Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the management of our vast amount of Federal lands in our West is a complex challenge that requires the constant attention of our Federal agencies and Congress.

The legislation before the House today, H.R. 3006, would transfer 40 acres of privately-owned land to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona, and in exchange, the Federal Government would transfer 80 acres of isolated Bureau of Land Management land into private ownership. The 80

acres of land being transferred by the BLM was identified for disposal in the 2010 Resource Management Plan by the Yuma Field Office.

Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM, in addition to the private landowner, support the exchange as proposed by my legislation.

Both land transfers will be subject to valid existing rights, rights- of-way, utility lines, and any valid encumbrances on the land as of the date of the conveyance. As was mentioned, furthermore, the value of the lands to be exchanged will be equalized so the Federal Government will not incur any expenses resulting from this exchange. The legislation represents a net reduction of lands managed by the Federal Government.

The congressional coalition supporting this bill speaks for itself. Its sponsor and three original cosponsors include one Republican and one Democrat from California, as well as one Republican and one Democrat from Arizona.

I am pleased that the House will be taking action on this bill, H.R. 3006, today, and I would encourage all my colleagues to support this commonsense measure.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings and the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop for their continued leadership on public lands issues that are especially critical to those of us from the West.

I thank my friend from Arizona for leading his side on this bill and look forward to its passage.

Madam Speaker, there is a clear sense in my district, and I believe around the country, that the constant expansion of the Federal Government and its bureaucratic red tape is holding back our economy.

One the worst offenders of government is the overreach of the EPA. The proposed rule they jointly released

with the Army Corps attempts to regulate waters that were never intended to be covered under the Clean Water Act, and would grant them authority over streams on land even when the water beds have been dry, in some cases, for hundreds of years. This is a serious threat to both private property rights and our economy.

As the chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I have worked along with our subcommittee members to try to rein in EPA's regulatory overreach.

The fiscal year 2015 bill prohibits the EPA from changing the definition of navigable waters. It is absolutely critical that we uphold the Federal-State partnership and prevent the administration from finalizing a rule that results in the biggest land grab in the history of our country.

So we need to support this rule to bring this important legislation to the floor. And I certainly hope that all the Members will support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Darrell G. Rice, a dedicated firefighter, community member and friend who passed away on April 22, 2014. As a pillar of the community, he will be deeply missed.

By the nature of their jobs, firefighters must be committed individuals willing to put their lives in harm's way for the safety of their communities and for the protection of life and property for those surrounding them. Darrell Rice not only fulfilled these responsibilities, but often went above and beyond the call of duty throughout his twenty-two years of service. Darrell took on the challenges of this position with full knowledge of the inherent dangers he would have to face daily. This willingness to accept a responsibility of such magnitude speaks to Darrell's courage and dedication.

Day in and day out, Darrell faithfully represented his department and acted as a refreshing inspiration to all who surrounded him. As a strong believer in teamwork, Darrell would continually provide encouragement to all staff. Darrell was successful in spreading this sentiment throughout the community as well during his time in his final assignment as an inspector. Working with the Fire Prevention Division's Petroleum Chemical Unit, Darrell worked with businesses to ensure their safety for the public, and understood the responsibility of his job.

As such a dedicated individual, Darrell will always be remembered for his incredible work ethic and charismatic leadership. I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to Darrell's family and friends, most especially to his wife, Phyllis, and his daughter, Candace, of Corona, California. Although Darrell may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the community remains and will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Pam Haze, an individual whose dedication and contribution to public service is exceptional. Her extensive experience and knowledge have been a great benefit to the Department of the Interior, Congress, and the American people. Pam will soon be retiring from the Department of the Interior after 34 years of federal service.

Pam has tirelessly dedicated herself to public service, committing her career to a wide range of positions. Currently, Pam is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Budget, Finance, Performance and Acquisition at the Department of the Interior, a position she was appointed to in October of 2009. It is in this current position that Pam has been responsible for the oversight and management of the Department's programs and policies in budget; finance; acquisition and property management; performance management; and small and disadvantaged business.

Pam has been an invaluable resource to me and my staff on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Whether she is testifying before our committee, or responding to a myriad of questions on behalf of the Department, Pam has been a key liaison between the Appropriations Committee and the Department. Pam is that rare individual who focuses on solving problems when faced with even the most challenging circumstances. She has earned the admiration and respect of Republicans and Democrats alike for her knowledge of the issues and ability to arrive at solutions considered fair and reasonable by all sides.

Pursuing her interests in the environment, Pam received both an undergraduate degree in wildlife biology and a graduate degree in environmental science and ecology from George Mason University. Pam took her passion with her to the Department of Interior, where she has spent the majority of her federal career within Interior bureaus, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management and the former Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. It was in these Interior agencies that Pam was able to effectively lead as a planner, hydrologist, field biologist, contaminant biologist, program analyst, administrator, budget analyst and manager.

Prior to her current service as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Budget, Finance, Performance and Acquisition, Pam spent time as the Deputy Director and Co-Director of the Office of the Budget from 1999 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2009 as the director of the Department's Office of Budget. Pam also has a great depth of experience with other federal agencies, such as the Small Business Administration and the Office of the Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System in which she played a critical role in successfully facilitating the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline. In addition, Pam has also previously devoted her time and knowledge to Cambridge Scientific Abstracts.

For her many years of public service, Pam deserves our thanks and praise. Her tireless

passion for service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our nation. Through her broad range of roles in our government, she has spent her working life in the service of others, and this merits my most sincere gratitude. I ask that the House join me in wishing Pam the best as she begins the next chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of the Inland Empire are exceptional. My district has been fortunate to have dynamic and devoted community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to live and work. Dan Walters is one of these individuals. Today I would like to recognize Dan Walters, who will be retiring from the position of District Director of The National Exchange Club after fifteen years of continuous volunteer service to the California and Nevada districts.

The National Exchange Club holds three core values dear to their mission of service: a commitment to family, a commitment to the community, and a commitment to country. Dan has embodied these three attributes during his fifteen years of service to his organization, and as a dynamic and effective leader, he has encouraged many others to do so as well.

Some of Dan's primary work with the National Exchange Club has involved working to prevent child abuse through education and fundraising activities nationwide. Among other important roles, The National Exchange Club recognizes those who uphold the ideals and institutions of their community; including law enforcement and fire department officers, school teachers, and students of the month, to name a few. Dan and his organization have also championed the installation of Freedom

Shrines in our junior and senior high schools nationwide. These Shrines serve to inspire our nation's youth and are just another example of Dan's, and The National Exchange Club's, commitment to strengthening America's civic society and promoting American patriotism.

Dan's tireless efforts have not gone by unnoticed. In 2010, Dan was awarded the high honor of the National Exchange Club's Lifetime Achievement Award. Throughout his tenure with the National Exchange Club, Dan also received additional awards and letters of commendation from the National Exchange Club's Directors and District Executive Directors for his dedication to making our communities better places to live.

Dan's passion and dedication to the Exchange Club's efforts have been, and will continue to be, an inspiration throughout the community. He has been the heart and soul of many projects within our region and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American, and friend. I know that many in our region are grateful for his service and I congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to James Pitts, who passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2014. As one of the key researchers in understanding the dangers and repercussions of air pollution, his contribution to the state of California, and the world, will not be forgotten. James will be truly missed, as a dynamic and passionate advocate, educator, mentor and friend.

Six months after James was born in Salt Lake City on January 10, 1921 to Ester and James N. Pitts, the family moved to Los Angeles. It was not until James' studies in high school at Manual Arts High School that he found his passion for chemistry. He took this enthusiasm for science to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated with a bachelor's in chemistry in 1945 and a doctorate in chemistry in 1949. Following his graduation, James' passion for teaching began to take shape. In 1954, James began as a founding professor at the University of California, Riverside, focusing his research on fundamental photochemistry. James led the efforts to establish the Statewide Air Pollution Research Center at the University of California, Riverside and served successfully as its director for eighteen years.

James began his air pollution research in the 1950s during a time when the nature and dangers of smog were still unknown. Through James' findings, he was able to influence groundbreaking Southern California air policy and clean air regulations that drastically improved the state's environmental health, and the health of California residents. The research carried out by his team provided much of the scientific basis of California's forward-thinking policies and regulations which have been widely adopted both nationally and internationally. Throughout his tenure, James also managed to find time to co-author nearly four hundred scientific works, and became such an authority in the scientific world that he was constantly visited by scientists, politicians and international leaders from around the globe. His extensive work in this field earned him numerous accolades from the United States Congress, the California State Assembly, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the State Air Resources Board, and the Coalition for Clean Air.

James Pitts was an energetic advocate who made a true difference in the state of California and through his efforts, he ultimately impacted the world for the better. As an educator at both University of California, Riverside and University of California, Irvine, his enthusiasm for chemistry was contagious. James instilled many of his students with an unrelenting desire to improve the environment and prepared these future generations of scientists to better the world for many years to come.

James will always be remembered for his incredible work ethic, generosity, contributions to the community, and love of family. James will also be remembered for his love of the outdoors. James took advantage of everything the environment had to offer, which was clearly reflected in his life's work. James is survived by his second wife, Barbara Finlayson-Pitts and his three daughters from a previous marriage, Linda Lee, Christie Hoffman, and Beckie St. George as well as his former wife, Nancy, six grandchildren and their families. I extend my condolences to James' family and friends; although James may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remain and will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an organization whose dedication and contributions to the Southern California community are exceptional. For the past 40 years, Guide Dogs of the Desert have tirelessly committed themselves to the service of the legally blind community. We have all heard the age-old adage, ``a dog is a man's best friend,'' but a guide dog is so much more than a best friend. Guide dogs are essential to the legally blind in ways that are simple, such as crossing the street to go grocery shopping, and ways that can be more complex, like airplane travel. These dogs dedicate their lives so that the blind may see, and in light of all they have done for the community, I would like to recognize these faithful and dutiful animals as well as their equally devoted trainers and volunteers at Guide Dogs of the Desert.

Founded in 1972, Guide Dogs of the Desert was built on the premise that every legally blind person should have the opportunity to adopt a guide dog, regardless of the depths of their hardship. This dream could only be made into a reality because of the amazing volunteers that give their time and effort to this organization's mission. These volunteers selflessly provide love, food, shelter, discipline and socialization to puppies that are just beginning on their journey toward guide dog graduation. The fingerprints of these individuals are found at every juncture of this organization. Among many other responsibilities, these volunteers take in 12 week-old puppies, assist with student interaction to increase awareness in the community, and complete the basic office tasks that allow Guide Dogs of the Desert to run smoothly. These individuals go above and beyond the call of duty to help those visually impaired come one step closer to independence and today they deserve commendation.

While many of us know the pleasure of canine companionship and loyalty from our family pet, we cannot appreciate the complexity of the relationship that develops between a visually impaired person and their guide dog. These dogs help these individuals in such a wide variety of ways, and their service enriches these lives powerfully, improving their daily quality of life. With over 1,000 dogs trained, many of these success stories may be found scattered throughout the Nation.

The organization's tireless passion for service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the visually impaired community. Although there are many schools, Guide Dogs of the Desert is one of the most exceptional. As one guide dog recipient stated, ``Frankly, all of the schools do an adequate job in developing extraordinary animals, but only Guide Dogs of the Desert adapts the training according to the very special needs of the people with multiple disabilities, veterans and even difficult cases like mine.'' I am certain that many more individuals and families are grateful for the guide dogs, the volunteers, and the organization itself for all of their services and I salute their efforts moving forward into their fourth decade of dedicated assistance.

Mr. Chair, today I was proud to vote to approve H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015. The NDAA is the key mechanism to provide necessary authorities and funding for America's military.

Even in an era of constrained taxpayer resources, it is essential that we find ways to ensure our military has the funding necessary to carry out its mission. The FY15 NDAA provides a responsible fiscal balance and prioritizes the critical tools our troops need to maintain and perform as the finest fighting force in the world. The bill also provides our warfighters, and their families, with the support and care that we have promised them.

One area that was minimally addressed was the size and growth of the civilian workforce at the Department of Defense (DoD). The NDAA tasks GAO to assess DoD's headquarter reduction efforts, building off its previous work conducted for the committee on examining growth in DOD headquarters. However, I believe Congress must go a step further in addressing the growth of the civilian workforce, especially as we draw down our uniformed personnel. It is important to note that:

From FY01 to FY14, the civilian staff has grown by 15 percent while total active military has declined by 4 percent;

The ratio of civilian workers to uniformed personnel is the highest in recent history despite the draw down in Iraq and Afghanistan;

There are currently 718,000 civilian personnel versus 1.3 million active duty, a ratio that is out of balance.

This imbalance is why I introduced the Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniform and Civilian Employees Act (REDUCE Act, H.R. 4257). The REDUCE Act would require the Department of Defense to make necessary reductions in a systematic manner without compromising our ability to maintain a strong national defense over the long term.

The REDUCE Act would:

Reduce our defense civilian workforce by 15 percent by FY 2020. This percentage was recommended by the Defense Business Board, a trusted, authoritative, and independent source of expertise.

The Department of Defense civilian workforce would remain at or below this established cap of a 15 percent reduction for Fiscal Years 2021 through 2025.

The Department of Defense civilian Senior Executive Service career appointee workforce will be reduced to 1,000 by 2020 and remain at or below 1,000 employees for Fiscal Years 2021 through 2025.

Provide the Secretary of Defense the authority to use voluntary separation incentive

payments and voluntary early retirement payments in order to achieve the required reductions in personnel.

Provide the Secretary of Defense the authority to assign greater weight to the performance factor, rather than other factors such as tenure, in a Reduction in Force.

There is no doubt that our DoD civilian workers play a vital role in numerous positions including logistics, acquisition, personnel management, and more. The mission of the civilian workforce at DoD is to support our uniformed personnel and their missions around the world. However, as we draw down our uniformed personnel, it makes no sense to not make commensurate reductions to the civilian workforce--a practice that has occurred in previous drawdowns.

As Members of Congress, we should not let parochial interests prevent us from doing what is right for the country. Simply stated, it is inconceivable, defies logic and tramples the lessons of experience that a federal civilian job, once created, must live on forever. If our uniformed services are being reduced because the wars are ending, then a significant portion of the civilian jobs created to support those warfighters should be eliminated--not become contractor positions. Those jobs must be eliminated and done so at the legislative mandate of the Congress and at the executive discretion of the Secretary of Defense.

In closing, I would like to mention that this was the last NDAA brought to the House floor by my good friend and the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon (CA-25). I want to thank Chairman McKeon for all of the hard work and dedication he has demonstrated on behalf of our troops and their families throughout his service here in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Marlan Bourns, who passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Marlan was a pillar of the community in Riverside County and he will be deeply missed.

Marlan was born May 28, 1920, not far from Milford, Michigan, to Frank and Bernice Bourns and was raised from humble beginnings. He grew up in the same home his mother was raised in, which stood on 40 acres of farmland. Marlan was enrolled in the local school, Picket School, which only consisted of one room, but provided him with a quality education. While growing up, Marlan took on many jobs on the farm including counting sheep, collecting eggs from the hen coup, and bringing in water from the well. Marlan also developed an interest in the technical fields and started reading the magazine Popular Mechanics at a young age.

This interest quickly manifested itself into a passion and a hobby. Marlan took the technical knowledge he gained through reading and began building things by himself. He built a shooting gallery to practice his BB gun shot, a small working submarine, and eventually two working automobiles that could fit full-sized adults. Marlan also took up an interest in musical performance, and developed a knack for playing the saxophone during his high school years. He also honed his skills playing the clarinet and piano and created both a band and a lucrative business by playing his instruments at weddings. Soon, Marlan would go on to graduate high school with a perfect record and earned a spot at the University of Michigan where he would graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Physics and a lifetime membership with the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. Throughout his time in high school and as an undergraduate, Marlan's interest in technology was manifested during his shop classes and he was known for being able to convert innovative ideas into hardware.

Marlan also met the love of his life, Rosemary, during his time at the University of Michigan, whom he would marry in her parent's living room shortly after she graduated from the same university in 1947. After being selected for a top secret U.S. Navy program at the California Institute of Technology, which was instrumental in the development of the Manhattan Project, Marlan and his new bride made the cross-country trek to California with the help of her parents. The couple purchased an older home in Altadena, California, and started Bourns Laboratories, which recently celebrated its 65th Anniversary, in their single car garage.

Rosemary ran the business side of the operation and Marlan was the innovator, and together, they made an unstoppable team. The Bourns family worked diligently making and testing products with what little resources they had. With the creation of one successful prototype, made out of a Whitman's candy box, they earned a massive contract with Consolidated Vultee in San Diego for many of their projects including linear motion potentiometers, vane transducers, accelerometers and bourdon tube pressure transducers. Though the company would rapidly grow over the coming years, Rosemary and Marlan remained very personally involved in its development and made sure to establish relationships with their employees. They built manufacturing plants for their products all over the world, and found a passion for traveling as they regularly visited them.

Marlan, who holds over 100 patents to his name, was often honored throughout his career for his significant contributions to growth of the electronic components industry. He was

honored as the ``Fellow of the Bourns College of Engineering'' by the college he helped establish at University of California, Riverside. He and Rosemary were also honored as Sensors Magazine's 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and as Cal State University, San Bernardino's recipients of the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Marlan is survived by his son Gordon; daughters Linda Hill, Anita Macbeth and Denise Moyles; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who will fondly remember his sense of humor and compassion for others.

Marlan will always be remembered for his incredible contributions to business, his work ethic, generosity, and love of family. His dedication to his work and community is a testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Marlan's family and friends; although Marlan may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remain and will never be forgotten.

Mr. Chair, a number of political pundits have asked why House Republicans are advancing a budget this year considering the House and Senate have already agreed upon a top-level budgetary baseline for the upcoming fiscal year. Apparently, Senate Democrats agree with these pundits and have announced that they will not produce a budget. Clearly, these pundits and Senate Democrats have been in Washington for far too long.

The American people did not send us to Congress to look for shortcuts and to find the easy way out. Last year's budget agreement did not magically solve our fiscal challenges, so we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Thankfully, under the leadership of Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, House Republicans are doing just that. Our budget makes the tough decisions necessary to grow our economy by curbing the growth of federal spending and making critical reforms to our entitlement programs.

Critics of the Republican budget call our spending cuts draconian. On the current path, spending will grow, on average, by 5.2 percent a year over the next decade. Under this budget, spending will grow, on average, by 3.5 percent a year. That's not austerity, that's responsibility.

Our budget does cut $5.1 trillion in spending and balances over the next ten years--without raising taxes. On the other hand, the Democrat's budget raises taxes by $1.8 trillion, increases spending by $740 billion more than current policy, while growing our annual deficit to $637 billion in 2024.

While the differences between our budgetary priorities are clear, it is essential that both sides of the aisle work together and build upon last year's budget agreement. Moving back to regular order of approving a budget and advancing the annual individual appropriations bills is the best form of governance possible. Every year, our federal agencies and programs need to be closely examined so that we can remove any waste, fraud, abuse or inefficiencies.

Mr. Chair, the budget before us is an important step towards establishing a responsible fiscal foundation for the next fiscal year as well as the years to come. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Budget Committee and Appropriations Committee in executing the vision and priorities laid out in this budget.

I once again want to thank Chairman Ryan for his thoughtful, dedicated work on this budget, which will be his last as Chairman, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside, CA are exceptional. Riverside 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. Brigadier General Stanford ``Stan'' E. Brown, USAF, (Ret) is one of these individuals. On March 27, 2014, Stan will be honored as the 2013 ``Citizen of the Year'' at the Riverside Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.

On December 25, 1928, Stan was born in the college town of Champaign, Illinois, to Rose Marie and Gilbert Brown. Stan grew up watching his father establish a successful career as a police officer, and listening to stories of his mother's family emigrating from Sicily. Times were tough and the Great Depression had hit the family living on one income hard. Stan's natural entrepreneurial spirit proved useful, and the family was able to survive on the income generated by the chicken coup he set up in their basement and the lush garden in their backyard. His athletic nature eventually earned him a baseball scholarship to serve as starting pitcher at the University of Illinois.

Though his passion for America's greatest pastime was strong and could have turned into a career, Stan felt a greater calling to serve his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He left his sweetheart, Beverly, behind, but would come back shortly thereafter to marry her. Stan's natural leadership ability was noticed within the Air Force, and afforded him the opportunity to move up very quickly in the enlisted ranks. After earning an officer's commission, Beverly, Stan, and their three boys Stan Jr., Bradley, and Gilbert, took up military life as they moved frequently from base to base. A successful application for pilot's school would eventually send him all over the world and up the chain of command. He experienced many an adventure: from flying reconnaissance jet missions over the Soviet Union, to a combat tour doing classified missions in Vietnam.

In July 1973, Stan and his family would be transferred to a brand new terrain, sunny Southern California at March Air Force Base (March AFB). By August 1975, he had excelled in many positions, and eventually earned one of the top jobs on site, Wing Commander. Though he had lived all over the country, Stan had never quite experienced anything like the camaraderie at March AFB. During his time there, he was credited with starting the Airman's Picnic, the Riverside Trophy Dinner, leading the 22nd Bombardment Wing to become one of the most prestigious in the Strategic Air Command, and establishing the land space that would eventually become the Riverside National Cemetery. He had formed invaluable friendships with individuals who provided him counsel throughout his time at his next assignment serving at the Pentagon and over his many years with the Strategic Air Command.

Though he was transferred to the Pentagon 1977, Stan could never seem to get the Inland Empire off of his mind after leaving behind many friends and family members. With hard work and dedication, Stan achieved the rank of Brigadier General in a matter of two years. A multitude of assignments came his way, until four years later he finally retired from the service as commander of the Defense Nuclear Agency at Kirtland AFB, N.M. With his retirement from the service came a new opportunity to serve as Vice President of Northrop Corp, an experience that eventually gave him the skills necessary to start his own defense company in Southern California.

After quite a ride, Stan made the decision to officially retire in Riverside where his wife Beverly continued to fight cancer; sadly, a battle she would lose in 2002. Despite this, Stan had grown to love the community and became even more involved projects throughout the Inland Empire. He began planning of the Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside National Cemetery, which led him to become the founder of the cemetery's Monuments and Memorial Committee established to make decisions regarding future memorials. Because of his clear leadership, Stan was appointed by the National Cemetery Administration to its Advisory Committee on Monuments and Memorials in 2004, which allowed him to assist other cemeteries throughout the nation in developing their programs and planning boards.

Stan's experience created a need for his involvement in development for the March Joint Powers Authority. He also earned appointment to the Riverside Planning Commission in 2003, where he served two terms, would keep him actively involved in the community. Currently, Stan chairs an advisory committee aimed at establishing a U.S. Veteran Initiative at March Air Reserve Base, which would provide job training to U.S. Veterans.

Stan is most known as an effective leader with a natural ability to organize the efforts and goodwill of others. He proudly served his country with the love and support of his family, and went on to contribute to the character of the Inland Empire as a keen businessman. Considering all that Stan has done for Riverside, the Riverside Chamber of Commerce named him their 2013 Citizen of the Year. Stan's tireless passion for service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our country and community. He has been an inspiration to many 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 a dear friend of mine, Jorge Pavez. Jorge passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Riverside County has been fortunate to have community members whose personal stories have contributed immensely to the rich history of Southern California. Jorge Pavez was one of these individuals. He was truly the definition of the American Dream fulfilled and served as an incredible inspiration to those around him. A resident of Corona for over 40 years, Jorge was a pillar of the community and will be deeply missed.

The story of Jorge's incredible life began in 1963 when he boarded a plane in his home nation of Chile, with a one way ticket to Miami. He wasn't sure what the United States of America would hold for him, but was ready to tackle any challenge that came his way. With only $150 in his pocket upon arrival, success proved distant. He struggled without any knowledge of the English language and just a small bed at the local YMCA that ran him $5 a night. After a series of unfortunate events, Jorge decided to head west to California by driving a Buick convertible there for its owner.

Jorge, who was still learning English and developing his skills, was not discouraged by the tough job market, and eventually landed a job as a parking attendant in Santa Monica. He was soon transferred to another parking lot, and the move proved to be a testament to fate, when he met his future wife, Joyce, who worked in management there. She became responsible for helping him learn English when she gave him a book to assist in the process. With the love and support of Joyce, proven hard work at the parking lot, and a new knowledge of the English language, a neighborhood insurance agent took notice of Jorge's natural work ethic and decided to give him a chance with a job. Insurance was not an industry Jorge had come to know while growing up in South America, so while he was initially skeptical, he ultimately proved to be a natural at selling policies after a few short weeks of getting accustomed to the nature of the business.

Following a tragic event in the community where an insurance policy had a real impact, Jorge became a believer in the industry and developed a passion for the craft. This would ultimately be the beginning of a long and successful career. After starting his own agency, CPI Financial & Insurance Services, in two locations and acquiring another agency all within a matter of 10 years, Jorge became one of the preeminent insurance agents in the Inland Empire.

Through all of his success, Jorge remained committed to helping others fulfill their ``American Dream.'' By promoting employment opportunities within his insurance companies, he has been able to help others looking for a chance to achieve their own form of success. From moving to the country virtually penniless, to being responsible for creating economic growth for many in the Inland Empire, Jorge proved that it is possible to accomplish your goals with a lot of hard work and dedication. On March 14, 2014, Jorge would have celebrated his 50th Anniversary in the United States of America.

On March 20, 2014, a memorial honoring Jorge's extraordinary life will be held. He is survived by his loving wife and children. Jorge will always be remembered for his incredible work ethic, generosity, contributions to the community and love of family. His dedication is a testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Jorge's family and friends; although Jorge may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remain and will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a man who has dedicated 50 years of his life in the service of the State of California and to the United States of America. I say with the utmost sincerity there are few who have contributed more to the understanding and development of the challenging and dangerous discipline of wildland firefighting as Thomas A. Sherman. Riverside County is fortunate to have enjoyed the leadership and experience that Tom Sherman has provided. On March 8, 2014, he will formally retire from the Bureau of Land Management Fire Service as Division Chief of California Desert District Fire and Aviation. In total, Tom has served in multiple capacities of the fire service at the county, state, and federal level.

The roots of Tom's service go back generations when the Sherman (Schermarm) Family left Germany in the late 1800s to become some of the first settlers of the San Jacinto Mountains. Many years later, Tom was born in Upland, California on July 6, 1946 to Jack and Georgette Sherman. He spent a great deal of his youth in the Santa Ana Canyon learning from his grandfather and attending elementary school in Corona. He began what would become a long and thriving career in firefighting in 1963 as a Seasonal Firefighter with the California Division of Forestry (CDF) in Corona. After graduating from Blythe High School in 1965, he worked as a Firefighter with CDF in San Jacinto, California until 1966.

In September of 1966, Tom answered his nation's call and was drafted into the U.S. Army. He attended basic training at Fort Ord, California and was subsequently sent to Vietnam in 1967 as a soldier with the 1st Battalion, 84th Artillery of the 9th Infantry Division. His potential was recognized by his superiors with a promotion to Sergeant and gun- crew NCO in charge. He and his battalion earned two Presidential Unit Citations for their gallant service. Tom returned to the United States in March of 1968 and took the knowledge learned in Vietnam to train new artillery soldiers at the Artillery School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He was honorably discharged from the Army in June of 1968 as a Specialist 5th Class. Tom returned to California and immediately resumed his job at CDF as a Firefighter in Orange County

Tom's natural leadership led to the initiation of numerous firefighting programs that exist to this day. He designed the Riverside County Fire Department emblem, which was formally adopted in 1976 and is still used. That same year while buying guitar strings at the Corona Music Center he met MaryAnn Colapinto. Not long after they were walking down the aisle to be married.

As the 1970s progressed, he was appointed the first Fire Captain in the Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD). In that capacity he further revolutionized wildland fire response through the development of rapidly deployable hand-crews and a state-recognized crew relief driver program. His vast experience led the transformation of obsolete fire trucks into ``Brush Engines'' specifically designed for the unique terrain of Southern California. In 1985

he was recognized as a California State Certified Fire Captain for the impacts made across the county and state. Tom continued to advocate issues at the RCFD as both the President of the Riverside County Volunteer Fire Association and Vice President of the Riverside County Fire Chiefs Association.

In the mid-1990s Tom expanded his influence when he was hired by the US Forest Service. There he was promoted to the position of Fire Crew manager for the Cleveland National Forest's Hotshot Crew. He transitioned to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a seasonal Fire Prevention Technician at the Barstow District, Apple Valley Fire Center. His leadership was soon recognized, and he was promoted to Battalion Chief and permanent Fire Prevention Officer for Palm Springs and South Coast Regions. In 2003 was promoted to Division Chief and filled the position of California Desert District Fire Operations Supervisor. There, he was responsible for training, equipping, and standardizing engine crews, thus increasing professionalism of the teams and interoperability throughout the district. Most recently, Tom has acted as California Desert District Fire and Aviation Manager, where he enhanced interagency cooperation throughout the State of California, formalized federal air support to fire, and reinforced the reputation of BLM as a viable firefighting service.

Today, Tom and MaryAnn reside in Corona, where MaryAnn is a Librarian of 25 years at Jefferson Elementary and a member of the Corona Library Board of Trustees. Tom has also been a member of the Elks Club and supports veterans issues as an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Their son, Tom began following his father's footsteps as a volunteer firefighter until he entered the United States Air Force Academy in 1991. He is currently a Colonel-Select in the United States Air Force's Security Forces and a student at the National War College at Ft McNair. Their daughter, Nancy, is a Global Clinical Research Program Manager at City of Hope in Pasadena, California.

Throughout his career, Tom's unending love for the fire service created a drive that never ceased to encourage those around him. Fortunately, his legacy will live on through the countless firefighters he has mentored. I am proud to honor such a tremendous member of our community. Passion of this level is rare, but it is the standard that Tom has set for his family, his fellow firefighters, and his community members. I believe I speak for the countless individuals who have benefited from Tom's service when I thank him for the contributions he has made and salute him as he retires after 50 years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a dear friend of mine, Walter Ehlers. Walter passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2014. A long time resident of California, he was a pillar of the community and he will be deeply missed.

Walter was born May 7, 1921, in Junction City, Kansas, and was raised from humble beginnings. While growing up, Walter spent many long, but rewarding days on the farm. This quickly changed when news of World War II broke and both Walter and his brother, Roland, decided that they wanted to join the Army and serve their country. The fact that Walter was underage at the time of his decision proved difficult, but after receiving special permission from his parents, the Ehlers brothers set out in 1940 to serve in the same unit. Their duty spanned from Sicily to North Africa, and became more intense as the war moved along. As what would become known as ``D-Day'' approached, Walter, 23, and his brother were split up into different units in an effort to better chances that at least one of them would survive the bloody attack.

The morning of June 6, 1944, Walter, a squad leader and staff sergeant, was tasked with getting his 12 men safely through the danger zone on Normandy Beach and move inland in order to fulfill their mission of collecting data on German troop activities. He and his squad survived several rounds of heavy fire as they moved along and Walter's guidance to ``run for cover'' proved successful time and time again. On June 10, 1944, Walter's squad came under such extreme fire that the company commander ordered a withdrawal. Walter knew that in order to get his

squad out of trouble, he would have to distract the enemy. He and another soldier began shooting at opposition forces as to draw fire onto themselves while the rest of the squad snuck away. An enemy sniper managed to shoot Walter in the back that fateful morning, but he still found a way to ensure that he and his fellow soldier, who had been more seriously injured, made it to safety. Because of his efforts and quick thinking, countless Allied soldiers' lives were saved that day. D-Day became a day that would live on as a costly success for all Americans, and especially for Walter, when he found that his brother had not survived.

After the war, Walter returned to Kansas for a short time before permanently moving out west to California. He had always dreamed of making it big in Hollywood and acting in movies. Though he did earn one movie credit staring as West Point Cadet Mike Shannon in the 1955 film, ``The Long Gray Line,'' his desire to serve within the community quickly became his top priority. Walter accepted a job as a benefits counselor at the Veterans Administration soon after and went on to help his fellow veterans in any way that he could for many years to come.

It is no surprise that Walter became very decorated over the years considering the immense service he committed to the United States. He was the recipient of a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart for the injuries he sustained in combat, and the nation's highest military award, a Medal of Honor. Throughout his life Walter was highly sought after to attend speaking engagements, and also spoke to President Clinton and Queen Elizabeth II of England during the 50th Anniversary of D-Day in France. He even found himself with an invitation to every presidential inauguration since Dwight D. Eisenhower's. Walter's legacy will live on in the form of the Walter D. Ehlers Community Center in Buena Park, an action figure made in his likeness, and the street named after him in Manhattan, Kansas.

Walter is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; daughters, Cathy Metcalf and Tracy Kilpatrick; son, Walter Jr.; sisters, Leona Porter, Marjorie Justin and Gloria Salberg; 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

On Saturday, March 8, 2014, a memorial service honoring Walter's life will be held. Walter will always be remembered for his incredible leadership, service to our country, fearlessness, contributions to the community and love of family. His dedication to everything he did is truly a testament to a life lived well and a legacy that will continue. I extend my condolences to Walter's family and friends; although Walter may be gone, the light and goodness he brought to the world remain 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 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. Terry Gilmore is one of these individuals. On February 22, 2014, Terry was honored as the 2013 ``Citizen of the Year'' award recipient at the Temecula Chamber of Commerce Installation and Awards Gala.

Terry was born and raised in the thriving city of St. Louis, Missouri, as one of four children to parents with a blue collar background. Like them, Terry never went on to attend college, but instead gained his keen business sense from working at a bowling alley starting at a very young age. Terry developed his love for the sport of bowling while clearing out the pins at the back of the lanes and often earned free games as payment. As a youth, Terry became one of the top 10 amateur bowlers in the country.

The joy Terry found in bowling was put on hold when he received a draft card for Vietnam in 1966. He served his country proudly for over a year as an infantry radio operator. Immediately after returning from the war, Terry found that he was willing to move just about anywhere to follow his dreams. With $702 dollars in his pocket and a brand new Corvette, Terry moved from his hometown of St. Louis out west to the sunny city of Phoenix, Arizona for a new start.

Though Phoenix was still a very small town at the time of his move, Terry found his way in to a job at the local Dodge dealership, Scottsdale Dodge. Not only did he find passion in the job, but he also found love when he met a sales associate, named Cindy, who would eventually become his wife. Terry's commitment showed itself early in his career. He was the first to pick up extra shifts on weekends and holidays, all the while saving up to provide for his wife and family. He moved up within the dealership and soon decided to take a huge risk by moving out to Ventura, California in 1983 to get more experience in the automotive industry. Terry landed a job with Robert Gregory at Paradise Chevrolet, where his success eventually led him to take on the role as General Manager.

A mere eight years later, Robert Gregory was given the opportunity to open a new Chevrolet dealership in the then-small town of Temecula, California, and invited Terry to buy in as his partner. With hard work and dedication, Terry became the sole owner of Paradise Chevrolet after 20 years. Terry's attitude for success created a thriving business that earned him the ``Chevrolet Dealer of the Year Award'' for the entire United States in 2010.

It is hard to imagine that Terry would have any free time on his hands, yet he has always found time for his community. From Copy for Kids, serving in Chamber positions, and helping local Veterans, Terry truly has had a hand in developing organizations and groups that make our community great. He found his true calling, however, through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County. For over 20 years, Terry has helped the non-profit reach their fundraising goals, and currently serves on the Board of Directors, more specifically the Emeritus Board of Distinction. When asked why he remains so involved in these organizations, Terry stated, ``There is nothing more valuable than your time, so I decided to give mine.''

In his spare time, Terry enjoys spending time with his wife of over 30 years, their daughter who attends San Diego State University, and his daughter from a previous marriage, who still lives in St. Louis.

Considering all that Terry has done for the city of Temecula, the Temecula Chamber of Commerce named him their 2013 ``Citizen of the Year.'' Terry's tireless passion for service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our community. He has been the heart and soul of many organizations and events and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many individuals are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives this prestigious award.