Dennis A. Cardoza

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the late Eugene Morgan Welsh. Gene passed away peacefully on July 25, 2012. Staff Sgt. Gene Welsh was a true American hero and served his country with pride and dedication.

Eugene ``Gene'' Morgan Welsh was born May 9, 1925 in McAllister, OK to William Morgan Welsh and Tina Pearl Welsh. Gene had two brothers, Kenneth and Billy Welsh, who preceded him in death, brother Don and a sister Wanda Griffith.

Proudly at age 18, Gene joined the U.S. Army's 19th Infantry Regiment during World War II. Staff Sgt. Welsh's assignment took him to the South Pacific. While serving in the Asiatic Pacific, Staff Sgt. Welsh was wounded in combat and was eventually awarded the Purple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster.

While recovering from his injuries, Gene started writing to a Pen Pal, Miss Bettye Cavazos from Sharyland, TX. This was the bright spot during his recovery and he often told her in his letters that if he ever made it out of the war alive he was going to come back to the U.S. and marry her. Upon completion of his military career, he in fact went to Texas and asked for her hand in marriage. Flag Day, June 14, 1946, Bettye Cavazos became Mrs. Eugene Welsh; that same year they moved to Ceres, CA. Gene eventually opened up a business in 1967 that is known today as Ceres ProTow and it is still located at the same place 45 years later. Gene and Bettye had two sons, Mike and Ron. Gene was very proud of his sons and was devastated when Ron passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Mike continues to run the family business.

Gene had a great love for his community and was very active with many social and charitable as well as civic organizations. In 1987, Gene was awarded Rotarian of the Year and in 1988 he was awarded Ceres Citizen of the Year and in 2003 he was awarded the Stanislaus County Senior Citizen of the Year. Gene also had a love of Square Dancing, and taught beginner Square Dance lessons and eventually formed the Ceres Twisters where he was the club caller for over 40 years. Gene and Bettye were always happy to share their love of Square Dancing with others and provided demonstrations to Ceres and Modesto grammar schools and convalescent homes and they danced at local, state and national festivals as well as on cruise ships.

Gene is survived by his wife of 66 years Bettye, son Mike and his wife Maureen, daughter-in-law Sherry and 8 grandchildren, 8 great- grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Mr. Speaker, the recognition that I am offering today before the House of Representatives for Eugene Morgan Welsh is small compared

to the contributions and impact he had on the lives of so many. He was a leader of our community, role model to our youth and a great American.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today with my colleague Congressman Jim Costa to honor the late Sgt. Jose Rodriguez who was killed on June 19, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Rodriguez paid the ultimate price, sacrificing his life, while protecting and serving the United States of America.

Sergeant Rodriguez was raised in Newman and Gustine. He graduated from Gustine High School in 2008 and joined the army shortly thereafter. He was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington in 2009. His first deployment was in July 2009 where he was a part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Sergeant Rodriguez decided to re-deploy on a second tour of duty in order to better provide for his wife and young son. On his second tour, he was in the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. He received the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal Combat Service, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non- Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Certificate of Achievement, and Combat Infantry Badge.

Sergeant Rodriguez's family called him a responsible, quiet, and caring man. He had hoped to become a firefighter after returning home next year. He leaves behind a loving wife, Maria ``Lupita'' Rodriguez and a thirteen month old son, Octavian. He is also survived by his parents Margarita Rodriguez and Augustine Rodriguez; his brothers, Ruben Rodriguez, Julian Rodriguez, Edgar Rodriguez, Jonathon Rodriguez and his two sisters, Judith Rodriguez and Jacqueline Rodriguez.

Mr. Speaker, together with my colleague, Congressman Jim Costa, the recognition that we are offering today before the House of Representatives for Sergeant Jose Rodriguez is small compared to the contributions and impact he had on the lives of so many. He was truly an invaluable member of our community and an outstanding human being. My thoughts are with Sergeant Rodriguez's family and the community as they grieve the loss of this wonderful young man.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my reserved support for the legislation before us today.

This bill, like so many others that we vote on, is far from perfect. I have reservations about the continued expansion of Administrative authority to waive laws that we enact here in Congress and I have reservations about continuing to expose some of the most wild and pristine areas of our country to development. However, I will support this bill because of its positive impacts for the people I was sent here to represent.

As many of you are aware, water is the lifeblood of the San Joaquin Valley, the most productive agricultural region in the world. Since I entered Congress, I have made it a priority to increase water supply reliability for both the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. Title I of this bill helps to achieve that purpose.

It achieves this purpose in a very simple way, by allowing for the consideration of a 10-foot increase in the spillway of an existing dam. This raise in the spillway will allow for critical year water supply increases of 15,000 acre-feet and will generate an additional 10,000 Mega-Watt Hours per year of clean, renewable energy, all at no cost to the taxpayer. And importantly, the project still has to meet environmental standards. This is a common sense approach to solve a problem incrementally, and one that I liked so much that I carried the bill in previous Congresses.

I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of this legislation.