[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HURRICANE ANDREW ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart 
to recognize the 24th of August as the 23rd anniversary of Hurricane 
Andrew. On this date in 1992, the category 5 storm made landfall on 
Elliott Key, and then Homestead, Florida, killing 26 immediately, with 
dozens more fatalities from injuries stemming from the storm's 
aftermath. We continue to mourn this loss of life.
  The winds of Hurricane Andrew were calculated at 164 miles per hour 
and completely wiped out Homestead Air Force Base. Until Hurricane 
Katrina in 2005, Andrew was the costliest storm in U.S. history, 
totaling $43.7 billion when adjusted for inflation.
  As officials assessed the damage, they noticed that much of the 
destruction was due to substandard construction methods. As a result, 
Florida now has the strongest building codes in the Nation. 
Furthermore, homes are now required to have storm shutters or impact-
resistant glass.
  While we will never be able to fully prevent damage from a serious 
storm, we can mitigate the damage caused and thus reduce the costs of 
rebuilding our neighborhoods.
  The National Hurricane Center, located at Florida International 
University in my congressional district, provides important research on 
the effects these storms have on our coastlines and maintains a 
continuous watch on developing weather patterns that could become a 
tropical storm. I was able to tour this center earlier in the year, and 
I commend their efforts.
  The memory of Andrew forces us to remain cautious and vigilant so our 
communities and homes are protected. In the midst of this hurricane 
season, I strongly encourage all those in the potential paths of these 
storms to have a plan already in place to secure property and protect 
loved ones. By taking the appropriate preventative measures, we can 
assure that our families and neighborhoods remain safe.


                      Key West Terrorist Detained

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my sincere 
gratitude to the brave law enforcement officials who prevented a 
terrorist plot from unfolding in Key West.
  On July 28, it was announced that a Key West man was arrested and 
charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Key West 
is the southernmost point of not only my congressional district, but 
the entire United States. Anyone who has visited the Keys knows how 
truly special this part of our country is, not just for its natural 
beauty, but for the welcoming and creative people who call the Keys 
home.
  A terrorist attack occurring anywhere in the United States is a cause 
for serious alarm, and I am glad the efforts of one lone wolf were 
thwarted.
  It is important to recognize the FBI, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the 
South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Key West Police 
Department, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and other law 
enforcement agencies for working together to neutralize this threat to 
Key West and our country. Because of their efforts, an untold number of 
lives were saved.
  Unfortunately, this incident reminds us that we continue to be 
targeted by those who wish to do us harm. We must remain vigilant 
against these ongoing threats and ensure our law enforcement agencies 
continue to have the necessary resources to execute their critical 
mission.


                      Miami Dade College/Job Fair

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank all those who 
attended the job fair in my district office hosted last month for 
employers and workers in the Kendall area of south Florida. We were 
able to connect over 1,000 of our friends and neighbors who are looking 
for work with hundreds of businesses, agencies, and nonprofit 
organizations. The feedback was positive from countless participants 
who said they were able to collect resumes from well-qualified 
potential candidates for job opportunities.
  One of my main priorities here in Congress is helping those who are 
most in need, and events like this job fair are an excellent way for 
our communities to come together and find opportunities for people with 
all sorts of different skill sets.
  I would also like to give special thanks to Miami Dade College for 
hosting this terrific event. They provide excellent opportunities to 
south Florida residents who are looking to further their education and 
learn new skills to enhance their job credentials.
  I am also very proud to note that Miami Dade College was recently 
named a ``great college to work for'' for the seventh consecutive year 
by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
  South Florida is fortunate to have a strong network of business 
leaders who work closely with educational institutions to help people 
find work. Every job is an opportunity, and today we celebrate the 
constituents in my district who have found gainful new employment as a 
result of the job fair at Miami Dade College.

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