Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to Pacifica City Councilman Calvin Hinton, who retires this month after twelve years of admirably and honorably serving his community.

Madam Speaker, the United States Marine Corps once recruited with the slogan, ``We're looking for a few good men.'' In 1945, they got exactly what they were looking for with Cal Hinton. Little did they know that the young recruit from Indiana would go on to serve his country in so many ways.

Following his service in World War II, he moved to Northern California where he attended The College of San Mateo, University of San Francisco and Stanford University.

Cal Hinton first served his adopted hometown of Pacifica by joining the Fire Department in April, 1959. There, his work ethic and natural leadership ability propelled him through the ranks until, after a stellar term as Fire Captain, he was named Chief of the City of Pacifica Fire Department on January 13, 1970. Chief Hinton remained in that job until his retirement in 1983.

In 1996, Cal offered his services in a different capacity by seeking--and winning--a seat on the city council. Twice more the voters of Pacifica returned him to office.

Earlier this year, Cal showed just how tough he is when, while recovering from hip replacement surgery, he was struck by an out-of- control suv while walking in downtown Pacifica. The vehicle hit Cal before coming to a stop inside a local restaurant where fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. As for Cal, he broke the same leg where he just received the new hip. Despite being 81, he was able to bounce back and, before long, returned to the City Council.

Retirement will allow Cal to spend more time with his family, including his lovely wife Marilyn.

Madam Speaker, California's 12th Congressional District, and indeed our nation, is better off because of the service of Calvin Hinton. On behalf of you and the United States House of Representatives, I thank him for a lifetime dedicated to helping others.

Madam Speaker, soon San Mateo County will lose its premier administrator when County Manager John Maltbie retires after two decades at the helm.

John has served the county ably since taking office in 1989. He has shown, time and again, how thoughtful, steady leadership can make all the difference in the quality of service a county offers to its residents. John oversees a government operation employing more than 4,800 people, who serve a growing and diverse population nearing three quarters of a million residents.

Under John's leadership, San Mateo County was the first County in the State to develop school-based children and family services, a MediCal- managed care system for medical and mental health patients and a work- first model for welfare reform.

A strong proponent of collaborating with his peers in and outside of government, John continued San Mateo County's long history of forming and continuing mutually beneficial partnerships with other local governments, businesses and organizations. Some of these partnerships are the City/County Association of Governments; Peninsula Partnership for Children, Youth and Families; San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority and the Library Joint Powers Authority. John has also worked closely with local cities to develop a nationally recognized model for county-wide emergency medical services.

Madam Speaker, during John Maltbie's tenure, the county has seen the completion of a state-of-the-art, 225-bed San Mateo County Health Center. He has also overseen the building of a new main jail, administrative office building, parking garage, three medical clinics, three social services district offices and a new County Court facility.

John's service in Public Administration began in 1972. Prior to San Mateo County, he served in multiple roles in Santa Clara County and was City Manager for both Milpitas, California and Glendale, Arizona.

John holds a Masters of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Public Administration, from San Jose State University. He has taught at several colleges and universities, including Arizona State University, College of Notre Dame and San Jose State University.

A true public servant, John passed his community commitment on to his children, Jeff and Jayme, who have both worked in public service. They will no doubt enjoy more of their father's time, but Madam Speaker, the real benefactors of John's retirement will be his lucky grandchildren: Ella, Emma and Zoe. Please join me in wishing John Maltbie a long and joy-filled retirement.

Madam Speaker, I would like our chamber to recognize a giant in the non-profit community, Sheryl Young, Chief Executive Officer of Community Gatepath, which serves San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties.

Sheryl oversees one of the largest and oldest local non-profit organizations in our nation. Each year, the organization serves more than 8,000 children, adults, seniors and their families, as well as the countless professionals who support them. For close to 90 years, Community Gatepath, with a budget of $11 million, has provided programs, support services, education, and information to those most vulnerable in our society. Sheryl's staff of 150 employees are dedicated to making their motto more than just words. These good people have their hearts committed to Turning Disabilities into Possibilities.

Sheryl Young has more than two decades of managerial experience and her keen business sense has lifted Community Gatepath to new levels. She has an almost unnatural ability to build sustainable non-profit programs. Sheryl has drawn from the best of non-profit and for-profit management styles to craft the unique organizational model that works so well for Community Gatepath. Sheryl is a gifted administrator who leads by example and is always poised to attempt new programs or explore new tools to better service the developmentally disabled community. She is an inspiration to her staff, board of directors and the community leaders who work with her.

As proof of Sheryl's standing in our community, ``The Sheryl Young Community Impact Award'' has been established to pay tribute to persons, businesses and organizations who make an impact in their community by helping people with disabilities.

Sheryl is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders. She also earned a Masters of Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, a Masters Degree in Special Education from Ball State University and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Purdue University.

Madam Speaker, I first met Sheryl while she worked for San Mateo County and I was a County Supervisor. A member of my staff had a sister who gave birth to a child with Down Syndrome, named Heidi. The new mother was grief-stricken because she had been told by doctors that she would be unable to raise Heidi by herself and should turn her daughter over to a residential treatment center. I reached out to Sheryl and she did not disappoint. She called numerous community agencies, eventually contacting Poplar Center, which was the predecessor to Community Gatepath, and asked if there was any other alternative to giving up the child. Not only was the organization able to help Heidi, but they nabbed a remarkable volunteer, too. Sheryl was so impressed with the program at Poplar Center that she stayed involved. Shortly thereafter, Sheryl's heart and her head convinced her to leave county government and accept an offer to lead the Poplar Center.

By the way, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to note that this year, Heidi will graduate from high school after having lived with her family since she was born.

Madam Speaker, I have known Sheryl Young in many capacities. She has been my constituent, my colleague, my boss and, more significantly, my dear friend. Sheryl has been a loving role model to her daughter, Megan Viera, who, with Sheryl's support, has graduated from college and is ready to begin a life of her own.

Sheryl is at once kind, fun-loving and intensely driven. When you work with Sheryl, you work hard, but you also enjoy every minute of it.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Sheryl Young for being a tenacious, spirited, inspired leader who, no doubt, lifts us all.

Madam Speaker, an era is coming to an end in the Jefferson Union High School District. Jean Brink, first elected in 1988, is retiring as a Trustee after 20 years of productive and selfless service.

Like so many in public service, Jean first got involved as an active and concerned parent. Her two children, Adam and Laura, attended the District's Oceana High School, where Jean quickly became as well-known as her son and daughter.

In five straight elections, the voters of the Jefferson Union High School District returned Jean to office, relying on her level head, passionate commitment to education and keen understanding of the School District's greater role in the community.

Madam Speaker, Jean is the kind of public servant that we could all take a lesson from. While overseeing the modernization of district schools and facilities and working for the passage of two bond measures, Jean remained vigilant against waste and abuse and always kept a watchful eye on the taxpayers' hard-earned money.

Jean Brink earned the title ``Trustee'' because ``trust'' is what Jean is all about. As a board member, she guided the District through difficult economic times while always making sure that the needs of students were foremost on the minds of administrators. While committed to the basics, she understood that high school is one of the last times that many students have a chance to participate in artistic endeavors. She has been a strong supporter of art, music and drama programs, not just by providing financial and administrative support, but by attending nearly every band concert, school play and art show produced in the district for the last 20 years. Madam Speaker, a generation of students benefitted from Jean Brink's service. We will miss her, but she has certainly earned her retirement. Jean can now spend more time on her other interests, including swimming and volunteering for such worthwhile projects as the Oceana Natatorium's ceramic mural and the Pacifica School Volunteers.

We all know how much time public office takes away from one's family. I want to thank Jean's supportive husband, John Brink for loaning his talented and remarkable wife to the community. Son and daughter-in-law John and Kristin Brink and daughter and son-in-law Laura and Doug Ritenour will, no doubt, love having more time with Jean, but I have a feeling the person who will benefit most from Jean's newfound free time is her precious and adorable granddaughter, Serena Ritenour.

Madam Speaker, as happens too often in this age of legislative term limits, the state of California is losing a wise, dedicated and accomplished public servant. Assemblyman Gene Mullin, who was first elected on November 5, 2002 to represent the 19th District of California, will retire at the end of this year.

Assemblyman Mullin represents a district that I, too, once served. I know the people there and I know that no one could serve them better than Gene. I cannot overstate my fondness and admiration for this man. He went into public service for the right reason: To serve. Any conversation with Gene is never about Gene. While many are called ``selfless'', with most it's just a word. Gene truly does put others first--constituents, family, students, even strangers. All who come into contact with him know that when Gene Mullin gives you his word, you can take it to the bank.

Gene served his community long before they chose him to represent them in the legislature. For 32 years, he taught government and coached basketball at South San Francisco High School. In the 1970s, he was tapped by city leadership to serve on the town's Planning Commission, where he was instrumental in attracting Genentech to the city in 1976. This started a bio-tech boom in South San Francisco and is a major reason why the city is on better financial footing than other municipalities. In 1979 the City Council named Gene Mullin ``Citizen of the Year.''

In 1995, Gene Mullin joined the South San Francisco City Council, where he served for seven years, including two terms as Mayor. Upon his election to the Assembly, Gene quickly made a name for himself as a quick study, hard worker and consensus-builder. He retires as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Education and previously served as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development.

Assemblyman Mullin has worked to ensure education funding for students and teachers. He authored bills to restore the $500 million borrowed from the California State Teachers Retirement System and has pushed programs to assure the quality of child care services. He has also been instrumental in efforts to provide affordable housing for all Californians.

Prior to his government service, Gene was a gifted and much-loved educator. Not only do many of his students still mention him as a favorite teacher and role model, but he was honored as San Mateo County's Teacher of the Year in 1991 and the California Teachers Association's 1996 State Teacher of the Year in Politics.

Gene Mullin graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of San Francisco in 1960 and holds a Lifetime Secondary Teaching Credential, also from USF.

Madam Speaker, our state is in serious need of dedicated and intelligent public servants in our legislature. Gene Mullin will be sorely missed in Sacramento, but our loss is his family's gain. A dedicated father, husband and grandfather, Gene can now spend more time with his lovely and vivacious wife, Terri, his two children, Jennifer and Kevin, and three grandsons, Austin, Jonathan and Colton.

Gene has lived his entire life in the Bay Area and we are all richer because of it.

Madam Speaker, Wednesday night, before returning to Washington, I had a telephone townhall in my district with over 5500 constituents.

I'm here to report that they are angry.

They are angry that the Government allowed Wall Street mega-banks and manipulators to act so irresponsibly that they have led our economy to the brink of disaster.

They are angry that for over a decade, greed and abuse have been considered higher virtues than oversight and regulation.

Madam Speaker, I'm angry, too. Because of the mess we're in, school districts back home have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in their reserve accounts. A San Bruno man who worked for 30 years at United Airlines is seeing his pension dissolve before his eyes. And Tony, an independent businessman from San Carlos, will likely have to close his remodeling business if he is unable to get short-term credit for supplies.

Now we hear that the State of California may have to declare bankruptcy. These reasons are why I will vote for this bill.

But Madam Speaker, no one should interpret this vote as approval of the situation we find ourselves in.

This anger will not easily dissipate. We must commit ourselves in the next Congress to re-regulate the markets and repair the damage that years of ineptitude and inattention have wrought on our economy.

Madam Speaker, Wednesday night, before returning to Washington, I had a telephone townhall in my district with over 5,500 constituents.

I'm here to report that they are angry.

They are angry that the Government allowed Wall Street mega-banks and manipulators to act so irresponsibly that they have led our economy to the brink of disaster.

They are angry that for over a decade, greed and abuse have been considered higher virtues than oversight and regulation.

Madam Speaker, I'm angry, too. Because of the mess we're in, school districts back home have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in their reserve accounts. A San Bruno man who worked for 30 years at United Airlines is seeing his pension dissolve before his eyes. And Tony, an independent businessman from San Carlos, will likely have to close his remodeling business if he is unable to get short-term credit for supplies.

Now we hear that the State of California may have to declare bankruptcy.

These reasons are why I will vote for this bill.

But Madam Speaker, no one should interpret this vote as approval of the situation we find ourselves in.

This anger will not easily dissipate. We must commit ourselves in the next Congress to re-regulate the markets and repair the damage that years of ineptitude and inattention have wrought on our economy.

Madam Speaker, we never should have reached this point.

But a perfect storm of greed and poor risk-management on Wall Street, along with a decade of lax oversight and deregulation, has our markets teetering on the edge of collapse.

We should never have reached this point--but here we are, and we must lead.

Leadership and our democracy require elected officials to make difficult decisions. Last Saturday Congress was presented with Secretary Paulson's plan. The proposal was a blank check for bad actors. It carried no oversight and, indeed, placed an administration appointee beyond the arm of the courts.

This is not Paulson's plan. This legislation is crafted with taxpayers, not bankers, in mind.

This begins a new era of strong congressional oversight. If we, the Congress, are asking the American taxpayer to foot the bill, then we must protect their investment.

At the beginning of the week, I laid out specifics that needed to be in this bill: taxpayers deserved an equity position, there needed to be guarantees that taxpayers wouldn't be funding exorbitant executive compensation packages, and that this would not be a lump-sum and a blank check without the ability to stop payments if this proves the wrong solution.

These taxpayer protections were included.

To protect taxpayers going forward, Congress must bring back the firewalls between investment houses and banks repealed by Gramm-Leach- Bliley; we need strict controls on exotic financial instruments that provide great wealth for a few at the expense of the rest of society like ``naked short selling,'' and we need conflict of interest measures that ensure Wall Street does not subvert the public's trust in any way.

Some have characterized our action here as the Government butting into the free market. On the contrary, what we are doing is reasserting the Government's rightful role in maintaining the stability of our economy for the good of all Americans.

Congress finds itself choosing between two unfortunate choices-- between a massive Government expenditure or inaction that could lead to a calamitous collapse of our economy.

It would be easy to vote against this bill, it would also be irresponsible. I was not sent to Congress to be a slave to public opinion polls, but to make decisions after listening to my constituents, hearing from experts and fashioning solutions that are in the public's best interest.

Inaction in the face of adversity is not an option. Inaction is not leadership. None of us want to be here, none of us is happy about the decision before us, but our duty is to act in the best interests of everyone.

More hardship is on the horizon, like greater unemployment, a run on banks, and further collapse in value of a great many Americans' only financial security: Their homes and their pensions.

I look forward to working with Chairman Frank and with the Speaker as this House protects the American taxpayer and stabilizes our financial markets.

Madam Speaker, this fall, one of California's most dedicated public servants will retire as Mayor of the Town of Hillsborough in the 12th Congressional District. The Honorable Catherine Mullooly, ``Kitty'' to all who know her, has been a beacon of light and volunteer extraordinaire since relocating from her native Wisconsin to our beloved Bay Area some forty-three years ago.

One year after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-- Whitewater in 1964, Kitty came west with her new husband Doctor Thomas Mullooly, DDS, where she taught at San Francisco's St. Stephen's Elementary School prior to giving birth to her first child, Michelle. Two years later, their family was joined by son, Michael, and shortly thereafter the Mulloolys moved to Hillsborough where they have been ever since.

Kitty and Tom have brought smiles to peninsula residents for more than thirty years, through both dental healthcare and civic involvement. In fact, it is difficult to say ``Mullooly'' without smiling.

Kitty Mullooly's charitable work was recognized by her adopted hometown with Hillsborough's Community Care Award in 1985. She was further honored as 1989's Hillsborough Citizen of the Year. Three years later, Kitty was elected to the City Council, where she quickly impressed her peers with her hard-work and was re-elected for three subsequent terms.

During Ms. Mullooly's tenure in city government, she has been tapped to serve two terms as Mayor, including her current stint which began in 2006 and ends at the end of this year, when she will step down from her official role in city leadership. But Madam Speaker, I know Mayor Mullooly, and I can assure you that she will not stray far from Town Hall. In fact, she lives just two doors away and I have a strong suspicion she will continue listening to her scanner so she can race with the firefighters she has helped her whole career to any call that goes out.

Kitty's commitment to our community has encompassed all aspects of daily life. She volunteered her skills for the Early Childhood Education/School Improvement Program, served on the Hillsborough Elementary School district Board of Trustees and the town's Recreation Commission and was the Chairwoman of our community's premiere charity event, the Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance. Regionally, Mayor Mullooly represents our community on the San Francisco Airport Community Roundtable, the San Mateo Area Emergency Services Council, and is a Board Member of Leadership San Mateo.

Now that Michelle and Michael are grown and married, Kitty and Tom have turned their attention to their grandchildren, Ashley and Christopher. Like your own, Madam Speaker, Kitty's grandchildren are fortunate to have a grandmother that will serve as an inspiration and role model for the rest of their lives.

Kitty is many things to me--my Mayor, my constituent and my friend. Any day spent with her is a good day. I have expressed my appreciation and admiration in private many times. A highlight of my short time in Congress is being able to do so in this most public of forums.

Madam Speaker, this evening I salute one of the young pioneers of the 12th Congressional District. T. Jack Foster, Jr. in his 80th year, is being honored by the Rotary Club of Foster City on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

In 1960, after a successful career in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he constructed over 1500 single family homes, T. Jack Foster moved to San Mateo County to join his father, T. Jack Senior and brothers, J.R. and Richard, in planning and building a vital, safe and environmentally sound community that would become known as Foster City, California.

Foster City is now a successful bedroom, office and retail community of 30,000 full-time residents and an equal number of employees who commute to the many companies doing business there. A city like no other, it is built around a series of lagoons and canals that not only provide beautiful views, but enhance the city with a vast array of recreational opportunities.

Born July 21, 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma, Jack received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma, where he was Editor of the Sooner Yearbook and inducted into Phi Eta Sigma and Beta Gamma Sigma honorary societies. After college, he served two years of active duty in the United States Air Force before launching his real estate career.

Jack and his lovely and vivacious wife, the former Patricia Chesnut, live in San Mateo. They have a daughter, Lee and two sons, T. Jack III and Mark. Their six creative and energetic grandchildren take after talented grandpa, who is an accomplished singer, actor and tap dancer who has entertained thousands by performing in many local theater productions.

Madam Speaker, Jack is a longtime friend and, on occasion, a gentle critic. He cares passionately about San Mateo County, its people, policies and environment. Jack has given back as much as he has received in his long and fruitful life. He has worked tirelessly to advance healthcare opportunities as President of the Comprehensive Health Planning Council of San Mateo County and first Chairman of the Health Network Consortium of San Mateo County. He has also served as Chairman of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association and is a past President of the Peninsula Community Foundation.

Jack and Pat were notably and appropriately honored as 2000 Volunteers of the Year by the Volunteer Center.

Madam Speaker, my district and our San Francisco Bay Area would be a different place without the vision and hard work of the Foster family. It gives me great joy to inform the rest of our nation of the lifetime of service of T. Jack Foster and his exceptional family. I wish him a very happy birthday and hopes for many, many more and bestow my congratulations on him for this latest honor.

Madam Speaker, among the most vulnerable in our society are those in our elder population.

That is why I have such profound respect and deep gratitude for the good work done by Alma Via of San Francisco. Alma Via is an assisted living and memory care community that services the senior community in the San Francisco Bay Area. They celebrate five excellent years of service this fall, on November 1, 2008.

Alma Via is a member of Elder Care Alliance, a nonprofit faith-based organization committed to serving and enriching the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of older adults. Their sponsors, the Sisters of Mercy, Burlingame, and the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, bring a 130-year tradition of service to their communities and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for elders through creative programs and supportive services.

The Elder Care Alliance is composed of six communities in California and serves 700 elders. Their programs include special services for those with early to late stage dementia and without them, many of these older Americans would possibly not receive treatment. Their loving and professional communities are staffed by 620 dedicated staff members who provide daily care for residents in a manner that respects and celebrates the dignity and inherent worth of each person.

Madam Speaker, I can personally attest to the excellence and compassion of the Sisters of Mercy. Wherever they choose to serve, their mission always moves their community and the world forward. The good work provided by Alma Via and the Elder Care Alliance

is certainly no different. I ask you to join me in commending them for the important and necessary role they play in society by working tirelessly to help an expanding number of adults who desire to remain vital and active in their later years.

Madam Speaker, our President had an opportunity last night, and he blew it. He could have reasserted his leadership by accepting responsibility for his disastrous policies, but he took a pass. Instead, he chose to blame the American people.

Well, Mr. President, the American people did not spend the last 7\1/ 2\ years deregulating Wall Street. You did. The American people didn't spend $12 billion a month on an unnecessary war. You did. The American people didn't come up with the idea to give tax breaks to oil companies. You did.

Whatever happens at the White House today, I can only hope that the man and the party responsible for this crisis finally decide to do the right thing. The American people are forgiving. It's time to man up and admit that your disastrous economic policies got us into this mess.

Then, as we always do, we can all work together to repair the damage.

Madam Speaker, this week marks a milestone in a half century long journey to provide safe and scenic passage along the beautiful San Mateo County coastline and honors the tireless dedication of my predecessor in Congress, Representative Tom Lantos.

On Friday, September 26, 2008, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), along with project contractors, citizens and elected officials, will officially unveil two newly-constructed bridges at Devil's Slide on State Route One.

These bridges are part of a larger project which will connect them to twin four thousand, two hundred foot tunnels. Together, the bridges and tunnels will bypass a historically-dangerous stretch of Route One that over the past twenty-five years has seen three closures and reconstructions due to erosion of the cliff upon which the road sits.

The existing roadway between the cities of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay was first opened in 1935. By 1958, local citizens were clamoring for a safer road, but environmental, financial, geological and land-use issues complicated the process until 1996, when San Mateo County voters passed Measure T by 76 percent, authorizing the bridge and tunnel construction. The project, though, would have been impossible were it not for the passionate work here in the House of Representatives by the late Congressman Lantos, who was present last year as crews broke ground for the tunnels' construction.

In honor of his invaluable efforts, the California State Legislature passed a resolution in July 2008 to name the tunnels the ``Tom Lantos Tunnels at Devil's Slide.''

Since breaking ground, significant progress has been made on this ambitious and environmentally sensitive project. Along with the completion of the two bridges, crews have excavated a combined two thousand six hundred feet in the northbound and southbound bores of the tunnels. With specialized equipment, leading edge technology and carefully designed and engineered plans, crews work twenty-four hours a day on the tunnels which will eventually connect with the newly- constructed bridges. The resulting road of just over a mile will realign Route One into a safer, more reliable passage around Devil's Slide.

Madam Speaker, Tom Lantos' legacy in this chamber is well-known. With the opening of this important north-south roadway along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in this or any country, his work will be memorialized for residents of our district and passing motorists for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, if the world has seemed a bit grayer in recent weeks, it is no doubt due to the passing of one of its brightest lights. Ellen L Wolfe, the highly respected and much-loved registered nurse and Doctor of Public Health, left us on August 4.

As director of Children's Medical Services for the City and County of San Francisco and throughout her career, Ellen dedicated her life to the care and well being of underserved children and their families. Dr. Wolfe was a pioneer in the field of children's health and a passionate advocate for abused children. She served as director of the Early Parenting Project, San Francisco General Hospital's landmark abuse prevention program, and was instrumental in creating the Child Protection Center at SFGH, serving as the program's Associate Director for Health Care Services from 1989 through 2005.

Madam Speaker, a measure of anyone's life is how fondly they are remembered after their passing. By this yardstick, Ellen surpasses all measurements. Thousands of San Franciscans owe their health, mental well-being and, in many cases, very lives, to the intellect, instinct and intervention of this intrepid public servant.

Ellen came to us by way of Denver, Colorado. She attended the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley on a music scholarship and her love of the violin and classical music only grew stronger after graduation. Ellen received a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco and a Master and Doctor of Public Health from UC Berkeley.

Her accomplishments in San Francisco are many and notable, including the development of a Health Passport system for children in foster care, creation of a widely-used child abuse manual for doctors and nurses, and educating foster parents, health professionals and students about child abuse reporting and health issues. A tireless advocate, Ellen served on the California Subcommittee on Medically Fragile Children in Foster Care, the Personnel Advisory Committee for Early Intervention Services, and the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center.

Dr. Wolfe authored numerous professional publications addressing foster care and prenatal drug and alcohol use and served as an

assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the UCSF School of Nursing.

Outside of work, Ellen is remembered as a passionate woman who embraced life to its fullest. She is missed dearly by her mother Marian, sisters Christine and Charlotte, brothers Fred and Sam, and a great many close friends and colleagues. They remember fondly her love of classical music, fine food and the great outdoors, which were eclipsed only by her commitment to children's health.

Madam Speaker, when those of us from San Francisco are asked what makes our city so special, we often say, ``the people.'' With the passing of Ellen Wolfe, our beautiful hometown has lost a favorite sister, but her legacy of good works and sound public policy will outlive all of us.

Madam Speaker, the consumers of California and our nation will lose their premier protector when Herschel Elkins retires from the California Attorney General's Office this month. Mr. Elkins has devoted his entire career to public service and protecting California's consumers. He is the most senior attorney and longest-serving employee in the AG's office, having celebrated his 50th anniversary in December, 2006.

Herschel Elkins received his J.D. from UCLA in 1956 and began work the same year as a Deputy Attorney General, where he served briefly in the criminal section before transferring to the civil division. Following the Watts riots in 1965, a report commissioned by Governor Pat Brown cited a contributing factor as frustration in the community with merchants taking unfair advantage of the poor. The legislature acted by bolstering the Attorney General's nascent Consumer Fraud Unit and Mr. Elkins was appointed to lead the effort, a position he occupied until 2004 when he was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Policy, Coordination and Development.

During his long tenure with the Consumer Law Section, Herschel used all the arrows in his quiver--litigation, legislation and education--to protect the rights of consumers and push California to the forefront of consumer protection. Mr. Elkins drafted or shepherded many of our state's vital consumer protection laws, including anti-pyramid statutes, the establishment of the Bureau of Auto Repair, laws providing for a ``cooling off period'' for home solicitations, and mandating civil penalties for unfair competition. As a litigator, Mr. Elkins has represented the Attorney General in more than 150 appellate cases. He has also publicized the Section's work and educated the public about their rights on hundreds of radio and television programs.

Madam Speaker it was a distinct privilege to work side-by-side with Herschel on consumer issues during my time in the California legislature. His knowledge, passion and creativity improved every piece of legislation he reviewed and made those of us whose names were on the bills look that much smarter. I am just one of hundreds of legislators who owe him a sincere debt of gratitude.

After so many years looking after the public welfare, Herschel and Miriam, his wife of 48 years, will enjoy a retirement devoted to their inspiring and growing family. They will travel to Israel, New York and Pennsylvania to spend time with their three sons, David, Jeremy and Joel and their families. Herschel, known as much for his storytelling ability as his legal brilliance, will entertain his grandchildren and, no doubt, pass along his commitment to community and his profound sense of justice. Our state's loss is the Elkins family's well-earned gain.

But Madam Speaker, a dedicated public servant like Herschel Elkins doesn't just walk away from his life's work. Something tells me that Herschel will make himself available to members of the Consumer Law Section and others devoted to the public good who seek his help and guidance.

On behalf of the many millions of protected consumers in the State of California, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in saluting Mr. Herschel Elkins for his long career devoted to protecting and guaranteeing a vibrant, just and equitable marketplace.

Madam Speaker, I would like to pay tribute this evening to a dedicated public servant, Diane McGrath, the City Manager of the Town of Colma.

Diane retires next month, capping a 36 year career in municipal government, which began in Breckenridge, Colorado. She moved to California in 1985 to serve Foster City as Deputy Executive Director of the Community Development Agency. After seventeen years in that post, she was hired by Colma as Deputy City Manager and impressed the City Council enough to be promoted, two years later, to City Manager.

During her tenure, Ms. McGrath and her staff oversaw the design and construction of a state-of-the-art public safety facility and community center, completed the reconstruction and beautification of Junipero Serra Boulevard and remodeled the Town Hall Council Chamber and rotunda. Most impressive is that all these projects were accomplished in an era of ever-tightening municipal budgets.

Ms. McGrath is a member of the International City Management Association and was President of Municipal Management Assistants of Northern California. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Arts from the University of Colorado.

Madam Speaker, Diane McGrath is a role model to anyone who aspires to a career in government. She handles her professional responsibilities with the unflappable grace that only the mother of 6 children and grandmother of 4 can pull off. A renaissance woman, Diane is a brilliant conversation partner, whether the subject is ballet, politics or Cal football.

While I wish Diane McGrath could continue in her job forever, she has earned her retirement. Along with husband Fred Biagini, she will travel the world and spend more time with her large family. In addition, I am confident that she will continue to be a dynamic force in her community for many years to come.