Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, who passed away in California on Monday, December 26, 2016. John served the people of Riverside County in many ways throughout his life and he will be deeply missed.

John started his career in public service at the Corona Police Department. From there, he embarked on 29 years of service with the California Highway Patrol, which culminated with his promotion to commander of the CHP's Indio Station. After serving in law enforcement, John became increasingly active in his community. He was elected to the Desert Sands School Board before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2002. John ultimately served three terms in the Assembly during which time he passed significant legislation, including ``Aryanna's Law'' to enhance the protection of children in daycare centers. In 2009, John was appointed to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to carry out the remaining term of his friend, Supervisor Roy Wilson, who had passed away. Throughout his life, John was a dedicated, effective and passionate advocate for the Coachella Valley and Riverside County.

As a member of the Coachella Valley community, John served in many service organizations, including as past president of both the United Way of the Desert and Indio Rotary. John was an avid pilot, who often flew himself and other legislators up to Sacramento when the Assembly was in session. John and his wife, Sheryl, were married in 1978, and later celebrated the births of their daughter, Sarah, and son, Ben.

I had the distinct privilege of knowing John for many years. I was proud to call him my friend and I will deeply miss him. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Benoit family, his friends, as well as his staff and colleagues. Although John may be gone, the many life-changing contributions he made here 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 the community of Temecula, California are exceptional. Temecula has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated people who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Dan Atwood is one of these individuals. On February 21, 2015, Dan will be honored at the Temecula Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala where he will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

After moving to California in the 1970s, Dan quickly immersed himself into the automotive industry, eventually purchasing his first dealership in 1987. Launching forward from there, Dan opened a second dealership, Temecula Toyota. Dan's business has been a staple of the community which continually keeps pace with the ever-expanding region. In the twenty-five year span that the dealership has been operating, it has always been under the watchful eyes of the Atwood family, even as the dealership has grown to employ over two hundred employees.

Dan has given his time to the community not only as a businessman, but as a dedicated citizen committed to improving and strengthening the Temecula region. He has continually served numerous organizations in order to give back to the community that has always supported his endeavors. The groups that Dan is involved in span from nationally recognized non-profits, such as Habitat for Humanity, to locally started organizations such as the Balloon and Wine Festival. For over ten years,

Dan has also opened his doors to Safe Alternative for Everyone and their highly successful Denim and Diamonds fundraiser, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit victims of domestic abuse. Additionally, the gates of the Atwood Estate Winery, another Atwood venture, are often opened on multiple occasions during the year to host fundraisers benefiting the community. As a firm believer in the future of tomorrow, Dan has worked to never miss a chance to participate in events that benefit the youth of the community. From sponsoring events to providing full-ride college scholarships, to serving as a mentor at the Boys & Girls Club, Dan has invested himself in the future generations of community leaders.

In light of all Dan Atwood has done for the community of Temecula, the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce announced Dan to be their Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Dan's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of Temecula, California. He has been the heart and soul of many community organizations and events and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many local citizens are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the remarkable Douglas Magnon who passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 in California. Doug was a pillar of the community in Riverside, California and he will be deeply missed.

Doug was a man of many passions, most notably was for motor racing. Sparked early on in his childhood through accompanying his father, Raymond, to races at the Riverside International Raceway, Doug was inspired to launch the Riverside International Automotive Museum. By means of his active leadership and profound knowledge of automobiles, the museum quickly received resounding support from the greater racing community that still continues today. The Riverside International Automotive Museum is one of the most highly regarding racing collections in Northern America with its extensive collection of unmatched artifacts and materials from throughout racing history. However, Doug did not stop there. In 2013, with the support and partnership of friend Paul Kinsella, the two opened up Newport Italian, a motorcycle dealership specializing in Vespa, Moto Guzzi and Aprilla.

When not hitting high speeds, Doug could often be found honing his culinary skills and sharing his Italian recipes with the community. In 2012, Doug and his sister opened the family restaurant Magnone Trattoria & Market, for which Doug not only created the menus, but also served as executive chef.

As an avid supporter of the Riverside community, Doug also freely gave his time and talents to many local organizations such as the Riverside County Philharmonic and the University of California, Riverside. In addition to serving as a mentor to young and aspiring individuals, Doug would often inspire anyone he crossed paths through his generous heart and unabashed enthusiasm for life.

Doug was the loving husband to Evonne, son to Raymond and Elaine, brother to Deanna, Cheryl, Patti and Ryan, and devoted uncle to many nieces and nephews. On Sunday, February 15, 2015, a memorial service celebrating Doug's extraordinary life will be held. Doug will always be remembered for his incredible contributions to business, his work ethic, generosity, and love of family. The way in which Doug lived his life should serve as reminder to others that the power of an individual with drive, perseverance and a strong work-ethic can do great things. His dedication to his work, family and community are a testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Doug's family and friends; although Doug may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remains and will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Temecula, California are exceptional. Temecula has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. John Kelliher is one of such individual. On February 21, 2015, John will be honored at the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala where he will receive the Citizen of the Year award.

Grapeline Wine Tours was founded and introduced in Temecula, California by John and his wife, Kim, in June of 2002. The company's reach now spans through Santa Barbara County and Paso Robles. Prior to their inception, Temecula did not offer many options regarding wine tour operators. Grapeline Wine Tours has now grown to become the largest wine tour operator in Southern and Central California, shuttling over 20,000 visitors through the beautiful vineyards of Temecula. John's Grapeline venture has become so successful, the business has announced their upcoming expansion to Northern California, encompassing wine regions in Sonoma.

Over the past ten years, Temecula has now become even more of a destination for travel and tourism as over hundreds of thousands come to visit the region. Much of this can be accredited to promising businesses such as Grapeline Wine Tours that encourage fun-filled experiences in Southwest County.

In the course of Grapeline Wine Tour's progression, John has won a variety of awards and accolades for its success. The business and its founders have won awards including the 2005 Sterling Business of the Year from the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Hospitality Award and Tourism Professional of the Year Award from the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2013. With unmatched depth and experience, Grapeline Wine Tours is sure to be successful in their future endeavors throughout California.

John Kelliher's tireless passion for the Southwest County has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Temecula, California. I am proud to call John a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to California and the City of Temecula are exceptional. Temecula has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Mayor Ronald H. Roberts is one of these individuals. At a celebration on January 27, 2015, Mayor Roberts will be honored as he retires after many years of City Council service to the Temecula community.

About one month after the City of Temecula's incorporation, Ronald began working on the city's first ``Traffic Committee'' in January of 1990. In October of the same year, Ronald was selected to serve on the city's first

Traffic Commission. In November of 1992, Ronald began his service on the Temecula City Council, dedicating his time, talents and efforts to his local community. Throughout his tenure, the main objective of Mayor Roberts was to ensure the quality of life for all Temecula citizens continued to thrive, an objective he continued to champion throughout his twenty two years on City Council. Additionally, during his time as Mayor, he has played a pivotal role in the political landscape of the Temecula community, region and state.

Prior to his work on the City Council, Ronald served his community during his time with the California Highway Patrol, retiring after twenty nine years of valiant service. Ronald also freely gives his leadership and experience to many organizations, serving and chairing many boards at the community, regional, and state levels. These organizations include Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley Board of Directors, Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival, City of Temecula Traffic & Transportation Commission, Western Riverside Council of Government Executive Committee, Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California Association of Governments Transportation & Communications Committee, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Riverside County Transportation Commission Budget & Implementation Committee, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Southern California Regional Rail Authority/Metrolink Operations Oversight Committee, SCAQMD Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure & Services Committee.

As the longest standing City Council Member for the City of Temecula and as a man who has devoted over two decades to this great city, it is only fitting that he be honored as he retires from public service. Mayor Roberts' tireless passion for public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our region and the state and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires and moves onto the next phase of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose commitment and contributions to the City of Murrieta, California are exceptional. Murrieta has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Murrieta Fire Chief, Matt Shobert, is one of these individuals. On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, Matt Shobert will be honored for his devoted and valiant service to the people of Murrieta.

Matt began his firefighting career in Tucson, Arizona, actively working his way to leading the fire department in Sedona, Arizona. He then brought his talent and leadership to the Hemet Fire Department, in which he served as Fire Chief for three years. Matt was then appointed as Murrieta's Fire Chief in March of 2011 in which he enthusiastically served the community for nearly four years.

Chief Shobert holds a Master Degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and an Associate's Degree in Fire Science. In addition, Matt also graduated from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officers' Program, has been accredited three times as a Chief Fire Officer Designee by the Center for Public Safety Excellence and has also been awarded membership into the Institution of Fire Engineers.

Chief Matt Shobert is retiring after incurring a devastating injury while doing what he enjoyed most, keeping the people of Murrieta safe. Throughout his tenure, Fire Chief Matt Shobert continued the distinguished history of the Murrieta Fire Department, working daily to improve the partnership held with the community and by enhancing the strong sense of camaraderie amongst the firefighters in his department.

Fire Chief Matt Shobert has been an excellent public servant who has consistently provided for the safety and well-being of the community of Murrieta. His legacy will serve as a shining example and constant reminder of what it means to be a public servant and I am proud to call Matt a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many are grateful for his service and salute him in his retirement.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the fiscal year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, as well as the amendments that will be offered to put the brakes on President Obama's executive overreach on illegal immigration.

My constituents are depending on the House and the Senate to send a strong message to the White House that their attempt to grant amnesty through executive action is an affront to the democratic process that has served our Nation well for more than 200 years.

The reason people are fleeing from south to north is that this side of the border, we have the rule of law, not men.

I want to thank Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman John Carter, Chairman Hal Rogers, and the rest of my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for putting together a responsible bill that provides the funds for our Homeland Security personnel and the need to carry out their mission.

Specifically, the bill provides significant funding for our Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure both agencies have the ability to stem large flows of illegal immigration like we witnessed last summer in Texas.

Another important tool in tackling illegal immigration is the increased use of E-Verify, which remains the only and best way for employers to confirm that the employees that they hire are in this country legally. The underlying bill contains full funding

for the E-Verify funding and will allow employers to continue to use this program in a free and efficient manner.

When it comes to patrolling our land, air, and sea, Homeland Security officials consistently rely on the awareness and insights that are provided by assets operated by the Air and Marine Operations Center, or AMOC. In fact, AMOC, which is located in Riverside County, California, is the Nation's only Federal law enforcement center tasked to coordinate interdiction operations in the Western Hemisphere.

The FY15 bill fully funds the operations of AMOC and ensures that our law enforcement agencies will continue to benefit from their contributions.

Again, I want to thank Judge Carter for his leadership, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for the FY15 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Keystone XL

Pipeline Act. The legislation would immediately authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline.

My constituents are sick and tired of the delays in approving and building the Keystone pipeline. The recent drop in gas prices highlights the economic benefits of increased energy production right here in North America.

Building the Keystone pipeline will increase access to more North American energy sources and further reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East. For the first time in decades, North American energy independence is within our grasp if we make the critical investments in the necessary infrastructure.

President Obama's opposition to the Keystone pipeline and all of its economic benefits shows just how out of touch he is with middle class working families.

The State Department studied the environmental impacts of the Keystone XL pipeline and concluded that it would not have a negative impact. Furthermore, the State Department found that the Keystone XL pipeline project would support roughly 42,000 jobs. Earlier today, the Nebraska Supreme Court dismissed a key lawsuit challenging the Keystone XL pipeline.

The passage of H.R. 3 is the tenth bill approved by the House of Representatives to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Thankfully, the new Republican majority in the Senate has indicated it will take action on similar legislation next week. I know my constituents and hardworking American families hope we can finally start construction on this economically important project.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Corona, California are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have committed community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Jim Pauly is one of these outstanding individuals. On Thursday, January 15, 2015, Jim Pauly will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Corona Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.

In the history of Corona, California, few individuals can match the years of devoted service Jim has given to his hometown. After attending local schools throughout his childhood, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II at seventeen years old as a senior at Corona High School. Following his service in the Armed Forces, Jim returned to attend Chaffey College. In 1947, Jim began working full time at Emerson's Men Clothes. Due to his strong work ethic and commitment to the business, Jim became a partner, changing the name to Emerson-Pauly Menswear. After thriving for over fifty years in Corona retail, Jim retired and closed the storefront in 1993.

Jim's commitment to the business community is only matched by his devotion to service and leadership. Jim regularly contributes to the community through work on the Charity Solicitation Committee as Vice Chairman of the Downtown Corona Redevelopment Project and as the Chairman of the Corona Parking Authority. Additionally, Jim is involved in several local organizations, frequently offering his guidance. Jim was a member of the 20-30 Club and acted as the president in 1959. As a fifty eight year member of Elks Lodge, Jim served as Lodge Leader in 1959. Jim also holds fifty-five years of membership with the Rotary Club and served as the organization's president in 1965. Finally, in 1966, Jim was appointed to the Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Trustees. Due to his exceptional work, he was elected twice more to continue to build a strong foundation for the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

In light of all Jim has done for the community of Corona, it is clear he fully deserves the Corona Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement award. Jim's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of Corona, California. He has been the heart and soul of many community organizations, and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Corona, California are exceptional. Corona has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Wayne Keith is certainly one of these individuals. On Thursday, January 15, 2015, Wayne will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Corona Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.

Following his graduation from Iowa State College, Wayne took his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, known today as NASA. Following his time there, Wayne then took a position with the Aluminum Company of America, ALCOA, in 1945, where he would remain for forty years. After dedicating his time and efforts to offices in Cleveland, Detroit, New Kensington and Pittsburg, Wayne found his home in Corona where he acted as general manager until his retirement from the plant in 1986.

In addition to his strong work ethic, Wayne also exemplifies what it means to be a volunteer. After moving to Corona in 1969, Wayne immediately involved himself in the growing Corona community in a variety of capacities. Wayne took on many leadership positions with organizations such as the United Way, Corona Rotary Club, Good Samaritan Boys Home, First Congressional Church, Navy League, Peppermint Ridge, YMCA, The Greater Corona Chamber of Commerce, Corona Community Hospital, Norco-Corona Unified School District, California Manufacturer's Association and the Wagner Foundation. Few citizens can match the years of service Wayne has generously donated to the Corona community.

Given all of the contributions Wayne has made, he has received many prestigious honors. In 1975, Wayne was deemed Citizen of the Year by the Corona Chamber of Commerce. Wayne has also been the recipient of other prominent awards such as the Corona Chamber's ``George'' Award, the Corona Community Hospital Volunteers Award, Peppermint Ridge's Golden Hinge Award and the Ira D. Calvert Distinguished Service Award due to his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the Corona community.

In light of all that Wayne has done for the community of Corona, it is clear he fully deserves the Corona Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement award. Wayne's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of Corona, California. He has been the heart and soul of many community organizations, and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill. The Interior provision of the omnibus is well balanced and reflects what can be achieved when all sides work together to find common ground. This bill provides for fiscal year 2015 funding for fire operations at the 10-year average and provides additional resources to conduct critical hazardous fuels reduction work on the ground.

The bill takes positive steps in promoting domestic energy and mineral development both onshore and offshore.

The bill provides essential funding for the National Park Service, which will enhance day-to-day maintenance, visitor services, and responsible stewardship of more than 400 national park units. The bill also provides investments to our national park system as it begins its centennial celebration and prepares for the next 100 years.

This bill continues our efforts in meeting our moral and legal obligations in Indian country and honors longstanding commitments to American Indians and Alaska Natives; the bill promotes voluntary, nonregulatory fish and wildlife conservation programs in partnership with States and tribes; and this bill provides grant funding to States to promote jobs and economic growth.

I want to take a moment to pay tribute to my good friend and our subcommittee's ranking member and former chairman, Jim Moran. This is Mr. Moran's last appropriations bill. I am happy to know that my friend will be leaving this body that he loves on a high note, enthusiastically supporting the work of the Interior Subcommittee.

Jim, we are grateful to you for your service, and we salute you.

I also want to thank Chairman Rogers for his incredible support, leadership, and his role in bringing this omnibus bill forward.

Lastly, I want to thank the scores of Appropriations Committee staff who have been working day and night and weekends on this package for many weeks. They even worked through their Thanksgiving holiday to produce this legislation. The staff of the Appropriations Committee deserves our appreciation and gratitude.

This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support it.

With that, Merry Christmas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside County, California are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Ben Wicke is one of these individuals. On Tuesday, November 25, 2014, Ben was honored for his service with the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors.

For twenty years, Ben has faithfully served his community. After being first elected to the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors in 1994, Ben ran unopposed in 1998 and was selected by the County Board of Supervisors to fulfill a four year term. In 2002, Ben again ran unopposed, and was appointed to carry out another four year term. Throughout his tenure on the Board, Ben's heralded leadership was often called upon, serving as President in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007 and finally, in 2011. In addition, Ben also represented the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors to several community organizations. These include Western Municipal Water District, the Eastern Municipal Water District, the Canyon Lake Water Sub-Committee and the Quail Valley Coalition Corporation.

Due to his combined passions for water and for the residents and communities of Southern California, Ben also volunteers his time throughout the region on additional Boards of Directors. Since 1995, Ben has held a seat on the Meeks and Daley Mutual Water Company Board of Directors, working as its President since 2001. The Association of California Water Agencies Region 9 Board of Directors also utilizes Ben's talents as he represents all of the water agencies in San Bernardino, Imperial, and Riverside counties in the advancement of legislative and regulatory priorities. Ben has always emphasized working with officials throughout the state to develop plans that would effectively manage one of our most important natural resources--water.

In light of all that Ben Wicke has done for the community of Lake Elsinore, it is only fitting that he be honored for his many years of dedicated service. Ben's tireless passion for conservation and public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our community. I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside County, California are exceptional. Riverside County has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Judy Guglielmana is one of these individuals. On Tuesday, November 25, 2014, Judy was honored for her service with the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors.

Judy's passion for Riverside County began long before her service with the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors. After making Lake Elsinore her home in 1972, she enrolled both of her sons in Elsinore schools. Judy then advocated for the Elsinore High School District as the Community Liaison and as a member of the High School Board of Trustees.

In 2006, Judy was first elected to the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors. She extended her leadership in 2008 to hold the position of Board Treasurer and continued her service as Vice President in 2009. Following her reelection in 2010, Judy assumed the role of President in that same year, Board Treasurer in 2013 and finally as Vice President in 2014. Throughout her tenure Judy advocated for the highest quality water through her work on the Legislative, Conservation and Outreach Committee and the Groundwater Advisory Committee. Judy emphasized the importance of providing water and sewer services at the lowest possible rates and strived to maximize water resources through planning, management and conservation.

In light of all that Judy Guglielmana has done for the community of Lake Elsinore, it is only fitting that she be honored for her many years of dedicated service. Judy's tireless passion for conservation and public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our community and I am proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as she moves on to her next challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a group of individuals--heroes--who are receiving the recognition and honor they deserve for their service to our country. Operation Recognition is operated by the Riverside County Office of Education with assistance from the Riverside County Department of Veterans' Services. The program awards high school diplomas to veterans who missed completing high school due to military service in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, or for those who were interned in WWII Japanese-American relocation camps.

A recognition ceremony was held on November 12, 2014, for the following individuals who received their high school diplomas through Operation Recognition:

Salvatore Joseph Amata; Joe Aviles; Gerald L. Blokzyl; Gary Howard Crone; Manuel R. Espudo; Phillip A. Klock; Henry J. LaPointe; Steven Phillip Netter; Joe Earl Pruett, Rudolfo B. Ramirez; Adam Henry Ruelas; Juan Serrano; Muhammad Shamsid-Deen; TL Shelton; Philip W. Walker; Robert S. Wible and George L. Zankl.

Our country owes a debt of gratitude to all the above recipients for their service and sacrifice. I salute all of these individuals and congratulate them on receiving their high school diploma.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Congressman Mark Takano, to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community are exceptional. Riverside, California has been fortunate to have dynamic and committed leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Charles Field is certainly one of these individuals. Charles' wide ranging accomplishments have made a permanent mark on Riverside. On September 17, 2014, Charles will be stepping down from the Western Municipal Water District Board of Directors after seven remarkable years of service.

During Charles' time with the Western Municipal Water District Board, he enthusiastically gave his talents to a variety of positions, including President, Vice President and Secretary. Additionally, Charles represented the Western Municipal Water District through distinguished leadership on the Chino Desalter Authority and on the Chino Basin Watermaster Board as well as serving on additional Western Municipal Water District and regional committees during his tenure.

Charles' dedication to civic service was matched by his passion in the legal field. Prior to joining the Western Municipal Water District Board of Directors, Mr. Field spent more than forty years in the various legal capacities, serving as a judge at the Riverside County Superior Court from 1990 to 2004 and also as a partner at the Riverside law firm Best, Best and Krieger.

It is hard to imagine that Charles would have any free time on his hands, yet he always found time to further support the community and the lives of those around him. The variety of organizations Charles gave his efforts to include the Riverside Arts Council, the Riverside County Barristers, the Mission Inn Foundation Board, the Historic Committee for Riverside Superior Court, the Press-Enterprise Board of Directors, the Board of Regents of the University of California, and the UCR Alumni Association.

For all that he has done, it is no surprise that Charles has been the recipient of numerous community awards. His dedicated civic leadership, service and support of the Riverside community were honored with the prestigious Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award. Charles, along with his wife, Virginia, also received the Lifetime Achievement Award for their devoted community involvement from Riverside's Mayor's Commission on Aging.

Charles' unparalleled commitment and tireless passion for public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the Riverside community. We are proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many individuals are grateful for his service and we salute him as he steps down and embarks on a new chapter.