Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Genentech, whose global headquarters is in my hometown of South San Francisco, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and to honor its profound impact on the biotechnology industry, scientific innovation, and the lives of patients across the globe.

As the world's first biotechnology company, Genentech has been an industry pioneer since its founding in 1976. The company's 50-year history began with a single phone call between venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert W. Boyer. Swanson had heard about Boyer's role in the invention of recombinant DNA technology, research which would soon prove living cells could be programmed to produce life-changing medicines. By the end of the three- hour conversation, the two had conceived a way to commercialize recombinant DNA technology, and Genentech was born. After months of experiments, the team of scientists at Genentech successfully synthesized somatostatin. Even though the experiment had no commercial consequences, it confirmed that recombinant DNA technology could be used to make human proteins and established an important precedent at the company of letting science lead business. Equipped with new knowledge, confidence, and funding, Genentech scientists went on to become the first team to synthesize human insulin, medicine that has changed millions of lives since.

In the decades that followed, Genentech continued to lead. Its scientists developed the first monoclonal antibody approved in the United States for the treatment of cancer, a therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that helped establish antibody-based treatment as a pillar of modern oncology. Genentech introduced the original HER2-targeted therapy for metastatic breast cancer. In doing so, it launched the first therapeutic antibody paired with a required companion diagnostic test, an innovation that helped realize the promise of precision medicine by ensuring the suitable medication met the correct patient. Furthermore, Genentech introduced the first B-cell depleting therapy approved for both relapsing and primary progressiVe forms of multiple sclerosis, offering hope to patients with a form of the disease that had long lacked approved treatment options. The company's legacy of firsts reflects Genentech's sustained, decades-long institutional commitment to solving problems that others may have judged too difficult, too risky, or too small a market to pursue.

Such commitment continues today at an extraordinary scale. Genentech invests $15 billion annually in research and development, representing one of the largest R&D budgets in the biotechnology industry. Its scientists contribute their experimentation and innovation in five therapeutic areas: Oncology-Hematology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Immunology, and Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism. Genentech is a proud member of the scientific community and is committed to sharing its discoveries by encouraging its researchers to publish their findings.

Genentech medicines have received 43 FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designations, a distinction reserved for treatments that show substantial improvement over existing therapies for serious conditions. 46 Genentech medicines appear on the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines, the WHO's own register of the medicines judged most effective, safe, and necessary within a health system. The company has developed more than 40 FDA-approved medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases. Today, it sponsors 250 clinical trials in the United States with 66 investigational medicines currently in development, a pipeline that represents the next generation of potential treatments for patients still waiting for better options.

Scientific breakthroughs only matter if patients can access these life-changing therapies. Genentech has a history of sustained investment in patient assistance. Over the past 30 years, Genentech has helped more than 4 million people through its patient assistance programs. In 2025 alone, the company's Commercial Co-pay Assistance programs supported 213,000 eligible patients, and Genentech Access Solutions helped 320,000 people navigate access issues to obtain the medicines they had been prescribed. Similarly, the Genentech Patient Foundation has assisted more than 900,000 individuals, including 75,000 eligible patients who received free medicine through the Foundation in 2025 alone. Few companies in any industry can point to a four-decade record of direct, sustained assistance to patients in need on this scale.

Genentech's footprint in American science and manufacturing is substantial and growing. The company has committed $50 billion to invest in American infrastructure, supporting the domestic manufacturing and research capacity that keeps cutting-edge medicine grounded in the United States. Genentech has proudly called South San Francisco home since its founding, establishing the city as the birthplace of biotechnology.

Genentech has long maintained that its mission goes beyond the laboratory. Since 2017, it has invested more than $230 million in education, health access, and community wellbeing. For more than ten years, the company has operated Futurelab, a STEM education program that reaches 8,000 K-12 students annually in the South San Francisco Unified School District, educating and inspiring the next generation of American scientists. The company's Genentech Goes to Town program has encouraged employees at sites across the country to patronize local merchants each fall, an effort that has invested more than 84.8 million into more than 300 small businesses.

Looking to the next 50 years and beyond, Genentech is proving itself a role model for its future-minded approach to sustainability and embrace of thrilling new technologies. In 2025, the company completed its transition to 100 percent sustainable electricity across all its sites. Its employees started Green Genes, a grassroots sustainability effort aimed at reducing individual carbon footprint by putting more everyday environmental habits in place. Genentech is also leading the integration of data science and artificial intelligence into their innovation and patient care to ensure it remains at the forefront of scientific progress, recognizing the technology's potential to accelerate Genentech's ability to solve the most pressing health challenges in the world.

Mr. Speaker, Genentech has fundamentally changed the scientific field, and the lives of so many patients, for the better. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating Genentech for its role in creating the biotechnology industry, for its sustained investment in scientific innovation, and for its decades-long commitment to the patients and communities it serves.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, bipartisan legislation that I was proud to introduce alongside Representative Harshbarger.

Across the country, rising electricity demand and fuel costs are driving up monthly energy bills for everyday families. To protect consumers and strengthen our energy infrastructure, we need to improve grid efficiency and connect new sources of energy to the grid as quickly as possible. Supporting the adoption of cutting-edge computing tools is a practical way to achieve these goals.

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act directs the Department of Energy to study how advanced computing can optimize grid performance and operations.

Today, new energy projects wait an average of 5 years before connecting to the grid. Advanced computing has the potential to significantly shorten this timeline while maintaining grid reliability. Utilities across the Nation need access to these insights to modernize our energy infrastructure.

The challenges facing our electric grid cannot wait. This bill will help spur technological innovation in support of the grid, accelerate energy deployment, improve grid efficiency, and lower costs for consumers.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act, bipartisan legislation that I was proud to introduce alongside Representative Harshbarger.

Across the country, rising electricity demand and fuel costs are driving up monthly energy bills for everyday families. To protect consumers and strengthen our energy infrastructure, we need to improve grid efficiency and connect new sources of energy to the grid as quickly as possible. Supporting the adoption of cutting-edge computing tools is a practical way to achieve these goals.

The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act directs the Department of Energy to study how advanced computing can optimize grid performance and operations.

Today, new energy projects wait an average of 5 years before connecting to the grid. Advanced computing has the potential to significantly shorten this timeline while maintaining grid reliability. Utilities across the Nation need access to these insights to modernize our energy infrastructure.

The challenges facing our electric grid cannot wait. This bill will help spur technological innovation in support of the grid, accelerate energy deployment, improve grid efficiency, and lower costs for consumers.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, leadership, and enduring contributions of Lars J. Lund, an educator whose steadfast commitment to service strengthened countless students, families, and communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Lund exemplified integrity, faith, and a profound dedication to Catholic education.

Mr. Lund's work spanned more than three decades, most notably at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, where he served as a Theology Teacher, Associate Principal, and ultimately President. His leadership at Serra shaped generations of young people, guided faculty and staff with compassion, and strengthened the school's mission. As a graduate of Serra's Class of 1988, I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Lund as my teacher. His thoughtful guidance left a lasting impression on me, as it did on so many of my classmates and students who followed. It is often said within our community, ``once a Padre, always a Padre,'' and Mr. Lund embodied that spirit fully and faithfully.

His exceptional leadership earned recognition at the national and state levels. He was honored in 2002 by the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco for distinguished service to the Catholic school community, and he received a California State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for outstanding service as Principal. In 2003, Mr. Lund received the National Catholic Educational Association's Secondary Schools Award for his significant contributions to American Catholic secondary education. In 2008, Congresswoman Jackie Speier issued a proclamation acknowledging his exemplary service to Serra as both a teacher and administrator.

Mr. Lund's dedication extended beyond Serra. He contributed scholarly work to national publications on Catholic education, served on editorial teams for major assessment initiatives, and authored chapters that helped shape national conversations on religious education. His leadership continued at other mission-driven institutions, including his service as Interim President at Justin-Siena High School and later as Head of School at Mission Dolores Academy in San Francisco. At Mission Dolores Academy, he successfuljy implemented the school's inaugural strategic plan, strengthened operations across key areas, established new governance structures, modernized facilities, and created innovative spaces, such as the Golden State Warriors/Ross Stores Reading Room to support student learning and leadership development.

Across all roles, Mr. Lund led with humility, purpose, and an abiding belief in the dignity of every student. His work was characterized by

thoughtful stewardship, collaborative leadership, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening school communities. He was admired for his quiet strength, his compassion, and a deep faith that animated every aspect of his service.

Mr. Lund's impact cannot be measured solely by titles or accolades, but by the countless lives he touched through kindness, mentorship, and example. His legacy is carried forward in the strong communities he helped build, the institutions he shaped, and the many individuals he inspired, As a former student, I remain personally grateful for the formative role he played in my own education and development.

Mr. Lund passed peacefully on July 13, 2026, at the age of 67. He is survived by his wife Mary, his children, Theresa Crockett, Kathleen Lund, Kevin Lund, and his grandchildren, Harrison and Avery Crockett. May his life of service and faith continue to inspire us, and may his memory be a blessing to the community he served with such devotion. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating and commemorating the life and accomplishments of Lars J. Lund.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about nitrous oxide--a deadly inhalant that is being sold to consumers online and in stores across the U.S.

Put yourself in the shoes of a parent who just received the worst news of their life: your child has suddenly become unable to walk. They have blood clots around their lungs, or, tragically, they have lost their life, and it is all because they got addicted to inhaling nitrous oxide they bought legally off the shelf from their corner store or online in bulk.

While grieving the unimaginable, you are left asking: How did this happen?

That is what Julia Charleston was thinking when her 34-year-old son, Robert, a military veteran, died after becoming addicted to nitrous oxide.

Often called laughing gas, nitrous is probably something you have heard about at the dentist, but it is extremely dangerous to inhale without medical supervision. Even a single use can cause debilitating side effects, like neurological damage or even death.

This is a growing problem. Mr. Speaker, 14 million Americans say they have misused nitrous oxide, and fatalities from nitrous oxide misuse have increased by 578 percent in the past decade.

Despite these risks, nitrous oxide is being marketed as a carefree party drug, with names like ``galaxy gas'' or ``baking bad,'' in giant, brightly-colored canisters and flavors. This is clearly targeting both kids and adults for recreational use.

Meanwhile, the smaller canisters, like this one, are pervasive at music concerts, college campuses, parks, and beaches.

Social media videos of people using nitrous have glamorized and fueled this deadly trend, and DUI nitrous cases are putting everyone in harm's way.

Right now, it is incredibly easy to buy nitrous oxide at smoke shops, gas stations, and online. I was even able to purchase nitrous oxide canisters and have them shipped directly to the U.S. Capitol, no questions asked.

Congress must act to protect people from this dangerous and deadly inhalant. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Nitrous Oxide Safety Act to ban the sale of nitrous oxide to consumers and close the loophole that is being exploited.

While there are legitimate reasons for doctors, dentists, businesses, and industry to use this chemical, it has no business being sold in stores or online. That is what my bill would prevent, regardless of whether it has a warning label.

It has been reassuring to see some States start to act, but we need Federal legislation to address this truly interstate problem.

No more parents should have to experience the devastation of losing a child to nitrous oxide.

Mr. Speaker, Americans are fed up with this government. They are fed up with money in politics. They are fed up with not knowing who they can trust.

Corporations and billionaires are spending more than ever in an effort to influence our elections, and we are seeing more and more campaigns paying social media influencers to promote their candidates.

Voters deserve to know who is getting paid. They deserve to know where corporations are spending their money and which billionaires are buying elections and how. When someone sees a video or endorsement, they should know whether it is actually an advertisement and who is paying for it.

In recent years, we are seeing social media influencers with hundreds of thousands and sometimes even millions of followers promoting campaigns and candidates. Now, everyone has a right to their opinions, but if they are being paid to create this content and promote a candidate, then they should be disclosing it to their viewers.

A semi-famous influencer with even a modest following can have an enormous impact on a close election that is decided, in some cases, by a few thousand votes. A social media personality with a large following can drive a campaign narrative sometimes more effectively than TV, radio, or any other media. They can do it all without ever disclosing their connection to the campaign or candidate they are supporting or even if they are being paid by the campaign itself.

This is wrong. Voters deserve to have basic information about the conflicts of interest, incentives, and who is paying for political ads. Social media influencers must be required to disclose their paid affiliations with a candidate or campaign.

In the California State Assembly, where I served as speaker pro tempore, I was proud to author the first-in-the-Nation DISCLOSE Act to require candidates, campaigns, and super-PACs to publicly disclose their largest donors in political ads. That is now law in the largest State in the land.

Now, in Congress, I am working on ways to address this now and for future elections. Congress has tools to ensure transparency in our elections--who is paying for what and who is getting paid.

Transparency is the least, the very least, we can do to safeguard our elections. We can and must do better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, along with my colleague Representative Sam Liccardo, to honor the life and memory of a dedicated community leader in San Mateo County, Nancy Magee, who passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026, at the age of 66.

Nancy served as the San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools before her retirement earlier this year. She was first elected in 2018 and led the San Mateo County Office of Education for eight years. Her extraordinary leadership was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing multiple initiatives, supporting the transition to distance learning and back to in-person learning, and providing a steady, compassionate approach. Because of her efforts during the pandemic, she received the Pillar of the County Award from the San Mateo County School Boards Association and was named the Superintendent of the Year for San Mateo and San Francisco counties by the Association of California School Administrators.

Her work in behavioral health, environmental literacy, and school safety was recognized by California County Superintendents, which named the San Mateo County Office of Education 2025 Office of the Year for medium-sized counties. She spearheaded the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities, establishing emergency protocols to help prevent school shootings. Additionally, she was instrumental in advancing the countywide third grade literacy initiative, The Big Lift, and other major projects such as the United for Youth Vision 2030 Blueprint and the Child Care Partnership Coalition.

Nancy was the recipient of the ``Golden Oak'' Award at the 17th District PTA Founders

Day Luncheon and the Tom Mohr ``Champion of Education'' Award from Chamber of San Mateo County, highlighting her work in providing equal access to excellent education for all in San Mateo County. Due to her focus on climate change, the County Office of Education was the only one to receive a California Green Ribbon Schools Gold Achiever Award and she received the 2020 Sustainable San Mateo Sustainability Champion Award. Nancy's guidance resulted in the County Office of Education securing a $6 million state grant in 2021 to develop climate change and environmental justice curriculum for every grade in California's K-12 schools, called Seeds to Solution.

Prior to her election as County Superintendent of Schools, Nancy was the San Mateo County Office of Education's Associate Superintendent for Student Services. She directly oversaw the educational services for students who are in the juvenile justice system or that were enrolled in the county's special education programs. During her tenure she oversaw initiatives promoting mental health coordination, supporting foster youth, Safe Routes to School, Career Technical Education, and Special Olympics.

Nancy received a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University in 1982 and played water polo in college. She would go on to receive a Master of Arts Degree in Library and Information Systems from San Jose State University. She coached high school varsity water polo and taught in the classroom for more than 20 years. Before moving back to the Bay Area, she lived in San Diego and worked for the Grossmont Union High School District.

In all her work, Nancy prioritized her care for children, students, and learning. She will always be remembered for her countless contributions which enriched so many lives in our San Mateo County communities. Nancy is survived by her two sons, Travis and Noah, and two granddaughters, Avery and Emmy. Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to please join us in celebrating and commemorating the life and accomplishments of Nancy Magee.

Mr. Speaker, all of us on this floor are heirs to a political system that generations before us believed could be the way to overcome our differences.

Is it perfect? Anyone who has been paying even the slightest attention for the past 250 years knows the answer to that question, but each generation has believed in our democracy. All of us elected to this body believe we can make people's lives better, not by fighting in the streets, not by fighting, where might makes right, but by coming together, by talking, by arguing, and then by voting.

Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose.

Why is it that the majority party seems to be doing everything in its power to prevent voters from having their say?

I am actually old enough to remember when the Republican Party was the party of States' rights. Now, unfortunately, it is the party of following the lead of their President, overriding State laws to ``nationalize the vote.'' It is the party of an executive order attempting to eliminate voting by mail under the guise of voter fraud, which we know is virtually nonexistent.

The SAVE Act and the MEGA Act make it harder for voters to cast a ballot. It has sadly become a party of deniers who only believe election results when they win.

President Trump's Department of Justice raided an election office in Georgia. He sent FBI agents to seize ballots. Meanwhile, he is attempting to extort Minnesota, California, and others into handing over voter data. His supporters are calling for ICE to surround the polls in November. We remember he sent an angry mob into this citadel of democracy to hang his Vice President and overturn the results of an election he lost in order to prevent a peaceful transfer of power. History will never forget.

The American people always have the last word on who has power in this country. If there is one thing we know how to do in this country is run elections. We cast our ballots in school gyms, in churches, in community rooms, and more commonly now at the kitchen table. Even President Trump votes by mail.

Ours is a decentralized system by design. The Framers of the Constitution, flawed as they were, knew that we would one day be faced with this moment: A strongman and his followers ready to throw it all away to avoid another free and fair election, but we won't let them.

My Republican colleagues, many of whom I genuinely like and respect, know better. Privately, I believe they are deeply ashamed by what is happening, and without a doubt, the American people are increasingly disgusted with what they are seeing and experiencing.

They know America is less affordable than it was even just a year ago. Support for the President's callous immigration policies has collapsed. The images of Federal agents executing Americans in the streets have been horrific.

All the while, the President is more obsessed with personal grievances, renaming buildings, starting wars, and exacting revenge on his opponents than making people's lives better.

He and his party know this is not a winning political message, so they are resorting to changing the rules to cling to power, but the American people know better.

All of us have a duty to protect elections. All of us must let the will of the people prevail. This Congress must seat the winners of the election regardless of party.

I hope there are some colleagues on the other side of the aisle who can still muster the courage to do the same because our 250-year-old experiment in democracy depends on it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the rapid rise of AI chatbots and the urgent need to put clear guardrails in place.

Artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming increasingly common in our daily lives. They are embedded in our phones, our classrooms, and our workplaces.

There is no question that this is an innovative technology with the potential to democratize access to information, reduce costs, and expand opportunity. As promising as this technology is, we must also be clear about its limits.

AI chatbots are not and should not be treated as substitutes for licensed professionals, like doctors, therapists, lawyers, and financial advisers.

We have seen this most clearly in the mental health space. Users, including children and other vulnerable individuals, are increasingly turning to chatbots for therapy.

Tragically, we have seen too many cases in which the children took their own lives after interacting with chatbots that failed to recognize a person in crisis and even encouraged their harmful thoughts.

These limitations extend beyond mental health, too. People are turning to unqualified so-called robo-lawyers for legal advice and AI financial advisers for guidance on investing their hard-earned retirement savings.

These are high-stakes interactions that can have devastating consequences without proper oversight, which is why every State regulates the licensing of these professionals according to rigorous standards.

Many chatbot providers have added disclaimers, saying their products are not licensed professionals, but, Mr. Speaker, disclosures are not enough.

For example, here, in just a few messages with my staff, this chatbot readily claimed that it was a licensed healthcare professional and even invented a fake license number. For a vulnerable user, that claim can be all it takes to place complete trust in a system that is incapable of consistently providing clinical care or sound professional guidance.

In another example, a seemingly benign bot, marketed as offering legal guidance, quickly claimed to be a licensed attorney.

Clear rules are needed now to protect consumers, promote trust in responsible innovation, and ensure a level playing field for companies that are doing the right thing.

That is why I am introducing the CHATBOT Act. This legislation would prohibit companies from claiming or implying that a chatbot is a licensed professional through marketing or the bot's output.

This is a narrow, commonsense consumer protection bill. I am proud that it has been endorsed by a broad coalition of healthcare, legal, financial, and trade organizations as well as consumer protection and technology policy organizations.

We must come together to ensure this new technology is developed safely and responsibly.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the CHATBOT Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the College of San Mateo's football team, the Bulldogs, on becoming back-to-back champions. Their dramatic 28-27 victory in the California Community College Athletic Association Championship was their impressive third title in 4 years.

While the San Francisco Bay Area welcomes the NFL for Super Bowl LX, I would like to also properly call attention to this remarkable program. Bulldogs Coach Tim Tulloch says it best: These students work hard to overcome adversity, and this transformational program builds young men for the rest of their lives. The team has a 3.4 GPA. Thanks to their academic achievements and talent on the gridiron, many earn scholarships to transfer to 4-year universities.

Congratulations to the College of San Mateo Bulldogs on another historic championship title. They represent the Nation's best of community college athletes in the heart of my district, and they make us all proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the San Mateo Daily Journal, a local newspaper celebrating its 25th Anniversary, marking a quarter-century of reputable and respectable journalism. I am proud the San Mateo Daily Journal keeps the residents of San Mateo County informed on local, state, national, and international issues. Published every weekday and with a special weekend edition, it provides a constant stream of timely coverage for readers. The San Mateo Daily Journal covers a wide range of issues that engage readers young and old, including breaking news, sports, entertainment, and governmental topics.

The paper's first issue was published on August 18, 2000, among stiff competition for local news coverage, and has emerged as the eminent newspaper focused on San Mateo County. The newspaper began by covering local stories in San Mateo and Burlingame and has since expanded to cover original news from across the region and distributes its paper in San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. It is one of the few independently owned papers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and without the San Mateo Daily Journal, there would be a tragic dearth of local news coverage for the Peninsula.

Even as local print newspapers across the country have faced challenges from the rise of television and the digital age, the San Mateo Daily Journal has stood strong as a paragon of honest journalism. As the expansion of the internet led to news transitioning into online formats, the Daily Journal launched a digital edition and website that now reaches an average of 750,000 readers each month.

Local journalism is a vital part of a democratic society by ensuring citizens stay informed about issues that impact their community. Local journalists cover impactful stories that are often neglected by larger media outlets. Independent news outlets also serve an important role as a government watchdog and a check on societal concerns. Freedom of the press is the first line of defense against the threat of misinformation and disinformation. In the digital age, it can prove difficult to find reputable independent news media, but the San Mateo Daily Journal has stood valiantly providing accurate and timely coverage on local issues thanks to its team of committed journalists.

The newspaper has played an important role in encouraging civic participation by informing community organizers about opportunities to participate in public policy development, and shining a light on local governments, nonprofits, and businesses. The paper has fostered a more inclusive and positive Bay Area community by routinely amplifying community events to a broad audience.

The San Mateo Daily Journal includes an opinion section for community members to engage in dialogue and voice their thoughts on contemporary issues and the topics they are passionate about. In its Rediscovering the Peninsula section, the paper engages readers on the rich and diverse history of the Bay Area while sharing the stories of the pioneers who made our community what it is today.

The San Mateo Daily Journal also fosters the next generation of news reporters by offering internships, which enable students and aspiring journalists to gain real-world experience in a newsroom. The paper supports a thriving local economy not only as an employer, but with its opportunities for local businesses to advertise their services and products.

While many individuals have contributed to the San Mateo Daily Journal's success over its 25 years, there are a number of individuals who have dedicated their careers to the paper and have set the high standard for which it is known.

Jerry Lee has served as publisher of the paper since its inception and bought the San Mateo Daily Journal in 2006. His indefatigable work has elevated the paper to the high-quality publication that it is today, and it remains one of the few independently owned newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Thanks to Mr. Lee's continuous work and adaptable approach to running the business, the paper is available for free in newsstands and libraries throughout San Mateo County, which has helped to ensure equitable access for countless readers. He is also a creative writer in his own right, providing movie reviews as a local critic.

Jon Mays, who joined as Managing Editor in 2000 and became Editor in Chief in 2001, has dedicated his career to journalism and making the newspaper creative, honest, and interesting. His keen leadership and writing skills truly make a difference in keeping the community informed. ``I've always considered myself a connector, someone who can get help for others or at least point them in the right direction. And that's really what a community newspaper does. We hold the powerful to account, but we also provide power to those who may not have it,'' Mr. Mays said.

The San Francisco Peninsula has benefited from his commitment to connecting the public with the stories, events, and businesses they care about. His heartfelt opinion pieces are profound and thoughtful, giving light to under-recognized topics and asking the hard questions in an engaging and endearing manner. Over the years, Mr. Mays has been a key mentor to hundreds of reporters and interns, instilling in them a high degree of professionalism and journalistic integrity.

Nathan Mollat has been with the paper since its founding and as Sports Editor covers

Bay Area teams big and small. His dedication to covering local high school teams provides a rare and valuable platform for student athletes to shine. Every season, the San Mateo Daily Journal honors its pick for athlete of the year, highlighting students' achievements and accomplishments. Mr. Mollat's creative style enlivens sports coverage with a focus on the people, not just the game.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when independent journalism is under threat, the San Mateo Daily Journal continues to demonstrate the irreplaceable value of freedom of the press in a democratic society. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the San Mateo Daily Journal for 25 years of excellent journalism, professionalism, and devotion to providing accurate and reliable news coverage to the Bay Area community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the so- called State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act. This measure will encourage State regulators to push our grid toward more expensive and polluting sources of energy at the very moment families are struggling with rising energy bills.

Across this country, households and small businesses are seeing electricity costs rise by hundreds of dollars. Demand for power is rising quickly, and this year, utilities have already proposed major rate hikes to the tune of $34 billion. Instead of helping lower bills with forward-looking technology, this legislation takes us backward, effectively promoting energy sources that take longer to build and deploy and cost more to operate.

These are costs that will be passed on directly to everyday Americans.

This comes 1 year after President Trump promised to cut energy prices in half. Instead, on his watch, prices are rising. According to multiple press reports, he privately urged oil executives to spend $1 billion in support of his campaign last year in exchange for promoting their interests as President.

Perhaps it is no surprise we are seeing policies that benefit the most expensive energy sources instead of the cheapest options available to consumers.

Utility-scale solar and wind are the lowest-cost sources of new power today. Together with battery storage, they can be built quickly, strengthen reliability, and keep bills down. This bill undermines State planning processes that would promote reliable and cheap sources of energy, which also happen to be the cleanest. It limits choice and will slow energy innovation, keeping prices higher than they need to be.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and work together on real solutions that lower energy bills for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an exemplary public servant who has dedicated her career to serving the residents of my hometown of South San Francisco, California. After nearly five decades in public service our City Manager, Sharon Ranals, is retiring.

Sharon graduated from Reed College and later earned a Master's in Public Administration from San Francisco State University, embarking on a lifelong career in municipal government that commenced in Colorado Springs and continued with steady promotions in South San Francisco, culminating with her appointment as City Manager in 2023. Sharon began her career with the City of South San Francisco in 1980 as a part-time employee in the Parks and Recreation Department. She became a full-time staff member in 1984 and steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility. Her experience rising through the organization provided valuable insight into the challenges of local government and the importance of collaboration to achieve results. Over the years, she has hired and promoted dozens of talented City staff and is especially proud of leading high-functioning teams with low turnover, as well as fostering the professional growth and success of her colleagues. Her approach of ``take the blame and give the credit'' has been one of the keys to her success.

Throughout her tenure, Sharon championed the work of South San Francisco's dedicated City teams and their many accomplishments. Under their leadership, the city has grown as a global hub for biotechnology, accelerated the construction of new housing, and maintained a high standard for public safety and emergency response. South San Francisco has continued to expand access to responsive, technology-driven police services, collaborative library and recreation programming, and reliable public works and infrastructure maintenance--the award-winning Water Quality Control Plant and strong internal operations reflect a commitment to service excellence. Central to these efforts has been a focus on sustainability and on creating a thriving environment for both residents and businesses.

Sharon played a key role in the planning, development, and improvement of many public buildings and spaces throughout the city. Her work helped bring to life the Municipal Services Building, Alice Pena Bulos Recreation Center and Preschool, Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Center, Roberta Teglia Senior Center, Community Learning Center, and after-school facilities on South San Francisco Unified School District campuses. At Orange Memorial Park, she supported projects including the picnic shelter, sculpture garden, Joseph Fernekes Recreation Center, new sports fields, and the award-winning water capture system. She was instrumental in securing funding and advancing the vision for the co-located Library with the Parks and Recreation Center and the new Aquatics Center.

Her commitment to public spaces also extends to parks and open space. She contributed to the renovation of Sellick and Westborough Parks, the creation of Avalon and Alta Loma Parks, the expansion of Sign Hill's open space, and improvements at Oyster Point, Civic Campus Park, and neighborhood playgrounds. She led successful grant efforts for projects like Centennial Way and oversaw the development of new amenities along the trail, a preschool in Westborough, and a new park on Linden Avenue.

Beyond infrastructure, Sharon supported the community through special events such as Day in the Park, the establishment of the City's public art program, and advocacy for expanded childcare and senior services.

She has built strong partnerships with outside agencies, the South San Francisco Unified School District, and local organizations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and a core team remained on-site at City Hall to ensure continuity of operations and support for both staff and the public. She also led the City's emergency coordination during major storms and flooding in 2022 to 2023.

Her contributions have been recognized by the California Association of Parks & Recreation Commissioners and Board Members with their Outstanding Professional Award, the California Parks and Recreation Society's Professional Merit Award, South San Francisco Historical Society's Victor John Feudale Award, and by the Institute for Local Government as a Local Government Champion--reflecting her professional excellence and community impact.

Throughout her tenure as City Manager, Sharon has exemplified a tireless work ethic, accessibility, innovation, community engagement, and sound stewardship of public resources--addressing pressing challenges including economic resilience, infrastructure renewal, affordable housing, climate adaptation,

public safety, equity, and more. Sharon was Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation fame before there was a Leslie Knope. She exemplifies the true Leslie Knope philosophy: public service is working hard at work worth doing alongside people you love.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues please join me in congratulating Sharon Ranals for an exemplary record of service to the City of South San Francisco, commending her for tireless dedication of time and talent, and wishing her all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable contributions of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA to animal welfare and join in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the organization's founding and its great significance to my district.

As a lifelong resident of San Mateo County, I have witnessed the transformative work of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Since its founding in 1950, the Peninsula Humane Society has expanded from its modest beginning to a new state-of-the-art facility, offering comprehensive services that go far beyond the traditional role of an animal shelter. It has expanded to include a Wildlife Care Center opened in 2024 and a soon-to-open Animal Sanctuary to provide a permanent home to animals not supported by the current model. The organization was a trailblazer from the beginning and became a leader in animal welfare practice and policy. It has grown to be one of the largest humane organizations in the United States.

The 1970's saw many innovations in animal care begin at the Society. Educational offerings were expanded, with volunteer PHS/SPCA docents offering humane education in San Mateo County school classrooms. An education center was established as well. Also in this decade, PHS/SPCA became the first humane society to have an on-site spay/neuter clinic, which meant it no longer needed to rely on outside veterinarians. Wildlife rehabilitation began on site as well.

In the early 1990's PHS/SPCA was among the first shelters to offer services for pets belonging to domestic abuse victims and a free animal behavior helpline for local pet owners. In addition, humane education offerings expanded to thousands of schoolchildren in San Mateo County. The now robust and renowned PHS/SPCA behavior and training program started in the early 2000s.

In 2006, the Mobile Spay & Neuter Program was started, providing free spay and neuter surgeries in underserved communities. Taking these services out into the community reduced unwanted or abandoned litters. As more and more organizations followed suit and offered accessible spay and neuter services, the number of euthanized animals has vastly decreased. It was in this era that the foster program began, allowing the Society to take in more animals. The Kitten Nursery was also founded, which now see hundreds of orphan kittens taken in and placed in loving homes each year. And the 100 percent donor-funded Hope Program began, enabling the Society to provide enhanced behavior and medical support to pets who need it to become ready for adoption.

In 2011, PHS/SPCA opened the Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion, named after one of my predecessors in this Congressional District and his wife. This shelter was built to modern standards, centered on the best possible animal care and allowing the public to see and engage more fully with the animals.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA has reduced the number of animals euthanized in San Mateo County by 99 percent since 1970, ensuring that nearly every animal brought into one of its facilities finds a home. It holds monthly pet food drives for low-income residents and responds to every reported case of animal abuse within San Mateo County, removing animals from harmful environments and working with authorities to prosecute their abusers.

The organization also runs an impressive variety of impactful programs and resources that go beyond the ordinary vaccinations and microchipping services many other organizations offer. The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA offers behavior and training consultations and classes, continuing care when a pet's owner passes away and family or friends are unable to take them in, pet loss support groups to help owners with the death of their pet, wildlife education programs so children of San Mateo County understand the animals of the place where they live, and pet-assisted therapy that brings a team with a pet to healthcare and correctional facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, schools, and libraries to provide unique therapeutic interaction.

Its open-door policy--welcoming every animal regardless of health, age, or circumstance--demonstrates a deep and abiding commitment to compassion and leading to the organization rescuing 4,093 animals in 2024 alone. Whether it is a lost pet or an injured wild animal, the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA answers the call with expertise and care. In 2024, the great work of the PHS/SPCA is reflected in the nearly 150,000 volunteer hours given by members of the community who walked dogs 17,000 times, cleaned wildlife enclosures, played with kittens, and bottle-fed baby animals--equivalent of the work of 69 full-time employees.

I am proud that the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is part of the 15th Congressional District. The 75th anniversary of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is not just a celebration of the past--it is a powerful reminder of the good we can do when we lead with compassion. On this day, let us honor its legacy and thank all those who have contributed to its mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. John Holger Lyngso, a remarkable 97-year-old World War II veteran, lifelong entrepreneur, and beloved member of the San Mateo County community. Born on April 18, 1928, in San Francisco, California, to Alfred Holger Lyngso and Edith Schack, John's story is a testament to the ideals upon which our Nation was built: service, perseverance, and aspirations. His parents immigrated from Denmark in the early 1920's, and their maritime heritage instilled in John a lifelong love of the ocean nurtured by family stories and, as he proudly put it, ``Viking blood.''

At just sixteen, driven by a sense of duty and adventure, John enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine on December 22, 1944, serving as an oiler aboard the U.S. Army tug LT-518. Often referred to as the ``fourth arm of defense'' during World War II, the Merchant Marine played a critical role in transporting troops, equipment, and supplies across dangerous waters, ensuring the success of Allied operations. From the final days of the war through its aftermath, John contributed to the vital maritime efforts that sustained American forces and supported victory around the globe.

Following his service, John continued to embody the values of hard work and perseverance. On August 28, 1950, he married Mary Eva Morris in San Francisco, beginning a marriage and family legacy that would span generations. Together, they built what would become a cornerstone of our local community, Lyngso Garden Materials. Initially, John did grading, including work on Highway 101. The business grew by accident, when John discovered that there was a market for different types of gravel. Everyone who saw the gravel wanted some, and a business was born. He would later name the stone mixes after his daughters. What began as a modest backhoe and hauling service grew into Redwood City's first landscape materials business, a thriving enterprise that remains to this day. John's entrepreneurial journey embodies the American dream: identifying a need, serving his community, and building lasting success from humble beginnings.

Rooted in his maritime heritage, he captained boats well into his 80's, including a memorable 2012 voyage from Ensenada, Mexico to San Francisco, California, to bring home his final vessel, an N37 trawler named Lena. The 550-mile trip took nine days steaming up the California coast, stopping first at San Diego to clear into the country, at Morro Bay for a rest, and at Monterey for repairs before finally passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Throughout the journey, John displayed his ability and agility in the engine room, kept his appetite despite rough seas, and entertained his companions with his humor.

Today, John Lyngso is the proud patriarch of a large and loving family, including three daughters, five grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren, with one on the way, and two great-great-grandchildren. His legacy is one of faith, dedication, and boundless curiosity. Now at 97 years young, he remains committed to reaching his next goal of celebrating his 100th birthday, a milestone that, given his strength and determination, he is sure to reach.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing John Holger Lyngso for a lifetime of devoted service and unwavering purpose. His service during World War II, his entrepreneurial contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area, and devotion to family, hard work, and community are appreciated and admired.