Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chad Allan Blomgren, who passed on July 9, 2025, at the age of 56. Mr. Blomgren was a distinguished U.S. Army veteran, a Senior Director at Gilead Sciences, and a tireless advocate for veterans through his volunteer work with Dream Foundation.

Chad's life was a powerful reflection of his family's legacy of service to his country, his community, and his fellow veterans. Raised in the Hills-Beaver Creek community of Minnesota, he excelled in high school both academically and athletically. These formative years helped shape the competitive spirit that remained central to who he was. After graduation, Chad enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Shortly thereafter, he met the love of his life, Debbie, and they married in 1990. He went on to earn his degree from Mankato State University the following year.

Chad honorably served in the U.S. Army, joining a long family tradition of service that includes his father, three brothers, niece, son, and dozens of relatives. After his military service, he embarked on a successful professional career spanning over a decade at Gilead Sciences as Senior Director of Managed Markets. For the past five years, he co-led the Gilead Veterans Engagement Team (GVET), supporting more than 500 employees aligned around the mantra, ``Serving Those Who've Served.''

In June 2023, Chad was appointed to the Board of Directors of Dream Foundation, the only national organization dedicated to granting final wishes to terminally ill adults. He served on its Dreams for Veterans Advisory Council since its inception in 2021 and actively participated in fulfilling dreams for veterans, visiting at least four recipients in person to deliver those special moments of hope and closure. As he shared, ``Providing a positive impact for those in the final stages of their lives means everything to me.'' It was a cause he embraced both personally and professionally, bringing compassion, leadership, and a fighter's perspective to the foundation's mission.

Chad's life embodies the highest ideals of leadership and service. Whether in uniform, guiding colleagues in industry, or comforting veterans through Dream Foundation, he lived a life of purpose and generosity. His family and colleagues remember him as fun, smart, full of laughter, and always ready with a helping hand.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of a selfless and honorable man, Chad Blomgren. His dedication to his family, his career, his Nation, and his fellow veterans inspires us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and memory of a legendary business and community leader in San Mateo County, California, Joseph D. Putnam, who died peacefully at his home in Woodside on August 11, 2025, at the age of 90.

Born in Gregory, South Dakota, Mr. Putnam was one of six children of Francis and Bertha Putnam. He was raised on his family's farm, where, during the depths of the Depression and the Dustbowl, they carried their water to the house in buckets from a well, their heat was provided by the wood-burning stove in the kitchen, and their light by oil lamp. Their outhouse was located behind the house. From a very young age Joe showed his entrepreneurial spirit by trapping minks and selling them to the war department for lining the jackets of bomber pilots in World War II. In those early years, he also developed the skill of western riding as he spent many hours with his beloved horse.

When in high school, Mary Lou Kayl set her sights on the smartest boy in school, and Joe was the unwitting beneficiary of her plan. After they married a couple of years later, he started his career selling used cars in Minneapolis. Mary Lou was employed with Braniff Airlines, which enabled the young couple to honeymoon in Brazil. Thus began a lifelong quest to jointly explore the world.

When Mary Lou gave birth to their first child, Joe had to work double-time to sell three cars in one day so that he could afford to pay the hospital bill and bring them home. That ambition drove him year-round, as their family grew to six children and Joe made the leap from selling used cars in the Dakotas and Minnesota, to buying a dealership in Burlingame, California. Through grit, smarts, and long hours at work, Joe developed a very successful business, Putnam Auto Dealerships. The business has grown from one dealership to thirteen, selling seventeen brands around the San Francisco Bay Area in Burlingame, San Mateo, Redwood City, San Carlos, and Oakland.

Joe was a mentor and friend to many over the years managing his automobile dealerships. Well known for his radio ads on KCBS in the 70's and 80's--``bring your wife or husband, your pink slip and your check book''--he leaves behind a legacy of family-friendly values and excellent customer service.

Joe and Mary Lou were married for 54 years and created a dynamic life together, centered always on family while being active in the Catholic Church and in charitable activity throughout the community. They were a generous, tireless, formidable couple. Mary Lou predeceased Joe by eighteen years.

Outside of family and work, Joe's lifelong passion was horses. A skilled western horseman, he won many cutting competitions across the west and rode with his good friends at the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County. In 1998 Joe was awarded Outstanding Horseperson-Citizen of the Year by the Mounted Patrol. His children grew up in Woodside riding their horses after school the way other kids ride their bikes.

Mr. Putnam leaves a proud legacy of community engagement and service, values instilled in his children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. A self-made family man who lived and embodied the American dream, Mr. Putnam will always be remembered for his many contributions to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating and commemorating the life and the accomplishments of Joseph D. Putnam.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Peninsula Family Service and commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of this impactful nonprofit, and its unique history and significance to my district.

Peninsula Family Service was founded on April 24, 1950, responding to a need to provide counseling for veterans who had returned from World War II and their families. The San Francisco Bay Area has evolved over many decades, and Peninsula Family Service has been there every step of the way--providing support, caring for neighbors, and becoming a deeply trusted part of our community. Peninsula Family Service is well-known for its ability to adapt and respond to local needs, and it provides support to program participants at every stage of life, from children and families to adults over 100 years young. The organization has more than 45 programs, sites, and services, reaching 10,000 of our neighbors in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in California. Today these services are more relevant than ever. The priority program areas for Peninsula Family Service are early learning, employment services, financial empowerment, and older adult services.

The scope of Peninsula Family Service programs is broad: Older adults can participate in any one of numerous exercise classes, including Tai Chi and Zumba, or get a nutritious lunch, which is provided each day at the organization's Fair Oaks Adult Activity Center in Redwood City. The Fair Oaks Center is part of the Peninsula Family Service's comprehensive approach to health, wellness and overcoming isolation for our older adults, all key components of its Overcoming Loneliness Initiative, through which the organization is a San Mateo County leader. Parents of children from birth to 5 years old are served at Peninsula Family Service early learning centers, of which there are soon to be eleven around San Mateo County. Each learning center provides high-quality child development and family support. One of these centers also provides programs for youth ages 6 to 12 years. All Peninsula Family Service centers provide this care and early learning to children of low-income families and households in poverty. Some children are unhoused and some may have experienced other trauma. Peninsula Family Service also offers financial education workshops for adults, and now also for teens ages 13 to 20 years of age.

To honor its 75 years of unwavering service to the Bay Area, Peninsula Family Service is hosting a year-long celebration throughout 2025 to recognize, thank and engage past, current, and future members of the Peninsula Family Service family. At the core of its 75th anniversary is a commitment to celebrating the many generations of program participants, staff, leadership, volunteers, auxiliaries, donors, and corporate and community partners, and their impact on our community.

I am proud Peninsula Family Service is part of California's 15th Congressional District. The organization stands as a testament to the power of responsiveness to community needs and the importance of providing support for our community. Peninsula Family Service honors all those who have been part of its past and looks forward to serving where community need remains great. As I reflect on the journey of Peninsula Family Service, I am reminded of the profound impact of nonprofits, such as Peninsula Family Service, that keep our communities healthy and strong. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating Peninsula Family Service's 75th Anniversary and wishing continued success in all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise to pay tribute to a great woman and dear friend and neighbor, Mrs. Christa Sullivan of South San Francisco, California. Christa passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 and her funeral mass will be held for family and friends on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Saint Agnes Church in San Francisco, California.

A native daughter of Germany, Christa immigrated to the United States as a girl. She worked at St. Mary's Hospital, where she met and married the love of her life, the late Detective Patrick Sullivan. Christa was a beloved mother and is survived by her children Stephanie, Kevin (along with his wife Orla), and Christian (along with his wife Karen), and her grandchildren Mick, Leah, Casey, Caeli, and Patrick. She was a lover of animals, and a longtime volunteer at St. Veronica's Parish, Mercy High School and Serra High School. She was a steadfast supporter of the men and women of the South San Francisco Police Department and the founder and lifelong advocate for their association.

Christa will be remembered for her warmth, quiet strength, and unwavering faith. She lived a life rooted in service to her community and family, for which we will be forever grateful. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the residents of California's Fifteenth Congressional District in rising to recognize a life well lived, and to extend our deepest sympathies to Christa's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Trump administration's proposal to gut the National Institutes of Health.

Put simply, NIH's work is the difference between life and death for millions of Americans. Almost everyone knows someone who has lost a loved one to cancer or Alzheimer's, and cutting NIH funding will halt progress on developing cures for these diseases, just as we are on the cusp of once-in-a-generation advancements.

Mr. Speaker, 99 percent of all FDA-approved therapies between 2010 and 2019 were tied to NIH-funded science. Thanks to its research, heart disease deaths dropped 75 percent over the past 40 years.

If the majority wants to have a debate about whether it is worth curing diseases, then let's have it. I invite my colleagues to explain to their constituents why they are against fighting cancer or Alzheimer's.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republicans' dangerous attempt to revoke California's ability to protect public health and reduce toxic vehicle emissions.

The Clean Air Act is clear. California has the fundamental right to adopt vehicle emission standards that support our communities' unique needs better than Federal standards.

This isn't new. It has been the law for more than 50 years, and the Clean Air Act has been upheld by every administration, Republican and Democrat. Republicans are making an extremist attack on this precedent, and it is utterly hypocritical for them to call for States' rights when it suits them.

I spent 10 years in the California Legislature, and I know firsthand how critical it is for our States to meet the needs of our local communities whose health and safety are at risk due to pollution.

The consequences of this are real. Toxic air pollution causes asthma, heart disease, and contributes to over 100,000 deaths in America every year. We have a moral duty to protect our residents from unnecessary toxic air pollution and environmental harm.

Let's be clear. This attack comes as Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid. While they are stripping healthcare from millions of Americans, at the same time they are attacking our ability to protect public health. It makes no sense.

It also makes no sense to create chaos for automakers that already agreed to meet these standards with investments in domestic EV production and manufacturing that created over 200,000 new jobs and nearly $200 billion in private investment.

If they really cared about reducing costs for American families, Republicans would focus on reversing Trump's reckless tariffs that are increasing car prices by up to $15,000.

This is a hyperpartisan, political stunt that wastes everyone's time. The Government Accountability Office has explicitly said that Congress cannot use this process to overturn California's waivers with the EPA, and we should not pretend otherwise.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this effort. Let's stand up for clean air, State rights, and for the health of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, free and fair elections are the foundation of any functioning democracy. The SAVE Act is a blatant attempt to undermine our election system, weaken American democracy, and unfairly suppress millions of eligible citizens from voting.

If the SAVE Act becomes law, eligible Americans would have to provide either a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote and cast their ballots. About half of American citizens, roughly 150 million people, don't own a passport.

If an eligible voter doesn't have the means to pay for a passport, they would need a birth certificate that states their current legal name. This act could suppress the votes of millions of women in this country who have changed their names after marriage.

To be clear, if you are a married woman, I guess Republicans don't want you to vote. If you can't afford a passport, Republicans don't want you to vote. If you are a college student whose birth certificate is back home, Republicans don't want you to vote.

Congress has a responsibility to ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in free and fair elections. The SAVE Act would do the opposite.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose H.J. Res. 24. It is baffling to me that amidst skyrocketing electricity costs, the highest they have been since the 1990s, we are talking about overturning commonsense energy efficiency standards.

Economists predict these standards would save American taxpayers billions of dollars. Mr. Speaker, you don't need to be an economist to know that a better fridge or freezer will mean lower costs on your utility bill. For families going to their local grocery, these standards would lower prices and reduce financial strain. For small businesses, it means less overhead and more profitability.

These benefits are why the Department of Energy has set energy efficiency standards for decades, across Republican and Democratic administrations, with broad support and little controversy.

America should be leading the world in creating and adopting innovative technologies, especially ones that reduce costs and help the environment. Unfortunately, this was just another empty campaign promise by candidate Trump that electricity costs would be reduced.

Let me just emphasize that Democrats believe in an economy that works for all people. Under the last administration, we passed legislation that created nearly half a million new jobs in just 2 years. The Federal Government set standards that will save money.

Mr. Speaker, I conclude by saying that Americans will save $1 trillion on their energy bills over the next 30 years under the previous policies. That is $1 trillion. We will continue to fight for commonsense policies for everyday people, and that is why I oppose H.J. Res. 24.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rich Hedges, Councilmember for the City of San Mateo, California, upon the conclusion of his tenure on the City Council after over five decades of community involvement and advocacy in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I am honored to have worked alongside Rich on countless occasions and to call him a friend. He embodies the idea of living by your values and service to others.

Rich was born in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was raised in a working-class family. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia State University, before earning a Master's Degree in American Urban History from San Francisco State University. He moved to the City of San Mateo in 1970 where he and his wife Linda have lived for over 50 years and become invaluable members of the community.

In 1974, Rich began a passionate, 28-year career in labor advocacy working for the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. He rose to the position of Executive Assistant to the Director of Region Eight, and his tireless work supported labor rights of workers across Northern California and Hawaii.

Outside of his professional career, Rich demonstrated extraordinary commitment to public service in his community. He has served on several boards, committees, and commissions throughout the region, including the San Mateo County Housing and Community Development Commission, the San Mateo Personnel Board, the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board, the Policy Advisory Council to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and many others. He is a warm and familiar face to many in his community, serving on the Neighborhood Watch Board and as a representative to the United Homeowners Association.

Rich applied his wealth of expertise in labor advocacy as a member of the Executive Board of the San Mateo County Central Labor Council. Additionally, he has volunteered countless time to advancing critical measures to support the City of San Mateo's fiscal stability and community engagement activities. Through these various initiatives, Rich has worked tirelessly to ensure that San Mateo remains a safe and vibrant place for its community members to live and thrive.

Throughout the years that he has resided in San Mateo, Rich has developed deep roots in his chosen community in the Bay Area. He is an active member of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, continuing the practice of faith that has been carried in his family for five generations. Rich and his wife have raised their family in San Mateo, which includes their daughter, three adult grandchildren, and two great-grandsons, symbolizing his commitment to his community's future.

Rich's thorough and methodical research of policy is unsurpassed. He is the consummate gentleman in conveying information, even when others may disagree, and his delivery is such that it allows for engagement and careful consideration.

While his time on the City Council was brief, his history in San Mateo County is immense and we're grateful for his leadership in so many selfless capacities. Rich treats everyone equally. His tone is always respectful. He's inquisitive. He's always looking out for the best interest of the community and can be counted upon to actually follow through on his commitments. I believe we can all benefit from learning from Rich's collaborative approach to governance.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary service to the public that Rich Hedges has presented throughout his distinguished career. All of the lives that he has touched, including mine, are better off because of his dedication and commitment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a distinguished public servant who has dedicated his career to improving the lives of others. Warren Slocum is ending his twelve-year tenure on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and I'm proud to share his many accomplishments.

Born in 1948 in Michigan and raised by a single father, Warren grew up in San Diego, California. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army and served in Vietnam for one year, honorably discharged in 1969. This experience planted the seed that would yield fruit decades later in his pivotal work for veterans. He attended San Diego State University where he earned his B.S. Degree in History.

Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, Warren served as the Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County for 24 years. His decades of service were marked by innovation and a focus on continuous improvement. He was driven to provide better service, improve access, and embraced technology as a tool for positive change. As County Clerk, he was the first in the nation to offer couples the opportunity to broadcast their wedding ceremonies on the internet so that families and friends all over the world could share these special moments. As Recorder, he oversaw the conversion of recorded paper documents to recorded electronic documents and the creation of a publicly searchable database which made it easy to research property information. As the Chief Elections Officer, he introduced accessible voting equipment with language and adaptive features to ensure that all voters could participate in fair, private, and secure elections.

Warren was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 2012, and subsequently re-elected in 2016 and 2020, and is concluding his tenure as Board President in 2024. The 4th Supervisorial District he represents includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, portions of Menlo Park east of El Camino Real, and the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks. His Supervisorial District includes some of the most culturally diverse areas in San Mateo County. He always focused on strengthening families, advancing educational achievement, and fostering community connections.

Understanding the challenges his constituents experience, Warren approached his work through the lenses of equity and social progress. Vast disparities exist in San Mateo County, and he knows that systemic inequality diminishes us all. His desire to be of greater service and help our community move forward drove his commitment to making San Mateo County stronger and more vibrant. To achieve these results, Warren worked collaboratively--with people from every quarter of our community, including faith-based organizations, businesses, youth, renters, homeowners, schools, nonprofits and many others--building more affordable housing, moving the needle on reducing homelessness, particularly for families and veterans, and reducing traffic congestion.

As part of his responsibilities, Warren has represented San Mateo County on Regional Boards and Commissions including the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, where he advocated for and protected San Mateo County's interests. In addition, he serves on the San Mateo County City/County Association of Governments, the Emergency Services Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission, the San Mateo County Libraries Joint Powers Authority Governing Board, the Sheriff's Oversight and Engagement Subcommittee, and the South Bayside Waste Management Authority. He serves as the liaison to the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities, the North Fair Oaks Community Council, and Redwood City Together.

Along the way, I had the privilege of working closely with Warren as we explored our shared interest at the intersection of government and technology through our annual Connect conferences. For close to a decade, we explored how emerging technologies could be embraced by government to provide better service to our communities. Our focus on social media, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and the digital divide, among others, proved prescient as these continue to pose significant policy considerations for all levels of government.

With lack of affordable housing a pressing community concern, Warren has prioritized seeking solutions. This includes serving on the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust Board and the Housing Our People Effectively Interagency Council. He led early efforts to address the jobs-housing imbalance which transitioned to Home for All, a collaboration of the County of San Mateo, cities, school districts, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, and businesses. During his tenure on the Home for All Steering Committee, the jobs-housing gap was reduced through a model that allows communities to move forward with solutions uniquely tailored to their needs. Warren has prioritized increasing affordable housing designated for low-income residents, particularly seniors, veterans, and families, with projects completed and underway.

As a proud U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Warren knows the importance of recognizing the work and sacrifice of our veterans and their advocates. Warren is known as the ``Godfather'' of the San Mateo County Veterans Commission. He advocated for its

creation in 2015 on behalf of San Mateo County's 27,000 veterans and their family members. Coinciding with Veterans Day, Warren and the Commission initiated the annual Veterans Recognition Luncheon to honor individuals and organizations for their work in supporting veterans. Warren is immensely proud of the Commission's work, partnering with the County's Veteran Service Office, to improve the lives of veterans in our community. Due to his ongoing efforts and dedication, the San Mateo County Veterans Commission presented Warren with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its 2024 luncheon.

His wife, Maria Diaz-Slocum, and their two sons and families have supported and embraced Warren's passion for family, public service, technology, and history. They have made their home in Redwood City for more than 30 years, their sons were educated in the public school system, and his wife served as an elected Trustee of the Redwood City School District. Their shared love for our community has provided Warren a bedrock from which to move forward with a bold vision on how to make things better for others.

Warren's priority from day one was always to improve the lives of the residents of District 4 and San Mateo County with a particular focus on the most vulnerable. He is a respected and admired regional leader with a proven record on social equity, affordable housing, transportation, and economic empowerment for all residents in our community. The effectiveness of a leader can be judged by their lasting impact. By that measure, Warren has excelled as he leaves San Mateo County in a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Warren Slocum for an exemplary record of service to the County of San Mateo, commending him for his tireless dedication of time and talent, and wishing him all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize David Pine, member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, upon the conclusion of his tenure in service to our community.

Born in Massachusetts in 1958, and raised in New Hampshire, Dave is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he was awarded a Harry S. Truman scholarship. He was elected, at age 19, to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives, one of the youngest ever elected. Following his undergraduate studies Dave earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.

Before focusing his career on public service, Dave worked as an attorney representing start-up and high-growth technology companies. After working in private practice with Fenwick & West, he served as Vice President and General Counsel for Radius, Excite@Home, and Handspring.

Dave served on the Redwood City Planning Commission and was an elected school board member for the Burlingame School District from 2003 to 2007 and the San Mateo Union High School District from 2007 to 2011. He is also a past president of the San Mateo County School Boards Association.

Dave was first elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in a special election in May 2011, and subsequently reelected in 2012, 2016 and 2020. He served as Board President in 2014, 2018 and 2023. He has ably and with distinction represented District 1 which includes the cities of Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae, and portions of San Bruno and South San Francisco; the unincorporated communities of San Mateo Highlands, Baywood Park and Burlingame Hills; and San Francisco International Airport.

During his nearly 14 years on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Dave has been on the forefront, crafting policies that reflect the diverse values of our community. He championed the creation of the San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission--now called LGBTQIA+ Commission--the first of its kind in the state and has served as Board liaison to the Commission since its inception, including providing staff support to the Director and commissioners. He also championed annual San Mateo County recognitions of Pride Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance and led the effort to establish the San Mateo County Pride Center, which provides high quality, LGBTQ+ affirming mental health services, including counseling, therapy and collaborative treatment planning.

Dave led on gun safety, spearheading the County's Gun Violence Prevention Program and introducing a Safe Firearm Storage ordinance and a Firearm Dealer ordinance, and led efforts to garner County support of resident-led San Mateo County gun buyback events. He has been a strong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, expanding access to prevention programs and health and mental health access, and combatting poverty and homelessness. He has been an advocate for public transit and served on the San Mateo County Transit District and Caltrain boards of directors. He worked to support Measure W, a 2018 half-cent sales tax for countywide transit improvement projects, which passed with 66.9 percent support.

With Dave's appointment as Co-Chair of the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council in 2011, he began a dedicated approach to addressing the needs of children and their families by identifying local priorities for childcare and early learning services and developing policies and strategies for implementation. He is a founding member and Co-Chair of Build Up San Mateo County, established in 2017, which serves as a hub for multi-sector collaborations on advocacy, policy, technical assistance, financing, and development support to encourage the creation of child care facilities for employees, track local real estate projects for child care opportunities, identify resources to build new child care and preschool facilities, and generate funding to renovate existing facilities. Dave has consistently advocated for additional funding to support programs and policies such as the Community Equity Collaborative for the Teacher Pipeline Project to offer tuition-free Early Childhood Education classes.

Concerned for our natural environment, and protecting our communities from the impacts of climate change, Dave has worked extensively on the intersecting issues of flood control, sea level rise, and tidal land restoration. As Chair of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and member of the Governing Board since 2013, he helped pass a nine- county Bay Area parcel tax, Measure AA, in 2016 that funds shoreline projects that protect and restore the Bay. He is the founding Chair of the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District, known as OneShoreline, the first county-level agency in the state to directly focus on flood control and sea level rise. The District was created following two Sea Level Rise/Water conferences he led in 2013 and 2018, during which he and other San Mateo County leaders recognized the need for a coordinated response. I was pleased to work with Dave by authoring the legislation in the California State Assembly to create OneShoreline, a model for the rest of California and the nation on a regional approach to climate change adaptation.

As a member of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Dave provided sound guidance on regional sea level rise planning for new shoreline projects, and was instrumental in helping the organization embrace much needed reforms and facilitating the resolution of longstanding complex regulatory entanglements. He provided his expertise as a board member and former chair of the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority which completed a significant flood and sea level rise mitigation project and has ambitious plans to protect an eleven mile stretch of the Bay shoreline.

Dave championed the creation of San Mateo County's Office of Sustainability (OOS), now the Sustainability Department, and supported initiatives such as the County policy that requires all County buildings to identify the risk from sea level rise, electrification of the County's vehicle fleet, a 2017 resolution in support of the commitment to the Paris Agreement as a show of the County's ongoing promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions, development of the County's Climate Action Plan, and exploration of reach code policies.

Among his most significant environmental accomplishment is the creation of Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), which provides San Mateo County residents and businesses with cleaner energy at lower rates. He led the County effort to create the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) structure starting in 2015. Through his leadership, and with the support of the then-County Office of Sustainability, all 20 cities in the county collaborated to form PCE in less than one year.

With a steadfast commitment to public service, and a calm, analytical approach, Dave has been an outstanding steward for San Mateo County. He can be relied upon to approach matters with a solution-driven mindset. Dave is a respected and admired regional leader whose contributions to protecting our environment and preparing our community for the impacts of climate change will have a lasting impact, His thoughtful approach and building bridges serve as model for others to emulate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Dave Pine for an exemplary record of service to the County of San Mateo, commending him for his tireless dedication of time and talent, and wishing him all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Councilmember Alvin L. Royse, fondly known as ``Al,'' for his decades of exemplary service to his community, his profession, and his family. As Councilmember Royse completes his third term on the Hillsborough City Council, it is appropriate to reflect on his remarkable legacy of leadership and dedication.

Al was born in 1950 in the Peace Garden State of North Dakota as one of five children in his household. He began his career of service to the public by serving two terms in the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, where he championed key issues such as the Equal Rights Amendment. He was later inducted into the University of North Dakota School of Accounting Hall of Fame and was awarded the University of North Dakota Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership.

He served as Mayor of Hillsborough in 2021 and 2022, bringing his deep expertise and collaborative spirit to the role. Al has served as Public Works Commissioner since 2021, after serving as Finance Commissioner from 2013 to 2020. His tenure on the Council has been marked by his steadfast advocacy for fiscal responsibility and sustainable infrastructure development.

Beyond his contributions to local government, Al's impact extends to national service. A retired Senior Partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, he distinguished himself as Global and U.S. National Managing Partner for Tax Industries, among other leadership roles. A Certified Public Accountant and attorney, Al has also lent his expertise as a consultant to businesses and a lecturer on global economics, corporate ethics, and leadership development.

Al's contributions to nonprofit organizations are equally significant. He is a past National Chairman of both the American Heart Association and Voices for Healthy Kids. His work for these organizations earned him numerous accolades, including the 2021 Gold Heart Award and the 2024 Morgan Stark Memorial Award from the American Heart Association. Locally, he has supported education, youth sports, and civic organizations, serving as a leader for groups such as the Hillsborough Schools Foundation, Boy Scouts, and Peninsula Family Service.

A proud resident of Hillsborough since 1985, Al raised his children, Matthew and Jennifer, in the community. Al's role as a father, grandfather, and active participant in his children's lives has been a source of immense pride. An avid skier, tennis player, and history enthusiast, Al is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren, traveling, and pursuing his-love of reading following his time on the Hillsborough City Council. Al's tenure is a testament to his unwavering commitment to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Councilmember Alvin L. Royse for his decades of extraordinary service and his enduring commitment to making his community and our Nation a better place. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of leaders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Alisa McAvoy, School Board Trustee for the Redwood City School District, upon her retirement after 17 years of dedication and advocacy for public education.

Alisa was born in Oxnard, California in 1963. She moved to Northern California where she attended Stanford University to pursue her Bachelor and Master's degrees in Civil/Environmental Engineering with an energy planning emphasis and graduated in 1987.

Alisa's commitment to protecting the environment has been illustrated by her time working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dedicated to pollution prevention and agriculture sustainability, she worked as an engineer and manager overseeing hazardous waste management projects across several states.

Alisa's journey into educational advocacy began in 2007, when she was elected to the Redwood City School District Board of Trustees. During her years on the Board, Alisa served as Board President and Vice President three times. Additionally, she has participated on numerous District committees including Policy, Wellness, Call to Action, School Choice Programmatic, Local Control Accountability, Superintendent's Advisory, Feasibility Study, and Community Outreach. The length and depth of knowledge and experience acquired through active participation in Board committees deepened her commitment and tireless advocacy for education.

As a school board trustee, Alisa has engaged extensively with community members, parents, staff, teachers, and elected officials to foster collaboration to ensure a high caliber and meaningful public education for all students. Her leadership includes chairing initiatives and successfully advancing multiple Redwood City School District ballot measures, securing over $500 million to support facility upgrades, capital projects, ongoing operations, and educational programs.

Alisa has devoted numerous volunteer hours at school events across San Mateo County, and in the schools, helping with math, art, field trips, special events, science and more. Alisa has always advocated for education, especially for adequate and consistent funding with community partners, parents, elected officials, state and federal officials and non-profits and community groups.

With a passion for service, Alisa, has served on various boards including Little Hands, Carlmont Parents Nursery School, Clifford School Parent Teacher Organization, Redwood City Education Foundation, North Star Site Council, Family Connections, and the Family Connections Authors Night, Emerald Lake Country Club, Redwood City Woman's Club, League of Women Voters, San Mateo County iZone Leadership Team and Policy, and San Mateo County Community Choice Energy Advisory Committee.

Because of exemplary service in public education, Alisa has been recognized for her achievements, receiving Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011 from Family Connections, the Golden Oak Service Award from the California State Parent Teacher Association, and the 17th District Parent Teacher Association in 2020. For her decades of service to the San Mateo County education community as a Redwood City School District Trustee, Alisa was recognized with the 2024 J. Russell Kent Award.

When Alisa is not advocating for public education, she enjoys bicycling, hiking, enjoying nature, cooking, attending musicals and concerts, and spending quality time with family and friends. She resides in Redwood City with her husband, Neil McAvoy, and has two daughters Marissa and Clara.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary service to public education that Alisa McAvoy has demonstrated over the past 17 years. All the families that she has impacted through her advocacy are better off because of her determination to improve student education outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize Alicia Aguirre, Councilmember for the City of Redwood City, upon the conclusion of her 19 years of service to our community.

Alicia is the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, first generation to graduate from college, and proud mother of two young men with three grandchildren. She holds an M.A. from Eastern Michigan University and has done Doctoral studies in Social Anthropology at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She was a Fulbright Exchange Professor in Argentina.

A 36-year resident of Redwood City, Alicia arrived in 1988 concurrent with her employment as a Professor at Canada College in the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Spanish Departments. She currently serves as the ESL Department's Coordinator. She was also a former Visiting Dean at the Sequoia Union High School District as Director of English Learners. Her passion for education is evident in her volunteer and community activities that have empowered others to achieve. She served for six years as a Trustee, with one year as President, of the Redwood City Elementary School Board before her appointment to the City Council. She served as a Trustee for Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont, on the Mt. Carmel and Garfield Charter School Boards, and as Board Member for the Redwood City Library Foundation.

Alicia was appointed to the City Council of Redwood City in January 2005 and was elected in November 2005, and re-elected in 2007, and 2011, 2015, and 2020 for a total of 19 years, amongst the longest- tenured City Councilmembers in San Mateo County. She has served as both Vice Mayor and then Mayor from 2011-2013 and is the first Latina Mayor in the history of Redwood City.

As an engaged community leader, Alicia has served on various local boards and committees in several capacities including Service League of San Mateo County, Redwood City International, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce and its Leadership Program Committee, Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo County, and Latino Community Council of Redwood City. And in her capacity as a Redwood City Councilmember, Alicia represented the City and community on the Statewide Latino Caucus Executive Board, the Latino Political Action Committee, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Mateo County City/County Association of Governments, and the Peninsula Division of the League of California Cities.

Because of her numerous contributions, Alicia has been recognized for her accomplishments with many awards including being named California's Assembly District 21, Woman of the Year in 2012 by Assemblyman Rich Gordon, being inducted into the Chamber San Mateo County's Hall of Fame, receiving the Ohtli Award and medal by the Mexican Government for her support of the Mexican community abroad, and being honored for her contributions towards affordable housing with the Housing Hall of Fame award.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Alicia focused on keeping residents and business owners informed about County and State health orders, safely providing city services and funding for emergency rental assistance, and ensuring local hospitals were prepared for an evolving disease. Alicia also worked tirelessly during the pandemic to sustain Redwood City's local economy by supporting small business emergency grant programs, allowing safe business operations outdoors, advocating for childcare providers and promoting safe return to work for local companies to encourage workers to shop and dine again in Redwood City.

With improving housing access as one her primary policy goals, Alicia supported housing for all income levels, especially affordable housing for vulnerable groups like seniors, veterans and the homeless, and missing middle housing for young families and new residents. Alicia played an integral role in assisting the unhoused population through her work with LifeMoves, which strives to end homelessness by providing interim housing, supportive services, and building collaborative partnerships. She encouraged new housing in Downtown Redwood City near transit, jobs and walkable businesses. She was mindful about carefully balancing neighborhood preservation with private property rights regarding upgrades like ADU's and home additions. She supported Safe Routes to Schools and prioritized traffic safety on major thoroughfares by creating more opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely use closed streets through Slow Street Programs.

Alicia is a respected and admired regional leader focused on issues of social equity and immigrant rights, affordable housing, transportation, and economic empowerment for all socio-economic residents of Redwood City and in our community. Alicia Aguirre's hallmark is her diligent work, her deep compassion, and her profound connection with every segment of our community. Her thoughtful approach, building bridges, and mentoring the next generation of leaders has been transformative and serves as model for others to emulate. The effectiveness of a leader can be judged by their lasting impact. By that measure, Alicia has excelled as she leaves Redwood City in a better place.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ron Collins, Councilmember for the City of San Carlos, upon his retirement after 13 years of dedicated service to the city.

Ron Collins began his career of public service in San Mateo County in 1972, two years after he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history. For seven years, he served as a public-school teacher and administrator in Half Moon Bay, and obtained a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from San Francisco State University. He then transitioned to the private sector undertaking a career in insurance, where he remained until his retirement in 2022. Ron was elected to the City Council of San Carlos in November 2011 and served in this position until December 2024. During his tenure, which included two stretches as Mayor, Ron undertook countless initiatives that have greatly improved the lives of San Carlos' residents.

Ron and his wife, Gayle, have lived in San Carlos for most of their lives. In addition to raising two children in the city, Ron has done much to improve the lives of children and families. This includes protecting children's safety by banning smoking in multi-family housing and banning the sale of flavored tobacco that particularly affect teenage populations. Ron additionally has sought to improve parents' access to childcare in San Carlos through passing a Child Care Development Impact Fee, which requires nonresidential developers to include childcare spaces on their sites, and approving a Childcare Grant Program designed to support local childcare operators in expanding their access to childcare.

During his time as a Councilmember, Ron also made significant improvements to make San Carlos more accessible from both an income and transportation standpoint. He supported the 2023-2031 San Carlos Housing Element, which aims to create a total of 1,164 new units of housing for low-income families and approved numerous other significant affordable housing developments. Ron also supported the San Carlos Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, aiming to make San Carlos a place where people can freely and safely navigate across the city's streets.

Ron has worked to plan for the future of San Carlos and has also sought to enhance the city in the present. Ron supported multiple sustainability initiatives to adapt San Carlos in the face of the threat of climate change, from beginning to transition San Carlos' fleet of Public Works vehicles to an EV platform, to adopting a disposable foodware ordinance. Ron has strengthened San Carlos' economic standing by overseeing the completion of

projects such as the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Landmark Hotel. During his tenure, San Carlos updated and preserved many of the city's community facilities such as the San Carlos Library, the Youth Center, and the Adult Community Center. In doing so, Ron has provided San Carlos' residents with comprehensive spaces to congregate and enjoy the city's public resources.

Ron's impressive record as a Councilmember reflects his deep, longstanding commitment to improve the lives of San Carlos' residents. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Ron Collins for his years of service on the San Carlos City Council, commending him for his immense dedication towards the community he served, and wishing him all the best in the years ahead.