Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Tricia Stever Blattler on her 15th anniversary with the Tulare County Farm Bureau and for her service to the Tulare, agriculture community.

Mrs. Blattler is an Exeter native and grew up on farms owned by the Pinkham family. She attended Exeter High School and participated in Mock Trial, 4-H, and FFA. After graduating high school, she went on to receive degrees in Agriculture Science and secondary teaching credentials from California Polytechnic State University. She received scholarships from the Tulare County and California Farm Bureaus.

In her first year with the Tulare County Farm Bureau, she was awarded a ``Top 5'' 40 under 40 Rising Stars business leader award by the Tulare Economic Development Corporation and Visalia Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of the distinguished California Ag Leadership Class 34 and the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Institute. In addition to her role as Executive Director at the Tulare County Farm Bureau, Mrs. Blattler has served on the boards and advisory committees of the

FFA Foundation, Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County, Tulare County Ag, Farmland Mitigation Guidebook, Farmersville High School Ag, and Tulare County Animal Services.

She is viewed as a leader in the community for her communication to policymakers and time spent advising regulatory boards on issues such as air, water, ag crime, and land use. She has also volunteered time to Common Threads, the World Ag Expo, Ag Ventures, and many other community events.

I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mrs. Tricia Stever Blattler for her contributions to the agriculture industry and the Central Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce on their 20th anniversary.

The Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2002 by Ali and Earlena Morris. The Chamber's work has provided opportunities for African American businesses to succeed. Their concentration of resources on critical areas of business has assured growth and sustainability for Kern County. In addition, the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce won the Chamber of the Year award in 2008.

The Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping low- and moderate-income communities build wealth through establishing connections for members and introducing them to information and resources. They also support African American students through their scholarship and youth programs which provide participants an opportunity to explore into the world of business at a young age.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce for their 20 years of service to the Central Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Dave Borcky, who passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

A native of McFarland, California, Mr. Borcky served our country as a member of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. After his return, Dave worked tirelessly in the community to ensure veterans receive the recognition they deserve through the McFarland Veterans Community Center.

Mr. Borcky was an active member of many organizations in the Central Valley. He was a member of the Lions Club and American Legion Post, participated in Boys and Girls State activities, and coached students from McFarland High School in the LEOS Club. He organized local food drives, back to school drives, and many other activities that improved the lives of the McFarland residents. In December 2011, Mr. Borcky was named Grand Marshall for the McFarland Christmas Parade.

Mr. Borcky was a key player in McFarland's community for several years. It is with great pride that I recognize him for his service and leadership to his country and his community.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Dave Borcky. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one hundred years of distinguished service by Hanford Council No. 2343 of the Knights of Columbus.

The Knights of Columbus is an international fraternal organization that espouses the virtues of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. They were founded in 1882 by Father Michael Joseph McGivney, an American Catholic priest, to help families in need. They have strived to establish Councils of Catholic faith for service of charity and goodwill throughout American communities and abroad.

Hanford Council No. 2343 of the Knights of Columbus was established on February 5, 1922, by parishioners of Saint Brigid's Catholic Church in Hanford, California, to serve and support individuals and organizations in need. Members and families of Hanford Council No. 2343 have carried on the mission of charity and service for 100 years. Their vow to continue the work of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism has led to the betterment of our community.

I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Hanford Knights of Columbus Council 2343 on their 100th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, in the midst of a statewide drought emergency, California has experienced much-needed rain and snowfall during these winter months.

While communities across my district are especially grateful for the rainfall we have encountered, I remain concerned that the State of California has already announced a zero percent allocation for water deliveries for this year.

I also remain concerned that the Bureau of Reclamation could possibly announce a similar water allocation for 2022 within the next month.

This is unacceptable.

We must work together to figure out a way to fully utilize the water we have access to in a way that benefits our communities and agriculture production. Farmers are desperate for water to grow their crops. Rural towns continue to face water shortages.

We need this rain, but we also need to do a better job of managing our resources. We have opportunities to move our water responsibly when the snowpack melts.

As you can see here, more than 5 million acre-feet of water was sent out to the ocean over this past year. This water could have gone a long way for our communities and for farmers in the Central Valley.

I have asked time and time again for support from the House majority to address this issue. The families of the Central Valley cannot continue to wait. I ask my colleagues yet again to join my efforts to improve water management in California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John Schouten for his contributions to the dairy industry and congratulate him on his retirement.

John Schouten's passion for the dairy industry started over 35 years ago and led him to World Wide Sires, which started out in Hanford, California. He completed German language school shortly after starting and quickly built relationships in the international dairy scene that would last decades. His enthusiasm and desire to put farmers first has created numerous opportunities for U.S. genetics worldwide.

While at World Wide Sires, Mr. Schouten became known for his remarkable work ethic and empathy for others. He started as an Area Director of Marketing and went on to become VP of Marketing from 1993 to 2001, eventually becoming CEO in 2001. Mr. Schouten's leadership allowed his team to grow as they traveled to over 70 countries, sharing their knowledge and helping farmers.

Mr. Schouten became CEO at a time of rapid growth and change in the industry. Thanks to his vision, his team launched Global Dairy Solutions along with setting up six global subsidiaries. Mr. Schouten has set a great example of what hard work and compassion can accomplish. His energy to keep innovating has led him to become one of the most recognized and respected members of the U.S. Al community.

I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. John Schouten for his contributions to the dairy industry and wishing him the best in retirement.

Madam Speaker, what we are seeing at our southern border is an undeniable crisis. An unthinkable amount of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances are coming across our border. There is enough fentanyl coming across our border to kill every American seven times over. Think about that.

This only exacerbates our existing drug problem in the United States, like the rising use of meth in the Central Valley of California.

In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended over 160,000 illegal immigrants attempting to cross our southern border, the highest number of apprehensions for October on record.

I have always been supportive of immigration. After all, I am the son of immigrants. But we have to respect and enforce our laws. By refusing to enforce immigration laws, this administration is sending a dangerous message that our border is open for business to cartels and encourages people to put themselves in harm's way to cross our border.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief Anthony Galagaza on his retirement from the City of Bakersfield Fire Department after 30 years of service.

Chief Galagaza found his calling for community service and firefighting at a young age after witnessing his father serve as Fire Captain for over 30 years. Galagaza began his career as a seasonal firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management while volunteering as a reserve firefighter locally. His hard work and dedication allowed him to become a professional firefighter and eventually Fire Captain himself.

Chief Galagaza is a state certified chief officer and obtained numerous advanced training certificates throughout his career. He holds degrees in Fire Technology, Fire Science, and Business Administration.

Chief Galagaza dedicated his life to volunteerism and serving his community. He made great efforts to serve the Central Valley throughout his lifetime and has remained an integral part of the community.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Fire Chief Anthony Galagaza for his lifetime of service to the City of Bakersfield, California, and congratulating him on his recent retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sanger Chamber of Commerce's Annual Trek to the Nation's Christmas Tree Ceremony at Kings Canyon National Park.

The General Grant Tree, growing in the Kings Canyon National Park, is said to be over 1,650 years old. On April 28, 1926, at the request of the citizens of Sanger, the General Grant Tree was dedicated by the Federal Government as the Nation's Christmas Tree.

Thanks to the dedication and interest from the great residents of Sanger, the Nation's Christmas Tree is renown across the country and the world. Sanger, California, was recognized as the Nation's Christmas Tree City by the Post Office Department on October 1, 1949.

The General Grant Tree is a constant reminder of the sacrifices of the men and women of the Armed Forces who have served, fought, and died to keep our nation free. This national shrine preserves the spiritual, human, and civil rights upon which America was founded.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the Sanger Chamber of Commerce in celebration of the 96th Annual Trek to the Nation's Christmas Tree.

Madam Speaker, rising inflation is continuing to harm families and communities across the country.

Americans are paying 30 percent more to heat their homes this winter and 11 percent more for their electricity bills. The Central Valley gas prices are nearly $5 per gallon. The cost of housing is rising, and grocery bills are historically high.

Madam Speaker, Americans are paying more just to keep food on their table. Meanwhile, the House majority and the administration continue to add to this problem with reckless, out-of-control spending by implementing irresponsible and shortsighted economic policies.

These spending packages will hurt our economy by drastically increasing our record-high inflation rates and will continue to cripple generations to come by passing on more debt to our future Americans.

I urge my colleagues in the majority to act urgently and work across the aisle to address this out-of-control inflation.

Madam Speaker, last month, I led the California Republican delegation in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Haaland and Secretary of Commerce Raimondo regarding the reinitiation of consultation on the 2019 biological opinions for the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project.

Despite our request for a response, we did not receive an answer by the set deadline. This issue is critical to my constituents in the Central Valley. Failure to provide answers to our urgent questions is unacceptable.

This week, I led another letter to Secretaries Haaland and Raimondo. Once again, we are demanding answers regarding the administration's antiscience decision, which threatens the livelihoods of Central Valley farmers and families.

Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I will not back down, and I urgently request attention and response to this issue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Parviz Kamangar for his dedication and service to the Central Valley.

Mr. Kamangar was instrumental in the funding and development of the Boys and Girls Club in Huron, an organization which was absent from the community until the involvement of Mr. Kamangar and his associates.

Aside from being pivotal in the development of the Boys and Girls Club, Mr. Kamangar has also provided scholarships to local students for years. Since 2013, he has helped provide 147 different scholarships to students.

Mr. Kamangar has been vital in providing much needed assistance throughout the community. He was an intricate part of the development of a new Animal Control Shelter in the City of Huron.

Recently, Mr. Kamangar generously donated to the Huron Community Enhancement Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, to assist in keeping the foundation operational. Mr. Kamangar also donated to the Huron Police Officers assigned to U.S. COPS anti-crime outreach program to allow for interactions with Huron youth.

Whether it be through his dedication to community service or his philanthropy, Mr. Kamangar is a vital member of the community within the 21st congressional district.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the incredible work done by Mr. Parviz Kamangar.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John C. Harris for his dedication and service to the Central Valley.

Mr. Harris and his family's commitment to agriculture spans the past century. Harris Farms has grown into one of the largest agriculture businesses in the nation. Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant provides some of the highest quality beef in the United States, and they maintain an emphasis on hiring Coalinga-Huron Unified School District students.

Mr. Harris was instrumental in the funding and development of the Boys and Girls Club in Huron, an organization which was absent from the community until the involvement of Mr. Harris and his associates.

Aside from being pivotal in the development of the Boys and Girls club, Mr. Harris has also provided scholarships to local students for years. Since 2013, he has helped provide 147 different scholarships to students.

Mr. Harris has been vital in providing much needed assistance throughout the community. Recently, he was an intricate part of the development of a new Animal Control Shelter in the City of Huron.

Whether it be through his dedication to community service, his philanthropy, or providing jobs to local students to help develop career skills, Mr. Harris is a vital member of the community within the 21st Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the incredible work done by Mr. John C. Harris.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bakersfield College for their incredible work and commitment to higher education.

Bakersfield College is a vital institution in our community. The staff, students, and faculty of this school are completely dedicated to quality education and are a model to all of us in California's Central Valley.

This year, Bakersfield College has once again received statewide recognition for their commitment to excellence by being awarded the Champion of Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity. This award recognizes Bakersfield College for their creative work to advance educational success among their students, many of whom are first generation Americans.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Bakersfield College will be receiving recognition as a Champion of Higher Education. Winning this award year after year demonstrates their commitment to creative solutions that help students grow academically, as well as reduce barriers to entry.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the incredible work of both the students and faculty of Bakersfield College. They are a vital part of our community, and I wish them continued success in their enduring pursuit to provide high-quality education opportunities to our community.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate our veterans next week, I rise to honor the dedication and selflessness of the brave men and women who have served our Nation.

California's 21st Congressional District is home to thousands of veterans who are especially valued members of our community. Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices to the cause of freedom, and America is forever in their debt.

As Members of Congress, we have the responsibility to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they are entitled. Those who have courageously served our country deserve our support, and we must protect their care.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking our veterans for their service to our country in honor of this Veterans Day. It is a privilege to represent these men and women in Congress.