened that night and why, including the questionable u. S. Response unless they understand what exactly was taking place at the annex. That is why i continue to believe that a House Select Committee is the most appropriate path forward to investigate this and many other Unanswered Questions about benghazi. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Chiff, for five minutes. Mr. Schiff mr. Speaker, i rise along with my colleague representative Steven Palazzo to honor james watts for his many years of service to his community and country. Born in 1919 in mississippi, mr. Watts has dedicated his career to public service. His children and stepchildren have followed in their parents footsteps and have been leaders in their own right throughout the United States. During world war ii mr. Watson defended his country by tracking subma reaps as a member of the coast guard. Later in civilian life he would go on to hold executive board positions in both the boy scouts of america and girl scouts of america organizations. Mr. Watts passion for volunteerism speaks volumes about his character. While he he lived in grand junction, colorado, he volunteered as an e. M. T. And then a paramedic for what is now st. Marys hospital and Regional Medical center in grand junction, colorado. Upon relocation to gulfport, mississippi, mr. Watts taught c. P. R. And first aid for the american red cross, a testament to his devotion to the wellbeing of the communities he has lived in and visited. Perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments was in 1956 while he worked for the Atomic Energy commission. As a mine safety engineer in new mexico, mr. Watts noticed a uranium boom town of more than 10,000 residents living without access to a local hospital for emergency services. With ambition and selflessness he took it upon himself to spearhead organizational efforts for the creation of the subola General Hospital which has been committed to serving the medical needs of the Community Since 1959. Ever since patients continued to be saved, the critically ill continue to be treated, and the 24hour Emergency Care is Still Available to the community. Now at 84 im sorry, 94 years old, mr. Watts resides with his wife in gulfport, mississippi. Although hes retired, the organizations and Community Projects developed under his leadership are still in operation today. I believe mr. Watts life is a great example of generosity and devotion to the greater good of society. We can all learn from mr. Watts inspiring story of public service. I join my colleague in recognizing and thanking mr. Watts for his life of service. We wish him, his wife, and their children, susan and rick, who is here with us in the gallery, jane, denette, and paul all the best in their future endeavors and thank them for their legacying their fathers to noble sr. Viss to the community. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore members will be reminded not to acknowledge those or recognize those seated in the gallery. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Fitzpatrick, for five minutes. Mr. Fitzpatrick thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise this morning in strong support of the eight bills before the house today, or more importantly in support of what they represent, which is commonsense government reform. As a representative of the Hardworking Taxpayers in southeastern pennsylvania, it is my duty to make sure that they are getting value for every dollar that they send to the nations capital. Right now our federal government seems to find better ways to waste money than to save it. The culture of systemic waste, abuse, and lack of accountability needs to end. We had the opportunity this week, we can vote to streamline the federal government, to make it work for the american taxpayer. The stop government abuse legislative package being considered today works to reign in widespread waste and inefish rein in wide sprode waste and inefficiency throughout washington. They represent common sense, Bipartisan Solutions that solve problems. After this week members will leave for a month to head back to our districts. Many of us are going to be attending events and hosting town halls to facilitate conversations with our constituents. I am eager to report to them that despite our differences this body was able to come together to support so many commonsense reforms. He so i urge my colleagues to support the bills considered here and vote to begin restoring faith in government. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Mcgoverner for five minutes. Mr. Mcgovern, for five minutes. Mr. Mcgovern i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Mcgovern madam speaker, for the 20th time this congress i stand here to talk about how we can end hunger now. Hung certificate a political condition. Hunger is a political condition. We have the food, we have the means, and the system to end hunger now. We know how to do it, we just dont have the political will to make it happen. But that wasnt always the case. The late 1960s america began seriously to confront its poverty problem. President johnson fought the war on poverty and his programs, including medicare, medicaid, and title 1 education programs, just to maim a few, started to combat the poverty and inequalities rampant across many parts of this country. President nixon followed in his footsteps by hosting the first and only white house conference on food nutrition and health, a conference that focused on hunger in america. The result of that conference was a precipitous drop of hungry people in america. Contrary to Budget Committee chairman paul ryans belief, the antipoverty programs with the johnson administration, and antihunger programs created by the Nixon Administration worked. Hunger and poverty would be much worse today if it werent for these programs. The truth is we almost eradicated hunger in america, thanks to a strengthened Food Stamp Program and the creation of the w. I. C. Program in the 1970s. But those gains were erased and hunger increased because of the policies of ronald reagan. Since then we have seen food stamp usage increase during every single administration, and we can and we must do better. One of the highlights of the effort that nearly ended hunger in america in the 1970s was the w. I. C. Program. Formerly titled the special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants, and children. W. I. C. Is an Innovative Program that he provides nutritious food and food counseling for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and children under the age of 5. Why is this program so critical . Well, madam speaker, prenatal enrollment in w. I. C. Is associated with lower infant mortality. Fewer premature births, and lower likelihood that infants will have very low or low birth weights. Because an infants medical Cost Increases tenfold, every investment in w. I. C. , yields up o 1. 90 to 4.