Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am supporting this resolution today for a simple reason, and that is that it will stop gas prices from getting even higher in California. We simply can't afford it. Prices are approaching $6 on average statewide, far more than any other State. We have the highest cost of living in the country, and Californians cannot afford more to be piled on.

Now, I believe that air quality is vitally important at our docks, and I take no issue at all with California's longstanding program of 20 years that requires container ships, passenger ships, and reefer ships to plug in rather than have their engines idle when they are docked.

Indeed, with this newest rule, I would not be supporting this resolution if the rule only concerned the roll-on/roll-off vessels, because there are workable solutions there for plugging in when they dock, but CARB overreached. The California Air Resources Board overreached. For the first time, they decided to apply this rule to tanker boilers.

The problem is the technology for them just isn't there yet, so virtually none of them are going to be able to comply. What does that mean? It means, number one, there is not going to be any improvement in air quality. But, number two, for every hour that they are docked, they are going to be racking up thousands of dollars in fines, which could accumulate to literally billions of dollars, which, of course, will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for gasoline.

Mr. Speaker, I have made a promise to my constituents to be a check on both Sacramento and Washington when they overreach. In this instance, Sacramento has overreached, and we have the ability to push back and to protect affordability in our State.

But, in the same vein, if California wants to come up with a workable rule that applies to vessels that have the requisite technology, then I would oppose any effort here in Washington to interfere with that.

You see, we can make our State more affordable while protecting our environment at the same time. All we need is a little common sense.

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.

Mr. Speaker, today I am calling on Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to reverse the tire ban.

Yes, that is right. In case you didn't hear, California has banned tires, or at least 70 percent of them that don't meet performance standards, under a new mandate, the likes of which exists nowhere else in the country.

So what does this mean? Californians will now be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more by some estimates. Also, these tires are likely to wear out quicker, which means they are going to have to buy more expensive tires, and they are going to have to buy them more often. By the way, there is going to be more waste with the tires that get used, so it is probably bad for the environment, as well.

Mr. Speaker, Californians simply cannot afford this when the cost of living in our State is already higher than anywhere else in the country.

When the State tried to ban gas cars without any sort of vote of an elected representative or the voters, we got that reversed through bipartisan legislation here. I am hoping that we can find a way to reverse this, as well.

California needs to stop doing things to make life unaffordable and needs to stop banning things without the vote of any elected representative.

A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California finds that two-thirds of Californians oppose Governor Newsom's ban on gas-powered cars. This ban was imposed by the Governor without so much as a vote in the legislature or the people of California.

The good news is that the will of the people has prevailed.

I introduced a resolution here in Congress to reverse Governor Newsom's ban on gas cars. It passed this House with strong bipartisan support. It has passed the Senate with bipartisan support, and it was signed into law by the President. This is an important win for sanity in California. Californians can continue to drive the car of their choice, and it is exactly the kind of check and balance against the extreme policies in Sacramento that Californians are asking for.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Utah for yielding.

Many Californians have been shocked to learn that our State legislature and Governor just imposed what the California Tax Foundation calls ``the largest tax increase in State history.''

For a State that already has the highest taxes in the country and the highest cost of living, that is really saying something.

As part of this, the Governor and legislature in Sacramento have imposed a massive tax increase on healthcare that is going to cause California families to have to pay up to $400 more for healthcare premiums.

This is something that Californians simply cannot afford, and it is all the worse given that California voters already said that this kind of tax increase is barred. It is a double blow to democracy and affordability.

Fortunately, there is a way that we can fight back to stop it. I am writing a letter putting forth a formal request, joined by my colleagues in the California delegation, for the Department of Health and Human Services here at the Federal level to block this tax increase, which does require Federal approval.

We will be sending this request out by the end of this week, and it is my hope that California taxpayers can be spared yet another increase in our cost of living that so many Californians simply cannot afford because of the extreme policies coming out of Sacramento.

Recognizing Child Action

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Child Action for celebrating 50 years of service to the Sacramento community.

Child Action is a nonprofit organization that has been supporting children and families since 1976. Rooted in the qualities of compassion, community, and support, Child Action has provided affordable and quality childcare to over 19,000 children throughout Sacramento County.

When childcare is affordable, educational, and accessible, it greatly benefits the whole regional economy. As chair of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, I know full well the impact that Child Action's subsidy program and eligibility lists provide to deserving families with the necessary financial support. These forward-looking initiatives allow parents to seek employment or educational opportunities while still being able to support their families.

In addition to the programs for families, Child Action also provides support and training to other childcare providers in the Sacramento region, raising the quality of care in the field while growing local businesses in the process.

Partnering with like-minded stakeholders is just another way that Child Action enhances the quality of life in our community. They are, indeed, a pillar of compassion and care by supporting other childcare providers and guiding children and families toward brighter futures.

I was honored to attend Child Action's Golden Gala in the city of Rancho Cordova. The evening was filled with connection, care, and support as guests raised awareness for programs that continue to provide high-quality care to those who need it most in our community.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize Child Action for 50 years of service to the Sacramento region.

Recognizing Amy Van der Molen

Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Zookeeper Appreciation Week, I rise today to recognize an outstanding zookeeper in my district, Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Zookeeper Amy Van der Molen.

Amy has been a zookeeper at the Zoo Sanctuary since 1994. Prior to that, she worked as zookeeper at the Fairytale Town Park in Sacramento and is an educator at the Sacramento Zoo Interpretive Center. During her career, she has cared for birds, reptiles, omnivores, and carnivores.

During her tenure at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, Amy has overseen the care of many animals, including 13 bears, 8 mountain lions, 2 tigers, 5 wolves, and many others.

As part of her zookeeping job, Amy participates in vet procedures for the animals in her care, creates behavioral and environmental enrichment, performs positive enforcement training, participates in keeper chats for guests to educate them about animals, and shares the Zoo Sanctuary's mission of teaching responsible behavior toward all animals.

Amy has created the Annual Art Program where animals use their feet, nose, or other body parts to paint with nontoxic washable paint on a canvas. These paintings are sold in the zoo gift shop and have even been part of art shows at a local art gallery in Folsom and have sold at various special events and fundraisers to benefit the Zoo Sanctuary.

Amy's love for her work and for the animals under her care is evident as she has been quoted as saying: ``During my career, I have loved every single animal that I have worked with, but of course there are a few that I will never forget and will always be a part of me. I have been eligible,'' she said, ``for retirement since January of 2025, but I love my job and my animal family. I don't see myself leaving anytime soon.''

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize zookeeper Amy Van der Molen for her service to the Folsom community.

Honoring Ken Cusano

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate former City of Folsom Fire Chief Ken Cusano on the occasion of his retirement, following 28 years of service and dedication to protecting the Folsom community.

Chief Cusano attended Folsom High School and received his bachelor's degree from Sacramento State.

Since joining the fire department in 1998, Chief Cusano climbed the ranks, starting his career as a firefighter paramedic and eventually taking the title of chief in October 2020, which he held until his retirement.

Throughout his time as chief, he led a team of over 90 professionals and was known for strengthening the department during a time of unprecedented growth in the city.

During his tenure, Chief Cusano lent his expertise in the design and construction of Fire Stations 39 and 34 and the remodel of Station 38. In addition to the new fire stations, Chief Cusano also played a key role in creating a medic unit and hiring extra personnel to keep up with the rapid growth of Folsom.

Under the chief's steady hand and leadership, the mental health of the men and women in the department became a priority. The forward- thinking approach was evident when the department introduced the region's first peer support dog and other proactive approaches to support the resilience and mental well-being of all department employees.

The chief's dedication to the quality of life in his community could also be found with new initiatives, such as helping to implement a social host ordinance to deter illegal fireworks, as well as the seasonal closure of certain open spaces which posed fire risks.

Chief Cusano has played a vital role in helping to shape Folsom's future. He faced his job and its challenges with a spirit of doing everything he could to keep the community safe. He will undoubtedly be missed by the city's grateful residents, businesses, and the men and women in his department that he called home for almost three decades.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to join the community in recognizing Fire Chief Ken Cusano's retirement. I thank him for his 28 years of

exceptional service and leadership, and wish him well in retirement.

Honoring Brad Tatum

Mr. Speaker, I solemnly rise today to honor the life of Brad Tatum, who passed away earlier this year.

Brad will be known not only as the publisher of the Orangevale View, but as someone who cared deeply for small businesses, youth athletics, and his family and friends.

Known as the heart behind the Orangevale View, Brad took pride in sharing the good news that enhanced the quality of life throughout his beloved Orangevale. This free, biweekly newspaper's stories were not only insightful but brought people together with a common touch.

Brad's gift for selecting stories that reflected his sense of pride for the community could be seen through the ways that he highlighted local heroes, businesses, and the Casa Rams athletic program. His prose and choice of which stories to feature positively impacted Orangevale and the surrounding communities.

Brad will undoubtedly be missed by his children, grandchildren, siblings, friends, and the more than 37,000 readers who enjoyed learning about the latest FFA achievements, breakfasts at the Grange, and all the other happenings that make Orangevale a special place. His dedication to his community will not be forgotten. The impacts he made will live on in the lives he touched and the stories he wrote.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Brad Tatum for his many contributions to the Orangevale community.

Mr. Speaker, many Californians were shocked to

learn that our legislature and Governor have just imposed what is being called the largest tax increase in State history, which is saying quite a lot in a State that already has the highest taxes in the country.

Included in that is a massive new healthcare tax that is estimated to raise the healthcare premiums for many Californians by hundreds of dollars. This is something that our State simply cannot afford. When we already have the highest cost of living in the country, this is the last thing that our families need.

What is more, it violates, at the very least, the spirit if not the letter of Proposition 35, passed by voters to limit precisely this kind of a tax increase.

Fortunately, there is a way we can fight back. This new change has to be approved by regulators at the Federal level, and so myself and my colleagues are asking HHS--and we will be conveying this in a letter-- specifically to block the implementation of this plan, to block this tax proposal so that Californians do not suffer another blow to both our democracy and our cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 3104, the Ukrainian Adjustment Act, I am calling for prompt consideration and passage of this important legislation.

We have Ukrainians across this country who came here following Russia's invasion on humanitarian parole. They have contributed to our communities in countless ways.

They entered the United States legally. They passed rigorous vetting. They have created lives here, and they have contributed in so many different ways to both our communities and our economy.

There are 45,000 Ukrainian-American businesses supporting 300,000 jobs, $60 billion in economic activity, and $8 billion to $9 billion in taxes paid each year. Yet, these individuals right now are in a state of legal uncertainty that creates various problems for their families and their ability to plan for the future.

This legislation will adjust their status to lawful permanent resident. It is the right thing to do for these individuals and their families. It is the right thing to do for our economy and communities across this country, and I urge immediate passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the No Aid for Ghost Students Act, I am very glad that it passed our committee with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I look forward to it receiving bipartisan support on the floor.

Our experience in California has demonstrated the need for this legislation. California community colleges were victimized by a staggering amount of fraud. We learned there were 1.2 million fraudulent applicants. One-third of the applicants were fake.

I talked to my local community college, and they said they noticed something odd going on where they saw this huge spike in applications, three times as many as we normally get.

They said:

We know we are doing a good job, but maybe not that good of

a job that the number of applicants suddenly triples.

They actually were on top of things and managed to root out the fraud, but not every community college has the wherewithal and the resources to do that.

The State has been, frankly, kind of missing in action. So myself and some of my colleagues, one of which was Representative Kim, from California, asked the Secretary of Education to institute new identity verification requirements, and this has largely solved the problem.

This bill is simply going to codify those best practices to prevent fraud going forward. This is important because it will save our taxpayers millions of dollars, but also because it will assure that the aid goes where it is really needed.

What these fraudsters were doing was they basically submit fake applications, then get the financial aid and then pocket that portion of the financial aid that was above and beyond room and board for discretionary use by the student. When these funds are going to fraudsters and scam artists, they are not going to the students who really need the aid in our community colleges.

Our community colleges are vital ladders of economic opportunity. They are vitally important to our workforce, and so we need to assure that they do not continue to be victimized by scam artists and fraudsters at the expense of the students who use them as ladders of opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for introducing the measure. I am proud to cosponsor it, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I will say a brief word about the passage of today's reconciliation bill. At a time when Congress is more polarized than ever, today's vote is likely to make things worse.

The House is giving away its most important power--to make appropriations on an annual basis and assure funds are spent in a way that carries out the intent of Congress while reflecting the will of the American people.

This precedent also threatens a last vestige of bipartisanship in Washington, turning appropriations into a party-line exercise.

The issue of interior immigration enforcement, in particular the tragic events in Minnesota, have deeply divided the country. Congress needed to come together with bipartisan reforms to restore trust and focus the mission of our immigration agencies. Reforms like body cameras, training, identification, warrants, and nonenforcement zones near schools are supported by the vast majority of Americans and would receive strong majority support in the House.

I made it clear for months that I would not consider voting for a party-line reconciliation bill absent these policy changes. There is no national security imperative for additional immediate funding when last year's reconciliation bill provided $170 billion for immigration enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to vote for what is best for my district, irrespective of partisanship, and will fight for commonsense solutions to the challenges facing our country.

Recognizing Detective Austin Alvarez

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor Detective Austin Alvarez, a dedicated member of the Folsom Police Department, for his exceptional dedication to public service.

Throughout his distinguished career, Detective Alvarez has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the communities of Sacramento County. With 7 years of experience in law enforcement, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement.

During his ongoing tenure, Detective Alvarez has served in roles such as officer and detective, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike. He has been recognized with the Folsom Police Department Lifesaving Award and Unit Citation Award, reflecting his commitment to excellence and a record of exemplary service.

Detective Alvarez is known by others for his compassion, exceptional investigative skills, and unwavering commitment to justice.

Over the past 2\1/2\ years, he has been working on highly sensitive and emotionally difficult cases during his assignment to the Sacramento County Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. In this role, his primary mission has been investigating internet crimes against children and identifying those who exploit and prey upon some of the most vulnerable members of our community. His efforts have directly contributed to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of offenders involved in the exploitation of children, while also helping safeguard victims from further harm.

The nature of these crimes often requires long hours, extensive follow-up, and exposure to deeply disturbing material. Regardless of these challenges, Detective Alvarez is regarded by his colleagues and leadership for his ability to continue to perform at the highest levels while representing both the task force and his department with distinction.

He also stands out for his ability to build strong working relationships with partner agencies and prosecutors at the State and Federal level, enhancing regional collaboration in combating crimes against the most vulnerable members of our community.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize Detective Alvarez of the Folsom Police Department as part of this year's District Three Police Honor Roll.

Recognizing the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Strike Team

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor seven dedicated members of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office for their exceptional dedication to public service, including Sergeant Blake Alvarez, Deputy Josh Stillman, Deputy Craig Reimche, Deputy Vincent Durant, Deputy Griffin O'Camb, Detective Zachariah Kraus, and Deputy Tyler Costere.

Throughout their distinguished careers, this team has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the El Dorado County community. Within their many years of experience in law enforcement, they have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement. They have earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike. Their commitment to excellence and exemplary public service is commendable.

This team stands out for their heroic actions during an officer- involved shooting in the town of Camino earlier this year. After they had received a report that a man had shot and wounded a PG&E contract worker and was barricaded in his home, these El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene, formed a perimeter, evacuated neighboring homes, and attempted numerous ways to establish contact with the suspect to resolve the situation safely.

After their efforts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful, the El Dorado County Sheriff's SWAT team was summoned to take over the scene and work toward the safe surrender of the suspect.

As they were establishing their presence on the scene, the suspect abruptly exited his home and ran up to an elevated nearby bank embankment that offered tree cover and limited visibility for officers. The suspect began shooting at the deputies below him. Deputy Reimche was shot in the lower leg, causing him to fall to the ground. Deputy Stillman was struck on the upper thigh and went down. Their fellow deputies moved them to safety and administered aid, even breaking cover and risking their own safety to do so.

As the shooting began, Deputies Durant and Costere maneuvered toward the suspect, bounding from tree to tree, until they were able to restrain the suspect and take him into custody, also providing the suspect with a medical assessment and treatment, as well as transfer to a nearby hospital.

This event illustrates the core foundation of selfless sacrifice and service that embodies the men and women who swear an oath to protect our communities every day as peace officers. They remained calm under fire, even after being wounded, addressed the suspect as he fired on deputies, pulled deputies to safety under fire, applied lifesaving intervention care, and transported the wounded to medics. Their decisive actions and effective teamwork made a meaningful difference toward stopping the threat of a suspect and resolving the incident.

It is an honor to represent exemplary individuals like these officers in Congress. On behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my sincerest gratitude to this team in the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office for their continued dedication to safeguarding and serving our communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring these officers and all those who serve in law enforcement during National Police Week.

Recognizing Officer Phillip Brooks

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor Officer Phillip Brooks, a dedicated member of the Nevada City Police Department, for his exceptional dedication to public service.

Throughout his distinguished career, Officer Brooks has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the Nevada City community. Within his 16 years of experience in law enforcement--2 in law enforcement and 14 in probation--he has demonstrated an unwavering devotion to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement. He has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike, and his commitment to excellence and record of exemplary service is commendable.

Officer Brooks stands out for his dedication to servant-oriented policing and to building strong relationships with the public. He represents his city with distinction and to a level that is highly regarded by his community, colleagues, and leadership. He is known for the great number of written compliments that he receives. In fact, it is not uncommon for his department to see a new compliment submitted every week recognizing Officer Brooks for his outstanding service.

It is an honor to represent remarkable individuals, like Officer Brooks in Congress. On behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my sincere gratitude to Officer Brooks for his continued dedication to safeguarding and serving our communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Officer Phillip Brooks and all those who serve in law enforcement during National Police Week.

Recognizing Placer County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll, and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor the Placer County Cold Case Unit with the Placer County Sheriff's Office for their exceptional dedication to public service.

This specialized team of investigators focuses on unsolved cases, utilizing advanced DNA technology and genetic genealogy to secure breakthroughs in decades-old murders, including the recent arrest of James Lawhead, Jr., in the 1991 case of Cindy Wanner.

For 34 years, investigators continued pursuing answers in relation to Cindy Wanner's murder, never allowing the case to be forgotten. After detectives identified Lawhead as the suspect, they collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and used facial-recognition technology to locate him under his new identity.

Their steadfast efforts in cases such as these represent a meaningful step toward justice for victims, some of whom have waited decades for answers.

The investigators of the Placer County Cold Case Unit have exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the Placer County community. With decades of experience in law enforcement between them, they have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement.

This team has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike. Their commitment to excellence and record of exemplary service are commendable.

It is an honor to represent exemplary individuals like the investigators of the Placer County Cold Case Unit here in Congress.

On behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Placer County Cold Case Unit for their continued dedication to safeguarding and serving our communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Placer County Cold Case Unit and all of those who serve in law enforcement.

Honoring Greg Jensen

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll, and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor Lieutenant Greg Jensen, a dedicated member of the Rocklin Police Department, for his exceptional dedication to public service.

Throughout his distinguished career, Lieutenant Jensen has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the Rocklin community.

With more than 19 years of experience in law enforcement, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement.

Lieutenant Jensen has earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike. His dedication to excellence and record of exemplary service are commendable.

Lieutenant Jensen is widely regarded by others for his devotion to community safety, visionary leadership, and results-driven policing. He stands out for his reliability, strong work ethic, and innovative approaches. His contributions have made a meaningful impact on the Rocklin Police Department, resulting in measurable improvements in investigative outcomes, operational coordination, community engagement, and organizational performance. His willingness to take on demanding assignments in addition to his primary duties demonstrates a commitment to his role that far exceeds expectations.

Lieutenant Jensen oversees some of the most complex and high-impact operations within the Rocklin Police Department and performs with distinction in this role. His leadership is defined by strategic direction and an ability to translate extensive experience into quantifiable outcomes that strengthen organizational effectiveness and reinforce public trust. He fosters an environment rooted in accountability, mentorship, and collaboration, ensuring that team members are supported, empowered, and held to the highest professional standards.

Last year, he supervised a team comprised of four detectives and a sergeant in the investigations unit that delivered truly outstanding results for the department. This team was responsible for 193 criminal investigations and achieved an exceptional clearance rate of 89 percent.

Lieutenant Jensen's leadership was instrumental in guiding this highly skilled team of detectives to solve numerous high-profile, multijurisdictional cases.

In one notable organized retail burglary investigation, approximately nine suspects used a stolen vehicle to forcibly enter a business and steal nearly $100,000 in merchandise.

Working collaboratively across multiple jurisdictions, including agencies in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Campbell, and Berkeley, Lieutenant Jensen and his investigative team coordinated a complex and far- reaching effort. Through the team's diligent investigative work, detectives identified stolen property being sold online, secured search warrants, and ultimately recovered more than 1,200 stolen items. This marks just one of the many cases successfully led by Lieutenant Jensen.

Beyond his operational accomplishments, Lieutenant Jensen has demonstrated initiative in developing programs that strengthen community relationships and invest in the future of the law enforcement profession, including the administration of justice dual-enrollment program with Sierra College and the Rocklin Unified School District.

Additionally, he played a key role in implementing the Blue Envelope Program in the department, enhancing communication, safety, and trust during law enforcement interactions, particularly for individuals with specific communication needs.

My district team and I have had the pleasure of working with Lieutenant Jensen in his support of our district office. He has played a key role in ensuring the safety of my team and visitors, preserving our ability to provide constituent services. We have been touched by his positive and proactive approach to public safety.

It is an honor to represent remarkable individuals like Lieutenant Greg Jensen in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my sincere gratitude to Lieutenant Jensen for his continued dedication to safeguarding and serving our communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lieutenant Greg Jensen and all of those who serve in law enforcement during this National Police Week.

Honoring Alana Gruchow

Mr. Speaker, as part of the California Congressional District Three Police Honor Roll, and in recognition of National Police Week 2026, I wish to honor Investigator Alana Gruchow, a dedicated member of the Placer County District Attorney's Office, for her exceptional dedication to public service.

Throughout her distinguished career, Investigator Gruchow has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and courage in service to the Placer County community. With 14 years of experience in law enforcement, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and fostering meaningful community engagement.

During her ongoing tenure, Investigator Gruchow has served in roles such as deputy for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, officer for the Roseville Police Department, detective for the Roseville Police Department, and investigator for the Placer County District Attorney's Office, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues and constituents alike within these roles.

She has been recognized with the 2019 Elks Lodge Roseville Police Officer of the Year and numerous other accolades from coworkers, supervisors, and citizens, reflecting her commitment to excellence and a record of exemplary service.

Investigator Gruchow is widely regarded by others for her strong work ethic, her unmatched positive attitude, and her unwavering support for victims. She stands out for her tenacious approach to investigations and commitment to faithfully supporting her colleagues and serving her community.

Investigator Gruchow began her career in the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, where she worked as a deputy. She later moved to the Roseville Police Department in 2015 and has been an integral part of Placer County's law enforcement team since that time.

In 2023, Investigator Gruchow lateraled to the Placer County District Attorney's Office as an investigator, where she handles the child abuse and sexual assault caseload.

In navigating these difficult cases, Investigator Gruchow meets and exceeds expectations through her dedication to the fine details of a case and willingness to exhaust all leads. She has handled at least 400 cases in the past 4 years, guided victims through trying court processes, and played a crucial part in keeping dangerous criminal offenders off the streets.

In addition to the management of her caseload, Investigator Gruchow proactively brings her peers and law enforcement partners together in meaningful ways. For example, she leads a team comprised of law enforcement representatives from Placer County for the Baker to Vegas Annual Relay Race that spans from Baker, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the world's largest law enforcement sporting event, which hosts over 10,000 participants each year.

With Investigator Gruchow's leadership, the Placer Regional law enforcement team has finished at the top of its category for the past 2 years, bringing home a coveted mug. This success, enforcing regional comradery and helping to improve morale across agencies, could not happen without the tireless devotion of Investigator Gruchow.

It is an honor to represent remarkable individuals like Investigator Gruchow in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I extend my sincere congratulations and gratitude to Investigator Gruchow for her continued dedication to safeguarding and serving our communities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in offering Investigator Gruchow and all those who serve in law enforcement their gratitude, as well in honoring these amazing individuals and public servants during this National Police Week.

Recognizing Bobbi Gagnon

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize school librarians across California's Third Congressional District as part of National School Librarian Day, which was on April 4, 2026.

School librarians play a critical role in a student's educational journey, from collaborating with both students and teachers to enable the access of educational resources in a wide variety of formats, to guiding them in how to acquire, evaluate, and use new information. In doing so, they promote curiosity and learning experience by introducing young scholars to new literature and other types of resources.

As such, it is my privilege to honor a select group of outstanding school librarians from California's Third Congressional District for their dedication to supporting the education of our country's future leaders and workforce.

But there is one librarian who received the highest number of nominations across my district, that being Bobbi Gagnon of Orangevale Open Elementary School in the San Juan Unified School District. This outpouring of support from students, parents, colleagues, and community members alike is an inspiring testament to the impact she makes every day.

I will say, I happened to get the chance to see her read a book to her students, and I can understand why she is so popular and has such a great impact on students there.

Therefore, I am proud to name Bobbi Gagnon as the 2026 School Librarian of the Year for California's Third Congressional District.

Through her role as school librarian, she has enriched her school and the Orangevale-Fair Oaks community, making a meaningful and positive difference in the lives of all those she serves.

She is known for her kindness, compassion, care, and commitment to student access. Bobbi opens the library doors before school and during lunch to provide a welcoming place for students to come and finds unique ways to connect with each individual student in the school. In doing so, she fosters a love of learning and an environment of support that motivates students to grow.

It is an honor to represent exemplary individuals like Bobbi Gagnon in the United States House of Representatives. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and in celebration of National School Librarian Day, it is my privilege to recognize Bobbi for her tireless efforts and devotion to the students and families of the Orangevale-Fair Oaks community.

I thank and congratulate her.

Honoring James Berardi

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate James Berardi on his retirement from the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District earlier this year.

Throughout his career in education, Mr. Berardi was known for his creative thinking, positive energy, and his commitment to students, families, and staff. Mr. Berardi had the unique experience of retiring from the school district where he not only worked as a teacher, principal, and superintendent but where he was also a student.

Mr. Berardi was born and raised in Downieville, California, and attended the local high school. After high school, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marines and then went on to start his teaching career at Lindhurst High School. He then returned to Sierra County as a teaching principal, later serving as both the principal and superintendent of the Twin Ridges Elementary School District. He then went on to serve as the Sierra County superintendent of schools while simultaneously working as teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Not only did Mr. Berardi wear many hats during his career, but he also navigated through unique challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and he developed innovative solutions to continue to support students in their academic journeys through these difficult times.

Deeply valued by his community, Mr. Berardi is seen as a pillar of inspiration to his peers, students, and family. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to join the community in celebrating Mr. James Berardi's successful career and service to the communities of the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District and to wish him the very best in his retirement.

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

Mr. Speaker, we had an election in California last Tuesday. It is now the following Monday, and the State still has millions of votes to count.

How can this be? Nothing like this happens in any other State in the country or, for that matter, any other democratic country in the world. California's absurdly slow, glacial vote counting has been the subject of broad, sweeping bipartisan criticism.

The Washington Post's editorial board called it a national embarrassment. The New York Times' editorial board said that California's elections are something out of the pre-telegraph era.

How does the State justify this process of taking a month to count votes? They generally offer two excuses.

First, they say that California is a really big State. The problem with that argument is that this doesn't come as a surprise every election that we have a lot of people. Maybe you should prepare for that. There are other big States in the United States that manage to count their votes on election night, and there are other, much larger countries around the world, like India, that manage to count their votes a lot more quickly than California does.

The second excuse you get is that California is just trying to make sure that every vote is counted and that the people have every possible means of participating. Throughout my time in office, I have supported measures to make voting as accessible to folks as possible, but that has nothing to do with taking a month to count votes.

As a matter of fact, if you look at the nonpartisan Elections Performance Index, California ranks 41 out of 50. This measures things like the share of voter turnout, voter registration, transparency, and so forth. California not only has the slowest elections. It actually tends to perform worse across every metric than the rest of the country does.

Make no mistake, this is an attempt to cloak administrative incompetence under a disguise of false civic virtue. The consequences for our democracy should not be understated. When we take weeks and weeks to count votes, with the results often changing based upon what they were on election night, it fosters distrust in the entire process.

It also creates great instability, as people don't know and the representatives themselves don't know who will be their school board member, county supervisor, city councilor, State legislator, or Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I have introduced, along with my colleagues from California here in the House, the Election Results Accountability Act, which says, very simply, that California needs to get its act together. California needs to count votes in a timely manner and give folks results in a timely manner and in a way that should be expected of a well-functioning democratic society.

Recognizing Sonbol Aliabadi

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Sonbol Aliabadi, the longtime executive director for the Sierra College Foundation, on her retirement at the end of May 2026.

Throughout her 22-year tenure, Sonbol aided the foundation in expanding access and opportunity for Sierra College students by mobilizing more than $22 million in community support funds and awarding nearly $7 million in scholarships, as well as by delivering on many other major initiatives.

Sonbol's contributions reduced barriers, enabling more students to enroll and continue their education, and strengthened the Sierra College community.

Under Sonbol's leadership, the foundation has helped launch a variety of student support programs, such as the Veterans Success Center, the Student Assistance Fund Endowment, the Basic Needs Center, the Guardian Scholars Program, and more. Earlier this year, the program Endow-a-Bed launched under Sonbol's leadership, providing free room and board for 10 students in the school's new student housing.

The foundation has also worked to fund educational and extracurricular opportunities for students, such as the Sierra College Athletics Program and career and technical education programs. Moreover, they have helped provide services to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and have supported programs that embrace a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the school.

Valued by so many, Sonbol is known for her leadership and guidance in the foundation. Her passion for supporting students on their educational journey encourages those around her to put students first, as she does. Her devoted efforts have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless Sierra College students and have contributed to the growth and success of the school.

As a former educator, I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Sonbol since my time in elected office. It is a true honor to represent such inspirational and effective community leaders like Sonbol.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to join the community in celebrating Sonbol Aliabadi's successful career and service to the Sierra College community over the past two decades, and I wish her the very best in her next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I provided the decisive signature for the Ukraine Support Act to bring it to the floor for a vote because the time to act is now.

We have all been inspired by the enduring courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, encouraged by their recent battlefield gains, and horrified by the latest Russian brutality.

Recent events make it all too clear this conflict will continue to cause death and devastation on a tragic scale if the dynamic does not change. We have the power to change the dynamic.

Today, we can provide potentially decisive leverage. We can make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and provide the material support necessary for their self- defense. We can make it equally clear that Russia will pay a severe price for its unprovoked aggression and ongoing violence.

This is what is required for constructive negotiations to end this conflict. This is what is required for peace. This is what is required to vindicate the international norm against wars of conflict, without which the world would revert to an era where bloodshed was a much more common theme in human affairs.

This legislation will protect America's national interests, will support our vital alliances, will uphold our highest values, and will reassert the role of Congress in advancing all of these goals.

I thank Mr. Meeks for offering this legislation, as well as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for their leadership, their statesmanship in rallying support for it. I encourage all Members to vote ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment to recognize and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sierra College Nevada County Campus. First opening its doors to the Nevada County community in 1996, Sierra College has remained dedicated to cultivating students' success by empowering them to achieve their goals and support them in their academic endeavors.

This institution provides access to a high-quality education among a diverse student population, while striving to meet the unique needs of its large student body. I thank Sierra College for their invaluable service to our community as they work tirelessly to prepare the next generation for what lies ahead in their academic and professional journeys.

The Sierra College Nevada County Campus celebrated this milestone on Saturday, April 25, and unveiled a time capsule that was sealed in 1996 when the campus first opened its doors to the community.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored to recognize the Sierra College Nevada County campus for their three decades of outstanding commitment to the education of our communities.

Honoring Chief Troy Bergstrom

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take a moment to honor and congratulate Chief Troy Bergstrom of the Roseville Police Department, who retired at the end of April following 31 years of exceptional public service.

Holding a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, Chief Bergstrom began his career with the San Mateo Police Department in 1995, prior to transferring to the Roseville Police Department in 2000 where he then served for the remainder of his illustrious career.

Following his start at the Roseville Police Department, Chief Bergstrom was promoted to sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2010, captain in 2016, and then finally as Roseville's 19th police chief in 2021.

During his time of service, he worked in varying units of the police department, including patrol, the K9 unit, the crime suppression unit, EOD commander, SWAT, and professional standards and training, all of which contributed to creating a safer community for the residents of Roseville.

Throughout his distinguished tenure as chief of police, he led a 240- member department and directed an annual operating budget of $68 million with skill and integrity.

To reduce crime in the community, Chief Bergstrom built the Crime Suppression Unit and the Real Time Crime Center, both of which aided in improving call response time, officer safety, and investigative abilities. These initiatives and his leadership contributed to a decrease in crime throughout the years, reaching an 8 percent decrease in 2025, and setting a high standard for public safety.

In addition to his police service, he also serves on the board of directors for the Roseville Police Athletics League and the California Chiefs of Police Association and is a member of many organizations such as the FBI National Academy Associates. His compassion for the community is demonstrated through these roles, as well as by his commitment to expanding city services to assist unsheltered veterans and introduce a crisis care K9, Butter, to serve those in need.

Chief Bergstrom is highly valued by the Roseville community for his leadership, guidance, and dedication to

public safety. He will be leaving a lasting impact on the department as his knowledge, strength, and care have shaped not only his team, but the Roseville community as a whole. His active engagement and dedication to his role have made him a pillar of inspiration in the public, and it has been an honor to be part of the community that he serves.

Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I wish Chief Troy Bergstrom an exciting retirement and thank him for his more than three decades of exceptional service.

Mr. Speaker, as I have warned for the last year, the redistricting war has spun totally out of control. Those States that have enacted new maps include Texas, California, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.

Those looking to do so, either for 2026 or 2028, include New York, New Jersey,

Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.

This is a disaster for our democracy, and we need to bring it to an end.

I have introduced legislation to do just that by prohibiting mid- decade redistricting. The good news is, there is growing bipartisan support for this. On the Republican side, cosponsors of my bill include Representatives Kiggans and Baird. On the Democrat side, Representatives Cleaver and Landsman recently endorsed the legislation, and the Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, appeared to do so as well, saying the only reason he is participating in the redistricting war is that there is not a national standard that prohibits mid-decade redistricting.

I encourage the minority leader to endorse explicitly my legislation. I will encourage every Member to sign the discharge petition I have opened so we can bring the deeply damaging redistricting war to an end.

Mr. Speaker, last week yet another State returned to the era of gerrymandering, marking a further regression for democracy in America.

This entire redistricting war has been a total disaster for our country. What is more, it has been utterly pointless. As was predicted, neither side is really going to come out ahead. Every side has lost.

Meanwhile, the whole conflict that has spread from State to State to State has caused partisanship in this country to truly bubble over. It has destabilized representation across the country. It has further eroded trust in the fairness of our political process. It has further eroded the idea of representation and government by the people.

It is past time for Congress to take responsibility for the fairness of our own elections throughout this country. We can do that in two ways.

Number one is by passing my bill to end mid-decade redistricting. I introduced this last year, and it passed last year. We could have avoided this whole thing, but we can still pass it now to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.

Number two is by the time of the next Census when we are supposed to do redistricting, we can pass legislation to end gerrymandering in this country once and for all. The way I am proposing we do this is by setting up a truly independent commission in every State, much like California had before it was sidelined last year.

Mr. Speaker, gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, and it is well past time that the United States moves past it and ensures fair elections and fair representation for every citizen in our country.

California's Economic Performance Review 2025

Mr. Speaker, a new report titled: ``California's Economic Performance Review 2025'' paints an absolutely alarming picture of our State's current economic performance.

Just to give you a few of the highlights, or really lowlights, Mr. Speaker, California right now has the highest unemployment rate in the Nation at 5.5 percent with over 1 million unemployed workers.

There were 181,700 private-sector jobs lost in 2025 and 432,900 private-sector jobs lost in the last 3 years. Meanwhile, almost all of the actual job growth has come from government. There are now 1.9 unemployed workers per job opening in California. That is the worst ratio in the country, with layoffs and separations up by 57 percent in 2025.

Net business establishments in 2025 were down almost 90 percent since before Governor Newsom took office, and almost all of the new firms that were rated were sole proprietorships with almost no employees.

California, meanwhile, has the highest cost of living of any State, with 6 of the 10 most expensive metropolitan areas in the country. Electricity rates in our State are nearly double the rest of the country for homes and almost triple for industry. We also, of course, have the highest gas prices by far in the country.

California has the highest poverty rate in the Nation at 16.4 percent. California had 1.9 million residents lost to other States over the last 7 years, and that includes 409,000 workers lost in job-to-job migration over the last 5 years.

All this time, the budget grew by 68.2 percent since 2019, with a structural deficit that is now $20 billion to $35 billion annually.

By the way, there has been nearly a 50 percent drop in the number of high earners filing tax returns over $10 million just in the last 5 years, and that number is going to go up a lot with this entire wealth tax scheme that is being proposed right now.

Mr. Speaker, California is the greatest State in the country. We have more to offer than any State in the country. With our State's abundance of natural resources, its amazing companies, people, and culture, there is absolutely no reason we should not be outperforming every other State. Instead, we are underperforming every other State by a lot, to the detriment of our own citizens.

So I am, once again, calling upon leaders in Sacramento to chart a different course, one that is proworker, pro-opportunity, and progrowth. I am also encouraging those of us here in the House to look at what California has done wrong because it provides us a good roadmap of what we should be doing in order to get the economy and the cost of living right.

Mr. Speaker, the best way to protect air quality is to stop catastrophic wildfires. This is a statement that should not be controversial and is one the truth of which we know all too well in California.

For years in my State, the State piled on regulation after regulation after regulation, piled on new forms of litigation, new fuel blends, all things that raise the cost of living for people in our State. Yet, even more perversely, at the same time, they made it more difficult to proactively mitigate the risk of wildfire through active forest management.

Let me tell you what the perverse result of that was. Between 2004 and 2020--this is a period of 16 years--you can aggregate all the emissions that were reduced through emission reduction policies in California--a period of 16 years leading up to the year 2020--take every single emission that was reduced as a result of State policy over those 16 years, and double that number of emissions were released into the atmosphere because of the fires that occurred just that year.

All of the sacrifices Californians had made over the preceding 16 years were wiped out two times over because of these devastating wildfires that, of course, on top of the environmental damage that they inflicted, caused untold damage to life and property and our communities.

The measure that we have before us today could not be more commonsensical. It is that we should not disincentivize States from taking steps that have been proven by the best science to reduce the risk of wildfires that are an absolute catastrophe for the environment. That includes the use of prescribed burns, which should not be considered a detriment to air quality when the entire point is to improve air quality over the long term.

This bill, in addition to other measures like the Fix Our Forests Act, which will allow us to do better forest management without as many arbitrary delays and hurdles to jump over, are vitally needed to assure that we don't continue to have wildfires that devastate our communities and devastate our environment.

I will say it again: The best way to protect air quality is to stop fires from happening, and this bill will help us do that.