Kevin McCarthy

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my friend and colleague, Congressman David Valadao, to recognize President Lynette Zelezny on her retirement today as President of California State University, Bakersfield. Over the course of her 35-year career in the education field, President Zelezny has inspired students, professors, and administrators through her passion for improving the academic success of our next generation, especially within the California State University system.

President Zelezny's career with the California State University system started in 1974 with her enrollment in Humboldt State University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1979 and her Master's Degree in Psychology in 1981. Following her completion of a Doctorate in Social Psychology at Claremont Graduate University and an MBA from the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno, President Zelezny stayed at Fresno State, serving in a variety of educational and leadership roles. Most notably, President Zelezny served as Chief Academic Officer, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Fresno State. In 2018, President Zelezny made history when she became the first female President of California State University, Bakersfield.

Over the past five years, under President Zelezny's leadership, California State University, Bakersfield has successfully navigated new challenges and achieved several important milestones. She not only led the university through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic but did so with an unwavering commitment to the well-being of students and faculty. One of President Zelezny's top achievements has been developing CSUB's California Energy Research Center into a robust hub for energy research throughout the Central Valley. As Kern County gains and sustains ever more national importance as a hub for energy production, future generations in our region will look back on President Zelezny's initiative with great appreciation.

A true champion of Central Valley education, particularly in Bakersfield, President Zelezny's passion for the community has been a driving force behind her efforts. She recognized the unique challenges and opportunities presented in the region and strengthened the ties between the university and our community.

On behalf of the Central Valley of California, we would like to express our gratitude for President Zelezny's leadership to California State University, Bakersfield and her role in shaping the future careers of countless students. We would like to congratulate President Zelezny on a well-deserved retirement, a successful career in education, and for her many contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a distinguished educator and leader, Dr. Bryon Schaefer, who has dedicated 38 years of his life to educating our children in Kern County, California. Dr. Schaefer's journey from a math teacher in East Bakersfield to Superintendent of the Kern High School District is a testament to his unwavering commitment to learning, leadership, and community. It also represents the growth and optimism that comes to mind when one thinks of the Central Valley.

Dr. Schaefer embarked on his educational journey at the University of South Dakota, earning his Bachelor's degree in 1985. His passion for education led him to California, where he pursued and successfully obtained his Master's degree from California State University, Bakersfield in 1989. Even in the early stages of his career, Dr. Schaefer demonstrated a deep commitment to both his students' and his own professional development, simultaneously teaching high school math while earning his Master's degree. Not content to stop his academic advancement, Dr. Schaefer continued his pursuit of knowledge and earned his doctorate from the University of La Verne in 2002, specializing in organizational leadership.

Dr. Schaefer's ascent within the Kern High School District reflects the rapport he has held with the faculty and parents with whom he continues to hold mutual care and affection.

Beginning as a Math Teacher in 1985, he swiftly rose through the ranks, serving as Dean of Students at North High School in 1991. His leadership journey continued with roles as Assistant Principal and as Principal in 1998. In 2010, Dr. Schaefer assumed the role of Assistant Superintendent, and in 2014, he ultimately accepted the role of Superintendent, guiding the district with prudence and dedication. Beyond his contributions within the Kern High School District Dr. Schaefer extended his impact to higher education, serving as an adjunct faculty member for Point Loma Nazarene University--Bakersfield Regional Center for over two decades.

Though Dr. Schaefer has an impressive list of achievements in educational leadership throughout his 38 year career, his greatest legacy can be found in his diligent and ambitious mission for student education and personal growth. His commitment to providing quality education in Kern County has left an enduring impact on the community, shaping the future of countless students.

I know that Dr. Schaefer is looking forward to this next chapter of his life and spending mom time with his wife Beth, two children Shannon and Haley, and granddaughter Delilah. On behalf of the 20th Congressional District of California, I would like to congratulate Dr. Bryon Schaefer on a well-deserved retirement, a successful career in education, and for his many contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the dean, Mr. Calvert, and my colleagues from California for their kind words. I am so very proud and appreciative of my friends for coming.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the constituents for giving me this opportunity to serve them. To America, I loved every single day.

Less than 13,000 people have ever been given the privilege or the honor to serve in this body.

To those colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I thank them for the work they have done. We may disagree at times--I disagreed with the vote on this one, too, but one thing I think we must quite understand and the advice I can give is, do not be fearful if you believe your philosophy brings people more freedom. Do not be fearful that you could lose your job over it.

I knew the day we decided to make sure to choose to pay our troops, while war was breaking out, instead of shutting down, was the right decision. I also knew a few would make a motion because somehow they disagreed with that decision. Do it anyway. I would do it all again.

However, there is so much we were able to accomplish in a short amount of time. I watched a short clip the other day of a quote of mine: ``I had the privilege of being leader for 5 years and I think about did I leave this place better than I received it?''

I remember sitting where Congressman Calvert was and it was the state of the Union. The Democrats had won the majority. I was elected minority leader while another colleague from my State, Nancy Pelosi, was elected Speaker.

I watched the Democrats stand up and they were very diverse. They looked like America. I watched us stand up. We had lost the majority. I say we looked like one of the most restricted country clubs in America. I thought at that moment I could be the leader of a declining party, or I could focus on what I know brought me to this party: Conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that we are all equal.

I would take that message to places people didn't think they would vote for a Republican. The California delegation at that time was pretty small, and, yes, it was competitive having the Speaker from California. She would put out that she was going to win a lot more seats in California. However, I am proud to say in those election cycles, we picked up five more seats in California. That is larger than our overall majority. We picked up five more in New York, Oregon, and Arizona. And in that same timeframe, the party I loved lost in the Senate, both cycles, lost the Presidency, but we won. What is the secret? It is the quality of the candidate.

I looked at Young Kim, Michelle Steel, John Duarte, and David Valadao. These are unbelievable seats that that idea wins in. I look at our party today and it doesn't look like it did 5 years ago. We were winning in places you haven't seen before. When I look to the future, I think it is much brighter. Why? Because the ideas are different.

When you look at the time I served as Speaker, we didn't ignore the border. We actually secured our border with the smallest majority here to govern. Even when we had a large one, we could not do it, and that came from the subcommittee of the Chairman Tom McClintock. We brought people from all sides of the aisle together.

When I watch the gas prices just skyrocket under the Biden administration, we didn't sit back. We made it our number one priority and passed energy independence.

The public sits above, but for those 4 years, they didn't get to. We opened this place back up because it is the people's House. We created the select committee on China to make sure America can be competitive. We put our accountability on the weaponization so the American citizen would be protected.

We made the largest cut in American history, and this body voted for it, welfare reform to get people back to work, and the largest recissions in American history, where money was appropriated, not used. Only in Washington would you let it still be there.

As we watched crime rise across the country and D.C. want to go the same way, first time in 30 years, this body stood up; 170 on the other side of the aisle thought you should decriminalize carjacking, and others. The President threatened to veto it, but we did it anyway. We stopped him; and it became law.

We believe in building things in America, but we watched many times the laws we thought that were passed before to protect us only slowed us and weakened us. For the first time in 40 years, we reformed NEPA.

We did all this with a slim majority, but what I am most proud of is what the future holds. The legacy will be about the ones I see who serve here now, and I know the potential of what they will do. I know the potential of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am so thankful to be given the opportunity to serve. I will

be departing, but that doesn't mean I will stop serving. Those across this Nation should join together to become those citizen legislators. We cannot let this body fail to do the jobs that are the most basic that we should do every day. We should never allow this body to stop doing what is right.

If you come across that question of whether you should do what is right out of fear of losing your job, do it anyway because it is the right thing to do, and this is what the Nation requires. I think putting people before politics is always the right answer.

I thank my friends for their kind words. I thank them for their friendship that will not end, and I thank this Nation for creating a body that is represented by the people. I think we should rise to the occasion one more time. Thank you.