Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great New Mexican and American hero, Sergeant First Class Roy Tachias of Albuquerque, who is here with us today.

In 1950, Roy Tachias was deployed to Korea, where he saw fierce combat. One night, Roy was ordered to mount a forward listening post. That night, in darkness, he witnessed the Chinese Army approaching. Alone, Roy began to shout, shoot, and throw grenades at the waves of soldiers. This threw the enemy into disarray and stopped the attack.

By morning, Sergeant Tachias had single-handedly killed 33 enemy soldiers and taken one prisoner. He earned the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and heroism. Stars and Stripes called him the ``One Man Army.'' Sergeant Tachias was wounded five times in Korea and received the Purple Heart with a Bronze Star with valor.

After the war, Roy married and settled in California. He eventually returned to the Army and served two tours in Vietnam, where his leadership and bravery earned him another Bronze Star. In 1976, he retired and returned home to New Mexico.

It is with great gratitude, pride, and respect that we recognize his service today. New Mexico is humbled by his lifetime of service that began on the Korean Peninsula in 1950, and has continued to inspire those around him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a great New Mexican and a true American hero, Sergeant First Class (ret.) Roy Tachias of Albuquerque, New Mexico. On this day, we also honor the entire Tachias family for their continued military service in support of the country they love.

To truly comprehend the significant service and sacrifice of Sergeant Tachias to our nation, it is important to understand his humble beginnings. Roy Tachias was born on January 25, 1932, in Cabezon, New Mexico. The village of Cabezon is located at the base of Cabezon Peak in a remote part of northwestern New Mexico, surrounded by tall mesas and bordering the Navajo Nation Reservation. It was a small village of nearly 200 people, very isolated from modern society. Most of the homes had dirt floors, and no one in the village had water, gas, or electricity. Roy fondly recalls memories of his early years when his mother would bake bread and make soap with his help and the help of his seven brothers and sisters. Each day, the family would haul back water from the local arroyos--arroyos which they shared with the local cattle. Laundry was a three-day process and the whole village would hang their clothes outside to air dry. The villagers were either farmers or cattle ranchers, and all lived off the fruits of their daily labor.

When Roy was in elementary school, the Tachias family moved to the city of Bernalillo. At age 16, Roy and a few of his friends hitchhiked to Albuquerque and enlisted in the United States Army. In 1949, at the age 17, Private Roy Tachias received his first military orders, was posted to Japan, and eventually became a member of the 21st Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. That unit evolved into the infamous Task Force Smith, the first combat group of American fighting forces deployed to face the North Korean Army following their incursion into South Korea. During this effort, 40 percent of his unit was lost and many more were wounded. In the next few years, Task Force Smith members would go on to fight with distinction against both the North Korean and Chinese Armies. Sergeant Tachias describes the rough conditions, recalling times that his unit marched on without food and supplies, and even used old rags wrapped around their feet when their boots wore out.

In July of 1950, Task Force Smith was ordered to fight a delaying action until reinforcements arrived. Their mission was to join forces with the South Korean Army. At that time, the North Korean army had surged over the border and was headed toward the southern coast, leaving death and destruction behind them.

American soldiers met an estimated 6,000 North Korean troops near Osan, slowed down the enemy advance, and delayed their progress until they halted it altogether. Sergeant Tachias recalls the many times he leaned heavily on his faith to get him through. He says he prayed every day and night and believed that God walked beside him and protected him.

After extensive fighting, the American forces pushed the North Korean Army to the border of China. For five days and five nights straight, both armies fought an exhausting engagement. It was on one of those nights when Sergeant Tachias was ordered to be the sole individual to man a forward listening post in enemy territory, 5,000 yards from his unit on the front line. That night, in the darkness, Roy began to hear and feel a rumbling sound and witnessed the Chinese Army approaching him in waves.

Instinctively, Sergeant Tachias began to shout, shoot, and throw hand grenades at the waves of Chinese descending upon him. His efforts threw the enemy unit into disarray and successfully stopped the attack. He later said, ``I confused them, I guess.'' By the time morning came, Sergeant Tachias had killed 33 enemy soldiers singlehandedly and taken a man prisoner. He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and heroism. The Stars and Stripes wrote an article and called him the ``One Man Army'' for his heroic efforts. Sergeant Tachias was wounded five times during his time on the Korean Peninsula. He also received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor.

After his service with the U.S. Army in Korea ended, Roy Tachias married the former Ramoncita Angelina Gonzales and settled in California, where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft. He eventually returned to the Army and served two tours in Vietnam, where he earned another Bronze Star. His leadership as a non-commissioned officer throughout his 20-year military career was second to none. In 1976, he retired from the military and returned to his home state of New Mexico, a man forever changed by the memories of those who fought alongside him, the battles he survived, and a lifetime spent in service to his country.

Sergeant Tachias and his wife, Ramoncita, traveled the world in service to our nation and they established a beautiful family with four children: Kathleen, Michael, Jeanette, and Brian. A soldier cannot perform at his best without the love and support of his family-- especially without the support of a dedicated spouse, who, at times, must bear the burden of being both mother and father. So we also would like to commend Ramoncita Tachias for the many years of loving service and dedication she has shown to her family and to our nation. Roy and Ramoncita celebrate 65 years of marriage this year, so please join me in congratulating them on this milestone as well.

The Tachias family is known for their patriotism and their support for our Armed Services in their local communities. Due to his example, both sons followed in their father's footsteps and are also combat veterans. Sergeant Tachias' oldest son, Michael, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with over thirty years of service in the U.S. Army. After retirement, Col. Michael Tachias established the Cabezon Wounded Warrior Haven in Cabezon, New Mexico to provide a refuge for wounded warriors and their families.

Sergeant Tachias' younger son, Brian, retired as a full Colonel. Because his father's life was so greatly impacted by his military service in Korea, his son, Colonel Brian Tachias, wanted to serve there as well. As a young Infantry officer, he was stationed with the 506th Infantry Regiment on the Korean Demilitarized Zone some 38 years after his father. Colonel Tachias then continued his service as an Army Aviator and he recently retired with 29 years of active duty service.

The legacy does not end there. Sergeant Tachias' grandsons, Joe Garcia, Jr., Brian Tachias, Jr., and Nicholas Tachias, also stepped up to answer a new generation's call to service.

It is with great pride and deep respect that we today recognize the service of this outstanding individual. New Mexico is humbled to honor Sergeant Tachias' contributions to this nation, contributions that began on that Korean peninsula in 1950 and have had generational effects that continue onto a new page of history that is yet to be written. With a third generation of Tachias soldiers guarding America's freedom, we can have confidence that our nation's future is in good hands.

Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ray Baum's passing. Ray was a consummate professional--a true gentleman, whose decency and graciousness showed through in everything he did.

He brought decades of expertise and a depth of knowledge to his role as Majority Staff Director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee partly due to his prior service as member of the Oregon State Legislature.

Ray was also a dear friend, who I was proud to work with when we both served as public utility commissioners for our respective states of Oregon and New Mexico.

But more than that, Ray was a kind, brilliant, patient, and dedicated public servant.

He will be deeply missed by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and his

service to our committee and to our nation will not be forgotten.

May God bless Ray, and may He keep his wife Kristine and the rest of his family in His embrace.

Mr. Speaker, this bill put forward by congressional Republicans isn't a tax plan; it is a tax scam.

Republicans are going to borrow money on the backs of working families to give a tax cut to corporations in the top 1 percent. This will increase taxes on the middle class. This will add to our Nation's debt and pass the bill to our children.

This Republican tax scam hurts seniors and families with long-term medical needs by eliminating the medical expense deduction that 9 million Americans, and nearly 120,000 people in my home State of New Mexico, depend upon.

Destroying the medical expense deduction delivers a staggering blow to New Mexico families. Listen to this story sent to me by Lisa, a constituent of mine from northern New Mexico:

``My husband and I are lifelong native New Mexicans who grew up here, went to college here, and have opened and operate our two businesses in our home State. We are the proud parents of two wonderful children. New Mexico's our home, and we're proud to live here, contribute to our State's economy, and realize our version of the American Dream.

``Like most families today, life isn't always easy. The kids and I have medically complex conditions which require expensive medications, and my husband and I struggle with student loan debt, housing and transportation costs, and making a good life for our family. We incur $5,000 to $7,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs each year. Without the medical expense deductions, I am not sure we could continue to meet the demands of raising healthy, happy children while keeping our businesses going and growing.

``For us, this deduction is a lifeline, and the thought of losing that lifeline means we could drown in debt. That's not the American Dream--that's a nightmare.''

This is real and this is personal to people all across the country. Let's vote this bill down today, come back, work in a bipartisan fashion, work with our ranking member, Mr. Richard Neal, and come up with real tax reform that puts American working families first.

Mr. Speaker, let's do the right thing today and put hardworking families first with our decision today.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 612.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment provides $2 million in dedicated funding for peer support and paraprofessionals as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program.

Ensuring all Americans have access to affordable and high-quality mental health services should not be a partisan issue. It is simply the right thing to do.

The purpose of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program, which this amendment funds, is to add additional training to serve populations especially in rural and medically underserved areas.

The BHWET program helps close the gap in access to behavioral healthcare by establishing partnerships with a broad range of organizations and community partners to ensure a wide recruitment of students, opportunities for field placements, career development, and to provide job placement services.

These efforts will increase the number of able behavorial health providers serving populations across their lifespan, including persons in rural, medically underserved, and vulnerable communities.

Peer support has improved health outcomes while lowering healthcare costs. In fact, there is growing evidence that peer support-related strategies can be used as more engaging and successful solutions than current hospital and emergency room care-related options. Peer support programs provide individualized, managed care to those who need it the most.

Many studies have shown the vast benefits to patients who utilize peer support. For example, a 3-year pilot project called the Peer Health Navigation Intervention, or ``The Bridge,'' showed that peer support, in addition to a variety of other positive outcomes, shifted the focus of healthcare from urgent care and emergency room visits to outpatient primary care.

Furthermore, many studies have shown the potential cost savings that the increased implementation of peer support can deliver. A 2006 study demonstrated that, for patients using day treatment, the use of certified peer specialists led to a $5,497 cost reduction per person per year.

Another successful program based out of Denver, Colorado, showed a return on investment of $2.28 for every dollar spent. As evidenced by these and other studies, a small investment in peer support services will greatly reduce healthcare costs in the long run.

The current system for treating behavioral health issues is not sufficient to serve those who need help. It is unacceptable that more than 50 percent of primary care patients with depression go undiagnosed and two-thirds of primary care providers have no ability to prescribe outpatient behavioral health for their patients.

Additionally, dedicated funding for peer support paraprofessionals will be essential in helping address the current lack of access to behavioral health services in our healthcare system.

This modest amount of funding for a community-based partnership program will make an enormous difference for millions of Americans who deserve access to behavioral health services, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of a true public servant and a dear friend from my home state of New Mexico.

I have been fortunate in my life to have had the example, the mentorship and the friendship of some truly extraordinary individuals. I was deeply saddened to learn that one of those extraordinary individuals, former State Representative Luciano `Lucky' Varela, is no longer with us.

Lucky was a political giant in New Mexico, a true public servant who was loved and respected by all who knew him. Representative Varela was seen by many as the conscience of the New Mexico Legislature--caring, knowledgeable, and always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. During his 30 years of dedicated service, he became one of New Mexico's most profound political leaders, and one of our state's best representatives for working families.

Lucky represented a Santa Fe-area House seat in the Roundhouse from 1987 through 2016, where he served as chairman of the influential Finance Committee, among other important committee posts. When it came to state finances and fiscal matters, Lucky's command of the subject was encyclopedic. One of his colleagues once said that Lucky had probably forgotten more about state finances than the experts that appeared before his committee ever knew. Truer words were never spoken. Over the course of his long and memorable career, Varela was a champion for fair wages and reasonable pay increase for state employees, and protecting those who served our state by working in state government. When Lucky saw a problem, he acted to correct it.

His leadership and compassion shined throughout his life. He inspired those who got to know him and many who never met him. His life and his service have left an indelible imprint on the thousands of New Mexicans he helped while in office, but even more importantly, Lucky Varela's legacy will live on through the many people he mentored and relationships he fostered.

Before I close, I want to share some of the remembrances from those who knew him and worked with him.

Senator Tom Udall said Lucky ``represented the people of Santa Fe with honor, integrity and heart. He will be remembered for his honesty about the need to address our challenges in order to move our state forward, and especially for his deep knowledge of the state budget and its impact on everyone in New Mexico.

``Lucky truly made New Mexico a better place. He understood the numbers; just as importantly, he understood the people behind those numbers--their struggles, hopes and dreams. He gave selflessly to the people of Santa Fe and the entire state of New Mexico, and we are better for his leadership. We will miss him dearly.''

Former Governor Bill Richardson called Lucky ``a master legislator whose expertise on the budget and finances was unparalleled. He was also a gentle soul who cared deeply about his Santa Fe constituents and his wonderful family.''

Regarding Lucky, Attorney General Hector Balderas said he was ``grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to serve under his leadership in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He was a strong voice for New Mexico's children, families and state employees.''

New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf called Lucky ``a stalwart advocate for working people, for using our resources wisely, and for the people of Santa Fe. Lucky was beloved in Santa Fe for many reasons, not the least of which was that he knew more about the state's budget than most of us ever will. He never shied away from asking tough questions and giving selflessly of his time and energy to make New Mexico a better state.''

We will miss Lucky, but we will never forget him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that the

new state-of-the-art Media Arts and Technology Department facility at New Mexico Highlands University, my alma mater, will be named the McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building in honor of two outstanding New Mexicans and my dear friends, Joe and Martha McCaffrey.

Joe and Martha have been generous in establishing the McCaffrey Family Endowment to support students in the new Highlands Master of Fine Arts degree program.

Leveo Sanchez, Chairman of the Highlands Board of Regents, took note in making the naming recommendation, ``Joe and Martha McCaffrey have been highly involved with Highlands media arts for a number of years and have been very generous in making gifts to the department,'' Sanchez said. ``It's rare to have dedicated alumni like the McCaffreys who graduated so many years ago and are willing to donate some of their wealth to the university.''

But for those of us who know Joe and Martha McCaffrey, their generosity of spirit is not surprising. The McCaffreys have often noted the important role that Highlands played in their lives, and I have seen first-hand their love of the university and the Highlands community.

Joe said, ``As young newly married students, we were given a firm educational foundation that allowed us to pursue our chosen careers. Without the help of caring professors, we would not have achieved our goals.''

``This endowment is a small way for us to repay what Highlands gave to us so many years ago. We wanted media arts students at Highlands to have the same opportunities we had,'' Martha explained.

``The McCaffreys have supported media arts student projects, purchased equipment, and funded retreats to create the MFA program,'' said Kerry Loewen, media arts and technology chair at Highlands. ``They consistently support our program in other ways too, such as regularly attending student events. The McCaffreys are deserving of this legacy.''

I am also reminded that the McCaffrey Family Endowment was also established to honor the memory of Joe and Martha's family.

Joe was born in Albuquerque and graduated from St. Mary's High School. His maternal grandfather came to New Mexico in 1879 and later founded the Albuquerque Carpenters Union. Joe's paternal grandfather came to New Mexico in the 1920s. He was a member of the New Mexico Legislature in the thirties and spent forty years working for New Mexico Senator Clinton P. Anderson. Joe's father, Bill McCaffrey, was the founder of the Rio Rancho Observer. Bill's brother, Fred McCaffrey, was the premier New Mexico political columnist, a Santa Fe Living Treasure and was a good friend of my father.

Martha said that the Media Arts and Technology Department reminded her of Speech and Drama Department at Louisiana State University, chaired by her grandfather. ``This gift honors my grandfather's memory and his teaching philosophy. He once wrote, `A good teacher believes in accessibility to students and companionship with them, promotes attitudes of professional ethics, and gives them hard tasks to do in friendliness.' '' The professors in the Media Arts Department demonstrate that philosophy. This gift also honors the memory of Martha's father, whose proudest achievement was his contributions to the eradication of smallpox, while working for the World Health Organization in India and Somalia and her mother, a life-long educator.

I am reminded that Joe earned a B.S. and M.S. in physics and mathematics from Highlands in 1960 and 1961 respectively. Martha completed a B.A. in history, with a minor in English, in 1961. Joe completed a Ph.D. in physics from Colorado State University. Joe worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for 30 years as a bench scientist and science administrator and for five years as a Professor of Computational Engineering at Mississippi State University. His many technical achievements during this period were documented in a Memorial declaring February 21, 2013 as ``Dr. Joe McCaffrey Day'' in the New Mexico Senate. None of these achievements would have been possible without the educational foundation provided by Highlands University.

I recall that Joe was named a Highlands distinguished alumnus in 2004, served on the Highlands Foundation board beginning in 2006 and continues as an emeritus member. He also has taught several classes at Highlands. Martha completed her master's degree in library science at the University of Maryland, and was a longtime librarian and media specialist at Mandeville High School in Mandeville, Louisiana. Martha received the Modisette Award from the Louisiana Library Association for her pioneering efforts in library automation. I know that Martha is a member of the Highlands Alumni Association board. As a Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation board member, she has mentored several media arts students in local internships through the university's one-of-a-kind AmeriCorps Cultural Technology program.

So it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Highlands on the new Media Arts and Technology Department facility and thank Joe and Martha McCaffrey for their generosity and their vision for generations of future fine arts students at Highlands.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, a little more than 2 years ago, an Environmental Protection Agency team was investigating a contamination at the Gold King Mine that caused a spill of 3 million gallons of wastewater, impacting New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, the Southern Ute Reservation, and the Navajo Nation.

I was in Farmington, New Mexico, in the Four Corners area when the toxic plume turned the Animas River yellow. I met with the community and heard their concerns about the toll that the spill was taking on businesses, farmers, families, and individuals. I attended different community meetings, not only in southern Colorado, but in that northwestern part of New Mexico.

Despite repeated promises by the EPA that it would fully address this

environmental disaster, progress has too often been needlessly slow. For example, in January of this year, the EPA and the Department of Justice announced a deeply disappointing decision that the EPA was not liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act for damages caused by the Gold King Mine spill.

And while I appreciate Administrator Pruitt's recent announcement that the EPA was reconsidering this misguided position, I believe that the EPA and the Congress should act to ensure that every impacted individual and community--especially New Mexicans and the Navajo Nation--receive the compensation they deserve.

The State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation should not have to sue the Federal Government to ensure that the government meets its moral obligation to the farmers, small business owners, and others injured by this spill.

This amendment, however, is about the long-term impact the spill will have on the river and all that that it sustains, from drinking water to providing water for farming and livestock. Robust long-term water quality monitoring is essential to ensuring that communities along the Animas River have the data they need to protect the health of all of those who rely on this water, and the State of New Mexico has developed a robust and independent monitoring plan that deserves the EPA's support.

That is why I am again offering an amendment to provide $6 million to direct the EPA to work with the affected States and Indian Tribes to support long-term monitoring programs for water quality on the Animas and San Juan Rivers in response to the Gold King Mine spill.

The same amendment was accepted by the House last year on a bipartisan basis. I thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this issue, and because monitoring now and well into the future is necessary to protect the health of all those who rely on this water, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman very much for his comments and look forward to working with him on this issue.

We arrived at $6 million for water monitoring after consulting with the State of New Mexico, and, in fact, it is my understanding that New Mexico has about $15 million in priority needs related to the Gold King Mine spill, including $6 million specifically for monitoring.

And so we checked with the State before we came down this evening to debate this amendment, and what the State of New Mexico shared with me, they report that they have only received $577,193 in Federal funding to support monitoring, which is less than 10 percent of what my home State believes is needed.

In addition, the Navajo Nation and other impacted communities still need support from the Federal Government to help recover from this disaster. So, again, I look forward to working with both the chairman and with the ranking member to ensure that all of the communities impacted by this spill are made whole, and that we provide appropriate support to vital water and monitoring efforts in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Navajo Nation.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues have called TrumpCare everything from an act of mercy to a rescue mission. Now, I might live at the end of a long dirt road, but I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday and neither did the American people.

Congressional Republicans are jamming their catastrophic bill that will take health insurance away from 24 million Americans, raise your premiums, raise your deductibles, raise your out-of-pocket costs, and will slap a crushing age tax on those over the age of 50.

Republicans in Congress promised they would lower costs, but this mess raises costs on families. Not only does the CBO tell us premiums will increase 15 to 20 percent, but TrumpCare will allow insurance companies to increase deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

Under the guise of State flexibility, Republicans say they are shifting responsibilities to States. Here is what that means: TrumpCare will force States to raise taxes and ration care. It will repeal the requirement for insurance plans to cover doctor visits, emergency room care, prescription drug coverage, and even mental health services.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. The fact is TrumpCare will raise your premiums, raise your deductibles, and hurt millions of hardworking families.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Los Alamos Historical Society for its work to preserve the history of Los Alamos and its advocacy for the Manhattan Project National Park.

The Los Alamos Historical Society has done much to promote the history of Los Alamos. As the largest historical society in New Mexico, the Los Alamos Historical Society plays an important educational role in the community by managing the Los Alamos Historical Museum and Archives, producing lecture series, and publishing books on the area history. Moreover, the Los Alamos Historical Society helped to create the ``Voices of the Manhattan Project,'' a public archive of the oral history collections of Manhattan Project veterans and their families. Not only has the Los Alamos Historical Society helped preserve and communicate the story of Los Alamos for future generations of New Mexicans, but it has also helped spread Los Alamos's legacy to visitors from around the globe.

The Los Alamos Historical Society has also been a strong advocate for the creation of the Manhattan Project National Park. The Manhattan Project changed the course of the 20th century and has had an enduring effect on American and world history. The new National Park will help future generations understand both the positive and negative impacts of the project, as well as recognize the individuals who played a key role in the national security of our nation. I thank the Los Alamos Historical Society for its efforts to ensure that the legacy and people of the Manhattan Project will not be forgotten, and I applaud the Historical Society for all that they have done to protect and promote the history of Los Alamos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Dealer of the Year, The Candyman Strings & Things of Santa Fe.

The Candyman Strings & Things, owned by Rand and Cindy Cook, has been a staple in the Santa Fe community since they opened its doors in 1969, and was awarded Dealer of the Year for its innovative and effective practices, as well as for setting an outstanding example for its peers in the musical instrument and products industry. Additionally, Candyman was also given the Music Makes a Difference award for promoting music in its community. Candyman serves to inspire its industry and also aspires to serve its community through numerous educational and scholarship programs. Through its charitable contributions and outreach work, Candyman has made a difference in the lives of customers, schools, and children.

Small businesses are an important part of local communities. Candyman is an example of a small business that has been successful and has had a positive impact in Northern New Mexico. While I applaud Candyman's efforts to ensure a high level of service to its customers, I am even more impressed by its service to the community and efforts to provide mentoring and learning opportunities for young music enthusiasts. Once again, I congratulate The Candyman Strings & Things for being awarded both the Dealer of the Year and Music Makes a Difference awards, and thank the entire team for its exceptional service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of New Mexico House Chief Clerk Stephen Arias, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Mr. Arias began his career with the New Mexico Legislature in 1966 and worked his way through the ranks of the House, starting as a clerk reading legislation, a payroll officer, and even a coat checker. In 1983 he was elected House Chief Clerk by the majority caucus and has served in that position for the past 31 years. In that time, Mr. Arias became the third-longest serving legislative clerk in the country. Originally elected Chief Clerk under Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez, Mr. Arias went on to serve under four subsequent speakers as he was re-elected time and again by the members of the House--a testament to the tremendous job he did over three decades.

Although they may not receive a lot of attention, Chief Clerks are essential to the smooth functioning of the legislature. Chief Clerks are in charge of hiring seasonal staff, tracking and filing bills, maintaining and setting the House budget, keeping communication between the House and Senate chambers flowing smoothly, and helping incoming lawmakers and committees address constituent issues. Mr. Arias has done all these things and more during his tenure as Chief Clerk, and I applaud his tireless work ethic. I congratulate Stephen Arias on his remarkable career, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dave Cuellar of Veterans Helping Veterans for his outstanding volunteer work with New Mexican veterans.

A Vietnam veteran himself, Mr. Cuellar had a distinguished career as a Gallup police officer after serving his country in the Army. Before retiring as a police lieutenant, he helped to protect and serve Gallup for over 22 years. In 2003, Mr. Cuellar was inspired to help start Veterans Helping Veterans, an organization dedicated to providing informational and social support for veterans in the Gallup area. The group provides critical help to veterans navigating the Veteran Administration's benefit and healthcare systems. More importantly, Mr. Cuellar has created an open and welcoming network run by veterans for veterans. His group is all inclusive, working with veterans young and old, from all backgrounds and all branches of the military to create a voice for all veterans.

Words alone cannot express our full appreciation and gratitude for the service of our veterans, and the deeds of volunteers like Mr. Cuellar help make a difference in the lives of our veterans who often face many challenges when they return home from active duty. Veterans Helping Veterans is a great example of a remarkable volunteer organization that is having a positive impact in the community. I thank Dave Cuellar for both his service and for his work with Veterans Helping Veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James B. Lewis, who is retiring after a career devoted to public service. Most recently, Mr. Lewis served as New Mexico State Treasurer, a position he held for the last 8 years.

Mr. Lewis' long and distinguished career includes serving our country in the Army and serving New Mexico in many notable positions, such as Chief of Staff to Governor Bruce King, Chief Clerk and Chief Executive Officer of the New Mexico State Corporation Commission, Director and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, President of the National Association of State Treasurers, and immediate past President of the National Association of State Auditors, Controllers, and Treasurers. In 1986, Mr. Lewis became the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in New Mexico, and is also the first and only African American to be appointed and then elected to office three times.

His tenure in the Treasurer's office will be remembered for his efforts to increase transparency and raise public awareness and understanding of this important office and the

role it plays in our great state. Treasurer Lewis automated the warrant and collateral compliance system, established the Remote Electronic Banking System, signed the first joint Powers Agreement enabling the Ramah Navajo Chapter to invest in the Local Government Investment Pool, and implemented the new state Linked Deposit program.

The State Treasury plays a vital role in protecting state monies deposited in New Mexico's financial institutions and promoting a stable state economy, and as Treasurer, Mr. Lewis led that effort with distinction. While Mr. Lewis' retirement is a loss for the state of New Mexico, I wish him all the best as he embarks on this next chapter, and I congratulate him on his distinguished career.