[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATIONS TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Miami-
Dade County Public Schools, where the graduation rate recently reached 
an all-time high of 78.1 percent for the 2014-2015 academic year, 
surpassing the State average of 77.8 percent.
  This is a 1.5 percent growth from last year's rate, marking the 
highest graduation rate MDCPS has achieved since the Florida Department 
of Education began implementing new standards to track graduation 
figures in the late 1990s. This is a landmark accomplishment, 
considering the major challenges Miami schools face, including high 
poverty rates and a large population of English language learners.
  As a former member of the Miami-Dade County School Board, I salute 
the students, teachers, faculty, and parents for their dedication and 
for their commitment to excellence. I also want to recognize School 
Board Chair Perla Tabares-Hantman, my other former colleagues, and 
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho for their exceptional leadership. I 
think of them frequently, and I am constantly reminded of how fortunate 
our community is to have them.
  To the entire MDCPS family, congratulations. You are a model for the 
Nation. I am proud to represent you.


             Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2015

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on October 24, 2015, Monroe 
County Sheriff's Deputy Josh Gordon found himself in a firefight with a 
robbery suspect on Stock Island in the Florida Keys. Amidst the 
exchange of gunfire, Deputy Gordon's bulletproof vest stopped a round 
of ammunition, ultimately saving his life. If a bullet would have 
strayed a few inches one way or another, the outcome could have been 
entirely different.
  Every day, men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the 
line to ensure our safety. Incidents such as this shed light on the 
significance of effective body armor for those who protect us. Officers 
like Deputy Gordon are never off duty, and we must, in turn, do 
everything in our power to protect them.
  To address this, I stand in strong support of H.R. 228, the 
Bulletproof Vest Grant Act of 2015, which extends the grant program for 
armored vests through fiscal year 2018. I strongly encourage Congress 
to pass this essential legislation and protect the backbone of our 
Nation's domestic defense.


             Miami International Airport Passenger Records

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Miami 
International Airport and their record-breaking year in 2015. Forty-
four million passengers passed through this world-renowned airport last 
year, shattering the previous annual record of 40.9 million passengers 
in 2014.
  MIA has some of the most dedicated employees in the country who 
ensure passengers have a pleasant experience on their journey, whether 
visiting relatives, conducting business, or visiting the abundance of 
attractions south Florida has to offer. Tens of thousands of passengers 
pass through MIA on a daily basis, and I am proud to recognize an 
airport that connects so many people throughout the world.
  I offer my continued support to my friend, MIA Director Emilio 
Gonzalez, as his team works in the new year to attract more domestic 
and international routes, and I know cafecitos will continue to be 
available at each terminal so all visiting guests can enjoy the 
wonderful culture of south Florida.

                          ____________________