Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my good friend Ronald ``Ron'' Roberts, who passed away in San Diego, California on Monday, February 4, 2019. Ron was a dedicated public servant and he will be deeply missed.

Throughout his life, Ron worked to improve the community around him. In the first phase of his public service, Ron worked as a California Highway Patrol officer. By the time he retired, Ron had risen to the rank of sergeant. After his career in law enforcement, Ron began what would eventually be a twenty-four-year dedication to the city of Temecula. Ron was first appointed to the Temecula Traffic Commission in 1990, the year after the city incorporated.

In 1992, Ron was elected to the Temecula City Council, where he would ultimately serve five consecutive terms, from 1992 to 2014, including five terms as the city's mayor. The impact of Ron's leadership and hard work is on display today throughout Temecula, particularly in its infrastructure, facilities, parks and libraries. In fact, the city honored Ron by naming its busiest library the Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library. Ron was also rightfully proud of his work granting public use of the Duck Pond at the corner of Ynez and Rancho California roads and revitalizing Old Town Temecula. Extraordinary cities like Temecula don't exist by accident--they come to fruition thanks to the vision and activism of tireless advocates like Ron Roberts.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jeanne; son Ron, Jr. (wife Kara); daughter Wendy (husband Sam); and five grandchildren. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Roberts family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Ron. Although Ron may be gone, the many contributions he made to his country, community and family will have a lasting impact.

Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize Command Chief Master Sergeant Ericka E. Kelly, upon her retirement after 32 years of distinguished military service to our great Nation in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

Chief Kelly's career culminated with her final assignment as both the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Command Chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Chief Kelly represents the highest enlisted executive level of leadership in Air Force Reserve Command and advises the commander on all issues regarding the readiness, training, welfare, morale, proper utilization and progress of more than 55,000 enlisted Citizen Airmen. She also provides direction to the Reserve force and represents their interests at all levels of government to other military branches and in joint strategic and operational war-fighting environments.

Chief Master Sergeant Kelly came from exceptionally humble beginnings in Guatemala and overcame extreme adversity to achieve her American dream. Immigrating to the United States at the age of 12, she had to work full-time to help support her family before finishing high school at night to earn her diploma. Knowing from a young age she wanted to serve in our nation's military, her dogged determination is the epitome of personal resilience.

Chief Kelly's career began in the medical field as a medical services specialist. Recognizing her talents, the Air Force challenged her through increased responsibilities and she continued to grow and excel as an aeromedical evacuation crew member with over 1,400 flight hours on various airframes. Chief Kelly has deployed numerous times in support of contingency operations around the world including Restore Hope and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

In addition to her military service, Chief Kelly has more than 20 years of government, management and law enforcement experience. She has served as a field agent and criminal investigator for the Department of Justice in numerous agencies including the Office of Professional Responsibility. She is also a John Maxwell certified speaker, coach and trainer.

Throughout her tenure, Chief Kelly has been instrumental in advocating for Reservists across the globe and strengthening the total force team. She has ensured Air Force Reserve interests and total force solutions were highlighted and incorporated into decisions made at the highest levels of the Air Force guaranteeing Air Force Reserve Airmen were ready to answer our nation's call.

Due to Chief Master Sergeant Ericka Kelly's visionary leadership, foresight and ceaseless efforts, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the Nation will long reap the benefits of her many years of service. It is experienced, dedicated, professional Citizen Airmen like Chief Master Sergeant Kelly who make the Department of Defense and the Air Force Reserve the outstanding institutions that they are today.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress and a grateful Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Chief Master Sergeant Ericka E. Kelly for her many years of dedicated service. There is no question the Air Force, Department of Defense, and the United States benefited greatly from Chief Kelly's visionary leadership, planning and foresight, and we wish her the very best.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 266, the Democratic proposal for funding the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2019.

This bill is almost entirely a Senate product. As such, it ignores the bipartisan priorities of the House and, perhaps even worse, it abdicates congressional responsibility under the Constitution to keep the executive branch in check.

Before I get into the details of the bill, however, I want to take a moment to congratulate my friend and colleague, Betty McCollum, for her appointment as the new chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

She has been a tireless advocate for programs under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee, a firm but fair overseer of agency operations, a tough negotiator and, above all, a good friend. She will be an outstanding chair. I wish her well, and I look forward to working with her in both of our new capacities.

Madam Speaker, over the past year, Ms. McCollum and I worked in collaboration to write a bill representing the needs and priorities of the House. We held nine budget oversight hearings, including four hearings with nearly 80 Tribal leaders regarding programs that honor treaty rights promised to our Native American brothers and sisters.

We wrote a bill that accommodated, in some shape or form, roughly 93 percent of all House Member requests, regardless of party. On top of that, when the bill came to the House floor, 70 amendments were debated and 50 were adopted.

And when told to begin negotiating the House-passed bill last year, we defended it against competing priorities in the Senate. We came together on numerous topics to write report language directives that maintain a check on the executive branch.

I am extremely proud of our work. We are so close to a final product. We shouldn't be throwing it all away with the bill before us today, a bill that the Senate has already said it will not consider and the President will not sign.

Let me highlight just a few of the House priorities missing in this product which concern me the most, and which are likely to concern our colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

First and foremost, the bill leaves behind all congressional report language directives. These directives are critical for keeping the executive branch in check. These directives are also the conduit through which the concerns of our constituents back home are heard directly by agency officials at the highest levels.

All of our colleagues in the House who have worked with their constituents and worked with the Appropriations Committee over the past year to craft these directives understand the effort that went into them and the impact they have on people's lives back home. The bill before us today throws that away, all that important work.

We included language to protect the California WaterFix from frivolous lawsuits in order to move forward a water supply project that is critically important to my constituents. By taking up this Senate bill, I am prevented from even fighting for my constituents.

But this isn't about my priorities; this is about all of the bipartisan priorities of the House of Representatives that are flushed away by rubber-stamping the Senate bill.

The bill provides $12 million less than last year's House-passed bill for the U.S. Geological Survey's natural hazards research and early warning system, the earthquake system, and $21 million less for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior to clear dead and dying trees from our forests in order to prevent more catastrophic wildfires like the kind we experienced in my own State of California.

These ounce-of-prevention programs save lives and save money. With so many fires, earthquakes, volcanoes, and other natural disasters in recent years, these programs should be a higher funding priority than they are in this bill.

Additionally, this bill provides $77 million less than the House Republican bill for EPA's WIFIA, brownfields, and Superfund remedial programs. These programs provide regulatory relief, leverage Federal dollars, improve water infrastructure, and spur economic development.

Instead, this bill increases funding for EPA regulatory programs. In many parts of the country, particularly agricultural States, EPA regulations and additional red tape are a bipartisan concern.

Even popular EPA grant programs, like the diesel emission reduction grants, DERA, and targeted airshed grants, were significantly reduced in this bill.

The DERA and targeted airshed grants are essential to my home State of California, where air quality remains one of our biggest concerns. My State and constituents rely on these grant programs to help improve air quality and public health by accelerating the replacement of older engines with new, cleaner engines.

For our National Park System, the bill before us today falls $27 million short of the House-passed level for park operations and reducing the maintenance backlog. With park visitation on the rise, this is no time to cut corners on the budget.

This bill also lacks important reforms for implementation of the Endangered Species Act, and it lacks the funding needed to prevent the sage grouse from being listed. Failure to prevent a listing will hurt local economies in 11 Western States and undermine our Nation's energy security.

This bill is almost $10 million below last year's House-passed bill in funding for historic preservation grants, including civil rights grants and grants to underserved communities.

The House felt so strongly about these programs that it added $5 million in multiple amendments on the House floor last year. Why would we give up all that funding by acceding to the Senate?

Last, but certainly not least, this bill falls $160 million short of last year's House-passed bill in funding treaty obligations to American Indians and Alaska Natives through the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service.

Earlier this week, USA Today was the latest news agency to run a front page article on the sad state of healthcare in Indian Country, which is funded mostly through the Indian Health Service in this bill. Funding for the Indian Health Service in this bill is $135 million below last year's House-passed level.

For an Indian health system that already is rationing the kind of healthcare that most of us take for granted, every dollar makes a difference in the quality of life of one of our fellow Americans whose ancestors paid in advance with their lives and their land to guarantee that the Federal Government would care for the health of their descendants. Properly funding this obligation is not optional.

The House heard from nearly 80 tribal leaders in hearings last year about the importance of funding these programs. Let's not turn our backs on them now, acceding to the Senate position.

Madam Speaker, for these reasons and others, I am strongly opposed to this bill, H.R. 266, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for their constituents' priorities and oppose the bill as well.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the former chairman of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to point out that leaders in the Border Patrol want a barrier as a part of securing the border. Most people the majority leader mentioned are also in favor of a barrier as part of securing the border, as that is something that acts like, using a football metaphor, an offensive line. It slows people down in order for technology and people at that point to pick up people who are coming into this country illegally with drugs or otherwise illegal activity.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Utah (Mr. Stewart).

Mr. Speaker, I point out to my friend from the State of Washington that the earthquake warning system that we both worked on is below the House number by $9.4 million. So that is unfortunate.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

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

Mr. Speaker, I have served on the Appropriations Committee for a long time, and I am proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish in a bipartisan and bicameral manner, which is the history of the Appropriations Committee.

Unfortunately, the Senate bill before us today forces us to choose between abdicating our constitutional obligations and underfunding important programs in a way that is unacceptable to me and my constituents. I am afraid this is a bad precedent, and I hope that this does not happen in the future: we just accept whatever the Senate determines is the proper path forward.

I am disheartened by the Democrats' closed process that throws our bipartisan House priorities and will neither

secure our borders nor reopen the government. Rather than passing bills to score political points, I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to work with us to find a solution that reflects the will of the House, will pass in the Senate, and will be signed by the President.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

In its current form, yes.

Mr. Speaker, the bill under consideration has $21 million less for a major House priority than what was included in the fiscal year 2019 Interior and Environment bill passed in the last Congress. I am talking about doing more to prevent and stop catastrophic wildfires.

For the past 4 fiscal years, the House has prioritized funding to improve our national forests and other Federal forestland through the Department of the Interior's and the Forest Service's hazardous fuels reduction programs. These programs use methods such as thinning, prescribed burns, and removing underbrush to help unhealthy forests return to a healthy condition.

In fiscal year 2018, Congress provided $614 million for these programs. Last year, the House-passed bill increased that amount by $30 million for fiscal year 2019. The bill before us today, H.R. 266, only provides a $9 million increase. My motion to recommit will fix this major problem and save lives.

The increase is offset by a reduction in the Bureau of Land Management's deferred maintenance account and the Forest Service's capital improvement and maintenance account. These infrastructure programs received significant increases in fiscal year 2018, and they have a large carryover balance.

Mr. Speaker, my bottom line is that I cannot support a bill that does less to prevent catastrophic wildfires. My home State of California experienced deadly and record-setting wildfires last year. I was with the President; former Governor Brown and current Governor Newsom; our minority leader; and our colleague, Congressman LaMalfa, in Paradise late last year. In 2017, I also visited Santa Rosa with my colleague from the northern part of the State, Congressman Mike Thompson. The devastation I saw was indescribable and heartbreaking.

While we can and should continue to debate what more needs to be done to improve the health of our Nation's forests, I am proud that the Interior and Environment Subcommittee, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, has led the way.

The subcommittee successfully negotiated a forest management reform package and fire-borrowing fix as part of the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill. It allowed for more on-the-ground forest management activities. These are the activities that prevent the natural cycle of fires from exploding into terrible conditions.

It provided smarter budgeting for wildfire suppression costs. The budgeting reforms go into effect in fiscal year 2020.

I am certain that the new chair on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, my distinguished colleague and friend from Minnesota, looks forward to that. It has been a pleasure to work with her as partners on the forest management and wildland fire budgeting issues.

Yet, there is more that we need to do. Today we can start by supporting this motion. It will send a strong message to the Senate that they should focus on this issue. More importantly, it will show Californians and other Americans affected by wildfire that the House is doing something about this problem.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to James ``Jim'' Robinson, who passed away on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Jim was an active and influential leader in Riverside County throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

Jim was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he developed asthma at a young age. To help provide him some relief, Jim's family moved to California for drier air and a warmer climate. He graduated from San Bernardino High School and earned his bachelor's degree from California State Los Angeles. While in college, Jim enlisted in the Army National Guard, earning the Distinguished Cadet Honor and obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Jim continued his education throughout his career, obtaining his graduate degree from Southern Methodist University. Jim later completed Stanford University's Financial Management Program in 1983 and the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Executive Program in 1987.

Jim launched his career in banking as a messenger for Security First National Bank which later became Security Pacific National Bank. He entered the bank's management training program and upon graduation oversaw the operations of a series of larger bank branches in the Inland Empire. During his career with Security Pacific National Bank, Jim would serve as a Regional Manager and a Division Manager before deciding to retire from the bank in 1992. He was then immediately hired as the President and CEO of Riverside National Bank, at which he served as an executive until again retiring in 2003. In 2005, Jim and a group of regional leaders formed Security Bank of California, a new community bank headquartered in Riverside. Jim served as the Chairman and CEO until the bank was sold in 2016 and he retired for the last time. During his career, Jim felt it was important to give back to the communities he served and sat on numerous boards in the regions he worked, including in Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife Shirley Wilkins Robinson and his daughter Kristen Robinson Olsen. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara Robinson, his son Jamie Robinson, Jr., Jamie's wife Melissa and their two daughters, Grace and Gabrielle, as well as son- in-law Craig Olsen and granddaughter Mallory Olsen. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Robinson family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Although Jim may be gone, the many contributions he made in Riverside County will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Recognizing Parker Poling

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California, Kevin McCarthy, our Republican leader, our majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Poliquin).

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight, along with my California delegation colleagues, to express our thanks and appreciation for those Members who are departing the House at the end of the session.

Collectively, these Californians have served for decades here in the House of Representatives. During that time, they have made many contributions that have benefitted their districts, our State, and certainly this country. I am proud to join them on the House floor this evening and pay tribute to their dedication to this institution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the Dean of the California delegation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the invaluable contributions made by my California Republican delegation colleagues who are departing at the conclusion of this term.

I consider these individuals more than colleagues. I consider them my friends, and I am deeply disappointed they will not be joining us in the next session of Congress.

Every one of them has served in the House with distinction, making this institution better for having them a part of it. They have represented their constituents and our State well by understanding the unique challenges they faced and effectively fighting for solutions.

The booming voice from Jeff Denham is as unmistakable as it is effective advocating for California's Central Valley. He knows it is pretty difficult to farm without a reliable water supply, so he helped lead the charge for many sensible water policies that help our Nation's fruit and vegetable farmers keep American-grown produce on the dining room tables around the country.

Darrell Issa made a name for himself in the car alarm industry before he came to Congress, where he sounded the alarm on the executive branch misconduct. As a leader on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Darrell held our fellow agencies to account for their actions and was a staunch defender of American taxpayers.

Steve Knight comes from a family well known for public service. Steve proudly carried on that tradition by serving in the Army for 8 years, then the Los Angeles Police Department for 18 years. Steve then came to Congress, bringing his tremendous experience to the House Armed Services Committee, where he has made a big impact.

The dean of the California Republican delegation, Dana Rohrabacher, always brings a unique perspective to any conversation. Since his days in the Reagan White House, Dana has been a constant voice for the defense of liberty and freedom. He has also been a gnarly champion for California's legendary surfing community.

Ed Royce and I were both members of the incoming freshman class of 1993. As a longtime member and now chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed has served as an effective advocate for American interests and allies around the globe. I have seen firsthand how especially tireless he is in being a voice for the safety and liberty of people so desperate for someone to come to their aid. And to cap it off, Ed's tribute video featured Bono singing his praises.

David Valadao is a Member of the House who truly understands what it means to be a champion for his district. David has never been interested in partisan politics. He just wants to deliver results for the Central Valley of California. Working with David to solve California's water challenges and serving with him on the Appropriations Committee has been an absolute pleasure and honor.

Anyone who spends any time with Mimi Walters knows that she is the toughest member of the California Republican delegation. I think you have heard that a number of times. When our delegation needs to get something done, you can always count on Mimi to be front and center in the fight. Her tenacity in advancing worthwhile policies will be sorely missed by our delegation, our conference, and the House.

Time and time again, our California Republican delegation has come together to respond to the needs of our State, whether it was a serious drought, a disease threatening to wipe out our citrus farmers, horrific wildfires and the flooding and mudslides that follow them, there is no group of representatives I would rather lock arms with to fight for those solutions that our constituents need.

Mr. Speaker, Teddy Roosevelt so brilliantly said, ``It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.''

The departing members of the California delegation all leave with pride of knowing they served in the arena and spent themselves in a worthy cause.

Again, I am grateful for their service and especially for their friendship.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Riverside County farming and water leader Bennett ``Ben'' Drake, who passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Ben served the people of Riverside County in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

Ben was born in Riverside, California on July 8, 1949, to Richard and Martha Drake. Ben was a graduate of Fresno State University and also a member of Class XII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Ben was a fifth generation farmer in Riverside County and a resident of Temecula since 1973. Ben founded Drake Enterprises, Inc., a farm management company 40 years ago. They manage 750 acres of avocados and 450 acres of winegrapes in the Temecula Valley. Ben served as past President of the Temecula Valley Winegrape Growers Association and past Chairman of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

As a prominent farmer and water advocate, Ben played a significant role in the successful growth of the Temecula Valley Wine Country. In the 1990's, an outbreak of Pierce's Disease threatened to wipe out grape vineyards throughout the region and state. As I witnessed first- hand, Ben's leadership during the crisis made a tremendous impact and resulted in a coordinated response from local, state and federal agencies that ultimately saved the region from devastation. Ben was elected to serve on the Rancho California Water District's Board of Directors in September, 2001, and faithfully served on the Board for 17 years. For all of his many accomplishments Ben was named California Association of Winegrape Growers Leader of the Year 2013; Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen of the Year 2014; Riverside County 4H All Star; and received the Robert M. Howie Award for Outstanding Service to Riverside Agriculture 2010.

Ben is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sharon (Clark) Drake and his children Katie (Drake) and JD Harkey, Chase Drake, Kourtney Drake, Kara (Drake) and MacLain Atkinson. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Drake family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Although Ben may be gone, the many contributions he made in Riverside County will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to our region have been exceptional. After serving 16 years on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, my good friend Marion Ashley will be stepping down.

Marion is a native of Riverside County, a member of a pioneer Perris Valley family, and has long shown his deep commitment to the people of Riverside County. He attended local schools: Perris Union High School, Riverside City College and graduated San Diego State University with a major in Business Management. Marion spent years in the private sector as a CPA with a national accounting firm, a corporate executive, a banker, and established a real estate investment firm. He also served the public as a Riverside County Planning Commissioner from 1973 to 1981, and was elected to a serve on the Board of the Eastern Municipal Water District from 1992 to 2002.

In 2002, Marion was elected to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, where he has become a respected leader on regional issues. As a County Supervisor he oversees a budget of $5.3 billion and sets public policy for nearly 2.4 million people. Marion's leadership has made a tremendous impact on a variety of initiatives critical to Riverside County's future, including the Riverside County Integrated Project, the Perris Valley Metrolink Line, and the construction of numerous public safety and transportation infrastructure projects. For the benefit of future generations, Marion and his family have donated hundreds of acres of land in the hills west of Perris to help create a permanent wildlife refuge and supported countless charitable causes.

Marion has contributed immensely to the betterment of our region and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. To conclude, Mr. Speaker I want to thank Marion for his service to the Inland Empire--his dedication, insight and passion will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to our region have been exceptional. After serving 24 years on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, my good friend John Tavaglione will be stepping down.

John is a fourth generation resident of Riverside County and has dedicated much of his life to improving the Inland Empire region. John received his bachelor's degree in business administration from California Baptist University and is a proud U.S. Army veteran. His professional career spanned nearly 25 years as a commercial real estate executive. Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he served on the Riverside City Council and was a member of the Riverside Public Utilities Commission. In 1994, John was elected to represent the Second District on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

As a member of the Board of Supervisors, John has been credited for his leadership in regional transportation issues, community and economic development, parks and open space preservation, and for his strong fiscal and organizational management. In 2010, John was selected to serve as President of the California State Association of Counties by California's 58 counties. Over the years, John and his wife Jan have graciously helped to send hundreds of students to college by hosting an annual fundraiser where all proceeds go towards scholarships for graduating high school seniors in his district.

John has contributed immensely to the betterment of our region and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and my friend. To conclude, Mr. Speaker I want to thank John for his service to the Inland Empire--his dedication, insight and passion will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my good friend Randy Record. At the end of the year, Randy will be stepping down after serving four years as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Metropolitan is a regional wholesaler and the largest distributor of treated drinking water in the United States.

As a Riverside County native, Randy has been active in the San Jacinto farming community for over three decades. In addition, Randy currently owns and operates a wine grape vineyard in the Central Coast with his wife and two daughters. Randy is currently an executive committee member of the Southern California Leadership Council, as well as a member of the Riverside County Farm Bureau, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the Monday Morning Group of Western Riverside County, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

In 2001, Randy was elected to serve on the Eastern Municipal Water District's Board of Directors. Just two years later, Randy was chosen to represent Eastern on Metropolitan's Board. Randy's path followed in the footsteps of his father, Clayton A. Record, Jr., who served as Eastern's representative to Metropolitan's Board from June 1999 to January 2001. As both a past president of the Association of California Water Agencies and, more recently, as Chairman of Metropolitan's Board, Randy has demonstrated tremendous leadership in addressing California's unending list of water challenges. The proposed California WaterFix project is one of the most ambitious water infrastructure projects in the history of our state, if not the nation. The project's goal of providing a reliable and affordable source of water to tens of millions of California families and businesses will play a major role in shaping the future of our state. Randy's leadership on this project has been instrumental in moving the project forward.

Without Randy's tireless advocacy and the strong relationships he's developed over the years throughout the state, projects like the WaterFix and Metropolitan's other policy objectives simply would not be possible. As Randy's friend and as his colleague in the water policy arena, I am incredibly proud of the many accomplishments he's achieved during his tenure as Metropolitan's Chairman. Randy will continue to serve on the Board for both Eastern and Metropolitan, and I look forward to our continued work together to provide California with water solutions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my good friend Herbert ``Herb'' Spiegel, who passed away in California on Sunday, December 2, 2018. Herb, a devoted family man, served his nation in World War II, and volunteered with many organizations in his community. He will be deeply missed.

Herb and his family escaped war-torn Germany in May of 1939, immigrating to the United States and settling in New York. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee in Kodiak, Alaska during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He met Flora Hirsch on a New Year's weekend in 1950 and had a whirlwind courtship, proposing on their first date. After she said yes on the second date, they were married on May 23, 1951. They returned to Kodiak as he continued to work as a civilian electrician with the Navy.

The Spiegels would eventually relocate to Corona, California, where they would raise a family and become active members of the community. Herb founded Corona Industrial Electric, Inc. and has been an active member of the National Electrical Contractors Association. Herb retired in 1994, after receiving numerous awards and recognitions in the electrical contracting industry, and became actively immersed in the local community. Herb had remained active with the Corona Chamber of Commerce; Corona Host Lions; Corona Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a member of the Masonic Lodge as a Master Mason, and Shriner; Navy League and an active member and founder of Congregation Beth Shalom of Corona. I have seen firsthand how Herb's tireless passion for his family, community service and giving back has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Corona. Additionally, Herb was a co-founder and creator of a holocaust education forum to share and preserve the story of his life and other holocaust survivors with young adults in Southern California.

Herb is survived by three sons: Sam, Bobby, and Marc; seven grandchildren: Tanya, Rebecca, Rachel, Isaac, Josh, Jacob and Aaron; great grandson RJ, and many nieces and nephews from around the globe. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Spiegel family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Herb. Although Herb may be gone, the many contributions he made to his country, community and family will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend Damon Nelson, who led the House Intelligence Committee staff on the committee very well. He passed away unexpectedly, as mentioned by Congressman Nunes, this past Saturday at the age of 46.

As many have known, Damon was a long-time friend and staff member of Congressman Devin Nunes. Over time, Damon became close with many us here. I got to know Damon through my work on California water policy.

There is a saying, ``Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting,'' and that certainly was true when it comes to water in the West, and it continues to be. However, Damon showed a unique talent for mediating complex water issues, keeping the confidence of the stakeholders involved.

He became an expert on California water, mentoring staff and Members on the issue. Without a doubt, he was one of the most gifted, intelligent, articulate negotiators on a very complex issue that transcended political parties, regions, and, oftentimes, common sense.

He took this rare set of skills to his next role as staff director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As one of the appropriators assigned to HPSCI, I was fortunate to be able to continue to work with Damon. Just as he demonstrated on California water, Damon took the helm of the committee with ease and guided it through some of the most challenging times the committee has faced. He did all of this with a smile and the confidence that he was working toward something greater than himself.

His presence will be deeply missed on the committee and in Congress. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Dana, and to his entire family, including my good friend, Devin.

Damon served his country honorably in the United States Air Force, was a veteran of the Gulf War, and was an American patriot. He came to D.C. to make a difference, and he did.

Godspeed, Damon. We are grateful for your service, and we will honor your memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to our country have been exceptional. After working for many years in the residential and commercial real estate industries, Jerry Giovaniello is retiring from the National Association of REALTORS.

After earning a graduate degree in history from New York University, Mr. Giovaniello fulfilled an ROTC commitment to the U.S. Army, serving as an officer in Vietnam and Washington, D.C. from 1968 through 1970. After his military service, Mr. Giovaniello worked as a policy analyst and writer for National Journal, a weekly magazine covering the federal government and public policy issues. Later, Mr. Giovaniello began working on Capitol Hill where he served as chief of staff for two members of Congress from California--Rep. Jerry Pettis, R-Calif., 1972 to 1976, and Rep. Jim Lloyd, D-Calif., 1976 to 1981.

From 2001 until his retirement this year, Mr. Giovaniello served as the senior vice president of government affairs and chief lobbyist of the National Association of REALTORS, the nation's largest professional association, representing more than one million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Mr. Giovaniello managed the association's government affairs staff of approximately 40 people in Washington, D.C. He also served as NAR's advocate for members of Congress from California, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii and Oregon.

Jerry and I have worked closely together on a number of issues. Perhaps the most consequential was our successful effort to stop large national banks from entering the real estate business. Had the banks prevailed, it would have left home buyers and sellers with fewer choices and higher loan fees. More crucially, it would have made the economic crisis of 2008 even more severe. We all owe Jerry a debt of gratitude for taking on that fight and winning it.

Mr. Giovaniello has contributed immensely to the betterment of our nation and I am proud to call him a fellow American and my friend. He played a major role advancing policies that helped Americans realize their dream of owning a home. To conclude, Mr. Speaker I want to thank Mr. Giovaniello for his service to the residential and commercial real estate industries--his dedication, insight and passion will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to former California State Senator Craig Biddle, who passed away on Sunday, September 23, 2018 in Florida. Craig served the people of California and Riverside County in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

While growing up, Craig developed a deep passion for playing the French horn. He even spent three summers at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and intended to spend his life as a musician. Then, while attending Occidental College, he turned his focus and attention to the law. He eventually sold his horn to pay for the first semester of law school at USC. After graduating, he moved from South Pasadena to Riverside, where he became a deputy district attorney. He served there four years, before becoming a public defender.

Craig decided to leap into politics and had his sights set on becoming district attorney. In an effort to bolster his name recognition for a future district attorney campaign, he decided to run for the California Assembly as a Republican. In an unexpected turn of events, Craig wound up winning that race and was elected to serve in the Assembly. Craig would later become the Assembly majority leader from 1969 to 1971. He then resigned to run for the state Senate. Craig won that race and represented the Riverside area in the Senate for one term. Throughout his legislative career, Craig was an effective advocate for laws requiring the use of breathalyzer tests for suspected drunk drivers and for clean air policies that required cars to undergo smog checks. After leaving office, Craig started a law firm in Sacramento, which he ran before retiring in 1995.

Craig is survived by his wife Patricia Kelley and three children, Eric, Nancy and Lisa Biddle Canez. He had four grandchildren. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Biddle family, his friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Although Craig may be gone, the many life-changing contributions he made in Riverside County and throughout California will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Ella Mae Record, who passed away last month in California. Ella Mae was the matriarch of the Record family in San Jacinto Valley. She will be deeply missed.

Ella Mae was born at home in Torrance, California, on January 18, 1929. Her family moved to the San Jacinto Valley on New Year's Day, 1937, where she enrolled in school. It was in school that she developed a love for music and sports. She was named the sports writer for the school paper, editor of the yearbook, and was elected student body president her senior year. Ella Mae's summers were spent working on the family ranch learning to drive cars, trucks, tractors and mules. She married Clayton Record, Jr. on August 21, 1948. They lived in San Luis Obispo while Clayton was enrolled at Cal Poly and began their family while living in a small trailer in ``Vetville.''

In 1952, they returned to the San Jacinto Valley where Clayton worked the family dairy and Ella Mae concentrated on raising the family. Her passion was golf which she began pursuing in 1960 at Gilman Hot Springs before becoming an active member of Soboba Springs. She was club champion at both and president of the Woman's Golf Association. She realized her dream of living on a golf course when she joined the Sunrise Country Club in Rancho Mirage where she finally got her hole- in-one. Ella Mae's other interests included photography, obtaining her pilot license, owning a quarter horse, jeeping in the riverbed and serving on several boards of important valley organizations. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Record and her son Clayton ``Claytie'' Record. She is survived by her sons, Mike, Randy, and Keith; daughter, Nanci, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire Record family, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know Ella Mae. Although Ella Mae is gone, the many contributions she made to our community and family will have a lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition of the Operation Recognition Class of 2018. Operation Recognition is a program organized by the Riverside County Office of Education, with assistance from the Riverside County Department of Veteran's Services, that presents diplomas to residents of Riverside County who missed completing high school due to military service in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, or due to internment in WWII Japanese- American relocation camps.

Riverside County's Operation Recognition is modeled after programs implemented in other states. Numerous county offices of education and school districts throughout California operate similar programs. The programs are yet another way to express our appreciation and gratitude for the significant contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans.

The Operation Recognition Class of 2018 includes: Raymond Guzman Casares, U.S. Marine Corps, Korean War; Jerry Kenneth Arnold, U.S. Marine Corps, Korean War; Steve P. Stone, U.S. Army, Vietnam War; ``Ron'' Robert Jackson, U.S. Coast Guard, Korean War; Jack Stanley Griner, U.S. Navy, World War II; Charles John Whatley, U.S. Army, World War II; Pat S. Baca (posthumously), U.S. Army, World War II; Kenneth Bruce Weiner, U.S. Army, Vietnam War.

On behalf of all Riverside County residents and a grateful nation, I want to thank these veterans for their service to our country and congratulate them on being part of the Operation Recognition Class of 2018.