Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sikh American community on the occasion of Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month which is celebrated in November.

For over a century, California's Central Valley has boasted a flourishing concentration of Sikh Americans, sharing a rich history, mutual understanding, and shared principles. In 1912, the first Sikh Gudwara in the United States was established in Stockton, California as Sikh Americans settled in the region, coming to labor in agricultural and railroad pursuits. Over the years, Sikh Americans have found many successes as over 700,000 have made their homes across our nation.

From serving as Members of Congress, such as Dalip Singh Saund did for three terms, to Mayors of California cities such as San Joaquin, Sikh Americans have quickly become an active force in American public policy. When leading industry positions in agriculture, small business, and medicine, Sikh Americans bring a distinctive pride to many endeavors, and an unparalleled work ethic.

On the first Sunday of each November Sikh Americans throughout our nation celebrate the coronation day of Sikh Scripture as Guru Gaddi Divas with parades and festivals. As we strive to appreciate the vibrant diversity and contributions of all religions and cultures in our nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Sikh American community as they celebrate Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month this November.

Madam Speaker, I rise today before my esteemed colleagues to recognize and honor the distinguished service of an exceptional man. The contributions of this man to the California agriculture industry and our water resources epitomize the spirit of industriousness and persistence found in the agricultural communities across our country. I would like to recognize Mr. Marvin A. Meyers on being named the recipient of the ``2010 Agriculturist of the Year'' award by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.

A leader in the development of private water banking, Meyers, himself, farms on the Westside of Fresno County in Mendota. Meyers, who cares for 3,500 acres of almonds in the Firebaugh area, admits his impatience over finding a solution to water shortages drove him to begin developing a water bank. After years of preliminary work, including pilot projects and working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other agencies, Meyers received federal approval in 2002 to begin operating the bank. Meyers pumps water into the underground bank during wet years and pumps water out during dry years to help make water available when farmers need it most. The bank became invaluable last year after three consecutive dry years and regulatory decisions limited the availability of federal water to our Valley. Meyers' hard work and innovation has translated into the success of his operation and the continuation of a family farm. The Agriculturist of the Year award is given each year to an individual who exemplifies leadership and integrity and whose achievements have significantly affected the community. The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce has made a wise choice in their selection of Meyers.

Meyers' actions demonstrate his dedication to his community. He is a visionary, a person who epitomizes altruism and believes in giving back to his community. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting with Marvin and touring his water bank and wildlife project near the outskirts of Mendota, California. The impressive project included five different holding pools all conveyed via gravity and an installation of solar panels that was being erected as we toured that day. Through his water bank and wildlife refuge projects, Meyers educates groups of local students from kindergarten to high school on the importance of water education and wildlife restoration. Going beyond the call, Meyers offers assistance in transportation costs for school buses to travel to and from his site, allowing many school districts and students affected by the recession the opportunity to learn outside the classroom about issues affecting our Valley.

Marvin Meyers is truly a remarkable man--always persistent, always engaged. Marvin is the kind of advocate that the agriculture industry needs on its side. I have come to know this man well since my days in the California State Legislature, and know firsthand that this award, though meritorious, is only a small part of the recognition Marvin deserves for his many accomplishments. I offer my congratulations to Marvin Meyers today on receiving this distinguished honor and commend him before my colleagues for his contributions to the agriculture industry of California and to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the students, faculty, staff and administration at West Hills College, North District Center as they are recognized for being named as one of ``America's 50 Best Community Colleges'' in August 2010 by the Washington Monthly. Chancellor of West Hills Community College District Frank Gornick, President of West Hills College-Coalinga Willard Lewallen, Director of the North District

Center Marcel Hetu, and the Board of Trustees deserve special recognition for their leadership and commitment to education in our Valley.

The beginnings of this fine institution were set in motion during the Great Depression and it is to the credit of the greatest generation and their forward thinking that this college came to be. Established to provide much needed educational opportunities for our Valley's rural areas, West Hills College has been on the forefront of efforts to ensure the hardworking residents of the Central Valley have access to a quality education and the opportunity to improve their circumstances. The North District Center shares in the wonderful history of the local community, having been a restaurant, a bowling alley, and business offices prior to the service it provides today to students. The college district includes campuses in Lemoore and Coalinga, with numerous satellite operations in nearby towns enhancing educational access for our Westside communities.

West Hills College has shown great commitment to supporting student learning and providing educational, cultural, and economic development opportunities to students and the local and global communities that they serve. Academic and vocational programs, including administration of justice, agriculture, child development and nursing among many others, give local students the tools they need to succeed. West Hills College has truly become a premier interactive learner-centered community college and it is fitting that this institution is recognized today for its contribution to our Valley's educational, social, cultural and economic vitality.

I am proud to have West Hills Community College as part of my congressional district and furthermore proud to have an alumnus of the North District Center as a member of my staff. It was with great honor that I spoke at commencement ceremonies in May 2006, and it is again with that same honor that I rise today to celebrate West Hills College and their outstanding programs.

It goes without saying, ``Once you go here, you can go anywhere.'' As we celebrate one of America's best, let us applaud the dedication West Hills Community College has shown to the community throughout the years. Please accept my warmest congratulations on being rated the 34th Best Community College in America and the highest ranking community college in California and our deepest thanks for your contributions to our Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Martha Twisselman of McKittrick, California on receiving the 2010 Agriculturist of the Year Award from the Kern County Fair. Mrs. Twisselman's dedication to fostering youth interest in agriculture through her work on the Kern County Fair Junior Livestock Auction Committee and her many years of community service make her most deserving of this award. It should also be noted with special recognition that Mrs. Twisselman is the first woman to be recognized with this honor.

Mrs. Twisselman was born in Paso Robles, California, to Ellsworth and Mary Muttney. Martha attended Olig Elementary, McKittrick Elementary, and graduated from Taft High School. After graduation, she married Carl F. Twisselman II and moved to the Temblor Ranch where she began her life in the cattle business.

Mrs. Twisselman is an active community volunteer, having held several posts in the past years including President of the McKittrick Elementary School Parent Teachers Association and President of the Taft High and McKittrick Elementary Parent's Support Organizations. Martha has also supported local youth groups, acting as a girls' softball coach for eight years and serving as a 4-H leader for 14 years.

Mrs. Twisselman's service to the agricultural community includes many years of involvement with the Kern County Cattlewomen's Association. She served as a director of the association, held the offices of secretary, treasurer, vice-president, and served as President of the association from 1997 to 1998. In 1996, Martha was also named Kern County Cattlewomen's Association Cattlewoman of the Year.

In addition to her volunteer service to youth and agriculture groups, Mrs. Twisselman has worked side-by-side for more than five decades with her husband, Carl, in the family's livestock grazing business. Martha was also a staff member of the Kern County Fair Junior Livestock Auction Committee for five years, working with families involved in showing livestock at the Kern County Fair. Last year, the Kern County Fair Auction Committee dedicated its catalogue to Martha and Carl Twisselman in honor of the couple's service to the agricultural community.

Martha and her husband Carl have four children, Mary Ann Hagstrom and husband Chuck; Carl F. Twisselman III and his wife Stacey; Julie M. VanSickel and her husband Jim; and Kathy Tracy and her husband Rob. Martha and Carl are also the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren.

The leadership, commitment and dedication Mrs. Twisselman has shown to the Kern County Fair and to Kern County youth has not wavered during the many years she has served her community. Martha Twisselman is a role model for community spirit and it is with great pride that I congratulate her again on receiving the distinguished 2010 Kern County Fair Agriculturist of the Year Award and thank her for the great work she does for the residents of Kern County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tree Fresno on the occasion of their 25th anniversary celebration. Tree Fresno has made a significant impact on the community of Fresno by promoting environmental stewardship programs and educating the community on the importance of preserving the environment. During their quarter-century of work, Tree Fresno has been responsible for planting over 37,000 trees in the greater Fresno area.

Tree Fresno was founded in 1985 during the city of Fresno's centennial anniversary by a group of concerned citizens dedicated to improving the local environment and preserving green spaces. Initial efforts from this group came to fruition in the form of a telethon raising $27,000 which was used to purchase trees to be planted in the downtown and Tower District areas.

While Tree Fresno's primary focus is on preserving green space in the community of Fresno, educational programs remain an important aspect of Tree Fresno's mission. Educational and stewardship programs such as Trees for Campuses & Kids and the Junior Board of Directors help teach Valley children the value of green spaces and caring for the environment. The Trees for Campuses & Kids program, which has planted over 4,100 trees on Fresno County school campuses, is only one example of the great services Tree Fresno provides to the community.

Community support, including endowment and membership programs, has helped Tree Fresno accomplish a variety of projects in the Fresno community. Examples of these initiatives include the planting of 500 trees along the McKinley Avenue Canal Bank and 939 trees on Blackstone Avenue, as well as partnerships such the ``A Shade Better'' program with Pacific Gas & Electric which allowed for 400 trees to be provided to homeowners to reduce energy costs. Through their efforts, Tree Fresno has planted over an average of a thousand trees a year in Central California. Tree Fresno also continues to make progress on the Friant Oak Loop-Scenic Highway Beautification and Reforestation Project and the Master Urban Parkway Plan which will create a network of over 200 miles of urban trails and connect schools, parks, and recreation areas.

In honor of Tree Fresno's 25th anniversary, they are launching a new endeavor called the ``Real Green'' program which aims to plant 100,000 trees over the next 10 years in partnership with organizations in the Fresno area. Tree Fresno's 25 years of advocacy for green spaces has contributed immensely to making the Central Valley a better place to live, work and raise a family. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Tree Fresno on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary and applaud their tireless work and enormous contributions as they continue their mission to preserve green space and provide environmental education for the community of Fresno.

Madam Speaker, as we return to our districts with the August recess, I want to call attention to the ongoing water supply challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley that I represent.

This year, we pushed the administration to use all the flexibility and power within the law to increase pumping to move water to our valley. We pushed to find additional water supplies that were not previously available at contract rates, and we were able to increase the water allocation for farmers in our valley significantly. We also pushed to bring critical water infrastructure projects, like the Intertie that we will have groundbreaking next month.

Our efforts have produced more than four times the amount of water we received last year, but our fight for water, for valley jobs, and for our economy is far from over. Unemployment is still unacceptable. This administration and Congress must continue to step up its support for the San Joaquin Valley, as farmers and farm communities need a sustainable water supply to grow the country's fresh fruits and vegetables, our Nation's food supply.

That is why it is more important than ever in the next water year for Federal and State agency leaders to use every tool in their water toolbox to ensure that water flows. That means we must work together with our local water agencies.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the amendment by Mr. Cardoza.

The administration needs to reset its housing policy. It is not working. Foreclosure rates are above and beyond the call in the San Joaquin Valley. We need to do a better job.

I rise today to support the amendment offered by my friend Representative Cardoza, to strip travel funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This amendment is in response to the ongoing nationwide foreclosure crisis, which has been extremely devastating to my district in California. This administration's efforts have not worked in the San Joaquin Valley, where many families continue to lose their homes.

This amendment forces HUD to cease their travel, while they properly address this nationwide crisis.

Madam Speaker, today I will introduce legislation that will provide for burial benefits in national cemeteries to Hmong veterans who served in support of U.S. forces in Vietnam.

Given the service to our Nation, I believe this is an appropriate honor. During the Vietnam War, officers from the

CIA Special Activities Division trained and led Hmong men in Laos and in Vietnam for special combat activities. These forces numbered in the tens of thousands and conducted missions against communist forces and the North Vietnamese, fighting shoulder to shoulder with U.S. soldiers.

Since the end of the conflict in Vietnam, thousands of Hmong families have resettled around the United States today and as a result of a law signed by President Ford are now United States citizens. Only a few thousand of these original veterans remain alive today.

As was done with the Philippine Armed Forces who served in support of U.S. in World War II, we should recognize that precedent by offering internment privileges to national cemeteries after verification and documentation is completed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I urge you to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of extending unemployment benefits to the hardworking San Joaquin Valley families of California who continue to search for work during these tough economic times. The current lapse in benefits is unprecedented. Since 1959, the government has never allowed these benefits to expire when the national unemployment rate is above 7.2 percent.

Californians are concerned with providing for their families and putting food on the table, not who scores the most political points in Washington.

Extending unemployment benefits isn't just critical to our Central Valley's workers and communities where unemployment hovers around 20 percent in some of the counties but also to our economy. Every dollar in unemployment benefits creates at least $1.63 in economic activity. That puts money in neighborhood businesses.

Now is the time to focus on middle class families and our economy, not the next election. It's time to pass this measure and to send it to the President for his signature.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Armando an Betty Rodriguez of Fresno, California, as they celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Over the course of their journey of the past 60 years, Armando and Betty have demonstrated a loving devotion and enduring partnership that continues to make their marriage a true inspiration for others.

Armando and Betty Rodriguez were both born and raised in Fresno, California, and were traditional high school sweethearts, having eyes only for each other. They attended Edison High School and graduated in 1947. Three short years later, they were married and in 1952, Armando joined the United States Air Force, serving our Great Country for four years, including a tour of duty in Korea, where he served as a Morse Code operator.

After being discharged, Armando and Betty resided in Fresno, while he completed his studies at Fresno State. Always true partners, when Armando decided to pursue his Juris Doctorate degree, Betty supported both of them by working in a number of part-time jobs. Armando became an attorney and, in 1972, went on to become the first Hispanic elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. With Betty's unwavering support, Armando helped open the judicial doors for many other Latinos when he was appointed by then Governor Jerry Brown as a Fresno County Superior Court Judge in 1975. Armando would go on to serve in his judicial capacity for twenty years.

Armando Rodriguez is known to be proud of the many ``firsts'' in his life--his first marriage in its 60th year; first lawyer to work for the California Rural Legal Assistance; first in his family to graduate from college; and one of the first to be elected as an adviser with el Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior during Mexico President Vicente Fox's administration.

Betty Rodriguez has been equally active in their beloved Fresno community by helping to found the League of Mexican American Women, and participating in the Ladies Aid to Retarded Citizens, the League of Women Voters, the Mexican-American Political Association, Friends of the Library, and countless other organizations. Despite her seemingly endless commitments to the community, Betty has also been and remains, a devoted caretaker of the Rodriguez home throughout their 60 years of marriage.

Armando and Betty have become known as local Latino icons and continue to have a tremendous impact on their families, friends and fellow community members. Furthermore, each has been a recipient of La Medalla Ohtli, the highest recognition that the Mexican government bestows on non-Mexican citizens and both were honored for their work with the Mexican Consulate, with Fresno's Sister City Torreon and with youth from Mexico.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Armando and Betty Rodriguez on celebrating their 60th year of marriage, and expressing our hope that they are blessed with many more joyous years together.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and outstanding career of Mr. Woody Laughnan.

For over 20 years, Woody contributed his wit, intelligence, and passion to the Fresno Bee and our community. His work was widely read by the people of our Valley, and his regular column reflected his own personal biography while informing so many of our daily lives.

Born in 1924, Woody was a Montana native who served in World War II. He dedicated his career to the printed word, and his work in the newspaper industry took him from the Martinez News-Gazette to the Paso Robles Press. Along the way, Woody worked as a reporter, an editor, an advertising salesman, and a publisher.

The Fresno Bee and its readers were lucky enough to land Woody in 1967. His Around Here column became a mainstay of its pages, and the stories and wisdom he passed along touched so many in our Valley. While Woody's column ended in 1989, I can still remember opening the Bee and turning to the latest edition of Around Here.

Outside of work, Woody was dedicated to his family and helping those in need. His charity over the years was remarkable and he will be remembered by his generosity and compassion.

Madam Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with Woody's family and friends as we honor the life of an individual who contributed so much to our Valley.

Mr. Speaker, this month, the Department of Interior and the California Department of Water Resources announced an increase in water allocation to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. Our efforts to press the administration for more water is producing results and is already flowing to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.

But our fight for our valley's jobs and economy is far from over. Regulations that restrict the flow of water to our valley must be revised. I am pleased that the administration has announced its intention to revise and integrate the two biological opinions that single out valley agriculture for degrading the delta when we know that this simply is not true. All factors affecting the health of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta must be taken into account as we move forward, including predation of invasive species and other water quality factors.

I would like to submit a letter for the Record from the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board that confirms the need to address water quality issues. This includes the dumping of pollutants, such as ammonia and toxic urban run-off and the impact of power plants on the ecosystem, among other things. We will win this fight, and common sense will prevail. Recognizing all of the factors impacting the delta will allow more water to flow to the valley and the rest of California.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, June 9, 2010.

Charles R. Hoppin,

Chair, State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA.

Katherine Hart,

Chair, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board,

Rancho Cordova, CA.

Dear Chairs Hoppin and Hart: We are writing to request that

the State Water Resources Control Board and the Central

Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board take immediate

action to address ammonia discharges from wastewater

facilities into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta).

As you are aware, we have long held that the single focus

of regulatory agencies on water exports is misguided in that

it overlooks other key stressors that contribute to the

decline of fisheries in the Delta. The effect of this single

focus is to punish farmers, farmworkers and communities in

the San Joaquin Valley at a tremendous impact to state's

economy, and in the end the fish are no better off.

Two recent studies point to Sacramento's wastewater as a

significant cause behind the declining fish populations in

the Delta. One study, authored by Patricia Glibert of the

University of Maryland, concludes that the Delta's

environmental problems are more likely tied to wastewater

pollution than to water diversions, indicating that increased

ammonia in Sacramento wastewater has disrupted algae

production in the Delta, which rippled up the food chain to

compromise fish species. Another study by Inge Werner, a

toxicologist at UC Davis, concluded that threatened Delta

smelt may be harmed by exposure to ammonia at levels below

federal limits and that longterm exposure could reduce smelt

growth and feeding activity, which would ultimately affect

their breeding success.

These studies cry out for immediate action by the

responsible regulatory agencies. We understand that the

Regional Board has renewed Sacramento Regional County

Sanitation District's wastewater discharge permit annually

without substantive review since it expired in 2005. As the

single largest wastewater discharger in the Delta, it is

crucial that the Regional Board conducts a full and immediate

review of the District's permit and that the Regional Board

conditions any renewal upon upgrading the sewage treatment

system to a tertiary system. Tertiary systems have been

installed throughout San Joaquin Valley communities as a

result of regulations imposed by the Regional Board in order

to improve water quality. We find it incongruous that the

very board that has imposed tertiary treatment requirements

on communities in the San Joaquin Valley, including Stockton,

Modesto, Turlock and Fresno, has failed to impose similar

requirements on the Sacramento District.

These studies confirm that ammonia wastewater discharges

are a large part of the problem in the Delta. Reducing

ammonia discharges needs to be part of the solution, along

with the other key factors that are contributing to the

environmental decline in the Delta. We call upon the Regional

Board to take immediate action to correct this problem.

Sincerely,

Jim Costa,

Member of Congress.

Dennis Cardoza,

Member of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project, aptly recognized as the current ``Fresno Photo Laureate.''

Since his arrival in Fresno in 1973, Howard K. Watkins has been photographing and documenting events in the greater Fresno area. His collection of 200,000 photos is the largest of its kind and includes: elected officials, community and business leaders, members of the judiciary and legal community, celebrities, numerous community groups, parades, political rallies, athletes, historic buildings and several award winning photographs.

Influenced by the historic Pop Laval Photographic Archive Collection and encouraged by others, Mr. Watkins has partnered with the Fresno Regional Foundation and the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno to provide a permanent home for all to enjoy. Therefore, Fresno State is helping to establish the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project with the goal of making the photographs publicly accessible as an online historical archive.

Mr. Watkins began taking photos in junior high school with a simple Brownie camera. He pursued his passion for photography as a hobby as a young adult and continued throughout his career as an attorney with Fresno County Legal Services and the Office of Fresno County Counsel. Mr. Watkins became the official photographer for the Fresno County Supreme Court and has taken photographs for the State Bar of California and the California Supreme Court.

Now retired from a distinguished thirty-three year career in the legal field, Mr. Watkins is devoting most of his time to indexing his photographic collection and raising the funds needed to make his photos accessible for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise with me today to express our appreciation for Mr. Watkins' unwavering dedication and commitment to keeping the greater Fresno legacy alive through the Howard K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to put aside partisan differences and begin in earnest to address our Nation's broken immigration system. Although we do not always agree on how to change the system, it is clear that we all agree that the current system is broken and in need of meaningful reform.

Yesterday I met with the President to discuss a way forward for immigration reform; and while comprehensive reform remains my priority, we cannot allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good. We must begin to address our immigration issues this year, improve our security at the borders. But piecemeal approaches at the State and local level only further complicates our Nation's immigration policy. We cannot and should not abandon our responsibility at the Federal level.

AgJobs and the DREAM Act provides a path forward that can be an example of how we can reform in a meaningful way that benefits our economy, provides a stable workforce on our local farms, and reduces the number of illegal workers in our country. We must act now, and I ask my colleagues to join me to pass immigration reform this year.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to encourage our leadership to expand our trade opportunities and to grow our economy by calling up and passing our pending free trade agreements.

Just this week, President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to passing the Korea Free Trade Agreement. I applaud the President for this effort.

Korea, Colombia and Panama hold great economic potential for our country, especially for agricultural regions, such as the region I represent in the San Joaquin Valley.

Still, while these trade agreements languish, our farmers continue to face high tariffs in these countries--some as high as 80 percent. Worse yet, many of our international competitors in the European Union and in Canada are expanding market opportunities by signing their own trade agreements and by

seizing markets that could and should belong to U.S. agriculture.

Madam Speaker, we are living in a global economy. If we are truly committed to economic recovery in the United States, now is the time to promote U.S. products abroad.