Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to represent the Second District of California, which spans from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Mine is a district with hundreds of miles of pristine coastline, with numerous rivers, and coldwater fisheries, with ancient forests and redwood trees, with cities located right up against San Francisco Bay.

It's a district where unique climatic factors have combined to create some of the world's greatest wine appellations. And we know, in the Second District of California, that we cannot wait to address the threat of climate change.

On the State level, I have fought to defend and successfully implement California's world-leading greenhouse gas reduction law for the past 6 years, but that is not enough. We need leadership here at the Federal level.

If we fail to act, Mr. Speaker, the livelihoods of fishermen, crabbers, foresters, farmers and others in my district are going to suffer great harm. The cost of Congress continuing to bury its head on the issue of climate change is simply too great.

And so I am proud to be joining other colleagues, with Chairman Waxman, in the Safe Climate Caucus, and to take this cause to the national level.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Novato resident Patricia (Patty) Bennett as the 2012 Citizen of the Year for the Town of Novato located in Mann County in Northern California.

Patty's enduring service to the town is marked by her quiet presence and many positive outcomes. As a local community activist committed to the growth and care of the Novato community, Patty has been serving on various committees around town for many years. Since 2004, Patty Bennett has served on the board of the Novato Youth Center (NYC), where in addition to her duties as Vice-President of the NYC Board and chairperson of the Development Committee, she founded and co-chairs their biannual fundraising event Cruisin' the Classics.

Patty's strong compassion for working parents motivated her to join NYC board of directors in 2004 to help make accessible quality childcare for these parents. Among her many contributions as a director, Patty played a critical role in transitioning the leadership of the NYC after the retirement of an Executive Director who served 23 years.

Patty's dedication to Novato has remained constant though the years. She currently serves as Treasurer for ``Novato 2010--Celebrating 50 years'' Birthday Celebration Steering Committee and has worked for many years on the Coordinating Committee for the Paint the Town Red event. She is also an Elder at the Presbyterian Church of Novato and has served as President of the Parent Teacher Association for Pleasant Valley Elementary School and on Leadership Councils for Novato Unified School District schools including Pleasant Valley Elementary, Sinaloa Middle and San Marin High School.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is appropriate that we honor Patty Bennett for her exceptional community service and civic engagement, commend her generosity of spirit and extend to her our congratulations for her selection as the 2012 Citizen of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate San Rafael, California, resident Miriam Lawler on the occasion of her 90th birthday on January 30, 2013.

Miriam Lawler is a native Californian, born in Los Angeles on January 30, 1923. She attended Santa Monica College and moved to San Francisco where she worked for the San Francisco Chronicle. Miriam went on to obtain her bachelor's degree from Dominican College and studied Spanish at the College of Marin.

During WWII, Miriam met William Lawler during his shore leave from his Navy destroyer. They married and settled in San Rafael, California, where she still lives today. Miriam has two sons: Martin and William Jr.

Always active in politics, Miriam worked on the presidential campaigns of Adlai Stevenson, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy. In Northern California, she also was involved in helping launch Clem Miller's successful congressional election. Throughout her life, Miriam has advocated for social justice and civil rights, has assisted children with learning disabilities, and has volunteered to help children learn to read.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is appropriate that we honor Miriam Lawler as she turns age 90 for her inspirational and prolonged civic engagement.

``The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.''

Article II, section 3:

``He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;

``He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper.''