Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Consulate of Mexico in Fresno on the 213th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico and thank them for their significant contributions to the Central Valley.

The Consulate of Mexico in Fresno opened in 1931 to support the needs of Mexican agricultural workers located in the Central Valley. The mission of the consulate is to help Mexican citizens assimilate into the community and advance their rights while residing in California. For nearly a century, those working in the consulate have been dedicated to that mission, providing invaluable assistance to local immigrants including identification services, health guidance, and educational opportunities. The consulate connects local immigrants with the services they need to thrive.

Through their Mobile Consulate, which travels to different cities across the Central Valley throughout the year, Mexican immigrants have greater access to the over 30 services the consulate provides. The consulate is also focused on the educational outcomes of Mexican students.

Last year alone, the consulate, in partnership with other local organizations, granted more than $45,000 in scholarships to 30 college students pursuing careers in public health. On this day, as we celebrate the independence of the Mexican people, I want to recognize the incredible contributions Mexican immigrants have made to our communities in the Central Valley and across the nation. As the son of immigrants, I understand first-hand the perseverance, determination, and sacrifice of immigrants who come to the United States in search of greater opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the 213th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico and thanking the Consulate of Mexico in Fresno for their dedication to the well-being of our Mexican community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my bill that will help combat severe wildfires and save lives. My home State of California has become all too familiar with devastating wildfires.

In 2022, just over 20,000 wildfires burned approximately 5.8 million acres across the Western United States. These numbers represent people's homes, businesses, and livelihoods that have been destroyed or tragically lost.

In my district, we deal with prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke, which settles in the central valley and results in some of the Nation's worst air quality.

As these wildfires become more aggressive, we need to take concrete steps to combat wildfires, while also focusing on improving the long- term management of our forests.

The bill we are considering today will help deploy new technologies to combat widespread damage these fires cause to our communities, our health, and our environment.

The Wildfire Fighting Technology Act would dramatically increase the number of airlift assets available in wildfire emergencies. We should be using every tool available to fight these fires.

Containerized Aerial Firefighting Systems, or CAFFS, are airdrop- capable disposable containers for water or fire retardant, which can be dropped from much higher altitudes with less visibility.

Current aerial firefighting operations depend on single-mission aircraft, but CAFFS can be used by any standard cargo plane. The use of CAFFS provides more coverage for firefighters on the ground and allows teams to quickly respond to prevent smaller fires from becoming uncontrollable.

These systems are being used in other countries, but not here in the U.S. We have the technology that we can and should use to stop the devastation of these fires.

The dangers and long-term impacts of wildfires are clear.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the passage of the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act to combat and contain these fires in a quicker and more efficient way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief T.R. Merickel for his 26 years of dedicated service to the Kern County Probation Department and congratulate him on his well-earned retirement. Chief Merickel became a resident of the Central Valley as a young man when he began attending California State University, Bakersfield in 1992. Not only did he excel academically during his time in school, but he also was a renowned member of the Roadrunner Wrestling team--even being selected for a two time PAC-10 All-Academic team selection. In 1996, he graduated summa cum laude with degrees in history and religious studies. Following graduation, Chief Merickel began his career with the Kern County Probation Department, where he worked as a Group Counselor in Juvenile Hall. He was quickly promoted to Deputy Probation Officer and worked in Juvenile Supervision, Investigations, and Intake. In 2004, Chief Merickel became a Probation Supervisor and oversaw the Adult and Juvenile Divisions. During his time as Supervisor, he became an expert in sentencing and case law and was responsible for the implementation of the Static Risk and Needs Assessment (SRNA) tool for the Adult Division. Seven years later, Chief Merickel was promoted to Division Director of Adult Services. In this role, he was critical in the implementation of Assembly Bill 109, the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011, in Kern County. As Director, Chief Merickel was a member of the Community Corrections Partnership and worked with local partners on the bill's implementation to focus on safety, alternative sanctions, and reducing recidivism in Kern County. In 2014, the Kern County Superior Court named Chief Merickel as Chief Probation Officer. Chief Merickel has been committed to the Kern County Probation Department's mission of public safety for decades. His dedication to his colleagues, his work, and his community is a true testament to Chief Merickel's character and leadership. I know that his service to the Department and his commitment to the safety of Kern County will have a lasting impact for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking Chief Merickel for his decades of service to the Central Valley and wishing him a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Andrea Gutierrez-Cortez for her service to my office and to thank her for her dedication to the people of California's 22nd Congressional District.

Born in 1998, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has spent most of her life in the Central Valley. Growing up in Tulare, she attended Mission Oak High School and graduated in 2016. She would go on to attend the University of California, San Diego, where she became a sister of the Phi Sigma Rho Sorority and was a student-athlete on the club lacrosse team. In 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has been a member of my team since 2020, first as a volunteer on my campaign and then as a Constituent Services Representative in my Hanford office.

In her role, she has been critical in helping my constituents navigate complex federal agencies. She has assisted over 500 constituents in resolving problems with federal agencies including the Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Internal Revenue Service, and Social Security Administration. Throughout her time in my office, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has completed an impressive 810 cases--helping to return nearly $5 million in tax refunds, Small Business Administration loans, farm loans, and federal grants to constituents of California's 22 Congressional District.

Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez's extensive knowledge of the complex immigration system has made her an invaluable member of my team. She has managed all immigration cases that have come into my office over the past two and a half years. Her dedication to solving these difficult cases is a true testament to her compassion and character, and she has been vital in securing nearly 100 immigrant visas for families across the Central Valley.

As the only member of my district team who is fluent in Spanish, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has also been essential in helping Spanish-speaking constituents in my district feel welcomed and heard. I have entrusted Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez with some of my office's most challenging and complicated cases. No matter how difficult the case, her professionalism, determination, and genuine compassion never wavered. Not only is she an incredible worker, but she has also become a beloved colleague in both my DC and District offices, earning the title ``Commander'' and even being recognized as the official office holiday decorator.

This July, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez's time in my office came to an end, as she will begin pursuing a Juris Doctorate at the University of Tennessee College of Law this fall. She intends to begin practicing law after graduation, focusing on constitutional law and pro-bono immigration work. While I am excited for her to begin this new chapter of her life, her compassion for others, work ethic, and dedication to my constituents will be greatly missed. I am confident that Andrea has many accomplishments still ahead of her and will continue having a positive impact on everyone she meets.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Andrea Gutierrez-Cortez for her service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing her the very best in this next chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Amanda (Hall) Earl for her dedication to the people of California's 22nd Congressional District and to thank her for her public service to our country.

Mrs. Earl was born in Grapevine, Texas to Doug and Krista Hall. After graduating high school, she would go on to attend the University of Oklahoma, where she became a sister of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. In 2014, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and public relations. Following her graduation, Mrs. Earl began her political career working on state campaigns across Oklahoma. Eventually, her outstanding work ethic and grasp of public policy issues led her to Washington, where she would begin working as a Research Assistant for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, under the leadership of Chairman James Inhofe.

Shortly after, she joined Senator Inhofe's personal office as a Legislative Assistant, working on major policy issues such as energy and water. Mrs. Earl worked under Senator Inhofe until 2019, when she left the Senate to become a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, where she worked on the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, Endangered Species Act regulatory reforms, and oversight of the National Park Service. Mrs. Earl joined my Washington D.C. office at the beginning of the 117th Congress, serving as my Legislative Director. Her portfolio included some of the most important issues for the 22nd district, such as energy,

water, trade, environmental work, healthcare, and agriculture.

Not only did Mrs. Earl have an incredible grasp of these complex and challenging issues, but she dedicated an enormous amount of time to building relationships with relevant stakeholders in the Central Valley--even traveling to the district multiple times to meet with farmers, energy producers, hospital leaders, and more. She was also critical in leading my legislative team's work on the House Appropriations Committee, ensuring the Central Valley had a seat at the table when it came to funding the federal government.

One of her most significant accomplishments during her time in my office was her leadership on the Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act. This sweeping water legislation was made possible because of the months of effort on behalf of Mrs. Earl, and I am incredibly grateful for her work on this issue which is so critical for Central Valley communities and our local economy. After nearly a decade spent in both Oklahoma and Washington D.C., Mrs. Earl would depart my office in March of this year and return to her beloved home state of Texas with her husband, Andrew. While her welcoming personality, signature quick wit, and leadership in our office are all greatly missed, I am incredibly excited for Mrs. Earl as she begins this exciting new chapter of her life. Knowing Amanda, her character, work ethic, and compassion for others, I have no doubt there are many great things ahead for her.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in honoring Mrs. Amanda (Hall) Earl for her service to our country and wishing her the very best in this next chapter of her life.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, on which I have the honor of serving with him.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest), a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Larry Vernon Hallum, who

passed away on April 22, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Bakersfield, California, Mr. Hallum was 1 of 5 children. He grew up in the Central Valley, and attended Arvin Union Elementary, Haven Drive Junior High School, and Arvin High School. Throughout his childhood, Mr. Hallum excelled in academics and sports, won the Henry Greve speech contest in junior high, and was Senior Class Vice President in high school.

After his high school graduation in 1961, he attended Bakersfield College for 2 years where he played tennis. Soon after, he was offered a full ride to Stanford University, which he turned down to pursue an education at the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Hallum graduated with his bachelor's degree in history and political science in 1966 and returned to Arvin High School as a teacher. Mr. Hallum volunteered for the draft in 1969, during the height of combat operations in the Vietnam War. He served in forward reconnaissance in the Quang Ngai Valley in South Vietnam.

Mr. Hallum achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5 and was awarded a Combat Infantryman's badge. He spent his life honoring the sacrifices of the soldiers who served alongside him. In October of 2022, Larry and his son, Ryan, visited the U.S. Capitol and the Vietnam Memorial Wall as part of the Central Valley Honor Flight. After his service, Mr. Hallum returned to Arvin High School, where he spent 40 years as a teacher. He was a vital part of the Arvin community, having taught thousands of students in the Central Valley across multiple generations of families. Mr. Hallum was devoted to his students, teaching world civilizations, geography, U.S. history, government, and economics.

Mr. Hallum led the school's Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, and in 1987, started the ``We the People'' Constitution Team, which was nationally ranked under his leadership. He also spent time supporting his students outside the classroom--coaching football, tennis, and baseball and supporting other students as he cheered from the sidelines. Mr. Hallum was honored as the first recipient of the Jim Burke Teacher of the Year Award, received the Arvin Chamber's Citizen of the Year Award, and was gifted the Key to the City of Arvin. After his retirement, he was selected as one of the 100 Outstanding Alumni from Bakersfield College, having been recognized for his commitment to the students at Arvin High School.

Mr. Hallum and his wife of 45 years, Brenda, have twin sons together, Drew Jonathan and Ryan Wesley. Mr. Hallum was their biggest fan throughout their childhood and supported them at their football games and marching band performances. His love of teaching influenced his sons to spend time as educators in their careers. In honor of Mr. Hallum, the Kern High School District has created the ``Spirit of Arvin High School'' Memorial Scholarship to support future college students in the district. His service to our country, commitment to his family, and dedication to the students of the Central Valley will always be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible life of Mr. Larry Vernon Hallum.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John Harris for his incredible contributions to the Central Valley and to wish him a very happy 80th birthday.

A native of Five Points, Mr. Harris has dedicated his life to California's agricultural industry. Following his graduation from Bullard High School, Mr. Harris earned a degree in Agricultural Production from the University of California, Davis and served for 2 years as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. Mr. Harris returned to his family farm where he would dedicate the next 5 decades to building Harris Farms into one of the largest agribusinesses in the nation. Mr. Harris and his family's leadership in the agricultural industry spans more than 100 years--a true testament to their commitment to their work and community.

After his father Jack Harris' passing in 1981, John Harris became the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Farms. Under the leadership of his grandfather, father, and now Mr. Harris, Harris Farms has become a staple of the Central Valley. Under Mr. Harris' leadership, the family operation has grown to span over 17,000 acres and produces a wide variety of crops annually--including lettuce, onions, garlic, almonds, pistachios, wine grapes, cotton, and citrus. Perhaps the most well-known undertaking by Mr. Harris throughout the Central Valley is Harris Ranch Beef Company, California's largest fed cattle processor that produces nearly 200 million pounds of beef a year.

In addition to its impressive ranch and farming operations, Harris Farms has also become a popular destination for travelers and locals alike with its restaurant, butcher shop, and hotel. Mr. Harris is also an accomplished horse breeder. Harris Farms Horse Division has produced numerous champions including Eclipse Award Horses of the Year California Chrome and Tiznow. Harris Farms has raised and campaigned 100s of top racehorses over the last 60 years. Mr. Harris has played at a most active role in the California and national racing scene, serving multiple terms as the Chairman of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Chairman of the Bay Meadows Racing Association, as well as being on the California Horse Racing Board for multiple terms, being appointed by both Republican and Democratic Governors, and serving as board chair for several terms.

He is also a member of The Jockey Club and has served as a Steward there. Mr. Harris represents the very best of the Central Valley. He has grown a small family operation into one of the largest farms not only in California but the nation--all while providing high-quality food products, creating thousands of jobs, and building a welcoming community center for Valley residents. Mr. Harris is also deeply dedicated to his philanthropic work, having supported critical organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, and Community Medical Centers for decades. His contributions to our community will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the tremendous contributions of Mr. John Harris to our Central Valley community and wishing him a happy 80th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Kelly Richers for his 35 years of service to the California education system and to congratulate him on his retirement as the Superintendent of the Wasco Union Elementary School District. Mr. Richers' long-standing career as an educator and administrator in the Wasco Union Elementary School District began in 1986 at Norris Middle School in Bakersfield, where he taught Science. Over the next two decades, Mr. Richers was Vice Principal and Principal at various schools across the district, first as the Vice Principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, then as the Vice Principal and later Principal of Palm Avenue Elementary School, and lastly returning to Thomas Jefferson as the Principal in 2007. During his tenure, student outcomes across all schools improved immensely. In 2009, Mr. Richers became the Director of Categorical Programs and Special Projects for the school district. In this role, he coordinated a Migrant Resource Teacher program, implemented Parent Notification Letters, and established several community partnerships for the district's families. Throughout his four years as Director, Mr. Richers was focused on providing students and families of the district with the programs they needed to be successful. Mr. Richers was promoted to district Superintendent in 2014, where he oversaw a student body of more than 3,500 students, 500 personnel, and a yearly budget that exceeded $50 million. He supervised the passage of bonds totaling $36 million, the construction and renovation of several new school buildings, and the addition of special education buses and school nursing staff. As Superintendent, he has routinely demonstrated his commitment to Wasco Union Elementary School District's mission of excellence for all. Throughout his career, Mr. Richers has received many accolades for his leadership across the district. He was named Administrator of the Year by the Association of School Administrators and in 2009, was selected as the California Middle Grades Principal of the Year. Mr. Richers' immense contributions to the school district will have a lasting impact on the Wasco community for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Kelly Richers' service as an educator in the Central Valley. I wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Stuart Packard for his 35 years of service as an educator in California and to congratulate him on his retirement as the Superintendent of Buttonwillow Union School District.

Mr. Packard's long-standing career in education began at the University of La Verne, where he studied Journalism and Public Relations and later received his teaching credential. After graduating, he spent his first year as a teacher in the Ontario-Montclair School District. It was over the next two decades that Mr. Packard would become an integral part of the Bakersfield school community, first as a teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista School District and then as a principal in the Standard School District. In July of 2011, Mr. Packard became the Superintendent of Buttonwillow Union School District, where he spent the next 12 years. Under his leadership, the district became one of the fastest improving school districts in the state.

The addition of advanced-learning programs, expansion of extracurricular and off-campus opportunities, and construction of a new school building have contributed to the district's success. The district also enacted AVID Elementary for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and fully implemented a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. The district has been featured in local, state, and national publications for these improvements. During his tenure, student outcomes have also been strong. Discipline referrals and suspensions have declined by over 90 percent and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the district successfully returned to in-person learning during its earliest stages. The district has faced many challenges throughout Mr. Packard's career and his dedication to his role is paramount to the district's success. Mr. Packard's commitment to the success of students in Bakersfield will have a lasting impact on the Central Valley community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Packard's lifetime of service and commitment as an educator in the Central Valley. I wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, June is National Dairy Month, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the dairy farmers in the Central Valley for their commitment to supplying America with the dairy products we all know and love.

Madam Speaker, if you are a fan of cheese, ice cream, yogurt, or just a good old-fashioned glass of cold milk, there is a pretty good chance it was produced in California's 22nd District.

California is the number one milk-producing State in the country, housing over 1,100 dairies, and 99 percent of those are family owned. Eighty percent of California's 1.7 million milk cows live in the Central Valley. Tulare County alone houses about 450,000 milk cows.

As the Representative for America's largest dairy-producing counties and Congress' only dairy farmer, I know firsthand the challenges the men and women in the dairy industry face every day. However, like all our agricultural producers in the valley, dairy farmers continue to produce America's dairy products, care for their animals, and support their local communities.

Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in raising a glass of milk to our dairy farmers as we celebrate National Dairy Month.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the Endangered Species Act was a well-intentioned effort to protect the species we are at risk of losing. Unfortunately, the ESA has been hijacked by extreme environmentalists who have weaponized the law, especially in California.

Central Valley families and farmers have seen the negative impacts of heavy-handed and misguided regulations that put fish ahead of our families and our farms.

During dry years, the very limited amount of water available is consistently flushed out to the ocean to protect the delta smelt and other endangered species.

While this precious resource was going out to the Pacific, thousands of acres of farmland were fallowed. This has devastating consequences for the people I represent and the livelihoods that depend on agriculture.

This is something that is important for us to address and talk a little bit about, because when the water goes out to the ocean, obviously we are not taking any of that surface water, and it has an impact on our below-ground water and our aquifers.

These past few years, we have had a huge number of wells fail. In agriculture, you drive around the countryside, and I know a lot of people at home probably see this, where you will see wells pulled out of the ground, the pipes stacked, and they clean them. Two days ago, I was driving around the valley, and there was a situation where there was a pile of sand around this well, and it was obvious the well had failed.

What is really devastating is I have communities all across the valley, and in just working with one nonprofit, there were at least 2,000, either homes or communities, where they had actual tanks put in because the wells had failed and there was going to be no clean water for these people at home, so they put in tanks and pumps, and they were trucking water to these people so they could have water in their faucets.

This was happening all across the valley. When we talk about the devastating impact it has on our communities, this was something that was at their faucets. It was really frustrating these past few years when you talk to folks and we have to say, well, we can build projects, but we can't build water infrastructure projects. We have had projects that they have been working on for the last 30 years, a simple expansion of an existing well or existing reservoir. We have got a reservoir, like Sites Reservoir, they have been talking about for six decades and have never been able to break ground on that.

When out talking to folks around the district, farmworkers specifically in some of these communities that struggle most with these wells, the conversation they brought up was they can expedite the permitting process for a project like the high-speed rail and you see the project being built, but they can't do anything for water infrastructure.

It is frustrating because a lot of these folks rely on agriculture to make ends meet. Then they go out and see fields being fallowed, they see the land pulled out of production, and it is less work for them, less ability for them to provide for their families. This is something that should be an easy one, but it is regulations like the ESA that put us at such a disadvantage.

Back to my script.

To add insult to injury, many of the actions taken to protect these fish have not been effective. The population of many of our listed species, including the delta smelt, are now worse off than they were before.

Then you look at the situation we find ourselves in today. Whole communities are on the verge of being under water because environmental regulations have prevented these same reservoirs, that we desperately need, from being built that would actually help us prevent some of the flooding that we are dealing with.

Now, we have more than enough water to provide our farms, communities, and homes with water for years to come and nowhere to store it.

Indefinite listing of species allows activists to abuse the ESA, preventing the construction of critical water storage projects and resulting in millions of acre-feet of water being flushed out to the Pacific Ocean.

The needs of the Central Valley are consistently put last, thanks to the abuse of environmental regulations like the ESA. We must work together to reform the Endangered Species Act to strike a more reasonable balance between protecting our environment and common sense.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I thank the junior member of the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Western Caucus, Mr. Newhouse.

Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from Washington probably knows this, but it is important to highlight the fact that California is the number one agriculture State in the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my friend and colleague, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, to honor the life of Mr. Matt Steve Pandol, Jr., who passed away on April 21, 2023, at his home in Delano, California. He was 60 years old.

The son of Matt and Lucy Pandol, he was born on June 27, 1962. Matt spent his childhood in Delano and attended California State University, Fresno, where he graduated with a degree in plant science. Following his graduation, he returned home to work for his family business. Matt married his wife Linda in 1994. They had three children together and raised

them in his hometown. He worked independently and alongside the Pandol Family organization and served on the board of directors of Pandol Bros., Inc. and Delano Grape Growers Co-op Winery. Today, Pandol Bros. is one of the nation's top producers of grapes.

Matt was a fixture in the Delano community. He was a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church, a member of the Greater Delano Area Youth Foundation, and a member of the American Slavonic Social Club. He was also involved in the All Slavonic American Association of Fresno. An avid shooting sports competitor, Matt was a regular at shooting tournaments across the nation. He was a member of the Kern County Gun Club and other sporting clubs. He also spent time hiking, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors.

Matt was a hardworking farmer, dedicated to producing the finest produce in California. He worked closely with his brother, Andrew, on Pandol Farms and cherished the time they spent working together. He was dedicated to the quality of the Pandol Family product. With his family name on the box, he believed the fruit had to be first class. His team was very important to him, and he valued their expertise and dedication to farming.

Matt is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Matt III, Stefanie, and Mark; his mother, Lucy Pandol; brothers Louis Pandol, John (Angelica) Pandol, Andrew S. (Beth) Pandol; sister, Margaret (Scott) Curtis; and mother-in-law, Gerry Marcia, in addition to other relatives and in-laws.

Mr. Speaker, today we ask our colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join us in honoring the life of our dear friend, Mr. Matt Steve Pandol, Jr., who was taken too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Police Week, a time to thank our brave men and women in law enforcement and honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Police departments in small communities, like many in the Central Valley, struggle to have enough funding to recruit, train, and provide resources for their officers. As I meet with law enforcement across my district, I hear firsthand just how much stress is being placed on these officers, who are consistently being asked to do more with less resources.

Despite all of this, our police officers still wake up each morning, put their uniforms on, and go into our communities to uphold their oath to protect and serve, knowing very well that they may not come home that night.

It is critical that we continue to fully fund our law enforcement and ensure they have the resources they need to keep themselves and our communities safe.

I thank all of our police officers and law enforcement both in the Central Valley and across the country for their selfless dedication to service and for keeping our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Laura Lee Kirkley for her 40 years of service to the Di Giorgio School Board and the Central Valley community. Mrs. Kirkley has been a Valley resident her whole life--growing up in Tehachapi before eventually moving to Arvin in 1974. In 1976, she married James Kirkley and started a family. As her sons started attending school in the Di Giorgio School District, Mrs. Kirkley knew she wanted to become more involved. This led her to join the school board in 1983--a position she has held ever since.

Mrs. Kirkley attended Bakersfield College and would graduate from California State University, Bakersfield in 1994. One year after her graduation, she was hired by the Arvin Union School District as a 7th and 8th grade math teacher at Haven Drive Middle School. As a teacher, Mrs. Kirkley regularly demonstrated her commitment to her students by helping to lead math competitions for the school. Her students were involved in the County Math Field Day competitions and won many awards--including winning first place in the Arvin High Math Field Day 11 straight years.

Mrs. Kirkley was incredibly involved in the Arvin community throughout her sons' childhood. She attended many Little League, Babe Ruth games, and other extracurricular activities. When they attended Arvin High School, she enjoyed going to their baseball, football, and band performances. Throughout her entire

adult life, Mrs. Kirkley has been a staple in the Central Valley community, supporting not only her own children but the hundreds of students she interacted with during her time in the Di Giorgio School District.

Mrs. Kirkley exemplifies the type of leadership that makes the Central Valley such a wonderful place to call home. Her work on behalf of students living in rural communities is remarkable, and I'm proud to recognize her service. I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mrs. Kirkley's 40 years of service on the Di Giorgio School Board and the Central Valley community.