Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act.

As we know and as we have been hearing all day, this bill that we are considering ensures that the United States honors our commitments detailed in the Paris Agreement and lays the groundwork for further action on climate change.

By including this amendment in this bill, it will then be crystal clear that it is the United States that has led and will continue to lead when it comes to influencing other nations to participate in the Paris Agreement.

Now, yes, I do admit that it was the leadership of the United States that got other nations of the world to come together and boldly declare our unified commitment to dealing with the growing climate crisis. We did that by explicitly committing ourselves to play a leadership role. We had to do that in order to attract other countries to join in the goal of limiting the temperature of our globe.

That is why the United States gave structural and directional leadership with ready greenhouse gas reduction targets and a vision for institutional design principles.

Moreover, in our efforts to entice other nations to be a part of the deal, the United States made recommendations for financing adaption, energy investment, and support for developing countries.

The U.S. then stepped up and led by example by announcing its intent to reduce carbon pollution by drastic levels, an act that underscored our role as a global leader on the issue of climate change.

It was that American ambition, that American action, that encouraged other nations around the world to set their sights and their standards higher and to be bolder on the most pressing issue that we face when it comes to climate change. As a result, we saw an unprecedented display of a global commitment to address that pressing issue.

That is why it is all the more disappointing that this administration announced its intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, an act that would make the United States, the country that pushed us and others into this agreement, the only country to reject this agreement.

If the United States abdicates its leadership role here, it will not only cost us influence in this agreement, it will also invite other countries to walk away from combating the climate crisis.

As Todd Stern, the former U.S. special envoy for climate change, stated at a World Resources Institute conference on May 30, ``In the absence of the United States, you have a phenomenon of a fair number of countries . . . trying to pull back a little bit on some of the things that were agreed to, some of the compromises that were reached in Paris.''

Madam Chair, we cannot let this happen. That is why I seek to include my amendment to H.R. 9 to strengthen this important bill, to stop the administration from advancing the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, and to reclaim our leadership role in combating climate change and protecting our planet.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Pat McCormick for 46 years of exemplary service to our community on the central coast of California. First serving as a Planning Technician for Santa Cruz County and later as a Planning Director for the City of Capitola, Mr. McCormick's prolific career of public service is ending with his retirement from the position of Executive Officer for the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), a position Mr. McCormick has held with distinction for over 39 years.

Mr. McCormick has worked passionately to encourage orderly growth of urban development and ensure that it did not interfere with agricultural lands on the Central Coast. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to the development of Santa Cruz County by proposing over 1,200 boundary changes and LAFCO actions. Working closely with City Council Members, County Supervisors, and local stakeholders, Mr. McCormick has helped the Central Coast responsibly grow into the incredible community it is today.

Throughout his career, Mr. Pat McCormick has been recognized on numerous occasions by the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. In 2009, he was honored with the Outstanding LAFCO Professional Award and was recognized in 2018 with

the Lifetime Achievement Award. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the dedication and incredible service of Mr. Pat McCormick. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join in me in thanking him for all that he has done for our community on the Central Coast and congratulating him on a well-earned retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Dan Haifley for his decades of service to the Santa Cruz community as the Executive Director of O'Neill Sea Odyssey, and to congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Haifley has been at the helm of O'Neill Sea Odyssey, a cornerstone of the Santa Cruz community and maritime education, since 1999. Through his years of dedication to environmental education and our environment, Mr. Haifley made an immeasurable impact on our community on the central coast of California.

During his tenure of twenty years with O'Neill Sea Odyssey, the organization grew into a pillar of the Santa Cruz community as it offered free oceanography and ecology programs for grade school children, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Mr. Haifley also championed the integration of oceanography into formal educational institutions, making the subject matter accessible to youth of diverse backgrounds.

Under Mr. Haifley's direction, over one hundred thousand children had the opportunity to receive hands on marine biology, ecology, and navigation lessons aboard Team O'Neill's `Catamaran' yacht. Mr. Haifley's leadership was intrinsic to the extraordinary performance of O'Neill Sea Odyssey, which has received numerous awards and recognition on multiple occasions for outstanding environmental leadership and education.

Mr. Haifley's conservation efforts did not begin with O'Neill, but rather span throughout his career. He was also the executive director of Save Our Shores, where he played a vital role in the creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In addition, he led a successful campaign against offshore oil drilling throughout California and actively writes columns about the importance of our oceans.

Mr. Dan Haifley exemplifies what it means to be a conscientious and engaged citizen of the Central Coast. Mr. Haifley influenced generations of citizens to cherish and preserve the environment and through them he leaves a legacy of respect and admiration for our planet. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to

stand here today in recognition of Mr. Dan Haifley's accomplished career. I have no doubt that he will continue serving his community and giving a voice to our oceans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Silence that is going to happen this Friday, April 12. That is a day when people around the country and in my community on the central coast of California take a vow of silence to raise awareness about the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students.

One of those students will be Oliver Cantrell, who lives in Santa Cruz and is transgender and bisexual. As president of the queer- straight alliance at Harbor High, Oliver works to build bridges between students and school staff through education and outreach.

When Oliver transferred to Harbor High, he was met with support. However, we know there are students at other schools who may not be so lucky. That is exactly why Oliver is taking a vow of silence to highlight the struggle for acceptance by LGBTQ youth.

Many students will take that vow of silence this Friday. That is why we as leaders should continue to speak up and step up every day to ensure that all Americans are respected and appreciated for who they are.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life and legacy of Stephen ``Pops'' Culver.

Pops, as he was fondly known, lived his life to serve his country during the Vietnam war; his students as an elementary schoolteacher; and his community as an advocate for suicide prevention and awareness, something that was personal to him after the tragic loss of his son.

It was that sense of service that guided Pops on an epic 10,000-mile motorcycle ride across this great country to raise money for the brand- new Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on the former Fort Ord. During this trip, Pops and his fellow American Legion brothers of Post 31, Crash and Phin, the group known as the Black Sheep, carried an American flag, which you see here in this photo, from the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery to Arlington National Cemetery, where that flag was flown over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Now on Memorial Day each year, that flag is flown over the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Based on Pop's service, he was honored as the 2017 Veteran of the Year in Monterey County.

Today, we here in Congress honor Pops Culver not just as a veteran but as an American who not only served but understood and lived up to his obligation to serve those who served us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Sue Merrill Crawford Antle, the matriarch of the central coast of California's Antle family. Sue will be remembered as a devoted mother and wife, talented sewing artist, and active supporter of her community.

Sue Antle was born on February 23, 1936 in Watsonville, California. A native of the Central Coast, Sue attended Watsonville High School, where she met Bob Antle. The two would eventually enjoy 58 years of marriage together.

Sue and Bob would remain on the Central Coast throughout their lives, establishing even deeper roots in their community. As Bob managed his family's lettuce company, Sue tended to the family home and raised their four children. Sue could often be found in her home's sewing room, where she created beautiful and precious keepsakes for her family, friends, and community. These pieces included Christmas stockings for her entire family and colorful jackets frequently auctioned for charity.

Sue and Bob's family on the Central Coast continued to grow to include her children's spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Sue's beloved family was a foundation for her life and a blessing that guided her desire to give back to her community. Sue co-chaired California State University Monterey Bay's Have a Heart fundraiser for student scholarships and, as an avid booklover, took joy in reading to children through the Monterey County Reads program established by the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. Sue was a passionate advocate for the children of field workers and leaves a legacy of fostering early childhood education and supporting first- generation college students.

Sue will be remembered for unfailing kindness and generosity. We, as a community, celebrate her legacy and life well-lived. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Sue Merrill Crawford Antle.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1 so that more Americans can exercise their right to vote.

On election day of last year, voters in my district on the central coast of California set a new record for turnout in a midterm election.

In San Benito County, we saw one of the highest increases in the State for folks registering to vote.

In Monterey County, the majority of registered voters voted by absentee ballot and by mail. These are servicemembers who filled out their ballot from where they were stationed and also folks at home who could take time to thoughtfully cast their vote.

Unfortunately, on that same election day, voters around this country didn't have that opportunity, and they had to go to polling places where they faced malfunctioning voting machines and found their registration frozen or purged.

These instances left thousands of citizens without a vote and without a voice in our democracy. That is why we need to pass H.R. 1.

The most important persons in our democracy are not those who hold office, but it is those educated and informed voters who put us in office. Let's give those types of voters more opportunity to participate in our democracy and pass H.R. 1.

Mr. Speaker, we just experienced our government's longest shutdown. For 35 days in California, nearly 40,000 Federal workers were furloughed and denied paychecks because of the shutdown, and that number included Federal employees at the NOAA weather service station in my district on the central coast of California.

Now, recently, I met with those workers to hear how the shutdown impacted them, and I can tell you that, although they were affected by the loss of pay, they definitely did not lose their sense of service.

For over 1 month, right in the middle of rainy season, with the potential for serious flooding, these public servants didn't get a paycheck. They didn't miss one day of work, not one shift; and that is why, in large part, in our region, we were safe.

I can tell you, from what I saw when I met these employees, these are employees who are not just doing their job for the paycheck. They do it for the weather; they do it for the science; they do it for the job security; but most importantly, they do it for the service to our Nation.

As negotiations in Washington continue, we must learn from, we must be inspired by, and we must be motivated by not just my NOAA employees, but every Federal worker across this country who has that sense of service.

We do that here in Congress. That is how we not only avoid government shutdowns, that is how we should govern.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Randy Randazzo for his service to the community of Carmel Valley, California. Mr. Randazzo has made a career out of service and has fostered an environment of collectiveness and compassion in his tight-knit community.

As a World War II Marine Veteran, Mr. Randazzo heroically served in the Bougainville Campaign in the Solomon Islands. He served on the fleet that facilitated the Japanese surrender, signaling the close of World War II. Upon returning to his home of Carmel Valley, Mr. Randazzo dedicated his life to his community. He and his wife, Charlene, have owned and operated the local market in Carmel Valley Village, which has served as the cornerstone for the community. Randy is also active in the local Kiwanis Club, where he works to empower youth to change the world by investing in their futures.

Among his many achievements, Mr. Randazzo has been awarded Carmel Valley's Good Egg award for Citizen of the Year twice for his service to the community. Additionally, he has been recognized by the Carmel Historical Society for his contributions in organizing and establishing the Carmel Valley Community Center. Many called Mr. Randazzo the unofficial mayor of Carmel Valley, as the small, unincorporated community views his leadership as invaluable and irreplaceable.

I am immensely grateful for Randy Randazzo's distinguished service to his country and the residents of the central coast of California. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Mr. Randy Randazzo on his distinguished career and recognizing his outstanding citizenship and immense contributions to both Carmel Valley and the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dawn Pease Bryant for her efforts as a homeschool educator and a military spouse. This recognition is well-deserved and most timely in light of her son's recent high school graduation and on the eve of her husband's promotion to Colonel in the United States Army.

The education of our children is one of the most important undertakings we have as parents, and it is an impressive accomplishment when this responsibility is balanced with the homeschool setting. Dawn Pease Bryant has excelled as a homeschool educator, having educated her son from first grade through high school. The milestones and experiences during these formative years include completion of over 75 junior-ranger programs at our National Parks, participation in state envirothon competitions and oratory programs, and a special attention to domestic and international history and culture. Beyond the education of her own child, Dawn routinely led group classes and events for homeschool groups in her community, mentored and supported other homeschool parents, and served as President of the regional homeschool cooperative.

These efforts have all been accomplished in tandem with Dawn Pease Bryant's dedication and service as a military spouse. The sacrifices endured by servicemember spouses often go unnoticed and unappreciated. Balancing an education in the home is particularly challenging when a spouse is required to work late, weekends, or deploy around the globe. Dawn's unwavering support of her husband undoubtedly enabled his promotion to the rank of Colonel.

Madam Speaker, the recent achievements of Dawn Pease Bryant's son and husband are in no small part due to her many sacrifices and devotion. I commend this remarkable mother, educator, wife, citizen, and friend on her efforts, accomplishments, and service. I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring her today.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity. Obviously, I would like to share my appreciation of Chairman Engel for everything that he has done as a leader of all of his constituents in his district and, more importantly, all of our fellow countrymen and -women here in the United States of America; as well as Ranking Member McCaul; and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 676, the NATO Support Act. This is a bipartisan bill that allows Congress to assert our Nation's support for NATO; to answer anybody who questions the purpose of this alliance; and to reaffirm the NATO pledge, that an armed attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

The mutual defense pledge is why NATO has been the most successful military alliance in human history. It is an interdependency that has stood as a sturdy, strong, and sound anchor for peace that has prevented new world wars, fostered Western prosperity, and advanced democratic governance.

It has been the will of our Nation, the United States of America, to lead and to finance the defense of other nations, which has allowed them to develop and prosper economically, and to expand and evolve democratically.

Yet, at the same time, Moscow never went to war with a NATO partner. We got bases and a guarantee that we would not have to fight alone. Europe became our largest trading and investment partner and our chief diplomatic and military companion. And everybody on the European Continent got stability and peace to strengthen their democracies.

Now, all of us agree that we can continue to put pressure on our NATO partners to pay their self-stated goal of 2 percent of their GDP to this alliance. But that doesn't mean that we want to get out of NATO. In fact, doing such would be a historic mistake.

NATO is not--is not--a transactional relationship. Our sole focus can't be just on who pays and who gets what. Being a part of NATO is not like being a part of a country club. Instead, we value our NATO partners, and more importantly, we realize that the power of the NATO partnership is absolutely--absolutely--invaluable. The tangible results prove it, not just what we have seen in the past, but what we are seeing now.

In our enduring fight against terrorism, our NATO partners' will to join that effort was demonstrated just hours after the attack on 9/11, as partner nations volunteered to invoke Article 5.

Now, I served alongside many troops from many NATO countries during my service in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008. I left that country in 2008, but I can tell you, after 17 years of war, NATO troops are still there, serving alongside our sons and daughters who are serving in uniform.

When it comes to Russia, our NATO partners will continue to play an important role as a deterrent for their aggression, and they will continue to coordinate and collaborate with us as we not only ready for a conventional war but also push back against Russia's use of hybrid warfare.

NATO is instrumental in setting us apart from Russia. Why? We have allies that will stand by us; Russia does not. That is the foundation for our NATO partnership, and that is the foundation for the NATO Support Act, an act that rejects efforts to withdraw from NATO and prohibits any funds to be used as such.

It supports increased defense spending by NATO partners, as well as the funding of the European Deterrence Initiative to deter against Russian aggression. It reaffirms our unwavering support of NATO, not only as a defense pledge, not only as a partnership, but as a proven core for an international order that favors democracy and peace.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel. I also thank Daniel Silverberg from Majority Leader Hoyer's staff, Jacqueline Ramos from the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Matt Manning and Jay Hernandez from my office.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully thank and ask all of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, for their support on H.R. 676, the bipartisan NATO Support Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the late Mayor of San Juan Bautista, Jim West, for his outstanding career in public service and his commitment to the people of the central coast of California. His professional accomplishments and leadership in the community have profoundly touched the lives of many.

Mayor West served his community in San Benito County for over 20 years in multiple capacities. He was appointed to San Benito County Parks and Recreation Commission, served as vice chairman of San Benito County's General Plan Update Committee, served on the United Way Board of Directors, and was the recipient of many honorable awards commemorating his outstanding character. In addition to his heavy involvement in the community, Mayor West also honorably served our country in the United States Marine Corps.

Throughout his ten years in public office, Mayor West served the City of San Juan Bautista as a dynamic and effective leader. Colleagues and friends alike praised his ability to compromise and put community needs at the forefront of his priorities. Mayor West was the recipient of two National Philanthropy Awards, the Gavilan College Community Spirit Award, and the San Benito Community Leadership Award. His presence in the community transformed many lives, and he will be remembered as a distinguished community member, mayor, and friend.

Mayor Jim West's legacy is defined by his invaluable work as a public servant. His dedication to the community and to the people in his life serves as an inspiration to the Central Coast of California. He is survived by his daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter, and his legacy will live on with them and in the memories of those of us who had the honor to know him. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Mayor Jim West.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools, Michael Watkins, on his retirement after serving the Santa Cruz County Office of Education since 1980. Mr. Watkins was the first African American elected as a School Superintendent in the State of California in 2006. An outstanding citizen and educator, Superintendent Watkins made an unparalleled impact in the educational community of Santa Cruz County through 35 years of service.

Superintendent Watkins began his career with the Santa Cruz County Office of as the Learning Handicapped Program Specialist, a position which set the tone for Superintendent Watkins' career as a visionary advocate for change and accessibility in education. After one year, he was offered the role of General Administrator in charge of the Special Education Programs for Santa Cruz County, where he worked to mainstream educational opportunities for students with special needs across the district. In addition, Superintendent Watkins pioneered and developed community and vocational programming through his role as Director of Alternative Education. Under Superintendent Watkins's leadership, the schools he developed have received acclaim and statewide recognition for their commitment to excellence. With the backing of his tremendous record as an educator, Michael Watkins was elected Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools in 2006 and is currently serving his third term.

Superintendent Watkins' expertise in education also led to his appointment by the California Senate Rules Committee to the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the Special Education Task Force. He has also held statewide office as President of the Juvenile Courts, Community, and Alternative School Administrators of California for three years. In addition to his service in education, Superintendent Watkins has been an exemplary citizen and community member. He has coached multiple youth sports and sits on several significant local boards.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the dedication and work of Superintendent Watkins. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Superintendent Watkins and to congratulate him on his well-earned retirement. I extend my earnest appreciation to Superintendent Watkins for his service to our community.

Madam Speaker, good public policy depends on thorough and accurate data. That is why this week's ruling by District Judge Jesse Furman to block the administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census is so important to my district on the central coast and to our country.

The 2020 Census is more than just about where people live. It dictates how our many, many boundaries are drawn.

The Census is enshrined in our Constitution, and it is a bedrock responsibility of our government. But adding a citizenship question to the Census with this administration in charge may scare people from actually answering the questions, and that could result in inaccuracies that jeopardize the disbursement of over $700 billion in funding for essential services in our communities like roads, schools, and even nutrition assistance programs.

This decision by the Federal judge is very good news, but we must continue to work to live up to our responsibilities under the American Constitution, and we can do that with a 2020 Census that depicts a precise population count through accurate data, adequate area offices, and appropriate and acceptable questions that everybody in all communities can answer.

Madam Chair, I thank Mr. Westerman for all of his work on this.

Madam Chair, our amendment would provide $10 million in additional funding to the U.S. Forest Service and its State and private forestry account. That account is set up to help State and local landowners recover from damages caused by wildfires and to provide more resources for proactive forest management.

What we have seen, unfortunately, in the last few years is a number of horrific fires throughout our Nation, and especially where I am from in California and the central coast of California. But what we know is that we must do something about it.

This amendment does something about it by providing the necessary resources to maintain certain areas in which human beings are living close to forests and, therefore, making sure that there are certain requirements that are met by the local entities.

But we can do this without sacrificing our environmental protections. This is why we are basically able to increase resources for wildfire mitigation practices such as prescribed burns and maintenance of fuel breaks and technical assistance to landowners. We can make sure that they are advanced, but that they can also be in compliance with environmental safety guards. We can do both in this amendment, and this amount of money does that.

So, Madam Chair, I continue to ask for support of this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yea'' on this.