Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. The Senate followed the House two weeks later with passage on June 4, 1919, and the amendment was ratified by the states the following year. This historic centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to commemorate this victorious milestone of the women's suffrage movement.

In 1848, a group of women organized a national women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Following the convention, the right to vote came to the front and center of the women's rights movement. Many women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, along with Susan B. Anthony and other activists, raised public awareness and lobbied state and federal governments to grant voting rights to women.

Almost 70 years later, in her first term, Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, introduced a Constitutional Amendment to grant women's suffrage. Several years later, women's rights groups finally emerged victorious with the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Madam Speaker, our democracy is stronger because of the 19th Amendment, and I am proud to honor women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and other women, who accomplished so much. The efforts of these great American women afford generations to come with the opportunity to vote freely, whether it is in a neighbor's garage in Escondido, or from a far battlefield defending our freedom.

Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of the attack at Chabad of Poway on April 27, 2019, that took place on the last day of Passover and just months after the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, I rise to strongly condemn antisemitism and to bring attention to the troubling increase in attacks on Jews.

Just last year, attacks on Jews and Jewish communities rose to a level that has not been seen in decades, with offensive language, actions, damage to property, injuries to people, and unfortunately, loss of life. There is an increase in anti-Semitic content online and in print and the rhetoric is becoming more common place and seemingly more normalized and accepted by civil society.

Last week was Israel's recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. It's therefore fitting that we recognize the threat of unchecked anti-Jewish bigotry and discrimination in light of one of the world's worst state sponsored massacres: the systematic and deliberate, government- controlled persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime.

At the same time, I stand with the victims of the attack in Poway and their families, and will work with those here, and in my community, to guard against such hateful violence in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Karl B. McMillen, a Marine, a successful business owner and entrepreneur, and a generous philanthropist. Karl's life can be broken down into 3 distinct parts. The first part was to study hard and get educated. Then came working hard and building a successful business; and now he's giving back.

Karl McMillen was born September 19, 1928, in Miami, Arizona. In 1929, when Karl was just a year old, his family moved to California, seeking relief from the Great Depression. In the years that followed, Karl's father Mac instilled a strong work ethic in his son--through his childhood and teen years, Karl helped Mac with odd jobs, mining and other pursuits.

After graduating from Pasadena Junior College in 1946, Karl joined the Marine Corps. After two years with the Marines he left the service and began work at a plumbing company to earn some money. Seeking to advance his education, in the Fall of 1949, Karl enrolled at the University of New Mexico (UNM). One summer, during a break back home to Pasadena, he met a young woman named Thelma Mastraight. After a 3 month courtship Karl knew that Thelma was the woman for him, and they married in the fall of 1950. From there, the married couple went back and forth from Southern California and New Mexico for Karl to continue his education at UNM. During breaks, both worked hard to earn a decent living.

Over the next couple years, Karl became a water-softening wizard and started a small

business with his fraternity brother installing lawn sprinklers. He eventually transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) for his junior year in 1952, where he gained the necessary tools to run his plumbing business with the mentality of a businessman. Karl graduated from USC in 1954 with a B.S. in Finance. From there, he worked at Kohler and then created Cobabe Plumbing. By 1964, the company employed 150 journeymen, operated a fleet of 76 trucks, and was performing 7,000 jobs a year in Southern California.

In 1968, Karl started a new plumbing supply business with his friend Ralph Todd called Todd Pipe & Supply. Their winning theory was simple: treat your customers as people. This golden touch playbook led to the small company in Hawthorne, California growing to nine highly-respected facilities in California and Nevada, including San Diego. Karl's success as a businessowner was the result of hard work, honesty, integrity, and respect for others. Karl served as Co-Founder and Chairman of the company before he sold it in 2004. It still successfully operates in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties.

Karl's amazing story of business success is counterbalanced by the emotional deaths of his first wife to alcohol and cancer, and both his sons who lost both of their lives to substance abuse. Karl, too, has struggled with alcoholism and proudly has over 20 years sobriety today.

When Karl retired from the plumbing industry, he knew he was not done making an impact. Karl's golden touch playbook continued and his persistency to help others made an even greater turn. More determined than ever in his war against addiction, Karl established the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, named in memory of his late wife, at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. His gift to the hospital greatly expanded their existing program, including the creation of a teen outpatient program, which was important to him after what happened to his sons.

Karl and his new wife Carol also started the McMillen Family Foundation. The foundation made an immediate impact in the Southern California community and the fight against substance abuse. To date the foundation has helped over 60 organizations and has donated millions of dollars. Organizations that have benefited include the Thelma McMillen Center at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the House of Hope, Pathways to Independence, the Friendly House, the Beacon House, 1st Step, Lynn House, the Shawl House and 2 Alano Clubs.

Karl has seen to it the foundation will go on in perpetuity, by giving 20 percent of all profits from his existing business as well as all his current assets to the foundation upon his death.

Karl's persistency to help his family, employees, customers, and those in need highlight his courage and dedication in changing lives for the better. Karl is no regular guy. He's a champion of Southern California and who we are as Californians.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concern with what appears to be a politically motivated prosecution of the former governor of Kazakhstan's western Atyrau region, Bergei Ryskaliyev, as well as 22 other people, including Ryskaliyev's family members and colleagues from the western oil-producing region of the country. This sham trial appears to be the next step in the Kazakh regime's efforts to silence legitimate calls of local citizens demanding oil revenue transparency, safe working conditions, and fair pay. Just not long ago, in the country's western oil-producing city of Zhanaozen, a peaceful demonstration was crushed by Kazakh police, who opened fire on the protestors, resulting in at least 16 people killed.

The fact that Kazakhstan has a long history of discrediting and even criminally prosecuting members of the ruling elite when they are perceived to be gaining too much power and prominence, which was the case with Mr. Ryskaliyev during his time in office, points to the possibility of political motivation behind the prosecution. Additionally, independent NGOs and western legal experts who observed the trial point out that there has not been sufficient evidence to justify the prejudicial findings regarding Mr. Ryskaliyev, essentially denying him a fundamental human right to a fair trial. The U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports for 2018 corroborates that there is no such thing as judicial independence in Kazakhstan and corruption is evident at every stage of the judicial process.

As Kazakhstan is aspiring to be a strategic partner of the United States, I call on my colleagues to join me in urging the State Department to review the case of Mr. Ryskaliyev and assure that it will be included in our Government's discussions on promoting democracy in this important part of the world.

In light of the resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the issue of peaceful transition of power with participation of opposition politicians and people previously convicted on politically motivated charges is extremely important.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition and honor of Chairman Allen E. Lawson of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. Chairman Lawson has served for 22 years in a leadership position for the Tribe, headquartered in the Valley Center area of California's 50th Congressional District, and retired from his chairmanship on January 13, 2019. During his tenure, Chairman Lawson was firmly focused on Tribal welfare and increased prosperity for all members of the Tribe.

Under his leadership, San Pasqual's Tribal government grew from three employees to over 100 employees, resulting in significant increases in services to over 400 Tribal families living on the reservation. Chairman Lawson's leadership was instrumental with the establishment of Valley View Casino, a business that continues to thrive, generating revenue for the entire Tribe and benefitted the reservation by creating new Tribal Fire and Police Departments that were dedicated to ensuring the safety of all Tribal residents. Chairman Lawson also established one of the few fully accredited Native American Fire Academies and, over the last 10 years, the academy has proudly trained over 1,000 first responders that help protect both the reservation and the surrounding community. Chairman Lawson successfully expanded the Tribal Education Center, resulting in increased high school graduation rates, more graduates headed to colleges, and the preservation of the Tribe's history, traditions and culture.

During his tenure, the Tribal Public Works, Water, and Environmental Departments were also established, and, after decades of negotiations with four other Native American tribes, Chairman Lawson was an integral part of the negotiation that finally settled and secured the entitled rights to the San Luis Rey watershed. Chairman Lawson was also instrumental in launching an Inter-Tribal Alliance in which Tribes and Federal agencies would partner collaboratively on construction projects thereby reducing costs, maximizing resources and providing jobs to Native Americans.

It is for these accomplishments and many more that Chairman Lawson should be recognized. The legacy of any leader is the impact and significant contributions they have made to greatly influence the lives of those around them. Chairman Lawson's guiding principle and singular focus has been the past, current, and future generations of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and I am confident that his legacy will never be forgotten and always appreciated.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a celebrated moment for one of San Diego County's true historical landmarks located in my district. It is very rare to have a piece of living history in our community, but we are blessed with such a place on Main Street in Ramona, California, with the Ramona Town Hall. It is both a snapshot of the pioneering spirit of the Old West, as well as evidence of a thriving community spirit. The Ramona Town Hall is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and I would like to take a moment to highlight this important achievement.

In 1894, property lots were donated to the community on which to build a structure that would serve the people of the Santa Maria Valley. Designed by architect William S. Hebbard, the Ramona Town Hall, also known as Town Hall of Nuevo and Barnett Hall, would become one of the largest, and oldest, adobe structures in Southern California and serve as Ramona's first high school, bank, library, movie theater, justice court and community dance hall.

Ramona Town Hall was also home to many of the town's religious groups while their churches were being built, as well as the birthplace of many other local organizations, including the Ramona Grange, the Santa Maria Masonic Lodge, the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society, the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the Ramona Art Guild, the Town Hall Players and the Ramona Council of Arts, Unlimited. Events that took place at Ramona Town Hall included temperance meetings, Turkey Days, voting polls, 4-H Youth benefits, political meetings, as well as community theater and silent film festivals. The Ramona Town Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Despite this proud history, the fate of Ramona Town Hall at times became seriously in question. Since its inception, Ramona Town Hall has operated solely on fundraisers, grant monies, private donations and rent collected for a variety of events. While always seemingly in demand, there was a very real possibility at one point of the Ramona Town Hall closing its doors. Thankfully, the people of Ramona have never allowed this to happen and, due to the faithful service and dedication of private citizens on the Ramona Town Hall Board of Trustees, they help maintain and manage the Town Hall to ensure that it remains viable, available to the community, and a continued source of local pride. I have had the honor and pleasure myself of speaking with my constituents on several occasions at the Ramona Town Hall.

I want to congratulate the people of Ramona, particularly the private citizens who volunteer their time and resources toward ensuring the Ramona Town Hall continues to serve its intended purpose. Their commitment toward this cause is a reflection of the Ramona community as a whole and provides confidence to us all that the Ramona Town Hall will continue to be a local asset and treasure for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Shuster for giving me the opportunity to serve for nearly 6 years as the chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and I would like to thank him for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 140, the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. Congressman LoBiondo is and has been a tireless advocate for the men and women of the Coast Guard, and there is no other name more fitting for this bill.

Let me run through a few of the things that I find extremely great about this bill.

Title 9 contains the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, legislation that I have introduced for three consecutive Congresses. It was compromised a little bit in the Senate but is still getting done.

Mr. Garamendi and I held many, many subcommittee hearings together. He has been known to ask at the appropriate hearings about the backup to GPS. This question is always met with blank stares. This bill makes important progress on a backup GPS system.

Finally, specifically section 514 establishes this backup timing component of the GPS system. That is no doubt thanks to Mr. Garamendi's tireless work.

I am also pleased that the legislation establishes a land-based unmanned aircraft system program for the Coast Guard. They have never had their unmanned aerial vehicle program until now. They have had to rely on other services or agencies for this important capability. These additional UAS assets will strengthen the Coast Guard's ability to interdict contraband and improve search and rescue missions.

During the last 6 years, we have held 46 hearings and five roundtables. We have worked to protect the Jones Act and ensure that our country has a strong maritime industrial base, including a skilled pool of American shipyard workers and mariners who would be critical in a time of conflict.

Earlier this year, Congress enacted legislation coming out of the tragic El Faro accident to improve the safety of those American mariners. We have also worked to reduce burdensome regulations that harm U.S. maritime jobs and the competitiveness of the U.S. flag fleet.

We held joint hearings with the Committee on Homeland Security to shed light on security vulnerabilities at our ports and sought to enhance the screening of cargo entering our country and, with the Armed Services Committee, to look at the shared missions of the Navy and the Coast Guard in carrying out defense missions. We pushed the Coast Guard to act like the military service that they are.

The subcommittee also took massive steps to modernize our Nation's icebreaker fleet and to encourage the Navy and Coast Guard to have a comprehensive plan for the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, I want to end by thanking a few people. Some of the most fulfilling work serving as the subcommittee chairman was forming strong relationships with the men and women who guard our coasts. The Coast Guard House Liaison Office and the Coast Guard fellows assigned to the subcommittee over the last 6 years have represented their service well. I would like to thank them for their hard work and camaraderie.

I also want to thank Congressman Garamendi for his friendship and being such a strong partner on these issues.

Finally, I want to thank the subcommittee's staff director, John Rayfield, and the exceptional committee staff who have been invaluable as a resource and worked tirelessly to carry out the subcommittee's mission.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of Dr. Burton Richter on July 18, 2018. Dr. Richter was of major importance to the strength and defense of the United States, winning the Nobel Prize in 1976 for the co-discovery of a transient fundamental particle, the cc meson, that he named the psi particle. The pioneering Stanford Positron Electron Asymmetric Rings (SPEAR) facility at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), where the psi particle was discovered, was one of the class of accelerators that came to dominate worldwide experimental high-energy particle physics. Dr. Richter formed and led the group that invented and built these first accelerators and his work was sponsored by the Department of Energy.

Dr. Richter received innumerable honors in the scientific community, serving as Director of SLAC from 1984 to 1999 and in many other prestigious positions, including President of the American Physical Society in 1994. Dr. Richter's sense of public service and concern for the future of society was reflected in his membership in the JASONs, a scientific advisory group, primarily in the areas of defense and intelligence to the U .S. government. He was present at Ronald Reagan's 1983 speech on the Strategic Defense Initiative and served as a key and extraordinarily valued advisor to the Department of Energy, which supports accelerator research to this day, in areas as diverse as nuclear weapons, general basic research, climate change, and international relations.

Dr. Richter valued innovation and advance in all spheres of technology and science, and served on key industrial Boards of Directors where he had a lasting impact. He and his wife Laurose inspired and enlivened the lives of a generation of scientists and engineers and it was, in fact, Laurose's enthusiasm and interest in an electric car provided by General Motors that helped promote interest in such vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Richter's life is an example of accomplishment and public service. He served our country in the best possible fashion and his contributions, of which we all benefit, will long endure.

Mr. Speaker, imagine living in a country where the Federal Government decides whether you are jailed or set free based on your politics. Well, don't imagine anymore. It is real and it is happening right here. My colleagues are right to introduce Articles of Impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

The Department of Justice is corrupt, answerable to no one, and uses a law to extort the American people and effect political change. Loretta Lynch, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Rod Rosenstein, Bob Mueller, and countless others in the DOJ and FBI who will never be found out, tried to undermine our last Presidential election and destroy our President, duly elected by the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I call on this Congress to root out all of the corrupt lawyers and bureaucrats in the DOJ and FBI so the greatest President of my generation can do the work that the American people duly elected him to do.

Over the next 5 weeks, Congress will not be around to watch the President's back and hold those subversive, partisan officials accountable. For 5 weeks, the lies and coverups and destruction of the President and his family and associates will continue unchallenged.

The President needs the support and prayers of the American people now more than ever. I look forward to the day when the American people can trust the institutions created to protect them, instead of fearing the retribution of a rigged, politically driven, and corrupt legal system.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, S. 756, the Save Our Seas Act, promotes continued national and international efforts to address the growing amount of marine debris entering the ocean environment.

The dean of the House, the gentleman who yielded to me, Mr. Don Young, our esteemed colleague from Alaska, sponsored the House companion bill. I thank our longstanding colleague for all of his efforts to move this legislation through committee and to the House floor.

Marine debris is pervasive and persistent, remaining in the ocean for years and negatively impacting the ocean environment.

S. 756 urges the administration to support research and development on systems and materials that would reduce the amount of waste that enters the ocean and work with nations that discharge large amounts of solid waste into the ocean by sharing technologies and infrastructure to prevent, reduce, or mitigate those land-based sources from entering the marine environment.

The bill also allows the Administrator of NOAA to designate, respond to, and assist in the cleanup of severe marine debris events.

Title II of the bill is the Maritime Safety Act. The text came from H.R. 6175, a bill ordered reported from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I sponsored this bill with the ranking member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Committee, Mr. Garamendi, my esteemed colleague from California, as a cosponsor.

The bill addresses maritime safety issues that were raised in the Commandant of the Coast Guard's final action memo in response to the tragic sinking of the El Faro. A few of the required actions include: timely weather forecasts, not too complicated; emergency safety gear with locator beacons, so we can find the crew after the vessel has sunk; and float-free voyage data recorders with integrated emergency position indicating beacons.

The measures included in this title should promote safer vessel transit and, if needed, would assist the Coast Guard in its rescue operations.

Sadly, we were reminded again last week, by the events in Missouri, the dangers of going out in the open water, even in a relatively protected environment. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the loved ones who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Tragedies like this and, sadly, others in recent history remind us that we must remain vigilant and committed to improving maritime safety to protect those who go out on the water for their livelihood or for recreation.

Title III of the bill allows the Coast Guard to establish a Blue Technology center of expertise. This title is the text of H.R. 6206, as reported by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr. Garamendi sponsored the legislation, and I am an original cosponsor of the bill.

The ranking member and I have a strong interest in Blue Technology and how it can assist the Coast Guard in performing its multitude of missions better and more cost effectively. The center created by this legislation will provide a venue for the Coast Guard to interface with industry on existing and up-and-coming technologies that could be used by the service in conducting its missions. It is an important component in bringing the Coast Guard into the modern technological world.

I thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Shuster, for this leadership, and Mr. DeFazio and, especially, Mr. Garamendi for their leadership and cooperation in getting these bills out of committee and to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), dean of the House, a gentleman that has been working maritime issues because he represents all of Alaska. Whether it is fisheries, energy exploration, to pollution, Mr. Don Young from Alaska knows what he is talking about probably more than anybody in this body.

(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

First off, thanks to Mr. Garamendi. If there are two more folks in this Congress from opposite sides of the aisle that disagree on some things sometimes, but agree as much as possible and as much as we do on the things that we are working on, I would be surprised. And I would like to just thank him so much for his work and for coming up with great legislation, great ideas, and pushing this forward.

There is an old military saying that if you control the ocean, you control the world. And just as serious of a sense, if you destroy the ocean, you destroy the world. I think that is one reason this bill is so important.

S. 756 promotes action to address the marine debris, catastrophic issues that we face now that will only get worse. It increases maritime vessel safety so you will not have another tragic incident like you had with the El Faro. And it establishes a Blue Technology center of expertise so we can help the Coast Guard work smarter and not harder with their limited funds. I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his service. If you don't know, Scott Taylor enlisted in the Navy SEALs in 1997, got out, and then went back to Iraq in 2005. In Ramadi, as a Navy SEAL sniper, he was injured. And here he is now.

I thank the gentleman for doing this. Like all or most Navy SEALs, the gentleman does great when the camera is on him. As a Congressman, the camera is always on him, so he does very well in this job.

I would like to bring up one point that really struck me, because of the Budget Control Act and the continuing resolutions. The former Speaker of the House, when we passed this 9 years ago, looked us in the eye and said: This will never pass. It is too horrible. This will never happen. It is too horrible for the military. It hurts it too badly.

That is what the former Speaker of the House said. When he looked the Armed Services Committee in the eye and told them that, a lot of the Members proceeded to vote ``yes'' on the Budget Control Act, and that put us where we are now.

Let me tell you where the Budget Control Act has put us. In 2017, you had about 80 servicemembers die in training. That doesn't include drunk driving or falling off a cliff. But in training in the United States, all four branches of service, you had more than 80 servicemembers die last year just training.

You had 21 servicemembers die in combat. So you had 21 service people die in combat zones where they are getting shot at and fighting the enemy, and more than 80 people died back here at home just training.

The Budget Control Act and the continuing resolutions that we have been

doing have literally made it safer to go to war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Philippines. Name your place, it is safer than training here at home. It is safer than getting in a C-130 and flying here at home. It is safer to do it overseas.

That is a sad state for our American military, and it is a sad state of affairs for this Congress.

What Mr. Taylor said is absolutely right. The Senate needs to work on this. We are going to pass it. We are going to get a clean bill back from them.

It would be fantastic to be able to move forward and get out of these continuing resolutions and stay out of them. Once we started this, again, it took 9 years to get to where we are now, where we are finally getting out of it with the deals that this Speaker has made and with what this Senate has done.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman again for his service and for doing this Special Order this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 256, a bill originally introduced by Representative Farenthold of Texas, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017. This is overdue legislation that will increase protections for individuals with disabilities while providing business and property owners the opportunity to remedy ADA infractions before unnecessary lawsuits and the costs that accompany litigation. Under the current ADA law, lawyers may collect fees when suing businesses or property owners, but plaintiffs cannot collect damages. The current system has created ``drive-by'' demand letters sent by lawyers, like a bulk mailer, to every location on Main St. or at a small mall. In some cases it was not clear that the plaintiff had even attempted to access the property or had even gone inside. The emphasis was on filing the lawsuit and collecting fees without regard for increasing accessibility for the disabled. Sometimes the infractions are easily corrected: signage, soap dispenser heights.

In my district in east San Diego County we have quaint, older towns that are notable for their historical structures dating back to the 1800s. These communities are proud of their heritage and these buildings are a source of local pride and tourism. In Julian, an old gold mining and apple growing town, the Julian Town Hall was threatened by a lawsuit. A public relations stunt was held there where someone crawled up the steps of the town hall, cameras rolling, despite the fact that a handicap accessible ramp was located on the side of the building. In Ramona, a predatory lawyer targeted every business on Main St. with various and frivolous claims. It is for these and other reasons I introduced similar legislation, H.R. 777, the ADA Notification Act of 2013.

With the ``notice and cure'' provision in H.R. 620, drive-by lawsuits will be eliminated, business will have an opportunity to remedy any deficiency, and there will be increased compliance and correction because property and business owners cannot defer the corrections.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of a truly great American, Mr. Charles ``Chuck'' Hansen of El Cajon, California. Chuck was a highly regarded and devoted civic leader whose name was synonymous with East San Diego County.

Born in New York, Chuck served our nation by enlisting in the U.S. Navy before having a successful business career that included the New York Telephone Company, Avis Rental Car, and eventually Pacific Southwest Airlines, which brought him to San Diego. Chuck and his family made El Cajon their home where he would serve for decades with many local business and service organizations that helped make East County what it is today.

Chuck's leadership with the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in the Chamber becoming a thriving economic resource. He helped establish the San Diego East Visitors Bureau and chaired the San Diego County Tourism marketing program bringing much- deserved attention to East County to the tourism market that floods the San Diego region every year. At the same time, Chuck was serving as the Vice President of community relations for the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indians, witnessing the economic and influential growth of a tribe that has long been an important part of our community. It was with Viejas that Chuck was able to help with a cause near and dear to Chuck's heart, Stoney's Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to the under-privileged children of East County.

While East County was Chuck's primary focus, he was always looking for opportunities to bring new opportunities to the entire region. It was for this reason that Chuck served as Director of the Americas Cup Task Force in San

Diego where he was instrumental in bringing one of Americas most cherished and prestigious events to Americas Greatest City. Chuck also served on the board for the Holiday Bowl Committee, the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the USS Midway Museum.

This work, along with his service to St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, the Olaf Weighorst Museum, the Salvation Army and the Mother Goose Parade Committee, led to Chuck being named the 2015 El Cajon Citizen of the Year, an honor very much deserved. The editor of one of our local newspapers, the East County Herald, spoke for many when she asked, how do we say goodbye to a person we considered a mentor, a collaborator, a friend? A man dedicated to our community, and one who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all those around him, the loss of Chuck is felt throughout my district and he will truly be missed.

My best to Chuck's wife of 59 years, Dotty, as well as their four children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. We are all blessed to have known Chuck, to work with Chuck and our community is definitely better for having had him as part of our East County family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, along with my colleague Representative Scott Peters, to recognize Commander Brian ``Beef'' M. Drechsler as a recipient of the 2017 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award.

Established in honor of Vice Admiral Stockdale, this award symbolizes the highest standard of excellence in both personal conduct and leadership. According to VADM Stockdale, there are five roles of a leader--moralist, jurist, teacher, steward, and philosopher. CMDR Drechsler embodies these standards.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, CMDR Drechsler is a 1998 United States Naval Academy graduate and was selected to become a SEAL. At the Academy, he played football and was eventually elected to both the Naval Academy Hall of Fame and the Navy Marine Corps Stadium 50th Anniversary team. He went on to further his education and earned a Master's degree in Organizational Management from The George Washington University.

After graduation from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, and an assignment to SEAL Team FIVE, Beef completed three tours of duty--combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, deployments to PACOM, and was an integral member in the creation of the U.S. Central Command Crisis Response Element. He went on to serve as the Aide to the Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, and as Troop Commander and Squadron Operations Officer at Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Subsequently, he served in the U.S. Special Operations Command Officer of Legislative Affairs, then as Operations and Executive Officer of SEAL Team ONE. Next, he become the Director of Operations and Plans (N3/5) for Naval Special Warfare Group ONE and then took command of SEAL Team FIVE until 2017. Currently, he serves as a special assistant to the Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command.

Nominated in recognition of ``his high standards, strong example, selfless service and personal commitment to his command members and their families,'' CMDR Drechsler truly exemplifies all that is encompassed in a leader.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, we are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of CMDR Drechsler and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.