Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Jackie Speier, to recognize Greg Moore, an extraordinary park advocate and community leader who has served as President and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (GGNPC) for over three decades.

A native of San Francisco, Greg graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation of Natural Resources, and he later earned a mid-career fellowship in Environmental Planning from the University of Washington. Greg spent his early career in a variety of planning and management roles with the National Parks Service and other conservation-focused public agencies before becoming the chief operating officer of GGNPC in 1985.

A non-profit membership organization, GGNPC was founded in 1981 to help preserve the now 37 distinct park sites and 80,000 acres that comprise Golden Gate National Parks and to ensure universal access to them. Over the course of Greg's 34-year tenure, GGNPC has become one of the most successful organizations of its kind, having recruited and managed over 250,000 volunteers, restored over 130 miles of trails, preserved 700 historic structures, developed innovative stewardship and education programs, and provided over half a billion dollars in contributions for park programs and projects.

A large part of this success is due to Greg's ability to build relationships within and outside the parks' community. These relationships have led to numerous cross-sector collaborations, community-led stewardship programs, and successful philanthropic campaigns that fostered greater access and support for the Golden Gate National Parks. The post-to-park conversion of Fort Baker, the Presidio of San Francisco, and Crissy Field are all examples of this. Greg played a catalytic role in these locations, transforming decommissioned military facilities into iconic destinations of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Madam Speaker, Greg Moore's leadership has been integral in preserving a collection of parks that are unparalleled in the National Park System. With a combined volume of yearly visitors that outstrips Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Olympic National Parks put together, Golden Gate National Recreation Area has continued to thrive in part because of the program support and culture of stewardship that has been fostered under Greg's leadership. Therefore, please join us in honoring Greg Moore as he steps away from his leadership role and in wishing him success on his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I had a scheduling conflict which caused me to miss the following vote. I would have voted ``No'' on roll call vote 166.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably detained with district matters and missed the following votes. I would have voted ``Yes'' on roll call vote 218, and ``Yes'' on roll call vote 219.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I thank Chairwoman Lowey for her work on this disaster supplemental, as well as her broader efforts to advance this disaster funding. It is unfortunate that our colleagues in the Senate have not yet acted to deliver disaster relief to communities across the country.

My amendment responds to the needs of communities who are rebuilding their highway infrastructure after disasters.

I am joined in these efforts by my colleagues, Harley Rouda and Norma Torres from California. I thank them for their support. And I would also like to thank the California State Association of Counties for their important work on this issue in support of this amendment.

We need to send a clear message to the Federal Highway Administration.

Congress expects FHWA to work with communities who are simply seeking reasonable extensions for the use of their emergency relief funding.

Under current policy, the FHWA requires that when a road or highway suffers serious damage, the State or local agency receiving Federal assistance must begin the construction project within 2 years of the disaster.

And we all agree that Federal money should get out the door as quickly as possible.

But this well-intended policy allows for extensions, if there are reasonable difficulties in moving toward construction.

Sometimes it just takes longer than expected to scope a project, to finalize all the permits. In other cases, the scale of the disaster itself means that counties simply don't have the capacity to move all their projects to construction within 2 years, even though they are moving as quickly as they can and doing everything right.

The problem is, in a recent decision, FHWA began denying a series of extension requests, including one in Humboldt County, in my district.

My amendment would pause FHWA's ability to deny these extensions moving forward. And I hope this amendment gives FHWA the opportunity to correct course and to get back to working with communities who are trying to rebuild as quickly as they can.

Communities across the country, especially those in California recovering from flood and fire, are now facing the possibility of paying back millions of dollars that they desperately need, adding insult to injury.

How widespread is this problem?

Well, State-wide in California, FHWA denied 66 out of 73 projects requesting an extension. So we need some help, and we need this amendment.

We need this amendment. This amendment will not address all of the problems caused by FHWA's extension denials, but it gives them an opportunity to reconsider their decisions and make things right.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am committed to working with my colleagues to establish clear guidelines on how the FHWA should manage emergency relief funds going forward; but for now, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his comments.

Madam Chair, the purpose of this supplemental appropriations bill is to help communities rebuild from disasters, and my amendment simply ensures that we give communities reasonable time to rebuild and recover.

We shouldn't be yanking the rug out from under them before they have gotten themselves back on their feet. For that reason, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Jacquie Kauffman Gribens, who passed away on May 6, 2019, after a lifetime of public service to her community.

Born in 1966 in Mexico City, Jacquie moved to Massachusetts when she was 14, where she later graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She then earned her law degree from Suffolk Law School in Boston. After meeting her ``bashert'' Bruce during law school, they spent the next few years travelling around the country. In 2006, the family moved to the Bay Area, where she spent much of her time volunteering for the local public schools and Congregation Rodef Shalom.

Jacquie's life was spent delivering on her strong desire for public service, in particular for the most vulnerable in her community. Most recently, she did this through her work with Lifehouse; a non-profit that works to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Starting as a volunteer at Lifehouse, Jacquie stepped up to serve on the board of directors in 2014 , and then became Board Chair in 2018. She also spent time volunteering for the Marin County Board of Education, where she supervised a grant program to help first- generation students attend four-year colleges.

Jacquie is survived by her husband, Bruce, their three children, Josh, Nick, and Allie, as well as her mother Wanda, sister Michelle and brother-in-law Bruce, and many other family and friends across the world. While she will be greatly missed, Jacquie's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact she had on our community and beyond. Madam Speaker, please join me in offering our sincere condolences to Jacquie Gribens' family and many friends and in appreciating her many good deeds.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 85th birthday of Dr. Robert H. Twiss and a lifetime of work promoting and progressing environmental stewardship in Marin County and the entire Bay Area.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Twiss and his family moved to Washington, then Oregon, and finally settled in San Jose, California, when Dr. Twiss was in the second grade. After attending Willow Glen High School, Dr. Twiss graduated from San Jose State University in 1955, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conservation. During this period, he proudly played the banjo for a band in San Francisco. He then honorably served in the Michigan Air National Guard and the United States Air Force as a tactical fighter pilot. He later earned both his Master's and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources.

After completing his education, Dr. Twiss opened his own consulting company, which is still active today. In this capacity, he has consulted on projects for California's Attorney General, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Water Resources, and many other important agencies and environmental organizations.

Dr. Twiss was Professor of Environmental Planning at The University of California, Berkeley from 1968 to 1994. In this role, Dr. Twiss taught new generations of environmentalists all aspects of the work including planning, research, and consulting. He was also involved in graduate-level instruction on ecological planning and environmental law and served in a variety of leadership roles including as Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, and Chair of the Faculty of the College of Environmental Design. He also directed the Ph.D. program in Environmental Planning.

Among his many contributions to research on environmental planning, Dr. Twiss was Faculty Principal Investigator for the Research Program in Environmental Planning and Geographic Systems at the University of California, which developed tools and programs to allow open access to geographic information on land use, natural resources, and became the world's first web-based geographic information system in 1993. Dr. Twiss, always wanting to share his knowledge and information with others, received the patent for his system and put it in the public domain for others to use and benefit from.

Dr. Twiss enjoys spending time with his loving wife and partner Amy Skewes-Cox and their son Carson, along with his children Gregory and Gail from a previous marriage. He loves spending his time outside in nature hiking, sailing, and flying his own small plane. He is also known as an avid banjo and ukulele player, much to the delight of his friends and family.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Twiss's leadership and vision has helped make remarkable strides towards maintaining and growing environmentally sustainable practices that will benefit the region and all who work to improve the environment for generations to come. Therefore,

please join me in recognizing Dr. Robert H. Twiss on the occasion of his 85th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed the following votes. I had intended to vote ``yea'' on roll call vote 157, ``yea'' on roll call vote 158, and ``aye'' on roll call vote 159.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the significant career and accomplishments of Peter Cameron, a United States Army veteran who has dedicated more than 47 years to serving his fellow veterans in Sonoma County, on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Cameron entered military service in 1965 and served his country with distinction in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following his Army service, Mr Cameron became the founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Veterans Resource Centers of America, a community-based nonprofit organization in Sonoma County that provides employment training, housing, rehabilitation and case management as well as small business, legal, and advocacy services to veterans. The organization also supports a clinic and construction of three elementary schools in Luong Son, in the Republic of Vietnam.

As a prominent leader and active voice for veterans, Mr. Cameron has, over the past 47 years, been a consultant to the White House, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Agent Orange Class Assistance Program as well as numerous state and local agencies. Mr. Cameron collected materials for the first archival collection of Vietnam veterans' memorabilia which is now held at Cornell University. He also organized the first Vietnam veterans symposium held at Sonoma State University in 1979 and coordinated delegations of Vietnam veterans to travel to the Soviet Union and Kazakhstan to meet Soviet veterans of the war in Afghanistan in 1989 and 1990. In more recent years, he served as Secretary and Board Member of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Madam Speaker, Peter Cameron's career is a sterling example of service and dedication to our country's veteran population. Mr. Cameron's tireless advocacy on behalf of his fellow veterans raised awareness and improved lives in Sonoma County and across the United States. Please join me in honoring Peter Cameron on the occasion of his retirement, and in wishing him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Albert Straus, the founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery. Under Albert Straus' leadership the Straus Family Creamery became the first creamery in the country to become one hundred percent certified organic. Twenty- five years later, the business is not only thriving, but has created a model for sustainable family dairy farming that has been replicated to great success.

The oldest of four children, Albert Straus grew up on his family's dairy farm in northern California. The son of William and Ellen Straus, his father founded the dairy in 1941, after fleeing to the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany. Albert left his family's dairy to go to college, but returned in 1977, after earning a bachelor's degree in Dairy Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Albert took over management of the dairy alongside his father, but realized that changes would need to be made if family-run dairy farms were going to survive the growth of larger industrial competitors.

Over the course of the nearly two decades that followed, Albert Straus implemented innovative solutions at his family dairy that improved both the stewardship of the land and the farm's economic vitality. These solutions included the cessation of herbicides and chemical fertilizers, the use of planting methods that reduced soil erosion, and the use of food waste for cow feed, among many others. Finally, in 1994, Straus opened the first certified organic dairy and creamery west of the Mississippi River and the first 100 percent certified organic creamery in the U.S.

Today, the Straus Family Creamery has had great success, both economically, and in its mission to create a farming community that is committed to stewardship of the land. Albert Straus has been a model and mentor for many other family dairy farms. Now nearly ninety percent of all dairy farms in the region are certified organic, and as a result, family farms are continuing to thrive. Still a leader in innovation, the Straus Family Dairy Farm uses a methane digester to turn the 4,000 gallons of manure that it produces daily into compost and renewable energy. This energy not only powers the 500-acre farm, but also Albert Straus' harvester truck.

Madam Speaker, Albert Straus' leadership and vision has proven that environmentally-sustainable farming can both turn a profit and support a larger community of family farms and distributors. And at a time when the public has grown increasingly more concerned by the means and consolidation of food production, his example is that much more significant. Therefore, please join me in recognizing Albert Straus and the success of the Straus Family Creamery, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lindsay Righter. Lindsay has been with my team since I first took office, and left earlier this year after six years of service as an exemplary field representative for my constituents in Humboldt County, Trinity County, and Del Norte County. As a valued member of my staff, Lindsay has been essential to my work in the northern part of my congressional district, and of special note, has

helped thousands of our country's veterans and other constituents with complicated issues.

Lindsay grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and attended Southern Illinois University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in forestry. She moved to Humboldt County in June 2002 and worked with AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards from 2006 to 2008. In this role, she supervised staff and AmeriCorps members, and did demanding field work, including wading in some of the North Coast's most beautiful rivers counting salmon carcasses to better understand the condition of our vital fish populations.

In March of 2009, Lindsay was hired as a field representative for the former 1st congressional district of California under Congressman Mike Thompson. She became a skilled caseworker with an affinity for helping veterans. After redistricting in 2012, I hired Lindsay in the same role and quickly recognized her as an asset to my team. Lindsay's eye for detail, her work ethic, and her dedication to helping the people of the new 2nd congressional district made her one of my most valuable employees. Her understanding of the issues in the district and her connections to the community--including sitting on boards for the Open Door Community Health Center and Redwood Parks Conservancy--helped me better understand issues in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity counties. Lindsay increasingly focused on veterans' issues and health care, led event planning efforts, ran my Congressional Art Competition, and brought her extraordinary problem-solving skills to bear on an array of issues.

Madam Speaker, as Lindsay moves on to Humboldt State University's College of Professional Studies in Arcata, I hope you will join me and my staff in wishing her the best in all her future endeavors. We will miss her joyful nature, her sense of duty and her deep competence, and I am grateful for her work on my constituents' behalf.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Representative Mike Thompson, to recognize the important role of the American Red Cross Northwest Chapter which contributed to the 2019 presidential declaration of March as Red Cross Month.

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has become one of the nation's largest humanitarian organizations, providing disaster relief, emergency volunteer training, and support to military families across the country. Each year the Red Cross responds to an average of 62,000 disasters across the country, operating emergency shelters, serving meals and distributing relief materials to millions of disaster victims. These efforts are largely completed by a resilient network of volunteers that the organization has trained throughout the country, who are estimated to respond to an emergency once every eight minutes. This scale of service and rate of response is truly unmatched by other humanitarian efforts nationwide.

In the last few years, my colleague and I have both witnessed the importance of the American Red Cross Northwest Chapter in a time of crisis. During the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, the Northwest Chapter operated shelters, collected and distributed relief materials, and provided emotional and mental health support of fire victims throughout Northern California. In fact, the Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted 330 families with 123 local disasters and assisted 98 military families with emergency assistance this past year alone. And as recently as last month, the Red Cross was engaged in flood relief efforts in parts of my district that were severely impacted by rain and flooding caused by atmospheric rivers.

Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt first declared March as Red Cross Month in 1943, we have come together at this time, each year, to celebrate the accomplishments of the organization and raise awareness of its value to the American people. And as natural disasters continue to rise with each coming year, the humanitarian efforts of the American Red Cross and its many volunteers become that much more important.

Madam Speaker, the American Red Cross performs a critical humanitarian role throughout our country. The success of their efforts is largely connected to the organization's ability to recruit and train volunteers who can be called to action in their local communities. The American Red Cross Northwest Chapter has provided invaluable assistance to our congressional districts in time of highest need. Therefore, please join my colleague and I in thanking them and in helping to raise awareness for the American Red Cross by supporting the annual declaration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of John Dell'Osso, a National Park Service ranger who is retiring after more than 35 years of dedicated federal service.

Born in San Francisco, John's family moved to Petaluma where he would attended school. After getting his AA degree from the Santa Rosa Junior College in 1981, John received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Management from the University of California Davis two years later.

John began his career with the National Park Service in May of 1983 at the Point Reyes National Seashore. Starting as a Seasonal Interpretive Ranger that summer, John worked as an Administrative Clerk and a park ranger, eventually becoming a Supervisory Park Ranger. In 1994, John was promoted to Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education for the Point Reyes National Seashore, and later became the park Public Information Officer, roles that he held for 25 years.

John's leadership brought great acclaim to the park and the National Park Service over the years, especially in the area of universal accessibility. Through design work on exhibit panels, accessibility guides, audio descriptions, and braille publications, John expanded the way in which the park shares information to the public. The park interpretation and resource education division has received 14 national media awards under his leadership, which is more than any other national park unit. During his tenure, John also worked to expand accessibility in parks across the country, and the National Park Service recognized him for his work on sea level rise exhibits and messaging in 2017.

John's dedication to public service extended beyond his work for the National Park Service.

He was elected to the Cotati City Council in 1994, served three four- year terms on the council, and chaired the Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association. John has also served as a member of numerous local boards and commissions, including the Cotati Library Foundation, Rancho Cotati Little League, Sonoma County Library Commission, and the Santa Rosa Junior College Agriculture and Natural Resources Advisory Committee, among others

Madam Speaker, John Dell'Osso has spent his career making our parks more educational and accessible to the public. His commitment to public service through the National Park Service, and as a local elected official, has had a significant and positive impact on the region and the country. Therefore, please Join me in congratulating John Dell'Osso on the occasion of his retirement, and wishing him well on his next endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Hall Middle School in Mann County for its recognition on February 27, 2019, as a 2018-2019 ``School to Watch'' by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

With 521 students, Hall Middle School has strong roots in its Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. It has acquired a well-deserved reputation as a collaborative and compassionate school that works hard for its students and community by working to inspire and produce well- rounded, lifelong learners, and innovative contributors to our world. A 2013 California Distinguished School and a 2015 Gold Ribbon Award for Excellence in Arts Education, Hall Middle School is now one of only sixteen California schools, and the first in Mann County, to be named a ``School to Watch.''

The National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform and its ``Schools to Watch'' program encourages students to be lifelong learners, and to flourish academically, developmentally, and socially though a wide range of classes and topics. The criteria for identifying ``Schools to Watch'' are high-performance academics and grades, best practices, effective policies, and engagement with the local community. Hall Middle School embodies these characteristics, which are a direct reflection of an effective, high-quality educational program and a strong commitment from the school's leadership, staff, students, families, and the community.

The staff at Hall Middle School has developed a wide range of curricula tailored to meet its students' needs, and has engaged strong and active support from parent and community volunteers. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Hall Middle School community on being named a 2019 ``School to Watch,'' and in sending them best wishes on more accolades in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Cedars of Marin reaching its centennial. The oldest and largest organization of its kind in Marin County, Cedars was the first residential school facility to serve individuals with mental disabilities in the western United States, a mission that it has stayed true to this day.

Founded in 1919, Cedars was originally established as a privately- owned school in Marin County for children with mental disabilities. After a change in ownership in 1938, the school grew, adding two dormitories and 22 acres of land over the next 18 years. By 1964, the school had expanded significantly, adding a ranch lodge, pool, workshop, and stables. One year later, the privately-owned school

was incorporated as a nonprofit, with the name Cedars Development Foundation. As a newly minted nonprofit, the organization pivoted to focus on both the education and housing of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This led to the opening of Cedars' first community-based home in 1968, pioneering a model for which the organization would become known. By 1984, Cedars began its Community Living Skills day program, expanding the organization's programming into skills development and community building for individuals who weren't housed by the program. Over the next seven years, Cedars would continue to innovate, adding a Community Challenges program, opening eight additional community-based homes, and initiating a successful capital campaign to renovate the original site. By 1995, the organization was officially re-named Cedars of Marin.

Today, Cedars of Marin has provided services to over 2,500 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through the organization's innovative community-based housing program, Cedars now houses approximately 100 individuals across its main campus and ten group homes, building a safe and productive environment for them to reach their highest levels of independence. The organization's skills- focused day programs serve over 190 individuals each weekday, creating a larger community of support for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, while also helping their families.

Madam Speaker, Cedars of Marin has continued to be an innovative leader in the areas of residential, educational, and community building programs for the intellectually and developmentally disabled. Through the unwavering dedication of its leadership and staff, the organization has never lost sight of its original purpose to provide opportunities to help these individuals live as independently as possible, while leading happy and productive lives. Therefore, please join me in congratulating Cedars of Marin for a century of inspiring work, and in wishing them many more years of success.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.