Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Ellen Chavez, as the Parade Marshal for the Town of Planada's 2024 Community Day Parade.

The daughter of migrant farm workers, Mary Ellen was born in Brawley, California and is a proud graduate of Le Grand High School (LGHS). While an LGHS student, and eventual Manzanita Queen, she was encouraged by her peers to go to college. Eventually Mary Ellen became the first high school and college graduate in her family. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Names, an all-women's Catholic college in Oakland, on a full academic scholarship. Then she completed a teaching credential at Fresno State University.

At age 21, Mary Ellen began a 55-year long career as a catechist, teaching three generations of Planada children how to love the Lord. A parishioner of Planada's Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over 80 years, Mary Ellen (and her family) regularly volunteered to help clean the church. She was also a regular reader, eucharistic minister, and choir singer, as well as a founding member of the English rosary group. Around Planada, she spent the rest of her hours cooking the best chile verde, coaching softball, helping her husband run the Planada Recreation Program, or attending baseball and softball games all over the area, where you could hear her distinctive two-fingered, celebratory whistle from a mile away.

Mary Ellen taught in Fresno, Merced and Kern counties during her teaching career. In 1999, she was named the Vineland School District Educator of the Year while teaching an innovative curriculum on the Dust Bowl Days at Sunset Middle School near Lamont. She retired from teaching in 2000, having already served several terms on the Le Grand Union High School District Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1991. After her retirement, she was appointed to the Merced County Board of Education and served from 2005 to 2014.

Mary Ellen and her husband, John, married in 1963, and while dancing weekends at every wedding, church event or fundraiser, produced eight children plus one walk-on. Those eight gave them 20 grandchildren, who have so far produced 26 great-grandchildren. Nothing pleases Mary Ellen and John more than to be surrounded by the chaos of their big family.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mary Ellen as the Parade Marshal for the Town of Planada's 2024 Community Day Parade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a significant milestone in the agricultural community of Ballico, California--the centennial anniversary of the Cortez Growers Association. Established on April 18, 1924, by four visionary Japanese immigrants, the Cortez Growers Association began as a small cooperative endeavor to market fruits and vegetables effectively despite language barriers. The founders employed a bilingual agent, ensuring their enterprise's early success and sustainability.

The association thrived, even through the Great Depression, expanding its membership and operational capacity. By 1932, twenty-six additional members had joined, and Cortez Growers Association appointed its first full-time manager. However, the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent internment of Japanese Americans dealt a severe blow to the association. All members, being of Japanese descent, were either interned or enlisted in the military, many serving in the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Despite these adversities, the Cortez Growers Association's land was preserved through trust and leased to neighboring farmers, allowing the association to regain its footing post-war. The resilience and determination of the members during these trying times are a testament to their commitment to their community and country.

In the ensuing decades, the Cortez Growers Association has continued to adapt and thrive. Transitioning from a diverse crop base to focusing solely on almond production, the association has stayed at the forefront of agricultural innovation and efficiency. Today, the Cortez Growers Association is a leader in the almond industry and a pillar in agricultural advocacy, helping to found the Almond Alliance.

As we commemorate a century of enduring legacy, the Cortez Growers Association is a beacon of community resilience, adaptability, and success. The values of faith, family, and dedication to future generations are as alive today as they were a hundred years ago.

With great pride, I recognize the Cortez Growers Association for its century of service to the agricultural community and the nation. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Cortez Growers Association for 100 years of service and offer my sincerest wishes for their future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Assistant Commissioner Field Aniceto Ortiz upon his retirement from the Ceres Police Department.

On December 16, 2023, Assistant Commissioner Field Aniceto Ortiz retired from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), after serving for 30 years. Aniceto was responsible for CHP field operations in the State of California and was responsible for nearly nine thousand employees.

Aniceto served in various assignments across the state, such as Chief of Central Division in Fresno, a Special Response Team Commander, and was an inaugural member of the Department's Office of Inspector General.

Aniceto engaged with the communities he served to provide the highest level of Safety, Service and Security to the people of the state of California. Throughout his career, Aniceto held firm to the CHP's organizational values to serve and safeguard communities with compassion and understanding.

Aniceto is a first generation American and was the first in his family to serve in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, FBI California Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, and the Naval Postgraduate School Executive Leaders Program.

Aniceto continues to serve his community by volunteering for several community organizations, including the Visually Impaired Persons Support group, Children's Crisis Center, Rotary Club, and as an honorary board member for Without Permission, Inc. And upon his retirement, I want to extend my best wishes to Assistant Commissioner Ortiz on his new journey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 14, 2024 as Hmong-American Day, honoring the legacy of the Hmong people who served, were wounded, or lost their lives in battle. Their sacrifice, to ensure America remains the land of the free, knowing we forever owe a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice. We recognize the important cultural, social, political, and economic contributions of Hmong Americans that provide generational enrichment and enhancement to this county across many sectors, including CBOs, business, healthcare, education, public safety, and government.

From 1961 to 1975, more than 40,000 Hmong individuals were recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to fight alongside American soldiers in the Secret War, a vital part of the Vietnam War, in Laos. But in 1975, the Fall of Long Chen forced thousands of Hmong to flee Laos to seek refuge from persecution, where many refugees and their families immigrated to other countries, including the United States, and to California--where today Merced is home to more than 8,000 Hmong residents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating Hmong-American Day and formally recognizing and celebrating the rich history, culture, and contributions of Hmong Americans in Merced County and other communities throughout California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Jose Lugo. Jose was a loving son, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He put others before himself, and he made people laugh endlessly. He loved music and having a good time with his family and friends, while always ensuring that his friends and family were taken care of. While Jose is no longer with us, his loved ones are left with so many beautiful memories of him. His favorite places to visit were Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, or any beach.

He was selfless and truly had a heart of gold, and demonstrated this by choosing to donate his organs at the end of his life so that others would receive an opportunity to extend their lives. He was able to save five different lives by donating his earthly organs, and for that he is now a guardian angel and hero. He will forever be in his family's hearts, and with his loved ones wherever life takes them. We love him and he will be missed dearly. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to support H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act.

This bill provides relief to farmers, small businesses, and energy producers across the Central Valley and throughout the United States by cutting red tape, streamlining reviews, and providing greater regulatory certainty under the Clean Water Act.

I am proud that H.R. 7023 includes my initiative taking much-needed steps to fix inconsistencies in the permitting process under the Clean Water Act. In particular, this bill ensures that EPA permit writers do their jobs in a clear and reliable manner, including clear, objective, concrete limits on specific pollutants or water body conditions that permittees can rely on.

Currently, the EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit writers often include language in permits that provide loopholes for antidevelopment groups to sue and block permits needed for critical energy and other infrastructure improvements. My provision closes those loopholes and limits opportunities for unwarranted lawsuits.

This bill doesn't roll back the Clean Water Act. It codifies decades- old EPA policy to shield permit holders from activist lawsuits as long as they acted in good faith and according to the specific terms of their permit.

This type of regulatory certainty and legal protection for permit holders is necessary for improving our Nation's infrastructure, especially California's Central Valley water infrastructure.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, a commonsense reform that will strengthen the permitting process for permit seekers and holders, as well as provide greater clarity for permitting agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of John Morrow Derby, a legend of Central Valley journalism who spent 60 years in the newspaper business.

Mr. Derby was the publisher of five local weekly newspapers, including the Merced County Times, the Atwater-Winton Times, the Hilmar Times, the Hughson Chronicle, and the Waterford News. He also served as president of the parent company Mid-Valley Publications.

Mr. Derby was known for coining the local slogan and business mantra, ``The Power of Positive Press.'' He was an avid sailor, a member of the Lake Yosemite Sailing Association, and a longtime member of the Merced Sunrise Rotary Club.

John Derby first came to the Central Valley in the 1950s, studying at Fresno State and serving in the military toward the end of the Korean conflict. In Korea, he picked up the journalism bug when he pursued an assignment to write about the operations of nine battalions from Seoul to Panmunjom where the peace talks were held.

Mr. Derby would eventually end up in Merced in 1961 after landing a reporting job at the Sun-Star. Over the course of six decades, he started multiple newspapers across the Central Valley. Mr. Derby once wrote, ``Life without being a newspaper man is about the most boring thing in the world. The ink really is in my blood . . . I am here to stay and do what I have loved to do all my life--and that is to cover the lives of people in our community in a positive way.''

Last Christmas, he wrote a deeply personal message to some of his top staffers: ``You are full grown, and capable newspaper people. You have learned all the lessons it took me 60 years to learn and more. Now it is your duty to teach others the art of good honest journalism . . . May your ship of life sail true. May the ocean be wide and the currents be strong. May the winds blow hard. May you sail on, through the fury of those winds, and come out whole.''

Throughout his six-decade career in journalism, John Morrow Derby exemplified ``The Power of Positive Press'' with his devotion to his community and his steadfast dedication to fairness, decency, and truth.

It was an honor to have known him, and upon his passing, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and express my deepest sympathies to his beloved Mid-Valley Publications team.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Rick Collins upon his retirement from the Ceres Police Department.

Chief Collins began his career in law enforcement after graduating from Ceres High School and joining the Ceres Police Department as an Explorer at the age of 19. In 1995, he was hired as a Reserve Officer, and in 1997 he was hired as a full-time officer where he was assigned to patrol. He was then assigned to the Detective Bureau in 1999 and worked as a financial crimes and high-tech crimes investigator.

Chief Collins was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2004 and assigned to the Patrol Division. During this time, he earned a BA in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and a master's degree also in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. In 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant where he managed the department's Special Operations units. In 2015 he was promoted to Captain, and in 2019 he was promoted to Chief.

Chief Collins is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, class 235, and of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, class 268.

Off duty, Chief Collins has devoted his time to Ceres youth sports. He's coached youth soccer and served on the youth soccer board for three years. He's also volunteered as a coach for youth baseball.

Throughout his distinguished career in law enforcement, Chief Collins has exemplified the highest standards of duty and commitment to public service--earning the admiration of myself and his local community in the Central Valley. Upon his retirement, I want to extend my best wishes to Chief Collins on his new journey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, joined by my colleagues, Rep. David Valadao and Rep. Tom McClintock, to proclaim February 16, 2024, as National Almond Day.

Today, we celebrate the remarkable contributions made by almond farmers, processors, workers, and all those involved in the almond industry. National Almond Day recognizes the industry's success and innovation, highlighting its vital role in our Nation's agriculture and economy.

Almonds, often referred to as nature's wonder, offer many benefits. They are the healthiest shelf-stable protein grown on Earth and are gluten-free. They provide essential nutrients such as healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E, calcium, niacin, magnesium, iron, and potassium. Almonds contribute to maintaining healthy hearts, cholesterol levels. and blood sugar. They even promote skin health and protect against ultraviolet radiation.

One remarkable aspect of almonds is their versatility. Almonds serve as a healthy and delicious food option, suitable for snacking or as an ingredient in baking and cooking. They have become a staple in countless households, enriching our diets and enhancing our culinary experiences.

My home state of California is the heart of this industry. It is home to 7,600 almond farms, most family-owned and operated by dedicated third- and fourth-generation farmers. These small-scale, sustainable practices are the backbone of the almond industry, fostering a sense of community and preserving farmland.

The impact of the almond industry extends far beyond agriculture. It employs 110,000 people in California and contributes a staggering $9.2 billion annually to our economy. Furthermore, California is responsible for supplying 100 percent of the almonds in the United States and 80 percent of the world's almond supply, making our state a global leader in almond production.

On this special day, we honor the hardworking men and women who work tirelessly to bring almonds to our table. National Almond Day is a tribute to their dedication and innovation. As we enjoy the nutritious and delicious almonds, let us also recognize the profound impact of the almond industry on our lives. communities, and environment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating National Almond Day and the contributions of almond farmers, processors, and other industry members who make the almond industry one of the most successful and innovative in the United States.

May National Almond Day be a source of pride and inspiration for all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Calvert for this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank, admire, and pay respect to my good friend, Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

For many years I supported candidates, many of the men I admire here and many of the ladies. I did fundraisers, and they came to my house. Kevin was one of them.

When this race came up where I decided to run for Congress, I looked to the example of Kevin McCarthy, and I said: America is about to turn socialist. If I don't step up and work alongside Kevin McCarthy to win this seat, to win this critical majority today, then I may grow old in a socialist country for lack of my own efforts and for lack of seeing the inspiration and responding to the tireless work of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is a dear friend of mine and a dear friend of many.

I know in the years to come when--however far forward it is--when I talk about my time in Congress, the conversation will quickly go to an American hero, Kevin McCarthy, who tirelessly and successfully worked to stop socialism in America by winning this critical majority here in Congress.

I thank Kevin for our freedom, his leadership, and I thank him for his friendship. I wish the best to him in the future. I will be here in Congress while he does his thing, and I am happy to see it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Hmong community's upcoming 2024 New Year festivities in Merced County.

The story of the Hmong people in the United States begins with the tens of thousands of Hmong soldiers who stood side-by-side the United States in steadfast courage against communism in Indochina.

As the Vietnam War spread, the CIA recruited and trained thousands of Hmong men to fight, with over 30,000 engaging enemy troops both on the ground and in the skies. Hmong soldiers regularly conducted raids and sabotage operations on the Ho-Cho-Minh supply trail and went deep behind enemy lines to gather intelligence and rescued American soldiers. As a result of the fighting, Hmong soldiers suffered immense casualties--ten times higher than their American counterparts.

After the United States withdrew its forces at the conclusion of the Vietnam War, hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled as refugees to the United States. Those who were unable to escape faced brutal oppression and massacres.

Today, over 360,000 Hmong-Americans call the United States their home, and California's 13th Congressional District is home to one of the largest Hmong communities in the United States. Hmong-Americans continue to serve our nation whether in law enforcement, the armed forces, non-profit programs, or in elected office. They play pivotal roles in our schools, our hospitals, and our businesses, and through it all, the community has continued to preserve their vibrant language, culture, and traditions.

As they have done for decades, the Hmong community of the Central Valley will gather at the Merced County Fairgrounds from December 15-17 to celebrate the 2024 Hmong New Year, which will include traditional Hmong attire and cuisine, cultural dance competitions, traditional sports tournaments, and an exhibit of Hmong art and entertainment.

I am honored to represent the Hmong-American community of the Central Valley, and I wish every Hmong-American a very Happy New Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Mark Frost, upon his retirement on December 1, 2023 for 27 years of dedicated service to the people of the State of California as a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer.

Officer Frost began his journey in law enforcement in Sacramento at the California Highway Patrol Academy on December 2, 1996, and successfully graduated on June 6, 1997. Following his graduation, he was assigned as a California Highway Patrol Officer to the CHP Hayward Office.

He later transferred to the Merced Office on October 1, 2001, where he served in various roles such as the union representative in the California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) for the CHP Merced Area, and as the CAHP District 3 Defense Representative.

Additionally, Officer Frost was certified as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and served as a CPR instructor. His expertise also extended to firearm safety as the Weapons Range Safety Officer.

Showcasing his attention to detail and commitment to maintaining the integrity of the law enforcement process, he served as the Evidence Officer for the CHP Merced Office. His leadership qualities were further recognized as he assumed the responsibilities of Officer in Charge (OIC) and Acting CHP Sergeant for the Merced Area.

Officer Mark Frost exemplifies the highest standards of duty and commitment to public service with his 27-year career as a California Highway Patrolman. Every day, he tirelessly strived to serve the people of the State of California, earning the admiration of myself and his local community in the Central Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Carrie Stephens upon her retirement for 33 years of dedicated service in the United States Navy.

Captain Carrie M. Stephens was born and raised in Newman, California, attending public school there until college. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific in June 1986. After working in the mortgage banking industry for a year, Captain Stephens attended McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California. In May 1990, she received her Juris Doctorate. While in law school, she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law. In November of 1990, she was commissioned in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corps. A month later, she was admitted to the California State Bar. Ms. Stephens has served a combined 33 years of active and reserve duty in the Navy, earning the rank of Captain.

From 1991 to 1994, Captain Stephens was stationed at the Naval Legal Service Office Treasure Island. She practiced criminal and civil law and was appointed as Special Assistant United States Attorney, Civil Division. In 1994, Ms. Stephens was transferred to Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme where she served as the base attorney handling civil and criminal matters and was later appointed Special United States Attorney, Criminal Division.

Upon her discharge from active duty in 1996, Ms. Stephens moved back to her hometown of Newman, and joined the Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office. As a Deputy Public Defender, Ms. Stephens handled all types of complex criminal matters. In 1999, she received a position with the office of Stanislaus County Counsel where for 18 years she represented the county child welfare agency, advocating for the protection of abused and neglected children.

In 2018, Captain Stephens was elected Superior Court Judge for the Stanislaus County Superior Court. She is the current Judge, presiding over the felony criminal department.

Despite leaving active-duty service, Captain Stephens continued her affiliation with the U.S. Navy Reserve. In early 2010, Captain Stephens was selected to become a military judge. After receiving specialized training at the Army Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, she was certified as a Special and General courts-martial judge where she presided over courts-martial from June 2010 to November 2015. She was elevated to Chief Judge, Navy and Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Reserve Component in December 2013 and for two years, commanded a cadre of military judges. Thereafter, she was selected Commanding Officer, NR RLSO Japan for a two-year billet.

Through a competitive selection process, Captain Stephens was designated an appellate judge assigned to the Navy and Marine Court of Criminal Appeals from December 2017 to December 2019. From 2019 to the present, Captain Stephens has been with the Navy Reserve NAMARA Policy conducting legal reviews of courts-martial on behalf of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy and has served as a Special Assistant for the Deputy Advocate General for Reserve Affairs and Operations and Awards Board President.

Captain Carrie Stephens exemplifies the highest standards of duty, honor, and commitment through her 33-year career in the United States Navy. Not only is she an inspiration to her community of Newman, but she has also earned the admiration of California's 13th Congressional District. And this well-deserved retirement marks a new chapter in her life that she can cherish with her loving husband Tim Bazar, and their three amazing children: Olivia, Sydney, and Cameron.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize Fire Chief Jeff Gregory for his dedicated service to the Patterson Fire Department and, at this moment, celebrate his thoroughly earned retirement.

Chief Gregory was raised in the Modesto area and has lived in Patterson since 1979. He is married and has two daughters. His involvement in the fire service began as a firefighter with the Patterson Volunteer Fire Department in June of 1986. Chief Gregory worked his way up through the Volunteer Fire Service ranks and became a Volunteer Captain on September 1, 2001. In December, he was promoted again to Volunteer Battalion Chief. On May 1, 2003, his full-time fire service career began when he was hired by the City of Patterson Fire Department, in a partnership with the West Stanislaus Fire Protection District, as the Division Chief. In this new role, Chief Gregory's duties included training coordination, facilities maintenance, and overseeing the purchasing, maintenance, and repair of the fire apparatus and emergency equipment.

Chief Gregory was ultimately appointed as the permanent Fire Chief on September 21, 2016. Throughout his tenure as Fire Chief, he has had numerous accomplishments and achievements that have improved the delivery of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to Western Stanislaus County. One of his successes includes improving and expanding the Patterson Fire Department's Advanced Life Support Program to ensure that both city fire stations and assigned apparatus have advanced life support equipment available to on-duty Fire Paramedics. Chief Gregory has also been instrumental in modernizing the fire fleet and emergency equipment for the City of Patterson and West Stanislaus Fire Agencies. Chief Gregory's vision for the fire service has significantly improved the force and has also had a positive impact on his community.

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Chief Gregory would often work or remain on-call for over 100 hours per week to ensure that everyone in the City of Patterson or the West Stanislaus Fire District would receive help when they called 911 for assistance.

Chief Gregory's commitment to public service, spanning 37 years, is truly commendable. Every day, he tirelessly strived to serve the people of his community--sometimes at the expense of his own personal time and comfort. His service will be greatly missed by his community and everyone who worked alongside him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Modesto Irrigation District is celebrating 100 years of supplying clean, reliable power to our communities. Since the construction of the Don Pedro Dam and the coinciding establishment of the Don Pedro Powerhouse, Modesto Irrigation District has been providing the City of Modesto and the surrounding areas with power that has brought innovation, growth, and development to the region.

In 1919, a bill was introduced to provide for the development of power by irrigation districts. Governor William D. Stephens signed the bill into law May 21, 1919. Three days before the bill was to become effective, construction of the Don Pedro Dam and Powerhouse began.

On October 27. 1921. the first concrete was poured at the dam. With construction of both the Don Pedro Dam and Powerhouse underway, the decision was made for the plants to generate and distribute their own power. In 1923, Modesto Irrigation District raised its first power pole. It took determined, fearless people with incredible foresight to accomplish such an achievement despite the presence of a powerful and already established, competitive private utility.

Throughout the years, the successes of the retail distribution of power out of Modesto Irrigation District continued. In 1950, there was a net energy profit of $1 million-a-year as shown by the electrical department, and energy consumption increased 10 percent per year in the post-war years.

Due to being publicly owned and locally controlled, the Modesto Irrigation District could provide the people of Modesto and the surrounding area with lower energy rates than private utilities. These lower rates helped grow Modesto and the surrounding region in both the residential and industrial fields at a rapid rate.

Today, 100 years since the introduction of retail power in the region, Modesto Irrigation District serves an area of 560 square miles with electricity. This electricity is transmitted over 1,800 miles of power lines throughout their service area. The District relies on a diverse, balanced power resource mix to meet customers' needs. Embracing the latest technology and sustainable practices. Modesto Irrigation District continues to be a leader in the public power industry.

Through the courageous determination of their founders, Modesto Irrigation District evolved into a robust and self-reliant community- owned utility. On behalf of the people of California's 1311, Congressional District. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Modesto Irrigation District for 100 years of service and offer my sincerest wishes to their future.