Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I erroneously voted ``yes'' on roll call vote 36, an amendment to H.R. 5 offered by Mr. Peterson of Minnesota. I intended to vote ``no'' on the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Gary Giacomini, who passed away on December 2, 2016, after a lifetime of service to his community.

Born in San Francisco in 1939, Mr. Giacomini spent most of his life as a resident of Marin County. He attended St. Mary's College in Moraga, and earned his law degree at San Francisco Hasting College of Law in 1965 as an honor student. A stalwart, civic-minded community member, Mr. Giacomini occupied many roles over the course of his highly productive professional and political career. Renowned for his bedrock strength, and sometimes cantankerous demeanor, he was always straight- forward and clear about his principles and convictions.

Political from a young age, Mr. Giacomini was student body president of Marin Catholic High School. He won a seat on the Lagunitas School Board in 1968, and was elected to represent Marin's 4th District on the Board of Supervisors in 1972, where he served until 1996. Upon his retirement from the Board of Supervisors, he was the longest-serving county supervisor in the history of California. In addition, he was a member of 25 other state and regional boards and commissions, including 10 years on the California Coastal Commission and 20 years on the Golden Gate Bridge District. In 2007, Marin Magazine named him one of the 13 most influential people in county history.

Chief among his many exceptional accomplishments for Marin's residents and environment, Mr. Giacomini led the movement to preserve West Marin open space, protect the environment, and preserve the county's historic ranchlands. In appreciation for his enduring resolve and track record protecting these lands, in 2001 a 1,500-acre open space preserve in the San Geronimo area was named for Giacomini. He was dubbed as one of the heroic group of Rebels with a Cause for his work to save a vast stretch of Marin's coastline for parks and farms. He also instigated, with his colleagues, public ownership of the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Marin to Eureka in the 1980s, paving the way to Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit's future use of the tracks, where service is expected to begin this year.

In 1985, Mr. Giacomini coordinated a strenuous battle to ensure the Buck Trust, bequeathed to Marin for its needs and programs by Ross philanthropist Beryl Buck, was not dispersed outside Marin. This culminated in the formation of the Marin Community Foundation in 1986. After leaving public service in 1996, Mr. Giacomini went on to serve two terms on the board of the Marin Community Foundation, including time as Chairman of the Board.

Over the years, Mr. Giacomini developed a well-earned reputation, as noted by the Marin Independent Journal, for his ability to promote common ground between the interests of Marin's diverse agricultural community and preservationists. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two sons, Andrew and Antony; a sister, Roberta Powers; and five grandchildren. He has left an indelible mark not just on his family and the community of Marin, but on children and families far and wide.

A formidable force whose presence will be greatly missed, it is my honor, Mr. Speaker, to recognize the breadth and depth of Mr. Giacomini's legacy of commitment and his many victories for the people and places of Marin. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to him today and honor his memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pamela Patterson, as she retires from her career as the Chief Executive Officer of West Company and the Director of the Mendocino Small Business Development Center.

Born and raised in Virginia, Pamela Dunlap Patterson later obtained an Associate Degree at Massey Junior College in Atlanta and began a career in the retail industry. Pamela headed west to California in 1979 to become the Retail Merchandising Teacher for the Fort Bragg High School Regional Occupation Program. She then went on to serve as the literacy coordinator for the Mendocino County Library in Fort Bragg, and eventually, the coordinator for the ``Read Right'' program through Georgia Pacific where she helped improve literacy for workers in the timber industry.

In 1998, Pamela Patterson began her long career with West Company, a pilot Women's Business Center funded by the Small Business Administration. In 2004, she took the helm of the organization which at the time was struggling financially. Under Pamela's leadership, West Company stabilized funding sources, and secured a contract as the Small Business Development Center in 2007. Over her term as the Chief Executive Officer she has secured millions of dollars in funding to help micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses to start and grow as means of improving the local economy.

Pamela Patterson's legacy is one of dedicated service to entrepreneurship and an educated workforce. Please join me in congratulating Pamela on her retirement and expressing our deep appreciation for her long and exceptional career, and her outstanding contributions to Mendocino County's workforce and economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sun Valley Elementary School which was selected as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in recognition for its Exemplary High Performance as one of the top schools in the nation as measured by state and national assessments. This highly competitive award reflects outstanding academic achievement and the highest caliber of professional service, and family and community engagement.

With over 500 students from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, Sun Valley Elementary School offers comprehensive educational programs that academically challenge and instill a joy of learning in its students and ensures every child has the skills and knowledge to reach their full potential.

Mr. Speaker, this hard-earned distinction reflects a true community success. From the ``Super Star'' students and their families, to the staff and administrators and the extended community, Sun Valley Elementary School has developed an education model for the state and nation, empowering students of today to be the problem-solvers, inventors, and pioneers of tomorrow. Please join me in congratulating Sun Valley Elementary School on this impressive achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Steven (Steve) Kinsey as he retires from the Marin County Board of Supervisors after serving the people residing in the Fourth District, and Marin County, with exceptional distinction for nearly 20 years. Throughout his tenure, Supervisor Kinsey has been steadfast and passionate in his pursuit of social equity, protection of the agricultural landscape and historic ranching community in West Marin, and improved transportation infrastructure and services, among many other noble causes. Most importantly, he has been productive through the decades, accomplishing many victories for the people and places of Marin.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1952, Supervisor Kinsey earned his B.A. in Architecture from Arizona State University. He moved to Forest Knolls in 1978 where he raised a family, owned and operated his own design/build business for 18 years, and volunteered in the community. As a member of the Marin Conservation League Board of Directors, he was recognized for promoting water conservation strategies and advocating for a Bayland Corridor to increase protections for bayside wetlands. A stalwart public school advocate, he secured for the Lagunitas School District funds for facilities improvements and school-based health and support services for its students and families.

Elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1996, Supervisor Kinsey took office on January 7, 1997, and served for five terms, representing all of the coastal areas of Marin County as well as several bay side communities. As an elected official, including five times as Board President, he focused on watershed and fishery restoration, sustainable agriculture, the integration of transportation and land use planning, and sound fiscal management. He championed the needs of children and families, and has worked closely with communities of color to reduce the barriers to equal opportunity.

He served on the boards of numerous organizations including the Board of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Marin Transit, and the Transportation Authority of Marin, which he chaired from 1998 to 2011. He joined the California Coastal Commission in 2011, was its chairman three times, and served on the board of the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Under his leadership, Marin has become a national leader in biking and walking, including Safe Routes to School, and established the Bay Area Ridge Trail. During thirteen years as Chair of Marin's Transportation Authority and Congestion Management Agency, Supervisor Kinsey led Marin's efforts to improve mobility along the 101 corridor and throughout his district. Drawing on his consensus-building skills, he secured community support and funding for voter-highway improvements in the Twin Cities area, and extending the Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit (SMART) train to the ferry.

It has been my honor and pleasure to join with Supervisor Kinsey to solve significant and complex community issues. From defeating the proposed expansion of Death Row at San Quentin State Prison in 2011, to procuring affordable housing in surplused U.S. Coast Guard facilities in West Marin, to crafting a long-term solution to traffic congestion in Muir Woods and Muir Beach, to fighting to protect continued historic ranching families in Point Reyes National Seashore, and to ensuring the upcoming SMART system reaches its intended breadth of service up and down the line, Supervisor Steve Kinsey has been a tireless strategic and practical thinker, and an effective civic representative.

Steve Kinsey's legacy is one of dedicated service to the environment and health and well-being of Marin County. Please join me in congratulating him on his retirement, expressing deep appreciation for his long and exceptional career and outstanding contributions throughout the County, and wishing him well in his next adventure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dolly Nave, who passed away on December 23, 2014, at her home in San Rafael, California. As a dedicated community organizer and leader, Ms. Nave helped to transform recreational facilities in the City of San Rafael for the benefit of countless Marin County residents.

In the 1980s, on behalf of Ms. Nave's eight children and the children in the local community, Ms. Nave rallied the support of local contractors and volunteers to donate the equipment, labor, and funding necessary to breathe new life into public schools and city-owned recreation fields and facilities. Ms. Nave continued to improve recreational facilities throughout her life, and founded the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park, San Rafael.

Ms. Nave was a skillful community leader who possessed the necessary organizational skills to always put the pieces in place and get the job done. She was the project manager for the construction of Marin Community Fields in Larkspur and was in the forefront of numerous projects at San Rafael High, initiating the successful ``Save Night Football'' campaign. A volunteer at Albert Park for 35 years, she became known as the ``Angel of Albert Park'' because she was one of its foremost advocates. In 1993, she was a founding board member and construction chair of the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park. The ten bocce courts are now used by more than 1,000 players a week.

Ms. Nave's work did not go unnoticed, and her longstanding commitment to others was recognized by numerous awards including San Rafael Citizen of the Year, the Marv Lechner Award from San Rafael High, and Woman of the Year for California's Third Senate District in 1991. She was also one of the first women to be inducted into the Marin Athletic Foundation High School Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, Dolly Nave's selfless efforts have benefited countless residents of San Rafael and Marin County. Her legacy will not soon be forgotten as her accomplishments can be seen all around the City of San Rafael. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and express our deepest condolences to her husband, Rich; three sons, Richard Jr., Paul and Tom; and three daughters, Sheri, Kathy and Patti; as well as her twenty-four grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. Ms. Nave was predeceased by her sons, Bruce and Louie.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Kathy Nickel on the occasion of her recognition as the Novato Citizen of the Year.

Ms. Nickel has been a longtime resident of Novato and is well known for her community involvement. She was an active public school supporter, serving as PTA President, chairman of Safe Grad Night at San Marin High School and member of curriculum planning teams, and she continued to support Novato public schools in an advisory capacity after her children had graduated. Ms. Nickel also served as a Troop Leader for Marin Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and was a team parent for Novato Youth Soccer during this time.

Ms. Nickel's civic involvement has been a constant and positive force for the community, including her roles as Chair of the Novato Fourth of July Committee, member of the City of Novato's Birthday Steering Committee, and as a volunteer coordinator for the Art and Wine Festival for the Novato Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Nickel has been an exemplary citizen of Novato, striving to improve the city for all its residents. Her inspiring commitment and dedication will have a lasting impact on her community for many years to come.

Please join me in expressing deep appreciation to Kathy Nickel for her long and impressive record of public service.

Mr. Speaker, we rise today in honor of William (Bill) Kortum, who passed away on December 20, 2014, following a battle with cancer. As a pioneering conservationist, Mr. Kortum championed many successful campaigns and brought lasting environmental protections to Sonoma County and the State of California, and his passing leaves a void that won't soon be filled. Considered by many to be the father of the environmental movement in Sonoma County, Mr. Kortum was known for his strength of conviction and tenacity for protecting the environment. Always kind, always polite, Mr. Kortum knew how to motivate others towards positive change, and he is singularly responsible for instituting many lasting environmental protections, though he would never claim responsibility for them.

As a native of Petaluma, California, Bill Kortum grew up on his father's poultry ranch at a time when Sonoma County's open spaces were unmarred by urban development. Mr. Kortum went on to graduate from the University of California at Davis Veterinary School, serve his country in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, and establish the successful Cotati Veterinary Hospital.

By the early 1960's, Bill Kortum saw how a rapidly growing population would increasingly threaten the natural landscape of Sonoma County. He and his wife, Lucy, opposed unregulated development and fought to pioneer an alternative path. One of the first of many significant environmental victories that Bill Kortum and his allies achieved in Sonoma County was to prevent the planned development of PG&E's nuclear power plant at Bodega Head.

In 1972, Mr. Kortum fought to pass Proposition 20, a measure that established the California Coastal Commission, which continues to guarantee public access to the California coastline. As a visionary leader, he went on to establish Sonoma County Conservation Action, an organization that mobilized voters to secure urban growth limits around all nine cities in the county. He helped to create the Sonoma County Open Space District and championed other key institutions and causes, such as the Sonoma Land Trust, the SMART train, and public access to Lafferty Ranch.

Mr. Speaker, Bill Kortum's many accomplishments and dedication to preserving our nation's natural resources for future generations illustrates the substantial impact that one individual can have on making the world a better place. Mr. Kortum will not soon be forgotten, and his legacy in Sonoma County and along California's rugged coast will continue for years to come. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to him today and express our deepest condolences to his wife, Lucy; children, Frank, Julie Groves, and Sam; grandchildren, Mark Kortum, Holden and Dylan Groves, Will and Grace Kortum; and many nieces and nephews.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that this House should be voting for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure instead of these relentless attacks on women's access to health care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and memory of Bill Kortum, regarded by many as the father of the environmental movement in Sonoma County.

Bill grew up in a Sonoma County that was much more rural and undeveloped than today. By the early 1960s, he foresaw that a growing population could threaten the county's natural landscape, so he fought to protect the home he loved.

He was singularly responsible for instituting lasting environmental protections throughout Sonoma County and California, though he would never claim credit for them.

One of Bill's first victories was to prevent the development of PG&E's nuclear power plant at Bodega Head. He helped create the California Coastal Commission, which continues to guarantee public access to the coast today.

He established Sonoma County Conservation Action, helped create the Sonoma County Open Space District, and championed the Sonoma Land Trust and the SMART train.

Bill illustrates the incredible impact one person can have in making the world a better place. His legacy in Sonoma County and beyond will not soon be forgotten.

I extend my deepest condolences to his partner in much of this work, his dear wife Lucy, as well as his three children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dolly Nave, who passed away on December 23, 2014, at her home in San Rafael, California. As a dedicated community organizer and leader, Ms. Nave helped to transform recreational facilities in the City of San Rafael for the benefit of countless Marin County residents.

In the 1980s, on behalf of Ms. Nave's eight children and the children in the local community, Ms. Nave rallied the support of local contractors and volunteers to donate the equipment, labor, and funding necessary to breathe new life into public schools and city-owned recreation fields and facilities. Ms. Nave continued to improve recreational facilities throughout her life, and founded the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park, San Rafael.

Ms. Nave was a skillful community leader who possessed the necessary organizational skills to always put the pieces in place and get the job done. She was the project manager for the construction of Marin Community Fields in Larkspur and was in the forefront of numerous projects at San Rafael High, initiating the successful ``Save Night Football'' campaign. A volunteer at Albert Park for 35 years, she became known as the ``Angel of Albert Park'' because she was one of its foremost advocates. In 1993, she was a founding board member and construction chair of the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park. The six bocce courts are now used by more than 1,000 players a week.

Ms. Nave's work did not go unnoticed, and her longstanding commitment to others was recognized by numerous awards including San Rafael Citizen of the Year, the Marv Lechner Award from San Rafael High, and Woman of the Year for California's Third Senate District in 1991. She was also one of the first women to be inducted into the Marin Athletic Foundation High School Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, Dolly Nave's selfless efforts have benefited countless residents of San Rafael and Marin County. Her legacy will not soon be forgotten as her accomplishments can be seen all around the City of San Rafael. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and express our deepest condolences to her husband, Rich; three sons, Richard Jr., Paul and Tom; and three daughters, Sheri, Kathy and Patti; as well as her forty-two grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Sharon Mendoza Doughty, who passed away on November 19, 2014 following a long battle with cancer. A pioneering rancher, conservationist, teacher, winemaker and a natural leader, Ms. Doughty was a positive force within the local community.

Sharon Doughty grew up on her parents' historic B Ranch on the Point Reyes Peninsula. After the passing of her second husband, Bill Bianchini Jr., in the early 1980s, she took over the daily operations of their 800-acre dairy. Transitioning from a career as an accountant and teacher, Sharon Doughty became a full-time rancher with the help of her close family and friends.

Through her comprehensive knowledge of the dairy trade, Ms. Doughty became a natural leader within the North Bay dairy community and leaves behind a long legacy of positive impacts. The depth of her commitment to Marin County agriculture united fellow ranchers and helped to propel their products into national markets. A dedicated advocate for the preservation of local agricultural lands, Ms. Doughty served two terms as the president of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and one term as a member of the California Coastal Commission. She selflessly devoted her time and expertise to the Marconi Conference Center in Marshall and 4- H. Among her many honors, in 2007, Ms. Doughty was named the ``Woman of the Year'' for California's 6th Assembly District for her exceptional community leadership.

Mr. Speaker, Sharon Doughty's life teaches us that one woman can make a substantial difference. Her efforts will not soon be forgotten as much of her legacy lives on all around us in Marin County and beyond. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and express our deepest condolences to her husband Steve; daughters Kathleen von Raesfeld and Karen Taylor; brothers Joseph Mendoza Jr. and James Mendoza; grandchildren Audrey and Nina von Raesfeld, Camilla, William Joseph, and Eva Taylor; and nephew Will Clark.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dolly Nave, who passed away on December 23, 2014, at her home in San Rafael, California. As a dedicated community organizer and leader, Ms. Nave helped to transform recreational facilities in the City of San Rafael for the benefit of countless Marin County residents.

In the 1980s, on behalf of Ms. Nave's eight children and the children in the local community, Ms. Nave rallied the support of local contractors and volunteers to donate the equipment, labor, and funding necessary to breathe new life into public schools and city-owned recreation fields and facilities. Ms. Nave continued to improve recreational facilities throughout her life, and founded the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park, San Rafael.

Ms. Nave was a skillful community leader who processed the necessary organizational skills to always put the pieces in place and get the job done. She was the project manager for the construction of Marin Community Fields in Larkspur and was in the forefront of numerous projects at San Rafael High, initiating the successful ``Save Night Football'' campaign. A volunteer at Albert Park for 35 years, she became known as the ``Angel of Albert Park'' because she was one of its foremost advocates. In 1993, she was a founding board member and construction chair of the Marin Bocce Federation in Albert Park. The six bocce courts are now used by more than 1,000 players a week.

Ms. Nave's work did not go unnoticed, and her longstanding commitment to the others was recognized by numerous awards including San Rafael Citizen of the Year, the Marv Lechner Award from San Rafael High, and Woman of the Year for California's Third Senate District in 1991. She was also one of the first women to be inducted into the Marin Athletic Foundation High School Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, Dolly Nave's selfless efforts have benefited countless residents of San Rafael and Marin County. Her legacy will not soon be forgotten as her accomplishments can be seen all around the City of San Rafael. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and express our deepest condolences to her husband, Rich; three sons, Richard Jr., Paul and Tom; and three daughters, Sheri, Kathy and Patti; as well as her forty-two grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Carolyn Crnich, longtime recorder and registrar of voters for Humboldt County, on her retirement.

Carolyn's service to Humboldt County and the regional community has been exemplary. A fifth generation Humboldt County native, she began her work with the county in 1976 as a drafting supervisor in the Humboldt County Auditor's Office. Carolyn served as county recorder beginning in 1990. Carolyn was reelected and served unopposed in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, as the recorder, county clerk and registrar of voters offices were merged.

Carolyn was certified as a California Registered Elections Official by The Election Center in Houston, Texas, and by the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials. Her work was also recognized by the American Association of University Women, which named her Women's History Month honoree in 2009. Carolyn was a key founding member of the Humboldt Election Transparency Project, which has been recognized by the National Association of Secretaries of State, the Lori Grace Foundation for Election Integrity, the Election Verification Network, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mr. Speaker, Carolyn Crnich's commitment to county government and the vital role of elections in the community is commendable and worthy of recognition. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending our congratulations to her.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Marin French Cheese on the occasion of the company's 150th Anniversary Celebration on January 10, 2015.

In 1865, as the Civil War was drawing to an end, Jefferson Thompson made deliciously fresh cheese using the milk from his dairy cows at his Marin dairy farm. He developed a renowned reputation for his European style cheeses, and founded a creamery that would eventually be known as Marin French Cheese. 150 years later, Marin French Cheese operates in the same location, making it the longest continually operating cheese company in America. The company still creates the same classic styles of Brie and Camembert, crafting cheese in small batches using traditional cultures, coaxing the distinctly coastal California character and flavor into every cheese.

An internationally respected cheese maker, Marin French Cheese products have been honored with numerous well-deserved national and international awards over the years. On this momentous anniversary, it is appropriate to pay tribute to Marin French Cheese. Please join me in expressing congratulations to Marin French Cheese on one hundred fifty years of success and best wishes for an equally bountiful future.