Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, for the Bay Area law enforcement community, few days are sadder and more tragically memorable than Saturday, March 21, 2009.

It is a day that everyone in the community will always recall where they were when they heard the news. March 21 will always be remembered as the day that four brave police officers of the Oakland Police Department were killed in the line of duty, in service to the people they swore an oath to protect.

I rise to recognize four men who died 5 years ago the same way they lived--as heroes. I rise to recognize Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin ``Erv'' Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege. We lost these officers on the same day at the hands of the same murderer, but we make sure today that they were not taken in vain and that this killer did not extinguish their memories.

Sergeant Mark Dunakin was devoted to the East Bay. Raised in Pleasanton, he graduated from Chabot College in Hayward and served the Oakland Police Department for 18 years. He worked in the patrol division, the homicide unit, and the traffic operations section.

He loved driving through the streets of Oakland on his Harley- Davidson, making sure the East Bay was safe. He was even a part of the Oakland Police Department's motorcycle drill team, which went all over the State of California.

Not only was Sergeant Dunakin a terrific officer, he was a loving husband to his wife Angela, who also served as a Dublin police officer for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. He was a father and a friend. He also was an avid sports fan, rooting for his Ohio State Buckeyes and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Officer John Hege had been with the Oakland Police Department for 10 years. Before joining the force, he taught at Tennyson High School in Hayward. Even after he became a police officer, he continued to serve his community by working with kids as a high school baseball umpire.

John always wanted to work as a motorcycle officer. A few months before his tragic murder, he reached that goal.

A great neighbor and friend, John was willing to help someone in need. This continued even in death, for as an organ donor, his organs were used to save the lives of four other people.

Sergeant Ervin Romans' life was full of service. For 9 years, he served our country and kept us safe as a distinguished member of the United States Marines.

Erv continued his service with the Oakland Police Department, a dream job for him, for 13 years. He was a dedicated member of the SWAT team, always striving to improve and keep up with the latest training. In 1999, after helping residents escape a fire, he was awarded the Medal of Valor.

Sergeant Dan Sakai spent his career serving the public. Following graduation from the University of California at Berkeley, he worked as a community service officer with the UC Berkeley Police Department. After 5 years there, he joined the Oakland Police Department in 2000.

Described as a rising star, Dan quickly progressed in the Oakland Police Department, including serving as a patrol officer in the K9 unit and eventually as a SWAT team entry leader. It is not surprising that he was the valedictorian of his police academy class.

Besides being a terrific member of the Oakland Police Department, Dan was devoted to his family and friends. As a resident of Castro Valley in the 15th Congressional District, he enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities.

It is hard to believe that it has already been 5 years since that fateful day when these four heroes were taken from us.

I was working that day as an Alameda County prosecutor when we lost Mark, Erv, Dan, and John; and I, like so many, was shocked and shaken by the news. The magnitude of loss that the murder of these four officers caused was unmeasurable and hit everyone in the community. Equally unmeasurable was the community's response.

In the hours and days after the news, the law enforcement community came together to support the families of the officers and the colleagues they served with.

Immediately after the news, hundreds of Bay Area law enforcement community members held an informal vigil at the only place they knew to gather, The Warehouse, a grill around the corner from the Oakland Police Department.

In the following days, the Oakland Police Officers' Association, with the support of brothers and sisters from neighboring Bay Area police agencies, grieved together and put on a funeral at the Oakland Arena worthy of the officers' bravery.

I attended that funeral and was stunned to see officers from not just the Bay Area, but across the United States. I will never forget the Boston police officers who crossed the country to attend and lifted the spirits of the mourners.

In the House Chamber today, representing the Police Officers' Association of California, is John Rudolph, President of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association. He is in town to support the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

The following year, I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., to witness each officer's name permanently placed on the marble wall with 19,000 other officers who have given their life across our country in service to the public.

Their names are etched into that wall, their memories are deep in our mind, and their courage is stitched forever into our hearts.

Mark, Erv, Dan, and John, you were taken too young, but forever we will remember your service.

Each February during African American History Month, Americans come together to celebrate the important contributions of African Americans throughout the Nation. I am proud to share the remarkable story of one of my constituents, Hayward resident, Captain Leon ``Woodie'' Spears.

Growing up near an airfield, young Woodie always dreamed of flying. After attending college, he was given the opportunity to achieve his dreams. Woodie was among the few selected to join other young African Americans in Alabama at the Tuskegee Airfield, where he was trained to fly. During training, Woodie overcame very tough odds, battling prejudice and racism, to earn his wings and the honor of serving with the Tuskegee Airmen.

Following training, then-Lieutenant Spears was sent to Italy at the height of World War II, serving with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group.

Woodie's tensest moment came in March 1945, when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire at 32,000 feet. He was forced to make an emergency landing in Germany, only to be taken prisoner later by the German Army. Later, Woodie was able to locate Russian forces and found his way back to safety.

Captain Spears and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen proved themselves in battle abroad, but upon returning home, they faced another battle--the struggle for equality. Denied basic human dignity, they fought back. With like-minded citizens, they changed America for the better, and, of course, that fight, their struggle, still continues today.

For their brave service during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Captain Spears was among those present to receive this prestigious honor.

After Captain Spears' military career, he dedicated his life to public service, toured the country to share his military experiences during the time of segregation, and spoke up for equality for all. Although Captain Spears is no longer with us, we are reminded of the life motto he lived by: Dare to dream.

Captain Spears is just one of many African Americans with a unique story that makes our country what it is today. The story of Captain Spears reminds us that the United States has come a long way, but that we still have a much longer way to go to truly reach equality for all.

I will not rest until all Americans have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in, again, calling attention to our continued war on poverty, and I thank my colleague and neighbor in California, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for leading this effort.

This war is, however, but the latest chapter in a larger struggle that goes all the way back to the founding of our country. When we declared our independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson helped define the purpose and the mission of this new country with his timeless words in that Declaration of Independence. He wrote:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with

certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

They endeavored on what was called at the time a freedom experiment. It

was this perfect idea that no longer should this British nobility system prevail where your destiny was often charted for you before you were even born based on where you were born or to whom you were born to. It was the idea that you should be able to decide your own independence, chart your own destiny.

It was a perfect idea carried out by imperfect men. It wasn't extended to African Americans. It wasn't extended to women. Certain religious sects were left out. So we fought a civil war, ended slavery. We went through the suffragist movement, and women were given the right to vote. Eventually, entire classes of people--Catholics, the poor, and others who had been shut out--were now brought into American opportunity.

Today, when I think about what are some of the final frontiers of freedom that have not yet been expanded, I think back to President Johnson. We are very grateful for President Johnson's declaration of the war on poverty. Fifty years ago, he stated that we are in a war on poverty, and we must fight for civil rights, and he signed legislation that marked the beginning of the end of the Jim Crow era. He also recognized it was time to give the poor a real chance to pursue their happiness.

He hearkened back, just as I did, to our Nation's beginnings. President Johnson said that our Founders made a covenant with this new land and that it was conceived in justice. In his words, this ``justice was the promise that all who made the journey would share in the fruits of the land.''

So began a renewed effort in America to fight poverty, a renewed effort to give those who are poor the freedom to dream that they could be anything they want. We recognized that kids needed to be better prepared before they go to school, so we created the Head Start program. We recognized the critical importance of health and wellness, and so we created Medicare and Medicaid.

But this freedom to dream has not yet been expanded across America. In fact, I see every day that there are still millions of children living in poverty, and just like every politician, when I see one of these young children in a schoolhouse, I ask them, What do you want to be when you grow up? After doing this a number of times, I realized, I should really ask them, Are you hungry? Are you cold? Are you safe? Because the opportunities around them--the crumbling buildings they are trying to learn in, the parents who are working at a minimum wage that is not a living wage--do not provide them with the tools that these children need to realize their opportunity. This leaves them no different than a child born in the 1700s under the British nobility system.

The freedom to dream is no different, and they are no more able to dream beyond where they were born or whom they were born to. So our goal must be to continue to fight this war on poverty, to give every child across every schoolhouse in this country the freedom to dream. This means we must raise the minimum wage. We must extend unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed so that they can find a job and make sure they can reinforce the skills at home that their children are learning in the classroom.

We will not rest on this issue until I can ask and every Member of this Congress can ask a child, What do you want to be when you grow up? And that child will be able to say, My country has given me the tools to be anything I want.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of Guy Emanuele Jr., an exceptional educator and school administrator from Fremont, California. Guy passed away on January 5, 2014, at the age of 83.

Guy's long and distinguished career in education began in 1956 when he began teaching at Barnard Junior High School in Union City, California. In 1976, after 20 years of service as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator, he was hired as the superintendent of New Haven Unified School District--a position which he held until his retirement in 1998.

During his tenure as superintendent, Guy was known for bringing leadership and stability to the school district. He also oversaw the expansion of the district, including the building of several new schools and an alternative school.

Guy's commitment to students can be seen in his quote from a 2006 interview, during which Guy stated his goal was ``to educate the whole man, not just in science and language, but in music and athletics. That is part of developing a positive character, a good character.''

His commitment to the arts and athletics, as well as many other extra-curricular activities that promote students' academic involvement, is illustrated by James Logan High School's

marching band and forensic team earning national recognition and its sports programs winning numerous Mission Valley Athletic League titles.

After retiring in 1998, Guy was elected to two terms on the Fremont School Board. Because of his outstanding legacy of service, Union City named Guy Emanuele Jr. Elementary School in his honor.

The communities of Union City and Fremont have lost an outstanding educator, but Guy leaves his school district and community better prepared to provide an excellent education to all students.

I want to express my deepest condolences to Guy's wife, Kay Emanuele, daughters Rosalyn Reasor and Lisa Lockyer, sons Guy Emanuele III and Pete Emanuel, as well as his eight grandchildren. Guy will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, due to a flight cancellation and airline delays, I was unable to be present for votes on Monday, January 27. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 24, regarding H.R. 2166, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 25, regarding H.R. 3008.

Mr. Speaker, there is no person more worthy of respect and tribute than he or she who lays down their own life while working to protect others. Today it is with great sadness that I wish to honor Bay Area Rapid Transit Sergeant Thomas Smith, whose end of watch came too early when he was tragically killed on January 21 of this year.

Sergeant Smith, known as Tommy to his family and friends, is from a law enforcement family that knows all too well the daily risks of wearing a badge and serving the community as a police officer. Sergeant Smith's wife, Kellie, also works as a police officer, as do his two brothers, Ed and Pat, and also his brother-in-law Todd. So aware were Sergeant Smith and his family of the personal danger they faced in their jobs that they had a rule of what they would say to each other whenever they would leave each other's company: Never say good-bye. You only tell each other, ``Be safe.''

But Sergeant Smith is not a hero because of how he died; he is a hero because of how he lived. On the job, Sergeant Smith worked honorably every day--not just the day that we lost him--to protect our community.

Sergeant Smith cared most about his family, and nothing else was even a close second, as his own lieutenant described earlier last week. Sergeant Smith took every opportunity to spend time with whom he called his ``girls''--his wife, Kellie, and their 6-year-old daughter, Summer.

May we always remember Sergeant Smith and how he lived so honorably for us. And may Sergeant Smith now watch over us from above, as he always did on Earth, to make sure that all of us can be safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Don Faught, as he completes his term serving as the 2013 President of the California Association of Realtors (CAR).

For over 25 years, Don has worked in the real estate industry in California. A second generation real estate professional, Don is currently Vice President and Managing Broker at Alain Pinel Realtors located in Pleasanton, California, in my district.

Don has been a member of the California Association of Realtors since 1987, and has served as a CAR Director since 1997. Before his term as CAR President in 2013, Don also served in leadership positions within the association, acting as President-Elect in 2012 and Treasurer in 2010 and 2011.

Throughout his career, Don has been an active member of CAR, serving on numerous committees, including as chair of the Federal Issues Committee and chair of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee.

Don also has been involved in the real estate industry at the local and national levels. In 2000, Don served as President of the Bay East Association of Realtors, and was named Bay East's Outstanding Leader in both 2002 and 2008.

A National Association of Realtors Director since 2002, Don currently serves as Chair of the Economic Issues and Commercial Real Estate Trends Forum and is a member the Strategic Planning Committee. Don has received designations as a Certified Residential Specialist, and is a graduate of the Realtor Institute.

As CAR President, Don has worked to engage California Realtors and inspire them to get involved in their communities, taking action to ensure that the voice of the real estate industry is heard. During his term as President, Don has sought to reinforce the values of professionalism, ethics, and integrity within the industry.

Mr. Speaker, Realtors are a critical part of every community, as they enable the American dream of home ownership. I want to recognize Don for his service to his community and his contributions to the real estate industry. I wish him the best of luck as he continues to serve the residents of the East Bay.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ken Mercer, the former mayor of Pleasanton, California, who died this past Monday at age 71.

Ken devoted his life to public service in Pleasanton. He was elected to three terms on the Pleasanton City Council, serving from 1976 to 1986. Then he became the first person directly elected to serve as mayor, and held that position from 1986 to 1992.

It is in part thanks to Ken's dedication that Pleasanton is the wonderful and vibrant community that it is today. His diligent efforts helped pave the way for the Hacienda Business Park and the Stoneridge Mall, among other developments.

He also held various posts in the community, including with Pacific Bell and ValleyCare Health System.

His enthusiastic devotion to Pleasanton serves as an inspiration.

My condolences go out to Ken's daughter Shelley, son Chuck, brothers Ron and Norm, and his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He will be missed greatly.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

As unbelievable as it may sound, it is estimated that 20.9 million people were victims of some form of forced labor, including trafficking, in 2012. Most of these victims, sadly, were women and children. While we may believe or hope to believe that this is happening across oceans, it is actually occurring rampantly across the East Bay. I saw this firsthand when I worked for 7 years as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, mostly with victims who were, too often, young teenage girls.

We cannot sit by as millions of people are exploited in this way-- denigrated, demeaned, and disparaged. It is in this month that we recommit ourselves to ending these horrors of slavery and human trafficking once and for all.

My home county of Alameda, under the direction of District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, is doing its part. They run a coordinated effort called H.E.A.T. Watch to fight trafficking. In fact, District Attorney O'Malley recently announced a massive public relations campaign to draw attention to this issue and help victims. I have one of the posters, and I hope people will call (510) 645-9388 if they suspect trafficking is happening. With their hard work and that of people around the world, we can bring trafficking to an end.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3824 to end the Republicans' refusal to extend unemployment benefits that protect 238,855, and counting, workers in my home State of California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend and long-time Castro Valley Resident, Mr. Craig Ragg. This month, Craig will complete his term serving as the 2013 President of the Bay East Association of Realtors, where he has also served on the Board of Directors since 2008 and as Treasurer in 2011.

Craig has worked since 1977 as a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Broker, and Realtor. Throughout his career, Craig has been actively involved as a leader in the real estate profession, and he has always made time to invest in his community.

A National Association of Realtors Leadership Academy Graduate, Craig is an active member of the real estate community at the national, state, and local level. Craig served as a member of the National Association of Realtors Committees on Land Use and Consumer Communication, as well as the California Association of Realtors Federal Committee, Taxation Committee, and Housing Affordability Fund Committee. Craig also has served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Realtors since 2010.

Over the course of his career, Craig often has been recognized for his efforts in the community. In 1990 and 2009, Craig was honored as Bay East Realtor of the Year. He also was the recipient of the John Deadrich Distinguished Service Award in 2006, and again in 2008.

Craig also has honorably served his country. Craig served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. Craig has served on the Eden Medical Foundation Board of Directors since 2004, and he spent 1988 to 1996 giving back to his community by serving on the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council.

Mr. Speaker, Realtors are an important part of every community, as they enable the American dream of home ownership. I want to thank Craig for his service and his contributions to the East Bay. I wish him the best of luck as he continues to play an important role in the lives of East Bay residents.

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, President Johnson declared in this Chamber the war on poverty, and this is one war that we must continue to wage.

I want to thank my neighbor in Alameda County who represents Oakland and San Leandro and Alameda and Berkeley, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is Congress' greatest champion today to continue fighting President Johnson's war on poverty, and I am grateful to have a mentor in Congresswoman Lee who has guided and helped me as I have worked to do my part.

Since President Johnson's declaration, we have made real progress. Using an accurate measurement of who is poor in America shows we have cut the rate from 25.8 percent in 1967 to 16 percent in 2012, reducing by millions the number of Americans who are poor. Unfortunately, this war is not yet won. Almost 50 million Americans still live in poverty, including over 13 million children. In such an abundant society as ours, there is only one word to describe these stark facts, ``unconscionable,'' and we can do better.

This Congress should make it a priority to help the poor, the economically downtrodden, and the jobless. Their path to economic opportunity still remains dim. But this Congress, the people in this House, can be their light. If we are going to win the war on poverty, there are many battles today that we must win:

First, we should start by extending unemployment insurance now and not putting 1.3 million Americans out in the cold;

Second, we need to raise our minimum wage so those working hard and trying to earn a living can actually do so;

Third, we must fight harsh cuts to SNAP and Head Start to make sure everyone has equal opportunity.

These are just a few of the small battles that we must win right now in the larger war on poverty.

This is no time to turn back or to retreat. This is a time for a surge in our war against poverty. Millions of Americans, including children, are counting on us, and we must ask ourselves a few questions:

Has this war been won?

Has poverty been eradicated across America?

And is our middle class built out?

If the answer to any of these questions is ``no,'' then we know what we must continue to do. We must fight on, and we must keep fighting until we win the war on poverty.

Mr. Speaker, I'm honored today to recognize legendary Livermore High School scorekeeper Pete Andersen, who sadly passed away on Sunday, December 29. He was 91.

After emigrating from Denmark to the United States in 1922, Pete went to high school in Pleasanton and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon returning home from the war, Pete began keeping score at Livermore High School's sporting events. Pete had an impressive 60- year, 3,513-game tenure and built a reputation for dedication, knowledge, and a passion for sports. It's because of his dedication to our community that Pete was inducted into the first class of the Livermore High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

I would like to express my deepest condolences to Pete's wife, Margaret, his family, and friends. In talking about his sacrifice for 60 years to keep score for young athletes, he said: ``It was a nice place to go on a Friday night.'' Well, Friday nights in Livermore won't be the same without Pete.

Pete will be missed dearly. His life is truly an inspiration to athletes, coaches, students, and the East Bay sporting community.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this evening, this Congress defied a rocky trajectory that has defined the past year of government shutdowns and starting with the fiscal cliff by passing a 2- year compromise budget deal. I worked with you, Mr. Speaker, and others in our bipartisan United Solutions Caucus to support this bipartisan compromise, knowing that it is not the deal that ideally I would want. It doesn't do enough to restore Head Start funding or NIH funding, but it is a compromise and it is a step forward.

Now I am asking my colleagues in this Chamber, let's build on this momentum. Today I am ending a 24-hour fast for comprehensive immigration reform. I will end it in about one hour. Let's come back in January and do the right thing for the people in our country who are living in the shadows, the undocumented immigrants; and let's finally pass comprehensive immigration reform and build on the momentum we showed we can do tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for its outstanding scientific work and the dedicated scientists who played a role in the effort that was recently awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

Yesterday, in Oslo, Norway, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for its work enforcing the global ban on chemical weapons. The OPCW received this prestigious award in part because of the contributions from over 21 scientific laboratories around the world. That work, in different capacities, led to identifying and destroying chemical weapons across the world. One of these laboratories is from the 15th Congressional District, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Over the past 13 years, Lawrence Livermore Forensic Science Center has worked closely with the OPCW to analyze samples and test for the possible presence of chemical weapons. The OPCW and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory were recognized specifically for actions that OPCW has recently taken in Syria--to identify, destroy, and dismantle the Assad regime's chemical weapons that they most recently used back in August on their own people.

I have been a sharp critic of proposed military action in Syria. I believed all along that there was a third way, that it was not a false choice between isolationism, not doing anything, and taking military action in Syria. The actions of OPCW and the United Nations have shown, in working in collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, that diplomacy can work. We can go into Syria and identify these dangerous chemical weapons; we can dismantle them and make sure that a ruthless dictator never again can use them on his own people.

Together, the work of OPCW and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has created a safer world. But they recognize that their work will not be complete until the world is free of chemical weapons.

I have been a tireless advocate for funding of both Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the other laboratory that is in my district, Sandia National Laboratory. The work that is being done right now with OPCW shows that the work being done at our national laboratories has value and that we cannot continue to chip away at Federal funding for our national laboratories.

Congratulations again to OPCW for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, and I am very proud of the scientific community, the engineers at Lawrence Livermore for your work in support of OPCW and their efforts.