Chair will now recognize mes omis smiedy the mori andinit leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other th the jotyndinit leaders d thmirity whip limited to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Gutierrez, for five minutes. Mr. Gutierrez i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Gutierrez i look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks and my friends in North Carolina and South Carolina too. When im not here in my district in chicago i have half a dozen events lined up over the next few weeks and i will be going from town to town state to state talking about the president S Immigration executive actions and what it means for them and their families. With local elected officials, i will be doing outreach to educate the community of immigrants and get allies at the state and local level who will help our neighboring immigrants to come forward. Next week i will be with the distinguished gentleman from rhode island mr. Cicilline, and his governor to help those to get ready to sign up. From charlotte to houston to los angeles, my colleagues here in the house are putting together events to educate their own communities and i hope to attend as many as i can. Evangelical congregations across the occur, the catholic church, and my own archdiocese in chicago, are helping to lay the groundwork for those who raise families in the u. S. To come forward and be spared from deportation. Labor unions, Small Businesses that haunt want to help families come together are helping to. Mayor rahm emanuel of chicago has stepped forward to say hell help facilitate individuals with the federal government, other mayors say me too and good for them. We can all help by playing a role in implementing the immigration executive actions taken by the president that will help millions of people. Congress refuses to pass laws that channel people into Legal Immigration with visas and congress refuses to address millions of people who have lived and worked here for a decade or more and they refuse to address any system like everify or in borders or ports of ntry because theyd rather play politics but at the white house and our side of the aisle we are taking steps to address the anxieties of the talk Radio Audience and not just inflamed their frustration with the current mess. Remember not doing anything the republican strategy, thats amnesty. Were going to make sure that millions of american citizens can live with their family members and that we not place americans citizens in foster care by the thousands because were deporting their parents. Were going to make sure that more of the employment and tax base of the country is on the books working legitimately for employers who have to follow the rules and that employers will not get to pick between a legal job market and an illegal one that is not protected by labor laws, wage protection, safety regulations and yes, tax compliance. Were getting Accurate Information out to people to tell them that what the president announced is not immigration reform. Its not a permanent but a small step in the right direction within the confines of current law. As i said during the last congress, and im repeating it again today, ill work with anyone in either party that has a legitimate idea on how to make our immigration system more secure, more legal, more orderly. Most of my fellow lawmakers in this body support Legal Immigration and to make progress we must break with the group opposing Legal Immigration. We need a modern visa system that takes america beyond the Current System crafted in the 1980s and 1990s. We need a modern enforcement within an electronic verification system that replaces a paper base system of documentation. We need modern Border Security that works had in hand with modern visas so we channel traffic through ports of entry where commodities, cargo and people are inspected efficiently. More militarization, more deportation and narrow Legal Immigration channels have not given us greater control over the immigration process that has led us to a number of problems. If youre serious about Border Security legalization enforcement, Legal Immigration, then my doors always open. Tell me what you need to move forward. Do you need more fences . More hightech visas . More Immigration Judges . Tell me what it will take to get this congress out of the current rut. In the meantime i and a lot of my colleagues are going to be out there around the country protecting American Families from destruction and protecting millions from deportation. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentlelady from florida, ms. Roslehtinen, for five minutes. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you very much. I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you so much, mr. Speaker. The recent concessions by president obama to the castro regime mark a drastic departure from one of the most consistent ten enters of the United StatesForeign Policy and traditional American Values and sets a dangerous precedent for other rogue regimes to emulate. The pardoning of convicted cuban spies follows an illadvised exchange for the taliban in which the rhetoric emerging from the white house to justify its actions has been unnervingly similar. As predicted, the course of policy by this administration on caving to terrorist demands makes the United States more vulnerable and we see those repercussions manifest themselves across the globe. Just recently, venezuelas thug, nicholas maduro, jumped at the opportunity to request an exchange of a convicted criminal in the United States for the freedom of prodemocracy leader leopoldo lopez, who maduro jailed in venezuela. This is not the way to protect u. S. National security interests throughout the world. This is a way of putting them in jeopardy. When we equate unjustly imprisoned americans to battle hardened terrorists or convicted spies, we set a dangerous precedent for the world to follow. The cuban regime has already signaled strongly that it will not unclench its fist despite recent developments. On december 30, just 13 days after president obamas announcement, the cuban regime arrested nearly 60 activists seeking to express themselves freely. This in addition to the arrests of more than 200 activists on human rights day. Ha thats rich. Just seven days before the announcement normalizing relations. Yet, the administration proudly and openly touts the promise but yet unproven release of 53 dissidents as a major breakthrough when in reality the net result will mean hundreds more in castros gulags. Raul castro will free 53 and arrest 60 more in the next month. This shows the failure of the administrations argument and proves that theres no intention by the castros to move in the direction of reform or freedom. Instead, president obama has created an atmosphere that emboldens the regime to continue its violent tactics with no concern of consequences from this white house. We must not forget that cuba not only poses a threat to its people but also threatens us here at home. Cuba must remain a state sponsor of terrorism because it has not changed its terrorist ways. For example, in the year 2013, cuba was caught helping another dangerous regime, north korea evade u. N. Security Council Resolutions of sanctions by shipping arms and munitions to the regime. At a time when many in congress and even the white house are trying to punish the north korean regime for its cyberattacks against the u. S. , we cannot forget that those rogue regimes help north korea, like the one in cuba. The castro regime continues to thumb its nose at u. S. By harboring fugitives such as new jersey state trooper killer jo ann by harboring puerto rico terrorist and bank robber victor and many others who have fled u. S. Justice for the shores of cuba. These are just a few of the reasons mr. Speaker, why the Administration Must reexamine its relationship with castro and impose strict sanctions against the thugs not offer it concessions for all of these transgressions. Just like a zebra cannot change its stripes the castro regime cannot and will not change its antifreedom, terrorist ways. It is our duty to support democracy and be a voice for those 11 million cubans oppressed throughout the island. By appeasing dictators we have disappointed people all over the world who are struggling to achieve freedom, and the white house has betrayed core American Values and principles, the respect for human rights and the right for people to choose their own destiny. As the first cuban americanborn member of congress who went from being a political refugee, fleeing the oppressive and brutal castro regime, to a Senior Member of this hallowed and cherished body, i will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the cause for freedom and democracy in cuba is not forgotten. Until the oppressive yolk of tyranny installed by the castro brothers has been lifted and the regime has been replaced by a Representative Democracy like the one we have here in our cherished nation, i have a moral obligation to freedomloving people everywhere and i will not ever forget that responsibility. Thank you mr. Speaker, for the time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from oregon mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. As we begin the new congress, america sees the two parties in both the house and the senate, along with the white house making statements that establish positiones that distinguish one from another. But what if we started not by defining our differences but with efforts that would bring us together . We entereneded the last congress with the passage of the paul simon water for the world act something id worked with my friend and partner from texas, ted poe, for years here in the house. There was extraordinary bipartisan leadership demonstrated by congressman charlie dent, aaron schock, senator dick durbin. It did take six years but this bipartisan effort was for a humanitarian cause, especially benefiting women and girls around the globe, was worth the time and effort. The legislation focused and enhanced american efforts dealing with International Water and sanitation. Today, 152 million hours will be spent by women and girls traveling to get water, often dirty water, to meet the needs of their families. In some of the poorest regions of the planet. This legislation created more focused American Leadership and it was backed up by unprecedented increases in american aid for water and sanitation. It will pay benefits for generations to come for millions making friends for america while it allows children to live longer and makes the lives for women and girls more bearable. And we did it together. Are there other such candidates for legislation that will bring us together . Dr. Phil roe and i have been working on the personalized your care act with medical groups experts, hospitals, the community of faith. This is an effort to make sure that at the end of life for our loved ones they actually get the treatment they want, not health care on autopilot. Weve had tragic stories about how medical decisions by reflex and default have put people in isolated i. C. U. s and painful and foreign settings when actually most of them and in fact most of us would rather be comfortable at home surrounded by our loved ones. Theres been a brilliant and exhaustive report by the institute of medicine that deals with the problems and concerns and how we can do better. One doctor, best selling book, being mortal makes sure there are crying needs and compassionate solutions. Theres a revolution taking place in health care today. What if part of that Revolution Congress started the new year with our bipartisan legislation, personalize your care act, to make sure those families understand their choices, that their choices are known and most important their choices are respected . We had dozens of cosponsors and broad support across the medical establishment and the community of faith. Maybe we can pick up where we left off and have this legislation bring us together to protect our families and start the year on a united front, giving families the protection they want for the care they need. Theres no reason we in Congress Need to spin our wheels and shout at and past each other. You know, mr. Speaker, i could have made this same presentation, not about the water and sanitation, but about how this congress came together in the final hours to help save the lives of afghan and iraqis who are now at risk from the tender mercies of the taliban and al qaeda because they helped americans when we need them. These are some of my examples of bipartisan cooperation that are important and that we have done in the past. I would invite my colleagues to share their agenda a bipartisan, low or no cost legislation that allows us to Work Together. Its not too late to start the year and this congress right. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from michigan, mr. Benishek, for five minutes. Mr. Benishek mr. Speaker, i rise today in strong support of h. R. 30 the save American Workers act. To urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting yes on this important initiative. I have heard from many people across northern michigan, from working moms and dads, Small Business owners, to county government the president S Health Care law is stifling economic growth, job creation, and hours of work. One of the most burdensome and baffling regulations imposed by the president S Health Care law was the reclassification of what constitutes a fulltime employee. The save American Workers act will get rid of this rule, helping employees in michigan and around the country create more opportunities in our area. This simple and commonsense fix will be a good first step toward restoring the true definition of fulltime employment and increasing jobs in northern michigan. I have joined with the 147 of my colleagues, more than 1 3 of the entire house in being an original cosponsor of this legislation. Im happy this is one of the first bills that the house of representatives will pass. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Quigley, for five minutes. Mr. Quigley thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a new congress but the sites are familiar. The same rhetoric with no regard for the truth. Ahead of another illadvised vote to approve the Keystone Pipeline, the same myths are being spread. Pitting Environmental Protection against job creation. Winston churchill once said, the truth is incontrovertible, mall last may attack it, ignorance may deride it, in the end there it is. Let us separate myths from reality. Its time to decide truth or scare. Approval of the Keystone Pipeline will have a very will have very little impact in the way of job creation, but a detrimental impact on the environment and hinder our promise of a clean energy future. Thats the truth. My question is, why are we ignoring these facts and voting once again to approve the Keystone Pipeline which would carry one of the Dirtiest Energy sources on the planet . Perhaps it has something to do with the many myths associated with this project. Pipeline proponents are quick to point to the creation of jobs as the primary reason for the projects approval. However, facts dont match up. According to the only independent analysis by Cornell Universitys global labor institute, these claims are not accurate. Transcan in a at thats job claims are complete fabrications. The cornell report concludes that keystone will not be a major source of jobs nor will it play any substantial role at all in putting americans back to work. The state Department Said keystone would only create 35 permanent jobs and 1,950 construction jobs for two years. Most of those jobs created by this project will be nonlocal and temporary. In reality, we can and should be creating jobs by improving our existing infrastructure and investing in clean energy, education, and he and research. Keystone would make it much harder for the United States to invest in Clean Energy Jobs and address Global Climate change. Our best bet at Clean Energy Economy lies far, far away from tar sands. Thats the truth. Proponents of the pipeline claim that keystone will bring down gas prices for americans, but in reality prices at midwestern pumps could increase. According to its own documents transcanada expects the pipeline to increase gas prices in the northwest up to 15 cents per gallon. Currently a surplus of gas in the region means that our prices stay stable. If the pipeline is built,