Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Norco College as an independent college of the Riverside Community College District and congratulate the entire college community for its success in becoming the 112th college in the California Community Colleges system.

Since 1916, Riverside Community College District has served as an institution of higher education in western Riverside County. In 1991, the district created the Norco Campus as an education center to serve the communities of Corona, Norco, Eastvale and areas of Riverside County. When Norco's doors opened in March 1991 there were 3,088 students enrolled. Now, nearly 10 years later, that number has increased to more than 11,000.

Norco College offers a full complement of lower division courses in liberal arts, sciences, humanities and basic skills education, while offering specialist career technical programs in engineering, electronics, computer information systems, architecture, manufacturing, logistics, construction, game simulation and development, and commercial music.

On January 29, 2010, the Norco Campus received approval to become Norco College, thereby establishing it as the 112th college in the California Community Colleges system. And on June 10, Norco College will celebrate 531 students as its inaugural graduating class of 2010.

The process for gaining full accreditation status has been 8 years in the making for Norco, and I commend all those involved for their diligent efforts--including faculty, staff, students and administrators. I assure you, your dedication has not gone unnoticed and has yielded an achievement worthy of your efforts. Congratulations again, on this important milestone in Norco College's history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual from my Congressional District for his years of service to Riverside, California. Gill Gallo has served as director of the Riverside National Cemetery since May 14, 2006. And after four years, Gill Gallo is leaving this appointment to serve as the Director of the National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

In his position as director, Gill was responsible for all burial, maintenance and administrative operations at the cemetery. He also trained under Steve Jorgensen, the longtime director at Riverside who helped bring hundreds of volunteers into the cemetery's community support network. Gill often speaks of the historical significance of his work, and has remarked that there is no better place to pay tribute and learn about our veterans than by visiting the headstones and commemorating the fallen in our national cemeteries.

Prior to coming to Riverside National Cemetery, Gill served as director at the Willamette National Cemetery in Oregon. He also served

as director of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois, assistant director of the Willamette National Cemetery, director at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas, director at Eagle Point National Cemetery in Oregon and director at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in New Mexico. Additionally, Gill served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 1986. He received an associate's degree from the University of Maryland, European Division in 1984.

Gill and his wife, Amparo, have three children: a son in the U.S. Air Force Reserve; a daughter in San Antonio, Texas; and a son in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Gill Gallo's tireless passion for community and public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. I am proud to call Gill a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many people are grateful for his service, and wish him the very best in San Antonio.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American people, and we deserve an answer about these out-of-control spending policies coming here out of Washington, D.C.

The House has failed to produce a budget. No plans for any appropriation bills, no markups. There's no plan on how the majority will spend America's taxpayers' hard-earned money for this fiscal year, or next fiscal year.

American families, if they don't budget and pay the bills, there are real consequences. Unfortunately, the majority continues to turn a blind eye to future consequences as they push spending to a record $3.8 trillion in fiscal year 2011 and widen the deficit to a record $1.5 trillion this year.

House Republicans stand ready to make tough choices in order to rein in spending. Just last week we introduced a measure on the House floor to cut $2.5 billion in expanded welfare. The program was selected by almost a half a million Americans through the innovative YouCut initiative.

The American people have spoken. Stop the spending frenzy, budget for the future, and return fiscal sanity to Washington.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual from the 44th congressional district of California for her outstanding contributions and achievements. Valerie Hill, a 31-year veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, was recently awarded the 2010 ``ATHENA'' Award of the Inland Valley for being a valued role model who represents excellence in her profession, extensive community service, and generous mentoring. The ATHENA Awards program, which was created in 1982 and is an extension of local Chamber of Commerce's, recognizes outstanding professional and business women in the community.

Valerie is the first woman to be undersheriff of Riverside County. Prior to this appointment, she received a bachelor's degree in business management and went on to be a female hostage negotiator field training officer and assistant sheriff. She has served in Lake Elsinore, Jurupa, Moreno Valley, and Riverside, where she has mentored many women in the department.

Valerie has received a number of awards recognizing her accomplishments. In 2006, she was president of the Southern California Jail Managers Association, and in 2007, she received the lifetime achievement award from the Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee. In 2002, she was a YWCA Woman of Achievement, in 2004 she was recognized as Inland Empire Magazine's Woman Who Makes a Difference, and in 2005 received the Gold Key Award from Soroptimist International.

She was president of Operation Safe House and the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center and also served as chair for the YWCA's Evening of Achievement event. Additionally, Valerie makes time with her family to serve hot meals to the homeless and is an active member of Kiwanis of Riverside.

Valerie Hill's tireless passion for community and public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. I am proud to call Valerie a fellow community member and American. I know that many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as she receives this prestigious recognition of honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize today as a National Day of Prayer. Congress first established a National Day of Prayer in 1952, and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for Presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray. From its founding, America has had a rich heritage of affirming religious expression in the lives of its citizens. In fact, many of our nation's leaders make decisions based on a set of moral values, often rooted in their religions or spiritual beliefs. Commander-in-Chief George Washington regularly issued orders for military troops to attend and participate in religious gatherings.

In the midst of the recent health care debate in Congress, I attended Sunday Service at the Capitol. I was particularly moved by the quote that was shared during the service, which was originally given by Chaplain Peter Marshall on the floor of the Senate 63 years ago: ``Save us from accepting a little of what we know to be wrong in order to get a little of what we imagine to be right. Help us to stand up for the inalienable rights of mankind and the principles of democratic government consistently and with courage, knowing that Thy power and Thy blessing will be upon us only when we are in the right. May we so speak, and vote, and live, as to merit Thy blessing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.''

I found this particularly poignant as I prepared to cast my vote on the health care reform bill. One of many issues within this bill was the role of the federal government in supporting abortion services. I believe federal support for elective abortions is morally wrong, and I know many of my colleagues share similar opinions. Chaplain Marshall's words of caution from so many years ago offered me guidance as I cast my vote against the legislation.

Madam Speaker, the National Day of Prayer continues to stand as a wonderful representation of the religious and spiritual heritage of this great nation. Today I urge Americans to reflect on the significance of prayer in their lives and it is my hope that Americans will always observe the National Day of Prayer with reverence and reflection.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to discuss an important issue that is significantly impacting our economy but has not received nearly enough attention and action by the administration and this Congress. If the issue is not addressed, it will continue to drag down and harm our already shaky national economy.

I am referring to the deterioration of the commercial real estate sector. Now, when I speak of commercial real estate, I am talking about properties that can be found in every community in America: retail properties, office space, industrial facilities, hotels, and apartments. Similar to the residential real estate crisis we experienced, the commercial real estate market faces significant strains as a result of declining property values, refinancing difficulties, and economic uncertainty.

Commercial real estate values throughout the United States are collapsing, going down as much as 40 to 50 percent in some regions. We have seen this happen in parts of southern California, in my own congressional district. I know we have seen it in many other parts of the country from New York to Idaho and Nevada to Florida. Most experts predict that the declining trend in commercial real estate values will continue through 2011 and 2012.

Many economists are concerned by this trend because the health of our commercial real estate market has a direct and lasting impact on the stability of thousands of small businesses, and small and midsize banks, which could result in significant job losses across the country. The commercial real estate sector provides more than 9 million jobs and generates billions of dollars in Federal, State, and local tax revenue.

Additionally, many property owners are underwater. An analysis by Deutsch Bank indicates that of the almost $1.4 trillion in commercial real estate loans that will mature over the next 4 years, as many as 65 percent will struggle with refinancing, even if they are performing loans with payments being made on time.

The Congressional Oversight Panel, created by Congress in 2008 to review the current state of our Nation's financial markets and regulatory system, dedicated an entire report to the commercial real estate liquidity crisis, entitled ``Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability,'' which was released on February 11 of this year. The report estimates that bank losses alone could range as high as $200 billion to $300 billion. The panel wrote, ``A significant wave of commercial mortgage defaults would trigger economic damage that could touch the lives of nearly every American.''

This week and next, many of my fellow colleagues in Congress will be visited by members of the National Association of Realtors as part of their annual meeting in Washington, D.C. They will talk about how the commercial real estate market is in the midst of a serious financial crisis and share stories of how small businesses across the country continue to suffer. Many of my colleagues and economic experts agree that the continuing crisis in the commercial real estate market could lead to a double-dip recession.

Due to the growing economic threat of the faltering commercial real estate market, I spearheaded a bipartisan effort with my friend from Pennsylvania, Congressman Paul Kanjorski, to raise these concerns to Secretary Tim Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on January 29 of this year. The letter, signed by 77 of our colleagues, called for the establishment of a clear method for measuring the effectiveness of recently announced commercial real estate loan modification guidance. Furthermore, the letter called on Secretary Geithner and Chairman Bernanke to institute metrics that will allow banks to more clearly differentiate performing versus nonperforming loans in order to treat them appropriately.

On February 17 of this year, I once again joined Mr. Kanjorski to author a letter addressed to the heads of the FDIC, OTC, OCC, and NCUA to bring to their attention our concerns and highlight the findings of the February 11 Congressional Oversight Panel report on ``Commercial Real Estate Losses and the Risk to Financial Stability.'' The letter ``urged the regulators to work together and work with the Treasury and the Fed to minimize the impact this problem will have to our economy.''

On March 16 Secretary Geithner testified before the House Appropriations Committee regarding the fiscal year 2011 budget and economic outlook. At the hearing I asked the Secretary directly what steps he intended to take to address the liquidity problems in the

commercial real estate sector. Secretary Geithner's response was, ``We have a ways to go to get through the broader adjustment in the commercial real estate that is still ahead of us.''

The administration must take deliberate action to enhance liquidity in the commercial real estate market to avoid the derailment of our economic recovery. Congress can play a role in advancing solutions by closely examining the current status of commercial mortgage market liquidity through oversight hearings with Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke and other regulators. I call on the Financial Services Committee to hold such a hearing by the summer to reveal the true state of this sector of our economy and discuss regulatory and legislative fixes. The upcoming field hearing on May 17 in Chicago is a good start, but more attention needs to be made. The spotlight of oversight is all Congress needs to do at this time--the power to do something about this problem is in the administration's hands already.

In closing, I truly hope the administration will take the necessary steps to prevent further economic damage and provide a fix for commercial real estate.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, January 29, 2010.

Hon. Timothy F. Geithner,

Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.

Hon. Ben S. Bernanke,

Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,

Washington, DC.

Dear Secretary Geithner and Chairman Bernanke: As you know,

the financial crisis continues to have a dampening effect

throughout the credit markets. The commercial real estate

(CRE) market, in particular, continues to experience

difficult credit accessibility conditions. Moreover, the

scarcity of credit in the $63 trillion CRE sector poses a

dangerous threat to our financial system just as our economy

has begun to show signs of recovery.

Earlier this month real estate data provider Trepp

announced that the delinquency rate for loans underlying

commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) ballooned 500

percent in 2009, surpassing 6 percent in December for the

first time. Additionally, the CMBS market has all but shut

down over the past year making it more difficult for CRE

owners to sell or refinance.

We appreciate the acknowledgement by federal regulators of

this situation in October, when the Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System, along with the Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the

Currency, the National Credit Union Administration, and the

Office of Thrift Supervision, issued a policy statement

advising financial institutions to extend and/or restructure

loans backed by income-producing and/or development

properties whenever possible in order to minimize losses as

well as to stabilize overall asset values in the communities

they serve.

While the regulatory guidance is a relatively recent

occurrence, we remain concerned by early indications that it

may not yet be having the desired impact in stabilizing the

CRE market. While some properties are in desperate need of

modification due to the economic downturn, we are not

convinced these loans are being serviced properly or in an

efficient manner. Of even more concern, anecdotal evidence

suggests that regulators continue to encourage lenders to

write down the value of performing loans, whose payments may

well be current and, in some instance, even call the loan.

This further exacerbates the crisis by creating defaults in

properties that were able to meet their debt servicing.

To ensure the recent CRE loan modification guidance will

have a positive and stabilizing effect, and to protect the

broader economy from further disruptions, we urge you to

establish a clear method for measuring and evaluating its

effectiveness. Furthermore, we encourage you to institute

metrics to more clearly differentiate performing versus non-

performing loans as well as any other steps that provide

lending institutions with more confidence in assessing CRE

loans. We also call upon you to make clear public statements

encouraging lenders to continue to make credit available for

performing assets as a means of restoring confidence and

long-term value in the CRE market.

In sum, we strongly believe that regulators must take

continued steps to mitigate ongoing turmoil in the CRE sector

before it becomes a full-fledged crisis, forestalls our

economic recovery, and possibly requires additional taxpayer-

funded capital injections. Consistent with all applicable law

and regulation, thank you for the consideration of our views

and your attention to these matters.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Kanjorski, Judy Biggert, Bill Foster, Dennis

Moore, Gary L. Ackerman, Ken Calvert, Chris P. Carney,

Joseph Crowley, Luis V. Gutierrez, Sander M. Levin,

Steve Israel, Mike McIntyre, Suzanne M. Kosmas, Laura

Richardson, Charles A. Wilson, Russ Carnahan, Ron

Klein, Jo Bonner, Henry E. Brown, Jr., Andre Carson,

Bobby Bright, Steve Driehaus, John Campbell, Ben

Chandler, John Lewis, Kathy Castor, David Scott,

Shelley Berkley, Donald A. Manzullo, Michael E.

McMahon, Dan Burton, Lynn A. Westmoreland, Baron P.

Hill, John Culberson, Timothy H. Bishop, James P.

Moran, Melissa L. Bean, Carolyn B. Maloney, Glenn C.

Nye, Dina Titus, Pete Olson, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Howard

Coble, Kay Granger, C.W. Bill Young, Doug Lamborn, Gary

Miller, Shelley Moore Capito, Debbie L. Halvorson, Gary

C. Peters, Bob Inglis, Jeff Miller, Tim Matheson,

Vernon J. Ehlers, Geoff Davis, Alcee L. Hastings, Jim

Marshall, Peter Welch, Connie Mack, John A. Yarmuth,

Jerry Costello, Ginny Brown-Waite, Cliff Stearns,

Patrick J. Murphy, Gerald E. Connolly, Brett Guthrie,

Bruce Braley, Ruben Hinojosa, Joe Wilson, Thomas J.

Rooney, Rick Larsen, Alan Grayson, Gregory W. Meeks,

Robert B. Aderholt, Jim Gerlach, Mike Turner, Edolphus

Towns, Chris Lee, Charles Boustany, Jr.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual from my Congressional District for his nearly 30 years of outstanding achievements and accomplishments in public service. Gary M. Christmas has served as Riverside County's Chief Deputy County Executive Officer since October 2008, and has been employed with the county in Riverside, California since July 1997. After almost three decades of service, Gary is retiring and today I honor his years of public service.

Gary graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and from San Jose State University with a Master's in Library Science. Prior to attending college, Gary served four years in the United States Coast Guard stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Gary was a librarian for 16 years where he held progressively more responsible library management positions. He was also a reference librarian at several colleges and universities, including University of California, Riverside, Cal-Poly Pomona, Riverside Community College and Mt. San Jacinto Community College.

Gary served as the county librarian from July 1997 to June 2004 where he managed the library services contract and the County Library System with over 30 branches and more than 300 contract employees.

As Deputy County Executive Officer, a position he held from June 2004 to October 2008, Gary oversaw analysts in the Executive Office on budget and policy items, managed the County Capital Improvement Program team and coordinated the court facility transfer to the State Administrative Office of the Courts.

During his tenure as Chief Deputy County Executive Officer, Gary worked directly with the CEO, Assistant CEO and the Board of Supervisors in developing county policies and strategies. Additionally, Gary managed the Program Division of the Executive Office and has served as the legislative coordinator for the county advocacy program in Sacramento and Washington, DC. Gary has also represented the county at various federal, state and local meetings, boards and committees.

Gary has been married to his wife Kathy since 1974 and has two children, Erin and Andrea. In retirement, Gary will continue to travel and spend time with his family.

Gary Christmas's tireless passion for community and public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. I am proud to call Gary a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of John Walter Canty, a close personal friend and valued community member of Riverside, California. On Thursday, April 1, 2010, John passed away. He will be deeply missed.

Born in Yuba City on June 30, 1940, John grew up in San Francisco and attended city schools and community colleges before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1960s. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he worked with the California State Department of Transportation, Division of Highways. He received his bachelor's degree in business management from the University of San Francisco. John passed his civil engineering licensing exam on the first try and became a registered Civil Engineer in California and Nevada.

In 1968, John accepted an engineering position with J.F. Davidson in Riverside. He worked his way to the top, becoming a partner with Davidson, and ultimately opening his own company in 1997, Canty Engineering Group. John eventually sold this company after years of success in order to travel with his wife, Jan.

Though he was known for having a sharp mind and many professional talents, John will be remembered most for his generosity and integrity. He was an active member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church and the Kiwanis Club of Uptown Riverside, which awarded him the Legion of Honor plaque in 2008 to recognize his more than 40 years of service.

On behalf of all those who knew him, it is my honor to offer these remarks as a tribute to the life and legacy of my friend John Canty. His life and presence will be sorely missed and I extend my condolences to his dear family and friends.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a hero from my congressional district, Staff Sergeant Michael Cardenaz, United States Army. Today I ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this incredible young man who died in service to our country.

SSG Cardenaz was born in Corona, California in 1980. He attended local schools in Corona and loved his hometown. He joined the Army after high school and had been previously deployed twice to both Kosovo and Iraq. On February 20, 2010, SSG Cardenaz had been serving nine months with the 2-12 Infantry, 4th BCT, 4th Infantry Division in Afghanistan when he was killed by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) in Kunar. He was 29 years old.

SSG Cardenaz is remembered fondly by friends and family as an avid Dodger fan who loved fishing, listening to music, visiting new places and making people laugh. He was also an exemplary soldier and had been awarded the Soldier's Medal which is awarded to an Army soldier of the United States who has distinguished himself by an act of heroism involving personal hazard and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving actual conflict with an enemy. A fellow service member wrote about an occurrence for which SSG Cardenaz received the Soldier's Medal in Baqubah, Iraq which said:

Cardenaz and his platoon leader . . . risked their lives

numerous times underwater trying to save a rolled over humvee

with four trapped men inside. At times, both men ingested

filthy canal water. They choked, gagged and vomited, only to

go back under in attempts to get those men out. It was cold,

they were in full kit, neither quit until the bodies were

recovered. They were too late, but words can not begin to

describe their sense of loyalty to their own. Every solider

should be lucky enough to be around men who never quit to

bring them back.

In addition to the Soldier's Medal, SSG Cardenaz also was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation with Valor. SSG Cardenaz is survived by his wife of seven years, Macarena; five children, Jason, Jasmine, Mariella, Mariliz and Marianna; parents, Miguel and Rosellen Cardenaz; three sisters, Priscilla, Sandra and Monica; brother, Steven; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; one niece and one nephew.

As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we realize that this history is comprised of men, just like SSG Cardenaz, who bravely fought for the ideals of freedom and democracy. Each story is unique and humbling for those of us who, far from the dangers they have faced, live our lives in relative comfort and ease. The day the Cardenaz family learned of their husband, father, son and brother's death was probably the hardest day they have ever faced and our thoughts, prayers and deepest gratitude for SSG Cardenaz's sacrifice goes out to them. There are no words that can relieve their pain and what words we can offer only begin to convey our deep respect and highest appreciation.

SSG Cardenaz's family have all given a part of themselves in the loss of their loved one and I hope they know that the goodness he brought to this world and the sacrifice he has made will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flawed health care bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks against this flawed health care bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Democrat health reform legislation that imposes billions of dollars in new job killing taxes on American small business owners and families. Make no mistake about it, at a time when the unemployment in the United States is over 10 percent, over 14 percent in some parts of my district, this Congress is choosing to take up a health reform bill that is a job killer.

Small business owners struggling to make ends meet who cannot afford to buy government approved insurance for their employees will be subject to a $2,000 dollar per employee tax. When employers realize they can afford neither the government mandated insurance nor this egregious new tax they will have no choice but to lay off more employees.

For employers who can afford to provide health insurance to their employees, this bill contains billions of new taxes and mandates that will raise their premiums. These will drive up the cost of insurance, forcing many employers and private individuals to reduce or drop their coverage.

In addition, this bill imposes a never before seen Medicare tax that would, for the very first time, apply to capital gains, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and other investment income of singles earning over $200,000 and couples earning over $250,000. Currently, capital gains and dividends are taxed at a top rate of 15 percent, but those rates are already scheduled to rise in 2011 to 20 percent and 39.6 percent, respectively. When the expansion of the Medicare tax is coupled with the already scheduled capital gains rate increase, long- term capital gains rates would rise by from 15 percent to 23.8 percent and the top tax rate on dividends would nearly triple from 15 percent to 43.4 percent.

At a time when Congress should be focusing on incentivizing investment in America and putting people back to work we are instead here today to levy over $560 billion dollars in new taxes on the American public and approve over $938 billion dollars in new entitlement spending. I urge my colleagues to stop this massive government expansion and focus on America's most pressing issue, putting our citizens back to work.

Mr. Speaker, today, H.R. 2788 passed the House with the unanimous support of my colleagues. The bill designates a memorial that is currently under construction at March Field Air Museum, in Riverside, California, as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial.

I am proud that the Distinguished Flying Cross recipients, who have received this prestigious medal for their heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, are closer to having a memorial designated as a National Memorial with the passage of this bill.

March Air Reserve Base is adjacent to the location of the memorial at the March Field Air Museum. Today at the base there are active operational air units providing support to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is why this is an appropriate setting for the memorial to the many aviators who have distinguished themselves by deeds performed in aerial flight.

I am including in today's Record, my floor statement from Tuesday, March 16, 2010, regarding H.R. 2788.

Floor Statement on H.R. 2788, the Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial

Act

Rep. Ken Calvert

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2788, a bill to

designate a national Distinguished flying Cross Memorial in

Riverside, California.

I am honored to represent the Inland Empire Chapter of the

Distinguished Flying Cross Society which is the primary

sponsor of the memorial. Last June, I introduced H.R. 2788

which would designate a memorial, which is currently under

construction at March Field Air Museum as the Distinguished

Flying Cross National Memorial. It honors all current and

former members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the

Distinguished Flying Cross.

The bill has strong bipartisan support both from the

committee and with 48 cosponsors. The legislation is

supported by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, Military

Officers Association of America, the Air Force Association,

Air Force Sergeants Association, The Association of Naval

Aviation, The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and the

China-Burma Indian Veterans Association. I'd like to point

out language in the bill that specifically states that the

designation shall not be construed to require or permit

federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the

national memorial. Funds have been and will continue to be

raised through private means for these purposes.

Distinguished Flying Cross recipients have received the

prestigious medal for their heroism or extraordinary

achievement while participating in aerial flight while

serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces. There are

many well-known people that have played a vital role in the

history of military aviation and have received the award.

This renowned group includes: Captain Charles L. Lindbergh,

former President George H. W. Bush, Brigadier General Jimmy

Doolittle, General Curtis Lemay, Senator McCain, Jimmy

Stewart and Admiral Jim Stockdale, to name just a few.

The March Air Reserve Base, which hosts the C-17As of the

452nd Air Mobility Wing is adjacent to the location of the

memorial at the March Field Air Museum. When completed,

visitors will be able to witness active operational air units

providing support to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan,

which is an appropriate setting that honors the many aviators

who have distinguished themselves by deeds performed in

aerial flight.

I'd like to thank those who have worked tirelessly to

ensure this memorial is built and is properly designated in

honor of the distinguished aviators that have served this

great Nation. In particular, I'd like to recognize, Jim

Champlin, with the loving support of his wife Trish, who

recently passed away, who have been instrumental in this

effort.

Again, I hope you will join me in supporting the

designation of the National Distinguished Flying Cross

Memorial at the March Field Air Museum and H.R. 2788.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2788, a bill to designate a National Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial in Riverside, California. I'm honored to represent the Inland Empire chapter of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, which is the primary sponsor of the memorial.

Last June, I introduced H.R. 2788, which would designate a memorial which is currently under construction at March Field Air Museum as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial. It honors all current and former members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The bill has strong bipartisan support from both the committee and with 48 cosponsors. The legislation is supported by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, the Military Officers Association of America, the Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and the China-Burma-India Veterans Association.

I would like to point out language in the bill that specifically states that the designation shall not be construed to require or permit Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to a national memorial. Funds have been and will continue to be raised through private means for these purposes.

Distinguished Flying Cross recipients have received the prestigious medal for their heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces. There are many people who have played a vital role in the history of military aviation and have received this award. This renowned group includes Captain Charles L. Lindbergh, former President George H.W. Bush, Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle, General Curtis LeMay, Senator McCain, Jimmy Stewart, and Admiral Jim Stockdale, just to name a few.

The March Air Reserve Base, which hosts the C-17As of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, is adjacent to the location of the memorial at the March Field Air Museum. When completed, visitors will be able to witness active operational air units providing support to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is an appropriate setting that honors the many aviators who have distinguished themselves by deeds performed in aerial flight.

I would like to thank those who worked tirelessly to make sure this memorial is built and is properly designated in honor of the distinguished aviators that have served this great Nation. In particular, I would like to recognize Jim Chaplin, with the loving support of his wife, Trish, who just recently passed away, who have been instrumental in this effort.

Again, I hope you will join me in supporting the designation of the National Flying Cross Memorial at March Field Air Museum and H.R. 2788.

Madam Speaker, right now, behind closed doors, negotiations are taking place on the $1 trillion bill to provide for the government takeover of health care. I find it baffling that instead of talking about jobs, my friends on the other side of the aisle continue a path toward radically changing 20 percent of our economy. Small businesses continue to struggle, but rather than creating an environment that eases financial burdens on business, the administration and this Congress are creating uncertainty through health care takeovers, cap-and-tax, deficit spending, looming tax increases. A recent analysis of the current health care bill shows that it could cost America 1 million jobs by the end of this decade. That is unacceptable.

I recently polled my constituents. Two-thirds are absolutely opposed to the health care bill. They want Congress to start over and focus on items we agree on. Let's return to the question of how we can make health care more accessible, more efficient, and less expensive. Let's kill this bill and save American freedom and our economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of San Clemente, California are exceptional. San Clemente 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. Joe Anderson is one such individual. On February 25, 2010, Joe will be honored at the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony where he will receive the 2009 Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joe was raised in Southern California and graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. Degree in Economics. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter, a professional designation conferred by the American College, Bryn

Mawr, Pennsylvania. Following graduation, Joe was employed by Mobil Oil Corporation for eleven years. During his employment with Mobil he held a number of management positions in various locations in the United States, including Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City and Sacramento.

In 1976, Joe and his family relocated to South Orange County where he opened a successful State Farm Insurance Agency in San Clemente. After operating his agency for ten years, Joe accepted a management position with the company. During the last decade of his career, Joe held an executive level assignment with responsibility for all agency operations in South Orange County. He retired in 2005 after 29 loyal years with the firm.

Joe's community activities include: past board member and President of the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, the South Coast Area Boys & Girls Club and Mary Erickson Community Housing. He served on the San Clemente Growth Management, Economic Development and General Plan Review Committees. He chaired the Casa Romantica Feasibility Study, and co-chaired the Downtown Visioning Committee. Due to his many years of service, Joe was named the 1993 San Clemente Citizen of the Year.

Joe was first elected to the San Clemente City Council in 1990, where he served two terms and then stepped down in 1998. In 2002, at the urging of members of the community, Joe ran and was elected to a third term. He was re-elected in November 2006 for a fourth term. Joe served as Mayor in 1992, 2005 and 2008.

Joe serves as San Clemente's Trustee to the Orange County Vector Control Agency, and represents San Clemente on the board of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority. He also serves on the City's Investment Advisory Board, and is board alternate to the Transportation Corridor Agencies. During 2005 and 2006, he chaired the Communications and Outreach Committee of the Orange County Division, League of California Cities for the renewal of Measure M. In November, 2006, Measure M passed with a 69.6% yes vote.

Joe and his wife of 45 years, Mary Anna, are the proud parents of three married sons. John, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps; Charles, an Estimating Manager for a large electrical contractor; and Robert, an entrepreneur. The Anderson's have five beautiful grandchildren.

Joe Anderson's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of San Clemente, California. I am proud to call Joe 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 San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of San Clemente, California are exceptional. San Clemente has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated young people who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Oscar Gutierrez is one of these young leaders. On February 25, 2010, Oscar will be honored at the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony where he will receive the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.

Eighteen year old Oscar Gutierrez resides with his mother and sister in San Clemente. Sadly, Oscar lost his father in 2005. At age 13, Oscar started working to help financially support his family. In addition, he joined the Orange County Sheriffs Explorer Program, Post 449. On December 4, 2008, Oscar was home doing his homework when he heard screams coming from outside. He looked out and saw smoke and flames billowing from the apartment building next door. Oscar grabbed a fire extinguisher, and along with his sister and a cousin, who are also Explorers, and ran to help. Sheriffs deputies were evacuating the building so Oscar began checking around to make sure everyone was safe.

It was then that he noticed an elderly couple on a second floor balcony waiting for assistance. Smoke was pouring out of their apartment and they were beginning to panic. The woman was in a wheelchair and the husband seemed frail. The only way down was an exterior flight of stairs. Oscar did not hesitate: he recruited the help of another neighbor, ran up the stairs and carried the woman in her wheelchair down the stairs to safety.

Oscar graduated from San Clemente High School in 2009 and is attending college at California State San Marcos as a Sociology Major. He has received multiple scholarships and also works at Pedro's Tacos. He continues to attend the Explorer Program four times a month. He is the first one in his family to go to college.

Oscar Gutierrez at the young age of 18 is a hero and a model citizen. He is a hard working individual who cares deeply about San Clemente and its citizens. Oscar is truly an incredible young man who has a very bright future. Oscar's actions and selflessness have contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of San Clemente, California. I join the many community members who are grateful for Oscar and salute him as he receives the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.