Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, while my service in Congress has been brief, it has been the privilege of a lifetime. When Congressman Devin Nunes'--who was my Congressman--district was redistricted away, I felt that perhaps my prior service as a county supervisor, as the minority leader in the California State House, and as a Presidential appointee might lend me some expertise to finish the term for Congressman Nunes and represent the constituents of California's Central Valley.

I must say that I felt very welcome here by the California delegation on

both sides. I had served with many of them in other capacities, so I felt very welcome.

I want to mention very quickly my staff, my prior staff, and my staff now. They know once you have served with Ms. Conway, you are a staffer for life.

I also want to thank the staff of this building. Even coming here today I got a little turned around. I know where I am going politically; I am just not sure of the building. So all the staff has been very gracious. I think they actually all know me by first name: the effervescent Ms. Conway.

When I was sworn in, I promised the good people of California's Central Valley that they would be the only special interest I represent. I hope they believe that I kept my word.

Congress is not a particularly popular institution right now, and a good dose of the criticism is well-deserved. Serving in Congress doesn't make you a hero and should not break any privilege except the privilege of serving this country. Instead of citizen-legislators, we have many professional politicians today, and perhaps some Americans would prefer that more Members served just 6 months, like I am, rather than for decades.

Nevertheless, I have always had a healthy respect for anyone who puts themselves out there and runs for public office. We need public servants to develop good ideas for solving problems, to present these ideas to their communities, and to advance those solutions in Congress.

In short, this country--the leader of the free world--is worth the conversations, the efforts, and the fights that happen here and on the campaign trail, notwithstanding all the messy unpleasantness that goes with the process.

As Americans it is easy for us to forget how rare and precious self- government has been throughout the world. Each and every day that I have stepped into this historic Capitol, I have stood in wonder and awe of how truly amazing this place is and how truly amazing the opportunity is to serve this country.

In Washington I have found that despite all the current bitterness in Congress--I am getting a little emotional--there were a range of issues, including the California water crisis, in which there is a good chance for bipartisan cooperation.

Moving forward, I urge my colleagues to explore every possibility to work together on water, wildfires, energy, and other pressing issues, knowing that families are counting on us to solve the big problems that impact them daily.

As my service nears its end, I would like to thank my family. They did not take the oath of office, but they have certainly shared with me in this. My heartfelt appreciation--and I use the word heart--goes to my husband, Craig, who actually, 8\1/2\ weeks ago, had a heart transplant and is doing well thanks to God; my sons, Anthony and Tim; and my dear grandchildren, Caine and Autrey. I also can't forget our dog, Jake, who doesn't miss me, but I do miss him a lot when I am here.

Finally, I would like to say a few words about my constituents back home. The Valley's agricultural communities work hard to feed the Nation. Most people buying their produce, meat, and milk at stores throughout the country have no idea where that food comes from or all the effort it took to get it to them.

Maintaining the well-being of these communities is a national security issue. Unfortunately, many Americans will only realize that in the most dramatic way if conditions in these communities become so difficult that people simply decide they can't continue working and growing any longer.

In California, especially lately, Silicon Valley gets all the headlines. While I am sure the tech executives deep down inside are nice people and they are smart people, they don't feed a lot of the families.

The Central Valley of California is the main pillar of our Nation's food chain. Its residents are my heroes. They are people who get up every day, go to work, pay their taxes, worship at their place of choice, and donate to charity when they can. I think all they really want to accomplish is to live their best life and maybe go to their kids' or their grandkids' soccer games on the weekend. Most people don't live and breathe politics like we do, but their work ultimately funds everything we do in Washington, and we can never forget them and that we are here with the single purpose of serving them.

So I would like to sign off by expressing my love and pride in the people of California's Central Valley who sent me here in the first place and to whom I shall return.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize San Joaquin Valley College for its 45 years of service in the State of California.

San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) was established in 1977 by Shirley and Robert Perry. Shirley earned medical assistance certifications despite training programs being unavailable, while Robert worked in a tire factory. Their early struggles, which were similar to those of many San Joaquin Valley families, inspired the Perrys to address the regional need for local, quality career training.

SJVC first opened in the City of Visalia, California, offering a medical assisting class. When only three students attended, Shirley went to work building relationships with community stakeholders and doing publicity, even putting fliers on cars at grocery stores. This commitment eventually paid off, as SJVC expanded rapidly in the succeeding decades.

Today, SJVC serves thousands of students on seventeen campuses and online. Its reach has expanded outside the Central Valley, with locations in both Northern and Southern California. SJVC's programs have grown far beyond the initial medical assisting certification, offering more than twenty accelerated certificate and Associate of Science degree programs in the medical, business, and technical fields. Its emphasis on balancing hands-on training and academic instruction has been fruitful--as of 2021, SJVC has awarded more than seventy-two thousand certificates and degrees.

SJVC has maintained its heart for community service amid its expansion. Since 1998, the college has provided more than $7 million in free dental services to more than twenty-thousand patients in underserved communities.

While SJVC earns many accolades and awards, it is most proud of its identity as a second-generation, family run institution. Shirley and Robert's sons, Mark and Mike, took over operations in 1995 and today lead the college as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer/President, respectively.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending San Joaquin Valley College for 45 years of service to the Valley community and for many more decades of growth and success to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Happy Trails Riding Academy for decades of service in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Happy Trails was founded in 1984 as a small, backyard program in Tulare, California, providing therapy through horseback riding. While the academy began by serving only a few riders, its operation has expanded into a beautiful facility serving thousands of rides each year.

The sole, fully accredited therapeutic riding center in the San Joaquin Valley between Modesto and Bakersfield, Happy Trails serves people of all ages, but mostly children. Through horseback riding, the academy provides an alternative to traditional therapy for people suffering from physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, ADD, ADHD, head trauma, brain injury, sight and hearing impairments, Autism, and Down Syndrome.

Aside from physical improvements, Happy Trails is proud of the psychological benefits their therapy provides, including improved self- confidence, increased interest in the outside world, emotional control, self-discipline, and a sense of normality. The social improvements are also worth noting: riders gain new friends and a sense of joy they've often lost in life.

Happy Trails is volunteer driven--an average of seventy-five people volunteer each week, donating more than eleven-thousand hours of service yearly. The academy also partners with major community organizations including Tulare Youth Service Bureau, Tulare County Mental Health, United Way, and Kaweah Delta Rehabilitation Center of Kaweah Delta Hospital. Appreciative of the support the community provides, Happy Trails reciprocates by opening its facility for events by other nonprofits.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to

join me in commending Happy Trails Riding Academy for decades of service in the San Joaquin Valley and for many more decades of growth and success to come.

Madam Speaker, My proxy was unable to vote on my behalf because of an unexpected delay during the vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 459.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Bacon (Hartzler)

Beatty (Cicilline)

Bilirakis (Fleischmann)

Brooks (Fleischmann)

Buchanan (Bucshon)

Carter (TX) (Weber (TX))

Cawthorn (Gohmert)

Cherfilus-McCormick (Neguse)

Chu (Beyer)

Cleaver (Adams)

DeFazio (Pallone)

Demings (Dean)

Diaz-Balart

(Reschenthaler)

Dunn (Cammack)

Evans (Beyer)

Garcia (TX) (Escobar)

Gimenez (Malliotakis)

Gonzalez, Vicente (Correa)

Gosar (Weber (TX))

Green (TX) (Cuellar)

Herrera Beutler (Meijer)

Horsford (Garamendi)

Jackson Lee (Cicilline)

Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski)

Jayapal (Cicilline)

Johnson (TX) (Stevens)

Kelly (IL) (Cicilline)

Kinzinger (Meijer)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lawson (FL) (Stevens)

Lynch (Trahan)

Mace (Nehls)

Mast (Waltz)

McEachin (Beyer)

Meng (Escobar)

Murphy (FL) (Peters)

Newman (Beyer)

Ocasio-Cortez (Neguse)

Palazzo (Fleischmann)

Payne (Pallone)

Pfluger (Ellzey)

Porter (Neguse)

Rice (NY) (Morelle)

Rice (SC) (Meijer)

Rush (Beyer)

Ryan (OH) (Correa)

Salazar (Waltz)

Sewell (Cicilline)

Sherman (Garamendi)

Simpson (Fulcher)

Soto (Escobar)

Speier (Garamendi)

Steel (Obernolte)

Steube

(Reschenthaler)

Torres (NY) (Correa)

Vargas (Garamendi)

Wasserman Schultz (Schneider)

Waters (Takano)

Wilson (SC) (Norman)

Madam Speaker, My proxy was unable to vote on my behalf because of an unexpected delay during the vote series. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 448.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Baird (Bucshon)

Bass (Correa)

Brown (MD)

(Ruppersberger)

Bush (Bowman)

Chu (Beyer)

DeFazio (Pallone)

Garcia (IL) (Correa)

Gomez (Evans)

Granger (Ellzey)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Kinzinger (Meijer)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lamb (Pallone)

McEachin (Beyer)

Meng (Escobar)

Moore (UT) (Curtis)

Napolitano (Correa)

Newman (Beyer)

Palazzo (Fleischmann)

Ryan (OH) (Correa)

Sanchez (Pallone)

Swalwell (Correa)

Trone

(Ruppersberger)

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Proteus, Inc. for its 55 years of service in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Proteus was established in 1967 through the Tulare County Community Action Agency. It began as an adult basic education class for low- income residents held in a basement in Visalia, California. Within a year, over 2,000 students were enrolled in its classes, allowing Proteus to incorporate in 1972. Expanding rapidly, Proteus created numerous employment and vocational programs while moving into Kings, Fresno, Kern, and Los Angeles Counties. It opened skilled training centers in all 5 counties, which helped farmworkers transition into vocational careers.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Proteus adapted its services to the diversifying needs of the San Joaquin Valley. It provided job training to refugees, high school dropouts, and women outside the workforce. Family services were emphasized with the building of community centers. Proteus also led relief efforts for farmworkers and communities affected by environmental disasters. The agency celebrated the onset of the 21st Century with a milestone accomplishment: becoming an accredited educational training institution.

Today, Proteus continues to address the most pressing contemporary challenges. For example, responding to the energy crisis, Proteus created energy-saving programs for communities in need while building strong partnerships with local utility companies. After 55 years of operation, Proteus has earned its reputation as a nationally recognized full-service agency. In recognition of its outstanding work, the agency has won numerous awards including from the California Awards for Performance Excellence program.

Today, Proteus operates approximately 50 programs for people of all ages and backgrounds. Its work includes emergency supportive services, energy conservation, foster family services, prevention services, pesticide safety training, and career and technical education classes. Even with the diversification of its services, however, Proteus remains firmly rooted in its core mission: ``to provide education, workplace training, job placement, and other support services to farm working families and diverse program participants to empower them to achieve self-sufficiency''.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Proteus, Inc. for 55 years of service in the San Joaquin Valley and for many more decades of growth and success to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Margaret ``Megan'' Michael Debranski Kelhart. Born on December 2, 1975, in Norfolk, Virginia, Megan peacefully entered the arms of our Lord on August 19, 2022. She was a proud and passionate mother, charismatic leader, staunch advocate of public service, and a resolute supporter of crucial public institutions and community members in need.

In 1994, Megan graduated from Lakeland High School, where she was an outstanding student and a standout tennis player on the State Champion Tennis Team. She was also a cheerleader, school band member, and prom queen. Megan later studied political science at Virginia Tech, where she was an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and went on to earn her Master of Science degree in natural resources.

In 2001, while working in the United States Senate, Megan met her husband Matthew while playing in the Senate summer softball league. The pair married on October 25. 2003, and spent the next 18 and a half years traveling the world together, sharing a love of college football, European travel and culture, and Italian wine.

In 2009, Megan and her husband welcomed their son, Matteson Michael Donnan Kelhart. Matteson was Megan's world--while Megan was a tireless professional and truly remarkable friend and wife, it was as a mother that her grace and selflessness were most prominently displayed. Megan passed on to Matteson her passion for reading, her fanatical dedication to her Virginia Tech Hokies, her love of travel, and her unwavering loyalty and integrity.

Megan, who selflessly answered a call to service at the United States Senate, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation, worked with nearly every congressional office. This body owes a debt of gratitude to her passion for policy and her unyielding dedication to public service.

She is survived by her loving husband Matthew Joseph Kelhart; their son, Matteson; her parents, Dr. Michael Debranski and Margaret Debranski of Suffolk, VA; her grandmother Margaret Beamon of Suffolk, VA; her father-in-law and his wife, Joseph and Lily Kelhart of Bethlehem, PA; her mother-in-law and her husband, Terri and Joseph Costa of Perkasie, PA; and other loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Margaret ``Megan'' Michael Debranski Kelhart. Her service and contributions to the Department of the Interior and the United States Congress will long be remembered.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Amedio Thomas ``Tom'' Ferdinandi. Born in 1930 on Valentine's Day, Tom peacefully entered the arms of our Lord on June 23, 2022. He was a family man and charismatic leader who helped and supported many members of our community.

In 1945, Tom and his younger brother John moved with their parents, John and Natalina (Cicellini) Ferdinandi, to Fresno, where Tom started his sophomore year at the newly built San Joaquin Memorial High School. There, he first met the love of his life, Anna Laura ``Jane'' Ochinero. Jane was a cheerleader at San Joaquin Memorial High School, and Tom was a football player. Tom and Jane married shortly after high school and welcomed four children into their lives, Laura, Tom, John, and David. Tom and Jane would go on to celebrate 72 years of marriage, sharing true love for each other and for their family.

Over 60 years ago, Tom, with his partner and high school friend Jim DeMera, were selling pizzas from Me-n-Ed's original location in Fresno, as well as from locations in Hanford and in Orange County. They grew the pizzerias from the original three locations to over twenty restaurants by the mid-1980s. Headquartered in Fresno and still family operated, the company now owns, operates and franchises over 60 restaurants under the Me-n-Ed's, Piazza del Pane, and Blast & Brew brands, and is one of the top 50 U.S. pizza chains. The company has been honored with community service and philanthropy awards for its many contributions to schools, churches, hospitals, and other Central Valley non-profits.

Tom was an avid supporter of numerous community organizations and institutions, including the Fresno State Bulldogs, San Joaquin Memorial High School, Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Saint Agnes Hospital, the Serra Club, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Diocese of Fresno and the Poverello House. He was also a member of the Young Men's Institute and the Italian Catholic Federation, a president of the Serra Club, and a board member of Catholic Charities.

He is survived by his loving wife Jane Ochinero Ferdinandi; their children and spouses, John and Laura Mahoney, Tom Jr. and Karen Ferdinandi, John and Christine Ferdinandi, and David and Wendy Ferdinandi; and their twelve grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Amedio Thomas ``Tom'' Ferdinandi. His service and contributions to the San Joaquin Valley will long be remembered.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Jerome (Jerry) Dunklin, M.D., for his induction into the Fresno City College Football Wall of Fame.

A lifelong Fresnan and football fan, Dr. Dunklin was born and raised in Fresno, California, where he graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School and was a member of the 1974 Valley Champion football team. He attended Fresno City College and Santa Clara University before graduating from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Upon completing his undergraduate education, Jerry attended medical school at Creighton University and graduated in 1985. After medical school, he continued his study of medicine as a transitional intern at the Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center. Jerry was accepted into the orthopedic surgery residency program at the University of Missouri in Kansas City where he trained under the surgeon known for developing the modem technique for ACL reconstruction. While completing his residency, he also worked with the team physicians for the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs as well as on the faculty of the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He eventually made his way back to his home state of California and completed a fellowship in sports medicine and ski trauma at the Tahoe Fracture and Orthopedic Medical Clinic.

In 1992, Dr. Dunklin returned to his hometown of Fresno and founded a solo practice in orthopedic surgery. In 2001, he became a founding member of Sierra Pacific Orthopedic Center. Dr. Dunklin enjoys practicing general orthopedics and specializes in sports-related injuries, fractures, total joint replacement, work-related injuries, and trauma.

Since returning to Fresno, Dr. Dunklin has volunteered as the team doctor for his alma maters, San Joaquin Memorial High School and Fresno City College and continues to do so today.

In 2020, Dr. Dunklin answered the call of duty and joined the United States Navy as a Reserve Officer. As Lieutenant Commander in the Medical Corps, Dr. Dunklin takes seriously his responsibility to impart leadership skills and medical expertise on to the next generation of our nation's military.

In his free time Jerry enjoys traveling, hiking, water and snow skiing, golf, and spending time with his wife of 40 years, Marianne, and their 3 children.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Dr. Jerome Dunklin on his many years of service to his patients, his community, and his country and congratulating him on his induction into the Fresno City College Football Program's Wall of Fame.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment that I coauthored.

In my home, California's Central Valley, communities are running out of clean water, we would consider drinking water. They are unable to shower, unable to cook for their families, and unable to stay cool during intense heat.

Madam Chair, the thought of having to bathe your children, cook food, and to stay alive with small bottles of water, that is the gist of this amendment.

Extreme drought and outdated water infrastructure have forced small, rural communities to truck in water every day. This amendment authorizes $250 million in grants to improve water access for small rural communities suffering from drinking water shortages.

My amendment is supported by small communities, local nonprofits, and those dedicated to helping underserved communities like Self-Help Enterprises and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

Madam Chair, I include in the Record a letter from Self-Help Enterprises.

Self-Help Enterprises,

July 26, 2022.

Re Conway/McCarthy Amendment to H.R. 5118, Wildfire Response

and Drought Resiliency Act.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Connie Conway,

Washington, DC.

Dear Minority Leader McCarthy and Representative Conway: I

am writing on behalf of Self-Help Enterprises to extend our

support for your amendment to the Wildfire Response and

Drought Resiliency Act (H.R. 5118). The McCarthy/Conway

amendment will provide much-needed funding to facilitate

drought resiliency and water system consolidations.

This amendment ensures access to funding to augment water

supplies by larger water systems who extend water service to

smaller disadvantaged communities. It will also allow them to

cover the costs of service extension. One example of this

need is found in Tulare County, California, where Self-Help

Enterprises has been working with the community of Tooleville

(population 500) to connect to the City of Exeter's water

system (population 10,400). Exeter, while an incorporated

city with a mid-sized population, is still small and lacks

the resources or legal authority to spend City funds on the

water system consolidation project. Meanwhile, Tooleville's

small water system is struggling with the effects of drought

and overpumping of groundwater by surrounding uses, and its

two wells (drilled in the 1970s) fail on a regular basis. For

that reason, Self-Help Enterprises has installed temporary

storage tanks and is hauling water to fill these tanks on an

as-needed basis.

It's important that cities and larger communities can

access this type of funding regardless of their own

population size, so that they can work in good conscience to

help their neighbors without jeopardizing the well-being of

their own residents.

Therefore, we urge the adoption of the Conway/McCarthv

amendment to H.R. 5118 by the House of Representatives. We

thank you for your attention to the needs of the rural

communities of the San Joaquin Valley. For questions or more

information, please don't hesitate to contact Jessi Snyder of

our staff.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Collishaw,

President/CEO.

While there are many more issues to be addressed in the larger bill, this will directly help rural Americans in critical need of assistance and underserved members of our communities.

Madam Chair, I urge Members to support this amendment.

Actually, Jake wanted to come, so did my husband, and he wasn't able to make it.

I want to thank him; my sons, Anthony and Tim; and my grandchildren, Caine and Autrey, for their constant, loving support. I hope to make them all proud. As an aside, my grandson, Caine, tomorrow will be 16.

He told me: Nonnie, I can't go watch because I have had an appointment at the DMV for 6 months. I am getting my license, and I am not giving it up.

So all I have to say to that is: Watch out Tillamook, he is off the tractor and onto the roads.

I stand before you today and vow to give everything I have to be the capable and zealous Representative that my constituents deserve. I often look to the words of Luke and paraphrase: To whom much is given, much is expected. I take these words to heart in the role that has been entrusted to me: to honestly, loyally, and passionately represent my constituents in the United States House of Representatives.

I accept this charge with deep humility. My constituents, the great people of California's 22nd District, are facing water shortages, rising inflation, and many other trials not of their own making. Their pain is my pain. Their concerns are my concerns. I stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

As a daughter of the Central Valley and a lifelong fighter for our values, it

is my duty to ensure that our voices are heard in Congress. As your Representative, you have my commitment that my door will always be open to those seeking to make the Central Valley a better place. I look forward to serving with you.

Madam Speaker, I close my remarks with a local colloquial saying: Go Dogs, Win the Mountain West.