[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H2003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VISIT TO GUANTANAMO BAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I visited 
U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, a critical military national 
security asset serving key roles in the war on terrorism, drug and 
migrant interdiction, and as a strategic forward base for the Atlantic 
Fleet. Every day, approximately 7,000 U.S. military personnel and 
contractors go to work at GTMO to keep our country safe and to advance 
our national security interests in the Americas and throughout the 
world.
  I had the privilege of meeting with Captain Culpepper, the base 
commander, who briefed us on the base's preparedness to assist with 
major migrant events in the Caribbean. This is important, considering 
the significant increase in Cubans fleeing the island over the last 
year.
  I also met with Rear Admiral Clarke, who serves as Commander of the 
Joint Task Force Guantanamo. The JTF is working professionally and 
diligently to provide safe, humane, legal, and transparent care and 
custody of detainees. I was able to inspect the detention facilities, 
and I was impressed with efforts to treat the detainees with dignity 
and respect.
  Our brave young people in uniform do an extraordinary job of 
representing our country, sometimes under very difficult circumstances, 
in this theater. Mr. Speaker, the men and women of Naval Air Station 
Guantanamo, the Joint Task Force, and the Marines who protect the base 
perimeter deserve the admiration, appreciation, and support of the 
American people and this Congress.
  I thank my colleague from south Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for 
leading our visit to GTMO. I urge all of my colleagues to work to 
protect and strengthen this critical military asset.


                Zika Eradication and Good Government Act

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the Zika virus has wreaked havoc 
throughout Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. We have 
seen countless pregnant women infected, resulting in devastating fetal 
brain defects on their newborn children.
  As of mid-April, 87 cases of Zika have been identified in Florida, 
and another 380 cases have been reported across the country. We must be 
prepared for the first domestic transmission of the virus, especially 
as the summer mosquito season begins and international travel is more 
frequent.
  For these reasons, I have filed H.R. 5031, the Zika Eradication and 
Good Government Act. This bill will ensure no new funds are made 
available for Zika until all unspent Ebola money is disbursed, which 
the President already said he would do in early April.
  This bill will also direct all Federal agencies that receive funds to 
combat Zika to work in collaboration and share best practice methods.
  Finally, this bill will require a report from the President to 
Congress each month when any future funds are appropriated for Zika, 
detailing the obligations, expenditures, and effectiveness of the 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the President's call for funding emergency 
legislation to ensure Zika is eradicated. I also want to make sure the 
funds are spent wisely and effectively in fighting this virus.
  This bill is an important first step forward. I strongly urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor the Zika Eradication and Good Government Act.


                        Criminal Justice Reform

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the need 
to improve our prisons and criminal justice system here in the United 
States.
  Currently, there are more than 2 million individuals who are 
incarcerated in our country, the majority of whom committed nonviolent 
offenses.
  Last December, I had the opportunity to visit with over 20 inmates at 
Dade Correctional Institution in south Florida. These individuals were 
visibly moved that someone had taken the time to speak with them and 
learn about their struggles. I felt very fortunate to have had the 
opportunity to hear their stories.
  Criminal justice reform is desperately needed in our country, and it 
is vital that we break the school-to-prison pipeline and ensure that 
those who have served their time have a second chance at success.
  For all these reasons, I signed the Second Chance Petition, to allow 
nonviolent offenders to recover with dignity and become active members 
of their communities.
  With this week's Criminal Justice Summit taking place at the White 
House, I call on all of my colleagues to build on this momentum and 
meet with inmates to learn from their experiences. I am a cosponsor of 
bipartisan bills focused on criminal justice reform and look forward to 
working with my colleagues to get these bills signed into law.

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