Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Cardoza, Ms. Bordallo and Mr. Kissel to honor the memory of Major General Vang Pao of Fresno, California, who passed away Thursday January 6th after a battle with pneumonia.

Major General Vang Pao led the Royal Lao Army during the Secret War in Laos, fighting against the People's Army of Vietnam in cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency and United States military forces. Bravely leading thousands of soldiers in a guerilla war against communism, Vang Pao became a hero, due to his leadership and dedication.

Growing up in the Xiengkhuang province, Vang Pao became interested in military service early in life. He left his family farm as a teenager to join the French Military in defense of his fellow Hmong as the Japanese invaded, and began a historic military career. At the end of World War II, and the departure of the Japanese, Vang Pao was recruited as an officer in the First Indochina War to fight the Viet Minh.

As he rose within the Royal Lao Army, Vang Pao was heralded for his valor and dedication and was the only ethnic Hmong to attain the rank of General in the Royal Lao Army. In the early 1960's, when the CIA recruited Hmong men in Laos to join a guerrilla unit during the Vietnam War, Vang Pao was chosen to be the commander. As his Hmong soldiers rescued downed American pilots from enemy territories and defended American outposts in Laos, he gained a reputation for being a disciplined, honorable leader.

The Hmong soldiers also attacked many North Vietnamese convoys that were using the Ho Chi Minh trail from North Vietnam into South Vietnam. By attacking these supply routes, thousands of U.S. soldiers' lives were saved in South Vietnam. Vang Pao and the Royal Lao Army valiantly fought for their cause throughout the entire Secret War.

Immigrating to the United States in May of 1975, Major General Vang Pao was instrumental in negotiating the resettlement of thousands of his fellow Hmong. Vang Pao continued his leadership after his exit from military service. He was active in fostering U.S.-Lao relations, and combating human rights abuses abroad, as well as serving as an icon and mentor to the Hmong-American community. A widely respected figure, General Vang Pao was a constant feature at Hmong-American events and celebrations nationwide.

Major General Vang Pao is survived by his widow, Mrs. May Song Vang, 25 children, 68 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and numerous friends and community members.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join Mr. Cardoza, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Kissel and myself in honoring the life of Major General Vang Pao as we offer our condolences to his family and celebrate his memory and service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rosemarie Duerta Huggins for her outstanding leadership and service as the 2010 President of Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California, Inc.

Rosemarie is a long-standing civic leader in California's Portuguese community. Upon joining Cabrillo Civic Club #10 Fresno County in 1967, Rosemarie embraced the mission of the Clubs, which is to be dedicated to the progress of California in memory of Portuguese compatriot, Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho, discoverer of California; to observe September 28 of each year as ``Cabrillo Day''; to erect and maintain appropriate memorials, shrines and landmarks of Portuguese navigators who discovered and explored California; to teach

and foster Americanization; to promote scholarships; and encourage better education and to perpetuate the achievements of their pioneer forefathers in the Golden State.

As president, Rosemarie served the Clubs' membership and communities of California with exemplary service. Her dedication led to expansion of the Clubs' charitable services and programs, including organizing blood drives, coordinating fundraising efforts for polio and cancer research, and assisting candidates for U.S. citizenship. During Rosemarie's tenure, the Clubs also awarded approximately 157 deserving students of Portuguese descent with $500 scholarships for higher education.

Prior to her service as state president, Rosemarie served in several capacities to help advance the Clubs' mission, including assuming the role of president of the Club's Fresno County Chapter from 1992 to 1993. Through her chairmanship on program and fundraising committees, Rosemarie was also highly instrumental in fostering awareness of the Club's founding principles including supporting scholarship and education, Americanization, and participation in civic affairs in the local community and across California. In addition to her years of service with the California Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California, Inc., Rosemarie has successfully attended to the needs of her household, her career at Children's Hospital Central California, and her duties as an active member of the Portuguese Lodge SPRSI and Clovis Hills Community Church.

Rosemarie lives by the conviction that ``It is up to us to keep our heritage alive so it will not perish.'' Her leadership and dedication is highly commendable and should serve as an example for all of us to follow. I ask my colleagues to rise with me to honor Rosemarie Duerta Huggins for her many contributions and countless efforts that have kept the Portuguese legacy vibrant in communities across California and our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Rollie Smith, Fresno Field Director with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After 12 years of dedicated service in Fresno, Rollie is moving to Washington, D.C. to be closer to his family.

Rollie Smith first came to Fresno, California in 1997 when he began work with Catholic Charities of Fresno. One year later, HUD hired Rollie as a community activist to help revitalize the City of Fresno. Rollie originally planned to help out for a few years, however his passion and commitment to the community quickly moved him up the ladder within HUD. Rollie became the Fresno Field Director in 2004 and has been doing a great job for the past seven years.

Rollie received his Masters' degrees from Loyola University, Chicago Jesuit Theological School, and the University of Chicago. A natural born leader and teacher, Rollie also taught classes at Loyola University, California State University, and the University of Hawaii.

One of Rollie's specialties was his unique ability to bring groups of people together to help solve issues affecting people in the Central Valley. One of these groups, the Federal Interagency Task Force, is a group that meets regularly and works together to tackle issues such as inadequate housing, poor education, health care, and low-paying jobs. Rollie will be truly missed in Fresno.

I applaud Rollie Smith for his many years of tireless work on behalf of families in California and the Central Valley. I know he will enjoy more time with his wife Bernie, his son Aaron Smith and his wife Carolyn, his daughter Suzanne Chartol and her husband J.P. Chartol, and his three grandchildren Adeline, Claire, and Remy Chartol.

Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that in addition to his countless gifts to our community, Rollie has been a true champion for my constituents. He and his team have always been available to discuss issues and work together to make our Central Valley a better place. I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the commitment, dedication and success of Rollie Smith and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 15, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Community Regional Medical Center on the occasion of the grand opening of Terry's House, a new, state-of-the-art facility in downtown Fresno, California, which will provide much needed support and housing to allow families to stay close to sick and injured loved ones in the hospital. Located in the heart of the Fresno medical district, this new 15,874 square-foot, two- story family house with twenty guest suites will be the first hospitality house in the Greater Fresno Area.

This residential facility is named in honor of Terry Richards who suffered and survived a serious trauma at the age of five when he was injured in a car accident. For nearly five months, his mother was forced to travel nearly 80 miles a day to see her son while he was recovering in the hospital. Currently, family members of patients must seek accommodations miles from the hospital, and many who cannot afford lodging sleep in waiting rooms, in their cars or try their best to find a spot in a busy hospital. Often, patients' loved ones have no alternative but to leave the hospital and make the long drive home. Now families have Terry's House, their home away from home, while their loved ones receive care.

Terry's House was made possible by the tireless work of Terry Richards' brother, Tom Richards, a local community developer and CEO of the Penstar Group. With the dedication of Tom Richards, Leta Ciavaglia, the Terry's House Development Council, the Community Regional Medical Center Foundation and many generous members of the community, a family dream has become a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Terry's House and its many supporters for their efforts to create a facility which keeps families together during times of need. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Tom Richards and the community members of Fresno who have worked unremittingly to make the opening of Terry's House possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Mr. Radanovich and Mr. Cardoza to extend our sincerest congratulations to California State University, Fresno as they celebrate their centennial anniversary.

As Fresno State celebrates its 100th anniversary, the university is ``Powering the New California'' in our rapidly changing region as we move forward in the 21st Century. California State University, Fresno, also known as Fresno State, has evolved from its founding as a teachers college to become a renowned center for higher learning in the Central Valley with eight schools and colleges serving over twenty thousand students.

Fresno State was originally founded as Fresno State Normal School on September 11, 1911 under the guidance of its first president Mr. Charles L. McLane. In 1921, Fresno State Normal School changed its name to Fresno State Teachers College and began to share a campus with another fine local institution, Fresno City College, to provide a quality education to local students for whom the distance of universities such as the University of California and Stanford University was too great a hardship. Fresno State Normal School would change its name again to Fresno State College in 1934, and in 1949 the first advanced degrees in English and Education were granted. Forty- five years after Fresno State first opened its doors, it relocated to its present location on Shaw and Cedar Avenues in 1956, where it currently sits on over three hundred acres of land. In 1961, Fresno State College became the charter institution of the California State University System and would officially become known as California State University, Fresno in 1972.

Today, Fresno State enrolls more than 21,500 undergraduate students and 4,400 graduate students and offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. In 2011, Fresno State will graduate its 100th class with an anticipated 5,500 students graduating from the institution. Notable among the academic programs at Fresno State, the Sid Craig School of Business has been nationally recognized by the Princeton Review as a ``Top Business School,'' the Jordan College of Agricultural Science and Technology oversees the only commercial winery in the country run by a university, and the Lyles College of Engineering has the only Geomatics undergraduate program in the Nation. Fresno State is also home to the Henry Madden Library, which with over one million books is the largest academic library between Sacramento and Los Angeles, and serves as a learning resource for the entire region. It is programs and institutions such as these that truly embody the excellence of Fresno State.

Fresno State has not only established itself as a leader in academics, but also in athletics; the school has gained national recognition through their various sports programs such as football, baseball and soccer. For instance, in 1998, Fresno State's women's softball team won the NCAA Women's College World Series by defeating the defending two-time former champions, the University of Arizona. Additionally, a decade later, the Fresno State men's baseball team climbed their way through the College World Series as the lowest ranked seed in post-season play to capture the 2008 NCAA title in a shocking defeat of the University of Georgia. Fresno State's distinguished alumni include Mayor of Fresno, California Ashley Swearingin, three- time Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Berg, former NASA Astronaut and Mission Commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia Colonel Rick Husband, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia and Honduras Phillip V. Sanchez, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Paul H. O'Neill, former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, and 2001 Super Bowl winning quarterback Trent Dilfer.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Cardoza and myself, in recognizing California State University, Fresno as they celebrate their centennial anniversary and continue their outstanding educational leadership for students throughout the Central Valley and the State of California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Langevin and Mr. Neal, to pay tribute to Mr. Joseph Eugene Quinn who passed away on December 3, 2010 at the age of seventy. Mr. Quinn was an extraordinary man who will long be remembered.

Joseph Eugene Quinn was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on March 1, 1940, the third of four sons to the late Joseph L. and Mary E. Quinn. Joseph Eugene, known as Gene by friends and family, attended St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket and excelled on the football and basketball teams. He graduated from Providence College in 1960 and maintained a life-long commitment to the intellectual and spiritual traditions of the Dominican Order.

After graduation, Gene enlisted in the United States Army. While serving in the military, he travelled extensively and befriended a wide spectrum of people who delighted in exchanging viewpoints on religion, politics and sports.

After his discharge from the Army, Gene moved to Largo, Florida where he became president of Bardmoor Country Club, a real estate and resort development. Gene later moved to Washington, DC and worked on Ronald Reagan's reelection bid in 1984. Mr. Quinn went on to hold a series of increasingly important positions with the Federal Government, and being a fond admirer of President Reagan, he took great pride later in his career when telling friends that he worked in the Ronald Reagan Building. At the time of his passing, Gene was an international trade specialist and project officer for Global Trade Programs at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Although Mr. Quinn lived in the Washington area for three decades he considered Rhode Island his home and always enjoyed spending summers there.

Mr. Quinn leaves behind his loving wife, Marguerite Slocum Quinn, to whom he was married twenty-three years. They were both founding members of the Anacostia Gracious Arts Program, an urban afterschool arts program for underprivileged youth in Washington. Gene was also a member of the Spouting Rock Beach Association in Newport, RI, the Clambake Club of Newport, the Providence College Alumni Association, and the American Ireland Fund.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Quinn is survived by his daughter, Tara, her husband Andrew Reilly, and his grandchildren, Andrew and Fiona of Middletown, RI. He is also survived by his brothers, Paul of McLean, VA, Thomas of Washington, DC, Francis of New York City, and their families.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Neal and I in remembering the life of this remarkable man as we offer our condolences to his family and celebrate his memory and service to our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Cardoza, and Mr. Nunes to pay tribute to Bishop John T. Steinbock who passed away on December 5, 2010 at the age of seventy- three in Fresno, California. Bishop Steinbock was a key figure in the Diocese in Fresno which serves more than one million parishioners in eight counties from as far north as Merced County to as far south as Kern County.

Bishop John T. Steinbock was born on July 16, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. He was one of three boys born to Leo and Thelma Steinbock. As a child, the Bishop learned to read from racing forms at the horsetracks and learned to count by playing blackjack. The Bishop's decision to turn towards the priesthood came after his two brothers had joined the seminary. He attended a rigorous college preparatory high school designed for young men considering the priesthood and graduated in 1955. After spending the summer of 1958 learning Spanish at a boardinghouse in Mexico City, he decided that he wanted to become a priest.

On May 1, 1963, Bishop Steinbock was ordained into the priesthood. Upon is ordainment, Bishop Steinbock was assigned to Resurrection Parish located in the Hispanic barrio in Los Angeles, California. During Bishop Steinbock's time in Resurrection Parish, he developed his reputation as a great administrator, a valued skill which would lead his promotion within the Catholic Church. In 1973, Bishop Steinbock was transferred to St. Vibiana's Catholic Cathedral near Skid Row in Los Angeles. During the Bishop's time in East Los Angeles, he ministered to the poor and homeless, often dealing with individuals suffering from mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, and physical abuse. Bishop Steinbock also became a police chaplain for the Los Angeles Police Department. When reflecting on his time in East Los Angeles, Bishop Steinbock wrote, ``The greatest suffering was the loneliness and despair I found in the lives of so many.''

Bishop Steinbock would have been content to stay a priest; however he was informed by the late Cardinal Timothy Manning that the late Pope John Paul II had named him to be a Bishop. Bishop Steinbock was hesitant to accept the honor, but was convinced by Cardinal Manning's message that the Pope was simply acting in accordance with God's will for Bishop Steinbock's life. His first assignment as Bishop was in Orange County serving from 1984 to 1987. He would later serve in Santa Rosa, California until he arrived in Fresno, California in 1991. Bishop Steinbock arrived in Fresno to lead a diocese and quickly rose to the occasion, solving several inherited challenges such as a $3 million deficit. In addition, during the Bishop's first decade in Fresno the diocese undertook seventy major building or renovation projects on churches, parish halls, offices, and school classrooms.

Bishop Steinbock's style of ministry was uniquely his own. He sought out technology and innovation as a means for communication, evangelization, teaching, and formation. The Bishop also recognized the need for personal and genuine love and concern for his brother priests who were never far from his thoughts and prayers. Bishop Steinbock personally celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation for virtually every young adult in the Diocese, except in a handful of all the eighty-eight diocesan parishes. Bishop Steinbock's pastoral messages, homilies, and Masses often addressed immigrants, farm workers, the unemployed, the imprisoned, those without health care, restorative justice and love for one's neighbor. Despite the Bishop's busy schedule, he made time to visit each office in the Pastoral Center to spend time with staff and volunteers. On October 23, 2009, Bishop Steinbock celebrated his Silver Jubilee as Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Nunes, and I ask our colleagues to join us in honoring the life of Bishop John T. Steinbock as we offer our condolences to his family and celebrate his memory and service to the Diocese of Fresno and California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of extending tax cuts to American families and businesses.

This week, we have a choice. Congress can continue the campaign politics of the past year or Republicans and Democrats can set aside their talking points and get something done for the American people. I support the latter.

In my district, families are putting together their budgets and trying to make ends meet under difficult times. Small businesses are trying to make hiring decisions for next year. Family farmers are scared of losing their operations due to a looming bump in the estate tax, their inability to pass the farms on to their children.

In this struggling, fragile economic recovery, we cannot afford to let this happen. After months of partisan gridlock, it's time for Members of this House to listen to the American people and prevent their taxes from going up on January 1.

Delay is not an option. I call on the Congress to send the commonsense compromise, that is a compromise--that means by its very nature we have things that we like and things we dislike in the package--before us and send it to the President's desk, and then we must get serious about addressing and putting our Nation's fiscal house in order, which is job number one.

Mr. Speaker, I know the great work that Chairman Dingell did on this effort. Unfortunately, I cannot support the continuing resolution food safety effort.

The good work we did here in the House that was sent over to the Senate, the Senate amendments make it a flawed measure. This process should be based on science and not based on miles and sales. For those reasons, I, unfortunately, will oppose the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Emeritus Dingell for his support. I rise today to reluctantly oppose the Continue Resolution and attached Food Safety bill.

Unfortunately leadership has chosen to attach a gravely-flawed food safety bill to this continuing resolution which I cannot support.

Don't misunderstand--I am a huge supporter of food safety reform, I have worked on for almost 4 years.

However--the Senate poisoned our efforts by attaching arbitrary exemptions that ignore risk and leave gaping holes in our food safety system--through the Tester amendment.

I wholeheartedly support protecting our family farmers--ensuring that they are not overburdened with paperwork and regulation.

But this process should be based on science--not based on miles and sales, therefore I am voting no.

Does anyone here believe food poisoning is less dangerous if it comes from a small farm rather than a large one?

Even more concerning is that these regulations have trade implications.

With a great number of farms in Canada and Mexico well within the 275 mile threshold, we will be providing a loophole large enough to drive a Mexican truck through.

I'd like to remind my colleagues that the Serrano peppers that sickened over 1,000 people and devastated a wrongfully-accused tomato industry came from a small distributor in Texas--imported from a small farm in Mexico.

I ask my colleagues--did the size of this farm prevent those men, women and children from becoming ill?

No. Of course it didn't.

Because contaminated food can and does come from any size and any location and is no less deadly in some cases if consumed.

That is why I have worked on food safety and will continue to work on food safety.

And that is, unfortunately, why I am unable to support the Senate food safety bill with the Tester amendment included in its current form.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievement of Lou Xiong on the occasion of receiving the 2010 Milken Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. The Milken Family Foundation's Milken Educator Award seeks to celebrate, elevate, and activate exemplary K-12 educators and has been hailed as the ``Oscars of Teaching.'' Ms. Xiong was one of 55 educators across our Nation, and one of only three in the State of California, to be honored this year.

Lou was born in Laos as the fifth of 12 children to Chong Sue Xiong and Khou Moua. In 1980, Lou and her family immigrated to the United States from Laos in search of a better life. After attending high school in the Fresno area, Lou enrolled at California State University, Fresno, and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. Upon graduation, Lou joined the staff at Balderas Elementary School in Fresno, California, to follow her dream of becoming a teacher.

Over the last 11 years at Balderas Elementary School, Ms. Xiong has taught a variety of subjects to students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades and contributed immensely to both her students and the school. In addition to her teaching duties, Lou has volunteered her time in school site responsibilities serving as Grade Level Chair, participating in the Leadership Team, serving on the School Site Building Committee and acting as Coordinator of the Hmong New Year Celebration. Outside of the classroom, Lou has served as a Math Coach for the Fresno Unified School District, helping fellow teachers and assisting in creating a pacing guideline program which is now used throughout the district.

Lou has also been actively involved in Fresno Unified School District's Superintendent's English Learner Task Force to ensure that language barriers do not keep students from succeeding in school. Lou's life story serves as a positive example for her students, demonstrating that despite the obstacles she has had to overcome as an immigrant, anything is possible with hard work and determination. The community of Fresno is very fortunate to have such a dedicated individual who continues to inspire students to believe they can achieve anything.

Lou is married to her husband Shue Vue, a civil engineer for the State of California Department of Transportation. Lou and Shue Vue have three children together and hope that the success they have achieved in their chosen professions provides inspiration for their children to achieve their own personal success in life and give back to their communities.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the achievement of Lou Xiong in the field of education as she is recognized as one of a select few top educators in our country by the Milken Family Foundation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lawrence ``Larry'' G. Huebner who passed away on November 28, 2010 at the age of 79. Larry Huebner was an extraordinary man who lived each day to the fullest and whose contributions to the game of tennis as a player, teacher, and advocate are unmatched in the community. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Gretchen, daughter Karin, sons Jim and John, and five grandchildren.

Larry Huebner graduated from Fresno High School in 1949 and went on to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business. While attending UCLA, Larry won an NCAA doubles title in Men's Tennis and was captain of two Bruins National Championship teams. After graduating from UCLA, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he volunteered as a ship Chaplain and would later become a Lieutenant while stationed in Hawaii. During Larry's service in the Navy, he played in high-level exhibition tennis matches while developing friendships that would last a lifetime.

After his service in the Navy, Larry returned to Fresno, California, where he joined his father, Jim Sr., to manage Huebner Sports. In 1963, he helped found the Fig Garden Swim & Racquet Club, continuing his passion for the sport of tennis and giving the community a welcoming place to enjoy the game. Larry's passion for tennis was passed on to his children as he won national senior parent/child doubles championships with all three of his children in 2003.

In recognition of those momentous victories, Larry and his wife Gretchen were flown to the 2004 U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. It was at the 2004 U.S. Open that he was presented with a heavy, 10-inch-high crystal Tiffany trophy which is still displayed with pride at the Huebners' home in Fresno. In 2007, Larry and his daughter Karin played together in what would be his final competitive tournament. Larry and Karin would win the Super Senior Father-Daughter grass court title at the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Larry's health took a turn for the worse in May 2010 when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Despite his diagnosis, he continued to give back to the game of tennis in his final days. Two weeks before Larry had made his final serve, he was giving lessons to a 10-year-old girl. It was Larry's love for the game of tennis that bonded his family together and will always remain his legacy.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of this remarkable man as we offer our condolences to his family and celebrate his memory and service to our community and California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Mr. Cardoza to congratulate Fresno Metro Ministry on the occasion of their 40th anniversary, aptly recognized as a community service organization that champions ``working together to build a better community.''

Founded in 1970, Fresno Metro Ministry was conceived and developed as a multi- faith, multi-cultural organization with the mission of creating a more respectful, compassionate and inclusive community that promotes social and economic justice. Fresno Metro Ministry's success stems from working in collaboratives and engaging in community education, advocacy, and community problem-solving by building coalitions, networking, conducting workshops and conferences, and developing and supporting task forces to address community issues that affect underserved communities. The community of Fresno is proud to be home to such a great organization dedicated to the advancement of the less fortunate in our region. For 40 years Fresno Metro Ministry has been making a positive impact in the lives of members of our community and I know that it will continue to do so in the future.

Throughout the years, Fresno Metro Ministry has spearheaded projects that have helped bridge the needs of low-income residents and existing community services in the greater Fresno area. This includes projects such as the development and publication of the ``Making Connections Community Resource Directory'' and the establishment of Latinos United for Clear Air, a neighborhood parent group who completed advocacy training sessions and went on to advocate for cleaner air and reductions of toxic pollutants at the local and state level. Community partnerships have also led to the adoption of a School Wellness Policy by the Fresno Unified School District to assist in the prevention of childhood obesity and the creation of community gardens in partnership with the city of Fresno. Furthermore, the Metro Ministry was instrumental in developing the New Leaders for Better Health program which provides health education and advocacy training for low-income residents, many of whom are non-English speaking and immigrant refugees.

It is fitting and appropriate that we recognize an organization of the caliber of the Fresno Metro Ministry today. Giving a voice to those who too often do not have one has been the noble mission at the forefront of this organization and advocating for improvement in the health, education, nutrition and community betterment opportunities of a region is no light task. I ask my colleagues to join with Mr. Cardoza and I in honoring Fresno Metro Ministry on the occasion of their 40th anniversary and thank them for their tireless work and enormous contributions to our community in the greater area of Fresno, California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American Legion Merle Reed Post 124 of Delano, California on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of their charter. In honor of this momentous occasion, the Post will celebrate at the Past Commanders and Past Presidents of the American Legion Family dinner on December 4, 2010 at the Legion Hall in Delano, California.

The roots of the American Legion in Delano began with John Robertson Quinn, a World War I veteran from Delano, California. After finding that the nearest American Legion Post was located in Bakersfield, California nearly a day's drive from his home, John Robertson Quinn organized an American Legion Post in Delano to ensure local veterans had a site to gather closer to home. The Post was named Merle Reed Post 124 in memory of Private Cyrus Merle Reed, United States Army, who was the only soldier from Delano, California killed in action during World War I. Merle Reed Post 124 received its charter on September 17, 1920. John Robertson Quinn served as the first Post Commander, and was later elected to serve as American Legion State Commander in 1921. John Robertson Quinn was also elected as the first National Commander from the State of California and west of the Mississippi River in 1923.

After years of meeting at several locations throughout Delano, John Robertson Quinn's family donated the property at the corner 8th Avenue and Kensington Street in Delano, California to the Post for a building. The first Merle Reed Post 124 building was completed in 1924. American Legion National Commander John Robertson Quinn dedicated the building in June 1924 during an official visit to his home Post. Today, the American Legion hall in Delano still hosts many American Legion activities and serves as a hall for community purposes.

Merle Reed Post 124 has continued to be an integral part of the Delano community since its inception, and is the only veterans' organization in the Delano area. Currently the Post has 110 members and continues to grow and attract new members through its active participation in community service. The Merle Reed Post 124 Legionnaires, as well as the Merle Reed Post 124 Auxiliary, chartered in 1921 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron, chartered in 1999, share the positive attitude that has made this veterans' organization strong and responsive to the needs of the veterans in North Kern and South Tulare County.

Each year, the Post participates in the Annual Memorial Service at North Kern Cemetery in Delano. Merle Reed Post 124 has sponsored over 100 high school juniors to attend California Boys State, where participants learn the functions of our government. In addition, the Post participates in community events and festivals, always providing a positive image of our veterans. For years, Merle Reed Post 124's 1917 Hinckley Army Truck and 1921 Model T Ford Car have been crowd favorites in local parades.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing American Legion Post 124 and its members on its 90th anniversary. I also ask that you join me in honoring its membership for their service to their community and its veterans, and for their commitment to the ideals of the American Legion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Albert ``Al'' Pombo who passed away on November 19, 2010. Al Pombo was an extraordinary man and a favorite of racing fans throughout California, but also a personal hero of mine. I ask that portions of an article published by The Fresno Bee be entered into the Record.

Al kissed bumpers and babies in a hard-charging auto racing

career in the Central Valley that often angered competitors

while captivating fans, young and old, died Friday at

Veterans Hospital in Fresno. He was 85.

``He was just talented, very good--he was the best,''

another former Valley racer, Dan Green, said Saturday of Mr.

Pombo, who launched his career at Merced Speedway in the

jalopy class in 1948, went on to compete in dirt cars,

hardtops, sprint cars and super modifieds and won more than

500 main events, seven NASCAR supermodified titles and

numerous championships at short tracks throughout California

before he retired in 1971.

He actually came out of retirement for one final race,

driving Al Brazil's circle No. 3 sprint car at Clovis

Speedway in 1976. ``They broke the mold when they made him,''

Kings Speedway promoter Dave Swindell once said of Mr. Pombo,

the state's top hardtop racer in the 1960s. Kenny Takeuchi, a

former announcer at Kearney Bowl and other tracks across the

state, once said: ``He was dedicated to the sport. Whether

it's God-given or not, he had real driving talent and

competition never fazed him. He was also good on dirt or

pavement, and that's rare to find today.'' Mr. Pombo was

particularly dedicated to the Valley. ``He had the ability to

go back East,'' Green said, ``but he never did really care

about going on to Indy and the big time. He was a local guy

and very few people beat him.''

Mr. Pombo fancied the tight, quarter-mile oval at the old

Kearney Bowl, where his duels with Marshall Sargent riveted

the Valley racing audience in the 1950s and '60s and helped

pump racing blood back into the hearts of those still

mourning the 1955 Indianapolis 500 loss of Fresno icon Billy

Vukovich Sr.

It was at Kearney Bowl--once Fresno Airport Speedway, and

then Italian Park Speedway--where Vukovich forged his career

from 1936-47 behind the wheel of the little red ``Old

Ironsides'' before crowds approaching 20,000 that routinely

arrived for Sunday night midgets. It was primarily there and

at Clovis Speedway that Mr. Pombo developed a Valley fan

following arguably only exceeded by Vukovich in the region's

history of auto racing.

Mr. Pombo's popularity hardly faded deep into his

retirement as it was common to see him in recent years

smooching babies and being swarmed by kids and adults at

autograph sessions at Valley tracks. He couldn't be torn away

from his passion, even though he used a wheelchair in his

final months. He made his last appearance, signing his hats,

T-shirts and pictures per usual, Oct. 22-23 at the Trophy Cup

at Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway. Mr. Pombo was taken there by

longtime friend Paul Reiter, his designated driver for years.

And, to the end, Reiter witnessed many who bowed to the icon.

``People from way back would tell their kids to shake this

man's hands, the legend of all time,'' said Reiter, a former

soda vendor at Kearney Bowl. ``People would tell him, `You're

the greatest driver . . . you gave us so many nights of

thrills . . . I met my wife at the track and watched your

whole career.'

Most memorable were the duels with Sargent that found metal

to metal and occasional fist to fist. So intense was their

rivalry, bleacher brawling was common among fans fighting in

defense of one or the other racers. And so prominent in

Valley racing annals, a tribute is still paid in the form of

the annual Pombo-Sargent Classic at Kings Speedway. ``We were

always the best friends in the world,'' once said Pombo, also

namesake of the Al Pombo Classic that continues at Madera

Speedway. ``But when the green flag dropped, we'd come out

fighting. Sometimes, we'd mix it up a bit, but we'd always

end up in the bar partying.''

Daughter of Al Pombo's son, Tony, she said her grandfather

hadn't walked since falling and breaking his hip in late

June. Since, he had remained at Fresno's Veterans Hospital.

And it was there that Reiter would pick him up, drive him to

tracks in Tulare, Chowchilla, Madera and Hanford, and return

him the same night, as late as 2 a.m. ``He loved kids, he

loved people, he loved everybody,'' Reiter said. ``You

couldn't ask for a better guy. He was my hero.''

Al was born in the Azores on June 3, 1925. He is preceded

in death by his wife Pat, and children Diana, David, and

Albert Jr. Al is survived by his children, Alisa and Larry

McDonald, Patty Micheli, Debbie Pombo, Tony and Susan Pombo,

Pat Ruch, and fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-

grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of this remarkable man, and one of my personal heroes, as we offer our condolences to his family and celebrate his memory and service to our community and California.