Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a hero from my congressional district. Last week I was informed that Sgt. Ryan C. Young of my hometown of Corona, California passed away due to complications from injuries sustained while fighting in Fallujah, Iraq on November 8, 2003. Today I would ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this incredible young man who died in service to his country.

Ryan was born on June 29, 1982, in Orange, California. After graduating from Norco High School in 2000, he enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kansas as an infantryman and was deployed to Iraq in September.

On November 8, 2003, while riding in an armored vehicle with other U.S. troops, his vehicle was hit by an explosive device. Ryan was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland but later passed away from complications from his injuries on December 2, 2003. He was 21 years old and leaves behind a wife, mother and father.

As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we realize that this history is comprised of men, just like Ryan, 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. My thoughts, prayers and deepest gratitude for their sacrifice go out to his wife and family. There are no words that can relieve their pain. Ryan was awarded the Purple Heart and will be laid to rest at the Riverside National Cemetery where he will be close to home and those who love him.

His wife and family have all given a part of themselves in the loss of their loved one and I hope they know that their son and the sacrifice he has made will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Norco, CA are exceptional. Norco 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. Barbara Carmichael is one of these individuals. After 13 years of service to the city, Barbara will step down as a councilmember.

Barbara moved to Norco in 1980 and quickly became involved in the community as a 4-H leader. As an honorary FFA Chapter farmer Barbara truly fit in to the rural lifestyle of Norco. Barbara has been involved with many community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce Fair Committee, a Foundation Board Member for Corona Regional Hospital and member of the Riverside Community Hospital college advisory board. She has also represented the City of Norco as a Mosquito Abatement Trustee, on the Economic Development Advisory Council, the Ad Hoc Committee for the retention of the Naval Warfare Assessment Center. She is a member of the Corona/Norco School Advisory Board and the host of monthly Senior Town Hall meetings. She is also the current President of the Norco Seniors and Pet Relief organization and is a Charter and active member of the Norco Horsemen's Association.

Barbara was first elected to the Norco City Council in November 1990, was elected Mayor in 1992 and 1998. She has served as Mayor Pro-Tempore three times. During her tenure on the Norco City Council Barbara has accomplished an enormous amount for the residents of Norco including the construction of five low-to-moderate income homes; a pilot curbside recycling program and the Sixth Street Facade program; a Directional Sign Program for new homes was approved; a new City Hall was opened; an agreement was reached with the City of Jurupa for the purchase of desalter water; the Lake Norconian Club and central hotel were designated as historic landmarks; the second phase of senior housing was approved; a new senior center was completed; the Animal Keeping Ad Hoc Committee was formed; the proposal to purchase Hidden Valley Golf Club was rejected and barbed wire was prohibited adjacent to equestrian trails.

Barbara's tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Norco, California. She has been the heart and soul of many community organizations and events and I am proud to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as she steps down from the Norco City Council.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Southern California are exceptional. Southern California 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. Ray Becker is one of these individuals. Ray will be stepping down as President of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA) and I would like to thank him for his service.

Ray originally came to the Inland Empire in the early 1980s as Vice President and Division Manager with the Lusk Company. During 20 years in Southern California real estate development, Ray has managed the construction of more than 3,000 homes and 16,000 home sites. For eight years Ray taught Light Construction and Development Management at the University of California, Riverside.

Ray is also Senior Vice President of Lennar Communities Inland, a division of Lunar Homes of California. Lunar is a national real estate company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is one of the largest public homebuilders in the United States. Under his leadership, Lunar acquires, plans, entitles, develops, markets, sells, and manages medium and large scale communities.

Ray has been an excellent President of BIA and continually promotes the building profession. He is also involved in California BIA and the National Association of Homebuilders. He is past President of the Inland Chapter of HomeAid, an industry charitable foundation, and has held the Presidency of the Youth Service Center and Parkview Community Hospital Foundation. Ray's commitment to the community and to Southern California is exemplary.

Ray's tireless passion for the building industry has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Southern California. I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many BIA members and homebuilders are grateful for his service and salute him as he steps down from his position.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1964) to establish the Highlands Stewardship Area in the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1964.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1964, introduced by my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and amended by the Committee on Resources, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to States to preserve and protect high priority conservation lands in the Highlands region. This geographic region encompasses over 2 million acres of land stretching from western Connecticut across the Lower Hudson River Valley and northern New Jersey into northeastern Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, not only has the U.S. Forest Service documented the national significance of the Highlands area in two extensive studies in 1990 and 2002, but the President in his 2004 budget recognized the New York-New Jersey Highlands forest area as one of nine priority forests areas in the country that are threatened.

H.R. 1964, as amended, is supported by the administration and the majority and minority of the committee. I urge adoption of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield what time he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the chairman of the Committee on Resources.

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

Again, I want to point out that this bill eliminated the Office of Highlands Stewardship and the accompanied regulatory process. It reduced the authorization level from $25 million annually to $10 million annually over 10 years. It focused conservation efforts only on those resources most important. This bill clarified that the bill would not establish a wholly new programmatic category of land use, and, finally, it assured landowners in the Highlands region that private property rights will be protected by including safeguards for those landowners potentially at risk.

So, Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. It has been developed over a long period of time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 135) to establish the ``Twenty-First Century Water Commission'' to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 135, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), and cosponsored by a wide range of Members from both parties, creates a national commission to develop increased water supplies. The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) and his colleagues have properly recognized that drought is a national problem, not just a Western issue.

This bill creates a process while adhering to States' rights to address this problem. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

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

Madam Speaker, once again I want to commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for his leadership on this bill. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power, I have witnessed firsthand throughout this country water problems that tend to grow, not shrink, as our country faces the problem of less water and water quality issues throughout our country.

Vision is an important thing that we do around here that sometimes we forget. The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) certainly is showing vision to make sure that we have adequate water in the future.

The 21st Century Water Commission, I refer to it as the Linder Water Commission, will recommend a strategy that recognizes and respects the primary role of States and water rights laws while eliminating duplication and conflict among governmental agencies. This is an incredibly important strategy. We need dependable water supplies that are safe and secure for our future generations.

Again, I commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for his leadership.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2584) to provide for the conveyance to the Utrok Atoll local government of a decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2584, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2584 will transfer a decommissioned NOAA vessel to the Utrok Atoll local government in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Utrok Atoll is one of 29 low coral atolls in the Marshall Islands that is inhabited by 600 people.

This small atoll has been exposed to the horrible effects of radioactive pollution during our nuclear bomb testing period. These citizens require ongoing tests, monitoring and medical care; and it is currently difficult for them to obtain access to that care.

The fundamental goal of this legislation is to provide these citizens with a reliable, safe means of transportation to the city of Majuro. This city is the capital of the Marshall Islands and is more than 300 miles from the Utrok Atoll.

The NOAA vessel likely affected by this measure is the McArthur. The ship is 175 feet long, has a cruising speed of 10 knots, a cruising range of over 6,000 nautical miles and a draft of 12 feet. It was commissioned as a NOAA research vessel in 1966 and decommissioned on May 20, 2003.

Under the terms of H.R. 2584, all rights, title, and interest in the ship are transferred to the Utrok Atoll government. The vessel must be in operable condition prior to the actual transfer; but in the future, all maintenance, responsibility, and liabilities are conveyed to the Utrok Atoll government.

Title II of the bill is a corrective measure for the Department of Commerce which may approve appointments and confirmations made for the NOAA Corps in the Clinton and Bush administrations. This measure has been unanimously adopted by the other body.

Title III of the bill reauthorizes two important laws dealing with international fisheries, the Fisherman's Protective Act and the Yukon River Salmon Act. Identical language was incorporated in H.R. 2048 which unanimously passed the House of Representatives on October 20 of this year. This

title is noncontroversial and simply extends these two acts for an additional 5 years at existing funding levels.

Madam Speaker, I compliment the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for sponsoring this bill, and urge my colleagues to support this important humanitarian effort.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a hero from my congressional district. Earlier this afternoon, I had the distinct honor to attend the funeral service for Todd Jason Bryant, First Lieutenant, United States Army at Arlington National Cemetery. Today I would ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this incredible young man who died in service to his country.

Todd was born on January 14, 1980, in Long Beach, California. Todd came from a military family and his desire and determination to join the military was resolute. He enlisted in the Army Reserve and completed Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before his senior year of high school. He came to my office for an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I was proud to nominate this ambitious young man who I knew would distinguish himself at West Point, just as he had done his whole life.

He interned in my office before his senior year at West Point and graduated with a degree in Political Science on June 1, 2002. He would often joke that he was going to run for my congressional seat someday-- I have no doubt he would have succeeded. After graduation, Todd attended the Armor Officer's Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, graduating in December 2002. He reported to Fort Riley, Kansas in January 2003, and was initially assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st, Battalion 34th Armor Regiment where he served as an Assistant Operations Officer. In April of 2003, Todd was reassigned to C Company, 1-34 AR where he assumed duties as Platoon Leader, 3rd Platoon. On August 30, 2003, Todd and Jenifer Reardon were married in Pennsylvania, nine days before shipping out with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On Friday, October 31, 2003, Todd was killed by an explosive device as his Humvee traveled on a road between Fallujah and Baghdad. He was 23 years old.

As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we realize that this history is comprised of men, just like Todd, 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. Today was probably the hardest day the Bryant family has ever faced and my thoughts, prayers and deepest gratitude for their sacrifice goes out to them. There are no words that can relieve their pain. Larry and Linda Bryant have raised an extraordinary family. Their oldest son, Tim is a Major in the Marines, their daughter, Tiffany, is a Captain in the Army and Todd, First Lieutenant in the United States Army, recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal Army Service Ribbon, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart has been laid to rest in our country's most distinguished military cemetery.

His wife and family have all given a part of themselves today in the loss of their loved one and I hope they know that their son, the goodness he brought to this world and the sacrifice he has made, will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003. The basic pilot employment verification system is the only automated system offered to employers to verify employment eligibility of new employees.

In 1994 I spoke with a Border Patrol agent who identified a key need in the enforcement of immigration laws. Employers need a simple way, a reliable tool to verify the worker status of new employees. In response, I introduced a bill to create the basic pilot program to do just that. Operating in six of the most problematic States on a voluntary basis, the basic pilot has proven to be an overwhelming success. The basic pilot program is the best tool available for employers to comply with immigration laws which prohibit hiring undocumented immigrants.

Recently, a contract cleaning service for Wal-Mart was raided by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and over 250 employees were arrested. If Wal-Mart's cleaning service had used the basic pilot program and verified the I-9 documents provided by their workers, this situation could have been avoided. We must provide companies the option of using this employment verification program and assist them in complying with Federal immigration law. This program is in no way mandatory. It is completely voluntary and may be used at the discretion of the employer. Without the option to use the basic pilot program, employers have no means of verifying legal work status for immigrants, causing many employers to discriminate against legal workers.

This program gives employers the confidence to hire legal immigrants, reducing discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, S. 1685 allows employers from any State to voluntarily use this program. Many of my colleagues have expressed concerns that this will expand the program too far too fast. The reality is that current pilot States are home to over 80 percent of all illegal immigrants, which means the impact on the program will be negligible. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security to complete a report identifying and resolving any problems with the program and the expansion.

After 7 successful years, it is time to give all employers the option of verifying their workforce and avoiding entanglements with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

I would like to thank Senator Grassley for sponsoring S. 1685, the Senate counterpart to my bill, and encourage my colleagues to vote for a bill that promotes compliance with Federal law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to each and every firefighter and citizen whose dedication to our communities and families of Southern California again demonstrated exceptional spirit and strength in a time of disaster. Our nation is fortunate to have dedicated citizens who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Our firefighters confronted the unprecedented fires which swept through our region with unwavering courage. They exemplify community leadership. I was fortunate enough to accompany President Bush yesterday as he thanked these spirited public servants and talked to the victims and survivors of the Southern California fires.

Without the dedication and tireless passion of our Firefighters and public servants there would have been even more extensive destruction of property and devastation of lives above and beyond the 3,300 homes and 4,000 other structures destroyed and hundreds of thousands of acres burned. Our Firefighters fought and finally brought under control these devastating wildfires and continue in aiding the victims left homeless in the wake of the destruction.

I know I speak for all the people from California's 44th district when I say that our thoughts and prayers have been with the firefighters as they worked vigorously to contain and control the wildfires. Laboring day and night in extreme conditions, the firefighters that responded to the Southern California wildfires will always have our nation's respect for their dedication to their profession. There is no better example for Americans than those who stare down adversity and meet every challenge with true conviction, just as the firefighters have done during this very difficult time.

While the firefighter worked tirelessly on the front lines of the fires, the support personnel that were tasked with an overwhelming job of reconstruction and recovery are equally honored for their efforts. Often it is the aftermath of a crisis that brings the most arduous challenges. The dedicated public servants that have come to the aid of their victims of the Southern California wildfires are to be commended for their ongoing contributions. Law enforcement, medical personnel, emergency responders, and community leaders have all come together to complete a daunting task; recovering from the loss of loved ones and property, and rebuilding in the aftermath.

I am proud to cosponsor H. Res. 425, recognizing and honoring the firefighters and public servants who responded to the October 2003 Southern California wildfires. I am sincerely grateful for the leadership and sacrifice firefighters and their families endure in order to secure property and protect our lives. As a native Southern Californian I know that our communities will persevere through this tragedy and successfully rebuild our beloved homes and families. We all stand ready to help in any way I can.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside, California 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. Steve Jorgensen is one of these individuals. Steve will be retiring as Director of the Riverside National Cemetery this year and his dedication and contributions will be missed.

Steve is a native of Oregon where he joined the United States Army and served honorably for three years. In 1976, he graduated from Mount Hood College and later attended College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.

Steve joined the National Cemetery System in June 1973, while still a student, as a cemetery caretaker at Willamette National Cemetery located in Portland, Oregon. In January of 1977, he was elected as a cemetery director trainee and remained at Willamette for the year long program. After completion of the program, he was named Director at Eagle Point, Oregon National Cemetery and remained there for a year and a half. He served as Director of the Fort Smith, Arkansas National Cemetery; Director of the San Francisco, California National Cemetery; Assistant Director of the Willamette National Cemetery; and Director of the Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Steve was appointed to Director of Riverside National Cemetery in October 1991 and has been responsible for all burial and maintenance operations at the cemetery. Riverside National Cemetery is one of our nation's largest cemeteries and is the most active. The 921-acre facility has 288 developed acres, performs 8,000 burials yearly, and has over 145,000 gravesites to maintain. The facility is revered for its high standards of maintenance and efficiency. Under Steve's excellent leadership the facility has achieved the highest awards possible within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Robert W. Carey Organizational Excellence Award. The cemetery received this prestigious award in 1996, 2002 and 2003.

Steve's tireless passion for service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside California. His unwavering commitment to maintaining the dignity of the Riverside National Cemetery is a source of pride to his community and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members, veterans and spouses of veterans are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2359, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003. The basic pilot employment verification system is the only system offered to employers to verify employment eligibility for new employees.

In 1994, I spoke with a Border Patrol agent who identified a key need in the enforcement of immigration laws: Employers need a simple and reliable tool to verify the worker status of new employees.

In response, I introduced a bill to create the basic pilot program to do just that, operate in six of the most problematic States on a voluntary basis. The basic pilot program has proven to be an overwhelming success.

The basic pilot program is the best tool available for employers to comply with immigration laws which prohibit hiring undocumented immigrants. Recently, a contract cleaning service for Wal-Mart was raided by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and over 250 employees were arrested. If Wal-Mart's cleaning service contractors had used the basic pilot program and verified the I-9 documents provided by their workers, this could have been avoided. We must provide companies the option of using this employment verification program and assist them in complying with Federal immigration law. Without this system, employers have no means of verifying legal work status for immigrants, causing many employers to discriminate against legal workers. This program gives employers the confidence to hire legal immigrants, reducing discrimination in the workplace.

Additionally, H.R. 2359 allows employers from any State to voluntarily use this program. Many of my colleagues expressed concerns that this will expand the program too far, too fast. The reality is that the current program States are home to 80 percent of illegal immigrants, which means the impact on the system will be relatively small. After 7 successful years, it is time to give all employers the option of verifying their workforce and avoiding entanglements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As a former restaurant owner, I tried to do the right thing. When I filed those forms, that I-9, and put two identifications in the back of that form, I hoped that they were legal. But many times you cannot tell the difference. The only chance that an employer has today to try to do the right thing is verifying the legitimacy of that Social Security number against the name of the potential employee that is coming in for employment. This is the only way they can do it, Madam Speaker. If we take this away, there will be no other options for employers.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) for their work on this important bill. I hope that we keep this program intact in this country. We need it desperately as employers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside, California 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. Ramon Alvarez is one of these individuals. On October 16, 2003 he will be honored at a dinner hosted by the Boy Scouts of America in the City of Riverside as he is named the 2003 Distinguished Citizen.

Ramon moved to Riverside in 1995 from San Diego and quickly involved himself in the community. Ramon established his business, Alvarez Lincoln Mercury and Alvarez Jaguar Dealership, in Riverside and in 1996 the dealership was named Hispanic Business of the Year and the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Ramon also involved himself in the University of California, Riverside Entrepreneurial Program--inspiring young men and women to follow their entrepreneurial dreams.

Despite the demands of a successful business, Ramon always finds time to give back. He is a Board Member of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce and of the Riverside Community Hospital. He is an Advisory Board Member of YMCA and a member of the Raincross Club. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of California, Riverside and as a Board Member of the March of Dimes. He is past president of the Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Riverside Auto Center Association, and a past member of the Riverside Community College Foundation. In 1999, Ramon was named the Ernst & Young Outstanding Entrepreneur and in 2001 he was the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Ford Lincoln Mercury Minority Dealers Association.

Ramon is the current Executive Director of the Boy Scouts of America of Riverside, California. His tireless passion for business and community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Riverside, California. I am proud to call Ramon a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful for his service and salute him as he is named the Boy Scouts of America of Riverside, California 2003 Distinguished Citizen.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an organization whose dedication and contributions to the community of Riverside County, California are exceptional. The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) is celebrating its 50 year anniversary on October 25, 2003 and I commend them for the work they have done in the field of conservation.

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District facilitates natural conservation through education, collaboration, and technical assistance. The RCRCD is a small, government agency charged with conserving the natural resources of the area. Some of the projects of the RCRCD include habitat restoration projects including invasive species removal, a severe problem in my district; irrigation water management evaluations; and education programs concerning storm water, trees and soil.

In 1953, 126 local farmers owning 6,700 acres, with the help of Soil Conservation Service staff, sent a petition to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and requested formation of a ``Soil Conservation District''. That year an election was held and five landowners were nominated as the first directors. By forming the District, federal programs were made available to local farmers.

In the late 1950's, Colorado River water became available to local growers through Western Municipal Water District pipelines. Citrus was planted around Woodcrest, Eagle Valley, Gavilan Hills, Temescal Canyon, and Riverside-Highlands. The RCRCD gained over 400 cooperators. Farmers installed practices to help control erosion, such as cover crops, check dams, grassed waterways and to help conserve water, such as sprinkler systems. The population in the 1950's was about 50,000. Today it is around 500,000.

RCRCD continues to work with local communities and farmers to spread the use of best practices in conservation and for research purposes, such as housing the California Department of Food and Agriculture's research project on the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, a Pierce's Disease vector.

I salute the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District for the work they do in the field of conservation, an area crucial to the future of California. Without researching and educating conservation methods our state will find it hard to sustain the current rate of growth. I commend the 50 years of leadership by RCRCD and thank them for continuing this crucial mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Walter McDonald, President-Elect of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR is America's largest trade association, representing more than 840,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Walter has demonstrated his commitment to Realtor issues and willingness to devote his time and expertise towards furthering the priorities of Realtors nationwide.

Walter has been a Realtor since 1964 and is the broker-owner of Walt McDonald Real Estate, a single-office, independent firm specializing in property sales, leasing and lending. He holds the professional designations of Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate, Realtor Institute.

Currently, Walter serves as a NAR director and has been particularly active in legislative, finance and housing issues. From 1996 through 1998, he served on NAR's Executive Committee. In 1998, he took over as Regional Vice President for NAR, representing the states of California, Hawaii and Guam. He also serves on the association's Leadership Team and Executive Committee. He served as NAR's First Vice President in 2002.

Walter has also been active at the state and local levels of the Realtor Organization. In 1993, he served as President of the California Association of Realtors (CAR), one of the nation's largest state trade organizations with more than 95,000 members. He has served on CAR's board of directors since 1971 and also served as Chairman of the board of Real Estate Business Services, Inc., a subsidiary of CAR. Walter also has been as President of the Riverside/Moreno Valley Association of Realtors and President of the Riverside County Real Estate Council.

In addition to his numerous professional involvements, Walter is also dedicated to his community as well. Walter has served on the advisory boards of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, the Riverside National Bank and he is currently serving a 2-year term on the advisory board for Fannie Mae. He also served on the California Department of Real Estate Advisory Commission through 1998, under an appointment by the state's governor.

Walter's long list of accomplishments demonstrates why he is ideal for the position of President of the National Association of Realtors. His tireless passion for the real estate industry and his community has contributed immensely to the betterment of Riverside County, California, and our Nation. I congratulate him and wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors as President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an individual whose dedication an contributions to the community of Corona and Norco, CA are exceptional. Our community has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a better place to live and work. Dave DiPaolo is one of these individuals. Dave is being honored as he retires after 36 years of dedicated service to the students, employees, parents, and community members of the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

Dave began his teaching career at Corona High School where he was appointed to Director of Activities/Athletics and initiated the Athletic Hall of Fame; designed the school's athletic handbook; served as a board member on the California Activities Directors' Association; and as a charter member and president of the Citrus Belt Athletic Directors' Association.

After serving 21 years at Corona High, Dave was promoted in 1986 to the position of assistant principal at Norco High School where he served on various athletic organizations as well as membership in management and administrative organizations. In 1997, Dave was selected to serve at Director of Human Relations for the school district, overseeing more than 1,800 employees.

Throughout his career, Dave has shown an unlimited willingness to help students, teachers and employees. He has been a role model and mentor to both students and teachers. His consistent ``open-door'' policy cultivated an atmosphere of communication and understanding. At all times, he has conducted himself with integrity. His leadership and contributions have touched the lives of many students and teachers.

Dave's tireless passion for education has contributed immensely to the betterment of the communities of Corona and Norco, California. Dave has demonstrated his willingness to work hard for quality education and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that many children, parents, fellow teachers and administrators are grateful for his service and salute him as he retires.