Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor American President Lines, upon celebrating its 175th anniversary as a United States flag carrier. Since its inception, American President Lines has played a vital role in our country's maritime industry, providing critical support to the U.S. Flag ocean vessel fleet.

Originally founded in 1848, as the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, American President Lines first worked to bring U.S. mail from Panama City, Colombia to Astoria, Oregon. This service proved crucial in connecting the Eastern and Western United States on the eve of the gold rush.

Almost twenty years later, The Pacific Mail's SS Colorado was the first steamship to begin regular service across the Pacific Ocean, connecting San Francisco to Hong Kong and significantly expanding American commerce. In

recent years, American Presidential Lines has continued its legacy of innovation, working to modernize its fleets and produce larger, faster container ships that connect the world.

American President Lines' remarkable milestone of 175 years of service demonstrates the company's sincere commitment to the United States maritime industry. With such a rich and involved background in critical moments of history, American President Lines exhibits the best of American innovation. The dedication, longevity, and commitment to progress demonstrated by American President Lines will allow the company to continue to advance American maritime priorities around the world.

On behalf of the constituents of California's Eighth Congressional District, I would like to honor the 175th anniversary of American President Lines and extend my sincere gratitude for their generations of service in the United States maritime industry.

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce legislation that would designate vital roads around Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and Sierra Army Depot in northern California, under the Defense Access Road Program. I thank my colleague Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA01), who represents the neighboring Congressional district, for being the bill's original cosponsor.

Military installations play important roles in communities around the country, but also pose unique challenges by increasing traffic and subjecting civilian roadways to harsh use from heavy military equipment. In California, Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and Sierra Army Depot were built with infrastructure to

support the size of the communities and the bases at the time. Over the decades, both the civilian and military populations have outgrown the current roads providing base access to the gates.

The Defense Access Road Program exists to support communities in precisely this situation, enabling the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and service branches to pay for maintenance, upkeep, or upgrades of roads surrounding military installations. This ensures communities hosting bases have the infrastructure needed to support national security and civilian use. Certain roads surrounding Travis and Beale Air Force Bases are currently designated under the Defense Access Road Program. My legislation would designate the remaining access roads for each base under the program. It is necessary for the DOD to provide for maintenance and repairs as DOD use of the access roads continues and increases, to reduce the financial burden on the State.

As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I continue to work on proactive investments to support national security while also ensuring that communities around our military bases have the support they need. I plan to make these Defense Access Road designations a major priority for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024.

Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and Sierra Army Depot and the surrounding areas must have the world-class infrastructure needed to carry out their mission. The legislation I reintroduce today would ensure just that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and lasting contributions of Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Bell. Passing away at the age of 82, Mr. Bell leaves behind an indelible legacy of service to his country and the Winters community.

Born in Missouri in 1940, Mr. Bell spent his early years learning to play the piano, trumpet, and bass, cultivating what would become a lifelong love for music. His passion for the arts continued into adulthood and he played the bass for over 60 years.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Bell joined the Air Force, bravely serving our country in Europe and Southeast Asia. Regardless of where he was stationed, Mr. Bell found opportunities to continue practicing music and played in jazz groups around the world, bringing joy and laughter to international audiences.

Following his service in the Air Force, Mr. Bell joined Golden 1 Credit Union, beginning a three-decade-long career strengthening the financial well-being of California residents. Mr. Bell's financial expertise and knowledge of economic planning significantly advanced the expansion and success of Golden 1 Credit Union. His crucial contributions and indispensable leadership played a vital role in helping Golden 1 Credit Union open 63 new branches and foster the financial stability of tens of thousands of Californians.

Mr. Bell's commitment to California was not only expressed through his tenure with Golden 1 Credit Union, but also through his public service to the City of Winters. He served on the Winters Fire Department Commissioner Board for 16 years, working tirelessly to prepare Winters for any emergency and ensure the health and safety of all Winters residents. Mr. Bell also served on the Winters Senior Foundation Board, valiantly advocating for seniors and playing an instrumental role in enhancing the quality of life for Winters seniors.

In addition to his community leadership, Mr. Bell also exemplified the spirit of altruism and innovation in all areas of his life. For 30 years, Mr. Bell was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Davis, significantly advancing efforts to identify and address unmet needs in the Yolo County community. His vital work serving his community has helped provide the resources and services necessary to allow all Yolo County residents to thrive.

Mr. Bell will be remembered not only for his decades of service to the Winters community, but also for his genuine spirit of kindness and compassion. He impacted the lives of countless members of his community and his steadfast leadership, constant smile, and patient mentorship undeniably enhanced the lives of his fellow Yolo County residents.

Mr. Bell's enduring spirit will live on in his wife, three children, 10 grandchildren, and the community he dedicated his life to serving. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. Bell's loved ones. I know that they, along with the people of Yolo County, join me in celebrating his life and legacy.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the bipartisan ``Rebuilding the United States-Flag International Fleet Act''. This comprehensive legislation would help to recapitalize the U.S.-flag international fleet of ocean-going, commercial vessels by guaranteeing government cargo during peacetime so that U.S.-flag vessels are available during wartime or emergencies.

The United States has the world's most capable navy able to operate in all five oceans, and we need an equally impressive fleet of commercial cargo vessels crewed by American mariners. For too long, Congress and both Democratic and Republican presidents have allowed the commercial fleet of U.S.-flagged, ocean-going vessels to dwindle. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the number of ocean-going U.S.-flagged vessels has declined more than 75 percent since 1985, following the 1982 treaty called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The global supply chain crunch during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion and blockade of Ukraine, and the People's Republic of China's island building in the South China Sea and saber-rattling in the Taiwan Strait have shown that the United States cannot remain reliant on foreign vessels flying flags of convenience.

The ``Rebuilding the United States-Flag International Fleet Act'' offers Congress the chance to enact the first comprehensive reform of cargo preference laws in decades. Our legislation incorporates recommendations for the Maritime Administration from the Government Accountability Office's report published on September 14, 2022, entitled ``Actions Needed to Enhance Cargo Preference Oversight.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge all members of the House to join me in cosponsoring this critical legislation to address this crisis facing the U.S.-flag international fleet.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act''. The legislation would direct the State Department to automatically issue a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for every Afghan who lived in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar and their immediate family members so they can escape persecution by the Taliban and relocate safely to the United States.

During Operation Enduring Freedom and the U.S. military drawdown from the region, my office helped to evacuate 251 individuals from Afghanistan. This includes American citizens, Afghan interpreters, and Special Immigrant Visa recipients. During the evacuation process, I helped evacuate over a dozen Afghan Fulbright Scholars who studied at the University of California, Davis. That experience exposed significant challenges for Afghan Fulbright Scholars with the current SIV process that underscored the need for the ``Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act.''

In 2009, Congress passed the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (Title VI of Public Law 111-8) making a special class of American visas--known as Special Immigrant Visas-available to individual Afghan allies who supported the United States' mission in Afghanistan since the September 11, 2001 attacks. An SIV entitles a foreign national to relocate and live lawfully in the United States on a temporary basis with the option to settle permanently.

Fulbright Scholarships are one of the most vital U.S. cultural exchange programs that help to improve intercultural relations, diplomacy, and coordination between the United States and other countries. When my Congressional office learned that UC Davis' Fulbright participants were stuck attempting to escape Afghanistan last year, we immediately worked around-the-clock with both the State Department and the U.S. military to evacuate these Afghan allies. That critical work revealed red tape that prevented current and former Afghan Fulbright Scholars from escaping Taliban rule. My `Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act' would automatically issue a Special Immigrant Visa to all current and former Afghan Fulbright Scholars to help any remaining Scholars and their immediate family members safely evacuate the region.

This is the right thing to do for our Afghan allies who stood with the United States against the Taliban and the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and I will work tirelessly to ensure see them brought safely to America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and lasting contributions of Mrs. Mayrene Bates, longtime Solano County educator and trustee with the Solano Board of Education. Passing away at 88, Mrs. Bates leaves behind an indelible legacy of over fifty years of service to Solano County.

Born in 1934, in a small Tennessee town at the time of racial segregation, Mrs. Bates attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse. Later, she was forced to travel 32 miles to attend high school, as the segregation laws of the time prohibited her from attending the nearby school. Despite these unjust and adverse beginnings, Mrs. Bates developed a love for learning and eventually earned a scholarship to the Atlanta University Library School, where she obtained a master's degree in Library Science.

In 1955, Mrs. Bates married James Bates and his service in the Air Force brought them all over the world, ultimately leading them to establish a permanent home in Fairfield. In 1970, Mayrene began working as the librarian at Fairview Elementary School and Grange Intermediate School. She later served as the vice-principal for Crystal Elementary School and Fairfield High School and eventually, as the principal of Crystal Middle School and K.I. Jones Elementary School. In her multitude of roles, Mrs. Bates never failed to prioritize the youth of Solano County and ensure all students in her community had the resources necessary to achieve their full potential.

Following her extensive career with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, Mrs. Bates served as Director, and later as Assistant Superintendent, of the Solano County Office of Education. In 1997, her altruistic passion for supporting the students of Solano County led her to run for the Solano Board of Education, where she served until 2018. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated steadfast dedication to the young people of her community and consistently advocated for programs to ensure all students have equal access to education.

Mrs. Bates' commitment to her community was expressed both through her decades of public service to Solano County and her vital work as President of the Fairfield-Cordelia Rotary Club and columnist for the Daily Republic. Her willingness to lend an ear and a helping hand to anyone in need earned her the widespread respect and gratitude of her community.

Mrs. Bates will be remembered not only for her decades of service to Solano County, but also for her genuine spirit of kindness and compassion. She impacted the lives of countless students and educators in her community and her steadfast leadership, constant smile, and patient mentorship undeniably enhanced the lives of her fellow Solano County residents.

Mrs. Bates' enduring spirit will live on in her husband, son, two grandchildren, and the community she dedicated her life to serving. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs. Bates' loved ones. I know that they, along with the people of Solano County, join me in celebrating her life and legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the vital mission to safely return American Prisoners of War from Vietnam to America. These American Prisoners of War displayed extraordinary fortitude and bravery, exemplifying the best of America through their resilience and selflessness in the face of adversity and hardship.

In 1973, as part of the Paris Peace Accords, 591 American Prisoners of War held by North Vietnam were freed and safely returned to American soil. The first group of 20 former Prisoners of War released from the prison camps in North Vietnam landed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Over 300 family members were present to welcome home these valiant and loyal servicemembers. I have listened to countless stories from this group of brave individuals that exemplify the character, leadership, and bravery that is cultivated at Travis Air Force Base.

Service records only scratch the surface of the courage American Prisoners of War exhibited during their captivity in North Vietnam. These individuals demonstrated remarkable endurance and heroism while being forced to withstand harsh conditions and cruel treatment. The valiant servicemembers that returned during Operation Homecoming epitomize the values of perseverance and patriotism.

On behalf of a grateful country and all the constituents of California's Eighth Congressional District, I would like to honor the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming and extend my sincere gratitude to all American Prisoners of War freed through this mission, for their sacrifice and contributions to the defense of this great country.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to make available to state regulators information pertaining to ballast water management systems with a ``Type Approval Certificate'' issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. I would like to thank the California State Lands Commission for their meaningful contributions and collaboration on this shared priority.

Routine access to this information is critical to California's Marine Invasive Species Program, administered by the California State Lands Commission. It would also enable California and other states to assess the performance of U.S. Coast Guard-approved ballast water management systems. The nonproprietary information yielded from this assessment will inform policy recommendations to reduce the risk of the introduction or proliferation of invasive or nuisance species in state waters.

Federal law requires vessels to use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved ballast water management system to meet ballast water discharge standards. The U.S. Coast Guard collects important data on the efficacy of ballast water management systems to meet federal discharge standards as part of their type approval process. These data represent the most current and thorough data on the performance of these ballast water management technologies.

In 2018, Congress passed the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), requiring the U.S. EPA to create uniform national performance standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, including ballast water. Once implemented, VIDA regulations preempt States' authority to enact more stringent standards for ballast water and other vessel discharges. However, states are authorized under that same 2018 federal law to inspect vessels and enforce the federal ballast water management requirements. States were also given explicit authority to petition the U.S. EPA and U.S. Coast Guard to adopt stricter standards if available data supports doing so. VIDA also authorizes states to sample ballast water from arriving vessels to obtain information relevant to any future petition.

However, the California State Lands Commission and similar state regulators cannot perform this work--carrying out their legal responsibilities for state waterways--without ready access from the U.S. Coast Guard to information and datasets on the water quality characteristics and biological organism concentrations from post- treatment water discharged from ballasts water management systems. To date, the State of California has been denied access to this critical public information from the U.S. Coast Guard despite filing a formal request and subsequent appeal under the federal Freedom of Information Act.

This legislation would fix this problem and require the U.S. Coast Guard to provide ballast water management system data, including information about the biological efficacy of approved systems, to states upon request. Mr. Speaker, I urge all members of the House to join me in cosponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act'' with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). I thank Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA04) and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their support as original cosponsors.

Our bicameral legislation would expand the National Monument to include 3,925 acres of adjacent federal land in Lake County, California known as the ``Walker Ridge'' tract. Second, it would provide new opportunities for federally recognized tribes to enter into co- management agreements for the National Monument with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Third, it would rename Walker Ridge to ``Molok Luyuk,'' meaning Condor Ridge in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and other Native American peoples indigenous to the area. Lastly, it would direct the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service to complete the management plan for the National Monument, which has remained unfinished since 2015.

President Obama issued Presidential Proclamation 9298 in July 2015, establishing the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. This set the boundary as encompassing federal land surrounding the Lake Berryessa reservoir but omitted the Walker Ridge tract. My legislation (H.R.761/S.393) in the 114th Congress with then-U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Thompson to establish the National Monument would have included the Walker Ridge tract within the boundary.

On October 17, 2022, I and other members of California's Congressional delegation called on President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. We also called on Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially rename Walker Ridge. I hope that the Biden Administration will act on our request, which is supported by the Lake County Board of Supervisors and Tribal Council for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

Conserving California's special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior during the Clinton Administration, and now as a Member of Congress. Walker Ridge, soon to be known as Molok Luyuk, is one of those special places. It was an honor to represent Lake County as the U.S. Representative for California's Third Congressional District from 2013 to 2023. I look forward to finishing the job for my former constituents in Lake County by expanding the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members of the California delegation to join me in cosponsoring the ``Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act.'' We must conserve this unique landscape and honor the Native American peoples who walked this land long before our country was founded.

Mr. Speaker, today on National Peace Corps Day, I reintroduce the ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2023''. Sixty-two years ago today, on March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps, and this legislation will enable the Peace Corps to continue their legacy. As the co-chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus and the only returned Peace Corps volunteer serving in Congress, I know that this critical legislation will invigorate the Peace Corps and ensure that its essential work can continue to shape and inspire people around the world for years to come. I thank my colleagues Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Congressman Garret Graves (LA-6), and Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS) for being the bill's original cosponsors. I also appreciate Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez and Ranking Member Jim Risch for their leadership on the Senate companion bill in the 117th Congress and look forward to continuing this partnership.

President John F. Kennedy signed the Peace Corps Act into law to ``permit our people to exercise more fully their responsibilities in the great common cause of world peace''. He set out three goals: unpack your bag, live with and help meet the needs of your new community; in your new community work to create a better understanding of America by being the real face of America; and bring an understanding of the World back home.

My wife, Patti, and I answered JFK's call to service, beginning our careers in public service when we joined the Peace Corps as young married graduates fresh out of UC Berkeley. Our post was to a remote village in Western Ethiopia. We taught the 7th and 8th grades and engaged in community development.

Over 60 years since the first volunteer arrived in Liberia, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries. Over the years, volunteers advanced agriculture production, taught, provided medication education and health services, created cooperative road building, and brought every conceivable skill that every nation needed.

My bill, the bipartisan ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act of 2023'', builds upon the Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 and the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011; making critical reforms to the agency to support current and returned volunteers. It strengthens the protection of volunteers against reprisals or retaliations for reporting wrongdoing and increases the federal workers' compensation rate for all Peace Corps volunteers injured or disabled during their service.

In total, this bill would provide the necessary federal resources to better support international programs, and current, returning, and former Peace Corps volunteers. JFK gave the call to service, ``ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country''. It is truly an honor to reintroduce this legislation on National Peace Corps Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and lasting contributions of Mr. Martin Harmon, president and founder of the Western Care Construction Company. Mr. Harmon leaves behind an indelible legacy of over 50 years of service in the senior care and construction industries.

A lifelong Californian, Mr. Harmon demonstrated his persevering and industrious spirit from a young age, working from the age of nine to support his family during the difficult times of World War II. As an adolescent, Mr. Harmon went on to open his own market and meat-packing company, beginning what would become a long career of entrepreneurial ventures.

At the age of 27, inspired by his mother's selfless service in caring for the elderly, Mr. Harmon purchased his first nursing home in Auburn, California, discovering his passion for supporting his community through construction projects. Driven by his spirit of service, Mr. Harmon became a licensed general contractor, enabling him to create new senior living facilities and other community structures from the ground up.

Mr. Harmon's innovation and diligence left a lasting impact on the senior care and construction industries. After obtaining his Nursing Home Administrator's license, he founded Western Care Construction Company, dedicated to developing senior living and care residencies that prioritize dignity and quality of life. Under Mr. Harmon's patient leadership, Western Care has established itself as a company that does not merely create facilities, but also communities that enrich residents' lives and provide spaces to promote connections between residents.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Harmon founded multiple companies, including Horizon West Healthcare and Platinum Living Services, which spearheaded community development projects around California. His involvement in multiple industries--from construction to real estate development to senior care--allowed him to develop long-term, collaborative relationships with a wide array of individuals, extending the reach of his community influence. Mr. Harmon's critical leadership, strong work ethic, and creativity permanently changed the landscape of the senior care industry, ensuring future generations of aging Americans will be treated with dignity and compassion.

Mr. Harmon will be remembered not only for his decades of service to California seniors, but also for his genuine spirit of kindness and compassion. He impacted the lives of so many and his steadfast leadership, constant smile, and patient mentorship have left a lasting legacy on communities across California.

Mr. Harmon's enduring spirit will live on in the communities he impacted. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. Harmon's loved ones. I know that they, along with the people of California, join me in celebrating his life and legacy.

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Cabin Air Safety Act,'' with U.S.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

All Americans have the right to expect safe, clean air when travelling or reporting to work. I am deeply concerned by the documented cases where pilots, flight attendants, and airline passengers have been incapacitated or even hospitalized following exposure to toxic cabin air.

The ``Cabin Air Safety Act'' takes commonsense steps to protect airline crewmembers and the traveling public from toxic fume events, which occur when air contaminated by engine exhaust, fuel fumes, deicing fluids, and ozone enters the aircraft cabin through the jet- engine intake or the auxiliary air intake at the stern of the aircraft when on the ground. Exposure to even low levels of these contaminants can incapacitate passengers and crew. Long-term exposure could lead to serious, debilitating health issues.

Our bicameral, bipartisan legislation would better protect airline passengers and crew by mandating training on how to respond to toxic fumes, requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to record and monitor reports of toxic fume events, ensuring that investigations occur following reported toxic fume events, and installing air quality monitoring equipment such as carbon monoxide sensors on commercial aircraft as standard equipment. Lastly, the ``Cabin Air Safety Act'' makes clear that the FAA can indeed set standards for cabin air quality to safeguard the health of airline crewmembers and the traveling public.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to join me in cosponsoring this bicameral, bipartisan legislation. As a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I plan to make the ``Cabin Air Safety Act'' a major priority in the coming FAA reauthorization.

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Military Support for Fighting

Wildfires Act'' with Representatives Panetta (D-CA), Scanlon (D-PA), Schiff (D-CA), Jacobs (D-CA), and Carbajal (D-CA) as original cosponsors.

As California and other western states face increasingly severe and frequent wildfires due to the climate crisis, we need all the help we can get from our federal government. My comprehensive ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act'' would improve the American military's support for civilian emergency response to wildfires and similar natural disasters. It would also provide permanent Congressional authorization for the California Air National Guard's ``FireGuard'' program, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and the National Geospatial-lntelligence Agency.

The James M. lnhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263) included provisions from my bill (H.R. 5560) last Congress extending the National Guard's Fireguard program until 2029; requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to budget for extreme weather events linked to climate change; directing the National Guard to consult with the National lnteragency Fire Center when training for domestic emergency response to wildfires; and requiring an updated interagency review of the U.S. Air Force and National Guard's existing legal authorities to respond to domestic wildfires. The White House Office of Management and Budget last completed such a review in 2004.

The FY2023 NOAA also enacted my bill section authorizing the Department of Defense to transfer excess aircraft to other federal departments for search and rescue or emergency operations related to wildfires. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced my bill section as the bipartisan ``Emergency Aircraft Act of 2022'' (S. 4672) last Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you and other members of the California delegation to advance these remaining reforms included in my ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act.'' As ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I plan to make this a top priority for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my dear friend and incredible public servant, Mr. Jim Spering upon his retirement from the Solano County Board of Supervisors. Throughout his career in public service, Mr. Spering diligently advocated for the communities of Solano County and Suisun City, working to bolster local infrastructure and address land-use issues in the area through investments in critical projects.

Mr. Spering's service to the Solano community spans over three decades, including 16 years as Solano County Supervisor and 20 years as Suisun City Mayor. In each of these positions, Mr. Spering never lost sight of his responsibility to the citizens of Suisun City and Solano County, measuring success in his role by the lives improved through service and policy.

During his tenure as Solano County Supervisor, Mr. Spering prioritized important investments in transportation infrastructure, most recently reflected in the opening of the full Highway 12 connector lanes into Solano County. Additionally, he was instrumental in the formation of the Solano Transportation Authority and the Amtrak Capitol Corridor intercity rail service, linking Sacramento and the Bay Area. His efforts not only modernized his community's infrastructure, making it safer and more efficient, but also improved the quality of life for Solano County residents.

In addition to his tireless work to improve Solano's transit systems, Mr. Spering also

spearheaded environmental land-use projects to revitalize Suisun City. As chair of the City of Suisun's Redevelopment Agency, he led efforts to reinvigorate the Suisun City Waterfront and better its integration into the community. His leadership in land-use planning has undeniably enhanced the community and ushered Suisun City into a new era of prosperity.

While his presence on the Board of Supervisors will surely be missed, Mr. Spering's 36 years of service have reflected the very best of public office and will continue to improve the lives of citizens for many years to come. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Mr. Spering's dedication and commitment to public service and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce an amendment to the Clean Water Act extending permit terms for publicly owned water infrastructure projects under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). I thank my colleague Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) for his support as the original cosponsor again this Congress.

This bipartisan bill would simply extend the NPDES permit term for projects owned and operated by local public agencies like water districts from the current 5 years up to 10 years. NPDES permit terms for private projects or industrial discharges would remain at the current 5-year term.

The United States has fallen behind many other developed nations in wastewater infrastructure, receiving a D-plus grade in the American Society of Civil Engineers' most recent report card. One reason for this lapse in infrastructure modernization is arbitrary permitting timetables imposed by federal law. Permit terms should match the construction timelines and on-the-ground reality for the projects to which those permits apply. This is currently not the case. With over 95 percent of wastewater infrastructure spending at the local level, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, lengthening permit terms for local governments would be one of the most expeditious ways to encouraging further investment in 21st-century wastewater treatment and water recycling facilities.

Current NPDES permitting under the Clean Water Act has a maximum term of 5 years, an arbitrary timeline that is impracticable given prolonged construction schedules for local public agencies. As a result, California's State Water Resources Control Board and Clean Water Act regulators in other states are overwhelmed with a backlog of NPDES permitting requests for existing projects. New public projects are significantly delayed by this unnecessary bureaucracy, which also prevents regulators like California's State Water Resources Control Board from focusing on watershed-scale planning and water quality standards.

My bill would alleviate this burden by extending the maximum permit to 10 years, helping local water agencies nationwide better implement the Clean Water Act and cutting the current permitting backlog in half. Extending NPDES permit terms is a practical solution that allows local agencies to meet regulatory standards while building public water projects that measurably improve water quality, which after all is the purpose of the Clean Water Act.

In October 2019, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed my bill to allow States to issue NPDES permits with terms up to 10 years as part of then-Chairman DeFazio's bipartisan ``Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019'' (H.R. 1497). Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to cosponsor this bipartisan bill.