Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished priestly and sacramental service of Reverend Monsignor Edwin James Petersen. After 50 years, Reverend Monsignor Petersen is retiring as Monsignor with the Diocese of Fresno, California.

Edwin James Petersen was born on November 8, 1933 in Los Angeles, California to Edwin Clarence Petersen and Maryellen A. Underwood. As a young man, Rev. Msgr. Petersen attended Randsburg Elementary School in Randsburg, California. His high school and college education was obtained at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio. Between 1961 and 1963, he attended Fresno State College in Fresno, California where he obtained his Masters of Art degree. In 1970, Edwin James Petersen was invited to study at the prestigious American College in Louvain, Belgium where he received his Masters of Art in Theory.

Rev. Msgr. Petersen has been appointed to serve many of our Valley churches beginning as early as June 1959 at St. Mary's in Cutler, California as an administrator. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as an assistant at the Shrine of St. Therese's in Fresno where he spent several years working with the parishioners. Over the course of the next decade, Rev. Msgr. Petersen spent time as an administrator at Our Lady of Sorrows in Parlier, and then became a part of the parish families of St. Patrick's, Our Lady of Mercy, and Sacred Heart, all located in the community of Merced. Between 1974 and 2000 he was a valued and revered Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy, St. Anthony's of Padua and the Shrine of St. Therese.

Always an advocate on behalf of those in need, Rev. Msgr. Petersen was appointed by all of the California Bishops to work as a Public Policy Advocate with the California Catholic Conference in our great State's capital of Sacramento. This work allowed him to effectively provide a strong compassionate voice for the traditionally underserved on a wide variety of issues.

Throughout his lifetime of service, Reverend Monsignor James Petersen has become a highly respected leader who has always demonstrated sincere commitment to the Diocese of Fresno. As he prepares to retire and embark upon new endeavors of interest to him, we thank him for his unselfish service and wish him the best of luck for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act of 2009, a bipartisan piece of legislation that extends our efforts from last Congress, the 110th Congress, with Congressmembers Murphy, Walz, Capito, Wilson, Abercrombie, myself, and many others.

This legislation is to develop a new policy that is comprehensive in nature that will, one, reduce our dependency on foreign sources of energy and, two, develop the robust renewable portfolio that Americans want to see. This effort is common sense. It's PAYGO neutral. It would enhance our path toward energy reduction of our dependency on foreign sources and improve our national security.

I'm a firm believer that we have to use all the energy tools in our energy toolbox. This legislation does just that. In the near term, 1 to 10 years, choosing oil and gas and nuclear. In the intermediate, 10 to 20 years, building a robust, renewable portfolio that will give Americans an energy policy that we believe our Nation deserves.

Madam Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to Mr. D. M. Samuel on his retirement with 42 years of service with Chevron Corporation of California.

Denny joined Chevron in 1967 and moved extensively throughout North America in the marketing department. As sales manager in Puerto Rico, and marketing manager in Canada, he was successful in notable advancements in Chevron's return to stockholder investment. He has been Chevron's legislative advocate in Florida, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.

Most recently, Denny has served as chief advocate for the company in Sacramento, serving as Chevron's lead with the California State Legislature and several governorships for more than 20 years. In this capacity, he has been a true leader within the business lobbying community. He has served on the Government Affairs Committee of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, and is the outgoing chairman of the Western States Petroleum Association's California Petroleum Resource Group. Denny has been honored by both parties recently, as the top business lobbyist in the State; by the Latino Caucus with a Lifetime Achievement Award; and by many peers and leaders in Sacramento and an honest and hard working advocate on behalf of California's largest company, Chevron.

Denny is a solid citizen. He has served on the boards of many community and industry organizations including the Sacramento Child Abuse Prevention Council and served as chairman of the River Oaks Center for Children. He is known for his compassion and willingness to help others.

Samuel graduated from the University of Washington, did post graduate studies at Golden Gate University, and received his master's in business administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University.

Samuel enjoys golf and fishing and resides with his wife and mother of four, Fran, in Loomis, CA.

I congratulate Denny on his retirement and thank him for his diligent service to the energy industry, particularly in the great State of California.

Madam Speaker, as the co-chair of the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus, I am pleased to rise today in recognition of Donate Life Month, honoring all of the men and women who have made the decision to give the gift of life through organ donations.

In 2007, over 28,000 people received transplants. Still, over 100,000 people are currently, today, on the waiting list. The numbers grow each day. Despite amazing advances in medical technology and the tremendous work of the transplant community, sadly, many of the patients will not live long enough to receive a transplant.

Today, each of you have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a daughter or mother, a father or a brother or a husband that is coping with a life-threatening illness. I encourage each of my colleagues to make a pledge today that has nothing to do with politics but everything to do with making a difference and that is to join me in supporting Donate Life Month by becoming an organ donor.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for his leadership and his support for this important House Resolution, H. Res. 109, which I rise today to introduce.

As has been stated by my colleagues, this resolution supports the mission and goals of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, to designate this week, April 26 to May 2, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Congressman Ted Poe and I introduced this resolution on behalf of our fellow Victims' Rights Caucus members who have been supportive of our efforts over the last 4 years.

As was noted, in 1980 President Reagan first called for the national observance to recognize and honor the millions of victims and their families and survivors who have been victims, sadly, of crime in America.

This year, we mark the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, better known as VOCA. This legislation has supported rights and services for crime victims for the last 25 years, and quite successfully. It has done it without the use of a single dime from American taxpayer dollars.

The Victims of Crime Act, the VOCA funds, are supported by fines and penalties that come from the criminals who have perpetrated these crimes. These funds are used by State and local organizations to help people through their difficult time periods after experiencing a crime that they have been victimized by. There are over 4,400 agencies across the country which depend upon VOCA funding. These agencies serve near in excess of 3.5 million crime victims each year, sadly.

This resolution also honors the lives that have been rebuilt over the last 25 years as a result of all the good efforts by these local agencies throughout our country. These are millions of people working in victim organizations who have dedicated their lives to assisting people through these terrible, terrible time periods, and each and every one of them I think deserves a thank you from all of us as Members of Congress.

When I arrived in Washington, Congressman Poe and I discovered that there was not a caucus that was dedicated for the purpose of recognizing those victims of crime. So Congressman Ted Poe and I decided to form a new bipartisan congressional caucus that would provide a louder voice for all the advocacy groups who advocate on behalf of victims of crime.

The Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, of which I am proud to be a cochair of, frankly, has done a lot of good efforts over the last 4 years, and we encourage Members who are listening and their staff who are not members of this bipartisan congressional caucus that you join our efforts.

We have three simple goals. The first is to represent crime victims in the United States through bipartisan introduction of legislation that reflects the interests, rights and needs of victims of crime. Two, our goal is to provide an ongoing forum for proactive discussion between Congress and national victims' assistance organizations to enhance mutual education and legislation advocacy and initiatives which promote justice for all, including the victims of crime. Three, to seek opportunities for public education initiatives to help people in the United States understand the impact of crime on victims and to encourage their involvement in crime prevention, which is the best sort of effort we can possibly do. An ounce of prevention, as we all know, is worth a pound of cure. And also to provide victim assistance and community safety throughout our neighborhoods across this great land of ours.

I want to thank again the gentleman from Virginia. I want to thank Congressman Ted Poe, my cochair of the caucus, for all of your efforts on behalf of Members who work on behalf of those who are victims of crime.

Finally, my fellow colleagues, crime, as we know, knows no boundary, knows no demographic, or congressional district boundary. Sadly, crime affects in some capacity all Americans at some point in life.

When our families, when our friends and when our neighbors are in need of assistance after a crime, they should not be met with a closed door, but they should be met with open arms. We all have a responsibility. This is not simply the domain of local law enforcement agencies, which play a tremendous role, but we as Americans all have a responsibility to help out in our communities.

So I want to thank those members of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, I want to thank those who support this resolution, H. Res. 109, and encourage all of my colleagues to support important legislation that we will pursue in the 111th Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues from the House, Mr. Nunes and Mr. Radanovich, and from the Senate, Mrs. Feinstein to pay a special tribute to the life of an agricultural icon of California, Mr. James Griffin Boswell II of Indian Wells, California. James passed away on April 3, 2009 at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife Barbara Wallace Boswell, three children and several grandchildren.

Mr. James Griffin Boswell was born on March 10, 1923 in Greensboro, Georgia to William Whittier Boswell, Sr. and Kate Hall Boswell. James graduated in 1941 from the Thacher School an exclusive private boarding school in Ojai, California. In 1946 he received his B.S. in Economics from Stanford University. Prior to graduating from Stanford, ``JG'' as he was most commonly known, served in the United States Army during World War II where he was stationed in the South Pacific.

At the age of twenty-nine, James inherited one-third of the JG Boswell Company after the death of his uncle, JG Boswell I. At that time the company held 150,000 acres in California. During the next half century, James spent a good portion of his time transforming the family farm located near Corcoran, California in the San Joaquin Valley.

The diversification of the JG Boswell Company created many industry leading developments. Mr. Boswell's labs developed new, highly productive seed varieties as well as technological improvements that increased their capacity. He was an innovative water user, one of the first to employ lasers when leveling fields allowing water to flow evenly and efficiently. His careful water management also included hiring agronomists to determine when and how to irrigate. This allowed the Boswell farms to produce more cotton with less water than their competitors. James remained a very private man, in spite of periods of growth and success for his enterprises, which included such things as diversification into real estate development and farming ventures in Australia. His family business maintained that private reputation throughout his life.

James Griffin Boswell served as Chairman, President and CEO of the JG Boswell Co. from 1952 and continued until his retirement in 1984. After his retirement James continued to serve on the Boswell Company Board of Directors until his passing. In addition, Mr. Boswell served on the Boards of Safeway, General Electric, Security Pacific Bank, Bank of America, and Up with People. James was a trustee of the California Nature Conservancy, Cal Tech, Thacher School, the James G. Boswell Foundation in California and the Boswell Family Foundation in Idaho. Many were the recipients of Mr. Boswell's generosity.

It goes without saying that Mr. James Griffin Boswell's dedicated involvement to the cotton industry earned him a reputation of respect and enormous appreciation from Central Valley cotton farmers, and the agriculture industry in general. James was known as the Cotton King. My colleagues and I are honored and humbled to join his family today in celebrating the life of this amazing man. His presence will be dearly missed in our community in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker and Members, welcome to the world of water in California. This is a very serious issue. Sadly, it has been a confrontational issue for more decades than I would care to describe to you, but I am pleased that the gentleman from California offered the amendment. And I want to thank Chairman Gordon for accepting the amendment because it does underline the serious nature of drought conditions, not just in California. We had them in Georgia just recently in the last 2 years. The fact is that water in our country and water around the world is one of the most precious resources that we have, and that's why this bill is important.

That's why we need to use all the water management tools in our water toolbox. We can recite our version of past history. I have differences with my colleague Congressman Miller on a number of those issues. I have differences with a number of my colleagues from California who have tried to bring consensus together and who are under difficult circumstances to balance the needs for farmers, the needs for urban water use and to restore the environment.

I want to thank the chairman for adopting this amendment, and I want to thank my colleague for offering it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, which was the first genocide of the 20th century and sadly, the template for a cycle of genocide that continues to this very day.

It is, by any reasonable standard, established history that between 1915 and 1923 the Ottoman Empire systematically killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians and drove hundreds of thousands of others into exile from their ancestral homeland. The record of this atrocity is well documented in the United States Archives and has been universally accepted in the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the broader historical and academic communities.

This year, our Nation has the opportunity to finally recognize the Armenian Genocide as such in the annual commemoration from the White House. Year after year, we have seen the same standard letter from the White House which offers sympathy and apology for the ``mass killings,'' yet refused to label these events as genocide. However, President Obama made promises during his campaign that he would right this wrong, and recognize the Armenian Genocide. I am hopeful Madam Speaker, we finally escape from being under Turkey's thumb on this issue. It is vital our Nation has a foreign policy that accurately reflects history.

Despite my optimism, I am told yet again that now is not the right time for our Nation to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, we were told recognition would hurt our troops fighting in Iraq. Four years ago we were told the same thing. This year, we're being told that recognizing the Armenian Genocide will hurt American jobs. How? We cannot develop a foreign policy based solely on what other countries want to hear about their past. Should we not recognize the Soviet orchestrated famine which killed millions in the Ukraine? Should we allow Cambodia to rewrite the atrocities committed under the reign of the Khmer Rouge? What if our schools stopped teaching the American Revolution and we stopped celebrating the Fourth of July because it offended the British? All nations must recognize past events, both good and bad, and learn from it.

To ensure Congress does not mention or pass the Armenian Genocide resolution, Turkey hires powerful and expensive lobbyists to meet with Members and staff, distort the historical facts, and make veiled threats on what might happen if the Genocide is recognized. For the last 20 years, Turkey has been very successful. I firmly believe that we should work with foreign nations on challenges and mutual interests. However, I do not believe another nation can hold our foreign policy decisions hostage because they do not want to admit to dark periods in their past. It is unacceptable that we continue to allow threats from Turkey to hinder our Nation from recognizing a historical fact that has been recognized by historians, scholars, theologians, philosophers, common people, and President Ronald Reagan.

My district is home to thousands of Armenian-Americans, many who are the sons and daughters of survivors. When I am home, I am often approached in the store or on the street by my Armenian friends asking when our country will honor their parents and finally recognize the genocide. We are quickly approaching the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, and I am hopeful we do not have to wait until then to bring justice to my Armenian friends and neighbors.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I will say again, genocide is not something that can simply be swept under the rug and forgotten. We need leaders around the world to not only recognize it, but to condemn it so the world can truly say ``Never Again.'' The United States cannot continue its policy of denial regarding the Armenian Genocide, and I encourage passage of H. Res. 252 to recognize the Armenian Genocide in our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished service of Eva Plascencia. After 30 years with the Internal Revenue Service, she continues to dedicate herself to her career of service.

Eva was born in Clovis, California on September 25, 1956 to Roy Woodley and Juanita Tovar. She graduated from James Logan High School in Union City, California in 1974. In 1979, she married Robert T. Plascencia and their marriage blessed them with three daughters. She is most proud of the fact that all of her children have earned college degrees. Personally, Eva enjoys arts and crafts, sewing and spending time with her grandson Joshua Diego Ojeda.

Mrs. Plascencia began her career with the Internal Revenue Service on January 17, 1978 as a Career Conditional Appointment Clerk--GS03. Since then Eva has worked hard to advance into many different positions and levels within the IRS. Her commitment to learning new policies, honing her skills, and taking on new challenges provided her the opportunity to progress on a yearly basis within the Service. Her most recent positions where in 1998 when she was promoted into Accounting and in 2006 when she moved into the Collections department as a GS8.

Throughout her career at the Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Eva Plascencia is well known for her hard work ethic and determination. As she celebrates her 30 years of service, I wish her continued success and good luck in all her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Reverend Chester Riggins, Sr. of Fresno, California, who passed away at the age of 80 years old. Reverend Riggins was preceded in death by his first wife Lillian Hines, his son Rodney Chester and daughter Diedra Grazelle and is survived by his second wife Anna Marie and his children Chester Jr., Shawn Mark, Noel Patrick, Sheila Antionette and Freida Yvonne along with their families.

Chester was born on December 8, 1928 in Marshall, Texas to John and Effie Riggins. Chester grew up in Marshall, Texas, until the middle of the fifth grade at which time his family moved to Fresno, CA, in December of 1938. Upon arriving in Fresno, he began attending Lincoln Elementary School. During his teenage years he attended junior high at Thomas A. Edison Jr. High School and graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1945. In 1946, he volunteered for the U.S. Army and following his basic training was stationed in Guam. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1947 he enrolled at Fresno State College.

As a child Chester answered an altar call during a chapel service at Park School in Marshall, Texas. Upon settling in Fresno his family attended the Second Baptist Church where he was baptized by Reverend Charles H. Byrd and Reverend L.C. Garret, and then transferred to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. In 1950, he served as a Sunday school teacher, Director of Baptist Training Union, church clerk and church financial secretary. Two years later he was ordained as Deacon and served as Deacon Chairman for 5 years.

Chester continued to grow in his religious studies when he was called to the Gospel Ministry in 1960. On January 8, 1961, he was licensed as a Pastor by Reverend H.S. Moore. In 1961, he was invited and served as Youth Minister for Mt. Pleasant. He was ordained on Januray 25, 1962, to the Gospel Ministry by Reverend L.C. Garrett and assumed pastor-age at St. Rest on February 13, 1962.

Reverend Riggins was instrumental in bringing many people back to the church even after being inactive members. The church grew both in spirituality and financially under the leadership of Pastor Riggins. As the congregation grew so did the need for a bigger building. His leadership in the community proved to be instrumental as the new building broke ground in March of 1979 and was ready for use at the Christmas Eve celebration in December 1979.

Pastor Riggins was also an active member of the community throughout the years. He was a founding board member of the Fresno Police Chaplains Organization, member of the Concerned Citizens for Quality Education, temporary Chairman of the Fresno Model Cities Program and a member of the West Fresno Interdenominational Alliance.

It is my privilege to say Reverend Chester Riggins, Sr., was an honorable and respected man with a commitment to God, family, and the community. He will forever live in the lives of the people he so graciously touched. I am honored and humbled to join his family in celebrating the life of this spiritually amazing man whose legacy lives on at Saints Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno, California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide, which was the first genocide of the 20th century. Sadly, that template has been a cycle that continues to this day.

In this case, it was established by history that from 1915 to 1923 the Ottoman Empire systematically killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians and drove hundreds of thousands of others into exile from their ancestral homeland.

President Obama made promises during his campaign that he would finally recognize the Armenian genocide. It is vital to our Nation and to our foreign policy that we accurately reflect history. My district, in the San Joaquin Valley of California, is home to thousands of Armenian Americans, many of whom are the sons and daughters of survivors. We are quickly approaching the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide. I am hopeful we don't have to wait until then to bring justice to my Armenian friends and neighbors.

We know that genocide, sadly, continues to this day. The United States

cannot continue a policy of denial regarding the Armenian genocide. I encourage the passage of House Resolution 252 to recognize the Armenian genocide in our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call for immediate response and Federal action to assist California in the drought crisis that we're facing today. Clearly, the entire Nation is feeling a financial meltdown with home foreclosures and many other challenges we face, but in California, beyond that, we have a drought that also involves a dairy meltdown.

We have reservoirs that are low, Federal allocations that are set at zero in the San Joaquin Valley, which I represent, along with many of my colleagues, 20 percent for State water deliveries. As a result, we could lose as many as 80,000 jobs. The economic impact could be as much as $2.2 billion in the San Joaquin Valley that we represent.

Small communities have been crippled. Communities that I represent like Mendota and Firebaugh have 36 to 40 percent unemployment. Delano, with over 50,000 people, has over 34 percent unemployment.

Naming a drought task force is helpful but it is not enough. Plain and simple, we don't need words, we need

water. Federal and State collaboration is urgently needed and needs to be improved to make stimulus funds available for immediate relief and to relax standards that prevent water supplies from going to those who most need it.

We ask for your help to increase the water supply for California's future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon the Congress to reform our health care system. It's important. Forty-six million Americans currently have no health care insurance, yet health care costs have risen dramatically in years.

Insurance premiums in California have risen at a rate more than twice the rate of inflation, eating up a larger and larger percentage of household incomes. With the recent economic downturn, far too many families are losing their employer-based coverage and unable to afford the cost of health care on their own.

Like it or not, we taxpayers are paying for the health care in some of the most expensive ways possible, through the emergency room, for those who are uninsured. Last year, hospitals in my district provided nearly $200 million in uncompensated care. Clinics in our Central Valley alone have provided care for over 600,000 who have little insurance or none at all.

This system cannot and should not continue. The bottom line is we are paying for the uninsured today--the 46 million Americans who do not have insurance. We ought to do it in a better way.

Our citizens' health and our Nation's fiscal health depend on meaningful reform. Let's begin that effort.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of two important pieces of legislation that I have sponsored and that are now included in the natural resources bill that we have received from the Senate, S. 22.

San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act

The first, the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, will bring to a close 18 years of litigation between the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Friant Water Users Authority, the U.S. Department of the Interior and others. Representatives Cardoza, McNerney and Radanovich joined me as co-sponsors of this legislation. This bill is similiar to the one that we introduced in the waning days of the 109th Congress, and reintroduced at the beginning of the 110th Congress as H.R. 24. The bill approves, authorizes and helps fund an historic Settlement on the San Joaquin River in California.

However, the bill we are introducing today does reflect a few significant changes resulting from discussions among the numerous Settling Parties and various ``Third Parties'' in the San Joaquin Valley of California. During the past year the parties to the settlement and these affected third parties, such as the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, have agreed to certain changes to the legislation to make the measure PAYGO neutral and to enhance implementation of the settlement's ``Water Management Goal'' to reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to Friant Division long-term water contractors. The legislation that we are voting on today incorporates these changes, which are supported by the State of California and major water agencies on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. The Bush Administration also supported this legislation.

This bill will approve a settlement that seeks to restore California's second longest river, the San Joaquin, while maintaining a stable water supply for the farmers who have made the San Joaquin Valley the richest agricultural area in the world.

The Settlement has two co-equal goals: to restore and maintain fish populations in the San Joaquin River, including a self-sustaining salmon fishery, and to avoid or reduce adverse water supply impacts to long-term Friant water contractors. Consistent with the terms of the Settlement, we expect that both of these goals will be pursued with equal diligence by the federal agencies.

The bill also authorizes $1 million for the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno, for the creation of an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the Central Valley. The plan will serve as a guide for those in the study area to use to address and solve long-term water needs in a sustainable and equitable manner.

This legislation is crucial. Without this consensus resolution, the parties will continue the fight, resulting in a court-imposed judgment. It is widely recognized that an outcome imposed by a court is likely to be worse for everyone on all counts: more costly, riskier for the farmers, and less beneficial for the environment.

The Settlement provides a framework that the affected interests can accept. As a result, this legislation has enjoyed the strong support of the Bush Administration, California Governor Schwarzenegger's Administration, the environmental and fishing communities and numerous California farmers and water districts, including the Friant Water Users Authority and its member districts that have been part of the litigation.

When the Federal Court approved the Settlement in late October, 2006, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne praised the Settlement for launching ``one of the largest environmental restoration projects in California's history.'' The Secretary further observed that ``This Settlement closes a long chapter of conflict and uncertainty in California's San Joaquin Valley . . . and open[s] a new chapter of environmental restoration and water supply certainty for the farmers and their communities.''

I share the former Secretary's support for this agreement, and it is my honor to join with Representatives Cardoza, McNerney and Radanovich, as well as Senators Feinstein and Boxer who have previously introduced and supported this legislation to authorize and help fund the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement.

For almost two years we have worked with the parties to the settlement, affected third party agencies and the State of California to ensure that the legislation complies with congressional PAYGO rules.

In November of 2007, the House Natural Resources Committee favorably reported a revised version of the bill (H.R. 4074) that included amendments conditionally agreed to by the parties that allow most Friant Division contractors to accelerate repayment of their construction cost obligation to the Treasury. In May of 2008, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee favorably reported the Senate companion measure (S. 27) with provisions that further refined the accelerated repayment concept and addressed third party concerns about its implementation. These changes, included in the bill we introduce today, both increase the amount of up-front funding available for the settlement and decrease the bill's PAYGO ``score'' by $88 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In exchange for agreeing to early re-payment of their construction obligation, Friant water agencies will be able to convert their 25-year water service contracts to permanent repayment contracts, so-called ``9D contracts'' under federal Reclamation Law.

I note that the Bureau of Reclamation and the Friant Water Users Authority on behalf of its members have had very specific discussions on how the repayment amounts will be calculated in accordance with this legislation, memorialized in a letter dated February 20, 2009, from Mr. Donald Glaser, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Mid-Pacific Region. I request that Mr. Glaser's letter be inserted in the Record.

U.S. Department of the Interior,

Bureau of Reclamation,

Sacramento, CA, February 20, 2009.

Mr. Ronald Jacobsma,

General Manager, Friant Water Users Authority, Lindsay, CA.

Subject: Financing Provisions of the San Joaquin River

Restoration Settlement Act.

Dear Mr. Jacobsma: As you are aware, amendments were made

early in 2008 to the proposed San Joaquin River Restoration

Settlement Act (Act) in an effort to reduce the ``PAYGO''

score of the Act. One of the amendments made in the Act would

authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to convert

certain Friant Division, Hidden Unit, and Buchanan Unit

irrigation contractors' water service contracts to water

repayment contracts, subject to certain provisions. The Act

was recently passed by the Senate as Title X, Subtitle A,

Part 1, of S. 22, and we expect the House of Representatives

to consider it shortly. As you know, staff from the Bureau of

Reclamation and the Friant Water Users Authority have had

technical discussions concerning the financing provisions of

the bill. This letter and enclosures set forth our

understanding of how the financing provisions will be

implemented if the conversion sections of the Act, found in

Section 10010, are in their current form upon enactment, if

those provisions of the bill are modified before enactment,

we will of course need to reevaluate whether the information

in this letter and enclosures is still accurate.

Enclosed is a summary of each of the financing provisions

in Section 10010 related to the contract conversion and our

understanding of how they would be implemented by Reclamation

(Enclosure 1). Also, enclosed are two specific examples to

demonstrate how the financial calculations for this

conversion and related funding would work given a number of

specific assumptions (Enclosure 2). Enclosure 2 consists of a

description of the assumptions used and a spreadsheet for

each of the examples.

If there are any problems with the information provided in

the enclosures, please contact Jason Phillips as soon as

possible to discuss and resolve.

Sincerely,

Donald R. Glaser,

Regional Director.

These new contracts will be administered as repayment contracts consistent with federal Reclamation Law, including the Acts of August 4, 1939 (ch. 418, 53 Stat. 1187) and July 2, 1956 (ch. 492, 70 Stat. 483). The later Act, among other things, provides in part that the contractors shall have a first right ``. . . to a stated share or quantity of the project's available water supply . . . and a permanent right to such share or quantity upon completion of payment. . . .'' It is my understanding that, except as specifically provided in this legislation, the operative provisions of such repayment contracts will be substantially similar to the existing water service contracts.

The bill also provides in Section 10010(c)(1) that, consistent with Section 213(a) of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, the ownership and full-cost pricing provisions of federal Reclamation Law no longer will apply to the individual Friant Contractors upon repayment of their capital obligations. A question has arisen as to whether these Reclamation Law limitations would apply to water delivered under such a repayment contract after full repayment of capital, where a Friant contractor also had a contract for another supply under a water service contract, such as the Cross Valley Canal contract. It is my understanding that the Department of the Interior and Friant contractors concur that in such a situation, the acre-limitation and full-cost pricing provisions would not apply to water delivered from Central Valley Project facilities for which the capital costs had been fully paid, but would apply to water delivered from Project facilities for which the capital costs had not been repaid, such as water from the Cross Valley Canal contracts.

The Senate Committee amendments also included new provisions to enhance the water management efforts of affected Friant water districts. These provisions are contained in Part III of Title X, Subpart A, of the legislation before the House today. These changes were developed by the parties to the settlement at my request and the request of Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Radanovich to ensure that the Friant districts have the best opportunity to mitigate water supply impacts resulting from the Settlement.

Specifically, the legislation now includes new authority to provide improvements to Friant Division facilities, including restoring capacity in canals, reverse flow pump-back facilities, and financial assistance for local water banking and groundwater recharge projects, all for the purpose of reducing or avoiding impacts on Friant Division contractors resulting from additional River flows called for by the Settlement and this Legislation.

In addition, with respect to Part III authorizing financial assistance for local projects for water banking and groundwater storage, recovery and conveyance, the bill authorizes the

Bureau of Reclamation to share up to 50 percent of the cost of such projects. It is my understanding that in administering other cost- sharing programs, the Bureau typically provides the maximum cost sharing authorized unless the applicant requests less.

Near the end of the 110th Congress, parties to the Settlement and affected third parties came to agreement on additional provisions that would greatly facilitate passage of the bill by making it fully PAYGO- neutral.

The legislation we are introducing today includes substantial funding, including direct spending on settlement implementation during the first ten year period of $88 million gained by early repayment of Friant's construction obligation, and substantial additional funding authorized for annual appropriation until 2019, after which it then becomes available for direct spending again. This additional funding is generated by continuing payments from Friant water users and will become directly available to continue implementing the settlement by 2019 if it has not already been appropriated for that purpose before then.

In 2006, California voters showed their support for the settlement by approving Propositions 84 and 1E, which will help pay for the Settlement, with the State of California now committing at least $200 million toward the Settlement costs during the next 10 years. When State-committed funding, direct spending authorized by the bill, and highly reliable funding from water users are added together, there is at least $380-390 million available for implementing the Settlement over the next 10 years, with additional dollars possible from additional federal appropriations.

It is my understanding that Senator Feinstein intends to work during the 111th Congress to find a suitable offset that will allow restoration of all of the direct spending envisioned by the settlement without waiting until 2019, and I will do whatever I can to aid in those efforts.

Today's legislation continues to include substantial protections for other water districts in California who were not party to the original settlement negotiations. These other water contractors will be able to avoid all but the smallest water impacts as a result of the settlement, except on a voluntary basis.

The bill we are introducing today contains several new provisions to strengthen these third-party protections in light of the changes made to address PAYGO. These include safeguards to ensure that the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors and other third parties will not face increased costs or regulatory burdens as a result of the PAYGO changes.

This agreement would not have been possible without the participation of a remarkably broad group of agencies, stakeholders and legislators, reaching far beyond the settling parties. The Department of the Interior, the State of California, the Friant Water Users Authority, the Natural Resources Defense Council on behalf of 13 other environmental organizations and countless other stakeholders came together and spent countless hours with legislators in Washington to ensure that we found a solution that the large majority of those affected could support.

I urge my colleagues in the House to approve this legislation and provide the Administration the authorization it needs to fully carry out the restoration, water management and other actions called for under the settlement.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness

I also rise today in support of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness designation.

This provision adds about 85,000 acres of wilderness in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California. About 45,000 acres of the wilderness created by this bill will be incorporated into the currently existing Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness area. The other 40,000 acres will comprise a new wilderness area, which will be named after former Congressman John Krebs.

John Krebs served two-terms in Congress, from 1975 to 1979, representing California's San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada mountains that include Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. He was born in Berlin in 1926 and immigrated to the United States in 1946. He graduated from the University of California and later US's Hasting College of Law. He had lived in Fresno, California since 1958 and prior to being elected to Congress was active in local government, including serving a term on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

I had the great privilege of working in John Krebs first congressional campaign and joining him during his first term in Washington. It was through his efforts that Congress first provided federal wilderness designation for the Mineral King area.

The wilderness areas designated by this Act include some spectacular areas within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The Redwood Canyon area contains Redwood Mountain Grove, the largest stand of Giant Sequoia within the parks. The Redwood Canyon area also includes over 75 known caves, including the longest cave in California with over 21 miles of surveyed passage.

This bill is obviously very important to me--both for preserving these natural areas for future generations, as well as for honoring my former boss--and I urge my House colleagues to approve S. 22 so this measure can become law.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to two brothers whose lives and pursuits have exemplified the spirit of raw determination, fortitude, entrepreneurship and virtues of citizenship demonstrated by so many of those immigrating to this great country of ours. On Thursday, March 12th 2009, Campos Brothers Farms will receive the Nisei Farmers League's 2009 Agriculturalist of the Year Award, an award given to an outstanding member of the Nisei Farmers League who has shown exceptional leadership skills, devotion, and who truly makes a valuable contribution to agriculture. Many things contribute to California's bountiful crops and the economic well-being of the state, but one significant underlying factor in California's agricultural success has been the presence of men such as Fermin and Tony Campos.

Fermin and Antonio Campos were born in Olondriz, Spain in the Province of Navarra, where they were two of nine children. Tony came to the United States in 1952 at the age of 17 as a sheepherder with Fermin arriving three years later. After five years of hard work they were proud to become U.S. Citizens beginning their American Dream. In 1957, the brothers formed their partnership known as Campos Brothers Farms. Over the years they have been active in many capacities and industries. Early they worked with sheep, later raising crops such as alfalfa, cotton, black-eye beans, raisins and grapes before beginning their endeavors with almonds. The brothers were also proud to be associated with the start of the Caruthers Raisin Packing Company where Tony served as President for five years. Both brothers were actively involved in the raisin industry serving on the Raisin Administrative Committee as well as the Raisin Bargaining Association.

In 1980, the Campos Brothers built their first almond huller. Along with their wives and children they watched the company blossom under their mutual hard labor becoming one of the most respected producers, processors, and sellers of quality almonds in the world today. Tony and Fermin have been active on the California Almond Board and its various committees. Both Tony and Fermin have been active supporters of their local FFA organization, Fresno State Agricultural Program and the California Agricultural Leadership Program. They are proud members of the Nisei Farmers League continually advocating for California Agricultural interests.

We recently lost Fermin. His passing has left a large hole in not only the family and the family business, but in agriculture in general. Agriculture indeed misses Fermin's contributions and passion. Tony continues to carry on the family tradition of pride, passion, excellence and advocacy. So I believe it very fitting today to rise before you my colleagues, to honor Fermin and Tony Campos, Nisei Farmers League's 2009 ``Agriculturalists of the Year.''