Mr. Speaker, in recognition of International Firefighters Day 2026, 11 firefighters from California's Third Congressional District were nominated by their leadership teams to be recognized for going above and beyond the regular call of…
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of International Firefighters Day 2026, 11 firefighters from California's Third Congressional District were nominated by their leadership teams to be recognized for going above and beyond the regular call of duty in service to our communities.
As such, I wish to honor today the following firefighters: Ben Westmoreland with the Truckee Fire Protection District, Fred Stump with the Long Valley Fire Protection District, Kevin Colson with the Roseville Fire Department, Brock Benton with the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, David Calloway with the Big Pine Fire Protection District, Matt Dargan with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, Buck Sims with the Auburn Fire Department, Justin Finley with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, James Janney with the White Mountain Fire Protection District, Keith Taylor with the Rocklin Fire Department, and Tracey Kincheloe with the South Placer Fire Protection District.
These firefighters have demonstrated an unwavering devotion to fire prevention, medical aid, rescue operations, emergency preparedness, and community education. Their dedicated efforts make a lasting and meaningful impact in our communities.
Throughout their careers, they have earned the respect and admiration of department leadership, fellow firefighters, and the community alike. They have each individually built distinguished records of excellence, consistently upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, courage, and selfless service.
Each day, firefighters answer the call to protect lives, property, and public safety, often placing themselves in harm's way for the sake of others. These firefighters embody the very best of that calling. It is an honor to represent remarkable individuals like these public servants here in Congress.
Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize these firefighters for their exemplary public service, steadfast leadership, and enduring commitment to safeguarding our communities and protecting our quality of life.
Congratulating David Gordon on His Retirement
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon on his upcoming plans to retire, following 21 years of leadership in the Sacramento educational community.
Superintendent Gordon leads an office which provides financial oversight and support services to 13 school districts and more than 235,000 students.
Superintendent Gordon holds a BA from Brandeis University and an EDM and certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Harvard University.
His career in the field of educational leadership includes being appointed as the superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, the State's fourth largest school district, for 9 years.
During this time, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the Nation's report card. He also served on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.
Prior to his work in Elk Grove, he was the deputy superintendent for the California Department of Education. Additionally, Superintendent Gordon has served on numerous boards and commissions in California, including his current service as a Governor's appointee to the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
He also finds time to generously give back to his community through his volunteer work as a member of the board of trustees of the Sierra Health Foundation.
I have gotten to know Dave over the years, and he is a widely admired leader in education in our communities. He has been an invaluable source of wisdom and guidance to me, and his leadership will be greatly missed, but I know that he will continue to contribute to our communities in many ways.
On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Superintendent of Schools David Gordon's long and distinguished service to the Sacramento educational community and wish he and his wife Deborah the very best in retirement.
Honoring Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange for their 125 years of service to the Sacramento region.
The exchange is the development industry's oldest and largest association in the Sacramento region, with over 1,100 member companies and 65,000 employees. Their members include area contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, and industry support organizations. They provide educational and
safety programs along with networking opportunities.
The founding of the exchange dates back to 1901, when a group of local builders formed an association for the purpose of resolving common issues and exchanging ideas related to their industry. Their objective was to encourage and cultivate a fellowship among its members and to make them better acquainted with the needs of the industry.
The exchange is also a partner with the Construction Industry Education Foundation. The foundation serves more than 17,000 high school students annually. Their ``recruit and retain'' partnership has also led to one of the fastest growing women in construction programs in the Nation.
On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange and to congratulate them for continuing to meet the area's development needs as the Sacramento region continues to grow.
Commemorating 25th Anniversary of Asian Pacific American Public Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs organization.
For 25 years, this dynamic organization has been a leading voice for advancing meaningful civic causes in our region. APAPA has provided leadership, engagement in public affairs, and community building for Asian Pacific communities throughout their 21 chapters across California, including chapters in Folsom and Sacramento.
The founders, C.C. and Regina Yin, established APAPA in 2001 as a way to empower communities through robust civic engagement and providing opportunities to grow the area's next generation of leaders.
As successful businessowners, they have generously given back to our region to support many community and nonprofit events, many of which they have hosted at their Yin ranch. They also continue to serve on the national governing board of APAPA.
Over two decades ago, APAPA opened its national headquarters in Sacramento. This proximity to the State capitol was a natural fit to provide opportunities to engage with State legislators, host public policy events, and run a national internship program to inspire the next generation of leaders.
This includes APAPA's Youth Leadership Academy, which is designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of high school leaders. This ambitious program's goal is to equip 1,500 high school students annually with the necessary skills to be leaders in their communities through hands-on learning opportunities. This program is led and coordinated by APAPA in conjunction with local educational agencies.
APAPA's headquarters and many regional chapters host educational and civic forums to connect communities with leaders at all levels of government to provide meaningful conversations between government officials and the people they represent.
On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to join the community to recognize the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs organization for 25 years of civic leadership, and I look forward to many more years of their very important work.
Honoring Reginald Williams
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Reginald Williams, chief of the Rocklin Fire Department, on his retirement after more than 32 years of service to the Rocklin Fire Department and Rocklin community.
Chief Williams dedicated more than 25 years to the San Jose Fire Department, serving in several leadership positions, including assistant chief, before he was appointed chief of the Rocklin Fire Department in 2020.
During his tenure, Chief Williams remained steadfast in his commitment to serving the community, earning a reputation for embracing innovation and strengthening the department's safety practices. As the city of Rocklin continues to grow, so do the demands of its fire department. In 2025 alone, Rocklin firefighters responded to over 6,400 calls for service.
Chief Williams did not shy away from this growth but rose to meet the community's evolving needs.
Among his achievements, he helped secure a $3.9 million Federal SAFER grant, in partnership with the city manager's office and administrative services department, to support firefighter staffing and preparedness for opening a new fire station. He also prioritized improvements that would help firefighters communicate and coordinate more effectively in the field.
These efforts included modernizing radio and station alerting systems and adding satellite communication capabilities to command vehicles.
Beyond these technological improvements, Chief Williams also focused on strengthening how the department interacted with the community. Under his leadership, the department expanded programs to improve service delivery, including the Lift Assist Program, which helps to keep emergency resources available for higher priority calls and strengthen the department's wildfire response capabilities with the addition of a specialized wildland firefighting vehicle.
Chief Williams has earned the respect and admiration of the firefighters he leads and the residents he serves. His tireless work has strengthened the Rocklin Fire Department and helped position it to meet the needs of the community for years to come. After more than three decades in the fire service, he leaves behind a profound record of leadership and a lasting contribution to public safety.
It is a true honor to represent exemplary leaders like Chief Williams in Congress. As such, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I wish Chief Reginald Williams a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. I thank him for his more than three decades of dedicated service to public safety and the communities he has served.
Congratulating Ikeda's California Country Market and Pie Shop
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ikeda's California Country Market and Pie Shop in Auburn, a cherished three-generation family business that has recently received national recognition.
Ikeda's was featured on NBC's ``Today'' show and was voted the number one pie shop in America by USA Today. The number one pie shop in America is a remarkable achievement for a business that has been serving the region for more than 50 years.
The founders were among the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. Following their release, farming provided an opportunity to rebuild their lives, and through hard work, perseverance, and determination, the Ikeda family built a thriving business that has since become a beloved landmark along Interstate 80.
Over time, the family expanded the business to include a pie operation that now produces up to 1,000 pies a day made with fruit grown on their own 40 acres of orchards.
Today, Ikeda's operates not only its flagship market, restaurant, and pie shop in Auburn, but also an additional location in Davis. The business continues to grow while maintaining its deep connection to the community.
It is an honor to recognize exemplary businesses like Ikeda's California Country Market and Pie Shop. Ikeda's is more than a stop along the interstate. It is a testament to perseverance, heritage, and community spirit, and it continues to be a point of pride for the region.
Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to congratulate Ikeda's on their recent national recognition and celebrate their many decades of service to the people of California's Third Congressional District and across the State.
Recognizing Chief Matt Alves of the Lincoln Police Department
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Chief Matt Alves of the Lincoln Police Department, who will retire on September 17 after more than three decades of dedicated public service to the Lincoln community.
Chief Alves' connection to Lincoln spans more than 40 years. As a longtime resident of Lincoln, he grew up
attending local schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1994. That same year he began his public safety career as a volunteer firefighter with the Placer County Fire Department later earning his paramedic license. His commitment to serving the community was clear from the very beginning.
In 1999, Chief Alves joined the Lincoln Police Department as a dispatcher. Two years later, he became a police officer trainee and attended the Yuba College Basic Police Academy with sponsorship from the department. Over the years, he rose through the ranks working in a variety of roles that reflected both his professionalism and his dedication to the people of Lincoln.
Chief Alves was appointed public safety chief in 2021, overseeing both the police and fire departments. When Lincoln returned to separate departmental leadership in 2023, he continued as police chief guiding the department with integrity and steady leadership.
Throughout his career, Chief Alves has contributed significantly to the safety and well-being of the community and is widely respected by those who have worked alongside him and by the residents he has protected throughout his career.
Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I congratulate Chief Matt Alves on his retirement and thank him for his many years of exemplary service to the City of Lincoln.
Recognizing Lorraine Noble During National Nurses Week
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Nurses Week 2026, I wish to honor Lorraine Noble, a dedicated nurse at the Eastern Plumas Health Care skilled nursing department for her exceptional commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals in our community.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Lorraine has consistently exemplified high standards of professionalism while delivering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care.
With five decades of experience in healthcare, 24 of which have been in skilled nursing, she has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the care and service of others, continually advancing her clinical expertise to provide comfort, support, and healing to patients and their families during life's most critical moments.
She has served in a variety of leadership and clinical staff roles, including licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, and now as the director of nursing services. In each position, Lorraine has earned the respect and admiration of hospital leadership, colleagues, patients, and community members alike. She has also been recognized as the Eastern Plumas Health Care Employee of the Year and with the Excellence Award in Nursing from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration, an award, by the way, she has won multiple times, which is a testament to her tireless work ethic, collaborative spirit, and steadfast commitment to excellence in healthcare.
Lorraine Noble is widely regarded by others for her strong memory and meticulous attention to detail. As the leader of clinical operations for two skilled nursing facilities at Eastern Plumas Health Care, Lorraine has an extraordinary ability to recall each patient's care plan and personal situations while also maintaining consistent connection with their families.
Lorraine leads at the patient bedside and not from an office, wanting to know every detail of a patient's care from a medication change to an alteration in mental status. She directs the plan of care for each and every patient to ensure the maximization of their psychosocial and physical well-being.
Lorraine is known for being a fierce patient advocate and for putting the patient first in daily decisions, which is evident through the many hours she spends caring for some of the most vulnerable members of eastern Plumas and Sierra Counties.
Her compassion extends beyond those in her care to the employees she supervises. She takes the time to understand their individual needs and circumstances, demonstrating the genuine kindness, empathy, integrity, and respect that form the foundation of her nursing practice and leadership.
Her connection with her team helps Eastern Plumas Health Care retain highly qualified nurses, which is especially important in the rural community she serves, where access to skilled clinicians can be limited.
Lorraine leads by example. For instance, to support her staff, Lorraine will often work side by side with new nurses, including during the overnight shift, to provide personalized coaching and guidance for their future career success.
Her expectation of excellence and servant-leader philosophy have led to the overall success of her department and a positive perception of the hospital within the community.
Lorraine's career reflects not only a deep commitment to the nursing profession but also a lasting impact on the lives of those she cares for and the colleagues she inspires.
Nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding the health of our communities. Individuals like Lorraine Noble embody the very best of that calling through their selfless service and dedication to others.
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to represent remarkable individuals, public servants like her, here in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Lorraine Noble for her outstanding dedication to the nursing profession and to advancing the health of our friends, families, loved ones, and the region as a whole.
honoring satwinder singh
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Nurses Week 2026, I wish to honor Satwinder Singh, a dedicated nurse at Mercy Hospital of Folsom, for his exceptional commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals throughout our region.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Satwinder has consistently exemplified high standards of professionalism while delivering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care. With 16 years of experience in healthcare, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the care and service of others, continually advancing his clinical expertise to provide comfort, support, and healing to patients and their families during life's most critical moments.
Currently serving as a hospital nursing supervisor, Satwinder has earned the respect and admiration of hospital leadership, colleagues, patients, and community members alike through his tireless work ethic, collaborative spirit, and steadfast dedication to excellence in healthcare.
At the heart of Satwinder's nursing practice is his commitment to helping people in moments of profound hardship and carrying them through. Recently, one of his colleagues, another nurse at the hospital, experienced the devastating loss of her only grandson, whom she had been raising. In the midst of overwhelming grief, she made the difficult decision to return to work in order to continue supporting her family.
On the day of the funeral, another hardship struck when her family's vehicle was totaled on the way to the service. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the loss left her without reliable transportation during an already unbearable time.
When Satwinder learned that his colleague was relying on rideshare services just to make it to work, he quickly stepped in without hesitation by loaning her his own personal vehicle so she could continue getting to and from work safely and reliably while navigating unimaginable loss.
A gesture of this sort required trust, personal sacrifice, and genuine empathy. His actions eased a significant burden for a grieving colleague and provided stability during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Satwinder's response to this moment of hardship came not out of obligation but out of the kindness of his character. He recognized someone in crisis and responded with humanity, humility, and practical support when it mattered the most. His kindheartedness had a ripple effect throughout his entire department, reminding those around him what it means to care for each other beyond clinical responsibilities. His actions strengthened morale,
reinforced trust, and embodied the values of service, compassion, and community in their purest form.
Nursing is often measured through skill, efficiency, and outcomes, but the soul of nursing lives in moments like this act of compassion. Satwinder demonstrated that being an exceptional nurse is about the care that one extends to not only patients but also to the people beside them.
Satwinder continues to make a meaningful and lasting impact on all those fortunate enough to work alongside him and receive his care. His actions reflect the integrity and compassion that define the nursing profession.
Nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding the health of our communities. Individuals like Satwinder Singh embody the very best of that calling through their selfless service and dedication to others.
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to represent remarkable individuals like him here in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Satwinder Singh for his outstanding devotion to the nursing profession and to advancing the health of our friends, families, loved ones, and the region as a whole.
Honoring Sarah McCarthy
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Nurses Week 2026, I wish to honor Sarah McCarthy, a dedicated nurse at Kaiser Permanente Roseville, for her exceptional commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals throughout our community.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Sarah has consistently exemplified high standards of professionalism while delivering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care.
With 23 years of experience in healthcare, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the care and service of others, continually advancing her clinical expertise to provide comfort, support, and healing to patients and their families during life's most critical moments.
She has served in a variety of leadership and clinical roles, including emergency services nurse, sexual assault nurse examiner, ICU nurse, critical care transport nurse, manager of critical care services, regional manager of emergency behavioral health services, and gastroenterology nurse.
She is also well known for her role as a chair of the Voice of Nursing Council, where she empowers her colleagues to shape their practice and promotes hospital improvement efforts.
In each position, Sarah has earned the respect and admiration of hospital leadership, colleagues, patients, and community members alike.
She has also been recognized with the 2026 Extraordinary Nurse Award, a testament to her tireless work ethic, collaborative spirit, and steadfast dedication to excellence in healthcare.
Sarah is widely regarded by others as a trusted leader, mentor, and clinical expert at the Kaiser Permanente Roseville Emergency Department, the second-busiest emergency department in the State of California.
Colleagues routinely seek her guidance for her sound judgment, cooperative approach, and steady leadership. She stands out for her ability to blend compassionate bedside care with measurable, system- level improvements.
Her leadership in creating a dedicated specialized pediatric space in the emergency department resulted in improved care for pediatric patients and a 100-percent score on the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment.
At the heart of Sarah's nursing practice is her unwavering advocacy for patients, deep sense of pride and purpose in her work, and the compassion, empathy, and integrity she brings to each patient interaction.
Her career reflects not only a deep commitment to the nursing profession, but also a lasting impact on the lives of those that she cares for and the colleagues she inspires.
Nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding the health of our communities. Individuals like Sarah McCarthy embody the very best of that calling through their selfless service and dedication to others.
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to represent remarkable individuals like her here in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Sarah McCarthy for her outstanding dedication to the nursing profession and to advancing the health of our friends, families, loved ones, and the region as a whole.
Honoring Nurse Nicole Mahrle
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Nurses Week 2026, I wish to honor Nicole Mahrle, a dedicated nurse at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center for her exceptional commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals throughout our community.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Nicole has consistently exemplified high standards of professionalism, while delivering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care. With a decade of experience in healthcare, she has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the care and service of others, continually advancing her clinical expertise to provide comfort, support, and healing to patients and their families during life's most critical moments.
She served in a variety of leadership and clinical staff roles, including staff nurse, preceptor, clinical instructor, chair of the governance council, and registered nurse.
In each position, Nicole has earned the respect and admiration of hospital leadership, colleagues, patients, and community members alike.
She has also been recognized with the Sutter Spirit Award, a testament to her tireless work ethic, collaborative spirit, and steadfast dedication to excellence in healthcare.
Nicole is widely regarded by others for her positivity and for being an example of compassionate care for patients, while simultaneously supporting new hires and her colleagues. She leads each day with kindness, empathy, integrity, and respect, which form the foundation of her nursing practice.
Her career reflects not only a deep commitment to the nursing profession, but also a lasting impact on the lives of those she cares for and the colleagues she inspires.
Nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding the health of our communities, and individuals like Nicole Mahrle embody the very best of that calling through their selfless service and dedication to others. It is a privilege to represent remarkable individuals like her here in Congress.
Mr. Speaker, therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Nicole Mahrle for her outstanding devotion to the nursing profession and to advancing the health of our friends, families, loved ones, and the region as a whole.
Honoring Nurse Laura Partridge
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Nurses Week 2026, I wish to recognize Laura Partridge, a dedicated nurse at the pediatric clinic of the Northern Inyo Healthcare District for her exceptional commitment to promoting the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals throughout our community.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Laura has consistently exemplified high standards of professionalism while delivering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care.
With 14 years of experience in healthcare, she has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the care and service of others, continually advancing her clinical expertise to provide comfort, support, and healing to patients and their families during life's most critical moments.
She served in a variety of leadership and clinical roles, including pediatric nurse, labor and delivery nurse, nurse for the Rural Women's Health Clinic, childbirth education coordinator and instructor, and consultant nurse in maternal mental health curriculum development.
In each position, Laura has earned the respect and admiration of hospital leadership, colleagues, patients, and community members alike. She has also been recognized as Employee of the Month for the Northern Inyo Healthcare District, a testament to her tireless work ethic, collaborative spirit, and steadfast commitment to excellence in healthcare.
Laura is widely regarded by others for her thoughtful approach, steady presence, and passion for supporting families during pregnancy and early parenthood. Those around her recognize her ability to combine clinical skills with compassion, creating an environment where families feel heard, supported, and confident in their care.
In the past year, Laura has taken an active role in strengthening maternal mental health support in Inyo County. Recognizing the need for coordinated services through her work with new and expectant mothers, she collaborated with local partners to establish the Maternal Mental Health coalition.
This effort helps connect families with coordinated support and resources that were previously limited or difficult to access in a rural setting, allowing families to receive more assistance during pregnancy and early parenthood.
She also offers free childbirth and maternal mental health educational classes, removing barriers to access and ensuring families across the region have practical information and support during this important time in their lives.
Her efforts in education have drawn attention beyond the Eastern Sierra, as she is now involved in the development of maternal mental health curriculum and filming that extends the reach of this work to other communities, helping to bring rural perspectives into national education efforts. It is so important.
Laura's career reflects not only a deep commitment to the nursing profession but also a lasting impact on the lives of those she cares for and colleagues she inspires.
Nurses play an indispensable role in safeguarding the health of our communities, and individuals like Laura Partridge embody the very best of that calling through their selfless serving and dedication to others. It is a privilege to represent remarkable individuals like her here in Congress.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Laura Partridge for her outstanding devotion to the nursing profession and to advancing the health of our friends, families, loved ones, and region as a whole.
Recognizing the Extraordinary Bravery of Konnor Knoefler
Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to recognize the extraordinary bravery of Konnor Knoefler, a 9-year-old boy from Downieville, California. Konnor was traveling with his mother and sister when their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision on Highway 49 due to an intoxicated and uninsured driver.
Despite being in the collision himself, Konnor responded with remarkable composure, checking on his mother, and then calmly escorting his sister to safety after being injured, moving her away from the still unstable vehicle.
According to the Downieville Volunteer Fire Department, Konnor remained calm under intense pressure and kept his focus on the safety and well-being of his family. His quick thinking and swift response following the crash, along with his cooperation with emergency responders and law enforcement, were instrumental in facilitating an effective emergency response during a critical situation.
Konnor's display of courage, selfless conduct, and mature judgment made a meaningful difference that day. His actions reflect exceptional character, resilience, responsibility, and, of course, devotion to his family.
I am confident that that same strength of character Konnor demonstrated that day will continue to guide him in the years ahead, and I look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in the future.
Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to join the Downieville community in commending Konnor Knoefler for his heroic actions that day.
Honoring BriarPatch Food Co-op
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate BriarPatch Food Co-op for reaching a significant milestone of 50 years in business this year and to recognize its contributions toward promoting a sustainable local food system and expanding access to healthy food and natural products throughout our region.
BriarPatch's story began in 1974 as a modest health food club formed by 12 to 20 families who shared a passion for wholesome and nutritious food options. Transforming the food club into a more formal co-op, the early founders opened the first retail store in 1976 in Grass Valley.
Over the years, the co-op moved through several locations before establishing its current Grass Valley store on Sierra College Drive, which opened in 2007. The move increased the store's footprint from a 2,000-square foot space to 15,000-square feet, enabling BriarPatch to better serve the growing needs of the community. Building on that success, the co-op opened a second location in Auburn in 2023.
For five decades, BriarPatch Food Co-op has been devoted to providing fresh, high-quality products at affordable prices while supporting local farmers and producers. They have earned the trust and loyalty of customers in the community as reflected in their recognition as Best Grocery Store in Nevada County by the readers of The Union newspaper.
Today, the BriarPatch Food Co-op has become one of the Nation's leading and largest food cooperatives. Its success has allowed them to help other cooperatives thrive and has strengthened our local agricultural economy by creating reliable markets for small family farms and supporting local food producers.
Beyond its business operations, BriarPatch has made lasting investments in the community through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and initiatives that improve the quality of life of people in our region.
BriarPatch has also demonstrated a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2016, the Co-op installed more than 600 high-performance solar panels, generating up to 55 percent of the Grass Valley store's electricity and demonstrating the value of sustainable business practices.
Across its long history, BriarPatch has met challenges with innovation and resilience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-op quickly introduced online ordering and curbside pickup, ensuring continued access to healthy food, while protecting customers and employees during an unprecedented time. These efforts not only served the community, but also positioned the organization for continued growth.
By fostering strong partnerships with local farmers, businesses, and community organizations, BriarPatch Food Co-Op has helped build a stronger, more resilient regional economy, while promoting healthy living and environmental responsibility.
Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize BriarPatch Food Co-Op for their 50-year anniversary, and I wish them continued success in the years to come.
Yosemite National Park
``Inalienable for all time.'' Those were the words of Abraham Lincoln in signing the Yosemite Grant in 1864.
A few decades later, Theodore Roosevelt commented: There is no place in the world more beautiful than Yosemite.
So it has come as a shock to many of us with recent reporting suggesting that there has been an effort underway over the last year to sell off a piece of the park, in direct contradiction of President Lincoln's words. The plan apparently is to provide greater access for private development, with no improved public access to the park itself.
Now, this is of enormous practical importance to those of us in California. Yosemite is not that far from some parts of my district. I grew up in the Sacramento area, so it is a bit of a drive there. But, nevertheless, it is impossible to conceive of California without Yosemite.
Visits to Yosemite formed an important part of my childhood, climbing Half Dome, experiencing the absolutely breathtaking, unmatched beauty that President Roosevelt referred to.
The idea that suddenly the park is going to be opened up for private development or to be sold off is something that we absolutely cannot let happen.
It is also a matter of importance in a much larger sense, because when President Lincoln dedicated this land as part of the Yosemite Grant, it was really what formed the basis of the entire National Park System that came after.
Remember, this was in the middle of the Civil War. The Nation was at once being torn apart, but also knit together through large-scale development projects, the railroads, homesteads. But this was a moment where President Lincoln said: There are some places that are so sacred, they must forever be put in public trust. They must belong only to the public.
This attempt to privatize a portion of Yosemite is not only an attack on this national treasure but on the entire system that it gave birth to and to the values of conservation and stewardship that are now such an important part of the American character.
What is more, this is not an isolated incident. We have seen other attempts to undermine these principles of protecting our public lands. We saw an attempt in H.R. 1 last year to sell off public lands without even meaningful local input. Fortunately, a few of us stood up and opposed that, and we were able to get it out of the legislation.
I am joining a bipartisan, bicameral letter with my Senate colleagues, Senators Schiff and Padilla, urging the Secretary of the Interior to put a stop to any effort when it comes to selling off any part of Yosemite. We need to make sure that President Lincoln's words are honored now and forever, which is that this national treasure is inalienable for all time.
California's High-Speed Rail Project
Mr. Speaker, I will provide an update on the high-speed rail project in California, which was supposed to be complete in 2020, but for which there has not been any track at all laid now in 2026. We, of course, in the House were successful in passing legislation to cut off further Federal funding. That is important for those of us in California who rely on existing forms of transit, like our roads and regional transit, because now those Federal funds can be used to improve those modalities and improve the quality of life for folks in our State.
Now, California filed a lawsuit after we were successful in cutting off those funds--Governor Newsom did. That lawsuit has now been dropped. It turns out that the compliance review that the State failed was very well documented because, for one thing, the Federal funding that had been given to the State was supposed to be used to buy trains, and the State never bought any trains. So there are still no trains, no stations, no track, and no passengers.
We have succeeded in redirecting California's share of Federal transportation funding away from a project that has been deemed nonviable and toward useful projects that will improve traffic, lane capacity, and safety in our State.
The other update, though, is a shocking one, or it would be shocking in any other project; but for this project, it is sort of more of the same, which is that the inspector general for the Rail Authority recently came out with a report showing that the project is going to run out of funds next year. The inspector general also noted that the Rail Authority has not been transparent in acknowledging that reality.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is the time, especially with California now going to have a new Governor come in this coming year, several new legislators, to really step back here and ask the question: Should we continue to put billions and billions of more State dollars into this project as well? I believe the answer is no.
I believe that there is now an opportunity for our State's political leadership to come to its senses, to wind this failed project down, to assure that we don't throw good money after bad, to assure that we don't spend another $200 billion on a project that The New York Times said is not even going to be done this century. California has so many pressing needs that this is simply we simply cannot afford.
The Will of the Voters
Mr. Speaker, I have a few words to say today about protecting democracy in the State of California, because there have been a number of recent examples of where the will of voters has been ignored, distorted, or overwritten in a way that has served to make our State less affordable and to lower our quality of life.
There are a few basic ways that this has happened. The first is simply enacting far-reaching policies without any vote of the people or of the legislature. We saw this with the State's attempt to ban gas- powered cars, which was promulgated by the Governor and enacted by the Air Resources Board. The legislature never voted on it. The people of California certainly never voted on it.
Fortunately, because that order was predicated on Federal authority, we were able to take action here in Congress.
I introduced a resolution to overturn that ban on gas-powered cars. It passed here in the House with very strong bipartisan support. It passed the Senate with bipartisan support, and it was signed into law by the President. You can now continue to drive the car of your choice, and the will of the people has prevailed because a poll from the Public Institute of California just showed that two-thirds of Californians, a supermajority of Californians, opposed the ban on gas-powered cars that they never got a say on.
Yet, we are now seeing more of the same, even within the same genre, which is that the California Energy Commission recently issued an order to ban tires, or at least 70 percent of existing tires on the market.
Now, estimates show that when Californians have to replace their tires, this will cost many of them hundreds of dollars. There is also good evidence suggesting that they will have to replace their tires more often, so they will have to buy more tires. They will have to buy more expensive tires and will have more waste, so it will be bad for the environment.
This, once again, is a policy that the people of California did not vote on and that the legislature didn't even vote on.
I have joined my colleagues in calling on Governor Newsom to rescind this initiative, and we are exploring all options here in Congress for protecting the will of Californians, as well.
That is one way that we see the will of voters being simply ignored, by enacting policy without ever consulting them or their elected representatives.
A second way that this happens is through the distortion of the ballot initiative process. Now, this has been a longstanding problem, I must acknowledge, and both Republicans and Democrats have been guilty of it when they hold the Office of the Attorney General in California because it is the attorney general who writes the little summaries that you see on the ballot.
What we have seen, both in this coming election and in many previous elections, is that the attorney general has abused that power to write skewed summaries, to write descriptions of the ballot initiative that present a misleading idea of what the initiative will actually do.
When I was in the legislature, I introduced legislation to remove this power from the attorney general, given that this is a partisan official, and put it in the hands of a nonpartisan office called the legislative analyst.
This legislation was endorsed by the State's leading newspapers, the L.A. Times, the Sacramento Bee, and the Orange County Register. Unfortunately, it never passed, so we continue to have an initiative process where politicians have skewed it in order to get their preference to override that of the voters.
The third way in which we see the will of voters being ignored or sidelined is that when an initiative passes, in some cases, politicians in Sacramento have simply decided to ignore it or to sabotage it.
With Proposition 36, which was an initiative to restore commonsense consequences for retail theft and to get drug offenders the help that they need, the State's political establishment led by Governor Newsom did everything they possibly could to oppose this initiative.
Voters had other ideas and passed it with 68 percent of the vote. It passed in each and every one of California's 58 counties. It passed with more votes than any initiative on the ballot that year.
Rather than respecting the will of the voters, we have seen, in the 2 years
since its passage, that the Governor and the legislature are refusing to adequately fund the initiative as directed by the voters.
Then, perhaps most egregiously, in some cases, we see the will of voters not only being compromised or sabotaged, but just outright overridden and ignored by actions of politicians in Sacramento. This was most clear in a recent measure as part of what has been called the largest tax increase in California history to raise taxes on healthcare.
The legislature and the Governor have instituted a new healthcare tax called the managed care organization tax, which the nonpartisan legislative analyst estimates will increase healthcare premiums by $400 for a family of four.
Now, this is bad enough on its face, but what is worse is that California voters specifically passed an initiative just a couple of years ago saying that this tax cannot be raised, that this healthcare tax cannot be increased. Yet, the State's politicians decided to override the express orders of voters and to raise their costs anyway.
There is a way we can fight back here, as well. I have asked the Department of Health and Human Services not to approve this new tax increase, which is required under law.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is a very troubling trend when you see the will of California voters not being respected because, in each of these cases, you see those who are in positions of authority in Sacramento taking actions that run against what Californians want for good reason, because it is increasing their costs, the cost of their cars, the cost of their tires, the cost of healthcare, or it is making our communities less safe.
I view an important part of my job here to be a check and balance in a way that protects the will of California voters and certainly serves to be a check and balance against measures that have made our State so unaffordable.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
