Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Sheri Bohigian, who passed away on December 20, 2018 at the age of 72. Sheri will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and dedicated member of our community. It is both fitting and appropriate that we honor Sheri for her dedication to our Valley.

Sheri was born on November 11, 1946 in Fresno, California to Kent and Nikki Bowlan. Her father was a Colonel in the United States Air Force, which required the family to move frequently. They traveled to Scotland, the Marshall Islands, Alaska, Illinois, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Traveling became one of Sheri's favorite things to do. Sheri's parents gave her the motivation she needed to help her believe in herself. Her mother's outgoing personality and father's humble traits shaped her into a selfless, eating young lady. These traits went along with her everywhere she went.

Sheri attended the University of Missouri, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She then met the love of her life Tom Bohigian. They were blessed with one son, Stephen. Throughout their marriage Sheri and Tom shared many memorable moments, traveling and camping at Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Kings Canyon National Park and exploring parts of Europe together. Sheri also enjoyed the company of her many dear friends, frequently hosting dinners and gatherings in her home.

Sheri served her community in a number of ways. She was on the Board of Directors and volunteered for the San Joaquin River Parkway. Sheri retired from the San Joaquin Valley Air District after nine years of service. She cared about the world around her and hoped to leave it a better place for generations to come.

Sheri is survived by her husband Tom, son Stephen, and many wonderful friends.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Sheri Bohigian. Sheri leaves behind a remarkable legacy of love and selflessness. It is my honor to stand with Sheri's family in celebration of her great life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of a plague affecting our Nation and our world. It is called human trafficking. There are more than 40 million victims worldwide, and it happens in our backyards right here in congressional districts throughout the country. My district, because of the geographic location in California's Central Valley, sees a disproportionately high amount of human trafficking that takes place.

Fighting this atrocity requires all of us to come together with a comprehensive strategy. Organizations like Breaking the Chains in my district are needed to support survivors. Law enforcement needs to hold perpetrators accountable.

This week as the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, Congressman Pete Olson and I are introducing a resolution in the House to support the observation of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is sad that we have to bring this kind of recognition, but it is the reality.

This resolution calls for the Federal Government to coordinate its efforts and fight human trafficking between agencies and State and local governments as well as other organizations. We in the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus will continue to lead and push this effort. We need to work together.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mrs. Elizabeth ``Betsy'' S. Lucido, who passed away on January 12, 2019 at the age of 75. Betsy will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and for her devotion to God. Betsy cared for many families in need and was a pillar in our community. Her dedication to our Valley will be remembered for years to come.

Betsy was born on August 8, 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio to Howard & Irene Tripp. Her family later relocated to Fresno, California, where she attended St. Therese Elementary School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart of Menlo Park High School as a resident student. After high school, she attended the University of San Diego, where she met the love of her life William ``Bill'' Lucido. Betsy and Bill married in Fresno on June 6, 1964. They were blessed with four daughters, Maribeth, Anne, Kate and Monica.

Betsy radiated a ``motherly charm'' and was known for her generosity, family values and caring personality. Betsy served her community in a number of ways. She was a board member of the Central California Adoption

Services--Infant of Prague, Right to Life of Central California and the Ministers of Presence Guild of Catholic Charities. One accomplishment she was particularly proud of was her role in the founding of Catholic Charities, an organization which serves the needs of those in crisis by providing food for the hungry and hope for the weary. Betsy saw her work as an extension of one's home and love for God. She was always willing to give a helping hand and recognized everyone as a unique child of God.

Betsy's active work in the Fresno community has not gone unnoticed. She was honored by the Fresno County Women's Chamber of Commerce as the ``Fresno County Mother of the Year'' in 1998. In 2012, Betsy and Bill were the 2012 honorees at the Right to Life of Central California annual celebration dinner.

Betsy is survived by her husband Bill and daughters, Maribeth, Anne, Katie and Monica. She leaves behind her grandchildren Maxwell, Hemy, Logan, Paige, Lindsey, Grace and Corbin, and many close friends.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Elizabeth ``Betsy'' S. Lucido. Betsy leaves behind a remarkable legacy of love and selflessness, which helped change the lives of countless men and women in our community. It is my honor to stand with Betsy's family in celebration of her great life.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Garamendi has demonstrated leadership both here in our Nation's capital and when we worked together in Sacramento, and I commend his efforts and thank him for yielding to me.

The government shutdown is simply irresponsible. The American public understands that a Congress debates a budget, the President submits his proposal, and we go through our committee hearing process. We make modifications and changes. You win some and you lose some. But by October 1, we are supposed to have a budget sent to the President, and he is supposed to sign it into law.

Now, guess what. A budget is among the most important things we do as Members of Congress, and it is the Nation's spending priorities. It is thousands of spending priorities. There are some things we like in the budget, and there are some things that we would change. But our Nation has to have a budget, just like every family has a budget, every business has a budget.

In that family budget or the business budget, there are things you would rather not pay--a house payment, a car payment--but we have obligations and commitments to make and have to be responsible.

This government shutdown, this manufactured crisis orchestrated by the President in which he proudly proclaimed that he would take ownership of it--they can call it the Trump shutdown, as he said so boldly in December--is the Trump shutdown. It is simply irresponsible.

I think the American public, for good reason, regardless of their registration, is frustrated, and I suspect many of them, like myself, are fed up.

I went through the airport security this morning as I did last week, as I did the week before, and I thanked those security officers with TSA for doing their job. They are doing their job. And guess what. They are doing it without pay. That is disgraceful. It is just not what the shining democracy of America is about, leader of the free world.

But it doesn't stop there. There are over 53,000 TSA employees around the country, 54,000 ICE officers, and 42,000 Coast Guard Active-Duty members who are working without pay.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the President, how would it be if he were to suggest to his employees at his hotels and at his golf courses--whom he has to pay every 2 weeks or every month--that he wants them to come to work but he is not going to pay them?

It is immoral, and it is certainly not the American way. We don't expect people to come to work and then not pay them.

This manufactured crisis--and believe me, it is a manufactured crisis--is the real cause for us all to be concerned about national security. I mean, the challenges we have at the border, these Border Patrol agents, these Coast Guard Active-Duty members are protecting our security, and we are saying: Well, but, you know, we don't care if you have a house payment. We don't care if you have a car payment. We don't care if you have other commitments and obligations. We expect you to come to work and to protect our security, and we are not going to do anything to, in fact, take that into account. In a way, that is clearly a dereliction of our duties.

Mr. Speaker, I would say to the President that it is a dereliction of his duty, because he has a responsibility, just as we do, to ensure that our government is fully functioning. We have passed the President's bills and sent them to him which would fully fund and reopen the government.

Last Friday, Congressman Cox and I had an informal workshop at the Subway sandwich store in the building where my office is, where I work on behalf of the people of the San Joaquin Valley. In that 10-story office building are 1,300 IRS employees. That Subway sandwich store has lost over 50 percent of its business in the last month. The two owners, the man and the wife, are being impacted.

The store in the lobby, it has lost 70 percent of its business. And there is another kabob restaurant in which he is helping, sometimes, the employees who are still hanging around there by giving them sandwiches, but this is his business.

So it is not just the direct impact of over 800,000 government employees across this country, people who work for the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, who operate the farm service agencies throughout our constituencies.

Our farmers, our ranchers, and our dairymen can't go to those Farm Service Agency offices and apply for loans and other things that are important with regard to this crazy tariff war that is taking place because, guess what. Those offices are closed.

But it is also the ripple effect for businesses that have contracts with the Federal Government, whether it is with the United States Forest Service or whether it is with other departments and agencies. They are not getting paid.

But guess what. They have got employees, and they have got a contract that they signed with the United States Government that says they were going to get paid every month, and they have commitments to their employees.

This is the President's shutdown, and 32 days into it, none of us should be proud of where we are today. Third-world countries are looking at us and wondering: America doesn't do that.

But we are looking like a third-world country. Countries around the world just don't shut down their government.

Let me close on this note. This is a phenomena that has happened, really, in the last 8 years. We had a government shutdown in the mid- 1990s by President Clinton and Speaker Gingrich, and that was not a good thing.

Normally, as Congressman Garamendi suggested, you have budget requests. You have debate in committees. You pass segments of the budget, and it comes together in an orderly process. Ultimately, both the House and the Senate pass that budget and send it to the President by October 1.

I think there is another principle here that we need to be very clear about to the American public. I don't care which party it is. We should not allow bad behavior to be rewarded in

this sense. If you don't like something in the budget--and there are a lot of things I don't like in the budget--at the end of the day, you have got to have a budget.

What is happening here is that this is a manufactured crisis that the President is using to hold hostage a campaign promise he made 2 years ago to build this wall.

By the way, Mr. Speaker, wasn't Mexico going to pay for the wall?

Mr. Speaker, I say to Congressman Garamendi, that is what I heard.

I heard it not once, not twice, but more times than I care to remember. Clearly, Mexico is not going to pay for the wall.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Garamendi and I know that there is bipartisan willingness to improve border security. The gentleman and I know, because we are from California, that the majority of the drug trafficking and the other crimes that are occurring are through what we call ports of legal entry. That sounds like a complicated technical term, but it just means it is an open border crossing between the U.S. and Mexico, and thousands of people cross every day at many of these border crossings. That is where the overwhelming majority of the illegal trafficking is taking place, and along the ocean. And no bill, no bright and shiny 30-foot wall, will make a difference.

El Chapo, whom we are holding now in prison, built tunnels to get out of prison. There are tunnels under existing walls that the President was briefed on when he went down to the border last week.

Mr. Speaker, I don't care how the wall is built, because it is not going to improve border security.

Mind you, we have more than 500 miles of existing barriers and fences at the San Ysidro border, and some of the other portions of the U.S.- Mexican border, where it makes sense. Certainly, I am willing to provide support to improve those existing barriers and to provide the sort of equipment, drones, and other technical devices that are cutting edge, that Border Patrol agents and ICE agents say will improve our border security. That is what we should be doing.

But what we should not be doing is holding America hostage because of a political campaign promise that was made 2 years ago. That is wrong. That is simply wrong.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Garamendi is to be commended for taking a leadership role in this effort. We have to do some things here that change the debate and how we produce a budget so that we don't allow groups of either party--our extreme elements--to decide: Well, gee, I am not going to go through the regular process. I will hold this Congress and I will hold the American people hostage.

This is impacting our GDP. If the President doesn't believe us, he should ask his own Council of Economic Advisers, because they came out with a report last week. It is not affecting only our economy, but it, therefore, affects the world's economy. That is why we need to reopen government and have a thoughtful debate on how we can, on a bipartisan basis, improve our border security.

Of the $1.2 million we allocated in last year's budget for border security, this administration, I am told, has spent around 10 percent of that $1.2 billion. Now we were going to give him another $1.6 billion. Then the President--I know we are getting close to the Super Bowl--to use a football analogy, on December 18, when we thought we had an agreement, he decided to move the goalposts. I can't say it any plainer than that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask Congressman Garamendi if he can.

Mr. Speaker, I was in Puerto Rico last weekend, and the recovery funding is a serious matter, as it is in Paradise. It is simply wrong. It is wrong and immoral for us to do this.

Mr. Speaker, I think until the end of February, which would

allow us to debate appropriate border security in a committee process in the House and in the Senate, working together with this administration and the President. There would be give and take. There would be compromises. I think we should get back to doing the people's business in an appropriate fashion, without taking hostages, because it is simply wrong. We should not let the American public think that we have lost sight of what the regular order of the United States Congress is to pass appropriations bills and, ultimately, to pass a budget.

That is where this incredibly egregious activity is taking place in recent years. I think we know that, at some point, there will be a series of compromises, and we will reopen government. So why don't we just do it sooner rather than later and end the pain and anguish of hundreds of thousands of people who are protecting our security--they are hardworking men and women of our country--without paychecks?

All the other independent contractors who do business with the government and who have employees or have small businesses, like that Subway sandwich shop in Fresno or the market or the kabob restaurant, let these people do what they do best--work hard and make a living for themselves and their families, and contribute to our economy--because what we are doing right now is wrong.

And the ripple effect.

To our national parks.

Mr. Speaker, let me close by underlining one comment that Mr. Garamendi made earlier. I know, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman is one of our leaders as it relates to our Nation's security. And I am engaged with a host of other efforts in our Foreign Affairs Committee and with our European allies. When the gentleman said that no one could be happier about this series of events than the President of Russia, President Putin, let me underline that, because we are doing to ourselves what the Soviet Union and Russia today have never been able to do to us, which is undermine our security, undermine NATO's security, and undermine the security of the free world.

That is how serious this is. This manufactured crisis has now risen to such a level that we are doing to ourselves what our adversaries have never been able to do to us through decades of Republican and Democratic Presidents and Congresses in which, at the water's edge, we all bind together because it is America's security. I don't know how they celebrate in Moscow, but right now, they must be very pleased this evening, with smiles on their faces, as we look at the 32 days of this government shutdown.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of my longtime friend Mr. Randy Ghan, who passed away on December 7, 2018 at the age of 67. Randy will be remembered as a dedicated and committed labor leader and advocate for worker rights in the Central Valley. Randy worked tirelessly to ratify the Central Labor Council, creating one of the strongest labor councils in California. He dedicated his life to the labor movement and is known as a labor icon.

Randy was born on November 5, 1951 in Fresno, California to Irene Kuns and Melvin Ghan. He attended Humboldt State University. Randy's labor career began when he joined the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers Union and Local 85 (Bakers 85) at the Perfection Macaroni factory in Fresno. Randy was elected as the first shop steward in the history of the factory when he was just 20 years old. His efficiency and passion to succeed earned him a position on the union bargaining team. While on the bargaining team, Randy showed strong work ethic and was offered a job with the union and joined the executive board of the Central Labor Council (CLC).

After being on the executive board of the CLC for 15 years, Randy ran for Secretary-Treasurer (CEO) and won with the support from his allies in UFCW 1288 and SEIU 752. Randy took on the position when the CLC was struggling financially and he successfully revamped the organization. Randy got CLC out of debt by affiliating dozens of new unions and brokering deals to save money and build political capacity. Today, the CLC stands as one of the best funded labor councils in California.

One of Randy's proudest accomplishments was the creation of the CLC Partnership, which provides employment readiness services to workers across Fresno. The joint efforts of CLC, Propath and Regenerate California Innovation has assisted numerous people in finding gainful employment. In an act of kindness and true leadership, Randy gave his salary for the hours worked in the partnership to hire additional staff at the CLC.

In appreciation of his years of hard work, Randy was recognized as Labor Leader of the Year by the CLC in 1992 and 2017. He was the only labor leader to ever receive this honor twice.

Randy was preceded in death by his loving partner Sharon Hodson. He leaves behind his sister Judy, daughters Maria and Tracey, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and achievements of my friend Randy Ghan. Randy leaves a legacy of advocacy and selflessness to improve the lives of so many in the Valley. He will be missed dearly by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the achievements of Mr. Joel Nelsen, the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Joel is being honored for his many years outstanding civic service to the community and agriculture industry. Joel has exemplified what it means to be a leader in the community through his involvement and dedication to the Central Valley.

Joel was born in San Diego, California. He served four years in the United States Navy before graduating from California State University, Fullerton, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Joel began his career in agriculture with the Fresh Produce Council in Los Angeles. He eventually was recruited to work in the Central Valley's agriculture industry, joining California Citrus Mutual as Executive Officer in 1982. For over 30 years, Joel has been on the forefront of various issues affecting the produce, citrus, and agriculture industries. As a result, he was appointed President of California Citrus Mutual, overseeing association's 2,200 members.

Joel has demonstrated a significant level of involvement in the community through his career. He is Vice-Chair of the United States Citrus Science Council. Joel has also been appointed to four terms on USDA's Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade, and in 2015 he was selected by his colleagues to be chairman of the committee. In addition, Joel is the founding Chairman for the Agri-Business Presidents' Council, a member of the University of California President's Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources and serves on the Executive Committee for the Citrus Health Response Program.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives join me in recognizing Mr. Joel Nelsen, recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I ask that you join me in wishing Joel and his family continued success and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Dr. Gene W. Kallsen, on the occasion of his retirement as Emergency Faculty and Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF, Fresno and Community Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department. Dr. Kallsen served his last shift as an emergency physician on December 28, 2018. This is the culmination of a medical career spanning over 40 years in emergency medicine in Fresno. Under his exemplary leadership, Dr. Kallsen has achieved success through innovative thinking and integrity.

Dr. Kallsen, a native of Minnesota, attended the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Kallsen received his residency training at the University of California, San Francisco-- Fresno and competing an internship at the University of Washington Affiliate/Harborview Medical Center.

Dr. Kallsen first began his career as an emergency medical resident at UCSF Fresno, where he maintained stable relationships with staff and patients. His strong work ethic and dedication to helping people earned him a position as a faculty member, and eventually as Chief and Medical Director for the program. During the program's 43-year history, UCSF Fresno's emergency program has graduated more than 300 residents. Dr. Kallsen's time at UCSF Fresno can be characterized by his compassion and willingness to go the extra mile to help his patients and students.

Dr. Kallsen's distinguished career includes more than 10 years as Fresno County's first Emergency Medical Services director, two years as chair of the California Commission of Emergency Medical Services, 23 years as chief of UCSF Fresno's Emergency Medicine Department, five years as assistant dean at UCSF Fresno and over 28 years in leadership roles with the Central Faculty Medical Group. He also led the emergency medicine department transition from University Medical Center to Community Regional Medical Center. Today, Community Regional's Emergency Department is one of the largest and busiest in California, seeing an average of 110,000 patients a year. In addition, Dr. Kallsen and his wife Pam have established the Gene W. Kallsen, MD, Endowed Chair in Emergency Medicine at UCSF Fresno, to ensure that the teaching program will continue to recruit the finest physicians and medical educators to head its emergency medicine program for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Dr. Gene W. Kallsen for his remarkable career achievements with Community Regional Medical Center's Emergency Room. Dr. Kallsen will leave a robust foundation for the Emergency Department to continue to build upon. He has created a lasting legacy that will continue to help the people of the San Joaquin Valley. I wish Dr. Kallsen the very best as he enters this new phase of his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Les Wright, on the occasion of his retirement as Fresno County's Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures. Les' final day as Agricultural Commissioner will be January 25, 2019. This is the culmination of a successful 27-year civil service, leadership and management career throughout the State of California.

Les, a native of Modoc County, earned his Associates degree in Production Agriculture from Shasta College. He began his career in government in 1976, serving at a border inspection station. With a background as a rancher, it did not take long for Les to realize his true passion was in agriculture. He quickly rose up the ranks, serving as the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer for Modoc County, Deputy Commissioner of Kings County and Chief Deputy Commissioner of Fresno County. He was appointed Fresno County's Agricultural Commissioner on August 5, 2013.

As the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner, Les' primary objective is to promote and protect the county's multibillion-dollar agricultural industry. In his role, he oversees the number one agriculture producing county in the nation. Fresno County produces over 350 types of crops and is known to many as the breadbasket of the world. He is passionate about his work and serves as advocate for growers through the county. Passion for the agricultural industry run deep in the Wright household, as Les' wife Marilyn Kinoshita-Wright is also retiring this month from her position as Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Les Wright for his career achievements as Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner. Les will leave a robust foundation for Fresno County to continue to build upon. I wish Les and his wife Marilyn the very best as they enter this new phase of their life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the irresponsible government shutdown that is hurting people not only in my district, but throughout California and our Nation. There is no good reason for our government to be shut down.

As national leaders, one of the most important responsibilities as Members of Congress is, in fact, to pass a budget every year on time and always to keep government open. But since 2010, we have seen a phenomena take place where groups on both sides think, well, there can be justification to shut down government for an agenda, usually politically motivated, and put all of our other responsibilities aside.

Over half the Members of Congress have been here less than 6 years.

I say this government shutdown, any government shutdown, is irresponsible. We are supposed to have a budget for our country, like every family has a budget and every business has a budget.

When the government shuts down, people suffer, families suffer, veterans suffer, all Americans suffer. Approximately 800,000 Federal employees are currently furloughed or working without pay across the country.

Last Friday, in my home State of California, over 37,000 Federal employees did not receive their paychecks. That is irresponsible.

Yesterday was payday for the United States Coast Guard. Protecting our seas throughout our Nation is a vital part of America's national security. They got a paycheck with a printed ``0'' on it for their wage.

Our national parks are operating without full staff or guides. We have had, already, Americans die as a result of the shutdown, one in Yosemite close to my district.

The government shutdown is putting Americans in danger in other ways as well. By shutting down the government, the President is making border security--supposedly the reason for all of this--more difficult and has stopped paying key law enforcement personnel, including Customs and Border Protection officers, Federal prosecutors, immigration judges, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and members, as I said earlier, of the Coast Guard.

This is a manufactured crisis in order to pursue a political agenda. It is just not right. It is not the way our government is supposed to function.

Within the United States, Homeland Security investigation agents who investigate human trafficking, drug smuggling, and transnational criminal gangs are working without pay. Does that make any sense? I thought this was supposed to be about national security. We ought to be paying these folks.

The Department of Justice has stopped processing discretionary grants that support State and local law enforcement, which is critical, I can tell you, in California, where we have many of these challenges. I have been listening to the people back home. That is our job. We are supposed to listen.

For 25 days now, the shutdown has been hurting the people of San Joaquin Valley. Middle-class families are suffering. We have IRS officers and large numbers of Federal employees in my district who are working or not working, and they are not receiving paychecks.

Many of these individuals have shared that they don't even know how they are going to be able to feed their children or pay their mortgage or their car payment, because the majority of families live--what?-- from paycheck-to-paycheck. In fact, a group of Federal employees in my district is at the point of needing to take out loans and trying to find other jobs--which makes no sense--to keep themselves and their families afloat.

And the pain radiates, broadly affecting our local economies. Small businesses in downtown Fresno, Madera, Merced, and many other communities

throughout my district are being impacted, along with the Federal officers who are involved in the United States Department of Agriculture and the ability to operate their offices.

And there are those who contract with the government who are looking at not receiving paychecks. It is affecting our Nation's economy. And there is clear proof of that.

Mr. Speaker, this harm must stop. Let me say it again. There is no good reason for a government shutdown. We have our differences, to be sure, and we ought to be negotiating those differences on border security and other matters.

On December 18, the Senate passed a bipartisan agreement, unanimously, to keep the government open that was acceptable to both Chambers and the President, and it did not include funding for a border wall. The next day, the President changed his mind.

This shutdown is not about securing our border, but it is about consistently providing funding to improve our border security, and we can do that. We should do that.

I urge my colleagues to get to work. The American people expect better.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor outgoing Merced NAACP President Darryl Davis. Mr. Davis's tenure as president and his various leadership roles highlight his distinguished lifetime of public service and commitment to serving our community.

Mr. Davis began his decades of service to the greater Merced community in 1987 when he was stationed at Castle Air Force Base. After his time in the military and graduation from the Criminal Justice Training Center (Police Academy) at Modesto Junior College, Mr. Davis began his career in law enforcement. Throughout his career, he worked in multiple capacities with the Merced County Sheriff's and District Attorney's Offices and then as an officer at UC Merced. In each of these roles and in his current job as a fraud investigator with Merced County, Mr. Davis has served with distinction and exhibited strong professionalism, leadership, and integrity, which have made him a well- respected member of the community.

Having been a member of the NAACP for many years, Mr. Davis was sworn in as the Merced branch president in 2015 and has since used his unique perspective gained throughout his career to further the NAACP's mission to ensure equal rights and eliminate race-based discrimination. During his four years as president, Mr. Davis has continued to build the organization's membership and relationships to further educate others about the social issues facing our country and community, including topics such as the effects of gangs and incarceration on minority youths, police encounters, and lawful protests.

Mr. Davis has exhibited the same level of commitment, integrity, and professionalism during his time as the local NAACP president that he has had during his law enforcement career. The unique perspective he has as a police officer, combined with his ability to bring people together and desire to help others have undoubtedly had a positive impact on the greater Merced community.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring a man who has made significant contributions to our country and community through his distinguished career and extensive civic involvement. It is both fitting and appropriate that we honor Darryl Davis and wish him the best as he concludes his term as president of the Merced NAACP branch.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, this legislation, along with the other bills that we have been voting on, is about doing our job.

It is about reopening government. It is about reestablishing Congress as a coequal branch of government.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan funding bill for the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

The day before the government shutdown began, the President signed into law the 2018 farm bill, after much debate and work. As a member of the conference committee, we negotiated the farm bill in good faith. Therefore, it has been incredibly disappointing to see the shutdown prevent key pieces of the legislation from taking effect. Examples of the impacts in my district are the following.

One such program allows a company in my district to deliver fresh California produce to our local school districts to improve the quality of food for the children. This contractor now is not allowed to be paid.

They are among many of the subcontractors who do business with governmental entities. Because of the shutdown, the USDA cannot pay them to provide services, putting in jeopardy the future of their businesses and people who work for them, and the delivery, in this case, of healthy fruits and vegetables to our local schools.

Additionally, if the shutdown lingers into March, it is uncertain how millions of Americans, including one-quarter of my constituents, will receive SNAP benefits. These are young people; these are elderly; and these are part of the working poor. The future funding for the Women, Infants and Children's Nutrition Program is also at risk.

Without passing the bill before us today, valley dairymen and almond farmers in my district, and many other producers across the Nation, will not be able to sign up for retaliatory tariff relief payments, and the impacts of these tariff wars have been significant throughout the country.

In addition, farmers cannot sign up for newly revamped conservation programs that I helped pass in the farm bill. These programs are vital for California agriculture, where farmers work through drought years and continue their responsible stewardship of the land.

Madam Speaker, farmers cannot sign up for new crop insurance as well to help them manage risks as we approach the planting season, and farming is a risky business.

What is more, food safety is put at risk while food inspectors are forced to work without pay.

Madam Speaker, it is time to pass this bill so that the USDA and the FDA can go back to work for Americans. We should do our job. It is irresponsible to shut down government and leverage American citizens in this fashion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the life of Don Jackson, a lifelong philanthropist highly invested in improving the Central Valley, who passed away on December 21, 2018, at the age of 82.

Mr. Jackson was born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and later went on to study law at Stanford University. Upon completion of his studies, he was admitted to the California State Bar in 1962.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Jackson started his own tax law and estate planning practice, which would become one of the largest and most successful firms in Fresno. Along with his legal expertise, Don was also heavily active in the political sphere, working on both the Reagan and Bush presidential campaigns, in addition to numerous other California campaigns. In 1998, Governor Pete Wilson appointed Mr. Jackson to the California Public Employee Relations Board. As a devoted Rotarian and a passionate philanthropist, Mr. Jackson served on several boards, including the Gazarian Real Estate Center Advisory Board at Fresno State, the Saint Agnes Medical Center Foundation Board, the Dominican Hospital Foundation Board in Santa Cruz, and co-founding the Central Valley Women's Conference.

In addition to these laudable accomplishments, the legacy for which he will be best remembered is his instrumental role in the founding of the Senator Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno; which works to inspire and engage a new generation of government leaders in addition to providing non-partisan policy analysis to resolve the issues facing the region, the state, and the nation. For much of their adult lives, Senator Maddy and Mr. Jackson were close friends as well as law partners. In honor of Senator Maddy's legacy, Mr. Jackson chaired the Board from 1999 to 2009, for the first 10 years since the Institute's inception, and until this past year, he served the Maddy Institute as CFO and Treasurer.

During his tenure as Chair, Mr. Jackson established vital programs such as the Maddy Legislative Intern Program, the Maddy Associates Program, the Maddy Report, and the Maddy Daily e-newsletter. He provided scholarships for over 150 federal and state legislative interns, founding the Don Jackson Public Finance Intern Scholarship Program, and raising over $1 million in grants, events, and programs for the Institute. He was an exceptional strategist, who will be forever remembered by those he touched for his high standard of excellence, his mentorship, and his commitment to making the Valley a better place.

Mr. Jackson is survived by his brother and sister, his 6 children, and 8 grandchildren for whom he has always shown dedication and affection. It is my honor to stand with Mr. Don Jackson's family in celebration of the life of this inspirational man.

Madam Speaker, it is with profound respect that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life, remarkable career, and achievements of Mr. Don Jackson. His legacy and dedication to our beautiful Valley will be remembered for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, on December 19, 2018 and December 20, 2018 I was absent for several roll call votes in order to attend the funeral of a family member. Had I been present I would have voted in the following manner.

Roll Call 437 Yea; Roll Call 438, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimers Act Yea; Roll Call 439 Yea; Roll Call 440 Yea; Roll Call 441 Yea; Roll Call 442 Yea; Roll Call 443 Yea; Roll Call 444 Yea; Roll Call 445 Yea; Roll Call 446 No; Roll Call 447 No; Roll Call 448 the First Step Act of 2018 Yea; Roll Call 449 Yea; Roll Call 450 Yea; Roll Call 451 Yea; Roll Call 452 Yea; Roll Call 453 the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act Yea; Roll Call 454 Yea; Roll Call 455 Yea; Roll Call 456 Yea; Roll Call 457 Yea; Roll Call 458 Yea; Roll Call 459 Yea; Roll Call 460 Yea; Roll Call 461 Yea; Roll Call 462 Yea; Roll Call 463 Yea; Roll Call 464 Yea; Roll Call 465 Yea; Roll Call 466 Yea; Roll Call 467 No; and Roll Call 468 No.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of J. Scott Petersen, whose time on Capitol Hill will come to an end this Friday, December 21, 2018.

Mr. Petersen began his journey here in the House of Representatives as a Science and Technology Fellow in the office of former Congressman Dennis Cardoza, where his natural resource expertise and political acuity were quickly recognized and rewarded. Since he joined Team Costa, Scott has proven himself an exceptional employee, advisor, and friend. His ability to forge consensus in difficult negotiations and his expert knowledge of water resources is unparalleled here in Congress. Over the years he has played a key role in passing legislation such as the WIIN Act. He holds the respect of his staff, peers, and principals for his bipartisanship, effectiveness, and decisive judgment.

Scott Petersen was born in Riverside on September 2, 1979. Scott attended California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, and later receiving a Certificate in Land Use and Planning from the University of California, Riverside.

As a California native, Scott enjoys being in the great outdoors, whether capturing nature's wonder behind the lens of his camera, hiking, or climbing the face of Yosemite's iconic Half Dome. Scott will always be remembered for his sense of humor, love of protein shakes, and ability to equally appreciate both the finer and simpler pleasures in life.

As a member of Team Costa, Scott left his mark through his commitment to the natural resources issues affecting the San Joaquin Valley, with his greatest contributions coming from his work on water resources issues impacting Californians. In continuing pursuit of these goals, Scott will be moving back to California to become the Director of Water Resources and Science Policy for the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority. I can think of no better person for the job.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Mr. Scott Petersen and wish him the best in this transition, and what will undoubtedly be a bright future.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to be in attendance for Roll Call Vote No. 500. Had I been present I would have voted YES.