Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of one of my constituents, Bill Jennings. Mr. Jennings has a long and storied resume. Currently, he is the executive director and chairman of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, a board member of the California Water Impact Network, and an executive committee member of Restore the Delta, a group that educates the public about the importance of the San Joaquin Delta.

Mr. Jennings has been recognized numerous times for his work on behalf of our environment and has received

many awards, including the International Conservation Award from the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Director's Achievement Award from the California Department of Fish and Game.

Mr. Jennings is an outspoken guardian of the San Joaquin Delta, and I admire his tireless dedication to protecting water quality in our environment. Bill Jennings reminds us of the importance of taking action to safeguard our treasured natural resources for generations to come.

It's been an honor to know Mr. Jennings, and it's encouraging to know that people like Mr. Jennings are out there working on our behalf.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Safe Climate Caucus to highlight the fact that investing in sustainable energy technologies won't only move the Nation towards a clean energy future, but it will also grow our economy.

In order to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, we must transition to lower carbon energy systems. Making the necessary investments in the Nation's smart grid is one way to facilitate this transition. Smart grid investments are already producing real economic benefits.

The Department of Energy recently released a report on the economic impact of Recovery Act investments in the smart grid. The report found that for every million dollars of direct spending on smart grid, the Nation's GDP increased by $2.5 million. In addition, a wide variety of industrial sectors have benefited from these smart grid investments.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is a real threat to our way of life, and there's no time to waste. Fortunately, if we take action now, we can cut pollution while growing our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Sara Cazares, who passed away last week.

Sara was born and raised in Stockton, attending Franklin High School, and later earning a degree in social anthropology from Harvard before coming back to the San Joaquin Valley she loved, to raise her family.

For Sara, the American Dream was something we should all aspire to: you go to school to live a better life and you take responsibility in your community. Her actions spoke to this commitment and to her character.

Sara had a long history of community involvement, working with the local hospitals, actively participating in the democratic process, mentoring children in the Franklin IB program, which aims to encourage students to become active and cross-cultural in this interrelated world, and other efforts. Most recently, she served as a Board Member of the Stockton Unified School District, influencing the lives of children She took great pride and joy in giving back, ensuring that our children received a quality education.

Sara was the epitome of how each of us can make a meaningful impact on those around us and that we can accomplish anything when the community works together. Her dedication, enthusiasm, spirit, and commitment to others is inspiring.

It is for these reasons that I ask my Colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Sara Cazares and in sending our thoughts and prayers to her beloved family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce a new achievement in mathematics.

We learned about square roots in middle school. In the 15th century, mathematicians discovered the square roots of negative numbers. These ``imaginary numbers'' form the basis of much science and engineering, which are applied for practical uses, like the design of airplane wings.

In the 1920s, Paul Dirac constructed the square roots of ``differential operators'' in the development of quantum mechanics, which is the basis of much high-tech science.

In the 1970s, another type of square root, called ``matrix factorization,'' which is important in physics, was discovered by David Eisenbud. This month, Daniel Murfet, a postdoc at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, announced new ways of linking matrix factorizations together, which will have numerous applications.

Mr. Murfet's work was funded by the National Science Foundation, and illustrates the importance of our Nation's continuing investment in the research and education of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

I thank my colleague from California, and I rise in support of Ms. Sanchez's amendment, but in opposition to the underlying bill, H.R. 624.

This legislation has positive aspects, but I'm concerned with the civil protections not required in H.R. 624. Ms. Sanchez's amendment is a necessary step toward improving the bill by giving oversight authority to a civilian agency.

Sharing information is absolutely essential; however, in exchange for the liabilities protections given to businesses that share cyber threat information with the government, it is our responsibility here in Congress to protect our constituents' private information. Businesses should be required to remove personally identifiable information before submitting data to Federal agencies.

I thank Ms. Sanchez again for her efforts, as well as Mr. Rogers and Mr. Ruppersberger for their efforts as leaders of the Intelligence Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shine the light on the importance of reducing our carbon emissions and the role of electric vehicles in accomplishing that mission.

Today, we import about half the oil we consume, and approximately 70 percent of that is used in transportation. Consumers should have access to affordable transportation, such as electric vehicles that use little or no gasoline.

Our Nation's businesses are becoming more energy efficient, improving energy sources, and investing in cleaner transportation. The EV industry is a great job creator. For example, in my district, there is an EV company that is producing great vehicles and bringing hundreds of jobs to the region. Moreover, there's a regional transit district that's utilizing electric and hybrid vehicles.

EVs are one part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change. They also play an important role in advancing a diverse American energy policy.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting clean electric vehicles on our roads and to make a commitment to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the Medal of Honor Day, as well as honoring Master Sergeant Richard Pittman, a veteran who served more than 20 years in the Marines. Mr. Pittman earned the Medal of Honor, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, along with others.

Mr. Pittman was born in Stockton, California, and attended local schools. After graduating from Franklin High School in Stockton, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War, he was assigned as a rifleman to the First Platoon, Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, and would later become squad leader.

While on assignment near the demilitarized zone, his leading company came under enemy fire at close range. Mr. Pittman risked his life to save many of his comrades while he exchanged fire and destroyed many enemy forces.

I've been fortunate to get to know Mr. Pittman over the last several years and know that he cares deeply for this country. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Master Sergeant Richard Pittman and all the Nation's other veterans for their bravery and service to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of how energy use impacts climate change and to show by example what is being done about it.

Our Nation continues to rely on high-polluting energy sources that threaten our climate and threaten our national security. We need to focus at all levels of government, Federal, State, and local, as well as in the private sector to promote clean energy and energy efficiency. State and Federal facilities, above all else, should be the gold standard for clean energy and energy efficiency.

For example, the Lincoln Unified School District, located in Stockton, California, recently committed to placing solar panels on rooftops throughout the school district. Lincoln was able to purchase these solar panels through low-interest Clean Renewable Energy Bonds to help finance this project that is estimated to save $1 million per year on energy costs. Not only does this project increase use of clean energy sources, but all the savings will be put back into educational programs, so this is truly a win-win for our students.

In addition, the University of the Pacific, also located in Stockton, California, has increased energy efficiency and sustainability. Pacific installed solar panels, energy-efficient lightbulbs in the quad and other locations, installed a robust recycling program, and installed a replacement chiller on its air-conditioning system which uses 52 percent less energy than the old chiller. It's impressive that these advancements were led by both students and faculty at the University of the Pacific.

These are just two examples of why I am introducing the Solar Energy Deployment Act. We need to encourage greater use of solar and other clean energies in our neighborhoods and on public and private lands. The Solar Energy Deployment Act awards grants on a competitive basis to State and local governments to design and install solar equipment on rooftops and above parking lots they own.

I commend the efforts made by the schools and public entities such as the Lincoln Unified School District, the University of the Pacific, and others across California and the United States that are making a concerted effort to utilize clean energy resources and to become more energy efficient.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lauren Rojas, a seventh-grade student from Antioch, California, whose exceptional science experiment earned first place at the Association of Christian Schools International science fair for the Northern California region and gained the attention of the world.

Lauren launched a weather balloon 18 miles above Earth to gather atmospheric data from the troposphere. Her experiment on the air we breathe represents the benefits of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in our nation. She is a bright, dedicated young woman who is passionate about learning.

Unfortunately, less than 25 percent of all STEM jobs are held by women. We must prioritize investments in STEM education to facilitate more opportunities for women to close this gap. Lauren Rojas and her science experiment are an example of what can be accomplished if we commit to this goal.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lauren Rojas, her scientific achievement, and the upcoming generation of women scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the public service of Floyd Weaver.

Floyd Weaver's family first moved to Stockton, CA in 1938 from Phoenix, Arizona. After attending local schools in Stockton, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. A proud veteran, he then dedicated his life to the social, educational, and economic advancement of community members in Northern California.

Mr. Weaver retired from the Stockton Unified School District after more than three decades of service as both a teacher and an administrator. Mr. Weaver was the first African American male principal in the Stockton Unified School District.

In addition, he served on the Stockton City Council and was also the first African American to be a two-term vice mayor for the city. In recognition of his hard work on the city council, local commissions, and his political activism, Mr. Weaver was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Stockton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 2006.

One of Mr. Weaver's proudest accomplishments was overseeing construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. plaza in downtown Stockton while he was vice mayor. He was also instrumental in changing the name of Charter Way in Stockton to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

As our nation celebrates African American History Month, it is important that we recognize local heroes who helped shape our communities and states for the better. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the public service contributions of Floyd Weaver.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Green Bros. Pharmacy in Stockton, CA, which closed its doors in 2012 after 82 years of business. The Green Bros. Pharmacy was one of Stockton's last remaining independent pharmacies.

This pharmacy, operated by Charlie Green, opened 82 years ago in downtown Stockton, and has served thousands of people throughout the area. Mr. Green has been a tremendous advocate on behalf of pharmacies and patients for decades. He served as president of the San Joaquin Pharmacists Association, the California Pharmacists Association, and the American Pharmacists Association, drawing on his firsthand experience about the needs of independent pharmacists and patients in San Joaquin County and across the country. Mr. Green worked tirelessly to improve our health care system. In addition, Mr. Green taught at the University of Pacific in the Pharmacy Department, educating and mentoring young students. I've had the pleasure of meeting with these students when they visit our nation's capital each year and know their dedication and commitment to our community. I know that Mr. Green played a part in their development as professionals. In recognition of his dedication, work ethic, and exemplary work, Mr. Green was presented with the Daniel B. Smith Excellence Award.

Independent pharmacies are essential to our communities, and businesses like Green Bros. have been a staple of neighborhoods across the country because of their personalized service, affordable prices, and ability to help patients.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the tremendous contributions of Green Bros. Pharmacy to San Joaquin County, as well as other independent pharmacies across the country.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I make this statement today to recognize the life and service of police officer Kevin Tonn. Officer Tonn served in the Galt police department for three years, protecting a community in California that I am honored to represent. Tragically, Officer Tonn was killed in the line of duty this past week while pursuing a criminal suspect.

Officer Tonn was the example of a model citizen. As a teenager who grew up in Roseville, California, he joined the Roseville Police Explorers; after he graduated high school, he joined the U.S. Army as a military police officer. Officer Tonn also served as a firefighter in New York before returning to California to join the Sacramento Sherriff's Academy. In 2009, he was sworn into the Galt police force as a K-9 officer. Kevin Tonn's character and selfless commitment to his fellow citizens is evidenced by his years of service, working in multiple capacities and uniforms.

Anyone who encountered Officer Tonn was impressed by his integrity, his ability to use humor to diffuse difficult situations, and his dedication to serving the community, especially our younger citizens. The Galt community was fortunate to have such a dedicated individual, and his memory will live on. It is never easy to lose a loved one, but my thoughts and prayers are with his family and the community at this difficult time, as I know the Nation has lost a true American hero.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Rosa Parks' 100th Birthday.

Rosa Parks is a true American icon and a civil rights activist. She is best known for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama to a white passenger in 1955. Consequently, she was arrested for civil disobedience.

Rosa Parks' actions were a catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama boycotted local buses and used other methods of transportation to get to work. The boycott lasted 381 days and helped bring about the repeal of the law requiring segregation on public buses. Her actions helped bring additional national attention to race inequality throughout the United States.

Her courage and resolve was emblematic of the efforts made during the civil rights movement. Her actions remain part of the story of the fight to secure every individual's right to share the American dream.

Rosa Parks' legacy continues to resonate throughout the country. For example, in my own district, the Aspire Rosa Parks Academy in Stockton, California celebrates Rosa Parks' birthday. This tremendous event serves as an important reminder of how far we have come as a nation and serves as an educational and historical tool. It brings the community together to recognize one of the true pioneers of the civil rights movement.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing not only one of our nations' most well-regarded activists and her contributions to American history, but the countless schools and groups like the Aspire Rosa Parks Academy who celebrate her legacy every year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the discovery of a new breakthrough in mathematics in the theory of vector bundles.

The theory of vector bundles plays a crucial role in modern mathematics. Part of the interest comes from its application to quantum mechanics, the theory that makes modern electronics possible. In quantum mechanics, a particle has a position, which is a point in space-time, as well as an internal structure, which is described by the theory of complex vector bundles.

Over the last few years, the Boij-Soderberg theory has given a new approach to vector bundles in several important areas. Just yesterday, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley, California, announced that several young scientists collaborated to discover how to extend this theory into new places, such as spheres.

The discovery is a significant accomplishment, and I commend these young scientists for their hard work and dedication. It's because of efforts like this that the U.S. continues to be a leader in innovation.

This morning, I rise to talk about two issues I care very passionately about: wind energy and veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I spent more than 20 years in the wind industry as a technology development engineer. In those early days, we saw some spectacular failures and dramatic failures, but every year, we put more into the technology development. We put a little bit this year in the gear box, in the foundations. Every year, we put a little increment of improvement in the control systems, in the field testing, in the power electronics so that we understood what was going on.

Today we have an industry that is a spectacular industry. The wind turbines now are hundreds of feet tall. They are extremely reliable. They produce power for 4 to 5 cents a kilowatt hour, depending on the resource. It's been a very successful business.

In the early days, the United States of America dominated that business because of consistent policies, consistent tax policies. We could rely on the policies being there year after year. Investors came in; engineers came in. But in the early 1980s, those policies began to change, and the technology began to leave our country.

We've seen, I've seen in my career, the incentives come and go over the years. I can tell you, it's devastating to the industry. It takes years to develop the infrastructure to produce wind turbines. The bearings are 20 feet in diameter. It takes expertise. In order to get a project in, you need to get a power purchase agreement. You need to get permits. You need to get investments, and then you need to order products. The products have a 1- to 2-year lead time they're so large. We're putting a lot at risk by ending the production tax credit.

And not only that, we'll see at least 40,000 jobs lost when the production tax credit expires at the end of this year. A lot of those jobs go to United States veterans, veterans of our armed services. And I can tell you what, when soldiers are trained, they're trained on large equipment. They're trained on big projects. They're well disciplined. They're reliable. They work in very adverse conditions. And that's exactly the kind of training you need to be a windsmith and a wind turbine installer, so it's been a very good fit.

There's one company in particular, Airstreams. They train wind turbine windsmiths, and 80 percent of their graduates are veterans. They get good jobs in this country. And when the production tax credit goes away, that removes the hope of many of our veterans.

Now, the veterans of our country were soldiers and sailors. They volunteered their time for our country. They put themselves in grave danger, and they came home and found a very bad employment situation. The wind energy has been a tremendous opportunity for them, and to take this hope away from our veterans is a travesty. Eliminating those jobs for veterans is absolutely unacceptable.

Now, the production tax credit, itself, is a very effective way to produce energy. You get paid for when you deliver energy in the production tax credit. In the early days, the credits went to investments, and a lot of investments were not so good. But today, the motive is to have a very reliable, a very productive set of equipment, and that's what happens when the production tax credit is extended. It creates jobs. It helps develop the manufacturing base in this country. And I can tell you, if you want to be a great country, you have to have a big manufacturing base. Of those things that are at risk of going overseas, our manufacturing base, our engineering expertise, jobs, investment, this will be a real loss for our country. It will hurt our veterans. And the last thing it will hurt is our climate.

Now, there are people who don't believe in climate change, but I can tell you what: The evidence out there is absolutely overwhelming, whether it's biological systems migrating to higher elevations, more northern latitude, whether it's the melting of our glaciers, whether it's Hurricane Sandy, event after event shows climate change is here; it's real; it's a threat, and we need to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Wind energy is a tremendous opportunity for us to do that.

So if we let the production tax credit expire, we are risking losing manufacturing. We're risking putting veterans out of work. We're risking climate change. This is something we can't afford to do as a Nation. The production tax credit is a very good investment in America and our future and our manufacturing base.

I urge all of my colleagues to consider helping to extend the production tax credits for our Nation and for our future.