Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Karen King for her dedicated service to the California public transit industry and to congratulate her on her well-earned retirement from the Golden Empire Transit District. Ms. King's career in public transit began in 1976 at the Utah Transit Authority. Ten years later, Ms. King joined Long Beach Transit as a Grants Administrator. She quickly moved up the leadership ranks, and in 1995 was named Executive Director of Transportation. In 1998, Ms. King worked for the North San Diego County Transit Development as the Director of Development and Communications Services and was selected as the agency's Executive Director in 2001. In 2008, Ms. King moved to Bakersfield where she became the Chief Executive Officer of the Golden Empire Transit District. During her tenure as CEO, Ms. King has been steadfast in her commitment to meeting the transportation needs of all Bakersfield residents. She helped develop and implement the On-Demand Microtransit service program, which was first piloted in southwest Bakersfield and has since expanded across the city. The program increases transportation access for all residents by offering low-cost transportation to residents traveling to popular destinations in the city. Ms. King has directed other initiatives including a partnership with Kern Health Systems to provide rides to appointments for the more than 300,000 members of Kern Family Health Care. Ms. King is also coordinating the Long Range Operational Service Analysis, which aims to improve local transportation and return ridership to pre-pandemic levels. Ms. King has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels for her leadership in the public transit industry. She is the Vice Chair of the California Transit Association (CTA) and in 2021, was selected for a two-year term as Chair.

Ms. King has also served as Chair of the CTA's COVID-19 Relief Task Force, where she has helped California's public transit industry recover from the pandemic. In 2018, Ms. King received a Distinguished Service Award from the CTA, to celebrate her distinguished career and outstanding contributions. This year, Ms. King is receiving the CTA's award for Innovation and Resiliency, to celebrate her commitment to the innovation of the industry and well-being of all Bakersfield commuters. Ms. King's many accomplishments are a true testament to her character and leadership. I'm confident that her service to the Golden Empire Transit District and her passion for improving public transit for all residents of our community will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking Ms. King for her more than 40 years of dedicated service to the public transit industry and wishing her a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, next week, California is expecting more atmospheric rivers that are bringing welcome rain to our State. I am grateful for this rain and know many of my fellow farmers are. Unfortunately, this is deja vu for many of us in the Central Valley since not much has changed in the last 12 months to better prepare ourselves for a consecutive wet year.

Just last year, after 3 years of extreme drought, our State was hit with enough water to supply farms, communities, and homes for years to come. Unfortunately, extreme environmentalists and Sacramento bureaucrats have denied the approval of new water storage projects and restricted how much water we are able to pump with complex and contradictory regulations.

The devastating flooding in my district and the millions of gallons of water that were flushed out to the ocean were the direct result of water mismanagement. Many of my constituents are still picking up the pieces from this flooding. These storms brought to light many flaws in our existing disaster relief programs.

We must improve coordination between Federal agencies involved in disaster relief like FEMA, Army Corps, and the USDA, so that residents and industries know who to turn to and have timely access to disaster assistance programs and services.

As we continue working to get additional disaster assistance for these communities, we must work to ensure we are better prepared for these types of weather events because we know that eventually the rain will stop.

Drought is a recurring feature in California's climate, and the time to prepare for those dry years is right now. Maximizing what can be moved at all times through the delta, especially during these atmospheric river events, and investing in water storage infrastructure and conveyance projects is critical to capture and store as much rain as possible. If we don't, we will inevitably find ourselves in another manmade water shortage.

We cannot let this water go to waste, and we cannot let the lessons learned from last year's storms be in vain. Thousands of livelihoods, the future of agriculture in California and America's food security depend on it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arvin High School on their 75th anniversary and thank them for their significant contributions to the Arvin community. Arvin High School began serving students in the rural communities of Arvin, Lamont, and Weedpatch in 1949 as part of the Kern High School District. Since their founding, Arvin High School has been committed to serving their students through a diverse array of educational programs, extracurricular activities, and college-level courses. Today, the school's student body is made up of nearly 3,000 students. The mission of Arvin High School is to encourage P.R.I.D.E--participation, responsibility, integrity, determination, and empathy, and to provide students with the skills they need to succeed in their futures. Under the leadership of Principal Ed Watts, Arvin High School has received full accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, recognizing their dedication to high-quality education and school improvement. Through their Career Technical Education program, students at Arvin High School have the unique opportunity to gain experience in the career path of their choice. In these twelve pathways offerings, students learn how to succeed in numerous fields including health sciences, building and construction, agriculture, and engineering. The CTE program also includes a ROTC pathway, providing students who are interested in serving in the armed forces with the experience they need to thrive after they leave Arvin High School. The staff and faculty at Arvin High School are committed to the educational outcomes of every student. In 2023, 89 students were recipients of a California Scholarship Federation membership, which is awarded to students who demonstrate a high-level of academic achievement. The class of 2023 also received nearly 200 Biliteracy Seals and Golden State Seal of Merit awards, and 16 National Honor Society recognitions. This school year, in partnership with Bakersfield College, Arvin High School is offering almost 70 sections of Dual Enrollment course offerings--giving students a chance to earn college credits before they even graduate

high school. In just the past three years alone, Arvin High School has helped 25 students receive their Associate of Arts for Transfer degree in Communication Studies through this initiative. In honor of their work to provide students with dual enrollment opportunities, Arvin High School was one of nine schools recognized as an Exemplary Dual Enrollment School by the California Department of Education in 2023. Arvin High School has been nationally recognized for their academic extracurriculars, including Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, and the ``We the People'' Constitution Team, which was started by former teacher Larry Hallum in 1987. Mr. Hallum was one of the many teachers at Arvin High School who has received accolades for his dedication to his students. To celebrate the legacy of Mr. Hallum, the Kern High School District created the ``Spirit of Arvin High School'' Memorial Scholarship to support future college students in the district. It is because of the commitment of teachers at Arvin High School like Mr. Hallum that students in the Central Valley community flourish, and I want to thank all the faculty and staff at Arvin High School for creating a learning environment that helps our youth become the best they can be.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in celebrating Arvin High School on their 75th anniversary. Their work to enrich the lives of students in the community of Arvin will be felt for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Glenn E. Denton, Jr., who passed away on November 25, 2023. He was 73 years old.

Mr. Denton was born in Rushville, Nebraska to Glenn and Joyce Denton. He was one of nine children. From an early age, Mr. Denton learned the value of hard work and perseverance, having grown up working on his family's ranch. After his high school graduation in 1968, Mr. Denton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served in the Civil War, and father, who served during World War II. In 1969, while on a mission to recover the remains of fallen Marines in Vietnam, Mr. Denton, along with seven of his comrades in the 1st Marine Division, made a promise to each other to share the stories of the Marines who lost their lives--all while sharing Kool-Aid together. From that day on, the eight Marines became known as the Kool-Aid Kids. After his service, Mr. Denton moved to Bakersfield, where he became a recruiter for the Marine Corps. Soon after his move, Mr. Denton acquired a 10-acre parcel of land, which was first used by his fellow Marines as a place to gather. During this time, he remained steadfast in his commitment to preserving the legacy of his fellow servicemembers who lost their lives during the war.

In 1978, the Kool-Aid Kids' mission inspired him to start Camp Hamilton Veterans Memorial on his parcel, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring service men and women from all branches of the military. Mr. Denton named the memorial after his brother in arms, Leonard Hamilton. Today, Camp Hamilton has planted more than 339 trees to honor servicemembers who lost their lives during or as a consequence of war. With the help of the Memorial's dedicated volunteers, Camp Hamilton has become a place where servicemembers, veterans, families, and loved ones come together to celebrate the sacrifice and bravery of the Marines, airmen, soldiers, and sailors from across the Central Valley.

After a career spanning nearly thirty years, Mr. Denton retired in 1995 as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. He was a highly decorated Marine, having been awarded a prestigious Purple Heart medal to honor his bravery and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Mr. Denton is survived by his siblings, children, and his loving wife, Esther. Mr. Denton's service to our country, commitment to his family, and dedication to the Bakersfield community will forever be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible life of Mr. Glenn E. Denton, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a speech I ever wanted to give. I have had the honor of serving in office now for a number of years, and even during my time in the State legislature my district has always bordered Kevin McCarthy's. He was in Congress, and I was in State. When I had the honor of being elected to this body, I served alongside him for a number of years now.

To say that he hasn't played a role in my ability to be here or my success here, yes, I wouldn't be here without

him. The policies we have been championing for a number of years would never have existed and would have never come to fruition if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy. We wouldn't have been able to change some of the things in the Valley that have been so positive for us if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy.

It is a sad day for us as an institution and a sad day for us in the Valley when we have all these different issues we are dealing with across the country, across this body, and across even the Central Valley in my home, we have got so much we need to still do, and the reality that he is not going to be there is a huge hole for us in the Valley.

Mr. Speaker, if you look at his time in service, understanding the policies that affect us, if it was something like water, we wouldn't have the WIIN Act if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy. We are seeing some of the results of that as we speak today.

The expansion or the repairs in the Friant-Kern Canal, being able to move water south through the delta so that our farmers and our communities can survive, projects that are being funded as we speak to expand and add water infrastructure for the Valley would not be in existence if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy.

Mr. Speaker, when you look at valley fever, a thing that we are dealing with that we are fighting, we still don't have enough research at the Valley Fever Institute, or the ability to have those policies in place or at least the research started so we can create some real solutions for a thing that we are dealing with across the country now.

Energy, as we all know, Kern County is a huge hub for energy production and to have a champion like we did--or we do today not much longer--in Congress like Kevin McCarthy for energy production to make sure we continue to provide energy for our country to succeed, we are losing that voice.

As far as fire and forestry, I served in Congress under different Speakers. There are not a lot of times I have been in a situation where I am on a codel serving with my colleagues with a bipartisan group or at a press conference here on the Hill with a bipartisan group of Members talking about the same issues with a Speaker of the House. I honestly can't think of one situation where I have seen that happen, other than when it was Kevin McCarthy and our Save Our Sequoias Act. I remember standing there looking around thinking: I don't think I have ever seen any other person and I still can't remember--but that is something that affects votes.

Mr. Speaker, when you think about the air quality and the impact it has on the Central Valley and the burning that has destroyed our mountain ranges, to have a piece of legislation championed by a Speaker and being able to get bipartisan support, that was something that I was very proud to be a part of.

The fun part was talking trash while playing basketball when I outscored him on the basketball court in the charity game. I think I made one basket, and he might have made zero. I am not sure. As far as shooting, I know I kicked his butt. I saw the picture of the scorecard at some of our charity events that we do in the Valley.

There are a lot of opportunities for us to do good things and have some fun together. Some of the most memorable moments are going to be this past year sitting in ELC and watching him across the table, his understanding of the policy itself, the dynamics of the votes, what is going to be able to pass the Senate, how to get the President engaged, and all those different things, we were able to have some real successes this year, to actually have a plan in place to solve real problems that now people who voted to take him out seem to acknowledge that that plan was probably our best option.

We are on the verge of losing that. It is something we are going to miss out on. To fill those shoes, to have that person who understands enough of this place and who understands how to make a change, how to implement those changes, and how to execute a plan is something that we are going to struggle with to fill.

I wish this day wasn't here. I wish he would stick around. Nevertheless, obviously, I know he is off to bigger and better things. I know we will still have plenty of opportunities for me to talk trash and make fun of him and maybe outscore him on the basketball court again if he is not too out of shape, but he is getting close to that point.

I just want to say thank you to Kevin and to his family. Judy has been a huge asset to my family. His children have been a huge inspiration for my kids as they go through some of the same headaches that all of our children of people in this position have to deal with.

I thank Kevin for everything he has done and will continue to do. Hopefully, we will have opportunities to work together soon in some situations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding.

What we are seeing at our southern border is a humanitarian and national security crisis. Earlier this year, I was at the border with my colleague from Arizona to see the situation on the ground firsthand.

Our Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed by the surge of migrants from around the world, and we need to give them more support.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration has sent a clear message that our southern border is open for business for drug smuggling and human trafficking. The flow of illegal drugs, guns, and human traffickers has a direct impact on the people from the Central Valley.

I just held a teletownhall this week, and one of the issues that came up the most was the situation at our border and concerns with fentanyl.

We must take action to combat the loss of life from illegal drugs, like fentanyl, which are flowing across our open border at an alarming rate. The House has passed legislation this year to increase the number of Border Patrol agents, deploy new drone and surveillance technologies, and restore construction of the border wall. These are commonsense measures that would go a long way to ensure our Border Patrol agents have the tools they need to deal with the crisis.

For too long, extremes on both sides of the aisle have discouraged real and meaningful discussion regarding border security and immigration reform. We need to secure the border and make reforms to our broken immigration system. We won't be able to make these reforms or find compromise with the current humanitarian and national security crisis we have at the border today.

I will continue working with my colleagues to find common ground for reforming our broken immigration system and to secure our border.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Porterville Elks Lodge on their 100-year anniversary and thank them for their significant contributions to the Porterville community. The Porterville Elks Lodge was established in 1923 on Porterville's Main Street.

For more than a century, the lodge has served as a meeting place for residents of the community and the home of the Porterville Elks Lodge Club. The club's unwavering commitment to public service and the Porterville community has guided its mission since the lodge's founding. Today, the club has 149 members, all of whom dedicate their time to giving back to and investing in the local community. The club is passionate about the well-being of Porterville's residents and focuses many of their efforts on helping children and veterans

Last year, the club raised more than $32,000 for the Purple Pig Major Project--the second-largest contribution from the California delegation of clubs. The project's funds are used to support disabled youth with the medical treatments and therapies they need to thrive. Through their affiliation with the Elks National Foundation, the Porterville Elks Lodge Club has also awarded students throughout the community with scholarships to support their academic goals and connected veterans and servicemembers with rehabilitation services.

During the recent flooding in California, the Porterville Elks Lodge Club worked with the Central California Family Crisis Center and Parenting Network to donate jackets, baby formula, and other items to residents in need. Their efforts were critical in helping families in my district recover from the devastating storms. The club's longstanding history of service is ingrained in the fabric of the Porterville community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the Porterville Elks Lodge on their 100-year anniversary. Their work to enrich the community of Porterville will be felt for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, for the first time in over 3 years, California is drought-free.

This year's rainfall has helped to replenish depleted groundwater and reservoirs, but we have missed an opportunity to capture and store more of this valuable resource.

Since October of 2022, over 28 million acre-feet of water has been sent to the ocean, enough surface supply to sustain our agriculture producers for an entire year. We can and must do better so our communities are prepared for both dry and wet years.

Last week, the House passed my bill, the WATER for California Act as part of the Energy and Water appropriations bill.

This bill makes additional funding available for raising Shasta Dam, extends authorization of the successful water storage project program established by the WIIN Act, and codifies the 2019 biological opinions.

These actions aim to provide a clean, reliable water supply to our communities and farmers who grow one-quarter of the country's food.

If California's water problems continue to go unaddressed, the entire Nation's food supply is at risk.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Senate to keep these provisions in the bill and get this bill across the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. William Thomas Chartrand, who tragically passed away on October 3, 2023. at the age of 82.

Mr. Chartrand was born in Troy, New York to Ernest and Eva Chartrand. He was the middle of five children. From an early age, he learned the values of hard work and perseverance, spending his youth working on a farm in upstate New York. Mr. Chartrand joined the U.S. Navy shortly after high school, where he served as a jet engine mechanic. Mr. Chartrand retired having achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Some of his fondest memories were from his time spent as a navigator on an A-3 Skywarrior Aircraft. During his more than twenty years of service, he developed lifelong friendships with his fellow officers, and kept in close contact with them throughout his life.

After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Chartrand moved to Hanford, where he attended College of the Sequoias and earned his associate of arts degree. He was later hired by Sears, Roebuck and Co., and received training in appliance repair in Los Angeles and Chicago. After a long career with the company, Mr. Chartrand started his own appliance repair business in Hanford. Mr. Chartrand was passionate about helping his friends and family with their appliances and continued to lend a helping hand in his retirement. This past May, Mr. Chartrand and his wife. Velma, celebrated 36 years of marriage, Together, they devoted themselves to their Christian faith. Mr. Chartrand served on the Diaconate for First Baptist Hanford in his later years. He is remembered by his loved ones and members of the Hanford community for his kind spirit and compassion for everyone he crossed paths with.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible life of Mr. William Thomas Chartrand. His service to our country, commitment to his family, and dedication to the Central Valley community will be felt for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or CJD.

CJD is a rare brain disease that causes a rapid decline in a person's cognitive health and often leads to death within only a few months to 1 year following the onset of symptoms. There are about 500 new cases in the United States each year.

Though rare, every CJD patient and thousands of people in their communities have a story of how their lives have been impacted by this disease. I personally have dealt with the loss of a dear friend and mentor, the former mayor of Bakersfield, Harvey L. Hall.

Harvey Hall was a passionate man with a great love for life, his family, his community, and his country. He was a beloved member of our community and the longest serving mayor in Bakersfield history.

Mayor Hall lost his life from CJD just 2 weeks after diagnosis. His sudden death was a shock to our community and devastating for all who knew him, including his wife of 28 years, who is here with us today, Lavonne Hall.

Today, I am introducing a resolution that would designate November 12, 2023, as CJD Awareness Day to honor Mayor Hall's memory and help raise awareness for CJD patients and their families across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Fred Luther Haynes, who passed away on September 2, 2023, and to thank him for his more than 40 years of dedicated service to the Bakersfield City School District. Dr. Haynes was born in Clarksville, Oklahoma to Harvey Haynes and Mable Haynes-Harvey. He was the eldest of five sons. At an early age, his mother instilled in him the value of education, which inspired him to become an educator. He attended college at Langston University in Oklahoma, where he received his bachelor of science degree in education. Dr. Haynes pursued his post- graduate studies at Fisk University in Tennessee, where he obtained his master's degree in education. Over the course of his career, he earned additional credentials and teaching certificates at the California State University of Fresno and Bakersfield, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Dillard University. In 1977, Dr. Haynes attended Brigham Young University, where he received a doctorate in education.

In 1951, Dr. Haynes married Marcy Alice Williams in Tulsa, where they would start their family of eight children. Ten years later, he moved his family to Bakersfield, California, where he began his extensive teaching career in the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD). Dr. Haynes was first a teacher at Colonel Baker School before becoming the school's Assistant Principal. He later moved to the district office, where he worked as a Resource Teacher and became BCSD's first African American district-wide supervisor. During his time as supervisor, Dr. Haynes was focused on parental involvement, even creating the Parent Involvement and Community Relation Division to strengthen the relationship between students, parents, and teachers at BCSD. For 26 years, Dr. Haynes served as Principal across multiple BCSD elementary schools and at Emerson Jr. High School. Throughout his tenure as Principal, Dr. Haynes was dedicated to the achievement of all students and was instrumental in district-wide changes that supported underrepresented students.

In 1996, the Dr. Fred Haynes Award was established to honor the leadership, strength, and courage displayed by Dr. Haynes over the course of his career. Each year, the award is given to male students in the district who exhibit the qualities of Dr. Haynes in their academic pursuits. In 2016, Dr. Haynes was inducted into the BCSD's Hall of Fame, to honor him for his 40 years of exceptional service to the district. After his retirement, Dr. Haynes became a Board Member for BCSD, a position he held until 2020. As a member of the board, he continued to advocate for the well-being and success of students in the district.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Haynes was passionate about the lives of members of the community. He was the author of African American Women Trailblazer, which celebrates the sacrifices and achievements of African American women in Kern County. He received several awards to honor his service, including awards from the NAACP, Boy Scouts of America, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible life of Dr. Fred Luther Haynes. Dr. Haynes' lifetime of service as an educator in the Central Valley will be felt for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize Mr. Michael Bowers as he is awarded the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the African American Network of Kern County. Mr. Bowers is a Central Valley native, having spent the majority of his childhood and professional career in Bakersfield. He attended Texas Southern University and graduated with a degree in political science in 2005. After graduation, Mr. Bowers returned to Bakersfield where he began his career at Making a Difference, a local non-profit organization. Mr. Bowers joined my team when I was elected to the California State Assembly in 2010, first serving as Deputy Field Director and later as Community Liaison. When I was elected to Congress in 2012, Mr. Bowers joined my district office as a Senior Field Representative. His knowledge of the issues facing the Central Valley and strong relationships with members of the community were invaluable during my first term in Congress. After departing my team, Mr. Bowers became the Deputy District Director for State Senator Andy Vidak.

For over a decade, Mr. Bowers has partnered with local stakeholders on community engagement and economic development

projects that prioritized the well-being of residents in the Central Valley. In 2018, Mr. Bowers joined Centric Healthcare, where he currently serves as the Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs. Over his career, Mr. Bowers has been incredibly involved in our community, including sitting on the boards of the Alzheimer's Association, Kern Health Systems, and the Kern Law Enforcement Foundation. He was also the Chairman of the Board of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern and helped the agency raise over $500,000 for the supportive living program, which provides low- income families in Kern County with the opportunity to become first- time home buyers. This year, Mr. Bowers was appointed Commissioner of the Kern County Civil Service Commission. Mr. Bowers has received numerous accolades recognizing his decades of service to the community. He has been recognized by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Bakersfield Life Magazine, California Teachers Association, and other organizations for his decades of leadership, dedication, and advocacy for residents of Kern County.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating Mr. Michael Bowers as he is awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and thanking him for his service to the people of the Central Valley.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today to recognize the Wasco Woman's Club on their 100-year anniversary and to thank them for their significant contributions to the Wasco community. Founded in 1923, the Wasco Woman's Club was started by 13 young women who joined together to improve Wasco through volunteer service. Their unwavering commitment to public service has guided their mission over the past century. The Wasco Woman's Club now has approximately 40 members, many of whom are active in other non-profits and faith-based organizations in the community. The club is passionate about the well-being of the city's residents and focuses many of their efforts on strengthening local schools, libraries, and youth programs.

For a century, the Wasco Woman's Club has offered a chance for women of all ages to come together and give back to the Central Valley community. The club is a strong supporter of the Ronald McDonald House and Toys for Tigers organization, helping children and their families get through incredibly difficult situations. Additionally, the club hosts regular events for those in the community, including the Wasco High School Student Art and Photography Awards and the Christmas with Santa Event for special needs students. The club is also the proud owner of the oldest adobe building in the city, which they use to host special events and community gatherings. Amid all of their work, the members of the Wasco Woman's Club are committed to uplifting each other through their long-standing friendships and shared commitment to the betterment of the community.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the Wasco Woman's Club on their 100-year anniversary. Their work to enrich the community of Wasco will be felt for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I think today we are at a really important moment in our history. Obviously, we are all frustrated, myself included as an appropriator. We have gone through this process. There was an effort to bring bills up sooner. We all would have liked those to have come up sooner, but playing games and dragging this out, and watching Members drag the process out even further than it needs to be, is not helpful.

Ultimately, we need to get this passed. We need to get this over to the Senate as quickly as possible because the American people want us to get this done.

There are a lot of efforts that need to move forward. We obviously need to continue the process of appropriating, and I think we have a commitment now from leadership to keep us here over the next 2 weeks, which I think is the right thing to do, so that we can finish the appropriations bills.

We have done quite a bit, obviously. Moving the four bills off the House floor is a huge step for us. We have two more to move out of committee, and I think we will be moving that soon enough.

The reality is, we need to finish our work, and these 45 days will give us the ability to do that. It makes a difference for the American people and makes a difference for us here in Congress, and sadly, it is something we need to do.

Ultimately, we have to vote here in a few minutes, and I ask that all of my colleagues support the CR and get us through those 45 days so we can finish our work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Devon Ades for her leadership as President of the California Trucking Association and thank her for more than 30 years of dedication to California's trucking industry.

President Ades was first introduced to the trucking industry as a child by her father, Denny Wyatt, who served as the President of the California Trucking Association (CTA) in 2010. It was during her upbringing in the industry that President Ades realized her passion for trucking and the skill, hard work, and dedication required to succeed in the industry. President Ades began her career, much like her father's, at Apex Logistics, LLC, before moving to Inland Kenworth, a truck dealership where she spent time working in the company's sales, finance, and insurance departments. In 2005, she returned to Apex Logistics, where her knowledge of the industry and skillful abilities led her to become the company's Vice President in 2022.

As Vice President, Devon has consistently demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing the industry. This past year, CTA's Board of Directors selected Devon to be the association's newest president. In this role, Devon oversees a vital component of California's economy and our nation's supply chain. Truckers transport highly demanded goods from ports and suppliers to our store shelves and homes. In the United States, truck drivers move about 71 percent of the economy's products throughout the country. As president, she continually displays incredible leadership in the California motor carrier industry and advocates at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure sound transportation policy for her membership.

As the 68th president of the CTA, she is only the third woman to hold the position. In her over 3 decades of involvement in the industry, President Ades has seen enormous progress in her industry. As she leads the organization, I know she will continue to grow CTA's membership and successfully guide CTA's ``transition to the future.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in thanking President Devon Ades for her commitment to the California Trucking Association. Her tireless service will have a lasting impact on the Central Valley and the Nation for generations to come.