Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Merced College's Los Banos Campus on its 50th anniversary. This phenomenal educational institution has been providing the students of Los Banos and the Central Valley with a high-quality educational institution for 50 years.

In 1971, Merced College President Lowell Barker alongside founding Dean Ted McVey decided to begin providing full-time education services to student in a rented facility. From there, the campus eventually moved to a plot of 10 acres of land donated by resident Richard Menezes in 1982.

They began the process of setting up their new permanent campus after a land donation from Larry and Georgeann Anderson in 2002. Finally, in 2007, the current Los Banos Campus opened its doors for its students, and has continued to provide a wide range of courses to assist students in their path towards a degree or transfer.

The Los Banos Campus also provides a great selection of career technical education courses that, in as little as six months, can prepare students to enter directly into the workforce. In addition to this, the campus continues to expand its use and implementation of various technological resources for its students to ensure they are set up for success.

For the students of Los Banos, this educational institution serves a vital role in providing robust opportunities, while ensuring that these individuals can have access to these experiences right in their own hometown, thus reducing significant barriers to their success.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Merced College's Los Banos Campus on its 50th anniversary. Its service and contributions to the State of California and the San Joaquin Valley will always be celebrated.

Madam Speaker, due to a medical issue, I missed votes on the passage of H.R. 4481, the Small Business 7(a) Loan Agent Transparency Act, H.R. 4531, the 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act, and H.R. 4515, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 351, Roll Call No. 352, and Roll Call No. 353.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat and hero who singlehandedly saved tens of thousands of lives of people fleeing the Nazi persecution in 1940.

On October 19, 2021, Sousa Mendes was laid to rest in the National Pantheon in Lisbon, Portugal.

He was proudly Portuguese and had a deep love of country, family, and the arts. He served as the Portuguese consulate general in Bordeaux, France, in 1940.

When Hitler launched his invasion of France on May 10, 1940, millions of people suddenly found themselves in imminent danger from Nazi attack.

Thousands sought visas in the consulate in Bordeaux trying to escape. In June of 1940, Sousa Mendes issued an estimated 30,000 visas, including to roughly 10,000 Jews fleeing for their lives with their families, despite the Salazar regime having forbidden their diplomats in Portugal from issuing such visas to refugees.

The Israeli historian Yehuda Bauer cited Sousa Mendes' actions as perhaps the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.

As a punishment for disobeying the mandates of his country's Salazar regime, Sousa Mendes was stripped of his job, denied a pension, and pushed into poverty. His home was repossessed, and he suffered two strokes before passing away in 1954.

``I may have erred,'' he wrote, ``but if so, I did it unintentionally, having followed the voice of my conscience, which . . . never failed to guide me in the fulfillment of my duties, in full awareness of my responsibilities.''

After years without recognition for his heroism, I commend the decision to lay Sousa Mendes to rest in the National Pantheon, celebrating his courage.

Please join me in honoring Aristides de Sousa Mendes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the Private First Class Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Zeldin, for his good work and his efforts on behalf of veterans who serve our country with great honor.

Roughly 15 million adults in the United States suffer from post- traumatic stress disorder, otherwise known as PTSD. The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that between 15 and 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have had post-traumatic stress disorder in their lifetime; about 12 percent of Desert Storm veterans have had post-traumatic stress disorder; and between 11 and 20 percent of those who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom now also, sadly, have been subject to post-traumatic stress disorder in a given year.

These statistics are staggering, and, sadly, because of PTSD, many veterans have taken their lives. Our servicemen and -women sacrifice so much to protect our freedom, and we must do all we can to help them recover and prevent these tragic losses.

In 2013 the State of New York, under the leadership of Representative Zeldin and others, established the Dwyer program to support veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, otherwise referred to as TBI, by connecting veterans with other veterans who suffer through similar struggles. Over the years, the program has created a safe, confidential, and educational network for thousands of veterans to support each other on their transition to post-service life; and this is so important.

The Veterans Administration has found that one key part to help our veterans is to ensure that they feel connected to their communities and know that they are not alone in their struggles that they face and that they can come back and become a contributing member to their community as they were when they left. Expanding the Dwyer program nationwide, therefore, is crucial to save lives and help our veterans successfully transition to civilian life when they come home.

The San Joaquin Valley of California, which I am honored to represent, is home to nearly 30,000 veterans. Throughout my time in Congress, veterans and their families have been one of my top priorities. I have spent 17 years working side by side with the Veterans Administration assisting veterans with PTSD, creating a veterans' home, expanding veterans' healthcare, and providing a whole host of efforts that deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and pending claims for service-connected benefits. When we support them, we also must never forget about their families because it is both them and their families.

Next month on November 11 we are going to celebrate Veterans Day, and I can't think of a better thing that we can all do than to work on this legislation successfully and say thank you to those who have served our Nation. I am a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation to provide our veterans with the support, healthcare, and treatment they have earned and, therefore, that they deserve. This nationwide expansion is long overdue.

I want to congratulate and thank my colleagues for their efforts. We can do more, and we must do more. Every veteran counts on us to do our part because they have done theirs.

I commend the gentleman and my colleagues on this effort. It is very important, and it is the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Sadly, domestic violence has plagued our families and communities in the Nation for far too long.

Each year, one in three women and one in four men in the United States experience domestic violence.

My hometown of Fresno has, sadly, one of the highest rates in California of verified domestic violence calls to the police department.

We cannot ignore these staggering statistics, and we must do more to address this crisis. This year, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act and the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, fix, to prevent violence and expand victim services to our communities.

These bills would help organizations working tirelessly to uplift survivors, including the Marjaree Mason Center, the Centro La Familia, and the Valley Crisis Center in my district.

This week, the House also will be voting on the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, of which I am a cosponsor. This bill aims to improve services for victims of domestic, dating, and family violence, and we need to invest more.

I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing these efforts to end domestic violence. As chair and cofounder of the Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, it ought to be our priority to benefit those survivors and provide them the resources they deserve.

Madam Speaker, the time is now to make historic investments in families, workers, and communities across the country.

Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves access to modern, dependable infrastructure to maintain the quality of life for Americans in the 21st century. That is why we must pass the President's bipartisan infrastructure package tomorrow.

We are living off the investments our grandparents and parents made generations ago. In many communities, that is no longer sustainable.

In my home State of California, we are suffering from the devastating effects of climate change, historical fires, and droughts.

Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, which I represent, also need an infrastructure that reflects their ability to put food on America's dinner table every night. The devastating dry conditions and the lack of water have led many of them to fallow their fields, hundreds and thousands of acres of productive farmland.

It is as simple as this: Without food from our farmers, Americans don't eat. It is a national security issue. Therefore, we must fix our broken water infrastructure system.

The only way to ensure farmers have the water they need to feed our Nation is to build and improve more conveyance and storage facilities.

This infrastructure package will help that, as well as efforts that we are pursuing under the reconciliation package. We need to capture and improve and store water for times such as now.

In addition to that, we need to make other critical investments in rural and underserved areas by expanding broadband. Broadband access today is just like rural electrification was in the 1930s. No American should be without broadband.

We also learned from the COVID-19 crisis that access to quality healthcare is critical. It is critical that we have ample physicians and nurses. We can make more protective equipment, but we can't make more doctors and nurses. Therefore, we have a serious shortage of healthcare professionals, and that is why a part of this effort to build back America better is to provide medical schools and underserved areas improved access to our broadband. That is critical. We must do that.

In addition, investing in public transportation for our economy is just as essential. The United States is trailing other nations when it comes to investments in modern infrastructure and transportation like high-speed rail. It is time that we bring our system into the 21st century.

Finishing California's high-speed rail efforts, along with four other corridors in the country, will help our climate, improve traffic gridlock, and reduce emissions that pollute the air.

Climate change is an important part of this essential package of investing in our infrastructure. We know, with the results of droughts, fires, floods, and hurricanes, that the climate is changing, and we need to provide tools to address that.

Without critical investments in this infrastructure package that we will vote on tomorrow, our Nation will suffer. Making life better for our constituents is my top priority and should be the priority of Congresspeople throughout the country. It requires us to focus on the health and development of our communities, and the economy needs us to support this effort.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Madam Speaker, as we talk about building back better, let me also note that we must pass a continuing resolution to ensure that government stays operating.

Shutting down the government is not an option, and we should act upon this in the next 24 hours to whatever extended date is agreed as well as lifting the debt ceiling.

In the 17 years I have been here, I have never, under Republican and Democratic administrations alike, voted to shut down government. That is irresponsible, and therefore, we must also lift the debt ceiling. This is, in fact, to pay bills that Congress in the previous administration has already created, and we don't want to be deadbeats.

The impacts on our economy would be devastating in terms of even contemplating shutting down government or not lifting the debt ceiling.

Honoring Sherwood Boehlert

Madam Speaker, I was saddened to learn of our colleague Congressman Sherry Boehlert's passing. I served with him during his last term, as he was chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Sherry was terrific. Sherry's focus on making sure that Americans address the needs of science in a changing world was always at the forefront as chairman of the committee. I went with Sherry on an incredible trip to Antarctica to explore the impacts of climate change.

Beyond his contributions to the Congress and to the people of our country, Sherry was an avid baseball fan. Sherry loved representing Cooperstown and had the best baseball collection I have ever seen.

God bless you, Sherry, and your family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Richard ``Rick'' Cosyns. Rick passed away on September 7, 2021 on a hunting trip, doing what he loved. Rick was a husband, father, son, and friend.

Rick was the son of Albert and Margaret Cosyns. He grew up on a family farm in Madera, California where he attended St. Joachim's school and Madera High School. In his youth, he was involved in various 4-H projects and loved all kinds of physical activity including football, and continued to enjoy skiing, competitive shooting, traveling, and hunting as much as he could throughout his life.

For college, Rick studied at California State University, Fresno where he received a degree in Plant Science. After graduating from Fresno State, he became very involved in the Plant Science industry and helped run his family farm with his brother, Allen. Rick has been a general partner in Cosyns Farms since 1977 and has had involvement in pistachios, alfalfa, almonds, and 12 varieties of wine grapes. He also operated a honeybee pollination service and consulted on farm management services.

In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his beloved wife Lynne and many friends. He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time in the orchards, vineyards and foothill ranch. He was the life of the party at any event he attended. Rick and his adored family and friends spent much of their time outdoors while camping, hunting, and fishing, but he also found great enjoyment in the small comforts of life such as a good glass of wine.

Not only was Rick a dedicated family man and husband for over 30 years, but he was always committed to the community of the Central Valley. He served as a director on the Madera Irrigation District, as a member of the Madera Planning Commission, as well as various other community organizations. In addition to his civil contributions, he also served as a supportive parish member of St. Joaquim's Catholic Church in Madera. Annually, Rick would help me at the fair, and he always made time to help his community.

Rick is survived by his wife Lynne; son Will; daughter Maggie; his sister Linda, and her husband Carlos Reynoso; his brother Allen, and his wife Susan Cosyns, and his large extended family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Richard ``Rick'' Cosyns. His service and contributions to the Central Valley and the State of California will be missed. I join his family and friends in celebrating Rick's life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John Robert Lawson. John passed away peacefully and surrounded by his friends and family on August 24, 2021. John was a father, son, grandfather, and friend.

John was the son of Jess and Jane (Lawson) Smith. He went to school in Fresno, California at Heaton Elementary, St. Joseph Military Academy, and Fresno High School. He came from humble beginnings and left his home at 13 years old. John worked throughout school by mowing lawns, delivering newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times, and worked at a gas station

After high school, John enlisted in the Army, and after returning from his discharge, he began growing his trucking company known as Lawson Rock & Oil. In order to start his business, he saved 30 percent of everything he made so that he could purchase a truck. From there, he was able to grow his company and it is now made up of hundreds of trucks and employees. His story is the perfect example of a self-made businessman and an inspiration to all who hear it.

As a family man and business owner, John never failed to give back to his community. John would speak on the importance of a high school diploma. He received his 60 years later and would tell high school students to always take advantage of the opportunities around them. His efforts included serving on the California Transportation Commission, appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. He also served on the Fresno County Planning Commission. In addition to these contributions, John helped sponsor The Lawson Beneto Classic golf tournament that focused on benefitting children with Autism. Along with many other charitable community donations, he helped fundraiser for Terry's House at Community Regional Medical Center.

In his free time, John enjoyed racing, riding motorcycles, and collecting and restoring hot rods. He enjoyed restoring hot rods and restoring cars so much, he would share that passion with his friends. His love for cars took him all over the United States and Canada by attending different car shows. He collaborated with driver, Billy Boat in the 1990's and they set records for main event victories like the 1997 Chili Bowl nationals. Throughout this time, he had one of the largest collections of 1932 Fords.

John was survived by his loving wife Gina Lawson; his son JR and wife Suzanne, son Jonathan and wife Ashley, son Christopher Parrino; and daughter Patty Lawson. He had many grandchildren, his sister Terri Rea, and husband Scott, and friends missing him.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of John Robert Lawson. His service and contributions to the Central Valley and the State of California will be missed. I join his family and friends in celebrating John's life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Randy Paragary. Randy passed away surrounded by his loving family on August 14, 2021 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Randy was a husband, father, son, and friend to many.

After graduating from C.K. McClatchy High School, he attended California State University, Sacramento and the McGeorge School of Law. Randy received his degree in law, but he decided to put his dedication into his career to entrepreneurship. The risk paid off. At the young age of 23, he opened his first bar called the ParaPow Palace in 1969. He started his growth with food, nightlife, and restaurants. The Paragary Restaurant Group owned and operated establishments in Sacramento, California such as Centro Cocina Mexicana, R15, Cafe Bernardo, and Paragary's Midtown. One of his recent joys was the Fort Sutter Hotel in 2020.

Randy was a family man who dearly loved his children Lisa and Sam, but he was also a hardworking businessman. He worked alongside his wonderful wife, Stacy for nearly the entire 28 years they were married. His personality was witty yet collected. He never failed to make himself and others laugh in social settings. A mentor to many, his leadership, decision-making skills, and creative mind was admired by many. A family man, he and his now 93-year-old mother and daughter would have Sunday brunch together every week up until his passing.

His delightful personality was part of what made him so successful in life, as he was always curious about others, and jumped at any opportunity to get to know a new guest at his restaurant. His business ventures were inspiring to the entire community of Sacramento, and he truly left a mark on the restaurant scene there.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Randy Paragary. His service and contributions to the State of California will not be forgotten and he will be missed. I join his family and friends in celebrating Randy's life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Larry Dean Morse II of Merced, California. Mr. Morse passed away on September 14th and lived a life of public service through his work as the 30th District Attorney of Merced County.

Mr. Morse was born on March 20, 1957 to Larry Morse, Sr. and Saranne Morse and grew up in Lancaster, California. After graduating high school, Mr. Morse attended the University of Arkansas where he majored in journalism and wrote for the school paper, which in 1979 landed him a job as a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat. While in Little Rock, Mr. Morse met Cindy Robertson, who he would later go on to marry.

In 1981, Mr. Morse moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a Press Secretary and Legislative Aide to Congressman Bob Whittaker, beginning his career in politics and public service. After a couple of years in Washington, Mr. Morse decided to follow in his father's footsteps and moved to Sacramento to attend the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, which he attended with his wife Cindy. While in law school, he continued his public service, working as the Communications Director for the Senate Democratic Caucus and after earning his J.D., as Legislative Director for State senator Milton Marks.

Mr. Morse began his work as a trial attorney in 1993 when he moved to Merced to work as a member of the Merced County District Attorney's office, where he quickly rose through the ranks and in 1998 was appointed as the Chief Deputy District Attorney. In 2006, Mr. Morse was elected as the Merced County District attorney.

Mr. Morse's time as District Attorney was his biggest source of professional pride. During his tenure, he personally prosecuted the most cases out of his counterparts in many counties, including almost 20 murder cases. Additionally, he started the Violence Interruption and Prevention and Emergency Response (VIPER) program to marshal law enforcement intelligence resources to provide better information to officers on patrols and in investigations. After serving as the Merced County DA, Mr. Morse continued his public service as the Legislative Director for the California District Attorneys Association.

As one who was always civically engaged, Mr. Morse was a member of Merced Elks Lodge 1240, Los Banos Sportsman's Association, E Clampus Vitus, and founding member of the Merced Boys and Girls Club. Most notably, he played a vital role on the committee that brought a University of California campus to Merced.

Mr. Morse loved spending time with his family and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed traveling with his wife of 35 years Cindy and sons Dylan, Ethan, and Ryan, instilling ``The Golden Rule'' and a love of reading music. After Ethan's tragic death, he was comforted having his granddaughter Ava along with family and friends over to his house, which was a sanctuary to him and his family.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring a skilled prosecutor, public servant, family man, and leader whose contributions to the greater Merced community and State of California will be remembered for generations. It is both fitting and appropriate that we honor him as family, friends, and community leaders gather to celebrate the life of a man who made Merced County a better place.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Thaj Khu Moua Lia. Moua Lia passed away on August 14, 2021. Moua Lia was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather as well as an inspiration for the entire Hmong community.

Moua Lia was born in Phac Lac (Nong Het), Xieng Khouang Province, Kingdom of Laos. Throughout his life, he fought to bring more education to the mountains of Laos, leading him to become the first Superintendent of Schools in Xieng Khouang Province.

After studying pedagogy, student testing and placement, special education, and ethnic group school systems in France and Thailand, Moua Lia returned to Laos and began rehabilitating Xieng Khouang Province by reforming the school systems in remote areas that had been ravaged by war. During this time, he helped establish the first institution for Hmong teachers called Samthong College.

His commitment to improving the education system for ethnic minorities in Laos took him all over the world, specifically to Singapore and the United States, where he collected ideas and strategies for how to better approach education in the regions he served.

When Laos fell to communist army forces in 1975, Moua Lia and his family received asylum in France for 15 years. They later moved to Merced, California, where he worked as the Community Outreach Specialist in the local school district, and retired in 2005, still actively supporting the community through various projects.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Thaj Khu Moua Lia. His service and contributions to the Hmong community in the Central Valley and beyond will be missed. I join his friends, loved ones, and community in celebrating Moua Lia's life.

Mr. Speaker, next week we can make bold investments in our Nation, helping families, workers, and communities across the country, by passing the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Everyone, no matter where you live, deserves access to modern, dependable infrastructure and transportation, water, and so many other efforts that improve our quality of life.

We are living off the investments our parents and grandparents made a generation ago. As an example, in my district, in California's San Joaquin Valley, residents in the rural community of Dos Palos were living with an aging water infrastructure system. Last summer, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, problems with this decades-old water treatment plant left them without clean drinking water for 3 days. Residents and businesses suffered. That is simply unacceptable wherever you live in America.

I was able to work with Assemblymember Adam Gray, and we were able to help secure State and Federal funding to construct a new treatment plant, but this piecemeal way of fixing our infrastructure is not the way to go.

We must pass transformative pieces of legislation to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure, for water, for transportation, broadband, and so many another investments that are deeply and sorely needed. Making life better for all Americans should be the priority of everyone who serves in Congress.

The health and development of our communities and the economy depends upon this vote. I urge your support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a significant milestone for one of the local news stations in my hometown and district in Fresno, California. KMPH Television is celebrating 50 years of TV programming and broadcast news excellence.

First taking the air in 1971, by the Pappas family, KMPH launched its news department 7 years later, serving as a vital source of information for viewers across the Central Valley.

It has not been an easy time for journalists in the last decade throughout our country. Nearly one-fourth of America's newspapers have shuttered their operations, and a significant portion of print and TV journalists, sadly, have lost their jobs. This leaves many smaller stations with fewer reporters to inform the public on what is happening in their communities. Getting local news is so critical to having an informed public.

KMPH is no stranger to these challenges, but it continues to thrive, make a difference, and inform the public.

A free press, as we all know, is the cornerstone of our democracy. Local news plays an integral role in shaping America, keeping people informed, and allowing them to be active in participatory democracy.

During a time of disinformation--sadly, these days--in social media, I think supporting local journalism has never been more critical.

Fifty years of public service is worth celebrating. Congratulations to KMPH in Fresno for 50 years of informing the public.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, to honor the cultures, history, and achievements of the Hispanic community, both in my district and across the country, for generations.

Throughout the last year, every segment of our society has been impacted by the COVID pandemic. Certainly, Hispanic Americans have felt this impact as well, but they have worked hard to do their part.

Many of them are essential workers who have to be on their job every day, like the farmworkers, some of the hardest working people you will ever meet in your life, putting food on America's dinner table every night. Some are healthcare workers--doctors, nurses, technicians, first responders--and they risk their lives every day doing their jobs and putting their families at risk.

Every day, the Hispanic-American community's quest for the American Dream has impacted our communities. They are living the American Dream of immigrants past and immigrants present.

There are examples such as the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, where over 320 female small business owners have participated in the Latinapreneur and Womanpreneur programs to grow their small businesses, creating jobs and creating vital economic activity.

Other individuals historically have played a role and have been barrier-breakers, like our valley's own Coach Tom Flores, son of migrant workers in the San Joaquin Valley. He spent 30 years in the NFL, as the first Hispanic quarterback and then coaching and becoming the first Hispanic Super Bowl champion. Just a month ago, Coach Flores was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame for these achievements.

We have so many others who have made a difference, such as my dear friend Joseph Castro from Hanford, California, who is today chancellor of the California State University System, the largest public university system in America. We also have Juan Sanchez Munoz, who is chancellor of UC Merced, one of the newest universities in America, making a difference. In addition, my neighbor, Dr. Saul Jimenez- Sandoval, is the newest president of Fresno State University. Go Dogs.

All of these individuals have played a role. All have unique stories and careers. They have helped to educate and create new opportunities, and they serve as a role model for future leaders. But we must not forget that many in our Hispanic community live in fear of attaining these important goals.

Over the past few years, I have met with DACA students across my district to hear their stories and discuss the need for immigration reform. For them, America is the only country they have really known, and so immigration reform is so critical.

As we commemorate this month, let us not forget that they are counting on Congress to bring about comprehensive immigration reform.

As a proud member of the Hispanic Caucus, I work with my colleagues every day to ensure the promise of America is accessible to the 62 million Hispanics living across the country.

Madam Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I missed the vote on final passage of H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. I am an original cosponsor of the bill and support the legislation, having previously voted in support of this bill when it passed the House on December 6, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 259 and YEA on Roll Call No. 260.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Mr. Ruiz and Mr. Soto, to recognize Mr. Tom Flores for his successful career and outstanding achievements in professional football.

Tom Flores was born in Fresno and raised in Sanger, California. He is a son of immigrants who had humbled beginnings working in the agriculture fields of the San Joaquin Valley. He attended Fresno City College, where he played as quarterback for two seasons and then received an academic scholarship to study at the University of the Pacific.

Following his graduation, Flores sought to pursue a career in professional football. For him, like others, it was not easy. He was cut by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 1958, and then by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in 1959. But that did not stop him: he persisted until his dream became a reality.

In 1960, Flores became the first Hispanic quarterback in American professional football after winning the starting quarterback job with the American Football League's Oakland Raiders. He later played for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. He won his first Super Bowl ring in 1969 playing quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. After a successful playing career, he retired, following the 1970 season.

Subsequently, Flores served as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. In 1979, he became the Raiders head coach and the first Hispanic head coach in NFL history. Under his leadership, the Raiders won the 1980 Super Bowl XV and 1983 Super Bowl XVIII. Tom Flores has four Super Bowl rings and is one of two individuals that earned that honor as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.

Coach Flores joined the Raiders front office after the 1987 season. A year later, he became President and General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks. In 1992, he returned to the sideline as the head coach of the Seahawks for three seasons. In twelve seasons as a head coach, Flores compiled a career record of 97-87 and an impressive playoff record of 8-3, surpassed only by the legendary coach Vince Lombardi. He later returned to the Raiders, where he spent more than two decades as a radio analyst.

After a successful career in football, both as a player and coach, Flores has used his influence to raise nearly 2 million dollars to support Sanger Unified School District's science, art, and athletics programs through the Tom Flores Foundation. Demonstrating a commitment to giving back to our communities and nation.

Coach Flores was selected to be enshrined as a member of the Class of 2021 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an honor well deserved and overdue. He will be the third Raiders Head Coach in the Hall of Fame. The Class of 2021 will be enshrined on Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Canton, Ohio.

Today, he remains active with the Raiders, now in Las Vegas, Nevada. Through his illustrious athletic career and commitment to his

community, Tom Flores has truly been a role model, not only for Latinos but all fans of the NFL.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Tom Flores. We recognize his successful career and contributions to society, look forward to his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.