[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E245] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] PERSONAL EXPLANATION ______ HON. RAUL RUIZ of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, February 25, 2015 Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, due to a death in my immediate family I was unable to be present for votes on the House floor the week of February 9, 2015. Below is an explanation of how I would have voted and why. I would have voted for H.R. 719, the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015 because the bill requires Transportation Security Administration Criminal Investigators to spend at least half of their time investigating individuals suspected of committing a crime. I would have voted for H.R. 720, the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015 to ensure the Transportation Security Administration has adequate emergency plans in place to handle a shooting attack at an airport. I would have voted for H.R. 431, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the final Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in March of 1965, which served as a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I am a cosponsor of the bill. I would have voted against S. 1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act because the bill allows a Canadian company to be exempt from paying its fair share into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which could leave taxpayers on the hook for an expensive clean-up in the event of an oil spill. Furthermore, the current planned route for the pipeline runs directly over the Ogallala aquifer, putting at risk a critical freshwater supply. I would have voted for H.R. 644, the Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2015 to encourage donations to charitable organizations. The bill would expand tax deductions for food donations, property conservation donations, and charitable foundations. I would have voted for H.R. 636, the America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015 because the bill is designed to help small businesses grow and create new jobs. This bill would facilitate investment in new equipment, new property, and technology upgrades for small businesses. Providing tax relief will help level the playing field for small businesses, which will stimulate economic growth and create jobs across the country. ____________________