[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18411-18412]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, last week's gruesome terrorist 
attacks in Paris were a disturbing reminder that the war on terror is 
ongoing and that radical Islamic extremism represents a clear and 
present danger to all freedom-loving civilized people.
  The time from September 11, 2001, up until today has been difficult 
for our Nation. We have seen our young men and women engaged in endless 
wars. We have lost thousands of American lives and spent a significant 
portion of our national treasure fighting in the Middle East. Costly 
mistakes were made in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. We are 
understandably a war-weary people.
  However, last Friday we were reminded that the consequences of 
inaction or of weak actions are far greater than any risks associated 
with making a serious and unwavering commitment to confronting and 
defeating radical terrorists.
  ISIS is not a problem to be managed or contained. This ambitious 
terrorist organization is a dangerous enemy of the United States and 
our allies that must be eradicated. If we refuse to fight ISIS on their 
home turf, we will have to fight them in the streets of Paris and maybe 
in our own communities.
  Just as the previous administration recognized that its Iraq strategy 
was failing and needed a jolt, it is now time for President Obama and 
his national security team to show that they are serious about 
destroying this dangerous threat to the stability of the world and to 
our own very lives.

                              {time}  1015

  Mr. Speaker, I have cosponsored a resolution authorizing the use of 
military force introduced by the gentleman from Illinois, my friend 
Adam Kinzinger. It would guarantee the President and our military every 
tool necessary to defeat ISIS. This resolution deserves a vote so that 
we can fight to win a war that we cannot afford to lose.


                              Cuban Crisis

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since the announcement of the 
President's engagement policy with the Cuban dictatorship in December 
of last year, we have witnessed a 78 percent spike in the number of 
Cubans arriving into our country. An untold number have been lost to 
the sea.
  But they aren't only coming by sea. Thousands of Cubans are illegally 
entering Central American nations, making the long trek north through 
Mexico and entering via our southern border. Too many are at the mercy 
of reprehensible human trafficking rings.
  Costa Rican authorities report that the number of Cubans entering 
their country illegally has grown from 5,400 last year to 12,166 so far 
this year. This problem has become so severe that the Costa Rican 
Government had to temporarily close its borders this past weekend.
  These trends show no signs of letting up, and I am concerned about 
another

[[Page 18412]]

migrant crisis overwhelming our Nation, particularly south Florida. 
This is a matter of our national security and requires the President's 
immediate attention.
  Cubans on the island seem to be reacting to the administration's new 
policy with desperation and fear, risking their lives and their safety 
to escape the prison that is Castro's Cuba.


                 White House Accreditation Alternative

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the 
administration's proposal to provide an alternative to accreditation 
for providers who develop partnerships with accredited institutions. 
The introduction of a regulator to judge programs like computer coding 
boot camps can help challenge traditional accreditors to put more focus 
on the success of students after graduation.
  This could be the groundwork for a true alternative to accreditation 
that would not replace the traditional system. Rather, it would enhance 
and allow other successful models to access funding resources to 
replicate and extend their reach.
  Accreditors maintain an important role within higher education; 
however, alternative models can help deal with segments that 
traditional accreditors may not be able to address effectively. As a 
large number of students enroll in noninstitutional programs, we should 
encourage the growth of successful models that are providing students 
with a path to successful and rewarding careers.
  Emphasizing outputs is an important step forward in helping the 
system of higher education in the United States evolve. As we continue 
our work toward reauthorizing the Higher Education Act here in the 
House, I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to ensure 
that we are helping prepare students for success.
  In education, one size does not fit all. This step by the 
administration is one in the right direction.

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