Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jaden Ochs, who stands at a remarkable intersection of compassion, discipline, and purpose-- qualities that define an exceptional nurse as well as an extraordinary human being.

Having earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University. Jaden has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence in one of the most demanding and meaningful professions. Her academic achievement alone is impressive, but it is her journey, the lives she has touched, the environments she has served in, and the leadership she has shown that truly sets her apart.

Throughout her clinical training, Jaden gained invaluable experience as a student nurse resident in labor and delivery, where she supported mothers and families during some of the most profound moments of their lives. She further honed her skills at St. Joseph's Hospital, deepening her expertise in labor and delivery while also caring for the most vulnerable patients in the neonatal intensive care unit.

As a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Jaden has been recognized for her academic achievement and leadership in the field. She has also given her time selflessly as a student nurse volunteer, embodying the true spirit of service that lies at the heart of nursing.

Perhaps most inspiring is her role as the founder and president of the American Veterans Society Military Outreach. Through this initiative, Jaden has demonstrated a deep commitment to those who have served our country, bridging healthcare and advocacy in a way that reflects both courage and compassion.

Jaden Ochs represents the very best of what the nursing profession aspires to be--skilled, driven, and guided by a profound sense of purpose. Her journey is only just beginning, and there is no doubt that her impact will continue to ripple outward, touching lives, strengthening communities, and inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my very good friend, Minard Duncan, a devoted educator and public servant whose impact on our community will be felt for generations.

Before dedicating his life to education, Mr. Duncan proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean war from 1952 to 1954.

Later, he served at the Fullerton Unified School District for more than 40 years as an educator and principal, during which time he helped developed programs that strengthen student literacy and success.

After retirement, he wasn't over. He went on to work at Cal State Fullerton in the area of education. Then he was elected to the Fullerton School District Board of Trustees for 8 years.

Beyond his profession, he was a man who cherished his family, friendships, and life's simple joys. He is survived today by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will carry on his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the life of Minard Duncan, a man who served his country, his community, his family, all with distinction.

May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Anaheim's very own George Adams for his remarkable career that transformed the recycling industry in the United States.

After inheriting his dad's modest scrap metal facility, George grew it into the largest metal recycling company in the United States. He has created 4,000 jobs and processes over 5 million tons of recycled material each year.

What makes George such a great businessman? He is a human, and he cares.

Before he was big, I remember he had the place that you would go to sell your recyclables, with the best price on metal. Not only that, I remember taco Fridays. You come to sell your metal at George's place, and you got free tacos, all you could eat.

I have got to tell you, he is a man with a heart and a man with business acumen. I congratulate George Adams. I say, keep up the good work. He is saving the Earth while he is doing it. He is doing a great job keeping our environment clean.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Alfred Escalante, who has passed away at the age of 100.

Born in Texas, Alfred left for California as a young man in pursuit of more opportunities. He embarked on a career as a car painter, becoming a master of the trade and a lifelong resident of Santa Ana along the way. Years into his career, he went to work for his son's Custom Auto Service in Santa Ana, which is nationally renowned for servicing and restoring Packard cars.

Together with his beloved wife Lucy, Alfred created a lifetime centered around family and the importance of living together. Alfred instilled in his children the importance of integrity, humility, and perseverance.

He also served as a father figure to countless others in his community, teaching them life skills such as faith and manners while providing them with a second chance and lots of hope.

Alfred is survived by his children Alfred, Jr., Robert, David, Sandy, Steve, and Cynthia, as well as by his grandchildren.

As he said to his family shortly before he passed, ``I did not leave you any money but I left you a clean name. Protect it because it's worth more than a pot of gold.''

Mr. Speaker, on March 17, 2026, I was necessarily absent and missed the following votes on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted accordingly below: YES on Roll Call No. 88, H.R. 4294, Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026; YES on Roll Call No. 89, S. 3971, Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act; NO on Roll Call No. 90, Motion on Ordering the Previous Question; and NO on Roll Call No. 91, H. Res. 1115, Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1958, Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026; H.R. 556, Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act; and H.R. 4638, Federal Working Animal Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the Segerstrom High School girls' soccer team for earning a victory and the CIF Division 6 championship, again showing Santa Ana as the home of champs. The Jaguars won 4-0, securing their first CIF championship in history. This is a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Congratulations to Coach Diego Aguirre for his leadership, and players Aymar Salgado, Isabella Barrera, and Jewel Orellana for scoring in the CIF championship game.

Congratulations to all the players on the team's success. They have made their school and the Santa Ana community so proud, and we look forward to seeing their future successes.

Honoring Bera Family

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bera family and their multigenerational commitment to service, education, and our community.

This family legacy began with Kanta and Babulal Bera, who came to the United States from India in the late 1950s. Kanta and Babulal believed that education was the pathway to opportunity in the middle class. They worked multiple jobs, while pursuing graduate degrees and raising Raja, Rimal, and Ami, their three sons.

The Beras' dedication to global health spanned from Orange County to India. From starting an all-girls school in India that has graduated more than 7,000 students to supporting health and housing efforts not only in India but in southern California, the Beras have expanded opportunities to countless communities to pursue their educational opportunities.

Two generations now of Beras have attended UCI School of Medicine. UCI School of Medicine has become the center of their efforts to support future medical graduates.

In 2020, the Beras donated $100,000 to the UCI School of Medicine to permanently support medical students traveling to India. These aspiring medical students are able to work in global clinical environments and underserved communities here in the United States.

The personal history of the Bera family inspires all of us to pursue education and to give back to our communities, not only in America but around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Bera family. I thank them for showing us how it is done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Holly Hagler and her dedication to service through nonprofit work.

Ms. Hagler has spent much of her career serving our community's fastest-growing demographic, adults 65 and older. Since becoming the Orange County chapter president and CEO of Meals on Wheels in 2010, Ms. Hagler has led the delivery of meals to more than 15,000 older adults per year.

Ms. Hagler has also served on the leadership council of the Orange County strategic plan for the aging and as board chair of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services. She has been recognized many times by the L.A. Times in both chambers of the California State Legislature.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Holly on a career filled with many accomplishments. We will miss her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Santa Ana High School girls wrestling team. They finished as Empire League champs, Southern CIF champions, champions of the Division I dual, and Eastern Division individual tournament champs. They finished fourth place in the CIF Southern Section Masters.

Mr. Speaker, five of these wrestlers will be moving on to wrestle in the State's championship tournament.

I thank Head Coaches Tim Byers and Fernando Serratos. I also thank Assistant Coaches Liborio Salazar, Alex Becerra, Monica Serratos, Jose Leon, and Stephanie Zamora for teaching our young Saints leadership qualities, and what hard work and dedication can mean at the end of the day.

These young ladies are wrestling champs all while maintaining a GPA of 3.48.

Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to the Saints. Once a Saint, always a Saint.

Mr. Speaker, I was necessarily absent and missed the following vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 71, H.R. 6329.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of the Bera Family and their multigenerational commitment to service, education, and community.

This family legacy began with Kanta and Babulal Bera, who immigrated to the United States from Gujarat, India in the 1950s. Kanta and Babulal believed that education is the path to opportunity. They worked multiple jobs while pursuing graduate degrees and raising three sons, Raja, Dr. Rimal Bera (Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine Department of Psychiatry), and Congressman Ami Bera.

The Beras' dedication to global health has spanned a variety of impactful projects not only in Orange County, but to the other side of the world in India. From starting an all-girls school in India that has graduated more than 7,000 students to supporting health and housing efforts throughout southern California, the Beras have expanded opportunities for countless communities.

Two generations of the Beras have attended the UCI School of Medicine, and UCI is now the foundation of the family's key accomplishment--to support future physicians. In 2020, the Beras donated $100,000 to the UCI School of Medicine to permanently support medical students traveling to Rajkot, India. These aspiring physicians are not only able to experience a global clinical environment, but they are also able to work in underserved communities, collaborate with local medical providers, and extend the reach of medicine beyond individual patient care.

The personal history of the Bera Family and their inspiring legacy is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to dedicate ourselves to building a stronger, kinder, and better community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize East Fullerton Little League's 70th birthday.

Little League's mission is to instill in children the values of sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, and courage, aiming to produce well- adjusted, stronger, and happier children.

The hundreds of volunteers who take the jobs of running a Little League are usually the unsung heroes. That is why I am standing here today to recognize the Little League volunteers who have stepped up to the plate to demonstrate the benefits and values of volunteerism, family, and sportsmanship.

Let's follow the example of our Little League parents and volunteers by making a pledge to support youth in our community and to support the people who spend countless hours teaching America's favorite pastime.

Let's play ball, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Law- Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act.

Simply put, Mr. Speaker, this legislation will save lives. It is supported, as my colleague has said, by an unprecedented, historic coalition. Support spans 95 bipartisan cosponsors across 35 States, including the Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California, African American Mayors Association, Moms Against Police Brutality, and the Prince Jones, Jr. Foundation.

This collaboration, this coalition of law enforcement leaders and community justice advocates, doesn't happen by accident. It is because this legislation is sound policy, balanced, and needed.

Modern less-than-lethal devices like the latest taser systems fully integrate with body-worn cameras, automatically capturing events and improving oversight.

These tools reduce the risk and increase transparency, expanding the evidence record around use-of-force incidents. It provides clarity for agencies, manufacturers, and regulators without--let me repeat, without--weakening gun laws.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, in California when you register to vote, you do so under penalty of perjury. Then they cross-check your information to make sure that you are eligible. Then we have a very active district attorney in Orange County that says if you violated this under penalty of perjury, we are going down on you.

Instead, I would ask my friends, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: Let's do everything we can to make sure that every eligible American actually votes.

Why would you take away the right of a veteran to vote, of a senior to vote, of somebody in the military to vote? Let's go the other way.

Democracy is stronger when we have stronger participation. Vote ``no,'' and let's move on with democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Orange City Fire Chief Sean deMetropolis, who is retiring from the city of Orange after 30 years of stellar service.

Chief deMetropolis began his career in 1995 and worked his way up to be fire chief. In addition to serving our community, Chief deMetropolis also stepped up to serve our great country by serving on FEMA's Task Force 5, which included a 20-day deployment to support Hurricane Katrina victims.

Chief deMetropolis has always led by example by dedicating his life to keeping the city of Orange safe.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Sean on his well-deserved retirement, and I thank Sean for his service.

Recognizing Otoniel Gomez

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic actions of my neighbor, Otoniel Gomez.

Mr. Gomez lives in Santa Ana with his family. On December 5, tragedy struck. The Gomez family woke up to the smell of smoke.

Otoniel jumped out of a second-story window to escape the fire. Then, without missing a beat, he grabbed ladders to help his wife and children climb to safety.

Thanks to his bravery and quick thinking, the entire Gomez family, including their dog, Lyka, escaped without injury. That night, Mr. Gomez did show us what true bravery is all about.

Mr. Speaker, I pray that Otoniel's family continues to recover from the loss of their home.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Doris Ann Derleth Hirota

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Doris Ann Derleth Hirota.

Doris was a Santa Ana resident, the youngest of seven, and she was born at the beginning of the Great Depression in Rochester, New York, in 1932.

Doris went on to attend nursing school in Chicago, where she met her husband, Tomio, when they both began their life of service to others.

In 1965, Doris and Tomio bought their home in Santa Ana, California, where they raised eight children and countless grandchildren and great- grandchildren. It was in this same house, on January 14, 2026, that Doris passed away at the age of 93.

Doris was surrounded by her family, sending her back to Heaven, where they all know she came from.

Mr. Speaker, Doris' legacy and memory will live on in her family.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Howard Koch

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of World War II and Korean war veteran Howard Koch.

During World War II, Howard served in the Army's elite 10th Mountain Division, America's only mountain and winter warfare fighting unit.

This unit, the elite 10th Mountain Division, was formed to defeat the Nazis who were entrenched high up in the snowy mountains of Italy.

This unit was made up of champion skiers, mountain climbers, and European mountaineers. After intensive training atop the Colorado Rockies, they climbed Italy's Riva Ridge and defeated the Nazi troops in a surprise attack.

That was not without paying a heavy price. Nearly 1,000 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division were killed, and some 4,000 were wounded in 4 months of fighting the Germans. They were successful, and the Germans surrendered.

Howard lived to be 101 years old, making his final journey to Heaven just last month.

Mr. Speaker, the memory of my very good friend, Howard, will live on, and his heroism will continue to inspire all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my neighbor, Helen Moraga's, 100th birthday.

Helen graduated in 1945 from Santa Ana High School. After graduating, she played shortstop on an all-female professional baseball team in Orange County.

Later, Helen married Frank Gomez Moraga, a fellow Orange County resident, and they raised their three sons in the same neighborhood they grew up in.

Helen and Frank were married for 60 years and shared 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

At 100 years young, Helen loves reading, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I wish Helen a happy birthday.

Go Saints.