Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Russel Efird as he is honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Fresno County Farm Bureau (FCFB) for his contributions to agriculture. His decades of service and dedication to the farming community are to be greatly commended.

Russel's passion for farming began at a young age when he would help on his parents' farm in Caruthers, California. The Efird family has run a successful farming operation for over 70 years. They are hard-working and understand what it takes to produce quality crops.

Russel joined the FCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Program when he was a teenager. Russel has been a member of the FCFB for over 18 years, and has served in various leadership positions within the bureau which ultimately earned him a presidency from 2006-2008. As president of the Farm Bureau, Russel did a great job leading the organization. His focus was on immigration and water which are two issues that affect the agriculture industry daily. Russel's knowledge coupled with his love for agriculture, make him a great advocate for the farming community.

In addition to all of his work at the Farm Bureau, Russel has been a member of various boards including the Western Cotton Growers Association, Fresno County Fire Protection District Board of Directors, Laton Co-op Cotton Gin Board, and the Caruthers Unified School District. Additionally he was a graduate of the Ag Leadership Program's Class X.

Farming is a huge part of Russel's life, but family is most important. He has been married to his wife, Kathleen, for almost 40 years, and they have four grown children: Matthew, John, Adam, and Elizabeth.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Russel Efird for the contributions he has made to the Central Valley and the entire State of California. He serves as pillar in the community, and I thank him for his hard work and devotion to maintaining Fresno County's valuable agricultural strength.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

The Market Access Program provides matching grants. These are matching grants for technical assistance and other activities that help our family farmers expand their market access overseas.

Let's face it. We are in a global market, and our farmers are not always facing a level playing field. Since the creation of this extremely successful agricultural export program, it has increased America's export by over 500 percent. That is a success story by any measure.

The USDA's commissioned study conducted in 2010 found that, for every dollar that MAP spent, it generates, as was noted just a moment ago, $35 in additional exports. This creates an additional $6.1 billion in economic activity annually.

Billions and billions of dollars have been achieved as increased exports as a result of this program and thousands and thousands of jobs. That includes safeguards to the taxpayers.

The statements by the proponents of this measure, I believe, are overreaching because they ignore the fact that it is a matching grant. And the particular statements they make ignore the fact that these were personal expenditures by these organizations, not the money of the Market Access Program.

So I would urge you to defeat this amendment. The processors have matched over 100 percent of the funds that we have provided in this program. It's been a success by any measure, and I would urge the defeat of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, it is oftentimes the poorest and some of the most underrepresented communities in the country that have the greatest impacts--for historical reasons, in part--on public health, communities across the country we all represent.

I represent a number of those communities in California in the San Joaquin Valley that are experiencing enormous challenges as it relates to their water quality and contamination that has existed because of decades-past experiences in many cases with nitrates, in which at the time it was not well understood, but today it is, that in fact it has tremendous impacts on our drinking water supply as it relates to our aquifers.

The amendment that is proposed is intended to address this problem by creating a pilot program for severely disadvantaged communities that would provide funds in this FARRM Bill for the Rural Utility Service that would address this nitrate contamination for rural drinking water communities, those communities that we all represent that have 10,000 population or less.

The San Joaquin Valley that Congressman Valadao and I and others represent has almost 4 million people. It's almost 10 percent of California's population. Twenty percent of those folks live below the poverty line. They reflect a broad cross-range of folks--immigrants past, immigrants present--who have come here to live the American Dream and work so hard, so many in our agriculture economy.

While nitrates occur naturally at low levels, crop fertilizers and practices with both dairy and other animal husbandry practices create nitrates that in fact impact the elevation of the contamination within our drinking water sources within our aquifers.

In fact, California's Central Valley is especially vulnerable to that nitrate contamination since it accounts for more than half of the agriculture production in California and aquifers are the primary source of drinking water for 90 percent of the residents.

Unfortunately, in the past, have didn't have strong controls, and we didn't really understand the science. Today, we do.

It is often difficult to identify a single party that is responsible for the impacts; but what is most important is that we fix the problem, that we clean the water supply for those residents.

Today, we have, I think, a better balance between public health and the impact of agricultural practices.

This amendment, if adopted, would provide the opportunity to focus on assisting disadvantaged communities with improving their drinking water that has been contaminated by nitrates.

I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas.

Yes, Congressman Crawford, I will be more than willing to yield to Chairman Lucas and to Ranking Member Peterson. We appreciate your willingness to work with us together on this effort to ensure that we can deliver resources that are important to our small communities throughout the country that are impacted in this way. I will withdraw the amendment and continue to work with you.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Not to oppose the measure, but actually to speak on behalf of the amendment. The issues that have been raised here by this amendment, I think, are valid. There are concerns that have been raised by cattlemen and cattlewomen across the country. I think that, obviously, we all feel that there ought to be a level playing field when it comes to the protection of the Freedom of Information Act.

But on the other hand, cattlemen and cattlewomen every day are working really hard to try to do their best to produce the safest and the highest quality beef that Americans do every day and is the best in the world.

So we think this amendment is a step in the right direction and would like to support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment before us.

Mr. Chairman, before I state my opposition, I'd like to first thank Chairman Frank Lucas for the hard work that he and his committee staff have done today and throughout this year and last year in trying to put together not one, but two farm bills for the consideration of the House and for America's heartland, and thank Ranking Member Collin Peterson and his staff for the hard work that they have done as well.

These are never easy, but as both the chairman and the ranking member like to remind us, and I think it's an important underlying point, the farm bill that we reauthorize every 4 years is among the most bipartisan efforts that we ever do. And both the chair and the ranking member and their staff are to be commended.

As it relates to this measure before us, this amendment, we believe that it uses a meat cleaver approach to the legislation. Like sequester, it doesn't discriminate among programs. It's blind between those programs which deserve longer authorization periods and those that could use trimming, and clearly we understand the author's intent.

The whole purpose of the farm bill, though, is to review programs under our jurisdiction to determine whether or not they should continue, whether they should be changed, or whether they should be eliminated. And, once again, to commend the chair and the ranking member, we have done a very good job on that oversight on determining what areas ought to be trimmed, what programs ought to be consolidated, and which should be eliminated. Our bill already does that. Actually, as the chair has indicated and the ranking member, it terminates hundreds of programs and consolidates, and the committee did the work in a thoughtful and careful manner.

So we can't support the amendment that undoes the careful work that the committee has pursued. I urge my colleagues to reject this haphazard approach--or shotgun approach, we might say back home--and vote ``no'' on this amendment.

I think we've conducted the people's work today and this evening.

I yield back the balance of my time and thank the chair and, again, all those involved in this process. Hopefully, tomorrow we can conclude our work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues Mr. Valadao of California, Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island, Mr. Nunes of California, Mr. Honda of California, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, and Ms. Lofgren of California to recognize Dia de Portugal and to again state the importance of a strong relationship between the United States and Portugal. Dia de Portugal celebrates the heritage of the Portuguese people and their descendants and is recognized around the world on June 10th.

Vibrant Portuguese communities are scattered across the United States from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to California and Hawaii. The latest census estimates that more than 1.3 million individuals living in the United States are of Portuguese ancestry, and they have been making positive contributions to our society for decades.

The ties between the United States and Portugal are critical and date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was among the first countries to recognize the United States. On February 21, 1791, President George Washington opened formal diplomatic relations, and the oldest continuously- operating U.S. Consulate in the world, since 1795, is in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores.

Portugal is an integral member of the European Union, a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and an important strategic partner in the Mediterranean and beyond. As such, the United States-Portugal defense relationship is strong and must remain so. Central to this relationship is the U.S. Air Force's 65th Air Base Wing at Lajes Field on Terceira Island in the Azores. Having bolstered the United States' and its allies' control of the Atlantic since World War II, Lajes Field is a valuable asset that must be maintained.

Mr. Speaker, we join with the people of Portugal and our Portuguese American constituents in wishing everyone celebrating across the globe a wonderful Dia de Portugal.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to highlight the important and positive reforms in this year's FARRM Bill, that includes the Dairy subtitle, as we try to improve and save money for the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, otherwise known as the 2013 FARRM Bill.

I first want to thank Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson for the terrific work that they've done in cobbling together this bipartisan effort. It's never easy.

I can tell you as a grandson of two generations of dairy farmers in California that what American farmers do every day is work as hard as they possibly can to provide the highest value food quality at the most cost-effective level to American consumers, and they've been doing it for generations.

The Dairy Security Act of this bill is the result of 4 years of hard work and compromise by dairy producers and other members of the dairy industry across the country. This program is intended to provide a strong, market-based safety net that will keep dairy producers afloat while providing stable consumer prices.

The dairy industry--and producers especially--has been a victim in recent years because of dramatic price volatility, and so have the consumers. At the same time, producers have been forced to deal with feed costs that have skyrocketed from $2 a bushel to $7 a bushel, and that has had a dramatic impact.

Dairy producers across the country have seen their overhead increase as their profits have remained stagnant. Current Federal dairy policy continues to foster outdated support programs which no longer provide a meaningful safety net or ensure any stability for our dairy farmers or our consumers.

In California, my home State, the leading dairy State in the Nation, we have lost 100 dairies as a result of bankruptcy in the last 18 months. Something needs to be done. We need to fix this broken system.

This title provides stability to the producers and benefits the consumers as well. It is time to bring meaningful reform, and this measure does this.

I ask my colleagues to support this effort as we move along this bipartisan compromise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Charlotte Tashjian Aaron, who passed away on June 7, 2013 at the age of 97. Charlotte's thoughtfulness, generosity, and overwhelming love for others will be greatly missed.

Charlotte was born into a family with very strong Armenian roots. The Tashjians immigrated to the United States to escape the Armenian Genocide. They settled in Madera, California, and ran a small family business, ``Simon Cleaners.'' After Charlotte graduated from Madera High School, she decided to stay close to home and work for her parents.

Charlotte's faith in God and her religion were extremely important to her. For over 50 years she was a part of the Fidelis Society, and served as a choir member at the First Armenian Presbyterian Church in Fresno, California for almost 70 years. Charlotte was singing in the choir when she saw the love of her life, Isaac, for the very first time. Isaac and Charlotte got married, and raised three beloved sons: James, Edward, and Richard.

For Armenians, family is everything, and Charlotte loved her family dearly. She leaves behind her sons and daughter-in-laws: Heather, Kris, and Nancy; her grandchildren: David, Michael, Janelle, Stephanie, Steven, John, Kirsten, and Danielle; and her brother Ed and her sister- in-law, Wilma.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the life of Charlotte Tashjian Aaron. Charlotte will undoubtedly be missed many, and she will always be in the hearts of those who love her deeply.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marcus Johnson as he prepares to retire from his position as Superintendent of the Sanger Unified School District. Marc will be leaving after more than 35 years in public education in the Central Valley.

As Superintendent of Sanger Unified, Marc transformed some of California's lowest performing schools into some of our best. The education reforms that he spearheaded are now considered a model for schools across the country. Marc's dedication and commitment to improving education standards in the Central Valley have been nationally recognized including by the American Association of Student Administrators who named him the 2011 National Superintendent of the Year.

A California native, Marc lives in the small community of Reedley, where at age four he moved with his parents and where his wife of 37 years, Penni, taught at Thomas Law Reed Elementary, before retiring last year. He is a graduate of Reedley Community College, California State University, Fresno and Fresno Pacific University, where he received his Masters in Education. Marc began his career in education at American Union Elementary, where he taught for 16 years and later served as the district's superintendent and principal. In 1999, Marc was named the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Sanger Unified School District, before assuming the role of Superintendent of the district in the fall of 2003.

When Marc took over as Superintendent, Sanger Unified was struggling. A year into his tenure, the district was designated for program improvement by the State of California. Under Marc's leadership and guidance, Sanger Unified implemented education reforms including adopting the professional learning community model focused on student learning, high quality instruction, and teacher collaboration. Within two years Sanger Unified exited program improvement status and its schools have since gone on to win many accolades and awards. Recently, Sanger Unified became only the second school district in the country to have every one of its middle schools named to the Department of Education's prestigious ``Schools to Watch'' list.

Although Marc is retiring as Superintendent of Sanger Unified, he will continue the fight to improve education standards in the Central Valley as the interim co-director of the John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership. In addition, Marc is retiring to spend much needed time with his wife, his three children, and his four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the distinguished educational leadership of Mr. Marc Johnson. The work he has done for the Sanger Unified School District will have a lasting impact on our children in Fresno County and in the entire State of California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Mr. Denham to recognize Dee Dee D'Adamo as she is honored for her years of service to California's San Joaquin Valley. Dee Dee was recently appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the State Water Resources Control Board. This appointment is well deserved as Dee Dee has served in numerous roles to better the lives of the people of California and of the San Joaquin Valley.

Dee Dee graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1982, and continued her education at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, Dee Dee served on several committees for the California State Assembly. Dee Dee also served as a visiting lecturer at California State University, Stanislaus. She taught for the Department of Politics, so her courses ranged from U.S. government, to state government, and environmental policy.

Before her new appointment, Dee Dee served on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as the Law Member since 1999 when she was appointed by Governor Gray Davis. She championed language on several of CARB's recommendations to the legislature. A couple years ago, CARB approved a cap and trade program that was aimed at reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions. Dee Dee had a prominent role in ensuring that rural communities with agricultural based economies received their fair share of revenues.

Dee Dee also served the Valley at the federal level, working for several Members of Congress. She was the legislative director for Congressman Gary Condit from 1990-1991 and was his legal counsel from 1994-2003. Following her career with Representative Condit, Dee Dee was Congressman Dennis Cardoza's senior policy advisor for nearly ten years. When Representative Cardoza retired, Dee Dee joined Congressman Jim Costa's staff. She served as the senior policy advisor for his office up until the day she was appointed to the State Water Resources Control Board.

In 2012, Dee Dee was honored as Woman of the Year for the 17th Assembly district by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani. The knowledge and expertise that Dee Dee exhibits is truly admirable, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her over the past couple decades.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join Mr. Denham and myself in recognizing Dee Dee D'Adamo for the outstanding contributions she has made to our Valley and our entire nation. Dee Dee will undoubtedly prove to be an asset to the Governor's Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I represent the San Joaquin Valley of California where our business is growing healthy, safe foods. It's the breadbasket of America.

But even in our agriculturally rich region, many of the same families who labor to produce these crops struggle to feed their children. This is part of the tragedy of hunger in America.

I have witnessed firsthand the challenges these families face living on the average SNAP benefit, which is $4.50 per day.

While I am a strong supporter of passing a farm bill, I have serious concerns about what the proposed cuts mean for 16.2 million children nationwide who are faced with hunger. We must and we can do better. I hope we pass the farm bill in the House next week. And if so, I will be fighting to make sure that these children have a seat at the table when we go to conference with the Senate.

Budget choices are a reflection of our priorities. In a time of such economic hardship, we can and we must make sure that those most vulnerable in our society are fed properly.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bi-partisan, H.R. 1038, the Public Power Risk Management Act of 2013.

This bill allows producers, utility companies, and other non- financial entities (swap counterparties) to continue entering into energy swaps with government-owned utilities (aka: utility special entities) without requiring them to register with the CFTC as a ``swap dealer'' solely because of their dealings with government-owned utilities.

There are over 2,000 municipal, state and locally-owned, not-for- profit electric utilities throughout the United States, which deliver electricity to one in every seven electricity customers in the United States, over 47 million people. Further, the vast majority of public power companies serve communities with populations of 10,000 people or less.

Utility special entities should be allowed to keep using traditional swap counterparties, such as natural gas producers, independent generators, and investor-owned utility companies to help manage their operational risk related to the generation of electricity or production of natural gas.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend throughout America, in cemeteries across the land, we will celebrate and memorialize those men and women who have served, who are serving, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives to protect our Nation's freedoms embodied in our Constitution and our Bill of Rights that we hold most dear. While Memorial Day is a time when family and friends gather to be together, we know it is much more than that.

This Memorial Day, we should all give thanks to the sacrifices that our men and women have made who have served in our Nation's military. We should say thanks to our family members, to our neighbors, to all those who have served, and we must always, always remember those who are no longer with us. We in our country, I believe, can never say thank you enough, for this great country we live in is made dear for all of those who have made those sacrifices over 238 years.

So this weekend, as we gather across the land to be with our families and friends, let us pay thanks, let us take evidence of what it means to be an American, knowing that at the end of the day the bonds that we share in common as American citizens are much stronger than whatever differences we may have.

God bless those who are serving and those that have served and those who

are no longer with us. God bless our country.

Mr. Speaker, for the first time in recent history, Congress has a real opportunity to pass comprehensive legislation to fix our broken immigration system.

Legislation being backed by a bipartisan group of Senators has done what many previous proposals have failed to do, and that is to gain broad support and to balance the needs of all of the interests of our country. I have been working closely with Members on both sides of the aisle in the House and in the Senate and with agricultural organizations and farm workers to make sure that the concerns of California's agricultural communities are met. The Senate's plan provides a legal and stable workforce for agricultural and critical protections for those who work very hard every day to put safe, healthy food on our Nation's dinner tables. Without these provisions, it would have been a deal-breaker for our valley.

Naysayers might say it's time to wait, but that's motivated simply by political interests, not reality. It's time for immigration reform now. It's time for the House to act and to come together. It's time to pass this bipartisan effort to fix America's broken immigration system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Joe Cox for his many years of dedication to the Los Banos Future Farmers of America (FFA) as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their win at the FFA Nationals Contest. His commitment to young participants of the FFA program as well as many other community activities, make Joe Cox most deserving of this honor.

Joe Cox was born in Booneville, Arkansas in 1925. During the Great Depression, his family--including his two sisters, parents and grandmother--decided to leave Arkansas. They traveled across the country for two years, camping along the way, until they made it to Reedley, California.

Once the family settled in Reedley, Joe was able to return to school. Joe's family moved around the Reedley area, wherever there was work for his father. During one year, his family moved eight times. Even though his life was at times unstable, he was inspired by his father's commitment to working hard and supporting his family. This lifestyle also sparked his devotion to his life in education and his empathy for students who had to overcome obstacles.

As Joe graduated high school and World War II ensued, Joe decided to enlist in the Navy. He was assigned to the radio operators training after just five weeks of basic training. After his education was complete, Joe volunteered to serve on submarines. Out of one hundred volunteers, Joe was chosen as one of five to attend submarine school. He was assigned to a tender ship, the U.S.S. Orion, and the U.S.S. Batfish, which patrolled off the coasts of Japan.

When the war was over and he was discharged, Joe joined his brother- in-law in the farming business. After farming for several years, Joe decided that he wanted to continue his education. He attended Reedley College and then California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Joe was in his first quarter at Cal Poly, when he was called to serve in the Korean War. After two years, he was able to return to Cal Poly and complete his degree and teaching credential.

Joe began his teaching career as an Ag Science teacher with Los Banos High School in 1955. He went on to become the Agriculture Department Chair, which he turned into a highly respected program. In the spring of 1963, Joe coached the Los Banos High School FFA team to a first place finish at the state dairy judging contest, and then went on to win the National title in Waterloo, Iowa.

Joe continued to take summer classes to further his knowledge in the education field. He earned a master's degree in education from Cal Poly in 1957. Then in 1981, he earned his doctoral degree in education from the University of Southern California. Joe shifted his career into administration when he took the role of Assistant Principal at Los Banos High School in 1963 and Principal in 1969. One of Joe's assignments was to focus on adult education, which eventually led him to a position at the new Merced College Los Banos campus to run the evening programs. In 1982, he took the position of Principal at the junior high in Los Banos where he stayed until his retirement in 1988.

During his retirement, Joe has done more than many people do in a lifetime. He served for 12 years on the Los Banos Unified School Board. In addition, he served as President of the Los Banos Golden Agers, District Governor in Rotary, Chair of the California Seniors Legislature and most recently National President of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. The City of Los Banos recently acknowledged his longtime service to the community by inducting him into the Los Banos High History-Society Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to recognize the leadership and commitment Mr. Cox has shown to Los Banos and the Future Farmers of America. He personifies a man of principle and integrity. Joe Cox is a role model for all of us, and it is with great pride that I recognize him for everything he does for our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th ``Festa do Divino Espirito Santo'' or the Festival of the Divine Holy Spirit in Dos Palos, California. This annual festa is a lively gathering that promotes family reconciliation and peace, through prayer and charity.

The celebration began in the early 1920s when Azoreans began to emigrate from the Azore Islands to Dos Palos. In 1923 the Divino Espirito Santo, DES, Association was incorporated, and it stands as one of the city's oldest organizations. The Dos Palos DES has been successful over the past nine decades due to the donations and support from residents, business owners, dairymen, and ranchers. The organization is supported by individuals of all backgrounds and faiths. The money that DES raises goes to their annual celebrations, scholarships for young men and women, and parks for children. They also provide assistance to those who are in immediate need.

Dos Palos DES is known for its sense of community and comradeship. Neighbors are like family in Dos Palos, and there is no question that there is a sense of loyalty between everyone. Each year, the Festa do Divino Espirito Santo serves as a place for citizens to come together, appreciate their town, and enjoy each other's company. The traditional meal of sopas is served to over 2,000 people.

As someone with a strong Portuguese background and up-bringing, I truly admire all of the efforts made by Dos Palos DES. The individuals who have put together this wonderful celebration must be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Festa do Divino Espirito Santo as residents from all over the Central Valley celebrate the 90th celebration. These wonderful traditions are passed down from generation to generation, and we can expect that Dos Palos DES will be hosting celebrations for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ronald Taylor on the event of his Inauguration as the sixth President of Merced College, one of the premier community colleges in Central California.

Dr. Taylor began his exemplary educational career in Kyoto, Japan, where he taught English and Linguistics. He also taught at the University of Virginia in the English Department, which at the time was among the top three English Departments in the world. Dr. Taylor and his family decided to return to California, where he moved his way up from student grader to full time professor to Assistant Dean of Instruction for Letters and Social Sciences at Santa Rosa Junior College. Dr. Taylor has also served in the capacity of Vice President of Academic Services at Chabot College and Dean of Instruction at Reedley College.

Before coming to Merced College, Dr. Taylor served as the Superintendent-President of Feather River College. During his tenure at Feather River, Dr. Taylor effectively handled fiscal challenges, implemented a new approach to managing enrollment, and cultivated a communicative and positive atmosphere at the campus. He also successfully lifted a warning sanction that was placed on the college from the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges.

Throughout his career, Dr. Taylor has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the development of the highest standards for the education of his institution, demonstrating through his regular interactions with staff and the community his passion for higher education. Dr. Taylor has extensive experience engaging with diverse populations and has supported activities to encourage cross-cultural understanding.

Being an active member of his community is something of utmost importance to Dr. Taylor. He is an active Rotarian, and has served on many citizen task forces. Dr. Taylor is an ardent advocate for the community college agenda and for rural communities and has served on several statewide commissions. His current focus is on developing effective strategies to improve student success. He sees his primary strength as building consensus and community on campus as a means to foster student success.

It is my distinguished pleasure to welcome Dr. Ronald Taylor, who brings a wealth of experience in college governance to Merced College and wish him good fortune throughout his tenure as President. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him well as he embarks on this new journey to educate our future leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to provide the U.S. Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility to transfer certain funds to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration. While it is imperative that the U.S. Congress consider and pass legislation to replace the entirety of the sequester, this legislation will help ensure the safety and efficiency of our nation's air transportation system.

Specifically, I rise to affirm the intent of this legislation that grants the Secretary of Transportation the ability to use unobligated balances of the Airport Improvement Program account to halt the furloughs of air traffic controllers, to maintain the midnight air traffic control tower shift at airports across the country including Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, and to prevent the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers including Castle Airport's contract air traffic control tower. Maintaining service at all contract and non-contract air traffic control towers is central to the authority provided in this bill to ensure the safety of our air transportation system.

Many Members of Congress have expressed concerns over the closure of contract towers, reduced service at non-contract towers, and furloughs of air traffic controllers, all of which contribute to the overall safety of our nation's air transportation system. The safety

and efficiency of our skies have been put at risk and it has become incumbent upon the Congress to direct this authority to the Secretary of Transportation.