Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I represent the central coast of California, known to many of my colleagues as the salad bowl of the world. It is where agriculture is the number one industry, and it is where the farm labor movement was partially founded.

Now, as many Republicans and Democrats know, in agriculture, undocumented farmworkers do a majority of the labor-intensive work needed to put food on our dinner tables. That is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2690, the Agricultural Worker Program Act, also known as the ``Blue Card'' bill.

This bill would provide a majority of our farmworkers with a path to legal permanent residence. Now, it doesn't allow people to jump the line. It doesn't just give them benefits. In fact, there are certain obligations that they must undertake in order to receive those benefits. They have to work in agriculture for at least 100 days, and then they have to commit to working in agriculture for 100 days over the next 5 years.

Our farmworkers, whom we employ and critically need, are now living in the shadows for fear of deportation. This bill would provide legal protections for our farmworkers to ensure a better future for their families, our farms, and our communities.

While it is my hope that this bill would again be incorporated into a larger comprehensive package negotiated by Republicans and Democrats, just like it was in 2013 when Congress nearly passed comprehensive immigration reform, the people who help feed our families deserve this opportunity, and that is why I support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 40th anniversary of Community Bridges of Santa Cruz County, which has acted as a catalyst for a brighter future by opening doors, offering hope, and providing a hand up to the people of Santa Cruz County, California, since 1977.

Community Bridges' family of ten vital programs meets the needs of more than 22,000 children, families and seniors each year. Its programs empower seniors to live with independence and dignity, increase access to medical care and good nutrition, and provide education and family support.

Throughout the years, Community Bridges has helped launch more than ten nonprofit programs, saved five from closing their doors, and provided leadership to countless community initiatives. Every day, they work collaboratively to build on the safety net in our community and discover solutions to emerging issues across a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Community Bridges effectively engages a broad base of support to carry on their important mission that touches every part of our community for the benefit of all who live and work here.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Community Bridges for 40 years of strengthening our diverse community by providing innovative human services.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edward Carl Deutschman for his outstanding service to our nation. A longtime resident of the central coast of California and a fellow sailor, he passed away this June at the age of 93.

Not long after graduating high school in 1941, Mr. Deutschman enlisted in the Navy and attended the Del Monte Pre-Flight School in Monterey. Today, this site is the center of the renewed Naval Post Graduate School, one of many prominent military institutions in my district.

During WWII, Mr. Deutschman was soon assigned to the USS Intrepid and flew over the Pacific Ocean on many combat missions. He flew a Corsair as a member of the Grim Reaper VF-10 Squadron in April of 1945, providing vital air cover for Marines. Mr. Deutschman was also a lead pilot during the amphibious assault of Okinawa--the final and largest of the Pacific island battles during World War II. Later he participated in an air raid over Tokyo. The anti-aircraft fire was so intense that, as he later put it, ``you could almost get out of the plane and walk on the stuff coming up.'' Years after, he maintained close ties to the pilots who fought beside him, reuniting with them each year to reminisce in old stories and enduring friendships.

Mr. Deutschman returned to the mainland and swapped his cockpit for the classroom. Armed with an undergraduate degree in business from California State University-Fresno

and a graduate degree in education from the University of Southern California, he discovered his passion for teaching. Over more than thirty years as an elementary school teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, Mr. Deutschman made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of students.

In his retirement, he returned to California's Central Coast and continued his goodwill on behalf of organizations like the Grey Bears, Boy Scouts of America, Rotary International, and as a board member of Good Shepherd Housing. Edward Deutschman represented the best of his time, not only as a solider and educator, but as a dedicated family man to his late wife Katherine Bell Thomas, children Kathleen Deutschman Scott, Robert Edward Deutschman, granddaughter Tigest Scott Macauley, and great-grandsons Ibrahim Macauley and Abdul Rahman Macauley. On behalf of California's 20th District, it is my honor to recognize this American hero, Edward Carl Deutschman

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 954 removes the use restrictions on a 1-acre parcel of Federal land provided to Rockingham County, Virginia.

In 1989, Congress authorized Rockingham County to use a 3-acre parcel of Federal land for the purpose of establishing a childcare center under the condition that the land continues to be used for this purpose. If the county no longer needs the land for a childcare center, the land reverts back to ownership by the United States or the county has the option to purchase it at a fair market value.

The Federal Government has a long tradition of providing public land to State, county, and local governments. Fair use of Federal land and a fair return to the American taxpayer has yet to be at the forefront of these transactions.

Removing public-purpose requirements and use restrictions should only be done when it is deemed appropriate and necessary, and in this particular case, the sponsor of this bill has worked with the National Park Service to develop legislation that is both fair and transparent.

The land provided to Rockingham County includes a garage previously used by the National Park Service that the county has determined could benefit Plains Area Daycare Center. The Park Service no longer needs the garage, and removing the use restriction on one of the 3 acres will allow this childcare provider to access financial assistance in order to upgrade and rehabilitate the garage so that it is suitable to their needs.

This is a worthy goal, and I commend the gentleman from Virginia for this legislation, and that is why we support the adoption of H.R. 954.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1397 authorizes the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration to comply with a longstanding agreement regarding two parcels of land near Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, Virginia.

Specifically, the bill transfers a small parcel within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Transportation. The bill also transfers a half acre within the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center from the Department of Transportation to the Department of the Interior.

Simply put, this bill permits a one-time land transfer that was agreed to 15 years ago. Ultimately, this will improve management efficiency and save taxpayer money.

The bill is noncontroversial and has been a longstanding legislative priority of the National Park Service. I commend the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) for her bipartisanship, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents the final part of a collaborative land agreement between the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, located in southern Arizona, and the Tucson Unified School District, TUSD.

H.R. 1404 will transfer a 40-acre parcel currently managed by TUSD under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act into a trust for the Tribe. Two additional parcels of land will be transferred to the TUSD, provided that the TUSD pays fair market value so that it may better plan for the future needs of the school district in the areas near the Tribe's reservation.

I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the ranking member and sponsor of the bill, not only for his leadership on the Natural Resources Committee, but for bringing this legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Mr. Speaker, briefly, the bill is identical to H.R. 2009, which passed in the 114th Congress by voice vote. That is why, as well as what we have heard today, I urge quick adoption of this legislation once again.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1541 authorizes the National Park Service to expand the boundary of the Fort Scott National Historic Site in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Fort Scott was designated as a National Historic Landmark back in 1964. Eight years later, in 1972, Congress established the site as a unit of the National Park Service ``to commemorate the significant role played by Fort Scott in the opening of the West, as well as the Civil War and strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it.''

The site is currently a modest 16 acres. The additions authorized by this bill will add approximately 3.8 acres to the park. The properties to be added include the only intact Civil War era building, Civil War entrenchments and fortifications, and home sites of the first African- American families who settled in the area after the war.

Preserving the story of freedom on the frontier is an important goal, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1719 authorizes the National Park Service to expand the boundary of the John Muir National Historic Site and acquire 44 acres of land from the Muir Heritage Land Trust. The donation will expand the site and help carry on Muir's important legacy of conservation and environmental stewardship.

John Muir is one of our Nation's most respected and revered ecologists. His writings have inspired millions, and his activism and advocacy led to the establishment of some of our first and most iconic national parks.

From the moment he set foot in Yosemite Valley, John Muir was consumed with its natural wonder and beauty. He became Yosemite's most vocal champion, but he didn't spend his whole life there.

From 1890 until his death in 1914, Muir lived on a farm not far from San Francisco. It was from this corner of the bay area that Muir cofounded the Sierra Club and helped lay the groundwork for a century of conservation.

John Muir's tireless advocacy led to the creation of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and his spirit and enduring legacy led to the protection of much more.

Passage of H.R. 1719 will contribute to John Muir's legacy and it will help to protect and conserve the place where he found solace and inspiration in his later years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's sponsor, Representative DeSaulnier from California, and I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1913 establishes the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness Area on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in the central coast region of California. From hiking and hunting to off-highway vehicle use, those designations will improve and enhance access for a variety of recreational activities, while ensuring that ecologically sensitive and unique areas are managed in a way that supports their lasting and permanent protection.

In addition to the many ecological benefits they provide, including clean air and clean water, wilderness areas throughout the country play a large role in supporting the approximately $646 billion per year outdoor recreation economy, so I am pleased that we are advancing this bill to add 21,000 acres of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

This bill has strong local support from San Benito County government officials and a number of off-highway vehicle and wilderness groups. These advocates understand that Clear Creek is important to the economy, and they have fond memories of the recreational opportunities when they were younger.

I have received numerous support comments from my constituents, the off-highway vehicle community, and other California residents about the importance of Clear Creek to their family and how the closure has impacted them. It is time to honor the desire of my constituents in California's 20th Congressional District and pass this bill once again.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support of the bill.

San Benito County,

Hollister, CA, June 1, 2017.

Re Letter in Support of H.R. 1913.

Hon. Jimmy Panetta,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Panetta: I would like to express my

support of proposed legislation H.R. 1913. On at least three

previous occasions, the San Benito County Board of

Supervisors has formally expressed their support of this

proposed measure in the form of H.R. 1776 as submitted by

then-Congressman Sam Farr.

As background, the Serpentine Area of Critical

Environmental Concern (ACEC) of the Clear Creek Management

Area (CCMA) was closed in 2008 based on a study by the EPA

which concluded that naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) posed

a public health risk. However, in 2010, the Off Highway Motor

Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division of the State of

California Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioned an

independent OHV-specific risk assessment of NOA exposure

within the Serpentine ACEC of the CCMA.

This report, completed by the International Environmental

Research Foundation (IERF), concluded that management and

operation strategies could be employed to allow for off-

highway vehicle (OHV) recreation in the CCMA without exposing

the public to higher than acceptable levels of NOA and

without presenting a serious risk to human health.

Specifically, the risk of OHV usage five days per year, for

eight hours on each of those days, was equated to being

similar to the lifetime risk of smoking less than one

cigarette one the same one year period, and the report noted

that other recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking

and snow skiing, are over 100 times more dangerous.

In light of this report which directly contradicts the

conclusions of the EPA study and undermines the necessity of

BLM actions taken since 2008 in reliance of that study, it

would appear that closure of the ACEC is not scientifically

warranted, and especially not during winter months when dust

from OHV activity is greatly reduced.

Therefore, the County supports opening the area to OHV

users once again and allowing the public access to this

natural area which is easily accessible to the urban

residents in the San Jose/San Francisco metropolitan areas.

H.R. 1913, which would establish the Clear Creek National

Recreation Area in San Benito and Fresno Counties, is

essential to enhancing public access to natural and scenic

areas within our State.

The lack of evidence of a serious health risk is reinforced

by the fact that there is

the lack of any documented case of any person, whether

recreational, visitor or governmental employee, injured by

NOA within the ACEC despite the use of the area for decades.

Therefore, the activities taken to close the area are

especially troubling considering the effect of the closure on

the public generally, as well as the local economy.

Access to recreational areas within San Benito County,

including the CCMA, provides a necessary and substantial

component to the local economy which has been drastically

affected by the recent economic climate. The BLM's past

decision to close the Clear Creek area has already seriously

affected San Benito County's economic vitality. The County

could understand such action if there was truly a serious

health risk presented by use of the CCMA, but there is no

generally accepted scientific evidence, especially during

wetter winter months.

The Clear Creek Management Area was among the five most

popular areas cited by California off-highway-vehicle (OHV)

users in a 1990 study conducted by the California Department

of Parks and Recreation. Many of these users were residents

of the San Jose and San Francisco Bay. In 2003 and 2004,

there were an estimated 50,000 visitors to the CCMA, largely

attributable to allowed OHV usage.

In conclusion, the Board of Supervisors supports the

proposed legislation, as well as designation of the Clear

Creek Management Area as a National Recreation Area,

designation of OHV recreation as a ``prescribed use'' within

the National Recreation Area, and providing that the

management plan of the Clear Creek National Recreation Area,

including OHV routes, open areas, number of permitted OHV

events and other recreational activities should be as set

forth in the 2005 Clear Creek Travel Management Plan.

Thank you for your consideration of this letter.

Respectfully,

Jerry Muenzer,

Supervisor District 4,

Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill, and I thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for their leadership, their work, and assistance in getting this bill to the floor of the House of Representatives. I also thank Representatives David Valadao, Jeff Denham, and Paul Cook, as well as my predecessor, Representative Sam Farr, and our staffs for their work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge quick adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1306 is a culmination of years of work to address the wrongs of the past. The termination era in Federal Indian policy is one of the darkest chapters in American history.

In Oregon, all but one of the Tribes lost their Federal recognition. Fortunately, the Federal Government eventually saw the error of their ways and restored the Tribes, but they were now left with nonexistent or inadequate land bases.

H.R. 1306, the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act, will go a long way in

helping reestablish, long-promised land bases for the Oregon Tribes, while also giving them the ability to effectively manage their land on their own terms.

I want to thank our colleagues from Oregon, Mr. DeFazio and Mr. Walden, for listening to the needs of the Oregon Tribal people and continuing to push this bipartisan legislation.

The previous version of this bill passed the House by voice vote last Congress, and I now urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In one of the worst civil engineering failures of the 20th century, the breach of the Saint Francis Dam, on March 12, 1928, tragically took the lives of over 400 Americans. To honor the memory of those who lost their lives on that fateful day, H.R. 2156 establishes a national memorial at the disaster site in California's Santa Clarita Valley. The memorial will provide a permanent place of remembrance and a place for healing.

In addition to the memorial, H.R. 2156 establishes the Saint Francis Dam National Monument on 440 acres of public land managed by the Forest Service. The national monument designation authorizes the U.S. Forest Service, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to develop educational programs and improve the health of regional watersheds.

I want to thank Congresswoman Julia Brownley, as well as Congressman Knight, along with the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, for bringing the legacy of the Saint Francis Dam disaster to the attention of Congress. As we have all heard: ``Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.''

This bill received strong support last Congress and was voted out of the House. This is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Along with dozens of other California Tribes, the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians had its relationship with the Federal Government terminated in 1958. That resulted in the loss of its Federal status and all of its Tribal lands.

The Tribe's federally recognized status was eventually restored, but their reservation lands were not. As a result, with the exception of a small parcel of land that Congress provided for gaming in San Pablo, the Tribe has been left essentially landless and without a reservation since it was terminated.

This bill will take approximately 511 acres in Sonoma County into trust as part of the reservation of the Lytton Rancheria. By directing these lands into trust, the United States will ensure that the Lytton Rancheria will finally have a permanently protected homeland on which they can, once again, live communally and plan for future generations.

I commend Representative Denham, my neighbor to the east, for this bipartisan legislation, and I urge quick adoption of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to H.R. 3003 because, if this bill passed, it would punish our communities more than it would punish the criminals. As written, this bill would deny critical funding for our police departments.

As a former 20-year prosecutor in local counties, I know firsthand how much our local police rely on Federal funding not just to do their job, but to be safe when they keep our communities safe. Any decrease in any sort of funding would decrease the safety of our officers as they strive to protect and serve our communities. This law will not only affect our police officers' safety, but it will negatively affect the sense of security in our communities.

Yes, the underlying intent of the law is to make it easier for ICE to target undocumented people who are criminals--I get it--but it is not that simple.

In the past few months, my district has seen two large-scale raids by ICE. Yes, they swept up criminals, but they also snagged collaterals, law-abiding people who were here in the wrong place at the right time. Those operations cast a complete pall over the community that affected our ability to enforce our laws.

As a gang prosecutor, over and over I experienced people who were afraid to come forward out of fear of retaliation. Now they are afraid of the police, afraid of the courts, and afraid of our government. That is why I am opposed to H.R. 3003.

Mr. Speaker, this week, it was confirmed that the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act is not just mean, it can't even be passed by the majority party.

The nonpartisan CBO revealed that if that bill did pass, in our Nation, 22 million people would lose their healthcare coverage over the next 10 years. That means in my district, on the central coast of California, 49,000 people would lose their insurance, and 16,000 people would lose their coverage they gained due to the Affordable Care Act.

So because of that score, the Senate couldn't pass the bill, and they delayed the vote on it. So now, we have the time. So now, let's slow down. Let's do something the American people are yearning for. Let's come together, Republicans and Democrats, not just to repair our Nation's healthcare, but to find bipartisan solutions for what is best for all of our constituents and all of our communities for healthcare all across our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau's Farmer of the Year for 2017, Ms. Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp. Georgeann owns Cowles Berry Farm, where she and her family grow berries. The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau selected her for this honor, and presents this award annually to farmers who contribute beyond their normal duties in service to their community.

Born and raised in Watsonville, California, Georgeann graduated from Watsonville High School in 1957 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 1971. In 1999, she returned to Watsonville to work on her father's ranch. During this time, Georgeann learned the farming industry from the ground up, from weeding to bookkeeping. When Georgeann's father passed away in 2006, she took over farming operations at Cowles Berry Farm, making her a 5th generation farmer. In addition to berries, Georgeann has grown Syrah wine grapes and had a successful wine submission at the 2008 Santa Cruz County Fair.

Georgeann is a model of productive civic engagement, and serves her community in a myriad of ways. She serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the Down to Earth Women Luncheon Committee, which raises funds for local agricultural education programs. Additionally, Georgeann currently serves on the Board of Directors for the educational organization Agri-culture. This remarkable organization based in Watsonville operates numerous programs that raise awareness about the complexities of the agriculture industry in an easily accessible way. In particular, the ``Focus Agriculture'' program, a first-in-the-nation program, provides opportunities for community leaders to participate in an intensive program to learn about a broad spectrum of agriculture topics. I had the chance to participate in this award-winning program, and have found the lessons I learned there to be very helpful to me as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Georgeann is also an active member of the Watsonville Rotary Club and regularly leads fundraising efforts for wonderful causes in her community and around the world. Some of these causes include support for victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, new vans for Renaissance High School, and providing medical care and clean water to a village in Peru.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp as the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau's 2017 Farmer of the Year. I am sure we will continue to hear more of her great work in the community for years to come.