Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to a resolution that has been presented to overturn the EPA's lifesaving heavy-duty NOX rule.

Across the country, heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses, make up one-third of all transportation NOX emissions. Now, this is the same source of smog and soot that darkens skies in many communities and certainly poisons the lungs of too many Americans.

In an effort to address those real challenges, the EPA's heavy-duty vehicle pollution rule is projected to cut NOX emissions from the heavy-duty sector by nearly half over the next dozen years. This represents a monumental investment and significant step forward in our Nation's health and air quality that will benefit all Americans. But instead of supporting this rule, some Members have suggested that we reverse course and instead leave in place an outdated pollution standard--a rule that even the heavy-duty vehicle industry acknowledges is too weak--and, in so doing, endanger the lives of thousands of Americans. This makes no sense.

Consider the Inland Empire in Southern California. Truly this region, this geographical area, is the heart of our Nation's supply chain. No one in the Inland Empire wants the economy to shutter, but residents in the region know all too well the dangers that surround them. Children's playgrounds, veterans health centers, schools, and entire neighborhoods are surrounded by warehouses and distribution centers. Now, the warehouses in and of themselves aren't threatening our air quality or public health, but think about the emissions from the trucks that carry goods to and from those warehouses. As a result, communities throughout the Inland Empire, which happen to also be mostly Latino and low-income communities, experience higher rates of asthma, decreased lung function in children, and higher rates of cancer. It is not hyperbole. The data is there. Statistics are clear.

It is not just the Inland Empire. I raise that as the most significant example. In fact, it is communities all across the country near freight corridors that are impacted--almost 72 million people who live near freight routes.

So yes, Mr. President, I am standing up for the fundamental human right to clean air for all Americans.

Now, truth be told, I actually wanted the EPA to be more ambitious in its final NOX rule and to align more closely with California's stringent heavy-duty vehicle rules. California proudly leads the Nation in decarbonization and emissions reduction, and we have done so by working thoughtfully and collectively with industry and communities to cut deadly NOX and other pollution from vehicles while we transition to zero-emission vehicles.

So to my colleagues who claim negative business or economic impacts, California is doing this while having just grown from being the fifth largest economy in the world to the fourth largest economy in the world. Economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. Economic growth and protecting public health are not mutually exclusive. We can and must do it all together.

Last I checked from business leaders whom I talked to--I mentioned industries at the table and also at the State level--they actually appreciate that regulatory certainty that I know you and I have talked about, Mr. President, where we lay out a rule, an agenda, a policy objective, and work together to create a plan to achieve it and keep that plan, not ripsaw back and forth about what regulations are going to be in place from one year to the next, from one congressional majority to the next, et cetera.

I am also continuing to push the EPA to finalize a strong phase 3 heavy-duty vehicle rule with my clean air and clean transportation partners in the Senate, including Chairman Carper of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Senator Markey and others.

But, at the very least, we can't undercut two decades of progress we have already made, and this CRA undermines the scientific and technical expertise behind these important standards and public health protections. And we know that the CRA is part of a bigger effort to stop the bold action we are taking to tackle the climate crisis.

So, colleagues, for the sake of clean air, for the sake of our environment, and for the sake of the health of all communities across the country, I urge you to oppose this repeal.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Sandra Nash Baldonado, the former mayor of Claremont, CA, and a beloved community leader.

During an intrepid lifetime of service and generosity, any number of friends across the country will remember her knocking doors in Southern California with her kids by her side, serving our Nation at the C.I.A. in Washington, organizing Lady Bird Johnson's campaign tour through the South in the 1960s, or forging ahead to find a permanent home for the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art to bring life to the town she loved most.

Born in Shanghai in 1935, Sandy had a very international childhood, with her family living everywhere from Canada and Mexico to New York City. She attended Smith College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in economics, her first stop in a lifelong quest for knowledge that would lead her to earn her master's degree in education from Claremont Graduate School and her law degree from Whittier School of Law.

In 1959, after marrying her first husband Arthur Baldonado, the couple moved to Southern California where they would eventually make their home, raise four children, and start their new lives. As a point of personal privilege, it is not lost on me that only in the time since Sandy followed her then Brooklyn Dodgers out west have the Dodgers become one of the most successful franchises in professional sports, with six of their seven World Series titles coming since 1959.

In 1992, Sandy married her late husband George Hart, with whom she traveled the world.

Across her long and accomplished career, Sandy served as a sixth- grade teacher, president of the League of Women Voters, member of the Three Valley Municipal Water District's Board of Directors, vice chair of the California Democratic Party, family lawyer, city council member and later mayor of the city of Claremont, and president of the Claremont Museum of Art.

In every role she held, whether teaching sixth graders or representing women and children in family law, the people and communities around her were made better because of her boundless capacity to care.

My thoughts are with all those she now leaves behind, including her children and their spouses Charles and Michele Baldonado, James Baldonado, Andrew and Susan Baldonado, and Liana and Ezra Bayles; as well as her grandchildren Caroline, Pauline, Alex, Grace, Charlie, and Selina.

Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Richard Joseph Riordan, a veteran, businessman, father, proud Californian, and the 39th mayor of the city of Los Angeles.

Born in Flushing, Queens, in New York City, and the youngest of eight siblings, Mayor Riordan's intellect and work ethic earned him a degree in philosophy from Princeton University, before he went on to serve our Nation in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. His keen mind for business and legal matters brought him to the University of Michigan Law School and later to a career in legal practice and private equity in Los Angeles, where he made his home. But to many Angelenos, we know him best for his time as mayor of Los Angeles from 1993 to 2001.

I had the privilege of serving alongside Mayor Riordan during my first 2 years on the Los Angeles City Council,

and I am proud of the work we did together on behalf of Los Angeles families. Mayor Riordan cared deeply about the city's children and prioritized the modernization of parks, libraries, and recreational, and cultural opportunities for children. He was instrumental in bringing the Children's Museum of Los Angeles, now known as the Discovery Cube Los Angeles, to the San Fernando Valley.

His response to crisis earned Los Angeles national recognition, both in rebuilding after the devastating Northridge earthquake in 1994 and working with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the Los Angeles Police Department and advance community-based policing efforts. And he was instrumental in bringing the Democratic Convention to Los Angeles in 2000, showcasing the City of Angels to a national audience.

Angela and I offer our deepest condolences and appreciation to Mayor Riordan's family and loved ones. His legacy has left a lasting mark on our city, and his loss will be deeply felt by all Angelenos.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Irma Cantu Acosta, a titan in Southern Californian real estate and a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.

Irma grew up in Los Angeles after her parents, Tomasita Saenz Cantu and

Benjamin Cantu, moved their family from Texas to California in 1950. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and attended Stockton Bible College in Stockton, CA. But after only one semester, as her son Gary says, Irma and her high school sweetheart Ernie ``missed each other too much,'' and they chose to get married in 1962. Together, they had three children--Gary, Yvette and Daliah Lynn--before Irma started what would become a highly accomplished career in real estate.

Because of her intelligence and uncompromising drive, she quickly became an association executive for the Montebello Board of Realtors, where she would serve for 43 years. While there, she received numerous awards for both her personal and professional achievements, including Woman of the Year for her record in association management.

As a founding board member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, she helped make the dream of homeownership possible for more Latinos. She served as a mentor to countless real estate professionals and business owners, providing guidance and care to the next generation of business leaders in Montebello.

Throughout our Nation's long and storied history, there have been leaders, allies, and advocates who have chosen not just to work hard and succeed in their chosen fields, but to turn around and help others achieve the American dream. Irma was one of those leaders. In the families she helped, the mentees she guided, and in her three strong, compassionate children, Irma kept that dream alive. What better gift to leave behind than hope for the next generation.

California's thoughts are with Irma's husband Ernie; her children Gary, Yvette, and Daliah Lynn; and all those who knew and loved her.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the Sacramento Regional Transit District on 50 years of service, helping Californians commute to work, visit loved ones, and explore the beautiful county of Sacramento.

Since first providing service in 1973, Sacramento Regional Transit, or SacRT, has grown to include over 97 electric light rail vehicles and over 230 buses, traversing 440 square miles to include the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, and Rancho Cordova.

Throughout that time, SacRT has been committed to finding new ways to serve Californians, by spearheading an on-demand microtransit service accessible via mobile app, and by converting 10 buses into WiFi hotspots during the height of the pandemic when internet access was a necessity for school, work, and public health.

By providing free fares for K-12 students, SacRT has helped countless students pursue their education without having to worry about affording a ride to school. During a time of unprecedented weather events in California, SacRT also partnered with the city of Sacramento to provide free bus rides to warming centers for individuals experiencing homelessness.

SacRT has fought to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Their leadership in renewable energy, accessibility, and service have been rightly recognized by both State and Federal agencies.

In the capital of the fourth largest economy in the world, SacRT is an integral part of the community, constantly finding ways to better serve the people of Sacramento who rely on it for affordable transit. After 50 years of service, Californians know SacRT can get you ``where you want to go, when you want to go.'' And we are excited to see where the next 50 years will take us.

Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act.

This Friday, March 31, we celebrate Cesar Chavez Day to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights and labor leader whose impact reverberated throughout California and across the world. For Cesar Chavez, it did not matter where you came from or what your job was, he believed in your fundamental right to dignity and respect.

Ahead of Cesar Chavez Day, I introduce this legislation, which would establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park in California and Arizona to preserve the nationally significant sites associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement.

In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congress enacted legislation directing the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of sites that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the Western United States. The National Park Service evaluated over 100 sites and found that five sites were ``nationally significant.'' Importantly, the Park Service wrote that these nationally significant sites depict a distinct and important aspect of American history associated with civil rights and labor movements that are not adequately represented or protected elsewhere. While the Park Service provided five management alternatives to protect these special places, they ultimately recommended that Congress establish a national historic park that would include several nationally significant sites.

In 2012, President Obama established the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. The property is in Keene, CA, and is known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz. In his Presidential Proclamation, President Obama said: ``This site marks the extraordinary achievements and contributions to the history of the United States made by Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement that he led with great vision and fortitude. La Paz reflects his conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.''

While this was a critical step forward, the National Monument leaves out many nationally significant sites and leaves many important stories untold. The creation of a national historical park, as originally recommended by the Park Service, would allow the National Park Service to tell the full story of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement for the benefit of all Americans.

In addition to the inclusion of the existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which includes La Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, in Keene, CA, the National Park Service would be able to add additional sites to the park upon written agreement from site owners. These sites include the Forty Acres in Delano, CA, the Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, AZ; and McDonnell Hall, in San Jose, CA. These sites contain nationally significant resources associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement and would be preserved and protected as part of the National Park System.

This legislation would also require the National Park Service to complete a national historic trail study to determine the feasibility of creating the Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail. This trail would commemorate the 1966 Delano to Sacramento March, a major milestone event in the farm labor movement. According to the Special Resource Study, ``More than one hundred men and women set out from Delano on March 17, 1966, and thousands of farm workers and their families joined in for short stretches along the way. By the time the marchers entered Sacramento on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1966, the farm worker movement had secured a contract and attracted new waves of support from across the country.''

We must honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, the inspirational civil rights advocate and leader of the farm labor movement whose impact reverberated in California and across the world. His list of accomplishments is long, from creating the Nation's first permanent agricultural labor union to helping secure passage of the first American law that recognized farmworkers' rights to organize.

While widely respected as the most important Latino leader in the United States in the 20th century, Cesar Chavez was not just a leader for the Latino community. Following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez led a nonviolent movement of protests and boycotts to secure a union, better pay, and better working conditions for farmworkers of all ethnicities. He also played a leading role in the broader labor movement, the Chicano movement, and the environmental movement.

But this park will not just focus on Chavez's legacy; it will also preserve

the thousands of stories of people who played a role in the broader farm labor movement. According to the special resource study, ``During the 1960s, the farm labor movement attracted support from a wide array of individuals, including members of other unions, religious leaders, civil rights activists, high school students and college students (including young Chicanos and Filipinos), environmentalists, and justice-minded consumers across the country and abroad.''

As the son of immigrants from Mexico and the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate, I believe the movement Cesar Chavez created is just as important today as it ever has been. The National Park System--which preserves our natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation-must paint the full mosaic of America. Through the sites preserved by this bill, we can ensure that the National Park System preserves the diverse history of our Nation that is too often overlooked. As a farmworker himself, Cesar Chavez maintained a strong connection to the natural environment. This bill uplifts his story and those of others whose contributions helped build the farmworker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history.

I thank the bill's cosponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives, and I especially want to thank Congressman Ruiz for spearheading this effort with me to ensure that our national monuments and historical parks better reflect the diversity of America's heritage.

Today and every day, let's recommit to the work Cesar Chavez began. As he would say: La Lucha Sigue. We must not waver as we keep up the fight for justice and equality for all.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Cesar E. Chavez National Historical Park Act as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act.

This Friday, March 31, we celebrate Cesar Chavez Day to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights and labor leader whose impact reverberated throughout California and across the world. For Cesar Chavez, it did not matter where you came from or what your job was, he believed in your fundamental right to dignity and respect.

Ahead of Cesar Chavez Day, I introduce this legislation, which would establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park in California and Arizona to preserve the nationally significant sites associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement.

In 2008, with strong bipartisan support, Congress enacted legislation directing the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of sites that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the Western United States. The National Park Service evaluated over 100 sites and found that five sites were ``nationally significant.'' Importantly, the Park Service wrote that these nationally significant sites depict a distinct and important aspect of American history associated with civil rights and labor movements that are not adequately represented or protected elsewhere. While the Park Service provided five management alternatives to protect these special places, they ultimately recommended that Congress establish a national historic park that would include several nationally significant sites.

In 2012, President Obama established the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. The property is in Keene, CA, and is known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz. In his Presidential Proclamation, President Obama said: ``This site marks the extraordinary achievements and contributions to the history of the United States made by Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement that he led with great vision and fortitude. La Paz reflects his conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.''

While this was a critical step forward, the National Monument leaves out many nationally significant sites and leaves many important stories untold. The creation of a national historical park, as originally recommended by the Park Service, would allow the National Park Service to tell the full story of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement for the benefit of all Americans.

In addition to the inclusion of the existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which includes La Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, in Keene, CA, the National Park Service would be able to add additional sites to the park upon written agreement from site owners. These sites include the Forty Acres in Delano, CA, the Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, AZ; and McDonnell Hall, in San Jose, CA. These sites contain nationally significant resources associated with Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement and would be preserved and protected as part of the National Park System.

This legislation would also require the National Park Service to complete a national historic trail study to determine the feasibility of creating the Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail. This trail would commemorate the 1966 Delano to Sacramento March, a major milestone event in the farm labor movement. According to the Special Resource Study, ``More than one hundred men and women set out from Delano on March 17, 1966, and thousands of farm workers and their families joined in for short stretches along the way. By the time the marchers entered Sacramento on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1966, the farm worker movement had secured a contract and attracted new waves of support from across the country.''

We must honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, the inspirational civil rights advocate and leader of the farm labor movement whose impact reverberated in California and across the world. His list of accomplishments is long, from creating the Nation's first permanent agricultural labor union to helping secure passage of the first American law that recognized farmworkers' rights to organize.

While widely respected as the most important Latino leader in the United States in the 20th century, Cesar Chavez was not just a leader for the Latino community. Following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez led a nonviolent movement of protests and boycotts to secure a union, better pay, and better working conditions for farmworkers of all ethnicities. He also played a leading role in the broader labor movement, the Chicano movement, and the environmental movement.

But this park will not just focus on Chavez's legacy; it will also preserve

the thousands of stories of people who played a role in the broader farm labor movement. According to the special resource study, ``During the 1960s, the farm labor movement attracted support from a wide array of individuals, including members of other unions, religious leaders, civil rights activists, high school students and college students (including young Chicanos and Filipinos), environmentalists, and justice-minded consumers across the country and abroad.''

As the son of immigrants from Mexico and the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate, I believe the movement Cesar Chavez created is just as important today as it ever has been. The National Park System--which preserves our natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation-must paint the full mosaic of America. Through the sites preserved by this bill, we can ensure that the National Park System preserves the diverse history of our Nation that is too often overlooked. As a farmworker himself, Cesar Chavez maintained a strong connection to the natural environment. This bill uplifts his story and those of others whose contributions helped build the farmworker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history.

I thank the bill's cosponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives, and I especially want to thank Congressman Ruiz for spearheading this effort with me to ensure that our national monuments and historical parks better reflect the diversity of America's heritage.

Today and every day, let's recommit to the work Cesar Chavez began. As he would say: La Lucha Sigue. We must not waver as we keep up the fight for justice and equality for all.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Cesar E. Chavez National Historical Park Act as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the confirmation of four qualified, exemplary public servants who will now serve as district court judges in California.

One month ago, we celebrated a landmark achievement of the Biden Presidency: 100 Federal judges confirmed by the Senate. That is worthy of being celebrated by all Americans because, from the moment President Biden entered office, he set out to nominate candidates with a diverse range of legal and life experience. We sought to work together to build a Federal bench that looks like the America that it serves.

With the confirmations of Judge Daniel Calabretta, Ms. Araceli Martinez-Olguin, Judge James Simmons, Jr., and Judge Andrew Schopler, we are once again fulfilling that commitment and putting forth the best of the great State of California and the best that our country has to offer.

Now, earlier this year, we confirmed Judge Daniel Calabretta to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Judge Calabretta is an exceptional nominee with the qualifications to serve in the Eastern District with distinction. He earned his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Since then, his nearly two-decade legal career has been defined by a commitment to serving the public's interests. Before he was appointed to the California Superior Court in 2019, his career spanned from the California Department of Justice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and from Sacramento, CA, to the Supreme Court. In each and every role, he has demonstrated a keen legal mind and a clear commitment to justice.

But beyond his exceptional legal credentials, he brings a valuable diversity of life experience to the Eastern District, a court with one of the highest average per-judge workloads in the country.

Judge Calabretta's confirmation makes him the first openly gay man to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, bringing a voice and experience not yet represented in such a role. But I am confident, with his experience, his acumen, and his judgments, that he will be a tremendous asset for the millions of people that he will now serve.

Now, 2 weeks ago, this body confirmed Araceli Martinez-Olguin to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Born in Mexico City but raised in Northern California, Ms. Martinez-Olguin received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University. She then returned home to California to work as a kindergarten teacher before attending the UC Berkeley School of Law.

She spent her career representing those who all too often are overlooked by the legal system: immigrants, low-income women, and women of color. Ms. Martinez-Olguin has experience at community legal service organizations, as well as the Department of Education and the National Immigration Law Center.

She has litigated at every level of our Federal courts in States across the country and has established herself as a respected leader and expert in the legal community. Her commitment to fighting for the greater good, her decency, and her experience will serve the Northern District well, and I thank my colleagues for supporting her nomination.

Now, just last week, we confirmed Judge James Simmons, Jr., to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Born in Inglewood, CA, Judge Simmons was raised by a single mother in the proud working-class and very diverse community of South Los Angeles.

Judge Simmons was the first person in his family to graduate from college when he earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and then, later, his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Soon after, he became a deputy city attorney in San Diego before working his way up to serve as a deputy district attorney for San Diego County for over a decade. In 2017, Judge Simmons was appointed to the Superior Court of California for San Diego County.

Looking back, in my conversation with him, I had the opportunity to ask him a specific question: why he wanted to become a prosecutor as opposed to working with defendants. And Judge Simmons very articulately said, well,

it is because that is where he could do the most good. And he explained why. He felt it was important for people like him to bring their experiences and backgrounds to the role of prosecutor, someone with an understanding for defendants with backgrounds similar to his own. Now Judge Simmons will bring his good work to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Finally, just last week, we also confirmed Judge Andrew Schopler to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Judge Schopler earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He then briefly worked as a public defender before joining a criminal defense law firm.

In 2004, he earned his spot as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of California, where he served until 2016, eventually rising to the position of deputy section chief of the Major Frauds and Special Prosecutions Unit. Given his exemplary work ethic, he was then selected to serve as magistrate judge in the Southern District.

But his service to our country extends beyond the bench. In 2014, at the age of 43, Judge Schopler chose to join the California National Guard as a judge advocate. He worked to obtain an age and medical waiver to serve. In 2018, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. He earned the Bronze Star for his service and was promoted to the rank of major.

He has committed his career to protecting our freedoms truly, at home and abroad, and I am proud this body came together to support his confirmation.

I am so grateful for all four of these newly confirmed judges' willingness to serve our country, and I know California and the country will be a stronger, more just place because of them and because of their service.

With that, I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.

This legislation would expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include approximately 3,925 acres of adjacent public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

In 2015, President Obama established the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, proclaiming that ``once covered by ocean waters, it is a landscape shaped by geologic forces of staggering power overlain with bountiful but fragile biodiversity. Anchored in the north by Snow Mountain's remote forests and in the south by scenic Berryessa Mountain, this area stretches through unbroken wildlands and important wildlife corridors, a mosaic of native grasslands, picturesque oak woodlands, rare wetlands, and wild chaparral . . . This dramatic and diverse landscape is a biological hotspot providing refuge for rare plant and animal species and showcasing the human history of north- central California.''

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service, USFS, and provides for unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities, is home to rich biodiversity, and contains lands that are culturally significant to over two dozen federally recognized Tribes. This legislation would add over 3,900 acres of adjacent, BLM-administered land to the existing national monument.

This expansion would include portions of the land known previously as Walker Ridge in Lake County, CA. Importantly, the legislation renames ``Walker Ridge'' to ``Condor Ridge'', which is translated from Molok Luyuk in the indigenous Patwin language. For thousands of years, these sacred lands have been central to Tribal origin stories, and Condor Ridge is an area that retains deep cultural significance to the Patwin people and over two dozen Native American Tribes. The legislation also directs the BLM and USFS to complete the management plan for the national monument and to consult with federally recognized Tribes to do so.

I am proud that this legislation would better enable federally recognized Tribes to be involved in the day-

to-day management of the national monument. This essential, landmark component of the legislation would enable Tribal communities to share their rich history and ecological knowledge to better conserve and care for these lands.

With the protections provided by this legislation, the abundant natural resources and the rich history on Molok Luyuk will be preserved for our children and future generations. By requiring the Federal Agencies to finally develop a management plan and by allowing for Tribal governments to be involved in the management of the monument, the bill would improve the health of these lands to benefit both people and biodiversity.

I thank Senator Feinstein for introducing this legislation with me, and I thank Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson for spearheading this effort in the House of Representatives. I would also like to thank Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso for working with me on this legislation and the entire Energy and Natural Resources Committee for unanimously supporting this legislation through committee last Congress. I am hopeful that we will see similar bipartisan support in the 118th Congress.

I would also like to thank the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their leadership and desire to cooperatively manage Molok Luyuk to ensure that all Californians and Americans have the opportunity to benefit from these sacred lands.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.

This legislation would expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include approximately 3,925 acres of adjacent public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

In 2015, President Obama established the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, proclaiming that ``once covered by ocean waters, it is a landscape shaped by geologic forces of staggering power overlain with bountiful but fragile biodiversity. Anchored in the north by Snow Mountain's remote forests and in the south by scenic Berryessa Mountain, this area stretches through unbroken wildlands and important wildlife corridors, a mosaic of native grasslands, picturesque oak woodlands, rare wetlands, and wild chaparral . . . This dramatic and diverse landscape is a biological hotspot providing refuge for rare plant and animal species and showcasing the human history of north- central California.''

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is managed jointly by the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service, USFS, and provides for unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities, is home to rich biodiversity, and contains lands that are culturally significant to over two dozen federally recognized Tribes. This legislation would add over 3,900 acres of adjacent, BLM-administered land to the existing national monument.

This expansion would include portions of the land known previously as Walker Ridge in Lake County, CA. Importantly, the legislation renames ``Walker Ridge'' to ``Condor Ridge'', which is translated from Molok Luyuk in the indigenous Patwin language. For thousands of years, these sacred lands have been central to Tribal origin stories, and Condor Ridge is an area that retains deep cultural significance to the Patwin people and over two dozen Native American Tribes. The legislation also directs the BLM and USFS to complete the management plan for the national monument and to consult with federally recognized Tribes to do so.

I am proud that this legislation would better enable federally recognized Tribes to be involved in the day-

to-day management of the national monument. This essential, landmark component of the legislation would enable Tribal communities to share their rich history and ecological knowledge to better conserve and care for these lands.

With the protections provided by this legislation, the abundant natural resources and the rich history on Molok Luyuk will be preserved for our children and future generations. By requiring the Federal Agencies to finally develop a management plan and by allowing for Tribal governments to be involved in the management of the monument, the bill would improve the health of these lands to benefit both people and biodiversity.

I thank Senator Feinstein for introducing this legislation with me, and I thank Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson for spearheading this effort in the House of Representatives. I would also like to thank Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso for working with me on this legislation and the entire Energy and Natural Resources Committee for unanimously supporting this legislation through committee last Congress. I am hopeful that we will see similar bipartisan support in the 118th Congress.

I would also like to thank the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their leadership and desire to cooperatively manage Molok Luyuk to ensure that all Californians and Americans have the opportunity to benefit from these sacred lands.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Everett Alvarez, Jr., Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in recognition of his service to the Nation.

This legislation would honor Navy Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., the second longest held POW in American history, with a Congressional Gold Medal.

On August 5, 1964, while flying Operation Pierce Arrow, Commander Alvarez's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down, and he became the first aviator captured in Vietnam. He spent 8 years and 6 months in captivity, becoming the second longest held prisoner of war in U.S. history. While being held in Vietnam, Alvarez crossed paths with the late Senator John McCain, who was also being held as a POW at the Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi Hilton.

Despite facing torture, isolation, and starvation, he encouraged and inspired fellow POWs to ``Return with Honor'' by not cooperating with the enemy and remaining loyal to the United States. Following his release and hospitalization, Commander Alvarez resumed his naval service, completing a 20-year career with the Navy and retiring in June 1980.

Our bill would recognize his incredible sacrifice by awarding him with the highest award that Congress can bestow.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Commander Alvarez's release from captivity in Vietnam. It is time that Congress recognizes the second longest held prisoner of war in American history for his enduring commitment to the United States.

I would like to thank my colead, Senator Lummis, for her support to ensure we properly recognize, on a bipartisan basis, the profound impact of Commander Alvarez's service and support for other prisoners of war. I also thank Representatives Panetta and Fallon for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Everett Alvarez, Jr., Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would award a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in recognition of his service to the Nation.

This legislation would honor Navy Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., the second longest held POW in American history, with a Congressional Gold Medal.

On August 5, 1964, while flying Operation Pierce Arrow, Commander Alvarez's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down, and he became the first aviator captured in Vietnam. He spent 8 years and 6 months in captivity, becoming the second longest held prisoner of war in U.S. history. While being held in Vietnam, Alvarez crossed paths with the late Senator John McCain, who was also being held as a POW at the Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi Hilton.

Despite facing torture, isolation, and starvation, he encouraged and inspired fellow POWs to ``Return with Honor'' by not cooperating with the enemy and remaining loyal to the United States. Following his release and hospitalization, Commander Alvarez resumed his naval service, completing a 20-year career with the Navy and retiring in June 1980.

Our bill would recognize his incredible sacrifice by awarding him with the highest award that Congress can bestow.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Commander Alvarez's release from captivity in Vietnam. It is time that Congress recognizes the second longest held prisoner of war in American history for his enduring commitment to the United States.

I would like to thank my colead, Senator Lummis, for her support to ensure we properly recognize, on a bipartisan basis, the profound impact of Commander Alvarez's service and support for other prisoners of war. I also thank Representatives Panetta and Fallon for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act as quickly as possible.