Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of the always faithful Captain Matthew Patrick Manoukian, United States Marine Corps. Captain Manoukian made the ultimate sacrifice on August 10, 2012, giving his life for his country during his service in Afghanistan. He was 29 years old.

Captain Manoukian was a lifelong resident of Los Altos Hills, California, and graduated from Saint Francis High School in 2001. Since the age of 10, it had been Matthew's goal to become a Marine. Shortly after graduating from the University of Arizona in 2005, he attended Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. After commissioning as a Second Lieutenant into the Marine Corps, he joined Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion after enduring a grueling training program that only 40 of 100 men passed. Captain Manoukian was in the top five.

Captain Manoukian rose through the ranks and was deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan, always at ``the tip of the spear.'' He saw his role in Afghanistan as freeing the oppressed from the Taliban and bringing a fair legal system to a country that has never had one. He also had a deep respect for Middle Eastern cultures and history, learning to speak Arabic, and insisting on walking through villages, greeting children and their parents in person, instead of patrolling in a Humvee.

Captain Manoukian was completing his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan and had plans to attend law school after completing his military obligation. He had already been accepted at Golden Gate University where he planned to begin his studies in 2014.

On a fateful early morning on August 10th during a predawn Ramadan meal that Captain Manoukian insisted his troops respectfully observe during the Muslim holy month, an insurgent dressed as an Afghanistan police officer opened fire and took his life, and the lives of two other fellow Marines.

Captain Manoukian is survived by his father, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Socrates ``Pete'' Manoukian; his mother, Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian, Associate Justice of the Sixth District California Court of Appeal; brothers Michael and Martin; and the extended Manoukian and Bamattre families.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deepest condolences to Captain Manoukian's beloved family. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments, and we are proud to honor his memory in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our nation has lost a beloved citizen who made his community proud and his country stronger. His life enriched ours and may our tribute be a source of comfort to his beautiful family during their time of great grief.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sean Cole, a 1992 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory. The School is proud to offer the Athletic Hall of Fame to honor him for his athletic achievements. The award recognizes contributions of alumni athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators of Sacred Heart Preparatory. Individuals like Sean Cole who are inducted into the Hall of Fame have made significant achievements in his sports of soccer and baseball and exemplified the principals of sportsmanship and Christianity as illustrated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.

Before Sean Cole became an outstanding goalkeeper, he was varsity baseball starter for four years and was the first topline pitcher to attend SHP. While playing baseball he played third base and batted in middle of lineup, which is reserved for strong hitters. Sean is a tremendous athlete with unmatched effort and integrity. While attending college at Skyline College in San Bruno, California he played soccer and coached at Menlo College and SHP. Sean is a perfect representation of what it takes to excel at our passions and demonstrates a great level of determination.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sean Cole, an athlete who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. He lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and his contributions to his sport have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Trevor Schaffer, a 1998 graduate of St. Joseph's School and a 1992 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory. The School is proud to offer the Athletic Hall of Fame to honor him for his athletic achievements. The award recognizes contributions of alumni athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators of Sacred Heart Preparatory. Individuals like Trevor Schaffer who are inducted into the Hall of Fame have made significant achievements in his sports of soccer, baseball and basketball and exemplified the principals of sportsmanship and Christianity as illustrated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Trevor Schaffer, an athlete who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. He lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and his contributions to his sport have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional young man for his outstanding performance at the 2012 London Paralympics. Joe Wise is a tenacious athlete, a brilliant student and a dedicated son. Despite being diagnosed at age nine with mitochondrial myopathy--a severe muscular disorder affecting his legs, hips, core muscles and lungs, and was told by his doctors that he may not reach his fifteenth birthday--Joe Wise has never given up on his dreams of living an extraordinary life. Joe is an enthusiastic and energetic nineteen year old from Menlo Park, California, who with a passion for swimming was selected to represent the U.S. Paralympics swim team at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Joe's dedication to swimming began the same year he was diagnosed, and although he suffered from allergies and asthma, his mother insisted he swim to improve his health. It wasn't until a fellow swimming mate, Kelly Crowley, introduced him to the Paralympic Games that Joe began to aspire to compete.

In 2004, he competed in the trials for the Athens Paralympics in Minneapolis, but did not make the team. Instead of giving up, Joe tried again at age fifteen and was successful, competing in one event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. His goal after Beijing was to make it to London, but this time he wanted to compete in multiple events.

Joe's strength and perseverance was tested once again in February of 2012 when he was preparing for the 2012 London trials. His health forced him to take a medical withdrawal from college and pause from swimming. His ``times'' got slower, his heart continued to weaken, and he began spending more time on the ventilator. Joe's doctors and coaches refused to give in and vowed to get him to London. By early May, Joe's condition drastically improved and in June he tried out and earned a place on the team.

All of Joe's time, effort and hard work paid off as he competed in five Paralympic events: the 200-meter individual medley; the 100-meter butterfly; the 100- and 400-meter freestyle; and the 100-meter breaststroke. He finished fifth in the finals of the 400-meter freestyle race, with a personal best time of 4:15.66. Joe is extremely proud of his results and says the victory was in being selected for the team. Joe has now returned to Loyola University, Maryland, to pursue a degree in political science, with a minor in communications. He intends to continue swimming and will be preparing for Rio 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the entire House of Representatives join me in honoring this brave and gentle young man. Joe is determined to reach for gold. He's not only won us over with his smile and spirit, he has also won our hearts with his courage and can-do attitude. Joe is deeply loved and supported by his community of family and friends, and his secret weapon is his mother, Marie Wise. Joe is an inspiration to us all and it is a high privilege to represent him and his family, and pay tribute to him and his extraordinary accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert ``Bat'' Batinovich, a special friend and extraordinary citizen who passed on September 11, 2012, on the Big Island of Hawaii surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his wife Garnet, son Andy (Debbie), daughter Angela, and grandchildren Kyle and Kelly Cotchett, Alexa Batinovich and Avery Bysouth, brother Ken (Annette), many wonderful cousins and scores of friends.

Robert Batinovich was born July 13, 1936, in Long Beach, California, to Matthew and Margaret Batinovich. He attended St. Anthony's High School and worked as a tuna fisherman in South America.

A resident of Hillsborough and a highly trusted and respected businessman, ``Bat'' was the founder of Glenborough Corporation based in San Mateo, California, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Glenborough Realty Trust Inc. a Real Estate Investment Trust through his retirement. He spent seven years as an executive with Norris Industries, after which most of his business life was devoted to entrepreneurial and venture capital activities primarily through the start-up or acquisition, operation, and ultimate sale, of a variety of businesses.

Between 1976-1980, ``Bat'' served on the California Public Utilities Commission, and for the last two years of his service, he was President. He served on the California State Board of Transportation in 1977, and the Health Facilities Authority in 1981. He also served on the Board of Farr Company and the Advisory Board of Greater Bay Bank Corp., Palo Alto, California. His love of charities led him to support Community Gatepath, Georgetown University, The Samaritan House and Catholic Charities. He loved people and lived a full life, contributing significantly as a public servant and a businessman. He always led by example and integrity. He was universally respected for his compassion, his caring, his drive, and his generosities, and it was a privilege to call him my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deepest condolences to ``Bat's'' beloved wife, Garnet, and their entire family. ``Bat'' was a strong leader, businessman, philanthropist and public servant who brought much joy to the lives he touched, strengthened his community and bettered the Nation he loved so much. His life and his contributions are worthy of this tribute we pay to him today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act.

Our Nation should be first in the world in science, technology, engineering and math. I'm pleased that we are in agreement on the urgency of this goal. However, this legislation has two big problems which are highly detrimental to our mutual goal.

The first problem is that this legislation takes unnecessary, unfair steps to reduce legal immigration, such as cutting the Diversity Program. The Diversity Program is one of the few existing pathways for African applicants to enter our Nation legally. Cutting this program will not enhance our Nation's STEM competitiveness.

The second problem is that this legislation allows American employers to pay inferior wages to foreign STEM graduates--forcing American workers to compete on an unlevel playing field.

We can do better than the STEM Jobs Act.

Representative Lofgren's legislation, the Attracting the Best and Brightest Act, ensures that students who earn advanced STEM degrees in America stay in America and contribute to our Nation's prosperity. It creates a new visa category for applicants with advanced STEM degrees, and importantly, takes steps to protect the wages of Americans--a consideration which absolutely must be taken into account.

The Attracting the Best and Brightest Act does not contain the harmful immigration provisions of the STEM Jobs Act. Rather, it represents a commonsense solution to a very real problem.

I am pleased that Republicans, Democrats, and the Administration all agree we should do more to ensure that our Nation benefits from the talents, skills, and ideas of our advanced STEM graduates. However, the STEM Jobs Act legislation takes the wrong approach, and I regrettably urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently vote ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 114 (to prohibit the use of funds for the salaries and expenses of personnel of the Department of Agriculture to provide benefits described in section 1001D(b)(1)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308-3a(b)(1)(C)) to a person or legal entity in excess of $250,000) when I meant to vote ``yes.''

I would like to correct for the record that I wanted to vote ``yes'' on rollcall vote 114.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Carmen Arellano Lee, a 1954 graduate of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Menlo Park, California. Carmen is being honored on October 20, 2012, with the coveted Spirit of Mater Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who ``radiate Mater's spark of divine spirit and who employ life in a manner representative of the Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton Goals and Criteria. Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, a social awareness which impels to action, the building of community as a Christian value, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.''

Carmen Lee founded the Peninsula Network of Mental Health Clients, an organization composed of clients receiving care provided by public mental health providers and serves as advocates for them. In 1990 Carmen secured funding and began the Stamp Out Stigma (SOS) program to put a human face on mental health patients and issues and dispel the myths and stereotypes surrounding patients and their illnesses. Since 1990 SOS has delivered more than 2,000 public presentations. Carmen is a committee member for the California State Mental Health Planning Council, People in Recovery for the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and the Federal Government's Task Force on Suicide Prevention.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this tireless, fearless woman who knows of what she speaks. She has felt the stigma and works to stamp it out. She has experienced the curse of mental illness and works as an advocate for others afflicted by it. If we could clone Carmen Lee, communities across our nation would be better places for those suffering from mental illness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sean Cole, a 1992 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory. The School is proud to offer the Athletic Hall of Fame to honor him for his athletic achievements. The award recognizes contributions of alumni athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators of Sacred Heart Preparatory. Individuals like Sean Cole who are inducted into the Hall of Fame have made significant achievements in his sports of soccer and baseball and exemplified the principles of sportsmanship and Christianity as illustrated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sean Cole, an athlete who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. He lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and his contributions to his sport have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ken Walsh, a member of the faculty of St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart in Atherton, California, who is being honored with the Henry Schimpf Award for his selfless service contributions, commitment and dedication within the St. Joseph's community. Like the man for whom the award is named, Ken Walsh has touched and improved the lives of so many while at St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart, and embodies the kind of patient, humble, selfless teaching methods we should all aspire to practice.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ken Walsh, an educator who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. He lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and his contributions to his students have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Denise Sheldon, a 1993 graduate of St. Joseph's School and a 1997 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory. The School is proud to offer the Athletic Hall of Fame to honor her for her athletic achievements. The award recognizes contributions of alumni athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators of Sacred Heart Preparatory. Individuals like Denise Sheldon who are inducted into the Hall of Fame have made significant achievements in her sport of volleyball and exemplified the principals of sportsmanship and Christianity as illustrated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Denise Sheldon, an athlete who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. She lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and her contributions to her sport have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nancy Sullivan Stretch, a 1957 graduate of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Atherton, California. Nancy is being honored on October 20, 2012, with the coveted Spirit of Mater Alumni Award which recognizes alumni who ``radiate Mater's spark of divine spirit and who employ life in a manner representative of the Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, Goals and Criteria. Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a personal and active faith in God; a deep respect for intellectual values; a social awareness which impels to action; the building of community as a Christian value; and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.''

Nancy is being honored for spending her life working toward fulfilling the goals and criteria of a Sacred Heard education. She served for eight years as Board President of Creativity Explored, a San Francisco organization devoted to supporting people with developmental disabilities in their quests to become working artists. She serves her parish as a Eucharistic Minister and founded the ``Peanut Butter Brigade'' which prepares hundreds of brown bag lunches and distributes them to the homeless of San Francisco. Her volunteers include small children, teens, adults and seniors. Nancy also served her community as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Nancy Sullivan Stretch, a woman who has lived a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. She lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and her contributions have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Trevor Schaffer, a 1998 graduate of St. Joseph's School and a 1992 graduate of Sacred Heart Preparatory. The School is proud to offer the Athletic Hall of Fame to honor him for his athletic achievements. The award recognizes contributions of alumni athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators of Sacred Heart Preparatory. Individuals like Trevor Schaffer who are inducted into the Hall of Fame have made significant achievements in his sports of soccer, baseball and basketball and exemplified the principals of sportsmanship and Christianity as illustrated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Schools.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Trevor Schaffer, an athlete who lives a life which embodies the goals and criteria of Sacred Heart Schools. He lives the five commitments of faith, respect, social awareness, community building and personal growth, and his contributions to his sport have strengthened our community and our country immeasurably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary man, Donald Harvey Seiler, who passed away on August 3, 2012. Don was a native San Franciscan and was educated at the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his BS and MBA degrees, and a member of Lambda Phi Fraternity. After graduation from Berkeley, he worked as an accountant before founding Seiler and Company in 1957. He served on the boards of Ross Stores, Inc., and Greater Bay Bancorp., and was active as a volunteer in the Jewish community. He served as President of the Board of Beth Am in Los Altos Hills and in other roles on the congregation's board, and as president and campaign chair on the board of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center. He served on the board of the Taube-Koret Campus for Jewish Life, the Council of Jewish Federations, the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, Mount Zion Hospital and United Jewish Community Centers.

Don's philanthropy and leadership extended to education, medicine and environmental causes. He funded the Public Accounting Chair at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business in 1995, and served on the boards of the Peninsula Community Foundation and the Stanford Medical Center. He and his wife Ruthie chaired the board of Stanford Hospital's Friends of Cardiovascular Medicine. He received the Public Service Award from the California Society of CPAs , the Robert Sinton Distinguished Leadership Award from the Jewish Community Federation, and the Professional of the Year Award by the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. He was also honored with the Avenidas Lifetime of Achievement Award.

Don met his wife Ruthie in college and they were married for 62 years. They traveled widely and shared a long and loving marriage. They moved to the mid-peninsula in 1960 where they raised their children, Carol and Matt. Don was the loving grandfather of Cory and Mark Roberts, Matt and Allie Seiler, and the brother of Stuart Seiler and his wife Gaye. He also leaves his daughter-in-law Susan.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Donald Harvey Seiler and in extending our most sincere sympathy to his wife and family. He was a great and good man, one who gave so generously of his considerable talents and extensive resources to benefit others. Don Seiler's life defined what a great citizen is and can be.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and productive life of Chuck Huggins, who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia to American parents in 1925 and died peacefully on August 19, 2012, with his beloved wife and family members with him at his home in Larkspur, California.

Charles Newel Huggins, known to everyone as Chuck, served his nation during WWII as an Army Paratrooper with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment and participated in battles throughout Europe. He graduated from Kenyon College, and with his wife Mime moved to Menlo Park, California, where he began working for See's Candies which would be his career for 55 years. He helped sell the company to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Company in 1972, and was appointed President and CEO of the See's Division. He grew the company beyond all reasonable expectations, and estimated that he consumed over 300,000 pieces of candy in the process, before retiring in 2006 at the age of 81.

Chuck lived happily with his wife Mime for 48 years and adored their children and grandchildren. After Mime died, he married Donna Ewald, and they enjoyed 15 joyful years together. Chuck was an extraordinary man. He was known to everyone for his generosity. He loved music, travel, history, jazz, singing, drumming, the Bohemian Club, and he was quoted as saying he and Donna had ``serious fun.'' Next to his family, generosity was his biggest love, and he was famous for it. Countless San Francisco Bay Area charitable events have occurred with a little gold box at each place . . . and diners rushed through dinner for the delicious See's chocolate treat.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our most sincere sympathy to Donna Ewald Huggins, Chuck's beloved wife, and to his son Peter Huggins, his wife Sue and their four children, Evan, Ryan, Tye and Dia; his son Charles ``Chip'', his wife Pam and their children Anna Morris (Matt), Chuck and Mimi; daughter Anne Huggins Walton and her husband Bart; and daughter Shelley Huggins Dutton, her husband Peter and their children Ella Campbell (Alex) and Taylor, as well as Chuck's sister Ruth. Chuck's passing is a hardship for his family and for those of us fortunate enough to have known him and called him friend, as I did. An unknown author of his Los Angeles Times obituary wrote, ``Following Chuck's example, be kind to someone every day and make it a `Wonderful World' in his memory.'' Chuck Huggins served his country and loved it, and gave back so much to his community, strengthening it. His example of citizenship will stand tall through the ages as the highest standards of all.